Resolution 17

Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

In short, don't waste your life.

Tulip

Rebekah and I have a favorite flower. The tulip.


Here are the reasons why I love tulips:

1. Tulips are a symbol of new life. When I was young my mother would plant tulips. In the springtime they would pop out of the ground telling everyone that Spring had arrived. New life arises in the Spring just like in our spiritual lives: God calls us from wintery death to spring-like life through Jesus Christ.
2. Tulips spring from the ground like Christ sprung from the grave. And both are celebrated in the Spring.
3. Tulips--as already noted--come in the Spring. Spring is my favorite season.
4. The "Doctrines of Grace" are easily remembered by the acronym TULIP.
5. Bonus reason: Resident Thorns Poet, Jordan, just made this up,

One lip,

Tulips,

Three lips,

Four lips.

I hope you love tulips too.

Night:

-n. [nait]

1. The night's silence, like a deep lamp, is burning with the light of its milky way. 2. Timid thoughts, do not be afraid of me.

(as in: Night's darkness is a bag.)

Apparently this is cool in eastern Asia. Jeremy recently traveled there and bought me a small journal/planner with these words on it. I think something may have been lost in translation.

The Gospel is an Intricate Part of Evangelism

On Thursday night I attended a "Shane and Shane" concert here in Fargo.

There was man who claimed to be an evangelist there. I would have never known.

The word "Jesus" only escaped his lips a couple of times and never in the context of the Gospel. His content made me think that the good news he thought made him an evangelist was social.

But a social gospel is not the true Gospel. And claiming that you are a proclaimer of the good news without proclaiming the good news just doesn't seem to work.

Scripture, Experience, and the Spirit of Christ

About two months ago I was thinking intently on "Seeking a Sign and the Authority of Scripture" and it came to mind again today as I was reading John Piper's new book, Finally Alive. I went back to my post to reread it and the comments section directly addressed one of the thoughts I had. So, rather than write something new, I will simply repost the remarks.

A question was posed by dual blogger, Eva Joy (Here I Am, Send Me and Life and Prime Numbers):

"I am wondering if you have insights on a question I continue to struggle with: How do you resolve that stance (Scripture as authoritative over experience) with the realization that how we interpret Scripture is influenced by our presuppositions which, in turn, are formed by our experience? Scripture may tell us the significance or meaning of an experience but how we understand what it is telling us is often informed by other experiences."

I replied,

"That's a good question. I will try to answer it.

"Often social conditioning gets the blame for the things that we believe. But for the Christian, we know we are led by the Spirit.

"'When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.' -John 16:13-15

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. -Romans 8:14-16

"So, our interpretation of Scripture is not governed by our experiences, as a post-modern society tells us, but rather by the Spirit. We are indeed a new creation in Christ and we can be certain that God is faithful to the promise in John 16. And a semantic look at John 16 shows us (1) that the Spirit spoken of is that of Christ (He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life) and (2) that the Spirit will guide us in all Truth, which includes all matters of Scripture, as Christ is both synonymous with Truth and the Word (John 1)."

The citation of experience as the shaper of our Scriptural interpretation is trumped by the understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit. He guides us, illuminating our path through Scripture, taking what is Christ's and declaring it to us. A regenerate heart can take solace in knowing that it is one with Christ, a fellow heir; all well Christ is the first-born amongst many sons, that He may be lifted up and glorified.

Tree of the Week (4.21.09)

The First Year of Marriage: Nine Month Update

Today marks nine months of marriage to my beautiful bride, Rebekah Sue.

In the days leading up to our union, well-wishers doled out advice: "The first year is really tough. Don't be discouraged; it will get better."

As I reflected on these words this morning, I nearly felt guilty. The reason people gave that warning was because their first year of marriage was tough. And yet I would venture to say that the first nine months of my marriage to Rebekah has been void of toughness. I can attribute this to nothing other than the grace of God and His Spirit making Rebekah aware of my needs before her own and making me aware of Rebekah's needs before my own.

The past nine months have been the best of my life; God has made Rebekah a catalyst in my sanctification to the praise of His glorious grace. And I hope the reciprocal is true as well.

There Is a Joy that Brings True Happiness

"But Lord, keep me far from one error. May it be far from the heart of Your servant who here confesses unto You, that I should feel momentary earthly joy and suppose that I had reached true happiness. There is a joy that brings true happiness, but it is not given to the ungodly. It is only for those who love You for Your sake."

-St. Augustine, The Confessions of St. Augustine

Justice and Mercy Every Morning

Every morning, while being entirely righteous and just, the Lord is still merciful.

The Lord within her is righteous;
    he does no injustice;
every morning he shows forth his justice;
    each dawn he does not fail;
    but the unjust knows no shame.

-Zephaniah 3:5

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

-Lamentations 3:22,23

Tree of the Week (4.14.09)

Resolution 16

Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

The Christian should mind his or her tongue, speaking no evil concerning anyone, and rebuking only when necessary.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

-Ephesians 4:29

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

-James 1:26

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

-Colossians 3:12-17

Tree of the Week (4.7.09)