'The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD’s offering to make atonement for your lives.' ~ Exodus 30:15
God’s providence is an amazing thing. Pastors Anderson and Coleman both addressed issues I had been dealing with recently in Sunday School and the worship service sermon, respectively. Jon, in our discussion on the Westminster Confession of Faith, lectured about the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s illumination to our understanding of the message(s) of Scripture while Pastor Coleman treated us to an expository treatment of predestination, with Ephesians 1:5 as the primary text.
I wrestled with both aspects of truth a great deal throughout my own long journey down the Reformed path that led me to Westminster Presbyterian Church; neither topic, though plainly stated in and/ or deduced from Scripture, are easily understood absent the work of the Holy Spirit. So, I should not be surprised (should not be) when others do not immediately embrace the doctrinal truths we see so clearly before us. Still, the remaining corruption in my flesh erupts just enough to arouse my frustration nearly every time I discuss predestination (or God’s eternal decree) with others—primarily family members for some reason or another.
Just over two weeks ago my mama and step-father came out to the friendly confines of Covenanter Ranch in Iola to visit us. Actually, to be accurate, I should admit that they came to see Gracie Mae; Ashlee and I were incidental to the trip. Near the end of the visit, we began discussing eschatology which eventually led to God’s eternal decree, providence, and predestination. I am fairly certain I performed admirably as it relates to the degree of animation I exhibited—or lack there of, really. I kept my cool (for once) and simply referred to Scripture. I admitted that I can’t understand the concepts fully; however, I explained that I believe very strongly that the Bible is the Word of God and, as it states both God’s direction of all things and man’s responsibility for his actions, it must be true.
As I mentioned above, Jon’s discussion of the WCF touched upon the work of the Holy Spirit as an integral part of understanding—and accepting—the truths of Scripture. In addition, the Confession makes it clear that some parts of scripture, no matter how long or arduously we wrestle with them, may never been clearly revealed or understood.
‘All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.’ (WCF 1.7)
Pastor Coleman’s discourse spoke directly to the arguments my mama and step-father raised regarding predestination—primarily that it doesn’t seem fair nor loving. (Rest assured, they’ll soon have their own shiny new copy of the sermon on CD as soon as it is made available to me.) Yet, for all of my protestations that God is in fact loving—especially in His act of predestination—I missed the crucial evidence in the passage I cited until Pastor Coleman pointed it out in his sermon. You need only retrace your steps backward two words from verse 5 of Ephesians 1 and the proof is right there: ‘In love…’
All of this is to say that I find the combination of the two truths discussed above quite comforting and extremely liberating. There is no need for me to get frustrated nor agitated by another’s failure (or unwillingness) to understand certain passages of Scripture or similarly ‘difficult’ doctrinal positions. God’s Word will not return to Him void nor will the effective call of the Spirit be ultimately resisted. ‘All’ I am commanded to do is share the truth.
God does all of the heavy lifting.
--------------------------------------------
Those who know me well--and those who have only met me once, really--know that I love playing practical jokes on folks. Here is an example of how you should NOT react when a joke is played on you. (Take a look at his shirt if you want to be even more embarrassed!)
God’s providence is an amazing thing. Pastors Anderson and Coleman both addressed issues I had been dealing with recently in Sunday School and the worship service sermon, respectively. Jon, in our discussion on the Westminster Confession of Faith, lectured about the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s illumination to our understanding of the message(s) of Scripture while Pastor Coleman treated us to an expository treatment of predestination, with Ephesians 1:5 as the primary text.
I wrestled with both aspects of truth a great deal throughout my own long journey down the Reformed path that led me to Westminster Presbyterian Church; neither topic, though plainly stated in and/ or deduced from Scripture, are easily understood absent the work of the Holy Spirit. So, I should not be surprised (should not be) when others do not immediately embrace the doctrinal truths we see so clearly before us. Still, the remaining corruption in my flesh erupts just enough to arouse my frustration nearly every time I discuss predestination (or God’s eternal decree) with others—primarily family members for some reason or another.
Just over two weeks ago my mama and step-father came out to the friendly confines of Covenanter Ranch in Iola to visit us. Actually, to be accurate, I should admit that they came to see Gracie Mae; Ashlee and I were incidental to the trip. Near the end of the visit, we began discussing eschatology which eventually led to God’s eternal decree, providence, and predestination. I am fairly certain I performed admirably as it relates to the degree of animation I exhibited—or lack there of, really. I kept my cool (for once) and simply referred to Scripture. I admitted that I can’t understand the concepts fully; however, I explained that I believe very strongly that the Bible is the Word of God and, as it states both God’s direction of all things and man’s responsibility for his actions, it must be true.
As I mentioned above, Jon’s discussion of the WCF touched upon the work of the Holy Spirit as an integral part of understanding—and accepting—the truths of Scripture. In addition, the Confession makes it clear that some parts of scripture, no matter how long or arduously we wrestle with them, may never been clearly revealed or understood.
‘All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.’ (WCF 1.7)
Pastor Coleman’s discourse spoke directly to the arguments my mama and step-father raised regarding predestination—primarily that it doesn’t seem fair nor loving. (Rest assured, they’ll soon have their own shiny new copy of the sermon on CD as soon as it is made available to me.) Yet, for all of my protestations that God is in fact loving—especially in His act of predestination—I missed the crucial evidence in the passage I cited until Pastor Coleman pointed it out in his sermon. You need only retrace your steps backward two words from verse 5 of Ephesians 1 and the proof is right there: ‘In love…’
All of this is to say that I find the combination of the two truths discussed above quite comforting and extremely liberating. There is no need for me to get frustrated nor agitated by another’s failure (or unwillingness) to understand certain passages of Scripture or similarly ‘difficult’ doctrinal positions. God’s Word will not return to Him void nor will the effective call of the Spirit be ultimately resisted. ‘All’ I am commanded to do is share the truth.
God does all of the heavy lifting.
--------------------------------------------
Those who know me well--and those who have only met me once, really--know that I love playing practical jokes on folks. Here is an example of how you should NOT react when a joke is played on you. (Take a look at his shirt if you want to be even more embarrassed!)
Mrs. Wiggins, please put this in the 'Hyprocrisy File': 'NASA scientist James E. Hansen, who has publicly criticized the Bush administration for dragging its feet on climate change and labeled skeptics of man-made global warming as distracting "court jesters," appears in a 1971 Washington Post article that warns of an impending ice age within 50 years.'
Ron Paul 2nd in Palmetto Family Straw Poll , Columbia, SC
539 total ballots cast:
1st: 206 votes - Mike Huckabee
2nd: 179 votes - Ron Paul
3rd: 43 votes - Fred Thompson
4th: 29 votes - Sam Brownback
5th: 25 votes - Duncan Hunter
6th: 14 votes - Mitt Romney
7th: 12 votes - Daniel Gilbert
8th: 10 votes - John McCain
9th: 7 votes - Hugh Cort
10th: 5 votes - Rudy Giuliani
Beware The Sticky Revolution!!
'The income tax is bad because it has robbed you and me of the guarantee of privacy and the respect for our property that were given to us in Article IV of the Bill of Rights. This invasion is absolute and complete as far as the amount of tax that can be assessed is concerned. Please remember that under the Sixteenth Amendment, Congress can take 100% of our income anytime it wants to. As a matter of fact, right now it is imposing a tax as high as 91%. This is downright confiscation and cannot be defended on any other grounds.' ~ T. Coleman Andrews, former Commissioner of Infernal Revenue Service
'A Christian advocacy group is encouraging military families, and other concerned citizens, to write letters to the Defense Department expressing concern over the recent decision by the Pentagon that allows the sale of certain adult [sic] magazines at military exchanges.'
In reference to the article cited above, I can attest to the prevalence of pornography in the military (at least in the Army). I was exposed to more illicit and profane materials during my hitch in the Army than I ever was before or have been since. Oddly enough, the best thing that happened to protect my eyes and my spirit was being deployed during Operations Desert Shield and Storm, where the Saudi government did not allow such materials into the country. Interestingly, when we were occupying southern Iraq near the town of An-Nasiriyah, a local man named Hussein offered--unsolicited--to bring us pornography (and booze, and pills, and cigarettes) for the right price. (We declined.)
Due to the intricacies of U.S. Copyright Law, which is rivaled only by the IRS tax code, there is presently underway a tooth-and-nail fight over the rights to The Dean Martin Show. My grandmother LOVED that show; my mama said that nobody was allowed to talk during the programme at the risk of being pummeled by Nonnie. (And she would do it, too!)
As the campaign to cook up a pretense for war with Iran gathers steam, please keep in mind that you should not believe everything you read or hear.
Reason 1,094,322 that women should not be law enforcement officers.
Rather than a Just War, it seems that we have just war.
Ron Paul 2nd in Palmetto Family Straw Poll , Columbia, SC
539 total ballots cast:
1st: 206 votes - Mike Huckabee
2nd: 179 votes - Ron Paul
3rd: 43 votes - Fred Thompson
4th: 29 votes - Sam Brownback
5th: 25 votes - Duncan Hunter
6th: 14 votes - Mitt Romney
7th: 12 votes - Daniel Gilbert
8th: 10 votes - John McCain
9th: 7 votes - Hugh Cort
10th: 5 votes - Rudy Giuliani
Beware The Sticky Revolution!!
'The income tax is bad because it has robbed you and me of the guarantee of privacy and the respect for our property that were given to us in Article IV of the Bill of Rights. This invasion is absolute and complete as far as the amount of tax that can be assessed is concerned. Please remember that under the Sixteenth Amendment, Congress can take 100% of our income anytime it wants to. As a matter of fact, right now it is imposing a tax as high as 91%. This is downright confiscation and cannot be defended on any other grounds.' ~ T. Coleman Andrews, former Commissioner of Infernal Revenue Service
'A Christian advocacy group is encouraging military families, and other concerned citizens, to write letters to the Defense Department expressing concern over the recent decision by the Pentagon that allows the sale of certain adult [sic] magazines at military exchanges.'
In reference to the article cited above, I can attest to the prevalence of pornography in the military (at least in the Army). I was exposed to more illicit and profane materials during my hitch in the Army than I ever was before or have been since. Oddly enough, the best thing that happened to protect my eyes and my spirit was being deployed during Operations Desert Shield and Storm, where the Saudi government did not allow such materials into the country. Interestingly, when we were occupying southern Iraq near the town of An-Nasiriyah, a local man named Hussein offered--unsolicited--to bring us pornography (and booze, and pills, and cigarettes) for the right price. (We declined.)
Due to the intricacies of U.S. Copyright Law, which is rivaled only by the IRS tax code, there is presently underway a tooth-and-nail fight over the rights to The Dean Martin Show. My grandmother LOVED that show; my mama said that nobody was allowed to talk during the programme at the risk of being pummeled by Nonnie. (And she would do it, too!)
As the campaign to cook up a pretense for war with Iran gathers steam, please keep in mind that you should not believe everything you read or hear.
Reason 1,094,322 that women should not be law enforcement officers.
Rather than a Just War, it seems that we have just war.
This is just too funny for words.
'Beyond its entertainment value, Baywatch has enriched and, in many cases, helped save lives. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to continue with a project which has such a significance for so many.' ~ David Hasselhoff, Actor
1 comment:
Texas A&M dude needs to chill out! Poor guy. He's gonna be sorry once that video makes it's way through you tube.
David Hasselhoff quote--Are you kidding me??? I bet he was serious when he made that quote. All you can do is shake your head. And the picture above that quote--pretty funny. It made me laugh out loud.
--Hannah
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