Who I am and Why I Keep This Blog

There have been more people frequenting this blog recently due to the birth of our son Eden. I thought it would be appropriate to welcome you all and invite you to read an updated writing about who I am and why I keep this blog. I desire that you would be blessed in reading it.
Welcome, friends and love to you all!
The grace of God be with each of you in Christ Jesus,
Joshua

Eden's first week...

Eden Rivers' first few days have been spent in a winter wonderland. It is gorgeous outside! The snow is heavy and thick. When we awoke this morning, we looked out the window and beheld all the trees white and glistening. It's the variety of snow that clings to everything. Our nook is overwhelmed with white!

Inside, we have been nestled from the daunting snow storm. It's nice and toasty in here. We are thanking God that our power did not go out this time! He and momma have been cuddled in bed learning together the art of nursing. I have been frantic around the house juggling endless phones calls, dishes, and attending to the needs of baby and wife. Julia's wonderful mother and sisters have been a tremendous help in this area, as I feel ill equipped for such an arduous task. I have the utmost respect for my wife who joyfully accomplishes these things daily. Praise God for such a wonderful woman.

Eden has been doing very well. A little jaundice, but no worse for wear. He has been cozy wrapped in blankets, cooing and singing. Sunday, I played some guitar for him and he was singing along. What a blessing it was to be making music with my son so early on in his life!

His eyes have been opening more and more as time passes. The first time he and I made eye contact was inexplicable. The three of us have been getting to know each other better and better in this time.

In the past week, God has surrounded us with a cloud of such generous people. We have been given a surplus of clothes and baby supplies. We have onesies plentiful, blankets in abundance, and teeny tiny hats coming out our ears. What a blessing! Hardly anything fits our little preemie because he's so tiny. Even though he was 6 lbs when he was born, he seemed smaller than most 6-pounders. He's sweet and delicate.

Today marks one week since Eden's birth. It has been unreal, to say the least. We woke up this morning to find a most gorgeous sunrise. It is as if the LORD painted Eden a heavenly masterpiece in celebration of his birth. We rejoiced with our son this morning in bed.

Julia and I have been so thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ. We ascribe all the glory to God as the Giver of all good things. Our desire is that our Lord might raise up our son for His Kingdom's sake. We know our son is not our own, but he is the LORD's, the God that owns all. Eden Rivers Klein is offered to Christ for His purposes and glory. Please pray with us that God would raise him up to salvation and use him mightily in gospel work in the world.

Thank you family and friends for your earnest prayers to God for us during this pregnancy. It has been a turbulent ride, but the LORD has ordained it for our good and we trust in His mercy in everything. Let this be yet another testimony of the goodness of God.

Eden Rivers Klein

Eden Rivers Klein
Born 2/19/09 at 11:48 am
6 lbs. 0 oz.
18 inches

The name Eden is a reference to the garden of Eden in Genesis chapter 2, “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. … And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:8-10, 15

The Hebrew word ‘Eden’ means “pleasure or delight”. Hence, the garden of Eden was a place of great pleasure and delight. This was because man had an unbroken fellowship and relationship with God. “…they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” Genesis 3:8 This relationship existed until man sinned and was cast out of fellowship with God. “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Genesis 3:23-24

Since then everyone has inherited a sin nature that is passed down from Adam, the first man created. No one is exempt from this nature. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:5 and “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12 This has separated us from knowing God. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

We, as fallen humans, are in a desperate state from conception. The Bible explains our spiritual situation as “death”. (Ephesians 2:1-3) We are born spiritually dead, that is, we are all unable to do anything to please God, because our hearts are so hardened in sin and pride. (Romans 8:8) The only just action that could be taken is punishment. Our sins are infinitely evil because they are against God, who is infinitely holy, therefore, the punishment is infinite. The Bible calls this place of damnation ‘hell’. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17

Because of the severity of our condition, Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 He explains that as we all were born physically to experience this life, so must we also all be born “again” spiritually in order to experience eternal life with God.

This reconciliation between each individual person and God, their Creator, is possible only by the finished work of Jesus Christ. This means that God became a man named Jesus born two thousand years ago. Jesus said that He came “to do the will of His Father”, which was to die, crucified on a cross for all who would believe on Him. By Jesus own authority, He laid down His own life, paying the penalty to redeem men back to God. He was raised from the dead three days later and went up to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. He is now reigning as Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:30-36) He is the Sovereign King over all. This payment made by Jesus was of infinite value and is freely offered to all who come to Him. When a person repents of their sins and places their trust in Jesus Christ as the only merit they have for eternal life, this is evidence that they have been born of God. He has given them a new nature to love God and hate sin.

“… Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” Isaiah 41:17-18

“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?” Psalm 42:1-2

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips” Psalm 63:1-5

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

God does not take delight to punish anyone. “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11 He desires that all men everywhere be saved and commands them to. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31

This is the reason that the name ‘Eden Rivers’ is of such importance to us. The true “rivers of pleasure” are found only in God. Both Julia and I have found this to be so and we desire that as our baby Eden grows up, he will be granted eternal life delighting in God, as well. Our sincere prayer to God is that you would consider these things and place your trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. We love you all very much and are looking forward to watching with you this blessing from God grow up to be “a man after God’s own heart”.

“How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” Psalm 36:7-9

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5



“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28

You can see some pictures from his birthday here.

Grace and Peace to you all!

-Joshua and Julia Klein

Pink on Spiritual and Natural Ability

"But now the question returns, How can God hold the sinner responsible for failing to do what he is unable to do? This necessitates a careful definition of terms. Just what is meant by "unable" and "cannot"?
Now let it be clearly understood that when we speak of the sinner's inability, we do not mean that if men desired to come to Christ they lack the necessary power to carry out their desire. No; the fact is that the sinner's inability or absence of power is itself due to lack of willingness to come to Christ, and this lack of willingness is the fruit of a depraved heart. It is of first importance that we distinguish between natural inability and moral and spiritual inability. For example, we read, "But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age" (1 Kings 14:4); and again, "The men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them" (Jonah 1:13). In both of these passages the words "could not" refer to natural inability. But when we read, "And when his brethren saw that their father loved him (Joseph) more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him" (Gen. 37:4), it is clearly moral inability that is in view. They did not lack the natural ability to "speak peaceably unto him" for they were not dumb. Why then was it that they "could not speak peaceably unto him"? The answer is given in the same verse: it was because "they hated him." Again; in 2 Peter 2:14 we read of a certain class of wicked men "having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin." Here again it is moral inability that is in view. Why is it that these men "cannot cease from sin"? The answer is, Because their eyes were full of adultery. So of Romans 8:8-"They that are in the flesh cannot please God": here is spiritual inability. Why is it that the natural man "cannot please God"? Because he is "alienated from the life of God" (Eph. 4:18). No man can choose that from which his heart is averse-"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?" (Matt. 12:34). "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him" (John 6:44). Here again it is moral and spiritual inability which is before us. Why is it the sinner cannot come to Christ unless he is "drawn"? The answer is, Because his wicked heart loves sin and hates Christ.

...

Should some sinner here object, I cannot help being born into this world with a depraved heart and therefore I am not responsible for my moral and spiritual inability which accrue from it, the reply would be, Responsibility and Culpability He in the indulgence of the depraved propensities, the free indulgence, for God does not force any to sin. Men might pity me but they certainly would not excuse me if I gave vent to a fiery temper and then sought to extenuate myself on the ground of having inherited that temper from my parents. Their own common sense is sufficient to guide their judgment in such a case as this. They would argue I was responsible to restrain my temper. Why then cavil against this same principle in the case supposed above? "Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee thou wicked servant" surely applies here! What would the reader say to a man who had robbed him and who later argued in defense, "I cannot help being a thief, that is my nature"? Surely the reply would be, Then the penitentiary is the proper place for that man. What then shall be said to the one who argues that he cannot help following the bent of his sinful heart? Surely, that the Lake of Fire is where such an one must go. Did ever a murderer plead that he hated his victim so much that he could not go near him without slaying him. Would not that only magnify the enormity of his crime! Then what of the one who loves sin so much that he is at 'enmity against God'!" - Arthur Pink "The Sovereignty of God"