"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith."
I Jn. 5:4
Faith will overcome the world.. That's powerful.
Faith in what?
I Jn 5:5:
"Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
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Friday, May 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A prayer of thanks
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.” Ps. 100:4-5
Our heavenly Father, You are good. You have always been good, and You always will be good. No good gift will You withhold from those who walk uprightly. Yet we are truly perplexed at the circumstances of our lives sometimes..How can this be good? Yet in your infinite wisdom and perfect plans You allow for pain to enter in and sting us. We cannot understand as You do. We were not there when You laid the foundations of the earth…We see with our eyes 5 ½ ft. off the ground, but You cause atoms to play together on Pluto. You roll the thunderclouds like a 17 year old rolls cotton candy in the spinner. We just eat cotton candy…That’s all we do, as we stare up into Your grandeur, while drooling sugar with squinty eyes. We just sit around the living room staring at this new Jonathan Thomas Kuntz, wondering at the miracle of his black cow lick on the back of his head. Why does food have to taste so good? What is this feeling of forgiveness that we feel? How come people look so beautiful when they smile!? Black and white, brown and pale, fat and thin, young and old, beautiful people made in your image. It is because we are made in your image… You are the source of all beauty, we’re just fragments reflecting You. Your creation preaches your lovingkindness with each gracious flower springing to life from the dust. You will spring us to life after we all enter that veil in faith. We are all on an adventure, one with real stage props, sin and death. Real darkness. But we will rise again and everything will spring to life. We will all meet little Victory Athanasius Cummings.
We are all here to love and to know you and each other. We do not hold the universe in the span of Your control as You do. We do not understand Your vastness, Your glory, that You are awesome beyond imagining. You know the end from the beginning. You are good. No lie is in You. You are truth. We know that You will triumph over wickedness, over death. Everything heinous will be reckoned. Yes, you are sovereign. You are the King of all providence. You allow pain to come so that somehow, somehow in the deep of our dark—we may know You more.. You are worthy. Show us your glory! Everything’s going to be okay because You are God. So, for this reason, we give You thanks for dry and dusty old stodgy reformed systematic theologies and the like…because we have been reminded there that yes, You are the Calvinistic God…You know what is going to happen because You have orchestrated everything in Your most loving and wise providence. Nothing can happen to us that first does not come through your all-wise loving hands. We are thankful for good ole’ doctrine..Because in it we learn something of You…Esp. when things get rough. We can rest.
We give you thanks Abba, Father, that we are not in a evolutionary washing machine of time, chance and violence. We do not have to placate polytheistic gods so that we will not have drought. We don’t live in fear-filled superstition as though the world was controlled by a pantheon of warring and petty gods. We don’t serve Allah, the brutal demon tyrant. We don’t serve the Buddha who blurs right and wrong, justice and injustice. We condemn the gods of the Bhagavad Gita, that tyrannize the universe in perversion. There is a God who reigns, and You are this God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, David and Samson, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with You and the Holy Spirit are one God, world without end.
Amen.
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.” Ps. 100:4-5
Our heavenly Father, You are good. You have always been good, and You always will be good. No good gift will You withhold from those who walk uprightly. Yet we are truly perplexed at the circumstances of our lives sometimes..How can this be good? Yet in your infinite wisdom and perfect plans You allow for pain to enter in and sting us. We cannot understand as You do. We were not there when You laid the foundations of the earth…We see with our eyes 5 ½ ft. off the ground, but You cause atoms to play together on Pluto. You roll the thunderclouds like a 17 year old rolls cotton candy in the spinner. We just eat cotton candy…That’s all we do, as we stare up into Your grandeur, while drooling sugar with squinty eyes. We just sit around the living room staring at this new Jonathan Thomas Kuntz, wondering at the miracle of his black cow lick on the back of his head. Why does food have to taste so good? What is this feeling of forgiveness that we feel? How come people look so beautiful when they smile!? Black and white, brown and pale, fat and thin, young and old, beautiful people made in your image. It is because we are made in your image… You are the source of all beauty, we’re just fragments reflecting You. Your creation preaches your lovingkindness with each gracious flower springing to life from the dust. You will spring us to life after we all enter that veil in faith. We are all on an adventure, one with real stage props, sin and death. Real darkness. But we will rise again and everything will spring to life. We will all meet little Victory Athanasius Cummings.
We are all here to love and to know you and each other. We do not hold the universe in the span of Your control as You do. We do not understand Your vastness, Your glory, that You are awesome beyond imagining. You know the end from the beginning. You are good. No lie is in You. You are truth. We know that You will triumph over wickedness, over death. Everything heinous will be reckoned. Yes, you are sovereign. You are the King of all providence. You allow pain to come so that somehow, somehow in the deep of our dark—we may know You more.. You are worthy. Show us your glory! Everything’s going to be okay because You are God. So, for this reason, we give You thanks for dry and dusty old stodgy reformed systematic theologies and the like…because we have been reminded there that yes, You are the Calvinistic God…You know what is going to happen because You have orchestrated everything in Your most loving and wise providence. Nothing can happen to us that first does not come through your all-wise loving hands. We are thankful for good ole’ doctrine..Because in it we learn something of You…Esp. when things get rough. We can rest.
We give you thanks Abba, Father, that we are not in a evolutionary washing machine of time, chance and violence. We do not have to placate polytheistic gods so that we will not have drought. We don’t live in fear-filled superstition as though the world was controlled by a pantheon of warring and petty gods. We don’t serve Allah, the brutal demon tyrant. We don’t serve the Buddha who blurs right and wrong, justice and injustice. We condemn the gods of the Bhagavad Gita, that tyrannize the universe in perversion. There is a God who reigns, and You are this God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, David and Samson, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with You and the Holy Spirit are one God, world without end.
Amen.
Friday, May 14, 2010
My defense for it
"During breakfast, Tolkien glances at his newspaper, but only in the most cursory fashion. He, like his friend C.S. Lewis, regards 'news' as on the whole trivial and fit to be ignored, and they both argue (to the annoyance of many of their friends) that the only 'truth' is to be found in literature. However, both men enjoy the crossword."
One would expect the crossword reference from men like that. My only further input is that I justify theology like that too!
One would expect the crossword reference from men like that. My only further input is that I justify theology like that too!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Yoga
Yoga for Immunity and Vitality
"Sit cross-legged or in a chair with spine straight. Stick your tongue all the way out and keep it out as you rapidly breathe through your mouth. Continue this breathing for 1 to 3 minutes. Not only will your body strengthen its defenses, but your spirit will be lifted to the sky."
This is written on the side of an Echinacea tea box with a picture of a woman in a yoga position tongue all the way out and eyes closed... Then in small font.."Before doing this exercise or participating in any exercise program, consult your physician."
This is the most hilarious satire of yoga, and the best part is that I think it might be real.
"Sit cross-legged or in a chair with spine straight. Stick your tongue all the way out and keep it out as you rapidly breathe through your mouth. Continue this breathing for 1 to 3 minutes. Not only will your body strengthen its defenses, but your spirit will be lifted to the sky."
This is written on the side of an Echinacea tea box with a picture of a woman in a yoga position tongue all the way out and eyes closed... Then in small font.."Before doing this exercise or participating in any exercise program, consult your physician."
This is the most hilarious satire of yoga, and the best part is that I think it might be real.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Our beloved Hannah
Hannah's been asking us some deep and crucial Q's about eternal security and assurance these days.
We praise God for the Spirit's continued working in her heart. Just yesterday, Hannah came out and confessed some lieing and deceit from almost a yr ago and confessed her sin.
One morning, after her own reading of the account where Samuel rebukes Saul's disobedience, we talked about obeying God supremely above our own desires, esp in light of Saul's departing the faith.
This, in conjunction with the 3 excommunications in our church the past year and a half, has really got her attention. And I'm so grateful for this.
Mommy, in one bedside heart-to-heart one night was encouraging Hannah in the assurance of Christ's salvation for her. This is one beautiful moment in the conversation:
"Hannah, do you see how your head is resting on your pillow right now? That is how you can rest in Jesus' grace in salvation for you."
Hannah, when hearing this, welled up with tears...
Way to go Mom!
And Praise be to God for his working in Hannah by His Spirit to ask these Q's.
We're about to start a little I JN. Bible study with Hannah and Abigail in conjunction with all this and Pastor Joost's preaching through the book.
We praise God for the Spirit's continued working in her heart. Just yesterday, Hannah came out and confessed some lieing and deceit from almost a yr ago and confessed her sin.
One morning, after her own reading of the account where Samuel rebukes Saul's disobedience, we talked about obeying God supremely above our own desires, esp in light of Saul's departing the faith.
This, in conjunction with the 3 excommunications in our church the past year and a half, has really got her attention. And I'm so grateful for this.
Mommy, in one bedside heart-to-heart one night was encouraging Hannah in the assurance of Christ's salvation for her. This is one beautiful moment in the conversation:
"Hannah, do you see how your head is resting on your pillow right now? That is how you can rest in Jesus' grace in salvation for you."
Hannah, when hearing this, welled up with tears...
Way to go Mom!
And Praise be to God for his working in Hannah by His Spirit to ask these Q's.
We're about to start a little I JN. Bible study with Hannah and Abigail in conjunction with all this and Pastor Joost's preaching through the book.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Clear Light
"The best light comes in through the clearest glass: too much paint keeps out the sun." Spurgeon
Live in the Light.
Live in faithful, honest confession.
"The lamp of the body is the eye."
If your heart isn't clear then your life will not be clear.
Don't try to paint and embellish God's too clear truth.
Live in the Light.
Live in faithful, honest confession.
"The lamp of the body is the eye."
If your heart isn't clear then your life will not be clear.
Don't try to paint and embellish God's too clear truth.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
This little piece will bless your day and beyond, esp. in Easter time
"What is the chief end of man? What is the greatest calling of every subject of the Kingdom of God? Your central purpose from beginning to end, first to last, your greatest task and privilege is the worship and glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This being the case, the central purpose of education is the training of Christian worshipers. The reason you are reading this essay is so that you might chant, sing, clap, pray, kneel, raise hands, listen, eat, drink and shout with understanding, reverence and joy to the end that the God of heaven and earth will send justice like summer rain and mercy like a downpour on the earth. The reason you study math, science and art is so that your imagination will be filled with wonder and awe at the Creator of the most mind blowing project ever: the world. And whether you are learning to read music or playing an instrument, whether your hand is holding a pencil or gesturing in the theater, you are training yourself for the warfare of worship. You are teaching your body gratitude; you are teaching your soul thanksgiving. There is hardly an adequate evaluation of your progress, but the best grade you can receive is the outworking of a thankful heart. If you have truly learned Algebra, if you have mastered the story of Western Civilization, if you can tell me the names of the constellations that whirl about our heads, then you will do it with laughter in your voice, you will do it with joy in your heart and gratitude in your bones. Worship is the point of learning because worship is the point of life. And worship is the point of life both because this is the chief honor of every faithful subject in the Kingdom of God and because it is the head of many waters, the council chambers of the King of all the earth. From the world gathered at the table of the Lord issues the great judgments of the King.
Hitler’s world is the story of eternal collision, unending struggle and violence. In that world blood and genes are the fundamentals of life, and pure Aryan blood is Hitler’s absolute best. But the Christian story scoffs at the small-mindedness of German nationalism even as it scoffs at American imperialism. The Lord of Heaven derides Hitler’s arrogant racism and sickening genocide as much as He abhors the slaughter of the unborn in our own country. But this is all the inevitable end of evolutionary thought. If the world is a galactic mosh pit, then bigger is better, might does make right. However, history tells the story better. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. But blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. And the sons of God are welcome at His table. The gospel declares the pure and undefiled blood of Jesus Christ, whose blood purifies every nation of the world. Hitler was right: pure blood will conquer the world. But ironically (for Hitler) that blood is the blood that was shed by an innocent Jewish man two thousand years ago. The sons and daughters of the Most High are family through the blood of Christ and are therefore invited to the family meetings. The Christian faith encompasses all of life, visible and invisible. Forgiveness cleanses the soul, and fruit proceeds out of the heart. In a mystery, the visible and invisible mingle and mix. In a wonderful glory God adopts us into His family with water and faith, He feeds us with His word and bread and wine. And we bless one another with words and smiles and hugs. Joy makes bones strong, and wisdom gives long life. We live in the world that God made, a world where heaven and earth touch, for we have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God. In Christian worship we ascend into the throne room in heaven to ask the Father for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Fate speaks, destiny beckons and all of the scrapings of Hitler are like sand in the wind. But the Lord speaks, the Triune God beckons and the prayer of the righteous man avails much."
Toby Sumpter
Toby is pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Moscow, ID and has three little ones-River, Felicity, and Tovia.
For the rest of the absolutely amazing article go here: http://resources.veritaspress.com/Sep06_epistula.htm It is the "feature article." It's not that much longer.
Hitler’s world is the story of eternal collision, unending struggle and violence. In that world blood and genes are the fundamentals of life, and pure Aryan blood is Hitler’s absolute best. But the Christian story scoffs at the small-mindedness of German nationalism even as it scoffs at American imperialism. The Lord of Heaven derides Hitler’s arrogant racism and sickening genocide as much as He abhors the slaughter of the unborn in our own country. But this is all the inevitable end of evolutionary thought. If the world is a galactic mosh pit, then bigger is better, might does make right. However, history tells the story better. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. But blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. And the sons of God are welcome at His table. The gospel declares the pure and undefiled blood of Jesus Christ, whose blood purifies every nation of the world. Hitler was right: pure blood will conquer the world. But ironically (for Hitler) that blood is the blood that was shed by an innocent Jewish man two thousand years ago. The sons and daughters of the Most High are family through the blood of Christ and are therefore invited to the family meetings. The Christian faith encompasses all of life, visible and invisible. Forgiveness cleanses the soul, and fruit proceeds out of the heart. In a mystery, the visible and invisible mingle and mix. In a wonderful glory God adopts us into His family with water and faith, He feeds us with His word and bread and wine. And we bless one another with words and smiles and hugs. Joy makes bones strong, and wisdom gives long life. We live in the world that God made, a world where heaven and earth touch, for we have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God. In Christian worship we ascend into the throne room in heaven to ask the Father for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Fate speaks, destiny beckons and all of the scrapings of Hitler are like sand in the wind. But the Lord speaks, the Triune God beckons and the prayer of the righteous man avails much."
Toby Sumpter
Toby is pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Moscow, ID and has three little ones-River, Felicity, and Tovia.
For the rest of the absolutely amazing article go here: http://resources.veritaspress.com/Sep06_epistula.htm It is the "feature article." It's not that much longer.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Wake up and smell the grace...
"Each morning that greets me is full of hope
Not because I am successful at what I am doing,
Or because the people near me appreciate me,
Or because circumstances are easy,
But because God is, and he is my Father.
To look at the morning any other way
Is to believe a lie.
To live in hope is to live in truth;
To live in truth is to bring him glory;
To bring God glory in my daily living
Is the highest form of worship."
How People Change
Not because I am successful at what I am doing,
Or because the people near me appreciate me,
Or because circumstances are easy,
But because God is, and he is my Father.
To look at the morning any other way
Is to believe a lie.
To live in hope is to live in truth;
To live in truth is to bring him glory;
To bring God glory in my daily living
Is the highest form of worship."
How People Change
Friday, March 5, 2010
The theology of trees
The Bible has a lot to say about trees. Fig trees being cursed, righteous men referred to as trees, lust-filled Israel provoking the LORD under trees, the trees of the knowledge of good and evil and of course, the tree of life.
Jesus died on a tree, and He became the tree of life.
In the end there will be a tree. "On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." This is fulfilled from Ezek 47 and many other passages.
The righteous are to be "like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither Ps 1:3.
In fact, certain trees are associated with various stages in redemptive history:
Period: Arboreal Imagery:
Eden-- Trees of life and of the knowledge of Good and Evil
Noah-- "Gopher" wood for the Ark
Abraham-- Terebinth or Oak trees
Wilderness-- Acacia for the Tabernacle
Settlement-- Palms
David-- Cedar
Temple-- Olive, Cedar, Cypress
Kingdom-- Fig
Restoration-- Myrtle
New Covenant-- Mustard, Olive *James Jordan
Trees are more important than you think... Trees are like ladders to heaven. Jacob sees a ladder and angels ascending and descending. Jesus spoke to Nathaniel, "You shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man," fulfilling Jacob's vision of the promised Messiah- John 1:51. The most famous counterfeit tree was the tree/ladder of Nebuchadnezzar. He saw himself as the tree of life, the king of this world. "God ordered that this presumptuous Tower of Babel Tree be cut down, with only a stump remaining (Daniel 4:14,15). This meant that Nebuchadnezzar would be bestially insane for seven years, to teach him not to play god (Daniel 4:16, 20-33)." James Jordan~Through New Eyes p. 87
"I am in the market for some present tense....I want to think about trees. Trees have a curious relationship to the subject of the present moment. There are many created things in the universe that outlive us, that outlive the sun, even, but I can't think about them. I live with trees. There are creatures under our feet, creatures that live over our heads, but trees live quite convincingly in the same filament of air we inhabit..." Annie Dillard
Trees are rich, beautiful, profound symbols of God's world and our humanity.
We grow like trees. We mature like trees. May God make us like mighty oaks whose branches and leaves provide shade, shelter, and security for generations..because of that tree.
..."They alone seem to unite the earth and the sky-the known, invadable world with everything that is beyond our grasp and our power." Diane Ackerman
Monday, February 15, 2010
Consider what the Ten Commandments are all about
This will be worth your time! I ran across this in How People Change ~a fantastic book.
"The first three commands focus on what or whom you worship. They command us to make the one true God our God, and condemn making a god of anything else. The order of the commands is important, because the commands begin by focusing on our heart tendency toward idolatry."
Deut 6:4,5 is key here: "These two verses capture the essence of the first three commands." It's all about worship.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
"The reason we fail to keep commands 4 through 10 is because we have failed to keep the first three. If you break commands 1 through 3, you will break commands 4 through 10. Your...sinful responses to life grow out of a heart that has defected to worship something else.
'Remember the Sabbath' At the heart of the fourth commandment is the call to honor and obey God in your worship, work, and rest. But when commands 1-3 are broken, I worship and serve myself and use my time for my own self-interest. I make work my god and define myself through my career. I elevate personal peace and comfort above God.
'Honor your father and your mother' At the heart of the fifth commandment is the call to honor and obey God by respecting those in authority. But when commands 1-3 are broken, my will and honor become primary.
Are you picking up on the pattern here? With every command you can ask yourself, "at the heart of this one is the call to honor and obey God by....
So, with the sixth command (Do not murder) "honor and obey God by loving, serving, and forgiving others. But when commands 1-3 are broken, I demand to be loved and served by others. When I am wronged, I demand revenge."
Are you picking up that pattern too? When we begin to displace our utmost affection for God, (commands 1-3) then we will break commands 4-10.
Seventh: Do not commit adultery. "We honor and obey God by remaining sexually pure and by keeping my promises to others." But when we worship ourselves, our pleasures rule.
Do not steal: "...by freely and joyfully sharing my resources with others." It's opposite: "I want things for myself."
Do not bear false witness: "...by speaking truthfully, in ways that build up." Opposite: "my words are used to make me look good and you look bad."
Do not covet: "...by rejoicing in the blessings of others." Opposite: "I want what you have, and I don't want you to have it!"
"The first three commands focus on what or whom you worship. They command us to make the one true God our God, and condemn making a god of anything else. The order of the commands is important, because the commands begin by focusing on our heart tendency toward idolatry."
Deut 6:4,5 is key here: "These two verses capture the essence of the first three commands." It's all about worship.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
"The reason we fail to keep commands 4 through 10 is because we have failed to keep the first three. If you break commands 1 through 3, you will break commands 4 through 10. Your...sinful responses to life grow out of a heart that has defected to worship something else.
'Remember the Sabbath' At the heart of the fourth commandment is the call to honor and obey God in your worship, work, and rest. But when commands 1-3 are broken, I worship and serve myself and use my time for my own self-interest. I make work my god and define myself through my career. I elevate personal peace and comfort above God.
'Honor your father and your mother' At the heart of the fifth commandment is the call to honor and obey God by respecting those in authority. But when commands 1-3 are broken, my will and honor become primary.
Are you picking up on the pattern here? With every command you can ask yourself, "at the heart of this one is the call to honor and obey God by....
So, with the sixth command (Do not murder) "honor and obey God by loving, serving, and forgiving others. But when commands 1-3 are broken, I demand to be loved and served by others. When I am wronged, I demand revenge."
Are you picking up that pattern too? When we begin to displace our utmost affection for God, (commands 1-3) then we will break commands 4-10.
Seventh: Do not commit adultery. "We honor and obey God by remaining sexually pure and by keeping my promises to others." But when we worship ourselves, our pleasures rule.
Do not steal: "...by freely and joyfully sharing my resources with others." It's opposite: "I want things for myself."
Do not bear false witness: "...by speaking truthfully, in ways that build up." Opposite: "my words are used to make me look good and you look bad."
Do not covet: "...by rejoicing in the blessings of others." Opposite: "I want what you have, and I don't want you to have it!"
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Abortion
Standing outside an abortion clinic today...
Many angry drivers passing by..
One yells out his car thinking he's gonna really bring it saying, "GET A LIFE!"
HHmmm.. Maybe we should have signed him up for the rally too..
Many angry drivers passing by..
One yells out his car thinking he's gonna really bring it saying, "GET A LIFE!"
HHmmm.. Maybe we should have signed him up for the rally too..
Monday, February 8, 2010
Chronicles of Narnia
So what is everyone's favorite Chronicles of Narnia passage?
Mine is the unscaling of Eustace in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader on pp's 104-through the top of p. 111.
Mine is the unscaling of Eustace in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader on pp's 104-through the top of p. 111.
John Newton and Doug Wilson
Newton-
"And I am afraid there are Calvinists, who, while they account it a proof of their humility that they are willing in words to debase the creature, and to give all the glory of salvation to the LORD, yet know not what manner of spirit they are of. Whatever it be that makes us trust in ourselves that we are comparatively wise or good, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines, or follow our party, is a proof and fruit of a self-righteous spirit. Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines, as well as upon works; and a man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature and the riches of free grace."
Wilson-
"The Pharisee who went down to the Temple to pray actually began his prayer with one of the solas-Soli Deo Gloria. 'I thank Thee, God...' Perfectly orthodox. And he went home unjustified to boot."
"And I am afraid there are Calvinists, who, while they account it a proof of their humility that they are willing in words to debase the creature, and to give all the glory of salvation to the LORD, yet know not what manner of spirit they are of. Whatever it be that makes us trust in ourselves that we are comparatively wise or good, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines, or follow our party, is a proof and fruit of a self-righteous spirit. Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines, as well as upon works; and a man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature and the riches of free grace."
Wilson-
"The Pharisee who went down to the Temple to pray actually began his prayer with one of the solas-Soli Deo Gloria. 'I thank Thee, God...' Perfectly orthodox. And he went home unjustified to boot."
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
New Covenant succession
Reading I Kings 12 this am.
It is staggering to see how much apostasy took place in the OT. How could the most eminently wise King Solomon have such a foolish son-Rehoboam? Yet he failed to secure proper covenant succession and so many great men in the older covenant did fail in this way.
Adam with Cain
Noah with Ham
Abraham had Ishmael.
Isaac had Esau
Jacob had several sons that were downright wicked.
David's failure as a father is infamous.
And now Solomon is perpetuating the iniquities of the fathers from generation to generation.
But a part of the blessing in the New Covenant is a reversal of this trend..
I believe this is a part of what Jer 31:33,34 says.
It is staggering to see how much apostasy took place in the OT. How could the most eminently wise King Solomon have such a foolish son-Rehoboam? Yet he failed to secure proper covenant succession and so many great men in the older covenant did fail in this way.
Adam with Cain
Noah with Ham
Abraham had Ishmael.
Isaac had Esau
Jacob had several sons that were downright wicked.
David's failure as a father is infamous.
And now Solomon is perpetuating the iniquities of the fathers from generation to generation.
But a part of the blessing in the New Covenant is a reversal of this trend..
I believe this is a part of what Jer 31:33,34 says.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A gem from C.S. Lewis
Here is a small line from one of those classic and meaty dialogues in the Chronicles of Narnia. This one from Prince Caspian:
Trumpkin the dwarf says, "You are my King. I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders. You've had my advice, and now it's the time for orders."
Then King Caspian said, "I will never forget this Trumpkin."
Knowing one's place with authority irregardless of their respectability is truly one of the most tell-tale signs of Christian fruitfulness and maturity.
For all of the Institute in Basic Life Principles legalism and problems (Bill Gothard's group) most of their material on authority is really good. Submission to authority is one of their seven principles.
Truly, how a man relates with his authority reveals ample material about his own heart.
Trumpkin the dwarf says, "You are my King. I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders. You've had my advice, and now it's the time for orders."
Then King Caspian said, "I will never forget this Trumpkin."
Knowing one's place with authority irregardless of their respectability is truly one of the most tell-tale signs of Christian fruitfulness and maturity.
For all of the Institute in Basic Life Principles legalism and problems (Bill Gothard's group) most of their material on authority is really good. Submission to authority is one of their seven principles.
Truly, how a man relates with his authority reveals ample material about his own heart.
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