Yes, I know it’s Friday. If the title bugs you, click away and come back tomorrow.

I don’t remember when I first discovered despair.com, but I immediately fell in love with it. For better or worse, the creators of Demotivators® and I think alike; so it was no surprise at all when I received The Pessimist’s Mug one year for Father’s Day. It was a bitter irony when it was dropped on the kitchen floor and broken. I now have this coffee cup sitting on my desk. A recent post at Between Two Worlds reminded me of these and inspired me to pull out and fix up a few knock-offs that I had made some time ago, before I had a blog to post them on. Call them the product of idle hands and a twisted sense of humor.

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

GOD THE SPIRIT

O Lord God,

pray not so much for graces as for
the Spirit himself,
because I feel his absence,
and act by my own spirit in everything.
Give me not weak desires but the power
of his presence,
for this is the surest way to have all his graces,
and when I have the seal I have the impression
also;
He can heal, help, quicken, humble suddenly
and easily,
can work grace and life effectually,
and being eternal he can give grace eternally.
Save me from great hindrances,
from being content with a little measure
of the Spirit,
from thinking thou wilt not give me more.
When I feel my lack of him, light up life and faith,
for when I lose thee I am either in the dark
and cannot see thee,
or Satan and my natural abilities content me
With a little light,
so that I seek no further for the Spirit of life.
Teach me then what to do.
Should I merely humble myself and not stir up
my heart?
Should I meditate and use all means to bring
him near,
not being contented by one means,
but trust him to give me a blessing by the use
of all,
depending only upon, and waiting always for,
thy light, by use of means?
Is it a duty or an error to pray
and look for the fullness of the Spirit in me?
Am I mistaken in feeling I am empty of the Spirit
because I do not sense his presence within,
when all the time I am most empty
and could be more full by faith in Christ?
Was the fullness of the Spirit in the apostles
chiefly a power,
giving the subsistence outside themselves
in Christ,
in whom was their life and joy?
Teach me to find and know fullness of the Spirit
only in Jesus.

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

salme 135 (Geneva Bible)


1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Name of the Lorde: ye seruants of the Lord, praise him.
2 Ye that stande in the House of the Lord, and in the courtes of the House of our God,
3 Praise ye the Lord: for the Lorde is good: sing praises vnto his Name: for it is a comely thing.
4 For the Lord hath chosen Iaakob to himselfe, and Israel for his chiefe treasure.
5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is aboue all gods.
6 Whatsoeuer pleased the Lorde, that did hee in heauen and in earth, in the sea, and in all the depths.
7 He bringeth vp the cloudes fro the ends of the earth, & maketh the lightnings with ye raine: he draweth foorth the winde out of his treasures.
8 He smote the first borne of Egypt both of man and beast.
9 He hath sent tokens and wonders into the middes of thee, O Egypt, vpon Pharaoh, and vpon all his seruants.
10 He smote many nations, and slew mightie Kings:
11 As Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og King of Bashan, & all the kingdomes of Canaan:
12 And gaue their lande for an inheritance, euen an inheritance vnto Israel his people.
13 Thy Name, O Lorde, endureth for euer: O Lorde, thy remembrance is from generation to generation.
14 For the Lord will iudge his people, and be pacified towardes his seruants.
15 The idoles of the heathen are siluer and golde, euen the worke of mens handes.
16 They haue a mouth, and speake not: they haue eyes and see not.
17 They haue eares and heare not, neither is there any breath in their mouth.
18 They that make them, are like vnto them: so are all that trust in them.
19 Praise the Lord, ye house of Israel: praise the Lord, ye house of Aaron.
20 Praise the Lorde, ye house of Leui: ye that feare the Lord, praise the Lord.
21 Praised bee the Lorde out of Zion, which dwelleth in Ierusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

ecommended
Sermons

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

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

— Samuel Davies (1724–1761), as quoted by Murray in Revival & Revivalism

The 2007 Shepherds Conference at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California begins today and runs through Sunday, March 11. Speakers are John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, Mark Dever, Steve Lawson, Ligon Duncan, John Piper.

CDs and MP3s will be available for purchase after the conference.

For a fee, you can watch conference sessions by live stream.

Almost as good, and at no charge, you can read almost-live coverage at Challies Dot Com. Don't miss it.

This post is not a joke. Fred Thompson holds the rare position of being both one of my favorite actors and a politician who I would have voted for, had I lived in Tennessee. As a Senator from Tennesse, he consistently voted right in nearly every case. So this story comes as a pleasant surprise. It's too early to say whether or not he can win, but if he runs, he will be the first Republican candidate in the race that I can endorse without crossing my fingers and plugging my nose. He looks very Presidential, don't you think?

“After two years in Washington, I often long for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood.” – Fred Thompson, in a speech before the Commonwealth Club of California

Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows
or
The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend

Pick your own title.

It has been a long time since I've had much respect for James Dobson, so today's broadcast was not disillusioning, but it still disappoints me when Christians are willing to buddy up to men of ill repute in order to further a political agenda. I think that is exactly what Dobson did by having Newt Gingrich on his program today (listen here or read about it here).

Whether Gingrich has repented of his sin or not and whether or not he is a genuine believer, as Dobson believes he is, is irrelevant. When a man in a public position has shown himself to be immoral and untrustworthy, Christians ought not to set him up in a position of influence again. To give a man like Gingrich, who nearly out-Clintoned Clinton, a national platform to promote morality and righteousness makes a mockery of that morality and righteousness regardless of his present spiritual state. No wonder the "Religious Right" is such a joke when their spokesmen are philanderers like Gingrich and gambling addicts like William Bennett.

I do hope that Newt Gingrich has reformed his ways. More than that, I hope he has been or will be born again. I have no objection to his involvement in politics. But, at present, prominent Christians ought to leave him on the sidelines until such a time as his reputation is restored.

I don't actually believe Michael had the baby himself, but I'm not sure since the birth announcement he posted makes no mention whatsoever of his wife. Nice one, Mike. That's the sort of blunder I would make and pay dearly for. Don't be like me!

Congratulations to Mike and Mrs. Beasley on the new addition to your Armoury.

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

HYMN 9, S. M.
The Spirit, the water, and the blood.
1 John v. 6.
by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

et all our tongues be one
To praise our God on high,
Who from his bosom sent his Son
To fetch us strangers nigh.

Nor let our voices cease
To sing the Savior’s name;
Jesus, th’ ambassador of peace,
How cheerfully he came!

It cost him cries and tears
To bring us near to God;
Great was our debt, and he appears
To make the payment good.

My Savior’s pierced side
Poured out a double flood;
By water we are purified,
And pardoned by the blood.

Infinite was our guilt,
But he, our Priest, atones;
On the cold ground his life was spilt,
And offered with his groans.

Look up, my soul, to him
Whose death was thy desert,
And humbly view the living stream
Flow from his breaking heart.

There, on the cursed tree,
In dying pangs he lies,
Fulfils his Father’s great decree,
And all our wants supplies.

Thus the Redeemer came
By water and by blood;
And when the Spirit speaks the same,
We feel his witness good.

While the eternal Three
Bear their record above,
Here I believe he died for me,
And seal my Savior’s love.

Lord, cleanse my soul from sin
Nor let thy grace depart;
Great Comforter, abide within,
And witness to my heart.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book III: Prepared for the Holy Ordinance of the Lord's Supper (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

salme 142 (Geneva Bible)
A Psalme of Dauid, to giue instruction, and a prayer, when he was in the caue.

1 I cryed vnto the Lord with my voyce: with my voyce I prayed vnto the Lord.
2 I powred out my meditation before him, and declared mine affliction in his presence.
3 Though my spirit was in perplexitie in me, yet thou knewest my path: in the way wherein I walked, haue they priuily layde a snare for me.
4 I looked vpon my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would knowe me: all refuge failed me, and none cared for my soule.
5 Then cryed I vnto thee, O Lord, and sayde, thou art mine hope, and my portion in the land of the liuing.
6 Hearken vnto my crye, for I am brought very lowe: deliuer me from my persecuters, for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring my soule out of prison, that I may prayse thy Name: then shal the righteous come about me, when thou art beneficiall vnto me.

ecommended
Sermons

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

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

If all the sand in northern Africa was spread out, it would cover the Sahara Desert.

As you can see, I have nothing worthwhile to say at the moment. I just felt that I should say something.

In this day of pragmatism, it is good to be reminded that God has not ordained ends alone, but means as well. In The Christian in Complete Armour, William Gurnall writes,

The Christian’s armour which he wears must be of divine institution and appointment. The soldier comes into the field with no arms but what his general commands. It is not left to every one’s fancy to bring what weapons he please; this will breed confusion. The Christian soldier in bound up to God’s order; though the army be on earth, yet the council of war sits in heaven; this duty ye shall do; these means ye shall use. And [those who] do more, or use other, than God commands, though with some seeming success against sin, shall surely be called to account for this boldness. The discipline of war among men is strict in this case. Some have suffered death by a council of war even when they have beaten the enemy, because out of their place, or beside their order. God is very precise in this point; he will say to such as invent ways to worship him of their own, coin means to mortify corruption, obtain comfort in their own mint: ‘Who hath required this at your hands?’ This is truly to be ‘righteous over-much,’ as Solomon speaks, when we will pretend to correct God’s law, and add supplements of our own to his rule. Who will pay that man his wages that is not set on work by God? God tells Israel the false prophets shall do them no good, because they come not of his errand, Je. xxiii. 32; so neither will those ways and means help, which are not of God’s appointing. God’s thoughts are not as man’s, nor his ways as ours, which he useth to attain his ends by. If man had set forth the Israelitish army, now to march out of Egypt, surely this wisdom would have directed rather to have plundered the Egyptians of their horses and arms, as more necessary for such an expedition, than to borrow their jewels and ear-rings. But God will have them come out naked and on foot, and Moses keeps close to his order; yea, when any horses were taken in battle, because God commanded they should be houghed, they obeyed, though to their seeming disadvantage. It was God’s war they waged, and therefore but reasonable they mill be under his command. They encamped and marched by his order, as the ark moved or rested. They fight by his command. The number is appointed by him—the means and weapons they should use—all are prescribed by God, as in the assault of Jericho. And what gospel of all this—for surely God hath an eye in that to our marching to heaven, and our fighting with these cursed spirits and lusts that stand in way—but that we should fight lawfully, using those means which we have from his mouth in his Word?

I will post another quote from Gurnall from the same section of the book and on the same subject tomorrow.

Continuing yesterday’s theme with another quote from The Christian in Complete Armour:

They do not use the armour of God as such, who in the performing of divine duties, eye not God through them, and this makes them all weak and ineffectual. Then the Word is mighty, when read as the Word of God; then the gospel preached, powerful to convince the conscience, and revive the drooping spirit, when heard as the appointment of the great God, and not the exercise of a mean creature. Now it will appear in three things, whether we eye divine appointment in the means.
   (1.) When we engage in a duty, and look not up to God for his blessing. Didst thou eye God’s appointment in the means, thou wouldst say, Soul, if there come any good of thy present service it must drop from heaven, for it is God’s appointment, not man’s. And can I profit whether God will or no, or think to find, and bring away, any soul-enriching treasure from his ordinance, without his leave? Had I not best look up to him, by whose blessing I live more than by my bread?
   (2.) It appears we look not at God’s appointment, when we have low thoughts of the means. What is Jordan that I should wash in it? What is this preaching that I should attend on it, where I hear nothing but I knew before? what these beggarly elements of water, and bread, and wine! Are not these the reasonings of a soul that forgets who appoints them? Didst thou remember who commands, thou wouldst not question what the command is. What though it be clay, let Christ use it and it shall open the eyes, though in itself more like to put them out. Hadst thou thy eye on God, thou wouldst silence thy carnal reason with this, It is God sends me to such a duty; whatsoever he saith unto me I will do it, though he should send me, as Christ them, to draw wine out of pots filled with water.
   (3.) When a soul leaves off a duty, because he hath not in it what he expected from it. Oh, saith the soul, I see it is in vain to follow the means as have done; still Satan foils me, I will even give over. Dost thou remember, soul, it is God’s appointment? Surely then thou wouldst persevere in the midst of discouragements. He that bids thee pray, bids thee pray without ceasing; he that bids thee hear, bids thee wait at the posts of wisdom. Thou wouldst reason thus, God hath set me on duty, and here I will stand, till God takes me off and bids me leave praying.

The 2007 Ligonier Ministries "Contending for the Truth" Conference began this morning. Featured speakers are John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, John Piper, Ravi Zacharias, and, of course, R.C. Sproul.

Ligonier is making available, free of charge, a live video webcast of the conference, which you can access here. I considered watching and pretending to live-blog it, as Tim Challies is doing, but since I only type 35-40 words per minute, I gave up on that idea. So you'll have to settle for Tim's reporting.

Update:
John Rush is also covering the conference.

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

The Christian Scheme of Salvation Worthy of God
by Philip Doddridge (1702–1751)

mmortal God, on Thee we call,
The great original of all,
Through Thee we are, to Thee we tend,
Our sure support, our glorious end.

We praise that wise mysterious grace,
That pitied our revolted race,
And Jesus, our victorious Head,
The Captain of salvation made.

He, Thine eternal love decreed,
Should many sons to glory lead;
And sinful worms to Him are given,
A colony to people heav’n.

Jesus for us—Oh, gracious name!—
Encounters agony and shame;
Jesus, the glorious and the great,
Was by dire suff’ring made complete.

A scene of wonders her we see,
Worthy the Son, and worthy Thee;
And while this theme employs our tongues,
All heaven unites its sweetest songs.

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

salme 149 (Geneva Bible)

1 Prayse ye the Lord. Sing ye vnto the Lorde a newe song: let his prayse be heard in the Congregation of Saints.
2 Let Israel reioyce in him that made him, and let ye children of Zion reioyce in their King.
3 Let them prayse his Name with the flute: let them sing prayses vnto him with the timbrell and harpe.
4 For the Lorde hath pleasure in his people: he will make the meeke glorious by deliuerance.
5 Let ye Saints be ioyfull with glorie: let them sing loud vpon their beddes.
6 Let the high Actes of God bee in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hands,
7 To execute vengeance vpon the heathen, and corrections among the people:
8 To binde their Kings in chaines, and their nobles with fetters of yron,
9 That they may execute vpon them the iudgement that is written: this honour shall be to all his Saintes. Prayse ye the Lord.

ecommended
Sermons

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

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

Thomas Sowell’s “Random Thoughts” are on par with my most profound thoughts. Here are a few of my favorites:

Amid all the media hysteria over the price of gasoline and the profits of “Big Oil,” one simple fact has been repeatedly overlooked: The oil companies’ earnings are just under 10 percent of the price of a gallon of gas, while taxes take 17 percent. Yet who ever accuses the government of “greed”?

Despite political spin about “tax cuts for the rich,” cuts in tax rates have led to increases in tax revenues -- not only in this administration, but in the Reagan administration before that, and the Kennedy administration before that, not to mention in India and Iceland as well.

When the Constitution’s protection of private property was disregarded, so that politicians could rob from the rich to give to the poor, that also gave politicians the power to rob from the poor and give to the rich -- such as seizing homes in low-income neighborhoods and turning that property over to developers.

A reader says that he had a T-shirt made that said: “Stop Continental Drift!” It made as much sense as “Stop Global Warming.”

Read the rest here.

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

THE SPIRIT OF JESUS

Lord Jesus Christ,

ill me with thy Spirit
that I may be occupied with his presence.
I am blind — send him to make me see;
dark — let him say, ‘Let there be light’!
May he give me faith to behold
my name engraven in thy hand,
my soul and body redeemed by thy blood,
my sinfulness covered by the life of
pure obedience.
Replenish me by his revealing grace,
that I may realise my indissoluble union with thee;
that I may know thou hast espoused me
to thyself for ever,
in righteousness, love, mercy, faithfulness;
that I am one with thee,
as a branch with its stock, as a building
with its foundation.
May his comforts cheer me in my sorrows,
his strength sustain me in my trials,
his blessings revive me in my weariness,
his presence render me a fruitful tree of holiness,
his might establish me in peace and joy,
his incitements make me ceaseless in prayer,
his animation kindle in me undying devotion.
Send him as the searcher of my heart,
to show me more of my corruptions
and helplessness
that I may flee to thee,
cling to thee,
rest on thee,
as the beginning and end of my salvation.
May I never vex him by my indifference
and waywardness,
grieve him by my cold welcome,
resist him by my hard rebellion.

Answer my prayers, O Lord,
for thy great name’s sake.

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

salme 6 (Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth on Neginoth vpon the eight tune. A Psalme of Dauid.

1 O lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chastise me in thy wrath.
2 Haue mercie vpon me, O Lorde, for I am weake: O Lord heale me, for my bones are vexed.
3 My soule is also sore troubled: but Lorde how long wilt thou delay?
4 Returne, O Lord: deliuer my soule: saue me for thy mercies sake.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the graue who shall prayse thee?
6 I fainted in my mourning: I cause my bed euery night to swimme, and water my couch with my teares.
7 Mine eye is dimmed for despight, and sunke in because of all mine enemies.
8 Away from mee all ye workers of iniquitie: for the Lorde hath heard the voyce of my weeping.
9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receiue my prayer.
10 All mine enemies shall be confounded and sore vexed: they shall be turned backe, and put to shame suddenly.

ecommended
Sermons

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

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

Phillip Way's post yesterday, What Day Was Jesus Crucified? reminded me of my own post last year, What Day Was the Crucifixion? So, having nothing to say for myself today, I would like to draw your attention to these two posts. You can pretend mine was written this year instead of last, and that Pastor Way got the idea from me.