I was over at unbeliefnet.com today reading this article by Tony "The Communist"* Campolo, shaking my head at what passes for "Christian" these days, and getting just a little irritated. It seems that when Marc Heinrich, he of Purgatorio fame, questioned the contention that Jesus was a socialist, the answer should have been an emphatic "Yes!"

Campolo and company (a distinguished group of fine theologians including Brian McLaren, a Catholic Priest, and some Rev. Dr. Cheryl J. Sanders) have adopted the title "Red-letter Christians." Now, in my youth - earlier in my youth, that is - before some genius decided that the Democrat states were blue and the Republican states were red, red represented that Socialist Utopia that would have welcomed Comrade Tony with open arms. It would have been a proper bear hug, you know. Now, however, the title "Red-letter Christians" seemed out of place. I was confused, but help was on the way.

Campolo was referring to the red letters in the New Testament in red-letter Bibles, the words of Christ. These pious individuals have discovered that the red letters make it very clear that Republicans are evil. Read the Sermon on the Mount, for pete's sake! It's obvious, you ignorant red-necks! Jesus was a socialist! Disturbed by the fact that 83 percent of evangelicals voted Republican in the last Presidential election, these heavy-weights of the post-modern theological illuminati convened an emergency summit to save the world from (gasp) CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS! OK, I'm dramatizing a bit. Here is what Campolo said:

The purpose of this gathering was not to create a religious left movement to challenge the religious right, but to jump-start a religious movement that will transcend partisan politics. Believing that Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, we want to unite Christians who are concerned about what is happening in America.

What is happening in America that has these enlightened folks up-in-arms? It is important to remember that they are not merely talking about a Christian response to these concerns, they are proposing a political solution. In spite of the stated purpose to "transcend partisan politics," this is clearly a partisan effort. After all, it began with consternation over the number of "evangelicals" who vote Republican. They are upset about:

• "What is happening to poor people in America"
• "Environmental policies that are contributing to global warming"
• "The increasing arrogance of power shown in our country’s militarism"
• "Less than two-tenths of 1 percent [of our national budget] is designated to help the poor of third-world countries"
• "discrimination against women, people of color, and those who suffer because of their sexual orientation" (empasis added)

Each one of those issues deserves a lengthy discussion, but I will just say that they demonstrate just how far left this group is, and how far from Biblical their worldview is.

Now, back to the red letters. Through what must be very interesting exegesis and free-style hermeneutics, Dr. Campolo has divined the solution to these problems from the Sermon on the Mount. He says,

Of course, the message in those red-lettered verses is radical, to say the least. If you don’t believe me, read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

In those red letters, He calls us away from the consumerist values that dominate contemporary American consciousness. He calls us to be merciful, which has strong implications for how we think about capital punishment. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, he probably means we shouldn’t kill them. Most important, if we take Jesus seriously, we will realize that meeting the needs of the poor is a primary responsibility for His followers.

Christians should be concerned about the poor, but I would be very interested in seeing the passage of Scripture in which Jesus rebukes government for not looking after the poor, or individuals for not coercing others to give charitably. Make no mistake, that is what Campolo is talking about. He is not admonishing Christians to be more generous, he is calling for a rule of law that confiscates resources and redistributes them. Theft by any other name would smell as foul, as Shakespeare said.

Notably absent from Campolo's assessment of the Christian mission is the Gospel. The Christian mission is simply to irradicate poverty, get everyone into a Prius, do away with such barbaric practices as capital punishment, and accept sodomy for the completely natural thing that it is.

I am pretty sure the red letters say something else.

As I was scratching my head, wondering how anything I was reading fit under the heading "Christian," I noticed the sidebar, reproduced for you here, and realized just how narrow-minded I am.

Here and here is where the action is this week. Tim Challies and Doug McHone, the two dashing young men in the photo, are live-blogging the 2006 Shepherd's Conference at Grace Community Church, home of John MacArthur and Phil Johnson. Although I am incredibly jealous, I am happy for both of them and encourage you to follow the conference on both of their blogs. CD's and mp3 downloads of the seminars will be available after the conference, and I highly recommend taking advantage of those resources.

There was no question about it, Paddy Fitzpatrick was lucky. Everyone knew it.

Since that serendipitous day so long ago, when wandering aimlessly in the country, despondent, mourning the loss of his one true love, he had been exceedingly lucky. It began, as these things so often do, with an accident, an unfortunate event without which a fortunate event would have been missed. It was nothing serious. A broken shoelace, nothing more; but as he knelt to tie the broken ends together, cursing bad luck added to worse, his eyes came to rest on something wonderful and rare. It was a four-leaf clover.

Whether the acquisition of the clover merely changed his outlook on life, and so enhanced his performance, precipitating improved outcome from his efforts, or the clover itself actually changed his luck, is open to debate. In any case, from that day forward everything good seemed to come his way.

He had met the beautiful Colleen, and after a whirlwind romance, they were married. Their love seemed to grow exponentially day after day. It seemed as if the honeymoon would never end. Now, a year later, he was the proud father of beautiful twins, a boy and a girl. Life could not be sweeter.

On the job, the quality of his work was so improved that he was being noticed by the proprietors of the firm and considered for much bigger things. New employees called him “Mr. Fitzpatrick.” An executive office and company car were in his future.

Paddy was certain his good fortune was due to his four-leaf clover. It was in his suit pocket at all times.

One morning, however, Paddy could not find the clover.

Frantically, he searched the house, but it was not there. In a panic, he tried to recall when he had last seen it. He finally recalled it was in his gray suit that he had dropped off at the dry cleaners.

He rushed to the cleaners only to find that the work had been completed and his suit was ready to be picked up. He searched the suit and found the four-leaf clover, still in one piece but now faded and flattened from the dry cleaning.

From that day on, Paddy’s fortunes changed. Life was good, but it was no longer perfect. The little inconveniences were always there. His wife seemed more irritable. The twins seemed a little naughtier. His career stalled. Paddy’s life had changed.

He still carried the clover, but he was certainly not living the charmed life he was used to and had come to expect.

Finally, he had had enough. He confided in his wife, who had previously been unaware of his clover. He told her of the day when, at the end of his rope, he had found his good-luck charm, and how he had carried it every day, and how the most amazing good luck had been his. Then he told her of that fateful day when he had forgotten the clover in the pocket of his suit when he dropped it off to be cleaned and pressed, and how everything had gone downhill from there.

“O, honey, I’m so sorry,” she said, comforting him. Then, with the wisdom of a loving wife, she said, “You know, you really shouldn’t have pressed your luck.”

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. (Psalme 122:1 Geneva Bible)

Almighty God
by Matthew Hale (1609-1676)

lmighty God, when He had raised the frame
Of heaven and earth, and furnished the same
With works of equal wonder, framed then
A piece of greater excellence, called “man.”

Gave him a comprehensive soul, that soared
Above the creatures, and beheld his Lord;
Inscribed him with His image, and did fill
The compass of his intellect and will,

With truth and good; gave him the custody
Of His own bliss and immortality.
And justly now his Sovereign might demand
Subjection and obedience at his hand.

Were only being given, ’twere but right
His debt of duty should be infinite.
But here was more, a super-added dress
Of life, perfection, and happiness.

Yet this great King, for an experiment
Of man’s deserved allegiance, is content
To use an easy precept, such as stood
Both with His creature’s duty and his good.

Forbids one fruit on pain of death, and gives
Freely the rest, which he might eat and live.
But man rebels, and for one taste doth choose
His life, his God, his innocence to lose.

And now death-stricken, like a wounded deer,
Strictly pursued by guilt, and shame, and fear,
He seeks to lose himself; from God he flies,
And takes a wilderness of miseries.

A land of new transgression, where his curse
Is closer bound, his nature growing worse.
And while in this condition mankind lay,
A man should think his injured God should say,

“There lies accursed man, and let him lie
Entangled in that web of misery
Which his own sin has spun! I must be true
And just; unthankful man, thou hast thy due.”

But ’twas not so. Though man the mastery
With his Creator’s power and will dares try,
And being over-matched with power, disdains
To seek a pardon from his Sovereign.

The great and glorious God, the mighty King
Of heaven and earth, despised by such a thing
As man, a worm of his own making, breaks
The rules of greatness, and His creature seeks,

His froward creature – not in such a way
As once He did in the cool of that day
Wherein man sinned, and hid – such majesty
Had been too great for man’s necessity.

But the eternal Son of God, the Word,
By which all things were made, the mighty Lord,
Assumes our flesh, and under that He lays,
And hides His greatness, and those glorious rays

Of majesty, which had been over bright,
And too resplendent for poor mortal’s sight;
And under this disguise, the King of kings,
The message of His Father’s mercy brings.

Solicits man’s return; and pays the price
Of his transgression by the sacrifice
Of His own soul; and undertakes to cure
Their sin, their peace and pardon to procure.

To conquer death for him, and more than this,
To settle him in everlasting bliss.
And now, O man, could this excess of love,
Thy thankfulness to such a height improve,

That it could fire thy soul into one flame
Of love, to only Him that bought the same
At such a rate, yet still it were too small
To recompense thy Savior’s love withal.

Once did He give thee being from the dust,
And for that only being, ’twere but just
To pay thy utmost self; but when once more
Thy being and thy bliss He did restore

By such a means as this, it doth bereave
Thy soul of hopes of recompense, and leaves
Thy soul insolvent. Twice to Him this day
Thou owest thyself, yet but one self can pay.

—from Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

Psalme 64 (Geneva Bible)

To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid.

1 Heare my voyce, O God, in my prayer: preserue my life from feare of the enemie.
2 Hide me from the conspiracie of the wicked, and from the rage of the workers of iniquitie.
3 Which haue whette their tongue like a sword, and shot for their arrowes bitter wordes.
4 To shoote at the vpright in secrete: they shoote at him suddenly, and feare not.
5 They encourage themselues in a wicked purpose: they commune together to lay snares priuilie, and say, Who shall see them?
6 They haue sought out iniquities, and haue accomplished that which they sought out, euen euery one his secret thoughtes, and the depth of his heart.
7 But God will shoote an arrowe at them suddenly: their strokes shalbe at once.
8 They shall cause their owne tongue to fall vpon them: and whosoeuer shall see them, shall flee away.
9 And all men shall see it, and declare the worke of God, and they shall vnderstand, what he hath wrought.
10 But the righteous shalbe glad in the Lord, and trust in him: and all that are vpright of heart, shall reioyce.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

On this day in 1908, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Breith stood before city council and announced that “women are not physically fit to operate automobiles.”

Today is the birthday of composer Maurice Ravel, born in Cibourne, France, in 1875.

Click here to listen to a 60-second clip of the finale.

A man was driving on Highway 2 through North Dakota one evening. The road was deserted and he had not seen a soul for what seemed like hours. Suddenly his car started to cough and splutter and the engine slowly died, leaving him sitting by the road in total silence.

He popped the hood and looked to see if there was anything that he could do to get it going again. Unfortunately, he had a limited knowledge of cars, so all he could do was look at the engine, feeling despondent.

As he peered by the gradually fading light of his flashlight, he cursed that he had not put in new batteries, like he had intended to.

Suddenly, through the inky shadows, came a deep voice, “It’s your fuel pump.”

The man jumped up quickly, striking his head on the underside of the hood. “Who said that?” he demanded.

There were two horses standing in the field alongside and the man was amazed when the nearest horse repeated, “It’s your fuel pump. Tap it with your flashlight, and try it again. If it starts, it should at least get you to the next town, where you can get it replaced.”

Confused, the man tapped the fuel pump with his flashlight and got into his car. He turned the key, and sure enough, the engine roared into life. He went to close the hood, and turned to thank the horse; but they were gone. Thinking he must be delusional, he got in his car and drove away.

When he reached the next town, he pulled into the first service station. “My fuel pump is going out,” he told the attendant. “Can I get it replaced here?”

“Mechanic won’t be in ’til morning,” the attendant replied. “You can get a room at the Motel Six down the street. They left the light on for you. Say, how do you know it’s the fuel pump?”

“Well, I… never mind, I just know. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Well, now you got me curious,” said the attendant. “You must know a lot about cars.”

“No, not really,” said the man. “Well, alright… about five miles out of town, my engine quit…” and he told the whole story. “…and then, when I turned to thank him, he was gone! I must have imagined the whole thing. But my car started, and here I am!”

The service station attendant rubbed his chin and looked thoughtful. “A horse, you say, ’bout five miles out? Was it by any chance a white horse?”

The man replied affirmatively. “Yes, it was! Am I crazy?”

“No, you ain’t crazy. In fact, you’re lucky he was there,” he said, “because the black horse don’t know nothin’ ’bout cars”.

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. (Psalme 122:1 Geneva Bible)

A PRESENT SALVATION

Creator and Redeemer God,

uthor of all existence, source of all
bessedness,
I adore thee for making me capable of knowing thee,
   for giving me reason and conscience,
   for leading me to desire thee;
I praise thee for the revelation of thyself
      in the gospel,
   for thy heart as a dwelling place of pity,
   for thy thoughts of peace towards me,
   for thy patience and thy graciousness,
   for the vastness of thy mercy.
Thou hast moved my conscience to know how
   the guilty can be pardoned,
   the unholy sanctified,
   the poor enriched.
May I always be amongst those who not only
      hear but know thee,
   who walk with and rejoice in thee,
   who take thee at thy word and find life there.

Keep me always longing
   for a present salvation in Holy Spirit comforts
      and rejoicings,
   for spiritual graces and blessings,
   for help to value my duties as well as my privileges.
May I cherish simplicity and godly sincerity
   of character.
Help me to be in reality before thee
   as in appearance I am before men,
   to be religious before I profess religion,
   to leave the world before I enter the church,
   to set my affections on things above,
   to shun forbidden follies and vanities,
   to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of grace,
   to be prepared to bear evil as well as to do good.
O God, make me worthy of this calling,
   that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me
      and I in him.

—from The Valley of Vision, Arthur Bennett, editor (Banner of Truth Trust, 2002).

Psalme 71 (Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah.

1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is always heartbreaking to learn that one of your heroes is flawed. It happens to all of us at some point at least once. Depending upon your degree of admiration for the fallen one, it can be quite devastating. Even worse is when one is led down a dangerous path by the one he had admired before discovering that he is being led astray. That is the situation I found myself in today. A man I have long revered, whose writing has had a considerable influence in my Christian walk, has fallen into a dangerous habit, and I have followed him into it. Who is this wolf in sheep’s clothing? Brace yourselves, you will be shocked.

It is none other than Albert Mohler. Yes, the President of Southern Baptist Seminary has an addiction, and I’m afraid I’ve got it, too.

I've always liked numbers. I like math. My only regret is that I didn’t like it back when people were trying to teach it to me. Anyway, I like numbers; so I was especially vulnerable when Dr. Mohler wrote this blog post about his addiction to Sudoku.

In fairness to Dr. Mohler, he did warn of the addictive nature of this numbers game right at the start, calling it “one of the most addictive puzzles ever invented.” But then he began his seductive sales pitch.

He said playing would make me smarter. Who doesn’t want to be smarter? I consulted my wife. She thought it would be good if I was smarter. I think she said something about “a miracle,” but I wasn’t really listening. I was already Googling Sudoku.

He implied that it might qualify as mental athletics. I’ve never been athletic, even as a kid, and I certainly am not now, so I was drawn to the idea that I could be a jock. A smart jock, even. How many of those have you heard of?

So I found a place on-line and tried a game.

“That’s kind of fun,” I thought, “I’ll play just one more.” I played one more… and one more… As the sun began its descent in the west, someone knocked on my door. “Not now, I’m working!” I snapped. Well, come on, I was about to finish one!

Now I’m hooked. I’ve had to drag myself away for the evening, but I’ll be back. Maybe there is a twelve-step program for guys like me. Maybe I’ll sit next to a distinguished gentleman who will stand and say, “Hello, I’m Al, and I’m a…” Probably not. On the bright side, at least now I can say I have something in common with Albert Mohler.

A guy from Minnesota* died and was sent to hell. He had been a horrible man his entire life. The devil† put him to work breaking up rocks with a sledgehammer. To make it worse, he cranked up the temperature and the humidity.

After a couple of days, the devil checked in on his victim to see if he was suffering adequately. The devil was aghast to find the Minnesotan cheerfully swinging his hammer and whistling a happy tune.

The devil walked up to him and said, “I don’t understand this. I’ve turned the heat way up, it’s humid and you’re crushing rocks; why are you so happy?”

The Minnesotan, with a big smile, looked at the devil and replied, “This is great! It reminds me of July on the farm. Hot, humid – I’m used to this. It reminds me of home. This is fantastic! Sure, it’s hard work, but considering where I am, I can’t complain.”

The devil, extremely perplexed, walked away to ponder the Minnesotan’s remark. Then he decided to drop the temperature into the low 40’s, send down a driving rain and torrential wind. Soon, Hell became a wet, muddy mess.

Walking in mud up to his ankles and soaked to the skin, the Minnesotan was happily working away in the rain, singing (is this too corny?) “Singing in the Rain,” and pushing a wheelbarrow full of crushed rocks.

Again, the devil asked how he could be happy in such conditions.

The Minnesotan replies, “This is great! Just like spring in Minnesota. A little mud never hurt anyone! Sure, it’s a mess, but…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, considering where you are…” The devil was now completely baffled but more determined than ever to make the Minnesotan suffer. He made the temperature plummet to numbers far below zero. Suddenly, Hell was blanketed in snow and ice.

Confident that this would surely make the Minnesotan unhappy, the devil checked in on him again. He was again amazed at what he saw. The Minnesotan was dancing, singing, and twirling his sledgehammer in the air as he cavorted about in glee.

Now the devil was beside himself. “How can you be so happy? Don’t you know it’s 40 below zero?” he screamed.

Jumping up and down, the Minnesotan nailed the devil squarely in the face with a snowball and yelled, “Hell has frozen over! The Vikings must be going to the Super Bowl!”

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. (Psalme 122:1 Geneva Bible)

HYMN 4, L. M.
Salvation in the cross.
by Isaac Watts
(1674-1748)

ere at thy cross, my dying God,
I lay my soul beneath thy love,
Beneath the droppings of thy blood,
Jesus, nor shall it e’er remove.

Not all that tyrants think or say,
With rage and lightning in their eyes,
Nor hell shall fright my heart away,
Should hell with all its legions rise.

Should worlds conspire to drive me thence,
Moveless and firm this heart should lie;
Resolved, (for that’s my last defence,)
If I must perish, there to die.

But speak, my Lord, and calm my fear;
Am I not safe beneath thy shade?
Thy vengeance will not strike me here,
Nor Satan dares my soul invade.

Yes, I’m secure beneath thy blood,
And all my foes shall lose their aim:
Hosannah to my dying God,
And my best honors to his name.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book II: Composed on Divine Subjects (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

Psalme 78 (Geneva Bible)
A Psalme to giue instruction comitted to Asaph.

1 Heare my doctrine, O my people: incline your eares vnto the wordes of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will declare high sentences of olde.
3 Which we haue heard and knowen, & our fathers haue tolde vs.
4 Wee will not hide them from their children but to the generation to come we wil shewe the praises of the Lord his power also, & his wonderful woorkes that he hath done:
5 How he established a testimonie in Iaakob, and ordeined a Law in Israel, which he commaunded our fathers, that they shoulde teache their children:
6 That the posteritie might knowe it, and the children, which should be borne, should stand vp, and declare it to their children:
7 That they might set their hope on God, and not forget the workes of God but keepe his commandements:
8 And not to bee as their fathers, a disobedient & rebellious generation: a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirite was not faithfull vnto God.
9 The children of Ephraim being armed and shooting with the bowe, turned backe in the day of battell.
10 They kept not the couenant of God, but refused to walke in his Lawe,
11 And forgate his Actes, and his wonderfull woorkes that he had shewed them.
12 Hee did marueilous thinges in the sight of their fathers in the lande of Egypt: euen in the fielde of Zoan.
13 He deuided the Sea, & led them through: he made also the waters to stand as an heape.
14 In the day time also hee led them with a cloude, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 He claue the rockes in the wildernes, and gaue them drinke as of the great depths.
16 He brought floods also out of the stonie rocke; so that hee made the waters to descend like the riuers.
17 Yet they sinned stil against him, and prouoked the Highest in the wildernesse,
18 And tempted God in their heartes in requiring meate for their lust.
19 They spake against God also, saying, Can God prepare a table in the wildernesse?
20 Behold, he smote the rocke, that the water gushed out, and the streames ouerflowed: can hee giue bread also? or prepare flesh for his people?
21 Therefore the Lord heard and was angrie, and the fire was kindled in Iaakob, & also wrath came vpon Israel,
22 Because they beleeued not in God, and trusted not in his helpe.
23 Yet he had comanded the clouds aboue, and had opened the doores of heauen,
24 And had rained downe MAN vpon them for to eate, and had giuen them of the wheate of heauen.
25 Man did eate the bread of Angels: hee sent them meate ynough.
26 He caused the Eastwinde to passe in the heauen, and through his power he brought in the Southwinde.
27 Hee rained flesh also vpon them as dust, and feathered foule as the sand of the sea.
28 And hee made it fall in the middes of their campe euen round about their habitations.
29 So they did eate and were well filled: for he gaue them their desire.
30 They were not turned from their lust, but the meate was yet in their mouthes,
31 When the wrath of God came euen vpon them, and slew the strongest of them, and smote downe the chosen men in Israel.
32 For all this, they sinned stil, and beleeued not his wonderous woorkes.
33 Therefore their daies did hee consume in vanitie, and their yeeres hastily.
34 And when hee slewe them, they sought him and they returned, and sought God earely.
35 And they remembred that God was their strength, and the most high God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered him with their mouth, and dissembled with him with their tongue.
37 For their heart was not vpright with him: neither were they faithfull in his couenant.
38 Yet he being merciful forgaue their iniquitie, & destroied them not, but oft times called backe his anger, & did not stirre vp all his wrath.
39 For he remebred that they were flesh: yea, a winde that passeth and commeth not againe.
40 How oft did they prouoke him in the wildernes? and grieue him in the desert?
41 Yea, they returned, & tempted God, and limited the Holie one of Israel.
42 They remebred not his hand, nor the day when he deliuered them from the enemie,
43 Nor him that set his signes in Egypt, and his wonders in the fielde of Zoan,
44 And turned their riuers into blood, & their floods, that they could not drinke.
45 Hee sent a swarme of flies among them, which deuoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gaue also their fruites vnto the caterpiller, and their labour vnto the grassehopper.
47 He destroied their vines with haile, & their wilde figge trees with the hailestone.
48 He gaue their cattell also to the haile, and their flockes to the thunderboltes.
49 Hee cast vpon them the fiercenesse of his anger, indignation and wrath, and vexation by the sending out of euill Angels.
50 He made a way to his anger: he spared not their soule from death, but gaue their life to the pestilence,
51 And smote al the firstborne in Egypt, euen the beginning of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham.
52 But hee made his people to goe out like sheepe, & led them in the wildernes like a flocke.
53 Yea, he caried them out safely, and they feared not, and the Sea couered their enemies.
54 And he brought them vnto the borders of his Sanctuarie: euen to this Mountaine, which his right hand purchased.
55 He cast out the heathe also before them, and caused them to fall to the lot of his inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles.
56 Yet they tempted, and prouoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies,
57 But turned backe & delt falsely like their fathers: they turned like a deceitfull bowe.
58 And they prouoked him to anger with their high places, and mooued him to wrath with their grauen images.
59 God heard this and was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel,
60 So that hee forsooke the habitation of Shilo, euen the Tabernacle where hee dwelt among men,
61 And deliuered his power into captiuitie, and his beautie into the enemies hand.
62 And hee gaue vp his people to the sworde, and was angrie with his inheritance.
63 The fire deuoured their chosen men, and their maides were not praised.
64 Their Priestes fell by the sworde, and their widowes lamented not.
65 But the Lord awaked as one out of sleepe, & as a strong man that after his wine crieth out,
66 And smote his enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetuall shame.
67 Yet he refused the tabernacle of Ioseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68 But chose the tribe of Iudah, and mount Zion which he loued.
69 And he built his Sanctuarie as an high palace, like the earth, which he stablished for euer.
70 He chose Dauid also his seruant, and tooke him from the shepefolds.
71 Euen from behinde the ewes with yong brought he him to feede his people in Iaakob, and his inheritance in Israel.
72 So he fed them according to the simplicitie of his heart, and guided them by the discretion of his hands.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I heartily dislike adding links to the blogroll. Therefore, it is with great displeasure that I have added two blogs today.

Pulpit Live should require no explanation. It is the bloggenized version of Pulpit Magazine, featuring John MacArthur and other fellows of the Shepherd's Fellowship. Of course they get a link.

The other new addition is more difficult. If I was to admit reading Musings of an English Muffin, which I will not, I would say that Libbie is quite smart, Biblically sound, provocative, and entertaining, as well as charming. Those who read her blog will be challenged and encouraged, and learn many interesting things such as what "in their smalls" means (UK readers may now write me off as hopelessly ignorant and easily amused, if you haven't already). Take one look at Libbie's blog, and you will see why reading it openly would be far too risky for someone possessing the exceedingly manly masculine manliness that was thrust upon me on the day of my birth. Read it long enough, and you will soon forget how utterly pink it is. Um, that's what I've heard, anyway.

This year I am reading through the Bible on a schedule for the first time. I have read the Bible more than once and most of it several times, but I have never before made a point of reading all of it in one year. The only scheduled reading I do is one chapter per day from the Old Testament Wisdom books. I am continuing that as well.

I have looked at various reading schedules, but I haven't liked any of them because they split the reading into small portions of the different parts of Scripture, destroying continuity and context. The least problematic are those that simply split the daily reading between Old & New Testaments. That scheme works fairly well, I think. Others call for daily readings from the Old & New Testaments and Psalms & Proverbs. Worse, some plans give readings from The Old Testament, Psalms & Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles. I once found one that had further divisions such as Historical, Poetic, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets, etc. I wanted something simpler, so I made my own schedule.

My plan is nothing if not simple. It will take me straight through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in 344 days, finishing on December 10th. Why not 365 days? Figuring it out to 365 days would have been too complicated. I took my favorite bible, noted the number of pages of actual Scripture (1280), and divided by 365. That gave me 3½ pages per day. I rounded that up to four pages, and went through the Bible and wrote down the last chapter heading on every fourth page. Each day’s reading takes me through that chapter.

I did adjust the daily readings a little. For example, when a day’s reading crossed from one book into another, I cut it off at the end of the book. Then, If that day was reduced to only one chapter, I moved a chapter over from the previous day. Psalm 119 crossed over into two days. 1st, 2nd, 3rd John and Jude were each assigned to separate days even though they weren’t separate originally.

Today’s reading is the book of Ruth. At first sight, Ruth seems rather incidental. Of course, it contains an account of God's providence and sovereign control in the Messianic genealogy, which gives it purpose enough, but someone with only elementary knowledge of Scripture could read it and see little more than that. However, there is much more.

In Ruth we see redemption for Gentiles as well as Jews. Ruth models virtue, Boaz honor. Some time ago, Pastor Mark Loughridge posted his sermons on Ruth. I encourage you to read them along with the text.

Studies in Ruth (1)
Studies in Ruth (2)
Studies in Ruth (3)
Studies in Ruth (4)
Studies in Ruth (5)
Studies in Ruth (6)
Studies in Ruth Chapter 2
Studies in Ruth Chapter 2(2)
Studies in Ruth Chapter 2(3)
Ruth Chapter 3(1)
Ruth Chapter 3(2)
Ruth Chapter 4 - The Redeemer Redeems
Ruth Chapter 4 - The Redeemer Redeems (2)
Ruth Chapter 4 - The Redeemer Redeems (3)

Suffering from uncontrollable seizures and erratic behavior, a man made an appointment to see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist ran a full battery of psychological tests, and even sent him to a neurologist to have his brain examined. Finally, he came to an unexpected conclusion.

“This is very unusual,” he told his patient, “I’ve never encountered this before. There is nothing wrong with you, mentally or physically. I believe you are possessed.”

“Possessed!” exclaimed the man. “You mean by a demon or something?”

“That’s exactly what I mean,” the doctor replied. “I’m calling my priest. I think he can help.”

The next week, when the man came for his psychiatric session, the priest was there. The psychiatrist sat back in a corner while the priest performed an exorcism. Afterwards, the man went home. At his next appointment, the psychiatrist questioned him about events following the exorcism until the present.

“It’s really amazing,” he said. “The fits have stopped. I haven’t done anything strange at all since the exorcism. I guess you were right!”

“Well, I believe you are cured,” replied the Doctor.

The man went home. Bills arrived from the psychiatric office, but he didn’t pay them. For several months, he ignored the requests for payment, until the letters were coming from a collection agency. Still, he refused to pay. Finally, the psychiatrist himself got in his car, stopped by the rectory to pick up the priest, drove to the man’s house, and had him repossessed.

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. (Psalme 122:1 Geneva Bible)

A Song of Praise for Creation
by John Mason

hou wast, O God, and Thou wast blessed
Before the world began;
Of Thine eternity possessed
Before time’s glass did run.

Thou needest none Thy praise to sing
As if Thy joy could fade;
Couldst Thou have needed anything
That couldst have nothing made.

Thou spoke, and heaven and earth appeared,
And answered to Thy call;
As if their Maker’s voice they heard,
Which is the creature’s all.

Thou spoke the word, most mighty Lord,
Thy word went forth with speed;
Thy will, O Lord, it was Thy word,
Thy word it was Thy deed.

Thou brought forth Adam from the ground,
And Eve out of his side;
Thy blessing made the earth abound
With these two multiplied.

Those three great leaves – heaven, sea, and land –
Thy name in figures show,
Brutes feel the bounty of Thy hand,
But I my Maker know.

Should not I here Thy servant be,
Whose creatures serve me here?
My Lord, whom should I fear but Thee,
Who am Thy creatures’ fear?

To whom, Lord, should I sing but Thee,
The Maker of my tongue?
Lo, other lords would seize on me,
But I to Thee belong.

As waters haste unto their sea,
And earth unto its earth;
So let my soul return to Thee,
From whom it had its birth.

But, ah! I’m fallen in the night,
And cannot come to Thee;
Yet speak the Word, let there be light,
It shall enlighten me.

And let Thy Word, most mighty Lord,
Thy fallen creature raise;
Oh make me o’er again, and I
Shall sing my Maker’s praise.

—from Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

Psalme 85 (Geneva Bible)

To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah.

1 Lord, thou hast bene fauourable vnto thy land: thou hast brought againe the captiuitie of Iaakob.
2 Thou hast forgiuen the iniquitie of thy people, and couered all their sinnes. Selah.
3 Thou hast withdrawen all thine anger, and hast turned backe fro the fiercenes of thy wrath.
4 Turne vs, O God of our saluation, and release thine anger toward vs.
5 Wilt thou be angry with vs for euer? and wilt thou prolong thy wrath from one generation to another?
6 Wilt thou not turne againe & quicken vs, that thy people may reioyce in thee?
7 Shew vs thy mercie, O Lord, and graunt vs thy saluation.
8 I will hearken what the Lord God will say: for he will speake peace vnto his people, and to his Saintes, that they turne not againe to follie.
9 Surely his saluation is neere to them that feare him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercie and trueth shall meete: righteousnes and peace shall kisse one another.
11 Trueth shall bud out of the earth, and righteousnes shall looke downe from heauen.
12 Yea, the Lord shall giue good things, and our land shall giue her increase.
13 Righteousnesse shall go before him, and shall set her steps in the way.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

On Saturday, I linked to a WorldNetDaily.com article that began,

In a move that has outraged parents, the UK yesterday unveiled a plan to place nurses in every school in England with the authority to help students arrange for pregnancy tests, morning-after pills and abortions – without alerting their parents – in order to improve "sexual health."

Yes, I suppose those parents are outraged. They ought to be. However, don’t they have an elected government? Doesn’t the depravity of their government simply represent their own depravity? Of course it does. But then we Americans have long been aware that Europe and Great Britain are on a greased slide into Hell while we look on in horror.

Yet, there is something that troubles me far more than that. It is the fact that I need to point at their folly in order to feel slightly better about my own country.