R. C. Sproul on "seeker" worship

“In Romans 3, Paul makes it abundantly clear that unconverted people do not seek after God. They may seek the “benefits” that only God can give them, such as ultimate meaning and purpose in their lives, relief from guilt, the presence of joy and happiness, and things of that nature. …they want the benefits without the Giver of the benefits. And so structuring worship to accommodate unbelievers is misguided because unbelievers are not seeking after God. Seeking after God begins at conversion, and if we are to structure our worship with a view to seekers, then we must structure it for believers, since only believers are seekers.” - - R. C. Sproul in Tabletalk, October 2007

Tolerating Facism at Columbia U.

I've been busy with my new grandson and celebrating my wife's birthday, so forgive the lack of postings. I'm upset with the idiocy of the American left, particularly their intolerance of speakers from the right.

The following is from the PowerLine blog site, posted by Scott. Thanks, it says what I as a historian and Churchill lover want to say in response to the invitation: Historian Arthur Herman speaks for me in characterizing Columbia's hosting of Ahmadinejad yesterday as a squalid mistake. Herman draws on the appropriate Churchillian analogue to capture Columbia's disgrace:

Adolf Hitler got the clear message of the 1933 Oxford Union debate: We will not oppose you. Regardless of Bollinger's "tough questions" yesterday, Ahmadinejad the Iranian president is bound to use his speech to a hall of "open-minded" Americans as a major public-relations victory - and to see it as a clear sign that his enemy is divided at its heart.

As Churchill said, "There is no place for compromise in war. That invaluable process only means that soldiers are shot because their leaders in council and camp are unable to resolve."

He added, "In war the clouds never blow over; they gather unceasingly and fall in thunderbolts." It was the falling thunderbolts of Nazi bombs that finally convinced the appeasers of the '30s that they had been wrong. New York City has already gone through its Blitz. What more will it take before Bollinger and his cohorts admit their squalid mistake?

Musings

* We became grandparents for the third time Friday evening (number four is due at the end of the year). Our grandson is 7lbs., 14 oz. and 20 1/2"; a fine little boy. He joins his older brother. Praise God! * Weather - the hot days of summer here in Arid-zona are hopefully gone until next year. Right now it is a comfortable 94. Yes, 94 is comfortable, great golf weather! * Presbytery - the quarterly gathering of the Southwest Presbytery is set for later this week. It is a good chance for fellowship, renewed friendships and spiritual challenge. Some of us will be making the 3 hour drive to Sierra Vista, AZ and discussing the call to the ministry on the way.

On Justification

"The prevailing doctrine of justification today is not justification by faith alone. It's not even justification by good works or by a combination of faith and works. The prevailing notion of justification in Western culture today is justification by death. It's assumed that all one has to do to be received into everlasting arms of God is to die" – R. C. Sproul in The Truth of the Cross

Reading Good Books

Dr. Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, offers some cogent thoughts on the reading of books. You can read the full article from The Christian Post here: www.thechristianpost.com

Nathan Clark George

Last night we hosted Nathan for a concert. His music is superb. He is a an award winning acoustic guitarist and composer. He travels the country with his family in a large motor home. I would recommend him to all. You can hear samples of his music at: www.nathanclarkgeorge.com

Dr. D. James Kennedy dies

D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge PCA in Florida died early on Spetember 5, 2007 at his home in Florida. “Now, I know that someday I am going to come to what some people will say is the end of this life. They will probably put me in a box and roll me right down here in front of the church, and some people will gather around, and a few people will cry. But I have told them not to do that because I don’t want them to cry. I want them to begin the service with the Doxology and end with the Hallelujah chorus, because I am not going to be there, and I am not going to be dead. I will be more alive than I have ever been in my life, and I will be looking down upon you poor people who are still in the land of dying and have not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I will be alive forevermore, in greater health and vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has known before.” - - D. James Kennedy, Ph.D. (1930- 2007) Dr. Kennedy will be greatly missed.

I'm a Fred Head

Finally, Fred Thompson has entered the fray. For me, he espouses most things I stand for and like to hear from a candidate. Frankly, most of the the others, except Romney and Guliani, are losers. John McCain, even though he is from Arizona, has too many things that have left me, as one who voted for him, with a very bad taste in my mouth.