Tried With Fire

Our new house isn't very architecturally interesting.  It's just one of the thousands of brick ranchers that were built in the early '60s, but we think it deserves its own name. Casa Calvin? Chez Calvinist? Maison Manton? Puritan Pad?    I proposed  Dordt House which was immediately vetoed by my daughter as being too strange.  I then suggested Reformation Ranch , but she said it sounded like a Calvinist salad dressing (made with only 5 ingredients!)   Dead Guys' Bungalow?   The name sounds like the title of a Nancy Drew mystery.   Tulip Ranch ?  But we have no tulips until we plant some in the fall.  Also when I think of ranch , cattle come to mind, so I have a mental image of herds of black and white spotted tulips mooing and grazing on the prairie. But after some deliberation, we have chosen  Providence House . In the last three years, my eyes were opened to God's providence and sovereignty.  I'm still learning t...

God has engaged himself, having chosen a people for himself, and secured them from all that any can do against them.  Election is as eternal as God is, without variableness or shadow of change, and thus is called 'an eternal purpose', and it must stand.  It is absolute and unconditional.  No works were foreseen in us that were the cause of God's choosing us; and no sin in us shall frustrate or make election void.  By the act of election, we are wrapped and covered in Christ; he has chosen us in him; not in ourselves, not in our virtues, no, not for or because of anything but his own will. from Works , 1: 163-164

I am thankful for: A "new" lawn mower.  Now that we've moved, we needed a small mower for our little yard.  Our friends had a gently-used gas mower offered to them, and they, in turn, passed it onto us.  It probably looked funny as my daughter braced the mower while I pulled the starter.  (Maybe I need to start lifting weights?)  Once we got it started, it did a great job.  All that's left are spraying a few weeds, putting down mulch, and maybe planting a few annuals. Church softball games.  It has been fun to root for the team and get to know folks in an informal setting.  Even though we lost tonight, we had a great comeback with 8 runs including a 2-run homer. A fresh reminder of God's sovereignty in all things.  As we reflected on Acts 21-24 at small group last night, someone mentioned that Paul viewed his persecution as an opportunity to declare the Gospel rather than something to be avoided.  This was such a help to me.  ...

Sufferings have obtained an ill name in the world, but God's rod and love may stand together.  God teaches his people in affliction. God works his children into a sweet, obedient frame.  At length, God brings his children to subscribe: "What God wills, when God wills, how God wills; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Thomas Case (1598-1682), Select Works, A Treatise of Afflictions , pp. 5-27, from Voices From the Past , page 145, Banner of Truth.

I'm not a rugged individualist.  My individualism is more of a stealth variety. Outwardly it may appear that I am quite open, but I'm the one who knows to what extent.  The degree of openness is on my terms. It may not even be consciously done, but I weigh carefully how much I reveal of myself. In fact, that is why blogging is so appealing. If I wanted to, I could come up with a completely phony persona, and no one would know the difference.  And even if I'm not lying about who I am (which I'm not) there is a degree of safety in lack of personal contact. But this individualism can stand in the way of fellowship. There is a greater closeness with people in the church for which I am grateful, but deep down inside I still want to maintain a certain level of distance.  I like having my personal space.  One little example is my preference for email over the phone in contacting people.  Why?  Because it's more impersonal.  You are in control over the ...

My daughter and I get to spend an hour or so in the car when I drop her off for week-end visitation.  We often listen to music or sermons or just talk.  One thing we discussed was conviction and repentance.  A few years ago, she came under conviction and was in tears confessing and repenting for a past sin.  She never forgot that instance and never forgot to be encouraged when convicted because conviction leading to repentance is evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. This was a good reminder for me today.  I have my moments like the Psalmist who looked at the wicked flourishing and wondered why they can breeze through life with nary a pang or at least easily suppress any pangs.  I confess I am still waiting for lightning to fall from heaven and nothing has happened.  But I am reminded of the sobering words of Thomas Brooks, " God is most angry when he shows no anger. God keep me from this mercy; this kind of mercy is worse than all other kind of...

This little guy (or gal) outside our window inspired this all squirrel edition of Follies and Nonsense.