To Go Against Conscience is Neither Right nor Safe

Luther at the Diet of Worms

For today only, you can pay just $15.17 (the year of the 95 Theses) for the Reformation Study Bible at Ligonier.org.
Here’s a (slightly cheesy) infomercial starring RC Sproul about this particular study Bible:

Happy Reformation Day!

Don’t forget

…you can get a free taco at Taco Bell today from 2-5, thanks to…

also known as Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox. Since he stole a base the World Series, America gets to steal a taco.

Random

This morning my Gmail offered me this “recycling tip”:

You can make a lovely hat out of previously-used aluminum foil.

Wow, that never even occurred to me. Thank you, Gmail.

Help me out, though. For which occasions would a recycled aluminum foil hat be appropriate? Weddings? Funerals? Resurrection Sunday?

Quite Possibly the Best Line Ever

An eager young man asks his future father-in-law for the daughter’s hand in marriage. And the dad replies…

HT: Challies

Another Reason to Love the Rain

Mothers of the Wise and Good

Recollections of a Mother by her Eldest Son

Today’s chapter is the final one in this section of the book, and the “recollection” is by the author of the book, Jabez Burns (1805-1876).

As with so many of the other mothers listed in this book, Burns’ mother distinguished herself not by some great deed done in her child’s life, but in the day in and day out faithful execution of loving care for and godly admonition to her children.

A few examples:

From the earliest dawning of intellect and affection, my attachment to her was strong, and her influence unbounded. Nor did they diminish with my advancing childhood and youth; for they were sustained and strengthened by a tenderness, a prudence, and a piety, the most uniform and watchful. Even now I seem, at times, to feel the gentle movements of my kind and anxious mother, as, amid the shivering cold of a northern winter, she came night after night to my lowly bed, long after my eyes were closed in sleep, and scarcely waked me from my slumber, while she carefully pressed the warm covering around my feet and limbs….

Punishment I could, perhaps, have borne, but her words and her tears broke my heart, though proud and rebellious. She made me feel that I had sinned against a good and holy God, and that my wickedness was greatly increased…because she had so often consecrated me to God. I felt ashamed and distressed that I had wounded a heart so pious and so affectionate, and robably while memory lasts I shall never forget the time and the place, the expressive countenance, and the earnest manner of my mother….

My mother turned upon me her full, dark eyes, kindled and yet softened by the emotions of her soul, and twice repeating my name, with a look and a tone strongly expressive of surprise and grief, conveyed to my heart gently, but effectively, the deserved rebuke.

Perhaps this is the most fitting account to end with, because it reminds us that consistent teaching, loving, and rebuke when necessary, is the task set before us as mothers. Only with the Lord’s help can we continue from day to day! It is a staggering calling!

when i forget to drink from you
I can feel the banks harden
Lord, make me like a stream to feed the garden
wake up, little sleeper
the Lord God Almighty
Made your mama keeper
so rise and shine

Listen to the Rain

Daddy don’t like it
and your Momma can’t stand it
and your sister isn’t listening
to the rhythm of the rain

it’s not gonna hurt you
it just may scare you
and you’re thinking the weather
is never gonna change

and I hear your words, they fall like water
though they burn like fire
I would not run from the pain
listen to the rain

The sun will burn you
The light will blind you
but the sky is crying for you
the wind is calling your name

and I hear your words, they fall like water
though they burn like fire
I would not run from the pain
listen to the rain

So I’ll stop talking
my words will end
I’m gonna leave those spaces
and let the water fill them in

Words by Hughes and Wagner

That’s a new one

I just returned from an errand not too long ago and started unloading the van. On my second trip from the kitchen to the van, I went out into the driveway to remind the boys to help me carry bags into the house.

I saw…

one of my sons standing on the curb (I won’t tell you which one, but you have a 33% chance of guessing right) with his back to me, pulling up his pants. Apparently he saw the water flowing down the side of our street and got inspired to *ahem* mark his territory, shall we say?

In the process, he flashed the entire street, possibly polluted the groundwater, and horrified but amused his mother. As I walked to him to reprove him, I had to cover my face because I was trying so hard to suppress my laughter.

So, I say 33% chance because Jonathan can’t do that yet.

It’s just something I never thought I’d see…you don’t think about saying, “don’t pee in the street.” You kind of hope they pick that up…

Politics

Three noted Christian uber-bloggers are endorsing Mike Huckabee for President.