We're born dead and then we all head back to the casket

Well I've pretty much been off the map for the last several months. To update everyone who doesn't know, I am married now. We are expecting our first child. It will be a boy and we are naming him Samuel David Boswell. For those concerned, please keep us in your prayers. Everything has been good so far but I don't act immune to the possibility that something could go wrong. My hope is in Christ's mercy that He will deliver our new child healthy.

Joshua and Sarah are both excited to have a new baby brother. Sarah really wants to change the diapers. I'm sure that will last about two times and she'll get to grossed out but its cute anyhow. I'm also sure that I will find myself gagging for the first few weeks until I get use to changing dirty diapers.

Anyhow, thanks to everyone who has prayed for us. I know its helped us make this massive transition called marriage.

Its been forever it seems since my last update. I'm surprised I even have an LJ account still:) Many things have occurred in the last 10 months but what I'm writing about today is that on October 27th I will officially be a married man. For those who don't know, I've been dating a lovely lady named Nannette for the past 10 months.

I love Nannette and her children, Joshua and Sarah, with all my heart and so I made a decision to ask her to marry me and make us a family on August 10th. That is one year to the date when we first met as she came in to interview for a job where I work.

While this change in my life was not something I would have ever thought to occur a year ago, I thank Jesus Christ and God the Father for the good gifts that are given to us who belong to the family of God.

I was content with staying single for many years but God obviously thought differently and I'm glad He did. Nannette is wonderful in so many indescribable ways and I just can't get enough of her. Joshua and Sarah warm my heart with their love and their laughter. I couldn't want more out of a son or daughter than what I have in those two.

I know the circumstances aren't ideal and some would even say this is doomed to fail. But nothing worthwhile has ever come easy, and Nannette, Joshua and Sarah are all worth whatever trials may come.

Chad Boswell

I've recently become convicted by the Holy Spirit because I have not been keeping the Sabbath, but work all 7 days. As I've read some material on the subject and listened to a sermon on it, I've come to realize that I have been missing out. The Sabbath is a blessing from God. God could have easily added to the curse of man that he should toil 7 days a week, but in His mercy he gave us a day of rest. Also, not only is it a day of rest, but a day in which to focus on the Lord and His work of creation and redemption. That really is the point. Also, its important to realize that the Sabbath was given so that man would see that he is not like God, who never tires and never stops working.

Thankfully, even though I have been sinning by not keeping the Sabbath, that sin was covered by the Cross of Christ. What a wonderful savior we have in Jesus.

I hope that somehow this little post has inspired my brothers and sisters who read it to examine their own convictions about the Sabbath day.

Chad

Well its chilly outside. Which means, its Dance Dance Revolution time! I pulled out the ol' dance pad tonight and enjoyed myself. Though of course I was a bit rusty and had some difficulty keeping up with the arrows. I regret not making a regular habit of playing the game. Its always fun and good exercise. Now that I live in a basement apartment, I have no more excuses. I use to worry that playing later at night would keep my neighbor below me awake when I lived in my other place. I also now have more room to spread out the dance pad. I use to be pretty good and could keep up with the faster paced songs. I want to get back to that point and go even further.

Anyhow, work today was interesting. It was my boss's birthday and it was Boss's Day. Lunch was good. Nannette kindly paid for all of us though at first we resisted. I've learned though to let people be a blessing to me. I can't always be so self-sufficient as to never let someone pay my way. I'm such a self-reliant person (at least on a human to human level) that its hard for me to let go at times.

Its time to get ready for bed. Hope everyone sleeps well.

Well I know its been quite a while since my last update. Had an interesting conversation with JP about how I use to be and the activities I engaged in. It seems that everything I use to cherish has become so distant in my life now. I'm not complaining about what I do with my life these days, but it has come at the expense of other things I cherished. Mainly, I'm referring to my art because it has been many months since I've done anything of any substance. I think the last major artistic endeavor was last September 05 when I signed up for a figure drawing class at the local art academy.

About the only thing I've progressed in is weightlifting. I'm up to 275lbs max on my decline bench and 255lbs on flat bench. Throughout my life I've worked out from time to time but never maxing more that 190lbs so I am pleased with the progress I've made. I plan to stick this out and thankfully I have workout partners who care and keep me motivated.

I just think I can only do so many things with my time and be successful. I do miss drawing though and I hope that just like with weightlifting, something will spark motivation in my art and make it alive again. But I also realize that it won't happen sitting around. I have to move with it and keep perservering until I feel the spark. I certainly still love drawing, but I think I'm just directionless in what I would want to do with it. I have lost the vision for what I wanted to do with my artistic abilities.

I have a lot to think about and make decisions on.

BTW, happy birthday Ruthie77!

This was a short writing by pastor John Piper of DesiringGod.org. It really deals with an important issue that is neglected in our "make yourself feel better" Christian culture. So I post it as sort of a "food for thought".

The Agonizing Problem of the Assurance of Salvation

April 28, 1998

The most agonizing problem about the assurance of salvation is not the problem of whether the objective facts of Christianity are true (God exists, Christ is God, Christ died for sinners, Christ rose from the dead, Christ saves forever all who believe, etc.). Those facts are the utterly crucial bedrock of our faith. But the really agonizing problem of assurance is whether I personally am saved by those facts.

This boils down to whether I have saving faith. What makes this agonizing - for many in the history of the church and today - is that there are people who think they have saving faith but don't. For example, in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'"

So the agonizing question for some is: do I really have saving faith? Is my faith real? Am I self-deceived? Some well-intentioned people try to lessen the problem by making faith a mere decision to affirm certain truths, like the truth: Jesus is God, and he died for my sins. Some also try to assist assurance by denying that any kind of life-change is really necessary to demonstrate the reality of faith. So they find a way to make James 2:17 mean something other than what is seems to mean: "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead." But these strategies to help assurance backfire. They deny some Scripture; and even the minimal faith they preserve can be agonized over and doubted by the tormented soul. They don't solve the problem, and they lose truth. And, perhaps worst of all, they sometimes give assurance to people who should not have it.

Instead of minimizing the miraculous, deep, transforming nature of faith, and instead of denying that there are necessary life-changes that show the reality of faith, we should tackle the problem of assurance another way. We should begin by realizing that there is an objective warrant for resting in God's forgiveness of my sins, and there is a subjective warrant for God's forgiveness of my sins. The objective warrant is the finished work of Christ on the cross that "has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14). The subjective warrant is our faith which is expressed in "being sanctified."

Next we should realize that saving faith has two parts. First, faith is a spiritual sight of glory (or beauty) in the Christ of the gospel. In other words, when you hear or read what God has done for sinners in the cross and the resurrection of Jesus, this appears to your heart as a great and glorious thing in and of itself even before you are sure you are saved by it. I get this idea from 2 Corinthians 4:4, where Paul says that what Satan hinders in the minds of unbelievers is the "seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." For faith to be real there must be a supernatural "light" that God shines into the heart to show us that Christ is glorious and wonderful (2 Corinthians 4:6). This happens as a work of the Spirit of God through the preaching of the gospel.

Second, faith is a warranted resting in this glorious gospel for our own salvation. I say "warranted resting" because there is an "unwarranted resting" - people who think they are saved who are not, because they have never come to see the glory of Christ as compellingly glorious. These people only believe on the basis of wanting rescue from harm, not because they see Christ as more beautiful and desirable than all else. But for those who "see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" their resting is warranted.

What this means practically is that we should continually look to the cross and the work of God in Christ, because this is where God makes the light of the gospel shine. Secondly, we should continually pray for God to "enlighten the eyes of our hearts" (Ephesians 1:18). Thirdly, we should love each other; because, as John said, "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." In the end, assurance is a precious gift of God. Let us pray for each other that it will abound among us.

Seeing and resting,

Pastor John

I feel compelled to write about topic that is often avoided by many. I was lead to these thoughts after purchasing a CD from a band named Flyleaf. Bottom line: they have some sweet songs. So I will give a brief background on this and then I'll get to the topic.

On a local alternative station I first hear the song "I'm So Sick" and thought it was awesome. Then a few weeks ago I heard a song on the 90.9 The Light (Christian radio for those who don't know) that sounded like the female vocalist from "I'm So Sick". However, I wasn't sure and I didn't know the band name.

Then tonight I'm in Walmart and I come across a featured CD of a band called Flyleaf. The song "I'm So Sick" is on it so I scan it for a preview and sure enough its the song I like. So I buy it hoping the other songs are good. Well needless to say they are good. And the song I heard on 90.9 is indeed a song by Flyleaf called "All Around Me".

So after I recognize the song, I pose a question: Is Flyleaf a Christian band?

I found their official site and started reading through the bio. I wasn't seeing evidence that there was anything Christian about the band. 90.9 has played The Fray before and they aren't Christian so I was starting to feel something might not be right.

Anyhow, I googled Flyleaf and Christian band and got a review of their CD from a Christian website. As I was reading through, I saw a few references to God and salvation and a lot about positive messages. However, I was still not feeling convinced. Which leads me into my topic.

I have noticed a growing trend that disturbs me deeply. Weak Christianity from bands who people say are Christian but their music doesn't really clearly draw a distinction. Bands like P.O.D. and even Switchfoot. Now I like both of those bands but their message isn't clear. They use vague terms in their songs that suggest Christianity but don't come right out and say it.

What is so distictive about Christianity is of course Jesus Christ. So many people talk about "faith in God" but they don't know God or have faith in Him if they don't know and believe in Jesus Christ. The one and only true God is the one who said "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matt. 17:5). Therefore, there is not God if there is no Jesus the Son of God.

This is why I find myself so disturbed. The vagueness of using the word "God". No matter how well meaning it may be, Jesus's name needs to also be proclaimed so that the listener makes no mistake as to who "God" is.

I think the vagueness stems from a belief that if people don't hear a distict message about Christ, but just hear about God, that somehow people will be lead to Christianity. However, Paul makes it clear that if they don't hear the gospel, they can't believe. The Gospel is about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Back to Flyleaf. I don't think they are a Christian band. However, as I continued reading the review from the Christian website, the lead singer was quoted as saying "Jesus saved me, and it was the most awesome freedom I’ve ever known." So I am pleased that I can say she is a Christian. But nothing is mentioned indepth about the rest of the band.

I'm certainly not saying that bands who are made up of Christian musicians have to distiguish themselves as Christian bands. But I do think that since they are Christians, if they are going to sing about God, or salvation, etc. then they shouldn't be vague at all. If they try to have positive messages but exclude Christ, they do more bad that good for the souls of those who listen to their music.

I hope what I'm saying makes sense. It is absolutely critical that Jesus Christ be proclaimed. Satan loves nothing more that to make Christians water down the Gospel by eliminating the proclaimation of Jesus as Lord of all. This of course stops making it the Gospel and leaves people remaining dead in their sins while they go around believing in "God".

Well thats it. Its time for bed.

Chad

Yeah its been a while since my last post. Anyhow, for those who don't know, I've just recently moved into a new apartment. Thankfully it was only the next building up, so the move wasn't that bad. Also it helps to have good friends who willingly lend a hand. Thanks to everyone involved.

Now the hard part is cleaning my old place. I've not only cleaned whatever mess I made while I lived there, but I also have been cleaning up stuff that had been there before I ever first moved in. While that may sound gross, its only because I never used certain things so I never had a need to clean it. So obviously, whoever lived there before me didn't do a good job cleaning. There was crap all under the stove that was just nasty.

I don't profess to be the cleanest of dudes but when it comes time to clean, I know how to do it right. Of course I can't take the credit for that. The Lord developed in me the "eye" for spotting the dirt while I was doing custodial. I consider my cleaning abilities a talent just like any artistic talent I have.

In other news...WHERE THE HECK WAS I WHEN "FALLING" FROM STAIND CAME OUT? I just recently started hearing the song on the radio. Apparently it's been out a while though. The lyrics are below...

Falling - Staind

You - In your shell
Are you waiting for someone to rescue you from yourself?
Don't be disappointed when no one comes...
[Pre-Chorus]
Don't blame me, you didn't get it (x3)
[Chorus]
I already told you that falling is easy
It's getting back up that becomes the problem, becomes the problem.
If you don't believe you can find the way out
You've become the problem, become the problem.

You - All alone
Are you waiting for someone to make you whole?
Can't you see?
Aren't you tired of this dysfunctional routine?
[Pre-Chorus]
Don't blame me, you didn't get it...(x3)
[Chorus]
I already told you that falling is easy
It's getting back up that becomes the problem, becomes the problem.
If you don't believe you can find the way out
You've become the problem, become the problem.

[Bridge]

[Chorus]
I already told you that falling is easy
It's getting back up that becomes the problem, becomes the problem.
If you don't believe you can find the way out
You've become the problem, become the problem.

[Chorus - Altered]
Falling is easy
It's getting back up that becomes the problem, becomes the problem.
And if you believe you can find a way out
Then you've solved the problem,
You've solved your problems...

Boz

I doubt it considering its been like 4 months since I last updated. Anyhow, life continues to be convoluted and I am currently going insane with 2 projects that are due in the next couple of days. However, I have to give the Lord praise for His continued mercy in allowing me to remain creative. I am so blessed beyond what I could imagine yet I find myself being a selfish person. So please do pray that I will receive from the Lord Jesus a more giving and selfless spirit that will glorify His Name. There are many things I need prayer for, I find myself spiritually weak and it seems I constantly lose the battle against worldliness. Being single is a very difficult life to live. I find myself feeding my eyes and mind a constant influx of the female form. Being at the gym working out has been very good for me but when it comes to the ladies it has been a burden.

Some would say at this point, "Find someone and get married then!" However, these issues will not be resolved by marriage and the release of any sexual tension I have. It is a heart condition that must be changed. Marriage is not the answer. It will only compound the problem.

What a heavy burden men carry when it comes to sexual desires. I see so many of my friends caught up in sexual relationships with women they are not married to. My heart breaks for them because it is so easy to become ensnared, so I intentionally distance myself from women because I know that if I let myself go, I will falter. I wish I could say my reason for staying distant is the same as Joseph when he said to Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39:9b "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" but I would be a liar to say that. It is my prayer that I should gain such a heart like Joseph that I may claim what he claimed when it comes avoiding sexual encounters with women.

I was told by my dearest of friends that Christianity is about being transparent about who we are and who we are through the power of Jesus Christ. So I have made as clear as I can the man I am on my own. May the Lord Jesus glorify His Name by making me the kind of man I can be by His power and might.

I recently obtained in my ITunes collection the song "Even Hitler Had A Girlfriend" from The Mr. T Experience. The singing is bad but it is a hilarious song. There have been times in my life I could certainly relate...

I still haven't found a girlfriend, though I've tried a lot
so can you help me please, it's tougher than I thought.

The odds are pretty good, but the goods are pretty odd
still at this point I'd take anything you've got.

You see this all the time, nice girls in love with jerks
what could they be thinking tell me how it works.

If I've got some problems well I wouldn't be the first
but the ones I have in mind are even worse

and even Hitler had a girlfriend who he could always call
who'd always be there for him in spite of all his faults.
He was the worst guy ever
reviled and despised
even Hitler had a girlfriend so why can't I?

life is full of contradictions hard to understand
and for every happy woman there's a lonely man.

Nixon had his puppy Charles Manson had his clan
but God forbid that I get a girlfriend.

Even Hitler had a girlfriend
who he could call his own
to sweeten days of bitterness and feeling all alone.

I'm not as bad as Hitler but it doesn't mean a thing
since they'd rather be with Hitler more than me
I don't see why they'd rather be with Hitler more than me.

I love goofy songs like this...I'm such a nerd...