"Be Faithful until Death"

Recently I got a used copy of Foxe's Book of Martyrs, and as I read it I keep asking myself the same question, "Would I be willing to die for my faith?" It's a sobering question, but I wish more people would ask it. You wonder why we have such mediocrity in American evangelicalism today - people have never read about the men, women and children who preffered to face the jaws of lions, the terror of the flames, and the horrors of the rack, rather than surrender their allegience to Christ. These people really understood what it meant to lay down their lives for the Lord. For them, it wasn't just some pietistic ritual to serve Christ, it was the heart and soul of their very existence! And for their faith they were slaughtered in the most unimaginable ways to satiate the madness of men - but they inherited an everlasting reward. Are we willing to do the same?

The following are two slightly abridged accounts of men who suffered martyrdom under the Roman emperors.

Under the reign of the emperor Valerian, A. D. 257

Let us draw near to the fire of martyred Lawrence, that our cold hearts may be warmed thereby. The merciless tyrant, understanding him to be not only a minister of the sacraments, but a distributor also of the Church riches, promised to himself a double prey, by the apprehension of one soul. First, with the rake of avarice to scrape to himself the treasure of poor Christians; then with the fiery fork of tyranny, so to toss and turmoil them, that they should wax weary of their profession. With furious face and cruel countenance, the greedy wolf demanded where this Lawrence had bestowed the substance of the Church: who, craving three days' respite, promised to declare where the treasure might be had. In the meantime, he caused a good number of poor Christians to be congregated. So, when the day of his answer was come, the persecutor strictly charged him to stand to his promise. Then valient Lawrence, stretching out his arms over the poor, said: "These are the precious treasure of the Church; these are the treasure indeed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth...What greater riches can Christ our Master possess, than the poor people in whom He loveth to be seen?"

O, what tongue is able to express the fury and madness of the tyrant's heart! Now he stamped, he stared, he ramped, he fared as one out of his wits: his eyes like fire glowed, his mouth like a boar foamed, his teeth like a hellhound grinned. Now, not a reasonable man, but a roaring lion, he might be called.

"Kindle the fire (he cried) - of wood make no spare. Hath this villain deluded the emperor? Away with him, away with him: whip him with scourges, jerk him with rods, buffet him with fists, brain him with clubs. Jesteth the traitor with the emperor? Pinch him with fiery tongs, gird him with burning plates, bring out the strongest chains, and the fire-forks, and the grated bed of iron...on pain of our highest displeasure do every man his office, O ye tormentors."

The word was no sooner spoken, but all was done. After many cruel handlings, this meek lamb was laid, I will not say on his fiery bed of iron, but on his soft bed of down. So mightily God wrought with his martyr Lawrence, so miraculously God tempered His element the fire; that it became not a bed of consuming pain, but a pallet of nourishing rest.

Under the reign of the emperor Diocletian, A. D. 303

St. George was born in Cappadocia, of Christian parents; and giving proofs of his courage, was promoted in the army of the emperor Diocletian. During the persecution, St. George threw up his command, went boldly to the senate house, and avowed his being a Christian, taking occasion at the same time to remonstrate against paganism, and point out the absurdity of worshipping idols. This freedom so greatly provoked the senate that St. George was order to be tortured, and by the emperor's orders was dragged through the streets, and beheaded the next day.

The legend of the dragon, which is associated with this martyr, is usually illustrated by representing St. George seating upon a charging horse and transfixing the monster with his spear. This fiery dragon symbolizes the devil, who was vanquished by St. George's steadfast faith in Christ, which remained unshaken in spite of torture and death.

These are not pleasant things to think about, but THIS IS OUR HERITAGE. We need to consider their examples and allow their stalwart faith and courage be the proverbial "slap in the face" to awaken us from spiritual laziness, and energize us toward a renewed zeal for Christ.

Men and women perished because they read the Scriptures and believed them. How is it that we can't seem to find time to even read the Bible? I think the reason lies in the fact that far too many Christians (myself included) fail to heed the warning of Deuteronomy 6:

"Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." [Emphasis added]

Many of us didn't have to shed blood for our freedom, so we tend to take it for granted. We didn't have to lay down our lives for the sake of the Gospel, so we value it very lightly. Bibles are readily accessible, available in any book store for only a few dollars, so we place a dollar value on the Word of God.

But consider the price! Read about the men and women who endured unthinkable torture because they owned a copy of the Scriptures, because they preached against idolatry. THEY PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE! So get a copy of Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Know their stories. Tell others. And most importantly, live for Christ, come what may!
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"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:16-18

"For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philemon 1:29

"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:3

"For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God." 1 Peter 2:20

"But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED...For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." 1 Peter 3:14, 17

"Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." 1 Peter 4:19

"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10

OK, so it's been FOREVER

And I'm finally back. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities--combine that with a loaded schedule, a broken backup hard-drive and no room on my computer for new photos, and you have a necessary hiatus from the blogosphere.

But I'm back, and you can expect me to post. No really, you can! In fact I'm writing a bunch of things this evening which I will post throughout the week. And check my other blogs too! So much has happened lately and I want to tell y'all about it!

All Three of My Blogs Have Been Redesigned!

Some More Food

Stir Fry

Lemon Oregano Chicken

Honey-Garlic Chicken with Barbecued Potatoes and Broccoli

Honey-Garlic Wings

Bean Boy

Focusing On Things Of Ultimate Importance

Most people struggle with the fundamental questions of life: "Why am I here? What is my purpose?" But too often we leave those questions unanswered (or merely assent to certain answers without deeper consideration) for more immediate, temporal concerns. We are so easily distracted by the cares of this life, and the decisions that WE need to make, that we take our eyes off God and the salvation He provided through His Son, and begin to wander without purpose, taking it one day at a time. But ultimately, life isn’t about what car we purchase, or the recognition we gain - our lives are not our own. Why? Because we have been bought with a price, a sacrifice so costly that we can’t fully comprehend it. And yet, we like sheep are led astray, and live lives that proclaim how little we value the Gospel, how cheaply we hold Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and how infrequently we reflect on whom we are to serve.

Ultimately, this life isn’t about us. It is God who created us, "not we ourselves. We are the sheep of His pasture." Did He create man to simply be happy and enjoy himself? No. The chief end of man is love God and enjoy HIM forever (not to love and enjoy ourselves). Were we capable of pulling ourselves out the mire of sin by our own will and power? Absolutely not. We contributed nothing to our creation or redemption, except resistance to God’s overwhelming grace. Isn’t it amazing that, "God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall have eternal life?" Or is it simply taken for granted today? Is the Gospel something you need to "get saved" but can afterward put on the shelf when you get to living the Christian life? This is how many Christians see it today. God saved me and now I can move on to the rest of my life. Sad.

Paul and the other apostles maintained a constant focus on the cross of Christ. It was their life, their strength, and their driving motivation, whereas we like to ascribe to "Christianity" and then keep living for ourselves. Modern Christians don’t seem to be "cut to the heart" when they hear the Gospel (perhaps because the Gospel is not often preached in it’s full glory and depth, especially not to the saved) It’s the mechanism of salvation but not the heart and soul of the Christian life. These are the people that so quickly take their eye off the eternal and fix it on the temporal.

Mankind is afflicted with the sin of ungratefulness, and we see this fact illustrated in it’s ugliest form when Christians don’t have a profound thankfulness and gratitude to God for the salvation He has provided in Christ. Thanksgiving isn’t just something we celebrate once a year - it’s a lifestyle. The Christian must keep his eyes fixed on the cross to understand just how sinful he is and how merciful God is. A superficial Christian thinks he has it all together, while a true believer is broken and humble.

The cross isn’t merely a catchword or some pendant that we hang around our neck. It is the shining symbol of who we were as sinners, who God is and what He requires of us, and who we now are in Christ because He fulfilled those demands for us. A line in the hymn "Ah, Holy Jesus" passionately sums it up. It says, "Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee. 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee!" The Christian who lives his life in the shadow of the cross, with a heart tender toward God has the right focus. He won’t get bogged down in the concerns of here and now. He will live confidently and thankfully, trusting in the Providence and love of Almighty God to direct his ways. Musically, it might be expressed this way: the Christian life isn't primarily about each note, sequence or phrase - it is a broad composition designed to bring God the glory as it is played out. He composed it, He knows it’s intricacies and difficulties, but He will resolve everything for His own honor and glory.

Noah's Birthday Dinner

I haven't been cooking too much lately, mostly because I haven't needed to! We have been invited all over the place, so there's no need to "grill the grub." I tried my hand at a pork roast tonight (with Italian seasoning and garlic pepper), on the special occasion of Noah's 19th birthday...and it actually turned out pretty good. Happy birthday, Noah!!

Talent Is Not Enough - An Incredible Book!

Some of you know by now that I'm a graphic designer. I love it. It combines (or has the potential to combine) almost all of my hobbies into one vocation - photography, art, computers, telecommuting :) and more!

Currently I'm in the process of developing my own design business (complete with website and promotional materials), so I would appreciate your prayers as I seek to learn everything I need to know about freelancing, managing a business, and relating to clients.

Though the task is daunting, I've discovered several resources which have been enormously helpful. Talent Is Not Enough: Business Secrets for Designers by Shel Perkins, is one of those. It covers a variety of topics such as:

• How to get on the right career path
• The best way to determine pricing
• How to avoid common legal pitfalls
• How to structure projects for success
• The secrets of efficient teams
• How to sustain your business long-term

Perkins book is easily accessible, very comprehensive, and tremendously insightful. He identifies the numerous disciplines that a successful designer must excel in, and points out the chief foibles and mistakes which can so easily lead to financial ruin and legal issues.

This has been such a helpful book for me, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Visit the official website for more details (and bonus chapters!) or purchase the book here.

In Defense of Male Cooks

The grill - this is where it all begins.

Pepper steak

Teriyaki shish-kabobs

Beef shish-kabobs

Italian herb chicken

BBQ wings

Flaming wings

Chipotle chicken

More wings

The proper response to a good meal.

The Upper Hand

I'm pleased to inform my Coca-Cola and Pepsi-loving friends that Dr. Pepper rules. It was established in 1885, Coca-Cola in 1886, and Pepsi in 1903 (can you believe soda is that old?), therefore it possesses "firstborn" status in the world of fizzy liquids.

It's the best. Period. :)

It Is Getting Very Serious Now

Chuck Baldwin just published an update on some alarming new legislation which seeks to deny 2nd Amendment rights to those who are on the "potential terrorist" list - including those who supported Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, Bob Barr, and those who oppose things like abortion on demand, gun control, the Income Tax and countless other people, projects and initiatives.

It Is Getting Very Serious Now, by Chuck Baldwin, May 12, 2009

My New Wheels

Right now, though, my bike is awaiting a new set of tires. When I bought it the old tires seemed like they needed to be replaced, and when the front tire exploded on a ride there was no question.

Otherwise, it's a great bike--highly functional, fast, fun, and ORANGE! I have it set up with flashing lights for riding at night (since I'm working all day).

San Antonio and Austin both have fairly substantial cycling communities, so bike shops are not hard to come by. There's one about 2 miles from our house actually. I try not to go in there too often... :)

New Blog for 2009

Here's the official heads-up on my latest project, a new blog for the year 2009, my platform to offer commentary on the timely scientific issues of the day, especially as we enter "the year of Darwin," the year in which millions of people will commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth, and revel in their imaginary world of materialistic evolutionary chance.

Confronting Darwin is not meant to be the definitive source of information on the controversy between Darwinian Evolutionism and Biblical Creationism, but is intended to provide some helpful insights, timely updates, and thoroughly Biblical criticism of humanistic "science," on topics ranging from Darwin's observations on the Galapagos Islands, the fossil record, speciation, adaptation, natural selection, "macro" vs. "micro" evolution, the six days of Creation, theistic evolution, and more.

I would encourage you to drop by every now and then for my thoughts on what may be termed the "foremost controversy of our generation."

White Christmas

Some of My Cooking

These are just a few photos of my latest hobby. The surprising part is that most of the time, my recipes actually taste good. My meals don't really have names (poor dears), so I haven't included any.

Now I just need photos of my new "Chipotle Chicken Sizzle Sandwich." :)

(Disclaimer: The last photo is of a meal I did not make, but I included it to further dispel the popular myth that interns are, as a rule, frugal to a fault, subsisting exclusively on "meals" which cost $0.66 or less...)

Pictures coming soon!

I have pictures and commentary from the Film Academy and Film Festival, my time at home with my family, and other things which I will be posting over the next week. Hang in there!

Mike Anderson Landscape Photography

I ran across Michael Anderson's website this evening, and want to recommend it as a fantastic web presentation of a talented photographer's work. Check it out!

http://www.lightscapephoto.com/

Happy Birthday Me!

Having avoided the threatened birthday whoopings thus far, I feel blessed to be 19.

Currently Listening To...

Generations with Kevin Swanson, "The Shack: The Naivete of Christians"

The Albert Mohler Radio Program, "A Look At 'The Shack'"

Destroying All Speculations by Greg Bahnsen, "Inconsistent Arguments", "Presuppositional Tension"

Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone, by Yo-Yo Ma and the Roma Sinfonietta

Happy in Texas

Self-portrait in the backyard

They're the "Real Deal" ya'll. I wear these everywhere now, and love every minute of it.

Glacier Point

The Glacier Point overlook is a popular "high-elevation" spot in Yosemite, both for its scenic beauty, expansive views, and the fact that several trails originate nearby. We trekked from the Point to the valley below following an 8 mile trail which skirted the cliff face and led us past Illilouette Fall, and over both Nevada and Vernal Falls. We circled around Half Dome and got a really good feel for its unique formation; we also stood at the base of its massive neighbor the "Liberty Bell." Here are a few shots--more soon to follow.

Yes, I did bring my tripod on this one. :) Much to the resentment of my shoulders.