Sovereignty and Responsibility

I don't normally do this but I thought the post was so good that it should be shared.

http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2009/07/divine-sovereignty-and-human.html

posted by john d

Storms of Life

I recently ran across the lyrics to the hymn "When Gathering Clouds Around I View" by Robert Grant (1806). Grant also wrote the words to "O Worship the King". The lyrics seem appropriate for some of my friends at this time.

When gathering clouds around I view,
And days are dark, and friends are few,
On Him I lean, who not in vain
Experienced every human pain;
He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures all my tears.

If aught should tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly wisdom’s narrow way,
To fly the good I would pursue,
Or do the sin I would not do,
Still He, who felt temptation’s power,
Shall guard me in that dangerous hour.

If wounded love my bosom swell,
Deceived by those I prized too well,
He shall His pitying aid bestow,
Who felt on earth severer woe,
At once betrayed, denied, or fled,
By those who shared His daily bread.

If vexing thoughts within me rise
And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies,
Still He, who once vouchsafed to bear
The sickening anguish of despair,
Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry,
The throbbing heart, the streaming eye.

When, sorrowing, o’er some stone I bend,
Which covers what was once a friend,
And from his voice, his hand, his smile,
Divides me for a little while,
Thou, Savior, mark’st the tears I shed,
For Thou didst weep o’er Lazarus dead.

And O, when I have safely past,
Through every conflict but the last;
Still, still unchanging, watch beside
My painful bed, for Thou hast died;
Then point to realms of cloudless day,
And wipe the latest tear way.

posted by john d.

History? We Don't Need No History....

I often run across Christians who have little or no concern for church history. They delegate the study of history into the dustbin of the unimportant. Therefore, they know nothing of the Providence of God in dealing with men and women and empires and cultures of the past. They lose out on being able to relate to the experiences of those who went before us and perhaps experienced the same problems we face. News of the latest government fiasco, the tanking economy, the lack of zeal in the church, are looked at by them in despair not knowing or realizing that others have went through the same problems before and were not abandoned by God but strengthened and renewed.

Is our government racing towards a collapse? Perhaps, but is it worse than 400 AD Rome? Are our politicians seeking their best interest only? Certainly, but haven’t they always? Is our economy on the road to hyper-inflation? Ask the post-WWII Europeans. Is the True Church of Jesus Christ enduring persecution? The Waldensians wouldn’t think so. Anyway, you get my point – we are not the only ones to experience these current problems. We just arrogantly think so.

I read an interview this morning which makes a succinct point regarding a Christians interest in history, specifically church history, that I found interesting.

Guy Davies recently interviewed Professor R. Scott Clark who is a professor of church history and historical theology at Westminster Seminary California and maintains the blogsite “The Heidelblog”. Professor Scott was asked the question, “Why should today's Christians be interested in church history and historical theology?”

Professor Scott’s response was, “Christians are redeemed by Christ alone (sola gratia, sola fide) to be a part of the covenant community, i.e. the visible church. The church did not begin last week. It has a history and every Christian, by virtue of the fact of being a Christian, is a part of a historic tradition. Consider the very name "Christian." We are given the name of Christ in baptism. It is a historic name (given to us by others). It is the name of a historic person, God the Son who entered into history to be our Redeemer. Thus our faith itself is grounded in the history of salvation. The Christian faith is unavoidably historical. The way we worship, the way we read Scripture, the way we think of God, man, Christ, sin, salvation, the church, sacraments, last things, and the Christian life are all conditioned by history. Thus the question is not whether we are going think about history but whether we are going to do it well.”

So remember, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob never changes. As He rules over the universe cannot He overrule in our present situation? And if He does not, will He not give us the ability to endure – even to the end? History tells us He does and He will.

John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

posted by john d.

Caleb Michael Velie

We interrupt our posting to welcome into our world Caleb Michael Velie, born at 8:30 p.m. on June 19, 2009. He rang the bell at 7 lb. 4 oz. and 19 inches in length. We congratulate the parents Jeremy and Deanna. May the Lord Jesus Christ direct them in raising Caleb for His honor and glory.

posted by john d.

Irrelevance vs Persecution

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, as expressed in the Bible seems, to be relegated to a place of irrelevance in American culture. It is viewed by most to no longer apply to our "modern" needs, therefore we don't need to pay any attention to it - it has become irrelevant - even in the "church".



I think persecution would be preferable to irrelevance. Those who persecute don't desire the truth but through their actions they cause the truth to be known and the true Church is tested and grows - indeed spiritually, and often numerically (as history has revealed time and again).



Irrelevance, however, causes death by starvation and neglect.

posted by john d.

.....there are times!!!!.....

Prayer Requests

1Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.

I hope that our readers have a daily habit of prolonged prayer before God's Throne. I often catch myself in a routine that lacks fervency and unction and seem to weekly and often daily confess my lack thereof. Knowing the Holy Spirit gives me the ability and power my first thoughts are for His help before I plunge into the substance of my prayers. I've recently began using a systematic method during my prayer time and find it most helpful. Part of this system is to use a printed list to help my dwindling memory.

The church received a number of prayer requests over the past week and I thought it would be helpful to post them as a reminder to our church members who visit this blog.

Pastor David Butler (Yellville, AR) has taken an indefinite sabbatical due to serious health problems. In addition to his physical needs his wife, Kathy, requests prayer for wisdom in decision making during this time.

Kim Downing (husband Pastor Jimmy Downing, Pontchatoula, LA,) has a severe vertigo and ear infection problem and needs our intercession. (We met and heard Pastor Jimmy Downing speak at the 2008 Conference at Bible Baptist Church in St. Louis and were impressed by his heart and soul for Christ.)

George and Margaret McGuinness need traveling mercy as they attend the funeral of George's brother John in Scotland.

Missionaries Trevor and Teresa Johnson are on state-side furlough and need traveling mercy and rest during their busy time.

John and Kathy Hunter are back in the states after their stint in Guyana filling in for brother Almond Katryan. They will be visiting with us in June. They continue to seek God's will in their future endeavors.

And remember always to pray for our pastor, his family, and our church siblings - as we will remember you all.

posted by john d.