For those who memorized and quoted James 3, there was a special pizza and bowling night.

Crystal and I participated in Black Friday, but only as students are able to. Our Black Friday was not spent camping out on a frozen parking lot, rushing the Wal-mart doors in order to buy one of their five poorly constructed flat screened tvs, having a packed shopping cart repeatedly ramming my Achilles tendon in order to make me move quicker through the toy isle, or having to guard my own cart from pillagers as Crystal frantically grabs other merchandise off an inner shelf. No, our Black Friday was spent in a more brutal, exhausting, and stressful way – we worked on our theology papers. Crystal sat all day slaving over the biblical evidence whether Christ could have sinned or not, and I toiled over John’s meaning of “kingdom” in his gospel. It was a Black Ink Friday…

“What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything else of that sort. Christians come together . . . because . . . they have all been loved by Jesus himself . . .. They are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.”
– D.A. Carson, Love in Hard Places (Wheaton, Ill.; Crossway Books, 2002),61.

In our new home we have decided to take on a drastic remodeling. We are getting rid of our windows. Now this may seem overly aggressive to some of you, but we have weighed the evidence and have determined that this is for the best. Here is what we have found:

The positive elements for keeping windows –
1. “Everyone” has windows
2. The long history of windows
3. Windows will be better in the future
4. To much hassle involved in getting rid of one’s windows

The negative elements for keeping windows –
1. Nasty stuff can come in through windows
2. Much is let out through windows
3. The opening up and closing of windows can take a long time – and time is important!
4. The construction of windows definitely makes a better opening than a platform.

Really, Macs are the way to go, that is why you won’t find Windows in our home.

Heading out to my Grandfather’s funeral in Sheridan, Montana we were able to enjoy the beautiful snow AFTER it had fallen!

Someone gave my parents a pool table so we have spent some fun times playing. Please don’t ask who won….
Alguién les dió a mis papas una mesa de billar americano entonces estamos divirtiédonos jugando. Por favor, no preguntes quién ganó….

The teens had a raking activity this past week. They were able to rake lawns as an outreach to several families. There was fun all around as they jumped into the large leaf piles and made caramel apples to finish out the afternoon.

Hebrews 13:7-8
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (ESV)

One of the primary reasons why I am attending my Grandfather’s funeral in Montana is in order to consider the outcome of his way of life. He faithfully served God for the extent of his life, and I desire to see how God has used him in the lives of others.
I need to see and consider his outcome of life in order that I might follow his example. Last summer we celebrated with them their 65th wedding anniversary. What an evidence of God’s grace in their lives – to bring together two people and keep them together for sixty-five years! Crystal and I have been married for 2 years and 11 months, but I pray that I will learn from and live by his example in order that we may enjoy at least 62 years and one month more.
My childhood of growing up as a son of a pastor was a great experience, and I assume that it was the same for my father’s childhood. My grandfather was a pastor for the majority of my father’s life, and yet that did not deter him from entering the ministry as it does with so many others. It also is significant that not only my father, but both of his brothers have become pastors as well.
I need to see and consider his outcome of life in order that I may be strengthened in my life. Ministry is hard at times, and to see someone who faithfully ministered throughout his entire life is a great encouragement. Hebrews 12 encourages believers to take strength from those who have gone before in order that they may run the race that is set before them. Some stepped out in faith to head to a new land, some stepped up to face the battle, some stepped down from their positions of prominence in order to follow God. Some were beaten, many were killed, but this world was unworthy of them all. My Grandfather was a man who has joined the ranks of men who have gone before. His testimony encourages me to run this race.
I need to see and consider his outcome of life in order that I may seek to know Christ more. As I contemplate the work of Christ in the life of my Grandfather, it gives me the desire to know Him more. Jesus Christ completely transformed his life for I was able to see the fruits of the Spirit in his life (Gal. 5:22-23), something which is completely out of reach for the unbeliever (John 15:5). What God was able to do in and through him baffles the mind. Truly the Gospel of Christ is the power of God.
I need to see and consider his outcome of life in order that I may rejoice in his present condition (2 Timothy 4:7-8). I would be a fool not to be jealous (Phil. 1:23).

2 Corinthians 5:1-5
1 For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

2 Corintios 5:1-5
1 Porque sabemos, que si nuestra casa terrenal, este tabernáculo, se deshiciere, tenemos de Dios un edificio, una casa no hecha de manos, eterna, en los cielos.
2 Y por esto también gemimos, deseando ser revestidos de aquella nuestra habitación celestial;
3 y si así estamos vestidos, no seremos hallados desnudos.
4 Porque nosotros que estamos en este tabernáculo gemimos con angustia; porque no quisiéramos ser desnudados; sino revestidos, para que lo mortal sea absorbido por la vida.
5 Mas el que nos hizo para esto mismo es Dios, el cual también nos ha dado las arras del Espíritu.