I found this interesting...btw, Target and schoolwork are keeping me busy. Sorry, I haven't had a real blog in a while...I'll get to it...someday.

No more searching for the AAsNew flashlight takes batteries of any size
By Jim Suhr
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:48 p.m. ET Sept. 15, 2004

ST. LOUIS - Anyone who has cursed when their flashlight goes dead may have something new to beam about -- a flashlight that accepts batteries of different sizes.
Energizer argues that its Quick Switch flashlight is a shining example of utility, with users able to raid batteries from such things as remote controls, toys or wall clocks and plunk them into the flashlight.
Launched nationally last week, two truckloads of the flashlights already have been hustled to Florida, where consumers bracing for the third recent hurricane to rake the state have been stocking up batteries, in some cases depleting supplies.
Still, "we weren't planning on launching this in the middle of the hurricane" season, Energizer's Mark Larsen said Tuesday.
The Quick Switch takes two C, D or AA batteries and works by merely adjusting a switch to the proper cell size, automatically locking the batteries into place.
The light output is the same no matter the cell size, though operating time will vary. It retails for $9.99 to $12.99.
The gizmo is the latest entry in the often look-alike arena of flashlights, the Quick Switch "solves the No. 1 consumer concern with flashlights -- it never seems like I have the right batteries when I need them," Larsen said.
A spokesman for Energizer rival Rayovac declined to discuss the Quick Switch, saying he hadn't yet seen the product. But he suggested that the Quick Switch may be an extension of some available "battery adapters," which convert a smaller battery size to the next size up.
The Quick Switch spotlights just how the flashlight has evolved light years since its inception more than a century ago as a "hand torch," then primitively made of crude paper and fiber tubes, with a bulb and rough brass reflector.
With flashlights then more of a novelty, folks did what they knew best to search in the dark -- grab a candle or kerosene lantern, knowing the possible downsides were seeing their homes and offices accidentally go up in flames.
There wasn't battery power strong enough to power it for long stretches, and carbon filament bulbs were inefficient. So users pushed a button to literally -- and for a moment -- "flash light" on the path in front of them, giving the devices their name.
Since then, the flashlight became ideal for more conventional uses, with its size and shape morphing as batteries became smaller and stronger.

Ultimately, our understanding of the security of the believer will be shapedout of our understanding of the general nature of salvation.While God is altogether just and holy, he is also loving and kind. While hisholy nature dictates that sin must be punished, he himself provided the wayfor sin to be punished and sinners to be saved. God himself, without ceasingto be God in any sense whatsoever, became a real human being, just like us,except that he did not have a sinful nature, and he never sinned. He died onthe cross and took the guilt and the consequences of our sins -- we receivethe benefits of what he did, not by following a set of rules but simply bytrusting in him and what he did for us.Before we can truly place our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must takefull responsibility for our sins; we must recognize the guilt that is ours,because it is we who have chosen to commit those sins of our own will, andnobody forced us to do them. We must confess that we deserve to suffer theconsequences of our sins both in this life and in the world to come, andthat whatever comes our way is less than what our sins merit. We mustsincerely choose to turn from those sins to God, even though the fruit ofthat choice will never be perfect in this life.In the gospel we understand that our Lord Jesus Christ took on himself allof the curse and condemnation due for our sins, having become a curse for usas he took both the guilt and the consequences for our sin. "Christ redeemedus from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us." (Galatians3:13.) What does it mean that Christ became a curse for us? It means that hefully bore the just consequences of our actions, the curse and judgment of aholy God. We receive the benefits of what he did for us by means of faith;we are justified by faith, by faith alone, but by a faith that is neveralone.What is justification? It is a legal declaration, not unlike what happens ina court of law; it has to do with our legal standing before God. As somegodly pastors and teachers put it so well over three centuries ago:"Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all oursins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousnessof Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone." (_The WestminsterShorter Catechism_, Answer 33.)Justification is not that God makes us good and then declares what he hasdone. Rather, God declares sinners righteous solely on the basis of whatChrist did for them: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8.) This gracious declaration is without any reference to anythingin me. This is what the Apostolic Church has ever maintained: "For wemaintain that a man is justified (declared righteous) by faith apart fromobserving the law." (Romans 3:28.) We can NEVER come under condemnation,regardless of what we do. Yet, in spite of this absolute, impeccable,imperishable, irrevocable standing that we possess before God, which is inno way subject to the vacillation and vicissitudes of our personal walk --as an expression of our gratitude, we strive to keep the law because we havebeen embossed with the restored image of God in Jesus Christ -- after webelieved, when we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians1:13, 14.)Those who have been born again do reflect this in a changed way of life.They have not been saved because they live a new life; they live a new lifebecause they have been saved. Dead sinners are effectually called by theHoly Spirit working through the preaching of the gospel. The moment thesesinners believe, their sins are forgiven, having been fully paid for byChrist, and Christ's perfect obedience -- the very righteousness of Godhimself -- is put to their account. Just as our credit card charges andpayments are reflected in a monthly statement, so Jesus takes our wholedebt, and he credits us with his completely righteous record. But, as Isaid, believers are also immediately sealed with the Holy Spirit who beginsthe life -- long process of changing them into the restored image of God,making them more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ, a process notcompleted until death. As Paul says, "In whom you also trusted, after youheard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also afteryou believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, who is theearnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13, 14.)There will always be the fruit of a changed life in everyone who believes --always imperfect, but always there. "No one who is born of God practicessin, because his seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is bornof God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil areobvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor theone who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:9, 10.) In other words, aperson who is born again can fall into serious sin, even adultery or murder,and never lose his salvation: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceiveourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8.) But a born again personcannot live on and on in sin without turning away from it and back to God.Why? Because the Holy Ghost will not allow a born again person to live insin. He convicts us, and if that doesn't produce repentance, he disciplinesus -- gently at first, then more severely if necessary. If all else fails,the Holy Spirit will take us home to heaven.Yet all who believe are fully righteous in God's sight the moment theybelieve: "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from worksof the Law." (Romans 3:28.) "But to the one who does not work, but believesin him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckonsrighteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds havebeen forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whosesin the Lord will not take into account.'" (Romans 4:5-8.) And, "There istherefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans8:1.)As I said, ultimately, our understanding of the security of the believerwill be shaped out of our understanding of the general nature of salvation.Is our salvation based on what we do or on what God has done for us in JesusChrist, or is it a blend of both? I would submit that salvation from firstto last is God's work. We have seen that it is God who initiates salvationin its accomplishment. But the Bible is clear that it is also God whoinitiates salvation in its application.When it comes to our response to the gospel invitation, all Christiansaffirm that grace must precede our response. That is the Roman Catholicposition, as well as that of the Orthodox, Lutherans, Arminians andCalvinists.Saint Paul said, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and ofthe ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in thosewho are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifyingthe cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his greatlove for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even whenwe were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved."(Ephesians 2:1-5)Our Lord said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me drawshim . . ." (John 6:44.)In the biblical understanding of that prevenient grace is the affirmationthat with regard to the elect there is a grace that always accomplishes itspurpose: "All that the Father gives me will come to me . . ." (John 6:37.)Rooted then as salvation is in the sovereignty of God's grace in JesusChrist, with an absolute guarantee that every single one of God's elect willcome to Christ, we have the wonderful assurance of our Lord: "And whoevercomes to me I will never drive away." (John 6:37.) Or, as Saint Paul putit:"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry iton to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6.)I hope that helps.Cordially in Christ,Bob"Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, in which hepardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteousin his sight; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but onlyfor the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed tothem, and received by faith alone." (The Larger Catechism, 70)Robert Benn Vincent, Sr.Grace Presbyterian Church4900 Jackson StreetAlexandria, Louisiana 71303-2509Tutissimum Refugium Sanguinis Christi80 Hickory Hill DriveBoyce, Louisiana 71409-8784318.445.7271 church318.443.1034 fax318.793.5354 homebob@rbvincent.comhttp://www.rbvincent.comhttp://www.grace-presbyterian.orghttp://www.gcsla.orghttp://www.rbvincent.com/reformedcharismatic.htm

This is a short essay by a friend of mine...

Dear Sisters and Brothers,Off-list one of you asked me to address the issues of salvation and thesecurity of the believer. Here is part I, the Security of the Believer.The doctrine of the security of the believer, like so many other biblical doctrines, contains a measure of logical tension within it. On the one handwe are assured that Christ's sheep can never perish and, on the other, weare warned that if we do not persevere until the end, we will perish. The result of this tension is that Christians often line up on one side,distorting the verses that support the other side. On the one hand we havefull blown Arminianism teaching that a true Christian can lose his salvationand end up in hell, and on the other we have Calvinistic Arminians andAntinomian Calvinists teaching that once we have prayed to receive Christ wecannot possibly go to hell, no matter what we do: "Sign your name here andput today's date. If you ever doubt your salvation, take this out and readit again. Once you are saved, you are always saved."I would like to propose a middle way, actually, fully and simultaneouslyembracing both positions: believing in eternal security and accepting asgenuine the warnings to Christians about apostasy.The book of Hebrews does that in several places, take, for example, Hebrews3:14: "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end theconfidence we had at first." What Hebrews is affirming is that there arepeople who are in fellowship with the church; to all outward appearances,even to themselves, they are true Christians, but then they turn away fromgathering with the Lord's people and never return to the fold, having losttheir confidence in the Lord Jesus. Hebrews warns all Christians of thisdanger; yet it does not say that those who have truly come to share inChrist can commit apostasy; in fact, it says the opposite. In effect, whatHebrews 3:14 says is: The proof of any person's having become a trueChristian is that he continues on in that profession firmly until the end.If he does not, then he never came to share in Christ.This is similar to Hebrews 3:6: "And we are his house, if we hold on to ourcourage and the hope of which we boast." In effect, if we do not hold on toour courage and hope in the Lord Jesus on into the future, we are notChrist's house at the present time. This pushes me to ponder my presentstate in view of the future: if I turn away from following the Lord Jesus,then I never really was part of his house. I may have thought that I was,and others may have been persuaded of the genuineness of my faith. Peoplemay have even been converted to Christ under my preaching, but if I don'tcontinue seeking the Lord and finally turn away, I prove that I was neversavingly united to him.The Apostle John puts it this way: "They went out from us, but they did notreally belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would haveremained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."(1 John 2:19) In effect, true saints persevere to the end, and they do so,because of God's omnipotent grace.God preserves me, so I persevere. If I do not persevere, it is due to myfailure to make diligent use of the means of grace in seeking the Lord Jesuswith all my heart. The fault is all mine. If I do persevere, it is due toGod's live-giving, effectual grace. The praise and glory is all his.These things are often put in juxtaposition. Take the passage in Philippians2:12, 13: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not onlyin my presence, but now much more in my absence -- continue to work out yoursalvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to willand to act according to his good purpose."I must throw my whole life into the pursuit of holiness -- entire conformityto the restored image of God in Christ, the Servant who was obedient untodeath -- the goal that is never fully attained in this life. (Philippians3:12 ff.) I must do so with fear and trembling, because if I do not, I willperish everlastingly. I, to every witness, a true Christian, must work itout with fear and trembling. And, when I have worked it out, when I am fullylike the Lord Jesus, who made himself of no account and esteemed others moreimportant than himself (Philippians 2:5 ff.). When the Lord Jesus confers onme the crowns of reward at his judgment seat for whatever that I may havedone for him in this life, I will cast my crowns before him and confess,"You are worthy, my Lord and God." (Revelation 4:10) The glory alone isyours: it was simply your sovereign, effectual, predestinating, calling,justifying, sanctifying, preserving, enabling, unmerited grace; it was youwho were at work in me to will and to act according to your good purpose."So it is, that Paul who says, "I know whom I have believed, and am convincedthat he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day," (2Timothy 1:12) takes seriously the danger of reprobation: "I beat my body andmake it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will notbe disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:27)I hope that helps.Cordially in Christ,Bob"Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, in which hepardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteousin his sight; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but onlyfor the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed tothem, and received by faith alone." (The Larger Catechism, 70)Robert Benn Vincent, Sr.Grace Presbyterian Church4900 Jackson StreetAlexandria, Louisiana 71303-2509Tutissimum Refugium Sanguinis Christi80 Hickory Hill DriveBoyce, Louisiana 71409-8784318.445.7271 church318.443.1034 fax318.793.5354 homebob@rbvincent.comhttp://www.rbvincent.comhttp://www.grace-presbyterian.orghttp://www.gcsla.orghttp://www.rbvincent.com/reformedcharismatic.htm

As I look back on my relatively short life of 28 years, there are a fewdates that pop back into my mind. The first is October 25, 1994. That wasthe day that I accepted Christ as my Savior. Another is April 27, 2002, theday that I married my wife. Another important day is the day in 1996 that Isat on the back steps of the 2nd Platoon Baaraks of Bravo Company 1st andthe 50th at Fort Benning, Georgia, and gave my life back to the Lord after Ihad tried to take it back and destroyed it. I also think of a day in lateMay of 1998 when I packed up all my stuff in my Honda Civic and moved toMichigan. I think that today will be another day to remember. As I began what is now my last year of college, I suddenly stepped backand began to look at my life from an inventory perspective. Even though ithad been my dream to someday teach in a college or university, I did notknow if I wanted to jump back into school and earn a Master's Degree. Myfear was that I would just be doing it because I did not know what else todo, which I may add, was a legitimate fear. But slowly over time, I letthat fear take control of me. I stared fear in the eye and I blinked. Iallowed a spirit of fear to overtake me and dictate to me what I was to dowith my life. I have been anxiously nervous for the past few months,wondering what I was going to do in regards to the future. In my spirit, Iwrestled with my fear of failure and the want in me to "play it safe" seemedto be what I felt was God's will. But I knew better. After much prayer andthought, I had to repent to the Lord today of allowing a spirit of fear toovertake me and control me. I made a very crucial decision today. Sometime in the next few months, Kandice and I will be relocating toCanton, Ohio. Next fall, I plan on beginning my first year of seminaryeither at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School's extension site in Akron,Ohio, or Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. I will be studyingfor a Masters of Divinity degree. For too long, I fudged and weaseledtrying to excuse my fear of failure and pass it off as something legitimate,but it was not. I was letting fear control me and not the Holy Spirit. Iam still very afraid. But I believe that the difference is that I am notallowing that fear to control me. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy1:7ff that "...God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, andof love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of thetestimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of theafflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath savedus, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, butaccording to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began..." Now that this decision is made, please continue to pray that the Lordwould open up doors in regards to the intricacies of the move and slam thedoors shut of the areas that he does not want us to go in. Please also praythat God would allow me to lead my family spiritually in the correct duringthis time of transition.In His Grip,Dave M.