God's Beautiful World

Went down to La Jolla with the family yesterday.   It was gray and gloomy until the sun dropped below the clouds; then we enjoyed the splendor of a Pacific sunset.  So refreshing.  After dark we ate at a taco shop, then went home and watched a cowboy movie wherein the bad guys got swift justice.  A good day. 

A Clue That Something Might Be Wrong

When devotion to one's "deity" requires one to sew explosives into one's underpants, perhaps it might be time to seriously question one's religion.  After hours of thinking things through, this guy elects to go ahead with setting fire to his crotch in order to murder hundreds of people? Really?

And, did I miss it, or are "moderate" Muslims everywhere not publicly condemning Mr. Underpants Suicide Bomber?

Thank God for Bryan San Miguel

Here is Bryan playing one of his guitars to accompany our kids.  He also plays mando, fiddle, and banjo, and has taught a bunch of other people to play instruments as well. He meets with our teens every Wednesday to teach them to serve the Lord with music and instruments.  He first learned to play guitar so he could sing to his wife at their wedding.  He is a great man and a dear brother.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Bryan, Rhanda, and Ben closed out our concert with "How Deep the Father's Love," a modern hymn by Townend and Getty:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Christmas Merriment

The Prospect Avenue Bluegrass Band (in one of it's various forms) performing at our church Christmas party this past Sunday. (L-R) Bryan, Timmy, (behind Timmy is Justin on bass) Jake, Wyatt, Jameson, (and love-of-my-life) Toni. That's a bunch o musical talent in one place.

Toni's Boys

We got up at zero-dark-thirty to get Ben to the airport.  (Everyone has hat hair except Ben.)  He had a full travel day, 6 hours by plane and 5 by car.  We pick him up again this Thursday.  Yay!

Thanksgiving Gift

November 27, 009 - Ben and Jameson wowed'em at Lord of the Strings on one Jerry Reed and two Django Reinhardt tunes.  My sons are such a blessing. See if the video below doesn't just bless your heart...

Ben Owens Concert in Santee

Ben will be appearing in concert at Prospect Avenue Baptist Church, Sunday, November 29 @ 6PM. Come on out and bring a friend! We'll have froo-froo coffee drinks and all manner of cookies too.

Fort Hood Massacre Avoidable

"WHY do police officers have to save SOLDIERS on a military base?

WHY is our own military disarmed on military installations?

Had our military personnel been armed, as they should be, the response to a lone psychopath attempting to inflict mayhem would have been swift and sure! One dead terrorist, hit multiple times from multiple armed soldiers."

I too wondered why our soldiers were unarmed. I do recall seeing troops returning from deployment who carried their rifles as they exited the aircraft. Why are they not trusted to carry at least a sidearm on base?


Check out this interesting video about the Swiss. 

Nidal Hasan, Terrorist or Nutcase? Wrong Question.

The question of whether the mass-murder at Ft. Hood was an act of terrorism or the act of a disturbed/deranged individual misses the point. It creates a dichotomy where none should exist by the use of the term "terrorism." We need to begin substituting "act of war" in place of the term "terrorism." Those we call terrorists are really warriors. Their attacks are not merely acts of terrorism, they are acts of war. This does not preclude them from being deranged.

The Muslims who have attacked us are warriors for Islam AND they are deranged. They fully believe they are duty bound to make war against the west as part of Islam's plan to conquer the world for Allah. Their decision to attack and kill is a response to the preaching at their mosques, not to taunts on the playground. Indoctrination from their preachers - not bullying from their peers - is the motivation to kill. They become deranged/deluded/disturbed in their thinking at the mosque. Then they commit acts of violence. The suicide bomber is certainly deranged, but that does not make his killing of innocents any less an act of war, in his own mind and in reality.

Furthermore whether Nidal Hasan did or did not have connections with "terror groups" is of no consequence. They are united in their ideology. "Allahu Akbar" is both an exclamation of praise to their "god" and a war cry. His actions and his statements prove that he is a jihadist, a warrior for Islam.

Americans readily recognized that Pearl Harbor was an act of war. Yet we term 9/11 an act of terrorism. The distinction is imaginary. We recognize that those who attacked Pearl Harbor represented Japan. But we try to evade the glaring fact that those who attacked us on 9/11 (and at Ft. Hood) represent Islam.

Apparently Nidal Hasan had formerly expressed sympathy (more than once) with those who are making war against the United States. Yet the Army has stated that while his statements raised questions, no formal investigation was ever launched. They are now investigating the worst massacre on a domestic American military base. An ounce of prevention might have saved lives.

President Bush coined the term "the war on terror;" it is politically correct and essentially meaningless. While we do not believe that we are at war with Islam, our enemy believes otherwise. To deny that Islam is at war with us makes us unsafe. It puts Americans at risk, as was clearly demonstrated this week.

I recommend this documentary.

Let All The Earth Fear The Lord

Psalm 33

The Sovereignty of the LORD in Creation and History

 ¹ Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
         For praise from the upright is beautiful.
 ² Praise the LORD with the harp;
         Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
 ³ Sing to Him a new song;
         Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
       
 ⁴ For the word of the LORD is right,
         And all His work is done in truth.
 ⁵ He loves righteousness and justice;
         The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
       
 ⁶ By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
         And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
 ⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;^[a]
         He lays up the deep in storehouses.
       
 ⁸ Let all the earth fear the LORD;
         Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
 ⁹ For He spoke, and it was done;
         He commanded, and it stood fast.
       
 ¹⁰ The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
         He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
 ¹¹ The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
         The plans of His heart to all generations.
 ¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
         The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
       
 ¹³ The LORD looks from heaven;
         He sees all the sons of men.
 ¹⁴ From the place of His dwelling He looks
         On all the inhabitants of the earth;
 ¹⁵ He fashions their hearts individually;
         He considers all their works.
       
 ¹⁶ No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
         A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
 ¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for safety;
         Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
       
 ¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
         On those who hope in His mercy,
 ¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death,
         And to keep them alive in famine.
       
 ²⁰ Our soul waits for the LORD;
         He is our help and our shield.
 ²¹ For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
         Because we have trusted in His holy name.
 ²² Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
         Just as we hope in You.

Awesome Interview With John Sanford

‘I was totally sold on evolution. It was my religion; it defined how I saw everything, it was my value system and my reason for being. Later, I came to believe in “God”, but this still did not significantly change my intellectual outlook regarding origins. However, still later, as I began to personally know and submit to Jesus, I started to be fundamentally changed—in every respect. This included my mind, and how I viewed science and history. I would not say that science led me to the Lord (which is the experience of some). Rather I would say Jesus opened my eyes to His creation—I was blind, and gradually I could see. It sounds simple, but it was a slow and painful process....'
More here  and  See also

Great Stuff From Tom Cantor

The following is excerpted from Tom Cantor's delightful booklet "How a Jew Became a Scientific Creationist."


(Read the full text here)


"Being a creationist is both intellect and soul liberating, because Creation reveals the faithfulness of the Creator. For example, the human body is the work of a faithful Creator. The intricate layout of all of the blood vessels with each one attached to its correct terminus, all working together for the overall function of transporting nutrients, wastes and oxygen to and from cells, shows the work of a faithful Creator. The ear drum receiving tonal sound waves and moving less than the diameter of an atom and then transferring those movements to 3 bones, which in turn go through a transducer, converting movement into electrical signals that are interpreted by the brain as different tones, shows the work of a faithful Creator. The interdependency of plant and animal as the plant both uses our exhaled carbon dioxide and produces the oxygen we need, shows the work of a faithful Creator. These are but a very few of the many parts of the Creation that all display the work of a faithful Creator. Allowing the Creation to speak of the Creator’s faithfulness is an encouragement to call on that Creator for the greatest need we have — which is to be saved from the penalty of having sinned against the sinless, Holy Creator. The Bible clearly identifies who the Creator is."


Colossians 1:13-17

“…His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or  dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”


"The Creator is the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only is He the Creator, He is the Savior from sin. He has promised to save everyone who calls on His name for salvation from sin. The Bible encourages needy souls to commit the keeping of our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ as a faithful Creator."

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation;
         Whom shall I fear?
         The LORD is the strength of my life;
         Of whom shall I be afraid?
 ² When the wicked came against me
         To eat up my flesh,
         My enemies and foes,
         They stumbled and fell.
 ³ Though an army may encamp against me,
         My heart shall not fear;
         Though war may rise against me,
         In this I will be confident.
        
 ⁴ One thing I have desired of the LORD,
         That will I seek:
         That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
         All the days of my life,
         To behold the beauty of the LORD,
         And to inquire in His temple.
 ⁵ For in the time of trouble
         He shall hide me in His pavilion;
         In the secret place of His tabernacle
         He shall hide me;
         He shall set me high upon a rock.
        
 ⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
         Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
         I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
        
 ⁷ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
         Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
 ⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,”
         My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
 ⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;
         Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
         You have been my help;
         Do not leave me nor forsake me,
         O God of my salvation.
 ¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me,
         Then the LORD will take care of me.
        
 ¹¹ Teach me Your way, O LORD,
         And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
 ¹² Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
         For false witnesses have risen against me,
         And such as breathe out violence.
 ¹³ I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
         That I would see the goodness of the LORD
         In the land of the living.
        
 ¹⁴ Wait on the LORD;
         Be of good courage,
         And He shall strengthen your heart;
         Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Powerful Healing in a Tube (no kidding)

MelaGel works. It lessens pain and promotes healing in all sorts of cuts, scrapes, burns, etc. This is not a commercial (and I don't sell the stuff) but I think everyone ought to have a tube in his first-aid kit and medicine cabinet. You can read about it here, but you can probably find it cheaper on Ebay.

God of Wonders

I found an awesome new creationism resource. "God of Wonders" may be the finest film on creationism ever - a plethora of amazing examples of God's genius, and stunning cinematography. We viewed it in church the past two Sunday nights, and everyone loved it. We have it in the church lending library, and you can view it online here. 


“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?" Job 12:7-10

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire

Psalm 20

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
         May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
 ² May He send you help from the sanctuary,
         And strengthen you out of Zion;
 ³ May He remember all your offerings,
         And accept your burnt sacrifice.  Selah
       
 ⁴ May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
         And fulfill all your purpose.
 ⁵ We will rejoice in your salvation,
         And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
         May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
       
 ⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
         He will answer him from His holy heaven
         With the saving strength of His right hand.
       
 ⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
         But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
 ⁸ They have bowed down and fallen;
         But we have risen and stand upright.
       
 ⁹ Save, LORD!
         May the King answer us when we call.

Where Credit is Due

Tuesday we went on a field trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. At the beginning of the tram tour the guide told us that the cheetahs were "elegantly designed for speed." I appreciated the nod to the Designer; but, alas, it was to be short lived. In the next 20 minutes we must have heard the word adaptation at least 100 times. Giraffes adapted long necks due to the intense competition for grasses as a primary food source.

I do understand that there is a certain amount of resident "variability" in the genetic information of all living things. But I think the tour guide was either tacitly or intentionally teaching Lamarckism - the inheritance of novel traits acquired through use or disuse of body parts. Giraffes stretched for leaves, and little by little their necks grew longer, and their offspring inherited the new genetic information for longer necks. A cat gets his tail slammed in a door, and her kittens are born with crooked tails - an oversimplification to illustrate that Lamarckism is a failed theory. This stuff just does not happen. Charles Darwin promoted his own version of Lamarckism called pangenesis which was also proven false with later experimentation. He even proposed a feedback loop from the environment to somatic cells to sex cells to offspring - all false.

While the zoo folks have repeated this nonsense to one another so often that they believe it in spite of the evidence, it is - at the very least - annoying to those of us who would just like to enjoy our visit, without all the brain-washing.

On the other hand, Sunday we had a wonderful lunch at church - smoked brisket, sweet and spicy beans, and cole slaw. Our amazing God has filled the earth with plants and animals according to His ingenious design that every living thing should reproduce "according to its kind" as stated 10 times in Genesis chapter one and proven by billions of experiments each year. (Ask any farmer.)

They even taste good when you cook them. It did not have to be that way. And it did not happen by chance or by accident. We should praise Him for it. "Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17 (ESV)

Ephesians 6:17 - The Helmet of Salvation

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God." 

From John MacArthur's Commentary on Ephesians:

When the coal truck delivered a ton of coal on the sidewalk in front of her house, a little London girl took her small shovel and began carrying the coal into the basement. When a neighbor man who was watching told her, “You’ll never be able to get it all in,” she replied, “Oh, I will sir, if I work long enough.”

The test of a person’s character is what it takes to stop him. Some people retreat as soon as the first shot is fired, while others fight through battle after battle with no thought of giving up. Satan will try every means to discourage and deter us, reminding us of defeats and dangers and setting every possible object in our way to destroy our assurance in Christ. The Lord allowed Satan to strip Job of every good thing he possessed except his life, yet that man of God declared, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15). The book of Job demonstrates the character of true saving faith in revealing that it is not connected to what benefits and blessings a person has or loses. Job’s helmet deflected every blow against him, and he maintained his faith in God’s love and care.

Six Evidences for God's Existence

An article by a former atheist. I like this; check it out.

Quieting a Noisy Soul

On our trip back east our friend Bobby Sass told us about "Quieting a Noisy Soul;" it's a seminar series my Jim Berg, dean of students at Bob Junes University. I purchased it from Amazon for under $100, and Toni and I have been previewing it this week - we like it a lot.

From the website: "Quieting a Noisy Soul is a unique multimedia program for personal growth and change combining DVD video sessions, an audio CD for daily meditation upon applicable Scripture passages, an mp3 CD for convenient review of the seminar sessions, and a powerful interactive study guide that aids your personal application of the seminar truths. No Christian program provides such a comprehensive, structured means to saturate your mind with the truths of Who God is and how He intends for those truths to deliver you from your guilt, anxiety, anger, and despair."


I plan to use this as our Sunday evening curriculum after we finish our current series. Visit the QANS website.

Another Phase of Life

With each new phase of life I realize how little I actually know by experience. Over twenty years ago God gave me what would prove to be one of the greatest treasures in my life. He changed my life. And last week I had to wave good-bye to him. As I watched Ben's car disappear in the distance I cried my heart out, and for hours a scene kept looping through my mind of that happy little 4-year-old boy - shirtless, barefoot, with sun-bleached hair - calling out to me with glee in that sweet little kid voice. Where did the time go?

I know I always teach that we are raising them to leave us, but I don't think I ever really accepted that it would happen to me. He's only gone away to college. But he's a continent away. And he's starting his own life. Wow.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with Ben. Please take good care of him.

Ben Owens at the Creation Museum

Hey Y'all! Just got an email announcement of July events at the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum. Ben is on their daily blog! I thank God for Answers in Genesis and for Ben.

The Church

When I think of the church I usually picture the local church - and, more specifically, our local church. Today I am thankful for the universal church - the body of Christ at large.

Ben is scheduled to perform at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention in Nashville July 8-11 and at The Creation Museum near Cincinnati July 13-31. He sorely needed to make the trip to earn money for college, but due to his age he was unable to rent a car or even a room. Imagine planning a 3-week trip with no transportation or housing.

This is where caring Christian friends came to the rescue. Chris and Meagan (Taylor) Anderson, Dr. Mark and Carol Pritcher, Ivan and Connie Gunn, Dr. David and Deb Menton, and Mike and Lesley Riddle all offered to help with both housing and transportation. What an answer to prayer these folks are. May the Lord bless them all for their generosity and hospitality.

The Land of the Free

I think sometimes people get the wrong idea about freedom and liberty - i.e., that we have to liberty to do wrong. Americans have the freedom to travel pretty much wherever and whenever we please. Yet there are innumerable laws that govern our "freedom of travel." Order, safety, and the general welfare demand it. And there are consequences - both natural and legal - for violating those laws.

Same with the laws of nature. You have the freedom to cliff dive. Land on a rock, and the laws of physics exact a severe and potentially fatal penalty.

In the end we are really only free to do right. There are consequences for doing wrong. There will be an immediate or eventual natural (cause and effect) consequence for doing wrong. And ultimately there will be a divine consequence. God has appointed a day in which Jesus Christ will judge the world in righteousness. He has given assurance of this to everyone in that he raised Jesus from the dead.

In light of this coming judgment, God commands all people everywhere to repent of their sins, and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Happy Fourth.

Day Dreaming

Last fall our church sent us on a much needed vacation. We will always treasure their kindness and the memories of our time together in the Sierras. It is so refreshing to get away with the one you love; even just a day helps a lot.

I thank God for the gift of marriage.

Lord of the Strings Concert Series Scholarship

Tim and Tina Johnson are founders of Lord of the Strings Concerts in Dana Point, Ca. Their labor of love provides a venue for fingerstyle guitarists (and a few other select acoustic musicians) from around the world. They host 24 to 26 shows a year in two venues in Orange County. They have helped dozens of artists fill dates in their schedules, and in the process they have become the premiere venue for virtuoso-class fingerstyle guitar in SoCal. Their concerts are totally family friendly, and they and their team are extremely gracious hosts.

This year in an effort to help promote fingerstyle guitar among young people, LOS launched a scholarship program which was personally funded by LOS patrons Steve and Cindy Olson. They generously provided $1000 to their very first scholar/player...Ben Owens. I am grateful beyond words to Steve and Cindy, and to Tim and Tina for this gracious gift to my son's education.

Tim, Tina, and crew gave our whole family first class treatment last night - free admission, reserved seating, the privilege to hang out with some salt of the earth folks, and the pleasure of seeing Ben open the show and play several duets with Pete Huttlinger. In addition to being a world-class solo guitarist (and a really nice guy) Pete also loves to promote and encourage younger players. Both Pete and his wife Erin are always kind and accommodating.

Last night was a total blessing; an act of kindness and generosity made a lifetime of fond memories for me and my family. Thanks to everyone at LOS.

The Cattywampus Boys

Great friends and great music, (l-r) Pat Ruis, Bryan San Miguel, Scott McCarty, Ben Owens, and Jameson Owens. These guys make all our events fun.

Daily Proverb - 26

As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.

A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool's back.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!" As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "I was only joking!"

Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Other Pets

Fluke the whale, Steve the sea turtle, and our grizzly bear, Brownie.

Ben's First College Degree

Ben completed his studies at Grossmont College for his associate's degree in music, classical studies. He ended his four semesters with 72.5 units, and was one of 17 grads to maintain a 4.0gpa in a class of 1300. That makes 10 consecutive semesters of 4.0, and a heap of good guitar pickin' ;)

We are grateful to the faculty at Grossmont for their virtuosity, grace, and kindness. Ben had a great time there and was sad it ended so soon. A special thanks to Fred Benedetti for mentoring my son in a new musical direction.

Girl of My Dreams

WoooooooooHooooooooo!! She's the one who made me a father (and it almost killed her)! And she's the best thing that ever happened to me. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother...