BJ Not BK

Today the iPod turns 7 which in tech years means that it is actually 726 years old.

I am a total tech geek in that I love gadgets, technology, digital everything, and when my wife gave me a 60gb video iPod for my birthday several years ago I never ever looked back.  My only experiences with Apple previously had come via Oregon Trail [link] played out on the 1980s Mac in the library, who doesn't love a good text based game on a green screen?  From that point on Apple quickly faded out of my life as another obsolete technology that never really took off.  Enter the iPod stage right.  

From the first time I fired up my iPod I was completely hooked.  What impressed me?  I love the styling of Apple's products, I love the inherent features/functionality, but more than that I absolutely love the fact that it is simple to use and it works!  Almost every day for the past 3 years I have used my iPod.  I subscribe to free podcasts via itunes and listen to sermons, free college course lectures (last year I began a series on C.S. Lewis which was really great), I have watched movies on my iPod while flying and sitting in airports, and of course I have listened to hours of music on my iPod as well.

I would highly recommend an iPod to anyone who loves music and anyone who has to travel or to commute on a regular basis.

What could be better than my 60gb Video iPod?  

A 32gb iPod touch!

I was going through some pictures this morning and I came across these and thought I would share them with you as well as share with you my personal testimony.  My goal here is to glorify Jesus and minister to anyone who might be facing some of the challenges I have faced in the past.

Before - 199lbs - October 2007

After - 159lbs - August 2008

 Key up the trumpets, Que the firetrucks, bring in the Arabian dancing horses....it's Friday and that means another installment of the Week in Weird 2.0.

1.0 Friday is for photos - this one was taken of L at a party.

Real friends don't let friends wear spandex.  

If this guys falls down will he have to burn those?

Here are a some collections I would love to add to the E and C library....the Harvard Classics

The Franklin Library (collection of the 100 greatest Western Authors)

and the complete sermons from Spurgeon

and just for Joe I would add the Time Life Western Collection to the E and C bathroom.

2.0  Moment of Zen?  I don't think so....how about Psalm 23..."still H20s"

3.0 Music...right now what is the soundtrack of your life?  Mine is comprised of the classics as L loves the CD Wesley made for her a couple of years ago.  She is the only 3 year old I know of who asks for Beethoven.  

4.0  We all now know about Joe six-pack, Joe the Camel, Joe the Plumber, and of course Joe Napalm......but what about Joe Cool?  May we never ever ever forget Joe Cool.

5.0 Have you voted yet?  I went yesterday and am glad my ballot has been cast.  Now we wait and pray.  Don't forget to pray for our country regardless of where you stand or who you vote for please pray for our country.

6.0 Weekend watch.....word on the street is that the Virginia Creeper trail is due for a full on assault by the family and a whole horde of bikes.  Never heard of the Virginia Creeper?  You have now [link].

7.0  Personal update....my first semester of class is almost over, M is feeling somewhat better but still not at 100%, it's me and the kids this weekend as mama goes to visit a girlfriend, and the air is cool, the night skies are bright, the moon is full, and fall is here with all of it's brilliant color.  

That's it, that's all I am out.

Shalom to you and your home. 

Joe is famous for his library blogging [link].  I came across this article and thought he would really enjoy it as this library kind of reminds me of the Napalm library.

Jay Walker's Personal Library

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-10/ff_walker#

You won't believe some of the items housed in this personal collection.

Enjoy!

Change brings about hope unless the change is not good which dashes hope but hope brings about change which I hope does not nor never changes.  Hope, change, both very good words that I hope you do not miss out on and I hope this change of tone does not throw you for a loop of change which would not be hopeless but devoid of the hope that usually comes with change.  Change your mind in the hopes that hope that comes with change will really usher in a new era of hope.

Hope you enjoyed this....

Here at bjnotbk we strive to make the user experience excitable, enjoyable, and entertaining...the three "E's" of marketing.  Our goal is complete satisfaction and remember that every post comes with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.  If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your post we will refund up to 200% of your purchase price.  

What can I expect out of W.I.W. 2.0?  Here is a short, but certainly not exhaustive list.

-fresh content - each post marked with a born on date to ensure the cleanest, purest post possible

-new pictures - Friday is for photos so look forward to new, interesting photos

-new format - time to change the format up a bit in terms of design and layout 

-new paint - there are plans in the future to paint the walls here at bjnotbk and I'm not talking about just rolling over the nose gold with the same ole same ole

-twice the sarcasm - all readers will be asked to sign a wavier before being granted access to the archives, please note that women who are pregnant or who are planning on becoming pregnant should not handle bjnotbk without first asking you physician

On with the show

1.0 Friday is for photos - I pity the fool who ponders to punk Mr. P (To see more incredible Mr. Potato Head Mash-ups visit here [link].)

I have to give my props to Joe Naplam for some great witting as of late.  I guess that case of Wheaties I sent you is finally starting to pay off?  What is the world's most expensive action figure?  You got it...G.I. Joe [link].  This baby will set you back a cool $200k but with the recent financial crisis I am told that the owner will trade for one used moped or one ham sandwich...please no mayo.

Speaking of expensive...I know that many of you are asking yourself...."self, what can I do for bjnotbk?"  And I have to say...great question.  Have you thought about this beauty?  At a cool $730k this is by far the world's most expensive pen.  One owner was quoted recently as say..."doh, doh, doh!"  When realizing he had left his pen at the Chucky Cheese along with his credit card receipt.

2.0 Moment of Zen?  There are several things we do not do at bjnotbk.  We don't tug on Superman's cape, we don't do feung shuai, we don't eat lima beans, and we don't do Zen.  We do Psalm 23 - "still H2Os"

3.0 Music is my passion, no it's books, no it's my family, no it's Jesus.  I love music, books, my family and Jesus.  Anybody can play the guitar but not everyone can be the world's greatest air guitar hero.

4.0 I am all about technology and I think I would really dig a kimble [link] but there is something very cool about holding a book in your hands, walking through the stacks of an antique bookshop that connects me back to humanity and gets me closer to the authors than mere bits and bytes blinking at me on a screen.  Here is an old school bookstore that I love.

I am completely consumed with Psalm 119 right now.

5.0  Bumpersticker blogging

2 new favorites of mine - 1. CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX - Sea levels are rising because Jesus is crying 2. Picture of a whale - "SAVE THE HUMANS"

6.0 B****** Oba**** is a traitor [link].

7.0 B****** Oba***** is not the Messiah [link].

8.0 On the personal side...M is still feeling yucky as the first trimester is almost over.  School is going well.  Work is going well.  

Shalom to you and your home.  Peace out

Yesterday I had the privilege of taking part in a neat celebration of God's word.  This year marks the 30th anniversary of the NIV translation, I know some of you clutching your KJV just fell from your chairs, and to mark this event Zondervan is hosting a cross-country, one of a kind promotional tour called Bible Across America [link]. 

The gist of the tour is to create what will be called "America's Bible" where if you visit one of the stops along the promotional tour you can hand write a verse of the Bible that will be published, mid July 2009, in your own handwriting and the handwriting of those who participate.  What a really cool way to promote the Bible.

Well, yesterday the tour was in Knoxville and I was able to stop by.  As I stood in line one of the team members explained the process...."Currently we are going through Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus.  You can choose which one you want and...oh, look, Leviticus just came open if any of you want to you can go ahead to the Leviticus line."

I looked around me and the two ladies who stood beside me blankly stared at me as if to say....'I'm not going to Leviticus...who knows what verse we will get?"

I thought for a moment to myself...."do I really want to write a verse out of Leviticus?"  Wasn't this suppose to be a super spiritual event?  Why couldn't I write something out of one of the gospels or the Psalms?  How about Psalm 119:94..."I am yours, save me."  Now that would be a very cool verse to write.

Well, no one was running to the Leviticus line so I stepped up thinking, "hey, it's the Bible, every verse is important, every word has it's meaning, and their is honor and worship in that right?  Besides, how bad could it be?"

As I stepped up to the display the lady looked at me and then at the verse I would be writing...'Oh cool!  You get to start a new chapter!"

That sounded promising.

Then I looked at the verse.  What did I have to fear?  Why was I so afraid of Leviticus?  Three lines proving that God is sovereign and that God does indeed have a wonderful sense of humor.   

Here is what I wrote:

Leviticus 15:1

Discharges Causing Uncleanness

Nice!

I couldn't help but laugh.  Thank you Lord for the gift of laughter and thank you for your word!

I think I may have a new life verse.

Another week gone by and another installment of the Week in Weird brought to you by Hockey Moms Worldwide or www.hmww.org

Friday is for photos so here a couple to help you ease back into the bjnotbk experience.

1.  This one was taken at my mom's house.  This is a really old and really cool door.  At first glance it looks like it is made out of metal but on further inspection you can see it is really wood.

2. This picture was sent to me by Uncle Jesse.  Our class recently finished our study on 1 John and so we ended the study in the Epicenter.

If you like great photography make sure to visit Steve Mckoy's Friday photos here [link] and Joe Thorn's here [link].

Want to see your photo published here?  Submit all family friendly photos to bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration.  Please note that I reserve the right to publish or not publish any submission.

3.  What are you reading these days?  I just finished The Reformed Pastor, by Baxter, Desiring God, by Piper, and am getting ready to plow through Lectures to My Students, by Spurgeon.  I am also doing some top secret reading for our new Bible study series that begins in November.  I can't wait to share it with the class.

4.  What are you listening to these days?  Death metal?  Acid Rock?  Alternative Country?  Polka?

Uncle Tupelo is one of my all time favorites.  Have you heard this song before?  No depression?  Enjoy!

5.  Palin - Biden...yawn....The first Presidential debate really changed my perception of McCain in a positive way.  I saw him as an intelligent, respectful man.  Unfortunately the VP debate was anti-climatic and left me feeling the opposite about Palin.  To me she came off as cliched and inexperienced and most of her answers didn't come across as well thought out.  Am I wrong?

6. Less than 35 days until we elect a new President.  Is there any way the whigs will put up a viable candidate anytime soon?

7. Financial Crisis update - I heard yesterday that the Crisis bill included a section to give employers a $300.00 tax break for any worker who "regularly" commuted to work on a bike....at last!  The crisis may be averted thanks to cutting edge legislation like this.  

8.  The free markets will always find a way to grow and to prosper even as the government continually tries to kill them.  Need a loan?  Try an online lending community and say goodbye to the traditional brick and mortar establishments [link].  please note that bjnotbk does not endorse neither lending nor borrowing and is not responsible for any financial loss....besides, why on earth would you take financial advice from a blog?

9.  Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week.  My prayer is that you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop by.  I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.  Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get outside, and love Jesus!    

I know what you are thinking before you say it.  Big brother is cooking the books in an effort to take away our liberties, turn capitalism into quasi socialism, take away our gun rights, and slowly disolve our rights to own property.  What next you ask?  Bar codes on our foreheads tapping into a bank account full of government credits that allow us to trade our goods and services?

I think the current crisis goes much much deeper and darker than even this scenario.  I think all of this was put into motion in 1999 by the doomsday Y2k crowd.  You know, the guys who bought 12 cases of canned corne, powdered milk, built out underground bunkers, stocked up on amo, beef jerky, and spam.  I blame this so-called crisis on them.  Why?  I call it recovery of investment.  

You see, the Y2k crowd spent untold millions on stocking up for the end of the world that did not come and are still reeling from this loss.  Besides, who could ever use up 1,685 cases of spam?  Also, the Y2k crowd is still reeling from the taunts and jokes of those who did not prepare.  Add all of this together and it looks like this.....

spam+humiliation= failure of Freedie Mac = 700billion dollars

Don't question me on this one....math does not lie and it not partial to partisan politics.

The impending financial crisis will shut down the free market.  Trees will no longer grow.  The sun will no longer shine.  A baby seal will be clubbed to death and hundreds, if not thousands of Y2k doomsdayers wil have their sweet revenge along with a spam sandwich.  Ha ha ha ha, insert diabolical laugh here.

 This week's week in weird is brought to you by Covergirl [link].  If you were a lipstick what color would you be and why?  Me?  Mine is a mix up of coffee toffee and french toast [link].

Friday is for photos and I have quite a few of them for you so bare with me.

This past Sunday we had a great time as we attended my mom's family reunion at her newly restored home.

1.  This log home dates back to the late 1700's and was brought to TN from West Virginia.  The grayed portion is the original part of the home.  This is now a working, living home.

2.  The back of the yard was the latest addition as my mom just finished the stone porch/deck.  I don't think the picture really does it justice.

3. My mom is a huge flower person.  At her last home she built her own greenhouse where she cultivated many of the native and rare wildflowers found only in the Smoky Mountains.  The tall vine plants that you see in this picture are morning glories and cover what use to be a telephone pole(about 20 feet high or so).

4.  And finally some pics of the kids.

If you like great photography make sure to visit Steve Mckoy's Friday photos here [link] and Joe Thorn's here [link].

Want to see your photo published here?  Submit all family friendly photos to bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration.  Please note that I reserve the right to publish or not publish any submission.

5.  What are you reading?  Lately I have been going through a couple of things:  1. The Reformed Pastor, by the English Puritan, Richard Baxter - believe it or not this is a good read. 2. I am doing a word study on "heart" in proverbs.  3. 1 John.  I have also been reading some of the more left leaning political blogs and sights and it is interesting how shaky many on the left now are since the RNC.  The second guessing, the questions of their nominee and Biden even wondering if Hillary wasn't the better choice over him [link].

6. Found on the web - How about someone giving you a free, electric car and then charging you to charge it in the same business model as the cell phone industry?  Better Place [link] is trying to do just that.

And what about Lance Armstrong coming back to Le Tour de France?  Does anyone see this as a mistake?

7. What are you listening to?  I have been listening to John Piper lately.  I can't get enough of his love for Jesus and his enthusiasm.  This guy spits when he preaches, he yells, he laughs.  If you have never heard a sermon by Piper or have never seen him preach watch this one and enjoy.  Do you equate love of God with keeping the law?

8. What you got cooking for this weekend?  Tomorrow morning we are doing the Marine Corp Mud run [link] but other than that I think we might have a low key weekend.  M is still feeling bad with the "morning" sickness although it seems to hit her hard in the afternoon and evening.  I love you babe!

9.  Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week.  My prayer is that you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop by.  I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.  Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get outside, and love Jesus!  

Anyone else tired of hearing about lipstick?

I came across this awesome website today, Wordle [link] that takes text and translates it into word-art highlighting the most prominent words.

Here is what www.bjnotbk.com looks like.

 You can also see the larger image here [link].

Here is what Joe Napalm looks like.

You can also see the larger image here [link].

Or, you can create your own here [link]. 

Send me yours if you create one and maybe I can post it here.

Enjoy!

I am in the process of updating my Amazon Wish list to include books and materials needed in my Seminary training.  Feel free to browse using the side button as well as to buy often and liberally.

Thanks!

 So yesterday was my very first day of Seminary.  It's hard to believe that after 10 years I am back in college.  Here are a few of my insights pertaining to my first day.

1.  I am older than I thought.  When the professor began his lecture I pulled out my trusty Moleskine journal [link] and pen to take notes.  I looked around and everyone else was using their laptops, facebooking, emailing, and blogging.

2.  The amount of facial hair you have is directly tied to how much you love Jesus or how smart you are, or how much you know about the Bible.  I shaved my goatee so I guess I don't know much anymore, but like Samson it will grow back.

3.  The amount of children you have is a direct indication of your theology.  The professor made this very clear as he walked through the following example:

     0 children - you are a secular humanist

     1 child - you are a materialist

     2 children - you are a lukewarm Christian

    3 children -  you are a 3 point Calvinist

    4 or more children - you are a glutton for punishment

4.  In reality the class was great and I was so excited to be there.  What an incredible privilege to be able to go back to school and to learn about Jesus.

 Today's text comes from 1 John 4:7-21 [link]

     Reading John is a little different than reading the other Bible authors.  For example, Paul's style is to go from point to point, A-Z, beginning to end.  Paul utilizes an introduction works his way through topics, themes, and ends with a nice conclusion, much like you would expect when reading a letter.  John on the other hand tends to jump around from topic to topic revisiting themes, commands, and subjects throughout 1 John.  

"Beloved, let us love one another," John reminds us again in 1 John 4:1.  We have already seen this command, this encouragement, this reminder in 2:10, 3:11, 3:14, 3:16, and 3:23.  It is almost as if John is saying, "What we got here is a failure to communicate, some men you just can't reach..." or "ARE WE CLEAR!  ARE WE CLEAR!" or using his best Jackie Chan voice, "Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?"

Chapters 1-3 have been mostly focused on us, our behavior, the spiritual "tests" to clearly help us understand if we are saved or not, to give us assurance of our salvation (1 John 5:13).  Here are just a few..."if we walk in the light....if we say we have no sins...you may not sin....if we keep His commands...whoever loves...whoever hates...do not love the world...abide in Him...let no on deceive you..."  and this is precisely the main purpose of the letter to give everyone who reads it full assurance of their salvation and to point those who aren't saved directly to Jesus as the only means for salvation from our sins.  

If chapters 1-5 are the "body" of John's letter I would have to say that chapter 4:7-21 is the heartbeat of the letter as it is not so much about you and I as it is about the nature, character, and glory of God.  In these short 14 verses John uses "love" at least 25 times and God/Jesus/Son 25 times.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God," James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God and God's love is both good and perfect.  1 Corinthians 13:4 gives us but a glimpse of the perfection of God's love

" 4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends."

Love comes from God and love and God are inseparable because "God is love" (4:8, 4:16).  You and I are incapable of love apart from God.  All love comes from God for the believer and the unbeliever.  Because we are each created in the image and likeness of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we each have inherent value, dignity, and worth, and we each have the need to be loved and are given in His likeness the capacity to love.   The love that believers and unbelievers have for their friends and families, husbands and wives, as well as children come from God.  It is through God's grace and mercy that we know and have love and even in unbelief and rebellion God is merciful and gracious when He does not need to be.  Apart from God there is no love and without Jesus you and I are incapable of love.

Juxtapose the perfect love of God (1 Corinthians 13:4) with our own love.  Without Jesus we are impatient, unkind, we get jealous, we are braggarts, we are arrogant, rude, and every day and every one is Burger King as we seek to have it our way, we are irritable, resentful thinking about how things could have been, we take joy in the defeat of others, we are indifferent, we want proof of everything, we tolerate little and our love is conditional and temporary with the attitude of Janet Jackson, "What have you done for me lately?"

"Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God."  A major component, indicator of the new birth is our capacity to love others.  "anyone who does not love does not know God."  How and why does John say this?  Can't I love God and know God without having to love everybody?  Do I really have to love all those guys in my Sunday School class?  Isn't it natural for us to gravitate toward people just like us?  To people who we like and who like us?  Why in the world would John say "anyone who does not love does not know God" ?  Because God is love.

You can't know God in a personal, intimate way, have a relationship with Him, have Jesus totally change your live, be crucified with Him, give you a new heart, make you a new creature, see His magnificent love generously poured out at the cross as the blood flowed from His head, hands, feet, and side, as Jesus hung between two thieves dying for our sins, as His precious blood paid for all our sins out of love and still look at others without love.  You just can't do it as the two are incompatible.

"God is love" and God made His love appear right before our eyes. vs9 "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him."  This was a one time historical, factual event this was God's mission not a mistake to come into the world, to live without sin, to completely identify with every temptation and struggle you and I could ever face, and to be the one time, perfect atoning sacrifice for all sin.  And God showed His unconditional, perfect love toward us as revealed in the giving of Jesus, His only Son vs10"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loves us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  God is real, love is real, love is from God, God is love, God appeared before us in Jesus and Jesus reflects God's perfect love for us.  The reality is that God knew that you and I would not love each other as we should and that we would not love Him as we should and those are sins that Jesus died in our place for.

vs11"Beloved, if God so loves us we also ought to love one another."  Why is this so important?  Why does John keep hammering on this one point?  Beating on this drum?  vs12"No one has ever seen God"  Just as Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) reflecting God's perfect love, imaging God's greatness to us, so are you and I to reflect the love of Jesus to those around us.  Because we cannot see God it is the fruit of our lives and the love that pours forth from our hearts that will bear the witness to who God is.  We will either give a true accurate testimony to the love of God or we will bear false witness against God driving others away from God.  Gandhi once said, "I would have become a Christian if I had never met one."  And Mark Twain once commented, "If Jesus were to return today there is one thing he would not be, a Christian."  People will be driven away from God if we do not love and they will be drawn to God "if we love on another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us."  because they will see God in us and this is only made possible through the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus called our helper. vs13"By this we know we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us His spirit."

vs14"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the savior of the world."  John remind us of his own encounter with Jesus (1 John 1:1-4) that he has heard, seen and touched Jesus in the flesh.  vs15"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the son of God abides in Him and He in God. 15 So we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us.  16God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God and God abides in Him." 

vs17"By this is love perfected with us,"  By Jesus coming the flesh, dying for our sins, God raising Jesus from the dead, this is God's love in action.  You and I confessing Jesus as the Son of God,  God giving us His Holy Spirit to live within us changing us, conforming us to the image and likeness of Jesus giving us the capacity to love each other, this is the complete, total, perfect, picture of God's love and it is the love that will draw lost people to Jesus and save a dying world.

 Paul said his only confidence was in the cross of Christ and so you and I should have a humble yet wonderfully confidence in our salvation through God's love as He forgives us of our sins through the blood of Jesus.  vs17"By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment because as He is so also are we in this world. vs18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."  We don't put our confidence in our works, what we have done or not done.  We don't find peace in how good we have been, what positions we hold, no, our confidence comes from Jesus, knowing that only He is "the way, the truth, the life" and that if we have fear of judgment, fear of punishment then there are areas of our lives that we have not fully turned over to Jesus to save us from because His love perfected in us means we will have no fear of His judgment.

vs19"We love because He first love us."  It never begins or end with us.  It is all about Jesus.  Apart from Jesus we are incapable of love.  It is Jesus who creates, Jesus who gives us life, Jesus who holds everything together, Jesus who died for our sins, Jesus who pursues us when we run from Him, Jesus who loved us first and for that we should sink to our knees praising Him, worshiping Him, following Him, adoring Him loving Him, and following Him.

vs20"If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  and this commandment we have from Him; whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Love comes from God, God's love is good and perfect, God is love and God and love are inseparable.  To know God is to know what true love is and to love others.  We see the love of God when we look at the cross.  We know firsthand the love of God through Jesus as He saves us from our sins, and we experience the life changing love of God through God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us, changing us to conform to the image and likeness of Jesus as we gain the capacity to love others in a self sacrificing way.  You and I love God not because we searched after God but because God pursued us, God loved us first.  To know God means we know love and we come to follow the 2 greatest commands to 1. Love God and 2. love people and we keep them both because they are eternally linked together.  We can be righteous, walk in the light and we can possess sound doctrine but without love no one will see God in our lives because without love God does not live within us!