tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50104724314382600032024-03-14T13:19:10.757-04:00Arguing With AngelsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger305125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-10545837453453484062015-05-07T15:00:00.002-04:002015-05-07T15:00:54.434-04:00Book Review: Shepherding God's Flock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.75px; line-height: 19.25px;">Having become involved in certain areas of leadership in my life, I jumped at the opportunity to read this book, <a href="http://www.kregel.com/ministry/shepherding-gods-flock/" target="_blank">"Shepherding God's Flock"</a> edited by Benjamin Merkle and Thomas Schreiner. This book is a compilation of multiple essays consisting of chapters that examine biblical leadership in the New Testament, historical developments of leadership in the Roman Catholic Church (more on that later), church leadership models across several denominations, and practical considerations for church leadership in our time.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.75px; line-height: 19.25px;">This book is a moderately "academic" read. For example, it goes into in-depth historical developments of leadership in the Catholic Church over several chapters, which is fine for a history book, but somewhat off-topic for a book focused on church leadership. Perhaps I mistakenly expected more practical application as opposed to church history. The history portions are enjoyable and enlightening though they may be out of place.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.75px; line-height: 19.25px;">The first four chapters of this book, which examine church leadership through simple examination of the relevant New Testament texts represents the good "academic" portions of this book. The implicit points of application that arise out of the theological examination of church leadership in these chapters are particularly helpful. For example, in his examination of the Pauline epistles, Thomas Schreiner states, "Orthodox doctrine, Paul insists, leads to love, and hence orthodoxy is immensely practical" (p. 91).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.75px; line-height: 19.25px;">The final chapter caps the book off with multiple practical considerations for forming and "doing" church leadership in this age.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.75px; line-height: 19.25px;">Overall, I would recommend those in church leadership read this book to mainly firm up their doctrine of church leadership. Some of the history is a little irrelevant in my opinion. It is also worth noting that most of the authors represented in this volume are coming from a credobaptistic, elder-led, congregation-ruled perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.75px; line-height: 19.25px;">I received this book for free from Kregel Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-2021094365413764072015-02-19T00:18:00.000-05:002015-05-07T11:13:49.964-04:00Book Review: A Passion For The Fatherless<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are on the right
track, you will get to the right destination. If one attempts orphan-care
without sound theology driving their efforts, trouble is bound to happen.
<a href="http://store.kregel.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=3340" target="_blank">"A Passion For The Fatherless" by Daniel Bennett</a> offers a sound
theological treatment of orphan-care and adoption and the necessary practical
outcomes. The chapters in Part One, which are devoted to the underlying
theology of adoption – spiritual and natural – display a solid grasp of the
ultimate point of orphan-care: to display the glory of God’s grace. The author
exegetes and applies passages in Ephesians 1 particularly well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was very pleased with
the comprehensive treatment of issues related to orphan care throughout Part
Two. From passages on materialism to strong disclaimers about the difficulty of
adoption, Daniel Bennett continued to impress this reader with his treatment of
multiple issues related to orphan-care. This book is profoundly theological and
I cannot stress this point enough. One chapter on decision making and God’s
will particularly impressed me, and although it seems odd to find such a book
on orphan-care, it fit well. Another chapter offers a brief and compelling look
at church governance and how elders can equip their flocks to care for orphans
in a thoroughly biblical manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, in Part Three,
Bennett devotes two chapters (out of twelve!) to a practical method to starting
an orphan ministry in a local church. Have I stressed how profoundly
theological this book is? Ten out of twelve chapters are devoted to the
theological underpinnings of orphan-care. And the final two chapters give a
good outline to starting a orphan-care ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I believe this
book is an excellent example of how churches should approach any given “ministry”:
deeply engage the underlying theological issues first and then get to work. If
a church follows a theologically reinforced strategy to orphan-care, God will
certainly be glorified. “A Passion For The Fatherless” is a great place to get
started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I received this book for
free from Kregel Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-65804736146127141182014-12-29T15:07:00.001-05:002014-12-29T15:07:46.114-05:00Book Review: Urban Apologetics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"Urban Apologetics": the title of this book greatly intrigued me when I heard of it since I am a member of a local church whose building is located in an urban environment and is also beginning to take greater strides to bring the gospel to the urban environment in which our building is located. This book, by Christopher W. Brooks, campus dean at Moody Theological Seminary and senior pastor of Evangel Ministries church in Detroit, serves as a good primer for people seeking to sharpen their thinking and living as they bring the gospel to those who live in an urban environment.</div>
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The first two topics Brooks addresses, the relevance of the gospel to the modern city and the two sided-coin of evangelism and apologetics, lay the foundation of Brooks' later chapters which address specific hot-topic issues relevant to America's urban communities. Brooks' stated goal of this book is to "bring about a greater connection between urban Christians and those who do the work of apologetics and theology" (p. 15). I believe this book serves as a good introductory primer for prospective urban apologists.</div>
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The effective urban apologist must be "embodied", pointing to the need for boots on the ground, living in the midst of cities. Social programs attempting to repair the unique destruction sin wreaks in inner-cities or touch and go evangelism blitzes with no remaining presence are both lacking. The effective urban apologist must live out what he preaches in the midst of the city he is heralding the gospel to.</div>
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Brooks mentions several other important points in his opening chapters - the rise of "apatheism" and the continuing decline of cultural Christianity in cities, the need to address unique issues urban people face, and the importance of coupling good deeds with gospel proclamation. Brooks strikes the balance well between good deeds and proclamation when he says, "that although love is the primary ethic of the church, winning people to Christ is and always will be the primary mission of the church" (p. 36). To miss the biblical mission of the church would destine an apologetics book to failure, thankfully Brooks retains a proper understanding of the church's mission when considering apologetics and evangelism. Brooks also properly defines the purpose of apologetics as evangelism (p. 40). I personally enjoyed the emphasis Brooks gave to empowering individuals to effectively engage the people in their circles of relationship versus an event-driven kind of evangelism. It will take every man, woman, and child of Christ' church to reach every urban man, woman, and child who have not yet encountered the gospel of Jesus.</div>
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The bulk of Brooks' book lies in chapters addressing issues especially pertinent to urban environments: abortion, sexuality, family, religious pluralism, and social justice. In the short space of this book, Brooks gives a proper understanding of the challenges at hand with each respective topic and issues some introductory arguments to deconstruct misunderstandings of and challenges to the respective biblical view on each topic. These chapters should prove helpful to the urban apologist. Brooks, an African-American pastor in Detroit, writes with the insight only gained by living in and ministering to such urban environments over many years.</div>
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As with any book review, I need to address the points of disagreement or contention. While I had no strong disagreements with the arguments Brooks presents here, I particularly was curious of his foundational approach to apologetics. One may suspect that the author comes from a more evidentialist apologetic approach based on certain statements he makes. For example when Brooks is addressing the negative consequences of homosexuality, he seems to assign a measure of authority to scientific social research on homosexuality alongside Scripture. I would give Brooks the benefit of the doubt here that he likely does not hold scientific research to the authority level of Scripture even though I would like some more clarity on his approach to addressing secular arguments and the use and authority of Scripture in such arguments.</div>
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Overall, I would recommend this book as a helpful primer to Christians seeking to more effectively engage their urban neighbors as they seek to present the gospel to every man, woman, and child.</div>
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Note: I received this book for free from Kregel Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review. Please see the author's page <a href="http://store.kregel.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=3265" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-51167067947449602402014-05-11T22:07:00.003-04:002014-05-11T22:07:26.014-04:00Book Review: Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I recently read a book which I normally wouldn't read. I don't think that I, a mid-20s accountant with a minor obsession for theology, hymns, old guns, and scotch, would be considered the target audience for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802407501?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0802407501&linkCode=shr&tag=argui-20" target="_blank">"Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl: On Her Journey from Neediness to Freedom"</a> by Paula Hendricks. However, as luck (and the wonderful connections Twitter can make) will have it, I have somehow found myself in the midst of the target audience of a gaggle of teenage girls swooning after dreamy junior-high boys. As abnormal the topic of this book was compared to my preferred genres and topics, I really like it and would recommend it.<br />
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Paula Hendricks, the self-confessedly boy-crazy girl, who blogs at <a href="http://paulawrites.com/">paulawrites.com</a> and is a regular contributor to the <a href="http://www.truewoman.com/?id=15" target="_blank">True Woman blog</a>, has penned a helpful and brief memoir about her journey from seeking joy in boys to seeking (and finding) her joy in Christ.<br />
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Paula breaks down her story in two main parts: her search for happiness in a relationship and her "breaking and remaking" effected by Jesus' gospel. I don't need to be a boy-crazy girl to relate to the experiences she shares and the pains and dead ends of making a relationship an idol. Paula writes each chapter in a colloquial tone which is easy to read and well suited for her presumed teenage girl audience. Each chapter also has questions for reflection which were thought out quite well and would certainly prove helpful.<br />
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As a (rather) amateur theologian coming to a book which I normally would not read, I was very curious to see how Scripture would be applied and if it would be handled faithfully. I was quite pleased with Paula's use of the Scriptures and detected no real errors in exegesis or application. On the contrary, I often found myself underlining and marking up many passages which I found to be faithful interpretations and applications of the text of Scripture. For example, I found the tremendously encouraging assertion, "God is a Person - one who's more interested in securing my <i>forever</i> happiness than my <i>temporary</i> happiness" (p.13). Here is a woman who recognizes something that I fear much of the Church misses: the real personhood of God.<br />
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One more thing I loved that Paula wrote, which I think shows that she is a trustworthy writer who is planted on some firm doctrinal ground as to how God reveals Himself: "And then I heard Him. Jesus. He spoke to me through Matthew 11:28-30..." (p.92). A writer working through difficult desires and life situations who doesn't look to her circumstances or mystical experiences to hear from God, but hears his voice in the Scriptures? I can really dig that. Oh, and she quoted a favorite hymn of mine and a Thomas Chalmers sermon, so perhaps you should take this review with a grain of salt. Or you can pick up a copy of the book and read it. If you are a teenage girl...or not.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-58966656578033108862014-01-10T18:50:00.002-05:002014-01-10T18:50:25.617-05:00Book Review: What The Old Testament Authors Really Cared About<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I first heard of the title of this book, I was a little skeptical. This guy has the gumption to tell us all what the Old Testament authors <i>really</i> cared about? Pretentiousness in the title! Surely this book can't live up to its claim. Welp, I was wrong. <a href="http://store.kregel.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=3222" target="_blank">This book, edited by Jason DeRouchie</a>, is an excellent introduction to the Old Testament with a keen focus on authorial intent. In this review, I will offer a brief summary of the book and then my reflections.<br />
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In this Old Testament survey, several authors and professors walk through each book in the Old Testament in the order of the Hebrew scriptures, which has a definite impact when it comes to understanding the theme of certain books (ex: 1-2 Chronicles). In each chapter, the respective author walks through the purpose(s) each scriptural author had for writing by answering the whos, whens, wheres, and whys of the book. DeRouchie states plainly the purpose of this book: "this survey attempts to <i>present the essence of what is revealed in the Old Testament</i>, with a conscious eye toward the fulfillment found in Jesus in the New Testament" (p.13, emphasis original). This book pairs very well with other works on biblical theology. The chapters are sprinkled with relevant pictures, sidebars, visual and textual graphs, and most importantly, solid biblical exegesis - as far as this amateur theologian can tell.<br />
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I was very pleased with the overall content of this book, especially considering that I had never read almost any author contained in this volume before. There are too many helpful things I underlined and noted to share here in this review. I only noted a few items of biblical interpretation which seemed to be a little bit of a stretch. Either way, such items were very minor and not essential to the main meaning of the text in question.<br />
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Here is one sample of something in the chapter on Lamentations I found encouraging and readily applicable to my life: "[Speaking of God's faithfulness as the basis for hope in suffering]...therefore, those who look to God have real hope - the confident assurance that he will meet the repentant with real mercy in accordance with his character and promise" (p.405).<br />
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I heartily commend this book to everyone who desires to get to know that which composes a large majority of the Bible.<br />
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<i>Per FTC guidelines, I note that I received this book for free from Kregel Publications in exchange for an unbiased review.</i><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-23529206136180171362013-05-20T21:22:00.003-04:002013-05-20T21:26:44.826-04:00The Object of Corporate Worship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mike Cosper, in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433533421/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1433533421&linkCode=as2&tag=argui-20"><i><span style="color: black;">Rhythms of Grace</span></i></a>, makes a key observation about the nature of corporate worship. Here is my summary what Mike calls the worship one-two-three:</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-c1bf-509b-b723910f255a" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One: God is the object and the author of worship.</span></span></b> </blockquote>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two: Worship happens when God’s people are scattered and gathered. </span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three: God, the Church, and the world witness our worship.</span></blockquote>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-c1bf-509b-b723910f255a" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-c1bf-509b-b723910f255a" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-8b12-1594-437ab4c22f7e" style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was thinking about the implications of God being the object of our worship and pondered the following ponderings.</span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></b></b>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-c1bf-509b-b723910f255a" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-8b12-1594-437ab4c22f7e" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do we worship God according to His self-revelation or to a false image of God? In our corporate worship, God is the only object of our worship and we worship God. We do not gather together to engage in an activity called “worship”; we worship something, namely, God. God is to be the sole object of our worship. When we gather, we direct all our honoring, thanksgiving, praising, exalting, and exulting towards God. As the formerly blind man fell at Jesus feet and worshiped Jesus when he received Jesus’ self-revelation (John 9:37-38), so we are to respond to God as we receive God’s story – the gospel. It makes much sense to then fill our corporate gatherings with Scripture – reading, reciting, preaching – so that there will be no doubt in the congregation as to who God says He is and so that God’s Spirit may actively work in us through the Scriptures.</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></b></b>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-c1bf-509b-b723910f255a" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4aa-8b12-1594-437ab4c22f7e" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s self-revelation should also cause us to evaluate carefully the words of the songs we sing. Consider the following:</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do the songs we sing accurately reflect who God is and what He has done? Are we singing false or faulty doctrine? (This implies one must have and know doctrine first.) </span></span></b></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do we have an imbalanced song collection where we focus inordinately on certain characteristics of God and neglect others? </span></span></b></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can the songs we sing be sung by one living the normal Christian life or do the songs we sing portray the redeemed life as one of all triumph or as one of gloom? </span></span></b></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do the songs we sing represent a mere mishmash of spiritual phrases? Do our songs sound more like a word-bank for worship buzzword bingo – praise, love, glory, fire, desire, king, sing – than coherent lyrics which tell God’s story that we sing along to? Contrary to the apparent beliefs of some popular songwriters, singing “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” ad infinitum might not be the best method of vocalizing our praise to God.</span></span></b></li>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-1266b1e2-c4ab-7735-b698-72826f6a5b39" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There is much more to be thought through and more to be said about such a topic.</span></span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-24565752606864094522013-03-31T21:11:00.001-04:002013-03-31T21:11:17.710-04:00The Neglected Argument Against Same-Sex Marriage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Should Christians support "same-sex marriage"?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That is the question I have been considering this past week. I have seen several Christian friends and acquaintances come out in support of same-sex marriage via social media recently. I have also heard many raise their opposition to same-sex marriage. I believe that there is an argument against same sex marriage which has been tragically neglected in recent weeks. The argument had two sides, a negative and positive. Let's consider the negative first.</span></div>
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Same-sex marriage, as it is presently propounded, is incompatible with what is good for men and women according to what God has made plain in Scripture. Why? Because same-sex marriage is founded on something sinful - homosexuality. You cannot support same-sex marriage without supporting something which God disapproves. Christians should never encourage anyone to sin, whether they are believers or not. Standing up for same-sex marriage is to promote a life where one can accept homosexual desire and pursue it in the context of a homosexual relationship. Christians should not encourage this. To accept homosexual marriage is to accept sin and Christians should never accept that which brings death to mankind (cf. Romans 1-6).</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the positive side of the argument? The glorious, beautiful, and tragically neglected side of the argument? Christ, the one to whom Christians should point their same-sex friends to, is scorned. Here is one way of stating the argument all too absent as of late: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"There is something far better for the homosexual man or woman than to be married to another homosexual man or woman - to repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus and be forever married to He who is ultimately and most fully good for men and women - Jesus!" </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We should encourage homosexuals to flee to Christ and repent of their sin (including homosexual passions) and believe in the gospel of grace. Christians can't promote something that brings death (as all sin does) and at the same time promote Christ. I think many Christians mistakenly support same-sex marriage because they have a skewed view of what is marriage, love, happiness, and the ultimate purpose of life. The Bible gives the truth of what is good for men and women: to know and be known by God in Christ. Or, as many have confessed over the years: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am deliberately leaving many things out of this post for the sake of trying to present a singular point. Comments are open.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-12711344412126226272013-02-24T13:30:00.000-05:002013-02-24T13:30:02.669-05:00The Only Kind of Boasting Allowed - Gadsby #32<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is only one kind of boasting approved by God and that is boasting in Christ. What does it mean to boast in Christ? Is it to exult in the fact that Christ saved <i>you</i>? This is an unthinkable and glorious reality, but I don't think that in boasting in Christ, we become the subject of such boasting. Boasting in Christ rather is proudly exulting in who Jesus is, how He made God just and became the justifier of those who have faith in Him (Rom. 3:26). I think boasting is closer to that. Having said that, this is the <i>only</i> kind of boasting approved by God. Further, the litmus test for evidence of the residence of the Spirit of God is such boasting - exulting in the supreme holiness of God manifested in the Son's life, death, and resurrection with abundant love.<br />
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Also, another way to detect the Spirit's activity is to see how much people are heart-gazing at Christ. This is the dominant activity of the Spirit. Do I need to mention that some alleged manifestations of the Spirit may be exactly the opposite of what they claim to be if Christ is not lifted up as the supreme treasure?<br />
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32 C.M. J. Hart<br />
“He shall not speak of himself.” John 16:13; 15:26<br />
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1 Whatever prompts the soul to pride,<br />
Or gives us room to boast,<br />
Except in Jesus crucified,<br />
Is not the Holy Ghost.<br />
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2 That blessed Spirit omits to speak<br />
Of what himself has done,<br />
And bids the enlightened sinner seek<br />
Salvation in the Son.<br />
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3 He never moves a man to say,<br />
“Thank God, I’m made so good,”<br />
But turns his eye another way,<br />
To Jesus and his blood.<br />
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4 Great are the graces he confers,<br />
But all in Jesus’ name;<br />
He gladly dictates, gladly hears,<br />
“Salvation to the Lamb.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-57783168256804626452013-02-19T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-19T06:00:11.700-05:00Useless Doctrine - Gadsby # 31<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Doctrine quickly becomes meaningless if it does not affect your life. Hart repeats this several times in this hymn. What good is election to me if God has not chosen me? What good is justification if Christ' accomplished redemption is not applied to me? You get the picture. But the question still remains: is your doctrine useless?<br />
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31 C.M. J. Hart<br />
“The kingdom of God is ... in power.” 1 Cor. 4. 20<br />
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1 A form of words, though e’er so sound,<br />
Can never save a soul;<br />
The Holy Ghost must give the wound,<br />
And make the wounded whole.<br />
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2 Though God’s election is a truth,<br />
Small comfort there I see,<br />
Till I am told by God’s own mouth,<br />
That he has chosen me.<br />
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3 [Sinners, I read, are justified,<br />
By faith in Jesus’ blood;<br />
But when to me that blood’s applied,<br />
’Tis then it does me good.]<br />
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4 [To perseverance I agree;<br />
The thing to me is clear;<br />
Because the Lord has promised me<br />
That I shall persevere.]<br />
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5 [Imputed righteousness I own<br />
A doctrine most divine;<br />
For Jesus to my heart makes known<br />
That all his merit’s mine.]<br />
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6 That Christ is God I can avouch,<br />
And for his people cares,<br />
Since I have prayed to him as such,<br />
And he has heard my prayers.<br />
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7 That sinners black as hell, by Christ<br />
Are saved, I know full well;<br />
For I his mercy have not missed,<br />
And I am black as hell.<br />
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8 Thus, Christians glorify the Lord,<br />
His Spirit joins with ours<br />
In bearing witness to his word,<br />
With all its saving powers.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-13375505669601144892013-02-18T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-18T06:00:13.504-05:00The Fruit of the Spirit - Gadsby #30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm not entirely sure if I am in 100% agreement with this hymn. Here are a few points of pushback I have:<br />
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<li>What about the soul who doesn't have "sincere desires" in seeking after Jesus' love? For example, there are many who pursue God in Spirit-idolatry, where miraculous gifts are sought more than God Himself. But if the Holy Spirit only gave "breathings from above" to those who sincerely sought Jesus, we would all be lacking God's great Gift (Rom. 5:4). I am not denying that God withholds Spiritual blessings from those who earnestly seek Him. Such a thought paints the picture of a fickle and malevolent God. I guess my point is here that the Spirit will breath on those whom He wills (Jn. 3:8), through convicting them of their sin (which means that they are presently entangled in sin to be convicted of it - cf. Jn 16:8).</li>
<li>"still small voice" - I have rarely seen someone use this phrase properly. When people speak of the "still small voice" they often imply hearing little mental whispers from God. The debate around this phrase/topic is worthy of exegesis from skilled exegetes (i.e. not me). Suffice it to say, when phrases such as this are exported from Scripture and then take on a new meaning divorced from the original text, well, you're doing it wrong.</li>
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Other than those minor quibbles, here is one thing worthy of reflection: you can have your "conscience washed from sin". This is not impossible. But beware of the Accuser who will work against you to make it seem impossible.<br />
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30 C.M. J. Hart<br />
The Fruit of the Spirit. Acts 2:3; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9<br />
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1 The soul that with sincere desires<br />
Seeks after Jesus’ love,<br />
That soul the Holy Ghost inspires<br />
With breathings from above.<br />
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2 [Not every one in like degree<br />
The Spirit of God receives;<br />
The Christian often cannot see<br />
His faith, and yet believes.<br />
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3 So gentle sometimes is the flame,<br />
That, if we take not heed,<br />
We may unkindly quench the same,<br />
We may, my friends, indeed.]<br />
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4 Blest God! that once in fiery tongues<br />
Cam’st down in open view,<br />
Come, visit every heart that longs<br />
To entertain thee too.<br />
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5 [And though not like a mighty wind,<br />
Nor with a rushing noise,<br />
May we thy calmer comforts find,<br />
And hear thy still small voice.]<br />
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6 Not for the gift of tongues we pray,<br />
Nor power the sick to heal;<br />
Give wisdom to direct our way,<br />
And strength to do thy will.<br />
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7 We pray to be renewed within,<br />
And reconciled to God;<br />
To have our conscience washed from sin<br />
In the Redeemer’s blood.<br />
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8 We pray to have our faith increased,<br />
And O, celestial Dove!<br />
We pray to be completely blessed<br />
With that rich blessing, love.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-62836879346733038242013-02-14T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-14T06:00:08.289-05:00A Hymn About The Spirit's Leading<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The first thing that struck me when I was reading this hymn was the phrase "ravished breasts". It is ok to realized that your heart is often beat up and you are worn down from life. We can't hide from pain in this cursed universe. But we need not fall into utter despair because of the struggles we face in life. The Spirit is ready and willing to help us. More than that, we can hope in Him, the Spirit of God, because He is powerful and He can renovate our bruised hearts. The soul the Spirit of God renews will not collapse into ruin.<br />
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It is a gospel irony that we find healing in the "bruised wounds of our incarnate God". The world would think it strange that the God believers worship is a God who guides us to a bloody crucifix where the "sinner-train" finds a new song: "We're clean, just God, we're clean."<br />
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29 8.8.6. J. Hart<br />
Led by the Spirit. Ezek. 37:5,9; John 16:14<br />
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1 Descend from heaven, celestial Dove,<br /> With flames of pure seraphic love<br /> Our ravished breasts inspire;<br /> Fountain of joy, blest Paraclete,<br /> Warm our cold hearts with heavenly heat,<br /> And set our souls on fire.<br /><br /> 2 Breathe on these bones, so dry and dead;<br /> Thy sweetest, softest influence shed<br /> In all our hearts abroad;<br /> Point out the place where grace abounds;<br /> Direct us to the bleeding wounds<br /> Of our incarnate God.<br /><br /> 3 Conduct, blest Guide, thy sinner-train<br /> To Calvary, where the Lamb was slain,<br /> And with us there abide;<br /> Let us our loved Redeemer meet,<br /> Weep o’er his piercèd hands and feet,<br /> And view his wounded side.<br /><br /> 4 [From which pure fountain if thou draw<br /> Water to quench the fiery law,<br /> And blood to purge our sin;<br /> We’ll tell the Father in that day,<br /> (And thou shalt witness what we say),<br /> “We’re clean, just God, we’re clean.”]<br /><br /> 5 Teach us for what to pray, and how;<br /> And since, kind God, ’tis only thou<br /> The throne of grace canst move,<br /> Pray thou for us, that we, through faith,<br /> May feel the effects of Jesus’ death,<br /> Through faith, that works by love.<br /><br /> 6 [Thou, with the Father and the Son,<br /> Art that mysterious Three-in-One,<br /> God blest for evermore!<br /> Whom though we cannot comprehend,<br /> Feeling thou art the sinner’s Friend,<br /> We love thee and adore.]</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-20636868051035602642013-02-13T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-13T06:00:02.194-05:00Gadsby #28 - The Spirit Gives Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If this hymn does not well describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit, I am not sure what else does. Writings such as hymns, catechisms, and confessions are worthy of our meditation just as Scripture is worthy of our meditation for such writings are summaries and testimonies of the truth of Scripture. My thinking has been changed much by good hymns.<br />
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There is comfort which we may delight in and there is comfort in which we may not delight in. It is fitting to find joy in the comfort the Spirit gives us as he reminds us of Christ' eternal priesthood and accomplished redemption. It is not fitting to rest in the "false comforts" of this world (verse 5). Such comforts are akin to drinking antifreeze. Sweet but poisonous.<br />
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One question from this hymn we should apply to ourselves is: do we ask the Spirit to renovate our hearts?<br />
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28 C.M. J. Hart<br />“It is the Spirit that quickeneth.” John 6:63; 14:16<br /> <br />
1 Blest Spirit of truth, eternal God,<br />Thou meek and lowly Dove,<br />Who fill’st the soul through Jesus’ blood,<br />With faith, and hope, and love;<br /><br />2 Who comfortest the heavy heart,<br />By sin and sorrow pressed;<br />Who to the dead canst life impart,<br />And to the weary rest;<br /><br />3 [Thy sweet communion charms the soul,<br />And gives true peace and joy,<br />Which Satan’s power cannot control,<br />Nor all his wiles destroy;]<br /><br />4 Come from the blissful realms above;<br />Our longing breasts inspire<br />With thy soft flames of heavenly love,<br />And fan the sacred fire.<br /><br />5 [Let no false comfort lift us up<br />To confidence that’s vain;<br />Nor let their faith and courage droop,<br />For whom the Lamb was slain.]<br /><br />6 Breathe comfort where distress abounds,<br />Make the whole conscience clean,<br />And heal, with balm from Jesus’ wounds,<br />The festering sores of sin.<br /><br />7 Vanquish our lust, our pride remove,<br />Take out the heart of stone;<br />Show us the Father’s boundless love,<br />And merits of the Son.<br /><br />8 The Father sent the Son to die;<br />The willing Son obeyed;<br />The witness thou, to ratify<br />The purchase Christ has made.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-27445257890946723762013-02-12T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-12T23:27:11.729-05:00Should Christians counsel unbelievers?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A few excerpts from Alasdair Groves' article in the Journal of Biblical Counseling from CCEF:<br />
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Counseling a non-Christian involves building a friendship. Get to know this person. Ask questions. Express appreciation. Show tenderness and compassion. Share things about yourself. Spend time. Listen attentively. Discern what is important. Notice strengths as well as failings. Ask how someone is really doing, and mean it. This question, asked with genuine interest, is a precious gift. If you can care about a friend who is not a Christian, why should counseling be any different? Jesus looked at the rich young ruler and “loved him.” We must know and love this person living in separation from God, just as Christ loved us when we walked in darkness.</blockquote>
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Christian ministry is evangelism. In counseling this means we strive for a relationship where the natural next step in the relationship is speaking about the good news of the Good Shepherd. What happens when someone acknowledges shame, guilt, wounds, wickedness, weakness or loneliness? That person becomes more open to a Shepherd who laid down his life so his sheep could have glorious, endless, forgiven, painless, shameless, eternal life with God as part of his family. </blockquote>
Read the whole article for free <a href="http://www.ccef.org/sites/default/files/journal-articles/How-Do-You-Counsel-Non-Christians.pdf">here</a> as a PDF.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-33285398071641195612013-02-11T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-11T06:00:16.426-05:00Gadsby #27 - To the Holy Ghost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oh how we need the Spirit! Who else can "dispel the darkness from our minds"?<br />
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What are the most sinister "doubts and fears" that can cross our hearts? Doubting that God cannot satisfy us. Fearing that He is impotent. Such doubts and fears are dispelled by a God-kindled love for God.<br />
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Let this hymn be our prayer to the Spirit.<br />
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27 S.M. J. Hart<br />
To the Holy Ghost. Luke 11:13; John 14:26; John 15:26<br /><br />
1 Come, Holy Spirit, come;<br />Let thy bright beams arise;<br />Dispel the darkness from our minds,<br />And open all our eyes.<br /><br />2 [Cheer our desponding hearts,<br />Thou heavenly Paraclete;<br />Give us to lie, with humble hope,<br />At our Redeemer’s feet.]<br /><br />3 Revive our drooping faith;<br />Our doubts and fears remove;<br />And kindle in our breasts the flames<br />Of never-dying love.<br /><br />4 Convince us of our sin,<br />Then lead to Jesus’ blood;<br />And to our wondering view reveal<br />The secret love of God.<br /><br />5 [Show us that loving Man<br />That rules the courts of bliss,<br />The Lord of Hosts, the Mighty God,<br />The eternal Prince of Peace.]<br /><br />6 [’Tis thine to cleanse the heart,<br />To sanctify the soul,<br />To pour fresh life on every part,<br />And new-create the whole.]<br /><br />7 If thou, celestial Dove,<br />Thy influence withdraw,<br />What easy victims soon we fall<br />To conscience, wrath, and law!<br /><br />8 [No longer burns our love;<br />Our faith and patience fail;<br />Our sin revives, and death and hell<br />Our feeble souls assail.]<br /><br />9 Dwell, therefore, in our hearts;<br />Our minds from bondage free;<br />Then shall we know, and praise, and love<br />The Father, Son, and Thee.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-8007849213620791732013-02-07T21:44:00.001-05:002013-02-07T21:48:06.036-05:00Thoughts from Zephaniah 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thinking about my sin. This is something important to do in repentance. Perhaps there are too many warnings that point us away from considering our own sin. How can we repent if we don't know our offense?<br />
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Sin has caused so much damage in my life. Why have I allowed such disobedience? Why have I put Christ to the test (1 Cor. 10:9)?<br />
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Perhaps the more shocking question is, "<i>Why have I known such grace?</i>" There is a definite answer to this offensive question. Ask the question, "Who is God?" and you will find the answer to the mystery of grace.<br />
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He is "a mighty one who will save" (Zeph. 3:17).<br />
He will change our shame into praise (Zeph. 3:19).<br />
God Himself will save us from our shameful rebellion (Zeph. 3:11) and will shape us into "a people humble and lowly," who seek refuge in the LORD (Zeph. 3:12).<br />
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God Himself performs this transformation, not you or me (Zeph. 3:9). Our salvation and hope of true change rests on God alone. He is our only hope (Zech. 4:6).</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-48283651859996985372013-02-06T12:18:00.000-05:002013-02-06T12:18:00.702-05:00Get Used to the Idea of Suffering<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Carl Trueman with some good insight on suffering and Job:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The lessons of Job are manifold but it seems that a few rather stand out: this is a</span><span style="background-color: white;"> complicated, fallen, evil world; Christians can expect to suffer - hey, we all die in the end, no matter how jolly we might feel at points in the interim, so we had better get used to the idea; Christians are no more exempt from depression than they are from cancer or strokes; and the idea that these things are </span><b style="background-color: white;">necessarily</b><span style="background-color: white;"> linked to our lack of faith, to our personal sin, to our outlook on life, or, indeed, to anything intrinsic to us, is nonsense and unbiblical.</span></span></blockquote>
Read the rest <a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2013/02/any-place-for-the-god-of-job.php">here</a>.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-12127677838671788722013-02-06T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-06T06:00:09.408-05:00Gadsby #26 - The Operations of the Holy Spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We don't have enough songs about the Spirit. Good songs. Not the mushy "oh fill me with your presence, you are present here, Spirit in me, blah blah blah" stuff. We needs songs that consider the wonders of [the Spirit's] grace. Ok, I'm down off my daily soapbox.<br />
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I am not one to put undue emphasis on the experiential aspect of the Christian life, but let me say that when your "troubled conscience" has heard the voice of the Spirit, this is an amazing thing.<br />
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So Spirit, come and work in us as the Scripture<span style="font-family: inherit;"> says, "<span style="line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the </span><span class="divine-name" style="line-height: 22px; text-align: justify; text-transform: uppercase;">LORD</span><span style="line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> of hosts" (Zech. 4:6).</span></span><br />
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26 L.M. Isaac Watts<br />
The Operations of the Holy Spirit. Zech. 4:6 </blockquote>
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1 Eternal Spirit, we confess<br />
And sing the wonders of thy grace;<br />
Thy power conveys our blessings down<br />
From God the Father and the Son.</blockquote>
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2 Enlightened by thy heavenly ray,<br />
Our shades and darkness turn to day;<br />
Thy inward teachings make us know<br />
Our danger and our refuge too. </blockquote>
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3 Thy power and glory work within,<br />
And break the chains of reigning sin;<br />
Do our imperious lusts subdue,<br />
And guide our roving feet anew. </blockquote>
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4 The troubled conscience knows thy voice;<br />
Thy cheering words awake our joys;<br />
Thy words allay the stormy wind,<br />
And calm the surges of the mind.</blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-41019987874793891052013-02-04T12:26:00.002-05:002013-02-04T12:26:29.436-05:00Gadsby #25<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
25 C.M. Isaac Watts<br />
Breathing after the Holy Spirit. Ps. 44:25,26<br />
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1 Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,<br />
With thy all-quickening powers;<br />
Kindle a flame of sacred love<br />
In these cold hearts of ours.<br />
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2 Look how we grovel here below,<br />
Fond of these trifling toys;<br />
Our souls can neither fly nor go,<br />
To reach eternal joys.<br />
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3 In vain we tune our formal songs,<br />
In vain we strive to rise;<br />
Hosannas languish on our tongues,<br />
And our devotion dies.<br />
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4 Dear Lord, and shall we ever live<br />
At this poor dying rate?<br />
Our love so faint, so cold to thee,<br />
And thine to us so great?<br />
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5 Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,<br />
With thy all-quickening powers;<br />
Come shed abroad a Saviour’s love,<br />
And that shall kindle ours.<br />
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What is the cure to a "cold heart"? Nothing but Christ' love, mediated by the Spirit, can kindle the fires of our worship. The "trifling toys" of this world are a bucket of water on the fires of worship. If we are loving the world, we are not loving God. The only thing, rather, the only person who can save us from a "love so faint" which decelerates our lives to a "poor dying rate" is the Spirit. Our lives, service, and worship of God are vain and full of toil if the Spirit is not present in them. If the Spirit is not present, even our corporate worship will be filled with languishing Hosannas and dead devotion. We need the Spirit far more than we realize. May he come and "shed abroad the Saviour's love" and truly, "that shall kindle ours".<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-9932117117460631972013-01-31T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-31T06:00:08.847-05:00Gadsby #24<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
24 C.M. Isaac Watts<br />
The Witnessing and Sealing Spirit. Rom. 8:14, 16<br />
<br />
1 Why should the children of a King<br />
Go mourning all their days?<br />
Great Comforter! descend and bring<br />
Some tokens of thy grace.<br />
<br />
2 Dost thou not dwell in all the saints,<br />
And seal them heirs of heaven?<br />
When wilt thou banish my complaints,<br />
And show my sins forgiven?<br />
<br />
3 Assure my conscience of her part<br />
In the Redeemer’s blood;<br />
And bear thy witness with my heart,<br />
That I am born of God.<br />
<br />
4 Thou art the earnest of his love,<br />
The pledge of joys to come;<br />
And thy soft wings, celestial Dove,<br />
Will safe convey me home.<br />
<br />
I have sometime heard salvation by Christ described as "fire insurance". I find this description of salvation entirely deficient and quite repugnant. For one, as this hymn makes plain, the "fire insurance" moniker completely ignores the Holy Spirit, God Himself, who proceeded from the Father because of the Son, made His dwelling in the hearts of the Church, touched our conscience with assurance of regeneration, and guaranteed for us a indescribable heavenly hope. Much more than fire insurance.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-54485862544711119682013-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-30T06:00:11.999-05:00Gadsby #23<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
23 C.M. J. Hart<br />
Christ Very God and Man. John 1:29; Isa. 9:6<br />
<br />
1 A Man there is, a real Man,<br />
With wounds still gaping wide,<br />
From which rich streams of blood once ran,<br />
In hands, and feet, and side.<br />
<br />
2 [’Tis no wild fancy of our brains,<br />
No metaphor we speak;<br />
The same dear Man in heaven now reigns<br />
That suffered for our sake.]<br />
<br />
3 This wondrous Man of whom we tell,<br />
Is true Almighty God;<br />
He bought our souls from death and hell;<br />
The price, his own heart’s blood.<br />
<br />
4 That human heart he still retains,<br />
Though throned in highest bliss;<br />
And feels each tempted member’s pains;<br />
For our affliction’s his.<br />
<br />
5 Come, then, repenting sinner, come;<br />
Approach with humble faith;<br />
Owe what thou wilt, the total sum<br />
Is cancelled by his death.<br />
<br />
6 His blood can cleanse the blackest soul,<br />
And wash our guilt away;<br />
He will present us sound and whole,<br />
In that tremendous day.<br />
<br />
Verse two: Jesus is real. He is not just an idea. He is not an impersonal force. He is a person and He is God. We can relate with Him and He can relate with us. I miss this often. I have only begun to get to know Jesus.<br />
<br />
"That day" will be a tremendous day indeed. I love hymns like this, but I love what they point to more.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-28920785516363775462013-01-28T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-28T13:36:57.412-05:00Gadsby #22<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
22 L.M. Isaac Watts<br />
Christ Dwells in Heaven, but Visits on Earth. Song. 6:1<br />
<br />
1 When mourners stand and hear me tell<br />
What beauties in my Saviour dwell,<br />
Where he is gone they fain would know,<br />
That they may seek and love him too.<br />
<br />
2 My best Beloved keeps his throne<br />
On hills of light, in worlds unknown;<br />
But he descends and shows his face<br />
In the young gardens of his grace.<br />
<br />
3 [In vineyards, planted by his hand,<br />
Where fruitful trees in order stand,<br />
He feeds among the spicy beds,<br />
Where lilies show their spotless heads.]<br />
<br />
4 He has engrossed my warmest love;<br />
No earthly charms my soul can move;<br />
I have a mansion in his heart,<br />
Nor death nor hell shall make us part.<br />
<br />
5 [He takes my soul, ere I’m aware,<br />
And shows me where his glories are;<br />
No chariots of Amminadib<br />
The heavenly rapture can describe.]<br />
<br />
6 O may my spirit daily rise<br />
On wings of faith above the skies;<br />
Till death shall make my last remove,<br />
To dwell for ever with my Love.<br />
<br />
Even though the inspiration for this song likely stems from an allegorical interpretation of the Song of Solomon, I think it still carries much value.<br />
<br />
The fourth verse intrigues me. We see the heart believers long after in the first two lines and the immovable heart of Christ for his own in the last two lines. Christ' love for his people is far greater than they realize and are engrossed by the very thing that engrosses them: the love of Christ. Lest we wonder how we taste of such love, we have the answer here in this hymn: by "wings of faith" which take us above the skies. Because we would need to go above the skies to begin to grasp the heights of His love (Ps. 103:11). </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-17225285622518790202013-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-25T06:00:15.912-05:00Gadsby #21<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
21 L.M. Isaac Watts<br />
A Description of Christ, the Beloved. Song. 5:9-16<br />
<br />
1 The wondering world inquires to know<br />
Why I should love my Jesus so;<br />
“What are his charms,” say they, “above<br />
The objects of a mortal love?”<br />
<br />
2 Yes, my Beloved to my sight<br />
Shows a sweet mixture, red and white:<br />
All human beauties, all divine,<br />
In my Beloved meet and shine.<br />
<br />
3 White is his soul, from blemish free;<br />
Red with the blood he shed for me;<br />
The fairest of ten thousand fairs;<br />
A sun amongst ten thousand stars.<br />
<br />
4 [His head the finest gold excels;<br />
There wisdom in perfection dwells;<br />
And glory, like a crown, adorns<br />
Those temples once beset with thorns.<br />
<br />
5 Compassions in his heart are found,<br />
Hard by the signals of his wound;<br />
His sacred side no more shall bear<br />
The cruel scourge, the piercing spear.]<br />
<br />
6 [His hands are fairer to behold<br />
Than diamonds, set in rings of gold;<br />
Those heavenly hands that on the tree<br />
Were nailed, and torn, and bled for me.]<br />
<br />
7 [Though once he bowed his feeble knees,<br />
Loaded with sins and agonies,<br />
Now on the throne of his command,<br />
His legs like marble pillars stand.]<br />
<br />
8 [His eyes are majesty and love,<br />
The eagle tempered with the dove;<br />
No more shall trickling sorrows roll<br />
Through those dear windows of his soul.]<br />
<br />
9 [His mouth, that poured out long complaints,<br />
Now smiles, and cheers his fainting saints;<br />
His countenance more graceful is<br />
Than Lebanon, with all its trees.]<br />
<br />
10 All over glorious is my Lord;<br />
Must be beloved, and yet adored;<br />
His worth if all the nations knew,<br />
Sure the whole world would love him too!</div>
<br />
Though some of this hymn surely may have some uncommon lyrical content compared to our churches' music soaked in Contemporary Christian Music, this is the type of hymn we should be seeking to bring into our hearts, individually and corporately. Why? It helps us see Jesus as more believable and beautiful (as Kevin Twit, founder of Indelible Grace, has so often said).</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-9206651469338037972013-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-24T06:00:16.912-05:00Gadsby #20<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
20 L.M. Isaac Watts<br />
Deity and Humanity of Christ. Col. 1:16; 1 Tim. 3:16<br />
<br />
1 Ere the blue heavens were stretched abroad,<br />
From everlasting was the Word;<br />
With God he was; the Word was God;<br />
And must divinely be adored.<br />
<br />
2 By his own power were all things made;<br />
By him supported all things stand;<br />
He is the whole creation’s Head,<br />
And angels fly at his command.<br />
<br />
3 [Ere sin was born, or Satan fell,<br />
He led the host of morning stars;<br />
(Thy generation who can tell,<br />
Or count the number of thy years?)]<br />
<br />
4 But lo! he leaves those heavenly forms;<br />
The Word descends and dwells in clay,<br />
That he may hold converse with worms,<br />
Dressed in such feeble flesh as they.<br />
<br />
5 Mortals with joy behold his face,<br />
The eternal Father’s only Son;<br />
How full of truth! how full of grace!<br />
When through his eyes the Godhead shone.<br />
<br />
6 Blest angels leave their high abode,<br />
To learn new mysteries here, and tell<br />
The loves of our descending God,<br />
The glories of Immanuel.<br />
<br />
Immanuel - <i>God with us</i>. The early church rightly waged many battles with heretics over the divinity of Christ. This is a paramount doctrine to the Christian faith. And lest we get bogged down in doctrine talk, let me state things a little more colloquially: if Jesus is not God, the world should rightfully mock and disregard Christianity. But if Jesus is God, but if he was "vindicated by the Spirit" (1 Tim. 3:16) and actually checked out of the grave, then Christianity is the dominant, all-encompassing, true worldview. Again, to make things clear, this all depends on who Jesus is.<br />
<br />
So, who is Jesus? What say you?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-51075072033848463822013-01-23T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-23T08:34:20.511-05:00Gadsby #19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
19 C.M. Isaac Watts<br />
A New Song to the Lamb that was Slain. Rev. 5:6-12<br />
<br />
1 Behold the glories of the Lamb,<br />
Amidst his Father’s throne;<br />
Prepare new honours for his name,<br />
And songs before unknown.<br />
<br />
2 Let elders worship at his feet;<br />
The church adore around;<br />
With vials full of odours sweet,<br />
And harps of sweeter sound.<br />
<br />
3 Those are the prayers of the saints,<br />
And these the hymns they raise –<br />
Jesus is kind to our complaints,<br />
He loves to hear our praise.<br />
<br />
4 [Eternal Father, who shall look<br />
Into thy secret will?<br />
Who but the Son shall take that book,<br />
And open every seal?<br />
<br />
5 He shall fulfil thy great decrees;<br />
The Son deserves it well;<br />
Lo! in his hands the sovereign keys<br />
Of heaven, and death, and hell.]<br />
<br />
6 Now to the Lamb that once was slain,<br />
Be endless blessings paid;<br />
Salvation, glory, joy remain<br />
For ever on thy head.<br />
<br />
7 Thou hast redeemed our souls with blood,<br />
Hast set the prisoners free,<br />
Hast made us kings and priests to God,<br />
And we shall reign with thee.<br />
<br />
8 The worlds of nature and of grace<br />
Are put beneath thy power;<br />
Then shorten these delaying days,<br />
And bring the promised hour.<br />
<br />
I wish I had my guitar with me so I could piece together a melody to the sixth and seventh stanzas. What a wonderful chorus to sing to Jesus!<br />
<br />
If I were to point you to one thing from this hymn, it would be the text it is based on. Go read Revelation 5. There is a certain kind of soul-strengthening that occurs in us when we consider the unthinkably heavy and glorious future in store for us and all creation. We need to be more heavenly-minded. Is there a more heavenly picture of what the future will look like outside of the book of Revelation? I don't think there is. Tolle lege!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010472431438260003.post-28254505555755231722013-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-22T06:00:00.445-05:00Gadsby #18<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
18 L.M. Isaac Watts<br />
Glory and Grace in the Person of Christ. 2 Cor. 4:6<br />
<br />
1 Now to the Lord a noble song!<br />
Awake, my soul; awake, my tongue!<br />
Hosanna to the eternal name,<br />
And all his boundless love proclaim!<br />
<br />
2 See where it shines in Jesus’ face,<br />
The brightest image of his grace!<br />
God, in the person of his Son,<br />
Has all his mightiest works outdone.<br />
<br />
3 The spacious earth and spreading flood<br />
Proclaim the wise, the powerful God;<br />
And thy rich glories from afar<br />
Sparkle in every rolling star.<br />
<br />
4 But in his looks a glory stands,<br />
The noblest labour of thy hands;<br />
The pleasing lustre of his eyes<br />
Outshines the wonders of the skies.<br />
<br />
5 [Grace! ’tis a sweet, a charming theme!<br />
My thoughts rejoice at Jesus’ name!<br />
Ye angels, dwell upon the sound!<br />
Ye heavens, reflect it to the ground!]<br />
<br />
6 O may I live to reach the place<br />
Where he unveils his lovely face,<br />
Where all his beauties you behold,<br />
And sing his name to harps of gold!<br />
<br />
The fourth verse reminds me of a hymn by Anne Steele, "Thou Lovely Source Of True Delight", specifically, this verse:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Thy glory o'er creation shines,<br />But in thy sacred word,<br />I read in fairer, brighter lines,<br />My bleeding, dying Lord. </blockquote>
We are spiritually dumb and blind if we cast a look on Christ and don't see the most beautiful thing (person) in the universe. True beauty is spiritual.<br />
<br />
But what is there to say about the beauties of creation? Specifically, the heavens? I mean, have you seen images like <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130119.html">this</a> or <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121108.html">this</a>? I'm a self-confessed astronomy nerd, so perhaps I find such images of deep space more awe-inspiring than others. Anyways, my point is this: the entire universe, in all its beauty and complexity, is a sign. And what do signs do? They point to something greater.<br />
<br />
An interesting thing to ponder is, "Are we humans really the only life in this universe? If so, why then is the universe so big?" (For the record, I believe that earth is the only place where life exists in this universe.) What is the point of the universe having no measurable limit, and being full of wonderful things, big and small? I proffer that all that exists, the universe in its mind-boggling scale, has been created to show how great God is (Ps. 19:1). If the universe is so magnificent, then what does that mean its Creator is like? I think it means that He is higher than our thoughts can reach.<br />
<br />
All this is to say that Jesus "outshines the wonders of the skies".</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0