My credo is sola scriptura but, even so, that (IMHO) must needs be tempered with the interpretation of Scripture by others, lest one become a heretic. And so, there is a place for tradition as a check against ‘private interpretation’. Even so, I also believe in semper reformanda, as long the change brings one closer to God and truth. » read more »

The New Testament In Scots, tranlsated by William Laughton Lorimer (LL.D, F.B.A.) (1885 - 1967), was first published in 1983 by Southside (Publishers) Ltd, Edinburg, Scotland. I can't remember where I ran across this work, but it was the audio recording of the four gospels by Tom Fleming that fascinated me. This is a new translation, directly from the best Greek texts available. The written tranlsation places the story of the woman caught in adultery, and a few other doubtful passages, in an appendix, but Mr. Fleming (O.B.E., C.V.O) reads them in context. » read more »

You know your wife needs a break from the kids when...

...it's two weeks into the summer break, you get home from work, and she says "How was school today?" (Sure, there are other reasons she might make a slip like this, but I've considered them all, and this is the only one I feel save in verbalizing.)

It's been a rough day for me. In fact the entire last couple of weeks have been rough, but today things hit me harder than on most days. I know I'm getting older, but I am having more 'senior moments' than usual. » read more »

These are not all the podcasts I listen to, but the best. Most are weekly presentations. » read more »

It's been way too long since I contributed anything. In August of last year, I started working for a local company that had recently been acquired by Siemens. Having my commute time go from 20 minutes to 45 minutes on an ideal day was just a small part off the problem. I think I bit off more than I chew. » read more »

You may have gathered that I am not a fan of contemporary church music. Well, one of the songs recommended by DailyEncouragement.net has been on my MP3 player for a few months, and I can’t listen to it without tears welling up in my eyes. It’s ‘Jesus Will Still Be There’, performed by Point of Grace on the 1995 album, “Today’s Best Christian Hits”. I’m starting to open up more to that musical style.

And here are the lyrics:

Things change, plans fail
You look for love on a grander scale
Storms rise, hopes fade
And you place your bets on another day
When the going gets tough, when the ride's too rough » read more »

As I finished my third week of the new job, and even as I write this, I am reminded of God's mercy, love, and grace. Seven weeks earlier, I had told my previous employer of my intention to leave, and gave them three week's notice. Even with all the drug, credit, and other background checks, three weeks would have been enough time to verify my employment and education history, and see whether I had committed any felonies or was in financial trouble.

At the end of the three weeks--in fact, as I was leaving the building for the last time, my cell phone informed me that there was a message waiting for me; a couple of hours earlier, the recruiter has left voice mail saying they had to put off my hire date by a week because the verification agency had not given final approval. Now I was looking at a week of unpaid vacation. Did I mention this time off was unpaid? » read more »

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:34, KJV)

Yes, I know that's what the Bible says, but surely it doesn't mean I should apply that to everything! After all, it also says

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (Luke 14:28, KJV)

Or, does the passage from the sermon on the mount only apply to evil things?

This morning's missive to my wife, from a Republican Party leader at the county level, warns about SPP (Security & Prosperity Partnership) and connects it to an attempt to merge Canada, the U.S., and Mexico into a North American Union. The hyperbole in the email--"This is the greatest threat..."--is fairly typical of what this individual, and many others, routinely use. Just what I need, another "greatest threat" to add to the list of hundreds that I already have. » read more »

Yesterday, I had one of my more interesting job interviews. Even though my present contract doesn't expire for a few months, I've started to look now because we can't afford to be without income for 3 to 5 months as we have in the past. Actually, we couldn't afford it then, either. But God supplied All our NEEDS. True, we nearly lost the house, but we are on the road to recovery and getting ahead, if ever so slowly.

What made the interview so special? First, that I made it this far is noteworthy. Without a college degree, it is getting increasingly difficult to be considered for a position as a software engineer, even with 25+ years of experience, some patents, and well-known employers. My present employer made a very nice job offer about a year and a half ago, and it went as far as negotiating salary and start date, and me signing the offer letter and sending it in. Two or three days later, I got a call fromn the HR department rescinding the offer because I do not have a degree in a related field. » read more »