Biasanya banyak hal yang berubah seiring dengan perubahan tahun ajaran seperti seragam baru, buku baru kelas baru dan yang tidak boleh ketinggalan adalah adanya semangat baru yang tentunya harus lebih membara dari tahun ajaran sebelumnya.

Nah kalau kita berbicara tentang perubahan, ini ada cara baru dalam belajar. Mungkin Adik-adik semua biasanya belajar dengan menenteng buku pelajaran yang didapatkan dengan cara membeli. Saat ini siswa didik bisa belajar tanpa harus membeli buku referensi yang mahal harganya.

Caranya adalah dengan mendownload buku sekolah elektronik secara gratis melalui situs-situs penyedia. Salah satunya adalah di www.diknas.info yang menyediakan buku sekolah elektronik secara gratis mulai dari jenjang SD sampai dengan Jenjang SMA. Jika ingin mendapatkan ebook gratis maka Adik-adik tinggal download saja. Bila karena suatu hal Adik-adik tidak bisa download ebook tersebut maka Adik-adik bisa memiliki ebook ini dalam bentuk CD BSE yang bisa dipesan melalui Form Pemesanan atau klik pada gambar disamping.

Buku sekolah elektronik gratis ini bisa didownload kemudian disimpan dalam PC atau media penyimpan yang lainnya untuk kemudian di jadikan sebagai referensi dalam belajar. Keuntungan sudah jelas, karena buku-buku ini disediakan secara gratis maka tidak ada biaya yang harus dikeluarkan. Lain halnya jika membeli buku-buku pelajaran yang bisa menghabiskan uang sampai beratus-ratus ribu rupiah.

Dengan buku sekolah elektronik ini semoga kegiatan belajar para siswa dan siswi bisa lebih maksimal dan terbantu.

And it was awesome….no dare I say… IT WAS REALLY, REALLY AWESOME! I’M TALKING THE RAPTURE CAN OCCUR NOW, 4 THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IN EXISTANCE THAT CAN BEAT WHAT WE SAW…EVER!!!!

            So if you didn’t figure it out, TDK in IMAX was great! Only one complaint…you guessed it…arm rests don’t rise!

            Could be worse!

So anyways, I’ve been toying with an idea that’s too long/hard to type put here, so I made a YouTube Video 2 say it 4 me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6OiTJhq_mo

This upcoming week I think I’m going over 2 Jan’s 2 watch a DVD?

I’ll keep y’all posted!
~_M.H._~

So was that rude? I thought it would be fun and I wouldn't have to cook and the girls can see their "Ma & Pa" for a bit.

Billy volunteered to work a 12 hour shift today. He says we need the money. Oh, and I found out I have to cancel my plans to go visit my friend next month. He *has* to work and cannot take off after all. Ugh.

And random, the other night I took the girls by the IL's house to show off their costumes I scored for a deal (the bee costume for Cate for $2 and this dragon costume for Emma for $3). While there, MIL said she didn't know what the kids eat anymore and had nothing for them. They'd skipped their dinner because they didn't like it. I can't even recall what we had for dinner that night -- ooh taco salad. Well generally the rule here is no dinner, no dessert so Billy told his mom not to give the girls any sugary snacks since they hadn't eaten their dinner. So what does she give them instead? Potato chips. LOL Yeah, that's a healthy snack. *insert eye roll*

So today on the phone MIL says she was so embarrassed she didn't have any snacks for the kids at her house so she went to Walmart the very next day and bought some cereal they might like and some goldfish crackers. Well, that's pretty sweet of her I think. At least she is trying. :)

The question on what I "want to do with my life" has surfaced again and GOD, I have a feeling, has been placing it on my conscience. Which is exactly what I have been asking in my prayers to him for. I have been really focused on efficiency in every part of my life as well.. I have been zoning down on how much I drink and eat and how much electricity and water I use. I have been writing things down like "when's the right time to wash your sheets and blankets" or "what temperature should it be for me to open my windows". Things are becoming more planned out in my life. I have attempted this several times but have failed every time. Over controlling the wrong things in my life and uncontrolling the right. Hopefully I don't fail this time.

Also I have a strong desire to write articles. Not like spur of the moment papers but looking up sources and putting it in my own words.  I have been rewriting almost everything I write so it sounds more fluid to read as well as to speak. No doubt I will rewrite this over and over again. Again I feel this is the LORD's annswer to my prayers to be more diligent in my work and have a passion for it. The idea of a podcast has also been floating around in my head.

On an off-beat subject I would like to ask in this entry if I can write a essay of sorts to my friend Zac about my beliefs surrounding 9/11. I know he won't look it up for himself but maybe he would consider it if I wrote it it to him.

Oh and I will post the other things, the papers up as well.

I sure pray this keeps up!

Answer next Friday, my posting days. Hurricane bear is in the awesome squad.

Bread.

Click the link below to take our short survey!  Each person who completes the 5-question survey will receive 2 free design credits.

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Questions:
1. What kind of student were you in school?
Terrible, I was really distracted and sort of rebellious in school. I didn’t “clue in” until later on in life. Teachers, to their credit, were always trying to get me to live up to my potential, they always saw it in me, too bad I didn’t at the time.
2. If you were to go back to post-secondary school, what program would you take?
I would take something like astronomy or physics and history because I have always been fascinated by the unknown, and also the history of the scientific revolution. That period of history where people stood up against the “norm” and started to really question the world around them and the assumptions that were woven into the consciousness of the times. I love it when people can see beyond the horizon of the typical and mundane. They are the visionaries of every era of man. It is their “action” on these principles of truth that sets them apart from those who see but do nothing. If you see it, question it and expose truth for what it is, not for what is acceptable.
3. What is in your CD player right now?
CD Player? What’s that? Any self-respecting candidate should have an iPod or at least a knock-off mp3 player of some sort. CDs are like political parties, outdated and oh, so over! I have a variety of music on my old school “fat” iPod, everything from Black Eyed Peas and 50 Cent to America and Simon and Garfunkel, even have some audio books for my work commute.
4. If you were an animal, what would you be, and why?
An eagle, hands down! Freedom and the unrestricted mobility of flight are attractive animal traits to this independent minded candidate.
5. What was the worst nickname you have ever had?
Barney or Barnyard or Barnsmell because of my last name and I farted really loud once and they never let me live it down. Don’t laugh, I know your laughing!
6. If you had a superpower, what would it be, and why?
The power to open people’s eyes and change awareness for the betterment of us all. The power to place love in everyone’s heart, then overnight our problems would be history and so would war, ignorance, government, etc, etc, etc.
7. What is your guilty pleasure?
I love the salty stuff and I always have the munchies, potato chips, pizza, etc. and it is all to evident in my waistline.
8. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Closed-minded people. That unwillingness to even consider a new idea or ideas in general that challenge the assumptions we hold that maintain the status quo, however harmful. Think free, think for yourself and always, always question the assumptions you hold and of those who hold them over you.
9. What has your favourite movie been recently?
Definitely has to be Sophie Scholl – The Final Days. Sophie was the German 21-year-old philosophy student who was a member of the resistance group called the “White Rose Society” an anti-Nazi non-violent group, primarily made up of young people who risked their lives to distribute flyers critical of the Nazi regime. She was executed the same day she was convicted by a kangaroo court for the very thing many of us take for granted in this country, the freedom of speech. Can you imagine being convicted and executed for reading or handing out the paper that is in your hands right now?

Milbank's column suggests that the person actually yelled in favor of killing Ayers.

I'm sure that anyone who's been a Christian for any time has either asked or been asked the question, "How could a good/loving God send someone to hell?" I have heard this question numerous times, as well as listened to a number of sermons concerning it, and have always had a reply in my mind which I believe is true to Scriptures. However, I recently received an email asking if I could prepare a response to this question that the emailer could share with some one in their Bible study who asked, and so for the first time I wrote down an extensive handling of this query. Since it seemed appropriate I have decided to share my reply here as well, and so over the course of the next four posts I will be answering the question:

How can a good/loving God send someone to hell?

The first thing we must do in approaching the question of how could a good/loving God send people to hell is to realize that there are actually two questions being asked here. The first question, which I believe is the easier one to deal with, is "Does hell exist?" This can be seen by the statement "I don't see how a loving God could send people to hell, therefore hell must not exist." The second question is "Won't God just eventually save everyone?" This is attached to the statement "Hell does exist, but I don't see how a loving God could send people there, therefore he doesn't (or at least not forever)." It is these two questions that I will address.

One comment, technically there is a third question, that being "Is God good/loving?" But, in the context of a Christian questioner, I do not believe we can even ponder this question. In either context we get both a contradiction in the Bible and a God who is no god at all. If God is not good then he cannot be God because God is the creator of all, he determines what is good and what is evil. There is not a morality that exists outside of God since if he were subject to something outside of him then he could not be God. This also would contradict 1 John 1.5, "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." If God were not loving we again have the same problem since what is loving is derived exclusively from the character of God and for him not to be loving would be a contradiction of 1 John 4.8, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." Thus, we cannot allow for this question to be a Christian objection to hell.

"Have you found your “Holy Grail” mascara and, if so, what is it? If you haven’t found your Holy Grail Mascara, what is it that you’re still looking for in your quest for the perfect mascara?"

Personally, I am still searching for the ultimate mascara on the market. I don't ask for much. My requirements would be a mascara that leaves your lashes feeling soft not stiff, adds beautiful natural-looking length, doesn’t flake or smudge, and doesn’t cause my eyes to itch or tear up.

I’m still searching for my holy grail of mascaras. As for drug store brands, I’d say Maybelline’s Full n Soft Mascara, and for a department store brand mascara, I would go with either Lola’s or Becca’s, but I reserve the right to change my mind!

I should have mentioned my fabulous experience while using Marini Lash. My lashes are looking so healthy and lovely right now, I could almost skip my mascara and when I do use mascara I get ultra-great results.

Be sure to visit Makeup Moxie's site today and comment on your favorite mascara formula. A simple and wonderful way to donate to the BCA cause. You might even find some new mascara brands to covet! Thanks Makeup Moxie, we adore you!!!

Dr. Robin was accused of passing derogatory remarks against the beard of Prophet Muhammad.

He is currently detained in Gujranawala jail. Dr. Robin's family was forced to go into hiding as the family members of the accused cannot stay at their home after the stigma of blasphemy has been slapped on any of their family members.

The family of Dr. Robin and some 20 Christian residents of district Hafizabad had come to see the APMA Chief; Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, after Dr. Robin was accused of blasphemy. They apprised him of the insecurity they had become exposed to after Robin was implicated in a blasphemy case.

The APMA has been extending financial support to the family as well as free legal aid to Dr. Robin since the occurrence of alleged blasphemy by Dr. Robin.

The family of the accused including Veenus, 50, Tariq 42, Waseem Bhatti, 32 and Francis Masih, a relative of Dr. Robin came to the APMA office in Islamabad on October 3, 2008.

Describing the fear and uncertainty that gripped the family members following leveling of blasphemy charges on Dr. Robin, Waseem told ANS that they felt as if a roof had been snatched from them.

“We felt secure after we met the APMA Chief Shahbaz Bhatti,” he said.

“We wanted our voice to be raised. We were desperately looking for someone to steer us out of the problem we were confronting. We were praying for some help. We prayed to God and we knew our prayers were heard when we met Shahbaz Bhatti”, said Waseem.

The young Christian man went on to say that fears of sorts were assailing the family's mind after detention of Dr. Robin. They (fears) left us disturbed and helpless all the more, he said.

After incarceration of Dr. Robin, he said the family had lost the breadwinner and they were not in a position of hiring a lawyer.

“You need a lawyer to defend you even in a simple dispute. We knew we had to hire a competent defense counsel for Dr. Robin. It was again Mr. Shahbaz who extended free legal aid for Dr. Robin”, said Waseem as tears ran down his cheeks.

Waseem, who works as an animator in a local Non Governmental Organization (NGO) feared that it had become virtually impossible for Dr. Robin to run his clinic at the same locality.

He also ruled out possibility of any of his family members staying at the same place after leveling of blasphemy accusations on Dr. Robin.

“His (Dr. Robin's) family members are living in hiding. They have been able to find a roof above their heads with the help the APMA Chief extended to the family but you still feel alienated. You take time to settle down at a new place. You continue to live a tension-ridden life”, he said.

“The children of Dr. Robin have been robbed of fatherly love. Michael Rose, the youngest of Dr. Robin's children used to stay in a hostel. He does not feel comfortable staying at the hostel now”, said Waseem.

In response to a question he said that during this period of tribulation Dr. Robin had emerged as a strong Christian. He said his (Dr. Robin's) belief in Christ had only become stronger.

Tariq, a relative of Dr. Robin told ANS that Dr. Robin wished to be released as soon as possible.

He said the incident had come as a big jolt to the children of Dr. Robin.

He said they had not been able to concentrate on their studies fully after Robin was arrested by the police.

Francis, brother-in-law of Dr. Robin called for repeal of Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Citing his talks with a couple of Muslim friends, he said that they were of the view that the law should be repealed.

“My Muslim friends admitted that a thorough investigation should be made before lodging of a blasphemy-related Police First Information Report (FIR)”, said Tariq.

Tariq disclosed that he had been able to record a conversation between the complainant and some family members of Dr. Robin in which the complainant tried to do a “deal” with the family of the accused.

According to Tariq, the complainant said that he would withdraw charges against Dr. Robin if his family agreed to pay him money.

He claimed he recorded the conversation on September 19, a day ahead of the hearing of Dr. Robin's case in a lower court.

Echoing a grave concern of Pakistani Christians, who like their fellow Muslim Pakistanis want their concerns to be highlighted on national and print media, Tariq said that Dr. Robin's case only drew marginal coverage of the incident.

Lashing out at the police he alleged that the police failed to provide adequate security to Dr. Robin's family.

“If the Police had provided security to Dr. Robin's family and his vulnerable relatives then they might have decided to continue staying in Hafizabad but in the absence of any such security the family was forced to go into hiding”, he said.

In an apparent bid to support his disbelief in the police, he said that police did not take initiative for rescuing Dr. Robin's family “rather some local Christians entered Dr. Robin's home at about 3 am and rescued the family members who had become prone to attack by the angry Muslim residents of Hafizabad”.

“Do you want us to jump into fire”, he quoted a police official as saying, who Tariq and other Christian residents of the area wanted to rescue Dr. Robin's family members.

Post-arrest situation

Tariq said when he and some other members of Dr. Robin's family went to Dr. Robin's place to collect some clothes, books and some other daily use items they saw a “shocking scene”.

“Not even a single thing was at its place. There were visible signs of human presence at Dr. Robin's house. It was not hard to conclude that some people have been living at Dr. Robin's house. We saw crumbs of bread, chicken bones, and unwashed dishes.

Dr. Robin's house had been ransacked”, said Tariq, who looked scared while sketching the ransacked home of Dr. Robin.

He said that the lower court rejected a post-arrest bail petition, prompting the APMA to file a petition in Lahore High Court.

Asked who could have inhabited Dr. Robin's house after his arrest and exiting of his family members, Tariq said that the fundamentalist Muslims of the area could have maintained their presence at Dr. Robin's house. Nobody could have dared entering Dr. Robin's home if the police had been vigilant, he said.

Tariq disclosed that a small but angry Muslim crowd took out a rally in a bid to pressurize the court.

He said that participants of the rally were holding placards, which were inscribed with slogans, “Give death to Dr. Robin.”

He disclosed that the witnesses at a court hearing had submitted their written version on legal papers that Dr. Robin did not commit blasphemy.

He said he learned that Dr. Robin's lawyer also gave precedents of post-arrest bails granted to blasphemy accused in the past “but even then the judge did not grant post-arrest bail to Dr. Robin”.

Talking to the APMA Chief, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Veenus said that recording of the alleged conversation between the complainant and some family members further angered the local Muslims.

Thanking Mr. Shahbaz, she said she was optimistic that Dr. Robin would soon be home due to the APMA's efforts.

She said: “I urge the Christians across the world to pray for release of my husband from prison. I cannot give fatherly love to my children. We want him back as soon as possible”, she said while talking to the APMA Chief”.

The APMA Chief told ANS that he was going to urge authorities to do an in-camera trial of Dr. Robin for security purposes. An application in this regard would be moved soon, he said.

He assured the family of the accused that Dr. Robin would soon be with them.

“The APMA is concerned. It (APMA) has been since leveling of the blasphemy accusations on Dr. Robin. We stand by you at this critical juncture in Robin's and your life,” Shahbaz told the family of Dr. Robin who had come to see him at his office in Islamabad.

“It is the case of entire Christian community. When children of Dr. Robin talk to me by phone, I could feel the agony in their voices. I understand what they are living through. The APMA will do all it can to ensure expedient release of Dr. Robin”, said Shahbaz.

“We understand that the Pakistan blasphemy laws are being misused to settle personal scores. Religious enmity, prejudice and intolerance have been found behind filing of blasphemy cases in the past”, he maintained.

“God will move in His own mysterious way. Dr. Robin will be with you soon”, the APMA Chief told Dr. Robin's spouse, Veenus.

Shahbaz reiterated his pledge that the APMA would continue to extend free legal aid to the blasphemy accused.

He said the APMA would continue to struggle until the blasphemy laws are repealed.

A person is reduced to the status of a refugee in his country after blasphemy allegations are leveled against him, said Shahbaz implying to the threats the accused and his family receive after slapping of blasphemy charges.

Responding a question, he said the APMA had been providing free legal aid and shelter to the blasphemy-accused since the abuse of the law became rampant in Pakistan.

The APMA, he said, wants to see the controversial laws abolished. He disclosed that he wanted to table a bill in parliament in a bid to either get the laws repealed or see them significantly amended.

He appealed to the Christians across the world to pray for the APMA and Pakistani Christians.

“I thank you for your previous prayers and support. We need your prayers to be able to continue fighting for the rights of the marginalized and the down-trodden Pakistani Christians and other minorities”, he said.

Dubbing Pakistan blasphemy laws as a death warrant in the hands of extremists, Shahbaz called for the repeal of the law, which he said had done more harm than good since their introduction in 1986.

Report from the Christian Telegraph

If you are a thoughtless, careless man about your soul, you will take no interest in the subject of this tract. Faith and assurance are mere names and words to you: they are neither land, nor money, nor horses, nor dress, nor meat, nor drink: like Gallio, you care not for them. Alas, poor soul! I mourn over you. The day will come when you will think differently.

Reader, if you really desire to go to heaven, and to go there in the Bible way you will find the subject of this tract of the deepest importance. Believe me, your own comfort in religion, and your peace of conscience, depend exceedingly on understanding the matter about which I am going to speak. I say then, that faith in Christ, and a full assurance of being saved by Christ, are two distinct things.

A man may have saving faith in Christ, and yet never enjoy an assured hope, like the Apostle Paul. To believe, and have a glimmering hope of acceptance, is one thing; to have joy and peace in our believing, and abound in hope, is quite another. All God's children have faith: not all have assurance. I think this ought never to be forgotten.

I know some great and good men have held a different opinion: I believe that many excellent ministers do not allow the distinction I have stated; but I desire to call no man master. I dread as much as anyone the idea of healing the wounds of conscience slightly; but I should think any other view than that I have given a most uncomfortable gospel to preach, and one very likely to keep souls back a long time from the gate of life.

I would not desire to make one contrite heart sad that God has not made sad, or to discourage one fainting child of God, or to give a soul the impression that you have no part or lot in Christ, except you feel assurance. I do not shrink from saying, that by grace a man may have sufficient faith to flee to Christ, really to lay hold on Him, really to trust in Him, really to be a child of God, really to be saved; and yet to his last day be never free from much anxiety, doubt, and fear.

"A letter," says an old writer, "may be written which is not sealed; so grace may be written in the heart, yet the Spirit may not set the seal of assurance to it."

A child may be born heir to a great fortune, and yet never be aware of his riches, live childish, die childish, and never know the greatness of his possessions.

And so also a man may be a babe in Christ's family; think as a babe, speak as a babe, and, though saved, never enjoy a lively hope, or know the full privileges of his inheritance.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a man must have, beyond all question, if he is to be saved. I know no other way of access to the Father: I see no intimation of mercy excepting through Christ. A man must feel his sins and lost estate, must come to Jesus for pardon and salvation, must rest his hope on Him and on Him alone. But if he only have faith to do this, however weak and feeble that faith may be, I will engage, from Scripture warrants, he shall not miss heaven. Never, never let us curtail the freeness of the glorious gospel, or clip its fair proportions. Never let us make the gate more strait, and the way more narrow, than pride or love of sin have made it already. The Lord Jesus is very pitiful and of tender mercy. He does not regard the quantity of faith, but the quality He does not measure its degree, but its truth. He will not break any bruised reed, nor quench any smoking flax. He will never let it be said that any perished at the foot of the cross. "Him that cometh unto Me," He says, "I will in no wise cast out" (John vi. 37). 1

Yes, reader! though a man's faith be no bigger than a grain of mustard seed, if it only brings him to Christ, and enables him to touch the hem of His garment, he shall be saved: saved as surely as the oldest saint in paradise; saved as completely and eternally as Peter, or John, or Paul. There are degrees in our sanctification: in our justification there are none. What is written is written, and shall never fail: "Whosoever believeth on Him," not whosoever has a strong and mighty faith, "Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed" (Rom. x. 11).

But all this time, I would have you take notice, the poor soul may have no full assurance of his pardon and acceptance with God. He may be troubled with fear upon fear, and doubt upon doubt. He may have many a question and many an anxiety, many a struggle, and many a misgiving, clouds and darkness, storm and tempest to the very end.

I will engage, I repeat, that bare simple faith in Christ shall save a man, though he may never attain to assurance; but I will not engage it shall bring him to heaven, with strong and abounding consolations. I will engage it shall land him safe in harbour, but I will not engage he shall enter that harbour under full sail, confident and rejoicing. I shall not be surprised if he reaches his desired haven weather-beaten and tempest-tossed, scarcely realising his own safety till he opens his eyes in glory.

Reader, I believe it is of great importance to keep in view this distinction between faith and assurance. It explains things which an inquirer in religion some times finds it hard to understand.

Faith, let us remember, is the root, and assurance is the flower. Doubtless you can never have the flower without the root; but it is no less certain you may have the root and not the flower.

Faith is that poor trembling woman who came behind Jesus in the press and touched the hem of His garment (Mark v. 25). Assurance is Stephen standing calmly in the midst of his murderers, and saying, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts vii. 56). Faith is the penitent thief crying, "Lord, remember me" (Luke xxiii. 42). Assurance is Job sitting in the dust, covered with sores, and saying, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (Job xix. 25). "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job xiii. 13).

Faith is Peter's drowning cry as he began to sink: "Lord, save me!" (Matt. xiv. 30). Assurance is the same Peter declaring before the Council, in after times, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts iv. 11,12).

Faith is the anxious, trembling voice: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief" (Mark ix. 24). Assurance is the confident challenge: "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Who is he that condemneth?" (Rom. viii. 33, 34).

Faith is Saul praying in the house of Judas at Damascus, sorrowful, blind, and alone (Acts ix. 11). Assurance is Paul, the aged prisoner, looking calmly into the grave, and saying, "I know Whom I have believed," "There is laid up for me a crown" (2 Tim. i. 12; iv. 8).

Faith is life. How great the blessing! Who can tell the gulf between life and death? And yet life may be weak, sickly, unhealthy, painful, trying, anxious, worn, burdensome, joyless, and smileless to the very end.

Assurance is more than life. It is health, strength, power, vigour, activity, energy, manliness, and beauty.

Reader, it is not a question of saved or not saved that lies before us, but of privilege or no privilege, it is not a question of peace or no peace, but of great peace or little peace, it is not a question between the wanderers of this world and the school of Christ, it is one that belongs only to the school, it is between the first form and the last.

He that has faith does well. Happy should I be if I thought all readers of this tract had it. Blessed, thrice blessed are they that believe: they are safe; they are washed; they are justified. They are beyond the power of hell. Satan, with all his malice, shall never pluck them out of Christ's hands. But he that has assurance does far better, sees more, feels more, knows more, enjoys more, has more days like those spoken of in Deuteronomy, even "the days of heaven upon the earth" (Deut. xi. 21). 2

Reader, whoever you may be, I exhort you never to be satisfied with anything short of a full assurance of your own salvation. With faith, no doubt, you must begin, with simple, child-like faith: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." But from faith go on to assurance. Rest not till you can say, "I know Whom I have believed."

Believe me, believe me, assurance is worth the seeking. You forsake your own mercies when you rest content without it. The things I speak are for your peace. It is good to be sure in earthly things; how much better is it to be sure in heavenly things!

Make it then your daily prayer that you may have an increase of faith. According to your faith will be your peace. Cultivate that blessed root more, and sooner or later, by God's blessing, you may hope to have the flower. You may not perhaps attain to full assurance at once: it is good sometimes to be kept waiting; we do not value things that we get without trouble. But though it tarry, wait for it. Seek on, and expect to find.

FOOTNOTES:

1 "He that believeth on Jesus shall never be confounded. Never was any; neither shall you, if you believe. It was a great word of faith spoken by a dying man, who had been converted in a singular way, betwixt his condemnation and execution: his last words were these, spoken with a mighty shout 'Never man perished with his face towards Jesus Christ.'"  Traill.

2 "The greatest thing that we can desire, next to the glory of God, is our own salvation; and the sweetest thing we can desire is the assurance of our salvation. In this life we cannot get higher than to be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed. All saints shall enjoy a heaven when they leave this earth: some saints enjoy a heaven while they are here on earth." Joseph Carlyle. 1658.

I don't think I'm talented at anything.

I was over reading Green of Eye's post about an Irish sculptor where he was talking about his influences. And it got me thinking about my influences. Other than my parents, I don't think I have any. That started me going on the earlier whimsical post about talents, which made me think about this topic.

I could never go on the X Factor or Ireland's Got Talent, or indeed any show to make one "famous" because I don't really have a talent as such. I don't sing well (but I enjoy singing), I can't dance (but do in the kitchen), I don't play any musical instruments, I can't draw or paint well, I'm a point, click and hope for the best photographer, I laugh before the end of jokes I'm telling, I don't have an ear for foreign languages, I have no sense of balance for juggling or any sort of sports, no sense of taste or smell for cooking, I write as I speak and without a skill for brevity, so book writing is out and so on.

Strange thing is, as much as I admire the people who do, and even more-so those who make a success of it, I'm not really bothered by my own lack of them. Perhaps it's acceptance of the fact. I spent years wishing I could be a famous musician, actor or singer (but never tried to be either) and I think I just grew weary of wanting to be something I'm not and have more fun trying to be whoever it is I am.

It doesn't mean I accept personal mediocrity or complacency though. When I commit to something, it tends to be fully. It's just nothing I can think of that will make me "famous".

So my point then... am I alone in this? If you don't have a "could-make-you-famous" talent, does that bother you in any way? Is it just that there really is something like a genetic predisposition to talent and only some people have it, while the rest of us are (and I hesitate to use the phrase) ordinary? I have no doubt that it's okay to be me, but neither can I help thinking sometimes "I wonder if my parents had bought me a guitar when young..." or similar.

My name is Darr, and tonight Matthew, I'm just going to have to be me.

* Well, I might blog about it. It depends. But this isn't. Honestly!

That is all.

--S

It's an interesting premise, that all of us have an inherent ability locked inside if only we knew how to access it.

You have the time-stopper, the super speedy girl, the girl who can heal herself, the guy who can turn everything to gold, the guy with the powerful voice, the guy who can control magnets, the girl who can turn everything to ice and so on. Sylar of course can do pretty much everything, after he's chopped off the top of the head of the person whoe talent he's after.

But what if you weren't very good at it?

Seriously, in the same way as some people are more talented at say painting than others, what if you had a power that wasn't quite so "super" but was still pretty damn impressive.

For example, if I could choose, I'd like to be able to pick up any musical instrument in the world and play and sing any song I could think of as well or better than the original.

Failing that, it'd be the ability to recall and paint anything I see with photo quality reproduction.

What about you? What not-as-good-as-Sylar-but-pretty-cool-nontheless power would you choose?

We are happy to announce today that all newly uploaded Graphic Sets will have the font names included on the Info Page! We will begin the process of going back and adding the font names to older Graphic Sets as well, so expect that in the weeks to follow. We will start with the new releases when we do and work our way back.  In the meantime, please feel free to email or call us for names of fonts we use.  We would be happy to give you names and information on where to download them. You can see an example above that shows the New Fonts Section. I hope this helps as you plan and prep for your sermons in the future.

I wanted to offer a special "Thank You!" to Jay Jones for his feedback and great idea! We really do welcome your ideas and input. It enables us to make our website better for you!

Seek the Kingdom
Jon