it is time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JTSoD4BBCJc

Brother

Bros,

I need your help. RIGHT now, if you have a moment, could you lift up my brother to our Lord? He is making some big decisions and needs a lot of prayer. He's back in the states as of monday, which we're all incredibly thankful for. He led all his troops home to safety and only a handful suffered minor injuries on the deployment. As vague as this is, it still needs to be confidential. I'm grateful for you men for the last few years, and I'm incredibly thankful for your intercession for my bro.

You men are rocks.

funny

this video sucks except for the last part, and then you will laugh alot. worth the wait.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q4a9CKgLprQ

whoppa bear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O6Xo21L0ybE

whoppaheads

leave it to a bunch of whoppaheads to choreograph a dance in a fiery furnace

(shadrach, meshak,...)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Fiery_furnace_01.jpg

Hilarious

Laugh!

my buddy steve!

i think this is hilarious. prob watched it 20 times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RCLxPId6WQ&feature=relmfu

and i hope you saw this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4LssHXZjIA

answers to prayer

Thanks for all the encouragement dudes. Prayers are really answered. I was driving back from bidding an insulation job today (which was actually a no show...the dude left me hanging) and I was frustrated wondering how to make ends meet. I knew I had to call an old contracting guy I did some work for in Lynchburg when suddenly I look to my right and there he is with his crew doing work in south Roanoke. So I pull in and say hey. I believe that is a miracle. He is going to think about hiring me. So then I get home and the NC unemployment commission has an email in my inbox telling me they are going to keep me on for a little while longer. So prayer has bought me some time as well. I should hear back from the board in a week about whether the USMC wants me as a pilot, and I am starting to apply to a couple bars and as a wrestling coach at a middle school. So I don't think the circumstances have changed much but I have been encouraged all day that our Father in heaven really does hear us and helps us. I want to keep seeing Him do crazy things. I love watching Him flex.

prayer req

Hey I would like to request some prayer from you men. My unemployment has run out and the landscaping work is coming to an end. I am applying to jobs currently, hoping to get one as a bar tender. Also am in on and off pain and confusion about the most recent breakup.

appreciate yall

BW

Such is a good brother.

What I did on my 27th birthday.

On October 29th (Saturday), I turned 27 years old.

Josh told me that I'm now in my late-20's, so I figured it was a good time to cross some thresholds that I've never crossed before:

Just a bunch of dudes wearing skirts: Angie (right) and Patrick, my cousin, are married in Altoona, PA.

I'm the third from the right in the picture.

My dad and I after the wedding.

Dancing at the reception.

Lauren, me, and my sister Laura posing after dinner.

Cousins reenacting a photo from our childhood--Ooo, Ring-pop!

I caught the garter!

Patrick and his bride with his parents and brothers.

Showin' off some leg with my family.

Note the dagger in my sock that was fashioned by the groom's friend, given as a groomsmen gift!

Violent obedience.

Recently, it's been quite easy to slip into "do" mode: going from one endeavor to the next in an effort to accomplish goals--work at The EDGE, class, tutoring, caring for Lauren, family, friends, study, baseball (I'm playing on a baseball team!), ect. Of themselves, each of these is important and good for me.

However, I feel like everything can kind of get caught up in this vague sense of duty, an attitude that's finally selfish in nature, even if it strives for servant-heartedness. I recognize the need to fight against that and care for "endeavors" with a true servant-attitude that reflects my heart for Christ:

"Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant tahn yourselves. Let each of you look not only to your own interestes, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:3-7)

Ultimately, this cannot mean that I am to "shrink back" into myself and simply pour through the motions seen as "service," thusly fulfilling my position as one who lives humbly. I really believe that humility must mean that I must live more violently; that is, forcefully and purposefully submitting my functions and the facultities of those functions--relationships to others (v. 3-4), mind (v. 5), and body (v. 8)-- to God.

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8)

Father, may my brothers and I live with such violent obedience!

a video about whoppaheads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zJWA3Vo6TU

Since I'm missing whoppa weekend....

Heres a tribute to what you guys should do.....come down to bburg and tailgate w/ me!!

Oswald Chambers quote

"Beware of isolation; beware of the idea that you have to develop a holy life alone. It is impossible to develop a holy life alone; you will develop into an oddity and a peculiarism, into something utterly unlike what God wants you to be. The only way to develop spiritually is to go into the society of God’s own children, and you will soon find how God alters your set. God does not contradict our social instincts; He alters them. "

Biblical Psychology, 189 L

rereading one of my favorite books

Travels with Charley. By John Steinbeck
Reading this part made me think of yall. Breakfast on a certain porch came to mind.

"I soon discovered that if a wayfaring stranger wishes to eavesdrop on a local population the places for him to slip in and hold his peace are bars and churches. But some New England towns don't have bars, and church is only on Sunday. A good alternative is the roadside restaurant where men gather for breakfast before going to work or going hunting. To find the places inhabited, one must get up very early. and there is a drawback to even this. Early-rising men not only do not talk much to strangers, they barely talk to one another. Breakfast conversation is limited to a series of laconic grunts. The natural ... taciturnity reaches its glorious perfection at breakfast."

Catalyst Conf

If anyone would like to go to Catalyst (first week october), Church of Holy spirit has two extra tickets that they need to get rid of. I'm sure we could arrange a deal.

email me or call me

love yall honkeys

Chambers gets it again

The Lord wants us, not our usefulness.

"Our tendency today is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make their request for help on the basis of someone’s usefulness. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure who ever lived. For the saint, direction and guidance come from God Himself, not some measure of that saint’s usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that our Lord gives His attention to in a person’s life is that person’s relationship with God— something of great value to His Father. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory . . .” (Hebrews 2:10)."

Have a great day men.

The Resistance

Dearly beloved brothers,

This song reminds me of you whoppaheads. Men of the Resistance. Listen. Tell me if you agree:

I first got hooked on this song as I was reminded of late night whoppahead flag football. The air a little chilly, the lights glowing over the fields, and your brothers joining you in the march to the battle. Click, Clack, Click, Clack........

Thats you guys to me... My brothers in the Resistance. To God be the Glory. With you beside me I trust and know the goodness of the Lord to a deeper level and for that I am grateful.

Listen, enjoy....and download for free. Its a pretty awesome album. The excerpt of lyrics below say it best.

And this begs the question
My rest is a weapon against the oppression
Of mans obsession to control things
Look at the long line of make believe kings
The lord of the flies want’s you to kiss his ring
Follow new rules with invisible strings
And become a puppet in the diabolical scheme
How do good men become part of the regime
They don’t believe in resistance.

Hold fast like an anchor in the storm
We will not be moved


Don't be moved. God is with you always. And your whoppas have your back.

Whoppa Dog

deviation

I have had a stressful week. It was a very good week in some ways, but my focus was shaken from the Creator amidst the busyness many times.
DAD, can I come home and work for you again? Please forgive me.
As leaders, we cannot linger too long looking back at mistakes. Maintain bearing.

Luke 9
61Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”
62Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”


1 Kings 19
19So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

Philippians 3
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

I want to thank you men for repeatedly pointing me to the cross and reminding me to die so much in the recent past months. Also thank you for listening to my thoughts and emotions. The respect and loyalty I have for you is immense.

have a great week brus

“But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NIV

Drive In Jesus, ASK and SEEK

I jog in the evenings.

When the night is sultry and at its peak, just before the sun relents to the beckoning of the moon's inevitable draw, I jog.

There's much purpose in jogging. Yes, I appreciate the physical benefits. But, to the glory of God, I see the Spirit at work in these times unlike any other.

Last night, I jogged; it was warm, maybe 75, and I sweat. I ran 3 miles, then stopped in a small park and did some sit-ups, pull-ups, and jumping exercises. Then, I walked for a while and just asked the Spirit to move; asked the Spirit to speak.

Coming off Mike's wedding weekend--Michael and Jodie for president!-- I was prepping for my first day of my new job in Manassas, VA. I also haven't seen my girlfriend in 10 weeks, a circumstance that I really have struggled through, probably more tahn I've been letting on. I also just feel confind by the season of life sometimes, by the question that pulls at the heart and mind of every man at different points: am I really living out my purposes? An important question, yes; but one that a man needs to resolve in order to...well, live out his purpose.

Purpose: I walked, wrestling with my heart toward Lauren, toward life, toward myself, my family, my friends...wrestling for peace there. God, display your glory admist struggle; triumph over sin; redeem the day; let your kingdom come; let us see you as we...

I hesitated in mid-prayer as the Ford F-150 drove by me with a burst that thrust me back into my present circumstances. The truck was impressive, yes; it wasn't teh truck itself that really awed me, though--it was his license plate:

IN JESUS

No two words could have elicited better praise as my grin peaked open and my lips whispered the finish to my prayer, "Let us see you as we drive In Jesus."

Delicious Spirit-leadings dripped from my spiritual palate as I walked on, rejoicing in God's sovereignty to literally form my prayers in my environment around me. I prayed for the community I was in, for the people and families I was passing, for the guys across the street who were black.

Why do they have to be black? I thought. Can't they just be people. I felt ashamed and hurt by my thought and frustrated with that, which gave room for frustration with feeling frustration about not hearing from Lauren for several weeks, which gave rise to frustrations about my own heart-- when will it settle, be at peace, even now in this evening of great praise, I don't know what to do just to find...

A dark-blue Toyota two-door sudan rolled by almost silently, at least compared to the truck from earlier, but two bright lights dimly illuminated a tiny license plate hanging from its back bumper:

ASK SEEK

I stopped. I smiled the coy, ironic smile of a young man wholly-contented, whose father provides even before his asking.

Then, I jogged.

prayer

something to be aware of and talk to the Father about
http://www.cnbc.com/id/44073673

book club perelandra

Mike, Bettwy, David Perks, and I are probably going to start a discussion on the book Perelandra by CS Lewis. Once MacFarlan returns from Jodi-fest! If anyone else is interested then let me know.

pooper scooper
BW

walking, more like hiking

I have heard that some scholars believe that Jairus' walk with the Lord could have been up to 15 miles. Probably the longest walk of his life knowing his daughter is already dead and all this man has said is to have faith, lets keep walking.


Luke 8:40-56

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

frater

"...Ironically, when we look at the arena of athletics, we see that the idea of fraternity exists not only in team sports but also in the context of individual sports. Perhaps the supreme example of an individual sport is boxing. It is mano a mano, one man against another. There is no tag team in the boxing ring. The boxer stands toe-to-toe against his opponent with his support systems in his corner. In the ring — the battlefield — he must fight alone. the drama of a tense bout between two equally-matched opponents, each doing his best to knock the other one out or to do enough bodily harm to win the fight on points? And yet, when the final bell rings, we often see these two gladiators come to the center of the ring and hug with an obvious sense of affection. Why do they do this? It is because a fighter is trained in his individual sport not only to compete with his opponent but to respect him. When he is engaged in a match that tests him to the ultimate degree, he comes away exhausted, battered, maybe even beaten, but nevertheless still possessing enormous respect for his opponent. There is a kind of fellowship, a kind of fraternity, that only individual gladiators such as these men understand.

The same thing may be seen in golf, even though most matches test individual ability. From time to time, golfers join together as teammates, and there is the sense among them that they are part of a fraternity that is higher than each one in his individual accomplishments.

But there is no fraternity as important or as significant as the church and the communion of saints. Obviously, the church is not an organization exclusive to men, so perhaps we can speak of the church as both a fraternity and a sorority. But in any case, the idea of team participation is clearly present. There is no such thing as a one-person church.

Certainly we are not saved or justified by the faith of our families, friends, or associates. In one sense, redemption is an intensely individual matter. But once we are justified, once we are in a state of salvation, we are immediately put into a group. We are immediately put into the church.

The church exists as a corporate body. There is a corporate solidarity that defines the identity of the New Testament church. There is no room for rugged individualism. No one has been given all the gifts of the Holy Spirit; no one has an opportunity to “hog” the ministry.

What is needed in the church is a kind of familial relationship that is a brotherhood and a sisterhood. It can be learned in part outside of the church in other endeavors, such as the world of sports or even the battlefield. But the deepest knitting together of human beings for a common cause, a common faith, and a common Lord exists in the church of Jesus Christ."



http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/bonds-brotherhood/

freed man

"I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand... I hope."

-Shawshank Redemption

look up Grandland Rice

For when the One Great Scorer comes
To write against your name,
He marks-not that you won or lost-
But how you played the game.
Grantland Rice, "Alumunus Football," Only the Brave and Other Poems, p. 144 (1941)

awesome clip

this is a really cool clip with Levon Helm in it. He is the old man and a musician that i like. he refers to the Kennedy assassination in the clip. there is a lot going on between the lines that I think makes it interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqZuL8iZchU&feature=related

good coffee? :)

God's House video

http://followhard.com/home/?p=191

Hey fellas,

Check out this video that my friend made last year. He goes to our church and works for the news channel down here in Roanoke. He also works with FCA and made this. Its pretty fun.

I'm out,

Kev0

My dad's Friday at work.

Recent picture taken while my dad (far left) was at "work" with colleagues--perhaps a career switch is in order?

open range quote

Mack: Shame what this town's come to.
Charley Waite: You could do something about it.
Mack: What? We're freighters. Ralph here's a shopkeeper.
Charley Waite: You're men, ain't you?
Mack: I didn't raise my boys just to see 'em killed.
Charley Waite: Well you may not know this, but there's things that gnaw at a man worse than dying.

oddest blog post

driving back to VA from michigan. in the middle of ohio at a wendy's. decided to bring the laptop inside to see if they have wifi. they also have a toilet. on which i am currently sitting...

very cool

http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/12095/for-whom-the-bell-beeps

It popped in my head because I'm gonna waterboard Asian Pete Rose when I get back to heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm44Woqt_jY

hey keith! do that thing where you fart through your head!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S6PPKUDGfc&feature=relmfu

a little whoppahead in everyone

I read this and it reminded me of when God teaches us new things in life. Like in relationships when we are learning how to be more responsible, better communicators, and more Christ like all around. Sometimes you feel a certain way, and it can be very much the opposite of your actions because you are trying so hard to keep it together... here's to you, whoppas...


ESPN:
Cuban watched Game 6 just like he watched all the others, from the second row behind the Mavs' bench. He never joined a timeout huddle or stepped foot on the floor. He never slapped high-fives with any players. He barely even stood up. Sometimes he just put his head down all the while compulsively sipping Diet Coke.

At times he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled encouragement to his players -- and a time or two he screamed to point out a traveling call the refs had obviously blown.

Cuban sat next to advance scout Greg Dreiling, a rare experience because Dreiling's working life is spent on the road studying opponents.

"It was a real treat," Dreiling said. "There were a few times he went deep inside himself or to a higher power. I think we all did that a time or two."

Cuban put it in slightly different terms: "I thought I was going to [expletive] my pants."

Guess Who???

So, this is my mom's second in the Civil War series.  Created from some rare historic photographs.  I dont have much influence in the debate of Lee VS Stonewall, but I do have to say she painted Stonewall first ;)

practical self denial

"The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussing and frettings; coming in out of the wind."

C.S. Lewis

Some really cool news.

Excerpt from Tripp and Allie Usry's blog:

Can May get anymore exciting?
Yes, it can. You might've noticed that Tripp has been the primary blogger of our family lately. Part of it is because he has had some really exciting changes in his life. But the real reason I've been avoiding blogging is that until I could announce that I'm pregnant nothing else seemed important to say.

ETA 12/10/11

So here's our newest Usry addition. At the time of the ultrasound, I was 10 weeks, 3 days along and Baby measured just over an inch and a half long, moving around and looking very healthy. Now, we're at 12 weeks and Baby is the size of a lime.

We can't wait for our little Texas baby!

Virginia Tech beats USC seven years after kick-off

Does this mean that we beat USC in 2004?

Brother

This is a link to Luke's address at his company's departure. http://gallery.me.com/lmacfarlan/100134/ref.mov

Ever forward men.

dont look back

"Suppose someone asked me, when I see a man in blue uniform going down the street leaving little paper packets at each house, why I suppose that they contain letters? I should reply, ‘Because when ever he leaves a similar little packet for me I find it does contain a letter.’ And if he then objected—’But you’ve never seen all these letters which you think the other people are getting,’ I should say, ‘Of course not, and I shouldn’t expect to, because they’re not addressed to me. I’m explaining the packets I’m not allowed to open by the ones I am allowed to open.’ It is the same about this question. The only packet I am allowed to open is Man. When I do, especially when I open that particular man called Myself, I find that I do not exist on my own, that I am under a law; that somebody or something wants me to behave in a certain way. I do not, of course, think that if I could get inside a stone or a tree I should find exactly the same thing, just as I do not think all the other people in the street get the same letters as I do. I should expect, for instance, to find that the stone had to obey the law of gravity—that whereas the sender of the letters merely tells me to obey the law of my human nature, he compels the stone to obey the laws of its stony nature. But I should expect to find that there was, so to speak, a sender of letters in both cases, a Power behind the facts, a Director, a Guide."

If I examine my "mail" I see plenty of doubts, fears, and trust issues. Beating myself up... So I want to encourage your "packets." Continue to seek Jesus' Kingdom first. Continue to die to yourself. You're doing great.

Luke 9
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Purity and fruitfulness

I read an article entitled "The dangers of 'Fruitfulness' without Purity" today by a guy from Lausanne ministries named Michael Oh. It was really rich and encouraging, as purity remains a fierce battle in my life and the lives of many around me who are beginning to see fruits in female relationship, marriages, ministries, careers, and other endeavors.

"Winning or losing the heart battles over confession, repentance, and humility is the difference between those who end well and those who do not. Why hypocrisy often wins the day is, I believe, because leaders learn the possibility of being “fruitful” without being pure. . .The scary reality is that most of these seemingly blessed and fruitful ministries led by morally compromising leaders will never be brought to light on earth. Many lives are “successfully” lived and many ministries are “successfully” operated apart from a vital relationship with and properly desperate dependence upon Jesus Christ. This is the great scandal of Christian leadership; this is what leaders should fear."

I love you guys and look forward to seeing (some of) you this weekend!

Worship in Spirit and Truth

I think this has been a building realization in my life, especially this year, and today as I was reminded by Wayne Grudem how powerful and accessible is the spiritual reality in which we live, particularly during Worship.

Let me explain. Study Genesis, Exodus, (I skipped Leviticus), Deuteronomy. Being in the Lord's presence is something not to be taken lightly, in fact, after looking at all of the preparations for simply building the tabernacle, much less proper worship within it, brings you to a truly AWE-some realization of the intense sanctity and holiness of our God. The fact that we can approach and dwell within the Holy of Holies (as we rely upon Christ) is astounding once you look at the requirements of the high priest every year just to come to that moment. It was not done lackadaisically or in some ho-hum attitude, for meeting with the Holy God was a fearful and awe-inspiring experience.  (oh and at the end of 2 Sam, some dude accidentally touches the Ark. Bam. Dead!)

Now, if we live in the reality that Christ has torn the veil to the holy of holies, and we have direct access to God and we can stand before God in Christ's righteousness alone....what is that experience like when we come to worship!? What is the spiritual reality of those moments meeting with God?

Wayne points out the following after quoting this passage from Hebrews 12 (pg 1008. Systematic Theology. Chapter 51 "Worship")

Heb. 12:18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d]

 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

This is the reality of new covenant worship: it actually is worship in the presence of God, though we do not now see him with our physical eyes, nor do we see the angels gathered around his throne or the spirits of believers who have gone before and are now worshiping in God's presence. But it is all there, and it is all real, more real and more permanent than the physical creation that we see around us, which will someday be destroyed in the final judgment. And if we believe Scripture to be true, then we must also believe it to be actually true that we ourselves come to that place and join our voices with those already worshiping in heaven whenever we come to God in worship. Our only appropriate response is this: "Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:28 - 29).

I am excited and challenged by this, that as I begin to worship, living in this time of “already, but not yet” we join the angels around his throne worshiping in God's presence in the true realization of the reality we live in Christ. So lets offer acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. Its one heaven of a party up there. Lets join in whoppaheads.

This morning, I ran over Seth Greenberg...

...or, I ALMOST did, anyway.

Actually, he was jogging along Washington Street in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he resides and works as Virginia Tech's basketball coach, as I drove by in my Honda-CRV. You might remember him from such episodes as "ACC Coach of the Year, 2005".

That "famous run-in" led me to ask the question:

"What run-in's with famous people have you had?"


Other famous run-in's of mine:
* I saw Jeremy Shapp, sports writer and ESPN personality, in a Minneapolis airport.
I doubt that he was there to see...

* ... author of Crazy Love and The Forgotten God, Francis Chan, who was in line in front of me in the same airport at the same time. He'd likely hate that he is referred to as a "famous person," however.

sometimes

Sometimes, it's just one of those gold-bond days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH00DgYtr4o

Enjoy the warm weather brothers.

More Civil War

An article about Dr. James I. "Bud" Robertson, Jr., who is retiring this year after 43 years of work at VPI.

From the article (written by Jean Elliott of Virginia Tech):

"Robertson said, “A good professor is as young as his students. I’ve kept on teaching long after I should retire because I love the kids.” The 22,000 Hokies who have taken Robertson’s class probably all remember a statement similar to this, “If you don’t understand the emotions, you won’t understand the war. You have to come to know them,” Robertson said, “and then you get to understand history.”

PS

PS
On Josh's date with Emily, at the end of the night, Linds knocked out Emily's front tooth with a metal pole in the back seat of my car. True story. Call Josh for details.

frick and frack

Thanks for that message of good will and prayer Bettwy. I am learning more about how powerful prayer is and think this is a great avenue to supply eachother with more requests. Mike told me this morning that Jodi has already bought her dress so we can definetly continue lifting them up as well. I really wanted to share some cool links with yall. One is the Beer and Bourbon festival. I wont give much detail but know this: $30 gets you unlimited pit cooked bbq from various vendors, beer, and bourbon from the worlds greatest distillers. The one in Richmond is 4 June and I cannot think of something that would make me smile more while getting my butt chewed, than to know that a bunch of whoppas are in Richmond living the good life. The next link is an article on training and thought yall could give it a try with pushups or pull ups or crunches. It takes only a few minutes each morning and night. I am doing it with pullups.

http://www.beerandbourbon.com/

http://www.cbass.com/Synaptic.htm

http://www.cbass.com/Pavel%27sLadders.htm


have a good week men

Prayer for Kevin's grandma

I wanted to ask everyone to be praying for Kevin's grandma this weekend.

She's back in the hospital with an infection from complications related to a fall she took, coupled with several other ailments to her liver and other internal organs. She's not doing well and is currently refusing treatment.

You might remember her as being the sparky older lady who spoke at his rehearsal dinner before his wedding about how she taught Kevin everything he knows when he'd come home from school to her house and eat Peanut Butter sandwiches-- so the way I see it, we all have a debt of gratitude to pay to her, as Kevin's taught us pretty much everything WE know about life, wisdom, women, the Bible... you get the picture.

1.) Pray that Kevin and Whitney would be an encouragement to his grandmother and that she would have a renewed sense of purpose in life, namely that she'd fight for the life that is left for her to live.

2.) Pray for Kev's family, especially his father (her son) and that they'd grow as a family through this time of healing and restoration of his mother.

3.) Pray for their faith to grow in this time and that God would be teaching them whatever lessons He has for them concerning their specific roles in the kingdom now and whatever other purposes He has for them in the future.

4.) On a slightly different note, pray for the bevy of Whoppa-activities going on in Harrisonburg this weekend:

* Wheeler visiting his girlie, Lindsey Forbes.
* Gordon, who lives in H-burg with his wife, Sarah Beth.
* Josh Nicoletti is going to take a lovely young Narnian lady on a date this weekend!
You have to call him to ask her name-- I honestly can't remember...oops.


Thanks, Whoppaheads. I love you guys!

you kids and your newfangled internet

www.flashcardmachine.com

for those of you continuing your education. I have been using it to study for OCS.

booya.

Gents,

Think you all have heard, but it's better from the horses mouth, or whatever they say. Jodi and I are engaged, and I'm so freakin pumped about it. I'm more than just a little grateful for all of you fellas, as you all have been integral in my formation as a man, thus helping form Jodi and I's bond... and I'm lifting yall up in thanksgiving to the Lord. It's good being sharpened together, and I'm looking forward to more sharpening as we grow together in Christ and as Jodi and I prepare for our covenant together.

Yall are my brothers.
Michael

fear

Hebrews 10:39 (New International Version, ©2011)

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.


Many days there is something to fear on the horizon. When you know it is blessed and true, you can hold fast to your faith, not letting the fear control your actions. You can bear it like a cross, and keep walking forward. Faith.

reminders

This one hit me hard this morning.

Galations 1
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

check out the context as you like

Moral issues at stake check out this link below

In a world full of moral dilemmas yet another question comes to mind. Not one regarding small issues such as foregin policy, immigration, or environmental conservation. But rather is it moral for an ice cream company to produce delicious ice cream from nipple of a human breast milk. My vote, if it taste good why the hell not. We've all had it before!

Bucket list

Michael Macfarlan's bucket list:
Item # 2 - "Make an environmentally friendly and perfect pair of underwear."

The Truth About the Civil War

Mr. Bettwy while your previous post was extremely helpful in educating us all about the Civil War, I could not help but notice your own personal opinions coming forth. Yes the articles you listed were quite insightful, but they in no way would lead a person to conclude such preposterous ideas as that Stonewall Jackson were a lesser general than his authority General Lee. You see Mr. Bettwy we would like to keep the integrity of this blog sound and comments such as yours will only lead poor uneducated souls into believing ideas founded on lies and biased thinking. In order to give our other bloggers a fair assessment of the debate between General Lee and General Stonewall Jackson I have provided some additional information. If you check out the posted link you will see a list of the ways the South could have won the war. The first item listed is the survival of Stonewall Jackson! In fact there is a common belief that Lee's mistakes at Gettysburg would not have happened if Jackson were alive. The facts are simple God must have had to take out Stonewall Jackson because slavery sucks and Jackson inadvertently would have extended it because of his military brilliance. Lee however wasn't dangerous enough to be taken out.

Civil War article in VT magazine

I don't know if you all get the Virginia Tech magazine each season, but the Winter 2010-11 issue has two stunning cover articles, one of which is called "The Civil War: 150 years later" by Richard Lovegrove, which talks a lot about the importance of the Civil War on shaping American culture, thought, and actions in the months since. The other is all about Dr. "Bud" James Robertson, Jr, one of the top Civil War scholars of all-time, who is retiring from lecturing in about 4 months, and who wrote the definitive biography on Stonewall Jackson (the second-greatest Civil War general himself!)

Enjoy the bounty, brothers!

Civil War Soldiers

700 faces of the Civil War. This is cool.

http://artofmanliness.com/trunk/588/civil-war-faces/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Dodging DEs to dodging debts:

one Hokie who should've listened to this guy.

Abiding in Baoding

Brothers,

I just want to ask you all to pray for a project I'm working on.

Recently, I've been writing a book called Abiding in Baoding about my time in China. It is basically a simple tale of true events and real moments where I saw God moving through the Spirit in Baoding (the city where I lived) during those two years.

I'd love you to pray for:

* Diligence in this project (300 pg. double-spaced is my goal by April 1).
* My heart in the of writing this.
* Sharing it with people when its done.

That's it and that's all, dear brothers. I love each of you a lot!

In the words of Kevin Hughes, "Hearts and Farts",
Ryan

VT is awesome

VT rules!

Props fer Beamer and company

A major compliment to coaching is when recruiting classes begin to outperform expectations on a consistent basis. Virginia Tech is the best example of that.

Virginia Tech, despite being No. 21 in recruiting, has a .752 winning percentage with four ACC titles in its seven years in the league.

"No question Virginia Tech is recruiting players for their system and sometimes that means they'll pull a two-star or three-star that fits like Jarrett Boykin (3-star) or Rashad Carmichael (2-star)," Brian Mohr, publisher of HokieHaven.com, said. "Their recruiting classes have drastically improved over the past five years and they have always targeted the top players around the region, especially in-state."

Found this article on Rivals talking about how recruiting rankings do not mean a win all. Pretty sweet. Thought I'd share are love for dem Hokie footballers.

Word,

Kev

go hokies!!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.break.com%2Findex%2Fenter-the-kazoo-man.html&h=dc5e5

funny

TEXAS BEER JOINT SUES CHURCH over LIGHTNING STRIKE

ONLY IN TEXAS ...

Texas Beer Joint Sues Church In Mt. Vernon, Texas, Drummond's Bar began
construction on expansion of their building to increase their business.

In response, the local Baptist church started a campaign to block the
bar from expanding with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up
until the week before the grand reopening when lightning struck the bar
and it burned to the ground.

After the bar burning to the ground by a lightning strike the church
folks were rather smug in their outlook, bragging about the power of
prayer, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the
church" was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building,
either through direct or indirect actions or means".

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all
responsibility or any connection to the building's demise.

The judge read through the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's
reply and at the opening hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm
going to decide this, but it appears from the paperwork that we have a
bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church
congregation that now does not."



then


http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/prayer.asp

To the haters!!

http://thedailywh.at/post/2403467852/epic-meal-of-the-day-the-epic-meal-time-gourmands

frater

I remember the first house we lived in when we moved to Kernersville in '89. I cant really remember anything before living in that house. I think the earliest I can remember is getting our dog Rudy that first Christmas in Kville. There were some girls down the street to play with but that was about it. So since I was scared of girls, I hung out with my dog in the woods mainly. I think dogs appreciate having a little boy around. For some reason I remembered the first friend I ever made today. He lived down the street from us and after we met we hung out all the time. I remember that strange new feeling of having a friend. it was cool experiencing that for the first time. It was a unique flavor, like the first time you ever have watermelon on a summer day. Or pizza. Anyhow, it definitely left its mark. thanks guys. Hope you are doing well.

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
john 15

Luke 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAFif1t7Uhs


23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Whoppaheads, be yourselves

Stephen: Fine speech. Now what do we do?
William Wallace: Just be yourselves.
Hamish: Where are you going?
William Wallace: I'm going to pick a fight.
Hamish: Well, we didn't get dressed up for nothing.



Lewis: Mere C.



“At the beginning I said there were Personalities in God. I will go further now. There are no real personalities anywhere else. Until you have given up yourself to Him you will not have a real self. Sameness is to be found most among the most ‘natural’ men, not among those who surrender to Christ. How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been; how gloriously different are the saints.



But there must be a real giving up of the self. You must throw it away ‘blindly’ so to speak. Christ will indeed give you a real personality: but you must not go to Him for the sake of that. As long as your own personality is what you are bothering about you are not going to Him at all. The very first step is to try to forget about the self altogether. Your real, new self (which is Christ’s and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him.



Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more every day matters. Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original; whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. The principle runs through all life from top to bottom. Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life.



Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. but look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.“


Luke 9:23 (New International Version, ©2010)

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.






Get. Some.

James Ryan

Hello!

James Ryan deployed today for 6 months. He will be working on the reactors of an aircraft carrier the whole time. Here is his email if you have a minute to drop him a message. Just any random stuff about fishing, hunting, the hokies, whoppaheads, chicken wings, red snapper, and of course the gospel.

this is his favorite quote from "God's and Generals" as well. might want to chuck it in there to make him smile

As a Christian man my first allegance is to God, my second... is to Virginia. - Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals

ramesjyan@gmail.com


he is pretty pumped to be out there right now and he will be stopping at multiple ports. first is portugal in 2-3 weeks.

thanks brus

Awesome!

http://www.diynetwork.com/home-improvement/awesome-rooms-from-man-caves/pictures/index.html

Prov 4

Proverbs 4
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.