My Favorite Pregnancy Moments

At 5 days overdue, I have been spending some time reflecting on the last nine months (and five days). Being pregnant has convinced me yet again that there is a God. And a smart one at that. I've probably read 25-30 books about pregnancy and the first year and I just cannot understand how anyone can believe that this all happened by evolution or accident. There is such attention to detail and every step builds on the last one. It's just miraculous. And then there is the fun of the baby kicking! Or moving. Or bumping around. Or dancing to punk music. (And don't laugh - my baby is a big fan of punk and emo just like her mommy). I think that the first time I felt the baby move I fell in love with her. She started taking on personality and gave me clues to what she might be like. And there is always the fun of me coming up with Charissa's opinions - and who can argue with me? She's in me! I should know her the best, so when I say her favorite show is "Friends" you have to believe me.

I have loved being pregnant, but there have been moments when I have not enjoyed it. And most of those have been because being pregnant is an obvious and open invitation for everyone who sees me to comment about pregnancy and babies. Some of which has been good and helpful, but some has just been irritating. I've tried to learn greater patience and grace through it, but I haven't always succeeded at that. For those of you who have been pregnant you can sympathize. And for you others, you're probably thinking "Oh no - I've probably said those things!" Well ... maybe you have. I bet I have. All I know is that I won't say them again!

I want to share with you my "favorite pregnancy moments." Some sound harmless, but keep in mind that I probably hear them everyday I'm in contact with the outside world.

1. "It's so obvious - you're having a boy!" [Interesting, seeing that my doctor said it is definitely a girl.]
2. "You're getting so BIG!" [I've always been tempted to say "So are you!" but I've never actually done it.]
3. "You look miserable." [Well, I was feeling fine but now I do feel miserable. Thanks.]
4. "You know, none of your clothes are going to fit in another month or so." [Is that an offer to buy me a new wardrobe?]
5. "Are you excited?" [Nope.]
6. "Looks like you've put on a little weight." [Seriously?]
7. "Oh look at your poor legs! They're swelling to look like tree trunks!" [That has got to be the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my legs. Thank you.]
8. "Why, I can't even tell you're pregnant!" [I'm 6 months pregnant! Do you think I'm just fat in weird places?}
9. "Still pregnant huh?" [Why no! I had my baby and then immediately began stuffing my shirts to look pregnant again because it's so cool!]
10. *On the phone* "Did you have your baby yet?" [Sure did! And I was so disappointed about it that I decided not to tell anyone about it.]
11. "You should name your baby ____" [Our government is a democracy. My family is not.]
12. "You ever think about labor and how much it's going to hurt?" [Gee, I thought when God said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children" He was just kidding around!]
13. "Wow - you sure do have the 'pregnant glow!'" [It's hot in here and I'm sweating. In fact I think you have the "pregnant glow" too.]

Ahh ... the memories. Sure has been a fun nine months. I just can't wait for the next phase to start. Of course then I'll probably have to put up with things like, "Pregnancy weight sure is hard to lose, isn't it?" and "Your boy is so handsome!" I really am afraid of what I'm going to say when someone calls my beautiful baby girl a boy. God give me grace!

Please continue to pray for us as we enter into our last DAYS of pregnancy!!

The Servant Song

We are travelers on a journey, fellow pilgrims on the road;
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

Sister, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.
Brother, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too.

I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I'll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow, till we've seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.

We sang this song at our church service last Sunday morning and I've been thinking about it a lot since then. As we sang the first line I began pondering who I was being a "fellow pilgrim" to and who were mine. What an incredible task! To walk alongside someone through all the trials, tears, laughter and song! We think about this when someone gets married and they vow to love the other in "sickness and health" - but when I came to faith no one said to me, "You know, you are now to walk alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ through all circumstances."

I want to be a fellow pilgrim though. God has definitely softened my heart in the last year to want to be there for someone else in need. And I guess that stems from my desire for someone to be faithful to me in their friendship through all the ups and downs my life brings. And I'm learning what it means to be there for someone when they need to laugh, or cry, or be silent, or be fed, or ... when you need me to help you host a dance party (the last one might be a stretch for most of you, but would probably bless my husband tremendously).


I'm glad God planned for the Christian walk to be one with fellowship. I couldn't do it by myself. So thank you to all those who have helped me, are helping me, and will continue to help me. I pray that I can increasingly become someone who is a faithful friend.

New Family, New Gifts, New Year's

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2

My wife and I traveled to visit her parents two weekends ago, and God used it to bless us far beyond what we could ask or imagine. We were overwhelmed with their generosity and kindness toward us, especially after such a trying (engagement, wedding, newlywed, pregnancy) year. Her parents displayed the goodness and grace of God in their overflowing gifts for us, and we were humbled to remember that God does this for us every day. He is the one who showers, rains, waterfalls His grace upon all believers in Christ forever, and that is exactly why He has saved us (Ephesians 2:7).

So we praise God for the E and F families, and we praise Him even more for His overwhelming riches in Christ Jesus.

CHRISTmas in New Bern

So we had the privilege of spending Jesus' birthday time in New Bern, NC, with my mother, stepfather, brother, and aunt. We thank God for them and the good time He gave us with them.

Our long weekend with them included baking cookies and desserts, playing basketball, taking the dogs for a walk, making jokes, eating big dinners, going for a carriage ride behind a large horsie, practicing the Treece family tradition of the "grab bag," sleeping a lot, opening many presents (especially those for our daughter), participating in a God-centered worship service at Temple Baptist Church, and playing a spirited game of pictionary.

We had a blast! We love you guys!

To Movie Or Not To Movie? - Movie Reviews

I've been thinking for a while about posting some regular movie reviews, since my wife and I go see and rent quite a few. They make for good storylines, conversations, and dates, if well-chosen. Many evangelicals, especially the more "fundamental" or "conservative," shun movie-watching. They think it "unholy" to participate in such things, as if holiness comes mainly from abstaining from certain things. That thought is gnostic and wrong, but I certainly have that strand of thought in the backlog of my mind. By God's grace, I am learning to be schooled by His Word on this one. Some Biblical pointers:

• God created all things, including artistic media, emotions, pictures, and words, for His glory. "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer." 1 Timothy 4:4f
• Seeing something evil does not constitute participating in that evil, especially in art. Isn't that our assumption as we read Biblical narrative?
• We ought, however, to hate that which is evil, in movies and all of life. "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." Romans 12:9
• We know, too, from experience that we struggle with certain things depicted in movies - things like immoral sex, foul language, crude joking, robbery and greed, slander, gossip, drunkeness and substance abuse, anger and violence, and many other things that spring from our hearts, as Jesus says in Mark 7:21.
• So we must choose and watch movies (like everything) very carefully, knowing that it is not the art or entertainment that is sinful, but our own hearts and our specific sin struggles.

Now we're ready to review. On to the movies!

Newer
"How To Eat Fried Worms"
This is a great movie - fun, energetic, realistic, and hopeful. I can't remember the last movie that reminded me so well of middle school (and almost made me want to go back!), plus there is really nothing objectionable in this movie, unless you have a weak stomach. The eating-worms-all-kinds-of-ways jokes never get dull, either.

"The Illusionist"
This movie was interesting and entertaining. Midway through, I found myself wondering why it hadn't ended yet, but not in a bad way. It kept us guessing in a different way than most magic/murder/heist movies do. The love story, apart from the obvious fornication, was sweet, genuine, and winsome. Many would object to the movies use, almost commendation, of magic, but the reaction of the on-film audience gives us a distance from the truth-or-deception scheme that remains helpful throughout. We still found ourselves happily surprised at the end.

"Invincible"
A pretty typical sports movie - your average, down-and-out, working-at-a-bar-part-time dude gets a chance to play for the big, hometown, down-and-out team, with relatively amazing results. Even though this plot has already been pretty well beaten down, I found myself rooting for Vince Papali, even if all the details weren't accurate. It's a rare movie that makes you want to move to Philadelphia, hang out with the down-and-outters, and play football in a muddy little field late at night.

Now on Video
"Rumor Has It"
An interesting modern American coming-of-age, finding-yourself story told through the eyes of the wishy-washy, flimsy-handed morality that appeals to postmodern relativists. The romantic comedy storyline is tried and leaves the view feeling empty in the end. I certainly wouldn't watch this movie with any children around, but it does have some beautiful shots and landscapes.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
Hmmm, dark and disappointing. Lot's of good, weird material but without the spunk of the first installment. I'd skip it and wait for the third.

Random/Old
"Gettysburg"
Good movie, great acting, good history lesson for my high-school-history-forgetting self. We especially like "Dumb and Dumber"s Jeff Daniels playing a serious role as a professor-turned-Army captain.

"Chariots of Fire"
Great movie. The film spends too much time on the arrogant, barely likable runner Harold Abrahams, and not enough on the Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell (for whom the movie is best known), yet it still packs enough of a God-centered punch to leave an impact for years to come. And it makes you want to get out and just . . . run.

"Almost Heroes"
Chris Farley and Matthew Perry are funny, very funny. Much of the subject matter is inappropriate and offensive. You make the call.

Roses and Mr. Clean?

For our Sunday afternoon of enjoying each other's company, Britt and I went to the Arboretum to walk around and see what was still alive. Amazingly, a lot of flowers were still there and the trees were beautiful. And like every time we go to the Arboretum together, some lady is walking around in a wedding dress.

But the most interesting event of the walk was at the rose garden. We were smelling all the roses that were somehow still managing to survive through the cold when we stopped at a flower named "Mr. Lincoln." We smelled it and Britt says, "Wow - that's really strong. Like perfume or something." I smelled it again and said "No ... it smells like cleaning products ... it's Mr. Clean!" That's right - there is a flower that smells exactly like Mr. Clean.

So the next time you use Mr. Clean, instead of saying it smells like cleaning products, you can say, "Wow - my bathroom smells like fresh roses!"

Posters

I thought we could start posting some pictures on here to let you know what we are up to. Here is a poster I made at diy.despair.com of myself and my best buddy, Stephen Day. Yes, I make these posters while I'm waiting for other stuff to load at work. It really isn't very hard. Actually, I made this one at home. That's how much fun it is.

B & B Day

Well, Lil B's birthday is next week, so I took her out for a birthday date today. We went to:

• The NC Museum of Art, then
• Bojangle's, then
• The NC Museum of History, then
• $1.50 Theater to see "Barnyard," then
• Pier 1 Kids to get CJ some toys

Highlights were some of the photos at the art museum, eating Bo's fries, laughing at costumes and the movie, and spending (down to two cents) a $50 gift card (thanks, Romit!). We had a great day enjoying God's world and His gift to us of each other.

BrittTreece.blogspot.com

Big B has his own blog! He's over here now. It's named, "Take Hold of One Man," after Isaiah 4:1-4, and obviously referring not to Britt, but Jesus Christ. Come check it out.

You can still catch us both here, but this site will now have more pictures, laughs, and updates, and less preaching . . . well, maybe, but not much less Bible. We love Jesus too much.

Make Your Own Posters

This is absolutely hilarious if you like to match pictures with words in the style of despair.com.

Ten Facts about the "Prosperity Gospel"

1. The "prosperity gospel" is destructive.
"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction." 1 Timothy 6:9

2. It is deceptive.
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." 1 Timothy 6:10

3. It is decisive. You either believe in the things of this world, or you believe in God. One or the other.
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7

4. It is decrepit.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

5. It is decreasing.
"And the world is passing away, along with its lusts; but he who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:17

6. It is declarative. Believing in this false gospel says something about your faith.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

7. It is defective.
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life?" Mark 8:35-37

8. It is delightful to sinful ears.
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching, for the time will come when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:2-4

9. It is deductive. That is, it takes away from the truth of the Gospel.
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

10. It is defeated. The lies about the Gospel are already finished off.
"As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:5
"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!" 2 Timothy 2:8-9

The Sovereignty of God in Prayer

"I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company."
Romans 15:30-32

Pastor John Piper in last week's sermon, recounting an older sermon on the same verses:

"In response to prayer, God changes human wills! Otherwise, they're ain't no point in praying! . . . Prayer assumes the sovereignty of God over human wills. The sovereignty of God over human wills is not a problem for prayer, it's the basis of prayer!"

I had a great conversation with a loved family member this last week on this very topic, and this thought should get some more discussion going. For the record, this is exactly what the Bible teaches. Otherwise, why would you pray to God, for people? If He can't and won't touch our beloved free will, what can He do?

Thank God that He has not left us to ourselves, but has invaded our little kingdoms of wicked wills and led us into the infinite kingdom of His beloved Son.

One Year Ago Today . . .

(To My Wife)

One year ago today I took you out to dance
to spin and shake and create romance
and on the ride home I stopped where we met
even if my excuse was too easy to get
you saw right through my little surprise
just like you always do with your clear eyes
and an awkward walk down the old sidewalk
- remember how I could barely talk?
my trembling heart and hands played a song
that He wrote on my heart so many months long
then to kneel and scramble and find the shiny thing
that signifies we two as one - a wedding ring
oh to cry and whisper and hold you so close
maybe we'll do it again tonight, who knows . . .

So we've been on the road so many times,
and staying out late and talking on the line,
working in our house and learning how to be
married
I know it's hard and I love you so
I can't do it all so let's remember to hope
in the One who is supreme in grace and power
Who comforts and helps in joy hour by hour
He is the one Who is infinitely wise,
Who wills and works and we don't know why,
He is good and He is Christ.

so I put this up for all to see
and I write with smiles of glee,
"I love you more today than I ever have."
Your words and heart and mind and love
are a gift to me from God above
so I love Him more today than I ever have.

God At Work

God at Work is a great book by Gene Edward Veith. He uses his pages well to explain and apply the Biblical doctrine of vocation as Martin Luther understood it. It is an encouraging look into not only (as the title appears to suggest) that God is present with people at work but also that God is Himself working in and through all of our callings in life. It was amazingly God-centered, God used it to bless B and I time and again. We happily recommend it to you.

Is This Other Gospel Really Any Gospel At All?

I was browsing through one of my favorite blogs when I came across this link to the front-page article of the latest Time magazine which asks the question, "Does God Want You To Be Rich?" (Here's the CNN.com summary.) More and more of our country's "Christian" leaders are answering, "Yes, oh yes."

For my summary and a Biblical response, go here. This is a serious problem when the world is even picking up on the church's folly, so we by the grace of God need to learn and change more into Christ's image and words.

Stan's 40th Birthday Bash Weekend

We had a blast in Asheville this last weekend. The occasion was my uncle Stan's (surprise) 40th birthday party. My aunt Carolyn did a great job planning it, and everything went off without a hitch. The food at the restaurant was amazing, and our time with the family was just as enriching. B and I had a great time making Stan's posters, too. Earlier in the day we even go to visit a used bookstore! That was a treat for me.

So many thanks to God for Carolyn, Kyle and AJ, and Papa Ben and Dolores for setting it up, and praise be to God for making such a cool uncle - uncle Stan. You have always been a big brother to me.

New DesiringGOD.org !!!

The folks over at DG have completely redesigned their (already excellent) website and made it even better. Now, you can access all of John Piper's sermons, audio, Q&A's, writings, articles, and several of his books - all for free to anyone who comes. Praise God for raising up such a ministry that regards Him as supreme, good, happy, and abounding in grace for all who call on Him.

Death by Love: Reflections on the Cross

This might be the best sermon on the cross I've ever heard. It has so many quotable lines that it was simply un-quotable for time's sake. Mark Driscoll lays out the person and life and death of Jesus in such a way that God lays his hearers bare.

God brought me to laughter and tears, repentance and faith, prayer, fuller desires for Him and His Word, and a deeper resolve to preach this true and right and good news about Jesus Christ. I learned to love and adore and think about and praise Jesus for who He is. I pray that you will, too.

The Dangers of Raising Children to Be Pharisees

John Loftness over at the Married Life blog writes:

Pharisees find their righteousness coming from their own works—what they do and what they avoid doing. They prefer to measure themselves by the standards of other people, either living in guilt that they have not attained self-righteousness or condemning those who do not measure up to their level of goodness.

We can feed this to our children. They need to know that based on God’s standards, we are all failures: that no one attains to righteousness by his own works; that the only remedy for our mounting sins is Jesus’ payment on the cross.

We train a child to be a Pharisee by:

* Calling her a “good girl”—despite her whining, or referring to him as a “basically good kid”—despite his recent rascally behavior.

* Accepting his grudging compliance to end correction rather than a willing heart.

* Allowing him to think that mouthing the words, “Please forgive me,” reflects a contrite heart that recognizes the need for forgiveness.

* Comparing him favorably to other children: “Don’t be like that nasty boy…”

This is a great article on parenting. Please read it. For our own hearts and those of our children, church, and neighbors, we would do well to examine our views and applications of Biblical, Christ-centered, heart-focused grace over against our own rampant self-righteousness and Phariseeism.

The Justin Taylor Roundup

Thanks to JT for all these great links:

• Quentin J. Schultze, chair of faith and communication at Calvin College in Michigan, has this website and this upcoming book, both on Biblical, clear public speaking.
• Sovereign Grace pastor Bob Kauflin warms the believer's heart as he wakes the prideful mind in this post on accepting reproof.
• Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll explains the sad state of compromising churches and denominations in this convicting and discerning post.

All are worth reading.