Awww...Prachta Is Cancelled This Year

In a bit of post-Christmas bad news, we've just learned that the highly-anticipated Prachta festivities will not take place this year. The event, an annual affair featuring classic cuisine and art films, has traditionally been celebrated the last working day of the calendar year. No official reasons were given by an anonymous Prachta spokesperson.

On a related note, however, the Production area refrigerator has received a thorough cleaning. Hats off to Industrial Engineer Stokke for his devotion to hygiene and his dedication to the health and well-being of his co-workers.

For the truly creative, an idea: Pete was sure to find excess foodstuffs that could form the basis for a party of some sort to replace (as if that were possible) Prachta observances. Consult the nearby trash container for possibilities.Participation in any such dining is not recommended for pregnant women or those with on-going health concerns.

Top FOF Broadcasts of 2005

Here's the listing of the top daily broadcasts for 2005, including both new programs and re-airs:

1 What Women Should Know About Men I-III Mrs. Shaunti Feldhahn
2 Sound Advice on Healthy Eating I-III (HC) Mr. David Meinz
3 America's Moral Freefall I-III (HC) Dr. Francis Schaeffer
4 Seeing Life From a New Perspective I-II (HC) Mrs. Chonda Pierce
5 Flying High for the Lord I-II (HC) Mr. Russell O'Quinn
6 Tribute to a Praying Mom (HC) Mr. Ty Nichols and Mrs. Fern Nichols
7 Cherish Your Wife I-II (HC) Dr. Walt Larimore
8 Proper Care of Husbands, The I-II Dr. Laura Schlessinger
9 Adult Children of Alcoholics I-III Panel
10 Amazing Faith: A Tsunami Story I-II Pastor Dayalan Sanders
11 Defusing the Aging Process I-II Dr. Ken Cooper
12 From Jihad to Jesus (HC) Dr. Ergun Caner
13 Nurturing Intimacy in Your Marriage I-II Mr. Joe Beam
14 Creative Ideas for Child Discipline I-II Mrs. Lisa Whelchel
15 Living the Good Life I-II Mr. Chuck Colson
16 Key to Healthy Relationships, The I-II Panel
17 Greatest of These is Love, The I-II (HC) Mrs. Corrie Ten Boom
18 Encouragement for the Single Life (HC) Ms. Cheryl Martin
19 When Love Wins a Heart (HC) Mr. Mike Haley
20 Examining Addictive Behaviors I-II Dr. Arch Hart

Note that (HC) designates a "Hitchcock," which is our internal term for a pre-recorded message. Thanks to Christine for the info. Some interesting stuff here!

Top Broadcasts CD Pack

In case you wondered, this year's "Best Of" CD set is described on the FOF website this way:

These are the broadcasts that had the phones ringing at Focus on the Family. Find out what all the excitement is about in these 6 broadcast episodes that cover everything from what husbands wish their wives knew to healthy eating habits to a powerful personal message from Focus staffer (and former homosexual) Mike Haley and much more!

Includes: "What Women Should Know About Men I-III," "Sound Advice on Healthy Eating I-III," "America’s Moral Freefall I-III," "From Jihad to Jesus," "When Love Wins a Heart" and "Nurturing Intimacy in Your Marriage."

See the resource here.

Devo for Wed Dec 28, 2005

Today I shared a devotional thought about God's sovereignty.

We started by looking at a brief clip from "Apollo 13," scene 8, in which the main capsule's power is shut down and the men are moved to the LEM. Their lives were now controlled, to a degree, by the good folks in Houston.

Then I read from the shorter catechism a paragraph about the tension many feel when thinking about God's control over ALL creation. This includes the "over-all" picture, and encompasses the "small things" as well as the "big" things of life.

"In other words, the 'big' things really depend on the 'little' things. If the little things are not under control, the big things cannot be either."

The objections to this doctrine, including the argument that this means men are but pawns on the chessboard, or are reduced to helpless robots, were answered simply:

We know from the Bible that we are responsible. We know from the same Bible that God does control us, so that He also determines what we do. So we accept this teaching because it is the teaching of the Bible, and not because we can explain it.

Application: I suggested that today we should practice "powering down," as the astronauts did in the movie...let go of any sense that I am in control of my life, and place my day in God's hands, into His control.

As you and I go about our day, let's acknowledge His sovereignty in all of life, including the small things, and let Him work as He sees fit in our lives.

~~~~~

For your reference, here's the point from the catechism:

Q.11. What are God's works of providence?
A. God's works of providence are, his most holy,(a) wise,(b) and powerful (c) preserving (d) and governing (e) all his creatures, and all their actions.(f)

(a) Ps. 145:17
(b) Ps. 104:24
(c) Heb. 1:3
(d) Neh. 9:6
(e) Eph. 1:19-22
(f) Ps. 36:6; Prov. 16:33; Matt. 10:30

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