Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Twelve Men Who Influenced My Life

In a June 1951 article, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote, “What you are in life results in great part from the influence exerted on you over the years by just a few people. There have been seven people in my life whose influence on me did much to change my inner development as a person.”

If you are a believer it is safe to say that one “person” who must influenced you and changed you is the Lord Jesus Christ. When singer-song writers are interviewed or written about almost always a list of those who influenced their style or genre is included. It is the same with actors and almost any performer.

I was asked recently who had the most influence on me as a Christian, as a pastor, and as a bible teacher. Here is a list of those men who have had the most influence on me that God used to shape, mold, and develop me in both my Christian walk and vocation.

1. Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr. (Pastor of Grace Community Church, President of Masters College and Seminary – Sun Valley, CA, teacher on Grace to You)

2. Arthur W. Pink – (19th century pastor and producer of “Studies in the Scripture” published 1922-1953 [not to be confused with the cultic teachings of the same name by Charles Taze Russell])

3. Jerry Bridges – (an evangelical Christian author, speaker and staff member of The Navigators)

4. Jonathan Edwards – (an 18th century preacher, theologian, and missionary to Native Americans and the first president of Princeton. He was used of God in the Great Awakening Revivals.)

5. Charles Haddon Spurgeon – (a British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers", he was Pastor of the great Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England)

6. Thomas Watson – (a 17th century English non-conformist Puritan preacher and author. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He is best known for his sermons which were incorporated in to the book, The Body of Divinity.)

7. John Calvin – (was an French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Other than a brief interruption Calvin spent his life pastoring in Geneva, Switzerland. He is best known for his systematic theology called Institutes of the Christian Religion.

8. Dr. John Owen – (another 17th century English Nonconformist Puritan church leader and theologian. He became pastor at Coggeshall in Essex, in 1647. He argued heavily against Arminianism in his famous book called, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.)

9. J. I. Packer – (Dr. Packer is an anomaly to me; he can be theologically brilliant one day and then for the most ludicrous reasons sign documents like ECT or ECT II. I take Packer with a grain of salt, but his many books are filled with godly, biblical wisdom. His Knowing God is a classic and a must read for everyone.)

10.

11. The Puritans – (The Puritans were a significant grouping of English-speaking Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. The designation "Puritan" is often incorrectly used notably based on the assumption that hedonism and puritanism are antonyms: historically, the word was used to characterize the Protestant group.

Puritans by definition felt that the English Reformation had not gone far enough, and that the Church of England was tolerant of practices which they associated with the Catholic Church. They formed into and identified with various religious groups advocating greater "purity" of worship and doctrine, as well as personal and group piety. Puritans adopted a Reformed theology and in that sense were Calvinists (as many of their earlier opponents were, too), but also took note of radical views critical of Zwingli in Zurich and Calvin in Geneva.

As much as I love the writings of such men as Thomas Gouge, William Bridge, Thomas Manton, John Flavel, Richard Sibbes, Stephen Charnock, William Bates, John Owen, John Howe, Richard Baxter, Thomas Watson and Jeremiah Burroughs, I do not subscribe to all of their theology. I have learned to pick between the bones and garner the nuggets of gold in their writings on God, Holiness, and Sanctification.

12. Luke, the Beloved Physician – (Dr. Luke wrote both the gospel of Luke and the sequel we know as the Acts [Acts of the Apostles]. Luke influenced because as a prominent physician he abandoned all that he knew and had to travel with the Apostle Paul. Based on some of Paul’s autobiographical statements about himself, he was a hard one to live with. Luke traveled with Paul under arduous circumstances, attended to Paul faithfully. Like spent some seven years in Phillipi at Paul’s behalf. At the end of Paul’s life just prior to his execution Luke was the only one with Paul. Luke was a sensitive, accurate, detail-oriented historian of the ministry of Christ and the early expansion of the church. I love this man and can’t wait to meet him in heaven and thank him for the major impact he has had on my life as a theologian and man of God.)

These men influenced me by teaching me to have a love, a deep, insatiable, passionate, wrenching love for God. They influenced me by encouraging  me to have the same deep, insatiable, passionate, hunger for the Word of God. They taught me to reverence, fear it, love, tremble before it - to handle it with the utmost care. They introduced me to the necessity of holiness and true biblical piety and sanctification. I love these men. They are gifts to the triumphant church of Jesus Christ. As Hebrews says in chapter 11 of those who suffered mocking and flogging, and chains and imprisonment...stoned, sawn into, killed with the sword, going about in skins of sheep and goat, destitute, afflicted, mistreated --of whom the world was not worthy-- wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves; the world is not worthy of these men!

To accept the presidency of the United States would be a step down from the privilege of teaching the living word of God to the dear lambs and sheep of God for whom the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords gave His life to redeem. For he alone is worthy, to him be the power, the glory, the honor, and the dominion forever!


Who has been the greatest influence on your Christian life?
Why?

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Some Summer Sneak-peaks

What to watch for in July and August

June took a very interesting turn for the Gospel Driven Disciples. A few well thoughtout questions prompted me to attempt to answer some of those questions which turned into a month of some pretty heavy doctrinal issues. That is certainly alright with me, I love biblical truth. I certainly love to teach it.

There are still a few lingering questions I have not gotten to yet. I hope to provide some brief, yet biblically based answers that lend themselves to practical application.

So, what can you look for in the next couple of summer months from the Gospel Driven Disciples? I am glad you asked!

  • Some posts about prayer in light of God who is sovereign and has determined or decreed his eternal will and plan for this universe, including you and me.

  • Does God repent or change his mind? What do those references actually mean where it seems to imply that God experiences regret?

  • Can human beings, or any entity for that matter, resist God?

  • I want to tackle the doctrine of predestination and election. What do those terms mean? How did the bible writers intend for us to understand them? How do they apply to our day to day lives?

  • I also want to share some of the attributes of God with you in a polemical format.

  • I hope to share some word studies on some very important theological terms, issues, ideas, and definitions.

So, as they say on television, don’t go away, stay tuned to your regularly scheduled programming; Lord willing we will be right back after this short commercial break!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Did That Man Really Use to be Me?

DID THAT MAN REALLY
USE TO BE ME?

by

Gregg Metcalf
June 26, 2010



Last night I sat by the fire with my little girl
She wanted to look at photos in a picture book
So I dusted off an album and I handed it to her
I wasn’t ready when she said Daddy take a look

Starring back at me was a man I barely knew
Someone from another life from another time
I saw the unhappiness written all over his face
It was easy for me to see sin had been so unkind

Chorus:

Did that man really use to be me?
There’s a little resemblance I can see
He looks so different from what I am today
Jesus really made me brand knew I’ll say
Did that man really use to be me?
I’m a new man and I will forever be
Jesus washed my sins all away
Did that man really use to be me?

Years of doing things my way had taken their toll
The choices I made had left me broken and worn
But now I am a brand new daddy washed in the blood
Since I turned to the man who wore a crown of thorns

Now I stay at home and kiss my little girl goodnight
And I’m there to tuck her in and listen to her pray
She talks of mommy and sissy and then of me
She thanks God for a brand new daddy each day

Bridge

I look down at my little girl asleep in her bed
Not a care not a worry ‘bout daddy in her head

Chorus:

Did that man really use to be me?
There’s a little resemblance I can see
He looks so different from what I am today
Jesus really made me brand knew I’ll say
Did that man really use to be me?
I’m a new man and I will forever be
Jesus washed my sins all away
Did that man really use to be me?

I'm a brand new man and forever will be
Jesus washed my sins all away
Did that man really use to be me?

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Five Rows Back

In 1990 I was privileged to trade duties as an early morning DJ on a Christian Radio Station for tuition for private school for my two older daughters. I had the Saturday morning show from 6:00 AM until Noon. I got to choose the records that I played during that time.

 I came across this song called Five Rows Back and I fell in love with it. I can't remember who sang it but I loved it. This young man does very well also. He is very talented. His version moves me just as move as the one I use to spin on those cold, snowy, crisp, winter mountain Saturday mornings.

At 6:00 AM on the dot the station would begin broadcasting and I did my version of "Good Morning Burney, California! This is Gregg Metcalf and I will be with you from now until noon with your favorite gospel songs, Focus on the Family Program, and the news. It is 6:00 AM, 22 degrees outside, with light snow. Thanks for having me along this morning. Now for our first song, we have....  It was a blast! Burney, CA and the surrounding areas got a good taste of country gospel during those Saturday mornings!




Saturday, June 26, 2010

Some Suggested Reading

Food for Your Soul

We will see this summer filled with many backyard BBQ’s and Picnics at the Park. There is no doubt that we will consume some great goodies and wonderfully delicious food for our tummies. I don’t know about you but I love grilled meats, mmm I can taste them now! Grilled and smothered in Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce of Chicago, Ill. I am just drooling with thoughts of watermelon, macaroni salad; Boston baked beans, potato chips, sweet tea, and butter-drenched corn of the cob.

Last night in fact, I BBQ'ed skinless - boneless chicken breasts that had marinated all day. I then seasoned them perfectly with salt, pepper, chicken spices, and Cajun salt. Then just before they finished I sealed them and set them with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce! We then served it with homemade tater salad, watermellon, and sweet tea! So...

In addition to all this wonderful summer food, let’s not forgot our soul. Our soul needs in addition to our regular bible reading and study, some special BBQ’s and Pic-Nics! Let me occasionally through the summer recommend some books to pick up and meditate through this summer.

Introductory Reading

  • Basic Christianity – John Stott

  • Christian Beliefs – Wayne Grudem

  • Christian Life – Vern Ferguson
Intermediate Reading

  • The Attributes of God – A. W. Pink

  • The Holiness of God – R. C. Sproul

  • Knowing God – J. I. Packer

Advanced Reading

  • Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God – D. A. Carson
  • Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem

  • 1689 London Confession of Faith




Classics & Favorites

  • The Bondage of the Will – Martin Luther

  • The Christian in Complete Armour (3 vol.) – William Gurnall

  • Religious Affections – Jonathan Edwards

  • Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan


Friday, June 25, 2010

Am I The Center of the Universe?



How Can I Tell if
I Have a Problem With Pride?

Recognize your feelings when your will is opposed

Recognize smug, self-satisfaction in the least of success

Recognize self-absorption in the face of the needs of others

Recognize anger at any mention of your faults

Recognize any displeasure at the blessings of others

It is much too difficult to be ruled by an internal force that constantly drives oneself to be the center of attention. Pride is an unseen enemy that is difficult to discern until it is sometimes too late. “In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.” (John Ruskin)

As the sin nature abides within us it manifests itself in pride. Pride manifests itself in two distinct forms. Each distinct form is supported by an innumerable host of ways and means in which pride is manifested. If we don’t recognize these two forms of pride and take corrective action, then we will actively strive to push everyone aside, including God in order to elevate ourselves.

Pride rears its’ ugly head in the form of boasting or depression. Boasting can take many forms – either in attitude, actions, or articulation. We can appear to very proud in our attitude by how we carry ourselves and present ourselves in our body language. The rolling of the eyes, the uplifted head, the proud look or expression often display pride.

Our actions, many times speak louder than words and we can often portray boasting through what we do or don’t do. Many times boasting by actions constitute physical activity that demonstrates or translates disdain, disrespect, or the demeaning of someone.

Boasting is certainly manifested in our speech through the words that we articulate. Often very hurtful and demeaning words are used as a result of our pride. On the flip side, when we are talking about ourselves, more often than not, boasting is manifested through the choice of words we use about ourselves.

Pride also manifests itself in a form that is often overlooked as pride. Depression is also pride. Depression is the opposite of boasting. Boasting in essence says look at me, look at what I did, or what I am, or what I think I am or want to be. Boasting directs attention to us in order to foster an elevated opinion of ourselves to ourselves and to others.

Depression says in essence, look at me, I don’t have what I deserve, things aren’t going my way, I am not being treated as I think I deserve. I am unhappy because I don’t have what I want, can’t get my way, or have lost what I think I deserve. It is a statement that life, others, or God has not treated me or dealt with me in the way in which I should be treated. (I am not saying that chemical, neurological, or cerebral imbalance, damage, or mal-functions do not lead to some forms of depression. After a full physical, chemical, and neurological work up rules out any imbalance and/or damage and there is nothing physicaly wrong, then most depression is a result of an unbiblical evaluation of us or our circumstances.) Please do not misunderstand me or misquote me. 

Let me make a quick distinction here, depression is not to be equated with grief. Grief is a legitimate emotional expression that we experience when there is a painful loss, injury, or reversal in our lives.

Pride is very wicked and sinful. It is a despicable quality that is innate to the sin nature. We must deal with pride regularly. The apostle John knew how wicked pride was, what fed it, causing it to fester and grow. John gave us information and instructions that help us recognize pride.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride in possessions is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (I John 2:15-17)

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance are the way of evil…” (Proverbs 8:13, ESV)

Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. (C. S. Lewis)

Take Washington Red Skins Albert Haynesworth as an example of pure narcissistic pride. He is refusing to play for the Redskins – the team that dropped $100 million on him last February – simply because Washington is changing its defensive scheme. 

The foolish pride of Washington Red Skins Albert Haynesworth is going to cost him both money and reputation if he doesn’t recognize his pride as sinful and changes his course of action.

Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals. ( Fulton J. Sheen)

Does pride as an internal force drive you to seek praise and recognition for yourself and your accomplishments?

The antidote can be found in recognizing this horrible monster and deciding to deal with it biblically. First, confess pride for what it is horrible sin; second, ask God to deal with this innate sin for his glory and your good; third memorize scripture and scripture principals that address this very sin and its solution; fourth, be alert and ready – the enemy will challenge you.

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:1)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Is This It?

What is it all about?

At some point everyone living individual has struggled with the question of “what does it all mean?” You know what I am talking about. We wonder how much of our life really means something and just how much of our life is really just fluff. We question at times is their really substance to what we are doing or is it simply vanity? Why should we work so hard on our job? What good are promotions or advancement in the long run? Is success the target that I should keep my eyes on? What good is all the art, music, movies, literature, and picnics at the park?

There is an answer! The bible tells us why we created and exactly how we should live our lives in conjunction with the haunting questions above.

As believers we know that all most everything in this world is vanity. Everything in the world is temporary, including the world. We know that we are not even citizens of this world and that we are merely pilgrims moving toward a city in the heavens made by God. This earth is passing away and we are waiting the return of our Lord or our death in order to take up the next life.

“To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.”

--Jonathan Edwards

“Vanity of vanities says the preacher; vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does a man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, ESV)

Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon at the end of his life as he considered the question of “the meaning of life.” Solomon looked back and actually saw the futility or vanity of spending his life in pursuit of all the good things in this life. He looked at work, wealth, pleasure, and even wisdom and discovered a few facts.

Even if any or all of the things that life offered was satisfying, it was only satisfying for a limited time

Death will bring to a close for every individual all of these things in life including the limited satisfaction that they provided

A person who lives in “fear” or awe, reverence, awareness, and in alignment with God’s purpose for our lives can enjoy all most all of the “gifts” that God provides in this life

A person’s pursuit in life then is not things, pleasure, possessions, status, success, or etc., but a life lived in pursuit of God

Isaiah 43:7 states that we were created for God’s glory. I Corinthians 1-31 mandates us that whatever we do, no matter what it is, even as mundane as eating or drinking is to be done to reveal, unfold, magnify, reflect, or otherwise make known God’s glorious character.

Therefore, as we live our lives we are to be fully and actively cognizant that we are to reveal aspects of God’s character and nature to those around us making God attractive to those outside of the faith. I Thessalonians makes it clear that we are to work – therefore as we work we are to reveal God’s character in the manner in which we work. 

Motivation becomes the barometer that measures all that we do. There is nothing wrong with working hard and striving to be the best that we can be if our motive is to reflect or reveal the character of God. Young people can pursue a myriad of careers, working as hard as they choose as long as they recognize that they are working towards the goal of pleasing God, not themselves or even their employer. Instructing our children to achieve success is not wrong as long as it is tempered, nay, smothered in the realization that it is not for self, “success”, promotion, or wealth that one works hard, rather it is in awareness that we are working in such a manner as to promote the character of God.

God is certainly a God of color, variety, texture, shape, sizes, and design. He has given these things to us to enjoy and even use. The caveat is simply that they are all given, from oceans, sunsets, music, fish, hill sides, flowers, art, etc, to first, be reminded that all things come from him, and second, to enjoy them and use them in manners that will reflect and reveal his character.

The sin, the folly, and the shame is to enjoy all these things and pursue all that we can gain and forget to God on the way. Life is to be lived to its fullest, with as much gusto as we can muster. Life is always lives in awareness of our creator with whom we will give an account of our life. We cannot make our life or all that is in it our treasure. If we do we become an idolater. We need to use everything that we possibly can to enable us to greatly treasure our God to the fullest extent possible.

What parting advice does Solomon have for us? “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, ESV)

Enjoy life, strive to do well. Always keep in mind that the only thing that will matter at and after death is God. Did you live in awe, reverence, respect of God and his revealed will in the scriptures? Was your motivation to live, work, play, and enjoy all that you could in order to honor him? God will at the Bema Seat examine each believer and reward them in accordance with this criteria. Some will have full reward here on earth with all they collected for themselves and have no rewards in heaven. Some will have almost much here in this life and yet have much in heaven.

What we often miss is let’s not encourage our children or ourselves strive to be successful in the eyes of this vain world which is passing away. Let’s encourage our children and ourselves strive to be a success in God’s eyes as revealed in his book, the Bible. Let’s not enjoy music, art, movies, literature or anything that we can create and accumulated in this life for selfish pleasure or motivation. Let’s enjoy it all to the glory of God!

The problem we face is the paradoxical nature of Gods' ways. We, in our human nature, apart from God's intervention hate His ways. What are the ways of God? Well, to be first we must make ourselves last; to be exalted, we must be humbled, the way up with God is the down, the way to become "rich" is to become poor, the way to save our life is to loose our life, the way to receive is to give, and most hideous and painful of all, the way to live is to first die.

There is no virtue in simply giving everything we have away or never striving for promotion if the motivation is for self benefit. As God lays various directives upon our hearts and motivated by the desire to be obedient, Christ-like and to reflect the character of God, our obedience is rewarded by His mercy and faithfulness.

Long after the final wrap parties, the awards, the recognition, and the “success” of Jack Bauer and 24 are forgotten, God will still be an awesome, holy, righteous God worthy of our respect, reverence, and reflection. 24 may have gone out on top and may go down as the most successful show in history; but that will mean absolutely nothing in eternity.

Who ever said, “Who ever dies with the most toys wins” was dead wrong!

Remember, “Only one life to live and soon will be past, only that which is done for Christ will last.”

I once thought if I just worked as hard as I could, strive to be the best, climb as hard as I could climb I could get to the top of my career field. Well, I did, I worked and climbed until I fell off the ladder at age 47 and had to start over. What are you working for? Are you laying up treasure in heaven or are you working for vanity?

What will you gain by all the toil which you toil under the sun?

Everything in life is temporary and transitory. Strive to obtain what you need to live and take care of those whom you love and are responsible for. Strive only for advancement if it can be used to further, deepen, and enhance your relationship to God and if it gives you the opportunity to reflect his glorious character. Enjoy all that God has provided in this world. If properly used, with the proper understanding, your use and enjoyment will reflect his marvelous character.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Seven New Things About Me!

Gospel Driven Disciples Honored with the

Versatile Blogger Award

Awarded by Tossing it Out





Once again the Gospel Driven Disciples has been blessed by an award. Lee, from Tossing It Out has chosen to award my blog with The Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you very much Lee, and now for my acceptance speech… Not really! Kidding!

However the rules state I must share seven things with you. I got tagged a little while back and had to share, I think five things, and I am not sure any more. At any rate first of all, here goes, and second, if there is a repeated thing – and you catch it, just ask me to tell you something else to make up for it. I have no shortage of stories.

1. I have been in a Marine Corp transport plane that was hit by lightning while flying in a major thunderstorm in route to Manila, Philippines. (Obviously we landed safely) What is the perfect flight? One that has the same amount of landings as take-offs.



2. I have had the pleasure of meeting and having dinner with the great Mr. Freddie Hart of Freddie Hart and the Heartbeats. He is best known for his number one record, Easy Lovin’. I, however liked his “Hank Williams Guitar” and “If Fingerprints Showed Up on Skin, I Wonder Whose I’d Find on You” the best. He also did "The Wall."





3. I have been privileged to have seen what I consider to be four of the most amazing sites in our land; Pompey’s Pillar (with William Clark's signature still in the rock), the memorial site of the Battle of the Little Big Horn which was the site of Custer’s last stand. I have also visited and toured the Alamo in San Antonio Texas, I have visited Niagara Falls. I have never been in a "church" that was as quiet and reverent and respectful as both the Alamo and the Custer Battle Sight. It was an amazing, erie, and awesome "quiet" that gave respect to the men who lost their lives at these places. At Custer's site all you could hear was the birds, the wind, and occasional camera as people walked in silence around the tomstones depicting where 7th Calvary soldiers had fallen and died.

4. I have owned a classic Signet Gold 1967 Pontiac GTO Hardtop, with the 335 HP 400 CI V8 and a Hearst linkage 4 speed Transmission. It had a black vinyl top with black leather interior and Rally II Wheels. The MSRP for the hardtop in 1967 was $2935. Today, one in absolute mint condition, cherry as we use to say, can go as high as $11K. Yes, I am still kicking myself for selling it before I joined the USMC in 1972. I won every "street" race I was in in that GTO. How I never got a ticket I'll never know.




5. I once pumped gas and filled the tank for Will Rogers, Jr. while working at a Texaco Gas Station in Diamond Bar, California. As exciting as this was, it was not as thrilling as the experience my sister had in San Jose, California one hot summer day. She actually served and sold an ice cream cone to the one and only Ernest Tubbs of Ernest Tubbs and the Texas Troubadours.



6. I have seen Merle Haggard in concert in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. What a show that was. The Hag is one of my favorite country artists, second only to Mr. George “The Possum” Jones. The show was a sell-out and it was electric.

Mama Tried, Okie From Musgokee, Lonesome Fugitive, Branded Man, Silver Wings, Motorcycle Mama, If We Make It Through December, Legend of Bonnie and Cyde, Working Man Blues, Think I Just Sit Here and Drink, Poncho and Left, Fighting Side of Me, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I'm Always on Mountain When I Fall, It's Not Love but Its, Not Bad, Big City, The Farmer's Daughter and thousnads more!


7. I have three times driven from coast to coast across our great land. The first time was in 1973 from Jacksonville, North Carolina to San Jose, California. The second time was in 1974 from San Jose, California to Beaufort, South Carolina. The third time yes was from Beaufort, South Carolina to you guessed it, San Jose, California.

My wife was born and raised in San Jose. When I was stationed overseas she stayed with family in San Jose. So, I rotated back to the world from Japan and we drove to our next duty station. We have driven the central and southern route. We drove I-10 across the bottom of our country and I-40 across the mid-section. There is nothing more fun than driving across our great land and seeing the sights. I love it.

Now, I am supposed to award 15 other bloggers and inform them of their award. So, we will know who reads my blog if you read your name and blog seven things about yourself!

I want to thank everyone who has helped me to achieve this great accomplishment. I thank of course Lee who awarded this award, my mother who had me, and my wife who puts up with me, all my loyal readers, and so on and so on and so on… Yes, I thank the Lord!
1. Tried with Fire
2. Want to Walk Along?
3. The Old Geezer
4. Becadee
5. While We Sojourn
6. Kansas Bob
7. Stranger in a Strange Land
8. Pastor’s Corner
9. Life on Acreage


The Versatile Blogger Award

Gospel Driven Disciples Honored with the
Versatile Blogger Award

Awarded by Tossing it Out

Once again the Gospel Driven Disciples has been blessed by an award. Lee, from Tossing It Out has chosen to award my blog with The Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you very much Lee, and now for my acceptance speech… Not really! Kidding!

However the rules state I must share seven things with you. I got tagged a little while back and had to share, I think five things, and I am not sure any more. At any rate first of all, here goes, and second, if there is a repeated thing – and you catch it, just ask me to tell you something else to make up for it. I have no shortage of stories.

1. I have been in a Marine Corp transport plane that was hit by lightning while flying in a major thunderstorm in route to Manila, Philippines. (Obviously we landed safely) What is the perfect flight? One that has the same amount of landings as take-offs.

2. I have had the pleasure of meeting and having dinner with the great Mr. Freddie Hart of Freddie Hart and the Heartbeats. He is best known for his number one record, Easy Lovin’. I, however liked his “Hank Williams Guitar” and “If Fingerprints Showed Up on Skin, I Wonder Whose I’d Find on You” the best. He also did "The Wall."






3. I have been privileged to have seen what I consider to be four of the most amazing sites in our land; Pompey’s Pillar (with William Clark's signature still in the rock), the memorial site of the Battle of the Little Big Horn which was the site of Custer’s last stand. I have also visited and toured the Alamo in San Antonio Texas, I have visited Niagara Falls. I have never been in a "church" that was as quiet and reverent and respectful as both the Alamo and the Custer Battle Sight. It was an amazing, erie, and awesome "quiet" that gave respect to the men who lost their lives at these places. At Custer's site all you could hear was the birds, the wind, and occasional camera as people walked in silence around the tomstones depicting where 7th Calvary soldiers had fallen and died.
















4. I have owned a classic Signet Gold 1967 Pontiac GTO Hardtop, with the 335 HP 400 CI V8 and a Hearst linkage 4 speed Transmission. It had a black vinyl top with black leather interior and Rally II Wheels. The MSRP for the hardtop in 1967 was $2935. Today, one in absolute mint condition, cherry as we use to say, can go as high as $11K. Yes, I am still kicking myself for selling it before I joined the USMC in 1972. I won every "street" race I was in in that GTO. How I never got a ticket I'll never know.


5. I once pumped gas and filled the tank for Will Rogers, Jr. while working at a Texaco Gas Station in Diamond Bar, California. As exciting as this was, it was not as thrilling as the experience my sister had in San Jose, California one hot summer day. She actually served and sold an ice cream cone to the one and only Ernest Tubbs of Ernest Tubbs and the Texas Troubadours. 




6. I have seen Merle Haggard in concert in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. What a show that was. The Hag is one of my favorite country artists, second only to Mr. George “The Possum” Jones. The show was a sell-out and it was electric. 




7. I have three times driven from coast to coast across our great land. The first time was in 1973 from Jacksonville, North Carolina to San Jose, California. The second time was in 1974 from San Jose, California to Beaufort, South Carolina. The third time yes was from Beaufort, South Carolina to you guessed it, San Jose, California.

My wife was born and raised in San Jose. When I was stationed overseas she stayed with family in San Jose. So, I rotated back to the world from Japan and we drove to our next duty station. We have driven the central and southern route. We drove I-10 across the bottom of our country and I-40 across the mid-section. There is nothing more fun than driving across our great land and seeing the sights. I love it.

Now, I am supposed to award 15 other bloggers and inform them of their award. So, we will know who reads my blog if you read your name and blog seven things about yourself!

I want to thank everyone who has helped me to achieve this great accomplishment. I thank of course Lee who awarded this award, my mother who had me, and my wife who puts up with me, all my loyal readers, and so on and so on and so on… Yes, I thank the Lord!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Grace For Grace...


How do you know if
you need more grace?

  • When God temporarily steps back into the shadows

  •  When God sends the most unlovable person into your life

  • When temptation seems to have gotten the upper hand

  •  When the Scriptures are no longer enjoyable

  • When the burden you are caring is heavier than the promises of God

  • Every moment of your life

Everyone you know and everyone they know is in this situation. People need grace. People need more grace than they realize.

Martin Luther once said, “Grace is given to heal the spiritually sick, not to decorate spiritual heroes.”

In the spiritual world, just like the physical world we are completely dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to recognize when these scenarios come upon us and without ceasing ask God to give us the grace that is needed to know that we need more grace.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” (Hebrews 12:16, ESV)

“Now listen carefully…because this is incredibly important. Every one of us needs help. We are not God. We have needs. We have weaknesses. We have confusion. We have limitations of all kinds. We need help. (John Piper)

Most of us never realize at the time we most need extraordinary grace to go to God and ask God to make us aware of how much more grace we need to face our current situation.

Grace is available 24/7 – God’s grace is never disrupted!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Desert Island Movies: Twelve Movies to Be Marooned With

This is

"An Off to the Movies Review"

A

 "Two Thumbs Up Production"


Produced for 12 Movies While Marooned
 on a Desert Island Productions

written by Gregg Metcalf, produced by Gregg Metcalf, arranged by Gregg Metcalf, reviewed by Gregg Metcalf, conceived by Gregg Metcalf, based on a project first suggested by Alex J. Cavanaugh of Alex J. Cavanaugh Production's and Suggestions.

How do you reduce all of the great movies that have been released over the last one hundred years to twelve? I know I have forgotten as many movies as I have been able to rake through the tiny embers of my mind. I know as soon as I publish this list I will think of a movie that should have been on this list. I want to give three disclaimers at this point:

• Thank God this is an exercise in fantasy and I don’t really have to pick twelve movies to live with for the rest of my life on some deserted Island that just happens to have a DVD player and electricity. If this was for real maybe my list would change, maybe not.

• The older I become and the more in Christ like holiness I continue to grow, the more and more I am throwing away R rated movies. I use to excuse them, having done a stint in both the Military and Law Enforcement, with such thinking as, “Well that is the way cops talk;” or “That is the way soldiers talk and think.” I am getting past that reasoning and throwing them out. There are some great movies I would have probably chosen a year ago, had I not started to watch what I am seeing and listening to.  This is why, as great as an actor as he is and as many classics as he has been in I didn't include a single Robert De Nero movie. Though I had Meet the Parents and Meet the Folkers on the first draft. They made to the second and was cut on the third.

• These are not in any particular order. I did not rate them from my favorite to the least of favorites – they are listed as I thought through literally thousands of titles and they passed certain tests. I hope you enjoy.

1. Ransom

This movie came out in 1996. It stars Mel Gibson and is directed by Ron Howard.

Gibson plays a rich man whose son is kidnapped, and at first he cooperates with the police but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals. I love how this movie progressed and the twist that it took when he decided to take matters into his own hands to get his son back. There is something about this movie that will always keep it in the top three spots of my all time list.

2. The Green Mile

I don’t like sci-fi or scenarios that just can’t happen. I thought long and hard before going and seeing this movie. I finally did because my favorite “star” or actor was in this movie, Tom Hanks. Other than his politics I am a big Hanks fan. I thought the story line was going to be too far fetched, but when I watched the supporting actors and the story line develop, it had me hooked.

This is a great movie about a black man in the 1930's with “the gift” who encounters two murdered little girls and tries to help them. However, “It was too late, boss. I tried to take it back, but it was too late.” He is arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death in “Old Sparky.” While on death row he “helps” Hanks character with a bladder infection. That moves Hanks and his staff to try and use this “gift” to help the Warden’s wife who is dying.

The acting, directing, and plot are superb. This movie should be in every movie buff's collection. This movie was released in 1999.

3. Gone With The Wind

What can I say about this movie? I don’t even feel as if I am qualified to say anything about it. It was released in 1939 starring Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable. It is about a very manipulative woman who is trying to survive and rebuild her life after the collapse of the south from the Civil War.

She falls in love with a very unscrupulous man and carries on a turbulent love affair in the south during the Civil War and Reconstruction period. I know what you are thinking, this is a “chick’s movie.” Well, no it isn’t. Besides what is wrong with a chick’s movie? Don’t you usually watch a chick’s movie sitting really close to a chick? So they do serve their purpose don’t they?

This movie can not be watched to many times. No matter how many times you say, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a darn,” you can always say it again. Or, “I won’t think about it. I will think about it tomorrow.”

4. The Bourne Identity

This movie is a 2002 remake of the original movie made in 1988. I never saw the 88’ version, but I immediately fell in love with Jason Bourne. I think in some of my more lucid moments in my own thinking I see flashes of my life as a CIA agent in exciting missions. Oops, I digress.

This movie stars Matt Damon who went on to do two more Bourne movies and I wish that he could do a dozen more. Since this is part of a trilogy I will count all three as one movie.

Bourne is on a mission and when he is shot he develops amnesia. He then has to “regain” his memory of who he is all the while outrunning would be assassins who want to gun him down. Great action and plot, with good direction and story development.

5. Luther

This movie was released in 2003 and is directed by Eric Till. It stars Joseph Fiennes, Alfred Molina, and Jonathan Firth among many others.

It accurately portrays the life of a 16th Century idealistic German monk, named Martin Luther, who becomes disgusted and disillusioned by the materialism and sexuality in the Catholic Church. He begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protestant Reformation by nailing his 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg. This movie is an excellent portrayal of Luther’s eventual break with the Catholic Church.

Most people don’t realize that Luther did not actually mean to break with the Catholic Church nor did he intend on starting what is now known as the Lutheran denomination. He simply wanted the church purged of relics and indulgences and he differed with the church on the biblical meaning of justification. The catholic view and the protestant view of justification are antithetical and Luther was pronounced a heretic and excommunicated from the Catholic Church. He later married, raised a family, pastored his church and became a prolific writer. His book, The Bondage of the Will is in his opinion his best work and it is only equal to Jonathan Edward’s book The Freedom of the Will (which both books say the same thing by the way concerning the condition of the human will) in the mind of the reformers. So there is a triple play, buy the movie, Luther’s book, and Edwards’s book.

6. The Trilogy of the Rings

This maybe my all time number one movie! I read the Hobbit, and then the Trilogy of the Rings when I was very young. I have read and re-read those books more than a dozen times. When I heard the movie was coming out I about “wet” myself. (Sorry) I couldn’t wait. Then when they said it would take three (3) years to release them all, 2001, 2002, 2003, I just knew I would get hit by a bus before I could see all three or the rapture would take place.

I have loved every character in these stories from Bilbo Baggins to Shadowfax. As a matter of fact for several years Irene and I owned an 18’ Sea swirl runabout boat. I named our boat Shadowfax. I was shocked to learn most people didn’t even know who Shadowfax was. In case you don’t’, Shadowfax was the white steed that Gandalf the Wizard rode into Mordor.

The trilogy is based on the three-volume book The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. The story line is set in the fictional world of Middle-earth. The story follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and a “Fellowship” embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring, which would ensure the destruction of its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron.

The Fellowship becomes divided and Frodo continues the quest together with his loyal companion Sam and the once Hobbit, now Gollum. Meanwhile, the wizard Gandalf and Aragorn, who is the heir in exile to the throne of Gondor, unite and rally the Free Peoples of Middle-earth, who are ultimately victorious in the War of the Ring.

7. The Tenth Kingdom

This movie was released in 2000 and was directed by David Carson and Herbert Wise. It stars America’s sweetheart, and daughter to the Father of the Bride Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Scott Cohen, and John Larroquette.

The story is about a young woman named Virginia and her father, Tony. Virgian and her father are lured into a land where fairy tales are real! The longer they are in the 10th Kingdom the more their lives become one with the fairy tale characters!

Two centuries after Snow White and Cinderella had their adventures, the Nine Kingdoms ready themselves for the coronation of Prince Wendell, Snow White's grandson, to the throne of the Fourth Kingdom.

However an evil deposed queen has freed herself from prison, and turns the prince into a golden retriever. Wendell, by means of a magic mirror, escapes into a hitherto-unknown Tenth Kingdom (modern day New York City) and meets Virginia and her father Tony.

Pursued by trolls, cops, and a wolf in man's form, the three find their way back into the NineKingdoms and begin their adventures to restore Wendell to his human form and throne, and find the magic mirror that will take Tony and Virginia back home. The twist in this tale that all the while they are trying to get back home it is unknown to Virginia and her Father is that Virginia already has a connection to the Nine Kingdoms that may prove deadly before they reach “Happily Ever After.” This is a wonderful movie of imagination, fairy tales and entertainment. Recommended for the whole family and you will love it.

8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This movie was also released in 2000 and it was directed by Ron Howard. It starred Jim Carrey as the Grinch. It is great entertainment. My wife and I have made it a tradition, every Christmas we watch this movie.

Based on the book by the famous Dr. Seuss. "Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville." All the Who's love Christmas, but lurking outside of their beloved Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a nasty creature that hates Christmas, and he plots to steal it away from the Whos which he equally detests.

9. We Were Soldiers

This movie was released in 2002. It is directed by Randall Wallace. It stars Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, and Greg Kinnear. I have seen this movie a number of times and it still brings tears to my eyes.

This movie is based on a book written in 1992 by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and war journalist Joseph L. Galloway about the Vietnam War. It focuses on the role of the First and Second Battalions of the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the Battle of Ia Drang, the United States' first large-unit battle of the Vietnam War; previous engagements involved small units and patrols.

This movie tells the story how Moore and his 395 men held off 4000 VC soldiers in one of the first major battles of the Viet Nam war until help could arrive and get them out. It is the story of the modern “air Calvary” provided by helicopters.

This movie was of special interest to me having served in HMM 261(tandem rotor assault transport helicopter) and HMH 461,(heavy lift transport helicopters) both helicopter squadrons during the Viet Nam era. The movie portrays the UH-1 Bell Helicopter. They began as "med-evac" carriers but soon were used as an assault support vehicle. Some 7,000 "huey's" served in Viet Nam.

It is one the few remaining R movies I have left. It is rated R for the combat activity. I think there is one or two bad words in the movie. It is well worth watching. (When Sam Elliot ask a private how does he know what kind of day it is going to be – just hit the mute for a second).

10. I, Claudius

I, Claudius is a 1976 BBC Television adaptation of Robert Graves's I, Claudius and Claudius the God. Written by Jack Pulman, it proved one of the corporation's most successful drama serials of all time. It starred Derek Jacobi, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, Patrick Stewart, and John Hurt.

I, Claudius follows the history of Rome, narrated by the elderly Claudius, from the death of Marcellus in the first episode to Claudius's own death in the last. The series opens with Augustus, the emperor of Rome, attempting to find an heir, and his wife Livia's plots to have her own son Tiberius become emperor. This plotting and double-crossing continue for many decades, through the conspiracy of Sejanus, the rule of the mad emperor Caligula, and eventually, Claudius's own rule.
Robert Graves wrote I, Claudius and Claudius the God as if they were the secret autobiography of the Emperor Claudius, who was the fourth emperor of Rome (r. 41-54 A.D.).

Historically, Claudius's family, the Julio-Claudian's, kept him out of public life until his sudden coronation at the age of 49. This was due to his disabilities, which included a stammer, a limp, and various nervous tics which made him appear mentally deficient to his relatives. This is how he was defined by scholars for most of history, and Graves uses these peculiarities to develop a sympathetic character whose survival in a murderous dynasty depends upon his family's incorrect assumption that he is a harmless idiot.

Robert Graves claimed that after he read Suetonius, Claudius came to him in a dream one night and demanded that his real story be told. The life of Claudius provided Graves with a way to write about the first four Emperors of Rome (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius) from an intimate point of view.

The real Claudius was a trained historian and is known to have written an autobiography (now lost) in eight books that covered the same time period. I, Claudius is a first-person narrative of Roman history from the reigns of Augustus to Caligula; Claudius the God is written as a later addition documenting Claudius's own reign.

This is an epic British mini-series of 7 volumes that is outstanding. It is surprisingly accurate, informative and mesmerizing. Both Graves and the screen play writer have done a marvelous job in developing these characters which makes you fall in love with everyone of them, except maybe Caligula. It is a must see.

11. I Walk the Line

This movie was released in 2005. As an avid Johnny Cash fan I could not wait to see it. The night it premiered I attended this movie with my son-in-law and youngest daughter. We were not disappointed!

This movie was directed by James Mangold. It starred Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, and Ginnifer Goodwin. Phoenix, for as strange as he is did a good job portraying Cash and sounding like him – he should have one the Oscar. Witherspoon did an excellent portrayal of June Carter Cash and did in an Oscar.

This movie is not a full biography of Johnny’s life. How could a single movie do that? It tells the story Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

If you don’t know it, this quartet has been dubbed the “Million dollar quartet.” Each virtually unknown went on to be a megastar in their own right.

Johnny Cash, Jr. was an advisor on the film. Johnny's first wife and children at last report have not seen the film but rejected the script as a bad portrayal of Vivian his first wife.

12. Forest Gump

This movie was released in 1994. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis. It starred Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise.

This movie is about a man with very low intelligence who “accidentally” is present at many historical moments and accomplished great things. However his true love alludes him through most of his life and the movie. This is a very warm, heart-rendering, and funny movie that will make you both laugh and cry. He finally wins his true love only to discover that she hasn’t much time left. He is able to prove the one thing that he wanted to prove and that is anybody can love anybody. Hanks won an Oscar for his performance of Gump.

Nobody mentioned if this dozen was a regular dozen or a baker's dozen so, I took the liberty to assume it was a baker's dozen. A dozen is a dozen right?

13.  The Godfather Trilogy

The Godfather is a 1972 American gangster film based on the novel by Mario Puzo. It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton,  and Abe Vigoda.

The story spans ten years from 1945 to 1955 and tells the story of a fictional Italian American crime family called Corleone. The orignal movie was followed by two sequels to round out the story: The Godfather Part II in 1974, and The Godfather Part III in 1990.