New Year's Resolutions

Jonathan Edwards

Today I have been thinking about resolutions for 2010. Some thoughts came to mind.

1. Jonathan Edwards wrote one of the best lists of resolutions ever devised
2. Lists of heavy resolutions do not carry with them the power to keep them
3. Lists 'can' diminsh the gospel if we're not careful.
(ie. Saying 'I will live my life by such and such set of rules')
4. Keeping Christ, and the gospel central, I am still to watch my life and doctrine (1Tim 4:16)
5. One way to watch my life and doctrine is to resolve to watch my life and doctrine, knowing that
without God's grace, watching my life and doctrine is fruitless.

So without further rambling, here are Edwards' resolutions for Godly living.



The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is

perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

Aug. 17, 1723

I'll Be Home For Christmas (Lord Willing)

Nothing quite like a fresh cup of Joe!

It's about that time now. I am packing my bags and in a few days I will board a plane that will launch an arduous thirty hour journey back to my family.

It's been an amazing trip. Recounting all the times I experienced great measures of God's grace, warm fellowship and one-anotherness stirs my heart.

Where to start?

The joyful, loving children? The enormous ministry? The precious quiet times in the Word with the Lord? The heart warming fellowship? The ethereal sight of a full moon brightly shining through the palm fronds?

A lot has changed:

• New friendships, new believers, more baptisms.
• Started blogging.
• Our Christian Chief Minister passed in a tragic helicopter crash.
• Made and uploaded several new videos.
• Attended about 60 birthday's and various functions
  
• By God's grace brought 34 kids to new levels of academic success
• Spoke almost every Sunday night consecutively for about six months.
  
• Just a little less than a month away from completely reading through both the Scriptures and the Institutes during this year.
  
• Learned how to sketch portraits.
• Learned a little more guitar.
• Discovered the greatest noodles on earth, Indian Masala egg noodles w/onions.
• Discovered that I enjoy listening to Miles Davis.
  

Along with Paul, I have to say, that whatever I count gain in this trip, and in life, I must count loss in comparison to the value of knowing Christ. Whatever I have done for Christ, is a greater work than I am worthy of.

Please pray for my return trip. Boarding starts Monday morning.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

How Many Herods?

Hi-rez Chart of the Herodian Succession. Feel free to download and use

In those dark days before the ESV study bible came out, I created this chart to help myself understand the Herods that kept popping up in the New Testament. There were several Herods living and ruling in the decades surrounding the advent of Christ. Distinguishing them from each other can be confusing.

I made the first version of this chart in January of '08 on a sheet of notebook paper. Several months later I decided to improve it, and so I transferred it into Mac's stellar graphing software, Graffle, which worked out just fine.

If you have an ESV study bible you can find a similar chart near the intertestamental period. (It might be a little more accurate.) I simply based this one on facts from FF Bruce's New Testament History book. If you own your own copy of the ESVSB, you can view the chart online and print it out.

Josh

Motivation for Reformation

During the last few weeks in the Institutes I have been reading about the state of the church through the ages. Then on Sunday I watched about half of the latest Luther movie. I have watched it before, but this time I watched it with a beefier view of history, I discovered that what seemed like throw away lines, are actually very important.

After watching it, I felt inspired to put together a little clip for motivation for reformation. Watch the entire movie for maximum effect.

Enjoy!

Josh

My Most Listed To Music of '09

Keith And Kristyn Getty - In Christ Alone (2007)

This will probably not impress or be helpful for everyone, but I thought it would be worthy jotting down what I liked to listen to this year, at least for the sake of posterity. Who knows, maybe after another twenty years pass I might just wonder what on earth I enjoyed to listen to back in 09?

I am going to try to make this list somewhat scientific. Using iTunes I discovered that there is a discrepancy between what I think I like the most, and what I actually listen to the most. So I am not going to make this a list of what I "think" I liked the best, but rather a list of those I actually spent the most time listening to. It makes more sense to me to do it that way.

This little experiment turned out a little weird. First, for some reason some artists I really like, such as the Gettys didn't even make my great eight albums list this year. Then the odd thing is that there are only two genres on the list, Christian Rap, and Christian Rock. And Rap has seven of the eight places.

That is really strange.

It's odd for many reasons. For one, I listen to Classical music almost every day, and throughout the week some country, various contemporary Christian, worship, even country music. Yet, somehow these reformed rappers seemed to have stole the show for 2009. That is especially significant since before last year, listening to Christian rap had never even crossed my mind.

I credit the new change to their strong messages, coupled with heavy emphasis on theology in the lyrics. Starting there, the beats kind of grew on me.

Note: not all the albums were released in 08 or 09, but rather represent the albums I started listening to this year.



Great Eight List 2009



1. Lecrae: Rebel (Reformed Rap, Southern, 2008)


2. G-Notes: Bright Lights Magic City (Christian Rap, Techno-Hip Hop, East Coast, 2009)



3. Katalyst: Death By Design (Reformed Rap, Midwest, 2009)


4. The Ambassador: The Chop Chop From Milk To Meat (Reformed Rap, East Coast, 2008)


5. Tedashii: Identity Crisis (Reformed Rap, Southern, 2009)


6. Flame: Rewind (Reformed Rap, Midwest 2005)


7. House Of Heroes: The End is Not The End (Christian Rock, 2009)


8. Flame: Our World Redeemed (Reformed Rap, Midwest, 2008)

Dabbling In The Sea of God's Wonders

So Close, Yet So Far Our Children's Home Kids one foot from glory

This quote reminds me of a time about a month ago when we took the Children home kids down to the sea. The riptide was dangerous so we wouldn't let them go in. It took everything the wardens could do to restrain them. They practically went crazy just standing there in front of the ocean getting their feet wet, subdued from going in any further.

“This is my endlessly recurrent temptation: to go down to that Sea (I think St. John of the Cross called God a sea) and there neither dive nor swim nor float, but only dabble and splash.” C. S. Lewis, “A Slip of the Tongue,” in The Weight of Glory, page 187.

But how crazy would it have been if we had told them to go in and enjoy the sea to their hearts content, and they decided that enjoying the water wouldn't be as much fun as collecting garbage on the beach?

That is the bondage of our desire. Until the Holy Spirit comes in.





[HT: Ray Ortlund]

Making Progress

George Mueller 1805-1898

A short word from George Mueller;

"Now . . . I would give a few hints to my younger fellow-believers as to the way in which to keep up spiritual enjoyment. It is absolutely needful . . . we should read regularly through the Scriptures, consecutively, and not pick out here and there a chapter. If we do, we remain spiritual dwarfs. I tell you so affectionately. For the first four years after my conversion I made no progress, because I neglected the Bible. But when I regularly read on through the whole with reference to my own heart and soul, I directly made progress. Then my peace and joy continued more and more. Now I have been doing this for 47 years. I have read through the whole Bible about 100 times and I always find it fresh when I begin again. Thus my peace and joy have increased more and more."

A Plethora of Leadership Positions

Lovely

This week I spent some time reading The Institutes of the Christian Religion. By God's grace I made it to the fourth book. According to the author it's about,

"the church and the communion of saints, or of the external means or helps by which God invites us to fellowship with Christ, and keeps us in it."

A few chapters deep in the book, he begins an examination of the government of the Christian church. He duly notes that Scripture makes mention of five offices; Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. (He also mentions a few other offices that scripture reveals.)

However, at some point not long after scripture was written it seems the church decided to create some new offices, and break those which were already instituted by God into smaller increments. After a few pages of reading about them, I really started to think for the first time about just how many offices have been created. It's simply staggering...

After taking some serious thought, I came up with a list of offices.

[Note: Sometimes there are several names for a single position. The offices in this list could be classified as biblical, essential, heretical, comical or even historical. But all have been used at one point or another. Oh, and I readily admit that I probably missed a lot of obvious ones, this is anything but exhaustive, which is more proof of the point.]

Here goes... enjoy!

Group 1

Archbishops
Archpresbyters
Presbyters
Bishops
Priests
Ministers
Prelates
Curates
Clerics
Elders
Rectors
Pastors
Padres
Reverends
Teachers
Schoolmen

Beneficiaries
Parsons
Canons
Chaplains
Abbots
Priors

Mercenaries (The ultra-spiritual who so utterly renounce the world that they have to steal food to live)

Group 2

Archdeacons (if your church doesn't have at least ten arch deacons, you've got problems)
Deacons (divided into those who care for the poor and those who disperse alms)
Subdeacons
Readers (they can read, use them)
Monks
Friars

Group 3

Acolytes (assist bishops)
Clerici (doorkeepers, I am partial to the name Clerici)
Tyros (assist bishops?)


Assortment of Contemporary Positions

Missionaries ( these are now available in short-term, long-term, and life-term options)
Husband and Wife Ministry Teams (Gotta love these, just add a bible, a guitar, and a tambourine...)
Single missionaries (These characters are twice as extreme as Delta force. They don't go on expeditions, they live them)

Assistant Pastors
Youth Pastors
Worship Leaders
Lay pastors and teachers
Itinerant pastors and teachers (Not sure if it's possible to be a faithful pastor if one's an itinerant)
Revivalist
Children ministry leader
...also Christian thinkers, writers, and musicians (These folks might just have the most influence)


Other Archaic/Roman Offices

Collators (sounds like an option on a Xerox photocopier/printer)
Pontiff (aka, The Pope)
Vicars
Deans (Deaneries?) (It's so much more than a university position)
Provosts
Cardinals
Inquisitors (If you're a time traveler, don't mess with these dudes; trust me, it's not a survey. Avoid Spain, Goa, etc.)


Future Offices
Someday when the church becomes even more democratic we will probably create some new offices. In reality there won't be anything 'new' about them, but they will have new names.

President/Prime minister/Secretary General of the universal church (It's the old Pontiff in a new way!)
Note: The former title is already claimed by private ministry leaders
Sheriff (Executes and enforces church justice over a certain district)
Member of Parliament/
Senator/
Congressman (These fellows interpret scripture, and make or repeal church laws, for the universal church)

Can you think of some more?

The Robe

Demetrius sees Jesus for the first time

The Robe is a 1953 Hollywood film centered around a fictional Roman military tribune (Marcellus) who is involved in the crucifixion of Jesus. The tribune has a Greek slave named Demetrius who briefly meets Jesus during His triumphal entry.

The following will spoil some of the plot, so don't read on if you haven't seen it yet.

One of the amazing things about this movie is the fact that while Jesus is in a few scenes, we are not allowed to see His face. Instead, the director skillfully chose to show the facial reactions of the people who are looking at Jesus.

The effect is much more powerful than many other movies which show the face of the actor who is portraying Jesus.

Demetrius arrives at the cross

Demetrius' heart breaks

Tribune Marcellus thoughtlessly leans on the cross

The blood of Christ is on his hands

"It is finished!"

Marcellus is momentarily unfazed by the Crucifixion

Veteran's Day Thoughts

WWII USMC Pilot, Capt. John Lucian Smith (19 kills Pacific Theater)

There are so many Veterans from various engagements that could and should be mentioned here. However, due to time and space, I will mention just one of the less famous heroes from World War two who will take the part of representing them all.

John Lucian Smith was one of six US Marine Corps pilots who received a Medal of Honor for their valiant service during the 1942/43 turning point Battle of Guadalcanal.

It was a terrible battle that for some months looked as though it would swing in favor of the Japanese. However, providentially, the American force had strategically captured the only Japanese airfield on the island at the beginning of the battle. The Japanese would have to fly from their more distant base at Rabaul. The Americans renamed the airfield, Henderson field, quickly repaired it and soon began landing their own planes.

Henderson Field F4 Wildcat fighters (Note: the airfield is still under construction)

After an the initial landing and capture of the airfield the Japanese navy quickly reacted, fought back and managed to drive the American fleet away while they were in the process of landing the first batch of soldiers. They manged to sink several key American in the process. Subsequently the airfield and marines holding it were subjected to a fierce naval bombardment which destroyed and damaged numerous planes and much of their vital equipment.

With the support of the American navy lost, lacking adequate supplies and equipment, the American foothold on the island was precarious and became increasingly dependent on the aircraft and airmen of Henderson field to keep them from being overrun.

US Marine Patrol on Guadalcannal

While the Japanese had an numerically superior air force and slightly better aircraft, they were tenaciously repelled. John Lucian Smith heroically led his squadron to shoot down 83 enemy aircraft in the campaign, downing 19 total himself in the war. By the spring of 1943 the battle was over, and it proved to be a significant turning point in the war.

Smith, and five other airmen from the battle were awarded a medal of honor by President Franklin, D. Roosevelt. Later a movie starring John Wayne revisited their crucial role in turning the tide of the war.

John Wayne Portraying Capt. John L. Smith

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

He Will Never Leave Us or Forsake Us

Here is a little Sunday special. Stand By Me played on location by a small multitude of artists from countries all around the world.

Watching it, I couldn't help but think of our inability and insufficiency in this life. And thankfully we do have someone who not only stands by us, but stands for us, and carries us through everything.

[HT: Challies]

What Did He Mean By Carry A Cross???

Something tells me this is not the kind of cross Christ said to carry

Over the past few days I have been musing on some of the implications of the gospel and the prosperity gospel.

One though is, where's the cross? The one Jesus said to take up and follow Him with. Where is the part where we walk the Calvary road? Where are the tribulations? Anyhow, that's all the negative side of the argument. I get a whole lot more excited whenever I take a peek at the positive side.

The Positive Side:

The prosperity gospel claims to offer more than the orthodox gospel.

But it's not that the prosperity offers more than the true gospel. It offers less, infinitely less when Christ is de-valued at the expense of material gain.

The prosperity gospel begins with Christ and then leads to other 'greater' things. Things that we can have in this life and the next.

The true gospel begins and ends with Christ who is far greater than anything we can have in this life and the next.

Applied Personally:

I don't believe in the prosperity gospel, but sometimes it might look like I did. Especially when it comes to what it takes to be satisfied. If it's Christ + anything, it's not lookin' good.

I have to ask, what's it going to take for me to be satisfied, cash or Christ?

After all, Jesus said, you can't serve both God and Mammon.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

More on The Prosperity Gospel

Piper on the prosperity gospel in frank, honest, passionate, no-nonsense, biblical fashion.

One of The Worst "Gospels"

The video is thoughtful, fair and well made. It takes you inside Africa to see firsthand what's going on with our exported 'gospel' experiment.

I am afraid this so called gospel makes my stomach sick almost every time I see or hear it preached.

Moving from good news to good advice and calling it gospel is not only an abominable heresy, it's wickedly cruel. I am thankful that God is not and cannot be foiled by wolves, He is actively rescuing his sheep from their hands.

My prayer is that by His grace more believers will see the diversion for what it is and instead discover Christ is their true treasure in the midst of every kind of poverty. In Christ all can find peace and joy in seemingly impossible situations. Let the rich of us say we are poor without Him, and poorest rejoice because they have gained the pearl of greatest price, in this life and the life to come.

[HT: Challies] [Vitamin Z]

Diligence

Chendu Sekhar thoroughly applying himself to his studies (8th grade)

[Click Image to go to our picasa page for a hi-resolution download]


dil i gence 1 |ˈdiləjəns|
noun
careful and persistent work or effort.

I need to write a little bit about how Indian kids study. It's quite amazing, even somewhat entertaining to watch them. The amount of time they spend studying is simply staggering. Some kids start studying at 4am and continue until it's time to go to school about 8:30am. After school ends at 3pm, most will remain at school and continue studying until about 10pm.

Basically the entirety of every day of the week except for Sunday is spent on education.

While our school's level of performance is right up their with the best of them, our strategy has been to utilize better teachers in order to adequately compensate for less study time. Even so, they often study from 6:30-7:30am, and again in the late afternoon from 5-7pm, and finally from 8:30-10pm.

Regardless of how much time is spent studying, diligent is perhaps the word which best describes the ethic and effort of the average Indian student.

Inspired?

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

What Is The Main Message of Scripture?

St. Augustine A.D. 354-430

The question of the day is, What is the main message of scripture?

There are many routes I could take to answer this question, but I am going to short cut and tell you what I believe the answer is, then go about explaining it.

I believe that scripture above all else, is a book primarily about God, specifically, Jesus Christ. This truth radically changed the way I think about the Old Testament, the way I relate to others, the lost, and especially God.

This truth is certainly the most fundamental change in the way I view the whole of scripture. My own personal discovery of it occurred only when God brought Luke 24 to light for me.

You know the passage, it's the one where Jesus is on the road to Emmaus shortly after his resurrection. He is walking with two men who don't recognize him and he has a powerful, conversation with them. There is a lot of meat there, but the portions which I am focusing on here are found in verses 25-26 and particularly verse 44 when shortly after Jesus appears to his disciples.

Luke 24:44

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me."

Augustine sums up this passage well in a concise statement.

“Our whole purpose when we hear the Psalms, the Prophets, and the Law is to see Christ there, to understand Christ there.” Augustine

Well, that's all I have time for at the moment. It's a glorious and liberating truth, well worth looking into deeper if it's new for you. I find it helpful to remind myself as I am reading the New Testament, and especially the Psalms, Prophets, and Law - Christ is there.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

[HT: THE RESURGENCE]

Another Indian Adventure

An unwelcome guest rests on the stairwell

Well this one's a little weird. It happened a few weeks ago and seemed just strange enough that I couldn't pass up posting it. All I can say is that I was hoping for gloves, tongs, anything but bare fingers. After watching the clip I think if you find yourself in the same situation you will think twice before going in barehanded.


(WARNING! Don't try this at home without leather gloves. Better yet, don't try it at all. Call a professional. Call a real batman.)

Marvel

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Despite our nothingness, the Almighty God bestows His mercies and love upon us.

“Has Jesus saved me? I dare not speak with any hesitation here; I know He has. His Word is true, therefore I am saved. My evidence that I am saved does not lie in the fact that I preach, or that I do this or that. All my hope lies in this that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. I am a sinner, I trust Him, then He came to save me, and I am saved; I live habitually in the enjoyment of this blessed fact and it is long since I have doubted the truth of it, for I have His own Word to sustain my faith. It is a very surprising thing,—a thing to be marveled at most of all by those who enjoy it. I know that it is to me even to this day the greatest wonder that I ever heard of, that God should ever justify me. I feel myself to be a lump of unworthiness, a mass of corruption, and a heap of sin apart from His almighty love; yet I know, by a full assurance, that I am justified by faith which is in Christ Jesus, and treated as if I had been perfectly just, and made an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ; though by nature I must take my place among the most sinful. I, who am altogether undeserving, am treated as if I had been deserving. I am loved with as much love as if I had always been godly, whereas aforetime I was ungodly.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Let's marvel in His grace.

Sola gratia

Kwame

Am I alive?

The picture was taken in Ghana. I have on my shoulders, my nephew (Nii Noi aka Jason) and the lady in the picture is his mother (Jane - my sister-in-law).

by Kwame

Am I alive? Are you alive? Is this an important question?

Jesus said:
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” John 3:3
Jesus says again:
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

Therefore, being born again means to “be born of water and of the Spirit.” Paul calls this “the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

Since Jesus expected Nicodemus, “a master of Israel”, to know of this truth, we can safely assume that there must have been an explanation of “born again” in the Old Testament scriptures that Nicodemus had access to.

Looking at Ezekiel 36, we see what Jesus is talking about.

Verses 25-28:
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Jesus was referring to the cleansing from spiritual filthiness and the creating of a new creature - the new birth! A supernatural act by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, which causes man to be born again. It is God (not man) who first CLEANSES with water (we know we are not saved by baptism), and GIVES the new heart, and PUTS a new spirit within man and then TAKES AWAY the old lifeless and dead heart.

The sequence should be noted. He cleans and gives, before He takes. We are called to come to Christ as filthy and dead as we are. He will cleanse us through and through. The washing of regeneration can clean to the uttermost - "ye shall be clean"!! He will give the new and take away the old!! The born again Christian is justified and then transformed into the image of Christ.

Also, since it is only the Trinity who has no beginning and no end, and only the Trinity (God) was there in the beginning, being born again can only be “The Life of God in the Soul of Man.” After all, who else has life to give life?

So am I born again and are you born again? Should we be convinced of regeneration based on knowing what has been shared?

There was a teacher of scripture who acknowledged that Jesus was a man from God (John 3:2), but was not at the time, born again. Also, Judas was one of the disciples but he did not have saving faith. And Legion, the unclean spirit(s), knew of Jesus and called Him “son of the Most high God” but was not saved (Mark 5:7). Furthermore, Jesus speaks of persons who think they know Him but in actuality, do not know him (Matt 7:21-23).

So does this mean that familiarity, association, knowledge, and proclamation do not give new life? Do you mean that praying every morning and the fact that I go to church and cast out demons and teach Sunday school and do the church bulletin and blog and do good works, do not give entrance into the kingdom of God? The answer is - yes, they indeed DO NOT give entrance into the kingdom. Praise be to God, who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2), “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

Certainly, God chooses to be merciful, and the new birth is absolutely not man’s doing (Titus 3:5). When we do become born again, our lives should be living testimonies (2 Cor 3:2-3) and we are to be “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14), the chief of which is treasuring Jesus Christ and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with ourselves and others.

So the real question is “do you find in the Father's election, in the Son's atonement, and in the Spirit's quickening, all the grounds of your eternal hopes?” – Spurgeon

May we cherish the thought that “a holy fear of falling short, is a great means of perseverance.” – Matthew Henry

Soli deo Gloria

Kwame

October Rains

A few weeks ago the rain were falling hard on a daily basis. After the first few days the rivers overflowed their banks. The news said it was one of the worst flooding disasters in the last fifty to a hundred years. Whole villages were flooded and large sections of semi-metropolitan areas were flooded out.

Thankfully only a small area of my city was flooded. After a few days the water that flooded the other villages went down, and the government, and non-profit organizations have been scrambling to provide flood relief.

Don't Waste Your Legendary Notebook

Notebook containing Edwards' observations from the scriptures

A few days ago I was browsing the Yale University online digital library collection of some of the original writing of Jonathan Edwards.

Edwards' notes on 'particular redemption'

I have heard that Edwards wrote continuously. Whenever ideas would come into his head he would write them down as soon as possible. Often times he would be out walking, or on horseback and that meant he would have to write on scraps of paper, his coat, or saddle.

I don't know for certain, but I imagine he did the majority of his writing in notebooks. And back then it wasn't your dime-a-dozen spiral bound 'kiddie' notebook. No sir, back in Edwards' day, they used legendary notebooks. Those puppies were tougher than nails; Built to last, they bound hundreds of pages up in tough, hardbound leather covers.

'Kiddie' notebook

These days, it seems when most of us break away from writing on the pc, we use generic, run-of-the-mill spiral bound notebooks. However I have found a few guys like Mark Driscoll that are an exception to the rule. They use notebooks of the legendary quality to write down their ideas as God gives them. It could be that a good notebooks demands more from the writer. Or it could be that good ideas demand a good notebook. Either way, I think there might just be something to having a good notebook. (I personally have a dislike for anything spiral bound.)

These days if a guy wants a legendary notebook he picks up a Moleskine. They are made in Italy, but are available pretty much everywhere in the world. This is one company that still makes tough leather bound notebooks that are designed to last. No, they are not made from Mole's skin, but they are leather bound.

Moleskine Legendary Notebook

At any rate, if you do decide to pick up a legendary notebook, the standing challenge is to fill it up with as much meat as Edwards' did.

A Dedicated Servant of The Lord

Shalem

Today I figured I would share a little about Shalem, one of the guys I am working with.

Shalem's role in the ministry is to administrate the children's wing. That means taking time to train and maintain staff, direct and care for the spiritual lives of the children corporately and individually, visit and administrate the five children homes, and ensure the essential needs of the children are provided.

Additionally he travels about the state and country conducting children's camps and participating in training seminars for others who are also working in children ministry.

It's a very demanding position, but he makes personal time every day to spend with the Lord. He is very serious about it.

Sometime soon I am hoping to interview him. Keep your eyes open!

Josh

Conducting a children's camp

Arcing For the Glory of God

Arcing Chart (click to download)

Arcing is a wonderful tool for pulling the meat out of a text of scripture. By arcing you can follow the flow of the passage by examining the structure of it's propositions. The folks at biblearc.com have graciously provided an online video tutorial to help anyone learn how to make use of this helpful resource.

Arcing can be done on paper by writing the text out in columns of single line propositions, and 'arcing' their relationships, marking them with predefined symbols, or by using their helpful online tool.

In their own words,

"Arcing is a graphical tool used to determine, document,and discuss the flow of thought in the Biblical text.

The point... to rightly handle the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)"

That pretty much sums it up. I have found it one of the best tools yet for mining the intended meaning from the text.

From here you can, download the arcing chart, watch their online tutorial videos, Arc.

Enjoy!

Joshua

Moral lessons?

In Ghana with my grandmother

By Kwame

Charles Spurgeon once shared a story about a young pastor and an older pastor. In the story, the older man encouraged the young man to preach Christ in every text of scripture - to preach Christ's person, work and promise in every jot and tittle of scripture; to see in every bible passage, the call to "look unto me [Christ] and be ye saved" (Is 45:22). In the same way, we should endeavour NOT to view various scriptural accounts as mere moral lessons.


As an example, let's take the passage where Jesus and his parents go to Jerusalem for the feast of the passover, and Jesus stays behind in the temple (Luke 2:43). One could say that, "Jesus spent time in the temple, so I will also try to attend church in order to grow in the word". That would be a great thought. After all, iron sharpens iron. However, we are encouraged not to stop there.


How does such a story point us directly to the gospel? It seems that this passage tells us (in addition to other things) that the Saviour's life was not different from ours. As a child, his parents were worried about him. He went to the temple like everyone else and celebrated the feasts along with everyone else. This story (and many more like it) tells us that our High Priest, was fully man and "He Himself hath suffered being tempted" (Heb 2:18). This points to the truth that Jesus was tempted in the very same ways that we are tempted since His life was like ours. Jesus being essentially God was also 100% man and had to deal with everything we deal with today. He had to live a normal life. He came into the world through birth like all of us, crying and needing his mom and dad's protection, like all of us. He wept like all of us and was hungry and tired at times, like all of us. Yet he was SINLESS!!


He obeyed God the Father perfectly!! He lived the normal life in a way that no one else can live. He is the SOLE Saviour of the world! He finished it all by dying on the cross and thus met the just punishment for sin...our sins. Who could have been the lamb of God and who could have taken away the sins of the world if the man Jesus was not sent!!!!!?? Nobody! Clearly Jesus is the only choice, naturally and supernaturally (before the world began). He is the perfect blameless lamb that willingly gave His life!! What joy to have such a Saviour who is absolute, omniscient, omnipotent, loving, just, mighty, awesome awesome awesome and yet was fully a man who had the pains and joys that I have today. In this way, "he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Heb 2:18).


Praise and honour to God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost! Amen!


Kwame

A Real Hard Day's Work

Breaking The Concrete Ditch

A few days ago, I saw some city workmen and a city work woman breaking up a drainage ditch near the ministry. So, as usual, I grabbed my camera and captured it.

It's really amazing to see that without the aid of a jackhammer, or gloves, two men and a woman broke up the whole ditch in a single afternoon's work. And even more so since it was pouring rain.

(UPDATE: I think the idea here was to replace the above ground sewage ditch with one that would run down the street below the surface of the road. And since the men were wearing construction hats (off and on), I have to assume the city government is responsible for the work.)

Give Me Jesus

I discovered this excellent music video by Fernando Ortega on Justin Taylor's blog a few days ago. It's Christ-centered and very well done!

On Vimeo's site, the description says,

"This music video was produced for the December 2007 Billy Graham Television Special in honor of Ruth Bell Graham."

[HT: JT]

A Tribute To YSR

A famous Telugu Christian artist recently wrote a song in tribute to our late chief minister, YS Rajasekhara Reddy. His team produced a video to go along with it.

By watching this video can get a sense of the ethos that has pervaded the nation during the last few weeks.

Treasuring Him

This video asks and gloriously answers the question;

How Does Paul Make Christ Look Great In His Life And Thus Not Waste It?

Before you watch another youtube video, watch this one.

Questions For Thinking

Adams Synchronological Chart or Map of History

by Joshua

Before going to work today, I consulted my copy of the Teacher's Guide for Adams time-line of history. In Appendix A, I discovered a table describing thinking skills that would be helpful for teachers who are looking to promote thinking in their students. The best part of the sheet is a list of questions to get things rolling.

There was also a brief reason why teachers should ask these kinds of questions;

"As teachers , we tend to ask question in the 'knowledge' category 80 to 90 percent of the time. These questions are not bad, but using them all the time is. Try to utilize higher-order level questions. These questions require more 'brain power' and a more extensive and elaborate answer. The chart shows the six question categories as defined by Bloom." Teachers Guide Pg 18

The Chart is more than 20 feet long

Sample Questions:

Knowledge:

• Who, What, Where, When, How ...?
• Describe

Comprehension:

• Retell ____.
• Summarize the main point, in the correct order.
• What was the problem - how was it solved?
• Predict how the story will end.

Application:

• How is ____ an example of ____?
• How is ____ related to ____?
• Why is ____ Significant?

Analysis:

• What are the parts or features of ____?
• Classify ____ according to ____.
• Outline/diagram ____.
• How does ____ compare/contrast with ____?
• What evidence can you list for ____?

Synthesis:

• What would you predict/infer from ____?
• What ideas can you add to ____?
• How would you create/design a new ____?
• What might happen if you combined ____?
• What solutions would you suggest for ____?

Evaluation:

• Do you agree ___?
• What do you think about ___?
• What is the most important ____?
• Place the following in the order of priority ____.
• How would you decide about ____?
• What criteria would you use to assess ____?

Of all these sample question categories, I think comprehension is my favorite. Take for example, the grand narrative of the bible.

How well can we,

A.) Retell the biblical narrative to others who need to know their origins, their sin, need of a savior, and the gospel?

B.) Summarize the main point of the biblical narrative, in the correct order?

C.) Say what was the main problem and how it was solved?


Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

One in Your essense, Three in Your Person

Posing for the camera at a village in Ghana

by Kwame Nyarko

[FYI: Kwame is a great friend of the family who hails from Ghana Africa and is studying for his doctorate in the US. He loves Jesus, excels in his studies, and really enjoys reading theology by old dead guys in his spare time (of which there isn't much.) I am very thankful that he was able to make time for this post. My desire is to demonstrate the unity we have in Christ by linking contributions from Africa, America, India and around the world right here on this blog. - Josh]

This is a modified version of an email I sent to my dear cousin Atsu. Atsu and I had been emailing about “Paul, a servant of God”. However, at the time of typing, I had Matthew 4:19 and Luke 14:26 on my mind and I was listening to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. So I ask for your pardon for what may seem to be a scattered post.

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. Titus 1:1

I started off today thinking about the gospel- thinking about the hope that it presents to us. I thought I would share that with you.

Completely outside of man’s power, doing or ability, God the Father draws us, via the working of the Spirit, giving us faith in Jesus Christ. This free gift of faith enables man to “see” the sufficiency of Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. We then begin on the narrow road of treasuring our Lord above all things and setting our affections on things above. Those who are truly the Lord’s remain His forever since there is no one that can pluck them out of His hands. Putting it another way, Jesus Christ becomes the author of our faith as God provides grace and mercy (that we don’t deserve), and the Spirit quickens us to life (we were dead). Jesus Christ is the finisher of our faith because He cannot (and will not) lose anyone that the Father gives to Him, and He serves as our high priest on the right hand of God, interceding for us. The Father also keeps us because He elected us and He cannot lose us. I could add that He keeps us also through His love, reprimanding and guidance; and the Spirit is renewing and preserving us for eternity.

What perfect unity in the Trinity! In the Pilgrim’s progress, John Bunyan talks about how God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost all save us. Here is a little taste of a conversation between James and Prudence.

Prudence: Come James, canst thou tell me who made thee?
James: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost
Prudence: Good boy. And canst thou tell who saves thee?
James: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost
Prudence: Good boy still. But how doth God the Father save thee?
James: By His Grace
Prudence: How doth God the Son save thee?
James: By his Righteousness, Death, and Blood, and Life.
Prudence: And how doth God the Holy Ghost save thee?
James: By his Illumination, by his Renovation, and by his Preservation


They distinctly work together for their own glory alone!!


Concerning Titus 1:1, Matthew Henry comments:

“Here he (Paul) is described by his relation and office: A servant of God, not in the general sense only, as a man and a Christian, but especially as a minister, serving God in the gospel of his Son,….

Paul is described more especially as a chief minister, an apostle of Jesus Christ; one who had seen the Lord, and was immediately called and commissioned by him, and had his doctrine from him. Observe, the highest officers in the church are but servants.”

Would you agree that if I wanted to please you in some service to you, I would have to get to know you and know what pleases you? Also, to accurately tell other people about you, I have to know you and know what it is that you want me to tell about you. I don’t think this is any different from what we are to do with respect to the good news. Oh that we would in a way that pleases God, serve Him in the gospel of His Son. Let us ask and ask and ask for grace to dwell on the gospel, to continually etch the person of Christ into our hearts, to bleed bibline like the prince of preachers and to preach the gospel to ourselves daily.


To Joshua and to all who visit Focused on Christ, “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”


Soli Deo Gloria


Kwame