Piper on "A Common Word"

The first 9 minutes and 15 seconds you have available, listen to this video. Once again, John Piper cuts to the essence of the issue with clarity.

If you can't play it from my blog, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTY-9FY13kw

Taking your trucking needs into the future...

Well... the bikini clad women we had hired to adorn our new trucks for today's photo shoot, failed to show. My brother decided to stand in. Somehow, it's not quite the same.

Nevertheless, the two brand new 2009 (yes, '09 that's not a typo) Volvo semi trucks for my brother's brand new corporation "Integrated Linehaul Systems Inc." have arrived.

This is an exciting and somewhat frightening day.

These trucks have everything. Even a refrigerator.

And the best part is - they did such a nice job on the interior that you don't even have to get out of bed to get something out of the refrigerator.

Awesome.

You can see more pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/scottvnass

Beards 101

I bought a beard trimmer today.

To my surprise, the instructions inside were for more than just the trimmer.

It was hard for me to contain my excitement when I discovered a full set of instructions for "Growing A Beard".

I guess this reveals my true ignorance of marketing. I would have thought that someone reading instructions for their new beard trimmer already had a beard. Consequently, some familiarity with the process of "Growing A Beard".

Plus, I stupidly have always thought the only instructions for "Growing A Beard" were - 1. Don't shave.

New Arrival

A package came in the mail for me today. There's something always fun about that; even if you know what's coming.

My wife sent me some much needed supplies:

Slippers, a movie, my Waffle House coffee mug (authentic), and a Donald Driver Packer jersey (maybe not authentic).

I'm good to go.

Molly also had something arrive today. Her boyfriend Matt flew in for a few days to visit.

I'm in Arizona

Today, I was downloading some photos and found some still in my camera from a couple of weeks ago. It reminds me that about the only thing I miss while I'm out here is the people still back there. (Maybe a dog - a little bit. Or should I say, " a little bit of a dog"?)

Rare Photo

The other day, my brother pointed out a minor detail that reveals a lot about the lifestyle and social culture of this area of Phoenix.

There are an abudance of nail salons.

Yet, you will search in vain to find a laundromat.

Funambulist Blondin

On June 30, 1859 at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, A young Frenchman made history. Jean Francois Gravelet - The Great Blondin stepped onto a hemp rope stretched across the gorge of the Niagara River at Niagara Falls. He succeeded in becoming the first person to cross over Niagara Falls walking on a tightrope.

The Great Blondin was more than a funambulist (aerialist/tightrope walker), he was also a showman. Never content to merely repeat a previous performance, he executed a back somersault, crossed on a bicycle, walked blindfolded, cooked an omelet midway, and once crossed with his hands and feet in manacles.

He once made the trip across the rope pushing a wheelbarrow full of bricks; which brings me to the point of this story. Upon his successful arrival with the wheelbarrow to the shore, he asked the crowd if they believed he could make it back again. The crowd was absolutely convinced, saying, "Yes. We believe you can!". At this point, Blondin turned to the crowd and asked, "Who wants to get in the wheelbarrow?"

I heard a reference to this story in church yesterday. This is probably one of the best examples of how we are to understand the word "believe" as it is used in the New Testament.

When we read, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved", this is the kind of belief we are to understand. Believing is so much more than just understanding who Jesus is, and somehow accepting historically the events of his life.

Believing means "getting in the wheelbarrow".

By the way, The Great Blondin did once make a crossing carrying his manager, Harry Colcord on his back. It was, however, a treacherous crossing that nearly killed them both.