The Reformed Mexican

Moving On

2010-02-09T11:05:00.001-08:00

FYI for my millions of readers, I am transferring over to wordpress. My new blog is located at... www.salm6d3.com

Interesting Interface Design

2010-02-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

I ran across this video the other day about a new computer interface system. Thought it was pretty interesting so I'm passing it on. Enjoy.

10/GUI from C. Miller on Vimeo.

Alas, my friend is gone

2010-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

Finding a good pen is not so easy. I, with great sorrow, came to the conclusion that one of my two favorite pens is missing, probably for good as is the way with pens. So, I would like to say a few short words for my missing uni-ball Signo MICRO 207 with its wonderful free flowing ink, great grip, and wonderful personality.

Good by pen, you wrote well, and I will miss you.
Rest In Peace my friend.

Totally like whatever, you know?

2010-01-20T16:38:00.000-08:00

Here is an excerpt from a poem called Totally like whatever, you know? By Taylor Mali.

In case you hadn't noticed,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you're talking about?
Or believe strongly in what you're saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)'s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?
Even when those sentences aren't, like, questions? You know?

New Years Eve

2010-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

On new years eve, several people from the Tulare Evangelical Free Church, including myself, decided to jump in an ice cold pool as a fund raiser for our new building. Here is the video....

Managing Oneself

2010-01-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

I just read an old article called Managing Oneself by a gentlemen named Peter R Druker. While I am not sure that all of Drukers assertions can be entirely proven, there is lots in this article to stimulate a brain as we analyze ourselves and consider how we work. For myself, perhaps the most interesting section was Responsibility for Relationships. Here is a short and intriguing clip from the beginning of the article.

"Most people think they know what they are good at. They are usually wrong. More often, people know what they are not good at and even then more people are wrong than right. And yet, a person can perform only from strength. One cannot buid performance on weaknesses, let alone on something one cannot do at all."

Krav Maga

2010-01-13T16:09:00.000-08:00

I just recently watched a series of youtube videos on Krav Maga. There is apparently a show called Human Weapon where a couple of guys learn a style of fighting, and at the end of a week these guys attempt to test their new knowledge against a master of that fighting style. In this episode they go to Israel where they learn Krav Maga, a self defense technique that is, well, brutal and efficient. It was developed in Israel during WWII as a response to the German aggression. If your are interested in checking it out on youtube just follow this link.

Rev. Manly Jr. on the Call to Ministry

2010-01-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

This is an article I recently read while working on a paper about the call to ministry. I found it on the Nine Marks Website. I thought it was a great article by the Rev. Manly Jr. I found it encouraging/convicting to me personally as well as being a good resource for my paper. If you are interested in reading the rest click here.

"Perhaps it is objected that you have not remarkable talents. There is sometimes a mischievous and unholy pride lurking under this plea, notwithstanding its seeming humility; and it is, for a man’s own good, important that it be uncovered and abandoned. You would like, it seems, to be a great minister, attracting attention, applause, reputation; but have no heart for plain, humble, unobtrusive usefulness. Beware!

What are the facts in regard to real usefulness? The great majority of those whose labors God has blessed, have been men of no very remarkable talents. The Almighty could have endowed all his servants with eloquence, commanding oratory, intellect, learning; these are gifts entirely within his bestowment. But he has "chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty." We would not undervalue talent; we would not depreciate learning. We would have all our ministers to prosecute diligently the study of all things which may illustrate the Bible, and bring science in as the subservient handmaid to do homage to the gospel. But it will be a sorrowful day for our churches, when human learning is substituted for piety, or valued more than devotion and integrity; and when the humble, earnest Christian, who loves souls, and has the Master’s anointing for the winning of them, shall be rejected, or discouraged from entering the ministry because he may not come up to some arbitrary standard of scholastic lore.

Do you allege that you feel unworthy? Well you may; for in contemplating the various and extended requirements of the gospel ministry, an apostle could not refrain from exclaiming, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Self-distrust, modesty, diffidence, so far from being disqualifications are necessary prerequisites."

A New Post

2010-01-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to put up a new post, so I could say I have done it.

50 Ways To Support Life and the Unborn

2008-11-18T14:06:00.000-08:00

Randy Alcorn has a wonderful list of 50 things we can do to help promote not just and anti-abortion agenda, but a pro-life God-centric Christ-Glorifying lifestyle. Here are a couple.....

1. Open your home to a pregnant girl. Help her financially, emotionally, and spiritually

2. Open your home to an unwanted child for foster care or adoption.

7. Become thoroughly informed about the abortion issue. Read ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments or the condensed version, Why ProLife?

18. Write letters to the editor. Be courteous, concise, accurate, and memorable. Quote brief references cited in ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments. Some local newspapers have a policy of printing every letter to the editor. The opportunity for influence is enormous. Letters to the editor in a major national magazine may be read by a million people.

34. Join prolife rallies and marches to galvanize prolife efforts. Have walk-a-thons and other projects to earn money for prolife groups. Get your children involved. They'll love it, and it's a great education as well as a family activity.

50. Pray daily for prolife ministries and victimized mothers and babies. Organize your own prayer group, perhaps combining prolife concerns with other vital needs, such as missions. Go to prolife rallies or sidewalk counseling and focus on the ministry of prayer. If the darkness of child-killing is to be overcome with the light of truth and compassion, it will require spiritual warfare, fought with humble and consistent prayer (Ephesians 6:10-20).

We live in a culture that sits by while we murder our own. They are not jews, they are not black and in slavery, they are our own children. To see the rest of Randy Alcorns list follow this link..... LINK

My '59 Ford

2008-11-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

For a long time now I have had an old 1959 Ford in my back yard. I actually drove it for a while during my junior college years at COS. Love the truck, tore it completely apart, painted it, put and old y block 292 in it, but never finished it. Very recently I have started working on it again and I am very excited about it. I just found out I will soon be able to put the parts from a 79 ford into my truck "'Old Blue". It's gonna be great! By the way, if any one of my million readers wants a running 8 cylinder 292 Y Block engine, complete, that came out of a '57 Ford Fairlane, let me know, I can help you out!

Great Post On E-mail Etiquette

2008-11-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

Zach Nielson has a great post about email etiquette, I am particularly guilty of this one...

3. Work to have a balance between email and personal contact.

I am bad at this. I have found that I would rather sit in my office and fire off a quick email to the guy in the office next door as opposed to just popping over and saying something quickly. I know it feels efficient in the short term, but I wonder about the long term effects. If we are not careful we breed a culture of isolation that is detrimental to our essential nature of God's image bearers, created for communities of love.

Check out the rest of his list HERE

Great Worldview Debate

2008-11-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

This should be a great video....

Abortion Statistis

2008-11-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

Justin Taylor just put up a great post on his blog about abortion rates under Clinton and under Bush. Here is a snippet...

"The idea is that because of Bill Clinton's policies the abortion rate dropped under his administration, and because of George W. Bush's policies the abortion rate rose under his administration.

If you break it down, there are actually four claims being made here:

Abortion rates dropped under Clinton.
Abortion rates dropped under Clinton because of Clinton.
Abortion rates rose under Bush.
Abortion rates rose under Bush because of Bush.

Only premise 1 is correct."

Check out the full post HERE

Ever Feel This Way?

2008-11-11T13:54:00.000-08:00

The Sweetness of Sleep

Sweet black growing so cold
my bones and back getting so old

My arms reach for the deep
All that I desire is sleep

No strength to swim for the light
I've no heart to fight

Goodnight

I Want My Bible Back

2008-11-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Almost a month ago now I left my ESV Bible my wife gave me in San Jose when we were visiting family. I have another one, but it just isn't the same. I have all my notes in my other Bible, all my underlining. I just like my Bible and I want it back. It's like sleeping in a hotel bed for months, and you just want to go home and sleep in your own bed. I want my Bible back!! I think it is going to make it's way here around thanksgiving, but I sure miss it until then.

Learning CSS

2008-11-06T23:27:00.000-08:00

Today I have been working ALOT on websites and getting design work together. Mostly though I have been spending time learning CSS so I can help my little bro out with the programming side of web design life. I much prefer the actual designing rather than the programming, but, all in all, it was still kind of fun learning about it. I was learning on a web site that we are building for the Tulare EV Free church. If you want to see it just click here It doesn't look like much yet, but I will get there... I hope.

The Mother of Invention

2008-11-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

Perhaps necessity should be the father of invention and joy should be the mother. The seed today of looking through and digesting 1 John was the necessity of getting ready for Sunday School, but what made it grow, and develop, and turn into something that had substance and usefulness instead of simply a product, was the nurturing hand of the joy that I found in the task at hand. So enjoyment surly must be the mother of invention and necessity the father.

Scripture is Great!

2008-11-05T14:53:00.001-08:00

The word of God is truly wonderful! I am teaching from 1 John in Sunday School, so I have been really trying to tear into the meat of the text and I LOVE it! Wow, what a true delight scripture is when we pour our soul into it and beg God to fill us with it. Don't simply read scripture, tear it apart, analyze it, love it, ask it questions. It's so great!!!

Yay Prop 8

2008-11-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Well, one out of three of my wish list, I guess it could be worse. Breaks my heart what will soon happen to this country. On the flip side, I must also agree with many of the Christians I have talked to. That if persecution comes, and this country gets blacker and even more Godless, than the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will shine all the brighter. We are not of this world, and maybe our country has let us become to comfortable in this place. I know I have already become "less attached" to this country and world as I anticipate the atrocity of abortion that will soon increase to an even greater degree. I can see the loss of what small amount of Biblical principles and wisdom that we retain in this country, we will soon go the way of European socialism, and at it's root atheistic Marxism. Alas, we are not in this world for comfort, but to fight the good fight, to demonstrate the glory of God, and to receive the price when we find ourselves before the throne of God.

George Mueller is great!

2008-11-03T15:26:00.001-08:00

Here is an excerpt from George Muller that I am going over with my youth staff tonight.

"Now that God has taught me this point," (To start his personal time with reading rather than prayer) " it is as plain to me as anything that the first thing the child of God has to do morning by morning is to obtain food for the inner man. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time, except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as everyone must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.

Don't Forget to Vote!

2008-11-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to VOTE tomorrow!

No on Obama / Biden

YES on 4
YES on 8

Prop 8 Video

2008-11-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a video about a guy to got arrested because he wanted notification about when his son was going to be taught about homosexuality in school.

Chucktatorship

2008-11-03T09:40:00.001-08:00

I really don't even need to say anything in this post!

Johnny Cash ....

2008-10-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Juaquin Pheonix and Reese Witherspoon do such an amazing Job. I love this movie, and I love Johnny Cash!

On Making Decisions

2008-10-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, I just read a great statement by George Eldon Ladd in his book "The Gospel of the Kingdom" .

"Life is made up of decisions. The course of every man's life is determined by his decisions. One might say that the difference between the success of two men who are equally talented is determined by the way in which they make decisions. The adequacy of one's decisions, the intelligence with which they are made, and the ability, once a good decision has been made, to rest upon it and to move foward to the next important step will often decide the measure of success or failure. Some people go through life vacillating, wavering, unsure of themselves, never able to say a distinct Yes or No. These are people who never accomplish anything worth while for themselves or their fellow men, but who dissipate life and energy in inner conflict and indecision."

Indeed, we must choose. To waste your life with indecision is simply that, to waste your life. God grant me the mercy to choose wisely and with my whole heart that which will make much of the blazing glory of your cross and will drive those near me to it.

Top Ten Ways to Write Bad Worship Songs

2008-10-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is a post by I found on Between Two Worlds, but is originally from Worship Matters. I really like this post because I can think of sooooo many worship songs that I would swear do every single one of these things! So I found it more humerus than instructive seeing as I don't write worship songs. Maybe that should be the number ten top way to write a bad worship song "Let Ted do it". The original (and full) post is here, if you want to read the whole thing with the comments and what not that people have posted, plus I want to make sure they get credit for their post!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In my eleven years as director of worship development for Sovereign Grace Ministries, I’ve reviewed hundreds of worship songs and written a few of my own. Not all of them have been stellar. Actually, very few of them have been. I’ve noticed recurring tendencies that keep weak songs from becoming good or great songs. I’m intimately acquainted with those tendencies in my own songs and I’ve listed my top ten below. While these thoughts are meant for songwriters, most of them apply to leading worship as well.

So if you want to write bad worship songs, follow these simple tips:

1. Aim to write the next worldwide worship hit.

2. Spend all your time working on the music, not the words.

3. Spend all your time working on the words, not the music.

4. Don’t consider the range and capabilities of the average human voice.

5. Never let anyone alter the way God originally gave your song to you.

6. Make sure the majority of your songs talk about what we do and feel rather than who God is and what he’s done.

7. Try to use as many Scriptural phrases as you can, and don’t worry about how they fit together.

8. Cover as many themes as possible.

9. Use phrases and words that are included in 95% of all worship songs.

10. Forget about Jesus and what he accomplished at the cross.

Go Cart Race Photos

2008-10-21T09:36:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos I took at our Go-Cart Race this last saturday!

God loves to sharpen

2008-10-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

God, indeed has a sense of humor. I had to (got to) preach this past Sunday at my church. It is a huge honor and privilege to share form the word of God. I attempted to encourage our people by describing the depth of our sin, and in turn, the greatness of the Cross. I was excited about the content, but very very disappointed with how I shared it with the congregation. In Gods great humor, and I must assume love, he seems to have pleased himself with the Tulare church asking me to preach for them this Sunday because the pastor there whom I very much admire will be doing ministry in Mexico. Funny how God decided to use the sermon I was most disappointed with myself in, and will soon have me do it again. Ahhgghh! Part of the point of my sermon is how me must cling and hope in the cross to even begin to please God, and here not more then a day after I find myself having to cling desperately to it and begging my God to somehow use me in a way that would please him, and encourage the believes in Tulare. Ironic, isn't it. I suppose, God is teaching me to practice what I preach!!

A well done video by DG

2008-10-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

So many of us fall into this trap so easily, one thing at church, completely different at home.

A Great Poem

2008-10-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

I found this poem as I was looking for illustrations for youth group tonight in the Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett. Thought I would share.

-----

It’s easy to fight when everything’s right,
And you’re mad with thrill and the glory;
It’s easy to cheer when victory’s near,
And wallow in fields that are gory.
It’s a different song when everything’s wrong,
When you’re feeling infernally mortal;
When it’s ten against one, and hope there is none,
Buck up, little soldier, and chortle:

Carry on! Carry on!
There isn’t much punch in your blow.
You are glaring and staring and hitting out blind;
You are muddy and bloody, but never you mind.
Carry on! Carry on!
You haven’t the ghost of a show.
It’s looking like death, but while you’ve a breath,
Carry on, my son! Carry on!

And so in the strife of the battle of life
It’s easy to fight when you’re winning;
It’s easy to slave, and starve and be brave,
When the dawn of success is beginning.
But the man who can meet despair and defeat
With a cheer, there’s the man of God’s choosing;
The man who can fight to Heaven’s own height
Is the man who can fight when he’s losing.

Carry on! Carry on!
Thing never were looming so black.
But show that you haven’t a cowardly streak,
And though you’re unlucky you never are weak.
Carry on! Carry on!
Brace up for another attack.
It’s looking like hell, but – you never tell.
Carry on, old man! Carry on!

There are some who drift out in the desert of doubt
And some who in brutishness wallow;
There are others, I know, who in piety go
Because of a Heaven to follow.
But to labor with zest, and to give of your best,
For the sweetness and joy of the giving;
To help folks along with a hand and a song;
Why, there’s the real sunshine of living.

Carry on! Carry on!
Fight the good fight and true;
Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;
There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be the better for you;
And at last when you die, let this be your cry!
Carry on, my soul! Carry on!

The Lujans Blog!

2008-10-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

I just found out the missionaries that we support have a blog! It seems as though it has been a while since they have posted, but it's still pretty cool to be able to see their photos and stuff from the field. If you want to check them out I am following their blog so it should be under my list of blogs I am following.

Go Cart Promo Video

2008-10-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

I figured it out! For my millions of readers out there (Mrs. Garver) I simply had encoded my video file at to high a resolution! Anyhow... here is the promo video I made for the massive go-cart championship coming up in a couple of weeks!

If anybody wants to come hang out and race go carts, let me know!!

You Tube is Killing Me!

2008-10-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have built a promo video for this awesome go-cart race we are putting on, but I can't seem to get it to work on you tube. Love design stuff but video kills me! If any of my billions of readers happens to know how to do this let me know!!

McCain trounces Obama

2008-09-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

I just looked at an article this morning that says that Obama won the debate last night. I say hog wash. Obama did not look like he had a clue what he was talking about. The problem is, I don't really think people care. I don't think they care that Obama is a big spender, has no clue about foreign policy, and is the most liberal voting member of the Senate. He actually voted that people should be allowed to kill babies after they are born! I think we are in such a state in the US that many people don't see that as a big deal. May the Lord be merciful to our country. If you want to see a transcript of the debate it is here.

Photos of my son

2008-09-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

After doing design stuff yesterday I was inspired for some photography. Plus, my son is so cute. So here are a couple of pictures I took of him this morning!

Black and White Photography!

2008-09-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Wow, I love b/w photography. They guys who do this stuff are amazing. The God who created the original is even more amazing!!! I found this photo at smashing magazine while looking a design ideas for websites.

This Sundays Baptism

2008-09-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

Some Photos from the Baptism Sunday...

What a Beautiful Prayer Filled Morning

2008-09-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

This morning was see you at the pole, I could not have been more proud of my kids!! They were the only ones who actually showed up! I am proud that they are such an example, but still am sad they were the only ones there. What an encouragement in ministry to see the kids under your leadership (well, most of them) and influence serving the Lord in such a great way. Man I love my kids!!
Thank you Lord for privileging me to serve these youth!

2008-09-22T16:55:00.001-07:00

Cool! An elevator to the moon! I want one!......

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4799369.ece

Christian Rap....

2008-09-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

I am not a big rap guy, but I am starting to think that it's mostly because most of it is sick. This guy is not only talented but he seems really solid. Check it out....

What a waste of a first post!!!

2008-09-22T11:21:00.001-07:00

I just realized I totally wasted my first post. I should have spent it on something much more important like our Baptism yesterday. It was great! I was so proud to have one of my youth be baptized. God is so gracious to allow me to be a part of ministry where I can see him doing real work in peoples lives. Glory be to him for his grace in my life, and for doing a work in the lives of my youth. Perhaps I will put some pictures up here soon of the baptism.

First Post

2008-09-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

Well, as a Youth Pastor, I am learning and exploring all the facets of interpersonal relationships. So, here is my blog as I figure out how this stuff works!