To The Garden We Go...

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

Lutheran Video Parody

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

What I am Reading

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

Salvatioin Belongs to Our God

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

Money and the Reformers

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

Nuts and Bolts

Several ministries have been hit hard by the economy these days.  Among them are Crystal Cathedral:

And there is a church in my area that has recently fallen into default of payments:

Ironically, in an effort to evangelize more unbelievers Campus Crusade for Christ wants to drop the name “for Christ”.

Vance Havner-How did you get along?

“I am homeward bound once more and riding on the old Carolina Special on a summer afternoon.  I have just passed the little town of Newton, not far from my boyhood home.  There is a new railroad station, built since my early days, but the old one still stands down the track a short distance away.  As I rode by, I thought of days long past when I returned from preaching trips and father met me there. 

I can see him yet standing by that old Ford in that unpressed blue serge suit.  When I came up to where he stood he never failed to ask, “how did you get along?”  It has been along time since he last met me there.  Time has done things to me, but of one thing I am glad-I am still doing what he always hoped I would do to the end.  Just how it is where he now dwells I know only in part.  How much he knows of what goes on here I cannot say.   I do have a feeling that one day when I report to Headquarters he will be on hand and it would seem just right to hear him say, “how did you get along?” 

As today long after, I ride past the old depot where so often dad asked his question, my soul breathes a prayer that I may finish my course with joy.  For what matters most in this brief pilgrimage is that we quit ourselves like men, that we do not disappoint those who dreamed largely and prayed hopefully for us when we gave scantiest promise-and above all, that we be able to report well to the Great Overseer and merit His, “Well done.”  Blunders we will make and failures will shame our faces and dampen our eyes.  But if we can manage to forget the things that lie behind, and press on for the prize.  It will pay off beyond all reckoning when we meet with the King of Kings, and by grace we tell how we got along.  

Update on Southern

I continue to work through a series of sermons on Matthew by Benjamin Beddome.  I am to deliver an extensive paper in December on Benjamin Beddome’s (17^th/18^th century) use of Matthew.  Baptists back then preached differently than they do now.  While often criticized for their “woodenness”, Beddome’s preaching (like most of the past) is more colorful and certainly more pastoral than much preaching I hear today.  It is fascinating that the sermons on paper are more stimulating and “lively” than the ones I often hear on podcasts.

Thomas Watson

“We glorify God by walking cheerfully.  It brings glory to God when the world sees a Christian has that within him that can make him cheerful in the worst times; that can enable him, with the nightingale to sing with a thorn at his breast.  The people of God have ground for cheerfulness.  They are justified and adopted, and this creates inward peace; it makes music within, whatever storms are without.  If we consider what Christ has wrought for us by his blood, and wrought in us by his Spirit, it is a ground of great cheerfulness, and this cheerfulness glorifies God.  It reflects upon a master when the servant is always drooping and sad…A Christian’s cheerful looks glorify God; religion does not take away our joy, but refines it; it does not break our viol, but tunes it, and makes the music sweeter.”

Matthew Commentaries

As I finally finished up Matthew (over six years and three hundred sermons), I am asked about commentaries.  Here are a few I have used through the years.

John Stott-Sermon on the Mount

Martin Lloyd Jones-Sermon on the Mount

A.W. Pink-The Beattitudes

William Barclay-Studies in Matthew

J.C. Ryle-Expository Thoughts on the Gospels

D.A. Carson-Matthew-Expositors Bible Commentary-Frank Gaeblein ed.

John MacArthur-MacArthur Commentary on Matthew

ICC-Matthew (3 volumes)

Frederick Dale Bruner-Matthew (3 volumes)

Craig Keener-Commentary on Matthew

Hendricksen Commentary on Matthew

Leon Morris Pillar Commentary on Matthew

James Boice (two volumes) on Matthew

International Greek New Testament Commentary on Matthew

David Garland’s Reading Matthew

To the Garden We Go

With the cooler weather here, the family is more outdoors.  I have been trimming some tree limbs that have been sagging through recent storms, plus the extra shade has harmed the growth of my rose bushes.  Our pumpkin vine has had a growth spurt, but I don’t think it will be in time for end of October. 

I have had an infestation of grasshoppers that literally have stripped all my beans and tomatoes bare so the summer vegetation is all but lost (except for a few lingering cucumbers, my lone consistent producer this year). 

Here is a picture of this year’s “Morning Glories” which though beautiful did not compare to the ones last year. 

I did add some solar lights to the playhouse which added to the beauty, and my kids are fascinated by.  They think it is Christmas all year round. 

John Calvin on the Great Commission

Let us get to the gist of these words show that teachers set over the church are not to put forward what they may think, but must themselves depend solely on the mouth of the one Teacher, so as to win disciples for Him and not for themselves.

What I am Reading

This little booklet is a valuable resource if you need a guide in prayer.  It is great for a day of prayer.  Some of our elders used parts of it last January for a day of prayer we had at the church.  Smith takes the reader through various parts of Scripture in preparation for prayer and different types of praying.  All of it is from the Scriptures.  Any believer can profit from this; it is not complicated at all.  The Christian can “tailor make” this booklet for their prayer life.  This was an extremely edifying booklet.  

Isaac Watts “Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne”

Before Jehovah’s awful throne,

Ye nations, bow with sacred joy;

Know that the Lord is God alone;

He can create, and He destroy,

He can create, and He destroy.

His sovereign power, without our aid,

Made us of clay, and formed us men;

And when like wandering sheep we strayed,

He brought us to His fold again,

He brought us to His fold again.

We are His people, we His care,

Our souls, and all our mortal frame;

What lasting honors shall we rear,

Almighty Maker, to Thy Name,

Almighty Maker, to Thy Name?

We’ll crowd Thy gates with thankful songs,

High as the heavens our voices raise;

And earth, with her ten thousand tongues,

Shall fill Thy courts with sounding praise,

Shall fill Thy courts with sounding praise.

Wide as the world is Thy command,

Vast as eternity Thy love;

Firm as a rock Thy truth must stand,

When rolling years shall cease to move,

When rolling years shall cease to move.

Matthew Henry

“The most malicious slanderers of ‘good men’ are commonly the most sordid flatters of great men.”

Nuts and Bolts

It is hard to believe that a decade has elapsed since September 11, 2001.  I do remember where I was when I first heard the news.  I also remember some moments that were memorable.  Here are a few:

Or who can forget President George Bush speaking through a megaphone on top of a truck in downtown New York amidst the Twin Towers.

 It is rather disappointing that no ministers are allowed to participate in the 10th anniversary. 

Thomas Waston

Thomas Watson is my kind of preacher.  He is clear, theological, doxological, and practical.  His “A Body of Divinity” is a source I keep close to my heart.  Speaking on the subject of how the doctrine of creation is God’s tool in using the gospel, Watson with vivid imagery writes, “Creation is the unbeliever’s Bible, the ploughman’s primer, and the traveler’s perspective glass, through which he receives a representation of the infinite Excellencies which are in God.” (“A Body of Divinity”, p. 113)

Update on Southren

I have been engaged in some studies preparing for my seminars late this fall.  I have a Biblical Theology in spirituality seminar.  I am reading and critiquing ten books on the subject presently.  And I will be presenting a paper on celebrations and their spiritual meaning throughout Scripture.  I have been doing some initial researching using a sweeping survey of Scripture.  If there are any thoughts or recommended resources, please let me know.

RICHARD SIBBES

Richard Sibbes quotes Salvian concerning the trustworthiness of God:
“Who has made the earth faithful to bring forth fruit…but God?  Yet we can trust the ground with sowing our seed.  Who makes man faithful, who is by nature the most slippery and unconstant creature of all other, but God only?  Yet we can trust a vain man, whose, breath, is in his nostrils, and look for great matters at his hands, before an all-sufficient God, that changeth not.  Who makes the seas and the winds faithful, that they do not hurt us, but God?  And yet we are apt to trust the wind and weather sooner than God, as we see many seamen that will thrust forth their goods into the wide ocean in a small bark, to shift any way, rather than trust God with them.” Works of Richard Sibbes, edited by Alexander B. Grosart Vol. 1 Banner of Truth Trust, 1973 reprint, p. 413.

Augustine

 Augustine commented on the disciples “seeing” Jesus at the mountain before the Great Commission is issued: “What do we see, which they saw not?  The church throughout all nations.  What do we not see, which these saw?  Christ present in the flesh…let what we have respectively seen help us.  The sight of Christ helped them to believe the future church; the sight of the church helps us to believe that Christ has risen.”

To The Garden We Go...

I continue to lament the awful growing season I have had.  Although the grass is starting to green up again, the dry humidity this summer has taken all my crops and taken all the fun out of gardening.  I will begin this month to re-seed, de-weed, and plan for the fall.
Around the yard, besides picking up and pruning limbs, I attached a larger, green slide to the kid’s playhouse given to us by another family in our church.  The slide replaced a smaller, yellow one we had since we got the original play structure.

Miracle Clip

Here is the clip I alluded to in Sunday morning’s message paralleling to the Great Commission.