Tried With Fire

I'm posting at Out of the Ordinary today in which I confess my introvert's fear of Titus 2:3-5. Read more  here .

"As Christians, we recognize the importance of truth and the dangers of deviating from it. For this reason, we are passionate about what we believe, quick to defend it, and tenacious in publicizing our beliefs to others. When we add to this mix the real possibility that we may be guilty of pride, self-centeredness, selfishness, and the desire to be vindicated in all that we say and do, it is easy to see how relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ can become difficult. In fact, it is a testimony to the supernatural nature of conversion that such passionate individuals can exist together at all." The Gospel Call & True Conversion , Paul Washer, Reformation Heritage Books, 2013, pg. 151.

ht: Justin Taylor The video is a Q&A session with Rosaria Butterfield , author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert .   It's one of the best books I've read this year in which she relates her conversion from lesbian, atheist, feminist college professor to psalm-singing, OPC pastor's wife and homeschooling mom. If you don't have time to watch the whole Q&A, watch from around 11:00 - 15:00. Butterfield answers a question about how can the church help believers who are struggling with sexual sin. I think one could make the same application for all the sins believers still struggle with, not just the ones of the flesh. I do not believe she is advocating giving sin a pass. Rather, it probably wouldn't hurt any of us to examine our hearts to see if our prejudices and fears keep us from believing that God is able to save or if we would prefer that God save those people, whoever those people may be, in someone else's church or at least clean them...

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" Matthew 5:9 The believer in Christ knows that there is no peace for the wicked. Therefore, he earnestly desires that they should acquaint themselves with God and be at peace (Job 22:21). Believers know that peace with God is only through our Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 1:19, 20). For this reason we speak of Him to our fellow men as the Holy Spirit leads us to do so. Our feet are "shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:15); thus we are equipped to testify to others concerning the grace of God. Of us it is said, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:15). All such are pronounced blessed by our Lord. They cannot but be blessed. Next to the enjoyment of peace in our own souls must be our delight in bringing others also (by God’s grace) to enter into this peace. In its wider application, t...

To prayer, then, are we indebted for penetrating to those riches which are treasured up for us with our heavenly Father. For there is a kind of intercourse between God and men, by which, having entered the upper sanctuary, they appear before Him and appeal to his promises, that when necessity requires they may learn by experiences that what they believed merely on the authority of his word was not in vain. Accordingly, we see that nothing is set before us as an object of expectation from the Lord which we are not enjoined to ask of Him in prayer, so true it is that prayer digs up those treasures which the Gospel of our Lord discovers to the eye of faith. The necessity and utility of this exercise of prayer no words can sufficiently express. Assuredly it is not without cause our heavenly Father declares that our only safety is in calling upon his name, since by it we invoke the presence of his providence to watch over our interests, of his power to sustain us when weak and almost fain...

Swamp mallow hibiscus buds I'm thankful for: ~ God's faithfulness through life's transitions. ~ My daughter being back home. ~ My nephew's engagement. ~ A break in the hot weather. ~ Public libraries, used books, and more time to read. ~ Making little things by hand. ~ The upcoming sermon series on revival. Not tents, Finney, and Bentley, but genuine, biblical revival. ~ God's infinite patience with me. I'm thankful He receives me because of Christ and His work alone, not because of my progress in sanctification.

Idealistic anthropologies consider the human being to be basically spirit, his physical body foreign to his real nature. We find this view in ancient Greek philosophy; according to Plato, for example, what is real about man is his or her intellect or reason, which is actually a spark of the divine within the person that continues to exist after the body dies. The human body, however, partakes of matter, which is of a lower order of reality; it is a hindrance to the spirit, and one is really better off without it... We must remember, however, that often non-Christian notions have crept into so-called Christian anthropologies. For example, the scholastic view of man prominent in the Middle Ages, though accepted as Christian, was actually more of a hybrid anthropology. It attempted to synthesize the idealistic view of man found in Aristotelian philosophy with the Christian view. The results of this mismating of two diverse anthropologies are, unfortunately, with us to this day. For e...

I thought I was prepared for the day my daughter was born. I read all the recommended parenting books. We went to all the classes, even the one with the C-section video which most couples skipped.  The nursery was ready. The bag was packed. It couldn't be that difficult becoming a mom, could it? For all my preparation, it was a big adjustment. A BIG adjustment. But I think the biggest adjustment was realizing how unprepared I was and learning to be okay with that. It was a huge change from being in control of my life or at least thinking I was in control. I was used to scheduling my time and having the schedule stick. Spontaneity and the unexpected were unfamiliar and uncomfortable. I worked with programs and computers that, for the most part, did what you told them to do. But hardware and software aren't alive like a baby.  But as time went on and through some tough providences, I learned that it's about dependence, not having it all together. It's about resti...

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  Matthew 5:8 This spiritual purity that God demands penetrates far beyond the mere outward renovations and reformations that comprise such a large part of the efforts now being put forth in Christendom! Much that we see around us is a hand religion—seeking salvation by works—or a head religion that rests satisfied with an orthodox creed. But God "looketh on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7), that is, He looks upon the whole inner being, including the understanding, the affections, and the will. It is because God looks within that He must give a " new heart" (Ezek. 36:26) to His own people and blessed indeed are they who have received such, for it is a pure heart that is acceptable to the Giver. As intimated above, we believe that this sixth Beatitude contemplates both the new heart received at regeneration and the transformation of character that follows God’s work of grace in the soul. First, there is a "washi...

I'm thankful for the gospel and this quote: There is hope for us who struggle with timidity. There is hope for us who forget on a daily basis the work of Christ on the cross. When we realize that we've blown it yet again, we must throw ourselves at the mercy of God shown to us at the cross. When our attitudes are poor, we must cry out to Jesus for help. When we're certain that we're doing fine and the shroud of pretense begins to envelop us, we must repent of our pride and grab hold of Jesus, confident that he will heal our broken hearts. The grace of God reminds us to live in the reality of the gospel and the future that he has promised us in Christ. Our confidence comes from what Jesus has done and will do in the future in raising us from the dead to eternal life, just as he was raised. We can reject the self-love of self-loathing and prideful gloating. This will happen when we see Jesus as he truly is. In seeing him, he becomes more and more precious to u...

Relationships always have an element of risk. Having been badly burned in the past by someone I trusted, I'm afraid of going too deep. I'm afraid of what other people think of me. It's much more comfortable to play it safe and be in control of how much I disclose. But playing it safe can lead to building walls which keep me from loving the saints as I should and in particular, my sisters in the local church. After considering what Gloria Furman wrote and examining my own heart, here are a few things I started to preach to myself.

On Sunday evening, several ladies from my church were discussing the hindrances to building relationships with one another. Yeah, we're busy. Yeah, we need to get to know one another better. Those are valid things to consider, but I think this quote gives a deeper, heart-level assessment of the problem: Perhaps our relationships are terminally casual because we're not willing to disclose what's at the heart level. Perhaps nobody dares to ask. Maybe we're unsure of how we are really doing. Maybe we're not willing to hear from others how they are really doing. Maybe we're afraid of the truth  - that it would overwhelm us. Maybe we're insecure because we've been burned in the past. Maybe we're selfishly absorbed with what goes on in our own hearts. Maybe we're just ignorant of the beauty of self-disclosure shared for the sake of the gospel. Maybe we'd rather cling to our assumptions of others. Sometimes we're so wrapped up in our own p...

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 The mercifulness of our text is the product of the new nature implanted by the Holy Spirit in the child of God. It is called into exercise when we contemplate the wondrous grace, pity, and longsuffering of God toward such unworthy wretches as ourselves. The more I ponder God’s sovereign mercy to me, the more I shall think of the unquenchable fire from which I have been delivered through the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. The more conscious I am of my indebtedness to Divine grace, the more mercifully I shall act toward those who wrong, injure, and hate me. Mercifulness is one of the attributes of the spiritual nature that one receives at the new birth. Mercifulness in the child of God is but a reflection of the abundant mercy that is found in his heavenly Parent. Mercifulness is one of the natural and necessary consequences of a merciful Christ indwelling us. It may not always be exercised; it may at times be stifled ...

Christian liberty seems to me to consist of three parts. First, the consciences of believers, while seeking the assurance of their justification before God, must rise above the law, and think no more of obtaining justification by it. For while the law, as has already been demonstrated ( supra , chap. 17, sec. 1), leaves not one man righteous, we are either excluded from all hope of justification, or we must be loosed from the law, and so loosed as that no account at all shall be taken of works. For he who imagines that in order to obtain justification he must bring any degree of works whatever, cannot fix any mode or limit, but makes himself debtor to the whole law. Therefore, laying aside all mention of the law, and all idea of works, we must in the matter of justification have recourse to the mercy of God only; turning away our regard from ourselves, we must look only to Christ. For the question is, not how we may be righteous, but how, though unworthy and unrighteous, we may be re...

Materials: 1.5 inch wooden disc Two 1.5 inch circles of decorative paper Gesso Acrylic paint Decoupage medium or equal parts Elmer's glue and water Polyurethane varnish Glue-on bail Adhesive such as E6000 or super glue 1. Prime the entire wooden disc with gesso. 2. Paint the edge of the disc with acrylic paint. The disc had curved sides which were visible from the front. I figured acrylic paint would look better than gesso white. 3. Decoupage the paper circles to the front and back of the disc. I typed the phrase on an old manual typewriter and then reinforced the type with a very fine permanent pen (Pigma Micron). The ink needs to be waterproof or it will smear as the decoupage medium is water based. Update: Here are tips  to prevent smudging/bleeding when using an ink-jet printer, including sticking the paper in the freezer for an hour. Sounds crazy but I tried it and it works. 4. Apply the varnish to the entire disc. I used 3-4 coats. 5. Glue the ...

A virtual  bouquet for you of the last gardenias I'm thankful for: - Home warranties and plumbers. - Color, patterns, and the pleasure of making something by hand.  - Connecting with friends from the past. - Small group. We haven't met in a few weeks and it was so good to be together last night. I appreciated the insight from different brothers and sisters on Col. 1:15-20, the text of last week's sermon. It was also touching to see a young brother urge an older brother to take his seat on the couch. They had a friendly disagreement over who would give preference to the other. I'm thankful for little signs like this of how this group/church loves each other. - The magnitude of who Jesus is and what He has done. I'm thankful to be challenged if my view of Him is too small.

I've had a couple of posts brewing in my brain but staying up late trying to unclog the bathroom sink (which is still clogged) hasn't led to clarity of mind.  So when you can't write, link! This is the  lesson I want my soon-to-be-adult daughter to learn. A very interesting look at the modesty issue - Do Men Necessarily Lust? I agree with much of what the author has to say. (ht: Aimee Byrd ) Are you a scoffer ? This is next on the reading list once my copy (hooray for used books!) comes in the mail. We can either make too much of ourselves or denigrate God's creation by thinking too meanly of ourselves. I'm also interested in this issue because I wonder if this is a missing piece in discussions about gender. Thanks to Pastor Ryan for the recommendation. I've been listening to Professor Jerram Barrs' lectures on 19th century women novelists.  He discusses Jane Eyre, two novels by George Eliot, and three by Elizabeth Gaskell. I'm not a big Jane...

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 Hungering and thirsting expresses vehement desire, of which the soul is acutely conscious. First, the Holy Spirit brings before the heart the holy requirements of God. He reveals to us His perfect standard, which He can never lower. He reminds us that "except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter the Kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20). Second, the trembling soul, conscious of his own abject poverty and realizing his utter inability to measure up to God's requirements, sees no help in himself. This painful discovery causes him to mourn and groan. Have you done so? Third, the Holy Spirit then creates in the heart a deep "hunger and thirst" that causes the convicted sinner to look for relief and to seek a supply outside of himself. The believing eye is then directed to Christ, who is "THE L...

This week I'm thankful for: Muffins and mugs of tea. Summer rain that has kept the hydrangeas and gardenias in full bloom. Serious books and books just for fun. Laughter. We've had a lot of it this week. I love it when my daughter and I say the same thing at the same time with exactly the same tone and tempo. You would think we were related. The joy of normal, boring, uneventful life. My country. I'm thankful God sovereignly brought my parents to the US. I'm thankful to be a first generation American and grateful for the freedoms that I often take for granted. My citizenship in heaven. I'm thankful that God's family transcends nationality and ethnicity. I'm thankful that every tribe, nation, and tongue is represented around His throne.

Maybe it's a sign of middle age, but I have been having flashbacks of the past. These memories come out of nowhere, triggered by the unlikeliest things, and overwhelm me with regret because of how I've blown it. What to do? Apply the gospel. Read the post here .

In a recent sermon on Romans 8, Pastor Ryan stated that often we are afraid to say "God is for us" (vs. 31). The prosperity gospel (and run-of-the-mill American evangelicalism for that matter) has taken that verse and so many others out of context, It has made God all about us and our temporal happiness. But just because people have twisted scripture doesn't mean we should be afraid to believe what He has said. You may not feel that way, but I can relate completely. I've known situations where "grace" was deliberately turned into license, so in response to that misuse, I swung to the extreme where I was almost afraid of that word. I think I'm getting better, but sometimes I still tense inwardly when I read or hear what IMO isn't a balanced gospel message. But after thinking more about my reactions, I realized that, more often than not, pride is pushing my pendulum. If so-and-so is getting (insert favorite theological pet peeve here) wrong, then b...

Anselm of Canterbury by Simonetta Carr (author), Matt Abraxos (illustrator), Reformation Heritage Books, 2013, 64 pages. Anselm (1033-1109) is the latest subject in the  Christian Biographies For Young Readers  series written by  Simonetta Carr.  Born near the border of France and Italy, Anselm wanted to serve God by becoming a monk but faced family opposition. Eventually he took orders at a Benedictine monastery in Normandy where he studied the Word, wrote, and taught. He was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by William II, the son of William the Conqueror. He did not seek this position, which was very difficult due to the lack of clearly defined boundaries between church and state. Anselm died in Canterbury at the age of 76. Anselm is known for his work, Cur Deus Homo ( Why God-Man? ) which sought to clarifying the issues of sin, the atonement and its application. Written during a time when the ransom theory was the primary teaching on the a...