Common Grace

Not trying to lean toward the fringe here, but I have truly enjoyed many of God's kind graces toward me since the surgery and ongoing trials. Takes rough times to refocus perspective. I know how much I've enjoyed putting my kids to bed, getting kisses from the little guys, spending time with my wife doing seemingly meaningless stuff, feeling the new baby move in her stomach, playing cards with my friends, and - yes - even having a pint every now and again. Perhaps I'll be able to elaborate more on this another post, but... The truth IS that this post is about beer. Not having a profound beer knowledge, I can't review them in any meaningful way but to say that these all fall into different beer type categories, have a lot of good flavor, and most importantly are enjoyable.

In no particular order:

Redhook's ESB - an American version of the British ESB (Extra Special / Strong Bitter).

Clipper City's Loose Cannon

Dogfish Head's 90 minute IPA (60 is good, too)
Hefeweizen - Harpoon's Unfiltered Offering (UFO)

Christian Behavior

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Eph 4:30

In the middle of his instructions on our renewed (by the Holy Spirit's work) lifestyle, Paul throws this comment in. I had to pause here because it seems so out of place. Why did he throw this in just after talking about speech and just before talking about bitterness and rage and anger? I wish I could expound the deep theological truth or give the greek hermeneutics or something, but I can't. 

I can only say that God stopped my mind on this passage. These words bring a reality to what happens when I sin. Yes, my sins are forgiven in Christ. And yes, there is no condemnation... BUT God is saddened and grieves when his children don't live in the new life He HAS given them. I live in light of what was accomplished (in the death and resurrection of Christ) and in continuity with what is yet to be realized. 

This passage demonstrates to me how actively God is involved in our lives. Excepting large sins, I don't usually grieve when my children sin (which demonstrates my wrong view of sin - because all sin is SIN). But God is so aware of what has been accomplished and the loss I experience that He is saddened by my sin (for my sake - I think).

Why did Jesus die for us?

Why did Jesus die for us? What was Jesus getting out of it? Remember, he already had a community of joy, glory, and love. He didn't need us. So what benefit did he derive from this? Not a thing. And that means that when he came into the world and died on the cross to deal with our sins, he was circling and serving us. "I have given them the glory that you gave me" (John 17). He began to do with us what he had been doing with the Father and the Spirit from all eternity. He centers upon us, loving us without benefit to himself. (emphasis mine)
Tim Keller in The Reason for God

When I read this it hit home. In my limited understanding, I've always pictured God getting some benefit out of us. For instance, the Westminster catechism describes the main purpose for human existence is to glorify God. In my mind that means that God's benefit is being glorified by us. Or the fact that the biblical story is about God redeeming a people for himself. In my mind that means that God's benefit is getting a people for his own possession (this is, in part, very biblical by the way).

The problem with these statements is that I have been finding an intrinsic value in myself and other Christians. How is this a problem? In a subtle way I've been believing that God's love is, in part, a self serving love. As if He's getting something out of the deal. Oh, the arrogance of that statement!

The realization that Jesus already had the perfect community of joy, glory, and love means that he needed nothing. This also means that His sacrifice was one of pure love and in no way self serving.

Committed

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Col. 2:6-7)

About this verse Dr. M. Lloyd-Jones says, "... if you think that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ without realizing that He is your Lord, I would not hesitate to say that your belief is of no value. You cannot take Him as Saviour only, because He saves you by buying you with His precious blood. And if you believe that, you must know at once that He is your Lord."

How often do we forget this! The gospel commits us as those purchased to follow in our Lord's steps. We are saved from sin, but must never forget that we are saved to righteousness (Rom. 6:18). Right and holy living are our calling.

Jesus is able

Recently, I was thanking God for his salvation and reminding myself of my need for a savior. Part of my prayer went something like this: "Father, thank you for your Son who I need as much today as I did the day I was converted." At this I paused and started thinking... Did I just pray correctly? I would hate to be praying heresy... My justification (standing before God) was realized at a point in time (conversion). I am no longer condemned before a holy God, so how do I need a savior as much today as I did at that point? God brought these verses to mind:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)

The word "able" jumped out at me... I am not able to keep from stumbling. I will continue to sin if left to my own way. Sin is still present with me. While I am blameless before God based on the finished work of Christ, I also have a need to keep from stumbling. It is in this truth that I realize my daily need for a savior as actively as the day I was converted. Jesus is able to keep me from stumbling!

To Tatoo or Not to Tatoo, that is the question...

Ok, so I'd like to get a tattoo, I've picked out what it would look like:

Faith Alone - Grace Alone - Scripture Alone - Christ Alone - To the Glory of God Alone

I'd get it in a band around my calf, so it would only be visible when I wear shorts in the summer. In this way it wouldn't interfere with a professional appearance in regard to work.

These were the five "solas" of the Reformation. For me they represent five points or stakes that I've put down in my life. They are not open for debate.

I want to get some feedback (i.e. pros and cons) that you may think of... I've already asked a couple of guys what they thought and the range of responses has been from enthusiastic to tepid. My wife is all for it, in case you were curious!

My concerns in this are that:
A) I don't want to do anything that would damage Christ's name.
B) I want this to further future ministry opportunities rather than affect them detrimentally (i.e. I hope it would open more doors to share the Gospel rather than close them
C) I want it to look cool, but not to be a vain pursuit. (Just like when I choose the clothes I wear)
D) I don't want it to be a reaction toward the legalism of my childhood... (I don't think it is, but am just putting it out there)

To those who would say, "You going to ruin the beauty of your Atlas-like body..." You obviously don't know me! And how 2 Cor. 5:4 has become one of my favorite verses

For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Is my trial a loaf or a stone?

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11)

Recently, I was praying and during my prayer I asked the Lord to remove my problem with seizures. The above verses came to mind. My prayer was, "Lord, I'm just tired of dealing with this. I don't doubt your sovereignty, but I'm still tired of it." And I felt that God said, "Do you think this is a stone? Well, you've asked me for bread. I will not give you a stone, however if you do continue to have seizures, it's not that I don't hear prayer. But that they are bread for you."

What comfort we can draw in adversity when we realize that our Father cares enough to be concerned not only for our short term well being, but for our long term (eternal) well being. These things that we know as "trials" in this life are in fact "a light momentary affliction [that] is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Cor. 4:17)

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is one of those oft quoted Psalms as it is a comfort Psalm. That is, the pictures given in Psalm 23 are of the Lord as our shepherd caring for us. This can give comfort in hard times. I've recently been using this Psalm as a fall back when I get nervous about my seizures. I'll quote the whole Psalm quickly in my mind, and God rarely fails to bring some different point of emphasis out of the Psalm. I want to write down a couple of thoughts from Psalm 23:1-3.

1. He is the restorer of my soul, no other thing on earth will bring me comfort. It is God alone who restores the soul.
2. He leads me in "paths of righteousness, for His name's sake". The paths we walk are ordained by our Father. They are not meaningless paths, but by our walking them, His name is glorified.

A little "Christmas spirit" from J.I. Packer

We talk glibly of the "Christmas spirit," rarely meaning more by this than sentimental jollity on a family basis. But what we have said makes it clear that the phrase should in fact carry a tremendous weight of meaning. It ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of him who for our sakes became poor at the first Christmas. And the Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the year round.

It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians - I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians - go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord's parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that the Lord might meet those needs) averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians - alas, they are many - whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice-middle class Christian ways, and who leave the submiddle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves.

The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christian spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor - spending and being spent - to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others - and not just their own friends - in whatever way there seems need.
-- J.I. Packer, Knowing God, pp. 63-64

2 Cor 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Phillipians 2:5 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus

Sawdust?

OK, I'm reading through the Bible this year and I must admit that reading large portions of the Levitical law is like eating sawdust. Yes, I know this sounds so immature to say, but I'm being honest. I intersperse my reading of the law with the NT.
However, on this day reading Deut. 28 brought tears to my eyes as I read the curses God had for his chosen people. Here's a few examples:

• Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.
• [You will be afflicted] with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured...with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark.
• You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.
• You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and ravish her.
• You will build a house, but you will not live in it.
• You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit.
• Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it.
• Your donkey will be forcibly taken from you and will not be returned.
• Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will rescue them.
• Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand.
• You will have nothing but cruel oppression all your days. The sights you see will drive you mad. [You will] will be afflict[ed] ... with painful boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

Now I doubt you'd read that whole list, but as I did (and it goes on for much, much longer) I thought, "I doubt that anyone ever received all of those curses." Then God brought Gal. 3:13 to my mind, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us."

Those curses were only partially fulfilled toward the nation of Israel, and they displayed God's utter abhorence for sin. And this abhorence was poured out in full on Christ. So as I continued reading through these curses,

• the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.
• He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you.
• The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.
• You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your God.
• Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you.
• You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.

How can you not celebrate the thought of God cursing man, but in reality cursing His Son for our sake?

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;

Spotless Lamb of God was He;

“Full atonement!” can it be?

Hallelujah! What a Savior!