Quote of the Week XXXII

Perhaps in part due to my respect for actual science, I find most scientists to be contemptible.

(Vox Day)

Side Note

I was thinking of posting... but then I became violently ill... war is war. But I do find myself beginning to appreciate the suffering in my life. There are different kinds of suffering and they all have their way with you... Just as God does. He always gets His way. We act like He doesn't sometimes... but that just isn't true. We act like we have rights... we do not fear, and so suffering is lost on us. Let it not be lost on us.

That Really Happened

When I was six months old, I felt awesome... now we know why...

Miscellanies... often worth the time.

Here is a recent example of what you might find on Tony Reinke's blog "Miscellanies:"

On Decision Making

“Proverbs, and the wisdom literature in general, counter the idea that being spiritual means handing all decisions over to the leading of the Lord. The opposite is true. Proverbs reveals that God does not make all people’s decisions for them, but rather expects them to use his gift of reason to interpret the circumstances and events of life within the framework of revelation that he has given. Yet when they have exercised their responsibility in decision-making, they can look back and see that the sovereign God has guided.”

—Graeme Goldsworthy, in the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (IVP 2000), p. 210. See also Gospel and Wisdom in the Goldsworthy Trilogy.

November 17, 2009 Posted by spurgeon | Graeme Goldsworthy, Proverbs, Wisdom literature | | 5 Comments

I am particularly interested in meditating on the line, "...expects them to use his gift of reason to interpret the circumstances and events of life within the framework of revelation that he has given."

The Thing About Not Helping Is Really That You Are Not Helping

Reading this article from the Boston Globe reminded me of something.

In 2005, when the number of homicides spiked to a 10-year high, 64 had been committed by Thanksgiving and 75 by the end of the year. The following year, there were 68 by the November holiday and 75 for the year. But in 2007, the number began to decline slightly with 63 homicides by Thanksgiving and 66 by year’s end.

Since then, the number of violent crimes - with the exception of rapes - has fallen steadily, a drop Davis said is in large part the result of a reinvestment in strategies that target gangs. Earlier this year, police attributed the rise in rapes to more reporting, rather than an actual increase in assaults. They also noted that the year before had seen far fewer rapes reported, which made the increase seem even more dramatic.

The government and it's employees often seem to think that government is the answer to people's (or society's) problems. And when they try something (such as passing a law, starting an "initiative," or finding other ways to spend taxpayer's money) and it does not work- they often think that more government will fix it. It doesn't, and so they cry different government (which usually just means more government) and they still seem to think that they can fix whatever ills they believe need fixing.

Rarely do they stop and think that something doesn't need fixing. Rarely do they admit that individual persons are responsible for themselves and their actions. Rarely do they admit that they do not have the power or ability to fix a problem (even though they would like to). They just keep doing what they are doing and expect different results.

In Boston, the police and the city act as though they can curb hate in a man's heart. Now I know they can't. You know they can't. And one would like to believe that they know they can't. But they fail to see that the problem which they are facing is not one of bodies- it is one of hatred in a man's heart. They would likely cry that something has to be done and they must be the ones to do it. The thing is, even if they need to do something- they need to realize that fighting the symptoms is not the way to cure a disease. It is not an issue of whether or not the police should respond to murders- of course they should! It is an issue of what works and what is appropriate for them to do in the first place. I am thankful that there have been less murders in Boston this year so far. However, the government is not likely to fix the problem- and if the problem is fixed- it will be highly unlikely that the government will have been the cure (though they will take as much credit as they possibly can, of course).

But why do I mention all this? What does this have to do with the war? What does this have to do with sanctification at all? Here is what I am thinking: what do I do (or what do you do) that does not work at all? What do I do that only gets at the symptoms and not the real cause? What things do I labour to change that I have no business changing- and that I could never change even if I wanted to? In short, how do I behave like the government? That is what I want to know. And that is what you should ask yourself.

Love...

What Happens When the World Runs Out of News?... Apparently this:

It should come as a surprise to no one that the holidays are one of the most taxing and tense times of the year. In fact, the American Psychological Association found in 2008 that eight out of 10 people anticipated a stressful holiday season, largely due to the tanking economy; an older survey showed that 38 percent of people feel their stress levels rise during the holidays, including nearly half of all women. The biggest causes of all this anxiety? Finances come first, says research from Mental Health America, followed by painful memories, too many activities, overindulgence, being alone and relationships.

I am really impressed with the comprehensive nature of this article. It is just so timely and insightful. In fact, I now officially feel prepared for the "holidays," as they call them. Although, they really seem to have taken the holy out of the whole experience. I am just so glad that the Post took the time to publish this article- it is really making a difference in my life. Thanks guys- it means a lot.

Every Tear

In Revelation 21:1-8 it says:

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place [1] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, [2] and God himself will be with them as their God. [3] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

I long for that day. Paul Washer has noted that on the day Jesus Returns every thing you wondered about the end-times will be made known to you- but the Gospel will never be fully known, understood, or comprehended. We may think on it a thousand years and still not understand What Jesus has done in its fullness. Truly no one is like Him. All my praises fall short.

Quote of the Week XXXI

Fidèle

Vivant dans un village calme
D'où la route part longue et dure
Pour un lieu de sang et de larmes
Nous sommes purs.

Les nuits sont chaudes et tranquilles
Et nous gardons aux amoureuses
Cette fidélité précieuse
Entre toutes : l'espoir de vivre.

(From "Le Devoir et L'Inquiétude" by Paul Éluard 1917)

The Distance

There often seems to be a distance between our hopes and our realities that stifles our joy and makes for black deathly sentiments deep within our hearts. These feelings can come to seem normal. For those of you who have met with such despair and found a waiting faithful companion I have a small suggestion: think on the person of God... give it some real thought. We worry that we are not as we would be and yet the things we long most for are not things we can provide. The things we wish to change the most are not things we have any power over.

The distance between sometimes tells us of our naive expectations- and sometimes of our low ones. When we feel inadequate... do we consider our maker? The best medicine for frustration, disappointment, and despair is to commune with the one who made us. It is in our best interests to consider Him first. Consider Him in all that has been revealed to you- consider His wrath, His justice, His anger, His vengeance, His holiness- and perhaps when you are afraid of Him, His love, mercy and compassion will be a wonder to you. Then perhaps, when you see yourself in your place... perhaps then your dark thoughts will be something else.