We saw some of these guys
http://www.bikersforchrist.org
at a Cracker Barrel restaurant last weekend so I decided to get some more info. An interesting bunch. I rather enjoyed the song Shake the Ground, I guess the band (Goofygooted) is no more but that took me to
http://www.allnewcreation.com
which is a little more commercial sounding but still good although a little light for my tastes.

President Jimmy Carter will be 85 on October 1^st.  If you wish to send him a birthday note you can do so here

When I look at him and his life I can’t help but feel ashamed at the selfish life I have lived.  After he left the White House he could have retired and lived the rest of his days in comfort anywhere he wanted.  Instead he rolled up his sleeves and continued the work he started when he was President.  He continued to pursue world peace, the elimination of poverty, suffering and disease, fair elections and so much more.  His work with Habitat for Humanity alone is more than most Presidents have contributed to the world post office and yet this is only a small part of what he has done.

Lord, I ask you to bless President Carter and to turn my shame into a true desire to make a positive difference in the world. Also, that you would give me the strength and means to act on that desire while remaining humble so that your name is glorified; that others would see the example set by President Carter and would also turn to you. I ask this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen

As a guitar player and multitracker my world is forever changed by the passing of Les Paul although I never met the man I feel like I’ve lost an old friend.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us Les Paul and his inventions and music. I pray that he is with you in paradise today, playing in your heavenly jam making a joyful noise on to you oh Lord. It is in Jesus name I pray.
Amen

It was raining on the way to work this morning and as we came down I-65 there was a truck with trailer that had hit the divider and was totally blocking the left lane. It was just after a left hand curve so was not visible until you were very close, too close to stop. On top of that the driver was standing, foolishly, between the truck and the oncoming traffic.

Several years back I became obsessed with racing, Formula One and CART to be specific. It seemed to come out of nowhere, I bought simulation software and a racing wheel/pedals setup and ran countless laps on many different tracks. My lap times in Malibu and Austalia consistently rivaled world record times. I would also practice in my real car and could take corners marked 15 at 55 without a squeek from the tires. Then I priced a race weekend at a real driving school, the tires screeched to a hault! There was no possibility I was going to spend that type of money when I was already passed the age of having any shot at going pro; so ended my obsession.

Back to this morning; we come around this curve and there he is; I hit the brakes and all four tires start sliding. I’m threshold braking so the wheels don’t lock up which would be bad as my little ford ranger would surely go into a spin and roll over. I aim to just clear the disabled truck; three times my truck starts to spin and each time I make a subtle correction; we pass him and I get back on the gas so I don’t get hit from behind as I’m now in a different lane. This all happened in about a second.

I immediately remembered all those laps on the simulator and think how God’s providence prepared me for this moment.

Heavenly Father,
I know that you are in control and I give thanks that you give us what we need each day and prepare us for the future without us even knowing why.
Amen

As I was watching the ISS go over last night I thought how amazing it is that men were able to put this thing in the sky. Then I looked at the moon and thought about Jupiter, Saturn and the other planets and who put them in the sky. The ISS is but a spec and will only last a short time when compared to God’s creation. This is, of course, humbling and puts things in proper perspective.

The theme of moderation has come up in my Bible studies recently. This is a very difficult thing; God doesn’t want us to obstain from all pleasures that he has given to us but he wants us to enjoy them in their proper place. I haven’t looked at my Google reader recently because when I first discovered all of the great blogs that are available I wanted read them all. A good thing gone out of control becomes a bad thing. So, I went to the other extreme; stopped looking at it; stopped blogging completely. I just opened it and there are 430 unread items; really, when am I going to read all of those? I also have a stack of unread books I bought at the beginning of the year, last week I put one on the visor of my truck so I could read it a little at a time when I was waiting for Jennifer to get out of work – instead of complaining about having to wait I can read.

I’m going to try using the reader again without getting crazy. I’m unsubsribing from most and going back to just the small group of friends I started with as my online Christian community. I know some of you in real life (for lack of a better term as if online isn’t real?) and some I’ve never met but we are community just the same.

God bless,
-jim

Lord you are great, powerful and all knowing. I know that your plan is far better than anything I can imagine yet I am at a loss for understanding what you have in mind for my neighbor’s baby nephew. Lord, you know the situation; his optic nerve is not connected and he will be blind unless a miracle happens. If it is in your will please heal him and give him site that your name be glorified above all others. This I ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen

Everybody has probably heard about this already but it’s still cool to see one of the oldest copies of the Bible, even if it’s only images online.
Of course it’s hard to see it that way too since their server is swamped.  Well, here’s a link to the news story…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090706/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_bible
and if your patient the actual site.
http://www.codexsinaiticus.org

Oddly, Logos, the electronic Bible people, are giving away premium paper Bibles.  May God bless everyone involved in the giveaway and all who enter.  Let God’s name be glorified.

Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.

The vast majority of people see a ‘turn of the century’ during their life, like we just saw 19xx go to 20xx. People born in the last nine years will be considered to have been born at the turn of the century but those born between xx10 and xx20 will probably be outsiders to the ‘turn of the century’ reference, unless they live a very long time.

I find I have gotten incredibly busy but I have a minute to give a little update on all that is going on. My day job is busier than ever, since my work as a programmer isn’t directly connected to sales even with the slow economy there are many projects that still need to be done. As a family we are still trying to find the new normal after losing several people over the last year but I have faith that God is in control and we will be with them all again in Heaven.

God has put it in my heart to start a ministry and I think I am finally starting to understand that I am to make music for his glory. I am trying to find time to pursue this but need to complete several prior commitments as I want to give my offering with a clean conscience.

Heavenly Father,
You provide everything that is needed to live a life that brings glory and honor to you. I am just a man and must rely on your strength and guidance so I please help me walk the path that you have planned for me and my family. Thank you for all you have done and will do in my life, this I pray in Jesus’ name
Amen