Tim Keller at Google

Author and Minister at Redeemer Presbyterian Church Tim Keller wrote a book titled The Reason for God. I haven't read the book yet, but I've heard some of Keller's sermons and have been challenged and encouraged by his words and perspective. He was invited to speak at the Google headquarters and gave a fabulous but brief talk on some of the main points of his book. Here's the video- I was really glad that I took some time to listen to what he has to say....

Christmas Week ... in Pictures

"Tour de California" was the song of our Christmas this year. SLO to Stockton to Rocklin to Bakersfield, back to SLO in four days... Some pictures from the weekend (ps - we took 968 pictures, so choosing 8 wasn't easy!)

Click pictures to enlarge...

Mom and family at Brad & Megan's house in Orangevale


All the Gloecklers & Chesneys in Bakersfield


Carrie and our beautiful niece Abigail.


Greg and our beautiful niece Abigail.


Nephew Jacob playing with his Christmas present. Dog licking face.


Here ya go Kurt. We said we'd get you some blog time. Payments can be made out to your lovely sister, Carrie M Squires.


Grandpa's craaaazy dog, Corky. Seriously, the most spaz dog you've ever met.


Christmas is over. Once again, the location for our retired Christmas tree is the big green can. Trimmed down to its nakedness, with a little ball left at the top to preserve an ounce of dignity.

Heaven without Christ?

When you think of Heaven, what do you picture? What are you looking forward to? Another amazing book by Piper, "God is the Gospel", has pointed out something in me, and is something worthy to be shared.

"The critical question for our generation—and for every generation — is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?"

I've been thinking lately about the abundant pleasures that exist in our world, which can be so luring and enticing when there's nothing better to choose in place of them. Nothing is better than choosing Christ.

Piper's point in this book is that GOD is the treasure of the Gospel. The reason that the Gospel is good news at all is because GOD is the source of it all, and that Christ is exalted above all other things: He's better than pleasure, beauty, comfort, leisure, health, or friendship. He created these things, so He must have authority over them!!

I think it is easy to take the blessings of the Gospel - new life, peace, hope, joy, etc (all great things!) - and forget about WHO they came from, and WHY we ever got to experience these blessings in the first place - that Christ made a way for salvation to break through our rock-solid hearts. When asked, "Could you be satisfied in Heaven, if Christ were not there?", does it make you stop and think for a second? The pointed question - if Heaven would be the same with Christ - unveils how we really feel about the blessings of the Gospel, and where they are in importance for us. I pray that my desire to be with Christ (in His presence, sitting with Him, reigning with Him, worshiping Him) grows more and more as the Day approaches. I also pray that the word "Gospel" points me to Christ and Him being lifted up, and less about me and the blessings we receive.

Our Proper Fear of God

I'm currently reading one of Piper's new books "What Jesus Demands from the World". Piper took a several-month sabbatical to study every command of Jesus, and compile them into short 5-6 page chapters describing their implications for us. Great book!

One chapter titled, "Fear Him Who Can Destroy both Soul and Body in Hell" deals with the often confusing "Fear God" command, and he explains it in a different way than I've ever thought of. I've always thought that the best way to describe this fear of God is to say that we must have great reverence for Him, rather than being afraid of Him. It's absolutely true that we must have an awe or reverence of God and His greatness. However, this way of thinking is actually minimizing the wrath of God so that we can understand and feel love and peace from Him more easily. Piper argues that "our peace does not come from our removing the God of wrath from our thinking, but from His removing His wrath from us... There is a real fear of Him that can coexist with sweet peace and trust in Him." Jesus did say, "Fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast in hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" (Luke 12:5).

I think that in order for me to feel loved by God and not feel afraid of Him, I have modified my thinking of who He is, sort of creating my own acceptable picture of a loving, forgiving, reverence-deserving God. In doing so, I have neglected to grasp His wrath, His power to conquer, His necessary punishment of those who turn their backs on His gifts. It is possible to have a holy, proper fear of God, which has a great effect on us: "It wakens us to our need for help [once we understand the depth and weight and seriousness of our sin] and points us to the all-sufficient Redeemer, Jesus." We can have a true fear of God and His wrath and power and punishment, but we are comforted by the fact that we have been ransomed from it, that we are free from it, that we've been called out of darkness and into His Marvelous Light, which is so freeing, and peace-bringing.

What a great realization! I hope that my (and your) views of God are becoming more correct and true and in line with His Word. Creating our own picture of God is displeasing to Him, as it modifies our actions and thoughts in improper ways. Let us pray for discernment and wisdom and clarity of thought, so that we know the One true God.

Please... your thoughts?

John Piper's thoughts on Prosperity Gospel

A little intense, but very deep from Piper's heart, and so true...

Support the Local Food Bank

The SLO County Food Bank is doing a once-a-year fundraising campaign, which aims to raise $25,000! On June 5th, they're asking people to donate $1 for one day, with hopes that the $25,000 will feed all of the hungry people in SLO County! Read more here...

Business as Mission - Twelve Compelling Reasons...

Business as Mission (BAM) is a growing movement among mission-minded business people and churches. For years now, I have believed that God is calling me into some field where business and mission intersect. As I was browsing the Business as Mission Blog, I came across this list of 12 compelling reasons why BAM promises to be a significant part of the church's missions-efforts in decades to come. Take a look, be inspired...


1. BAM provides a model for sustainable missions, overcoming chronic problems of dependency in developing countries and encouraging greater stewardship of money worldwide.
2. BAM takes much needed and sought after business expertise, technology and capital from the developed world to developing countries creating greater economic justice.
3. BAM creates jobs! And with it empowers and gives dignity to many lives.
4. BAM grows the local economy and blesses the nation.
5. BAM provides access to many locations and relationships, especially the increasing number of nations now considered closed to missionaries.
6. BAM presents the gospel by word through meaningful relationships.
7. BAM presents the gospel by deed.
8. BAM enables local funding of the church.
9. BAM taps into a highly underutilized yet highly capable resource in the church—business people. They get a chance to give more than just their money but their lives as well.
10. BAM is a valuable partner for more traditional mission efforts lending towards desired holistic ministry efforts.
11. There's a great opportunity in our world today. Business is going global, mission should go with it.
12. BAM helps economically blessed Christians fulfill the commands of Jesus (see Matthew 25:40ff; 1 John 3:17).