House Church Movement in Scotland (1547-1559 A. D.)

I found this second-hand book at the Haunted House Bookstore called The Story of the Scottish Reformation by Renwick. It was published in 1960. I knew very little about the Reformation in Scotland and it was very cheap so I bought it. I found a historical parallel. The growth of the Church in Scotland foreshadowed the house church movement in China during the 1960s and 1970s. The French captured the Castle of Saint Andrews in the 1550s, which was a haven for the Reformation leaders. The leaders were made galley slaves and many thought the Reformation movement would die. However God is not bound by circumstance. Renwick described what happens:

When the Castle of St. Andrews was captured by the French it seemed as if the cause of the Reformed Church was lost. Scotland was virtually governed by the French, and the Roman Church seemed permanently established. Indeed, throughout all Europe, the the Protestant faith was at its lowest ebb. Yet the amazing fact emerges that, at this very time when the Protestant movement in Scotland was without a leader, the Reformed doctrines took an ever-increasing hold upon all classes. Thus, when, in 1555, John Knox returned from Geneva for a visit of a few months, he was overjoyed to find great masses of the people thirsting for the gospel. This he related in a letter to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Bowes, and declared they were 'night and day sobbing and groaning for the bread of life. If I had not seen it with my eyes in my own country, I could not have believed it. Depart I cannot until such time as God quench their thirst a little'.

Renwick pointed out that this time of exile was good for Knox too. Although he suffered horribly as a galley slave, when he was released he made it to mainland Europe and met with the Reformation leaders. He came back to Scotland a well-trained, and bold leader. Knox and the other leaders most probably had made wise plans, but God chose His own way. (Proverbs 16:9)

When the Chinese Communist regime kicked out the missionaries in the 1960s, many thought the Church in China would die. However, the church went underground and grew.

Sproul on the Christian's Main Business of Life -- Romans 12:11a

R. C. Sproul comments on Romans 12:11a:

My translation of the next phrase reads not lagging in diligence (v. 11a). An older translation reads "not slothful in business" (KJV). We are not to be lazy in business; however, Paul is not talking about commercial enterprise. The word business comes from the term busy-ness, which means we should be busy people, busy with the things of God. Jonathan Edwards gave a sermon about pressing into the Kingdom of God. "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take by force" (Matt. 11:12). Edwards said that those who have come to Christ have been born again and given a spirit of zeal to pursue the things of God with a sense of urgency and with hunger and passion. Therefore, it is the duty of every Christian to press into the kingdom of God, making that the main business of life. The kingdom of God cannot be a secondary interest for a true Christian. We are to be diligent and active in the things of God.

p. 423-424. St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary.

Audio Recordings of C. S. Lewis (BBC)

Here are 2 short recordings of two C. S. Lewis BBC talks that were given during the World War 2. These talks were put into print, collected, published later as "Mere Christianity."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHxs3gdtV8A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYoU5_MQOU0&feature=related

Hawking/Mlodinow on the Godless Creation of the Universe

From the The Grand Design

We will describe how M-theory may offer answers to the question of creation. According to M-theory, ours is not the only universe. Instead, M-theory predicts that a great many universes were created out of nothing. Their creation does not require the intervention of some supernatural being or god. Rather, these multiple universes arise naturally from physical law. They are a prediction of science. Each universe has many possible histories and many possible states at later times, that is, at times like the present, long after their creation. Most of these states will be quite unlike the universe we observe and quite unsuitable for the existence of any form of life. Only a very few would allow creatures like us to exist. Thus our presence selects out from this vast array only those universes that are compatible with our existence. Although we are puny and insignificant on the scale of the cosmos, this makes us in a sense the lords of creation

(p. 9, Hawking and Mlodinow)

C. S. Lewis on the Universe

Brian Green thinks Christians place man in the center of the universe, but as C. S. Lewis points out God is greater and more infinite than any universe or multiverse that Man can dream up.

The size and emptiness of the universe which frightened us at the outset of this book, should awe us still, for though they may be no more than a subjective by-product of our three-dimensional imagining, yet they symbolise great truth. As our Earth is to all the stars, so doubtless are we men and our concerns to all creation; as all the stars are to space itself, so are all creatures, all thrones and powers and mightiest of the created gods, to the abyss of the self-existing Being, who is to us Father and Redeemer and indwelling Comforter, but of whom no man nor angel can say nor conceive what He is in and for Himself, or what is the work that he 'maketh from the beginning to the end'. For they are all derived and unsubstantial things. Their vision fails them and they cover their eyes from the intolerable light of utter actuality, which was and is and shall be, which never could have been otherwise, which has no opposite.

(C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p. 159)

Comparing Herman Witsius (Theologian) and Brian Greene's (Cosmologist) views on Man's purpose.

Brian Greene defines significance in this way:

Some people recoil at the notion of parallel worlds; as they see it, if we are part of a multiverse, our place and importance in the cosmos are marginalized. My take is different. I don't find merit in measuring significance by our relative abundance. Rather, what's gratifying about being human, what's exciting about being part of the scientific enterprise, is our ability to use analytical thought to bridge vast distances, journeying to outer and inner space and, if some of the ideas we'll encounter in this book prove correct, perhaps even beyond our universe. For me, it is the depth of our understanding, acquired from our lonely vantage point in the inky black stillness of a cold and forbidding cosmos, that reverberates across the expanse of reality and marks our arrival.

(p. 10, The Hidden Reality)

Witsius defines why God created Man:

The soul of man was formed for the contemplation of God, as the supreme truth, truth itself, and to seek after him, with all the affection of his soul as the supreme good, goodness itself; and it may be said truly to live, when it delights in the contemplation of that truth, and in the fruition of that goodness.

(The Economy of the Covenants Book I, Chapter V, Paragraph XIV).

So we might ask ourselves, what source of significance seems more compelling: getting to know an universe or even multiverse that seems increasingly cold and forbidding or to pursue knowing an infinite and personal God who creates us and invites us with open arms to know Him?

Calvin on Work and Prayer

In the Institutes Calvin elaborates on the Lord's Prayer. He explains why we have to pray for our daily bread even though we have good jobs and can provide for ourselves.

When we ask God to give us, the meaning is, that the thing asked is simply and freely the gift of God, whatever be the quarter from which it comes to us, even when it seems to have been specially prepared by our own art and industry, and procured by our hands, since it is to his blessing alone that all our labors owe their success.

(Institutes, Book III, Chapter XX, Paragraph 44).

God as our father.

I thought about my dad the other day. He was going through some family issues. I then thought about my sons and I reflected that a man cannot know the depth of a father's love for his children until he has children. Of course, I then remembered how incredible it was that God voluntarily sent His own only begotten Son to die for us. I could not comprehend the pain both the Father and the Son suffered for us. It was even more incredible that God adopted us as His children and that He loved us as His children.

I was reading Calvin's Institutes this morning. Calvin was teaching on the Lord's Prayer. He wrote the following about how God is our Father and prayer:

The first thing suggested at the very outset is, as we have already said (sec. 17ñ19), that all our prayers to God ought only to be presented in the name of Christ, as there is no other name which can recommend them. In calling God our Father, we certainly plead the name of Christ. For with what confidence could any man call God his Father? Who would have the presumption to arrogate to himself the honour of a son of God were we not gratuitously adopted as his sons in Christ? He being the true Son, has been given to us as a brother, so that that which he possesses as his own by nature becomes ours by adoption, if we embrace this great mercy with firm faith. As John says, "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name," (John 1:12). Hence he both calls himself our Father, and is pleased to be so called by us, by this delightful name relieving us of all distrust, since no where can a stronger affection be found than in a father. Hence, too, he could not have given us a stronger testimony of his boundless love than in calling us his sons. But his love towards us is so much the greater and more excellent than that of earthly parents, the farther he surpasses all men in goodness and mercy (Isaiah 63:16). Earthly parents, laying aside all paternal affection, might abandon their offspring; he will never abandon us (Ps. 27:10), seeing he cannot deny himself. For we have his promise, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Mt. 7:11). In like manner in the prophet, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee," (Isaiah 49:15). But if we are his sons, then as a son cannot betake himself to the protection of a stranger and a foreigner without at the same time complaining of his father's cruelty or poverty, so we cannot ask assistance from any other quarter than from him, unless we would upbraid him with poverty, or want of means, or cruelty and excessive austerity.

(Institutes Book 3, Chapter 20, Paragraph 36).

Witsius on the Love of Our Neighbor

Witsius asserts that our love of God would dictate that we love our neighbor since our neighbor bears the image of God.

For, he who loves God, cannot but love His image too, in which he clearly views express characters of the Deity, and not a small degree of the brightness of his glory. Again, whoever loves God, will, by virtue of that love, seriously wish, desire, study, and as much as in him lies, be careful, that his neighbour, as well as himself, be under God, in God, and for God, and all he has, be for his glory. Again, whoever loves God, will make it his business, that God may appear every way admirable and glorious; and as he appears such most eminently in the sanctification and happiness of men, 2 Thess. 1. 10. he will exert himself to the utmost, that his neighbour make advances to holiness and happiness. Finally, whoever sincerelv loves God, will never think he loves and glorifies him enough; such excellencies he discovers in him, sees his name illustrious, and so exalted above all praise, as to long, that all mankind, nay all creatures, should join him in loving and celebrating the infinite perfections of God. But this is the most faithful and pure love of our neighbour, to seek that God may be glorified in him, and he himself be for the glory of God. Hence it appears, that the love of our neighbour is inseparably connected with that of God, If therefore it flows from the nature of God, to enjoin us the love of himself, as was just proved; it must likewise flow from the nature of God to enjoin us the love of our neighbour.

(The Economy of the Covenants).

Witsius on the Image of God in Man

Witsius defines what the Image of God means in reference to Adam before the fall.

But if we take in the whole extent of the image of God, we say, it is made up of these three parts. 1st, Antecedently, that it consists in the spiritual and immortal nature of the soul, and in the faculties of understanding and will, 2dly, Formally and principally, in these enduments, or qualities of the soul, viz. righteousness, and holiness. 3dly, Consequentially, in the immortality of the whole man, and his dominion over the creatures. The first of these was, as one elegantly expresses it, as precious ground on which the image of God might be drawn and formed: the second, that very image itself, and resemblance of the divinity: the third, the lustre of that image widely spreading its glory; and as rays, not only adorning the soul, but the whole man, even his very body; and rendering him the lord and head of the world, and at the same time immortal, as being the friend and confederate of the eternal God.

(p. 57, Witsius, Vol. 1)(Book I, Chapter II, paragraph XI))

Witsius on holiness

Witsius points out that holiness is not just abstaining from sin, but a fervent desire to please, to know, and to enjoy oneself in God.

It is finely observed by a learned man, that true holiness is not only opposed to hypocrisy or simulation, or to typical purity, but that it denotes a holy study of truth, proceeding from the love of God. For, osios, to which answers the Hebrew TJSPT,signifies in Scripture, one studious in, and eager after good. This true holiness,therefore denotes such a desire, of pleasing God, as is agreeable to the truth known of, and in him, and loved for him.

(Note that osios is a Greek word for holiness. JT)

p. 54, Witsius, "The Economy of the Covenants"

Herman Witsius on Man's Purpose

This an old translation of a latin text so it is hard to read. However, it has good ideas about the ultimate purpose of Man.

Nor was it becoming God to form a rational creature for any other purpose than his own glory; which such a creature, unless wise and holy, could neither perceive nor celebrate, as shining forth in the other works of God; destitute of this light, and deprived of the endument, what could it prove but the reproach of his Creator, and every way unfit to answer the end of his creation. All these particulars the wisest of kings, Eccles. vii. 29. has thrown together with a striking simplicity, when he says; “Lo! This only have I found, that God hath made man upright.”

---

pp. 51-52, The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man, Volume 1, Herman Witsius.

Herman Witsius and Baby Dedications

I was browsing a book by Herman Wits (or Witsius). He was a 17th century Dutch theologian. I found in the introduction that the publishers inserted a brief biography of Wits's life. Two passages about his parents came to mind when I was watching the baby dedications at church yesterday.

The parents of our Witsius, having vowed to devote a child to the ministry, did Upon the birth of this son, call him after his grandfather, praying, that in Herman the grandson, might be revived the spirit of the grandfather; and that, endued with equal, if not superior talents, he might imitate his example.

The grandfather was a famous preacher and theologian at that time. Here's the second quote:

The care which these pious parents took of young Witsius during his tender infancy, was not intermitted as he began to grow; for, being still mindful of their vow, they brought him up in a very pious manner, instructing him in the principles and precepts of religion and Christian piety.

I used to dream when my boys were young and it was obvious they both were much smarter than I, that they would go into physics or engineering. When they were older, I thought IT would be a good field for them. I did not even dream, let alone pray, that they should go into theology so they can serve in the ministry and further God's kingdom.

Another thought, are we as parents and our church as a whole as concerned about our children's spiritual growth as Wits's parents were about their child?

Brainard meditates on using one's time well.

David Brainard writes in his journal about the benefits of using one's time well. At this point in his life he is living in a Native American village on the pre-revolutionary frontier of America. His home is a shack that he just finished with his own hands. He suffers from TB and loneliness.

"Thursday, Aug. 4. Was enabled to pray much, through the whole day; and through divine goodness found some intenseness of soul in the duty, as I used to do, and some ability to persevere in my supplications. I had some apprehensions of divine things, that were engaging, and which afforded me some courage and resolution. It is good, I find, to persevere in attempts to pray, if I cannot pray with perseverance, i.e. continue long in my addresses to the Divine Being. I have generally found, that the more I do in secret prayer, the more I have delighted to do, and have enjoyed more of a spirit of prayer: and frequently have found the contrary, when with journeying or otherwise I have been much deprived of retirement. A seasonable, steady performance of SECRET DUTIES IN THEIR PROPER HOURS, and a CAREFUL IMPROVEMENT OF ALL TIME, filling up every hour with some profitable labour, either of heart, head, or hands, are excellent means of spiritual peace and boldness before God. Christ, indeed, is our peace, and by him we have boldness of access to God; but a good conscience void of offence, is an excellent preparation for an approach into the divine presence. There is difference between self-confidence or a self-righteous pleasing of ourselves -- as with our own duties, attainments, spiritual enjoyments -- which godly souls sometimes are guilty of, and that holy confidence arising from the testimony of a good conscience, which good Hezekiah had, when he says, "Remember, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart.' `Then (says the holy psalmist) shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments.' Filling up our time with and for God, is the way to rise up and lie down in peace."

Witsius against Perfectionsim

Witsius likened the remains of the flesh in the Christian life to the nations that Israel did not drive out of the land as reported in "Judges." God uses the remains of the flesh to test us and to train us. Witsius lists out a few reasons God allows the influence of the flesh in the Christians life:

But known to God are the reasons of his conduct, in dispensing the operations of the Spirit of grace in believers, so that the remains of the flesh are not entirely expelled in this life, For, 1st. He would by this, shew the difference between earth and heaven, the time of warfare and of triumph, the place of toil and of rest, that we may the more earnestly long for our translation out of this valley of sin and misery into the heavenly country, where every thing shall be made perfect; and may with open arms, embrace death, which will bring us to the perfection, crying out with the apostle; "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me form the body of this death?" Rom. vii.24.

The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man Volume II by Herman Witsius (p. 47).

Dorothy L. Sayers on Work and Vocation

Sayers wrote a lot of articles on work. This is from "Why Work?"

The official Church wastes time and energy, and moreover, commits sacrilege, in demanding that secular workers should neglect their proper vocation in order to do Christian work – by which She means ecclesiastical work. The only Christian work is good work well done. Let the Church see to it that the workers are Christian people and do their work well, as to God: then all the work will be Christian work, whether it is church embroidery, or sewage farming. As Jacques Maritain says: “If you want to produce Christian work, be a Christian, and try to make a work of beauty into which you have put your heart; do not adopt a Christian pose.” He is right. And let the Church remember that the beauty of the work will be judged by its own, and not by
ecclesiastical standards.

http://faith-at-work.net/Docs/WhyWork.pdf

G. K. Chesterton on God and Work

G. K. Chesterton viewed the making of products for personal use as one of the highest goods. The true path to happiness, according to Chesterton, is the self-sufficient home where the family produces goods for themselves. God is to be praised because he is the maker of things.

And this experience had made me profoundly sceptical of all the modern talk about the necessary dullness of domesticity; and the degrading drudgery that only has to make puddings and pies. Only to make things? There is no greater thing to be said of God Himself than that He makes things. The manufacturer cannot even manufacture things; he can only pay to have them manufactured

The Autobiography of G. K Chesterton by G. K. Chesterton.

Steve Jobs on Vocation

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And, most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” (Steve Jobs: Commencement Address at Stanford, June 2005)

My problem with Steve Jobs's view of life is intuition and one's inner voice can be wrong. Consider this quote from Dr. H. H. Holmes (1896)who was a mass murderer.

"I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing." (Confession, 1896)

In Steve Jobs's case his inner voice changed the world in amazing ways, but one's inner voice is not a reliable guide in life to benefit the whole of society. There has to be a better way.

Richard Baxter on choosing your calling

I heard this quote first on Packer's teaching series on the Puritans but this website has it too: http://www.gracebaptist.ws/sermons/notes/PuritanStudy/Puritan1.html

"Choose that employment or calling in which
you may be most serviceable to God…
Choose not that in which you may be most
Rich or honorable in the world, but that in
which you may do most good…

In choosing a trade or calling, the first consideration should be the service of God and the public good, and therefore, that
calling that most conduceth to the public
good is to be preferred.

Work and Revelation 22:16

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
(Revelation 22:16 ESV)

God made us so that we can worship Him. Therefore, God made our hands and thus, the works of our hands should glorify God. What a great insult to God it must be to take the work of our hands which should glorify God and worship it as a god.

Calvin on Calling (Vocation)

The last thing to be observed is, that the Lord enjoins every one of us, in all the actions of life, to have respect to our calling. He knows the boiling restlessness of the human mind, the fickleness with which it is borne hither and thither, its eagerness to hold opposites at one time in its grasp, its ambition. Therefore, lest all things should be thrown into confusion by our folly and rashness, he has assigned distinct duties to each in the different modes of life. And that no one may to presume to overstep his proper limits, he has distinguished the different modes of life by the name of callings. Every man’s mode of life, therefore, is a kind of station assigned him by the Lord, that he may not be always driven about at random. So necessary is this distinction, that all our actions are thereby estimated in his sight, and often in a very different way from that in which human reason or philosophy would estimate them. There is no more illustrious deed even among philosophers than to free one’s country from tyranny, and yet the private individual who stabs the tyrant is openly condemned by the voice of the heavenly Judge. But I am unwilling to dwell on particular examples; it is enough to know that in everything the call of the Lord is the foundation and the beginning of right action. He who does not act with reference to it will never, in the discharge of duty, keep the right path. He will sometimes be able, perhaps, to give the semblance of something laudable, but whatever it may be in the sight of man, it will be rejected before the throne of God; and besides, there will be no harmony in the different parts of his life. Hence, he only who directs his life to this end will have it properly framed; because, free from the impulse of rashness, he will not attempt more than his calling justifies, knowing that it is unlawful to overleap the prescribed bounds. He who is obscure will not decline to cultivate a private life, that he may not desert the post at which God has placed him. Again, in all our cares, toils, annoyances, and other burdens, it will be no small alleviation to know that all these are under the superintendence of God. The magistrate will more willingly perform his office, and the father of a family confine himself to his proper sphere. Every one in his particular mode of life will, without repining, suffer its inconveniences, cares, uneasiness, and anxiety, persuaded that God has laid on the burden. This too, will afford admirable consolation, that in following your proper calling, no work, will be so mean and sordid as not to have a splendor and value in the eye of God. (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 10, Paragraph 6).

Habakkuk on performing work without God

Habakkuk 2:12-14 ESV

“Woe to him who builds a town with blood

and founds a city on iniquity!

Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts

that peoples labor merely for fire,

and nations weary themselves for nothing?

For the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

O. Palmer Robertson comments on verse 14

The certitude of the vanity, the pointlessness of people's oppressive ways that build seemingly stable and worthwhile communities rests on the unchanging word of God that Habakkuk now quotes. Their consumption in the fire of God's judgment is not guaranteed simply by the rise and fall of many previous civiliaztions. Instead, it is the oath of Yahweh himself that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh that quarantees the vanity and futility of all efforts to the contrary. Beauty in song, in dance, in architecture--all to the glory of God--shall fill the earth as the waters covers the sea.

Rest in Hebrews 4

In his commentary on Hebrews called The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary, Homer A. Kent, jr. defines rest as used in Hebrews 4:

What is this rest of God? Certainly it did not connote the cessation of all activity, for that is contradicted by the Biblical teaching of miracles and providence, as well as by the statement of Jesus cited above (John 5:17). Inasmuch as the author takes us to God’s rest after creation, the prominent thought would seem to lie in the concept of the rest which comes with accomplishment, completion, and satisfaction. At the conclusion of creation, God “rested” from His project because it was accomplished; and because His work was good, His rest was also one of satisfaction and enjoyment. This rest of eternal blessedness and fulfillment is what God wants to share with His children.

(p. 82)

The highest proof of George Washington's Virtue

I've been reading a biography of George Washington. One of the most amazing things about Washington was that he stepped down after he won the revolutionary war. His troops adored him and the whole country idolized him. He could have easily became king of the United States. This stepping down from power, caused more admiration from Europe than his conduct of the war. Chernow writes:

When John Trumbull later painted a series of portraits for the U. S. Capitol, he chose Washington's resignation at Annapolis as one of the crowning moments of the founding era and the highest proof of Washington's virtue. At the time of the resignation, Trumbull was in London and recorded European wonderment at the news, saying that it "excites the astonishment and admiration of this part of the world." (p. 457, "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow)

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 (Solomon on Toil)

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. (ESV)

Our days won't drag on. God's gift to us is the ability to focus on Him as our joy and the giver of gifts to us.

Live as you are called (1 Corinthians 7:14)

Interpreters from Luther to Calvin to modern day commentators treat this differently. I'm not sure how to treat this. I need to think about this in relation to work or vocation.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

(1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ESV)

Job's Simile

To explain the futility of life, Job uses the simile of life is like the days of a hired hand:

[7:1] “Has not man a hard service on earth,
and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?
[2] Like a slave who longs for the shadow,
and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,
[3] so I am allotted months of emptiness,
and nights of misery are apportioned to me.
(Job 7:1-3 ESV)

Work in Heaven (Isaiah)

Paul Marshall points out that Isaiah 2:4, the nations will turn weapons of war into tools of work. In eternity, God will give us work to do to give Him glory.

He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
(Isaiah 2:4 ESV)

Later in Isaiah

[20] No more shall there be in it

an infant who lives but a few days,

or an old man who does not fill out his days,

for the young man shall die a hundred years old,

and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.

[21] They shall build houses and inhabit them;

they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

(Isaiah 65:20-21; Isaiah 65:22-23 ESV)

[22] They shall not build and another inhabit;

they shall not plant and another eat;

for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,

and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

[23] They shall not labor in vain

or bear children for calamity,

for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,

and their descendants with them.

(Isaiah 65:20-21; Isaiah 65:22-23 ESV)

Hannah On Work

In Hannah's prayer we see that God is in control of our success and failures.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's,
and on them he has set the world.
(1 Samuel 2:7-8 ESV)

Possessing the Gate of Your enemies

I noticed that two references concerning blessing refer to "possessing the gate of your enemies."  Look at God blessing Abraham:

I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, (Genesis 22:17 ESV)

Now, look at Jesus commending Peter for Peter's identification of Jesus as the Christ. Jesus commends Peter and then blesses the Church:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

Both passages talk about basically possessing the gates of their enemies. I'm not sure what it means, but it is an interesting parallel.

Francis Schaffer on Work, Life and Death

His [Schaeffer] view of death and his own death was having confidence that life matters and that the world matters, that life and existence is something real, true and eternal and is not going to just disappear into thin air. Because of that you fight to live, and because of that you need to go out and carry on the good fight. You do matter, and God does exist. So you put your hand to the plow, you work and you struggle—you do what you can in all different areas, with passion. You don’t sit in a corner somewhere and wait to die. You don’t embrace death. You see death as a terrible, terrible enemy. What you look forward to is not death, but the Second coming. You are longing and working for that. Contrary to what people say—that you can’t take anything with you—yes, you do take your work with you. It’s a biblical teaching, that what you do matters and will continue on into eternity—building houses, walls, and hiking paths and the whole of human existence. You live with energy.

Colin Duriez quoting Debby Midelmann, 2007 about her father's, Francis Schaeffer, views on life and death.

Evangelism Under Constantine

There is little evidence of orthodox mission into barbarian territories. Even when the Roman Christians found themselves captured and confined outside the empire, the church was slow to send pastoral assistance. Christianity was planted among the barbarians, but it was carried by captives and traders, or through barbarians who served in Constantine's army, rather than through missionaries. ...

Yet this needs to be qualified in two ways. Barbarians did convert, but they converted not because missionaries were sent to them but because they migrated into the empire. ...

p. 289. Defending Constantine, Peter J. Leithart

Calvin on Work

Again, in all our cares, toils, annoyances, and other burdens, it will be no small alleviation to know that all these things are under the superintendence of God. The magistrate will more willingly perform his office, and the father of a family confine himself to his proper sphere. Every one in his particular mode of life will, without repining, suffer its inconveniences, cares, uneasiness, and anxiety, persuaded that God has laid on the burden. This too, will afford admirable consolation, that in following your proper calling, no work, will be so mean and sordid as not to have a splendour and value in the eye of God.

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 10, Paragraph 6.

Calvin on physics and the natural sciences.

Book II. Chapter II Section 16. (p. 236) of the Calvin's Institutes.

But if the Lord has been pleased to assist us by the work and ministry of the ungody in physics, dialectics, mathematics, and other similar sciences, let us avail ourselves of it, lest, by neglecting the gifts of God spontaneously offered to us, we be justly punished for our sloth. Lest any one, however, should imagine a man to be very happy merely because, with reference to the elements of this world, he has been endued with great talents for the investigation of truth, we ought to add, that the whole power of intellect thus bestowed is, in the sight of God, fleeting and vain whenever it is not based on a solid foundation of truth.

Calvin on the Theater of God

Meanwhile, being placed in this most beautiful theatre, let us not decline to take a pious delight in the clear and manifest works of God. For, as we have elsewhere observed, though not the chief, it is, the first evidence of faith, to remember to which side soever we turn, that all which meets the eye is the work of God, and at the same time to meditate with pious care on the end which God had in view in creating it.

...when we consider how great the Architect must be who framed and ordered the multitude of the starry host so admirably, that it is impossible to imagine a more glorious sight, so stationing some, and fixing them to particular spots that they cannot move; giving a fitter course to others, yet setting limits to their wanderings; so tempering the movement of the whole as to measure out day and night, months, years, and seasons, and at the same time so regulating the inequality of days as to prevent everything like confusion. The former course is, moreover, exemplified when we attend to his power in sustaining the vast mass, and guiding the swift revolutions of the heavenly bodies, &c. These few examples sufficiently explain what is meant by recognising the divine perfections in the creation of the world. Were we to attempt to go over the whole subject we should never come to a conclusion, there being as many miracles of divine poser, as many striking evidences of wisdom and goodness, as there are classes of objects, nay, as there are individual objects, great or small, thoughout the universe.
Institutes of the Christian Religion Book I, Chap. XIV, Paragrahs 20 and 21.

9/11 Cross

I watched Huckaby on September 12, 2010. He had a big segment on the 9/11 cross. Steel beams were discovered in the 9/11 wreckage that were somehow transformed into the shape of the cross. He invited the construction worker who discovered the cross onto the show. The construction worker talked about how the beams gave him hope. He said it wasn't religious. It was for all mankind. Huckaby, then interviewed a Jewish rabbi. The rabbi thought it was great. He wasn't a Christian, but he supported this cross. It wasn't religious. It gave and continued to give hope to all mankind. The program then showed a photograph of a large group of people gathered with hands raised in worship.

"Oh my God!", I thought, "they separated the symbol of the cross from the person and work of Jesus Christ. They made a piece of wreckage an idol". They are worshiping a thing made by human hands as God. Man's foolishness knows no bounds.

Calvin on man being God's workmanship

For how can the idea of God enter your mind without instantly giving rise to the thought, that since you are his workmanship, you are bound, by the very law of creation, to submit to his authority?—that your life is due to him?—that whatever you do ought to have reference to him: If so, it undoubtedly follows that your life is sadly corrupted, if it is not framed in obedience to him, since his will ought to be the law of our lives.

(Institutes p. 41 Book 1. Chapter II, Section 3)

The Early Church and Missions

I am reading Justo Gonzalez's The Story of Christianity

He writes,

Another surprising fact about the early expansion of Christianity is that, after the new Testament, very little is said of any missionaries going from place to place, like Paul and Barnabas had done. It is clear that the enormous spread of the Gospel in those first few centuries was not due to full-time missionaries, but rather to the many Christians who traveled for other reasons—slaves, merchants, exiles condemned to work in the mines, and the like.

The real work of missions has always been the lay people.

Matthew B. Crawford: The moral significance of work

Shop Class as Soul Craft
The moral significance of work that grapples with material things may lie in the simple fact that such things lie outside the self. A washing machine, for example, surely exists to serve our needs, but in contending with one that is broken, you have to ask what it needs. At such a moment, technology is no longer a means by which our mastery of the world is extended, but an affront to our usual self-absorption. Constantly seeking self-affirmation, the narcissist views everything as an extension of his will, and therefore has only a tenuous grasp on the world of objects as something independent. He is prone to magical thinking and delusions of omnipotence. A repairman, on the other hand, puts himself in the service of others, and fixes the things they depend on. His relationship to objects enacts a more solid sort of command, based on real understanding. For this very reason, his work also chastens the easy fantasy of mastery that permeates modern culture. The repairman has to begin each job by getting outside his own head and noticing things: he has to look carefully and listen to the ailing machine. p. 16 -17

Aristotle begins his Metaphysics with the observation that “all human beings by nature desire to know.” I have argued that real knowledge arises through confrontations with real things. Work, then, offers a broadly available premonition of philosophy. Its value, however, does not lie solely in pointing to some more rarefied experience. Rather, in the best cases, work may itself approach the good sought in philosophy, understood as a way of life: a community of those who desire to know. p. 199

Symmetry and the design of God

Dr. Stephen Barr on Symmetry in Creation

If symmetry is found in works of art of every sort, and is an important element in what it is to be beautiful, and if as well the laws of nature are based on symmetries that are so sophisticated and so deep that while we may study them with the tools of modern mathematics they lie far above our mental powers to appreciate on an intuitive level, does that not suggest the mind of an artist at work that if far above the level of our minds? When we contemplate this strange and beautiful universe, well may we ask, in the words of the poet Blake, “What immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?”

Modern Physics and Ancient Faith p. 104

Working hard and God working in us. (1 Cor. 15:10)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Cor. 15:10)

Paul Dirac quote on Beauty and Mathematics

I went to a lecture given by Stephen Barr. It was very good. He quoted Paul Dirac so I googled beauty on mathematics and got the following quote:

"God used beautiful mathematics in creating the world."

If you consider how God used Wisdom to create the universe, this statement makes a lot of sense.

Sabbath and denying ourselves -- Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16

"This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves [b] and not do any work—whether native-born or an alien living among you- 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.

I thought the connection between sabbath rest and denying ourselves was interesting. Christ is our atonement, but when have we deny ourselves on our day off?

Grandpa Thompson

Two events happened to me this week. First, I heard through the grapevine last week that an old friend of mine, Doug, is dying of cancer. His wife died of cancer a few years ago. Fortunately, he married again and his children are mostly grown, but I'm sure they were devastated when they heard the news. The doctors told him he has only a few years to go. It was sad. The second bit of news was my daughter-in-law told me she was pregnant last Saturday (01/16/2010).

These two events started me thinking. If I were to be diagnosed with cancer what would my legacy be to my grandchild or hopefully in the future, grandchildren. I am not writing so much about my physical life, but my spiritual life. My parents loved to travel and their stories of traveling around Europe and the United States were a fascinating legacy to me. My father is also into genealogy. This too is a legacy. I've traveled some for work, but I would like to think I would pass down a more spiritual legacy. I've study the bible for years. I've read C. S. Lewis, R. C. Sproul, John Piper, Jonathan Edwards, John Owens, Alistair McGrath, Francis Schaefer, and J. I. Packer, and so much more. I've taken quite a spiritual journey for someone who is not a seminarian or scholastically trained in theology. I am wondering is there a way to pass this journey, this passion, onto my grandchild.

Jonathan Edwards on the Ennobling the Soul

From a Jonathan Edwards Sermon,

This is the most excellent and divine wisdom that any creature is capable of. It is more excellent than any human learning; it is far more excellent than all the knowledge of the greatest philosophers or statesmen. Yea, the least glimpse of the glory of God in the face of Christ doth more exalt and ennoble the soul, than all the knowledge of those that have the greatest speculative understanding in divinity without grace. This knowledge has the most noble object that is or can be, viz., the divine glory or excellency of God and Christ. The knowledge of these objects is that wherein consists the most excellent knowledge of the angels, yea, of God himself.

http://www.ccel.org/e/edwards/sermons/supernatural_light.html

Because God Sees

I read about a group of women who were having dinner together shortly after one of them returned from Europe. One of the women, a stay-at-home mom, was particulary low in spirit that day. She hadn’t been to Europe or anywhere else exciting. Her life felt so drab she felt like she was invisible. She was surprised when her returning friend presented her with a gift. It was a book about the great cathedrals of Europe. Inside the cover, her friend had inscribed, “With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when only God sees.”

Inside the book she read the account of how one of the cathedrals was built. A visitor saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He watched the craftsman’s concentrated movements for a few minutes then looked up at the entire massive edifice under constant construction for a century. He asked the carver, “Why are you spending so mich time chiseling a tiny bird into a beam that will be covered by the stone roof: It will be hidden from everyone’s view.

Without looking away from his work, the craftsman replied, “Because God sees.”

As the woman read this story, she thought of the things in her life that were hidden from view: baking for church receptions, sewing patches on children’s jeans, bandaging scrapes, cleaning the house, then cleaning it again when it was left messy—she remembered now that God saw, and she felt better. Most of all, she realized that her friend had done a little carving on the weary beams of her soul. It was uplifting, edifying encouragement from a friend just at the right time—which is the way God uses us within the body, even when we don’t realize it.

David Jeremiah in Living with Confidence in Chaotic Times

Mom's death

My mom had alzheimer's. As far I can tell she had a stroke, then a aneurism, and then she died a few days later. My mom was in much pain for a few days. My dad was magnificent. He was with her as much as possible. He rubbed noses with her. He kissed her. He sweet talked her. He truly loved her. He told her they had a good life. He told her to think of all the trips they travelled together. My parents travelled to all the fifty states except Vermont. They travelled all over Western Europe. My dad even met some cousins in Norway. They had grand experiences together.

Maybe just because I'm her son I have a different perspective. Maybe, because I'm a Christian, I have a different perspective. My mom survived cancer and several other ailments to take care of and reared two boys and two girls. Three of the four children, earned Master Degrees. She volunteered as a den leader for Cub Scouts. She encouraged me to get my MBA. My mother lived a good life and she should have no regrets. I want to travel, but when someone comforts me when I lay dying, I want to be reminded of the people I encouraged and helped. How I was good husband and a good father. How much God loves me and how much it seems I loved God.

Mom, you were a great mother and I miss you deeply.

Mom

My mother was just sent to a hospice. For the lack of a better spot, here are some fond memories.

1. Mom was always there for us. She volunteered as a den leader for Cub Scouts. She always attended all the band events and Scouting events.
2. Mom loved garage sales. She always noticed a garage sale sign when she was driving or riding in a car. Early in my marriage, my wife and I were visiting my parents. She had cataracts at that time so she couldn't see very well. We were on I-29 headed into Council Bluffs. We had to be going at least 55 mph. Mom suddenly said, "Ooh! there is a garage sale!" She may not have been able to identify me from 20 feet a way, but a garage sale she could spot from miles away.
3. Mom was proper in front of the children. She never swore and was embarassed when other people used crude language. My brother and I were about 10 years-old I think. We were asking the visiting farm expert, grandma, what the things were that hung down from the utter. My grandma said 'Teats,' which in southwestern Iowan sounded like 'Tits.' Mom said, "oh mom!" We started laughing. Grandma, "Now, Janet what else do you call them?" Mom was a little discouraged.
4. One of mom's favorite stories was how she would sometimes ride a horse to school. I always thought that was cool.
5. Mom was always a fan of basketball. She played 6-player basketball when she was in high school. I think she said she was a good passer and shot the long shot. One of my mom's biggest disappoints is that none of her children were in organized sports like basketball.
6. Mom and dad danced together, they played cards together. They got along incredibly well. Their favorite song to dance to was "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown." by Jim Croce.
7. Mom had an incredible social intelligence before her alzheimers. Grandma and she would talk about who was related to who. Dad and mom used to talk about her relations too. I carpooled with a guy, Ron Goshorn from Shelby. Over the years we talked. Since Underwood is close to Shelby, we found out that Ron's dad and uncle worked for my grandma. Later on, I found Ron was related to Jack Hester. My mom said, "oh yes." She then identified how Ron and I were related to each other. Something like second cousins through a marriage.

Owen on Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

(Zephaniah 3:17 KJV).

God joys over us. According to Owen, the word means an outward expression of joy such as leaping. God is so happy that he is singing over us.

Here is the quote from Chapter 3 in Communion of God by John Owen.

(1st.) The love of God is so. Zeph. 3: 17, "The LORD thy
God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will
rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love; he will
joy over thee with singing." Both these things are here
assigned unto God in his love, - REST and DELIGHT. The words
are, "yacharish be'ahavato" - "He shall be silent because of
his love." To rest with contentment is expressed by being
silent; that is, without repining, without complaint. This God
does upon the account of his own love, so full, so every way
complete and absolute, that it will not allow him to complain
of any thing in them whom he loves, but he is silent on the
account thereof Or, "Rest in his love;" that is, he will not
remove it, - he will not seek farther for another object. It
shall make its abode upon the soul where it is once fixed, for
ever. And COMPLACENCY or DELIGHT: "He rejoiceth with singing;"
as one that is fully satisfied in that object he has fixed his
love on. Here are two words used to express the delight and
joy that God has in his love, - "yasis" and "yagil". The first
denotes the inward affection of the mind, joy of heart; and to
set out the intenseness hereof, it is said he shall do it
"besimchah", - in gladness, or with joy. To have joy of heart
in gladness, is the highest expression of delight in love. The
latter word denotes not the inward affection, but the outwards
demonstration of it: "agalliain" seems to be formed of it. It
is to exult in outward demonstration of internal delight and
joy; - " Tripudiare," to leap, as men overcome with some
joyful surprisal. And therefore God is said to do this
"berinnah" - with a joyful sound, or singing. To rejoice with
gladness of heart, to exult with singing and praise, argues
the greatest delight and complacency.

Rejoicing in the Lord

"And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake." Deut. 12:18c.

"Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things" (Deut. 28:47)

How can this be? How can God command our emotions? How can God command us to have gladness of heart? Maybe, God is commanding the way things ought to be and not commanding if we can do the commands with an unregenerated heart.

Struggling in Prayer

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Romans 15:30

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

These passages have convicted me. When is the last time I struggled or wrestled in prayer for the maturity of the members in my local Church?

AIG and God

AIG has just given bonuses to their financial division that specializes in derivative investing. Obama and congress are in an uproar because they gave AIG over 100 billion dollars to bail them out. Here's what one Psalmist has to say about it:

PSALM 49

5(G) Why should I fear in(H) times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6those who(I) trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7Truly no man(J) can ransom another,
or(K) give to God(L) the price of his life,
8for(M) the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9that he should live on forever
and(N) never see the pit.

10For he sees(O) that even the wise die;
(P) the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and(Q) leave their wealth to others.
11Their(R) graves are their homes forever,[a]
their dwelling places(S) to all generations,
though they(T) called lands by their own names.
12Man in his pomp(U) will not remain;
(V) he is like the beasts that perish.

Apollo 15

The following is a possible introduction to a possible doctrine class that I may or may not be teaching.

In From Earth to the Moon in the chapter on Apollo 15, NASA mission leaders were meeting to discuss the landing site for Apollo 15. Two sides were deadlocked. The space engineers wanted the Marias Hills and the geologists wanted Hadley Rill in the Apennine mountains. This had been a debate for months. The Marias hills landing site was safe. The Appennine Mountains location was a more dangerous, but geologically significant. This meeting lasted for hours, but at last, exasperated, they asked David Scott, the commander of Apollo 15, where he would desire to land. He had remained silent for much of the debate so he hesitated before he spoke. He gave some geological reasons and addressed the safety issues; however, at the end he said:

The Appennine Mountains has something else. They have grandeur. I think there is something to be said for exploring beautiful places. It is good for the spirit.

This speech convinced NASA to land at Hadley Ridge. I agree beautiful places should be explored; however, I think there is something to be said for exploring the most beautiful person. Pursue with reckless abandon the topic that has more grandeur than all created things: God Himself. Shall we not explore Him? Shall we not know Him better? The way is dangerous and difficult. We have pathfinders who blazed the trail before us, but we must be careful to not fall into pitfalls that caused the most incautious to fall. This class will not even make it to the foothills, but shall attempt to identify the larger peaks.

Thessalonians and Work

I Thessalonians 4:10-12
Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.(NIV)

The Sinful Woman and Work

Here is an observation on Luke 7:36-50. Notice that the sinful woman broke open an alabaster flask of ointment. According to Brooks who may have gotten it from Tim Keller(?), this flask was worn around her neck and was a tool of her trade (prostitution). She gave up her sinful life work in one beautiful act of repentance.

Acts and the building of the Church (Hall of Tyrannus)

I've been reading through Acts and thinking about Church growth. Here are some key passages. Notice the amount of time Paul spends training people. Notice how he changes tactics.

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.(Acts 5:40-42 (ESV))

"You know that I [Paul] have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house." (Acts 20:20)

But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.(Acts 19:9-10)

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18:9-11) (ESV))

Holiness and accomplishments -- Clarkson on John Owen

Select Works By David Clarkson, B. H. Cooper, J. Blackburn, Wycliffe Society, Wycliffe society:

"A great light is fallen; one of eminency for holiness, learning, parts, and abilities; a pastor, a scholar, a divine of the first magnitude; holiness gave a Divine lustre to his other accomplishments, it shined in his whole course, and was diffused through his whole conversation. I need not tell you of this that knew him, and observed that it was his great design to promote holiness in the power, life, and exercise of it among you. It was his great complaint that the power of it declined among professors. It was his care and endeavour to prevent or cure spiritual decays in his own flock."

This is from a funeral sermon by David Clarkson in memorium for John Owen.

Piper on Freedom of the Will

Most of these posts deal with work. What I have in mind here in quoting Piper commenting on Augustinian thought is that our enjoyment of work not only comes from God, but our enjoyment of work may depend on how our work brings us closer to God. In either case, we enjoy work because God gives us the ability to enjoy work and because we enjoy the utimate giver of our work, God. We need to enjoy work because God has given us work to enjoy because doing our work well glorifies God.

Piper quotes Augustine twice:

Who has it in his power to have such a motive present to his mind that his will shall be influenced to believe? Who can welcome in his mind something which does not give him delight? But who has it in his power to ensure that something that will delight him will turn up. Or that he will take delight in what turns up? If those things delight us which serve our advancement towards God, that is due not to our own whim or industry or meritorious works, but to the inspiration of God and to the grace which he bestows

He defines it clearly in On Christian Doctrine (III, x, 16). "I call 'charity' [i.e., love for God] the motion of the soul toward the enjoyment of God for His own sake, and the enjoyment of one's self and of one's neighbor for the sake of God." Loving God is always conceived of essentially as delighting in God and in anything else for his sake.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1474_The_Swan_is_Not_Silent/

Psalm 111:2,3,4

Great are the works of the Lord; studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered,
the Lord is gracious and merciful. (ESV)

Work here refers the redemptive deeds of the Lord as in the Exodus. God's work and not just his attributes need to be praised. The current worship songs are great on repeating phrases on vague attributes, but many of these songs make scant reference to the redemptive acts God has performed for us. These redemptive acts, these works need to be studied, praised, and meditated upon.

see cross reference: 119:27

In His Name.

Baseball Terms

Can of Corn -- Easy fly for the outfielder to catch.
Duck snort -- A weak single that falls between the infielders and outfielders.
Dead Pull Hitter -- hits to the same side of the field as he hits. LHB hits to the left field most of the time.
Double-Play Ball - a ball that is hit in the infield that is "tailored made" for an easy double-play.
Dying Quail -- A ball that falls unexpectedly in front of the outfielder for a hit.
zeroes - a perfect game (0-0-0)

Those who delight to fear His name

Nehemiah 1:11

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.

ESV

Isaiah 11:1-3

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

ESV

These verses are a good proof text of Christian Hedonism.

Jonathan and the Lord's Work

I need to study the phrase "Perhaps the Lord will work for us." It is not a whim of fancy, this is a step of faith and of the Holy Spirit's prompting. Also the armor bearer's response is really good.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul."

Oration, meditatio, tentatio

Luther asserted there were three practices necessary to become a biblical theologian:
Oration (prayer), meditatio (meditation), and tentatio (trials).

The passage that best demonstrates this in scripture in Psalm 119:

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces

Edwards on business II

Edwards writes about Christian service, which I translate as good works:

In order to men's being true Christians, it is necessary that they prosecute the business of religion and the service of God with great earnestness and diligence, as the work which they devote themselves to, and make the main business of their lives.

p. 310

Religious Affections

by Jonathan Edwards.

Note: this is both good works and pursuing holiness.

Edwards on business

The principle Edwards is writing about is "Gracious and holy affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice."

The second and third implications are

That he(the Christian man) makes a business of such a holy practice above all things; that it be a business which he is chiefly engaged in, and devoted to, and pursues with highest earnestness and diligence; so that he may be said to make this practice of religion (Christianity) religion eminently his work and business. And, 3. That he persists in it to the end of life; so that it may be said, not only to be his business at certain seasons, the business of Sabbath days, or certain extraordinary times, or the business of a month, or a year, or of seven years, or his business under certain circumstances; but the business of his life; it being that business which he perseveres in through all changes, and under all trials as long as he lives.

pp. 308-309. Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards.

Note: Edwards further explains that Christian practice is obedience to the Word of God and holiness.

Christ as our co-worker

God as our Co-Worker

“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain."

(2 Cor. 6:1)

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs”

Mark 16:20.

"For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building."

1 Cor. 3:9

Paul on Work in Acts

I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Acts 20:33-34

Paul's view of work interests me. His desire to provide for himself and others is in stark contrast to the ministries I know. However, Paul does collect money from the churches to help the poor. He also writes that we should not muzzle the ox. This topic definitely needs more meditation.

Edwards on the Works of God

The glorifying of God's moral perfections is the special end of all the works of God's hands.

p. 199 Religious Affections

Edwards on the Word

Jonathan writes about the excellency of the work in Religious Affections p. 200.

Take away all the moral beauty and sweetness in the Word, and the Bible is left wholly a dead letter, a dry, lifeless, tasteless thing.

A Benedictine Contradiction

Here is a St. Benedict quote from Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris p.17. The book is interesting, but Oprahish in its spirituality.

A monastery is never without guests.

From a Protestant point of view I find the attraction of monasteries to the unbelieving world around fascinating.

Christian Reading List

Here is a list of books of Christian authors that I have read that people have recommended. Obviously, these authors have authored other great books that are very much worth reading.
On the Incarnation by Athansius
Confessions by Augustine
City of God by Augustine
Bondage of the Will by Luther
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

Zechariah: Keep your hands strong

Here's a principle I considering: The prophecies of the Lord considering future blessing of His people, shall allow His people to stay strong on their current walk. I need to meditate more with the context of what "Let your hands be strong."

In Zechariah 8:9:

Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of host was laid, that the temple might be built.

In Zechariah 8:11-13

But now I will not deal with remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. for there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong

David Brainerd

I was listening to Piper's talk on David Brainerd. This is probably the best Branierd quote that describes best his own life.

"Oh, that I may never loiter on my heavenly journey!"

New Creation and Animals

R. C. Sproul writing on Romans 8:21, makes the observation about pets:

Little children, for example, who lose pets often ask me the question, Will their dog or their cat be in heaven? Most theologians answer that question by saying, 'No, of course not, because they don't have souls.' I don't know whether they have souls or don't have souls -- I know they are not created in the image of God in the sense that we are--but I have every reason to expect a new earth that is populated by glorified dogs and cats and canaries and redeemed snakes, if you will!

p. 141 The Gospel of God: Romans

Pretty cool idea.

Scripture and Ephrem the Syrian

From Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris.

Scripture brought me to the gate of paradise, and the mind stood in wonder as it entered.

p. xxi.

Psalm 111

Psalm 111:4 reads:

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.

Psalm 78:4

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

God's work and Man's rule

In Psalms 8:6-8

You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

(NASB)

This just re-iterates what it says in Gen. 1:26

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

(NASB)

Animals are under our dominion and they our responsibility. They are for our use, but they are also under our care. We should not place them equal to us, but neither should we treat them cruelly. Animals are the work of God and thus, should be treated with respect.

Nehemiah and Work II

When the wall of Jerusalem was finished in spite of the opposition of the surrounding nations. Nehemiah reports this reaction.

And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6:16 (ESV)

I have to think about this passage's implications. I tend to doubt people should use this verse to support their building programs.

Nehemiah and work

All the returned exiles were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Each tribe was assigned a section. The author of Nehemiah noted this attitude among the Tekoites.

And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

Nehemiah 3:5 (ESV)

This was a great work, but since it was manual labor, the nobles of the Tekoites would not stoop to serve the Lord. Wow. What arrogance! May we all be willing to stoop to server our Lord.

Edwards and Affections

If the great things of religion are rightly understood, they will affect the heart. The reason why men are not affected by such infinitely great, important, glorious, and wonderful things, as they often hear and read of in the Word of God, is undoubtedly because they are blind; if they were not so, it would be impossible, and utterly inconsistent with human nature, that their hearts should be otherwise than strongly impressed, and greatly moved by such things.

p. 50. Religious Affections

One of the treasures that abound in Edwards's writings.

Uzziah and Prosperity

2 Chronicles 26:3-5

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

(ESV).

Again, can we really translate what God did for a godly king of Judah to the Church?

Work and Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 20:35-37

After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing. So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works." So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.

(NASB)

Because Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahaziah and did not trust the Lord, the Lord destroyed his works.

Asa and Work (2 Chronicles).

2 Chronicles 15:1-7.

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."

Is this promise for us? Asa and his people were in the process of rebuilding the walled cities and fighting the invaders. They sought to restore Judah back to its former glory.

God given Wisdom

And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put into his mind. (ESV) II Chron. 9:22

God's wisdom can be attractive to the world rulers.

Levites and Work (Numbers 8)

In Numbers 8:11:

When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD. (ESV)

Aaron presented the Levites as a wave offering to God before the people of Israel so that the Levites can do the "work" or "service" of the Lord. In Leviticus 23:7, the wave offering is defined as what is done with the first sheaf of wheat of the harvest and how it is to be presented to the Lord.

I have to think about how this relates to work and the Lord's work.

Luther on Work

Alister McGrath in First Things.
"In this view, Christians were called to be priests to the world, purifying and sanctifying its everyday life from within. Luther stated this point succinctly when commenting on Genesis 13:13: "What seem to be secular works are actually the praise of God and represent an obedience which is well-pleasing to him." (http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=3175)

Hannah and Work

In I Samuel 2:7-8
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
and on them he has set the world.

This is part of the prayer that Hannah prayed after she gave birth to Samuel and brought him to the temple for him to serve there. One's economic status is totally dependent on God.