Powerful, Precious Moments

Posted on February 4, 2014 by troll

2014-01-06 7985aI do not think I would be too out of line when I say that many people can point to various pivotal moments in their lives which have so impacted the very core of their being that their lives have henceforth been intrinsically changed, hopefully for the better.  One of those moments happened to me recently.

We have a dear friend who has discovered that he has cancer.  Surgery has taken place and we await the revelation of the extent of the cancer; the reality is that the cancer is life-threatening.  This man has been a health-conscious person for his entire life and, indeed, his career was based on a natural approach to medicine.  His complete faith in a holistic, natural approach as a way to both a healthy life, as well as a way to personally control his physical life, has been passionate and thoroughly implemented.

He disclosed these habits to several of his friends recently, ending his dissertation with one of those ‘powerful moment’ comments.  With tears running down his face, he said, “I have finally come to realize that my passion for natural health and my faith in its ability, both dietary and medicinal, has become an idol to me.  I have done everything right in regard to my health — even to the point of not eating a cookie at the church potluck.  Yet, the cancer gene flipped a switch one day — regardless of my persistent effort to deny it of any opportunity to rise and conquer what I thought I controlled.  Yes, I have made my health an idol and I finally see it for what it has become, an idol.”

You can imagine that this one hit me hard.  Do I not do the very same thing?  Do I not try to eat a healthy diet — take the appropriate supplements — use naturopathic approaches to fix my specific ills and genetic tendencies?   Yes, absolutely.

This story is not about the right or wrong of choosing a holistic approach to our human health.  Our health choices are wisdom issues.  Scripture tells us to use wisdom with our earthly temples.  However, when our wise decisions become so possessive of our hearts that we forget that it is God alone who orchestrates the path and days of our lives, we end up creating idols of our own making.  We end up being possessed by its very nature because our passion for longevity masks the important factual distinction that it is God alone who controls the number of our days.

There are other pivotal moments in my life which come to mind as I ponder the words of my friend; moments which give me confidence in God’s hand in orchestrating and guiding my own personal sanctification.

In my young adult life, I had a severe miscarriage between my two children when I was five months along in the pregnancy.  While I was in the hospital, I shared a room with an elderly lady who had just come out of surgery for a hysterectomy.  All day long, people from our church streamed through my hospital room with offers of help such as meals and babysitting for my one-year old daughter.  Because I am an introvert and a more private person, I repeatedly said, “You don’t need to do that.  We are OK.”

Yet, I really did need their help.  I had hemorrhaged greatly and I had no family in the immediately area to call upon for help.  As evening came upon us, this wise woman said to me, “Honey, don’t you know that they need to help you as much as you need their help?”  I have never forgotten her wise words.  Both my pride and my introverted nature pushed aside and ignored the very gift that God had given to me in a time of great need.

Another “ah-ha” moment in my life concerned my realization that the Mormon Church was indeed not the Christian church it professed to be.  In my early 20′s I was searching both for solid, biblical truth, as well as a biblical expression of that truth within a local church body, an endeavor which would continue for many years to come.  It begs the question, “Why was it so hard to find a faithfully biblical church?”

In my diligent effort and desire to be faithful to God as revealed in Scripture, I noticed that my Mormon friends were much more dedicated to their faith/church than those I observed in my local Southern Baptist Church.  Thus began my research, a trait that is a part of my very being.  Through my persistent investigation, God revealed to me the errors of the Mormon Church.  He did so without the help of another Christian person, using means which were not commonly available in that era.  Yet, they were ordinary means because God most often works in the ordinary.

The fact that God was able to do this alone, without the help of man, blew up every imagination I had created of man’s abilities and desires.  My abilities and desires.  I wanted Mormonism to be true because I had chosen it as my personal desire.  I liked what I saw.  The people were generous and kind.  I saw hypocrisy upon hypocrisy in the evangelical churches surrounding me.  Even my pastor did not give me sound, reasoned answers when I went to him for counsel.  He merely said, “You need to shut the door on them.  There’s nothing more to say.”

Being a Christian does not mean that sound, reasoned answers are not available to the believer which God has chosen and called unto Himself.  The words and actions of my pastor (at the time) made me pursue Mormonism with an even greater fervor.  Thankfully, we have a God bigger than those who fail us.  God used this in my life to spur me on to know what I believe about God and why I believe it.

2008-11-18 4675The day I received the news that my mother has passed away was a bit surreal.  Mom had always been there.  She was Mom.  Though we lived thousands of miles apart from each other, our phone calls and conversations were frequent.  One phone call toward the end of her life fits the categories of powerful and precious.

Mom suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease.  The disease, however, had not taken away the memories of those things in the past which meant the most to her.  One day Mom asked me to sing Amazing Grace to her on the phone.  I quickly responded and started to sing her favorite song.  Mom soon joined in, singing all of the verses perfectly with me.  I would have supposed that she might have forgotten the words.  Though her mind was dying a slow death, the cherished words of this theologically-sound hymn continued to resonate with her, a believer, touching her deeply to the point of tears.

This precious moment taught me the importance of memorizing scripture and hymns which are faithful to scripture.  When this is practiced in our early lives, as we age and become less cognizant of our surroundings, scripture will continue to live in our hearts and in our minds.  This shouldn’t surprise us.  God told us twice in Deuteronomy alone (chapters 6 and 11) that “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  God surely had a reason to ask us to do this.

2008-11-23 0055aLast year, my beloved dog, Charlie, died of liver cancer.  Another heart-piercing moment to remind me that my personal life is not eternal on this earth (even when I feel invincible and self-sufficient.)  It advised me to consider that my pilgrim life on this planet is now shorter than I desire.  It admonished me to long for my future home with God rather than to treasure the ruin of this one.  It stressed that our deaths are very real as humans but gave the assurance of Hebrews 9:7 and Psalm 139:1-6.  It is God who orchestrates our days.  He alone is faithful to complete the work He started in us.  Note: He begins and finishes the work.  Me, myself and I do not.  “And I am sure of this, that he who began  good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  (Philippians 1:6)

These events were not easy to process at the time.  An understanding of them did not  happen overnight because our sanctification is a ongoing work, a movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  He is the One who sanctifies the lives of God’s chosen beloved.

Our sanctification does not consist of instantaneous, miraculous self-revelations as some charismatics might be inclined to say.  Rather, God works most of the time in the ordinary.  This is not to say that He does not, on occasion, work in the miraculous, but that in the generations following his death, we should expect the ordinary rather than the miraculous.  In both Matthew 12 and Matthew 16, Jesus admonishes his listeners against desiring signs and wonders.  Hebrews 1 reminds us that “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”  Long ago, God used the miraculous for the Hebrew people.  Even the miraculous failed to stir their obedience.  Thus, in these last days, God sent Jesus.  (note:  I love that this passage also refers to the Trinitarian nature of Christ.)  Sadly, evangelicalism has it all turned around, expecting the miraculous rather than appreciating the ordinary means that God uses in our lives today.

I would be remiss if I did not share one more powerful moment in my life.  The  moments I mentioned above are only a few remembrances of those times God has taught me through His loving hand of sanctification.  Slowly, but surely, this heart continues to desire more of Him and less of myself.

Frequently, my oldest granddaughter, who has a very sensitive heart, will tell me that she loves me.  Recently, she climbed up into my lap, curled up into a snuggled position, then leaned in towards me, whispering so only I could hear, “Grandmama, I really, really, really, really love you.”  Now, to some of you, this may seem very ordinary — a granddaughter telling her grandmother that she is loved.  But to the ears of a grandmother who never heard her own father say the words, “I love you,” this is an extraordinary blessing.

That the Father loves me (even in my sin) as His beloved child is a gift of immeasurable worth.  That my Father created my granddaughter with a heart inclined to sweetness (though still in need of a Savior) cannot be over-valued.  That God sent His Son to save all of His beloved — that He will be faithful and not one will be lost — well, there are no words.  God loves in ways which we will never comprehend, but in ways which He alone knows we need.  Ordinary ways; ordinary means.

We are already seated with our Heavenly Father in heaven, even while we continue to labor on our earthly home.  Though we labor, how marvelous to breathe in these precious and powerful moments give to us by God!

I am grateful.

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Reformed Worship: A Biblical Model

Posted on January 28, 2014 by troll

2013-11-02 7935aIt’s hard to describe the beauty of a Reformed Worship service to someone who has not experienced it firsthand.  The obvious lack of video screen glam and expensive band equipment would, at first, seem unusual to a person who has lived in contemporary evangelicalism over the last few decades.  The fact that you can actually hear the voices of God’s covenant people singing praises to Him would absolutely seem unusual to culturally-relevant ears used to band monitors which not only vibrate the floor of the sanctuary, but mask the praises of His beloved.   Refreshing?

The first time I stepped into a Reformed Worship service was awkward, to say the least.  Yet something about the reverence of the service drew me in, causing me to return again and again, not so much out of curiosity, but from a sense of awe and peace.  At the time, I did not understand the true beauty behind its simple design.  The service is so simple, in fact, that today’s media-driven people might overlook the beauty and depth of its simplicity.  I already knew that Reformed Theology was theologically sound (and quite amazing when fully understood).   Had I more fully understood the reasons for why we do what we do in a Reformed worship service in the beginning of my journey, I would have had a much better understanding of what, at first, seemed foreign to me.

A Reformed worship services follow a liturgy, but then again, so does every church of every kind.  While many people are suspicious of the word liturgy, it simply refers to the assembled gathering of God’s people.  Every church has patterns they follow — singing, standing, sitting, etc.

In the Reformed world, we differ from the contemporary church at large in that we understand our worship should include only that which God has commanded, nothing added and nothing taken away.  The actual elements and form of the service follow a basic structure taught in scripture and practiced in the early church.  A Call to Worship is first offered so that believers understand the purpose of our gathering.  The Law is read from Scripture so that we understand the depth of our inability to save ourselves from Adam’s transgression, which became our own due to his disobedience.  The reading of the Law convicts our heart toward repentance, so a time of Confession follows, both for personal confession and collectively as a covenant body.

The Gospel is then read from Scripture so that believers can understand and be reminded that our second Adam, Jesus Christ, alone is responsible for our salvation, justification and our sanctification.  In this way, we are able to see Jesus in every part of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.  We are further able to understand the proper relationship of the Old Testament to the New because the entire story of redemption is understood in context.

Following the declaration of the forgiveness of our sins, and the assurance of our forgiveness of sin, the pastor prays for the people in our congregation, our federation of churches, and for the lost world.  The pastor is an intercessor on behalf of the church, similar to Moses, who interceded on behalf of an evil and wicked people.  Are we not also an evil and wicked generation?

The accurate preaching of the gospel follows this prayer, and it is the habit of Reformed Churches to preach through the entire Bible over time, not just selected, most-favored passages.  A thanksgiving offering is taken from God’s people in remembrance of the one complete sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  A general offering is also taken for the poor, widows and other churches in need.

2013-07-11 7543aInterspersed between these elements are hymns of praise, where believers lift their voices up to our Father in praise — songs which are from Scripture, including the Psalms, not from the latest contemporary CD.  The Sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are administered by the pastor and the elders, who are humble servants of God, called by God with both an inward and outward call.  The Benediction is announced and as believers, we understand that we are to go out for the rest of the week to serve and love our neighbors well.  The Benediction also serves as a reminder that God is with us not only in the worship service, but in every moment of our lives.

In addition, there is an evening service, after the biblical pattern of beginning the day and ending the Lord’s Day as an assembly of God’s people.  In the Reformed world, we believe the Lord’s Day is just that:  the Lord’s Day.  His day.  The evening service is similar to the morning service but focuses more on the catechesis of the church family, so that believers will know what they believe and why they believe it.

Perhaps the aspect I most enjoy about the Reformed worship service is that its intent is never to bind the conscience of any believer.  We are never to impose any liturgical obligation on God’s people that God has not commanded in Scripture.  By keeping the elements of the service in line with the Biblical model, rather than the latest contemporary model (which is a model of personal preference and style), the Reformed service maintains both a simplicity and consistency that becomes a salve to the heart and the soul.

In his book, “A Better Way:  Discovering the Drama of Christ-Centered Worship,” Dr. Michael Horton says,

“If worship is Christ-centered, then, we will not move beyond the types and shadows of God’s command in the Old Testament to our types and shadows that lead us not to Christ but to our own creatively conceived images and “worship experiences.”

Why does this matter?  When others create worship ‘experiences’ other than what God has commanded, some of the covenant body of believers feel obligated to do what has been imposed on them, not by Scripture, but by personal preference.  For instance, in a contemporary evangelical church, the band starts to play and the worship leader directs, “Lift your hands.  Sing to the Lord.”  One by one, the people begin to sway, raise their hands, close their eyes — not necessarily because they really want to, and not necessarily because the songs they sing are faithful to Scripture, but because they don’t want to be seen by the others as less spiritual than those who are “freed by the Spirit.”  They mimic each other in a culturally-relevant way, but not necessarily a scripturally-faithful way.

True freedom does not bind the conscience to man-made implementations.  There is no other expectation in a Reformed service than to be called together as the body and receive the benefits of Christ, given freely to us by a loving Father who has provided all we need in Scripture for life.  He designed our worship service specifically for His beloved in a way that gives glory to Himself, which is the greater, ultimate purpose.  Everything in life, for the believer, should be for the glory of Christ alone.

Too often, the argument against a worship service like ours settles into an argument of “traditional” versus “contemporary,” but this is not the argument at all.  The argument is:  what does Christ command in Scripture in regard to the worship service?  God works through the means of what He has already given to us in Scripture, yet we so often want to add to or subtract from that which He has already given — those things He has given to us which are beneficial and necessary for our souls.   Through His means we are able to enjoy the simplicity of our union in Christ, a true joy to the heart of a believer.

So what does the Reformed worship service mean to me today?  Freedom.  Peace.  Rest.  Gratitude.  I am at peace because I know that I am doing what is right in God’s eyes, not my own.  Because God is honored in worship of His own design, I am the beneficiary, both of such a great salvation and the constant presence of His sanctifying hand which continues to direct, using our worship service as a means of His precious and merciful grace.

“The important thing to see in all of this is that worship is the divine drama.  In it, the drama of redemption that unfolds in biblical history now unfolds as a play within a play before us in a particular place and our own time.  In it, we join Abraham and Sarah at the table with their greater Son through whom all the nations of the earth are blessed.  With circumcised hearts, we join the cloud of witnesses who longed for Jesus’ coming and the sending of His Spirit.  Not just once, but week after week, year after year, decade after decade, we are being reshaped by this counter-drama, as the plot of ‘this passing evil age’ yields to ‘the age to come.”
(Dr. Michael Horton – “A Better Way)

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No One Said It Would Be Easy

Posted on September 15, 2013 by troll

2013-09-11 7895a This post has been a long time in coming. Last weekend, I spoke with a sweet friend who has traversed a separate but similar journey which, for both of us, eventually found treasured peace and rest within the Reformed world of Christian theology.  Our discussion revealed that we have shared more than a similar pilgrimage towards a sound faith in Christ.  It disclosed that both of us have experienced unexpected side effects as we have journeyed.

Though not obvious at first, both of us have noticed that there appears to be a discernible lack of comprehension of the historic Reformed view of the Christian faith in our former evangelical circles.  Indeed, a few of our Christian friends have muttered the word Reformed in front of us as if it were a dirty word, usually as a result of their unsuccessful attempts to dissuade us away from Reformed theology.

Some of our friends suppose that we have been sucked up into the clutches of some unknown cult; some have suggested that we might be attending a church which is aberrant in nature.  Ignorance about the Reformed faith appears to be rampant in our former church circles — and both of us remain befuddled as to the reasons for this conundrum.

We finally came to the conclusion that very few of our friends have studied church history well, nor have they studied the historic doctrines of the faith from sources which accurately reflect our theological point of view.  Far from being aberrant,Reformed sources would disclose that our faith has maintained a legacy of Protestant orthodoxy throughout centuries of confused thought. Our friends might also discover they would agree with much that they would read in our sources.

Together, my friend and I recognized that, in a world which embraces watered down doctrine and the lack of biblical scholarship as the norm, we should be thankful that God has placed us in a Reformed church — a church which has been faithful over centuries to protect the doctrines of the faith from error.  Together, we pondered why our Christian friends within evangelicalism had developed such uninformed opinions about Reformed theology, and together, we questioned why so many bristle in our presence when we declare with such confidence the peace we have found within the Reformed faith.

We resolved, after a lengthy discussion, that some of our evangelical friends were confusing the Reformed world with a more Calvinistic, Baptistic approach to Scripture, which is not representative of the historic Reformed faith to which we belong. Just like any other branch of Christianity, there are some within the Reformed world who have not represented our faith well.  Thankfully, these are a small minority, not the majority, and thankfully, we have wonderful theologians within our midst, such as Dr. Michael Horton, Dr. Carl Trueman and Dr. Robert Godfrey, as well as seminaries like Westminster Seminary in California, which provide accessible resources accurately reflecting the tenets of Reformed theology.

In addition, many people who engage with us on this topic have heard various opinionated comments from believers within their own circles which are simply inaccurate.  They have chosen to believe these wrongful opinions rather than to investigate the truths represented in the Reformed faith from solid Reformed sources.

A third misconception observed is a wrongful conclusion on their part that we take pride in calling ourselves Calvinists.  Though we agree with John Calvin in regard to theology, we do not worship John Calvin, nor is the personage of John Calvin at the heart of Reformed theology.  We worship God, alone.  We are Christians.

Frequently, the first item of discussion with our evangelical friends reveals a reactionary distaste for the doctrine of unconditional election.  They feel that this historical doctrine of the faith simply cannot be biblical.  A close second, used frequently as a battering ram against Reformed theology, is the concept of free will.  (We DO believe in free will, btw!)  Infant baptism is another doctrine which is frequently misunderstood, because it is essential to understand this topic through the lens of Covenant Theology.

False accusations begin to fly from their muddied misunderstanding of the Reformed view of these doctrines, hindering any opportunity to share the heart of Reformed theology, which is the interpretative lens of Covenant Theology.  In that former world, Dispensationalism reigns with an iron fist and is so easily accepted without any real understanding what it really entails.  Space does not allow me to get into the specific differences between these two lenses right now, but I can say that the puzzle pieces which never fit together well through the lens of  Dispensationalism have assembled neatly together using the coherent lens of Covenant Theology.

Yet, I have discovered that many of my evangelical friends do not even know that Covenant Theology exists nor do they understand that it is an orthodox, methodical interpretation lens of Scripture which has been used throughout the life of the church.  Sadly, I, personally, never heard the term Covenant Theology even mentioned while we attended contemporary evangelical churches in the past.

2013-09-11 7889aThere is more we have discovered. Both of us have watched with consternation as some of our friends have chosen to first verbally condemn us for becoming Reformed, and in some cases, then chosen to walk away from the friendship they once appeared to treasure.  Others may not have walked away, but choose rather to assert ongoing pressure on us to return to the church of their own comfort zone  (most likely the current, culturally-relevant version of evangelicalism they choose to attend.)

Some are emboldened enough to mumble a hushed reminder that our souls and “our chance” at eternity are at risk. If only they understood that chance does not come into play at all, not even in regard to our salvation.  Rather, God, from before eternity, claimed us as His own beloved.  He, alone, knew we would never desire to love Him enough to “choose” Him without intervening on our behalf.

Both of us have received sincerely-written letters filled with detailed scripture (obviously taken out of context), with the intention of exposing errors perceived to exist within the Reformed Church.  Some have never taken the time to write a letter, but a heavy sigh or two combined with a negative shake of the head has often been observed by our bewildered eyes.  How easily the pride of man is provoked!

As we discussed various ways to handle these situations, we came full-circle back to one of the core tenets of our faith.  God alone is sovereign. God alone, through Christ alone, is the author and perfecter of our justification, sanctification and glorification.  We both agreed that we should humbly attempt to give an answer for the hope that is within us when questioned.  However, we also realized that when someone chooses to go beyond the simple questioning of our beliefs, choosing rather to turn it into a crucifixion of our faith rather than a discussion of its merit, we can walk away with a clean conscience, knowing that the same God who guides each of our steps is quite capable of guiding the steps of others.  What tremendous peace the Father has given to us — even in these difficult kinds of situations!

Personally, I perceive that many Christians sputter and stammer at the Reformed faith because it is anti-cultural in nature.  Today’s contemporary evangelical church has fallen prey to cultural-relevancy, post-modernism and moralistic, therapeutic deism, yet the historicity of the faith, appropriate worship, along with the centrality of Christ in all things, remains almost undetected within its circle. The catechizing of church members to understand these amazing doctrines of the church is rare in most evangelical churches to which we formerly belonged.

2013-09-11 7890aI have made another observation regarding the culture of the evangelical church.  I have seen an undercurrent of desire within evangelicalism to get caught up in fashionable trends. One simply must have that latest, greatest, market-driven entity that arrives in the church — perhaps a new release, must-have book that has arrived by storm on the shelves of the local Christian bookstore.  Many of my Christian female friends simply cannot wait for the next Beth Moore Book Study to take place, yet I wonder how many of them really know what Beth Moore believes in regard to sound doctrine?  I wonder if they know what scriptural lens of interpretation is being used by Moore?  In a cyclical fashion, the newest hit song on Christian radio arrives and churches are quick to see how they can implement that latest, culturally-relative song into their worship service, whether it is appropriate for worship or not.  Our men are no better off.  There appears to be no end to the stream of “manly books” hitting the Christian market with purpose-driven intention. How soon until these worldly entities become idols within the church?  I would venture to say that many of them are already idols within the church at large.

I am grateful that the constancy and simplicity of the true faith given to all generations is devoid of such hype.  I am grateful for the knowledge that God’s providence in all things is constantly and fluidly at work.  Perhaps this is what drew me to the Reformed faith in the first place, but in reality, I know it was the working of God in my own life.  The discovery of sound doctrine and a committed covenant body of Christ has kept me there, also the working of God in my life.

Thankfully, Reformed theology does not throw away history books, nor does it shun the historical Creeds and Confessions in favor of the rampant cultural relativity found circulating through modern Christian circles.  I am thrilled to attend a church which recognizes the historicity of the Christian faith; one which places the gospel message at the center and core of worship, something I found persistently absent during my days spent in contemporary evangelicalism.  Life-lesson sermons —works-based, man-devised theologies — social-justice causes replacing the gospel message — “me”-isms.  All of these and more were the focus of “worship” in that other world.

Dr. Michael Horton has said this about the contemporary church at large: “It’s easy to trivialize the gospel, turning it into a slogan. Then we take it for granted, as something we needed to hear to “get saved,” but now we can “move on” to more ostensibly important topics like how to save our marriages and families or engage in the culture wars. Before long, the result is what sociologist Christian Smith calls moralistic therapeutic deism. There is a thinning out of the Christian message. We exhibit this tendency in many ways, but we have to realize that Pelagianism—“self-help salvation”—is the default setting of our fallen hearts. We live in a narcissistic culture, and it’s easy to turn God into a supporting actor in our life movie rather than be swept into His story of redemption.”

These words accurately describe what both of us found to be established in the contemporary evangelical world.  Rather, in the Reformed world, we have found richly preserved, historical doctrines — sound biblical teaching — the Law and gospel present each and every Sunday — the Sacraments rightly administered — church discipline properly administered — the understanding that we are a covenant body of Christ’s beloved disciples — the assurance that Christ alone, has secured our future home in glory — that our salvation was nothing we could have ever done was on our own, but was the gift of a loving and merciful Savior for His beloved.  The resplendence of this kind of teaching gives real peace at the end of a very, very long and tedious journey.  There is real hope for an eternity with God rather than a constant nagging to be culturally appropriate here on earth.

For those who are reading this post and are curious about some prevalent misconceptions of the Reformed faith, I have particularly enjoyed this short essay by Dr. Horton called, “Five Myths about Reformed Theology.”  Perhaps it will help those who might have misconceptions about the Reformed faith.  However, it only touches on a few of the issues frequently misunderstood by evangelicals.

Suffice it to say that our world is broken. In such a broken world, both of us remain grateful to be a part of a covenant community which has been brought together by God for the purpose of God-centered worship.  His ways, not our own.  As such, we also have the love and support of others within our own community of believers to help in such times of trials and persecution.  Together, we can encourage each other to live peaceably with all men, knowing that God, in His marvelous providence, has all things under His command.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:3-11, ESV)

Note:  For those who have not been exposed to Covenant Theology and desire to learn more, here are a few resources with which to start:

  1. Encountering Christ in the Covenants: An Introduction to Covenant Theology.    This is a great introduction to Covenant Theology written by a URNCA pastor written in a pastoral style so that all may understand.
  2. Sacred Bond:  Covenant Theology Explored    Another introduction to Covenant Theology written by another URCNA pastor.
  3. Introducing Covenant Theology    Written by Dr. Michael Horton, this book is a bit more than an introduction, but is more than accessible to the average reader.  Dr. Horton also has a four-book series on Covenant Theology that goes very, very deep.    People and Place,   Lord and Servant:  A Covenant Christology,   Covenant and Eschatology:  The Divine Drama,   and  Covenant and Salvation:  Union With Christ.  I warn you, these four books are not for the faint of heart, but if you want details, you shall find details in these four books.

Dr. Sproul has a free series online which goes over the basics of the Reformed faith called:   Introduction to the Reformed Faith. I have particularly enjoyed his Conference audio from the Chosen by God Conference.  It goes over many topics which trouble our friends initially:  predestination, free will, election, etc.  Bear with him during the delivery of these audios — he was having a bit of physical discomfort during the cruise.

Some other articles of interest on this topic: 

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Posted on June 19, 2013 by troll

I found a wonderful recipe created by Megan over at Health-Bent.com.  Because I am not a fan of Let’s Do Organic Creamed Coconut, I decided to modify her great recipe using Artisana Coconut Butter, a product I highly recommend. I also reduced the sugar content in her recipe a wee bit.  Here’s what I came up with:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

  • 1 3/4 cup Artisana Coconut Butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • a tap/sprinkle or two or three of powdered stevia (to taste)
  • 3 teaspoons real vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (or to taste)

Mix coconut butter, coconut sugar and stevia in bowl using hand mixer on high speed. Add vanilla and continue to beat for several minutes until the mixture smooths out.  Add chocolate chips and continue to beat. Be sure not to skimp on the real vanilla.  The flavor is wonderful.

Press mixture into a small glass pan, anywhere from a 5 x 8 to an 8 x 8.  It all depends on how thick you would like your “bites.”  I use a rectangular Pyrex dish.

Place mixture in the refrigerator and allow to harden. Remove and cut into small, square bites.  I remove all of the bites and put them in a baggie after I cut them so that whenever I need to satisfy my sweet tooth, I can easily grab one.  I cut them into very small pieces, as well, so as not to over-indulge that sweet tooth.

The nice thing about this recipe is that it is easy and supplies all of the wonderful nutrients offered by Coconut Butter.  It is also grain-free which means it is lower in carbohydrates than most treat.

This is my new go-to quick snack.  A huge thank-you to Megan for creating a simply marvelous recipe.

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Unusual Kindness

Posted on May 2, 2013 by troll

2013-04-30 7247aWe just finished up a series on the book of Acts at church. Our pastor, a called and gifted exhorter of the gospel, thoroughly explained and connected all of the historical and theological dots within the pages of Acts.  This is no little thing to someone like me, who in the past  attended other more contemporary churches where rabbit trails were more often created rather than accurately disclosing one continuous story of redemption from Genesis to Revelation.

One particular story in Acts 28 stood out to me during the series.  In this chapter we read about Paul’s shipwreck experience on the island of Malta. God, in His mercy, safely delivered the ship to the island and remarkably, not one person was lost.  Earlier in Acts 27, Paul had told the centurion in charge that he feared for the lives on board, but as the terror on the sea grew, an angel of God appeared to Paul and revealed that he, along with the others on the ship, would be delivered safely onto the  shore — and God is faithful.

After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.  (vs. 1-2)

It is the story which follows the shipwreck that has caught my heart.  It is evident that the locals on Malta were uncertain about Paul, especially after of the snake bite event described in the same chapter.  However, this disconcerting and troublesome omen did not stop the leader of the island from personally providing hospitality to all of the weary travelers for the following three days, many of whom were criminals.  Three months later, when the group was able to secure a ship to sail from Malta to the mainland, the local people honored the weary travelers and generously gave them all that they would need to further their journey.

As I read this story, it struck me that the people of Malta did not know any of the men who had been stranded upon their shore.  I truly doubt that the soldiers on the ship could have hidden the fact that there were some unsavory characters on board their stranded vessel. The people of Malta had real, honest concerns based on what they had observed, but the text tells us that they chose to show the foreigners unusual kindness throughout their stay.

Earlier in Acts 27, we see another act of unusual kindness, this time executed by a centurion on board the ship. The soldiers had decided to kill the criminals when the ship lodged on the reef, but this one particular centurion wished to save Paul.  He didn’t just wish — he acted.  He acted with unusual kindness, more than likely risking his own neck in order to save the lives of everyone on board.

This chronicle made me wonder how often we choose to show unusual kindness in our own lives — not just plain ole’, regular kindness, but unusual kindness.  It’s easy to be kind in easy situations.  It’s easy to be kind on occasions of our own choosing.  It’s really easy to be kind to the people we love.  But what about the kind of kindness which requires us to step out of our comfort zone?  What about the kind of kindness which requires us to face people with which we have disagreements?  Further, how hard would it be to show unusual kindness to others knowing that our reward would not result in our own personal affirmation?  We are such a needy generation.

What about people we do not know?  People of other cultures and races — new visitors at church or in our neighborhoods — the cashier at the grocery store who is in a grumpy mood — the person of a different theological persuasion or political party -  that person we already know we have a hard time getting along with?  How easy would it be for us to show unusual kindness to any and all of these people — even when it might be physically and mentally uncomfortable?

The phrase unusual kindness requires definition but I’m not sure I can give a complete and thorough definition for such a huge topic.  Unusual kindness can be applied in so many different situations and scenarios.

While most people expect a kindness to be shown in tangible ways, but I think unusual kindness goes beyond what our hands can do, although sometimes our hands are exactly what is needed in any given situation.  More simply stated, unusual kindness is not usual kindness.  It goes out of its way for the right reasons.  It is often unexpected and equally as often ignored, sometimes on purpose.  Unusual kindness often requires courage, especially in situations that might be counter-cultural in nature.

For instance:  Is it a kindness to agree with someone you actually disagree with, just for appearances’ sake?  Is it a kindness when we ignore saying hard, truthful or beneficial things when it is a good possibility that our intent will be misunderstood or unappreciated?  Is it a kindness to share our possessions, our love and our time and yet refuse to bring up the name of Jesus so as not to offend or inconvenience a friendship?  Is it a kindness to turn a deaf ear when a spoken response, no matter how uncomfortable, would be the most kind response of all?  Is it a kindness, by the lack of a sound and reasoned response, to let false ideologies infiltrate the hearts of those who might have been misled by culture, cult or simple ignorance?

Unusual kindness sometimes means stepping into the unknown and sometimes requires that we wade in the muck and mire of personal discomfort for the benefit of others. It also means careful thought must be taken before words are spoken or actions are delivered.  I personally still have an immense room for improvement in this area and constantly try to keep the old adage to ‘chew your words before you spit them out’ in the forefront of my mind.

Some might regard that kindness is more easily shown by not speaking at all when disagreements occur, but I do not concur with that opinion.  Honest conversation, in my opinion, can be a huge kindness in a generation filled to the brim with political correctness, self-centered lives, confused ideologies and rampant commercialism.

For the Christian, understanding how to implement acts of unusual kindness starts with understanding the author of unusual kindness — the One who first was kind and merciful towards us. We have not been left uninformed and on our own.  God gave us His Word.  There are a plethora of examples within the pages of the Bible, such as the wisdom passages, which can teach us well how to be emissaries of unusual kindness.

There is no better place than Ephesians to speak of the immensity of God’s kindness towards the believer.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  (Ephesians 2:4-9)

When we reflect on the immensity of the gift of Jesus Christ to a sinful, fallen world, it is very difficult not to develop a mindset of gratitude.  If God is faithful in the big things, such as our very own salvation, then surely He also tenderly cares for the hearts of His beloved in even the smallest of concerns.

CharlesAA recent example in my own life:  my once-in-a-lifetime dog, Charlie, passed away this week from liver cancer.  His abrupt death was more than grievous to my heart and I wondered how long it would take for me to stop mourning his untimely death.  God, in his rich mercy for this, His beloved child, sent an act of unusual kindness my way in the little wiggly body of Henry, our new Australian Shepherd puppy.  It’s not that I could ever forget Charlie — that would be impossible. He truly was a phenomenal companion.  But God sent a new little bundle of joy into my life so that my heart could heal more quickly.  That he sent Henry so quickly is beyond remarkable.  That this same God, the God who created the universe and all that is in it, could so lovingly care about the deep sadness in my heart with such a tender response is beyond the definition of unusual kindness.

2013-04-29 7168aThe gratitude I feel in my heart for little Henry cannot be fully explained — that God would love me so greatly — even in the “little” things of life. More importantly, I am in awe of the constant reminder that God has showered me with His most merciful gift of all — the gift of salvation goes which far exceeds any definition of unusual kindness.
To understand, as Romans 2 puts it, that God’s kindness is meant to lead me towards repentance is remarkable.

There’s a danger for the human person who decides to become an earthly emissary of unusual kindness, however.  Care must be taken to remember that we are also flawed, sinful human beings, able to make wrong decisions.  It follows, too, that our own flawed selves begin to think that we are owed the same kind of response in return from others.  As an example, we begin to think that God owes us the salvation He so freely has given to us just because we are a ‘good’ person; flawed, but good.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God did not give us salvation as a reward for what we have done, but because we could do nothing to earn it.  Rather, He chose to love us well, sacrificing His very own Son for our redemption.

We should become wary of expecting others to shower unusual kindness upon us, as if we deserve it.  True acts of kindness do not expect a reward nor do they demand one.  When we begin to expect others to perform up to our own standards, forgetting the immensity of our own frailty and sin, we have made a grave error in regard to the purpose of demonstrating unusual kindness.  Rather, it is wise to cultivate an understanding that the very fallen nature of man is such that this beautiful gift often remains elusive but when revealed, is remarkable indeed.

There is a final kindness I think warrants discussion.  What kindness do we show to ourselves?  Buying new clothes, getting a massage, eating out at a fancy restaurant? While these earthly delights bring a smile to our faces, I can think of no better kindness to express towards oneself  than the cultivate the desire to sit under good, solid, orthodox, theological teaching each Lord’s Day for the purpose of growing up in our faith and for the refinement of our own hearts and minds, which is necessary to more clearly see and understand the heart of God, our Father.

We will never be perfect emissaries of unusual kindness, but as our hearts grow more towards Him and away from ourselves, the possibility is greater.  It would be well for us to remember the path of humility spoken of in Philippians 2 when we desire to demonstrate unusual kindness.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Wisdomspeak

Posted on March 2, 2013 by troll
George Orwell

George Orwell

Everything about life fascinates me.  There is never a dull moment living in my mind — not in its recesses nor in its fullness.  It seems to me that my natural inclination to be an astute observer of all things surrounding me has served me well, though on occasion, it gets me into trouble. However, I wouldn’t know how to behave any other way than to live in the wonder and fascination that life offers to the inquisitive mind.  Whether I like what I see or not, I’m still intoxicated by the very fact that I’ve seen it, noting with interest that the whole process of mere observation causes my brain to go into overdrive with a persistent desire to analyze, research and discern. Strange……I know.

I wish I did not have to report that my observations over the last few decades have pointed me toward conclusions that I would rather avoid and ignore — but wisdom says, listen.   Though I have honestly tried to ignore the various barbs and bullets penetrating the thin skin of this generation (which also threatens to more gravely infect future generations), there comes an unavoidable moment in time which forces you to realize the gravity of what is unfolding right before your very own eyes.

For instance, I wish I could ignore how badly Texans and Californians drive.  Safety is obviously of no concern; speed/rudeness apparently the preferred motus operandi.  I wish I could stop noticing the ever-constant decay of morality, kindness and well-reasoned intellect within our midst.  I wish I could ignore the possibility that our very own U.S. government is going in a direction diametrically opposed to what was intended at its inception — a direction which will no doubt be harmful to our children.  I wish I could ignore the Islamic and Marxist undertones I have seen in this particular political administration.  I wish I could ignore how poorly our schools are teaching our children.  I wish I could ignore that immigrants who cross our borders illegally are contributing greatly to the crumbling financial stability of our nation.  I wish I could ignore that the word illegal no longer means illegal.  I wish I could ignore that the gentility of speech once practiced among people has denigrated into a self-serving vernacular of arrogance and pride.

I wish I could ignore the reality of real poverty and real pain.  I wish I could ignore the fact that it is impossible to cure poverty and pain.  I wish I could ignore the dumbing down of the church, where within its walls is our only source of true hope and comfort.  I wish I could ignore that a majority of churches ignore the teaching of sound doctrine, referring to it as a non-essential, thus making a case for the lack of doctrinal statements on their church websites.  I wish I could ignore the haughtiness of some in the church who decide what they want to believe first — then find a system to fit what they’ve already decided to believe.  (A backwards approach.)

I wish I could ignore the evidence that the proper use of meaningful wisdom within our own Western generation has virtually come to a standstill within the general populace, being replaced by the ever-evolving tendency towards impulse, relativism and political correctness.  Ignorance is bliss, perhaps?  I did it my way and only my way?  Maybe it’s more like “monkey see, monkey do?   Then again, maybe it’s more like “monkey see, now do do what I do…or else.”

Each observation mentioned above requires real wisdom to surface in response to its stranglehold on the human lives it touches so frequently. Perchance, like the people who flow in and our of our lives on a fairly regular basis, wisdom will find a way to push its way back into the membranes of our modern societal structure, but methinks I will not see this in my own lifetime.  Why?  There are many reasons.

The educational system in this country has become a powerhouse for lazy and communistic thinking at a level that demands totalitarian conformity rather than encouraging free expression and meaningful thought.  These schools have become safe houses for “progressive” propaganda to flourish at the detriment of our children’s/young adult’s souls.  Although this is nothing new, its tentacles are gathering a tighter grasp on the souls of our precious children with a greater voracity seen in the past, accelerating the changes which will certainly affect each successive generation.  The ideological preferences of those who have infiltrated our educational system are no longer hidden discretely underground but are openly flaunted by the hands of another corrupt entity, the mainstream media, which furthers their cause by legitimizing their scheme to those who succumb to easy-believism; a plague in and of its own.  Propaganda is the mantra of the day — not real, honest and neutral news.

Even more disconcerting than these two aberrations is my sad observance that there appears to be no desire or longing on the part of the masses to be self-educated using balanced, thoughtful and well-researched resources.  Personal enjoyment and recreation is apparently more important than being aware of what is happening within our governments, our schools or our churches.  Reading a good book is defined as choosing the latest Harlequin novella.  People appear to care more about buying the latest DVD or embracing the newest, most popular gimmick on the market on any given day.  Responsibilities are placed below personal desires and wishes without giving it a second thought.

Wisdom says:  We are repeating our past mistakes, both in the political world and in the religious realm. 

These two entities, politics and religion, have become a muddled mess. The church, once a bastion and stronghold of the doctrine justification by faith alone, has succumbed to the hands of socialistic idealists, as well, and has mixed church and state into a deadly cocktail which masks the real face and doctrinal foundation of Christianity.  The mixing of church and state has caused an immense state of confusion within the church and especially among those Christians who are often unwilling to study sound doctrine.  The overwhelming tendency in the contemporary evangelical church fosters the desire to define the purpose of the church as one which should solely focus on social justice causes and the “healing”of our own personal selves.  No thought is given to the possibility that this kind of focus dishonors God’s already established definition of His church.  With busy lives, we push God out of our weekly lives and on Sunday, rather than reserving it for the Lord’s Day, we bring our own culture into the church as a replacement of that which God desires for His worship.

Where is wisdom?

wisdom-sign[1]Wisdom has spoken in the past and it continues to speak, for those who will hear.  Wisdom reminds us to read history — study history — analyze the results of historical events, the pros and cons — watch both aberrant and great leaders,  analyze their results or lack of them.  Learn well from mistakes observed, don’t repeat them, and be wary of anything labeled “progressive.”

Study the Church Fathers — read the works of John Calvin, Augustine, Martin Luther and more.  Christianity is not a new religion.  It is a consistent, coherent, historical faith which proclaims the story of redemption from beginning to end; God’s gift to His beloved.  This contemporary generation is ignoring the reality that Christianity is a historical faith — not one to be re-invented by each successive generation to serve its supposedly unique needs.

Wisdom speaks into our lives in various ways but it speaks best when it is allowed to freely function within its own skin of common sense and balance, not the skin we create for it.  When wisdom is used improperly or falsely, especially when intended for personal preference and gain, it is not allowed to bloom in its fullness and beauty.  Thus, it comes as no surprise that this particular generation needs real wisdom to survive the kind of politically-liberal onslaught of ideas which are attacking the concept of goodness and kindness within today’s society.

In like manner, those in this generation who have been called to the Christian Faith by God need to hear wisdom’s voice when she says that sound doctrine must return to the church, taught by pastors, not lone-wolf Christians, who have been well-educated within seminaries that have not watered down sound doctrine. This generation needs wisdom to stop the mixing of church and state, which basically creates a political religion (the same thing Islam does). Wisdom is required to realize that “being” the Church is not the same as being called by God to assemble together as a covenant body for the purpose of worshiping God via God’s ways, not our own personal preferences..  Wisdom is necessary to understand and implement God’s ideas of worship before desiring our own culturally-relevant ones.

So, where is wisdom to be found in this corrupt generation?

images_004In George Orwell’s book, 1984, he writes about Newspeak, an innovative language based on the English language that greatly reduces its content, grammar and vocabulary to the point that citizens no longer desire to think deeply.  Newspeak was not just a culturally relevant remodel of the English language.  It was designed to be a purposeful overhaul by political leaders in order to accomplish dominance over the average citizen in thought, content, word and deed.

Words were recreated; vocabulary such as freedom, individualism and resistance to authority were eliminated so that they no longer retained their original meaning.  Some words were no longer allowed to be used because the goal of Newspeak was to create a non-thinking populace which would eventually become totally and completely submissive to said repressive government.  Big Brother was to become the caretaker of all — the thinker for all.   Wikipedia says, “The aim of Newspeak is to remove all shades of meaning from language, leaving simple concepts (pleasure and pain, happiness and sadness, goodthink and crimethink) that reinforce the total dominance of the State. Words with negative meanings are changed or removed, such as “bad” becomes “ungood.”

The theory presented in the book is that by 2050, all real knowledge of the old vernacular, called Oldspeak, will have disappeared.  The end result of this calamity is that thinking, common sense and wisdom would no longer be required and indeed, would no longer be permitted.  Thinking, common sense and wisdom were now relegated into the hands of Big Brother. (Read the Wiki page — it is very interesting . Another page here is also interesting.)

What does wisdom tell us?  Newspeak is what we are hearing today, both culturally, politically and within the church.  Disguised under the umbrella of coolness and relativism, contemporary media sources twist and taint the real news with their own opinions, sometimes coloring them only so slightly so as not to be detected — sometimes editing them into a completely different story.  Journalism no longer means an unbiased source of truth but stands for the presentation of hidden agendas to an unsuspecting audience.  Religious think tanks craft ready-made sermons for the Church of the Cutting-Edge and both megachurches and megachurch-wannabes seek them out to entice newcomers into their midst.  Sabotage of the worst kind, wouldn’t you say?

Examples?  On Amazon.com there is actually a published edition of Animal Farm (by the same author as 1984) with a new title:  Animal Farm, A Fairy Story.  REALLY?  Animal Farm is not a fairy tale; it is an allegory reflecting on the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917.  Events that perhaps might parallel those in our current society?

I recently acquired a book of nursery rhymes for my grandchildren that had a CD inserted into the back cover.  As a musician, I was excited to share the music and words of generations which had come before them.  Ah!  Something to pass down!  Imagine my surprise when all of the lyrics had been rewritten using culturally-relevant terms and ecologically-crafted words!  I saw a couple other books at Barnes and Noble today called Stories for Girls and Stories for Boys.  Supposedly they contained classics like Heidi, Black Beauty and similar stories.  However, inside the cover, in very small print, I read that the stories had been re-interpreted for “today’s generation.”  Wisdom says….listen.

Wisdom also asks us to pay attention when we observe something extraordinary.  For instance, a new Christian acquaintance in my life recently wrote something on his Facebook wall that I found quite remarkable. Why? Because it belied the youth of his years and rather suggested a maturity far beyond his years. This observance was the direct antithesis of what I have observed in other Facebook friends of his age. He said,

“I love Paul’s instructions to Timothy. Timothy says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12 ESV). Along with that comes the command, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” At the same time, he warns, ” Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Tim. 2:23-26).

That’s a balance I need to learn for sure.“

Wisdom says: this could be a true friend, one who deeply and thoughtfully desires to control the beast of self-nature.  One who desires balance in his life when everything in the world around him celebrates imbalance.  Words spoken like this among the brethren of all generations provide real hope, comfort and joy.  Perhaps all hope is not gone — for those who understand the source of eternal hope — and for those who understand that this world is not our home, but a perfect, future home awaits.

So, I want to invent a new language called Wisdomspeak.  Unlike Newspeak, this language is good and healthy for you.  It causes you and others around you to thrive because its words are truthful rather than deceiving.  Kind, not arrogant.  Thoughtful and discerning.  Infectious without side effects.  Wisdomspeak causes you to chew on your words before you spit them out.  It uplifts rather than discourages.  It rejoices in the truth, even in the midst of pain.  It suffers patiently in pain and sorrow — but knows that joy comes in the morning.

Wisdomspeak understands that the fountain of wisdom can only be found through the very Words of God, where all we need for faith and life has already been revealed in His eternal words to those He called Beloved.  Wisdom recognizes the fallibility of man and the need for trust in a sovereign God, Creator of all that has been made.  Wisdom comprehends the need for a Savior, promised by God before the foundation of the world who goes by the name of Jesus.

Wisdomspeak declares that there is only one source of true, eternal wisdom and it is found in the words of scripture, God’s holy words. Wisdom tells me that I need these words — specifically because of my observant nature — particularly because of my love of knowledge.  Some people only know enough to make them dangerous, we say.  Some people know a great deal but do not put their gained knowledge into its proper, balanced perspective. Wisdom tells us to desire what God would have us know — rather than seeking after answers He has chosen not to reveal.  Wisdom declares that we should not create a system of belief crafted by our own imagination which places God in to a self-made, limited box of human suppositions.  His ways, not our own.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,  so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,  so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Images of Orwell located at this site.

Wisdom Image found here.  I do not theologically endorse this site.

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Judging A Book By Its Cover

Posted on February 5, 2013 by troll

P6081786This weekend we traveled to the quiet, secluded village of Westcliffe, Colorado for a short respite beneath the magnificent Sangre de Christo mountains.  I love this tiny western town, not only because of its spectacular scenery, but because it retains values I see being lost in mainstream America.  Westcliffe still stands for family, ranching, community and conservative values. People on the street never fail to ask if you might need help and they always nod their heads with a friendly hello.  The few restaurants that are open in the winter close by 8pm and you won’t find any shopping available on Sunday mornings either.  Sleepy and refreshing.  And thankfully, the owner of the B&B did not hesitate an offer to send back my favorite pillow — the one I so carelessly left behind — without even mentioning the word reimbursement.  These kinds of traits are rare in our ever-evolving, self-centered, self-serving culture.

About five years ago, Amish and Mennonite sects began to come to this valley.  These groups call themselves “plain” because of their preference to live a simple, unadorned life.  Most within the Amish community avoid technology of any kind so I can understand why they might be drawn to a town like Westcliffe.  In many ways, I admire their desire to maintain a simple lifestyle — living off the land with fewer distractions.

At the same time, it is hard to ignore my observation that the Amish do not always practice what they profess to preach.  For instance, I wonder how the Amish in Westcliffe even knew that Westcliffe was just the very kind of town in which they might be able exist in practice?  Do you think, perhaps, that they might have done a just a little bit of research on the internet?  Most of the Amish originally hail from Ohio, Pennsylvania and other communities back east and in the Midwest.  The West in no way compares to their New England, Midwestern roots. Perhaps they might not have researched well enough to understand that living at high-altitude means that many, many acres are required in order to graze the various livestock necessary for such an unmechanized lifestyle.  It is no surprise that many Amish have already left this high, alpine valley.  Winters in a high mountain valley can be harsh.  Still, there remains a recognizable group of Amish traveling through the streets of Westcliffe in black, antiquated, horse-drawn buggies.

It never ceases to amaze me that the nature of man is so easily seen in towns and cities of every size. In a small town like Westcliffe there is little to distract the astute observer from engaging in thoughtful discernment about life on planet earth.  On this particular visit, I watched with interest as an elderly Amish couple pulled their buggy over to the side of Main Street and then proceeded to halt the well-muscled team of horses which labored to pull their buggy.  In the next instant, I watched as this “plain” gentleman, decked out in full Amish garb, hurriedly removed a cell phone from his pocket.  He then proceeded to engage in a 5 minute conversation while his unadorned, bonnet-clad bride sat quietly next to him on the buggy bench.  I recently read on a photography website that “Cell phones are considered a necessity for safety and business due to the space and acreage that separates each family. The Amish community voted to allow both cell phones and land lines.“  Truly plain — or convenient?  (BTW – there are some beautiful pictures of the Westcliffe valley on that link.)

2013-02-02 2916 550 HighlandsAThis event was followed by a visit to the local Amish mountain furniture store.  Long known for their craftsmanship, I decided to ask the young Amish store owner if I could see the styles of kitchen tables he offered on his website.  (I happened to see a computer in his office.)  He told me that they didn’t use computers — yet, there was the computer sitting comfortably on his office desk.  Caught in his deceit, he proceeded to dance around his words, explaining that someone else had set up their website — but of course, they didn’t use the computer themselves.  Honestly plain?

Further into our conversation with this man, he immediately honed in on our comment — that we were considering building a mountain cabin in the area.  We had just finished talking with a couple of reputable local builders and he jumped at the chance to tell us how the local builders charge too much.  He then referred us to an Amish friend who would charge half of their price.  The reputation of his fellow Westcliffonians was of no concern to him, nor their 30 or more plus years of experience in the valley. He didn’t bother to tell us that the Amish don’t carry insurance on their workers nor that there are certain tax privileges given to the Amish by the government.  I would also be negligent if I did not mention the story we heard from a local about the young, 14-year old Amish girl that was molested by an older Amish member of the community — in the very room in which I was standing.  Honorably plain?

Our realtor told us another colorful story about the local Amish in Westcliffe. Evidently, he uses them to put up the hay on his large acreage in the southern part of the valley.  Westcliffe has some of the best timothy hay in the state because of the abundance of water in the valley, which is a rarity in Colorado.  He showed us some pictures from last year’s haying season which showcased a team of four horses driven by an 8 year old Amish girl.  Behind her wagon, a mechanical piece of equipment manually cut the hay.  Following directly behind the cutter was a baler, but this piece of equipment was powered by a gasoline motor, begging the question: Why is it allowable for one piece of equipment to be modernized while another could only be mechanical?  Plain…..or convenient and cost effective?

2013-02-02 2920 550 HighlandsAIt is most disturbing to me that the reasons stated for the “plainness” of the Amish is supposedly based on the Bible.  I see nothing in my own personal observations of the Amish in Westcliffe that embrace true biblical humility, which more accurately denies self for the sake of others.  The Amish I have dealt with appear to care more about the dollar bill than either plainness or humility. The young storekeeper told me stories of the factories back in Ohio where the tables, chairs and swings are made.  The swings are made out of a 20-year recycled plastic product which could only be cut cleanly with a powered tool.  Further, the furniture is delivered in Amish-owned trucks run by a well-polished Amish trucking company. This same Amish businessman bragged with pride about his own local bartering skills yet refused to honor the 15% coupon we had seen in the local paper over the Christmas holiday.  His quickness to speak ill of his non-Amish community members in order to gain our business showed an arrogance and selfishness that Jesus would have surely frowned upon.

All of this is to say that while you can often judge a book by its cover, it’s almost as certain that you can’t.  The label Amish and Mennonite describe a chosen lifestyle; it does not represent a lifestyle mandated by the Bible.  While the Amish choose to portray an image to the world that they live a humble lifestyle free from the encumbrances of modern day conveniences, their actions often show the compromise of conscience for convenience and profit’s sake.  They say one thing — yet often do another.

All throughout the book of Matthew, Jesus points out this kind of hypocrisy.  You see, it is not about the works we do — the sacrificial way of living we might embrace philosophically.  Rather, it is about what Jesus has already done for us sacrificially on our behalf.  His sacrifice was necessary  — a sacrifice based on His merit, not our own.  In no way imaginable could a fallen human being ever expect to live a life of perfect humility. Our own hearts are much too inclined towards evil to ever do this perfectly. While we can certainly try to keep the cover of our book beautifully maintained and pristine, the pages contained within our human flesh reveal the depth of our sinful nature.  However, we are not without hope!  God sent a Savior, his very own Son, for our fallen hearts — knowing our inadequacies from before the beginning of time.

I remember my mother telling me to always tell the truth — because the truth would always be found out whether I spoke of it honestly or whether I tried to color it purposefully from view.  Hypocrisy, especially when disguised in biblical clothes of human origins, is easily revealed when examined in the context of God’s Word. For example, Luke 13 tells the story of woman who had been disabled for 18 years.  In his merciful kindness, Jesus healed her, but because he did so on the Sabbath, the ruler of the Jewish synagogue berated Jesus for disobeying The Law.  How did Jesus respond?  Read the story:   (Luke 13:10-17)

Now he (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”  And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.  But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”  Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it?  And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”  As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.  (ESV)

After my recent visit to Westcliffe, I continue to find the works-based mentality of the Amish troubling.  If you read this page, you will see the hypocrisy of which I am speaking.  Yet, their confusion is no different than many mainstream evangelical churches who confuse Law and Gospel.

So — I won’t be buying that dining room table from the Amish store in the beautiful little town of Westcliffe — even though it is a little cheaper than my hometown, local furniture store.  I don’t for a minute think that any of us are any better than the Amish in regard to our sin nature, but wisdom speaks to “beware.”  When wisdom speaks, the human heart should take notice — even if it means spending a few more dollars.  In the long run, dollars fade when glory is kept in view.

First Image:  found at this website:  http://www.westcliffe-colorado.com/

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A Progressive Retrospective

Posted on January 16, 2013 by troll

2012-12-30 6868aThe word progressive seems to be attaching it to everything imaginable these days. You can’t just be a Democrat anymore; you have to be a Progressive Democrat. You cannot be content to simply be a Dispensationalist; you must consider being a Progressive Dispensationalist.  And if you just can’t fathom being a Progressive Dispensationalist, you might have to figure out a way to prevent yourself from becoming a Covenant Theologian by calling yourself a Progressive Covenantalist.

There’s an online magazine called The Progressive and I suppose only real Progressives would want to read it. You might want to check out Progressive Insurance before committing to insurance needs and Progressive International will share all kinds of kitchen gadgets with you.  We must not overlook Progressive Bank as an option for your current banking needs and Progressive Farmer magazine surely can tell you a better way to farm.

Or can it really?  Is progressive really better?

I’ve been pondering this conundrum for quite awhile now because I see the word blanketing our culture with its omnipresent nature.  It’s a wise question to ask.  Is progressive really better?

To answer this question I’ve had to come to the conclusion that people, in general, are restless and malcontent.  This conclusion has been reached from years of astute observance of the nature of people in general.  I’ve noticed that many humans like to redesign perfectly adequate words into less meaningful, white-washed progressive ones in an attempt to mask their own dissatisfaction of an already established use of a word.  I guess that might not be such a bad thing if the new words actually accomplished something new, but I haven’t seen this to be true across the board, either in the theological realm, the earthly realm, or in political zone either.

If in fact being progressive meant that improvement or reform would actually in fact, not in theory, be both revolutionary and beneficial, then I might embrace it upon occasion.  I remain skeptical.  Perhaps in my youth I was a much easier catch for this particular spider web.  Perhaps I was a much easier target in those early years; age and experience, however, have proven to be superb teachers.

In the case of age, my many years have taught me to be more cautious about new ideologies,  choosing to submit them to thorough testing before stepping into the mire they often leave behind.  The wisdom that comes through experience has taught me that more than likely, the word progressive or change rarely progresses or changes anything at all.  In the case of the word progressive, I have discerned that those who employ its preferential use are usually referring to another definition of the word which means: “employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, such as a progressive community.”

2012-12-30 6890aNow, just what makes an enlightened or liberal idea better than an already tested, historical one?  What about our humanness causes us to think that we are somehow more civilized or sophisticated than previous generations? What causes us to consider that our contemporary ways are any more advantageous than the ways of the ancients or that we are in some way more wise than they?  It’s not hard for the student of history to see the absolute blasphemy of progressive movements and ideologies in general, and to recognize them for what they often are: puffed-up, prideful platforms for the promotion of self, personal self-interests or special interest groups.

In contemporary culture, history is often relegated to a position of irrelevance, supposed to be antiquated and disposable, not applicable or culturally-relevant for our enlightened times. Yet, history is an extremely valuable teacher. Many suppose that history has nothing to teach us but it has everything to teach us.  It teaches us about where we have been so that we don’t make the same mistakes again.  It instructs us in ways which have proven, over the test of time, to be wise and prudent.  It warns us to be cautious when a new “leader” appears on the scene who flaunts magnetic appeal to the masses yet has ulterior motives, often selfish ones. There really aren’t any new ideas — just recycled ones.  History has shown time and time again that the quest for power is rarely selfless.

We suppose that our ancient fellow human beings were not as intellectual as we are. That would be a wrong assumption. Look at the magnificently engineered buildings of the past — the brilliant scientists and philosophers of ancient days, and more. If you take the time to read a novel written 200 years or more ago, you will see a more intelligent use of sentence structure and vocabulary, gratifying the reader with the gift of careful thought and preponderance.  The dumbed-down novellas of contemporary culture require no thought, providing easy gratification and little else.

We are not smarter. We are not wiser. We are not special because we live in modern, progressive times.  I quite imagine that Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan both thought they were rather progressive at the time, yet neither made the world an improved, gentler and kinder place.

My observation shows that the constant renaming and redefining of ideologies is just another way to disguise one’s personal distaste with an already established definition and an obvious preference to re-craft it under the heading of legitimacy to meet a desired definition. Creating a variance of a solidly defined word appears to me to be a way to try to call attention to one’s own brilliance, which is flawed in its very foundation. Why do I say that?  Because I can come to no other conclusion.  I haven’t found that the already established definitions are lacking in any way (especially in reference to both theology and politics).  Let me briefly comment on both of those topics (theology and politics).

Progressive Democrats have a whole website dedicated to their enlightened state. Perusing their site I was unable to find anything extraordinary that would set their contemporary ideology apart from past, flawed generations.  I’ve found that their words are perhaps more militant, self-centered and derogatory, but my guess is that even FDR would be confident that he was more progressive than they think they are.  Still, these Progressives are very organized and in the end, they will affect change in this country.  It doesn’t matter that narcissism and tyranny are heavy threads woven into its ideology.  That, however, doesn’t mean their view of change will make our nation any more exceptional or improved.  When self-serving motives are so clearly exposed in their own words, it is not hard to see that these words are full of hot air.

A wise person would suppose that the average person/citizen would take a step back and re-think whether the particular change offered by Progressives is good or might be detrimental. My disheartened observation is that there is very little thinking going on at all in a progressive society.  A thinker would recognize that change that is too fast is almost always detrimental to society as a whole.  Because it appears that the art of true thinking is fast becoming absent, I would have to say that the ancients have one up over modern culture.

2012-12-30 6875 Schultz Lot 19aIn the world of theology, sadly, I haven’t seen that many progressive theological ideas have helped the body of Christ at large.  As an attempt to educate, progressive ideas which try to tweak or improve on historically defined doctrinal stances have only served to confuse an ever-growing, ignorant Christian populace. By throwing one more definition into the mix (when historical ones are not understood in the first place), it ends up creating an apathetic disgust for all things theology in the hearts of those normal souls who currently live both in evangelicalism and agnosticism.  For instance, I remember one blog post I previously read (regarding Dispensationalism) where the writer admitted that the reason chosen to create a new word (Progressive Covenantalism) was simply because he didn’t like the word Dispensationalism very much.  Progressive worship has not benefited the Christian populace, as well. Rather, it has diminished the glory of God and elevated the glory of man.

I have decided over the course of these many years that I prefer to be retrospective instead of progressive.  It hasn’t necessarily been an easy conclusion at which to arrive, but it is the obviously sensible one.  Maybe in that aspect I have become a radical progressive in my own right:  call me a Progressive Retrospective.  There, I did it.  I coined my own term (just so I could be like everybody else.)  Will my rebellion matter?  Absolutely not.  But hopefully, it will honor the wisdom of the past instead of condemning such great treasures of historical knowledge to be relegated to the trash heap.  Yep, that’s me: a Progressive Retrospective.

A great scripture reading for this post would be Proverbs 26.

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Chocolate Truffle Cream Frosting

Posted on November 29, 2012 by troll

I have been hunting for a frosting recipe that did not major on the sugar in the recipe. Finally — I found a great one.  It is not only rich and creamy, it is not over-sickening sweet like so many frosting recipes.  It has a great texture and full of chocolate flavor. Seriously — this is my new go-to frosting for chocolate cake!

Chocolate Truffle Cream Frosting

Whisk together in a medium heatproof, preferably stainless-steel bowl:

  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1.4 c. sugar
  • 1 tsp. instant coffee or espresso powder (opt.)

Whisk in:

  • 1/3 cup boiling water

Set the bowl in a large skillet of barely simmering water and heat, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.  Remove from heat and stir in:

  • 6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces.

Stir until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth.  Let cool until spreadable.  At first you will wonder if it will set up, but it will!  It will keep, refrigerated, for up to 6 days.  If you refrigerate it, leave at room temperature to soften before trying to spread.

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Homemade Beef Tamales

Posted on November 23, 2012 by troll

Homemade Beef Tamales

Thank you to Chef Virginia Lopez for inspiring this recipe.  For years I wanted to make my on tamales but failed to act on my impulse due to the huge amount of work I imagined it to be.  However, with the right prep time set aside, the task is not daunting at all.  You can watch her video here.

I wanted to use beef instead of the traditional pork filling.  I also wanted a bigger batch than her recipe demanded.  These tamales are mild in flavor (which I prefer.)  If you want a spicier tamale you will have to up the heat and add chilis into the Salsa mix which are hotter in nature.

After making these tamales, it will hard to even think of going back to pre-packaged ones.  These are so much better — especially when they are still warm and fresh!

MEAT MIXTURE

  • 2-3 lb. Chuck Roast
  • 1 large Onion (thinly sliced)
  • 1 large clove garlic (chopped or minced)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Water (enough to cover meat in a slow cooker)

SALSA

  • 8 Chili Anchos (de-seeded and stemmed (use gloves))
  • 2 cups Water
  • 1 clove garlic
  • cup reserved beef broth (cooled)
  • 3/4 teaspoons cumin seeds (I also use powdered cumin sometimes)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup whole tomato
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup Tamale Dough (reserved from Masa recipe)

MASA

  • 2 cups Masa Harina flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cups warm broth (reserved from crock pot)
  • 2/3 cups shortening/lard (I use Spectrum Natural Palm shortening. Lard is the traditional fat used in Tamales. )
  • Corn Husks

For Meat Filling: Cut beef into large chunks. Place meat, onion, garlic and bay leaf in a slow cooker. Cover with water just enough water to cook. Cook until tender. (I cook it all day long the day before I am going to assemble tamales.) Cool and shred or cut into small chunks.

While meat is cooking, clean corn husks and soak for several hours. When tamales are ready to assemble, drain husks WELL.

For Salsa: De-seed chilies and remove stems. Boil chilies in water (just enough to cover) for 10-15 minutes until soft. Drain. Place cooked chilies in blender (I use a Vitamix) with garlic, 1 cup of meat broth, cumin seeds (or powdered cumin), salt, tomato and sugar. Blend until smooth. Add 1/2 cup tamale dough and blend slowly in blender until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. In a pinch, if I haven’t made the masa mixture yet, I will simply add a little of plain masa flour to thicken salsa (esp. if I am going to freeze the meat until I use it to make the tamales.)

For Masa: Place dried masa, baking powder, and salt into Kitchenaid mixer (it is easier to use this style of mixer). On slowest speed, blend dry ingredients. Add melted shortening/lard and mix until the mixture is thoroughly mixed. Slowly add broth and beat until light and smooth. It should be the consistency of peanut butter so it will spread easily on the corn husks. Cover and keep moist until meat mixture is ready to be assembled.

ASSEMBLING TAMALES:

Add enough salsa to meat so that it is moist but not runny.

Take a large spoonful of masa mixture and spread it smoothly a roughly shaped 4″ x 6″ rectangle on one side of the corn husk. (The video explains.) Use the wide part of the husk and be sure you spread mixture on the smooth side, not the ribbed side. Place a large spoonful of meat mixture down the middle of masa blanket you have created. Fold left, then right side of husk over masa. Fold bottom of husk over to seal tamale. Place tamales upright in tall steamer. Water in pan should not be deep enough to enter the steamer or your tamales will be soggy.

Cover steamer with lid and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to a slight simmer and cook for at least a hour. Test for doneness by opening up a tamale. It should not stick to the corn husk. These are WONDERFUL when eaten warm. They also freeze well.

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