Today, the thought occurred to me that the one and only John Piper should weigh at least 400lbs., if not more. I don’t get it, though.  To look at him, the man can’t weigh more than a buck fifteen, soaking wet.

Why would I expect him to be morbidly obese? Why, I’m glad you asked.

Today, like so many other days in recent history, John Piper ate my lunch.  Plus, I am almost positive that I’m not the only one he’s done this to, either.  So how is it that this bad man doesn’t weigh 400lbs. by now?

Because, when it comes down to it, John Piper is not the one “eating my lunch.”  It’s the Holy Spirit through John Piper.  That very thing happened this morning while listening to Piper’s sermon, “Songs That Shape the Heart and Mind.”  Piper makes clear God’s purpose for passing down these holy songs and stresses their importance (along with the rest of Scripture) in the lives of believers.

I encourage you to go read / listen to this sermon for yourself.  It was certainly impacting to me.

In the meantime, I pray that I continue to have my lunch eaten, if you will, by the Holy Spirit — through both John Piper and John Owen.

When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t “feeling” that great.  I had awakened 2 hours earlier than I had planned and had a very hard time going back to sleep.  That made my morning get off to a slow and bumpy start.

However, the Holy Spirit came along as I was making my morning rounds on the ‘net and reminded me that no matter how I feel or how much sleep I did or didn’t get, that I had awakened to the awesome truth that:

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
- Psalm 145:8 (ESV)

Even though I didn’t take the time to open my Bible this morning, God used my blog and some RSS to remind me of what I was walking in — and that is His grace, mercy, and love coupled with the absence of His condemnation.

And what a sweet walk it is.

Today, my wife and I decided to take the day (while it was still nice out) and go see WALL·E and spend the rest of the afternoon walking around Huntsville’s new Bridge Street Town Centre.  I’ll post more about the film later, but it is officially my favorite Pixar film to-date (Pixar is über creative).

Bridge Street was nice, as it was not too crowded — but it was a very sunny (i.e. hot) afternoon.  So that called for some ice cream.  I got to visit an Huntsville’s own Apple Store, but didn’t stay too long as the girls aren’t as geeked up on the fruit as yours truly.

We finished off our stay with a ride on the carousel.  With that, we ended our day and headed home as the rains headed in.  It was a wonderful day spent with a wonderful family full of simple, yet wonderful things — all given to me by a wonderful God (including the rain).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

-James 1:17 (ESV)

Nine years? Has it been that long?

You’ve been with me through more than I could have ever imagined anyone sticking with me.  You really do live up to your name — you truly are angelic.  You have been an instrument of grace, of mercy, and you’ve yet to give up on the task of teaching me what unconditional love really is.  I would not trade a single second of the past nine years for the world and everything in it.  I cannot imagine my life without you and hope I never have to.

Happy anniversary, my bride.