It's a Girl!

Well, our first ultrasound occurred this last Monday, October 6th.  We were excited to find out the gender of baby number 4.  And...it's a girl!  Our girls, Kate and Allison, are so happy that they will be having another sister.  I will continue to console Micah through, but seriously, we are very happy and excited to welcome another girl into our family.  Now to start thinking of names...If anyone has any good ideas, please post them here.

Here she is!

Quote of the Week - Gospel-Motivated Love

When my mind is fixed on the gospel, I have ample stimulation to show God’s love to other people. For I am always willing to show love to others when I am freshly mindful of the love that God has shown me. Also, the gospel gives me the wherewithal to give forgiving grace to those who have wronged me, for it reminds me daily of the forgiving grace that God is showing me.

Doing good and showing love to those who have wronged me is always the opposite of what my sinful flesh wants me to do. Nonetheless, when I remind myself of my sins against God and of His forgiveness and generous grace toward me, I give the gospel an opportunity to reshape my perspective and to put me in a frame of mind wherein I actually desire to give this same grace to those who have wronged me.

Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love, 24-25

Quote of the Week - Family Driven Faith

This is the linchpin in every argument I have made or will make in this book. God has designed your family—not the youth group, not the children's ministry, not the Christian school, but your family—as the principal discipling agent in your children's lives. The most important job you have as a parent is to train and disciple your children.

Voddie Baucham Jr., Family Driven Faith: Doing What it Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God, p. 118

Quote of the Week - God's Wonderful Mess

The church is not a theological classroom. It is a conversion, confession, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness, and sanctification center, where flawed people place their trust in Christ, gather to know and love him better, and learn to love others as he has designed. The church is messy and inefficient, but it is God's wonderful mess -- the place where he radically transforms hearts and lives.

Paul Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change, p. 116

Gilroy Garlic Festival

A lot of garlic infused food tasting, a lot of walking, and more than enough sun later, we are finally back in our hotel room after a great day at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Lots of garlic. Then there was some more garlic. And finally, you guessed it, more garlic. We had a pretty good time. Take a look at some pictures we took today:

Garlic Cooking at its finest.

Garlic Roasted Turkey Legs.

Garlic Corn.

Garlic Bathrooms! :-)

And, of course, garlic ice cream!

Allie got her face painted.

And so did Kate.

We took our picture in front of this huge, flaming garlic.

We also got to take our picture with "Mr. Garlic!"

Tomorrow we are on our way to Gilroy Gardens (formerly called Bonfante Gardens). According to their website, Gilroy Gardens "is California's only horticultural theme park designed for families with young children and garden lovers featuring 21 rides, 27 attractions, 6 majestic gardens and the world famous Circus Trees." I don't know how good the circus performing trees will be, but I'll let you know tomorrow.

Gilroy Garlic Gorge

Well, maybe not a gorge, but our family is traveling to Gilroy, CA tomorrow to partake in the Gilroy Garlic Festival. We have often wanted to take a trip up to Gilroy during the festival season, but never have had the chance (or planning) to do so until this year. So, early tomorrow morning all five of us will be driving up to Gilroy to get in on the garlic action! I will be trying to update this blog as we are there to let all of you in on the details of our trip.

Who knows, maybe we'll even get to meet this guy:

Bible Reading

An excerpt from a J.C. Ryle tract called Bible Reading:

You live in a world where your soul is in constant danger. Enemies are round you on every side. Your own heart is deceitful. Bad examples are numerous. Satan is always laboring to lead you astray. Above all false doctrine and false teachers of every kind abound. This is your great danger.

To be safe you must be well armed. You must provide yourself with the weapons which God has given you for your help. You must store your mind with Holy Scripture. This is to be well armed.

Arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of the written word of God. Read your Bible regularly. Become familiar with your Bible. . . . Neglect your Bible and nothing that I know of can prevent you from error if a plausible advocate of false teaching shall happen to meet you. Make it a rule to believe nothing except it can be proved from Scripture. The Bible alone is infallible. . . . Do you really use your Bible as much as you ought?

There are many today, who believe the Bible, yet read it very little. Does your conscience tell you that you are one of these persons?

If so, you are the man that is likely to get little help from the Bible in time of need. Trial is a sifting experience. . . . Your store of Bible consolations may one day run very low.

If so, you are the man that is unlikely to become established in the truth. I shall not be surprised to hear that you are troubled with doubts and questions about assurance, grace, faith, perseverance, etc. The devil is an old and cunning enemy. He can quote Scripture readily enough when he pleases. Now you are not sufficiently ready with your weapons to fight a good fight with him. . . . Your sword is held loosely in your hand.

If so, you are the man that is likely to make mistakes in life. I shall not wonder if I am told that you have problems in your marriage, problems with your children, problems about the conduct of your family and about the company you keep. The world you steer through is full of rocks, shoals and sandbanks. You are not sufficiently familiar either with lighthouses or charts.

If so, you are the man who is likely to be carried away by some false teacher for a time. It will not surprise me if I hear that one of these clever eloquent men who can make a convincing presentation is leading you into error. You are in need of ballast (truth); no wonder if you are tossed to and fro like a cork on the waves.

All these are uncomfortable situations. I want you to escape them all. Take the advice I offer you today. Do not merely read your Bible a little—but read it a great deal. . . . Remember your many enemies. Be armed!