Piper's Plea to Obama

Please spend 3 minutes of your time watching this:

Pro Life Links

Since this week marks the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade here are some interesting links about this issue:

Justin Taylor on Obama's Roe vs. Wade statement

Abortion and the early church

Four reasons you might be aborted - an open letter to fetuses

How you can make a difference

The light of God and the darkness of abortion - sermon

Lincoln's logic on slavery applied to abortion

22 Weeks - should be a film required for all to see

Jane Roe

Unmerited Common Grace

Lincoln's Speech vs. Obama's

While watching the inauguration of President Obama this morning, the media consistently drew parallels of Obama to Lincoln. Furthermore, Obama is using the same bible that Lincoln used upon his swearing in. There is also much being said at how Lincoln's second inaugural speech has heavily influenced Obama and his speech. We shall see. At this writing, he has not given his speech yet. It is here that the parallells between Obama and Lincoln start to unravel. Read, if you will, Lincoln's speech: (I put into bold mentions of God)

Fellow Countrymen:

At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.

One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether'.

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan – to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.

I could post an entire series on this speech. There is a lot here. Lincoln essentially states that the atrocities of the Civil War is God's judgment on America for the atrocities of slavery. Another main theme of this address is that God's will will be accomplished. Lincoln also states that God's will is unknowable and that He is soveriegn over all. He states that God's ultimate plan comes to fruition despite mankind's attempt to thwart His will. He also quotes Jesus in Matthew 18:7 and Psalm 19. He states that both sides of the Civil War "read the same Bible and prayed to the same God." I'm sure that quote will not be referred to today...and if it is, it'll be spoken of as being antiquated or simply wrong. The fact that everyone reads the same Bible and pray to the same God is about as ancient an idea as 8-tracks are to technology.

No matter what happens in the future of this country, and no matter what Obama says in his speech today, let us not confuse the faith of our new president and the "atrocities" (that of the economic crisis) that he will have to deal with with the faith of one of our greatest presidents and the real atrocities that he dealt with - a man whose entire inaugural address was about the Almighty God and a man who lost his life for what he believed in just three weeks later.

5 Years

Has it really been over a week since my last blog post? Wow, things have really gotten busy at FirstKids, as well as in my life. Last Saturday, my wife and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary. I thought I'd post some pictures of how we've changed over those five years:

Wedding Day, Jan.10, 2004


Year 1, Jan. 2005



Year 2, Jan. 2006



Year 3, Jan. 2007



Year 4, Jan. 2008


Year 5, Jan. 2009


See how we've changed!

Parenting Preschoolers

Starting this Sunday night I will begin teaching a course on Parenting Preschoolers. I've entitled it Parenting Preschoolers: Heart-Oriented Discipline. Here is the 11-week schedule:

Week 1- Introduction/Establishing a Parenting Worldview

Week 2 – From Behavior to the Heart

Week 3 – Establishing Parenting Goals

Week 4 – The Parent as Authority

Week 5 – Biblical and Unbiblical Methods of Parenting

Week 6 – Parenting Method 1: Using the Rod

Week 7 – Parenting Method 2: Using Communication/Biblical Reproof

Week 8 – Training Objectives and Procedures

Week 9 – The Sowing and Reaping Principle

Week 10 – Redemptive Parenting

Week 11 – Praying for and Leading your Child to Christ

Many times, discipleship classes only cover one book. I've always felt that that approach that limits the class. Therefore, this course is built around many sources. However it is comprised heavily of three primary texts: Shepherding a Child's Heart, Instructing a Child's Heart (both by Tedd Tripp) and Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman. If you live in Columbia and have kids, are about to have kids, or are thinking about having kinds, we'd love to have you join us this Sunday night.

For more information click here

Get Away

One of the most important things that a married couple with children can do to enhance their marriage is to get away. In fact, I turn 30 on March 26 of this year and I am already planning, as well as looking forward to, our mini-get away. Every couple needs a time of refreshment, reflection, and renewal so that their marriage does not grow stale.

Here is a cool link (albeit extremely exhaustive) that gives some pointers as to how husbands and wives can make their get away both relaxing and productive. Let me say that I would not attempt to follow every exercise or answer every question in this pamphlet. That may make your weekend a tad stressful. However, there are a lot of good ideas to put to good use.

The Realness of our Authority

"Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?' Jesus answered him, 'You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.'" (John 19:10-11)

I find this exchange between Pontius Pilate and Jesus truly fascinating. Here is God in the flesh standing before a Roman governor. Pilate asks Jesus a question and he does not respond. Insulted, the governor essentially says, "Do you not know who I am?" Oh, the irony! "Do you not know that that I can release you?" Jesus' response was appropriate. The only power and authority that Pilate had was given to him by God.

This is a lesson that we all should reflect upon. The only authority or power we have in this world has been given to us by God. He has freely given it to us and he can freely take it away. Are we so brazen and arrogant to think that we can truly have any type of influence in this life without the grace of God working for, in, and through us? Judging by our surroundings, yes we are.

Lord, forgive us for our arrogance and redeem our hearts to know that we have power and influence but only by your grace. Let us use our power and influence for your glory.

Does anyone find themselves struggling with their "perceived power?"

How to Pray for Your Children

As parents, we all know that we should pray regularly for our children. However, what exactly should we pray about? John Blooom at desiringgod.com gives us several biblical texts to help guide our prayers:

1. That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.

"Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.' And he laid his hands on them and went away." (Matthew 19:13-15)

2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’ faithful, persistent call.

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)"

3. That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.

"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39)

4. That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)"

5. That their thoughts will be pure.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8)

6. That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord's work.

"All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord." (Exodus 35:29)

7. That when the time is right, they will GO!

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:18-20)

2008 in 40 Seconds

One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.