Theology Thursday

I apologize for not posting last weeks Theology Thursday. I've been busy with carting Ella here there and everywhere the past few weeks. We've had a blast with the rodeo, only one day of VBS (boo hoo... she was bummed about it) the Wetumpka Depot Summer program, horse riding (although it's been too hot this week), piano, and now Big River practice. So, to say summer is in full swing is an understatement. We hope to call down next week... ha. Funny.

So, in thinking about irresistible grace, I thought back on a blog entry that I remember John Piper posting. I remembered the title of it because I thought it was so fitting for the doctrine. I had to go back in the Desiring God archives and look for it, but, AHA! I found it!

It said that Grace is resistible... until it's not. Isn't that so true? We can and we do resist grace. But when God chooses you... there is no win in the resisting.

"The point of irresistible grace is not that we can’t resist. We can and we do. The point is that when God chooses, he overcomes our resistance and restores a submissive spirit. He creates. He says, “Let there be light!” He heals. He leads. He restores. He comforts." John Piper.

My front porch

Well, I think I'm 99% finished with the porch. It's been hot and we haven't done much outside because of the heat. The heat index has been above 100 for multiple days... yowzas! I still have some throw pillows and cushions that I need to work on but that can be done inside... when Shep is napping... which he seems to be having trouble doing lately. Why must he wake up 45 minutes into a perfectly good nap? Would I? No way.

I'm gonna make these images big so you can tell more about the pictures.

Do you see that floor? Ahhh... yes. My husband stained it for me. 8 hours total in 95+ weather. But it was so worth it. I'm so thankful for him!


I bought an end table at a yard sale that I plan on using as a hideaway for my hose. I ---er, Scott--- need to spray paint it.

And I did make a monogram pillow like the one I saw on Traci's blog. I think it turned out ok. Just a little big maybe?



I stuck some greenery in this wreath along with the "G" monogram that I've had a few years. I think I got it at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. Half off of course. And the ribbon? Well, it's Christmas ribbon... but you can't tell unless you get REALLY close. Things like that don't bother me...



I used my cricut machine to put the number 3 on my well bucket. Because numbers are a trend right now, right? Scott is still trying to figure this one out... but I think it looks great! And do you see that white planter? Isn't it yummy? I just put it there a few days ago. 50 cents at a yard sale. I adore it. I'm just not sure where it's going yet.

Cardboard creations

Ella loves cardboard. She can visualize so many things and make the craftiest little gadgets out of plain old cardboard. So, when I see nothing but this



She sees this



A cell phone... like mom's. How cool. I just adore her imagination.

Theology Thursday

When I was reading about what I should write about Limited Atonement, I ran across this from Desiring God. I really like the way it is put so I'm simply using it for my Theology Thursday.

The atonement of Christ is sufficient for all humans and effective for those who trust him. The full, saving effectiveness of the atonement that Jesus accomplished is limited to those for whom that saving effect was prepared. The availability of the total sufficiency of the atonement is for all people. Whosoever will—whoever believes—will be covered by the blood of Christ. And there is a divine design in the death of Christ to accomplish the promises of the new covenant for the chosen bride of Christ. Thus Christ died for all, but not for all in the same way.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16; cf. Revelation 22:17).
This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:20)
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Ephesians 5:25)
I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:15)
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. . . . And for their sake I consecrate myself [that is, prepare to die], that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:9, 19)
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

Theology Thursday

Our next "step" in Theology Thursday is Unconditional Election... remember last week we looked at Total Depravity? So, what is unconditional election? Are we saying that God's decision in salvation has no bearing on our decision? Even though God makes his choice in us before we are born, he still knows everything about us and our lives before we live them. Right? Does he take that prior knowledge of us into account when he makes his decision regarding election? Certainly not. For Paul says,
"29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." Romans 8:29-30 ESV

We see here the order of salvation... God foreknows, He predestines, He calls, He justifies and He glorifies. The Westminster Confession so clearly spells out what is meant by Unconditional Election:

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.

IV. These angels and men, thus predestined, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.

V. Those of mankind that are predestined unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, has chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto;[10] and all to the praise of His glorious grace.

So, we see that His sovereign election is nothing based on anything foreseen by God (see also Romans 9:10-16) but rather the good pleasure of his sovereign will. How wonderful to know that all power and glory rests in Him and not in any decision on my part. What security that brings.

Barn Door Tutorial

We made our barn door a few months ago but I'm just now getting to the tutorial. Not because I haven't had time... but because, well yeah. Maybe that is a reason. But more than time, I just haven't figured out how to put the instructions to paper. So, bear with me... I hope this makes some sort of sense. I'll tell you this, though... it made enough sense for us to be able to build it!! It's still hanging!

There are two main parts to the barn door. The assembly of the door and the assembly of the rail. We'll do the door first.

Measure your door opening first to determine how many 1x6s to use. Our door is standard height and we used 12 1x6s going across.

The 1x6s are not glued together... we squared them on the garage floor using boards on each end to level them *real high tech here*. To keep them tight we used a clamp to pull the boards as tight as possible. We then screwed the boards together using the board across the top and bottom of the door. See picture below. There are six screws in each board. Two on top board, two on middle and two on bottom.



Now, I know that photo doesn't tell you very well about what's going on. And I apologize. But it's the best I could do. It's because while they were in the garage working on the barn door, I was doing a little work of my own.



I was working on baby announcements. See? Justified.

Moving on... we stained the door after it was all assembled. You may want to stain boards prior to assembly. Whatever floats your boat. Oh, before we stained the door, we used wood putty to cover the screws, which you actually saw in the picture above. So, that's that to the door assembly. Now, the rail assembly.

The rail was purchased from Tractor Supply and it's simply galvanized rail used for barn doors. Ours is the 10ft. rail. When we were looking at Tractor Supply for what we needed, we were able to find it all in the hardware section. They even had an instruction sheet on how to assemble the rail and exactly what to buy right down to what bolts to buy. We used their instruction guide for that. We did spray paint the rail with Rustoleum Metallic Bronze from Lowe's. I think that made all the difference in the world!

We used 1x6s for the header. Maybe we should have used 2x6s instead, which is recommeneded, but our door isn't heavy and it isn't opened regularly. The 1x6s screw into the studs with 3 inch screws.

Here is the opening before.


And here is the after.



Another view (from the stairs):


So, that's it. I say that's it as if you can do it in 30 minutes. Not the case. No, it didn't take days to do, but it was time consuming considering the screwing, feeding baby, puttying, feeding baby, staining, feeding baby, spray painting... so, yes it took us 2 weekends to do because Shep was a newborn at the time. But all in all, it turned out great and we are very pleased with it. I know the tutorial could be a little bit better, obviously, but if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer!
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