Confessions of A Doxaholic

Richard Baxter

2012-02-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Where the word blessed is hung out as a sign, we may be sure
that we shall find a godly man within. Sir Richard Baxter (based on Psalm 1).

Pre-Lenten Prayers (Approximately 60 Days Before Easter)

2012-02-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do, mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Matthew Henry

2012-02-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

Men may die like lambs and yet have their place for ever with the goats.

Spurgeon on Delight

2012-02-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Take care to have something worthy to delight in. I do not know how those people go through the world who never have any sort of pure excitement, but always go moping about from the first of January be the last of December. Life must to them be a sorry drag. The sparkling eye and the smiling face are the things God meant men to have, and they do not realize life’s full beauty unless at times they posses them. Why, the Christian, above all man, should have what the world calls his “holidays and bonfire nights,”-his days of rejoicing, times of holy laughter, seasons of overflowing delight. Nay! I think he should strive to have them always, for we are told, “ Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of shine heart.” If we take our religion as men do physic, it is of little good to us. Some folks go to the house of God as you might suppose criminals would go be the whipping-post. But I like to see people come up to the
house of God with glad alacrity, like children going home, or like those who are bound for the place-
“ Where my best friends and kindred dwell,
Where God my Saviour reigns.”
(taken from his sermon on Psalm 1:1-3)

What I am Reading

2012-02-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

Macrina was born probably in A.D. 327 to Basil and Emmelia. She was their oldest child. She was named after her grandmother, Macrina the elder. This Macrina is often referred to as Macrina the Younger (or as Macrina “the Blessed”). She had sisters of which very little is known, and several brothers (nine siblings in all).
Instead of conforming to the secular philosophy of the day, Macrina underwent an intense theological education in the Scriptures. Her brother Gregory would observe that Macrina had an insatiable appetite for God’s word even as child. She was drawn to the Wisdom of Solomon and to the Psalms in particular. At the age of twelve, her father had arranged a marriage, but her young finance died unexpectedly leaving Macrina to take an oath of celibacy the rest of her life in order to pursue a life of Christian “perfection”.
Macrina’s influence can be witnessed in the religious training and pursuits of her younger brothers, Peter who later became Bishop of Sebaste, Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, Basil and Naucratius, who died young. Gregory in his biography of his sister writes that when Basil returned home after his studies he was "puffed up" with his new knowledge of rhetoric and looked down on the locals. It was not long before his sister drew him to the study of philosophy by using the Bible and Basil took a course that was faithful in the Holy Scriptures.
All of these brothers along with Macrina were involved in some religious life of charity and prayer. Upon the death of her father, Macrina devoted herself to the physical care and comfort of her mother and the spiritual development of many other Christians. She comforted the family during seasons of grief (Naucratius died while hunting). She established a community of believers devoted to asceticism, prayer, Scripture, and aiding others in need. True to her belief system, she established this community out of her home made up of women of all classes including household slaves. In addition to training her brothers, Macrina also influenced Gregory of Nazianzus and Eustathius of Sebaste. This established group later became known as a group which practice and preached a lifestyle toward “Christian perfection”.
Her brother Gregory honored her with a biography (“Vita Macrinae Junioris”) that he began to compose when Macrina was on her death bed. This biography highlighted her piety in prayer as she awaited her entrance into heaven. Their brother Basil had died some time before and Gregory was still grieving over him while Macrina lay dying. According to Gregory, Macrina on her death bed rebuked him for his behavior that resembled more of a pagan than a Christian. When he relayed to Macrina his persecutions, she replied that he ought to thank God that he was counted worthy to suffer.
Resurrection played a primary role in the life of Macrina, as her death bed talks with Gregory led him to write on the teachings of the resurrection, and dedicate it to his sister. When she decided to remain single after her finance died, her motivation was that her betrothed was in a distant realm waiting to be reunited with her in Christ. She firmly believed that the resurrection was simply “the restoration of human nature to its pristine condition”. She consistently comforted Gregory’s spirit while she was dying until she could no longer speak. She died in A.D. 379 and was buried in the grave of her parents.

Cotton Mather Quote

2012-02-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Cotton Mather gave what is among the best definitions of the purpose of preaching: “The great design and intention of the office of a Christian preacher is to restore the throne and dominion of God in the souls of men.”

Pre-Lenten Prayer (Approximately 70 Days Until Easter)

2012-02-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people, that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth & reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Nuts And Bolts

2012-02-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

If you are beginning to think about tax season, and made at the government for over taxation, you are not alone. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing what this fellow did.

There is always a perennial list of greatest guitarists, how on earth Phil Keaggy isn’t on the list I don’t know, particularly when urban legend has Jimi Hendrix crediting Philly as the greatest.

In tribute of Tim Tebow, there was a re-release of the 80’s classic “St. Elmo’s Fire” with the lead singer reworking the lyrics to pay homage to the Mile High Messiah.

Spurgeon on Psalm 1

2012-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

“The sinner can do a thousand things which the saint cannot do, and would not if he could: and the Christian can do a thousand things of which the sinner knows nothing.”

Update on Southern

2012-02-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

At the end of November and early December, I made my standard (first) trip to Southern. I spent a week in Louisville only to return some ten days later. I completed one seminar entitled “Biblical Foundations for Spirituality” led by Dr. Robert Plummer (one of Southern’s New Testament profs). This seminar was to be led by Dr. Tom Schreiner, but due to his sabbatical, Dr. Plummer facilitated. There were about fifteen students besides myself, and as usual it was extremely edifying. Many great papers were presented, and I had the opportunity to ‘rub shoulders’ with many other brothers. One of the most unorthodox moments is when Plummer suggested we return to the era of the Greco-Roman world and deliver our papers in the seminary hottub, which we did in one session, quite humorous.

Prayer during Epiphany Season

2012-01-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Everyone Needs A Friend

2012-01-27T04:00:00.000-08:00

Al Mohler Quote

2012-01-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

If there is no controversy in your ministry, there is probably very little content to your preaching. The content of the Word of God is not only alive and active, it is sharper than any two-edged sword, and that means it does some surgery. It does some cutting, and that leads to bleeding.

A.W. Tozer Quote

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

A.W. Tozer asked four basic questions: what do we value the most? What would we hate to lose the most? What do our thoughts turn to most frequently when we are free to think of what we will? And finally, what affords us the greatest pleasure?

Hymn of the Month

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Our hymn of the month is “Immortal, Invisible”. This hymn was written by Walter Chalmers Smith a Presbyterian pastor of the seventeenth century. The hymn was based on 1 Timothy 1:17. As you may surmise, each stanza is filled with the blatant display of God’s glory. Many passages of Scripture are amplified throughout this hymn. "The Ancient of Days" from stanza one is from Daniel 7:9. "Thy justice like mountains" from stanza two is from Psalm 36:6. Originally written with six stanzas, stanza four referenced 2 Corinthians 3:15-16. The original stanzas four and five were combined to make the contemporary fourth stanza. This song speaks clearly of many of God’s attributes: His justice, goodness, mercy, and love. If you are discouraged or fearful why not ponder in praise each line and be filled with comfort.

Prayer during Epiphany Season (based on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

2012-01-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life. Amen.

Augustine Quote

2012-01-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Reflecting back on his former life of immorality and materialism, Augustine prayed, “How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose! You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure.”

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 49-52)

2012-01-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

Nay, each degenerate race hath fled
Its shameful rites and orgies dread:
Grim Baal in glowing furnace cast
Sinks to the earth, forsook at last.

Idols smoke-blackened, wooden-hewn,
Of brass and stone, in dust are strewn:
The chiselled deities downtrod:
For all confess in Christ their God.

Rejoice all peoples, Jewry, Rome,
Fair Hellas, Thrace, Aegyptus' home:
Persians and Scythian land forlorn,
Rejoice: the world's great King is born!

Behold your Chief! His praise forth tell:
Ye sick, ye hale, all heaven and hell:
Ay, you whose vital spark hath sped:
For lo! in Him e'en Death is dead.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 45-48)

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Who when the waters rose on high
And now the Jordan's bed was dry,
Set up twelve stones of memory,
Types of apostles yet to be.

Rightly the Wise Men said, I ween,
That they Judaea's King had seen,
Since noble deeds of other days
Prophetic chant the Saviour's praise.

Of those old rulers He is King
Who did to Jacob judgment bring,
King of the Mother Church divine,
God's ancient and God's present Shrine.

Of Ephraim's sons He is adored:
Manasseh's sacred house as Lord
Reveres Him: to His might the seed
Of brethren twelve their fealty plead.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 41-44)

2012-01-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

So we by Error's might hemmed round
Were by our Captain's strength unbound:
His foe He wounded in the fight
And saved us from Death's horrid night.

Cheering by sign of flame their feet,
Moses renewed with waters sweet
His folk, albeit purified
From stain, what time they crossed the tide.

And he, remote on peaceful height,
Amalek's banded hosts did smite:
He prayed with arms stretched out above,
Foreshadowing the Cross of Love.

Yet truer Jesus surely he,
Who after many a victory
And labours long the tribes' renown
With promised heritage did crown;
Thursday, January 19-Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 45-48)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 37-40)

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

Vain too the king's hostility
Who framed the pitiless decree
That Israel's mothers should not rear
To manhood's strength their offspring dear.

Quickened by love, a woman's mind
Found means to thwart that law unkind,
And, falsely true, the child concealed
Destined to be his people's Shield.

On him it was that God did place
The august priesthood's holy grace,
The law on stony tablets writ
Did to his trembling hands commit.

And may we not with prophet's eye
In such a hero Christ descry?
The proud Egyptian's might he broke
And freed his kinsmen from the yoke.

Prayer in Epiphany Season-(Based on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

2012-01-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee, and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same. Amen.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 33-36)

2012-01-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lambs of the flock too early slain,
Ye first fruits of Christ's bitter pain!
Close to His very altar, gay
With palms and crowns, ye now do play.

Of what avail is deed so vile?
Doth Herod gain by murderous guile?
Of all to death so foully done
Escapes triumphant Christ alone.

Amidst that tide of infant gore
Alone He wins the sheltering shore:
The virgin's Child survives the stroke,
When every mother's heart was broke.

Thus Moses 'scaped the mad decree
Of evil Pharaoh and set free
The flock of God, prefiguring so
Christ spared from fate's malignant blow.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 28-32)

2012-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Ah tiny limbs! 'twas hard to know
How best to strike the fatal blow:
Too wide the sword-blades are to smite
Those throats so silken-fragile, slight.

O horrid sight! the tender bones
Are dashed against the jagged stones:
Sightless and mangled there they lie,
Poor babes! untimely doomed to die.

Perchance the still deep river laves
Their bodies thrust into the waves:
The current with their sighing sighs,
Sobs with their latest, broken cries.

Ye flowers of martyrdom, all hail!
Of rising morn pure blossoms frail!
By Jesu's foe were ye downcast,
Like budding roses by the blast.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 25-28)

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

"Betrayed are we," he maddened cries,
"Our throne's usurper doth arise:
Go, soldiers, go with sword in hand
And slay all babes within my land.

"Spare no male child: each nurse's robe
Your scrutinizing steel must probe:
Spare not the suckling infant, though
O'er mother's breast its life-blood flow.

"On Bethlehem our suspicion falls,
On every hearth within its walls:
Lest mothers with love's tender zeal
Some manly scion may conceal."

With daggers drawn the infuriate crew
Upon their murderous errand flew:
Each latest offspring of the womb
To bloody death they foully doom.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 21-24)

2012-01-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

Yea thou didst on thy bosom bear
The All-loving Father's only heir:
Man of the Thunderer's Spirit made
And God in human flesh arrayed.

The prophets witnessed to the bond
Which sealed to Him the realm profound:
The Father's Kingdom He received
And the vast legacy perceived.

All things are His in sea and sky,
In hell beneath, in heaven on high:
From East to setting sun, in fee
He holds the earth's immensity.

Distraught, the tyrant base doth hear
That now the King of Kings draws near
To reign in David's seat of state
And Israel's empire dominate.

Prayer of Epiphany (Based on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 17-20)

2012-01-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

Behold herein the triple sign
Of Thy pure being, King divine:
Seeing the Father willed in Thee
To plant a threefold majesty.

The gift of gold thee King proclaims:
Thee God the fragrant incense names:
The myrrh declares that Death shall thrust
Within the tomb Thy body's dust.

Ah! that dark sepulchre, whose fold
God's body quenched in death doth hold:
Yet shall He from that durance wake
And Death's strong prison-fetters break.

O Bethlehem! no longer thou
The least of cities: all shall vow
That thou art greatest on the earth:
For thou man's King didst bring to birth.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 13-16)

2012-01-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

Behold the Flower of David shine,
Of Jesse's root the Branch benign:
The sceptre spread with blossoms rare
Wields o'er the world its lordship fair.

Roused by the portent of the sky
The sages fix their gaze on high,
And speed them 'neath the furrowed way
Marked by the star's effulgent ray.

At length its flaming steps it stayed
Poised over where the Child was laid:
Straightway with downcast mien it shed
Its splendours on the sacred Head.

Whereat the travellers outpour
Of Eastern gifts their treasure-store,
Myrrh and sweet-smelling frankincense,
Gold meet for regal opulence.

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 9-12)

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

Who is this sovereign (they enquire)
That lords it o'er the ethereal choir?
'Fore whom the heavens bow down afraid,
Of all the worlds of light obeyed?

Sure 'tis the sign most reverend
Of Being that doth know no end:
Of One in state sublime arrayed
Ere sky and chaos yet were made.

This is the King of Israel,
Of all in Gentile lands that dwell:
The King to Abram and his seed
Throughout all ages erst decreed.

To him 'twas given his progeny
As stars innumerous to see:
First of believers! moved to slay
His only son, so God to obey.

Epiphany Hymn-Stanzas 5-8

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

But yon Star's glory hath no end,
Nor to the depths can it descend:
It ne'er is whelmed by envious cloud
That seeks its beauty to enshroud.

Now let the baleful comet die,
The brood of blazing Sirius fly:
God's orb shall quench their sultry heats
And drive them from their haughty seats.

Lo! from the regions of the morn
Wherein the radiant sun is born,
The Persian sages see on high
God's ensign shining in the sky.

Soon as its rising beams prevail
The starry hosts in order pale:
E'en Lucifer durst not upraise
The silvery splendours of his face.

-Prayer of the Circumcision of Christ (from the Collects of Thomas Cramner)

2012-01-02T08:01:00.001-08:00

Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised and obedient to the law for man, grant us the true circumcision of thy spirit, that our hearts and all our members, being mortified from all worldly & carnal lusts, may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Year's End

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

A prayer from the “Valley of Vision” that has been one of my favorite for many years is called “Year’s End”. The prayer is as follows.

O Love beyond Compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.

Prudentius hymn on the Epiphany Stanzas 1-4

2011-12-29T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lift up your eyes, whoe'er ye be
That fare the new-born Christ to see:
For yonder is the shining sign
Of grace perennial and divine.

What means this star, whose piercing rays
Outshine the sun's resplendent blaze?
'Tis token sure that God is come
In mortal flesh to make His home.

No courtier of the realms of night
Nor monthly moon's bright acolyte,
This star directs the course of day,
Sole sovereign of the heavenly way.

Although the Bears their track retrace,
Nor wholly their clear beams efface,
Yet ofttimes 'neath the dun cloud's haze
They hide themselves from mortal gaze.

Augustine on Christmas

2011-12-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

When the maker of time, the Word of the Father, became flesh,
He gave us His day of birth in time.
Today Christ is born.
And He, without whose bidding no day runs it’s course,
In His incarnation reserved one day for Himself.
God Became man.
For He, Himself, with the Father, precedes all spans of time,
But on this day, issuing from His mother, He stepped into the tide of years.
Glory to God!
Man’s Maker was made man, that He, Ruler of the stars,
Might nurse at His mother’s breast,
That the Bread might be hungry, the Fountain thirst,
The Light sleep, the Way be tired from the journey.
Glory to God, Wonderful circumstance.
The Word was made flesh that the Truth might be accused by false witnesses,
The judge of the living and the dead by judged by a mortal judge.
Justice be sentenced by the unjust, the Teacher be beaten with whips,
The Vine be crowned with thorns, the Foundation be suspended on wood!
That Strength might be made weak, that He who was well might be wounded,
That Life might die.
Alleluia!
Glory to God in the highest!

Prayer after Christmas Day (Thomas Cranmer)

2011-12-27T04:00:00.000-08:00

Almighty God, which hast given us thy only begotten son to take our nature upon him, and this day to be born of a pure Virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy holy spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy ghost now and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Christmas Day (from collects of Thomas Cranmer)

2011-12-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ, grant that as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

How are we to think of the Incarnation? The New Testament does not encourage us to puzzle our heads over the physical and psychological problems that it raises, but to worship God for the love that was shown in it. For it was a great act of condescension and self-humbling. “He, who had always been God by nature,” writes Paul, “did not cling to his privileges as God’s equal, but stripped Himself of every advantage by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born a man. And, plainly seen as a human being, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, to the point of death, and the death he died was the death of a common criminal” (Phil 2:6-8 Phillips). And all this was for our salvation. . . .

The crucial significance of the cradle at Bethlehem lies in its place in the sequence of steps down that led the Son of God to the cross of Calvary, and we do not understand it till we see it in this context. . . . The taking of manhood by the Son is set before us in a way which shows us how we should ever view it — not simply as a marvel of nature, but rather as a wonder of grace.

– J. I. Packer, Knowing God, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993; pp. 58-59.

Candlelight Service

2011-12-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

There are many reasons I love Christmas, one of my favorite is when I gather with my church family particularly around Christmas Eve candlelight service. It has become a tradition these last several years around Calvary Baptist, and continues to be one of our largest community turnouts of the year. If you are in the area, we worship together on Christmas Eve at 5:30 p.m. The service lasts thirty minutes so it will be an appropriate commencement to your Christmas eve evening traditions.

Handel’s Messiah Disaster

2011-12-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

There are several reasons why I don’t care for churches attempting to do theatrical drama. Add another reason to my list.

Prayer for Fourth Sunday of Advent (from collects of Thomas Cranmer)

2011-12-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered, thy bountiful grace and mercy, through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, may speedily deliver us; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honor & glory, world without end. Amen.

Advent Meditation

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

This advent candle is known as the “Angel candle”. It reminds us of the worship that is yet to come.
Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. [19] And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. [20] But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. [21] She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: [23] "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us). [24] When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, [25] but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus

2011-12-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Another one of my few Christmas CD’s that would be a perfect ten would be the Three Tenors (the original) Christmas. Aside from some subtle translation, sequencing problems, this is angelic. “Happy Christmas/War Is Over” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is the best renditions I have ever heard. This project is proof that good music is a universal language.

Twelve Days of Christmas

2011-12-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

A satirical and clever spin to the Twelve Days of Christmas

2011-12-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

The German theologian Martin Luther was walking in the woods on a cold, Christmas Eve night in 1535. The sky was full of bright stars, which caused Luther to contemplate the wonder and beauty of the evening and wished he could somehow capture the moment to share with his children. An image of a tall evergreen tree sparkling with candlelight popped into his mind, and on his way home he found a tree just the right size. He cut it down, carried it home, and decorated it with candles. So church history teaches us that Martin Luther is not only to be the presumed writer of “Away in a Manger” but he also gave us Christmas tree lights in the form of candles.
Luther’s quest to provide his children joy began with his own in worshipping the Lord’s coming to earth. And that is exactly what Christmas at the very root is-worship.

Prayer for Third Sunday of Advent (from collects of Thomas Cranmer)

2011-12-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lord, we beseech thee, give ear to our prayers, and by thy gracious visitation lighten the darkness of our heart, by our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Advent

2011-12-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

The third candle in Advent is the Shepherd’s candle. Just to be technical, it is the pink candle which symbolizes the sharing of faith and a time to rejoice in our salvation.

Luke 2:8-18 [8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10] And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" [15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." [16] And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. [17] And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. [18] And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

Chip Davis

2011-12-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Chip Davis gives an excuse to follow up his highly successful first Christmas album by adding this project to his excellent ‘Fresh Aire’ series. This is a great punch as well. ‘Veni Veni’ is the best I have ever heard. As I mentioned in a previous post, of the hundred or so Christmas CD’s there would only be maybe five worthy of a ten out of ten rating. Chip’s first Christmas project and this one would be two of the five best ever.

A Social Network Christmas

2011-12-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a witty, thought provoking, and moving scenario of what may have occurred had Jesus been born in our day.

Sound advice from a twenty year old

2011-12-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Spurgeon preached his first Christmas sermon when he was twenty. Here are his introductory comments.
“THIS is the season of the year when, whether we wish it or not, we are compelled to think of the birth of Christ. I hold it to be one of the greatest absurdities under heaven to think that there is any religion in keeping Christmas-day. There are no probabilities whatever that our Savior Jesus Christ was born on that day and the observance of it is purely of Popish origin; doubtless those who are Catholics have a right to hallow it, but I do not see how consistent Protestants can account it in the least sacred. However, I wish there were ten or a dozen Christmas-days in the year; for there is work enough in the world, and a little more rest would not hurt laboring people. Christmas-day is really a boon to us, particularly as it enables us to assemble round the family hearth and meet our friends once more. Still, although we do not fall exactly in the track of other people, I see no harm in thinking of the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus.”

Prayer of Second Sunday of Advent (from the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

2011-12-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant us that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, & comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Advent Meditation

2011-12-05T06:19:00.001-08:00

The second candle of Advent week is the Bethlehem candle symbolic of the Christ’s babe cradle. This candle emphasizes Christ lowly humanity.

Micah 5:2-5 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. [3] Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. [4] And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. [5] And he shall be their peace.

Christmas Music

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

I own about one hundred Christmas CD’s (partly from my years in radio). So I know a thing or two about Christmas music. Of the 100 or so, there would probably be only five that would be perfect, ten out of ten, and two of the five would belong to Mannheim Steamroller. This is Chip Davis’ first of many Mannheim Christmas projects. He can put his kids through college with this project alone. Frankly put, there is no bad cut on this project. Every Christmas library must have this CD or it simply is not complete. It has great variations of modern and classic carols. Even though some songs are a bit dated (synthesizers from the eighties), the numerous Grammys still attest to its longevity. Even though it was originally recorded in 1984 most people know a cut off this project.

The Truth Hurts

2011-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Advent

2011-11-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

You have probably seen this, but pretty cool when Handel goes commercial.

Advent-Prophecy

2011-11-29T04:00:00.000-08:00

The Prophecy Candle is the first candle which we light today. It reminds us of the Old Testament prophets who foretold h comes our Scripture reading for today.

The prophecy candle is the first candle during week one of Advent. It reminds us of the Old Testament prophets predicting our hope in the coming Messiah.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Advent

2011-11-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Advent means “coming”, and it refers to the time immediately preceding Christmas, beginning on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas. Advent is observed by many Christians as a season of celebration, reflection, anticipation. For most Christians, advent is a time to worship and center on the Incarnation of Jesus and His purpose in coming to earth. Why not ponder His purpose in coming to earth today such as all the things He gave up so that you could get in?

Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T07:03:00.001-08:00

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

That is a sign posted over the threshold of my daughter’s bedroom. Not without coincidence, that the sign is facing my bedroom. In fact, I can see it from where I lay in bed. Suspicious? You will have to ask my wife’s intent. But there it is every morning before I even have the chance to walk out the door with the cruel world, before I have the chance to go downstairs to start my daily routine, before I even have the chance to moan out of bed; there it is to greet me-QUITYERBELLYACHIN. We stare at each other like the eyes of a final showdown in a Clint Eastwood western. Which one of us will flinch first? Then I am reminded of Paul’s exhortations to “rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.”
The holiday season is gradually coming upon us, and with that time of the year we officially celebrate Thanksgiving. As I was musing over this occasion (probably while in bed staring at that stupid sign), I thought how much easier it is to complain than it is to be grateful. Thomas Edison said, “Grouches are nearly always pinheads, small men who have never made any effort to improve their mental capacity.” Someone once remarked that nothing is easier than faultfinding; it takes no talent, no self-denial, no brains, and no character. Complaints are for those who take the cheap and lazy way out. Consider the follow findings from Scripture and allow these citations to cause you to be proactive in thanksgiving.
You should stop complaining because you love God (Exodus 16:7-8; Numbers 11:1).

We should recognize that complaints about the work of God are directly connected to God Himself. In the passages mentioned above, God takes Israel’s ‘bellyaching” personally.
You should stop complaining because you love your soul (Numbers 11:26ff; 1 Corinthians 10:6-10; Philippians 2:14-15; Jude 16).

These citations indicate that God equates complaining with the wicked. Jeremy Taylor once said, “It is usually not so much the greatness of our troubles as the littleness of our spirit that makes us complain.” If you are a constant complainer, you may need to look deep within your heart and ask yourself if you have the Christ Who makes us thankful.
You should stop complaining because you love others (Leviticus 19:18; Acts 6:1).
In Leviticus 19:18 there is a correlation between holding a grudge against someone else, and not loving him or her. In other words, you cannot do both at the same time. Complainers are kamikazes. They are destructive. They tear down. They usually care only for their own selfishness.
You should stop complaining because things could always be worse (Lamentations 3:39).

Jeremiah, the writer of Lamentations, remarks to his audience, how can a mortal man grumble when he still lives in spite of sin? God could have placed eternal punishment on us the moment we arrived on earth because we are sinners, yet He gives us life. The next time any one of us are tempted to open are mouths and murmur perhaps we should remind ourselves that living in God’s grace is better than abiding in hell no matter how bad things get.
You should stop complaining because you do not want to be judged (James 5:9).
Let us remember we are merely rehearsing here what we will review again in the heavenly tribunal.
You should stop complaining because you like having people around you (1 Peter 4:9).
Few people like being around a grouch. The Word of God even commends avoiding people who are “sour pusses” (Proverbs 21:19).
You should stop complaining because God does not always give you what you ask for (Exodus 16:2-3).

Complainers tend to act on emotions rather than on rationality. Numbers 14:1-4 is a good example of grumblers who get carried away and plan to do something foolish. They often “bite the hand that feeds them”. Praise God that He delivers deluded minds anyway!

You should stop complaining because God may give you what you ask for.
The lesson with Israel’s ungodly desire for a king is a good reminder to keep quiet and be content in what God gives us than to voice discontentment and regret it the rest of our lives.

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving season, let us be thankful! Think of ways you can express your gratefulness to God and others. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15) I am thankful for even the little things that God teaches me valuable lessons. Like a wooden sign hanging over the doorway to my daughter’s room, that greets me every morning and never flinches in its truth.

Nuts and Bolts

2011-11-18T03:30:00.000-08:00

Yet another great article from my President Al Mohler.

Through a Kid’s Eyes

2011-11-17T03:30:00.000-08:00

Update on Southern

2011-11-16T03:30:00.000-08:00

I just sent off a paper that I will deliver in a few weeks on Celebrations in Scripture. It was a pretty intense research. At one point, I had 120 pages of script that I have to edit down to 20 pages, pretty challenging. I am also finishing up some book reviews and few projects on Foster/Willard/Whitney’s spirituality as well as a few papers on Benjamin Beddome. If you remember me in the next few weeks, please pray for me, as the months of research boil down to these few weeks.

Speaking Engagements

2011-11-15T03:30:00.000-08:00

With my PhD work, I don’t get as many speaking engagements as I used to, but when I can afford the opportunity, I relish it. The last few weeks I have had some wonderful moments to interact with various people.

I few weeks ago, I was a guest lecturer at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in a pastoral care class led by Dr. Larry Cornine. This was the second year I lectured, and it was a rich time.

Then I went back to Midwestern last week, and was on a panel discussion regarding expository preaching with Dr. Ben Awbrey (one of my church members and preaching professor) and Tim Junke, one of my dear friends. Once again the time was well spent.

Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Faith Community Church where Tim serves as pastor. I have preached there several times, and always count it a joy.

Cousin Emily’s Sage Advice

2011-11-14T03:30:00.000-08:00

Miss Emily Baldwin (from The Walton’s) provided a fitting toast on one of the episodes as she and her sister (Mamie) lamented how few strong men there were in their lives. Raising her silver cup filled with “the recipe” she toasted, “A toast to the past when men were men and their women were proud of it.” Sound toast for us all!

To the Garden we go...

2011-11-11T03:30:00.000-08:00

In November, I officially “put my garden to bed”. My last fertilizing of the lawn goes down. All the vegetation gets pulled. I am stacking my wood for the winter. I admit I am rather happy to see this gardening year leave. It probably has been the less productive than any time of my life. Although had I planted a fall garden (which I usually do) it probably would have done well. My friends are still harvesting kale, Swiss chard, and other fall crops. Goodbye from the garden until next spring (Lord willing).

Steve Lawson on the Fear of God

2011-11-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

“Step inside the average church these days, and you will likely see that the services are designed to remove the fear of God rather than to promote it.” (Steve Lawson, Made in Our Image: What Shall We do with a User Friendly God? Pg. 194)

What I am Reading-The Pastor in Prayer

2011-11-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

This is a book that I have used for years. The work is a collection of pastoral prayers that Spurgeon crafted when he was a pastor at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Some made note that when the church had a guest speaker and Spurgeon was present, he would still give the pastoral prayer. This book will serve pastor’s well. I have used these prayers to shape my own prayers for the people when I pray in worship. One consistent feature throughout is how Spurgeon always prays for the advancement in the gospel, not only in his church, but in others in London as well as missionary zeal.

Schindler’s List and Eternity

2011-11-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a clip of one of the last scenes in the movie Schindler’s List, the movie I referred to in my introduction in Sunday’s sermon. The scene has amazing parallels to what Jesus was driving at in Matthew 6:19-20 and how we can and should use money in light of eternity.

G.K. Chesterton

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

“Christianity has not so much been tried and found wanting, as it has been found difficult and left untried.”

Nuts and Bolts

2011-11-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Graveyard and Junkyard

2011-11-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

When we die, we go to the graveyard, and our stuff goes to the junkyard. Randy Alcorn describes this truth well, “Take a ride with me. After a few miles we turn off the road, pass through the gate, and fall in line behind some pickup trucks. The vehicles ahead are filled with computers, stereo systems, furniture, appliances, fishing gears, and toys.
Higher and higher we climb, until we reach a parking lot. There the drivers unload their cargo. Curious, you watch a man hoist a computer. He staggers to the corner of the lot, and then hurls his computer over the edge.
Now you have got to find out what is going on. You scramble out of the car and peer over the precipice. At the bottom of the cliff is a giant pit filled with…stuff. Finally you understand. This is a landfill, a junkyard-the final resting place for the things in our lives.
Sooner or later, everything we own ends up here. Christmas and birthday presents. Cars, boats, and hot tubs. Clothes, stereos, and barbecues. The treasures that children quarreled about, friendships were lost over, honesty was sacrificed for, and marriages broke up over-all end up here. I recommend a family trip to a junkyard or landfill. It is a powerful lesson. Ever see the bumper sticker, “He who dies with the most toys wins?” Millions of people act as if that were true. The more accurate saying is “He who dies with the most toys still dies-and never takes his toys with him.” When we die after devoting our lives to acquiring things, we don’t win-we lose. We move into eternity (the graveyard), our toys stay behind, filling junkyards. The bumper sticker could not be more wrong.”

Update On Southern

2011-11-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am beginning to work through my colloquium subject on spiritual disciplines. One of the recent controversies is can and should evangelicals practice spiritual disciplines, and isn’t that a religious form of mysticism? I will be critiquing and comparing Don Whitney, Dallas Willard, and Richard Foster’s works. This should be a fruitful time. I certainly can see how this is beneficial for where the local church finds itself these days.

All Saints Day-Tony Felich

2011-11-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

We were privileged to have Tony Felich preaching in our church on Sunday. This is a dear brother who delivers the gospel both in pulpit and in pen. He pastors at Redeemer Presbyterian Church
They do many things well at this church. Tony has sent more people to Calvary than any other pastor that I know. If you are in the Overland Park area, and want a gospel centered, Presbyterian church, look no further. Tony is a constant reminder that we can disagree on secondary, significant matters, yet have a tight bond with the gospel.

Martin Luther and 95 Theses-October 31, 1517

2011-10-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

If you have time, take a peek at Luther’s 95 Theses, thus began the Protestant Reformation.

To The Garden We Go

2011-10-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

One of our family traditions for many years was to get everyone together and make apple butter. We have a copper pot and utensils that has been in our family for over one hundred years. My great grandparents used to boil down apples in their day. We even have their old recipe (which they measured bushels different than today). Typically, we get around 70-80 pints of apple butter depending on the year. My brother tries to carry on the tradition, below are some pictures from a number of years ago when my dad was still alive, and Emma was a little girl. The pictures are instructional on how to make apple butter. First, decore, then peel, then cut, then put in the kettle, then add ingredients, then stir, then ladle.

What I am Reading-Basil of Caesarea on Humility

2011-10-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Probably the best little treatise I have ever read on humility. A good theological grid filled with practical application. Basil maintains throughout his epistles on humility that both the ground and end of our humility is found in Christ and His glory. That is to say, we may be humble only when we follow the example of Christ and live in accordance to His commandments by His power. And the final reason for being humble is not for our own glory (“see how humble I am”), but for the glory of Christ who has saved us for humility.

Happy Anniversary

2011-10-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary, Love
By Phil Keaggy
Happy Anniversary, love
You're just as beautiful
As the day I met you my love
Oh, Happy Anniversary, love
The years have moved along,
But I'm still here by your side
Today, tonight
Well I can recall that moment in time
Looking deep in each other's eyes
And the solemn vows we made
On our wedding day
And there was a joy knowing you were mine
Embracing this new sunrise
So this comes from the heart of me
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary, love
For the way he made you my love
Oh, Happy Anniversary, love
Its more than words can say,
But you're the better part of me
You're all I need
Well I can recall that moment in time
Looking deep in each other's eyes
And the solemn vows we made
On our wedding day
And there was a joy knowing you were mine
Embracing this new sunrise
So this comes from the heart of me
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary

Change My Heart O God

2011-10-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Our Song of the Month. This has been a good prayer of confession and we have used it as such. Some of the lines are based upon the psalms. Very simple but a good song to shape prayer.

Nuts and Bolts

2011-10-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

On the music and culture front, it seems that there is new information leading some to believe John Lennon was secretly interested in the Christian faith toward the end of his life.

On a pretty cool side, recently at the end of a U2 concert, Bono brought on stage (as he does every night) a member of the crowd. The footage here was of a guy who played on Bono’s guitar the song he had played for his wife at their wedding “All I Want is You” (Joshua Tree). The fascinating element is that the man is blind. A cooler element is that Bono gives the man his guitar after playing.

Two Parodies on Christian Worship

2011-10-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of stuff sent to me on parodies. They can be overdone. But some are hilarious because sadly there is a grain of truth to them. Here are three of my favorites. Thanks Tony for the last one.

Update on Southern

2011-10-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am finishing up a paper on the view of the Holy Spirit that is taught by Aelred of Rievaulx, Ambrose, and Bernard of Clairvaux for my medieval spirituality track. Fun stuff!

Lorraine Boettner on the Gospel

2011-10-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

A great lengthy article on defining the gospel is written by Dr. Lorraine Boettner can be found here.

Wesley on Money

2011-10-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

Someone came to John Wesley one day, and said, “your house burnt down”, and in responded no it didn’t. “Yes, we saw that your house burnt down”. Mr. Wesley responded-that’s God’s house, not mine, and that gives me one less thing to worry about. John Wesley posed four questions that will help us decide how to spend money. 1-In spending this money, am I acting as if I owned it, or am I acting as the Lord’s trustee? 2-What Scripture requires me to spend this money in this way? 3-Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice to the Lord? 4-Will God reward me for this expenditure at the resurrection of the just?

To the Garden We go...

2011-10-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

I love fall. The flowers, pumpkins, cider, are all a panoramic display of God’s beauty. Happy fall from the garden.

Hallejuah at Emmy’s

2011-10-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back the Emmy’s were on, and I don’t watch much T.V. but I did see in passing a tribute to all celebrities who had died in the last year. What caught my attention was a quartet known as the Canadian tenors. Here is the special they did. A very moving song with powerful lyrics, there are interruptions within the tribute, but you will get a feel for these guys talent.

What I am Reading

2011-10-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Within Augustine’s The Confessions are riveting prayers that convey Augustine’s passion for life, his thirst for God, his compassion for his neighbor, and above all, his love for divine presence in each human being. These collection of prayers open the reader to the intimate relationship of love within one of Christianity’s greatest souls.

To Tithe or Not to Tithe

2011-10-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

I get questions from time to time about tithing. What is it? Is it for our day? Here are two responses from three scholars I have much respect for John MacArthur, John Piper, and D.A. Carson.
First, MacArthur
“Tithe does have its proper place still in Judaism in the gospel time. The Jewish people are still a duly constituted people. They were still under the ceremonial instruction of God's law. They were still under the obligation to obey the commandments relative to their national identity and to the funding of the priesthood. That had not been set aside yet until the church was born. And so He says you should do that. You should do that. By the way, the tithe is mentioned six times in the New Testament. Three times in the gospels and each time it is mention in the text condemning the abuse of it by the scribes and the Pharisees. Three times in the book of Hebrews when it simply reaches back and describes its historical reality in the history of Israel. At no time is it ever mentioned in the New Testament as binding on the church. It had to do with taxation of the national government of Israel” (from his sermon “The Condemnation of False Spiritual Leaders, Part 4-Matthew 23:16-33)

John Piper
D.A. Carson

C.H. Spurgeon

2011-10-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

“Shall we never be able to drive into men’s minds the truth that predestination and free agency are both facts? Men sin as freely as birds fly in the air, and they are altogether responsible for their sin; and yet ever thing is ordained and foreseen of God. The fore-ordination of God in no degree interferes with the responsibility of man. I have often been asked by persons to reconcile the two truths. My only reply is — They need no reconciliation, for they never fell out. Why should I try to reconcile two friends? Prove to me that the two truths do not agree. In that request I have set you a task as difficult as that which you propose to me. These two facts are parallel lines; I cannot make them unite, but you cannot make them cross each other. Permit me also to add that I have long ago given up the idea of making all my beliefs into a system. I believe, but I cannot explain. I fall before the majesty of revelation, and adore the infinite Lord.

Nuts and Bolts

2011-10-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

In case you haven’t heard yet, my denomination has plans for changing its name (maybe).

A recent poll was released of the most stressful jobs in the nation, and for the first time in a while pastors were not on the list, which I think is crazy and I am really stressed out about.

If you are a pastor that is stressed out (it is not a coincidence that Mondays follow Sundays), here is a beneficial article.

When I watch the pint-sized preacher and the justification of his call, more stress comes.

B.B. Warfield

2011-10-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

A God who could or would make a creature whom he could not or would not control, is no God. He would have ceased to be a moral being. It is an immoral act to make a thing that we cannot or will not control. The only justification for making anything is that we both can and will control it. If a man should manufacture a quantity of an unstable high-explosive in the corridors of an orphan asylum, and when the stuff went off should seek to excuse himself by saying that he could not control it, no one would count his excuse valid. What right had he to manufacture it, we should say, unless he could control it? He relieves himself of none of the responsibility for the havoc wrought, by pleading inability to control his creation.

To suppose that God has made a universe-or even a single being-the control of which he renounces, is to accuse him of similar immorality.

Update on Southern

2011-10-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of finishing up ten book reviews for a Biblical Foundations course. Believe or not, those have been challenging. Also, I am in the midst of writing a major paper on Celebrations throughout Scripture and their spiritual meaning for the people of God. Some of you have passed along some good resources, and I am thankful. There is still time to give me your feedback.

Pastor Ponderings

2011-10-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

I have many close pastor friends in the KC area I healthy relations with (which caused my motivation for Gospel Crier another story). We have built some great friendship, and often talk about the plights and trends we see happening in evangelicalism at a large scale, and in our churches to a small scale.
Two issues that we have discussed in recent years, have been, I think appropriately written in recent columns. One is an article about some of the warnings to homeschool parents written by a homeschool parent and posted by a homeschool parent. It articulates well some of the thoughts that many pastors have expressed to me. It is a good article for all parents to seriously consider.

Another issue that many pastors share with me is the Christian celebrities (that in some cases are non-scholars) we see in the church today. Many of my pastor friends who are Reformed are concerned about brands of Reformed theology that seem more deformed than anything. One extreme is a Calvinism where people are mad about something all the time. This is one of the things I tell people, “I am a Calvinist, I’m just not mad about it.” Yet there is another extreme that is emerging that is well written in this article that was sent me by a beloved pastor friend

Until the End of the World

2011-10-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a clip from U2’s “Until the End of the World” which was appropriate as we closed out Matthew’s gospel a few weeks ago. I love the last line, “I reached out to the One I tried to destroy, and You, You said You’d wait until the end of the world.”

To The Garden We Go...

2011-09-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am way behind on my fall clean up schedule. One of the reasons is the equipment I have been dealt with. Here is a picture of my lawn mower. Yes this is the lawn mower I use. It was given to me by my mom when she moved here. I accepted the gift only in turn to be a giver and give my lawn mower to my sister. I wish I hadn’t. In less than one mowing season, this mower does not perform self-propelled operations, even though it is built to do so. In the course of mowing this spring, the muffler literally flew off as I was mowing, and I have yet to replace it. Then the starter shaft flew off so I have to have my wife hold the starter shaft down with her foot while I pull the cord causing her to recite, “How many people does it take to start one lawn mower?” I beg and plead that the mower not be shut off until all mowing is complete. Now parts of the primer is coming loose. I find myself humming the Merle Haggard hit, “If We Make Through December”.

Lutheran Video Parody

2011-09-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

Here is another favorite Lutheran pastor parody. While I don’t subscribe to much of what the “Lutheran pastor” embraces, I do think this satire is appropriate when exposing the hypocrisy and ignorance of many critics of other believers.

What I am Reading

2011-09-28T03:30:00.000-07:00

I am reading “Letter to Diogentus” as part of my doctoral work. It is a bit ironic since no one knows for certain who wrote it, only who it was written to. The letter does contain some valuable content. The author has written this epistle in order to describe certain characteristics about the Christian faith. Specifically, who is the God Christians believe in, how they worship Him “so that all disdain the world and despise death and neither account those to be gods who are esteemed such by the Greeks, nor observe the superstition of the Jews; and what is the affection which they have for one another; and why it is that this new race of men or mode of living has entered into our world now and not formerly.”

Salvatioin Belongs to Our God

2011-09-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the Crystal Lewis version of “Salvation Belongs to our God” which is Calvary’s song of the month.

Money and the Reformers

2011-09-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Martin Luther recognized this valuable truth when he said that for each of us there must be not only the conversion of the heart and mind but also the conversion of the purse.
John Calvin-“where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.”

Confessions of A Doxaholic

Richard Baxter

Pre-Lenten Prayers (Approximately 60 Days Before Easter)

Matthew Henry

Spurgeon on Delight

What I am Reading

Cotton Mather Quote

Pre-Lenten Prayer (Approximately 70 Days Until Easter)

Nuts And Bolts

Spurgeon on Psalm 1

Update on Southern

Prayer during Epiphany Season

Everyone Needs A Friend

Al Mohler Quote

A.W. Tozer Quote

Hymn of the Month

Prayer during Epiphany Season (based on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

Augustine Quote

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 49-52)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 45-48)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 41-44)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 37-40)

Prayer in Epiphany Season-(Based on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 33-36)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 28-32)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 25-28)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 21-24)

Prayer of Epiphany (Based on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 17-20)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 13-16)

Epiphany Hymn (Stanzas 9-12)

Epiphany Hymn-Stanzas 5-8

-Prayer of the Circumcision of Christ (from the Collects of Thomas Cramner)

Year's End

Prudentius hymn on the Epiphany Stanzas 1-4

Augustine on Christmas

Prayer after Christmas Day (Thomas Cranmer)

Prayer for Christmas Day (from collects of Thomas Cranmer)

Merry Christmas

Candlelight Service

Handel’s Messiah Disaster

Prayer for Fourth Sunday of Advent (from collects of Thomas Cranmer)

Advent Meditation

Twelve Days of Christmas

Prayer for Third Sunday of Advent (from collects of Thomas Cranmer)

Advent

Chip Davis

A Social Network Christmas

Sound advice from a twenty year old

Prayer of Second Sunday of Advent (from the Collects of Thomas Cranmer)

Advent Meditation

Christmas Music

The Truth Hurts

Advent

Advent-Prophecy

Advent

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Nuts and Bolts

Through a Kid’s Eyes

Update on Southern

Speaking Engagements

Cousin Emily’s Sage Advice

To the Garden we go...

Steve Lawson on the Fear of God

What I am Reading-The Pastor in Prayer

Schindler’s List and Eternity

G.K. Chesterton

Nuts and Bolts

Graveyard and Junkyard

Update On Southern

All Saints Day-Tony Felich

Martin Luther and 95 Theses-October 31, 1517

To The Garden We Go

More Answer on Test

What I am Reading-Basil of Caesarea on Humility

Happy Anniversary

Change My Heart O God

Nuts and Bolts