Year's End

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

A satirical and clever spin to the Twelve Days of Christmas

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Advent

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

Advent-Prophecy

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

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

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

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

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

Yet another great article from my President Al Mohler.

Through a Kid’s Eyes

Update on Southern

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

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

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...

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

“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

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

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

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

Nuts and Bolts

Graveyard and Junkyard

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

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

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

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

To The Garden We Go

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.

More Answer on Test

What I am Reading-Basil of Caesarea on Humility

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

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

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

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

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

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

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