Twas the day after Christmas

I suppose I should start with last week, which was good. I spent a lot of time reading, some time writing, and a little time thinking.

On Saturday, my brother and I volunteered to go to Walmart to do some grocery shopping for our mother. Beau wanted to show me his office anyway. So we drove down to the office and snuck through the halls (which were empty). He showed me pictures and cubicles and the room where he works. He has /two/ large flatscreen monitors and an expensive, fancy keyboard that has pressure sensitive volume control, a calculator, and the temperature and time built into it (on a little screen on the keyboard itself).

Then we went shopping. It wasn't too bad actually, considering it was the last "real" shopping day before Christmas (if you don't count Sunday) but it seemed to take forever to find everything. Perhaps it's organized so mothers can find everything, but definitely not for engineers and computer programmers. Why is the crumbled bacon bits next to the salad dressing instead of canned meats? Why is the crumbled blue cheese not there also? Why is it not with other cheeses? Why is there a hundred and fifty different brands that completely clog up the aisle? I came out feeling like Bugs Bunny when goes "eep! Guzzerp! Horp! Glep! dada-ipp!" And his limbs get twisted up.

I did take my blood pressure in there while my brother was looking for hair conditioner, if I had known what he was looking for, I could have told him it wasn't in the cosmetics, however much sense it made. My readings were 119 over 71 with a pulse of 62 bpm. Perhaps Keebler can tell me, but that sounds somewhat low, perhaps too low, I didn't know I was bodily dead already! Beau's was more normal, at 128 over 77 with a pulse of 74 bpm. Yes, we both bared our arms rather than try to take it through the jackets we were wearing.

Christmas day, I slept in a little (though the younger kids were bouncing around since 6:00) and showered. We started opening presents somewhere around 7:30 I believe. From my brother I received a boxed set of hardback books, /The Screwtape Letters/ and /Mere Christianity/ both by CS Lewis of course. He also bought me a rare, hard-to-find game for the GameCube (where you're a reporter taking pictures of an alien attack, really cool!) and season 2 of Stargate on DVD. He had to get me that since the end of last season, earth was under attack and we had NO IDEA how it was all going to turn out! We promptly watched a few episodes that afternoon.

It was a very relaxed day. My father cooked doughnuts and sausage for us, we had an afternoon lunch/early supper of corned beef, cabbage, and red potatoes with blue cheese mixed in. Autumn invited us all over for a Christmas party in "Animal Crossing" a video game that I showed Liz and Stephen I believe. We had a contest where we found arrows that had been strategically placed all over her town, and then handed out presents. I gave coconuts and received an orange, a shovel, and a chipped axe (which Autumn didn't want any more).

Now for the good stuff: What I've been reading.
"Fear not for the Church of Christ when ministers die, and saints are taken away. Christ can ever maintain His own cause. He will raise up better servants and brighter stars. The stars are all in His right hand. Leave off all anxious thought about the future. Cease to be cast down by the measures of statesmen, or the plots of wolves in sheep's clothing. Christ will ever provide for His own Church. Christ will take care that 'The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' All is going on well, though our eyes may not see it. The kingdoms of this world shall yet become the kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ."
-J.C. Ryle "Holiness" chapter XIII
I really liked that because I often wonder about the outcome of the church, especially the RP church, and even more specifically, the one in Stillwater. I don't think I worry, but it is comforting to be reminded of that above statement. All /IS/ going well, whether we see it or not.

Here's another one. In response to the argument that people without Christ do not go to hell because God is merciful and they hope He will be merciful to them, Ryle says:
"Merciful He is, beyond all question: rich in mercy, plenteous in mercy. But His mercy is inseparably connected with the mediation of His beloved Son Jesus Christ. It must flow through Him as the appointed channel, or it cannot flow at all."
Many people think they can plead mercy with God in the last day. Let it be known that he has provided a mercy, the greatest that ever was or can be! Yet people reject that. How futile it is for those who have rejected this gift, to expect another.

"We want more men and women who walk with God and before God, like Enoch, and Abraham. Though our numbers at this date far exceed those of our Evangelical forefathers, I believe we fall far short of them in our standard of Christian practice. Where is the self-denial, the redemption of time, the absence of luxury and self-indulgence, the unmistakable separation from earthly things, the manifest air of being always about our Master's business, the singleness of eye, the simplicity of home life, the high tone of conversation in society, the patience, the humility, the universal courtesy which marked so many of our forerunners seventy or eighty years ago? Yes: where is it indeed? We have inherited their principles and we wear their armour, but I fear we have not inherited their practice."
The more I read, the more I realize just how much things have changed. Entertainment seems to be all right to me, but it consumes most people (consuming the consumer). In the opposite, our spiritual ancestors were more often marked by a caring after the things of God. They lived in the world but it was clear that they were not of the world. Their lives showed a very clear-cut distinction between their habits, and the habits of those who feared not God.


Under the notes on Genesis 40 speaking of the butler and baker:
"We should not have had this story of Pharaoh's butler and baker recorded in scripture if it had not been serviceable to Joseph's preferment. The world stands for the sake of the church, and is governed for its good."
I just thought that was a very good point to be reminded of.

On the notes when Joseph leaves his steward to greet his brothers (on their second trip) and bids them wait until his master's return:
Though Joseph saw Benjamin there, he would not leave his work at working-time, nor trust another with it. Note, Business must take place of civility in its season. Our needful employments must not be neglected, no, not to pay respect to our friends."
Which is how I feel some times. There is a time for that sort of thing, but not at the expense of what must be done. Hopefully work wouldn't consume however.

Rachel's sad story. I was reminded again of truly how sad this makes me, the beloved wife of Jacob dies in childbirth. Henry pointed out that Rachel told Jacob "Give me children or I die!" Her wish was granted, she was given a plurality of children, yet she did die because of it.

In the story of the butler and baker, when the Butler forgets Joseph, Henry says:
"Some observe the resemblance between Joseph and Christ in this story. Joseph's fellow-sufferers were like the two thieves that were crucified with Christ-the one saved, the other condemned. (It is Dr. Lightfoot's remark, from Mr. Broughton). One of these, when Joseph said to him, Remember me when it shall be well with thee, forgot him; but one of those, when he said to Christ, Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom, was not forgotten. We justly blame the chief butler's ingratitude to Joseph, yet we conduct ourselves much more disingenuously towards the Lord Jesus. Joseph had but foretold the chief butler's enlargement, but Christ wrought our ours, mediated with the King of kings for us; yet we forget him, though often reminded of him, though we have promised never to forget him: thus ill do we requite him, like foolish people and unwise."
Which makes me recollect that this is true in my own life. Today I finished JC Ryle's "Holiness" and the final chapter was "Christ is All" wherein he describes how truly lovely Christ is and how necessary to the Christian. If our union with Christ be not our utmost goal, then we are not living as we ought. He is the firstborn, our Lord, our Head. How much should we then be in communion with Him and how much more should he be our talk! I admit my failings in this point very much. It was this love for Christ that caused Spurgeon, in everything he read in the Bible, to see Christ as the focal point. This same love I see in Matthew Henry who points to the promise of the Messiah throughout the Scriptures. He presents it as a homogeneous whole, not broken up into different plans and actings of God, but as one, glorious and eternal plan set forth abundantly throughout the pages of Scripture, for the coming of Christ and the redemption of His people.

Henry points out the "blessing" and "promise" in the patriarchal accounts, this blessing that Jacob coveted was probably because of his realization that this was the blessing promised to Abraham, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. Woven throughout his discourse (and throughout Scripture) is the religion, faith, and resting in God's promises held by the people of old. They did indeed have a hope and that hope was Christ. They did not know how it would all work out, they were in an era of shadows and types, yet they had faith and believed. But the focal point is Christ! In this age today I hear many people discounting the Old Testament as unnecessary for today's "modern" Christian. How much more appropriate and blessed is it now that we can see clearly? The same argument applies to the Psalms, why would we discard them at the moment when they become the most meaningful? We understand the shadows alluded to, we can look back with the light of the fullness of the gospel and see Christ upon every page. Christ should indeed be our all.

And that, is all I have.

Finale: Finals are Finally Finished!

I apologize for the lack of posts this semester. Things haven't been extraordinarily busy yet I've had plenty to do every day.

My reading has been carried on, I'm not sure how many books I've finished this semester or year, I should attempt to keep track I suppose. I am currently mostly reading Henry's commentary on Genesis and enjoying it very much indeed! He brings thoughts out that would never have crossed my mind, Spurgeon said if a young pastor was to read Henry with his notebook in hand, he should not have lack of material for sermons and thoughts would begin to swarm about him like swallows. I do find it very thought-provoking and pleasantly fresh. The quotations that I like are far too voluminous to set down here though. My plan is to read through the entire commentary as I make my next trip through the Bible, it may take me three years at my current rate (of slightly more than a chapter a day) but I am very much looking forward to it.

This semester went very well, I have been notified of two A's so far and I'm fairly certain of A's in the other three. All the material I've been learning has been enjoyable and I feel as though I've been able to retain it rather well also, which is always nice to know. I think that my extra-curricular studying has helped with that oddly enough. All of the theological books that I try to read, instead of overloading, has been a source of much pleasure and peace. I had a classmate this semester, after I told him how many studies a week I participated in, tell me that he didn't know how I did all of that besides school, he felt sure he would feel completely swamped! On the other hand, I don't know how he goes all week without Bible studies and fellowship with other believers, it's such an encouragement to me!

I feel as though this semester has been very conducive to my spiritual growth as well. Oh I still have a long way to go in every department but as I look at the start of the semester as a bench-mark, and where I am now, I feel as though there has been definite progress. I didn't make it as far as I had hoped in all of my reading but I did make a bit of progress there as well. God has been very good to me this semester and I've been grateful for the N family especially. I was just adding it up today and realized that as of Sunday, there will have been 12 days in a row that I have seen at least one of them! From the Geography Bee (of which I was the officiating reader, Jonathan was the timer) to JP and Kacey's going away part, to Tulsa to Basketball.

This week has also seemed to have gone by very quickly. First, Monday was rather slow, I just read and studied (or reviewed rather) because I knew I might be gone most of the day Tuesday. As it was, Tuesday morning I woke up at 4:00 A.M. in pain, the details of which I would feel uncomfortable going into. I had some abdominal pains in my lower groin area and at about 6:00 ended up admitting myself to the emergency room (it was excruciating trying to drive). My plan was to go to Tulsa that afternoon but I didn't know if I'd be able to make it. I had an exam at 10:00 that morning, so this wasn't the best of timing.

God is merciful though, and by the time the doctor finally came in to see me (I hope there never is a true emergency, or I'd probably be dead by the time all the paperwork and rigamarole is through) I was feeling a bit better. They confirmed it wasn't something which could have been rather dangerous (which I thought it might be) and said it might be kidney stones. Well, I'm glad to say it's not because later that afternoon, I could walk around with only slight discomfort, by 5:00 I wouldn't have known there was anything wrong earlier in the day.

I had limped slowly to my 10:00 exam (refusing to pick up the pain prescription they gave me because it would make me drowsy) and STILL walked faster than most of the slow-pokes on campus, then went home and sat under a blanket with my eyes closed for a time, reviewing a few old Differential Equations exams and Calculus papers. I was thankful it had gone away in time for me to visit Tulsa. The evening was very pleasant and I was glad to spend time with F.B., Rachel and the RUFfians (in my mind they not quite crazed college students). Next time I may attempt a tussle myself (but I thought I'd better take it easy that day). I also need to arm-wrestle Bob. I'm almost sure he'd take me down but I almost never turn down a challenge (even if it's one of my own making)!

I ended up making it home somewhere after 11:00 and getting in bed close to 11:30. It had been a long, tiring day (from 4:00 to 11:30) but I was thankful for it. I was up at six the next morning and off to Calculus. For some reason I didn't get to bed until 11:00 that night either, then back up at 6:00 and then to bed somewhere after 10:30. I never really did get to sleep "on time" this week, and I'm not sure why. For being a relaxing week, it sure was busy!

Well, I'm going to close there while I'm ahead. If I continued on any longer it would probably only get more monotonous than it already is. Thanks to everyone who spoke to me, encouraged me, or prayed for me this semester, it has been a good one.

Divers Readings

Here's a couple of quotes that I'm sharing.

First, in Thomas Brooks' "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" I really appreciate the following under the device of "Suggesting to sinners their unworthiness" and so keeping them from Christ:

"The third remedy against this device of Satan is, that if the soul will keep off from Christ till it be worthy, it will never close with Christ, it will never embrace Christ. It will never be one with Christ, it must lie down in everlasting sollow. God hath laid up all worthiness in Christ, that the creature may know where to find it, and may make out after it. There is no way on earth to make unworthy souls worthy, but by believing in Christ. Believing in Christ, of slaves it will make you worthy sons; of enemies, it will make you worthy friends. God will count none worthy, nor call none worthy, nor carry it towards none as worthy, but believers, who are made worthy by the worthiness of Christ's person, righeousness, satisfaction, and intercession."

I just thought that was an excellent point, that all worthiness is laid up in Christ and that we can/should never seek to become worthy first before coming to him. Those who believe themselves to have a little wealth, upon these will Christ never come. But upon those who realize how completely destitute and poor they are, he delights to bestow the riches of his mercy.

The second quote from the same book is from Augustine who said

"He that willingly takes from my good name, unwilling adds to my reward."

That doesn't take any commentary :)

Now, I've been reading some of Matthew Henry's commentary on the Bible, I'm planning on working my way through it, probably these next couple of years, as my personal study. Spurgeon had highly recommended him to any young pastor and though I am not a pastor, nor aspiring to be one, I thought it would be good for me too. In commenting on the opening verses of chapter 2 of Genesis, when speaking of man's body he says:

"The body would be a worthless carcase, if the soul did not animate it. To God that gave us these souls we must shortly give an account of them, how we have employed them, used them, proportioned them, and disposed of them; and if then it be found that we have lost them, though it were to gain the world, we shall be undone forever...........Let us not be of those fools that despise their own souls, by preferring their bodis before them."

I just thought that was a very good point, both our body and our soul have been given to us by God, and as stewards we ought to use them wisely. The soul is the important part, the body is merely its instrument, yet so many people rashly choose the body and its delights over their eternal soul.

Lastly, I just had to share this, I read it several times because I thought it was very beautiful. When speaking of the creation of the woman he says:

"[Notice] that the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved."

That's all for now.

The Wonder of Inspiration

One of the greatest beauties of the Bible, especially made manifest in a chaotic world, is it's unity and harmony. As the Westminster Larger Catechism says "The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God.....by the consent of all the parts, which is to give all glory to God."

Try taking a plumber, politician, a farmer, and a college professor, just four men, from the same era, and set them down to write something like the Bible, tell them to create their own religion. The result would be (as one can imagine) disastrous. Even if they collaborated and worked in the same room, there would be disagreements and a vast difference in quality. The end would be an abandoned project.

And yet, can you imagine a prince and lawgiver (Moses), a general (Joshua), prophets and scribes, kings (David, Solomon), musician (Asaph), herdsman (Amos), statesman (Daniel), Priest (Ezra), tax collector (Matthew), a physician (Luke), a scholar and Pharisee (Paul), fishermen (John, Peter), Greek, Hebrew, and then they all write and unite with one voice and proclaim what God has spoken to them? In other books, written by one man, there is often a lack of harmony. Even one man by himself, contradicts himself. How then, is it possible that dozens of writers, across a period of 2000 years, with a wide variety of skills, thoughts, and occupations, could be so harmonious, so beautiful? The only answer that makes any sense and is even remotely believable, is that they were inspired by God.

Somebody's off-key.

The product of extra time and an attempt at reading music. There are definitely spots that are worse than others.

http://www.box.net/public/0mcmcyjl0i

Laugh. I have no range.

Mono to Theo doxa

Or that's about as near a literal translation as I can do, with my limited knowledge of Greek letters. Basically, to God alone be the glory.

There should have been an update here long ago and I apologize for that lack of one. Here is what has been going on:

I had a very nice fall break, having Thanksgiving with my family, eating lots of great food (and being sent back with leftovers!) and a little time to study, to pray, walk, and have fun. I worked through eight old Statics exams in preparation for the upcoming third exam of the semester in that class.

On Saturday, my brothers and I went paintballing with a bunch of other lads, there were probably about 17 of us total. My older brother and I were put on opposing sides, my younger brother was on my team. We had a youngster named Jonah who was with us, very small, so our team made it our sworn duty to protect Jonah, he was our VIP and we were his bodyguard. The first round we did, our team moved quickly through and to the right, with me staying close to Jonah and moving him quickly from point to point. The other team members moved in on the enemy and I took Jonah to a safe spot behind where our team was situated and went off, I think I took out a guy and then was shot in the back by enemy fire, but our team won by a landslide.

The second round, I went into the woods to do a little recon, and spotted my brother coming after me. We're both clad in black and present a formiddable appearance, and we both know eachother well. We popped a few shots and I crept into a better position, making fast moves from spot to spot to outflank him, waiting for backup. He turned to retreat through some brush but I saw him making for an opening and fired one shot at the opening before he passed by. The ball sailed through the air and connected, perfect timing, right on the back of his jaw (helmet area). He said it hurt.

We had various rounds with various scenarios. The team I was on won most of the time for some reason, though I thought the opposing side had some better players. One time I was behind a pile of brush and an enemy, running away from the area of fire, came right up to me and stopped on the other side, stunned. Then he dropped and began shooting as I shot back at him (I hesitated because it was so close range). We popped up and down, I dove to the left and popped back up in time to see him losing his balance and falling back, that was enough and he was quickly eliminated. He said that was the wildest thing all day, and his highlight. I then started walking down a road, slowly making my way toward where the enemy was. Two of them shouted "There's L-!" and started shooting at me but they were too far away and I just kept walking steadily towards them, unperturbed. They fled.

Oh we had a bunch of fun. It's fun to be in a black suit, with a black mask and gun and when people see you, they run away :) I also had two team mates firing on me until one of the enemy (who was out) said "that's just sad you guys!" They thought I was my brother since in the black suits and masks, we look somewhat alike! That was one of the highlights of the break, just to be out there with some guys (though there were two girls who played, I was glad to note). I tend to be more conservative on my ammo, and used less than 2/3 of a hopper (the container that holds the balls) while a couple of other guys used six full hoppers each! I'm more of a sniper I guess. One boy told me "You know, you're so quiet all the time, but you're always ready to go. It's great!"

That night, the N's had invited my family to dinner (they came up with me) and we had a very good time there. Though I feared we stayed too late.

This past week was to be a week of exams, I had four scheduled, one on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The Tuesday one was in Physics and I think it went well, we shall have to see. Wednesday was Calculus and I know I messed up on one problem but he eliminates our worst problem from the ones he grades, so that may be taken out of the mix. I messed up because I was trying to remember this part, moved on, came back, and finally figured it out and was frantically working on it when the instructor announced with a grin "guys, you have minus two minutes left now." But I know I was on the right track, I just didn't finish the last step or two.

Thursday class was cancelled because of the snow. I was hoping to pick up Circuits quizzes, homework, and get the results from the Physics exam. We were also supposed to have a Statics exam and a Circuits review, but these were cancelled as well. I e-mailed the instructor and he said that my studying those eight exams over Thanksgiving break would serve me well for the final though.

So I had planned on getting a lot done on Friday on campus, getting the results from the Calculus exam, the Physics exam, the old quizzes, and then we were supposed to take an exam in Circuits, which I had been preparing for a couple of weeks for, but that was cancelled too because school was closed :( I felt kind of helpless in a way. That exam has been rescheduled for Monday.

I had a former classmate, an electrical engineer ahead of me, tell me today (through Gmail) that I was the only "friend" he had whom he felt he would recommend to an instructor by name. Normally he doesn't mention names because of the possible repercussions: i.e. the teacher might not like them. But he said that he was certain I had no enemies. Of that, I'm not sure, but it was a high compliment and I appreciated it.

So things I've been learning. Well, I've been learning that I'm not so self-reliant as I sometimes seem to think I am. I need company from time to time, and perhaps that is a reason I did NOT want school to be closed.

I'm learning that I really am not content in all circumstances, because I started to groan inwardly when I found out that "my" plans had been thwarted. My idea of taking the exams was gone. One thing that somewhat irked me though is that many students rejoice when their exams are cancelled, simply because they have not been diligent beforehand.

I'm learning that perhaps I am too dependant upon schedules, and need to be grateful for whatever is thrown my way. I am grateful for the opportunity to get some other things done, to finish some books (I finished Messiah the Prince just a short while ago) to send e-mails, to even write this blog post (Arwen, I had this on my list of things to do while on this break :).

Oh I'm thankful for the snow, and the warm camper, I'm thankful for Garrett, who even offered to get me the key to his room and I could stay in there over the weekend while he went home! I'm thankful for Jonathan who has insisted that if I get cold, or lonely, I can come over to their place. I've learned that I should be more mindful and humble when interacting with others, and how gracious they are to me most of the time and how ungracious I am toward them.

I learned more today about the mediatorial dominion of Christ and how all things, rulers and authorities, governors, senate, the president, kings etc. are all subservient to him. He commands their allegience, and nations his respect. That the state and world are two different things, and the state, as being under Christ's rule and set up by him, needs to honour him. Rulers of a Christian nation have a responsibility to make Christian laws, to keep the Sabbath, to uphold Christ. Far from being a separation of church and state, the two should work together, as Moses (state) and Aaron (church). Christ is Lord over both, the church should not control the state (that is not its duty) and the state cannot control the church, is has no authority to do so, but the state does have a responsibility. And all men, but especially Christians, have the responsibility to elect such leaders as will uphold God's law. We cannot elect those or choose those whom we know do not respect Christ, and have them to be our representatives.

I learned that there is a tendency for people to willingly accept the priesthood of Christ, and forgiveness of sins, but many are unwilling to accept the kingship of Christ, and swear their allegience to him and obey him. The two go together and are inseparable, you cannot have Christ as Saviour without him being your Lord.

And I have learned how far short I fall in everything. How often I fail. Yet it is a great comfort to know that we do have a high priest, and king, who intercedes for us and upholds us by his hand. There is much to learn and I'm going to try to squeeze a bit more out of this day. Thanks :)

I wish I could have given you my days off Frodo, but you had some of your own and I must learn contentment with these things. Don't laugh, it truly is a struggle! I didn't want school to be cancelled! Jon on the other hand, was practically dancing with glee. He says I'm weird. Maybe so! -(0)_(0)-