Blaha Life

Conversation in the Blaha household:

Hannah - Do you want coffee this morning?
Me - Yeah. (As I walk to the bedroom and Hannah walks to the kitchen) Do we have any more biscotti sticks?
Hannah - I don’t know what you said and I’m not going over there to find out
Me - (walking toward the kitchen) Do we have any more biscotti sticks?
Hannah - We do?
Me - Yeah!
Hannah - Oh we do?!? I didn’t know that!
Me - We do?
Hannah - No, we don’t!
Me - No, I was asking
Hannah - Oh, you were? I thought you were telling me.
Me - (chuckle to myself)

Josh

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Life around this house had been pretty chaotic. The Lord allowed us to have my whole family over to our place the week before Thanksgiving since my family was going to be split up for Thanksgiving. Ricky led our family in a time of communion and the Lord’s supper as we thought about how Christ is our bread and our staple of life. For Thanksgiving Ricky, Karlyn, and Andrea headed north to see some snow and spend the holiday with friends. The rest of the Blaha clan joined the Gfeller clan and an aunt and uncle at our place. Hannah and I cooked our first turkey, and it went over well. The time was enjoyable. It was good to be with everyone. Since then, there still has not been much time to rest and relax. Most nights consist of six to seven hours of sleep which definitely has not been good for energy. We are looking for ward to time to chill finally.

One thing that has been on my mind lately is how our lack of knowledge leads to destruction. Sadly, I have met many people in college and in the Bible bubble that refuse to learn any more about God because it does not co-exist with their current view of God. Many have shown to easily accept the things that a preacher says but will not look through Scripture to find the truth. Therefore, I mention the sovereignty of God, depravity of men, the hate of God toward sin, Biblical preaching, condemnation for apathy, or damnation to those not showing a pattern of Christ-likeness and all guards go up because that is not what they heard growing up. There is a passage that I have run across that has stuck with me for a long time. I think God’s words in this passage are clear enough for us all.

Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,
for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field
and the birds of the heavens,
and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest. [1]
You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

-Hosea 4:1-6

May we continually grow in Him through our knowledge of Him and never forget the goodness and greatness of our wonderful King!

Josh Blaha

I am almost positive that a lot of those who voted for Barack Obama are color blind. Allow me to explain. I have had many people down play my stand against Obama because I am a racist. This never really even crossed my mind. Sure it was a little different to see a candidate of a different ethnicity. To tell you the truth, I kind of liked having something different than just the mundane Caucasian male against Caucasian male. When I first heard Obama speak, I was hoping that he was a republican. (Tells you how much I pay attention to politics.) That was last year before any of the campaigning began. I did some research and found out more about him. It did not take long before I really gained a strong disdain for the man. This whole time it had nothing to do with the shade of his skin; however, it seems to me that many of his supporters like him mainly because of the color of his skin. This is absurd! There is more to a man than color. Sure this is a “win” for our dark-skinned brother Americans, but this is not the first time that a man of dark color has run for candidacy. Sure I am glad that the USA has that under our belts. What will be next though? What else do we have to do to convince our fellow Americans that we are not racist any more? In all honesty, the majority of the time I feel like the Caucasians are the ones discriminated against because every one is trying so hard to protect the policies for our dark-skinned neighbors and those of Latino decent.

Many other issues were at stake when electing Obama as a President. Many were too carelessly overlooked. Nevertheless, what’s done is done. There is no room for mourning or disappointment. We must continue on in the realization that our God is sovereign. No one can thwart (oppose successfully) his plans. (Job 42:2) Can we take good from the hand of God and not evil? (Job 2:10) Barack Hussein Obama is our President, our leader now. Let’s take the following passage into thought when thinking of our new President.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
— 1 Peter 2:13:25

God is still our God. Christ still has shed His blood for us. We are just as depraved as he as well as McCain, Bush, and all those before. I am sure that the USA will get the change like they wanted, but we will all see if it is the change we were looking for.

Here are a couple articles that have helped me look at this. The first shows some of the harm that has been done in this election. The second is a great way to look at this as believers should be looking at this. I pray that God’s will be done. Let’s band together to support our neighbor and President now. Let us love, respect, and honor him; but let us not forget the prayer and growing in love for our Lord and Savior.

Freedom Now Stands Alone

My Four Commitments to Barack Obama

Humbled by the cross,
Josh Blaha

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Well, Hannah and I are finally married. It was over 14 months since our engagement and we were finally married on October 4, 2008. The day was absolutely gorgeous although my bride was much more. Weather was almost perfect - a little on the warm side. The trees surrounding the lake had freshly colored leaves on them lining the view of the cascading mountains in the background. It was better than I could have asked. I praise God for such a wonderful day.

Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and the Bahamas were the destinations of our cruise for our honeymoon. Neither Hannah nor I had ever been on a cruise, so this was definitely a wonderful treat. We both love the beach and the sunshine, so the cruise was almost a given. It was an enjoyable 5-day cruise. Given the opportunity, we would go do it again.

Now Hannah and I live in our little house just short of the mountains. This last week was the first week that I think that we were able to just come home every night without rushing anywhere or getting home late. It was enjoyable. As most of you know, my brother just got married on the 18th in MI as well. (Shout out to Frick and my new sister-in-law!) So I think we are done rushing around for a while. With the holidays right around the corner, all of that could change very quickly.

Well, I just wanted to give you a brief update. Hopefully, I will be able to write more as God gives me free time and concentration. Of course Mrs. Hannah Blaha will also be joining me off and on too. She is not as fond of computers and the internet as I am, so I do not think that she will be writing a whole lot. She surprises me often though, so you never know.

Home again…blessed with a wonderful home,

Josh

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As most of you know, I am going to be getting married this Saturday. It is pretty suspenseful from my angle. There is still a lot that has to be done, a lot that has been done, and a lot to be thankful for. I have five days till the big day. God has taught Hannah and I so much. She has been such a blessing to me. God has been so good to both of us. My thoughts have been so scattered for the past several months, I rarely keep on one train of thought. Soon, I will be on a cruise with my wonderful wife…yes, wife. I hope that maybe some of this cloudiness clears away.

There will be more later.

- Josh

Here is a blog that I stumbled upon today that I thought might be useful for those who want to see what those opposed to Christianity see in Christians. It may be eye-opening for some…maybe not for others. I know for me that it helps me make sure that I have my focus on Christ and that I do not get caught up in the affairs of this temporal life. I encourage you with these verses:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
- Eph 3:1-3

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks [4] to the Father, who has qualified you [5] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
- Col 1:9-14

For those who stumbled onto my blog who are opposed to God, Jesus, and/or Christians I would like to give my utmost apology for those who have made a wreck of the name of Jesus. You will never see a perfect person in this world; however, I hope that some would reflect the fruits that a true believer yields. The book of Matthew clearly tells us that not all of those who claim to be believers are true believers just as you might also see that not all of those who claim to win the lottery actually have won the lottery. There are many who have and will continue to claim the name of Jesus Christ, but will not be anything like what you might think. I would suggest that you do not base your opinions on men but on Christ. I know that you have many major issues with the Bible and with Christ. Please feel free to discuss these. (I might add that I have conditions for “discussions” - believers and athiests alike.) We do not have it all figured out. Any god that we could figure out would not be much of a God if you ask me. This does not sufficiently state my case because of lack of time, but I would like to leave you with this passage:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

“For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
- Is 55:6-13

Finding all hope in the cross of Christ,

Josh

I recently ordered a free China Prayer Band from the Voice of the Martyrs website. I have had many people comment on it or ask what it was for since then. To me, it has helped remind me a lot of prayer for the persecuted church in China. I would recommend you to get one too. With them in mind, I give you this song to meditate on:

In dark, filthy places, forsaken, forgotten
Our brothers and sisters are paying a price
They will not deny Him to purchase their freedom
For these are the faithful, the martyrs for Christ.

Twisted and broken, abandoned and beaten
Their bodies confined an unseen sacrifice
But deep in their spirits, they know perfect freedom
For they are the ones who’ve been set free by Christ

CHORUS

From under the altar the voices are crying,
“How long Lord, till you come judge the earth?”
But He’ll wrap and redeem them in robes of pure white
For the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
For the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

The deafening silence–their faithful refusal
To doubt or deny in the presence of men
They live by His promise beofre His own Father
That in His Kingdom, He’ll not deny them

CHORUS

“How long Lord?
How long till You come again to take us home?”

words and music by Michael Card and Phil Naish
copyright 1998
Mole End Music

I also would add that the pastor that was the inspiration for the prayer band was arrested. There is a lot that we can learn from men like this. Let’s continue to pray for them!

For His name,

Josh