Adventures in Reading
Friday nights I usually reserve for low-key activities. Mostly, by Friday evening, I am tired of being at work (although I usually go in for a few hours on Saturday as well) and I NEED undivided attention with the Lord. By then, I crave prayer and Bible reading, and usually find myself engrossed in a piece of Christian literature. Last night I continued in John Bunyan's "
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners".
If only John could see me now.
I believe I am reading at about paragraph 153 (not for sure, I'm at work at the moment) and John is discussing his discovery regarding the cure for the wounded soul, his most favourite book, Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians. What John doesn't know is that his Grace Abounding has provided the same solace for me. John found a friend in Martin, and I found a friend in John. I cannot thank either of them for their steadfastness in running the race, but I can stand on their shoulders (or perhaps in their shadows, at this point).
When my heart wants something a bit lighter, something that doesn't exact its discipline upon my soul with every word and prove spiritually taxing (though invaluably necessary and beneficial) , I turn to a bit of history. I began
A Monk and a Mallet last night as well. And I'm engrossed.
You see, there are two kinds of history teachers. There are the kind who give you facts and dates in a rather abstract vacuum, and then there are the teachers who present history in a way that relates to humanity. This author is one such teacher.
I had ONE history class in architecture school out of many who alone taught the subject with great interest. For that reason I astounded him with my test grades and insight on the subject. He even took me aside and questioned me on the fact that I had done so well (I'm assuming my classmates weren't, and I'm pretty sure he thought I was cheating), and I was honest with him: he was a good teacher, and made the subject interesting. Modern architecture. That is one history subject I LOVE now because of him. I ALWAYS have fond memories of what I learned and for that reason never have any hesitation to read anything further on that topic.
I highly recommend Stephen Nichols' book. It's short and interesting. And if I didn't have to put in a few hours at work today, I'd still be in the living room reading it.
Labels: books, friends, practical theology, where I am right now
On self-reliance and self-righteousness, doubt and despair.
One thing that struck me this morning.
I began to read an article and a rather unfavorable thought entered my mind regarding the subject matter... and immediately I drew back and thought "how horrible that I would have that thought!" Of course, then the evil one begins to use this to his advantage to disparage my faith, informing me that it cannot be genuine.
But a new thought entered my mind this morning following the discouragement:
"Of course, you're going to think this way. But the work of the Holy Spirit within you allows you to see the sin and danger of further entertaining such thoughts, and to abhor them. With the power of Christ, these thoughts go no further. If you can have these thoughts while
in Christ Jesus, imagine what you'd be capable of
without Him."
I really don't want to imagine that, by the way; I'm well aware enough already.
Labels: God's Word, practical theology, where I am right now
What's love got to do with it?
What is loving?
Do we sometimes treat people/circumstances with flippancy or humour or sarcasm and think that because that is our way of "cajoling" them we are being loving?
Is being serious about a "serious" (meaning there could possibly be no humour to the nature of the circumstance, such as getting one's job completed to a satisfactory level) situation an unloving thing? Are we too caught up in "being everyone's friend" to really consider the eternal implications of secular employment?
That loving people doesn't necessarily mean keeping them happy (or happy with YOU). But the important thing is to recognize whether or not
God is happy with you, whether your actions conform to what
HE is asking of you to do.
Just some thoughts; I'd love to hear yours.
Labels: practical theology, where I am right now
My view of things
In response to
this article.
**************
I read through this article, and enjoyed it. I appreciated their attention to detail and to the meaning of the miracle here, especially as it applied to unbelieving Israel.
Yet, for as much as they got right, I was also disappointed because it missed the point that is central to the gospel message and central to our ability to bear good fruit: REPENTANCE
This parable is clear about His justice on those who profess but do not produce fruit. But we should be careful that we aren't defining spiritual fruit differently than how the Bible defines it, and that we aren't deceived.
Luke 3 says the following:
3He went into all the country around the Jordan,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.4As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.5Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
6And all mankind will see God's salvation.' "[
a]
7John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."10"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
11John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
12Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
13"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told
them.
14Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."
15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.[
b]
16John answered them all, "I baptize you with[
c] water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 18And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
19But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
It is not so much that we should believe in Jesus. Even the demons beileve... and shudder (James 2:19). And how can we receive forgiveness of sins if we don't care to walk away from that which soils us in its filth. God is a Holy God; we are to be a holy people (Leviticus 11:45; 19:2; 1 Peter 1:14-19).
If we are to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we must be filled with the Spirit. And to be filled with the Spirit, we must repent.
Acts 2:37-38 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38Peter replied, "
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit.
We cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit when we are walking in the flesh (Ez. 36:26; John 3:6; Galatians 5:16-17). And we cannot walk away from our flesh unless we kill it (Luke 9:33).
We cannot receive forgiveness without repentance; we cannot receive the Spirit without repentance (Isaiah 66:2). Tremble at His Word, don't look for loopholes around it. Then repent and believe.
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. This is how one can avoid being that barren tree, which is eventually cursed and thrown into the lake of judgment, whose fire is never extinguished.
*********************
For all those pastors who patiently lurk in the shadows, I'd love to hear your thoughts, and your opinion of the article linked above, too.
My immediate opinion is that we ought to be careful that we aren't being deceived. The gospel is simple, yet repentance is so contrary to the flesh and its desires. It is fading quickly from all things "evangelical" it seems... not that we should be surprised.
Labels: God's Word, practical theology, where I am right now
Struggles
I've been struggling with a few things lately. First, the self-esteem. I came to the conclusion this afternoon that I have too much of it. I simply do not think less of myself than I do others, and especially where certain people may be concerned. The frustrating irony is that I see it, and know that it is because I am the chief of sinners. I feel disappointed in myself, but again the irony: am I even capable of better? Perhaps this is the lesson I am being taught right now.Second, the guilt. I am reminded of Romans 7.13Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.Phil Johnson mentions in his sermon on the Ten Commandments that it is this condemnation that gives us nowhere to turn but Jesus. But I still find myself trying to "fix" it...This cannot be fixed, however. I will never be anything more than I am...
Labels: God's Word, practical theology, where I am right now
Noah
(Genesis 5)28Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son.
29Now he called his name Noah, saying,
"This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed." Instantly, I see a foreshadowing and parallel between Christ and Noah. Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest. Christ is our rest. The NASB and the ESV use the word "rest" while the NIV uses the word "comfort".(Genesis 6)5Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that
every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
-Every intent -only evil -continuallyThis paints such a bleak picture of the human nature left on its own. Even before the law, sin abounded. We do not need the law in order to sin. Our nature does that well enough on its own. But look at the degree to which sin existed: every intent; only evil; continually.WOW! That does much to destroy the notion that we are inherently good, doesn't it? Especially when left to our own devices!(Genesis 6)8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
God's favor is only bestowed by His grace. Noah wasn't perfect, he was a sinful human. And once everyone got off the boat, sin commenced yet again, almost immediately. God decided that Noah and his family would be saved from the coming judgment. (Hebrews 11)7By faith Noah,
being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
No one has seen the judgment that is to come. Most are so caught up in saving the planet and global warming that they are AGAINST listening to any idea that the planet is doomed to begin with. It appears, also, that our faith condemns the unbelieveing. I don't know how that works, but there it is. If we were to tell the people that the Lord will destroy the earth by fire, I bet we'd all be met with the same disdain by others.(Genesis 6)17 For behold,
I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven.
Everything that is on the earth
shall die. 18But
I will establish my covenant with you, and
you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you...22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
God directed it all, from who to how. Notice God did not ask Noah to build the ark, He commanded him to do so. He said, "Noah, I'm going to do this, and you're going to do that." There was no appeal to the flesh. No: "how would you like to be saved from the Deluge, hmmm?"(Genesis 7)1Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for
I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation... 5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
From all that I've read in Genesis and Hebrews about Noah, I cannot see any indication that Noah was less wicked and less sinful than any of those who lived on the earth with him. The only thing Noah did was have faith and obey God's commandments despite what he saw going on around him. He walked by faight, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Furthermore, I don't think the idea of a world-wide flood was any less ludicrous then than it would be today. Noah is building a huge boat, yet the people are still marrying and giving in marriage (Matthew 24:38). Try telling the grocery clerk that the world will be destroyed by a flood tomorrow and see how far you make it to your car before then men in white coats emerge.(Genesis 7)16And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in... 22Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.
God commands those who will be in Christ Jesus to enter Him. And the Lord Keeps them there. When the next Deluge of fire comes, only those who are saved are the ones who are found in Christ Jesus.Labels: God's Word, practical theology, where I am right now
A new kind of usury
While giving deep consideration to my finances last night, I applied my mathematical skills to the subject of compound interest. Now, I never took business math, so I only had a basic knowledge of what it was and knew I just didn't have the variable of how often the interest was compounded in order to gain a better understanding of my financial situation (namely, my student loans).
While researching a formula to gain a better grip of how to calculate the final cost of my student loans (based on money paid, interest, and its frequency compounded) I came across this in Wikipedia:
"Compound interest was once regarded as the worst kind of usury, and was severely condemned by Roman law, as well as the common laws of many other countries. "hmmm...
Labels: where I am right now
A short post
The sovereignty of God.
The Fall of mankind.
Think about this for a moment.
(And I just love that He called out to Adam, even knowing that he was hiding because of his sin. Adam was running away from God, and God still sought him out.)
Labels: God's Word, practical theology, where I am right now, wisdom
Sunbird
Praise be to God that I get to initiate and organize the project calendar for our office!!!
I've been needing this, personally, and now my boss is jumping on board after realizing we've got a LOT of projects coming in and are in need of office organization. He just asked us all to start putting in more hours over the next four weeks, and then reassessing where we are. While this may elicit groans from any typical office, he's promised additional compensation, and free lunch on Saturdays. *grin*
Anyway, if you like standalone calendars (and if you need the organization help like I do) check out Mozilla
Sunbird. I'm very excited that I get to be the first to try it out for the office, and then teach everyone how to use it!!!!
Labels: where I am right now
A Lesson in Evangelism
I was spending an awful lot of time reading books about the Bible. I thought this would increase my understanding of the Bible, and consequently, of the Lord.
But no, the truth is that my knowledge of the Lord comes from reading the Bible alone. It is indeed feasible, certainly possible, to grow deeper in my relationship with Him while reading SOLELY the Bible.
This morning I continued my long ride through Genesis. In my new "blank" Bible, I cross referenced Hebrews 11:3, where we are told that "by faith" we understand that God created everything by His word, and nothing came out of anything that existed previously. Reading the Hebrews verse, I couldn't help but wonder how one can worship the Lord and claim evolution as the vehicle for the creation of all life forms.
Another striking note is that the Lord USES the means He has established to fulfill His purposes. This is just who God is. In Genesis 2:5, God has already spoken vegetation into existence. But the means that the Lord has established have not been employed yet -- man to till the ground and rain to water the ground. Because these two are not yet in action, the fruit of the earth has not shown itself yet. But it will. Because the Lord has spoken it as such.
This really struck me as a parallel to what my pastor said in the sermon yesterday about election (his third part of the series on our way through Ephesians). If the elect go to heaven, why must we evangelize (essentially). But he made the assertion that although God has ordained that our stomachs be filled with food in order to calm our hunger, we must still eat.
As one struggling to understand how to share my faith, this has really been used by God to chasten and urge and teach. I am to share because it is the means God has ordained.
But God faithfully reinforced the picture in my mind, and showed me more of His character this morning. He didn't just bring forth fruit from the ground before the man could till it or rain could do its work. He not only ordained the product, but He ordained the process from beginning to end.
Glory be to God. He is so faithful to open our eyes to the truth when we search with all our hearts.
Labels: God's Word, practical theology, redeeming the time, where I am right now
Where are we headed? or Things aren't necessarily getting "better", people!
I had a wonderful time, as usual, having coffee with Gayla from Journey of the Heart. She lives practically right around the corner from me (plus a few miles). She's very honest about what she thinks, and desires to learn more. When we get together, I know it's not just to "keep the friendship going" as I remember doing with so many friends. With them, it was almost an obligation to get together. If there had been mutual cell phone number exchanges, and we went to the same church, it was almost an obligation to keep that friendship going. We also had no clue what doctrine was or that we should be concerned about sin or living a righteous life in all things. Oh, the folly of youth. Many a night wasted through idle talk in a Chili's booth.
Not so anymore. There are people out there who desire God. And who will answer your questions with the mind of Christ, given by God. And who point back to the Bible when there is confusion. Gayla's one of those people, just so you know.
After coffee, on my way home, I detoured to Best Buy to pick up a digital voice recorder to help with scripture memorization. Finding a good middle ground features-to-price-point ratio model, I took it to the register.
"Would you like to buy our warranty for $12?" From the sound of the sales pitch, she was selling me, basically, the ability to return this item for an exchange or in-store credit. I declined. Is this where we have arrived? We no longer guarantee our products, but would rather SELL you the ability to bring back something you paid for that doesn't work? How about rolling that into the sale price of the item, and extending it to ALL merchandise... for FREE!
A novel idea, I'm sure...
I got home and opened my new gadget. I read the instructions and my heart sank.
Engrish.
The grammar was horrible. Why do we Americans claim sovereignty if we subject ourselves to such poorly translated material? Why do we even think that English will be a majority language for long? And where it is spoken, will it even be spoken properly anymore? Will a legal document have such grammatical errors as to require allowing a criminal caught red-handed to go free?
Just some thoughts.
For the record, I do like my voice recorder. It comes with software to upload files to the computer...
Labels: coffee, friends, redeeming the time, where I am right now
the Globe is taking the story!
and
they want PHOTOS!!!
I will get paid!
Labels: photography, storm chasing, where I am right now
