Assurance of Salvation

The World From Our Window: The Believer And Assurance: Can You Really Know For Sure?

Fired by Email

RadioShack Uses E-Mail to Fire Employees

"Derrick D'Souza, a management professor at the University of North Texas, said he had never heard of such a large number of terminated employees being notified electronically. He said it could be seen as dehumanizing to employees"

Hard to believe!

Inappropriate Email Communication

I had something sent my way by email (at work) that was a rebuke.

The person wrote this "un &^%$@*! believable"

I found this uncomfortable, humiliating, demeaning, and unprofessional.

Kathee and I talked this over and we prayed about it. I ended up sending it on to our HR department and talking to an HR representative. I followed through with what he suggested.

I made an appointment with the person and told him that I found it "uncomfortable, humiliating, demeaning, and unprofessional". He apologized and it is "water over the dam" as the saying goes.

The interesting thing is that the man is my boss's boss's peer.

But it went well and life goes on!

Fantasy Football

I am in a league with Sharperiron folk. The draft was last night (using ESPN portal and software). The last time I was in a Fantasy Football league (1988) it was all manual. So things have improved.

Today taking a desktop imaging class at 11:00 (2.5 hours).

I added a feed "today's Bible verse" to my blog.

Kathee and I are reading Romans (2 chapters a night) and did 11 & 12 last night. Roger, Kathee and I are working through Acts one chapter a night. Last night was chapter 6

Reading: Beyond Band of Brothers by Dick Winters. A gift from my brother

Dave - Muscular Dystrophy

Kathee & I visited Dave from church. Dave suffers from muscular dystrophy .

Dave is my brother's age (53), in a wheel chair, and is a believer.

I read Psalm 46 with Dave and we prayed.

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Psalm 46

My favorite hymn is based on this Psalm A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Our three children

Rachel:

Leaving today to go back to college at Minnesota State Mankato for her Senior year. She just finished her Summer internship at FindLaw. She is taking 12 hours this semester.

Roger had a tough week.

He experienced an insect bit on his upper thigh ... got infected with staph ... has been on antibiotics since Tuesday. The wound is finally starting to heal. He also started college at Normandale (macro economics) ... plus working full time.

Nathan:

Today is Nathan's 26th birthday

Brother's 53rd Birthday

My younger brother, Roger, is 53 today! Congratulations.

Tonight celebrating at their house after work.

Many of my earliest memories center on his birth way back in 1953:

1. Older sister Nancy and I stayed at Aunt Eleanor's and Uncle Jim's in Alto Michigan.
   
2. I shopped with Aunt Eleanor (or walked to the store with her) for a gift for Roger
   
3. Nancy and I played in the bushes outside the hospital while Dad went into to get Mom and Roger (comment .. those were simplier times! Kids of 4 and 7 could be left alone on the hospital grounds without fear ... today you would never do that.
   

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Well time marches on! Congratulations Roger!

Everybody Is a Dispensationalist

Several years ago, Dr. MacArthur was asked about dispensationalism in a Q&A session at Grace Church. I love John's answer to the question. And while I doubt everyone reading this will totally agree with it, my guess is it should at least spark some conversation. We'll see...

Questioner: I would like to know about dispensationalism. I have been listening to Chuck Swindoll, yourself, and others. I really like their ministries. And they all preach the pre-tribulation rapture, and I can buy that. I think it’s great. And then I hear some other respected men in the Lord say, "Well that is a dispensational point-of-view," and they imply that that is something that has taken place within the last hundred years or so within the church. I would just like to hear a little from you.

John MacArthur:You see, that is just a label that they throw. What do you mean a "dispensational point-of-view"? The word "dispensation" is a New Testament word. Paul said that it was committed unto him the dispensation of the grace of God, the dispensation of the mysteries. It simply means a "stewardship." It is a biblical term, that’s all. This is the accusation over and over again that dispensationalism popped up with J. N. Darby, and C. I. Scofield, and all of that? But we are not working our way through a system. Rather we are attempting to interpret Scripture on its own merit.

Okay, you have some basic things to deal with. Dispensationalism, by the way, is simply a title for theology that recognizes a literal nation Israel to be restored in the future. And recognizes a literal kingdom, and a literal tribulation, and a literal return, and a literal rapture. The other perspective is what’s called non-dispensational or covenant theology, which has no place for Israel, no kingdom in the future, and essentially spiritualizes everything in prophetic literature rather than making it literal.

Now, what you have to do is to go back to some very basic things. "Dispensation" simply means that God manages things in a certain way at a certain time. Everybody is a dispensationalist, everybody. I don’t care who they are in theology, they’re dispensational. It’s only a question of how many you have. Let me show you why.

Was there a difference in the way God dealt with man before the fall? Was there a difference then after the fall? Alright. Then do you believe that pre-fall is one stewardship, or one economy of time, or one way in which God dealt with man? That’s one dispensation. Then after the fall, God had to deal with man on a different basis. Why? Because sin had entered the world, and God had to deal with man on that basis. So He implemented the sacrificial system which was not necessary before that.

When Jesus Christ came and died on the cross, was there a difference after that in the way God dealt with man? Law was not the major thrust, but God’s grace was the major thrust. So already you have at least three dispensations. And what happens in the eternal state? Now you have four.

I don’t care who you are. I don’t care if you want to wave flags and deny dispensationalism. Everybody winds up recognizing that there are different ways God has dealt with man, pre-fall, post fall, pre-cross, post-cross, and eternity. You have to see distinctions, so then it only becomes a matter of discerning how God is going to deal with Israel in the future.

Now what it boils down to in dispensational theology is that we believe that when God says something He means it, and He means exactly what He said. And we don’t want to take the liberty to spiritualize it.

Now in the OT repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly, the Bible says God has a place for the nation Israel. This is echoed in the NT in places like Romans 11. We take all that literally. We say there is a kingdom for Israel.

The non-dispensationalist says, "No, Israel forfeited its kingdom in the execution of the Messiah, the Church is the New Israel, we are the Israel of God, there is no literal kingdom, everything is spiritual." And they take that theology, read it back into the OT and reinterpret all of the OT promises as spiritual promises to the church and eliminate Israel. For example, I know of a distinguished covenantal scholar who, when a student stood up and asked him in a seminar, "What is the significance of Israel's return to the land today?", his answer was, "It has absolutely no significance at all." That's ridiculous. But you see, he has to say that for his theology's sake. There aren't any Hivites, Jebusites, Amorites, Amalekites, Moabites, or Perizzites around today. But there are millions of Israelites alive and back in the land. Why? Because God isn't finished with them.

And that’s all that dispensationalism affirms. The covenant theologian admits pre-fall, post-fall, pre-cross, post-cross, and eternity; all we want to do is get kingdom in there. And if you have a literal kingdom, then you’re going to have a literal beginning of the kingdom. And then you’re going to have a literal return, and a literal tribulation, and then a literal rapture, that’s all. And we do this, again, because such naturally results from the consistent application of a literal hermeneutic.

Note from http://faithandpractice.blogspot.com/2006/08/everybody-is-dispensationalist.html

The English Language

If you ever feel stupid, then just read on. If you've learned to speak fluent English, you must be a genius! This little treatise on the lovely language we share is only for the brave. Peruse at your leisure, English lovers.


Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert..

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.

19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? Is it an odd, or an end?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetable! s, what does a humanitarian eat? In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?

Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

P.S. - Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"?

Roger's new car

Son bought a new car today - Mazda 6. He traded in the 1995 S-10 that he has had for 6 years. His is black.

Thoughts on my 57th birthday

Thank you Kathee for the nice breakfast!

1. Journey: I'm on the road to eternity and life in this body is the first chapter! I'm saved (John 3:16). My Dad lived to 81 ... Mom is alive at 86. If I live to 80 I have only 23 years left here. Of course there are no guarantees!
   
2. Purpose: The Westminster Catechism:
   
   
   Q: What is the chief end of man?
   A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
   
   
   1 Corinthians 10:31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,
   or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
   Romans 11:36. For of him, and through him, and to him,
   are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
   Psalm 73:24-26. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and
   afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but
   thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside
   thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God isthe strength
   of my heart, and my portion for ever.
   John 17:22, 24. And the glory which thou gavest me I have
   given them; that they may be one, even as we are one...
   Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me,
   be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory,
   which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before
   the foundation of the world.
   
   
3. Confidence: Philippians 1:5-6
   for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until
   now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has
   begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of
   Jesus Christ.
   

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Today's tasks:

1. Shop for a car with Roger
   
2. Mow
   
3. Grocery shopping
   

Jim Elliott Quote

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

This can be found in the October 28, 1949 entry on page 174 (Chapter 4) of the 1978 hardback edition of the Journal and on page 108 (Chapter 11) of the 1958 hardback edition of Shadow of the Almighty. The quote is also used in the prologue of Shadow on page 15. Below is a reproduction of the actual entry for October 28, 1949 in its entirety from the journal (Collection 277, Box 1, Folder 8). The underlining, the bracket and and the asterisk were probably added at a later time after Jim Elliot's death.

Jim Elliott quote

Jim Elliott biography

Miscellaneous Thoughts

1. We received a letter from our friends whose daughter committed suicide. Wish we could have been there for them.
   
2. Roger is taking Macro Economics at Normandale starting next week.
   
3. Eliot is back from his summer internship at the Alexandria Beetles ... now looking for his first real job (after graduation)
   
4. One of my coworkers who was in the retirement planning seminar yesterday, declared loudly today at work: "we need to forget the yesterday's dream of retirement and get back to the grind of the real world.
   
5. I think I am making progress on planning the next release.
   
6. Upgraded to the new "beta" blogger today.
   

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Today's Scripture: John 15,16

Retirement Planning Seminar

Kathee and I went to an all day Retirement Planning Seminar sponsored by our employer.

Topics:

1. Social Security benefits & Medicare
   
2. Our company's retirement health benefits (to augment) Medicare
   
3. 401K & pension
   
4. Preparing emotionally for retirement
   
5. Financial planning for retirement
   

Many friends (co-workers) there: Peggy H, Ken A, Suzanne G, Mary L. Minnie and Joan from my floor were there as well.

My views:

1. "Life is but a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away" and "for to me to live for for Christ and to die is gain"
   
2. At 57, I cannot afford retirement yet. But I think by 65 I will be ready financially.
   
3. I am still energized by my job. I think Kathee is too.
   
4. Work "ain't all bad" ... consider the alternatives! We are paid well, have good benefits, get 30 days paid leave a year ...
   
5. My objective in retirement is to Pastor a small church that could not otherwise afford a Pastor. Will I have the energy? The opportunity? Is this God's will? I will have to wait to see. But that is my direction.
   

Work news

1. Completed my F.A.Q. section with 20 FAQs. Looks really good. I only authored 4 of them but had to "de-engineer" a lot of the others written by engineers. I still need to have our communications consultant review all
   
2. More planning on the next release. (For November). Much work to be done.
   
3. Tomorrow going to a company sponsored retirement planning seminar. I expect to work at least another 8 years and probably 9. (Lord willing)
   

Rachel has a big presentation at work tomorrow (to executives). She did a dry run with some co-workers today and for us at home tonight.

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Tonight's Scripture: John 11-12

News of soldier's death

News Link



Hey Gang,
As you guys who were here on Friday know, Friday was a really rough and frustrating day. Well, when I got home my wife met me in front of the house and put all that frustration in a new light, she informed me that my nephew who was serving it the 10th Mountain Infantry in Afghanistan was killed. He went out a hero as far as that goes. His platoon was on a mission and as usually happens in the mountain passes they were ambushed from behind. He was a gunnery mate working the front line when it occurred. His unit commander was shot and he ran back to the backline and started covering for him until they could get him out. He took out several before being struck with an RPG. They say he died almost instantly. My sister has received calls from the Governor of Maine and Senators from Maine etc. He will be rewarded the Gold Star or whatever the reward is called (I am not up too much on Military stuff??). You never want to hear of a 19 year old dying, but at least he went out protecting his brothers in his unit and his country and saved many lives in the process.
My sister and family back home are doing as well as can be expected. At least they have some measure of peace knowing his loss did make a difference and that he was well loved by his unit. The commander himself called her up from Afghanistan and talked for 45 minutes to her and gave her all the details and told her how much he loved him and respected him. The whole unit was devastated by his sacrifice, but they were also so proud of him. The Army is not allowing all the details to be released at this time, but they said all would be released by the time of his funeral.

My Mom called me this morning and said his picture is all over the TV and papers as more and more information is leaked out. Below is a link to the article in Maine Sunday telegram, the largest paper in Maine, giving a superficial coverage of his death in case any of you are interested.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060813soldier.shtml

I have also attached a photo that sadly my sister received from the commander not 3 hours before they told her he as killed. Andrew is in the middle. The commander shot is the tall man on the right, and the shorter commander on the left is the one who called my sister. So strange to have all three parties in the photo involved in what literally ended up being only an hour or so before his death. Fate can be strange at times.

I am going to try and get in as much of the day as I can, but if I cannot concentrate enough to be effective, I will go home. I just wanted to share with you guys what he did and let as many know how proud I am of him!!

Rick

Wells Fargo stock split today (2 for 1)

WFC Link

Click on graph for full size

Sunday 8/13

Pastor's messages:

AM: Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."

PM: Phillipians 2:17-22, "Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel"

Church news: Josh Beers (youth Pastor) is resigning to move to Lancaster, PA to be the Vice President of Student Affairs at Lancaster Bible College. Also our camp (part time) director has taken a youth pastorate in California

Kathee and I watched West Side Story (1961) on DVD this afternoon. It is basically a variation of Romeo & Juliet. Great music and dancing.

Back to work tomorrow. Hopefully this week goes better than last.

Band of Brothers

I watched it this week (all 10 episodes) on the History Channel.

It is very moving.

I've read the book too: Band of Brothers

Good wiki article: Wikipedia: Band of Brothers

Very bad week at work for ...

My Sister ... an executive with American Airlines (bomb plot today)

For my wife ... had a headache for nearly 48 hours ...

For me ... all kinds of grief ... I won't ruin your day with it.

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We are taking off tomorrow. Intend to sleep in.

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Reading: John 3 & 4

Steps ahead ... steps back

1. Back: Bandwidth issues impacting distribution to Anchorage site
   
2. Back: Diskeeper UAT (user acceptance testing) not going well for all users. May need minor release upgrade
   
3. Back: ICAL calendar that I have been using for 5 years now designated to be on a non-production / test server and will not be supported.
   
4. Ahead: More business units on board for 2.23 release
   
5. Ahead: Completed meetings with Infrastructure Planners (5) and all are on board with the planning process
   
6. Ahead: I can upgrade Brownbear ICAL for $ 100 because somehow I "own" a copy from a job I had 5 years ago.
   
7. Ahead: My business unit is getting a new server and it is possible that I can get ICAL installed there (4th quarter if it is going to happen)
   

Kathee has had a headache for a day and a half

Three day weekend ahead.

Watching "Band of Brothers" on the History Channel tonight

John 1 & 2 tonight

Lieberman loss ... what does it mean?

This will be interesting. How will this impact the congressional races this Fall? Will Democrats gain control of the House? Senate?

I regard Joe Lieberman is one of the finest, genuine, effective Senators of our time.

The three-way Connecticut Senate race with Joe in as an independent will be closely watched. I would vote for him.

Joe Lieberman

Overlib javascript library

Overlib

Worth a look ... and it is free.

I used today with my F.A.Q. page.

F.A.Q.s are in SQL table.

Table is basically (title,details,url)

Title displays on page in table, details displays with overlib mouseover, URL is for popup if clicked)

Monday ... interesting challenges

1. Presented my planning process plan to various managers and infrastructure planners. One wondered why we needed to involve the business in planning. It was like a catch 22 ... she thought we should have a completed image to present to the business for the business to review. I explained that we did not want to engineer the image until we presented our plans to the business.
   
2. Also trying to indentify business unit contacts for various OUs (organizational units)
   
3. Drafted "intent to retire" document for Asymetrix Neuron plug-ins. Will be published this week.
   
4. Built (Cold Fusion) anonymous comment form and insert. Not very complex. Did it in an hour. I spend more time finding a suitable graphic and modifying it to make it transperant.
   

This is slow going. Still dealing with chaos.

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Kathee and I finished Luke ... tomorrow start Gospel of John

My first thread on Sharperiron

First Thread

Should be interesting

Work status

1. Diskeeper UAT (User Acceptance Testing) has started. Was delivered remotely via SMS to my computer on Tuesday morning.
   
2. Active X issue resolved (fingers crossed) with upgrade job and we are back in the distribution business.
   
3. A lot of debate, discussion, and wrangling about the planning phase. Mtg on Monday with Tom and Mark ... hope to resolve.
   

The World From Our Window: To Drink or Not To Drink...Continued

The World From Our Window: To Drink or Not To Drink...Continued

Michigan trip (7/27-31)

Thursday 7/27:

1. Drove across Wisconsin.
   
2. Visited Maranatha Baptist Bible College
   
3. Lunch in Columbus WI
   
4. Visited Miller Brewery in Milwaukee
   
5. La Quinta hotel (expensive ... lumpy bed ... room felt damp)
   
6. Dinner at "the Final Approach"
   
7. Drove to waterfront ... Bible time in park
   

Friday 7/28:

1. Breakfast on Milwaukee waterfront
   
2. Visited Milwaukee Veterans memorial
   
3. Drove North along waterfront ... estates along Lake Michigan
   
4. Back to Lake Express for 12:30 boat.
   
5. Dinner with Mom and Nancy at Arno's on 28th street
   
6. Drove by old house on Paris Avenue. Tragic news that friends' daughter committed suicide on July 6th at age of 48!
   
7. Drove to Alto Michigan ... check it out
   

Saturday 7/29:

1. Breakfast with friend Powers and his wife Marie
   
2. Visited Bowne Township museum
   
3. Visited Bowne Township cemetery ("home" to many of my relatives)
   
4. To Lila's and Bob's
   
5. Lunch in Hastings
   
6. To Gun Lake and Bay Point Inn
   
7. Back (gravel) roads S to Lee and Donna's for dinner in Richland, MI
   
8. Back to Alto (to pick up Roger's truck and back to hotel
   

Sunday 7/30:

1. Breakfast at Keieser's in Lowell MI
   
2. To Lowell Cemetery. Could not find Grandma and Grandpa Peets' graves.
   
3. On to Hastings for Hayward reunion
   
4. Left at 2:30 ... to Mackinac Bridge
   
5. Flat tire ... air to tide over ...
   
6. On to Manistique ... Colonial Motel
   

Monday 7/31:

1. Woke up to flat tire. Motel manager / owner (Bob) had tank of compressed air. Filled tire
   
2. Onto Escanaba. Tire repair at Mr Tire. Breakfast at Swedish Pantry
   
3. Onto Peshtigo Fire Museum
   
4. Onto Phlox ... Visit Ma and Dodad's graves
   
5. Home at 5:00 p.m. 101 degrees in Minneapolis