We came home on Tuesday night to find a massive amount of Christmas lights decorating a tree in our yard.
We didn't put them there. The neighbor did.
Gary said the wife asked (after she saw what the husband did) if it would be okay or if they should take the light-strands down. So it appears she has some understanding of our yard as differentiated from their yard.
But there's still something uncomfortable about seeing that display.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Thursday, November 08, 2012
A Terminal Illness
(At risk of offending Jenny and sending her running away, with her fingers in her ears, singing "La la la la la la la.... I can't hear yooooooouu....")
There is a certain amount of mourning to go through upon receiving the diagnosis of a terminal illness. It shocks. It saddens. It often forces one into involuntary fasting. It drives us to prayer.
But then life goes on. For a while. Maybe longer than the doctor expected. Maybe shorter. But the life that goes on, goes on with a changed perspective. (Remember that country song, "I hope you get a chance to live like you were dying"?)
There are certain economic realities. Believing that these economic principles are just somebody's "beliefs" or somebody's opinion Does Not Change the fact that these economic principles are incontrovertible truths. When these economic laws are transgressed, there will be consequences. (It's no different from my believing that I can fly will result in my smashing onto the ground when I "fly" off the roof of the house.)
Tuesday's vote totals were not due to voter fraud. Tuesday's decision was a revelation of the will of the American people. Tuesday was a turning point in American history. (Or maybe election day of 2008 was, but this Tuesday showed that November 2008 wasn't a fluke.)
So now we mourn the diagnosis. No, we don't know when the end will come. But we live with two realities: the days are numbered, and God still blesses. We pray "Give us this day our daily bread" with a greater understanding of the "dailiness" and less reliance on our own strength to provide for ourselves. We live with uncertainty about the future of our temporal existence, with nothing to rely on but the Lord's gracious promises. We cannot count on a future of prosperity and a retirement laced with world travel, so we will be content to take each day as it comes, thankful for whatever joys of life and family and creature-comforts we happen to have at the moment.
And that's not necessarily a bad place to be.
We don't like having our idols taken away. But when we do, there is only One who remains true and faithful and inflinchingly for us.
"This is the victory that overcomes the world -- even our Faith."
There is a certain amount of mourning to go through upon receiving the diagnosis of a terminal illness. It shocks. It saddens. It often forces one into involuntary fasting. It drives us to prayer.
But then life goes on. For a while. Maybe longer than the doctor expected. Maybe shorter. But the life that goes on, goes on with a changed perspective. (Remember that country song, "I hope you get a chance to live like you were dying"?)
There are certain economic realities. Believing that these economic principles are just somebody's "beliefs" or somebody's opinion Does Not Change the fact that these economic principles are incontrovertible truths. When these economic laws are transgressed, there will be consequences. (It's no different from my believing that I can fly will result in my smashing onto the ground when I "fly" off the roof of the house.)
Tuesday's vote totals were not due to voter fraud. Tuesday's decision was a revelation of the will of the American people. Tuesday was a turning point in American history. (Or maybe election day of 2008 was, but this Tuesday showed that November 2008 wasn't a fluke.)
So now we mourn the diagnosis. No, we don't know when the end will come. But we live with two realities: the days are numbered, and God still blesses. We pray "Give us this day our daily bread" with a greater understanding of the "dailiness" and less reliance on our own strength to provide for ourselves. We live with uncertainty about the future of our temporal existence, with nothing to rely on but the Lord's gracious promises. We cannot count on a future of prosperity and a retirement laced with world travel, so we will be content to take each day as it comes, thankful for whatever joys of life and family and creature-comforts we happen to have at the moment.
And that's not necessarily a bad place to be.
We don't like having our idols taken away. But when we do, there is only One who remains true and faithful and inflinchingly for us.
"This is the victory that overcomes the world -- even our Faith."
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
To the Polls
One 5-quart crockpot full of African peanut soup. Bowls, spoons, ladle.
Hummus, sliced cucumbers, and pita chips.
Fresh salsa, guacamole, and tortilla chips.
Hot pot, tea bags, stevia, and mugs.
Water bottles full of good water from home (in hopes of avoiding the city water for at least part of the day).
Teriyaki beef jerkey, cashews, and trail mix.
Apples, pineapple chunks, cherry tomatoes, and tangerines.
It's going to be a LONG day at the polls. The township provides donuts for breakfast, and sends along some white-bread buns & bagels to help with the pollworkers' lunch. I do not need to start a long and stressful day on a sugar-&-white-bread fix. So I'm taking along MY version of yummy comfort foods.
The prospect of out-of-state poll watchers scares me. I guess part of the point is that they want to be intimidating, huh?
So how exhausted will I be, come evening? Fall-into-bed tired? Or so curious as to need to watch some election results?
Hummus, sliced cucumbers, and pita chips.
Fresh salsa, guacamole, and tortilla chips.
Hot pot, tea bags, stevia, and mugs.
Water bottles full of good water from home (in hopes of avoiding the city water for at least part of the day).
Teriyaki beef jerkey, cashews, and trail mix.
Apples, pineapple chunks, cherry tomatoes, and tangerines.
It's going to be a LONG day at the polls. The township provides donuts for breakfast, and sends along some white-bread buns & bagels to help with the pollworkers' lunch. I do not need to start a long and stressful day on a sugar-&-white-bread fix. So I'm taking along MY version of yummy comfort foods.
The prospect of out-of-state poll watchers scares me. I guess part of the point is that they want to be intimidating, huh?
So how exhausted will I be, come evening? Fall-into-bed tired? Or so curious as to need to watch some election results?
Monday, November 05, 2012
Gary's Back
Three weeks ago Gary hurt his back by committing the wild and crazy act of [gasp!] setting a coffee cup on his desk. After several doctor visits, four days of working from home, lots of drugs, and six days of being [self-]banned from driving, he began to improve.
God answered our prayers and decreased Gary's pain, increased his mobility, and provided the above torture device equipment via Craigslist. (Torture device: look how red his face is!) The doctor suggested borrowing an inversion table from somebody to see if it might help. Finding nothing to borrow, we were thankful to find one on Craigslist the very next day for a great price and only a half-hour away.
The inversion table has helped tremendously. Gary even mowed the lawn today!
We stumbled over the inversion table which sat smack-dab in the middle of the living room for over a week. But now Gary needs it only once or twice a day (instead of 4+ times daily) and Gary's capable of walking up and down the stairs easily [woo hoo!]. So it was time to relegate the torture device to thedungeon basement.
This involved a massive rearrangement of the basement. Bookshelves were moved. (Argh! That is always SO much work!!) We dusted and vacuumed. Hardest of all, I sorted through some stuff to pitch. Ow, ow, owie! It hurts to throw away perfectly good homeschooling software just because the programs are too obsolete to run on any computer we've got around here. It hurts to throw out vcr tapes of movies I love; but who wants videotapes these days? The garbage stack will be big this week. The finished part of the basement is opened, neatened, put in order, and cleaned.
And we can walk through the living room again.
The inversion table has helped tremendously. Gary even mowed the lawn today!
We stumbled over the inversion table which sat smack-dab in the middle of the living room for over a week. But now Gary needs it only once or twice a day (instead of 4+ times daily) and Gary's capable of walking up and down the stairs easily [woo hoo!]. So it was time to relegate the torture device to the
This involved a massive rearrangement of the basement. Bookshelves were moved. (Argh! That is always SO much work!!) We dusted and vacuumed. Hardest of all, I sorted through some stuff to pitch. Ow, ow, owie! It hurts to throw away perfectly good homeschooling software just because the programs are too obsolete to run on any computer we've got around here. It hurts to throw out vcr tapes of movies I love; but who wants videotapes these days? The garbage stack will be big this week. The finished part of the basement is opened, neatened, put in order, and cleaned.
And we can walk through the living room again.
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Alia's Theology
My 3-yr-old-at-the-time granddaughter drew this picture recently. It was one of many, including making some letters, drawing a chicken, and some plain old scribbling. But her mother wanted to get a picture of this one before it was erased for whatever-came-next.
The Aftermath of the Election
I just realized today that I haven't been praying too much about the outcome of the election. Over the last couple of weeks, I've been praying more for how the people respond to the election results.
Four years ago I remember people talked about how great it is that, in America, unlike some other nations, there was a peaceful transfer of power. [Assuming the incumbent is not re-elected] will we be saying the same thing next year about this transfer of power?
Today in the prayer of the Church, we asked for "faithful citizens." That's about Tuesday. But it's also about the days and weeks following Tuesday. Lord, have mercy.
Four years ago I remember people talked about how great it is that, in America, unlike some other nations, there was a peaceful transfer of power. [Assuming the incumbent is not re-elected] will we be saying the same thing next year about this transfer of power?
Today in the prayer of the Church, we asked for "faithful citizens." That's about Tuesday. But it's also about the days and weeks following Tuesday. Lord, have mercy.
Friday, November 02, 2012
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Those Martyrs
Excuse me for a brief ADD moment regarding Romans 5:
For when we were still without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps
for a good man someone would even dare to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. (Romans 5)
So Jesus told John Mark (aka, the "rich young ruler") that no one was good but God.
Jesus IS the "good man."
Perhaps for a good man --for the Good Man-- someone would maybe possibly dare even to die. "Those martyrs stand, a priestly band, God's throne forever near."
Ah, but that's not Paul's point here. His point is that Christ does what none of us could ever do: He dies for the ungodly, for sinners, for me.
For when we were still without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps
for a good man someone would even dare to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. (Romans 5)
So Jesus told John Mark (aka, the "rich young ruler") that no one was good but God.
Jesus IS the "good man."
Perhaps for a good man --for the Good Man-- someone would maybe possibly dare even to die. "Those martyrs stand, a priestly band, God's throne forever near."
Ah, but that's not Paul's point here. His point is that Christ does what none of us could ever do: He dies for the ungodly, for sinners, for me.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Why It's Hard to Pray
from John Kleinig (not a quote but the gist of what he said) --
You find it hard to pray? You intend to have family devotions every evening? You intend to do a better job this time of sticking to your private prayers each day? But you keep failing!
That's exactly what the devil wants! Your failure to pray doesn't mean you're a failure at it and therefore should give up. Your failure to pray is, instead, proof that the devil is out to stop you at all costs. Your failures are, oddly, evidence of how important your prayers are!
And maybe if you know how important it is to Satan that you don't pray, maybe it will be easier to persevere in your prayers, going to your Father who invites you, who offers you help, who promises to hear.
You find it hard to pray? You intend to have family devotions every evening? You intend to do a better job this time of sticking to your private prayers each day? But you keep failing!
That's exactly what the devil wants! Your failure to pray doesn't mean you're a failure at it and therefore should give up. Your failure to pray is, instead, proof that the devil is out to stop you at all costs. Your failures are, oddly, evidence of how important your prayers are!
And maybe if you know how important it is to Satan that you don't pray, maybe it will be easier to persevere in your prayers, going to your Father who invites you, who offers you help, who promises to hear.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Mr Toad's Character
What a difference 100 years can make!
Background: Maggie and I weren't sure what new book to start after our last read-aloud concluded. We'd run across a reference to The Wind in the Willows in her math book [yes, I did say math book, odd as that may sound to those of you who don't know Fred] and I realized that Maggie had not heard TWitW last time the family had read it. [Amazing problem that homeschool mothers have! Some children have the audacity to not be born yet when you did something that all the kids were supposed to experience for "school."] So anyway, we grabbed a copy from the library and started reading. I enjoyed the book well enough when we read it 20 years ago, but I'm finding it positively delightful this time!! Maggie appears to be finding it acceptable.
In The Wind in the Willows, Mr Toad likes new things. He likes nice clothes. He flits from one new curiosity/passion to another. When he fell in love with boating, he ditched his previous passions. When he decided to go traveling in a gypsy carriage, he was done-done-done with boating. When he discovered a motor car, he promptly dropped his interest in traveling in his gypsy carriage.
My impression is that, when the book was written, this Affinity For The New was seen as a character flaw. Most of the other animals were more content with their place in life and with the simple pleasures of their surroundings. Not Mr Toad. The other critters bore with Mr Toad's idiosyncrasies. He was curious about new things and always wanted to find out more about whatever-was-novel-today.
Today, in our society, in our economy, it's all flip-flopped. Contentment is not considered good. It's often considered hokey. It's often considered unpatriotic (as contentment won't boost consumerism). And it's definitely considered "dull." Desire-for-the-new is held up as a cherished characteristic.
We even run political campaigns with the promise of CHANGE.
My, how values have ... uh ... changed.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Surely in Temples Made with Hands...
I used to love "Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand." It has some great lines and a good, strong tune.
But when I began to understand that Jesus really truly IS there in the Divine Service -- there in His word -- there in the Supper -- there in the preaching -- there in the absolving -- I began to be troubled by
When I crabbed about that line to Pastor Wiest, he told me to "take it up with Paul" because it's exactly what the apostle said when he was preaching in Athens, at Mars Hill. Well, just go and hog-tie me, Pastor Wiest! Darn it, how can I argue with the apostle who was inspired by God to say it?
But it still bothered me.
So after church today we looked at the Greek. And now it makes a little more sense. All through John -- especially where Jesus talks about abiding in the word, and abiding in the Spirit, and abiding in Him, and His abiding in us -- it's a different word. It's not the same kind of "dwell." So often "dwelling" is "living" or "abiding" or "remaining." But at Mars Hill, when Paul said that God does not "dwell" in earthly temples, it's more like God isn't housed in earthly temples, like, y'know, "contained."
Well, now, that makes loads more sense.
He does abide here in our churches. He does remain there. He does dwell with us there. But He's not limited there; He's not locked up there.
So now I'm wondering what impression the song gives other people. Maybe I'm the only one. Maybe everybody else thinks it's a no-brainer that God is everywhere and yet at the same time is specially located in the holy place of our churches.
But when I began to understand that Jesus really truly IS there in the Divine Service -- there in His word -- there in the Supper -- there in the preaching -- there in the absolving -- I began to be troubled by
Surely in temples made with handsBut He is dwelling here, in this building, in this nave, in this chancel, on this altar. He is!
God the most high is not dwelling.
High above earth His temple stands,
all earthly temples excelling.
When I crabbed about that line to Pastor Wiest, he told me to "take it up with Paul" because it's exactly what the apostle said when he was preaching in Athens, at Mars Hill. Well, just go and hog-tie me, Pastor Wiest! Darn it, how can I argue with the apostle who was inspired by God to say it?
But it still bothered me.
So after church today we looked at the Greek. And now it makes a little more sense. All through John -- especially where Jesus talks about abiding in the word, and abiding in the Spirit, and abiding in Him, and His abiding in us -- it's a different word. It's not the same kind of "dwell." So often "dwelling" is "living" or "abiding" or "remaining." But at Mars Hill, when Paul said that God does not "dwell" in earthly temples, it's more like God isn't housed in earthly temples, like, y'know, "contained."
Well, now, that makes loads more sense.
He does abide here in our churches. He does remain there. He does dwell with us there. But He's not limited there; He's not locked up there.
So now I'm wondering what impression the song gives other people. Maybe I'm the only one. Maybe everybody else thinks it's a no-brainer that God is everywhere and yet at the same time is specially located in the holy place of our churches.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Hush That Timer!
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Whose timer?'
Nobody answers.
"Hey, Andrew, is that your timer?"
"No, I didn't set it."
When I find Gary, "Hey, did you set the timer?"
"No."
When I find Maggie, "What's the timer for?"
"I don't know."
"Well, somebody must have set it for something."
But nobody owned up to it.
Oops.
Oh yeah....
I wanted to remember to not forget the perma-press in the dryer.
Oops.
"Whose timer?'
Nobody answers.
"Hey, Andrew, is that your timer?"
"No, I didn't set it."
When I find Gary, "Hey, did you set the timer?"
"No."
When I find Maggie, "What's the timer for?"
"I don't know."
"Well, somebody must have set it for something."
But nobody owned up to it.
Oops.
Oh yeah....
I wanted to remember to not forget the perma-press in the dryer.
Oops.
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Story: The Dark Night of the Soul
One Tuesday evening twenty-some years ago, I sat in a classroom at the seminary with about 100 other women. The sem offered mini-classes for wives, and this one was crowded because it was being led by a popular teacher. One of the wives brought up her fear for the rest of us. You see, according to her, the rest of us weren't really Christians. We hadn't really turned our lives over to Jesus. We hadn't really made Him lord of our lives. She knew what we were like because she used to be one of us, thinking that she was a Christian. But then, ah, then, she had a conversion experience, you see. She wanted us to realize our dire straits so that we too might Make A Decision For Jesus and thus be saved.
Her proof-text for all this was from Matthew 7: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven.... I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, all you who practice lawlessness.'" She accused the whole class of being the ones who thought they were doing the Lord's work but who would be surprised at the end of the world when Jesus says, "Get lost; I never knew you."
I remember well how the teacher/pastor let her keep talking. I remember well how he said somberly, "Yes, that passage frightens me. How do I know if I am the one to whom Jesus will say, 'Depart from Me'?" I remember well how that evening terrified me.
For three weeks, life was hell. I knew I couldn't pray for help. After all, God only hears the prayers of Christians, and I obviously was not a Christian. I don't think I talked to Gary about it at the time; it would be shameful to tell him about it. I was afraid of death, afraid of a freak car accident or whatever might suddenly kill a 20-something gal. Death meant an eternity in hell; I wasn't a Christian. I was trapped in my imperfection. I had no hope. There was nothing I could do to ensure that I was living up to God's standards. Nothing I could do to ensure His wrath would not zot me to hell.
Then, blessedly, this came up, somehow, in a conversation with our pastor. Tom Baker [no, not Four, and not Puddleglum, but the pastor] lavished the Gospel upon me. He told me that Jesus was the one who baptized me. He told me that God chose me, that I couldn't choose Him. He told me that Jesus' death on the cross forgives my sin. He kept telling me and telling me and telling me, forgiving me, blessing me, pointing me to Christ and His work instead of ro my navel-gazing. I suppose it might have been a little like Luther's tower experience. "You mean He forgives me? Me? But it really is true that I'm as sinful and unbelieving as this 'holy' woman accused. And still, Jesus forgives me???"
Today I can see how God worked good through that hellish situation. What the devil means for destruction, God uses to draw needy people to Himself. I have had to learn again and again what Pastor Baker gave me that day, that week, that month. Yes, the accusations of Satan (and that sem wife) on that horrible Tuesday night so long ago, ... the accusations are true. But truer yet --and oh so much bigger-- is my Savior's love for me and His blood shed to save me.
Through the years I wondered how the teacher could stand in front of class and allow that woman's accusations to stand unanswered. Through the years I wondered if he too had been damned by her words. Was the pastor so full of doubts that he could not defend the scores of women in the room that night? Had someone come to him later with the good news of the forgiveness of sins? Had someone brought him the peace that Pastor Baker brought to me? How sad it would be to "hope"* that Jesus' righteousness would cover you, while continuing in the uncertainty that Jesus might instead announce on the Last Day, "I never knew you."
Her proof-text for all this was from Matthew 7: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven.... I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, all you who practice lawlessness.'" She accused the whole class of being the ones who thought they were doing the Lord's work but who would be surprised at the end of the world when Jesus says, "Get lost; I never knew you."
I remember well how the teacher/pastor let her keep talking. I remember well how he said somberly, "Yes, that passage frightens me. How do I know if I am the one to whom Jesus will say, 'Depart from Me'?" I remember well how that evening terrified me.
For three weeks, life was hell. I knew I couldn't pray for help. After all, God only hears the prayers of Christians, and I obviously was not a Christian. I don't think I talked to Gary about it at the time; it would be shameful to tell him about it. I was afraid of death, afraid of a freak car accident or whatever might suddenly kill a 20-something gal. Death meant an eternity in hell; I wasn't a Christian. I was trapped in my imperfection. I had no hope. There was nothing I could do to ensure that I was living up to God's standards. Nothing I could do to ensure His wrath would not zot me to hell.
Then, blessedly, this came up, somehow, in a conversation with our pastor. Tom Baker [no, not Four, and not Puddleglum, but the pastor] lavished the Gospel upon me. He told me that Jesus was the one who baptized me. He told me that God chose me, that I couldn't choose Him. He told me that Jesus' death on the cross forgives my sin. He kept telling me and telling me and telling me, forgiving me, blessing me, pointing me to Christ and His work instead of ro my navel-gazing. I suppose it might have been a little like Luther's tower experience. "You mean He forgives me? Me? But it really is true that I'm as sinful and unbelieving as this 'holy' woman accused. And still, Jesus forgives me???"
Today I can see how God worked good through that hellish situation. What the devil means for destruction, God uses to draw needy people to Himself. I have had to learn again and again what Pastor Baker gave me that day, that week, that month. Yes, the accusations of Satan (and that sem wife) on that horrible Tuesday night so long ago, ... the accusations are true. But truer yet --and oh so much bigger-- is my Savior's love for me and His blood shed to save me.
Through the years I wondered how the teacher could stand in front of class and allow that woman's accusations to stand unanswered. Through the years I wondered if he too had been damned by her words. Was the pastor so full of doubts that he could not defend the scores of women in the room that night? Had someone come to him later with the good news of the forgiveness of sins? Had someone brought him the peace that Pastor Baker brought to me? How sad it would be to "hope"* that Jesus' righteousness would cover you, while continuing in the uncertainty that Jesus might instead announce on the Last Day, "I never knew you."
*Footnote: Sometimes "hope" means
a sure and certain hope, something
that is incontrovertible. But too often
"hope" means merely wishful thinking.
In Christ Jesus
we have boldness
and access
with confidence
through faith in Him. (Eph 3)
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Gobs of Tables
Today is garbage pick-up.
So we're driving to chapel this morning, and I see a table out with the neighbor's trash. I was gripped by an overwhelming urge to brake and turn around and nab that table!
Maggie didn't understand. She doesn't remember Nanna's basement. Nobody in my family ever bought tables. We just took one from the stash in my grandma's basement. Why she had a penchant for collecting tables, I do not know. But she did.
And as revealed by this morning's fight with myself over "To dumpster-dive, or not to dumpster-dive? That is the question," there must be a smidge of Nanna's need-for-tables in my genetic make-up.
So we're driving to chapel this morning, and I see a table out with the neighbor's trash. I was gripped by an overwhelming urge to brake and turn around and nab that table!
Maggie didn't understand. She doesn't remember Nanna's basement. Nobody in my family ever bought tables. We just took one from the stash in my grandma's basement. Why she had a penchant for collecting tables, I do not know. But she did.
And as revealed by this morning's fight with myself over "To dumpster-dive, or not to dumpster-dive? That is the question," there must be a smidge of Nanna's need-for-tables in my genetic make-up.
Loving the Beautiful People?
He has no form or comeliness.
And when we see Him,
there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men,
a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53)
Oh, so if there were beauty,
then maybe we would desire Him.
In other words,
we desire what pleases us,
And when we see Him,
there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men,
a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53)
Oh, so if there were beauty,
then maybe we would desire Him.
In other words,
we desire what pleases us,
what makes us happy,
what is beautiful to us.
"Well, DUH," you say.
"Who desires what's despicable?" you say.
Oh.
Yeah.
There is One who does.
How weird!
How blessedly weird!
And amazingly, that weird, unearned love makes the ugly one beautiful.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Demon Possession
"Can a Christian be demon possessed?" I've lost count of how many times I've heard people ask that question. And this week I heard a most awesome answer.
Christians can and will be attacked by the demons. That's not possession; it's an attack. A person may wonder if it's demon-possession. It may feel the same. It may appear to be the same. But in the end, does it matter if we know whether it's an attack or possession? After all, the remedy is the same thing: "Depart, you unclean spirit, and make room for the Holy Spirit!" ... and then the comfort of the forgiveness of sins for Jesus' sake is applied to the afflicted one.
How awesome is that?!
Christians can and will be attacked by the demons. That's not possession; it's an attack. A person may wonder if it's demon-possession. It may feel the same. It may appear to be the same. But in the end, does it matter if we know whether it's an attack or possession? After all, the remedy is the same thing: "Depart, you unclean spirit, and make room for the Holy Spirit!" ... and then the comfort of the forgiveness of sins for Jesus' sake is applied to the afflicted one.
How awesome is that?!
Devotions
"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise."
Is that really so difficult to say?
I recently attended a gathering. The devotions had no invocation, no versicles, no creed, no hymn, no psalms, no canticles. The devotions started with a religious reading, followed by a prayer. You'd think we could have at least prayed the Lord's Prayer. (Jesus did say, after all, "When you pray, say 'Our Father....'")
We've been reading John Kleinig's book Grace Upon Grace for Bible class this fall. In it, he talks about how God's people are made holy by things like the invocation, creed, Our Father, and the benediction. As I read that section of the book, I reflected on how impotent we think those words are. They seem silly to most of us. They seem little. They seem like the same-old-same-old.
And then you throw together more than a hundred Christians, and we pray, and I feel cheated (yes, cheated!) that we can't even say "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We can't have someone read a psalm to which we can respond with the Gloria Patri. We can't confess the Faith together -- "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth...."
Really, dear pastors. God gave you the words to say. You can find them in the book. He ordered you to speak them for my comfort, for my strengthening, for my life. Would you please just say them?!
Is that really so difficult to say?
I recently attended a gathering. The devotions had no invocation, no versicles, no creed, no hymn, no psalms, no canticles. The devotions started with a religious reading, followed by a prayer. You'd think we could have at least prayed the Lord's Prayer. (Jesus did say, after all, "When you pray, say 'Our Father....'")
We've been reading John Kleinig's book Grace Upon Grace for Bible class this fall. In it, he talks about how God's people are made holy by things like the invocation, creed, Our Father, and the benediction. As I read that section of the book, I reflected on how impotent we think those words are. They seem silly to most of us. They seem little. They seem like the same-old-same-old.
And then you throw together more than a hundred Christians, and we pray, and I feel cheated (yes, cheated!) that we can't even say "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We can't have someone read a psalm to which we can respond with the Gloria Patri. We can't confess the Faith together -- "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth...."
Really, dear pastors. God gave you the words to say. You can find them in the book. He ordered you to speak them for my comfort, for my strengthening, for my life. Would you please just say them?!
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