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

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

– Psalm 34 :8-10

I was wandering through Wal-Mart looking for a good choice of chocolates to be able to enjoy tomorrow. I was reminded of this passage. “Oh taste…” the passage says. I am sure that chocolate candies were not a part of the Resurrection Sunday until recently, however this verse certainly helps to remind me that the grace of God is something to be tasted. Today is a great day to point us back to richness of the taste of God’s grace. He has paid it on the cross to let us see the goodness of His grace. Take your refuge in him! His wonderful gift of salvation is free to us all. It is what we must live by. Chocolate comes and goes. The cross will stand forever. Taste the sweet, sweet love of Jesus today!

May God be glorified above all things in your life this year of 2008!

Stay tuned to a new design…

-Josh