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))