Elbert Guillory: "Why I Am a Republican"

Come unto Jesus. And rest.

http://andyunedited.ivpress.com/2013/05/remembering_dallas_willard.

Dallas Willard went to be with his Lord this morning. Many people will miss his strong, gentle wisdom, remembering him as someone who was soaked in the presence of Christ. He was a beloved friend and writer to many. We enjoyed publishing a number of titles by Dallas (1935-2013), especially one of his signature books, Hearing God.

Perhaps twenty years ago I was with Dallas as he led a two-day retreat for a dozen or so of us. In particular I remember his talking about practicing the disciplines of solitude and silence, something he tried to do for thirty minutes a day. I asked him what he meant by that. And he told us.

"And do you pray?" I asked.

"No."

"Or meditate or read the Scriptures?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Nothing. I just sit. In the presence of Christ."

What made very little sense to me then has come to mean more and more to me as the years have gone by. As the pace of life has become more abuzz with activity and stimulation and distraction, I have more and more craved time to just sit, and do nothing, except be in Christ's presence. It has become a centering, still point in a topsy-turvy world. It reminds me what is important and who is important, what is a crisis and what is not.

As Dallas taught so many, the Sabbath and Sabbath moments like the ones he described are ways of acknowledging who is in charge of the world and who is not. It reminds us that we are dependent on God and not ourselves. Our activity, our work, our intensity are not god. And by resting from those things, we acknowledge who is.

By giving away money we at once blaspheme the god of Mammon and worship the true God. By giving away time we at once blaspheme the god of Activity and worship the true One.

These I gratefully carry with me, gifts from Dallas Willard.

Posted by Andy Le Peau at May 8, 2013 11:36 AM

Early morning, we will rise up and seek You

THE LORD's PRAYER

Dear Father always near us,
May Your name be treasured and loved,
May your rule be completed in us-
May Your will be done here on earth
In just the way it is done in Heaven.
Give us today the things we need today,
And forgive us our sins and impositions on You
As we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.
Please don't put us through trials,
but deliver us from everything bad.
Because You are the one in charge,
And You have all the power,
And the glory too is all yours - forever -
Which is just the way we want it!
Dallas's rendition

Sad but true

http://www.themorlockrevolt.com/2013/05/how-obama-gets-his-news-true-story.html

Dallas thought provoker

Willard appeals to those haunted by the question: Why don't Christians look more like Christ?

Introducing Dr. Dallas Willard

"Dallas makes goodness attractive."

DW thoughts

Dr. Willard's Vampire Christian insight:
"I'd like a little of your blood, please. But I don't care to be your student or have your character. In fact, won't you just excuse me while I get on with my life, and I'll see you in heaven." 

One of Dallas's earliest childhood memories was his mother's funeral.  The wee lad was 2 years old and tried to crawl into his mother's casket.  The sinuous knot entwining a mother and her child in The Circle of Sufficiency compelled the child to be near her.  Mother Willard's last instruction to her husband  was to "keep Eternity before the children."  

Why does my heart swell to bursting with the mother's plea?  Those would be my last words as well.  To my children and my children's children for a thousand generations until Jesus returns, please keep Eternity before you.

Two Dallas Willard memories shared by Pastor Mark Roberts:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/2013/05/08/remembering-dallas-willard-part-1/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/2013/05/09/remembering-dallas-willard-part-2/

    

Timely quote of the scandal-riddled day

If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. 

C. S. Lewis 

Little Man turns the page to Three

Sweet Morgan Jo proudly carrying her brother's
birthday cake.  

Mama Elissa made a dirt loader cake
that 3-year-old Isaiah Robert can play in.
Nothing better!

Sweet shy little laddie savoring his moment of birthday
specialness.
Taking his sweet time gliding through the Traditional Birthday Tunnel.
I love him in his fedora and spring duds. 

This photo speaks a thousand:
Dad overseeing the safety of his family in the face of fire,
while trying to be taken seriously in a bday hat.
Mom enjoying the joy of her children being celebrated.
Big Sis taking her candle-lighting task so seriously.
Birthday boy waiting patiently.
Thunder Thigh Mimi along for the happy ride
while holding up 1 finger indicating her upcoming
First Birthday.

Worshipful homegoing

Summer of 2009, found me happily side-by-side with my beloved teacher, Dr. Dallas Willard.  Nathan and Becky MacHunter told me of the Lake Okoboji, Iowa camp event where Dallas was the conference speaker.  When I asked for a picture at the pastoral luncheon, the dear saint said, "We'll have to get close."  The peaceful calm restorative unhurried patient life of Jesus oozed from Professor Willard.  Dr. Willard's brilliant and deep description of the Light Yoke inspired me to read his books and accept the incomparable invitation to become an Apprentice to Jesus.  

http://dwillard.org

Recently Dallas said, "We can worship in dying."  I pondered his meaning, and upon learning of his death a few days ago, knew that his final words, "Thank You," were spoken in worship and thanksgiving to King Jesus and his beloved family.  Dallas lived well and died in joyful thanksgiving.  

Of all the divine 'coincidences,' Dallas Albert Willard's memorial service will be at my California home church where Robert and I met and married.  Church on the Way.  If Pastor Jack Hayford participates in the service, the two most influential teachers in my life will be together:  Pastor Jack and Dallas Willard.  I told JoyFul this weekend that my next child will be named Dallas Jack or Jack Dallas.  This unlikely event will be noted on the family blog.  Keep in touch.   

Live by the slander,
die by the truth.

Thought provoking quote of the day

If our educational institutions — from the schools to the universities — were as interested in a diversity of ideas as they are obsessed with racial diversity, students would at least gain experience in seeing the assumptions behind different visions and the role of logic and evidence in debating those differences.  

Instead, a student can go all the way from elementary school to a Ph.D. without encountering any fundamentally different vision of the world from that of the prevailing political correctness.

Thomas Sowell, Economist and Thinker

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." 

"But whoever causes harm to one of these little ones, it would be better if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea."  Bible

Is there no end to this man's vapid banality?

May our yea be yea

Pope Benedict once commented that "the world is suffering from a lack of thought."

Beware of language manipulation.  Words have certain meanings which correlate with the reality of facts and experience.  When 'genocide' becomes 'cleansing,' and the killing of children in the womb becomes "parasitic removal" or bothersome "fish flesh," there is grave danger.  Not only for the renamed person -  aka, baby - but also for the perpetrator - aka, mother.

The re-positioning of people and word meanings often have a dark purpose.  "(Adolph) Eichmann's thoughtless linguistic fictions were the mechanism by which Nazism achieved its humanity-denying distance and requisite alienation." (Keith Riler)  

The result of Eichmann's linguistic manipulation was six million murdered Jews and sympathizers.  It was far easier for the Nazis to exterminate Jewish 'subhuman rats' than real people created by God in His image.

Beware of those who change word meanings.  It may be a ploy to opaquely sanitize or demonize for the purpose of hiding evil.  Thank God, there is One who sees and will pass judgement.  

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/04/the_void_of_reason.html#ixzz2RsGJUzGT Follow us: @AmericanThinker on Twitter | AmericanThinker on Facebook  

Let the dat-gum season begin!

I saddled-up with Mitt and spun the first Lake Loop of the 2013 season!  Glorious!  Simply splendid!  The 65 degree Watertown weather woos the walkers and bikers.  We are out in droves!  Hallelujah!

Emotional George W. Bush at presidential library dedication: 'Our nation's best days lie ahead' - Washington Times

Emotional George W. Bush at presidential library dedication: 'Our nation's best days lie ahead' - Washington Times

Click above to view a short clip of President Bush's remarks at the dedication of the George W. Bush Library and Museum on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

50 guesses why this photo makes my heart sing.
The first 49 don't count.

Driving by the Bush Library at SMU

Driving by the Bush Library at SMU

"But in the end, leaders are defined by the
convictions they hold."
You are exactly correct, Mr. President.  

 Former President George W. Bush does not seem to give a tinker's damn about popularity polls and the ink blob of historians.  President Bush is a 'what you see is what you get' guileless man who is interested in serving and protecting the American people.  The political chips may fall where they may.  He plays to an audience of One.  And the One True Judge who sees the heart and soul of every man, will drop the gavel.  George W Bush stands and falls before God.  He has entrusted his legacy to the LORD Almighty.   He is comfortable with that.  And  for that, my respect abounds.