Terrible Twos?

Good stuff from Denise Sproul, RC, Jr.'s wife, in the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of Every Though Captive, page 7:

"We have not purged Darwinism from our minds even if we can give a cogent defense against macroevolution.... One way Darwinism affects our thinking is when we excuse sin because of the supposed inevitability of these stages... It is disturbing that many folks even in Christian circles assume that the so-called Terrible Twos are an inevitable part of being a child. Where in Scripture does it mention anything about that? Does it say to spare the rod and spoil the child - except when he's two, because you just can't do anything about that 'stage,' so don't even try?.... It is only 'normal' insofar as sin is normal. The only thing terrible about being two is that two year olds have indeed descended from Adam, and so are sinners, as they were at one and as they will be at three. The only solution at all ages is to repent and believe the Gospel....

"Where does the Lord in Holy Writ instruct us as Christian parents that we should just throw up our hands when our children turn thirteen because what can you do?.... Our children do not simply develop... through an unavoidable set of stages that can't be changed or influenced. Instead, our children are to grow in grace. The movement is... from less obedient to more obedient."

Poem of the Day

This one was appropriate for Reformation Day, I thought...


A Hymn To God The Father
by John Donne.

Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.

Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallow'd in, a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
I fear no more.

Reformation

Reformation Day is tomorrow, the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg, calling for a debate largely on the theologically questionable practice of selling indulgences (less time in purgatory as punishment for specific sins).

You'll notice on the sidebar that I'm reading a lot of books. Actually those are all the books I've started. Oops. Right NOW, I'm reading the bio of Knox, which has this good clip on the Reformation.

"The Reformation began in part with revulsion over the moral and doctrinal corruption that wealth had brought to the Roman church in Scotland. In this sense, there was an economic factor in the Reformation from the beginning. In the same way, we could say that when Christ drove the moneychangers from the Temple, he was engaged in an activity, which had direct economic consequences....

"Knox wanted the church to use its revenues for the genuine work of the Gospel - the support of ministers and schools and relief of the poor.... the Church had not been fulfilling her mission... no one knew what a fruitful kirk would actually look like." - pgs 193-5.

The 2 Faces of Iran

Getting to the library occasionally, I've fallen back in love with the Wall Street Journal's editorial page. Not so much their own editors' opinions (I tend to agree, though they are sometimes jaundiced and amoral). More with their invited outside writers. Presidents of foreign countries, historical pieces, etc.

Today an Iranian journalist, banned from publishing in Iran, wrote this:

"The well-to-do Iranian drinks and reads and watches what he wishes. He does as he pleases behind the walls of his private mansions and villas. In return for his private comforts, the affluent Iranian is happy to sacrifice freedom of speech, most of his civil rights, and his freedom of association. The upper-middle class has been bought off by this pact, which makes a virtue of hypocrisy....

A friend who sells banned books at a street booth says, "The authorities act impulsively based on whimsical assessments of risk. Their actions defy common sense and logic, so are completely unpredictable. It is that unpredictability that leads to panic and intellectual paralysis. That's the secret of the current Iranian despotism."

The anonymous author concludes: "The well-to-do are paying a price for their comforts, and I wonder sometimes if they understand what it is. How can you have a revolution when everyone is watching TV?"

Tabletalk blurbs

Once again, another golden nugget from Warren Gage's article in Tabletalk (Oct 2006):
"John has the whore of Babyon arrayed in scarlet (Rev 17:4) and dwelling in a city that has had a visit from two witnesses (Rev 11:3), a great city whose fall comes after a shout at the sounding of the last of seven trumpets (Rev 11:15; 14:8)."
Somebody help me out, here, the city is...



And from the 1st paragraph of the pastor's perspective column:
"When a pastor looks at his [using the possessive loosely!] assembled congregation, what does he see? If he accepts a biblical covenant theology, he knows that he is not looking at a collection of randomly gathered individuals, or even families, but at a part of the covenant people of God."

POLICE STATE, DEUTSCHLAND

Achtung! Germany drags homeschool kids to class
Authorities haul crying children away to avoid 'danger' from parental teachings
Posted: October 25, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

A Nazi-era law requiring all children to attend public school, to avoid "the emergence of parallel societies based on separate philosophical convictions" that could be taught by parents at home, apparently is triggering a Nazi-like response from police.

the Remeike family has been "home educating their children since the start of the school year, something which is legal in practically the whole of the (European Union)."

they were confronted by police officials, who, in an incredibly inconsiderate manner, forced their crying children into a police car and drove them to the school. The police stated that they had been instructed to continue this measure in the coming week," the network statement said....

The court said the Konrads [another case] belong to a "Christian community which is strongly attached to the Bible" and rejected public schooling because of the explicit sexual indoctrination programs that the courses there include.

The German court already had ruled that the parental "wish" to have their children grow up in a home without such influences "could not take priority over compulsory school attendance." The decision also said the parents do not have an "exclusive" right to lead their children's education.... that schools represent society, and "it was in the children's interest to become part of that society.... The parents' right to education did not go as far as to deprive their children of that experience," the ruling said.

See link for full article.



Here's another family's summary:

They have been to court, they have been visited by welfare workers to make sure the children are "safe", they have been threatened that their children will receive a police escort to school, and they have been threatened with loss of parental custody.

Mrs. M does not answer her front door unless she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt who is there, and she doesn't answer her telephone (they have multiple unlisted lines....) but screens all calls through her answering machine.

During the ponderous lull at the end of the conversation, I whispered audibly, "Polizei-Stadt" [police state]

Mr. M looked up from his laptop. "Exactly".

Group Project - YOU ARE INVITED!

I've read so much about group knitting or crocheting projects on the net that I've decided to start one as well.

THE RULES: Our goal will be to make a blanket out of 6" squares, either knitted or crocheted. Do whatever stitch pattern appeals to your eyes and abilities. Use worsted weight machine washable yarn. All squares must be in to me by November 30 so I can assemble the blanket by Christmas.

Have fun! Even if you're a beginner, YOU CAN DO THIS!! If we got LOTS of squares, I'll make as many blankets as possible to donate to charity. Our goal will be at least one blanket, 48 squares to make a 3x4' lap blanket.

Whoever donates the most squares will receive a special gift...so get those sticks and strings moving!!

Impulse Shopper

I proved to myself that I am not immune to emotional shopping: I bought something a few days ago simply because it was from Hudsonville, MI.

It was a butternut squash. We don't even like butternut squash!

What separation? What state?

There is a GREAT article on the background of "separation of church and state" here, by my good friends at Hillsdale College. It gives background on why Jefferson wrote that, to whom, etc. Check it out.

Presbytery and Samuel

Presbytery went very well. When it began there were 14 member churches - now there are 20, with another 5 set to join next year. We are one of the six new member churches. God is good.

Preached on 1 Samuel 2 this morning - the corruption of Eli's sons. Here's the outline of the text:

I. Prophecy against Eli - vss 1-10
II. Samuels serves and grows - vs 11
III. Eli's sons' corruption - sacrifices - vss 12-17
IV. Samuel's robe and priesthood - vss 18-21
III. Ili's sons' corruption - women - vss 22-25
II. Samuel serves and grows - vs 26
I. Prophecy against Eli - vss 27-36

Samuel is pictured as a faithful priest in contrast with Eli's sons, as Jesus is our faithful high priest (Hebrews 2:17), who intercedes for us before Yahweh.

Out to Presbytery

Sara and I are in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the rest of the week with the 3 other elders and their wives, for presbytery meeting. (For the folks from home, this is the same thing as classis.)

The congregation I am now pastoring is joining as a full member at this meeting. Both the church's origin and history and my ordination credentials (in a more liberal denomination!) will be up for review on the floor, so we're a little nervous, but also know we're among friends and brothers in Christ.

We'll keep you updated. Reception with hors d’ouerves at 7pm tonight.

Hannah, Samuel and Eli

I began a sermon series on the book of Samuel yesterday, going through 2:11 to start. Here's the outline:

I. 1-8: Hannah’s barrenness
II. 9-11: Hannah’s prayer
III. 12-18: Eli and Hannah
IV. 1:19-23: Birth of Samuel
III. 1:24-28: Eli and Hannah again
II. 2:1-10: Hannah’s song
I. 2:11: Hannah’s fruit

Notice the symmetry. It's called a chiasm, in the scholarly world. I prefer the "sandwich theory," because it's what's in the middle that defines a sandwich - so also it is what is in the middle section that is key. Here it is God remembering Hannah and the birth of Samuel.

Some extra stuff that didn't make it into the (already too long!) sermon:

1. The text hints that Eli is less than faithful in his sitting in the temple and assuming Hannah is drunk. The language in verse 12 highlights this. The word used for Hannah praying is "intercede," "mediate," "arbitrate." This is what Eli was supposed to be doing. But what is he doing? He is watching Hannah! And Hannah is interceding "before the face of Yahweh" which is the exact language for what a priest was supposed to do. I suppose this makes the argument for some liberal friends that women ought to be allowed to be ministers. But I'd say instead that it foreshadows Hannah's child (she prays for a boy), who will intercede that way, and that it contrasts with what Eli should be doing.

2. The effect of prayer on our spiritual condition: verse 18. After she prays and is blessed by the not-utterly-corrupt Eli, she eats and is not sad. She is already comforted, even before knowing if she will receive what she asked for. This is like the Psalms, where the Psalmist is in distress, prays, and then gives thanks right away. Nothing has happened yet - except the most important thing of pouring out one's heart before Yahweh.

Whatsa covenant?

"Covenants are, at bottom, relationships. Covenants are not doctrinal abstractions. Covenant is not a mere word that we use to distinguish ourselves from other denominational traditions. Covenants are structured in the very way that God created the world, and in the way He recreated the world in Jesus Christ. Simply put, you are never alone. Everywhere you go, in everything you do, you are always in relationship."
- Douglas Wilson

Too Tempting

There's an article here about William and Mary being required by the NCAA to change it's logo because the presence of the two feathers was ruled "hostile and abusive." (more here) They are still allowed to have use their nickname "Tribe."


Hmmmm.... after having done 3 school logos (which required the use of feathers), it's fun to think about doing one for W&M! But I don't think I want to put my feet by that fire. However, I am very curious to see what they'll come up with! It will be difficult to come up with any logo for a name like Tribe that is less "offensive" than 2 simple feathers.

If we're not careful, our society will require us all to use 50% grey in an ambiguous blob-shape to represent EVERYTHING (but then I suppose the evolutionists would be offended by the use of such a shape!)

Persecution continues

"On Monday Somali jihadists declared holy war against Horn of Africa rival Ethiopia. But at least 48 hours before the pronouncement, church leaders in southwestern Ethiopia already had discovered they were at war with radical Islamists.... Within a matter of two days, they had burned over 350 homes belonging to Christians, killed 31 Christians, and took dozens as hostages, according to local church leaders. Muslim attackers burned one Catholic church, one Orthodox church, and and three evangelical churches." - World Magazine

Be aware of persecution against Christians today. Get the full story here.