Tried With Fire

The following are my favorite books for 2018. They are listed in the order read/listened. Writing on the Wall: Social Media, the first 2000 years - Tom Standage. This was a fun and informative book and makes the case that there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to human communication. Proof? People literally wrote on the walls in Pompeii to give their status and receive comments on their posts. There is an entire chapter devoted to Martin Luther and the spread of the reformation via the newest media of the time - pamphlets that were affordable by the general public in German. Excerpt  here . Walking Through Twilight: A Wife's Illness, A Philosopher's Lament - Douglas Groothuis. This is a moving book of a husband's love and grief for his wife as he walks with her through her dementia. His struggles and lament are real, but so is God's keeping. Excerpt here The Search for Christian America - Mark Noll, George Marsden, Nathan Hatch. The dream team of Ch...

"And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4). The year is very old, and here is a promise for our aged friends; yes, and for us all, as age creeps over us. Let us live long enough, and we shall all have hoar hairs; therefore we may as well enjoy this promise by the foresight of faith. When we grow old our God will still be the I AM, abiding evermore the same. Hoar hairs tell of our decay, but He decayeth not. When we cannot carry a burden and can hardly carry ourselves, the LORD will carry us. Even as in our young days He carried us like lambs in His bosom, so will He in our years of infirmity He made us, and He will care for us. When we become a burden to our friends and a burden to ourselves, the LORD will not shake us off, but the rather He will take us up and carry and deliver us more fully than ever. In many cases the LORD give His servants a long and...

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Merry Christmas!

This constant undivided union of two perfect natures in Christ's Person is exactly that which gives infinite value to His mediation, and qualifies Him to be the very Mediator that sinners need. Our Mediator is One that can sympathize with us, because He is very man. And yet, at the same time, He is One who can deal with the Father for us on equal terms, because He is very God. It is the same union which gives infinite value to His righteousness, when imputed to believers -  the righteousness of One Who was [and is] God as well as man. It is the same union which gives infinite value to the atoning blood which He shed for sinners on the cross - the blood of One who was [and is] God as well as man. It is the same union which gives infinite value to His resurrection: when He rose again, as the Head of the body of believers, He rose not as a mere man but as God. Let these things sink deeply into our hearts. The second Adam is far greater than the first Adam was. The first Adam was only ...

1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in His hand Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand. 2 King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture - in the body and the blood. He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food. 3 Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its wings on the way, as the Light of light descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the pow'rs of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away. 4 At His feet the six-winged seraph, cherubim, with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, “Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, Lord most high!”

Poetry would probably be near the end of the list of my favorite literary genres. I remember a few classic children's poems, a little Lewis Carroll, and snippets of Shakespeare, but that's about it. But after seeing excerpts of Rachel Joy Welcher's poems on Twitter, I was moved, and I wanted to read more. I'm not going to quote entire poems but the last few lines from two of them. If you have suffered loss, these are for you. If you have found that life goes on after sorrow because of Christ, and not just a half-life but a life worth living, these poems are for you. From I Used To Think He Had The Kindest Eyes: And the only gift I can thank you for is the contrast you will forever provide between faithless and Faithful, secrecy and intimate light; I am alive in spite of your sin against me. And from the very last poem in the book, Old and New: It's ok to not look back. It's ok to look forward to the future with a broken heart and a limp. ...

I have many fond memories of reading to my daughter when she was little. "Read it?" was one of the things she would ask many, many times a day. I loved children's books, so it was a chance to revisit all my favorites as well as find new ones. As a parent, I knew it was good to read to her so she would eventually learn to read herself and express her thoughts in words, but I had no idea of the learning processes that were going on in her young brain. From Reader, Come Home : "When you read to your children, you are exposing them to multiple representations - of the sounds or phonemes in spoken words, of the visual forms of letters and letter patterns in written words, of the meanings of oral and written words, and so on across every circuit component. The young brain is setting down re-presentations of this information every time the child hears, sees, touches, smells books" (pg. 131) "It is the stuff of conceptual and linguistic development (even tho...

It's been a while since I've gotten back to blogging regularly. Part of it is I'm still in mourning for my dad. I think grief is going to be a steady stream that flows below the surface. It may rise or ebb, but it's always there. Another part is having too many thoughts in my head to organize in a coherent manner and reading too many books simultaneously. So in lieu of a pensieve, this post will be the repository for the random thoughts that have been swirling in my brain based on my recent reading. I wonder if my lack of concentration is due to my use of social media. I'm halfway through Reader, Come Home by Maryanne Wolf. (Ironically I learned of the book via @scifri on Twitter.) Wolf is a neuroscientist and reading specialist. She is concerned that too much screen reading is impairing our ability to read deeply which impairs our ability to think and feel deeply. She is coming from an evolutionary perspective, so she believes that our reading brains evolved o...

1. Sometimes a light surprises The Christian while he sings; It is the Lord Who rises With healing in His wings: When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again A season of clear shining, To cheer it after the rain 2. In holy contemplation We sweetly then pursue The theme of God’s salvation, And find it ever new; Set free from present sorrow, We cheerfully can say, Let the unknown tomorrow Bring with it what it may. 3. Tomorrow can bring us nothing, But He will bear us through: Who gives the lilies clothing Will clothe His people, too: Beneath the spreading heavens No creature but is fed; And He Who feeds the ravens Will give His children bread. 4. Though vine nor fig tree neither Their wonted fruit should bear, Though all the fields should wither, Nor flocks or herds be there Yet, God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice; For, while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice. Words: William Cowper, Kevin Twit Music: Kevin ...

The Son Who Learned Obedience: A Theological Case Against the Eternal Submission of the Son by D. Glenn Butner, Jr., Pickwick Publications, 2018, 223 pages. While the Trinity Debate of 2016 may have cooled down, the question still remains, "Is the Son eternally submissive to the Father?" The short answer is, "No." But if one word will not suffice, read this book. The Son Who Learned Obedience makes a strong case against the eternal functional subordination of the Son (EFS) by addressing: - Why the Trinity falls under the category of systematic theology rather than simple proof-texting. - Pro-Nicene teaching on the Trinity vs. the pro-EFS position. - Inseparable operations. - Does Jesus have one will or two? - How does EFS impact and undermine the doctrine of substitutionary atonement? - What effect does EFS on the doctrine of God? - Is 1 Cor. 15:28 an air-tight case for EFS? As a lay person who followed the Trinity debate closely, I was already on ...

Chorus: To see the Law by Christ fulfilled, To hear His pardoning voice, Changes a slave into a child And duty into choice. 1. No strength of nature can suffice To serve the Lord aright And what she has, she misapplies, For want of clearer light. 2. How long beneath the Law I lay In bondage and distress I toiled the precept to obey, But toiled without success. 3. Then to abstain from outward sin Was more than I could do Now if I feel its power within I feel I hate it too. 4. Then all my servile works were done, A righteousness to raise Now, freely chosen in the Son, I freely choose His ways. (The album only has verses 2 & 4) Words: William Cowper Music: Kevin Twit

On Sunday, John Freeman from HarvestUSA spoke at the evening service. It was a very encouraging message on the call to holiness in every area of our lives and how the gospel makes this possible. HarvestUSA's ministry specifically addresses issues of sexual brokenness, so this brother has seen what the grace of God can do. When my daughter and I were discussing the service afterward, I mentioned that his talk reminded me of Thomas Chalmer's sermon, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection ,  in which love for God displaces the love for idols. But she surprised me by saying that we need to be careful because this could be misunderstood. I asked her to explain and she replied - Our love for God does not change us. It is the God whom we love who changes us. (Mic drop.) Make no mistake, Chalmers doesn't get this wrong at all, but I can see why she expressed this caution. As a child of Adam, I am hardwired by the covenant of works to "do this and live." But because ...

1. Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song, The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue; Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last, Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast. 2. Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; Sin would reduce me to utter despair; But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And He that first made me still keeps me alive. 3. Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart, Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground, And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found. 4. Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own, And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son; All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine. All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine. Words: John Stocker Music: Sandra McCracken

There were many wonderful remembrances of my dad during his funeral service. But there were two that especially touched my heart. My uncle and a brother from my parent's church shared similar stories of my dad always encouraging them to read and giving them books. I had to smile through the tears because this was so like my dad. He loved to read, and he loved books. I always remember the growing stack and sometimes stacks of books near whichever chair he happened to chose for reading. When my parents moved from their home of over 40 years to independent living, the big question was, "What are we going to do with all these books?" I'm sure I tripled my library with the books I brought home, and I gave at least three boxes to my pastor. But we managed to pare down the many shelves to four. When the time came for my parents to move to assisted living, the books had to be culled again. We discovered not only my dad's personal books that were never unpacked but ...

This is very practical advice for the early stages of grief. Even though it seems impossible for life to go on, these little things can help. When my ex walked out and visitation started, the routine of caring for the pets helped provide some normalcy. I shed many tears with one of the bunnies who was content to sit next to me as I mourned. I should have heeded the advice about eating and drinking water. I think I'm in a much more stable place even with my dad's death. It may hit me when we go back home and see family. We had a chance to openly and freely grieve before his funeral which helped to unburden the sorrow. And we should be sad and not repress those feelings. The verse (1 Thess 4:13) does not say "We do not and should not grieve because we have hope." Rather we grieve with hope. ht: The Perennial Gen on FB

1. On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan’s fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie. 2. All o’er those wide extended plains, Shines one eternal day; There God the Son forever reigns, And scatters night away. Chorus: I am bound (I am bound) I am bound (I am bound) I am bound for promised land, I am bound (I am bound) I am bound (I am bound) I am bound for promised land. 3. No chilling winds nor poisonous breath Can reach that healthful shore; Sickness, sorrow, pain and death, Are felt and feared no more. (Repeat chorus) 4. When shall I reach that happy place, And be forever blessed? When shall I see my Father’s face, And in His bosom rest? (Repeat chorus) Words: Samuel Stennett  Music: Christopher Miner

" Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. "  James Baldwin After the news of President Trump's call to end birthright citizenship, I was shaken. I was always proud to be the first person on both sides of my family to be American by birth, but now I am faced with a problem. Is my citizenship a mistake because of a misreading of the Constitution? While my initial fears have abated somewhat, I am still wrestling with my feelings. I stopped wearing rose-colored glasses a long time ago, but there is still a sense of grief. My welcome to this country seems begrudging now and given in spite of what the founders and leaders of this country wanted, not because of them. And where do I stand now? Like Hermione Granger, when in doubt I go to the library. In other words, I research and read history to answer the age old question, "Why?" I have several pending interlibrary loan requests for books on immigration, and ...

1. Upon a Life I have not lived, Upon a Death I did not die, Another’s Life; Another’s Death, I stake my whole eternity. 2. Not on the tears which I have shed, Not on the sorrows I have known, Another’s tears; Another’s griefs, On these I rest, on these alone. Chorus: O Jesus, Son of God, I build on what Thy cross has done for me; There both my death and life I read, my guilt, and pardon there I see. 3. Lord, I believe; O deal with me, As one who has Thy Word believed! I take the gift, Lord, look on me, As one who has Thy gift received. (Chorus) Words: Horatius Bonar, Music: Kevin Twit

Commitment to the truth is a sign of personal integrity and ethics, but it is also obedience to the 9th commandment. It's easy to think that it only pertains to telling outright whoppers, but what about slander? What about passing on information that is unverified? Social media certainly provides plenty of opportunity to share hoaxes, fake news, and false cures with just a click. What about choosing to ignore or deny the truth because it does not conform to our narratives or implicates our idols? In light of that, I think these quotes from All That's Good are worth considering. "Facts are not the sum total of all that is true, but truth is not a set of privately held beliefs that cannot be tested by other people. The information that we use to come to our decisions must be available to them, and we must be prepared for our decisions and opinions to come under scrutiny. We must not be offended when people ask us to prove them. We must not expect people to accept them s...

1. Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus, ready, stands to save you, Full of pity, joined with power. He is able, He is able; He is willing; doubt no more. 2. Come ye needy, come, and welcome, God's free bounty glorify; True belief and true repentance, Every grace that brings you nigh. Without money, without money Come to Jesus Christ and buy. 3. Come, ye weary, heavy laden, Bruised and broken by the fall; If you tarry 'til you're better, You will never come at all. Not the righteous, not the righteous; Sinners Jesus came to call. 4. Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream; All the fitness He requires Is to feel your need of Him. This He gives you, this He gives you, 'Tis the Spirit's rising beam. 5. Lo! The Incarnate God, ascended; Pleads the merit of His blood. Venture on Him; venture wholly, Let no other trust intrude. None but Jesus, none but Jesus Can do helpless si...

Mother: I've never grown old before. Daughter: None of us have. Mother: Is there a book that I can read that can help me know what to do? Daughter: There may be, but what works for one person may not work for everyone. So we have to trust God. When my sister related this conversation she had with our mom, I had to smile. This is Mom and her methodology to a T. Do the research, learn the rules, then do it right. This showed in her organization, efficiency, and thinking through and planning for everything to the smallest detail. This is how she functioned until the fall in the form of dementia began to manifest. Thus every glimpse that it is still Mom and not the disease is encouraging, But the details are much more elusive now. My mom compensates by jotting down lists on scraps of paper to help her remember what to do. I've come across those lists, and I marvel at her efforts. I also weep a little because, barring a miracle, I don't think she will get her memory bac...

My review of All That's Good by Hannah Anderson is up at Out of the Ordinary , and we're giving away a copy of the book too. Head on over to read the review here . I wanted to focus on Hannah's book and not bring in another one because I didn't want to compare books or authors, but I will mention this. I read "How to Think" by Alan Jacobs last year, one of my favorites of the year. When I completed it, I wished that there was a similar book but more in depth specifically for Christians. All That's Good  is THAT book! And one more note - even though the author is a woman, this book is for all believers.

These quotes are from All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson. Lord willing, I will finish my work for today so I can write a review for Out of the Ordinary  tomorrow. In the meantime, I think these few quotes are worth pondering. "Broadly speaking, discernment is the ability to sort between a host of options and pick what is good. It carries the idea of judging the merits of something, being able to distinguish between good and bad and what is best... In other words, discernment does not change the challenges we face; it changes our ability to face them."  (pg. 25) "But tips and tricks are not skill and expertise. Information and data are not wisdom and knowledge. And knowing something is not the same as knowing how to do it or whether you even should." (pg. 26) "[T]here are no hacks to discernment. No easy steps to follow, no lists or tricks or tips to ensure that you'll be able to make good decision when y...

In the day when silent sorrow Seems to shake me to the core Then I hear the heavenly comfort, "You will weep no more." God Himself will dry your tears God Himself will soothe your fears In the day when earthly weakness Weighs your weary spirit down All around you seems a burden All above you seems a frown God Himself will dry your tears God Himself will soothe your fears In the day when sin oppresses And the battle rages strong When the victory seems doubtful Or triumphant seems the wrong God Himself will dry your tears God Himself will soothe your fears God Himself will dry your tears God Himself will soothe your fears Oh I hear the heavenly comfort, "You will weep no more." © 2016 Detuned Radio Music. Written by Matthew S. Smith, based in part on a text by Horatius Bonar.

The following quotes are from chapter 3 of The Son Who Learned Obedience by R. Glenn Butner, Jr. This chapter specifically covers how EFS (Eternal Functional Subordination) impacts substitutionary atonement. Something to seriously consider. "Calvin claimed that Christ "removed enmity between God and us... by the whole course of his obedience," and interpreted Galatians 4 to indicate that the obedience toward deliverance began "from the moment when he assumed the form of a servant." Why is this the case? Because only human beings are subject to the law, so only humans can obey the law and thereby fulfill the covenantal obligations of humanity, providing obedience that is the basis for our justification. The Son was born of Mary so that he can obey the law as a human. As Christ himself taught, he came to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17)." 1 "The reason Anselm insisted that Christ's obedience is not obligatory or due to eternal obedience is in orde...

I am thankful for  the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting . Jesus is fully man and fully God. Otherwise, he could not be our savior and our interceding high priest. He also did not cease to be human at his resurrection and ascension. God created us as human beings. We don't become angels when we die. We don't become disembodied spirits, as though the goal of the Christian life is to rid itself of the physical body. This denigration of the material is Platonic and Gnostic, both pagan in their origins. The problem isn't the body. The problem is sin. But because of Christ's finished work, the problem of sin has been dealt with once and for all. We are saved as human beings, and we will be fully human as we were intended to be. The souls of those in the presence of the Lord will be reunited to their resurrected bodies when Christ returns. If we are still alive that day, our bodies will be changed as well into bodies that will never experience sin or ...

I journey forth rejoicing From this dark vale of tears To heavenly joy and freedom From earthly bonds and fears Where Christ our Lord shall gather All His redeemed again, His kingdom to inherit-- Goodnight, goodnight till then Why thus so sadly weeping Beloved ones of my heart? The Lord is good and gracious Though now He bids us part Oft have we met in gladness And we shall meet again All sorrow left behind us-- Goodnight, goodnight till then I go to see His glory Whom we have loved below I go, the blessed angels The holy saints to know. Our lovely ones departed I go to find again And wait for you to join us-- Goodnight, goodnight till then I hear the Savior calling-- The joyful hour has come The angel-guards are ready To guide me to our home Where Christ our Lord shall gather All His redeemed again, His kingdom to inherit-- Goodnight, goodnight till then

My dad finished his race and was called home last night. We lost someone we love, but we are rejoicing for his gain. He will never experience sin, sickness, pain, sadness, or worry ever again. And one day we will be reunited with him and be with the Lord forever. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we ...

It's been a busy summer and fall for my family. We moved my mom into memory care and then my dad into assisted living. Shortly after his move, my dad's health took a down turn, and he was hospitalized and in rehab. He is now home with hospice care. It's a sad time for us, but God has been so kind even in the grief. As my friend Kim wrote this morning, "In these days when it seems like all around us see nothing but doom and gloom, we need to understand that God is good." So it wouldn't be right if I didn't thank him for all that he has done. Answered prayer:  Based on the observations of the hospice and assisted living staff, they suggested that family come sooner rather than later. We went up last weekend, but prior to leaving, I asked the folks in my church to pray that we would be able to see my dad and that he would be able to meet his first great grandchild. God answered both of those prayers. It was hard to not start bawling when my nephew held...

I hate the fall. Not the season of Autumn, but the fall of humanity in the Garden and all its consequences. I hate seeing what it does to my loved ones in terms of illness and death. I hate seeing how it breeds animosity among people. I hate how sin has blinded us to knowing God. Denying its existence is being untruthful and frankly delusional. But being a Christian enables me to face this reality with the knowledge that Christ has redeemed me from the curse. The full effect of this redemption will occur when He returns. In the New Heaven and Earth, creation will be restored. Our bodies will be resurrected and fit for eternity. We will be forever with the Lord. This is what the Bible teaches regardless of how the prosperity gospel wants to twist it. And if that is what is awaiting for those who are in Christ, why would I want my best life now ? So I live in this tension of the already-and-not-yet, looking forward to heaven and yet not wanting to minimize the life and the joy that G...

I'm posting at Out of the Ordinary today: When you have loved ones who are aging and declining, it's hard to avoid facing death, and it is sobering. For some reason, the phrase "Death is the great equalizer" came to mind the other night, so I googled it. References to Shakespeare came up, but the Bible describes this far better than any literature could. "The wages of sin is death"  This statement certainly encompasses us all no matter our station in life, bank account, or IQ score. In Adam all die, and none of us are exempt. But the verse doesn't end there, thank God. Read the rest here .

Words by Henry Lyte  Music by Bill Moore 1. Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee. Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be. Perish every fond ambition, All I’ve sought or hoped or known. Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still my own. 2. Let the world despise and leave me, They have left my Savior, too. Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue. O while Thou dost smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might, Foes may hate and friends disown me, Show Thy face and all is bright. 3. Man may trouble and distress me, ’Twill but drive me to Thy breast. Life with trials hard may press me; Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me While Thy love is left to me; Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmixed with Thee. 4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure, Come disaster, scorn and pain In Thy service, pain is pleasure, With Thy favor, loss is gain I have called Thee Ab...

This is just my opinion, but there are two parallel issues regarding the Kavanaugh nomination. 1. Allegations against a Supreme Court nominee. 2. The societal problem of sexual assault/abuse. Regarding the 1st issue, this is out of the hands of the average citizen. Politics has compromised discussion about sexual assault. Both parties have been guilty of this minimization, so neither has any moral high ground on which to stand. (Clinton, Trump, Edward Kennedy, Roy Moore to name two on each side.) There are plenty of opinions out there, and I would concur with this article by Alexandra DeSanctis at National Review. However, the 2nd issue is closer to home. For Christians, where do we stand on sexual assault and abuse? How do we respond to allegations? How do we respond to the victims? These questions may not have crossed your mind before because it's easy to think that this doesn't happen to good Christians. This wouldn't happen in professing Christian homes. It wou...

Do not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly. Lev. 19:15 Do not deny justice or show partiality to anyone. Do not accept a bribe, for it blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Deut. 16:19 I've been troubled with the partisan ethics that have come to the surface since the 2016 election cycle. Perhaps these were always in place, but they seem to be more prominent now and increasing rather than decreasing. "If my guy is under scrutiny, it must be a conspiracy. If it is someone on the other side, then throw the book at him." These things ought not to be. And yes, the president, Roy Moore, and Brett Kavanaugh come to mind. As Christians, we should have one standard regardless of whether a person is an ideological friend or foe. If others act partially, they will have to answer to God for their unjust scales. But that is no excuse for me to do the same....

This summer was busy and felt longer than usual. I had an ambitious list of potential reading, but good intentions take a back seat to real life. However, here are some of the books I finished over the past few months. The Paper Magician - Charlie Holmberg. The premise is an alternative history of late 19th - early 20th century England where magicians are trained to work with a specific material like paper,  glass, or metal. It sounded promising, but the vibe was too modern. I just couldn't buy the heroine living unchaperoned with her mentor and cooking penne pasta. This was author's first novel, so I will give her some slack, but I doubt I will read any more books in this series. For an example of an alternative history with magic that captures the time period well - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. One Nation Under God - How Corporate America Invented Christian America - Kevin Kruse. Another book in my quest to understand how we got to where...

1. From the cross uplifted high Where the Savior deigns to die What melodious sounds I hear Bursting on my ravished ear Love¹s redeeming work is done Come and welcome, sinner, come. 2. Sprinkled now with blood the throne Why beneath thy burdens groan On my pierced body laid Justice owns the ransom paid Bow the knee and kiss the Son Come and welcome, sinner, come. 3. Spread for thee the festal board See with richest dainties stored To thy Father¹s bosom pressed Yet again a child confessed Never from His house to roam Come and welcome, sinner, come. 4. Soon the days of life shall end Lo, I come, your Savior, Friend Safe your spirit to convey To the realms of endless day Up to my eternal home. Come and welcome, sinner, come. Come and welcome, sinner, come. Words - Thomas Hawels, Music - Matthew Perryman Jones

1. Poor sinner come, cast off thy fear, And raise thy drooping head Come, sing with all poor sinners here, Jesus, who once was dead 2. Salvation sing no word more meet To join to Jesus' name Let every thankful tongue repeat "Salvation to the Lamb", "Salvation to the Lamb" 3. Saints from the garden to the cross Your conquering Lord pursue Who, dearly to redeem your loss Groaned, bled, and died for you 4. Now reigns victorious over death The glorious great I am Let every soul repeat with faith Salvation to the Lamb. Salvation to the Lamb 5. When we incurred the wrath of God Alas! What could be worse? He came, and with His heart's own blood Redeemed us from the curse 6. This Paschal Lamb, his blood can meet And cleanse ye from each stain Repeat, ye ransomed souls, repeat "Salvation to the Lamb." "Salvation to the Lamb." Words - Justin Smith, Joseph Hart.  Music - Justin Smith

"In 1896, W.E.B. Du Bois presented his PhD dissertation to the faculty at Harvard University. His dissertation was titled "The Suppression of the African Slave Trade in the United States of America, 1638-1870." At the conclusion of this work, Du Bois offered a "Lesson for Americans." Du Bois's lesson began with the observation that Americans are not known for being a people engaged in self-examination. Rather, Du Bois wrote, Americans tend to deny that any major problems exist in their society. If any ills can be found, then Americans seek to find ways to jettison those ills rather than address them and patiently work to answer them. Du Bois wrote that "we have the somewhat inchoate idea that we are not destined to be harassed with great social questions, and that even if we are, and fail to answer them, the fault is with the question and not with us. Consequently, we often congratulate ourselves more on getting rid of a problem than on solving it....

This is one part of The Social Justice Statement that troubles me: WE AFFIRM that some cultures operate on assumptions that are inherently better than those of other cultures because of the biblical truths that inform those worldviews that have produced these distinct assumptions. Those elements of a given culture that reflect divine revelation should be celebrated and promoted. The "inherently better than those of other cultures" seems to fly in the face Paul's declaration in Phil. 3 that he counted all the rights and privileges of being raised as a Hebrew, as dung compared to the surpassing greatness of Christ. He also wrote in Romans that there is no advantage to the Jew or to the Greek because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If this is veiled reference to America, the debate is still out among Christian historians as to whether America is a Christian nation versus Christians being involved in its founding. Also we have to face the moral discon...