John MacArthur on The Purpose Driven Life

A quote

If God had perceived that our greatest need was economic, he would have sent an economist. If he had perceived that our greatest need was entertainment, he would have sent us a comedian or an artist. If God had perceived that our greatest need was political stability, he would have sent us a politician. If he had perceived that our greatest need was health, he would have sent us a doctor. But he perceived that our greatest need involved our sin, our alienation from him, our profound rebellion, our death; and he sent us a Savior. --D.A. Carson

A quote

Let us learn that God does not intend there to be churches as places for people to make merry and laugh in, as if a comedy were being acted here. But there must be majesty in His Word, by which we may be moved and affected.
--John Calvin

A quote

Bad doctrine is tolerable, but a long sermon most certainly is not. … In today’s church, long-windedness has become a greater sin than heresy.
-John MacArthur

Idolatry? Mary worship? You tell me....

As Jay Adams puts it:

The futility of idol worship, as it is pictured in the Scriptures is plain. The foolishness of it is exhibited in places where the same man who carves an idol, then takes the wood left over and burns it in order to warm himself (Isaiah 44:15). Then, having finished his work, he bows down to it, as if it were a god. The “Dagon reference in the website presentation is to the Canaanite fish god that the Lord toppled in Old Testament times. It would be interesting to know something of the reason why, in His providence, God again toppled an image of this particular church in our day.

Death is Not Dying

Rachel Barkey (nee Sawer) went home to her Lord on July 2, 2009 at 37 years of age. Rachel is survived by her husband Neil and her children Quinn and Kate, parents Ben and Cathy Sawer, brother David (Johanna) Sawer and sister Andrea Sawer.

Death is Not Dying

Rachel's story is not unlike what thousands of women around the world have experienced. A diagnosis that changes a woman's life and inevitably takes from her what we consider to be most precious.

After four and a half years of vigilantly fighting breast cancer, the 37 year old wife and mother of two was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

But for Rachel the essence of life is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that's why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying.

Country Song Spoof by Andy Gullahorn

Life Happens

This past week has brought many doctor's visits, prescriptions, coughing, vomitting, ice cream, popsicles and cuddling together on the couch.

Our household was attacked by Strep throat, and thankfully, we are all on the mend.

The only member of our family not attacked was John, and since the rest of us are no longer contagious, it's looking like he was able to sneak past the Strep bug.

Needless to say, it is nice to finally be feeling better. I feel like I'm to the point where I would actually welcome the option of leaving the house! It's the simple things like swallowing that are taken for granted....especially when your throat and tonsils are covered with blisters!

We have taken advantage of eating popsicles and ice cream...it's all about getting better, right?

Are you confident you will go to heaven?

Street Survey 1 from David Fairchild on Vimeo.

Street survey video at various locations around San Diego, asking the questions, "Are you confident you will go to heaven?", and "Why should God let you into heaven?"

What is the Gospel?

Street Survey 2 from David Fairchild on Vimeo.

The Kaleo Street Survey videos. This one asks the question: what is the gospel?, as well as what word people associate when they hear the word 'gospel'.

Paysie and Jamison

Happy Birthday Mark!!

It got a little loud at the end...but it's hard to control the noise level, lol.

A Batik Dress and A Bandana Dress

My new bag

Last week, I decided to treat myself to some great fabrics for a bag. I wasn't sure what it was going to look like.

Here are the three fabrics I chose:




After some contemplation and a few drawings, I came up with something and immediately began making a pattern and cutting my fabric.

Because I started so late, it was nearing midnight, but at least I had everything cut!

This morning, it did not take me long to get started. I began the assembly of my bag...complete with interfacing and lots of pockets! If this is going to be used as my newest diaper bag, and with as many kids as I have...you know it's going to need to hold a lot of stuff!

I didn't want to make it too big, and I am very pleased with how it came out.

It ended up being 11" tall, 15" wide, and 4" deep. There is one wide strap that has a double thickness of interfacing for stability. The flap has two magnetic clasps on each side for closure.


Here is a view of the back. There is one pocket in the back, that spans the entire width of the bag, that is also lined with interfacing for stability.

Inside, there are five pockets. There is one on each side panel...one is large enough for pens and papers, the other is just right for a cellphone.


There is another wide pocket the length of the bag, that has been sewn in the middle. There is a smaller, higher pocket on the opposite side for keys, etc.

The sewing went well...there were a lot of interruptions...(do I really need to mention names?) Because of my little interruptions, it took me the better part of the day. But the breaks were nice and much needed!

I can't tell you how much I love this bag :)

God of This City...Kris Allen

Modesty

Here are some references on the lost art of Modesty:

Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters wrote some articles for Crosswalk, titled: Fashion and Following the Savior: part one, part two, part three.

A sermon by CJ Mahaney titles The Soul of Modesty. This was the basis for the articles above.

Brett and Alex Harris, of The Rebelution conducted a survey called the Modesty Survey.

I highly recommend that all women do a Modesty Heart Check:
Modesty Heart Check

Modesty on Your Wedding Day

And though it be their sin and vanity that is the cause [of lust], it is nevertheless your sin to be the unnecessary occasion…You must not lay a stumbling-block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust…You must walk among sinful persons as you would do with a candle among straw or gunpowder; or else you may see the flame which you did not foresee, when it is too late to quench it.
--Richard Baxter

Prejean's Story Points to Deeper Issues in Evangelical World

By Nancy Leigh DeMoss

I’ve been asked numerous times for my take on the firestorm surrounding Carrie Prejean—the reigning Miss California who lost her bid for Miss USA after publicly affirming her belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage couldn’t help but be glad that this young woman courageously stood for the Truth, knowing that to do so could be costly.

Yet, for those who affirm and cherish the biblical perspective of femininity and sexuality, this story has an important subtext and raises a number of issues that should be of great concern to us as followers of Christ.

Carrie has made a strong public profession of her faith in Christ. As Christians, we are called to live as redeemed men and women and to reflect to the world the beauty and holiness of God. I’m not in a position to judge Carrie’s motives or her heart. But while I applaud her courage, I also believe some of her choices and public actions, past and present, are representative of many women who consider themselves Christians, but who lack clear biblical thinking and conviction on such matters as virtue, womanhood, beauty, modesty, and discretion.

In my mind, Carrie Prejean’s story is symptomatic of deeper root issues in the evangelical world—issues that in my opinion outweigh most of what is being debated in the secular press.

Sadly, Carrie is the product of a Christian sub-culture that has lost a sense of what it means to be citizens of the kingdom of God and has embraced the values and thinking of this world.

By and large, young adults who have grown up in our evangelical homes, churches, and schools, are buying into a message that they have seen modeled by those around them who call themselves Christians—namely, that Christianity can be divorced from Christ-likeness, and that practical holiness in everyday life is out-dated, irrelevant, or optional.

Carrie Prejean’s situation highlights the desperate need for Titus 2 “older women”—mothers, youth workers, mentors—to take an active role in the training and discipleship of younger women—teaching them to live out the implications of the gospel in every area of their lives.

So many young women in the Christian world have little understanding or discernment when it comes to modesty and personal purity. And can you blame them when they are following in the footsteps of a generation of so-called believers who tolerate, justify, and flaunt immodesty, sensuality, and immorality of every form, along with serial divorce and remarriage?

That’s why as women we need to be asking ourselves questions like:

• How does my life measure up to the Word of God?
• Am I modeling Christ-like, Gospel-drenched virtue, modesty, femininity, beauty, and discretion to the next generation?
• What kind of impact am I having on the younger women in my sphere of influence?
• What I am doing to invest in their lives, to point them to Christ, and to mentor them in godliness?

Carrie Pejean’s story should cause us to be on our faces crying out to God over the extent to which the church today has accommodated to the world. It should cause us to plead with God on behalf of our children and grandchildren, and then to get up off our knees and go out and engage this younger generation with love and grace and truth and to become agents of redemption in their lives.

A few new dresses

Here's some fabric I purchased yesterday to make the kids all matching bermuda shorts, and Paysie a matching dress for the fourth of July!

The Shack: Author Denies Penal Substitution

Should the church really be embracing a book whose author doesn't believe that God punishes sin?

My Blessings