Rejoicing in the day that the Lord has made
I’m excited – today we get to quote Ps. 118.24 with its full and real meaning! It’s worth much more than a mere “don’t complain – God made today” rebuke.
“Don’t spend your time on theological arguments that have no answers.” Or should you?
I don’t condone vain speculation; I seek to guard against intellectualism; I love studying the Word in order to minister to real people! But I can’t accept this piece of advice: “Don’t spend your time on theological arguments that have no answers.” That bit of well-meant counsel has the adverse potential to cripple the practice of serious theology.
Don’t Say He Never Did Anything for You!
We know that God loves us – we could repeat those words like a mantra all day long – but sometimes feelings argue against that knowledge. Whether harsh trials have you wondering if God actually loves you, or some quiet distance just has you wondering how exactly God does relate to you, the doubts and questions are nothing new. Of course, God’s Word meets that need. Eph. 1-3 contains quite a list of things that God has done for us:
“Not Our Enemies”
Dr. Kevin Bauder posted a very timely and insightful Nick of Time article today. I’ll give a few selections here to whet your appetite, but I highly recommend that you visit the Central Seminary website and read the post yourself.
Tiger Woods and Solomon
Another high-profile American has been shocked to have the hidden details of his personal life public paraded before the nation’s eyes. Responding to a woman’s accusation that they carried on a two-and-a-half year affair, Tiger Woods apologized for not being “true to my values and the behavior my family deserves.”
How God dwells with his people
In Genesis, God created Adam and Eve and spent time dwelling with them in the garden. After their sin, they hid from God’s presence and God banished them from the special location of his dwelling with them (Gen. 3.23-24). The patriarchs occasionally experienced God’s visitation in physical manifestation. Particularly instructive is the account of Jacob’s experiencing God’s presence through a dream and naming the location “House-of-God” (Gen. 28.10-22). A house is a place where one dwells. In the wilderness, God instructed Moses to construct the tabernacle for this reason: “that I may dwell in their midst” Ex. 25.8). After the conquest, God gave instructions for the construction of a temple in which he would “dwell among the children of Israel” (I Ki. 6.13). The tabernacle/temple actually played the sanctifying role for Israel that indwelling plays for New Testament believers (I Ki. 8.57-58).
Judging by the best representation
“As one listens to [Christianity’s opponents], one wonders why, if they really wish to know what religion is, they do not go to its noblest exhibitions. Would they judge music by jazz when there is Beethoven or architecture by automobile filling stations when there is Chartres?”
Barth on Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
“Up to this very day the Spirit calls into being the existence of every single Christian as a believing, loving, hoping witness to the Word of God. The Spirit does this certainly and irresistibly (for to wish to withstand him, when he steps in and acts, would be the one unforgivable sin), for he alone does this.”
Free Bibles from Logos
Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.
For Young & Older Christians: A Lesson from Moses, Reuben & Gad
In Numbers 32, a bit of a controversy arises between the tribes of Reuben & Gad and Moses. Reuben and Gad present a reasonable request: since Gilead is good for our flocks, please let us settle here.