Good Bye Summer (hello fall)

Mississippi State vs. LSU

Last week LSU pulled off another dramatic, nearly down to the wire victory against Auburn 26-21. As I originally thought, the team that got the best quarterback play would win and I think that was the case at least for most of the second half. Auburn has a good team and at this point I hope they win the rest of their games.

This week LSU faces Mississippi State in Baton Rouge. I'm not sure what it is, but State is a team that has really struggled against LSU. 10 years ago when the Tigers were struggling and had a losing season, they still beat State pretty soundly. Just seems LSU has their number. Well, of course that could change but I really do not expect that to change this week. LSU's Offensive and Defensive Lines are really good and I mean that in the most objective way possible. Read the Auburn players quotes from last week. Anyway, I would be suprised for State to really give LSU a scare this year...........but anything's possible. Ask Alabama and Auburn about last years shocking outcomes.........

Geaux Tigers

The Eternality of Grace

Predestination. What a "bad" word this used to be in our congregation. Predestination. But it's a Bible word, so, it cannot be a bad word. How many have run from this truth not even really knowing what it is about, but assuming certain wrong ideas propagated by uniformed but well intended folk. Predestination is an act of God out of love for His people. Think about it, the Bible never says God predestined people to Hell,.....but does teach He Predestined people to be His sons and thus to Heaven. It is a glorious truth intended to encourgage believers. (You mean God chose me?? God loves me?? And can it be???)
Here is the double edged truth of the Bible: "If I go to Heaven, it is all of Grace,..according to the kind intention of His will. But, if I go to Hell, it is all my fault for refusing to come to Chirst". Such is our state by nature, undeserving, condemned and unwilling to come to Jesus. What amazing Grace that God would ordain the salvation of any man, much less a number which no man can number!!!

Ephesians ch.1........
4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love
5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Believer, be enouraged.

In every mercy full and free........
A sovereign God I wish to see.........
To see how grace, free grace has reigned........
In every mercy He ordained..........

all of Grace

as i look deep within,
face to face with my sin,
i'm ashamed.......of who i am.

i see anger and pride,
selfishness in disguise,
who is this?........i'm a sinful man.

(c)
i am just a man -- a sinner,
by grace alone i stand,
'cause You gave up Your life, the supreme sacrfice.

as i look in Your book,
see the path that You took,
all in love.......just to set me free.

i put my eyes on the cross,
count my gain to be loss,
see the love......spent to ransome me.

(c)
(b)
it's all of grace..........that i can call You "Lord",
it's sovereign grace........that mercy found my door.

grace..........all of grace,
grace..........all of grace.

pilgrim project vol? 2008

LSU vs. Auburn

Well, it's that week. LSU at Auburn.
LSU leads the all time series at 22-19-1.
Last year LSU won on essentially the last play of game.
In 2006 LSU lost by not being able to score on the last play of the game.
Both teams have a weakness at the QB position = trying to replace veterans who graduated.
Both teams have solid defenses.
MY TAKE: The team that gets the best performance from the QB position will likely win.

Should be a good one to watch.
Geaux Tigers

Hope in death.........

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.


Hold now Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death O Lord abide with me.

the believer's future........

"And, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace. "

Hurricane Ike

We are beginning to feel the outer bands of "Ike"........rain and wind. Expected to have peak winds in the Baton Rouge area around 3-4pm today of up to 40 to 50mph gusts.
I am in Clinton as I type and we are having stong rain and some good wind now at 8:35am.
We need to pray for our neighbors to the west....Galveston and Houston...........I heard a report on the way to work that they expect Galveston Island to be under water at some point and Houston has a history of flooding and is very close to Galveston.....

Let us pray.........

Geaux Tigers

Well, it is that time of year again. The dreaded football season. I say dreaded because it's easy to allow it to "consume" too much of my time, and that being the case I don't like the temptaion. Don't get me wrong, I love it.....but as I hopefully mature as a christian, I am seeking to learn how to be a good steward of my time, even when it comes to football. I mean, if I were to watch the better part of all the SEC games played on the tube on a given Saturday, my day is spent!! Which would be to the neglect of my loving wife, daughter and son.........who have no real interest in football.............unless it's a "real important" LSU game (is there one not important??)..........!!
.........anyway, you get my point. All things in moderation, which for me is in general, only watching (and hopfully only if it doesn't interfere with or keep me from something else I NEED to do) my LSU Tigers, with few exceptions.............

That being the case, I will try to "Break Down" at least the SEC games on LSU's schedule the weak of and maybe make a post game comment or two. As it stands now, it appears that Alabama, Auburn and LSU are the teams to watch in the SEC West and Georgia, Florida and Vanderbilt (yes Vanderbilt..!!) in the East. Should be an interesting year. LSU had to postpone their game with Tory U. last week due to Gustav, so they are at a disadvantage now in getting their new QB's some playing time before their SEC opener with Auburn next weekend in Auburn,.......which is never an easy game. Since 2000, LSU and Auburn are tied with 4wins and 4losses each in this series.........the home team winning each one,....so.........we will see....!!!

This week, LSU entertains North Texas U. Should not be much of a game, but never take your opponent for granted. God can humble any man at anytime.!!

Anyway, if you love college football, I hop you enjoy the season.........but try to keep first things first........................I mean, does it really matter in the grand scheme of things who won what game and by how much from the 1974 college season? If the Lord tarries His coming, the same can be said of this year.

GEAUX TIGERS

Heaven is Better.........

"heaven on earth",
a phrase we employ,
describing life here,
at the height of its joy.
the best of our good times,
those above par,
as good as it gets,
they're still less by far..........

love among family,
grace among friends,
the welcome of home,
all appear without end,
the sweetest comunion,
shared here below,
pales when compared,
to what in Heaven we'll know............

C.
Heaven is Better, than the grandest of dream,
Heaven is Better, than the wealth of a king,
Heaven is Better, for all that it's worth,
Heaven is Better, than the best of the earth.

mountains and valleys,
rivers and seas,
oceans of blue,
so vast and so free,
the beauty of this earth,
while marred by decay,
can't be compared,
to that new one He'll make

C
Heaven is Better, than a mountain top scene,
Heaven is Better, than the glory of spring,
Heaven is Better, for all that its worth,
Heaven is Better, than the best of the earth.

B
lay up your treasures above,
where moth and rust cannot invade,
unlike the treasures of earth,
in Heaven they are safe

God sent His Son,
from Heaven to earth,
becoming man,
through a most humble birth,
denying Himself, loving His own,
dying for sinners,
to make Heaven their home..........

C.
Heaven is Better, than the grandest of dreams,
Heaven is Better, because of Jesus our King,
Heaven is Better, for all that its worth,
Heaven is Better, than the best of the earth..........

pilgrim project vol. 1

True Gospel Conversions

I came accross this quote from Charles Spurgeon on Steve Camp's Blog.....
Read this and imagine the response the average chruch attendee might have........


"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." -C.H. SPURGEON

How far we have come.......
True faith in Christ alone saves..... NO WORKS ......and such faith is always accompanied by repentance.
The gospel has not changed...!!!

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

Surviving Gustav

"For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea." Psalm 107:25
"He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed." Psalm 107:29

All thanks and praise to God for hearing my prayers for my family and home. We suffered no damage to our home inspite of sustained winds of 60mph and a gust up to 91mph measured at the Baton Rouge airport about 8 miles from us. I have never seen stronger winds than this (the effects). It is pure grace we have no damage, while neighbors do.
He does all things well and acording to His purpose.......even in creating and directing storms and their effects. What an awesome God we serve who sent His Son to rescue us from the wrath to come. Gustav is nothing in comparison. May the Lord show me how I might serve Him in the aftermath.