Tried With Fire

ht: Teresa via FB

I'm thankful for: An unexpected "vacation". We had 6-8 inches of snow Tuesday night, so everything in the area has shut down. There is very little money in the city budget to plow anything other than the major roads, so there's a good reason for the closures. It's no fun driving on 4-5 inches of frozen slush. Much-needed sleep. I am not always good about getting enough rest. It's been nice to not set the alarm on these snow days. Daily bread. It is rising right now. A Friend who sticks closer than a brother. I get frustrated at times because no one "speaks" for me on issues that weigh heavily on my heart. I'm thankful I can take my burdens to the Lord who understands perfectly and gives understanding better than my rants.

Join me over at Out of the Ordinary in which I share about my favorite comfort books: children's literature. Here's an excerpt from one of my favorites, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame: We others, who have long lost the more subtle of the physical senses, have not even proper terms to express an animal's inter-communications with his surroundings, living or otherwise, and have only the word 'smell,' for instance, to include the whole range of delicate thrills which murmur in the nose of the animal night and day, summoning, warning, inciting, repelling. It was one of these mysterious fairy calls from out the void that suddenly reached Mole in the darkness, making him tingle through and through with its very familiar appeal, even while yet he could not clearly remember what it was. He stopped dead in his tracks, his nose searching hither and thither in its efforts to recapture the fine filament, the telegraphic current, that had so strongly moved him...

(Read part 1 here ) Secondly, real-life experience provides ample evidence of the depravity of humankind. Continuing with the subject of children, people will try to call them “little innocents,” mainly due to the fact that they have not committed many obviously sinful actions and are relatively harmless. However, no one has to teach a one-year-old how to throw a temper tantrum. Toddlers do not need any help engaging in what mothers call the “terrible twos.” Children whine, fight over toys while yelling, “Mine!,” and talk back at adults. In general, children naturally get into trouble and need to be taught how to behave; good manners do not come naturally. Pink expresses this idea extremely well: If there were any innate goodness in man, it would surely show itself during the days of his infancy, before virtuous principles were corrupted, and evil habits formed by his contact with the world. But do we find infants inclined to all that is pure and excellent, and disinclined to whate...

This post is an argument essay written by my daughter for her college composition class last semester. I was thankful her professor encouraged the students to think critically, have strong beliefs, and to not be afraid of writing about topics that concerned them. Due to its length, I've divided her paper into 2 parts. The depravity of man is a debated issue among Christians, particularly between the two camps known as “Reformed” and “Arminian.” The Reformed viewpoint favors the doctrine known as “total depravity.” It should be clarified what total depravity is and is not. “Total depravity” means that sin taints every part of humankind, stemming from the heart. It does not mean that people are utterly depraved, or as bad as they could possibly be (Sproul 103-104). Rather, total depravity is a moral distortion that renders all people incapable of having or desiring to have a right relationship with God (Pink 136). According to its proper definition, total depravity is total because...

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 If you are zealous for the Lord and seek Jesus, if your zeal is according to godliness, and you pray to him for his Spirit, you certainly shall have an answer of peace; you shall find it is good to seek the Lord, you will be adopted into his family, and by his Spirit be enabled to cry, "Abba, Father." O then, do not leave, but be continually waiting at wisdom's gate, and you shall find all her ways to be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; then, you shall find that it is worth waiting on the Lord Jesus; and when you have got his Spirit within you, all the power of men or devils cannot make you forsake the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you do but once taste his pardoning love, it will be so delightful unto you that you will cry for more and more; you will be as full as you can hold, and still not be satisfied; you will desire more and more of this love of ...

Make your own application. :)

Source I'm thankful for: Snow in moderation. We had our first snowstorm in a few years with a whopping 1-2 inches. It was just enough to look pretty and not so much that it can't melt off the roads in a day. A safe, warm home. Not to be taken for granted. Relief from some mild vertigo. It wasn't that severe but enough to feel a bit dizzy when I moved my head too fast. Thankfully, some much-needed sleep seems to have cured it. Concentration and focus for what needs to get done. Fun books and books that make me think. I'm enjoying Created in God's Image by Anthony Hoekema. Lots to ponder in this one. The gift of laughter especially for those moments when I am just plain dumb.

On Sunday evening, we had a full house. There were eighteen women crammed in my home for the church's ladies' social. It was a fun evening with great food, as always, lots of laughter and talk. We could divide between two rooms during the meal, but afterwards for the "serious" time, everyone squeezed in the sun room filling every available chair and parking on the floor. I picked the topic of Christian friendship because this is an area that I need growth. I'm close as I can be with my daughter which is a wonderful blessing, but God has also placed me in a local church with women who can help me in my walk and vice versa. That's not going to happen if I hold myself back and only let down my guard but so much. Sometimes it's conscious and sometimes not. Maybe that's why online friendships are a bit easier because you reveal even less of yourself in what you write. We had a great discussion. The women were candid, open, and I think we all wanted to g...

I have a few posts brewing in my head, but brain fog (mild bug? not enough sleep?) is not conducive to writing. I'm also trying to get my blog bearings this year, so when in doubt, link! Staci gives some good advice about recommending books . Also, there are a whole slew of posts at Out of the Ordinary this month on reading, so check them out. What to remember when you change your mind about a book  from Aaron Armstrong. Maybe you haven't, but I've changed my opinion about books I once recommended. It's been interesting to watch the debate over antinomianism in the reformed camp. Sometimes it reminds me of these lyrics from Shai Linne's song  Cosmic Powers : He’s [the devil] always standing on one side, ready to swing the pendulum For those who minimize truth, he’ll burden them with heresies For those who emphasize truth, he’ll turn them into Pharisees One generation, he’ll tempt them to be legalists The next generation, he’ll tempt them to be hedon...

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way .  Psalm 25:9 I will venture to affirm that if your souls prosper you will grow downwards. What is this? Why, you will grow in the knowledge of yourselves… the knowledge of ourselves is the first thing God implants: "Lord, let me know myself." was a prayer that one of the fathers put up for sixteen years together. If you have high thoughts of yourself, you may know you are light-headed, you forget what poor silly creatures you are. As our souls prosper, we shall be more and more sensible, not only of the outside, but as we advance in the divine life, we have nearer views of the chambers of imagery that are in our hearts; and one day after another we shall find more and more abominations there, and consequently we shall see more of the glory of Jesus Christ, the wonders of that Immanuel, who daily delivers us from this body of sin and death; and I mention this because there is nothing more common, esp...

Hooray, it's Friday! ht: The Daily Bunny

Source I'm thankful for… - Strength for a busy work day. - A good start to the spring semester for my daughter. She's excited about her classes which include calculus and karate. - Healthy routine. I always do better with parameters. - The opportunity to host the next ladies' social. These have been fun times with good food and a chance to get to know one another a little bit better. - Opportunity to wrestle through some theological issues, namely the current debate on antinominaism. It's easy for me to react emotionally for or against something depending on which way my pendulum is swinging. But the answer isn't in what moves me but what is found in the whole counsel of God. So it's time to dig deep and ask some questions. - Rest for the weary and a pillow that is calling my name.

It's my turn at Out of the Ordinary today in which I share how it's never too late to learn how to study the Bible. I've been a Christian most of my life. I was encouraged to read the Bible from a very young age, but no one taught me how to study the Bible. As a result, I had no clue about the basics of interpretation. Context? Genre? Author's intent? Original audience? What was that? I thought the Bible was supposed to help me make decisions and give a daily emotional boost? Consequently, I favored the Carly Simon method AKA " You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Text is About You. " I cast myself as the good guy in every passage, and the bad guy stood for whatever difficulty I was facing. I was so busy making the text say something it never said that I completely overlooked the fact that the Bible was God's revelation of Himself. Read more ...

When I was growing up in the 60's, you could count the number of Asian families in my town on one hand. Consequently, I was subject to a fair amount of stereotyping. No, my parents did not run a laundry. Neither did they own a Chinese restaurant. We did not use chopsticks every night, hardly at all actually. I did not know how to do kung-fu, karate, judo, or any type of martial arts, although the kids still thought I could, which probably kept some bullying at bay. I still get comments occasionally from strangers who are amazed that I don't speak with an accent. I civilly set the record straight, but sometimes snark hovers on the tip of my tongue, usually a sarcastic remark that English was taught and spoken even in a strange and foreign place like New Jersey. This is probably why I hate being pigeonholed. I even take perverse delight in trouncing preconceived notions about me based on ethnicity, gender, etc. "You think you have me pegged? Well what about this ….? Bwaha...

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27 Sheep, you know, generally love to be together; we say a flock of sheep, we do not say a herd of sheep; sheep are little creatures, and Christ's people may be called sheep because they are little in the eyes of the world, and they are yet less in their own eyes. Oh, some people think, if the great men were on our side, if we had king, lords, and commons on our side, I mean, if they were all true believers. Oh, if we had all the kings upon the earth on our side! Suppose you had this … Do you think the church would go on the better? Why, if it were fashionable to be a Methodist at court, if it were fashionable to be a Methodist abroad, they would go with a Bible or a hymnbook instead of a novel. But religion never thrives under too much sunshine. "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the ...

Soap Opera Praise from Lutheran Satire:

Source I'm thankful for: - A home with heat and hot water. It's been mighty cold the last few days, at least for folks like me who are used to mild winters. Thankfully it's going to warm up each day this week until we reach the 70's by Saturday. Yo-yo temperatures are typical of our Virginia winters. - Successful wisdom teeth extraction for my daughter. I'm also thankful for pain medication, ice packs, Ensure, and cold custard. - A chance to catch my breath. I've been on the go since the end of December. After we came home after Christmas. I've been catching up with work and other assorted things. I think we're close to settling down to routine again. - The fresh start of the New Year. I'm not a resolution person, but I'm looking forward to a more methodical approach to reading this year and to (hopefully) not stretching myself too thin with too many books. - Grace as I go. There are areas in my life that need a bit more discipline...

...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him… Eph. 1:17 By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are new-born to an heavenly inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified; but our own corrupt wills would tempt us to seek this glorious birth-right for the vanities of the world, which, like Esau's red pottage, may please us for a while, but will soon be taken away from us. God knows this; he bids us to renounce them for a season, than for the short enjoyment of them lose the privilege of the glorious birthright, to which, by knowing the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are entitled. O the depth of the riches and excellence of Christianity! Well might the great Saint Paul count all things but garbage and dross for the excellence of the knowledge of it. Well might he desire so ardently to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection! For even on this side [of] et...

"You have not passed this way before." Joshua 3:4 How solemn is the reflection that with a new cycle of time, commences a new and untrodden path with each traveler to Zion. New events in his history will transpire; new scenes in the panorama of life will unfold; new phases of character will develop; new temptations will assail; new duties will devolve; new trials will be experienced; new sorrows will be felt; new friendships will be formed; new mercies will be bestowed. How truly may it be said of the pilgrim, journeying through the wilderness to his eternal home, as he stands upon the threshold of this untried period of his existence, pondering the unknown and uncertain future, "You have not passed this way before." But there is another thought inexpressibly soothing. Untried, untrodden, and unknown as that new path may be, it is each step mapped and arranged, and provided for in the everlasting and unchangeable covenant of God. To Him who l...