Last week, I was telling my father-in-law about some of the seminary courses I've been enjoying on mp3. He wanted to know how that worked and if he could get an mp3 player and do the same thing. We got online and looked some up and realized there were some great deals on mp3 players that used SD cards. With a setup like that, you can upgrade your own mp3 player when you need more memory.

We decided to go with the SanDisk Sansa 1GB Shaker, a kid's model but the sturdiness and simplicity made it a great choice for him to use at work (he's a steel worker). And we ordered him an extra 2GB card for loading an audio Bible.

The mp3 player came earlier this week, and the 2GB card came yesterday... twice. Yes, when I got home from work yesterday, there were two identical packages, each containing one 2GB card and the same packing slip. Hmm...

So, I checked our order to make sure I had not accidentally ordered two. I had not. So, I contacted Buy.com costumer service to let them know about the mistake. They issued an RMA in a few minutes.

Then I opened one of the cards and so I could start installing the Bible to it. It locked up my desktop when I put it into my SD reader. I popped it out, rebooted. Same thing. I popped it out, rebooted, tried a USB SD reader. Locked up my mouse and keyboard. I had to reboot.

Now, I've had some trouble lately with my memory card readers and USB on my desktop, so I tried my laptop. Same trouble.

I thought perhaps that it needed formatting, so I tried using my wife's camera to format it. It turned the camera off and wouldn't let me turn it back on again until I had pulled the card out.

So I opened the other card. This one worked perfectly. Way to go, Providence! My relatives are only here for the remainder of this week. So having Buy.com "accidentally" send two SD cards so that one of them would work and my father-in-law could still have it to take home with him was wonderful!

I downloaded the Bible for my father-in-law and we listened to a bit of it to make sure he would like it. I was really impressed with the quality, especially since it was free. I thought I might reload Ephesians and start working on that again. But then I had a better idea and I hope this might help you.

My son and I are studying the Bible together, using the Suffer Little Children curriculum. I remembered hearing someone, perhaps it was Piper, encourage pastors to memorize their text each week. Now, I'm not preparing a text to preach, but I am preparing to teach my son. I don't know that I'll have it memorized, but I decided I could focus on the chapter we are going to study each day. So, I unloaded all the audio from my car mp3 player and just put Genesis 12 so it would repeat. And I listened to that over-and-over on the drive to work this morning. I definitely feel more familiar with the text, and I'll be hearing it again on my drive home this afternoon.

I look forward to seeing how this will improve my teaching and my own faith.

Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven."
Matthew 22:29, 30

From the very beginning, God gave Eve to Adam. There has always been marriage. Up until the time of the flood, they were marrying and giving in marriage (Matt. 24:38). When Noah and his sons left the ark, God commanded them, even as He had commanded our first parents, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth" (Gen. 9:1). When the Jews were captives in Babylon, Jeremiah sent them the word of the Lord in a letter, telling them to "take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters" (Jer. 29:6). Even during great persecution, when Paul was discouraging entering into marriage, he still said, "It is better to marry than to burn with passion" (1 Cor. 7:9).

There has always been marriage.

This passage used to really bother me. After all, I'm married, and I like being married. My wife fears God. She is my definition of joy. I would rather be with her than with anyone else on this planet. God forbid, if I ever had to choose between my wife or my children, I would choose her. That does not mean that I do not love my children, but I love her that much more.

So, when my wife provides me with so much of a "heaven on earth," how could I fathom heaven without marriage?

Then I heard a sermon by John Piper, which, as tends to be the case, made this much clearer.

In the Old Testament, the Jews brought their sacrifices to God. These sacrifices had no power in themselves to save, but they were a type and pointed to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus made that final sacrifice, there was no longer any need for these regular priestly sacrifices. Our Great High Priest had already offered the antitype to which they pointed.

Even so, as Paul taught, marriage is a type of the relationship between Christ and the church (Eph. 5:22-33). Once that relationship has been consummated in heaven, there will no longer be a need for marriage to illustrate it. As perfect as my marriage may seem at times, it is still an imperfect picture of our relationship to Christ. "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face" (1 Cor. 13:12).

My marriage is a relationship for better or worse, in sickness and health, etc. That Marriage will be better and better, immortal and rich, etc. All the positives with none of the negatives.

To complain that there would be no marriage in heaven is to complain that there are no more bulls or goats being sacrificed. It is to look at your bowl of overflowing ice cream and asking, "But where have all the lima beans gone?" You've made it through the meal and eaten all your vegetables and you cry at your dessert.

My wife is my joy on earth. But I go to God, my Exceeding Joy.

I love the final words of The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis:

For them, it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 8:35)

NEPAL

Priest Killed by Hindu Extremists - VOM Sources

On July 1, Father Johnson Prakash Moyalan, a Roman Catholic priest from India, was killed by armed extremists in eastern Nepal. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts, "At approximately 1:00 a.m., the men broke into a building belonging to the Don Bosco Mission in the town of Sirsiya. They locked up the assistant priest and shot Moyalan in the stomach and chest. Reports also indicated that a bomb was detonated on the premises. The attackers left pamphlets on the scene identifying themselves as members of the Nepal Defense Army, a terrorist group that wants Hinduism restored as the state religion." Pray those who mourn Father Moyalan will find strength, comfort and peace in Christ. Pray that God will continue to raise up cross-bearing disciples in Nepal willing to remain faithful to Him at all cost. 1 Corinthians 4:9-14, 16

CHINA

Pastor Sentenced to Re-education Through Labor - China Aid Association

On July 4, Pastor Zhang Zhongxin was sentenced to two years re-education through labor in Jining city in Shangdong province. According to China Aid Association (CAA), "Shandong Re-education-Through-Labor Management Committee issued a written decision sentencing Zhang Zhongxin to two years re-education through labor. Authorities accused him [Zhongxin] of cult participation in the ‘whole scope of the church' organized ‘Sunday school training courses, preaching the gospel to the northwest, Tibet and other places for missionaries and pioneers sermons.'" CAA added that in 2005, Zhongxin established The Rainbow Missions Fellowship and Timothy Bible Training School in Jining city, Shandong province, where Christian leaders are trained. Zhongxin has appealed his sentence. Pray for Zhongxin and his family during this difficult time. Ask God to give them courage as he appeals his sentence. Ask God to protect believers in China who face trying times as the government cracks down on believers ahead of the Olympics next month. Deuteronomy 33:26-27

SRI LANKA

Christians Attacked - National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka

Recently there have been at least two incidents of violence against Christians in Sri Lanka. According to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), "Unidentified assailants set fire to the house of an Assemblies of God church pastor in the city of Middeniya on the evening of July 3. The pastor, his wife and two children awoke to find that a fire had been started by the main door of their house. The family managed to put the blaze out before it caused extensive damage and no one was injured. Local villagers opposed to the pastor's church have reportedly been threatening him and his family in recent weeks." Meanwhile NCEASL added, "On July 6, a mob attacked the Calvary Church after false rumors about Christians attacking a temple spread in the district of Colombo. At approximately 9:30 a.m., five Buddhist monks charged into the church building during a worship service and demanded that the service cease. The pastor led the monks outside where they told him that there was no need for Christians in the village and threatened to destroy all local churches. By the time the police arrived on scene a large mob had gathered around the building. Fearing violence, the pastor sent his congregation away. The mob then attacked the building, completely destroying the contents. They beat the pastor and at least five others with clubs and rods. The pastor and his father were severely injured while others sustained minor injuries." Ask God to strengthen and heal the victims of these attacks. Pray that the faithfulness of Christians in Sri Lanka will be a light that draws others to Christ. Psalm 91

IRAN

UPDATE: Imprisoned Iranian Christian "Temporarily" Released - Compass Direct News

Praise God! On June 26, Mohsen Namvar, an Iranian Christian who was arrested in his home in Tehran on May 31, was released from prison "temporarily." According to Compass Direct News, "Namvar was badly beaten while detained. Upon his release, he was treated for a fever and high blood pressure and his body appeared to be in shock. Local Christians believe that authorities may have released him out of fear that he would die in prison." Praise God for Namvar's courage and release. Pray for healing in his body and peace of mind. Ask God to encourage him and other believers in Iran who are standing in their faith in spite of persecution. Pray God gives them strength to forgive their persecutors. Romans 8:11

YEMEN

Christians Arrested - VOM Sources/ AhSahwa Net

Seven Christians were arrested recently by Yemeni security forces in the province of Hodeida, Yemen. According to VOM sources, "Security authorities told media organization, AhSahwa Net, that Political Security Forces in Hodeida city were holding a person named Hani Hussein Dahani from the district of AlZaidia who is being accused of embracing Christianity and leaving the Islamic religion. Four others close to him had the appearance of missionary network, as well as two others who were also seized, were involved in secretly spreading and distributing Bibles in AlDhahi district a year ago, and who had been fugitives from the law ever since." VOM sources added the report confirmed that those arrested had been transferred to Sana'a city for further investigation and scrutiny. The Yemeni government has arrested these seven believers because they distributed Bibles in several districts in 2007. Pray for strength for the arrested believers and their families. Ask God to increase their faith and courage as they stand for Christ during this challenging time. Pray those affected will forgive their persecutors and get an opportunity to share Christ with them. Isaiah 54:17


www.persecution.com

I just posted another one.

http://brianbyarsart.blogspot.com/

I uploaded a new drawing on my art page today.

... Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the Holy cause of Liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave...

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains of slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775, excerpt from speech given at the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond, VA.

I had to stop and get gas on the way to work this morning. As I stood pumping liquid gold into my tank, a female voice interrupted the musaq: "Eat together as a family. Don't allow your children to eat in their rooms. Turn off the TV and enjoy a meal together." Etc. etc.

As much as I agreed with what the voice said, I thought I was suddenly in 1984.

The gas slowed to a stop, not chunked off because the tank was full. I looked up at the meter. $75. I had hit my legal limit for gas at this tank.

The gas tank had taken my attention from the female voice, but I think she said, "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."

I got back in the minivan and cranked up "La Grange." If only this were an Indian and I could just escape into the Badlands for a while.

By Mary Starrett
July 1, 2008
NewsWithViews.com

Being For the Constitution SOME of the Time And Not All Of The Time Is Like Being ‘A Little Bit Pregnant’

Bob Barr, former Republican Congressman and US Attorney and now the Libertarian Party candidate for president has held many positions that constitutionalists can agree with. Many see Barr as the natural movement forward of the Ron Paul campaign, but even the most cursory examination of Bob Barr’s past political positions show he doesn’t pass the smell test.

In other words, you can’t be for adherence to the Constitution some of the time and against it some of the time, as we shall see Bob Barr clearly is.

Close enough is not close enough at all when it comes to our civil liberties and the rights guaranteed in the founding documents.

Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin (www.Baldwin2008.com) believes the US Constitution was then and is now designed to tie down the tentacles of the Federal government and that any and all powers given to the Federal government are clearly outlined in and limited by that document.

Bob Barr has not held fast to that single absolute and that is why you should know there is a very large distinction between Barr and Baldwin.

• Barr is in favor of an interventionist foreign policy, arguing for intervention in Iran and South America, among other countries. Barr voted for the Iraq war. He praised Bush because "the surge is working." Chuck Baldwin believes, as our Founders did, that we should be a friend to all and avoid ‘foreign entanglements’. Baldwin has stated that if elected he would see to it that those who have been sent to fight the illegal, unconstitutional and immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would receive orders to return home immediately.

• Barr voted for the Patriot Act, and favored reauthorization of that liberty-robbing set of laws. Chuck Baldwin has always stood against the Patriot Act as an unconstitutional power grab by the executive branch.

• Barr favors a national sales tax. Chuck Baldwin contends that does not reform our tax system, it merely re-orders the heavy-handed manner the IRS controls the illegal and unfair robbing of Peter to subsidize Paul.

• He’s held an advisory position with the ACLU- a group which has worked tirelessly to push anti- Christian and anti- free speech agendas

• While Bob Barr has publicly, at times, supported pro-life groups, sadly, in his private life, according to his ex wife, Barr encouraged the abortion of their child.

• Chuck Baldwin has been a vocal and steadfast defender of the sanctity of life- publicly and privately.

Bob Barr is no Chuck Baldwin and that is why in November it behooves liberty-minded Americans to vote for the Constitution and vote for the Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin.

© 2008 Mary Starrett - All Rights Reserved