Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Reformation Day 2007

Today in NOT Halloween. It is Reformation Day, a day to be celebrated by Christians everywhere.

Al Mohler has a good article on his blog today; you can read it here.

I've snipped an except for you to think about: "The coming of Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and that the Devil will seize every opportunity to trumpet his own celebrity. Perhaps the best response to the Devil at Halloween is that offered by Martin Luther, the great Reformer: "The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him for he cannot bear scorn."

"On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther began the Reformation with a declaration that the church must be recalled to the authority of God's Word and the purity of biblical doctrine. With this in mind, the best Christian response to Halloween might be to scorn the Devil and then pray for the Reformation of Christ's church on earth. Let's put the dark side on the defensive." Well said.

Friday, October 26, 2007

World Series

Well, I can't get over the fact that the Diamondbacks season ended so abruptly. I'd hoped for a D'Backs - Red Sox Series. So for now - Go Sox, Crush the Rocks!

Come On People

Over at his blog, Al Mohler has a wonderful review of Bill Cosby's new book "Come On People." As a native Philadelphian, I've always loved 'the Cos' and his humor - "Right!" Many people forget he has a Ph. D. from UMass.

Anyway, this is an exceptional review of what appears to be a landmark book for everyone to read at Al Mohler's blog.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

An Evangelical for Romney

With so much talk by supposed Evangelical 'leaders' about a third party candidate for President because Mitt Romney is a Mormon, it was refreshing to read Wayne Grudem's comments at TownHall. Wayne was a student with me at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia. His comments may be found here

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Is Joel Osteen a Christian?

That what many are asking, including Paul Edwards and Mike Horton

You can read Edwards here: For Joel Osteen, Theology is Optional

You can read Horton here: Horton on Osteen

Friday, October 12, 2007

For Luke

I'm baptising my Grandson Luke on Sunday. He's all of one month old. I pray the following prayer for him, for his older brother and his cousins.

Our children, Lord, in faith and prayer, We now devote to Thee; Let them Thy covenant mercies share, And Thy salvation see.

Such helpless babes Thou didst embrace, While dwelling here below; To us and ours, O God of grace, The same compassion show.

In early days their hearts secure, From worldly snares, we pray; O let them to the end endure In every righteous way.

This prayer was written by Thomas Haweis about 1808. Haweis was an associate of the Countess of Huntingdon, John Newton and other Evangelicals in 18th century England.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Baseball playoffs

Go D'Backs, beat the Rockies.

Palestiain Christian killed

Gaza, Oct. 8, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A prominent Palestinian Christian was kidnapped and killed by Islamic militants in Gaza this weekend. Rami Ayyad, the director of the only Christian bookstore in Gaza, was abducted as he closed his shop on Saturday evening, October 6. His body was discovered the next day, riddled with bullet and knife wounds. An active member of the Palestinian Bible Society, Ayyad had been threatened in the past by Islamic groups who charged that he was using his bookstore to attract Muslims, hoping to convert them to Christianity. In April the bookstore was the target of an arson attack. Just before his abduction, Ayyad had reported that he was being followed by a car that had no license plates. The Protestant layman, who left a pregnant wife and two small children, was buried on Sunday, after a funeral conducted with protection by Palestinian police. Approximately 3,300 Christians live in Gaza, forming a tiny minority amidst a population of 1.5 million.

Source: Blogs for Bush

This brother was killed simply because he was a Christian.

Friday, October 5, 2007

The Practical Calvinist

I was blogging and found The Shepherd's Scrapbook and this wonderful article by a former professor of mine at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, D. Clair Davis. Enjoy!

What's So Good About Being a Calvinist?

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Myanmar Protest, Violence Sparks Prayer Calls

The following is an excerpt from The Christian Post: (By Ethan Cole, Christian Post Reporter)

Christian organizations are calling for prayers for Myanmar after last week's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protestors who stood against the country's repressive regime.

Myanmar (Burma) is one of the world's most repressive as well as one of the poorest countries in Asia.

The junta is accused of persecuting of ethnic minorities, ordering crosses and churches to be destroyed, permitting child labor and human trafficking. They are also criticized for squashing the freedom of speech, assembly and worship, as well as holding more than 1,000 political prisoners – including Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Furthermore, the military regime is accused of sanctioning sexual violence against women of ethnic minorities.

Nearly half of the reported cases documented against women of the Chin ethnic minority were gang rapes, and at least a third were committed by officers, according to U.K.-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The Chin population in Burma is about 90 percent Christian and is severely persecuted by Burma's traditionally pro-Buddhist military regime.

Myanmar has one of the world's worst religious freedom records and is repeatedly designated by the State Department as a "country of particular concern" (CPC) – the worst religious freedom violator label. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent U.S. government agency, advised Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in May to again include Burma on this year's CPC list.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Monday Musings

* I am bothered by Dr. James Dobson and other Evangelicals threatening to stay home or go third party in the 2008 elections. Can you say President Hillary and a repressive regime? Scary - but our God is sovereign and we may get what we deserve.

* Baseball - Go Diamondbacks! I'm with Marvin Olasky at WORLD magazine who, like me, wants a Red Sox - Diamondbacks World Series.

* I'm praying for conservatives in The Episcopal Church and Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh (and others) as they weigh alternatives to the present situation of theological heresy. And, I pray for the Presbyterian Church USA folks as well. May God guide you to leave - enough is enough.

* Grandchildren are worth spoiling!

Eritrean Christians Describe Torture

An article here in The Christian Post describes one of many persecutions of Christians around the world. It is a call to pray for the persecuted church.