To The Garden We Go...

While we have a miserably, hot summer thus far with no end in sight, some of my vegetation has done well.  Others not so well.  Between the heat and squash bugs, I am left with no pumpkins and only one squash plant of the five I planted.  Below are some shots of my okra, tomatoes and pole beans (from Noah’s garden). 

There is a sad occasion in the gardening experience, “Big Bertha” finally died after two full seasons and many patches, the final tear was fatal, so we say goodbye to “Big Bertha” and hello to “Hot Mamma”. 

“And Is There Care in Heaven?”

And is there care in heaven, and is there love
In heavenly spirits to us creatures base,
That may compassion of our evils move?
There is : else much more wretched were the case
Of men than beasts: but oh! the exceeding grace
Of highest God, that loves his creatures so,
And all his works with mercy doth embrace;
That blessed angels He sends to and fro,
To serve even wicked men, to serve his wicked foe.

How oft do they their silver bowers leave,
And come to succour us that succour want!
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,
Against foul fiends to aid us militant!
They for us fight; they watch and duly ward,
And their bright squadrons round about us plant;
And all for love, and nothing for reward:
Oh! why should heavenly God to men have such regard!

Update On Southern

I am finishing up a major paper for a seminar with Dr. Bruce Ware that I took back in May.  The paper is on a biblical survey of suffering in the people of God.  The work is very intense and as usual most of the difficulty lies in how to edit.  Please pray for me if you think about it.  The paper is due the end of this month. 

Augustine

“We must care for our bodies as though we were going to live forever, but we must care for our souls as if we were going to die tomorrow.” 

Sixth Sunday After Trinity Prayer

God, who has prepared to them that love you such good things as pass [surpass] all man’s understanding, pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nuts and Bolts

Here are two clips of some pretty talented people.

http://www.wimp.com/danceroutine/

http://www.wimp.com/nicesong/

Two Ways To Live

An excellent resource for the gospel is Two Ways to Live by 

I use this format regularly in my own evangelism, and we have several tracts available in the church foyer. 

What I Am Reading-Christian Spirituality

One author that I have always appreciated his expertise is Alister McGrath.  I have many of his works on Reformation thought and the spirituality of the Reformers.  Recently, I read his Introduction to Christian Spirituality.  The issue of Christian spirituality is a hot potato in evangelical ranks these days.  If people had questions as related to what is meant by spirituality and how is it demonstrated in the church, then McGrath’s work will be beneficial.  In typical McGrath style, he paints in broad sweeping strokes.  He excels in clarity as this book attests.  Throughout the work, McGrath seeks to describe the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant perspectives of various spiritual practices and beliefs.  It is a good tool if one desires an accurate survey of what constitutes Christian Spirituality. 

A.W. Tozer-From “The Knowledge of the Holy”

“How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none.  Eternal years lie in His heart.  For Him time does not pass, it remains; and those who are in Christ share with Him all the riches of limitless time and endless years.”

Fifth Sunday After Trinity Prayer

Grant, Lord, we ask you, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by your governance that your congregation may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ame

To the Garden We Go

Spray-N-Grow has been the best liquid fertilizer I use on my plants.  I mix it with Coco-Wet and Bill’s Fertilizer and spray it every two weeks on all my plants and vegetables.  I clearly see results both on the health of my plants, size, and harvest.  Highly recommend this to gardeners everywhere.

You May Be From Kansas...

If you think “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” is the state song. 

John Adams and Independence Day

I have such appreciation for our founder fathers.  I like so many of you am a lover of history, but particularly the colonial period has always been a fascination with me.  Granted these men were not perfect, in fact, there was downright hostility in some relationships, but these were men of honor with God and country in a way that is foreign to many today. 

One such father is John Adams who has been maligned and caricatured in modern times.  David McCullough’s biography of Adams is masterful.  Despite his flaws both true and false, he like so many of the fathers was a visionary.  When contemplating our Declaration of Independence Adams had a premonition:

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even though We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

He wrote this letter to his wife Abigail believing that the Declaration of Independence would be signed on July 2, 1776 rather than July 4, 1776.  Despite his error in dates, he makes up for it not only in his prediction of celebration but in his praise of human labor and Providence to cherish for what it stands for.   

Years later while assisting on the draft of the Constitution Adams opined:

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people...it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Okay the word is out with this video clip.  I am and have been since childhood a Stryper fan.  Yes, I have gone to their concerts and not worshipped the devil.  Yes, my wife has had to endure my taste in music since I have to endure her taste for country (it is one of God’s gifts to test our deep affection).  Yes, I believe they have promoted the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways I cannot.  No, I have never had my hair that long.  No, I have never worn an earring in my life.  No, I have never once tried on a pair of spandex.  But this will be reserved for another time and place. 

Here is their version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  It is a live version from about 25 years ago.  The recorded version is a little longer that concluded their “Soldiers Under Command” album which some say is their strongest.  They would often and still do introduce their concerts with this recording.  Ironically this clip is filmed in Japan.  But the words of this hymn (especially in its entirety) are gripping.  It emerged as a military song in the wake of a war, but the words are mainly theocentric.  In the words of the old saints, the church must be militant until she is triumphant. 

Enjoy! (And turn it up loud).   

Prayer Fourth Sunday After Trinity

God (the protector of all that trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy), increase and multiply upon us your mercy, that you being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.