Reformation Day 2008

Happy Reformation Day!

October 31 to most people is considered to be the day for trick-or-treating that we normally call Halloween. But as you get older, sometimes those traditions begin to fade away. It is still fun to dress up and all, but when you are no longer a child, trick-or-treating sadly becomes a thing of the past.

But October 31 is not only Halloween. It is also Reformation Day. This is the day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the doors of the church. He was calling for a Reformation in thought. And if you are in any way associated with Protestantism, then your beliefs date back to Martin Luther. If not for his bold actions on this day, Protestantism would not be what it is today.

We had a special chapel today in honor of Reformation Day where Dr. Patterson spoke on some of the historical and theological elements that come with Luther. For instance, Luther viewed Scripture as something that outweighs human authority, a concept that had been lost to a certain degree. In general Luther rejected the human-centered view and focused more on a God-centered faith.

As Dr. Patterson stated, Luther renewed the focus on God's glory, giving a God-centered approach to theology. He also gave key insights into the depths of human sin, offering a realistic picture of the human condition after the Fall. There was also a recovery of the Gospel - Salvation is God's work - We receive it with empty hands of faith. Finally, there was a strong encouragement on worship through music and the reading of Scripture.

The Reformation changed many aspects of Christianity, and Luther offered some major changing ideas, more than are mentioned here. So in the midst of this Halloween celebration, remember that October 31 was also the day that Luther made a bold statement with his 95 Theses, what is now known as Reformation Day

Matt

The Tower Is Up

Back in the summer, they had to send that top part of our clock tower (Miller Tower) off to Louisville for repairs. They also had to send a few of the faces of the tower as well. Back at the beginning of this month, the tower finally came home, and we watched them put it back together. But due to some vandalism during the night, one of the faces had to be sent back to Louisville. However, Monday morning, that face had made it back home as well. Now, Miller Tower is back together and back on time. This is just one more step towards the completion of our rebuilding process.

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The 15th dorm is currently being bricked, and it will be completed before this fall semester ends. Students will be able to live in it at the start of the 2009 spring semester. Upon completion of that dorm, construction will begin on the final building of the New Residence Life Complex, the Commons. Once these two buildings are complete, will be back to 16 buildings (just like it used to be).

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Construction continues to move along at a surprisingly fast pace. And more buildings are in the works for the future, but none of us really know what is coming next. As for the semester, I am still very busy, but not quite as bad as I was last week. I do not have anything major due this week, but I do have a big paper and another test scheduled for the end of next week. I am currently working hard on that paper. But it is nice to have a small break in the semester, even if it is only for a day.

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Other than school work, not much is going on. Union is back to normal, and I feel like we have all adjusted back to campus life very easily. The semester is continuing along at a good pace, and we still have about a month and a half of classes left for the semester.

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Matt

#9 How To Walk in Psalm 86:11

All good things do come to an end, and that is what summer was like for me. You have heard about many different stories from my summer experience at Christian Wee Learn, but sadly even that had to come to an end in August. So here I am at the end of the verses that I, along with the kids, committed to memory this summer. This is Psalm 86:11:

Teach me your way; O Lord,
That I may walk in your truth;
Unite my heart to hear your name.

Again, this verse has a very simple but powerful message. And to borrow the VBS motto from the summer, "Know the Truth, Speak the Truth, Live the Truth." We should be seeking God each day, learning more about Him as we go through life. This is how we learn more of who He is. This is how we build that relationship with Him. But it cannot end there. We cannot become content and learning many great things about God and never applying them to our daily lives.

So just as we go around learning who He is and asking Him to teach us more about Him, we must also share that with others. We have to speak the truth. Others are wanting to know who this God is that we worship. And we have the answers when we truly come to know Him. We can share it with them, and God even commands us to do so in Matthew 28:19-20. So why is it that we do not share it with others?

I think that a lot of it comes from our lack of living it out. We have all of this head knowledge about God and the Christian life. But since we fail to apply it our life, we cannot adequately explain it to others. And they notice this right away. When we say one thing and do another, they notice the hypocrisy. Almost any lost person will tell you that they are not in the church because the church is full of hypocrites. Well, they have a valid observation.

Now I am not condemning the church, but I am asking you to consider if your life is a life of hypocrisy. Do you say one thing and do another? Do you truly know who God is and do you live that out each day? If so, then people will take notice and will come more likely to accepting your declarations about God as truth. But when you go around living like the world, they see no reason to believe you.

So my challenge is for you to examine your life. Consider how you live on a daily basis. Are you living according to Scripture? And if so, are you sharing Him with others?

Matt

Knowing God

As promised, here are my thoughts on J.I. Packer's Knowing God. I read this book this semester for my Christian Doctrine class and recently wrote a 5 page paper on it. That is one of the reasons that I have not been posting recently. But I am going to post part of my paper here:

The question that then arises from this summary of a very detailed book becomes, “Is all that Packer says about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit true or has he gone astray from biblical teaching?” This question should be asked of any book that is written about the person of God. If the teachings do not line up with Scripture, then the book should not be studied. However, if one can find Scriptural support, then the book can be used to help others better understand what the Bible teaches about God. So it is important to look at these three sections of Knowing God and determine if Packer’s ideas are trustworthy or heretical. To do so, one must immediately go to the Bible and see if Scripture backs up his claims.

As stated previously, Packer begins with five truths about God, but for sake of space those cannot be listed here.[1] But one can immediately find these truths by referring to John 1. John, in his gospel, lays out the Trinity, the Word becoming flesh, God speaking to man, and God reigning over the world. Immediately Packer appears to be supporting his claims with Scripture. The next question that arises, deals with man’s capability of having the ability to personally know God in form of a relationship. According to Psalm 139, God knows everything about us, and with the detail that the psalm gives, God appears to be seeking out an intimate relationship with His creation. Paul also states in Philippians 3:10 that we can know Him in His resurrection, suffering, and death. Through these powerful images, we can develop a close relationship with God. But there must also be proof of who we believe in, and if we are truly a follower of Christ, then our actions will back up our talk. Countless times, the Bible mentions that we are to obey the Lord. Obedience shows commitment, and if one lacks obedience, he may not truly be in a right relationship with God. But more than actions, the believer must also worship and love the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:5 commands God’s followers to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength (every aspect of life).

But beyond the idea of loving and building a relationship with God, the believer must also stay away from idols. Packer mentions God’s jealousy and explains that He has a right to be jealous in that He is the only one worthy of our worship. He commands believers in Exodus 20:3 to have no other gods before Him. We cannot serve God and some other aspect of life. Jesus illustrates this in Luke 16:13. It is impossible to love God when we have set up some other “god” in our life. Finally, Packer closes the first section of the book with God as a triune God. Although this word, “trinity” is never used in Scripture, passages such as Matthew 3:13-17 illustrate God as three. It is clear that Packer begins his book with a firm foundation in the teachings of Scripture.

The second portion of Knowing God transitions into a study on the attributes of God. Again it is important to see where the Bible mentions these various characteristics about God. There are too many mentioned in his book to list, but there a few key attributes that need to be discussed. First off, Packer describes God as unchangeable. A very common Scripture that helps to illustrate this point is Hebrews 13:8. The author of Hebrews declares God as the same from eternity past to eternity future. God has not changed since the beginning of “time” and will not change as time progresses. He remains consistent through all the stages of the world. Another key aspect of God’s character is His interaction with human beings. Packer discusses many aspects of God’s interaction: His wisdom, love, grace, Word, and even His judgment and wrath. Through these aspects, God is painted as a relational God. And the Bible once again supports these views. All throughout Scripture one can see God as a loving and compassionate God who judges those who reject Him. He interacts in the lives of His children, and this can be seen through the lives of Abraham, Moses, David, and even Paul. In the same way God wants to have that relationship with his children today. Since He has not changed, He continues to build relationships with His people.

Packer clearly backs up his ideas with Scripture. Knowing God is filled with hundreds of Scripture references that help support the views that Packer presents to his readers. But according to Packer, “all roads in the Bible lead to Romans, and all views afforded by the Bible are seen most clearly in Romans.”[2] This passage becomes one of the central passages for Packer, and this is where he summarizes the third section of the book and the book as a whole. The third section discusses the Gospel and the believer’s relation to the Gospel. Using Romans, Packer walks the reader through the plan of salvation, showing the reader who God is, what God has done, and what the Gospel is all about.

[1] Refer to the book, page 20.
[2]Ibid, 253.

In my paper, I first gave a summary of the book. What you have just read is the application portion/my critique of the book. I feel that this was a great book that can help someone know God a little bit better. It should not replace the Bible, and neither should any book. But Packer presents many great thought provoking ideas, and I encourage you to read this.

Matt

A Quick Heads-Up

I am still alive! I have just been busy lately. Things are continuing to go well with school, but the work load is beginning to pile up a little bit. I have made through round 1 of the tests. But now papers are creeping up on me, so I am busy researching and organizing my material. That is the main reason why I have not been on here the last few days. But do not worry, there is still more to come. I have some ideas for some upcoming posts, and you will be seeing those in the coming weeks.

So here is a quick heads-up on what you will be seeing.

• The conclusion of my summer memory verses - over the past few months I have given you 8 of the 9 verses that my kids learned this summer. I have been explaining them further on here, and the final one will be coming soon. After that, I do not know where I will be heading with the "Biblical Reflections" section of the blog. But I would be happy to reflect on some Scripture that you particularly enjoy. So if you have ideas, do not be afraid to share them with me. But you can expect possibly a new series after this one is finished up.
• Also, I have read Knowing God by J. I. Packer for my Doctrine class this semester. I am in the process of writing a paper/book review for this book. Once this paper is out of the way, I will post a summary of that paper on here. I encourage you to read this book if you have not already done so.
• The election is coming, and I will try and post my thoughts on it in the days leading up to it and after the big decision is made on the 4th. I am not big into politics, but I do not mind voicing my opinion when it is all said and done. Right now I think our focus should be on praying for both candidates and committing to pray for whichever one makes into the White House.

There may be more than this as well. I love to just write about whatever comes to my mind. So expect some of that as well. It might be a few days before I make it back to the blog, but just know that school is keeping me tied up right now. But here is what is coming once I have time to breathe again.

Matt

Can't Get Away

Can't Get Away

Here is a fairly new band with many powerful messages. I discovered Rush of Fools last Fall after hearing their first single "Undo." But after listening to the CD, the song that stuck with the most was this one.

So here are the lyrics:

I am an arrow, I am a rocket
I am a river and nothing can stop it
Cause You are the target and You are the atmosphere
You are the ocean that keeps pulling me, You're pulling me here

And I, can't get away, can't get away
Can't get away, can't get away
I can't get away, can't get away...I keep running into You
And I, can't get away, can't get away
Can't get away, can't get away
I can't get away, can't get away...I keep running into You

I am a beggar, You are the table
I am so helpless, God You are so able
And when I get turned around You change my direction
You're so perfect, I'm so broken, here You come with arms wide open
Chasing after me down every road
You're always waiting there

Even when I close my eyes, I can't help but see
There's no place that I can hide,
You're such a part of me
I can't get away cause I keep running into You
I can't get away...

As Christians, we cannot help but be with God. The Bible says that He never leaves us. He is always with us through both the hard times and the good times. So when the song says that we are an arrow and He is the target or that we are the river and He is the ocean, it is saying that we are always set on target into His path. He is with us, and we cannot help but get away.

There are several things to think about this. First off, when we are caught up in sin, God is there with us. He sees all that we do, and if we consider the fact that He is always with us our actions might actually change. Also, as the song says "there's no place that I can hide." Just like Jonah, we cannot run from God. He will always find us out.

Secondly, we can remember that God is with us when we go down some wrong paths. He may not approve of our choices, but He will still be with us. At those times, He is just waiting for us to return to Him. He will be with us through it all, and we can always depend on Him staying by our side.

So as you go throughout your day, remember that God is with you through it all. Do not forget about His presence. If you are currently traveling down the wrong path in life, turn to God. He is right there waiting for you. Just turn to Him and depend on His strength. And if you are caught up in sin, remember that you can turn to Him that as well. But also remember that He is watching you in every move you make. Use that as motivation to live a holy lifestyle before the Lord. He demands holiness, and that is what we should give Him.

You cannot get away from God. You may run or wander off down the wrong path, but you can never get away when you are His child.

Matt

NASCAR Almost Over

How about a quick sports update today?

My teams are not doing so well as the fall continues to move along. Greenbay has been struggling this season, but it was expected of them. We have lost a few games already, but the good thing is that the loses have not been blow outs. The last game we only lost by 3, scoring 24 points. This temporary slump is more than likely due to the new quarterback and a change in the team dynamics. But I have to say that I am extremely impressed with the new man. In that most recent loss, he had over 300 passing yards. So that gives me hope for the future. Sure we might have started off slow, but we have also had some impressive wins (take the first 2 games of the season for example). I have confidence that the remainder of the season could turn out well for the Packers, and I would not be surprised if we sneak into the playoffs.

Now as for Tennessee, well I do not hold too much hope for the remainder of their season. This week offers us with a possibility to gain a win, maybe even our first SEC win of the season. If we happen to beat Mississippi State, we will move to 3-4, and 1-3 in the conference. But if we cannot pull out the win, we will be staring at the first 2-5 for Tennessee in many years. I am hoping that we can pull the win off on Saturday, but we will just have to wait and see. So it is not looking to well for the Vols.

And sadly, NASCAR is coming down to its final weeks of the 2008 season as well. There are only 5 more races to go, and it is not looking to good for Jeff Gordon. Mathematically, he can still win the championship, which is good news. But the bad news is that for that to happen, he needs to pull off top 5's and wins while those ahead of him in the points finish in the back. With really good drivers ahead of him in the points, this does not appear to be the likely scenario. But anything can happen when they all get out on the track. This week is Martinsville, a short track. Wrecks are inevitable when you go to a track like this. So I can only hope that some of those top drivers will find some bad luck this week as Gordon sneaks to the front and wins the race. That could shed some light on the points situation. But again, this is NASCAR, and anything can happen.

So the sports are not turning out too good for 2008, but there is always hope.

Matt

The Election is Coming

November 4 does not seem to be that far away finally. I do not know about you, but I am tired of all the election coverage. It is always interesting when it first starts, but it seemed as if it started too early this go around. The primaries almost burnt me out back in the spring. But that was just the start of this very important decision we all have to now make. The primaries gave us 2 candidates to choose from, and now we must decide who is the better choice for the country.

Everyone has their own opinion, and they probably have good reasons for choosing the candidate that they support. I am not going to tell you who I am voting for, although if you know me, you know who I am choosing. But I too have my reasons for choosing the candidate that I fell would best lead our country. So with just a little less than 20 days left before the election, consider a few things.

• Decide who you feel is best qualified and would be the best leader.
• Do not vote on party lines just because that is the way you have always done it. Vote on which person is the best for the job.
• Think of the problems we are currently facing, and determine who might be able to help us through those trying times.
• Think about the future, 2-3 years from now, when this current crisis is old news, and base your opinion on that as well.

What I am saying is do not vote off of tradition or out of fear. You need to think about the future of our country and not just the present troubles. This is never an easy decision, and it should not be made lightly. So think hard about who you feel is best qualified. But the most important advice I would give you is to vote. It is our duty to vote, and we need to go to the polls and make our choice known.

Matt

GO Fort Hays State

A few weeks ago I mentioned that it was GO Week here at Union. Again, that is basically a week where we as a student body learn about various ministries that we can get involved in locally, domestically, and internationally. They provide us with options for the school year, during our breaks, and during the summer. But we also have a speaker who comes to share with us specifically about carrying the Word to the nations.

Well GO Week has since come and gone, and we have also now had Faith in Practice Week where we were once again challenged to evaluate our walk with Christ. In the same way, we were asked to consider our heart for the lost. David Platt encouraged us to have a concern for the lost in every nation. We cannot become comfortable in our walk with Christ and in our churches. If we are not trying to further His kingdom, then our programs are not doing their job.

This all culminated into tonight's GO Trip Kickoff meeting. Those of us who are participating in a GO Trip in 2009 met tonight to find out where we are headed. It is always a big mystery once you apply. Then, when we all meet for the Kickoff, we perform some crazy activity to figure out which trip we are on. So just a few hours ago, I discovered that I am headed to Fort Hays State in Kansas.

Now we do not know exactly what we will be doing once we arrive next March, but we do know that we are going to work with their BCM. The details are being worked out right now, and we should know something definite in the weeks to come. But for now, we know that we are headed to this university to work with college students in some shape or form. We will also be providing encouragement for the work of the BCM at this university.

I am excited for what this GO Trip has to offer. The last trip I was on was GO Paris about a year and a half ago. We were able to minister to college students there as well. But the problem was that there was a language barrier. I still had great opportunities to share the Gospel, and I know that God worked in that trip. But that should not be a problem at all this go around. So I am excited to see what God will be able to do in Kansas this next spring.

I am going to go ahead and ask that you pray for our team as we begin the preparations for this trip. We will be meeting a few times this semester to make some preliminary plans. But our real team meetings will not start until February when we return for the spring semester. So please remember us and specifically pray for the leadership and staff of that BCM. And pray that we can get the details worked out on what we will be doing once arrive.

I will keep you updated on here with what is going on for this trip. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for our team.

Matt

Pride and Prejudice

This is one of those books that everyone should read. Many of you probably read this at some point in your life, maybe in High School English class. That is where I first encountered Pride and Prejudice. I remember thinking that it was a really long book about a bunch of people getting married. But as I read through it that first time, I found that it was also funny at times.

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I have just finished reading through this for the second time, and I have seen things this time around that I do not remember from High School. True this is a very long book divided up into 3 different volumes. But there is much more to this book than the Bennett's trying to marry off their daughters. You encounter many different "types" of people. If you think about it, you can probably connect these characters to people in your own life. For instance, do you any rich people who you think to be prideful? If so, you may just have a Mr. Darcy in your life. Character development is key to this novel. There is lots of growth for many of the characters. Elizabeth and Darcy are just two examples of characters who change throughout the novel.

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But that is not everything that is involved in this story. And I really do not have time to explain it all. Plus, if I did that and you have never read this, I would be giving the plot away. So let me just say that there is plenty of action, funny scenes, balls (as in dances), romantic scenes, and much more in this book. This really could reach out to all different types of readers. If you are looking for any of things that I have mentioned above in a novel, then this one might just be what you are looking for.

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So travel to the world of Jane Austen, encounter 19th Century society, and get lost in the novel. This is one book that I would gladly recommend for everyone to read. It is so much more than some "boring ol' love story."

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Matt

#8 Strength from Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

I have a feeling that you have heard this voice at least once in your life. This has to be one of the most popular verses out of the Bible. And it is also one of the verses that the kids had the privilege to learn this summer. Many times we hear this verse presented as a challenge for us to accomplish whatever it is our hear desires. We are told that God can do anything through us. I do not want to discredit that claim, because God is all powerful and can do anything and everything. But I think that many times this verse becomes self-centered.

Instead of realizing that it is God's work through our life, I feel like we begin to think "I can do anything." God works through us, it is not us working on our own accord. So when we read this verse, we must remember not to focus so much on our self. Instead, we must focus on God.

So why do we misinterpret this verse so frequently? I think that much of falls on the fact that we only read the first part of the verse. We quote the second half, but many times we do not realize what it is saying. That second half gives the glory all to God. He is the one giving us the strength, not ourselves. He is the one that is working through us, not us working through our own life.

Take this verse as encouragement. God does choose to work through us, and He can do all things through us. But we must remember that it is God working. That is the key that we skim over all too frequently. But remember that when you are following God and living in Him, He will be able to do amazing things through your life. He looks for the faithful, and it is those people that God chooses to use. So try to see this verse as a whole. Look to God. Do not focus on yourself. Give Him the glory.

Matt

Tired and Busy

The common consensus around campus this week is "We need a break!" We are now only 1 week away from our Fall Break, and it cannot come soon enough. Papers, tests, and projects are beginning to pile up now, and things are getting really busy. This brings on loads of stress and long hours, leaving us all very tired.

It seems as if every class has some major assignment due within the next 7 days, whether that be a test or a quiz (for me). I am studying non-stop, and have been going at it for hours today. But I am not the only one. Many of my friends seem to be stuck in the same boat this week as we prepare for these last few assignments before a much needed rest.

I am trying to think back to previous years, and I cannot remember being this busy at this point in the semester. We are only in our 5th week of classes, but it seems like everything is suddenly due. I guess that is due to our starting late, but that is the only reason I can think of. Also, I think that not having our labor day weekend break has made Fall Break seem that much better. We are looking forward to our first break of the semester.

And in the midst of all this busy schoolwork, this week is also "Faith in Practice Week" here at Union. This could be considered as a type of revival for the campus. This is a much anticipated week for many of the students, and this year we have David Platt once again. He began today by speaking on Exodus 33 challenging us with the question "Am I desperate for the Spirit of God?" We still have 2 more chapels this week, where Platt will continue to set forth more challenges for our life.

So there are many things going on this week, but thankfully the break is now in sight. Once Wednesday comes, things will not seem quite as hectic. I look forward to that.

Matt

Fireproof

Saturday night, I went with a group of friends to see the new movie, Fireproof. This movie was made by the same church from Georgia that made Facing the Giants. And I must say that I was impressed. This movie had a strong message, and they fleshed out the story line very well.

Without giving away much of the plot, I will try to give you a quick summary of the movie. Caleb and Catherine are struggling through their marriage, that is seen from the very first few scenes of the movie. They both have their group of friends (Catherine's at the hospital and Caleb's at the fire station) who give them constant advice. And that is where they spend most of their days. At home, they begin to separate from each other hardly ever interacting. As their marriage begins to fail, Caleb's dad secretly gives him a book called "The Love Dare." This is a 40 day journey meant for Caleb to help get his marriage back up on the right tracks. So most of the movie focuses on his 40 day journey. The question is: will their marriage survive or has it already gone too far?

So do I recommend this movie for you to see? Yes.

Go out and support this Christian film. It may be some amateur acting and some places (although many of the actors were quite good), but we need to support these great films. There is also some cheesy scenes and quotes scattered throughout the movie, but you'll enjoy laughing at it. It's clean, fun humor, and all in all this movie is great. It runs for 2 hours, but you will be surprised at how fast those 2 hours go by. Go see the movie before it leaves theatres. I do not think you will be disappointed.

Matt

I'm Waiting

I'm Waiting

John Waller is featured in the new Christian film Fireproof. I went to see this movie last night, and I must say that I was impressed with the film. But that is for another time. I might do a movie review later this week. However, John Waller's song I'm Waiting plays during this movie, and works well in this movie. So I thought we could take a look at this song and see what it is talking about. Here are the lyrics:

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

We all have those times in life when it seems like nothing is going on. We are waiting for the next big part of our life to arrive, and we do not know what to do in those "in-between" stages. I think that a lot of times I take those parts of life and neglect to fulfill the plans that God has for me. It is easy to get caught up in the big stuff, that we miss out on the blessings God could give us when we are waiting.

You may be in one of those waiting times right now. It could be just some down time before the next hectic part of your life. But it may even be a crazy time in itself while you wait for a situation to be resolved. Either way, worship and serve God while you are waiting. Look to Him for guidance and direction. Let Him lead you, and continue to do His work while you wait. Do not let those moments in life be the times where you do the least for the Lord. You may find that you have a great influence on someone just because you followed and trusted God.

Matt

The Magician's Nephew

The story begins on a small street in London. Digory and Polly randomly meet one afternoon, and the adventures begin immediately. Through an unexpected meeting in the attic of a house, the two kids get transported to a world of pools. It is in this "imbetween world" that they find Narnia, but Narnia is not their first stop. They make a wrong turn, unknowingly, and end up recreating the story of Adam and Eve. As a result Queen Jadis is unleashed, and Narnia is changed forever.

This is really the first book in C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. One must understand that Lewis did not right these 7 books in chronological order, but he later reordered them to be read that way. This book was actually the 6th one in the series, making it an exciting book of revelations. If you have only read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and maybe even Prince Caspian, then this book will fill you in on some information you missed out on:

• Who was the first king and queen of Narnia?
• How was Narnia created?
• Where did the White Witch come from?
• Why is there a random lamppost in Narnia?
• Who is Professor Kirke?
• What is so special about the wardrobe?

Many questions that you might have asked by reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe are answered in this real first book of the series. And do not worry, this book is just as good of a read as any of the others in the series. It has its Biblical parallels, and there is a well crafted story line as well. Lewis retells the Creation story and the story of Adam and Eve with Digory, Polly, and Aslan. So if you have never read the beginning of this series, pick this one up and see where Narnia began.

Matt

Gordon's New Paint Scheme

Well I was shocked just a few minutes ago when I randomly found out that Jeff Gordon has once again changed his paint scheme for the #24 DuPont Chevrolet. When I first started watching Nascar, about 12 or 13 years ago, Gordon ran the popular "Rainbow" Car. He won the majority of his races under that paint scheme, and he even earned 3 championships out of it. Then in 2001, the first major change came. He switched over to the current "Fire and Flames" Car. With that he has added to his win total, now at 81, and he won a 4th championship.

Now 8 years later, he is switching yet again, and I fear that this might be the final one. This is known as the "Firestorm." This car could possibly be the last one he drives in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series. Gordon is probably in his last few years of racing, and if he keeps this paint scheme for as long as he kept the previous ones, this just might take him to retirement. Hopefully, he will be able to pull out a few more wins and maybe even a 5th championship with this new car.

Matt