Tables and Trees

During a Thanksgiving sermon this morning from Matthew 26:26-28, I realized:

Adam and Eve stood by a tree, took fruit and ate it.
Jesus at the table, hours from the tree of Calvary, took bread, gave thanks, and gave it to the disciples to eat.

They both took and ate, but Jesus gave thanks.  This is because He was giving of Himself, not taking for Himself.

Around your tables and trees this season, put more energy and thought to giving thanks and giving of yourself, than taking or getting for yourself.

What's Missing from Worship? // Did the Reformation Fail?

Tim Challies lists a few things missing from worship in church these days.
It's good, but he omits communion.  As Kevin DeYoung quipped once, most American evangelical church-goers partake of more movie clips in church than sacraments.


Peter Leithart makes it on Fox News!  But he tells us the Reformation failed.  What?!
Okay, I get his ecumenical point, but is division not necessary over such major points as justification by faith alone?  We may not tolerate immorality and major error in the church for the sake of unity (Rev. 2:14-15).  Doug Wilson's rejoinder is good: if the Reformation failed because of the divisions that resulted, then Paul's missionary journeys failed, too.