The Right Way to Thank God
This CNN article got it all wrong. I believe most Christian athletes thank God in front of cameras because they are genuinely thankful for everything, win or lose. They know that everything good is from God, even a loss. How can a loss be a gift? God promises that all things will work for our good. (Romans 8:28) So yes, go ahead and thank God always - when in front of camera and when not in front of cameras - always.
Here is another good take (and video) on the topic. It is great to see Christians giving thanks in all situations.

A Truly Happy Memorial Day
Today I thank God for all the soldiers that have given their lives to protect the freedoms we all enjoy. My prayer today is that we might use our freedoms, not for selfish indulgence and for self-glorification, but with wisdom and strategic planning to love one another and to give others the true freedom that is found only in Christ. We can all be soldiers in the army of God- bringing the freeing love of God to our fellow man in this love-needy world. I pray for you, my reader, that you have this love from Jesus Christ in your heart today.

Think
God commands us to love Him with all our minds. John Piper explains...

Creation Minute
Some quick scientific reasons why the Earth has to be young.
Check out more of them here.

The Christian In Complete Armour

This treasure-mine of a book was recently given to me by a friend. William Gurnall is one of the lesser know Puritan writers, and yet his writing stands out among them.

Spurgeon once said, "Gurnall's work is peerless and priceless... and is, in our judgment, the best thought-breeder in all our library... I should think that more discourses have been suggested by it than by any other uninspired volume... John Newton said that if he might read only one book beside the Bible, he would choose, 'The Christian in Complete Armour'"

Here is just one of the many gems I have already found in just 36 rich pages:

"The Christian's comfort increases or wanes, as the aspect of his faith to the power of God... It is true, a soul may scramble to heaven with much ado, relying on God as able to save, without persuasion of its interest in God; but such a soul goes with a scant side-wind, or like a ship whose masts are laid by the board, exposed to wind and laid by the board, exposed to wind and weather, if others better appointed did not tow it along with them. Many fears like waves ever and anon so cover such a soul, that it is more under water than above; whereas one that sees itself folded in the arms of almighty power, O how much such a soul goes mounting afore the wind, with her sails filled with joy and peace! Let afflictions come, storms arise, this blessed soul knows where it shall land...
Surely one shall say, 'In the Lord have I righteousness and strength,' that is, I have righteousness in God's righteousness and strength in his strength, so that in this respect Christ can no more say that his strength is his own, and not the believer's, than the husband can say, 'My body is my own and not my wife's." A soul persuaded of this may sing merrily with the sharpest thorn at its breast... A soul thus provided may lie at ease on a hard bed." - (p. 32-33)

Passion Tokyo 2010

Louie Giglio writes:

Night is settling on Tokyo…and an amazing night it was!
Secular promoter took a chance on us.
He’s not a believer.
Yet.
But helped us anyway.
Came tonight.
Stayed till the end.
Hosts concerts of every size/kind.
Said he’d never seen anything like it.
“The young people’s eyes were shining!”
Yes to that.
He said it touched him deeply.
Told him it was not just music.
But the God of the songs!

It's Alive!
Answers in Genesis: Don’t let a headline like “It’s Alive” fool you. Despite some misleading news reports, life has not been made from scratch in a laboratory.
Read how Dr. Purdom responds here.

Are You Tolerating Or Investing In Your Kids?
I had the privilege of listening to and meeting Phil Downer at a conference this weekend. Here are two of his great quotes in regards to parenting:

"Discipline without a strong personal relationship leads to rebellion."

"If you are a Christian family that is operating with love and devotion to each other and the Lord as a discipleship ministry team, then you have the most effective outreach resource around... More than ever, people are impressed when they see a loving Mom and Dad and kids. Such a family sticks out and appeals to the longing God put in us all for loving relationships."

Question: Are you proactively discipling your kids through a close relationship, or are you just tolerating them?

Porn, Kids & Parenting
Z writes: "Parents, take heed on this one. I can't stress it enough."

Would you buy your son a stack of pornographic magazines? from Randy Alcorn on Vimeo.

Demolishing Strongholds

Here is part 2 of "The War of Worldviews". As I said before, I don't know of a better worldview strengthening course for your teenager (or yourself ) than this. These videos will help you be prepared to answer today's secular challenges to the Bible in a clear and thoroughly biblical manner.

Japanese in the English Language

For you non-Japanese-speaking people out there, I thought you might find this interesting:

English/Japanese word and its literal Japanese meaning:

Karaoke (カラオケ）Empty Orchestra (True enough!)

Tsunami （津波）Port Wave = A wave that comes up to the port.

Typhoon（台風）Supported Wind= A wind that continues strongly

Karate (空手）Empty Hand= Weaponless defense

Ninja (忍者）Forbearing Person = One who bears long waits to strike.

Judo (柔道) Insubstantial Way = The soft way (as opposed to Jujutsu = The soft techniques)

Ichiro (一郎）) One Harmonious= One who is harmoniously clear and bright.

Daisuke (aka Dice K) 大輔　Big Help (Very true to his name, I might add!)

What Are You Hiding?
Be released today into God's amazing grace. That is what happened to my soul as I listened to this message from my twin brother Doug. This man has been gifted of God to speak into your soul. I encourage you to let God do that today through this message.

If the video does not work, you can listen here.

Great Parenting Videos
Watch these great videos online for FREE.
I. Parenting the Strong-Willed Child [55 min.]
II. The Well-Behaved Child - Discipline that Works (Part 1) [58 min.]
III. The Well-Behaved Child - Discipline that Works (Part 2) [54 min.]
IV. Parenting the Strong-Willed Teenager (Part 1) [59 min.]
V. Parenting the Strong-Willed Teenager (Part 2) [60 min.]

(Note: Mr. Rosemond seems a little cheesy at first, but give him a least 10 minutes. You won't regret it.)

Teaching English To Your Child
I encourage to try out this site if you have young children learning English. My kids love it!

The Village Church has just released a new children’s CD. Download it for FREE here.

“Jesus Came to Save Sinners” contains five original songs that teach children about the character and nature of God and His plan to save sinners through Jesus Christ. These songs correspond with the five foundational truths – Jesus Came to Save Sinners, God is Good, God is in Charge of Everything, God Wants to Talk with Us, God Made Everything – taught each weekend in our preschool ministry, The Little Village. The mission and vision of The Little Village is “to partner with parents to build a firm spiritual foundation for their children.” Our hope is that these songs will be an effective tool in engaging your children with the truth of who God is as you endeavor to obey the biblical call to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

(HT: Jason Kovacs & Z)

Get Your Teens to Watch This
One of the best series about worldview formation that I have ever seen has recently been made available online for FREE. Originally a quite expensive DVD-based curriculum, Demolishing Strongholds will "prepare your students to stand firm on the authority of God’s Word, and each will equip and challenge them to activate their faith!"

"Demolishing Strongholds features four highly engaging speakers: Ken Ham, Bill Jack, Charles Ware, and Carl Kerby."

Kung Fu Noah & Other Recent Pics of my Favorite Sons