Friday, July 31, 2009

10 reasons I love the library

A man visiting Iceland asked his taxi cab driver to show him their country's most popular attractions. The cabbie drove for a little while and then pulled up alongside an old, large building.
"What's this?" the visitor asked.
"It's our library," the cab driver announced proudly.
"No, you don't understand. I want to see your country's major attractions."
"Ah, but this is one of our best attractions!"

I heard this story last week, and as far as I know, it's true. Icelanders really take their books seriously. And they remind all of us that libraries are special.

We don't often appreciate them today, but I for one still love public and school libraries. I love my childhood memories of being in the library. I love exploring new libraries in towns that I visit. And I simply don't think the internet can ever completely replace the library. In fact, I believe the internet makes brick-and-mortar libraries more valuable to us.

Now, I must admit I haven't spent much time studying in a library since seminary. Public libraries are often noisy places full of activity - more like a train station than a convent. But in one sense I'm glad they're busy. That means people are using them. Just as a book in perfect condition is of no use, so a quiet and empty library is pointless. Libraries are meant to be public gathering places, where stuff happens and ideas are exchanged.

Here are ten reasons I love the library:
  1. Free books. Of course, the highlight of any library is all the free books available to check-out and renew. Biographies. Novels. Technical manuals. History books. Audio books. For 3-6 weeks, that book is all yours. It's like meeting a new friend. Enjoy it. Learn from it. Journal or tell others something about it. The author may open new worlds of imagination or share an idea that will literally change your life.
  2. Interlibrary loan. In San Bernardino, it's free to request books from other libraries in our same network. So, we have millions of additional titles available at no charge. Just ask the clerk, or place a hold from your home computer, and the library will call you as soon as the book arrives at your local branch. If there's no waiting list, the book usually comes in a week or so.
  3. Book sales. I love browsing the discard shelves and attending Friends of the Library sales. You never know what gems you will discover. We've accumulated many books and sets for our personal family library this way.
  4. Periodicals. Nowhere else can you browse hundreds of magazines and check many of them out for free. I've used their Consumer Reports several times before making a big applicance purchase.
  5. Internet. For those who do not have home internet access, you can have free access for a limited time at the local library. This is great for those who need to check their email, look for job openings, or do online research. (Of course, many people use them to play games, too).
  6. Study areas. You'll probably spend $4 on coffee to study at a Starbucks, but the library is completely free. Cozy chairs are often available for reading and working on your laptop, and tables abound for more in-depth research. Public libraries may be noisy, but these sounds are easily blocked out with a good pair of earplugs or a set of earbuds and some relaxing music
  7. Special activities. Story time, free literacy programs, crafts, reading clubs, and other activities are often hosted at libraries. Last year, my wife and son got to meet Rachel from the Signing Time sign language video series at our local library.
  8. Bulletin boards. The library is a helpful place to announce or learn about community events. Many have bulletin boards or a 3-ring activity binder.
  9. Puppets. Our library has a special kids section, complete with bright colorful cushions and animal puppets. This makes it easier for parents and older siblings to browse, while making the library a fun place for even the youngest members of the family.
  10. The park. Adjacent to our library is the city park. Rarely do we visit the library without a detour by the slides, monkey bars, and swingset. A great way to combine mental and physical exercise!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Dead to sin

I sometimes hear people who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction say things like "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic," or "once an addict, always an addict." I suspect it's part of their AA or NA rehab counseling.

It may be true that this person will always be tempted in those areas, but the Bible never treats alcohol or drugs as a "disease," nor does it say this condition is incurable. In fact, the doctrine of sanctification gives great hope, because it teaches than any born again believer becomes dead to sin and can gain victory over whatever deeply rooted problems and behavior exist in their lives (drugs, alcohol, sex, anger, etc.).

The Christian is never bound and gagged to the power of sin.

Romans 6:11-14 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Concerning this passage, Wayne Grudem explains,
To be dead to the ruling power of sin means that we as Christians, by virtue of the power of the Holy Spirit and the resurrection life of Christ working within us, have power to overcome the temptations and enticements of sin. Sin will no longer be our master, as once it was before we became Christians.

In practical terms, this means that we must affirm two things to be true. On the one hand, we will never be able to say, “I am completely free from sin,” because our sanctification will never be completed (see below). But on the other hand, a Christian should never say (for example), “This sin has defeated me. I give up. I have had a bad temper for thirty-seven years, and I will have one until the day I die, and people are just going to have to put up with me the way I am!” To say this is to say that sin has gained dominion. It is to allow sin to reign in our bodies. It is to admit defeat. It is to deny the truth of Scripture, which tells us, “You also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). It is to deny the truth of Scripture that tells us that “sin will have no dominion over you” (Rom. 6:14).

This initial break with sin, then, involves a reorientation of our desires so that
we no longer have a dominant love for sin in our lives. Paul knows that his readers were formerly slaves to sin (as all unbelievers are), but he says that they are enslaved no longer. “You who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17–18). This change of one’s primary love and primary desires occurs at the beginning of sanctification. (Systematic Theology, p. 747)
What a blessing that we are not longer slaves to sin but are now slaves to righteousness and new life in Jesus Christ!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament

If you had to summarize the entire message of the Bible in a single word, what would it be? Last Sunday, we discovered the best word might be “kingdom.” As John Bright says, “The Bible is one book. Had we to give that book a title, we might with justice call it ‘The Book of the Coming Kingdom of God.”

During our morning service, we traced this theme through the entire Old Testament, from Moses to Malachi, seeing three stages of God’s Mediatorial Kingdom.
  1. God Prepares for the Kingdom (Gen. 1:26-28; 12:1-3; 49:8-12). In the Book of Genesis, we are introduced to the idea that God will use human beings to rule over His creation as His mediator. Thousands of years after Adam and Eve fail to rule righteously, God appoints a man named Abram to become the father of a new nation He will rule over. God further announces that His chosen kings will descend from the tribe of Judah.
  2. God Establishes the Kingdom (Ex. 19:4-8; Deut. 17:14-28; 1 Sam. 15:24-31, 34-35; 16:12-13; 2 Sam. 7:8-16). In the early years, God ruled His people directly through Moses and the Judges. Later, when the Israelites asked for a king, God instructed them to choose a righteous man who would read the Scriptures and hide God’s word in his heart. Saul failed miserably as king, but then God selected David, a man after His own heart. God blessed David for his devotion and promised that his offspring would always be rightful heirs to the throne. The anointing of David points to the greater “Anointed One” (Messiah) whom God will appoint as an eternal King.
  3. God Expands the Kingdom (Jer. 23:5-8; 31:31-37). Despite repeated failure and apostasy by David’s descendants, God promised He would never abandon His people or renege on His promises to Abraham and David. God foretold of a new covenant that would be far superior to the one He made with Moses at Sinai. The major and minor prophets called the people to repentance and spoke of future days when hearts would be changed, the curse would be lifted, and God would raise up a son of David to reign in peace and righteousness.
At the beginning of the message, I announced I would be preaching the entire Old Testament in one sermon and encouraged everyone to “fasten their seat belts and put on their crash helmet.” After the service, one member remarked “I think my seat belt flew off!” It certainly was a sermon packed with information, and I was thankful for everyone's attentiveness. But I do hope it captured the “big picture” of our beloved Old Testament and gave us new insight into the central theme of the Bible.

After we look at the kingdom in the New Testament next week, we will spend an entire morning considering the practical implications of kingdom living, but for now, here are a few exhortations:
  • Be optimistic. The Christian life is not a naïve attitude of “don’t worry, be happy.” It is a joy much deeper than that. We view history not as some random cyclical process, but as a grand story moving in a linear direction, toward a victorious end.
  • Anticipate Christ's return (2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 22:20). Don’t become so preoccupied with the depravity of Romans 1:18-32 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 that you forget the glorious promises of Christ’s return and reign.
  • Trust God. His Word is reliable. He fulfilled so many promises through Christ’s first advent, and we can be confident He will fulfill the remaining promises in Christ’s second advent.
  • Study the Old Testament. I pray this overview of the Old Testament will give us a greater appreciation for the Old Testament and whet our appetites for a lifetime of study. The Old Testament is rich and rewarding, because it tells us all about Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King.
(Sunday’s sermon has been uploaded to our podcast site and is available for free download or to listen online.)

May God help us apply His Word this week in our hearts, in our words, and in our actions.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Fighting to please God

The Christian life is a fight for holiness, a daily battle to put off the old self and put on Jesus Christ.

Though we have been saved and justified in God's eyes through His Son, even our best works still contain sin. We will never reach perfection until glory. But this should not cause us to lay down our weapons and stop fighting. God is pleased with our obedience, despite its imperfections. Hear the words of J. C. Ryle:
Sanctification is a thing which cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God. The holiest actions of the holiest saint that ever lived are all more or less full of defects and imperfections. They are either wrong in their motive or defective in their performance and in themselves are nothing better than “splendid sins,” deserving God’s wrath and condemnation. To suppose that such actions can stand the severity of God’s judgment, atone for sin and merit heaven is simply absurd. “By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified.” “We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:20–28).

The only righteousness in which we can appear before God is the righteousness of another—even the perfect righteousness of our Substitute and Representative, Jesus Christ the Lord. His work, and not our work, is our only title to heaven. This is a truth which we should be ready to die to maintain.

For all this, however, the Bible distinctly teaches that the holy actions of a sanctified man, although imperfect, are pleasing in the sight of God. “With such sacrifices God is well pleased” (
Heb. 13:16). “Obey your parents . . . for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Col. 3:20). “We . . . do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

Let this never be forgotten, for it is a very comfortable doctrine. Just as a parent is pleased with the efforts of his little child to please him, though it be only by picking a daisy or walking across a room, so is our Father in heaven pleased with the poor performances of His believing children. He looks at the motive, principle and intention of their actions and not merely at their quantity and quality. He regards them as members of His own dear Son, and for His sake, wherever there is a single eye, He is well pleased. (Ryle, Holiness, ch. 2)

Friday, July 24, 2009

Book review: The Unforgiving Minute

The Unforgiving Minute is the spellbinding account of a soldier's rigorous training and grueling combat in Afghanistan. It's a dramatic coming-of-age story written by Captain Craig Mullaney, who is a unique mix of one part Army Ranger and one part Oxford Rhodes scholar. (I felt a particular kinship with him because we're the same age. He started at West Point in 1996, only one month before I started at The Master's College. We were both training for battle, though of a different kind.)

Having never served in the military myself, Mullaney's vivid prose gave me a deeper appreciation for our men and women in uniform, and a greater understanding of the Bible's frequent references to war.

Endorsed by General Petraus and Wesley-Clark, this book is an instant classic you will find very hard to put down.

Here's an excerpt, with a great illustration of endurance...

For a moment, sitting on the examining table, I considered quitting. Dozens had already quit. In Ranger parlance, they had LOM'd: dropped out for 'lack of motivation.' At West Point I had always risen to the challenges. The challenges of Ranger School, however, were on a different scale, and I wondered whether I could take two more months of punishment at this voltage. At the moment, motivation was scarce. A medical 'drop' was an honorable reason to leave Ranger School, I rationalized to myself. No one would call me a coward or a failure if I had a legitimate medical excuse. It was the easy way out. I would be on a plane home to Rhode Island in twelve hours, sitting by the pool with a margarita. Covered in mud and sweat, the prospect was especially appealing. Ranger School could wait a couple of years, I told myself. Maybe after Oxford?

Another voice, however, urged me to stay. This sort of decision had an audience of one. Forget what my father would say as he picked me up at the airport. Forget LoFaro, Ostlund, and Charlie. Would I be able to look at myself in the mirror again if I quit? So I stayed in the course, a decision I would curse during every painful march or sleepless night staring out at the dark from a cold patrol base. There were no good days in Ranger School, just variations of bad. It demanded an almost inhuman endurance.... (p. 96)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The universal kingdom of God

My apologies for getting off track the last couple months with our "Doing the Word" blog posts. June was one of the busiest months of my life, and the first half of July was our family road trip to Colorado, so things are just now settling down to some level of normalcy.

Last week, we looked briefly at John 18:28-40 (Jesus’ civil trial before Pilate) before launching into a multi-week series on the kingdom of God. We noted that there are two main ways the “kingdom” theme is used in the Bible.
  1. The first is in a general sense – that God is creator and ruler of the entire universe. We can call this His “universal kingdom.” On Sunday, we looked at just two examples of this. (A) In 1 Chronicles 29, when David was an old man, he gathered the people of Israel together and took an offering for the temple. The people gave generously and joyfully, and David expressed His praise to the Lord. He declared “Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all…You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might.” (B) In Daniel 4, when Nebuchadnezzar became puffed up over His achievements, God humbled Him by making him walk on all fours and graze in the field. His hair grew like feathers and his nails like bird claws. Finally, the king humbled himself and confessed, “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation… Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just.”
  2. The second way is in a more local sense – that since the time of Abraham, God has chosen to call out a people for Himself, and to rule over them through appointed men called “mediators.” This began with Moses, the judges, kings, and ultimately Jesus. We can call this His “mediatorial kingdom,” and we will look more in-depth at this aspect of God’s kingdom beginning next week.
A few application questions:
  • In what areas does a king have authority?
  • When you consider that God is a king, how does this make you feel?
  • Read 1 Timothy 1:17. What attributes of God are mentioned here? How should we act toward our King?
  • The universal kingdom of God is a great remedy for pride. What gifts or personal accomplishments tempt you to become proud? What is the biblical response?
  • The universal kingdom of God is also a great remedy for anxiety. What makes you afraid? What fears does your mind drift toward? What is the biblical response?
(Sunday’s sermon will be uploaded soon to our podcast site and will be available for free download or to listen online.)

May God help us apply His Word this week in our hearts, in our words, and in our actions.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

10 books every new Christian should own

Here's a list of ten books I believe every new Christian should own. They would make a great starter library to begin your walk with God and discover the riches of the Bible.

The first two are the best modern translations of the Bible, accompanied by helpful study notes, maps, charts, and other rich background material:
The next four books cover basic Christian beliefs and living:
The last four books are basic reference tools. They don't need to be read from cover-to-cover, but are important Bible study tools to keep close at hand on your shelf.

Monday, July 20, 2009

What is limited atonement?

Of the five points of Calvinism, the doctrine of Limited Atonement is probably the most debated and least understood.

Limited Atonement, also called Particular Redemption, could be explained this way: “It would have required no more obedience, nor any greater suffering, for Christ to have secured salvation for [all]…But He came into the world to represent and save only those given to Him by the Father. Thus, Christ’s saving work was limited in that it was designed to save some and not others, but it was not limited in value, for it was of infinite worth and would have secured salvation for everyone if this had been God’s intention.” (The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, Documented) As some have put it, Christ’s death was “sufficient for all, but efficient only for the elect.”

A few salient points:
  • Adam stood as the federal head (representative) of the entire race, and Christ stood as the federal head of the elect: “…So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men” (Rom. 5:12, 17-18)
  • Definite terms in the Bible teach that Christ died for the elect: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11); “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45)
  • General terms in the Bible like “all” and “world,” which are so favored by Arminians, teach that Christ died for all without distinction (e.g. not just for the Jews). These verses do NOT teach that Christ died for all men without exception, i.e. He died to save every lost sinner. If this were true, then we would have to either say Christ failed in His mission, or all people are in fact justified and reconciled, which is universalism. (We Baptists use this terminology as well when we speak of an “all church potluck.” This does not necessarily mean that all will attend, but simply that all are invited.) Biblical examples: "…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19); “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2). These verses show that forgiveness is freely available to every tongue, tribe, and nation; they are not intended to be a commentary on the inner workings of the atonement.
There is much more that could be said. Any discussion of limited atonement must delve into the mysterious harmony of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility and explore the profound nature of the cross. These are things I don't believe we'll ever fully wrap our minds around.

For those who would like to learn more, I would suggest starting with a couple articles on the subject at Monergism.com.

Related posts:

Saturday, July 18, 2009

No greater love - the movie

Here's the trailer for an upcoming movie called "No Greater Love." It was produced by several Hollywood veterans who are also devout Christians. The director (Brad Silverman) is a personal friend of mine, and one of the supporting actors (Jay Underwood) went to seminary with me. I am very excited about its coming release. It tells a riveting love story that is gospel-driven, while the acting and production look top-notch.

No Greater Love will be available in stores in January and is being distributed by Thomas Nelson. Please pray for this movie to be used greatly by the Lord, and pick up a copy when you see it hit the shelves. I pray Coram Deo Studios will join Sherwood Pictures (Facing the Giants, Fireproof) as another quality Christian alternative to Hollywood.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Books for the trip

No road trip would be complete without some good books to help the miles pass by. Here are some books our family enjoyed the last couple weeks during our travels and while relaxing in Colorado:

Fodor's Essential USA, 1st Edition: Spectacular Cities, Natural Wonders, and Great American Road Trips. Though this travel guide covers all 50 states, it was a great reference for the 6 states we traveled through. Some of our decisions on what attractions to visit came right out of this book. One feature I really liked was the suggested itinerary, depending on how many days you would be in an area: one day, two days, or even up to a whole week. While far from exhaustive, it's a great overview of our country's natural wonders and man-made attractions.

Frommer's Colorado. This book helped us navigate the Colorado Springs and Denver area during our stay with my parents, and during our two day retreat in Monument/Denver.

Russell Hitt, Sensei: The Life Story of Irene Webster-Smith. Natalie read this to me in the car on several of our travel days. A well-written story about a bold missionary to the young geisha girls of Japan in the early 20th century. We're about half way through the book.

C.J. Mahaney (ed.), Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. A wake-up call to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts in areas like media, music, clothing, materialism. I especially enjoyed Jeff Purswell's chapter on how we should love the world. Natalie noted this was a very appropriate book to be reading as we drove through Vegas.

Alva McClain, Greatness of the Kingdom. I've just begun reading this book in preparation for an upcoming series I will be preaching on the kingdom of God. McClain is clear and balanced. It's an excellent biblical theology on the complex subject of the kingdom of God.

Douglas Wilson, Future Men. This was a though-provoking guide on training up boys and young men in biblical masculinity. Drawing heavily from the Proverbs, his observations of our culture, and his own experience as a father, Wilson gives much fresh and practical teaching on the subject.

Ron Fontes and Justine Korman, Davy Crockett Meets Death Hug. Speaking of raising future men, here's a great book we're reading with our son Dylan about Davy Crockett and his friend Georgie hunting a ferocious bear.

Arnold Lobel, Frog and Toad Together. A collection of well-illustrated short stories about Toad and his adventures with Mr. Frog.

Elizabeth Prentiss, Stepping Heavenward. Natalie started reading this on the trip, so I asked her to write a description [she apologizes for making it so long, but she highly recommends the book!]. Written by the author of the beloved hymn, More Love to Thee, O Christ, this fictional "diary" is the account of young Katherine's journey toward Christlikeness. Through it all, we are pointed to love Christ more as we follow our new friend on her journey heavenward. It takes us though Katy's teenage years during which she struggles to understand if she truly loves Christ as her Savior. We watch as she strives to overcome her daily sinfulness, finally realizing that just as Christ saved her, only He can grant Katy holiness. We listen in as she shares her frustrations with a path God has given her and the mentors who point her to the good God may have even during times of great trials. For example, Mrs. Campbell (who has outlived her husband and children, and now endures great physical suffering) tells Katy the following on page 212:

"I was bound to my God and Savior before I knew a sorrow, it is true. But it was by a chain of many links; and every link that dropped away brought me to Him till at last, having nothing left, I was shut up to Him and learned fully what I had only learned partially, how soul-satisfying He is."

"You think then,"I said while my heart died within me, "that husband and children are obstacles in our way and hinder our getting near to Christ?"

"Oh, no!" she cried. "God never gives us hindrances. On the contrary, He means, in making us wives and mothers, to put us into the very conditions of holy living. But if we abuse His gifts by letting them take His place in our hearts, it is an act of love on His part to take them away or to destroy our pleasure in them. It is delightful," she added after a pause, "to know that there are some generous souls on earth who love their dear ones with all their hearts yet give those hearts unreservedly to Christ. Mine was not one of them."

Friday, July 10, 2009

Exposing the heart conference

On Saturday, October 3, our community will have a one-day men's conference called "Exposing the Heart." The speakers will include Chris Mueller, Tye Bridges, Gerry Brown, and myself. Here's a sneak preview:
Are we living as God intended, do we feel we have it together and others don't, and are we more than confident in our devotion and outwardly pious appearances when the truth of the matter is that it comes down to a condition of the heart? The very thing that sustains our life. Our lives and the way we live are directly related to our Heart. Its not always easy to diagnose, but God's Word reveals and exposes the Heart like nothing else. Until we see the condition we won't go for the cure which is in Christ Jesus and the grace He has poured out for us as Christians.

The focus and theme of this year's Morongo Basin Christian Men's Conference will be on "Exposing the Heart". It is based on the teachings from the "Sermon on the Mount". The "Sermon on the Mount" is one of the most well known of all of Jesus' teachings. It has been written about, taught on and preached extensively, and all for good reason, it truly reveals so much about us and our motives as fallen creatures apart from God.
Schedule:

8:00 - 8:30 Conference begins with worship band
8:30-8:40 Opening and prayer
8:40-9:30 Gerry Brown
9:30-9:40 Break
9:40-10:30 Stephen Jones - "Deadly Desire" (Mt. 5:27-30)
10:30-11:00 Break/worship
11:00-11:50 Tye Bridges - "Either Or" (Mt. 7:13-27)
11:50-12:00 Break
12:00-12:50 Chris Mueller - "Sermon on the Heart" (Mt. 5-7)
12:50-1:00 Closing & prayer
1:00-2:00 Free BBQ provided by the Saints motorcycle club

Men, mark your calendars for October 3. It should be a great time of worship and discipleship. For more information, you can visit the website here.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Our first geocaching expedition

After two years of anticipation, I finally got a Garmin GPS Etrex H for my birthday and have begun the fun, family-friendly hobby of geocaching. Geocaching is scavenger hunting for hidden "caches." I love the concept. It involves exercise and the exploring the great outdoors of God's creation, but requires nothing more than a GPS unit (about $85 for low-end, but accurate models) and an online geocache account (free at geocaching.com).

Here are some pictures of our first "expedition" in Colorado Springs, just down the street from my parent's house. We were rewarded with a beautiful view of the city and Pikes Peak. (On our second hunt, Natalie spotted a deer up-close from 20 feet!)






Friday, July 3, 2009

Arches national park

Wednesday morning, we spent a couple hours exploring Arches National Park near Moab, UT, on our way to Colorado. The scenery was stunning, and I was surprised to see so many tourists in the heat of summer. Time was limited, so we only took one little walk up to the massive arch known as the "North Window."








Having just finished the book Worldliness, I found this quote by Jeff Purswell very fitting:
Everywhere we look, the world around us bears witness to the Creator, who brought it into existence...A veritable deluge of revelation floods the world from end to end. Commending on the universality of creation's witness, John Calvin observes that God 'revealed himself and daily discloses himself in the whole workmanship of the universe. As a consequence men cannot open their eyes without being compelled to see him.' ... According to Paul [in Rom. 1:19-20], we can discern certain things about God through what he has made. Roaring seas proclaim his might, towering peaks bespeak his majesty, variegated wildflowers whisper of his complexity. In these and a million other ways, 'the things that have been made' testify to the nature of the One who made them (pp. 148-50).
I cannot help but stand in awe at God's splendor, His power, His majesty, His strength, His beauty, and His wisdom displayed through this park.

New Blog

Today I'm closing up shop and launching a new blog called Pinch of Clay. You can visit it by clicking here . Please stop by and...