Friday, April 29, 2011

"In it, not of it..."

"In it, not of it," the statement was made ...
As Christian One faced the world, much afraid.
"In it, not of it," the call was made clear,
But Christian One got something stuck in his ear.
"Not in it, or of it" was the thing that he heard.
And knowing the world was painfully absurd,
He welcomed the safety of pious retreat,
And went to the potluck for something to eat.


Now Christian Two, he knew what to do,
He'd show those fundies a thing or two!
How will the world ever give Christ a try
If we don't get in there and identify?
So "In it, and of it," he said in his car,
As he pulled in and stopped at a popular bar.
"I'll tell them the truth as soon as I'm able
To get myself out from under this table."


Now along comes Christian Three jogging for Jesus,
In witnessing sweats made of four matching pieces.
His earphones are playing a hot Christian tune
About how the Lord is coming back soon.
"Not in it, but of it," he turns down the hill
And stops in for a bite at the Agape Grill.
Like the gold on the chain of his "God Loves You" bracelet,
He can have the world without having to face it.


While way up in heaven they lament these conditions
That come from changing a few propositions.


"Not in it, or of it," Christian One thought.
But who is the world will know that he's not?

"In it, and of it," thought Christian Two.
But who in the world will know that he knew?


"Not in it, but of it," thought Christian Three.
But who in the world watches Christian TV?


And Jesus turns to Gabriel, shaking His head.
'In it, not of it,' wasn't that what I said?


"The Ins and Outs of It",  John Fischer, Real Christians Dance

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Humor from the Past

"Julius Exclusus"
Desiderius Erasmus

1513-1514

[Pope Julius II, on dying, arrives in heaven expecting a glorious welcome, but Saint Peter demands that he, like any other heaven-bound soul, justify his entrance.] 


Julius: What the devil is up? The gates not open? Someone has monkied with the key. 
Spirit: Maybe you have the wrong key. You've got the key of power. 
Julius: It's the only one I ever had. I'll bang. Hey, porter, are you asleep or drunk? 
Peter: Immortal God, what a stench! I'll peek through this crack till I know what's up. Who are you? 
Julius: Can't you see this key, the triple crown and the pallium sparkling with gems? 
Peter: It doesn't look like the key Christ gave to me. How should I know the crown which no barbarian tyrant dared to wear? As for the gems and the jewels, I trample them under my feet. 
Julius: Come on now. I am Julius, the Ligurian, and I suppose you know these two letters [pointing to his chest] "P.M." If you can read. 
Peter: Pestus Maximus. 
Julius: Pontifex Maximus. 
Peter: I don't care if you are Mercury Trismegistus, unless your life is saintly. 
Julius: Saintly! For centuries you have been only a saint and I have been most saintly, sanctissimus, with six thousand bulls to prove it. 
Peter: You are called sanctissimus, but are you sanctus? You don't look it: cassock over armor, eyes savage, mouth insolent, forehaead brazen, eyebrows arrogant, body poxed with debauchery, reeking with drink, a shambles of a man. 
Spirit: Graphic! 
Peter: I expect that you are Julian the Apostate back from Hell. 
Julius: Come on now. If you don't open now I'll strike you with the lightning of excommunication. The bull is ready. 
Peter: Bull? I never heard anything like that from Christ. What authority have you to excommunicate me? 
Julius: Why you are a mere priest, if even that. 
Peter: Show your merits. No entry without merits. Have you taught true doctrine? 
Jullus: Too busy fighting. The friars look after that. 
Peter: Have you won souls to Christ by holiness? 
Spirit: He has sent plenty to Hell! 
Peter: Have you worked miracles? 
Julius: They are out of date. 
Peter: Have you prayed and fasted? 
Spirit: This is getting nowhere. 
Peter: Well now, what is this rabble along with you? 
Julius: Soldiers who died fighting for me. I promissed them heaven if they did. 
Peter: So, these are the ones who tried to crash the gate a while ago? 
Julius: And you didn't let them in? 
Peter: I admit only those who clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and those in prison. Incidentally, why do call yourself a Ligurian? Does the family of Christ make any difference? 
Julius: I want my country to have the credit of me. 
Peter: You know, I am surprised the papacy is so sought after. In my day it was hard to get even priests and deacons. 
Julius: Of course. You had only fasts, vigils and perhaps death. Today bishops are lords. 
Peter: Tell me now. Why did you attack Bologna? Was it heretical? 
Julius: No. 
Peter: Was Bentivogilio a tyrant? 
Julius: No. 
Peter: Why then? 
Julius: I needed revenue 
Peter: Why did you harass Ferrara? 
Julius: I needed it for my son! 
Peter: What? Popes with wives and sons? 
Julius: No, sons, not wives. 
Peter: Is it possible to get rid of a pope say for murder, patricide, fornication, incest, simony, sacrilege or blasphemy? 
Julius: Add six hundred more and the answer is still no. He can only be deposed for heresy and he determines what is heresy! 
(the curtain falls)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Intercession of Saints ???

For living, mortal believers to join us in intercessory prayer is not a class action suit. It is an exercise in shared dependence upon God.

Saints in heaven do not need to further learn dependence.


-- drstevej

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Friday, April 22, 2011

The Grace & The Love of a Sovereign

In a day when Sentimentality substituted for God's Love rakes in Big Bucks... it would do us well to read some words from the 17th century....

'Grace' is more than mercy and love, it super adds to them. It denotes, not simply love, but the love of a sovereign, transcendentally superior, one that may do what He will, that may wholly choose whether He will love or not. 

There may be love between equals, and an inferior may love a superior; but love in a superior, and so superior as He may do what He will, in such a one love is called grace: and therefore grace is attributed to princes; they are said to be gracious to their subjects, whereas subjects cannot be gracious to princes. 

Now God, who is an infinite Sovereign, who might have chosen whether ever He would love us or not, for Him to love us, this is grace. 

—Thomas Goodwin

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Interesting Theology in a Country Tune

The chorus of the country song, "I Don't Want to Hang out with Me" (Confederate Railroad) reminds me of Paul's words in Romans 7...

21-24 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am!

Lyrics by Confederate Railroad
I don't want to hang out with me.
I gotta find some new company.
People wouldn't think momma raised me wrong.
If I could only leave myself at home.

No, I don't wanna be my friend.
Can't nobody talk to him.
He just ain't the guy I thought I'd be.
No, I don't want to hang out with me.
Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Paul's response is...

Romans 7:25
Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Resurrection Cover-Up??? No Way says Chuck Colson

“With the most powerful office in the world at stake, a small band of hand picked loyalists, no more than ten of us, could not hold a conspiracy together for more than two weeks... Take it from one who was inside the Watergate web looking out, who saw first hand how vulnerable a cover-up is: Nothing less than a witness as awesome as the resurrected Christ could have caused those men to maintain to their dying whispers that Jesus is alive and Lord.”

CHUCK COLSON, Loving God (pp. 67-69.)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Top Ten Signs You are a Calvinist

10. The guys at reformerware.com give you a bulk pricing discount.
9. Your home group leader locks you in a closet during the Bible study.
8. You spend the entire fall semester on a verse by verse exposition of Romans 9 in your Sunday School class... Your kindergarten Sunday school class.
7. You spend lots of time on ebay searching for a signed 1st Edition of Calvin's Institutes.
6. Your spouse wakes you at night from a bad dream, and says you were mumbling, over and over, "Infra or supra?! ... Infra or supra?!"
5. You react angrily when someone mispronounces "Lorraine Boettner."
4. Your eyesight failing, you go to the doctor and he diagnoses "presbyopia." You assume this is Latin for "reading too much Reformed theology."
3. On the weekend of your wedding anniversary, you book a romantic trip for two to Akron, Ohio for a Ligonier Ministries Conference.
2. Your time on the throne is now spent reading The Heidelberg Catechism.
1. When a family member buys you an iPad for your birthday, you storm out of the room in a rage when you learn that it is NOT pre-loaded with the Geneva Bible Translation App.





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Monday, April 18, 2011

The Diary of a Bible

Jan. 15 -- Been resting for a week. A few nights after the first of the year my owner opened me, but no more. Another New Year’s resolution gone wrong.

Feb. 3 -- Owner picked me up and rushed off to Sunday school.

Feb. 23 -- Cleaning day, dusted and put back in my place.

April 2 -- Busy day. Owner had to present the lesson at a church society meeting. Quickly looked up a lot of references.

May 5 -- In Grandma's lap again, a comfortable place.

May 9 -- She let a tear fall on John 14:1-3.

May 10 -- Grandma's gone. Back in my old place.

May 20 -- Baby born. They wrote his name on one of my pages.

July 1 -- Packed in a suitcase -- off for a vacation.

July 20 -- Still in the suitcase. Almost everything else taken out.

July 25 - Home again. Quite a journey, though I don't see why I went.

Aug. 16 -- Cleaned again and put in a prominent place; the minister is to be here for dinner.

Aug. 20 -- Owner wrote Grandma's death in my family record. He left his extra pair of glasses between my pages.

Dec. 31-- Owner just found his glasses. Wonder if he will make any resolutions about me for the new year.


==========
'Sin will keep you from this Book - or - this Book will keep you from sin"- D.L. Moody

Sunday, April 17, 2011

The "So What?" of the Resurrection

If Christ rose, we know for certainty that God exists, what he is like, and how we may know him in personal experience; the universe takes on meaning and purpose, and it is possible to experience the living God in contemporary life. These and many other things are true if Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead.

On the other hand, if Christ did not rise from the dead, Christianity is an interesting museum piece -- nothing more. It has no objective validity or reality. Though it is a nice wishful thought, it certainly isn't worth getting steamed up about. The martyrs who went singing to the lions, and contemporary missionaries who have given their lives in Ecuador and the Congo while taking this message to others, have been poor deluded fools.”


PAUL LITTLE, Know Why You Believe, p. 23. 

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Another Tozer gem

"An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children.
He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others." 

.

Friday, April 15, 2011

You Might Be a Covenant Theologian

[1] If you know Lorraine Boettner is a guy.
[2] If you think Jesus' "I will build my Church" didn't refer to the future.
[3] If as a kid you thought pretending you were an Israelite was fun.
[4] If you know a pedo-baptist is not a foot washing fundy.
[5] If you own more than five pipes and haven't seen you chin in years.
[6] If you know that Lex Rex is not a comic book villian.
[7] If you know people who speak Dutch.
[8] If you were baptized before you could swim.
[9] If you know the regulative principle is not a technique for colon cleansing.
[10] If your Men's Ministry rejects the name Promise Keepers for Promise Snatchers.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

drstevej, are you Saved?

My answer is...
  • Yes, definitely
  • Somewhat
  • No, but I will be someday
Huh? How's that?



PAST TENSE:
I have been saved (delivered) from the penalty of sin (Justification)
PRESENT TENSE:
I am being saved (delivered) from the power of sin (Sanctification)
FUTURE TENSE:
I shall be saved (delivered) from the presence of sin (Glorification)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Love and Free Will



Free Will in Heaven
(Adapted from and with apologies to Eric Clapton -- Tears in Heaven)

Beyond the door,
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there's got to be
Free will in heaven.

Would you throw a fit,
If He controlled you in heaven?
Would it be the same,
If He bound your will in heaven?

You must be strong,
And carry on.
'Cause you know there's no free will
Here in heaven

=====

Thankfully, in glorification God eradicates my sin nature and eliminates any possibility of rebellion.

So much for the theory that for love to exist you have to be free to reject the other person.

There is love among the Three Persons of the God Head, yet I am not worried They will have a spat!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

NEW PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION

"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes ..

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

I hired someone to do my worrying for me

Two long time friends made a lunch appointment to catch up with each other.

After a bit of conversation, Bob realized a big change in his friend Bill. He was surprised that Bill (whom he knew to be a chronic worrier about everything in life) was care free in demeanor and upbeat in his conversation.

Eventually Bob summoned the courage to inquire, "Bill, you are different! You normally are quite worried and dominate the conversation with your concerns. But today you have not mentioned any of these and seem very chipper. What happened?"

Bill smiled and replied,"Yeah, you're right. I am chipper. I hired someone to do my worrying for me."

"Someone to do your worrying for you?" Bob replied. "How does that work?"

"Well, I just call or email this person I hired with my concerns and problems and he worries for me. It's great!"

Bob, still trying to comprehend this, asked "Sounds interesting, do you mind me asking what a service like that costs?"

"It's not cheap. In fact, he charges $5,000 per week."

Bob was even more perplexed and blurted out, "How can you afford that much? You're up to your eyeballs in debt!"

Bill, smiled and said, "Well, that's his problem, isn't it?"
 
-----

"Cast all your cares on Him."

Monday, April 11, 2011

Robert Bork & Biblical Interpretation





Robert Bork, champion for interpreting the Constitution according to the original intent, makes the following statement....
“What was once the dominant view of constitutional law--that a judge is to apply the Constitution according to the principles intended by those who ratified the document--is now very much out of favor among the theorists of the field...”

“... a judge, no matter on what court he sits, may never create new constitutional rights or destroy old ones. Any time he does so, he violates not only the limits to his own authority but, and for that reason, also violates the rights of the legislature and the people.”

“The notion of a living Constitution seems to appeal to a great many people because the phrase makes it seem that the alternative is a dead Constitution. Indeed, I have no difficulty with the idea that the Constitution lives, only with the notion that it keeps sprouting new heads in accordance with current intellectual and moral fashion.


Sunday, April 10, 2011

The 'Crimes' of William Tyndale

The 'Crimes' of William Tyndale


  • First: He maintains that faith alone justifies.
  • Second:He maintains that to believe in the forgiveness of sins and to embrace the mercy offered in the Gospel, is enough for salvation.
  • Third: He avers that human traditions cannot bind the conscience, except where their neglect might occasion scandal.
  • Fourth: He denies the freedom of the will.
  • Fifth: He denies that there is any purgatory.
  • Sixth: He affirms that neither the Virgin nor the Saints pray for us in their own person.
  • Seventh: He asserts that neither the Virgin nor the Saints should be invoked by us.

The Result:

Foxes' Book of Martyrs...

He was condemned by virtue of the emperor's decree, made in the assembly at Augsburg. Brought forth to the place of execution, he was tied to the stake, strangled by the hangman, and afterwards consumed with fire, at the town of Vilvorde, A.D. 1536; crying at the stake with a fervent zeal, and a loud voice, "Lord! open the king of England's eyes."

A Word from Martin Luther


"When I first took over the defense of the Gospel, I remember what Doctor Staupitz said to me. 'I like it well,' said he, 'that the doctrine which you proclaim gives glory to God alone and none to man. For never can too much glory, goodness, and mercy be ascribed unto God.'

These words of the worthy Doctor comforted and confirmed me. The Gospel is true because it deprives men of all glory, wisdom, and righteousness and turns over all honor to the Creator alone."  -- Martin Luther

Saturday, April 9, 2011

A Question to remove the "Intellectual Objection" Fog

After discussing the claims of Christ with a PhD student on the SMU campus and finding that the response was a barrage of the usual questions, I asked.

"If I could answer all of your questions to your satisfaction, would you accept Christ as your Savior and serve Him as your Lord?"


The answer was, "No."

My reply was, "Well then you do not have an intellectual problem with Christ."

He said, "What do you mean?"

I replied, "I mean you yourself said you would not accept Christ even if all your questions were answered to your satisfaction. So the issue can't be intellectual, I am wondering if it is moral. Moral in the sense that if you acknowledge Christ is Lord it places you under His authority and in need of repentance, forgiveness and surrender of your will to His. Could that be the real issue ??? -- you want to control your life and do not want to surrender that control."

He replied, "You are probably right."

Super-zwinglian-calvinistic-eucharistic-notion

Super-zwinglian-calvinistic-eucharistic-notion

(sung to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious")

Super-Zwinglian-Calvinistic-Eucharistic-Notion,
For a Zwinglian or a Calvinist, it's part of their devotion
If you say it's Lutheran, you'll always cause commotion,
Super-Zwinglian-Calvinistic-Eucharistic-Notion!

When I was just a little lad, about the age of seven,
Me father said Christ wasn't here, that He was up in Heaven,
So when I took the Supper, and ate the bread and wine,
I didn't get the bod'ly Christ, but only the divine!
Super-Zwinglian-Calvinistic-Eucharistic-Notion!

On Sundays, when my faith was firm, I lifted up my face
And looked above to heav'n, which was Jesus' dwelling place,
Assurance and the strengthening of faith was up to me,
Effected by the bread and wine, as signs externally!
Super-Zwinglian-Calvinistic-Eucharistic-Notion!

A Lutheran came into our town, proclaiming presence real.
He said that Jesus' blood and body both were in the meal.
Christ bids we eat and drink in order that the sacrament
Grant us holy absolution which is the meal's intent!
Super-Zwinglian-Calvinistic-Eucharistic-Notion!

Now the Gospel all is new as I receive communion,
I eat Christ's body and His blood in sacramental union,
I see the light, I now am Lutheran, but here is now the twist:
Am I Gnesio-Lutheran or a Crypto-Calvinist?
Super-Zwinglian-Calvinistic-Eucharistic-Notion!


Source: Unknown

The Image

The Image


"It happened years ago, but I've never forgotten it. I was singing and speaking at a small midwestern college. During an informal seminar in one of the dorm lounges, a couple came in late.

I couldn't help noticing something odd about them. The girl was very attractive, close to cover-girl standards. The guy looked as if he had just walked off the set for The Nerds. He was short, wore thick horn-rimmed glasses and a plaid short-sleeved shirt. He was definitely a candidate for getting sand kicked in his face.

But the strangest thing of all was that these two were obviously in love. What could she possibly see in him? I asked myself. Suddenly I realized — she was blind.

But what did she see in him? Everything. Everything that's important about who a person is, what love is, and what a real man is. She saw everything she needed to know about him. Blessed are the blind, for they can see people as they really are. Woe to those who can see, for they will constantly be tripped up by the image."


-- John Fischer, Real Christians Dance

Friday, April 8, 2011

Saint Steve says....

If you're not a SAINT when your alive,
then you certainly AIN'T when you're dead.
  • Rom 1:7 "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
  • Acts 9:32 (Peter) "that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda."
  • 2 Cor. 13:13 "All the saints greet you."
  • Eph. 1:1 " To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ."
  • 2 Cor 1:1 "To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia"
  • Phil. 1:1 "To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi"
  • Col. 1:2 "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse"
  • Eph. 4:12 " for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

You might be in a cult if...

You might be in a cult if...

  • Your leader’s prophecies must be spell checked first.
  • Special music is performed by the leader’s eight wives.
  • The parking lot has designated spaces for aliens.
  • Fatigues must be worn at the church retreat.
  • The sacred writings are kept in a three-ring binder.
  • The church motto is "In Bob We Trust."
  • Services are canceled because the rattlesnake got loose.

Contentment

Contentment

If God is loving, sovereign and wise then we can and should be content.

Two out of three won't do...

Consider:
  • If God were loving, sovereign but not wise -- then He would want to do the best for us, have the power to do it... if only He could figure out what to do.

  • If God were loving, wise but not sovereign -- then He would want the best for us and know exactly what he should do... but He would be hampered from getting it done.

  • If God were wise and sovereign but not loving -- then He would know what is best for us, and have the power to do it... but He would lack the motivation.
However, since:

God is loving, sovereign and wise then we can and should be content.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Welcome to my Theo-blog

Welcome to my Theo-blog -- a compendium of quotes and thoughts dealing with theology in a practical key -- along with a bit of fun. 

So I will begin it with a thought provoking quote from one of my favorite books: A.W. Tozer's, The Knowledge of the Holy


"A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God.



It is my opinion that the Christian conception of God current today [1961] is so decadent as to be utterly beneath the dignity of the Most High God and actually to constitute for professed believers something amounting to a moral calamity ... The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved often of a thousand moral problems."