Having Kept the Faith
I wanted this post in my fb timeline and also on my personal website/blog because I wanted to keep a reminder of a great Christian example (Joshua 6:4, 21 comes to mind).
I attended a wonderful funeral this morning. A dear saint of God, a sweet elderly sister in the Lord went to be home with Him this past Tuesday morning. Her gentle, sweet, selfless, loving spirit and great Christian example will be greatly missed at our church.
But as pastor quoted from Revelation 14:13 during his sermon, she is forever blessed. And from 2 Timothy 4:7-8: having fought the good fight, finished her course, and having kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give her at that day: and not to her only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
I'm sure all her works in Christ followed her indeed (see Rev 14:13) and she heard the blessed words: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matt 25:21).
Now I must continue to pray for and minister to her godly husband who remains with us and by the grace of God, continue the good fight the Lord has given me.
I’m Going to Jail for “Good!”
I am going behind bars for GOOD for MDA! The authorities have finally caught up with me and on June 7 th I am going behind bars for good (for doing good, that is)! MDA has put a warrant out for my arrest and to have the charges dropped I need help raising my bail. The heat's turning up on me as my "court date" draws closer!
My bail has been set at $2,400, which is the cost to send three kids to MDA Summer Camp. But MDA doesn't stop with just that! This organization offers many other wonderful services for these families, including a no-cost clinic, medical equipment allowance, support groups and much more. Every dollar raised will help MDA to provide the services below.
$30 Flu Shot
$74 One minute of research
$100 One support group session
$150 One occupation, physical, respiratory, or speech therapy session
$300 Professional fees related to initial diagnostic work-up at an MDA clinic
$500 Annual repairs of durable medical equipment
$800 Week at MDA Summer Camp for one child
Please visit my MDA website to make a secure donation on-line or feel free to mail me a check made out to MDA to my address (send me a private message if you need my address). All contributions are tax-deductible and will help make a difference in these families' lives! Further, all the money raised stays local!
To visit my website, click here:
http://www2.mda.org/goto/wstreeter
Thanks for not only helping me get out of jail, but more importantly, helping some local children and families in need!
Walter
The Gospel
I posted the following as a facebook status update today. It's been quite a long while since I posted to my personal website and thought it appropriate to share this here too.
My heart is heavy this morning. I reviewed my parent's last will and testament. While it makes me sad to think of the loss of my parents (or any loved one), this also grounded me and forced me to refocus on eternal matters. I felt compelled to post this message to facebook, for each of you are called “friends” here. I know some might read what's written below, take it the wrong way, get mad and unfriend me, and that's OK. What kind of friend would I be if I did not clearly (to the best of my ability) share the Gospel and what I know to be the way to eternal life when I am prompted to do so? Well, I wouldn't be a very good one, and frankly, should be considered a monster if I would not. So dear facebook friend, please do consider the following now, for I would that I'd see you in eternity.
Jesus Himself tells us in Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” But what is the Gospel? Gospel literally means “good message.” But there is very bad news that must be received before the Gospel can truly and meaningfully become a good message to anyone (although it is good regardless of our application).
The bad news is that we have all sinned against God: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). None of us are “good” as Jesus Himself stated: There is none good but one, that is, God. (Mark 10:18b; see also Mat. 19:17; Luke 18:19; Rom. 3:12;).
But now we must ask what is sin? The most simple explanation I know of is found in 1 John 3:4: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” So we sin when we break any of God's moral laws. A good summary of God's law is found in the Ten Commandments. And so we must ask ourselves if we've kept all of the Ten Commandments:
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. (Exodus 20:4)
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8)
5. Honour thy father and thy mother. (Exodus 20:12)
6. Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
8. Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16)
10. Thou shalt not covet. (Exodus 20:17)
Now ask yourself the following questions:
Have you kept the first commandment, has God always been first in your life? The Scriptures declare: “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Rom 3:11; see also Ps 14:2-3).
Have you ever taken the name of God in vain? That is have you used any of the names of the Lord casually or as an expression of surprise (i.e. the ever popular acronym OMG, “the big man upstairs,” etc.) or as a curse word or expression of disgust (saying “oh my G_d,” or “Jes_s Chr_st” or the like)? This is very serious for the second half of Exodus 20:7 states: “; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
Have you ever lied, including “white” lies?
Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of price?
Have you ever murdered? Keep in mind that 1 John 3:15 declares: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
If you're honest with yourself you must confess that you've broken some if not all of God's holy law and therefore have sinned. And even if you think you've only broken one of God's commandments, you are guilty of all, for in James 2:10 we read: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Being convinced of sin the news get worse, for Romans 6:23 declares that the wages of sin is death. And in Acts 17:30-31 the Bible declares that God commands everyone everywhere to repent because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness. God will ultimately judge and eternally punish sin.
This is indeed extremely bad news, especially if that is all there is. But there is incredibly great news in the rest of the Gospel message! On your own you stand guilty before God (we all do). But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus set aside His glory, came to earth (John 1:1-18), lived a perfect sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), and then gave it up dying on the cross for you (Philippians 2:8). He took the rightful wrath of God upon Himself for your sins, my sins, the sins of the entire world for all time (1 John 2:2;). On the third day after His death He rose from the grave gaining victory over death bringing the possibility of eternal life to you and entire world (1 Corinthians 15:4, 55-57).
But how do you partake of this glorious Gospel? Scriptures declare in Romans 10:13: “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So first you must call upon the name of the Lord to be saved from the judgment and punishment of sin. The Scriptures further declare that you must show repentance toward God (turn from your sin) and put your complete faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21) and that you must be converted (turn towards God and His desires – Acts 3:19). And so if you call on God and come to Him with true faith in Jesus Christ, He will grant you repentance, He will convert you making you a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) and you will obtain eternal life (John 3:15).
Well, I've now returned to thought of seeing you, my facebook friend, in eternity. I pray you consider the Gospel of Jesus Christ today and receive Him as Lord and Savior. If you have then we are assured to see each other in eternity as the following promise belongs to us:
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Grace and peace be to you all through Jesus Christ the Savior!
PRIORITIES
We have a framed wall hanging entitled "Priorities" that artistically displays the Scriptures listed below. I originally hung it to remind Peggy and I what our true priorities should be. Unfortunately it's hung there so long now that it has become almost obscured in our minds, mixed in with the rest of the decor. This morning as I prayed I was reminded of this scriptural piece of art and how that my actual priorities may have also become obscured in my mind and life by other things. I'm taking it as an admonition of the Lord and thought I'd share it with my friends here on Facebook in case any of them are in need of the same counsel.
PRIORITIES
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17, Amplified)
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)
As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15b)
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (Psalms 27:4)
Photo Diversion
After studying for hours on Monday in preparation for a Cisco certification exam I have coming up (642-374 CXFS) I needed a little diversion. The weather was great so went and ran some errands with my wife then grabbed some photos of some churches and other historic buildings around Goshen. It made for a nice break from studying and I got some decent shots. Click here or the photo below to see my Goshen Historic Buildings gallery.
Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul?
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalms 42:1-11
Everything in this world is liable to change!
Everything in this world is liable to change!
Health may give place to sickness,
pleasure may give place to pain,
plenty may give place to poverty,
love may give place to enmity,
honor may give place to disgrace,
strength may give place to weakness,
and life may give place to death.
Remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. But though all our circumstances and friends should change--there is One who never changes! "He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him? He does whatever He pleases!" Job 23:13. With Him is no variableness. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever--and He is our best Friend, our nearest relation, our gracious Savior!
Yesterday--His name was Jesus; His nature was love; His purpose was to do us good with His whole heart and soul. Today--He is the same; we cannot expect too much from Him, or be too confident in Him, if we are walking humbly with Him. He will be our God--and we shall be His people!
Let us cultivate . . .
intimacy with Him,
dependence upon Him,
concern to please Him,
fear to offend Him,
zeal to glorify Him;
and it must be well with us in health and sickness, in plenty and poverty, in life and death! For He is the same, and will never turn away from doing us good--but remain the Fountain of love and holiness forever! "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" Psalm 103:1
This God is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend;
Whose love is as great as His power,
And neither knows measure nor end!
James Smith
1802—1862
P2V (Physical to Virtual)
This past week, after having continued hardware problems, I moved the server on which this website and my church's website are hosted (amongst other purposes) to a virtual machine. This was my first personal and practical P2V (physical to virtual) experience. I had help from a co-worker who had just had to perform a difficult P2V with a failing Windows 2000 server. We thought this Linux P2V would be smoother and while it was, we still had some problems.
Started with the usual, creating a LUN on the SAN for the datastore. Then tried a live P2V conversion. Unfortunately the first live P2V attempt failed at 99% complete complaining about a problem with making the image bootable (something to do with GRUB). So, I tried again and this time it failed at 3% complaining about not being able to image the / partition.
My co-worker suggested trying a "cold" P2V. While I was working on other things he burned a bootable P2V CD (Windows PE) for me and we gave it a try. Booted into the Windows PE P2V environment, set the virtual machine parameters (datastore, network, etc) and let it run. A little over eight hours later it was done. Took quite a bit longer than expected, but it did finish and it did create a perfectly bootable replica of the physical.
I'm really glad it worked. I wasn't too excited about installing a new OS and software on other (functional) hardware and then moving data, databases, etc. This was quite a bit easier and a good exercise for me and my co-worker (although I think he had enough exercise with his Windows 2000 experience from the previous week). I'm sure we'll probably be able to use this to benefit clients or other co-workers sometime in the future.
Snow photos
Some photos of the snow that we received this weekend can be viewed at the following link - http://bit.ly/fkK5gN.
Web server hardware issues
My web server, which is really a desktop machine that I also use for testing and diagnostics at work, had some problems over the weekend. It had hung late Friday afternoon and had to cycle power to get it back up and running. It was up for about 4 hours before hanging again Friday night. Stopped by Saturday and rebooted it again but less than an hour later it was hung again. There aren't any indications of a drive problem so I'm suspecting a memory or CPU issue at the moment. Might be time to move this to a more stable machine.