Thursday, May 21, 2009

Ida: The Missing Link

There has been much hype in the press about the supposed "missing link" to Darwinian Evolution. In case you were wondering how this fits in with the Biblical account of creation, I'm posting this link to an article by the wonderful team at AiG who answers the questions surrounding Ida from a biblical perspective better than I can. Please check it out. And while you're at that, why don't you look into some of the other articles as well; it's well worth your time. God bless!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Although Their Land Is Full of Guilt

Jeremiah 51:5

"For neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken by his God, the LORD of hosts, although their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel."

God is faithful, even when we're not (2 Timothy 2:13). God's faithfulness to His covenant people is best displayed in His interaction with sinful Israel. Though the Israelites had the written oracles of God and many prophets sent by Him to call them to repentance, they rejected Him and committed spiritual adultery. Therefore, God had to punish Israel in accord with the Mosaic covenant. Yet this punishment did not mean that God rejected Israel. Even while punishing Israel, God promises a Deliverer. He will punish those who say "There is no God in Israel," and will restore Israel not because of their faithfulness or good deeds, but because His promises cannot be revoked (Romans 11:28, 29). How faithful He is! What joy to know this same God is the God in whom we have placed our hope! God bless!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Fathers and Mothers

Proverbs 1:8, 9

"Hear, my son, your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck."

Fathers and mothers have a great responsibility given by God to teach and train their children in the way of righteousness and godliness, not simply to nurture them into adulthood. Their children likewise have the responsibility to heed their parents' words. Some of the best counsel you will ever receive will come from your parents, yet many choose to neglect their words thinking it to be outdated or irrelevant or too fundamental. We just celebrated Mother's Day yesterday honoring them for the service with which they served us and the teachings with which they taught us. Let us not forget that we have much to learn from our parents and make Mother's Day a hypocrite's day by disdaining the teaching of our parents. Let their teaching be to you a graceful wreath and ornaments about your neck! Thank God for godly parents. Stay strong in the Lord and God bless!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Prayer on National Prayer Day

Here is an interesting article that I think you should at least take a look at by Dan Philips.

One of the most upsetting posts (to some traditionalists) that I have written thus far at Pyro ws about — not tongues, not the Gospel, not marriage, not church, but — prayer.

It was in September of 2006, and it was called What prayer is and isn't.

Towards the start, I say:
I can't think of one specific doctrine, offhand, which is more tradition-laden, and buried under sentimentality, than that of prayer.

For that very reason, it's a risky topic. Step in any direction, and you land on someone's toes. Worse, diverge from the "party line," and it's as if you're insulting Mom. Only a fool, or someone with nothing to lose, would knowingly poke a stick at that particular venerated bovine. (Say, why are you looking at me like that?)
...and then I launch.

One other portion:
Prayer is not a dialogue. Prayer is not a conversation. Prayer has no intrinsic power, whatever.
Give it a read, on this American National Day of Prayer.

Monday, May 4, 2009

God's Word a Joy and Delight

Jeremiah 15:16

"Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name."

The psalmist of Psalm 119 repeatedly beseeches God to "revive" him according to His holy word. For the depressed heart, nothing can so lift up the soul and countenance as the Word of God. Jeremiah must have experienced this renewal as he found God's word and immersed himself into it. Jeremiah had a really tough ministry. He was once thrown into a cistern with nothing but mud by his enemies for speaking the truth! He was a lone voice in Judah warning the people of the coming destruction by the Babylonians. Not only was it tough, it must have also been extremely lonely. Think about being in a cistern by yourself for a number of days knowing that everyone wanted to kill you. If there ever was a man who should have been depressed it was Jeremiah. Yet, because of the power of God's Word to revive the heart, Jeremiah can speak of "joy" and the "delight of my heart." He was not a bitter prophet. He was a prophet who continually found joy in the promises of God. Christians ought not be depressed, bitter, or lonely. If you are, let the word of God and His precious promises revive you as it did Jeremiah. Stay strong in the Lord and God bless!