Texas No. 4

I believe this is my fourth trip to Texas this year. I’ll be headed down this morning and be hanging out with meetings at work and work when I’m not in meetings 🙂 Saturday is the big company ‘Holiday Party.’ I’m saddened that we can’t say ‘Christmas Party’ but with a multi-cultural, diverse company you just have to celebrate that you all celebrate. I’m celebrating 5.25 years with Alt-N, which is pretty awesome to me, it means I’ve been with the company or worked as a contractor for the company for over half of its lifetime. Wow.

Y’all take care as blogging may be particularly light in the upcoming days.

Instantiate the Holidays Already

Well, Thanksgiving is over, we had 5 visitors staying with us and Linda was at my parents and they came over for Thanksgiving as well. It was great and I can strongly recommend the Alton Brown Turky Brining recipe! What a moist, tasty turkey. That said I just dropped the Peers off, and this morning I dropped off Amanda, Jessica’s cousin, at 5:40 or so. Wow.

I’m pooped simply because of all of the activity. We unfortunately got only one game of Risk in, which is sad, but we did play some Yahtzee and Scrabble. I think I’m ready for a break. Except that we’re continuing on in the busy season as Wednesday I fly to Texas for some meetings until Sunday the 4th, and then after that I come home and 10 days later we fly to Washington to start the Christmas festivities. Dang. The holidays are instantiated but I’ve been so busy hosting that the participative part hasn’t settled in yet.

It was nice to get some time with various folks this last week but I didn’t get enough time with my father-in-law, father or mother. I figure that I’ll never have enough time, but I’ll try!

Eating Humble Pie, Er Sandwich

Yesterday at lunch I regurgitated some food trivia about the Sandwich. This simple staple was named after the Earl of Sandwich who would not quit playing cards to eat. He ordered his servant to bring him so meat between two pieces of bread. Thus he could hold his cards in one hand and his food in the other. This idea caught on with the other players who wanted what ‘Sandwich’ was having. Thus, the term was born. I told this brief story and got some funky looks from my sister-in-laws. What use was this bit of trivia?

About 32 hours later it became quite handy as the Cranium game we were playing asked about just this thing. The oposing team won and the girls learned that the trivia I store in my brain, spew out of my mouth, and make them listen to… can be useful for something. If I hadn’t have told that story the other team would most likely have gotten it, but since I had already shared it they were certain. Drat!

Worship the Turkey

I just read in an email: “Happy Turkey Day!” Which is like saying, “Happy Mashed Potatoes Day!” We’re not worshipping the turkey, are we? Where are you putting the focus? I’m here to be thankful to God for what He’s provided me with. Its not a day about turkeys is it? Even if you remove the current culture’s rather agnostic/atheistic views from the picture verses my radical Christianity** and go back in history the people were grateful for surviving and they were grateful, together, for what they had. Saying happy turkey day is useless… especially if you’re a vegetarian. Or worse yet: A Hindu. That’s like saying, “Happy We’re Going to Be Eating Your Great-Great-Grandma Day!”

Happy Thanksgiving folks, from the bottom of my un-PC heart.

**that’s supposed to be a joke, I consider myself radical, but not the way some people define radical

Romans 8:28-30

I have been reading, studying and thinking (meditating) about Romans 8:28-30 recently. While I don’t think I’ve sucked every bit out of the passage I have found it to be full of ideas that blow the status quo of Christianity out of the water. Don’t settle for less if you’re a believer. Anything less is just an imitation of Christ, and we don’t need that. Here’s the text:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

I have heard the first part of verse 28 out of context lots of times, and its not done anyone who is quoting it or listening to it out of context much good. Granted, I’m taking these three verses out of Romans 8, which you need to read in context. Romans 8:28 starts with God’s causing all things to work together for good to those who love God. God is the one who’s in charge, not me. When something happens that seems unjust or unfair instead of asking why (which the answer will be because mankind is corrupt and in desperate need of a savior) we should be asking when will the justice be corrected. Then, immediately afterward we should ask, “What can I learn from this because God is using it for my benefit?” When what looks like garbage happens in my life, including my sinning, God can still use it for His good. He can still use it to His glory.

I used to look at pornography with as much frequency as possible (Mom, I know you read this, don’t beat yourself up for this, God has used it to His glory, seriously) when I was younger. I was addicted to the fleshly feeling of lust. I wanted more and more exposure to sexual things because the emotional feeling was exciting. It wasn’t satisfying, but it was exciting. Then, afterward I would feel guilt for looking at such things. Fortunately I’m not alone in this wrestling of the flesh so when I come across other youth or men I am able to offer them hope and empathy. I am able to take them to places and scripture that lead them to a better understanding of who they are in Christ and how that can help them cease walking in the flesh and live in victory over the flesh. God has been able to take what was a past sin, and use it as one of my very ministries! Instead of my living righteously for my whole life I have constantly wrestled with various sins so that now I can understand my brothers and sisters in Christ and be an edifying member of the body.

But God doesn’t stop there. You see, when you sin, God has covered it in the blood of Christ and you are instead accredited with the righteousness of Christ so God is given glory for His grace, mercy and love even in our sin (which was His sin on the cross). So not only is the event possible to be used by God, but he gets the glory for what happens no matter what. That beats the snot out of any sort of guilt, shame or punishment for our sins, plus it gives us a glimpse into God’s perspective. You cannot be in a situation that God cannot use in your life. Period.

Some look at that verse and say, “But it says those who love God.” And then get off on a high horse about how some people, when they sin do not love God. Not loving God while you sin does not mean that you don’t love God at all, does it? Don’t sell someone a shorted check of Grace. Either Christ died for all of our sins (which we’ll look at in a moment) or he didn’t. God can use events in our lives for His glory now, later or in eternity… don’t limit an infinite God to your puny perspective. I’m learning that I need to quit trying to short sell God in this very area.

Then, the hum-dinger of Romans 8:28, the second part, comes out: Because we love God, we’re called according to His purpose. Instead of lacking purpose in life, instead of not having a calling, we’re called to God’s purpose. What purpose can be better than that? When earthly things take place they’re usable by God for our good, His glory and we are called and can be used for His purpose! Though it is in an Old Testament context Jonah was walking in the sin and selfishness [ha ha, the word fish is in the middle of that word, get it? Jonah? Fish?], then did God’s will through the help of a fish, and then walked in the selfishness again with the plant but God used Jonah for His purpose. Paul died, was resurrected, was lashed, shipwrecked, tortured, homeless, and naked (See II Corinthians 11:23-27). All of those to God’s glory for God’s purpose. Paul could not write with such authority if he had not been associated with Steven’s murder, and then once establishing His relationship with Christ, turning around and being involved with all sorts of physical hardships in Christ’s service. Instead, God used those things to validate Paul’s ministry and Paul knew it. Instead of finding sorrow in those things he knew they were part of his sanctification and growth. On top of that he knew that God had eternity in store of him, in which God would forever be revealing Himself to Paul and all believers (Ephesians 2:4-7).

God has a purpose for our lives and so being distracted by this world and trying to reconcile this world with the flesh is only going to lead to disappointment instead of having a perspective that looks at God’s working in our lives for His glory, our growth and with His purpose. We are called to God’s purpose… there is meaning to life. On top of that Ephesians 2:10 says that we’re going to walk in the good works that God has planned for us. We cannot fail to do God’s planned works for us, they’re predestined.

Verse 29 starts out with God’s foreknowledge of us: “For those whom He foreknew….” God knew us in eternity past. Intimately. He didn’t just know me, Randy Peterman, a little bit, He didn’t just know all about my musical talent [or lack there of], he didn’t just know I’d know how to program computers or that I’d live to be [insert the age I live to be here], but he knew me intimately, 100%. What’s so amazing about that? Several things: God knew me and still He chose to die for my sins on the cross. God knew me and still planned for me to do good works. God knew me and is going to reward me for those good works he has planned for me no matter how many beautiful women (that he created) I defiled by lusting after them. He knew me, knew how I would screw up with my wife, children and anyone else I’m involved with and still died for me on the cross. That’s what’s so amazing about that. God foreknew me and loved me anyway. That’s love.

Beyond foreknowing me He also, “…predestined to [me] become conformed to the image of His Son…” So not only did He know me and promise to pay for my sins, but he also promised to sanctify me, or set me aside to be conformed to and identified with His Son, Christ. I don’t have to worry about whether I will one day be a godly (godlier) man, I know that Christ is my position (Colossians 3:3), but also my destination when I’m with God in the heavenlies. My sanctification (spiritual growth) is guaranteed. There is nothing else so liberating in life than to know that you don’t have to try any more, because God’s doing it and He’s conforming you to the image of His Son. The world sometimes practices self mutilation wherein they carve or manipulate their flesh. By trying in the flesh to live a righteous life we are simply doing the same thing inwardly. Instead we must rest in God’s work and walk in our relationship with Him, it will guarantee results rather than bring them into question because of a faulty source (the flesh). We’re predestined: it is our destiny. That predestination is so that Christ would be the first-born of the brethren. Christ would be the first to be resurrected and we will follow in Him and have eternal life. God uses our Christ-conformance to His glory in many ways, including Christ being glorified as the first-born.

As if being foreknown, predestined to be conformed to Christ image and bringing Christ (and therefore God) glory, we are called with a purpose (again, reiterating what was written in verse 28). But those whom God called he also justified. That’s a past tense word there. I have been justified. I have been made just in God’s sight. When he looks at me He sees a Randy that has no sin or blemish on him. He sees the resurrection of Christ in me. I am made just. As has been said before, “Justified, its just as if I’d never sinned at all.” And I’ve sinned, let me tell you. But I don’t have to worry about it because Christ took care of it. The worldly concern for sin and the flesh is not my concern because mine has already been taken care of and is being conformed to the image of Christ! I can stop worrying about doing righteous deeds in the flesh since the flesh is dead and my new life in Christ is inherently filled with righteousness.

Beyond justification I am also glorified. I’m going to confess to not having grasped all that glorification means. It is hard for my mind to wrap itself around my being glorified. God being glorified is understandable, but I have been glorified. A past tense word, again. Second Corinthians 3:18 says it well: 18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. We are being conformed to Him who is glorified, therefore we are glorified as well. What an amazing thing that all of this is true of every believer. It makes me want to be more gracious with other believers who are not aware of this so that they may see the truths of this lived out in me. Fortunately as I abide in Christ and rest in what God is doing in me He will do things like that through me.

What a rich passage this is. I suppose much more could be drawn from it, but as I live I learn places that this (and many other verses) apply to me. Furthermore, I am learning how they apply in different areas and scenarios. I find myself looking at trials, past since, present since, and future growth with hope. All of it, every single bit of my life can be used for God’s glory and my good. I can’t ask for more than that.

A Fine Car Indeed

Last night I went to pick up the Peer family from the airport. We own a green Honda Civic 4 door. It seats five. Five small people. Five small anorexic people. Five small anorexic people who do not have luggage. Five small anorexic people without five pieces of large luggage and some backpacks.

Our Honda civic is too small for carrying that many people. We had luggage on laps, I think we were dragging something off the bumper as well. I think we’re going to go get ourselves into debt for a mini van on Black Friday 😉 Just kidding. However, our fine car gets great gas mileage. It gets the good gas mileage through the use of a special turbo charged lawn mower engine. I’m pretty sure that’s what’s in there because if it was any less powerful with 5 anorexic small people with no luggage it would not go.

This is in no way a complaint about Hondas. They’re great cars. But you have to use the car for the right purpose. But you know what they say: When you’re a Hammer everything looks like a Vanilla Ice.

Confession: I Was/Am A Heartless Pig

I was just chatting with my friend Robin and I told her a story that I thought, “I had better blog this,” about. WhyI am a heartless pig will become quite obvious in a moment. You see, I was telling her about how we never had a pet dog growing up. I was telling her how not having a pet dog while growing up had allowed me to become quite callused. I had been involved with the death of numberless fish, some birds and I don’t know about how many other critters that made their way through the Peterman household. I had told Robin about how I was a heartless pig because though I had killed lots of animals [thank the Lord for Grace. I really mean that, if I was Hindu I would probably now be suicidal] when I went over to a friend’s house his family was in tears because they had just had their family dog put down.

I thought their crying was rather wimpy. I am scum for this. Really.

Does that not make me a callus, heartless, pig? To quote John Cleese, “Well, that’s the sort of blinkered, Philistine pig-ignorance I expect from you non-creative garbage.”

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

My Mom and Dad have been married 32 years as of today. I’ve been allive for 28 of those and I can say that through the think and thin they’ve been madly in love and its been a great example. Of course they also have their faults, too: like not buying me a recording studio ;)**

** that’s a joke, just in case you didn’t get that.

CNN Police

If you read part of this carefully crafted article “CNN.com – Police: Ludwig’s computers hold crime plans” you’ll note that there’s a building up of the story, there’s a climax that leads you to believe that the computer held exact plans… and then… then… they say, “The alleged plot was never carried out.”

Why can’t CNN, and other news agencies present the news about things like this:

The computer contained alleged plots that have not been discovered to have been carried out…

That would have been so much more forthright and useful. Instead I get to think one thing with a switcheroo ending. On top of that if people only make it through part of the article, which happens when people skim, they get only partial information because the truth was not put in the beginning of the article.

I’m not suggesting that what this teenager did was in anyway validated due to poor reporting, but I will say that poor reporting is an unpayable carreer, if I wanted to read bad news articles… I’d read some of the rumor blogs.