Folks are upset that a Muslim congressman wants to take his oath of office on a Koran rather than a Bible. I don't know what the bigwigs of “evangelicalism” are saying about it, since I literally never listen to “Christian” radio, but radio host and syndicated columnist Dennis Prager has some interesting (in´tər-est-ing, adj. ignorant of Constitutional law, American history, the Bible, and the Christian faith in general) opinions on this.

Prager’s first interesting (see definition above) statement is the title of his Townhall.com article, America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on. What does he mean, “America, not Kieth Ellison, decides”? If, by “America,” he means the law of the United States of America, I agree. But what does the law say about this? The answer is, nothing. That’s right, nothing, and for a very good reason. The architects of the Constitution specifically did not want religion dictated by law. Go here for details on that. If, by “America,” Prager means the sensibilities of the populace, then he is on very dangerous ground. If America ever was a Christian nation (I deny that it was), it certainly is not now. The Christian (using the term generically, not soteriologically) population is shrinking, not growing. Suppose one day the majority of the population objects to the use of the Bible in swearing-in ceremonies? Will Prager still say “America decides”? Suppose one day we have a majority of Muslims? Will Prager then object to the use of the Bible? Prager says,

Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison’s favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don’t serve in Congress.

Is that a joke? “America is interested in only one book, the Bible”? That is an interesting (see definition above) statement indeed. The vast majority of Americans who call themselves Christians haven’t the slightest interest in the Bible. Those who call themselves “evangelical” are far more interested in nice formulas for having their best life now than in anything God has to say. If Congress was limited to those who could legitimately swear on the Bible (I’m leaving Matthew 5:33-37 out of it for now), the House, Senate, and Whitehouse would be nearly vacant.

Prager continues his interesting commentary:

Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress. Would they allow him to choose Hitler's “Mein Kampf,” the Nazis’ bible, for his oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is elected to public office?

How many of you will agree with me that, if a Nazi was elected, his choice of book would be nowhere near the greatest of our problems? Should voters who elect Nazis care about a ceremonial token book? This is interesting in more ways than I can say.

When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system underlies American civilization.

Right. When elected officials take their oaths on the Bible, they are affirming the values that underlie abortion, homosexual rights, and a growing list of perversions that are becoming acceptable “alternative lifestyles.”

Do you see how meaningless this is? Setting the Bible up as a token of our alleged righteousness is the epitome of vanity. It is the equivalent of calling your wife from your girlfriend’s bed to tell her you love her.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Isaiah 29:13-14

Matthew Sims, one of the eminent writers at The World from our Window and proprietor of Under Sovereign Grace has offered a collection of John Piper sermons on CD for free. All I have to do is post a link his websites and to my favorite John Piper book, and a top ten list of my favorite theologians and books. So here you go, in no particular order:

Books
The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur
Our Sufficiency in Christ by John MacArthur
Reckless Faith by John MacArthur
Ashamed of the Gospel by John MacArthur
The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts by Isaac Watts
The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Not a Chance by R.C. Sproul
The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon
The Westminster Pulpit by G. Campbell Morgan

Theologians
Matthew Sims (sucking up can’t hurt)
John MacArthur
R.C. Sproul
John Bunyan
John Calvin
Martin Luther
Isaac Watts
Francis Schaffer
Charles Spurgeon
Michael Beasley

Today's joke is extra stupid in honor of Tim Challies' birthday. OK, not really. It would have been stupid anway. By the way, here is his wishlist. If you buy him a book, he might just review it some day. If not, I still get the pleasure of embarrassing him by posting it here.

“Nice haircut,” someone said.

“Thanks,” he replied.

“Thanks for what? You haven’t ordered yet.” said the bartender.

“Didn’t you just…? Oh, never mind. Give me a beer.” He scooped up a few peanuts from a bowl on the bar.

A few sips, and he heard, “Love the tie!” he looked quickly behind him. No one was there. In fact, he was the only one in the bar. Strange, he thought. He scooped up a few more peanuts.

“Hey, that's a nice-looking watch! Is it a Rollex?” That same voice again, and no one in sight! Now he was getting nervous.

“Hey, bartender!” he called. The bartender appeared from the back room. “Is there someone else in this bar?”

“Just you, sir. It’s been slow all afternoon. It’s still early, though,” he replied.

“OK, then, what’s the joke?” the man demanded, somewhat irritated.

“Joke? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on! Someone keeps talking to me – telling me I look good, ‘nice tie,’ stuff like that. You’re the only one here, so what’s the joke?” he demanded.

“Oh, that; that’s the peanuts,” the bartender said.

“The peanuts? How stupid do I look?”

“I’m telling you, it’s the peanuts,” he explained. “They’re complimentary.”

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

Self-Aplause
by John Newton (1725-1807)

y God, how perfect are Thy ways,
But mine polluted are;
Sin twines itself about my praise,
And slides into my prayer.

When I would speak what Thou hast done
To save me from my sin,
I cannot make Thy mercies known,
But self-applause creeps in.

Divine desire, that holy flame
Thy grace creates in me,
Alas, impatience is its name,
When it returns to Thee.

This heart a fountain of vile thoughts,
How does it overflow!
While self upon the surface floats,
Still bubbling from below.

Let others in the gaudy dress,
Of fancied merit shine,
The Lord shall be my righteousness,
The Lord forever mine.

salme 37 (Geneva Bible)
A Psalme of Dauid.

1 Fret not thy selfe because of the wicked men, neither be enuious for the euill doers.
2 For they shall soone bee cut downe like grasse, and shall wither as the greene herbe.
3 Trust thou in the Lord & do good: dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed assuredly.
4 And delite thy selfe in the Lorde, and hee shall giue thee thine hearts desire.
5 Commit thy way vnto the Lord, & trust in him, and he shall bring it to passe.
6 And he shall bring foorth thy righteousnes as the light, & thy iudgement as the noone day.
7 Waite patiently vpon the Lorde and hope in him: fret not thy selfe for him which prospereth in his way: nor for the man that bringeth his enterprises to passe.
8 Cease from anger, and leaue off wrath: fret not thy selfe also to doe euill.
9 For euill doers shalbe cut off, and they that wait vpon the Lord, they shall inherite the land.
10 Therefore yet a litle while, and the wicked shall not appeare, and thou shalt looke after his place, and he shall not be found.
11 But meeke men shal possesse the earth, and shall haue their delite in the multitude of peace.
12 The wicked practiseth against the iust, and gnasheth his teeth against him.
13 But the Lord shall laugh him to scorne: for he seeth, that his day is comming.
14 The wicked haue drawen their sworde, and haue bent their bowe, to cast downe the poore and needie, and to slay such as be of vpright conuersation.
15 But their sword shall enter into their owne heart, and their bowes shalbe broken.
16 A small thing vnto the iust man is better, then great riches to the wicked and mightie.
17 For the armes of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord vpholdeth the iust men.
18 The Lorde knoweth the dayes of vpright men, and their inheritance shall bee perpetuall.
19 They shall not be confounded in the perilous time, & in the daies of famine they shall haue ynough.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be consumed as the fatte of lambes: euen with the smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked boroweth and payeth not againe. but the righteous is mercifull, and giueth.
22 For such as be blessed of God, shall inherite the lande, and they that be cursed of him, shalbe cut off.
23 The pathes of man are directed by the Lord: for he loueth his way.
24 Though he fall, hee shall not be cast off: for the Lord putteth vnder his hand.
25 I haue beene yong, and am olde: yet I sawe neuer the righteous forsaken, nor his seede begging bread.
26 But hee is euer mercifull and lendeth, and his seede enioyeth the blessing.
27 Flee from euill and doe good, and dwell for euer.
28 For the Lord loueth iudgement, and forsaketh not his Saintes: they shall be preserued for euermore: but the seede of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous men shall inherit the lande, and dwell therein for euer.
30 The mouth of the righteous will speake of wisedome, and his tongue will talke of iudgement.
31 For the Lawe of his God is in his heart, and his steppes shall not slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 But the Lord wil not leaue him in his hand, nor condemne him, when he is iudged.
34 Waite thou on the Lorde, and keepe his way, and he shall exalt thee, that thou shalt inherite the lande: when the wicked men shall perish, thou shalt see.
35 I haue seene the wicked strong, and spreading himselfe like a greene bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and loe, he was gone, and I sought him, but he could not be founde.
37 Marke the vpright man, and beholde the iust: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressours shall be destroyed together, and the ende of the wicked shall bee cut off.
39 But the saluation of the righteous men shalbe of the Lord: he shalbe their strength in the time of trouble.
40 For the Lord shall helpe them, and deliuer them: he shall deliuer them from the wicked, and shall saue them, because they trust in him.

ecommended
Sermons

Steve Weaver
Phillip M. Way
Jason Robertson
John MacArthur
Phil Johnson & Don Green
David Legge
R.C. Sproul

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

Once again I am reminded of my own mortality. I guess I should have expected it, but when my "King for a Week" status stretched out to a fortnight, I suppose I began to settle into the throne a bit too comfortably. I began wondering what I had done to deserve my removal, but then I remembered that I hadn't done anything to deserve the crown in the first place, so I guess it's all fair. It should remind us all, though, that we can't put our trust in earthly kingdoms.

But seriously, I am thankful for the honor. Readership of this humble blog more than doubled for those two weeks. Maybe some of those readers will stay. Thanks to all of you who flatter me by reading my unoriginal, inconsistant postings. I hope you get something worthwhile out of your time here.

My successor to the throne is New Attitude. Long live the King! For a week or so, anyway.

It happens every year. Some school teacher tells the truth about the mythical fat man from the North Pole, and parents flip out as though something wrong has been done. Christian parents, whom I would expect to love truth, are often as outraged as the pagans. It has happened again this year. I’m not going to link to the story. I’m sure you can find it if you want. Besides, it’s the same story as last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and next year too. Only the names and places have changed.

Now, I agree that it is within the parents’ rights (legally, not morally) to tell their children whatever they want. Let them tell their children that a jolly fat man who lives at the North Pole—there is no land at the North Pole, by the way—makes an annual visit to every good child on the planet via a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. Let them say that the moon is made of cheese, that they can accomplish anything with enough self-esteem, that global warming is a legitimate threat, and that Ralph Nader would make an excellent President. Parents are certainly entitled to decide what to tell their children, and I am right out front in the battle against anyone who says otherwise. That is why we homeschool.

On the other hand, my right to teach my children whatever I see fit does not translate into an obligation on anyone else to back up my story. I have no right to wax indignant because someone says there is no Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, or Santa Claus.

“But,” you say, “They don’t have to go out of their way to do it. Furthermore, not all truth must be told. Some truth should not be told.” Then you might give an example of crossing the street to tell someone they’re ugly , which is a ridiculous comparison, for a few reasons. First, ugly is subjective. That anyone is ugly is neither true nor false. Second, supposing ugly is a fact, there could never be a good reason for saying so. What kind of person would do that?

Third, and most importantly, it would be highly unusual for anyone to be forced to declare someone to be ugly. Anyone who spends a lot of time with children will inevitably be faced with the necessity of either affirming or denying Santa Claus. Any teacher committed to telling the truth, no matter how studiously he avoids the subject, will eventually have to say, “No, sorry, it’s just a story.” You have no right to object to that, and to expect them to cross their fingers and lie.

Then there are the children who know the truth. Eventually, they learn to avoid the subject and keep quiet. Little kids haven’t learned that, and they don’t have the skill to maneuver through this minefield as adults can. Sometimes, they are just going to blurt out, “There’s no Santa Claus!” There is no malice or guile in that, and I would be ashamed to hear my children say otherwise when they know the truth. Children lose any illusion of innocence far too soon as it is. I will not teach them to lie for any reason.

“But,” you say again, “Surely you tell your children stories; not everything you tell them is technically true.” Yes, we tell stories, and some of them are real whoppers; but we call them fiction. We don’t actually convince our children that there really are trolls living under bridges or pigs that can build houses or bears that eat porridge. We never try to convince them of anything that is not true. The possible example you’re thinking of right now? No. I don’t need to know what it is, the answer is, “No. Absolutely not. Nope; not that, either.”

As aggravating and absolutely wrong as it is to expect complicity in deceit, worse is the scorn that is often heaped upon those who choose to tell their own children the truth. I’m talking about Christians who look down on others for telling their own children the truth. We are stealing joy from our children. We are miserable, dour adults who suck the fun out of Christmas. That attitude is astonishing. First, to be contemptuous of others for telling the truth—for telling the truth!—is audacious beyond description.

Second, to think that the legitimate focus of Christmas is somehow lacking, and that a fairy tale can add anything to the true story of God incarnate, born of virgin, without sin, who lived and died to bear my sin and secure eternal life for me! The true story of the incarnation alone needs a companion fairy tale, or Christmas won’t be fun! Such attitudes are unworthy of Christians.

Tell your children whatever you want. That really is not my concern, or the focus of this article. Your children will probably grow up just fine, although many have testified to the harm done to their faith when they learned the truth about Santa. Just don’t expect complicity from me. Don’t expect sympathy when you throw your temper tantrums over the gall of some teacher who told the truth. Don’t expect an apology when your child discovers that mine doesn’t believe in Santa. You see, if maintaining your deceit requires me to be deceitful too, you’re on your own. If that ruins your Christmas, I’m afraid you’ve missed Christmas anyway.

Are Christians under law, or grace?

I assume most believers will answer, "Grace." I hope so, anyway. Here is what I really want to know:

What do you mean by that? Do you even know, or are you just repeating a slogan?

Thirsty minds want to know.

The answers to yesterday's post, Under Law or Grace?, were not too surprising. As expected, couple of commenters touched on the question I am asking today.

We know that we are no longer under law, if indeed we are under grace. At the same time, we should agree that anyone who has become a new creature in Christ is obedient (Lordless Salvation heretics may go argue with Frank Turk. I'm not interested.) So this is my question:

Obedient to what, and why? If I told my kids that I expected their obedience, but they should consider themselves free from my commands, they would be confused.

Maybe I sound confused. I told a commenter yesterday that my question wasn't intended to lead you down any particular road, and that is true. These are completely open questions; but I am going somewhere with this, and as soon as I nail down where that is, I'll let you know. I've been having some thoughts on this that are new, at least to me, and I'm trying to figure out if they are profound, or just stupid.

Well, actually, no he doesn't. If that's what you're looking for (stuff that "rocks"), you've definitely come to the wrong place.

This CD is not new (1996), but it is among my favorites for the Christmas season. Christopher Parkening is recognized by many as the premier classical guitar virtuoso in the world today. Kathleen Battle is, I'm quite certain, what the sopranos in the Heavenly choir sound like. Click the image below to sample this CD and, if you have any musical discernment whatsoever, buy it!

Christopher Parkening & Kathleen Battle - Angel's Glory

A widow had worked hard, sacrificing every comfort to raise her three sons and send them to college. Each of them had graduated with advanced degrees and went on to become very wealthy. One day, the three sons met to discuss their mother’s welfare. They had been looking after her, but they all agreed that they needed to do something special to thank her for the sacrifices she had made to secure their success.

Her oldest son built her a large mansion, fully furnished with all the most modern conveniences. The second son bought her a Rolls-Royce.

The third son was at a loss to find something he could add to these gifts. What else did she need? Finally, one night while watching television, he found it. There was a story on the news about a parrot in a monastery. The monks, after many years, had trained the parrot to recite the entire Bible. He could recite chapter and verse on command. It was perfect! His mother’s eyesight had failed to the point where she could no longer read her Bible, even with giant print.

He traveled to the monastery and asked to see this amazing parrot. One of the monks escorted him to the room where the parrot was kept. Testing the bird, he said, “Genesis 1:1.” Sure enough, the parrot recited the verse. “John 3:16,” he said. The parrot recited John 3:16. After testing the parrot with several passages, he was convinced.

“I’d like to buy him,” he said. “Who do I talk to?”

“O, we would never sell him,” the monk replied, “it took us many years to train him, and we’re really very attached to him. No, he’s not for sale.” He was determined, however, and price was no object. When he proposed that he would set up a trust that would generate enough income to fund the monastery indefinitely, it was an offer they could not refuse. The paperwork was done, the monks said goodbye to the parrot, and he was delivered to the old widow.

A few weeks later, when the three sons were able to coordinate their schedules, they went together to visit their mother. As they sat visiting, they asked her how she was getting along in her new surroundings.

Hesitantly, she replied, “Well, it’s all very nice, and I’m very thankful to you, but… it’s just so much, and not very practical. I’m only one person, and now I have this big house to look after. It’s lovely, but it’s just too much.”

To her second son, she said, “I really appreciate the car, but I can’t drive anymore, and I have friends who pick me up for church and shopping. I really don’t go anywhere else. It seems like an awful waste to keep and insure an expensive car like that when it never gets used.”

Speaking to her third son, she continued, “I hope you’re not planning to give me anything extravagant. I am just thankful for the little, thoughtful things. That chicken you gave me was delicious!”

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

HYMN 8, C. M.
A hymn for morning or evening.
by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

osannah, with a cheerful sound,
To God’s upholding hand;
Ten thousand snares attend us round,
And yet secure we stand.

That was a most amazing power
That raised us with a word,
And every day and every hour
We lean upon the Lord.

The evening rests our weary head,
And angels guard the room;
We wake, and we admire the bed
That was not made our tomb.

The rising morning can’t assure
That we shall end the day;
For death stands ready at the door
To seize our lives away.

Our breath is forfeited by sin
To God's avenging law;
We own thy grace, immortal King,
In every gasp we draw.

God is our sun, whose daily light
Our joy and safety brings;
Our feeble flesh lies safe at night
Beneath his shady wings.

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

salme 44 (Geneva Bible)
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.

1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
14 Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.

ecommended
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Phillip M. Way
Jason Robertson
John MacArthur
Phil Johnson & Don Green
David Legge
R.C. Sproul

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

Last week I asked the questions, Are Christians under law, or grace? and if we are not under law, what are we to be obedient to?

Today I am asking, what is obedience, or, assuming obedience is acheived, what does that obedience look like? I'm not asking what it looks like to human observers. I'm asking, if I could see through your skull and read your mind, what would I see (if you were being truly obedient)?

Yesterday, my wife and I spent a fun-filled (fuń fild adj. full of or tending to induce stress and exhaustion) day shopping. I came home, having had my fill of fun for a good, long time, more grateful than ever that my home address is eighty miles away from the nearest shopping mall and that segment of the population that enjoys living near them. We even went to Wal-Mart, which I avoid as diligently as possible. Anyway, we got the job done and returned home late last evening, our net worth substantially reduced.

I made a stop at Wal-Mart’s “inspirational” book section. The only real Bible they had was a fake leather NKJV. The rest were NLT and the like, ranging from cutesy Precious Moments junk to the Refuel and Revolve biblezine abominations. They did have a KJV New Testament on CD read by James Earl Jones, which would be cool—probably too cool, actually. That was the best of the selection. Other attempts at inspiration were offerings from Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Billy Graham, Gary Smalley, Frank Peretti, and the like.

I wasn’t really surprised. After all, why should Wal-Mart be any better than the average Christian book store? What really did surprise me a little was that, among all those “inspirational” books, I found absolutely nothing of any real value at all. It was all junk. I left the inspirational section uninspired. I don’t blame Wal-Mart, though. Wal-Mart is not a Christian retailer. Wal-Mart does not stock its shelves with truth in mind. It is not concerned with the souls of its customers.

Wal-Mart just wants your money, and that is not a pejorative statement. That is why retailers exist. But what strategy do they use to get your money? They stock what you want, “you” being the generic customer, and in this case, the Christian customer. That is why Wal-Mart’s shelves are stocked with very few KJVs and NKJVs, and no NASBs or ESVs. That is why Wal-Mart stocks Warren and Osteen, and not MacArthur or Piper. Wal-Mart sells what the market demands, and the market demands ice cream rather than prime rib. And the market can’t even discern good ice cream from bad. It can’t even tell when the ice cream is laced with cyanide.

Wal-Mart doesn’t stock the truth because the church isn’t buying it.

Bloggers who have nothing to say write about their cats. At least that is what I have observed. Today I am writing about my cat. Draw your conclusions as you will.

When we lived in the country, we always had cats. We had to. It was either cats or mice, and we chose cats. Those cats were not pets, they were livestock—not like cattle, because we didn’t eat them, but like horses, because they had a job to do. When we moved to town, we didn’t bring any cats with us.

Then, last week, a kitten walked into the house and decided to stay. This one, I guess, is a pet. Her name is Dagmar. She hasn’t done a lick of work since she arrived, and I doubt she ever will. She sleeps a lot. When she wakes up, two little girls harass her until she makes a break for my office, where she climbs up my leg and promptly falls asleep on my lap. Sometimes she climbs across my keyboard, typing in tongues. I will be reading Charismatic Chaos to her soon. At least she meows in English.

So, now I have blogged about my cat. Can I sink much lower? Well, yes, I suppose I could have posted pictures, but then I would never be able to look in the mirror again, regardless of how devastatingly handsome I am. Here is a cat picture for anyone who cares to see one. It’s not our cat—I wish it was.

I wonder if this is what they call jumping the shark.

Over the last week or so I have posted three questions: Under Law or Grace?, Obedient to What?, and What Is Obedience?. These questions have been intended to provoke thought leading up to today’s topic.

What I have to write today is not the result of any specific Bible study or reading any particular book. It is simply something I have been thinking a lot about as I have lain awake at night recently. Anyone who has had this experience will testify to the fact that such thoughts are often much more profound in the dark of night than they are in the daylight. This is no exception, but I will share them anyway. Expect a certain degree of incoherence.

The question at the center of my nocturnal meditations has been What constitutes genuine obedience?

It is not, of course, outward actions compliant with the law. I may catch some flak for this, but even unbelievers can do that. Unbelievers are able to live lives that are blameless before men, even by Scriptural standards, outwardly.

Obedience is not doing what you are told grudgingly. I was always taught that obedience is willingly doing what you are told, even when you don’t want to. That may sound contradictory, but I hope you can understand what I mean. I can not want to do something, and at the same time, do it because I want to be obedient. This is certainly an improvement of attitude over grudging compliance, and probably pleasing to God, but is it really the obedience that is wrought by the grace of God? I think it falls short. It is an obedience that is still tainted by our own desires. It is still an obedience for which we can take some credit.

What is it that sanctifying grace does in us? Where does Scripture say our behavior is changed? Doesn’t it rather teach that our nature is changed, resulting in changed behavior? (2Corinthians5:17, Galatians6:15) If our very nature is changed, then our desires are changed.

So as I have lain awake staring at the ceiling, I have begun to think that perhaps obedience is the wrong word. The Psalmist continually expresses his love for God’s law. He delights in the Lord, and the Lord puts his own desire in his heart. We need not be obedient to our own desires. Unless we are prevented, we just do them.

This leads to the conclusion that my sin is not in not doing what God commands, but in not wanting what God wants. There is still so much of myself in everything I do. So, invariably, I wind up praying that God will crush my will, so that only his will remains; and I so long for the day when that will be fulfilled.

As much as we hate to see our children grow up, it is always gratifying to see them show signs of maturity. Even better are the times when they encourage one another, a la Hebrews 10:24 (And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works).

Just a couple of days ago, my wife was in my office, probably attempting to provoke me unto good works, when we overheard our eight-year-old son admonish his sister: "You're not four anymore. You're five years old. Start acting like it!"

Yes, we have high hopes for them.

I know, this was one of those Ain't My Kids Cute stories that makes everyone's eyes roll. Sorry, but, well, you know, my kids are cute! At least it wasn't another cat post.

A movie production company was filming on location in a remote village in a third-world nation. During the filming, they hired a several locals as manual laborers. Some were even given parts as extras.

One young man became so caught up in the excitement of it all that, when the filming was done and the cast and crew packed up to leave, he finagled a job and, without telling anyone or obtaining his family’s permission, got on the bus with the cast and headed off to the airport, California bound.

He had not gotten far, however, when his family discovered what he had done and took off in hot pursuit, with many other villagers joining the chase. They soon caught up to the bus and forced it to pull over, ordering everyone off the bus. The angry villagers surrounded the group of frightened actors and began picking up stones.

However, while acting as a mob is relatively easy and requires little courage, no individual could bring himself to throw a rock. Finally, the village leaders brought the young man’s father to the front of the crowd and said, “Let he who is without son stone the cast first!”

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

LOVE TO JESUS

Lord Jesus,

f I love thee my soul shall seek thee,
but can I seek thee unless my love to thee
is kept alive to this end?
Do I love thee because thou art good,
and canst alone do me good?
It is fitting thou shouldest not regard me,
for I am vile and selfish;
yet I seek thee,
and when I find thee there is no wrath
to devour me,
but only sweet love.
Thou dost stand as a rock between the scorching sun
and my soul,
and I live under the cool lee-side as one elect.
When my mind acts without thee
it spins nothing but deceit and delusion;
When my affections act without thee
nothing is seen but dead works.
O how I need thee to abide in me,
for I have no natural eyes to see thee,
but I live by faith in one whose face to me
is brighter than a thousand suns!
When I see that all sin is in me,
all shame belongs to me;
let me know that all good is in thee,
all glory is thine.
Keep me from the error of thinking thou dost
appear gloriously
when some strange light fills my heart,
as if that were the glorious activity of grace,
but let me see that the truest revelation of thyself
is when thou dost eclipse all my personal glory
and all the honour, pleasure and good
of this world.
The Son breaks out in glory
when he shows himself as one who outshines
all creation,
makes men poor in spirit,
and helps them to find their good in him.
Grant that I may distrust myself, to see
my all in thee.

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

salme 51 (Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid, when the Prophet Nathan came vnto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.

1 Haue mercie vpon me, O God, according to thy louing kindnes: according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquitie, and clense me from my sinne.
3 For I know mine iniquities, and my sinne is euer before me.
4 Against thee, against thee onely haue I sinned, and done euill in thy sight, that thou mayest be iust when thou speakest, and pure when thou iudgest.
5 Beholde, I was borne in iniquitie, and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me.
6 Beholde, thou louest trueth in the inwarde affections: therefore hast thou taught mee wisedome in the secret of mine heart.
7 Purge me with hyssope, & I shalbe cleane: wash me, and I shalbe whiter then snowe.
8 Make me to heare ioye and gladnes, that the bones, which thou hast broken, may reioyce.
9 Hide thy face from my sinnes, and put away all mine iniquities.
10 Create in mee a cleane heart, O God, and renue a right spirit within me.
11 Cast mee not away from thy presence, and take not thine holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation, and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teache thy wayes vnto the wicked, and sinners shalbe conuerted vnto thee.
14 Deliuer me from blood, O God, which art the God of my saluation, and my tongue shall sing ioyfully of thy righteousnes.
15 Open thou my lippes, O Lorde, and my mouth shall shewe foorth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, though I would giue it: thou delitest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Bee fauourable vnto Zion for thy good pleasure: builde the walles of Ierusalem.
19 Then shalt thou accept ye sacrifices of righteousnes, euen the burnt offering and oblation: then shall they offer calues vpon thine altar.

ecommended
Sermons

Steve Weaver
Phillip M. Way
Jason Robertson
John MacArthur
Phil Johnson & Don Green
David Legge
R.C. Sproul

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

The dashing young fellow on the left is Steve Weaver, which regular readers of our On the Web links should know. I want to draw your attention to a series he has just begun called How I Prepare an Expository Sermon. “OK,” you ask, “why do I care how he prepares his sermons? I’m not a pastor. I don’t preach. I don’t care how General Motors or Ford builds cars as long as they build good ones. I don’t need to know where the nuts and bolts go.” Well, you need to know, and here are a few reasons why:

Some day you may be in the position, as I have, to interview pastors for your church. Believe me, asking if he believes in expository preaching is not enough. I have had prospective pastors say they always preach expositionally who demonstrated that they had no clue what “expository” means. Then there are those who really do know what it is, but don’t know how. You need to know the difference between wannabes and the real thing.

If you have a pastor who is giving you solid Biblical exposition, you need to know how much work goes into the finished product. That thirty minutes to an hour you get on Sunday morning represents many hours of diligent study during the week, and years of study and training behind that. You need to know why your pastor doesn’t have time for all the superfluous programs and activities you might like to see. You may only see him for a couple of hours a week, but he is working hard, and very likely putting in longer hours than you do at your job, and he is doing it for you. You need to understand and appreciate that. Your pastor needs you to understand and appreciate that.

Those are just a couple of reasons why you should care how an expository sermon is prepared. I have saved the most important reason for last:

The way an expository sermon is produced is the way you should study the Bible. The goal of the expositor is to understand what the text means, that is, exactly what God is saying through it. You most likely are not able to study in the original languages, but you can read Bible dictionaries and commentaries, and you can learn important principals such as context. Do you want to be a Berean? This is how it is done.

Update: The links to the entire series can be found here: How I Prepare An Expository Sermon: The Series.

“There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Everything necessary for your salvation has been done through the death of Jesus Christ. All you must do is believe. Now, the choice is yours: to believe or not.”

How often have you heard a Gospel presentation end in a similar fashion? Now I have a question: can anyone name anything you believe that you chose to believe? Put another way, is there anything you believe—not limited to the Bible or theology—that you could stop believing just by choosing to do so? Anything?

Subliminal messages in Christmas carols—it’s true. Listen for yourself. Listen several times, if necessary.

(HT: Doxoblogy)

Merry Christmas from the Thirsty Theologian (Source)

Christmas Eve at our house was the same as every year. Click here for a sample.