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Showing posts from May, 2010

why remember on memorial day

"There is 'recorded' history and also 'remembered' history. The things we remember in our common life quietly convey a precious inheritance that helps us keep faith with the dead and form, in unspoken ways, the sensibilities and attitudes, not to say hopes and dreams, of those who will follow us. There is no greater betrayal than to impoverish a generation yet unborn by willful acts of amnesia. What we honor in our public life has a bearing on how we live as individuals." (Robert Wilken, Keeping the Commandments)

under his shadow

"As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow , and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." (Song of Solomon, 2:3-4 ESV) I am enjoying reading again some of C H Spurgeon's communion meditations and addresses. ( Til He Come , Pilgrim Publications, 1971). Here's a quote that stood out to me today... Some Christians cultivate reverence at the expense of childlike love; they kneel down, but they dare not sit down. Our Divine Friend and Lover wills not that it should be so; He would not have us stand on ceremony with Him, but come boldly unto Him. "Let us be simple with Him, then, Not backward, stiff or cold, As though our Bethlehem could be What Sinai was of old." ... Under His shadow we are to feel that we are at home, and then He will make Himself at home to us by becoming food unto our souls, and giving spiritu

hokie storm chasers

Great picture of the Hokie Storm Chasers team. Notice the cars are running, in case the team has to.

psalm 1 in haiku

Blessed is the man Who does not walk, stand or sit In facets of sin But delights in Word So much so that day and night His mind chews on it Resembling a tree Providentially planted By flowing rivers He produces with Remarkable renewal Having great success But the ungodly Are plainly the opposite From the righteous man They are like wheat husk Useless, dried up and lightweight Floating on breezes This is the reason Sinners are shamed in judgment Avoiding worship God is vigilant Over the ways and the paths Of the righteous man But the foul lifestyle Of those living against God Will be demolished. By David E. Wilson At Relevant Revelation Kings Church of Christ, Brooklyn

the first great and primary business

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous..." (Psalm 118:14-15 ESV) I read Psalm 118 this morning in my QT. I was running later than I wanted, and at times like that you are tempted to cut short your time in prayer and meditation on the Word to "get on with the day's business" (or ministry, as the case may be). I came upon verses 14 & 15 and realized that time spent in God's presence is not superfluous, but necessary. This truth reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from George Mueller... "I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man may be nourished... I saw that the most import

"they were a wall to us"

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. They were a wall to us both by night and by day , all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him." (1 Samuel 25:14-17 ESV) This is a description of the type of men that had gathered under the leadership of King David, even though he was in exile. It struck me that this is an apt description of godly men, and especially husbands: --they are good and do no harm to those under their care. --they have integrity and do not use their power to take from others. --persons and goods are saf

the task of the biblical communicator

Not sure where I got this, but it aptly portrays the process from exegesis to exposition.

repenting of our own righteousness

A quote from Tim Keller follows, from his book The Prodigal God on the need to repent, not simply of our unrighteousness, but our righteousness also. The context is the story of the prodigal sons -- both sons wanted the Father's possessions, but neither really loved the Father himself... What must we do, then, to be saved? To find God we must repent of the things we have done wrong, but if that is all you do, you may remain just an elder brother. To truly become a Christian we must also repent of the reasons we ever did anything right. Pharisees only repent of their sins, but Christians repent for the very roots of their righteousness, too. We must learn how to repent of the sin under all our other sins and under all our righteousness – the sin of seeking to be our own Savior and Lord. We must admit that we’ve put our ultimate hope in both our wrongdoing and right-doing we have been seeking to get around God or get control of God in order to get hold of those things. It is

what to pray on the NDP

Ask for God’s wisdom, guidance and protection for President Obama, Vice-President Biden, U.S. Senators (for us: Jim Webb and Mark Warner), U.S. Representatives (Rick Boucher), Governor Bob McDonnell, State Senators and Delegates (John Edwards, David Nutter and James Shuler). Also for our local leaders: board of supervisors, town council, administrators, school boards, and university administration. For our churches to be alive in Christ, and the gospel to advance and bear fruit in our community. For unity in truth among churches. For effectiveness and protection of local law enforcement & safety officers. For successful prosecution of crimes and lawlessness both in our region and throughout the nation. For generosity and sacrifice to abound as we deal with economic recession. For economic reform that is just and sensible. For ethical leadership in American corporations. For repentance from national sins of pride, unbelief, injustice, idolatry, greed, materialism, selfishness, vio

a prayer for the NDP 2010

Lord, We are thankful for the abundant blessings You have bestowed on America. Our forefathers looked to You as Protector, Provider, and the Promise of hope. But we have wandered far from that firm foundation. May we repent for turning our backs on Your faithfulness. We pray that this great nation will be restored by Your forgiveness. From bondage, You grant freedom. Through Your own sacrifice, You offer salvation. From the state of despair, You offer peace. From the bounties of Heaven, You have blessed – not because of our goodness – but by Your grace. You have given us freedom to worship You in spirit and in truth as Your holy Word instructs. May our lives honor You in word and deed. May our nation acknowledge that all good things come from the Father above. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that our nation should set apart a day for national prayer to confess our sins and transgressions in sorrow, “yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to

a timely prayer... from 40 years ago

Opening a session of the Pensacola Bible Institute in August, 1969, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones prayed... "O Lord our God, have mercy upon us. Forgive us especially, we pray thee again, for our folly - for our foolish talking about our century and the 'modern man', as if anything had changed. Awaken us, we pray thee, and bring us to see that thy method is still the same, that the truth remains unchanged and unchanging, and that the power of the blessed Holy Spirit is in no sense diminished. Lord, hear us. Revive thy work O Lord, thy mighty arm make bare. Speak with a voice that wakes the dead and make the people hear. And unto thee, and unto thee alone, shall we give all the praise and the honor and the glory, both now and forever, amen."

journaling today with

A Parker Challenger (1934-37), red marble + Noodlers Habanero ink. (Actually, the nib on this pen broke in restoration and has been replaced with an Eversharp nib.) And a Parker 21 special Mark II (1950ish) + vintage Skrip deluxe blue.

teach me

"Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh; Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear, To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh; Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer." (George Croly, "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart") Miscellaneous questions... Can I trust God to complete me, to fill my empty places with his love? Can I be content if my gifts (real gifts) are not exceptional?