Here is an idea I have been working on for awhile, and I am not sure I am finished with it yet. I was thinking that holiness is somewhat like a three-legged stool. The three legs would be doctrine, experience, and lifestyle. I believe that holiness must first start as a doctrine. One cannot experience God without first having the right concept of God. For instance if we believe God is a hard taskmaster, then we will experience Him as a taskmaster, even if He really is trying to show us otherwise. It is vital in any Christian experience to have a right conception of God. The same is true about holiness. When people believe in holiness as God has taught it in the Bible, then they can experience God correctly. Our experience of an encounter with the holiness of God, then changes everything about us, or our lifestyle. It is foolish to think that an encounter with the holiness of God does not change us in the way we live at all. We might me able to meet the President of the United States, and it not really effect the way we live, but not so with God. C.S. Lewis said something like we go to God like we go to the dentist. We just want a tooth pulled to alleviate the pain, when God want us to do surgery. Often we want God to fix some hurt, when He is asking to do major open heart surgery. Specifically Lewis said, "If you give Him an inch, He will take an ell." These three element must always come in this order, or holiness is not effective. I did not mean a person must have a theological degree to experience holiness, but they do have to understand what God wants and who God is. And certainly a lifestyle of holiness with out the holiness of God indwelling is mockery and only our own righteousness. Not only do these three elements have to be in order, but they have to all be there, or we will be as useless as a three-legged stool. 

Hi everyone! I see it has been some time since I updated the blog, so I thought I would take the advantage of the day off to catch up. A couple of weeks ago now I bought a pair of Boston Terrier pups to sell. One is a female, and one is a male. This has been a new endeavor for me in learning how to raise dogs. There are doing really well, but do take quite a bit of attention to take care of. So far the responses of interested buyers has been a little slow, so if you are interested in buying, or know someone who is, please email me.

I had a most interesting trip Monday. I have a family named the Streets that I am friends with down here. Bro Street is a teacher at KMBC. The Street's have a daughter, Alisha, that gradated from GBS this past spring. The missions director at GBS, Daniel Glick, wife had been in Florida for neck surgery. Because of the process there was some doubt as to when she would be able to return to Cincinnati, possibly not until Christmas. Anyway when Sis Street was there for the missions convention, she offered to take the three youngest kids back here to relive Bro. Glick some. They have stayed here with the Streets the past two weeks. Sunday, Bro. Glick came down to possible pick up the children and take them back with him. I enjoyed meeting him Sunday night, and taking missions with him. I found out that he know several people I did. Well, Monday he came over and sat at my table at noon. After lunch he invited me to go with him, Alisha, and Elizabeth (his secretary) to Red River Gorge. I was able to arrange my schedule last minute to go with them. It was absolutely gorgeous. Red River Gorge is in the Daniel Boone National Forest about 40 minutes from here. There is steep cliffs that drop straight down into the gorge, beautiful scenery, natural stone arches, and wonderful hiking trails. To top it off the weather was in the 70's which is unusual for November. The fall colors were indescribable. Of course like a dummy I forgot to take my camera. I did find some pictures on the internet that I have below, but they really don't do justice. So if you want a beautiful relaxing vacation, come visit me and I'll take you to Red River Gorge, providing you'll buy lunch of course!