A Long Obedience

In our monthly small groups we are slowly working our way through Eugene Peterson's A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society a wonderful study of the Psalms of Ascents (120-134). I highly recommend it. This week I am preparing the study guide for Psalm 125 "Security." Peterson has been commenting on how Israel and the believer can become "saw-toothed;" up one day, down the next in a endless cycle. There is a way out.

"We learn to live not by our feeling about God but by the facts of God... My feelings are important for many things. They are essential and valuable. They keep me aware of much that is true and real. But they tell me next to nothing about God or my relation to God. My security come from who God is, not how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about him or myself or my neighbors. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people." The image that announces the dependable, unchanging, safe, secure existence of God's people comes from geology, not psychology." (Page 87).

Read also Psalm 46.

The Persecuted Church

Since 2002 Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians have been persecuted for their unsanctioned faith. The only faiths sanctioned by the government are Orthodox, Catholic, Islam and Lutheran. Some 2000 persons are reportedly held because of their beliefs, most of them Christians.

Then comes a report out of Canada that a town is moving against churches by taxing 'non-religious' space - whatever that is - and limiting usage space and exactly where churches may build or locate.

Can't happen here you say? Watch out if the radical Democrats carry the election!

The Dance of Democracy

R. Albert Mohler is the President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He is a frequent guest of Larry King, High Hewitt and others. His cogent remarks about the Iowa caucus and the race for the Presidency and what evangelicals ought to think can be found here.

Whither December 25?

An article in the December 25th local newspaper once again sought to present the so-called "conventional" wisdom that Christmas has its origin in a pagan winter solstice festival. Because of that, many old pagan customs crept into the Christian celebration. This is a great urban myth, repeated countless times in classrooms and in print.

William Tighe, a Professor of History at Muhlenberg College in PA debunks the myth and shows that the real issue was the true date for the resurrection (Easter) and the attempt by the Roman Emperor Aurelian to make a political statement and give pagan significance to a date already important to Roman Christians.

You can read the full article here.

Lack of postings

Sorry for the lack of postings. Sometimes pastors get wrapped up is so many things! I'm trying to post 2-4 times a week. Bear with me. Thanks for stopping by.

Stem Cells

"If human embryonic stem cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable, you have not thought about it enough." -- James A. Thomson

Charles Krauthammer has a wonderful essay at Townhall: Technology Vindicates Morality.

One can only hope the promise of this breakthrough will be realized and the unborn will be spared.

Veterans Day 2007

Thanks to all who have served and are serving now. God bless them and their families. Remember those who have given "the last full measure of devotion." Chaplain (Colonel, ret.) Tom Troxell US Army