6 months

Bethany and I have been married 6 months today!  A happy thought and reality...

Divine Blessing & Food, Physical and Spiritual

In Genesis, God blessed man and gave him the right to the plants and the animals for food (Gen 1:29; 9:3). Yet, should we not give thanks for the food and seek God’s blessing upon it as Jesus did (Matt 14:19; 15:36)? But what does it mean that He blessed the food? From a study I am doing on blessing, it seems that when Jesus blesses the food He is teaching us that we need to depend on God for our sustenance and strength. As John Calvin says in The Institutes, “But the Spirit declares not only that the produce of the earth is God’s special gift, but ‘that man does not live by bread only’ (Deut 8:3), because it is not mere fullness that nourishes him but the secret blessing of God” (1.16.7). Mere food molecules do not nourish man; God continually sustains man by His hand. The food is a tool which has no power unless God decrees it.

This leads to my second pondering. What does it mean when Christ showed us the example which Paul repeats of blessing the Lord’s Supper? As in the previous example, when Christ blesses, He does so directly (Mt. 26:26). As God, He can bless at will. Yet, when we come to the Table, the cup should also be blessed according to Paul (1 Cor 10:16). In our case, we bless indirectly.  We must come and ask God’s blessing on these simple physical elements, so that by His power they may give us the spiritual nourishment and strength which they are meant to. What a wonderful thing the blessing of God is, and how little sensitivity I find in myself to be grateful for His great goodness.

Other passages: Lk 24:30; 1 Cor 10:16; Mt. 26:26; Mk 14:22 [cf Lk 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24; 1 Tim 4:3; Rom 14:6; Acts 27:35]

An article on Confessionism which I found really helpful

  This article "Confessionism: The Misuse of 1 John 1:9" lays out much that I have wondered about, and it actually summarizes much that I've thought, and it helped me to complete my thoughts.  I had arrived at many of these conclusions regarding the passage under question, 1 John 1:6-2:1.  However, it wasn't till part way through this article that I really put together the fact that a normative Christian response to sin is to recognize its presence in the believer.  Our understanding of our need of a Redeemer is the basis of our confession of sin's indwelling presence with us on this earth.  Nothing good comes from us; everything good comes from God.  Thus, I freely confess that I am a sinner who sins daily.

 As the author of the article says, we do admit/confess our sins, but it is not to obtain forgiveness.  The admission of our sin is a step on the path of repentance and change.  We have forgiveness, full and free, from the moment of our initial justification.

Notes

I read in Habakkuk today, and I was struck by the thoughts at the end of chapter 2.  The heathen speak to their voiceless idols saying, "Awake, Awake."  But... the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silent before Him.  While we have been granted access to the throne of grace freely, it is not just to speak.  Yet, I find that it is extremely difficult to see the Lord in His holy temple and also keep silent.  The cluttered mind and lack of natural stillness needs to be remedied, by grace.  May I learn to be still before the throne!

I posted a bit at the "family" blog today since it is the 121st year since my great-grandmother was born.

Finally, I have recently been finding a wealth of commentaries on Google Books that are on various lists of "best" commentaries.  Obviously the value of them varies, but I found books by Keil, Delitzsch, G. Campbell Morgan, F. B. Meyer, Westcott, A. J. Gordon, Andrew Bonar, A. T. Robertson, John Owen, Spurgeon, John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Broadus, A. C. Gaebelein, Charles Hodge, and A. W. Pink.  The significance is not so much in the details as in the vast array of resouces that are available.  Besides all that, there is much available in areas of church history and theology as well.

A Tribute to Our Grandparents - Thanksgiving 2009

In These Days
11/27/09 - MCC

Slowly they leave us these heroes of ours.
They go to their fathers, as someday we will join them.
They gave us our lives; they gave us our freedoms, oft showed us our life-work as well.

Yet now they are falling, these giants among men and women
They succumb not to the pressures and toils that buffeted their lives, but rather to the sin and death that works in all.
But they left something to us, a country, a faith, a business, a family.

They go unbowed, though nature has bent them.
They go in strength, though their bodies now fail them.
They go in wisdom, though their minds may wander.
In these days, may their final lessons be taught to our hearts.

In these days, may we learn their perseverance.
May we learn the love of God which carried the Gospel to those who had never heard.
May we learn the courageous integrity which fought on Iwo Jima or in Korea.
May we follow the example of those who labored to build and sustain their families and give them the best that they could.
May we know the same tender care for our families that has been given us. 
May we be strong and pass on the legacy which we received, not because it was perfect, but because it is God-honoring.
May we be able to tell our children and grandchildren of the works of God in the lives of our families... those whom God used in wondrous ways around the world, those who labored, quietly faithful in their churches, and those whom God brought near to Himself after many decades of resistance.

In these days, let us honor our heroes: common men and women of God, of faith, of courage, of endurance, of love. Flaws there are in each life, but each has much to teach those who would learn.

That By All Means I Might Win Some

This message by D. A. Carson is outstanding.  I have listened to it once and am almost through listening to it a second time.  It was recommended to me by Pastor Phillips and has been well worth the time and thought.  It deals with the context and application of what it means to be flexible in sharing the Gospel.  It is a very direct confrontation of some aspects of post-modernism but also helpful in thinking through the Gospel more generally. 
Highly recommend!

Acts: Transition or Model?

   As I think back to the class 'Acts and Pauline Epistles,' I have two distinct memories that relate to Acts.  The first is that Acts is a transitional book, not a normative one.  The second is that Acts ends in a somewhat abrupt fashion which emphasizes Paul's "unhindered ministry."  Yesterday, I looked at the textbook, Gromacki's New Testament Survey, and I found these statements regarding the distinctive features of Acts: first, "Acts must also be seen as a transitional book," then "Acts is basically a book of mission and witness" (pgs 154-155).  After reading the related sections, I think the author is quite concerned about the use of the transitional elements of Acts as a norm for the church today, particularly in Pentacostalism.

   But while everyone would acknowledge that portions of Acts are transitional (e.g. disciples of John no longer live without the Holy Spirit), I wonder if the emphasis on the transitional tends to obscure the pervasive norm which can be seen in Acts.  An emphasis on the transitional nature of Acts puts the focus on the historical nature of the book.  An emphasis on the normative nature of Acts puts the focus on the present Church's need to emulate the early church, particularly in witness. It gives a greater value to understanding how this book can teach doctrine, reprove, correct, and instruct in righteousness.  Thus, we need to consider which aspects of Acts are transitional and which are normative.

  The transitional portions of Acts are relatively few, being those which arise from the newness of God's establishment and confirmation of the church.  1) Thus, believers adjusted to the differences that the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ made - adjusting from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.  2) The Spirit of God poured out His power in particular evidences confirming the new movement: Pentecost, multiple angelic visits and visions, and transporting Philip via the Spirit.  3) No longer were the majority of God's people descended from Abraham; now they came from all nations, and this caused significant upheaval and adjusting.

   Yet these transitional elements are a small portion of what God did in Acts; the primary emphasis seems to be on the witness of the believers to the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah.  Acts 1:8 seems to be an appropriate lens through which to see the book: Jesus' followers would declare what they knew concerning Him in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 1) Acts is a grand demonstration of how to be witnesses, God's way.  2) It speaks of how one should sow the seeds for churches that God will grow.  Acts displays the Gospel making its way into foreign places and chronicles many of the difficulties that can be expected.  3) Acts shows us the Holy Spirit at work: empowering, filling, sending harvesters, guiding, encouraging, and doing what only God can do.

  Let's look to Acts as a model, not a model of the inner working of the church (which is found in the epistles), but as a model of how to be witnesses.  I believe Acts gives us a paradigm for sharing with all who are our neighbors, no matter what corner of the globe they live in.  However, these are recent thoughts, and I would really like to have them critiqued by others... so please, go ahead.

download Desiring God for free

Here's a link to a free download of Piper's Desiring God in audio format.  I was just thinking of this book earlier and now I'm glad to finally be able to get it.  I've started The Pleasures of God a couple of times, and it has been very good.

on Humility, by writers of yesteryear

The quotation below has been on my mind since I read it several weeks ago, particularly the part in bold.  The quotation is from John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion.  It causes me to wonder, "What if the foundation of my philosophy of life really were humility before God?"  What if I deeply understood that the most basic principle is that I live  in humility and dependence on God?  That would change much in the way I approach life, and it would give me a more proper view of myself, my neighbor, and, above all, my God.
Looking into the Chrysostom quote led me to some of Jonathan Edwards' writings on this topic, so you may hear more from me on this topic later because the first page of Edwards proved even deeper than Calvin.


I have always been exceedingly delighted with the words of Chrysostom, "The foundation of our philosophy is humility"; and still more with those of Augustine, "As the orator, when asked, What is the first precept in eloquence? answered, Delivery: What is the second? Delivery: What the third? Delivery: so, if you ask me in regard to the precepts of the Christian Religion, I will answer, first, second, and third, Humility." By humility he means not when a man, with a consciousness of some virtue, refrains from pride, but when he truly feels that he has no refuge but in humility. This is clear from another passage, "Let no man," says he, "flatter himself: of himself he is a devil: his happiness he owes entirely to God. What have you of your own but sin? Take your sin which is your own; for righteousness is of God." Again, "Why presume so much on the capability of nature? It is wounded, maimed, vexed, lost. The thing wanted is genuine confession, not false defence." "When any one knows that he is nothing in himself, and has no help from himself, the weapons within himself are broken, and the war is ended." All the weapons of impiety must be bruised, and broken, and burnt in the fire; you must remain unarmed, having no help in yourself. The more infirm you are, the more the Lord will sustain you. So, in expounding the seventieth Psalm, he forbids us to remember our own righteousness, in order that we may recognise the righteousness of God, and shows that God bestows his grace upon us, that we may know that we are nothing; that we stand only by the mercy of God, seeing that in ourselves eve are altogether wicked. Let us not contend with God for our right, as if anything attributed to him were lost to our salvation. As our insignificance is his exaltation, so the confession of our insignificance has its remedy provided in his mercy. (Institutes, 2.2.11; italics and bolding mine)

Vowels !?!?!?!

How many vowels are there in English?  How many vowel sounds are there?  How many ways are there to spell those vowel sounds?  Below is a game that my siblings and I have played for years.  It's rather simple... or should be. :)

simple
Raid, read, ride, rode, rude
Lane/lain, lean/lien, line, loan/lone, loon/lune
Sack, sec, sick, sock, suck 
Panned, penned, pinned, pawned, punned

works with both long and short
Bat, bet, bit bought, but/butt
Bait, beat/beet, bite/byte, boat, butte/beaut/boot (which long "u" sound to you want to use?)

a bit more complex
Cane/Cain, keen, kine, cone, coon

excuse me?!?
Gnat, net, knit, not/knot/naught, nut

There are MANY others.  Feel free to think of them and add them as comments... don't bother adding the "almosts"; there are too many to count.

Immortality: More thoughts begun by Lewis

  If our mortality can be counted in decades and eternity cannot even be counted in millenia, then each day here is successful only as it counts for eternity.  Thus, it is vital to consider how we spend our days.  It seems discouraging though, for most of our life is spent upon the mundane: eating, working, sleeping, household cleanings, playing games, etc.  Yet, the key is not to change our activities, but to ensure that our aim is godliness in each activity, whether mundane or exciting.  For godliness has promise not just for this life, but also for the coming life (1 Tim. 4:7-8).  Thus, while Paul specifically limits the value of physical, bodily training, even that may be of eternal value if practiced in godliness.  I think of a friend who ministered in Russia and used the fitness room as a place to make gospel contacts.

  And what of the gospel and eternity?  What is the aim of the gospel except to see souls come to love and serve God and join His community, the Church? This is key since, of the three human institutions which God established, only the Church will last forever.  Earthly government will be overcome by the Kingdom of our God.  Earthly family relationships will be done away with, as Jesus made plain.  Thus, our highest investments for eternity will be those that are made for eternity, investments in God's Church, His Kingdom, His family.  May we structure every relationship on this earth for that eternal glory.

James 4:14b - What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

1 Corinthians 15:54 - When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Psalm 90:10, 12 - The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Matthew 16:26 - For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
(KJV & ESV)

recommended from today

Today's sermon was really good; there is "Grace for Stupid Mistakes", Psalm 34.

Also, something from Oma:
"After all, ministry is the perimeter, KNOWing God is the center and cause for it all."

Whining with a smile

On October 8th at 3:25PM, I saw the first snow flake of the year. 
And now, this has happened overnight, very pretty but...  Just when I was beginning to like the West and especially Colorado... :( 
But at least that means Pedro may not pitch as well tonight... :)

The view from our balcony

Intentionally Train Yourself in Godliness

Do we do this at all?

I Timothy 4:7-10

 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 

(ESV)

from yesterday's sermon: "Getting Real about Our Fears"

Yesterday, Juan spoke on Psalm 3 and God's protection in the life of His children.  God does not always shield us from our enemies, but as Juan said, "God is shielding me from the intentions of all my enemies and even Satan himself."

The Biblical Gospel

I'd never heard of Paris Reidhead before, but apparently he is quite well known.  He even has a spot on Wikipedia.  Anyways, I came across one of his sermons recently and ended up listening to it.  It is called "Ten Shekels and a Shirt" and sounds to me like a clear call for a Biblical Gospel.  It can be found on SermonAudio.

The next sermon I listened to was called "The Gospel According to Romans" by my grandfather.  It sounded like exactly the same message from a different perspective.  These two are fresh reminders that are causing me to again ponder the Biblical Gospel, not the one that calls for no change in a person's life.

Luke 9:23-25 - And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 

No Turning Back: The Life and Adventures of Herbert Grings

No Turning Back is a re-writing of the story of Herbert E. Grings, who served the Lord all over the globe for more than six decades.  It has been written to make the story more accessible to the younger generation, but as far as I understand, it is largely an adaptation of the original Autobiography of Herbert Ernest Grings.

For more on this family and related books, see this website.

Immortality

Sunday night an excerpt from C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity was read in our community group.  Below is part of it.  It is surprising how much difference it makes to look at someone and think "There is an immortal who will be forever somewhere" as opposed to seeing "just" another person of some sort or other.  I can already the difference it would make in my life if I would keep eternity and immortality always in view.  To paraphrase... what is life?  It is just a mist which appears for a bit and then disappears.

"...Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live for ever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live for ever."

"And immortality makes this other difference... If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilisation, which may last for a thousand years, is more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is not only more important but incomporably more important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state, or a civilisation, compared with his, is only a moment."

Nature's Revelation

Nature’s Revelation
MCC – September 2009

“Give ear and hear,” the voice so clear.
Nature delights in our God's might.

Look up and find, skies testify’ng.
The sun speaks praise, as do the days.

Review and see His grace to thee.
As birds He feeds, He knows your needs.

Take thought and learn, and thus discern
Ants’ right display of working days.

Take heart and seek, since lilies speak
Of God’s good plan for clothing man.

Stand still and feel the seasons wheel.
God’s good rain falls on great and small.

“Consider, see,” He says to thee.
Creation shares of God’s good care.

- Psalm 19:1-6; Matthew 6:25-30; Proverbs 6:6-8; Acts 14:15-17; Psalm 97:6

Lord of the Harvest! It is Right and Meet

Better known for writing "The Church's One Foundation", Samuel Stone also wrote this hymn which I found to be a profitable read.  Some of the later verses are particularly Scripture-filled; I highlighted the verses that resonated most with me.

Lord of the harvest! it is right and meet
That we should lay our first-fruits at Thy feet
With joyful Alleluia.

Sweet is the soul’s thanksgiving after prayer;
Sweet is the worship that with Heav’n we share,
Who sing the Alleluia!

Lowly we prayed, and Thou didst hear on high—
Didst lift our hearts and change our suppliant cry
To festal Alleluia.

So sing we now in tune with that great song,
That all the age of ages shall prolong,
The endless Alleluia.

To Thee, O Lord of Harvest, who hast heard,
And to Thy white robed reapers giv’n the word,
We sing our Alleluia.

O Christ, who in the wide world’s ghostly sea
Hast bid the net be cast anew, to Thee
We sing our Alleluia.

To Thee, eternal Spirit, who again
Hast moved with life upon the slumbrous main,
We sing our Alleluia.

Yea, West and East the companies go forth;
“We come!” is sounding to the South and North;
To God sing Alleluia.

The fishermen of Jesus far away
Seek in new waters an immortal prey;
To Christ the Alleluia.

The Holy Dove is brooding o’er the deep,
And careless hearts are waking out of sleep;
To Him sing Alleluia.

Yea, for sweet hope new-born—blest work begun—
Sing Alleluia to the Three in One,
Adoring Alleluia.

Glory to God! the Church in patience cries;
Glory to God! the Church at rest replies,
With endless Alleluia.
- by Samuel J. Stone   

appropriate contextualization - thoughts from recent reading

from 9Marks ejournal:

 "The point of contextualization is not comfort, but clarity.  The gospel will never be completely comfortable in any fallen society or to any sinful human being.  Our goal is to make sure that we do not put any obstacles in the way of the gospel, and that the only stumbling block is the stumbling block of the cross itself."

Final thoughts on the Heavens Declaring

Several less-organized thoughts have occurred to me as I have pondered this topic, so I shall share some of them.

 The fact that this discussion of how much nature declares about God is novel to me probably indicates that my conception of natural revelation has always been quite weak.  While I have heard much about natural and special revelation, clearly I have never had a robust understanding of what natural revelation is.  Natural revelation reveals!

 This has brought to mind Francis Schaeffer's discussion of Nature and Grace and the fact that in men's thinking Nature tends to overwhelm Grace if the Bible is not carefully kept central.  However, it seems that Nature has basically disappeared from much of modern Christian thinking. Or, maybe it's just me?

 Also, this understanding of nature's declaring the righteousness of God may also allow for a more robust presuppositional apologetic.  I would have to re-read Van Til, but it seems to me that this would allow one to presuppose even further than he speaks of.

The Heavens Declare His Righteousness
The Heavens Declare His Righteousness - Initial Thoughts

The Heavens Declare His Righteousness

     To speak of the heavens proclaiming the righteousness of God is at first a somewhat difficult thing. That the heavens should declare the glory of God (Ps. 19:1-6) is not hard to see; the wonder of all creation fairly booms out that there is a God who created all things, both seen and unseen. Yet, it is not immediately apparent what it means that these same heavens announce the righteousness of God. Thus, I have been pondering and studying on Psalm 50:6 and 97:6.

     Both passages speak of God as Sovereign-Judge coming to separate between the righteous and the wicked. Both passages see the heavens themselves declaring that God is righteous and He has the right to judge. Some would see the “heavens” in Psalm 50 as God’s angels and perfected saints (Treasury of David). Yet this does not seem best in this context. Nor would such an interpretation fit the context of Psalm 97. The natural heavens seem the most likely reference as Spurgeon agrees, saying, “The heavens declare his righteousness. It is as conspicuous as if written across the skies, both the celestial and the terrestrial globes shine in its light.” Thus, let us consider that just as the heavens declare God’s glory in Psalm 19, those same heavens now declare the righteousness of God. How is it that they can convey God’s moral attributes? Let me suggest several passages that may speak to this and which seem to lend answers to the questions.

     The Moral Character of Nature
Genesis 1 – In the beginning, God made all things, and He made them good. This is a moral statement of the condition of nature. And as God at the beginning declared them to be good, so man to this day can see His goodness, though it is marred by the sin of man.

Romans 8:19-23 – And does not this very groaning of the marred creation show us that it has a moral nature which speaks of the righteousness of its Creator?

      The Ability to know that Moral Character
Romans 1:18-21 – God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly perceived from the world around us, leaving men without any excuse. This is certainly a moral indictment against those who would claim ignorance. God has shown us His goodness

Acts 14:15-17 – The living Creator-God left a witness to Himself on earth by doing good and sending rain and seasons that produce fruit, thus satisfying man with both food and gladness. (cf Mt 5:45)

Proverbs 6:6-8 – Man can learn wisdom from the ant, particularly regarding diligence and timeliness in work. There is goodness to behold and glean from the work of the ant!

Matthew 6:25-30 – Man can learn from the birds of the air and the plants of the field of the gracious provision of God. He provides food and dressing for these creatures of His which are of little account. Yet, we do not take time to consider the lessons here, though Jesus said, “look” and “consider.” We ought to give time to these ponderings of our Father’s ways in nature. Will our heavenly Father not provide even more sufficiently for His own than He does for the grass which will wither shortly?

*Other passages to consider – Psalms 8; 89:5; Job 38:41; Proverbs 30:24-31; Jeremiah 30:23; 42:15-17, 22; Ezeziel 13:10-16; Matthew 5:44-46; Luke 6:35-36; Revelation 16

“Give ear and hear,” the voice so clear.

All nature cries

Of our God's might.

“Consider, see,” He says to thee.

Creation shares

Of our God's care.

 - MCC

The Heavens Declare His Righteousness - Initial Thoughts
The Heavens Declare His Righteousness - Final Thoughts

The Heavens Declare His Righteousness - initial thoughts

The heavens declare his righteousness,

for God himself is judge! Selah
Psalm 50:6

  I have been wondering about this verse a couple of years now. What does it mean that nature declares God's righteousness? How is it that nature can proclaim not only the greatness of God (Ps 19:1-6) but also the goodness of God? This is not a lone passage which speaks to this effect, but it certainly is not a theme that gets a whole lot of attention in the Scriptures so far as I can see. Other relevant passages may include Ps 97:6; 89:5; Rom 1:18-21; Acts 14:16-17; and Matt 5:43-48. I hope to post more thoughts on this in the coming days. But for now I would include a poem by Isaac Watts found in the Treasury of David which makes a good summary of the first verses of this chapter.

No more shall atheists mock his long delay;
His vengeance sleeps no more; behold the day!
Behold! -- the Judge descends; his guards are nigh,
Tempests and fire attend him down the sky.
When God appears, all nature shall adore him.
While sinners tremble, saints rejoice before him.
Heaven, earth and hell, draw near; let all things come,
To hear my justice, and the sinner's doom;
But gather first my saints (the Judge commands),
Bring them, ye angels, from their distant lands.
When Christ returns, wake every cheerful passion,
And shout, ye saints; he comes for your salvation.
Isaac Watts

The Heavens Declare His Righteousness
The Heavens Declare His Righteousness - Final Thoughts

God's Story or Our Story

I haven't listened to the mp3 yet, but it looks to be a very excellent critique of modern evangelicalism. Is the Gospel God's story or our story? Do we do well to tell what difference the Gospel has made in our lives, or should that be a caveat as we tell of the wonders of what God does in the lives of all who call upon Him? The Gospel is not primarily about us; it is about Him!

The last days...

So, the major news of the day is that I am supposed to start work today. Earlier this week I was hired for security work. So, I've spent good portions of the last several days running around and trying to arrange details for that and also for the tutoring job that Bethany is hoping to get.


Then last night, Bethany took me out to a Braves-Rockies game as a wedding present. That was fun as we got to watch them win 4-1 and also got the whole experience complete with free t-shirts, a rain delay, hot dogs, and some spectacular lightning to substitute for fireworks. (You know that either the game is boring or the lightning is good when some of the biggest crowd noise comes after a flash of lightning.) :)

Yesterday's sermon

At church yesterday, I think I heard the best sermon I have ever heard on being a husband as our new pastor works his way through Colossians (though the message was mostly from Eph 5.) It is available as the most recent sermon from either provcast.org or on iTunes under "Provcast." It is excellent as Jason compares Jesus' Gospel love for the church with the Gospel love which husbands should have for their wives. And he makes his application much broader than just husbands, so I highly recommend downloading and listening to this message.

Also, I started The Pleasures of God again yesterday. It is by John Piper and is a tremendous read as far as I've gotten. It immediately begins expanding one's understanding and awe of God. For me personally, it began stoking again my affections for God which I realized had been lacking in their proper focus.

Thoughts from tonight's service

"Love God; love the brothers; don't love the world."

This is a summary of the Christian life as Pastor Phillips mentioned tonight. It is interesting that most forms of Christianity seem to go astray on one of these three points. We usually remember to love God. But we often forget to love our brothers. And if we remember that, we may well forget that we must not love the world system in which we live. For my particular slice of Christianity, I think, we struggle most with the middle proposition, while we usually remember to love our God and not be so fascinated by the world.

Complete devotion to God, full familial loyalty and service to the believing community, and abhorrence of that which seeks to distract and detract from these first commands... that is a good look at Biblical Christianity.

3 Thoughts for the day

A picture from the Junior/Senior banquet last night... we enjoyed the banquet and then games with friends afterwards.


A link to an excellent article on a blog I don't follow... (this article speaks to much that is awry in Christianity today.)

A link to the back articles from "In the Nick of Time", a weekly publication usually from the pen of Kevin Bauder... follow the link down to the bottom of the page and read the current series on "Understanding Conservative Christianity." This series has been outstandingly beneficial to me personally and has made some things click. It is well worth reading

Meditations from the Second Psalm

This semester I have been taking a class on Revelation; Psalm 2 applies immediately to the time period dealt with in that book. Read in the context of the last days...

Meditations on the Second Psalm

 4/17/09

Why do the nations rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?

The rulers of men take counsel together

to remove the Lord's restraint.

Behold!

The Lord's Anointed cometh!

The Lord in heaven laughs;

and God derides their plans.

The words of the Lord strike dreadful terror,

"The King sits as appointed."

Behold!

The Lord's Messiah cometh!

The Lord's decree unveiled:

A Son He has begotten,

Who owns the world and rules the nations

judging, breaking at will.

Behold!

The Lord's Christ Jesus cometh!

And now, beware! Serve God,

with joyfulness and trembling.

Reverence the Son and quell His wrath

Blessed are those He loves!

Behold!

The Lord's Anointed cometh!

ponderings from the first Psalm

Divine blessing will come upon the man who doesn't take wicked advice about how to live, or join in the lifestyle of sinful men (though he may still join sinful men, he is separate from their sin - as Christ was with us), or settles into the seat of those who scoff at God. Rather this blest man receives his joy from searching in the words of God, and he ponders his Lord's instruction continually.

Thus it is that his life is full and rich; and in his Master's time, he sees harvest and reward and multiplication. Still, it is not always harvest day even for this profitable and blessed man.

Unlike this stable, healthful one, the wicked's life lacks substance and endurance or even real profitableness. They will not measure up or remain when the tests of reality and authenticity are applied because that blest man's God recognizes him and his way, but the wicked will be utterly rejected and removed.

on the Conservative's religious affections

Notice especially the first sentence. If the full article interests you, check it out here.

"Unfortunately, we live in a day when the distinction between affections and appetites has been lost. In the absence of this distinction, religious entrepreneurs have discovered what Madison Avenue salesmen have long known, namely, that people can be manipulated most easily by appealing to those varieties of emotion that used to be classified as passions. Not surprisingly, we now find ourselves awash in a sea of unregulated religious appetite." (From this week's "In the Nick of Time")

Northern Lights' song

Here's a song that is being given away free. It's full of good reminders. Also, some of the Heart Conference sessions were outstanding; I particularly enjoyed some of Dr. Jordan's.

from City on a Hill

Philip Graham Ryken is speaking of how we must learn to think and act Biblically and the difficulty we encounter:

"What we ought to do is take the time to stop and think. That is what people usually do when they lose their way. A motorist looking for a street in a strange neighborhood eases off the gas pedal and turns down the stereo. But in these post-Christian times, we do exactly the opposite. We sense that we have lost our spiritual way, but instead of taking time to think things through, we go faster and faster, cranking the music louder and louder." (pg. 123)

"Who is on the Lord's side?" text

I noticed the words to this song tonight and they are quite excellent. I don't think I've ever seen the last verse before.

by Frances R. Havergal

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own life blood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, victory is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band,
In the service royal, let us not grow cold;
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!

security vs. daring

I don't think I could really explain why this article struck me as interesting. I do a fair amount of reading of the news and rarely post what I find, but this one is interesting because it shows people making life decisions in an interesting way. The fact that one of the men at the end gives a fairly clear Christian witness is also of interest. Why would someone leave a comfy job to branch out on their own? Maybe the same sort of desires that would cause them to live overseas when so many would love to live in America?

If china - a thought-provoking poem from Baranczak, a Polish author

If china

If china, then only the kind

you wouldn’t miss under the movers’ shoes or the treads of a tank;

if a chair, then one that’s not too comfortable, or 

you’ll regret getting up and leaving;

if clothes, then only what will fit in one suitcase;

if books, then those you know by heart;

if plans, then the ones you can give up

when it comes time for the next move,

to another street, another continent, or epoch,

or world.

Who told you to settle in?

Who told you this or that would last forever?

Didn’t anyone ever tell you that you’ll never

in the world

feel at home here?

– by Stanislaw Baranczak, 'Jezeli porcelana, to wylacznie taka.'