New Link

One of my favorite cartoons is Bruce Tinsley's Mallard Fillmore. It is well drawn and skewers all the right people.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day began after the Civil War to honor Union dead and after World War I it was expanded to honor all those who died in war or other military actions. Growing up, my mother referred to it as “Decoration Day,” reflecting the tradition of decorating the graves of our military dead. It was a time for speeches, parades and personal reflection. For many the day marks the end of the school year, the unofficial start of summer or the start of the business and tourist season that ends on Labor Day. In the midst of a very contentious and perhaps momentous election, persons of faith need not despair. No, I’m not pulling out the “Christian America” theme. What I am pulling out is the belief that God will still be God on Wednesday, November 5, 2008. Christians need to trust God, not the government. Read Psalm 46, pray for men and women of righteousness to be elected to office and then vote for such people.

Missing in Action

Sorry for the lack of postings. I've been busy trying to get ready for a choir trip to the Ukraine in June. That will be the subject of a later post before I depart.

Cross Words, part 2

I cannot say enough about Paul Wells' book mentioned in a previous post. It is a clear, cogent defense of the atonement in a classic sense and speaks against modern ideas seeking to reduce the cross and the atonement to mere symbols of human suffering. The chapters are short, the evidence overwhelming and the style lucid and engaging. Read it!

Thanks Be to God !

My wife 'tolerated' the surgery yesterday. Better, the doctor reported the mass looked benign, for which we praise God. This, my arterial stent, and a case of shingles for a good friend remind us that we will continue to suffer dis-ease until Jesus comes. Maranatha!

Prayer Request

My wife, Jean, has thyroid surgery on Monday, May 5. Please pray that it not cancerous; but if it is ask the Lord to sustain us by his sovereign, omnipotent grace.

Cross Words

My Westminster Seminary classmate Dr. Paul Wells of the Reformed Seminary in Aix-en-Provence, France has written a wonderful book on the Biblical Doctrine of the Atonement (Christian Focus, Scotland). He examines current thinking about the atonement - 'cosmic child abuse' - using a delightful style and forthright scholarship. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 9 on Victory. "If the goal of Satan as the Tempter is to drive a wedge between God and man, to stimulate disobedience through unbelief, he is totally disarmed when his lies are rejected. The victory of Jesus is a victory of obedience, the triumph of truth over lies. Satan is rendered powerless simply when God's truth is received, honored, and obeyed. The recognition of God's word is the best defense and the best attack" (p. 115). I am halfway through, but already have found some possible sermon ideas. You can purchase it through the Westminster Seminary Bookstore link