A newfound aversion to police officers

at 04/12/10 2:26PM

I've been pulled over with remarkable frequency lately. Each time for doing something wrong I didn't know I was doing wrong.

It made me think about these sins we commit in ignorance against God.

We somehow feel less guilty about them, and are almost shocked to be held accountable for them.

Yet, as I have learned through unwittingly breaking civil laws, they are just as much infringements of the law.

They cause just as much pain and grief (such is the nature of sin).

We are equally deserving of punishment for them.

We equally long to be freed from the guilt and consequences.

We are equally incapable of freeing ourselves from the guilt and consequences.

Just as the Israelites had to offer sacrifices even for sins committed in ignorance, and David prayed to be acquitted of hidden faults, our daily prayers should include first that God forgive us even of sins we didn't do intentionally, and second that He would bring to our attention where we are lacking. Continued ignorance is not what frees us from the guilt of these transgressions, but the knowledge of Christ.

Wow, those are really good thoughts. I had never thought about it that way before. When the wrong was brought to my attention I always thought something along the lines of "Oh, well I didn't know about that. I won't do it again now that I know it's wrong but since I didn't know before, it's not my fault." Thanks for opening my eyes. =)

by gemma at 04/12/10 3:43PM
Thanks!! I'm trying to learn Spanish again. Maybe this time I'll stick to it. We met the Spanish congregation and it was frustrating not being able to communicate with people. Camp should be good practice for me. My last year, *tear*.

by jifennerh at 04/21/10 4:18PM
I never really did get why we're held accountable for sins we don't know but I guess it's just cause we don't study like we should, right?

by miqueias at 04/21/10 9:18PM

1st anniversary!

at 03/08/10 4:00PM

And we love each other now more than we did when we got married!

Now for the joke.

Each year we are trying to pick a place symbolic for where our marriage is at.

The honeymoon we went to the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.

1st year anniversary was Cape May County Zoo.

What do you think next year should be?

state penitentiary huh? for your honeymoon? interesting choice brigs!

by chooselove at 03/09/10 12:29AM
Congrats!!!! I thought of it like a month ago and I was so excited for you all...but didn't get to say anything :( i hope that you had a good one, God bless you both :D

by daphneel at 03/09/10 10:13AM
I hope you got good rates at both!

by laurar209 at 03/13/10 8:48PM
A circus. One with lots of clowns. You know, bcause sometimes you feel like a clown.

Don't you?

I do :)

by herofortheday at 03/16/10 4:54PM

Anybody trying to furnish an apartment?

at 01/07/10 3:42PM

Or replace their furniture?

We have nice furniture (sofa, loveseat, recliner, table, queen bed, dressers, entertainment stand, pictures, etc. -- if there's something else you want, ask) for sale. Because it is real nice, won't be real cheap, but cheaper than in the store, and we are happy to bargain.

Wow! Why are you getting rid of all your furniture? Being in the south gets me so out of the loop!

by jifennerh at 01/07/10 5:06PM
Try putting them on craigslist!

by ethantweedie14 at 01/07/10 5:15PM
yeah, where ya goin?

by chooselove at 01/09/10 5:18PM

3 baptisms yesterday in PWay

at 12/14/09 2:46PM

1) Miguel Ramirez, visitor veteran of several years, husband of longtime Christian Marleny Ramirez. Not too long ago I was hearing that he was still attending Catholic mass regularly. So it's good to see the conversion.

2) Julian Ramirez, their son. Another long time holdout, especially when his younger brother made the good confession over a year ago. Maybe the flesh was what was holding him back. If so, it will be a tougher struggle for him than Catholicism for his dad.

3) Olivia something, Julian's gf. This is cool, because she's from an evangelical family and struggled to see that sins are forgiven at baptism into Christ's death -- and thus come to the conclusion that she was not saved. Her parents were present for the baptism, and heard the Biblical steps to salvation clearly presented. May God soften their hearts too.

Danny, Julian's brother, the previous requested the church's prayers for God to forgive him and strengthen him against temptation.

I would take great joy in seeing this family (all of them are dunked now) grow in the Lord. I may get too ambitious too fast, but I would one day love to see a group of Christians meeting regularly in Ewing (Trenton area) -- in Spanish, English, or both. There are just too many areas still in New Jersey where there are no lights.

This is great to hear Brigham! Though things may be going slowly here it is great to know that people are seeing the truth and acting on it in other places. I'll be praying for this family and hoping that they will continue to let the truth guide them. That's for posting about it. =)

by gemma at 12/14/09 2:59PM
"...all of them are dunked now..." That's great to hear!!

by ethantweedie14 at 12/14/09 4:54PM
Praise God for these new brothers and sister!

Thought question: Do you think we tend to have the mindset that the goal of spreading the gospel is baptism?
Sometimes it seems that way to me, because it seems we often spend so much time trying to convince a person to be baptized, but once they make that step we're unsure of where to go with that person and what to study with them next.
I heard one teacher I respect a great deal make a few remarks along this line recently and he made the statement that it is important not to see baptism as the goal, but rather as the beginning.

Your thoughts would be quite welcome on this.

by august28rose at 12/14/09 8:11PM
I meant "thanks" instead of 'that's" in my previous comment. I'm sure I'm dyslexic or something. =P

by gemma at 12/15/09 2:31PM
wonderful, wonderful.

by benb at 12/19/09 9:09PM
So thrilled to hear this!

Ditto on your last paragraph. And here's a thought: three new souls have been won to Christ -- if they continue as they should, as should we, it increases the opportunities of touching others.

by laurar209 at 12/20/09 8:23AM
great news, Brigham.

by kon_tiki at 12/21/09 6:37PM
praise God! The harvest is certainly plentiful and the laborers are few, but it is encouraging to hear about the reaping going on. The Lord has certainly answered prayers to send more laborers into His harvest.

by grady at 12/22/09 11:51AM