Book Review: The Storm-Tossed Family by Russell Moore

The Storm-Tossed Family
How the Cross Reshapes the Home
by Russell Moore

I didn't find this book myself.  I've become more familiar with Russell Moore recently, especially after I was given a copy of his book Onward and really enjoyed it (sidenote: Onward is an excellent perspective on faith, culture, politics, and the Gospel).  My wife bought this book for me but one of my children grabbed it from its hiding place and I ended up finding it in the hallway, spoiling the present it was supposed to be several months later, but the timing was good as it was a great time to read through this book.

You are part of a family and family is difficult because family – every family – is an echo of the gospel.
In The Storm-Tossed Family, bestselling author Russell Moore teaches readers whether you are married or single, whether you long for a child or are shepherding a full house, you are part of a family.

Family can be the source of some of the most transcendent human joy, and family can leave us crumpled up on the side of the road. Family can make us who we are, and family can break our hearts. Why would this social arrangement have that much power, for good or for ill, over us?
--from Russell Moore's website

The central message of the book seemed to be that while family was important and family is defined in Scripture we shouldn't let it trump the Gospel.
Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.  Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
--from Luke 14:25-27 NASB

A variety of subjects are covered in the book from spiritual warfare, the church, men and women, marriage, sexuality, divorce, children, parenting, aging and more.  I found it very helpful to examine many things that we take for granted in our society in the light of Scripture to see what is worth keeping and what needs to be rejected or changed in light of God's commands.

If family means something terrible to you because you've endured horrors, then this book can help you reclaim a biblical view.  If family means everything to you then this book can help you reclaim a biblical view.  If family is something you can take or leave then this book can help you reclaim a biblical view.  Honestly, since we all have families I would suggest this book to every Christian.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary: An examination of how the message of the Gospel impacts family relationships.
Technical: Hardcover with dust jacket, 306 pages, includes end notes on sources.

~Matt

God is good, God is great

How amazing is God? I cannot state the answer better than the verses below.

Isaiah 40:12-26, 28
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand?
Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure
or weighed the mountains in a balance
and the hills in the scales?
Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
or who gave Him His counsel?
Who did He consult with?
Who gave Him understanding
and taught Him the paths of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge
and showed Him the way of understanding?
Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are considered as a speck of dust in the scales;
He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
Lebanon is not enough for fuel,
or its animals enough for a burnt offering.
All the nations are as nothing before Him;
they are considered by Him
as nothingness and emptiness.
Who will you compare God with?
What likeness will you compare Him to?
To an idol? — something that a smelter casts,
and a metalworker plates with gold
and makes silver welds for it?
To one who shapes a pedestal,
choosing wood that does not rot?
He looks for a skilled craftsman
to set up an idol that will not fall over.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you
from the beginning?
Have you not considered
the foundations of the earth?
God is enthroned above the circle of the earth;
its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He reduces princes to nothing
and makes judges of the earth irrational.
They are barely planted, barely sown,
their stem hardly takes root in the ground
when He blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble.
“Who will you compare Me to,
or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.
Look up and see:
who created these?
He brings out the starry host by number;
He calls all of them by name.
Because of His great power and strength,
not one of them is missing.

I am nothing before an omnipotent God, yet inexplicably He loves me and has given me so, so, so many blessings. Yet all too often I forget to thank Him for these blessings and forget to sing His praises.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Yahweh is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the whole earth.
He never grows faint or weary;
there is no limit to His understanding.

Amen.

~Matt


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
(c) 2013 iWolff, Ltd.

Location:Gunpowder Rd,Union,United States

A Reminder of Slavery

From Revealing Histories

This Sunday I started thinking about slavery.  It wasn't a typical sermon, but one of sharing that happens a couple times a year at our church.  I was reading along with several passages using the Olive Tree app on Amy's iPad (or my iPhone)--I really like making notes in the app and then I can sync them between devices so I always have them, even across multiple translations.  My preferred translation is frequently the HCSB (Holman Christian Standard) because of their translation of the Greek word doulos.

Are we servants or slaves?Slaves had no rights, but some servants did. So when readers see Christians called to be Christ's slaves in the Holman Christian Standard Bible, the radical nature of discipleship is clearer.
--from HCSB.org

Next to every instance in the digital version of the HCSB you'll find this note that will pop up.  "The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English as servant or bond servant; the HCSB translates this word as slave, not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ."

I've posted about this in the past (back in 2009 actually) and I've read much of the way through John MacArthur's book Slave.  On Sunday I was prompted to search through the New Testament for instances of slave.  At some point I'd like to highlight each verse in my Bible app so that when I'm reading another translation I'll recognize that this is a doulos verse I'm reading.  Anyway, six different New Testament books start out with a reminder of the fact that we are slaves to Christ just like those whom God inspired to write these books.  All of the text below comes from the Holman Christian Standard version.

Romans 1:1
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news — 

Titus 1:1
Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 

James 1:1
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:
To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion.  Greetings. 

2 Peter 1:1
Simeon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ:
To those who have obtained a faith of equal privilege with ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Jude 1:1
Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:
To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ. 

Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John,

They're all good reminders, even if we don't want to be reminded because we are uncomfortable to be reminded about slavery.  A review I found when just searching makes an excellent point about the subject.

The book takes us back to an OT understanding of Israelite slavery, recalling the oppressive slavery of Pharaoh to the Hebrews in Egypt.  Although God freed the Israelites from that form of slavery, he did not simply release them to their own desires.  Rather, God moved them from one form of slavery to another; slaves of Pharaoh have become the slaves of God.  MacArthur says, "the exodus from Egypt did not give the Israelites complete autonomy.  Rather, it issued them into a different kind of bondage.  Those who had once been the property of Pharaoh became the Lord's possession."  From there, the book asserts that Paul and the rest of the NT authors knew exactly what they were describing when they used the word "slave" to depict their relationship with Christ, fully aware of the Jewish history and Greco-Roman culture.
--from Philip Meade.com

~Matt

Days of Praise

For a while now (at least a month I think, though my sense of the time is a bit fuzzy) I've been reading the Days of Praise devotions from ICR with Amy.  I try to read them and then pray together each morning before I leave for work, though a couple times I've gotten to work and then remembered (so we've read that evening), or I've also forgotten on a couple of days off where we slept in.  I'm enjoying them though, they're short, yet laced with quite a bit of Scripture.  And they send out an e-mail each day, which is perfect for me since I want something that I can easily remember.  Since I always check my inbox for new e-mails when I wake up this is perfect.  Here is a taste from today's devotion:

"And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." (Isaiah 32:2)

In the context of this beautiful verse, the "man" is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. To one who had been traveling in the heat of the desert, such as the Sinai wilderness, nothing was so welcome as the cool shadows behind a great rock in which one could rest for a while from the hardships of the wearying land. The symbol of the shadow is often used in the Old Testament to illustrate the refreshing presence of the Lord.

~Matt

Faith, Facts, and Feelings

Today's sermon in Virginia:












~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2011 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Pump Rd,Richmond,United States

The End of a Circle

I just finished reading Ted Dekker's Circle books...and it was an interesting trip.  I won't deny that they were a thrilling read--I was glued from the first few pages of Black.  However, I have some thoughts...and I'm not sure what I think of everything right now.  If you haven't read the books then I have two warnings: 1) this might not make much sense and 2) there might be spoilers.  I'll try to avoid the first, but not as hard to avoid the second.

The Circle is a series of books involving Thomas Hunter, the central character, who travels between two worlds--a version of the present day, and what appears to be the far future, where spiritual realities appear to have taken on physical form.

The original version of the books circle around, or form a loop.  Its interesting, and something that I've seen before in sci-fi circles.  I thought how it might be possible when reading through.  However, the further on that the books go the clearer it is that they're not just fantastic, or some form of science-fiction.  They're allegorical--talking about Christianity in some sense.  So I found the following interesting in light of that connection to reality and true history:

Excerpt from an interview with Dekker, printed in the back of the omnibus edition of The Circle (ISBN 978-1-59554-792-7)
8) Black is a redo of history.  Do you think history will be redone in the far future?
Ted: I'll answer with a question.  Do you believe that humans will retain their humanity in the next life?  That is, will they still have a free will?  If so, they would still have a choice for evil, yes?  Remove that choice and we essentially become like robots in the future.
So if evil exists in the next life, will anyone choose it, the way Lucifer first did?  I suppose so.  And if so, would the event involve another fall so to speak?  We don't know.  Perhaps this allegory I've penned is closer to the truth than one might think.  Then again, probably not.

He isn't stating anything absolutely here, and to be fair this is the first of his books (and the only interview with him) that I've read, so I might be taking things out of context.  If I am, then I'm more than willing to be corrected or advised of the truth.  However, I find this slightly worrisome.  We'll leave aside the issue of predestination versus free will for now.  But he essentially asks if evil will exist in "the next life."  I don't see how that can be read from scripture. I would say that the Bible is clear that Hell, sickness, death, disease, and everything that has to do with the curse will be cast into the Lake of Fire, forever.

All quotations from the New American Standard Bible
Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.

Revelation 21:4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away

Revelation 22:3-4
And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.  They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

These aren't the only verses, but the ones easiest to find when I flipped to the end of my Bible.  I find the Circle an interesting story...but in the end it is only that.  I don't see how you can read Scripture and seriously postulate that there will be another opportunity to sin, to fall, to disobey God.  The reality of Heaven is that we will forever be in the presence of God and will forever worship Him.  To me the possibility of another fall sounds like reincarnation or a yin-yang cycle.  Frankly it isn't an appealing future at all.  I look forward to heaven where I will be without the failings of my mortal flesh, where I will not sin, where I will be in the presence of God forever instead of a world full of temptation.

If God is truly omnipotent then why does evil get "another chance" to tempt mankind?  Does it mean that the second death mentioned in Revelation above is only the second of an endless cycle?

Are we to be pitied if our hope doesn't rest in Christ and in eternal life, but instead has the possibility of an eternal cycle of "re-do?"  The original ending of Green involves Thomas Hunter going back to the start of Black with the "God" character Elyon sending him there so that he can "do things over" in an effort to save his son (an apostate who doesn't enter heaven--like the dwarves in the stable in The Last Battle).  My interpretation of the implication of the "circle" that Thomas keeps repeating his life in the same way, unable to save his son.

This was typed a bit quickly, and as I said I haven't read more of Dekker's writing.  I'm not trying to condemn the man, not at all.  I just noted the theme of the book and the interview question above and was slightly concerned.  If you've read his books and see something different then please enlighten me--I'd love to learn more.

~Matt

God is Present

I found something that I'm pretty sure I didn't write, but I have no idea of the source.  I must have copied it from somewhere.

I was regretting the past and fearing the future.  Suddenly My Lord was speaking.

"My name is I am."
He paused.
I waited.  He continued.
"When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard.  I am not there.  My name is not I WAS.
When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard.  I am not there.  My name is not I WILL BE.
When you live in this moment, it is not hard.  I am here.  My name is I AM."

Its an interesting piece.  I've always liked the name "I AM."  So much is contained within those two words that so well describe God.

Unbroken

It isn't polished by any means, simply heartfelt yet perhaps not blunt enough.

Unbroken

Why can I find no rest,
As my weary bones ache?
Where has peace fled,
Amidst troubled musings?

Shall worries ever increase,
Amidst lingering troubles?
Will my clinging to doubt,
Give weight to uncertainty?

I strive to move forward,
Ever pushing myself onward.
New challenges I seek out,
As old follies seek to ensnare.

May I never rest peacefully,
Under the shadow of Your wings?
Can I learn to trust Your Word,
And dwell upon Your promises?


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Deck Ln,Burlington,United States

Trust in the Lord

I need to remember this more often and trust God even when I am uncertain.

Psalm 25 (HCSB)

1 LORD, I turn my hope to You. 2 My God, I trust in You. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. 3 Not one person who waits for You will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced. 4 Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths. 5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long. 6 Remember, LORD, Your compassion and Your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me because of Your goodness, LORD. 8 The LORD is good and upright; therefore He shows sinners the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. 10 All the LORD's ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep His covenant and decrees. 11 Because of Your name, LORD, forgive my sin, for it is great. 12 Who is the person who fears the LORD? He will show him the way he should choose. 13 He will live a good life, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He reveals His covenant to them. 15 My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will pull my feet out of the net. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am alone and afflicted. 17 The distresses of my heart increase; bring me out of my sufferings. 18 Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins. 19 Consider my enemies; they are numerous, and they hate me violently. 20 Guard me and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. 21 May integrity and uprightness keep me, for I wait for You. 22 God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses.



~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Cheviot Rd,Colerain,United States

Sovereignty of God

I recently heard a passage of Scripture paraphrased and it struck me as wrong. The reference was to Genesis 50:20, where Joseph talks to his brothers, but said "God used it for good." I checked several translations to be sure that I remembered correctly. The verse says "meant it for good" NOT "used."

Genesis 50:20 (HCSB)
You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result-the survival of many people.

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Genesis 50:20 (ASV)
And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.

God doesn't just use things. Rather he sovereignly ordains the course of the world and our lives.

Gen 45:1-8 and Job 1:20-22; 2:10 also illustrate this point.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Gunpowder Rd,Florence,United States

Sunday Sermon - Job 1

Shattered
Looking at Suffering through the Eyes of Job

When Suffering Strikes - Job 1
Pastor Brad Bigney
February 07, 2010

Job chapter 1
:1 "There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil."
... through ...
:22 "Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything."

Three Critical Pillars in the Theological Framework of Suffering

Pillar #1- Your Suffering Will Always be Shrouded to Some Degree with Mystery

Job 1:2 "...blameless... fears God... shuns evil..."
Job 1:3 "He was the greatest of all the peoples of the East."

Worldly axiom:
•Good things happen to good people.
•Bad things happen to bad people.

Proverbs:
•Choose wisdom or life = blessed
•Choose foolisness or death = suffering/sorrow

Galatians 6:7-8 (HCSB)
"Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit."

Incorrect ways to avoid the mystery of God in Suffering:
1. Just try harder to make the formula work!

2. Redefine God so that you don't have to be disappointed in Him

"When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by Rabbi Harold Kushner
Some things just happen and God can't stop it

3. Reject God altogether so that you don't have to wrestle anymore with a good God in a world of sin and suffering

Richard Dawkins (All is random: "DNA just is.")

Romans 11:33-34 (HCSB)
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?"

Do study, but understand that you will never exaustively get to the bottom

Isaiah 55:8-9 (HCSB)
" 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.' This is the LORD's declaration. 'For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.' "

Pillar #2 - Your Suffering is Always Limited and Ordered by a Sovereign Loving God

Job 1:12 (HCSB)
"Very well," the LORD told Satan, "everything he owns is in your power. However, you must not lay a hand on Job himself." So Satan went out from the LORD'S presence.

God is not the instigator of Evil
Satan came to kill and destroy
Do mot minimize God's power and authority
Satan has no authority of his own

Luke 22:31-32a (HCSB)
"Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail..."

If God is not the author of evil and God is absolutely in control then why does He allow suffering to happen? Why does He let Satan do this to Job?

Pillar #3 - Your Suffering is Always an Opportunity to See Your Own Heart and to Grow in Glorifying God

Job 1:20-22 (HCSB)
Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of the LORD. Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.

Paul's prayer for Christians who were suffering

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 (HCSB)
We must always thank God for you, brothers, which is fitting, since your faith is flourishing, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you among God's churches-about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure.
v. 11-12
And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul doesn't ask God to get them out of the suffering but to make them worthy

Phil 1:29 suffer...

Conform to the image of Christ

John 9:2-3 (HCSB)
His disciples questioned Him: " Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," Jesus answered. "This came about so that God's works might be displayed in him.

John 11:4 (HCSB)
When Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Exodus 4:11 (HCSB)
The LORD said to him, "Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Brad: "Suffering spit-shines us to be the mirrors that reflect the glory of God."

Which is better--a life without suffering or a life without knowing and glorifying God?

Romans 5:8 (HCSB)
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!

John 3:16 (HCSB)
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Gunpowder Rd,Florence,United States

Hebrews

Bible Study was good tonight. Our group has shrunk from what it once was...but thankfully most nights we can get at least five of us, and sometimes it is more. We're still in the middle of Hebrews--just going through Chapter Eight tonight. Even with Flynn not around to keep taking us back we still don't progress that far.

I'm not complaining mind you, it is nice that we're not speeding through, but taking deliberate time. We're just coming to the end of the section talking about the priesthood of Melkizedek. It has been fascinating as we've dived into several different passages in the Old Testament each week, investigating different matters. I like footnotes (especially in my MacArthur study bible), but oftentimes you need to go beyond that. Don't just rely on one person, but search the scriptures on your own (or with others) instead of just accepting somebody (no matter how thoughtful and usually accurate they are) else's interpretation.

~Matt

Slavery

I just read a transcript of a good sermon by John MacArthur. I don't remember exactly how the subject came up...but I was up talking late to a co-worker while at the Creation Museum for an overnight program and we ended up talking theology for a while. I mentioned remembering listening to a message by MacArthur where he mentioned that only one modern mainstream translation properly translated a particular word (it was the Holman Christian Standard Bible--and I keep meaning to get one because of that and other good things I've heard about it). The word in question is slave.

Here is what MacArthur says:

But what exactly is our relationship to God? What is our relationship to Christ? How are we best to understand it?

Well if you read the New Testament in its original text, you would come away stunned really by how different the original text is from any English version that you’ve ever read...whether King James, New King James, New American Standard, ESV, NIV and you can name all the rest. All of them virtually have found a way to mask something that is an absolutely critical element of truth. In fact, the word “slave” appears in the New Testament 130 times in the original text. You will find it once in the King James, once the Greek word “slave” is translated slave. You will find it translated “slave” a few other times in other texts, like the New King James text and even the New American Standard text, and it will be translated “slave” when, one, it refers to actual slavery, or two, it refers to some kind of bondage to an inanimate reality. But whenever it is personalized, the translators seem unwilling to translate it “slave.”

I suppose the matter is quite interesting to me because of all of the books and other text that I read. I love precision in words and written text (and I personally despise "versions" of the Bible like the "Message" even if the people who use it admit it isn't a translation, but a paraphrase, they still treat it as a translation...*shudder*) and find it profitable to read modern, precise versions of the Scriptures that contain both understandable language and precise language that isn't watered down (don't get me started on the rabbit trails of improper spelling and horrible grammar). In short, all those translations of "servant" and "bondservant" that you find in nearly every translation (King James included) are simply incorrect.

There are six words, at least, for servant, doulos is not one of them. There is diakonos from which we get deacon, oiketes related to oikos, house, a house servant,heis, having to do with one who serves by instructing the young. Huperetes, a low-level, third level, under servant, literally an under-rower, the third level on a galley slave, someone who pulled an oar down at the bottom of a great ship; leitourgos, another kind of service, usually associated with religion; paidiske and maybemisthios that can be translated minister. There are plenty of words for servant, there’s only one word for slave, doulos and sundoulos. Yet in the history of the evangelical translation of the Greek into the English, all the translators consistently have avoided the use of the word.

But don't take my word for it, or just read what I've quoted here. You should really go read the whole article entitled Slaves for Christ. The point is strikingly well made that we trade a life of slavery to sin (and that is what it is, we don't just toy with sin or let it influence us--we are utterlay enslaved to it) for a life of slavery to Christ. It doesn't seem so appetizing at first glance to Americans, raised on a diet of "give me liberty or give me death," "God bless America," and "unalienable rights." But it is truly a wonderful thing:

Being a slave to Jesus Christ is beyond any kind of slavery that anybody ever knew because this master, listen to this one, makes us sons and gives us all the rights of His own sons. He adopts us into His family, calls us joint-heirs with Christ, takes us to heaven where we rule and reign from His own throne and pours out all the lavish riches in His possession forever and ever and ever for our own unmitigated joy and His own glory.

I heard this mesage preached while I was in Tennessee at my brother's church for a conference (I wasn't actually there for the conference, but I attended a couple sessions because I was already in Nashville and I wanted to hear MacArthur again).

~Matt

Parallels

I mentioned recently on my Facebook page that I am listening to (unabridged of course, like fullscreen DVDs, I avoid abridged audio books like the plague--I want to see or hear the entire product, ;-)) an audio book of The Silmarillion. I procured it before my recent vacation and listened to it on both the trip down to Tennessee and the trip back. I've read the volume several times, but never listened to it before. I am really enjoying hearing correct pronounciations (some words I've apparently been mispronouncing for years), a great English accent, and amazing storytelling ability. It is refreshing to once again immerse myself in the worlds of Tolkien and remember what an awesome author he was. He truly could spin a masterful tale.

The first volume of the Silmarillion, the Ainulindalë, tells "the tale of the Music of the Ainur and the creation of Arda." It isn't an allegory by any means, but some parts of it are analagous to the real world. The divine being Ilúvatar is very similar to God (somewhat like Lewis' 'Emperor over the Sea' in the worlds of Narnia) and the main personal force of evil is Melkor, who becomes known as Morgoth Bauglir or 'Black Enemy,' a rough analogue to Satan. For he was of the greatest of the Ainur, very similar to angels, before he rebelled against Ilúvatar. At one point he was trying to introduce his own themes in the to the heavenly"music of the Ainur" and after he failed to take control, Ilúvatar said the following to him:

"And thou Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined."
-JRR Tolkien, The Silmarillion, Ainulindalë, p 17, First American Edition

When I look at that paragraph I see something akin to what God could actually have told Satan ere he fell. Satan may think that he is in control (of anything), but in reality God is in control of all things, as revealed when Joseph spoke to his brothers in Genesis 50:20:

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

God didn't merely use what his brothers did to bring about a good end, but he meant it for good.

All this to say that I am truly enjoying experiencing the Silmarillion yet again, in a new way. Next I'm going to listen to an audio reading of The Children of Húrin, which though it is a dark and depressing tale, is nevertheless epic Tolkien and a grand tale in the tradition of European tales like Beowulf.

I love how we can find things that point to God in many different places. It doesn't mean pantheism is true, or that everything has bits of God in it, or that everything is okay because you can "find God there," but He has been gracious enough to provide us with many examples of His love and character that we can see all around us.

~Matt

Hymns

I don't always sing hymns, but sometimes I run across them and they are really good. I was just looking at someone's status message on Gmail and saw the following line "Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart..." I immediately started singing silently to myself. I love this hymn, partly because I like "older language" that is more complex and uses richer words than today's slang.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

~Matt

Musings on Scripture

No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength
Psalms 33:16,17

I enjoy a good story, probably more than most. Just ask anybody who has seen how many books are crammed into my apartment. When I read I oftentimes get swept up into the drama of the story that I'm reading. This is especially true when I'm reading a good fantasy or science-fiction work by one of my favourite authors. However much I enjoy these tales though, I should remember that my life isn't scripted like a novel. My life isn't an adventure tale plotted by an imaginative human author. I am not a character in an epic story. My life is actually something better. My destiny is in loving the hands of the omnipotent, immortal, omniscient, all-powerful, loving Creator of the Universe.

I may enjoy reading the story of a kingdom saved by a hero in its hour of deepest need, but the real world does not revolve based on human strength. Behind every hero in scripture is the hand of God. God upholds the entire universe, the whole creation that he spoke into existence, only continues to exist at his sufferance because he consciously sustains it. As the psalmist said above armies, strength, and horses (perhaps money, influence, and technology today) are of no purpose if you seek to thwart God. His purpose will not be diverted or thwarted, no matter how much money you have, no matter how intelligent you are, no matter how much you've thought things through--he is God, and we (and I) are not.

~Matt

Bible Study

I've not had the opportunity to attend a Bible Study or small group in quite some time because I've been so busy with unpredictable work schedules.  Last night several people from the Creation Museum were getting together for a Bible Study and I decided to attend.  It was great.  We started to go through Galatians, and will keep meeting every other week.  It was quite refreshing and a great experience.  I'll be definitely heading back in the weeks to come.

~Matt

--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero

Satan isn't the main focus

This is the main point of our current sermon series on Spiritual Warfare.  Yes Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking those whom he may devour--but his power is severely constrained and limited by God.  He isn't allpowerful like God--the two sides aren't equal.  He is God's creature and can do nothing without the permission of God (look at the book of Job).

Pastor Brad makes the point that we shouldn't focus on exorcism of demons or other anti-demon topics that may be popular.  We should go back to Scripture instead.  The best way to fight the influence of Satan is to fight that which he exploits--our flesh.  We should fight against sin and its influence.  We should pray.  These are the bread and butter of spiritual warfare--not naming demons and casting them out.

~Matt

--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero

I AM

I think I already have another poem by this title, in which case one of them will need to be renamed. However, at this time I cannot find the other one even though I thought I had all backed up on my PDA. I wrote this poem yesterday at church. The service included no sermon, but was a "concert of praise" including many songs and scripture readings. It really got me thinking, and this poetry was the result.

I AM



In the heart of rampant battle,

We bloody the image of God.

Yet He was ever I AM.



In the peace of calmest day,

We celebrate sin's depravity.

Still He will be I AM.



In the service of grateful praise,

We practice polished hypocrisy.

And He remains I AM.



In the midst of abundant blessings,

We ignore burning bushes.

Always and ever He is I AM.



He is Alpha, source of life.

He is Omega, perfect justice.

He is I AM, God omnipotent.

~Matt

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Our Condition

I was reading my devotions last night when I came across the following
from Spurgeon. I think it especially apt as it describes our normal
condition.

"Wonder at the price that was paid for us when Christ knew what we
should be! He who hung upon the cross foresaw us as unbelieving,
backsliding, cold of heart, indifferent, careless, lax in prayer, and
yet he said, "I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy
Saviour ... Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been
honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee,
and people for thy life!" O redemption, how wondrously resplendent
dost thou shine when we think how black we are! O Holy Spirit, give us
henceforth the hearing ear, the understanding heart!"

So yes I made it to California okay. I'll post about the flight a bit
later. I just woke up and need to get ready for a busy day with my
California nerfs.

~Matt

--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero