Fair and balanced? You decide...

Sometimes it seems as if evangelical Christians have nothing better to do than look for the devil in every toy, tv show, or movie. But now, our enemy has done it for us.

The American Humanist Association has published an article on "Where Can I Find Humanist Books and Films for Children and Teens?" The article lists the best humanist authors, movies and tv shows. Better check and make sure your favorite author or show didn't make the list (if you're a sci-fi fan, you're probably sunk!)

But what I found particularly interesting was the section on Bible stories for humanists:

Many might wonder if stories from the Bible could possibly have any value for humanist children. The answer is yes, and for two reasons.

First, if Bible stories are read in the same way that one might read ancient Greek myths or the mythologies of other cultures, it's possible to understand them for what they are: Hebrew and Christian myth and legend. And then they can be appreciated and enjoyed without being believed.

Second, Bible stories in particular are part of Western culture. A person can't be considered culturally literate without knowing them as well as one might know Aesop's Fables. Just think of all the familiar English metaphors and references that come from the Bible: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Sampson and Delilah, reading the handwriting on the wall, Daniel in the lion's den, David and Goliath, "Let my people go," the golden calf, the Ten Commandments, the battle of Jericho, "Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone," the good Samaritan, the widow's mite, original sin, "I wash my hands of it," the antichrist, and so on. Such references come up often enough in conversation, written materials, film, and elsewhere that children who are reared without any knowledge of the Bible will find they don't understand many things people are talking about.

So, if one goes to a Christian book store (or ordinary children's book section of a secular store) and picks out something innocuous that tells Bible stories, this should do much of the job of educating children in the traditional Sunday school curriculum. And an excellent way to introduce humanist kids the Moses story is to rent or buy the Dreamworks video Prince of Egypt, which treats the material as a story rather than as religious doctrine.

There's nothing to worry about in all this. No humanist child has been known to have "gotten religion" just from reading a children's book or viewing a video that tells Bible stories. Still, it always helps if a parent discusses any material with a child. And, as noted above, it puts the stories in perspective if the child can be given this material together with books and videos on Greek mythology and the mythology of other cultures. The larger context is always of great benefit.

Mom? Dad? Are you teaching your children doctrine? Or do your children think its just another story?

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:19)

ERITREA
Gospel Singer Helen Berhane Granted Asylum in Denmark - VOM Sources
Eritrean gospel singer, Helen Berhane, who was released from prison in November 2006 after being detained in Eritrea for two years without charge, has been granted asylum in Denmark. Berhane and her daughter arrived in Denmark on October 19, after spending 11 months in Sudan. Her health remains extremely poor, due to the physical suffering she experienced during her detention. She cannot walk without assistance. During Berhane's detention, she was held for extended periods of time in shipping containers and tortured several times by authorities in an effort to force her to recant her faith. Thank God that Berhane has found a safe place to live. Praise Him for her faithfulness. Pray for God's continued protection and provision for her. Ask Him to give her direction and wisdom, so she can continue serving Him. Pray for believers in Eritrea who face persecution and suffering for the sake of their faith in Jesus Christ. Psalm 84:11, Psalm 119:105

PAKISTAN
Christian Homes Demolished in Pakistan - VOM Sources
On October 19, local Muslims demolished homes belonging to three Christian families in the village of Lobhana, near Lahore, Pakistan. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts, more than 70 armed villagers moved in with tractors and began destroying the homes. VOM contacts said, "They demolished and looted three homes and only stopped when the police arrived." Some of the Christians attacked reported that the Muslims threatened to kill them. VOM contacts added that the land where some of the demolished homes were located had been given to the Christian families by the Pakistani government more than 10 years earlier. However, some local Muslims claimed the land, intending to build a cemetery. Pray for God's protection for Christians in this area. Ask Him to provide resources for these families to rebuild their homes. Pray the testimony of these believers will draw nonbelievers, especially their attackers, into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Psalm 68:19, Proverbs 3:5, 6

NIGERIA
Muslim Officials Dismiss Christian School Librarian - Compass Direct News
Sixteen months ago, Muslim officials forced Asabe Ladagu, a Christian widow, to leave her job as a librarian. The incident occurred after she and others requested land to build a chapel in the capital city of Borno state, in northern Nigeria. According to Compass Direct News, Muslim administrators at Ramat Polytechnic forced Ladagu into early retirement without pay. Ladagu told Compass, "We were branded dangerous people because we were Christians. I have been forced out of office now for 16 months, not retired and not on staff roll of Ramat Polytechnic. Other Christian brethren, too, have either been forced out or have been the subjects of witch hunts." Pray for God's provision and protection for Ladagu and other Christians in northern Nigeria. Ask God to use their testimonies to draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Him. Philippians 4:19, Psalm 27:1

INDONESIA
Imprisoned Christians Sentenced - VOM Sources
The remaining Christian leaders imprisoned in April have been sentenced to five years in prison. They were imprisoned after a video recording of them praying for Muslims was leaked to Islamic organizations. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Indonesia, "The defendants have been found guilty of abusing the Quran, and the judge sentenced them to five years in prison. Their lawyers are planning to appeal this decision in East Java High Court in Surabaya." Pray for those in prison and their families. Ask God to give them boldness and wisdom as they face these difficult challenges. Joshua 1:9, Philippians 4:13


www.persecution.com

My 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter asked me about creation last night: "Was God lonely before creation?"
I told them no, and should anyone, their grandparents, sunday school teacher, etc. tell them that He was, they should tell them they are wrong. God is perfect. The Father is perfect, the Son is perfect, the Holy Spirit is perfect. Lonely is not perfect. God is perfect and happy and completely thrilled with Himself for He is the ultimate good.
So, they asked, why did God create?
I asked them if they understood justice? They weren't sure what that meant, so I explained that justice was punishing bad things.
I explained that mercy is forgiving and not punishing bad things.
I explained that grace is doing something nice for someone who doesn't deserve it.
So, then I asked if there were only God, who would God punish to show His justice? Ethan said, He'd have to create someone.
Ah! So, if He wanted to show His justice, would He create someone who only did good things? No, he said. The person would have to do something wrong.
Yes, that's right.
Then I asked how can God show His justice, His mercy, and His grace?
Drumroll... Anna Kate answerered, "He could create one people and show them His justice and create another people and show them His mercy and grace." Ta-da!

Election. Even a 4-year-old can get it.

I've been creating some inserts for my upcoming Blank Bible. If you are making a Blank Bible for yourself, or if these pages would fit into your own Bible, feel free to download them and print them out.

The first file is my Bible reading plan. This is the 90-day plan. It will take you through the Old Testament once, the New Testament twice, both chronologically. I'm very much enjoying reading from the Old and New Testament each day, instead of waiting until the last 30 days for the New. This takes about an hour to read.

Download 90reading.pdf here.

The second file is some extras I wanted, namely, the week of prayers from Valley of Vision and the First London Baptist Confession of Faith (1646).

Download Prayers1646.pdf here.

Both of these files are formatted to be printed two-sided (short side). After you have them printed, slice them into two 8.5" x 5.5" sheets and they are ready to use. I've included generous margins for notes on both.

I want to talk about a problem of which I think we are all aware. It is a problem that seems to be particular (pun intended) to Calvinists.
Calvinists are academic. Stated simply, that's the problem. When I first started studying the doctrines of grace, my wife called her dad to find out if her husband were becoming a heretic. He responded that Calvinism appeals to the academia. It's logical, scholarly, smells of dusty tomes. His opinion was the more educated one was, the more appealing Calvinism was to them. I took it as a compliment. At the time, I think my wife took that more as equating it with liberalism. She's since learned otherwise.
But it is true: We are academic. We love to study. We love our creeds, confessions, and catechisms. We love our commentaries and Reformation history. We love our Biblical scholarship. And we love asking questions, such as, "What verse is that?" and "Have you read that in context?" Or simply stating, "Read it in the Greek, and try again."
Don't get me wrong. All of those are good things. You should read your Bible. You should study your Bible. You should avail yourself of all the good teaching that our Lord has so generously provided for us. But you should not stop there.
My tendency is to be overwhelmed. Have you ever been in the market for a book, not a specific book, but you just wanted something to read. (Okay, for the non-academics, you've been in the market for a good movie). And you stepped into Barnes & Noble (or Blockbuster) and you see aisles and aisles of material. The shelves are full and there are even displays in the aisles. Where do you start? How do you choose? And what if what you pick up is part of a series? You can't start with the latest, you've got to start at the beginning, right? So you just came in for one thing, and now you have to pick up have a dozen or more to get yourself up to date.
That's how I feel sometimes with theology. Where do I start? How do I get where I want to be? And I get bogged down in the academics. Now, I love every minute of it. Like an archaeologist, I'm digging through dusty tomes, unearthing nuggets, dusting them off, setting them out so that others can enjoy them. But if all I ever do is the academics, I've missed the point. And that is the problem I want to address.
As Calvinists, we know that "man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." We know that whether we eat or drink we should do all to the glory of God. We know that there should be nothing on earth that we desire more than God. We know this. But do we do this? And I don't mean to address the problem as a doing or not doing. I suppose the question that I should ask is do we feel this? Do we want this?
If you ask me, "Do you desire God?" I would say yes. If you ask me, "Do you enjoy God?" I would say yes. But ask me this morning as I walk into the office, "Hey, what could you use right now?" I would say, "A Starbucks." Ask me when my car breaks down, "What would you really like right now?" I would say, "A new car." Ask me about what really made me happy today, and I'll tell you about the great deals I got for my Blank Bible project. Is there anything inherently wrong with any of these answers? Not really. But they do reflect back on my point - when was the last time, without prompting, you said, "I really want more of God" or "I'm so overwhelmed today by God's grace" or "I'm such a worm, I'm amazed that Jesus would die for me."
We know we should glorify God, but do we really, actively seek to glorify God? We know that we should enjoy God, but are we really enjoying God?
This is the Calvinist challenge: you've got the academics, good! Now copy them from your head to your heart. Of course, as a Calvinist, you know that you can't do that yourself. So pray. Pray hard. Pray daily, moment by moment. Plead with God that He would work this grace in you that from your heart you would truly glorify God and that you would find your greatest enjoyment in Him. Pray that you would live this life, enjoying God.
Really, which should better reflect Calvinist theology: the dusty tome, aged in oak, or an exuberant John Piper extolling the infinite Joy that is God?
I believe this is the next Reformation, when Reformed churches look and feel less like academic institutions and reflect more the glory and enjoyment of God. When both hearts and minds are filled with the glory and enjoyment of God and that overflows into the mutual edification of believers, which then overflows to effect the community outside the church.
So, be a good Calvinist by glorifying God and enjoying Him today.

And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked.

Exodus 12:36

In preparing materials for my Blank Bible, I needed a ream of paper. As I was standing at the printer in the office the other day, I noticed the crates of paper for refilling. I remembered that I had been able to purchase reams from other places I've worked and it tended to be about half the price or less of what I would pay at the store. So I started inquiring as to who handled purchasing. When I found out, I asked her about purchasing a ream of paper. She said to just take one. I explained that it was not for my office printer, but for me personally and I was willing to pay. She gave me a perturbed look, marched me back to the supply room, thrust the ream into my hands and said, "Take it!"

Yesterday, Ben told me he was ready to order the Bibles, so I went to the site of an online retailer who was offering free shipping, and ordered them. After placing the order and estimating the delivery date, I realized that the Bibles might not arrive until the first or second week of November. I really wanted to have mine prepared and notes transferred before I leave for Pennsylvania on the 16th, so I wasn't going to have much time. I would gladly pay for upgrading the shipping to get them here sooner. I looked for a way to change or cancel my order, but couldn't find anyway to do it through the website. So I called the toll free number for the company. The gentleman who answered the phone was very helpful and when I explained that I would like to pay to upgrade the shipping, he put me on hold. When he came back, he said that they were upgrading my shipping to Priority, which would take 2 or 3 days, for no charge!

To top it all off, I am almost finished listening to The Life of David Brainerd (if you haven't yet, you still have six days to download it for free from ChristianAudio). I was just thinking I would really like to read Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards. Then I got this e-mail from ChristianAudio:

...Also, our November Free Audiobook of the Month is going to be a really really good one. We cannot announce what it will be quite yet. Well, we'll just give a little hint. The title starts with "Rel" and ends with "ions". So browse through our nearly 700 products and see if you can figure it out.

I only found one book that fit, and you can guess which one it is.

Wow. What a day.

Smells like Egyptian gold to me.

CHINA UPDATE - Prominent House Church Leader Beaten by Police Again - China Aid Association
On October 16, prominent house church leader Hua Huiqi was released from Tiantan Hospital and returned home. However, China Aid Association reported that the following day Public Security Bureau (PSB) police officers attacked and beat up Hua again after refusing to allow him to use the bathroom next to his bedroom. China's PSB recently put Hua under house arrest. Pastor Hua's 77-year-old-mother, Shuang Shuying, remains very ill in prison, serving a two-year sentence. Pray for Pastor Hua's recovery and thank God for His faithfulness as Hua endures these recent attacks. Pray for the healing of his mother and that her testimony will draw non-believers into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Psalm 27: 1, Psalm 23

Pray for ETHIOPIA
ETHIOPIA Muslims Attack Homes in Ethiopia - VOM Sources
On October 16, Muslims attacked 25 Christian families and demolished 12 homes in Seka Yoyo, in the southwest of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts, the families were forced to flee to nearby Jimma. Thank God no believers were killed or seriously harmed during this attack. Pray the believers will be safe in Jimma, where there has been several incidents of violence in recent months, leaving at least six Christians dead. Ask God to protect and encourage Christians that have lost their homes. Pray for the safety of Christians in Ethiopia. Psalm 68:19, Philippians 4:19

Pray for INDIA
INDIA Pastors Beaten and Detained in India - VOM Sources

• On October 11, Pastor Ganesh Murthy was attacked by two Hindu extremists while he was distributing literature and praying for local people in the village of Rampura, Karnakata. The extremists verbally abused, beat and dragged him to the local police station where he was detained on charges of forcible conversion. The extremists also tried to forcibly convert Pastor Murthy to Hinduism by promising to meet the financial needs of his wife and three children if he complied. However, the pastor refused the offer and stood firm in his faith. He is still in prison.
• On October 14, Pastor Thadikal and his wife were attacked in their home in the Vayandu district of Kerala, by two Hindu extremists. The pastor and his wife sustained serious head injuries. Pray for Christians in India who are standing strong in their faith in Jesus Christ. Ask God to heal and protect those injured. Pray for the release of Pastor Murthy from prison.

Psalm 91, Psalm 107: 20

www.persecution.com

...and I'm happy about it!

Okay, I know that sounds very strange. But, right now, think about your teeth. Do they hurt? If not, were you thinking about how they don't hurt before I asked you? Probably not. How about your throat? You're probably not aware of your throat right now, but you are when it is so sore you can't swallow. And at times like that you're probably begging God to make it go away.

So, right now, I have a headache. Why am I happy about it? My wife can tell you that I've had almost daily headaches for the past - I don't know - weeks, months, existence? They've really been a problem. But when my headache hit today, I suddenly realized that I haven't had one for almost two weeks! I've had some really great days!

So, now, I have a headache. And I'm happy about it. In fact, I'm rather thrilled at the moment and praising God, because of all the good days I've had between them.

Are your margins too narrow in your "wide margin" Bible? Have you already filled up Romans (or Galatians, Ephesians, Hebrews, etc.) with notes? I think I have found the perfect solution.

Make your own Blank Bible!

In short, you cut the cover off your Bible (this has just terrified some of you with thoughts of eternal perdition), rip off the binding glue, clamp it between a couple boards of wood, and saw off the edge of the binding. Now you cut a ream of paper in half to provide 1,000 blank pages. Stuff a blank page after each page in your Bible, and place the extras where you will need them the most (probably the aforementioned epistles). Now break them into three or four stacks (two or three for OT, one for NT) and take them to Kinko's for punching and binding. Tadaa! All the margin you need!

Also, since I recently purchased Max McLean's Listener's Bible, I developed a new 90-day program. The MP3's are by chapter, so many of the breaks in my previous reading program would not work for listening. So, in case you're interested, here is the new deal:

Day 1: Genesis 1-11; Job 1-5
Day 2: Job 6-27
Day 3: Job 28-42; Genesis 12-14
Day 4: Genesis 15-25
Day 5: Genesis 26-35
Day 6: Genesis 36-47
Day 7: Genesis 48-50; Exodus 1-9
Day 8: Exodus 10-21
Day 9: Exodus 22-32
Day 10: Exodus 33-40; Leviticus 1-4
Day 11: Leviticus 5-15
Day 12: Leviticus 16-25
Day 13: Leviticus 26-27; Numbers 1-6
Day 14: Numbers 7-16
Day 15: Numbers 17-26
Day 16: Numbers 27-36; Deuteronomy 1-2
Day 17: Deuteronomy 3-13
Day 18: Deuteronomy 14-31
Day 19: Deuteronomy 32-34; Joshua 1-9
Day 20: Joshua 10-22
Day 21: Joshua 23-24; Judges 1-8
Day 22: Judges 9-19
Day 23: Judges 20-21; Ruth; 1 Samuel 1-7
Day 24: 1 Samuel 8-17
Day 25: 1 Samuel 18-31
Day 26: 2 Samuel 1-11
Day 27: 2 Samuel 12-20
Day 28: 2 Samuel 21-24; Psalms 1-17
Day 29: Psalms 18-41
Day 30: Psalms 42-70
Day 31: Psalms 71-93
Day 32: Psalms 94-118
Day 33: Psalms 119-150
Day 34: 1 Kings 1-4; Proverbs 1-8
Day 35: Proverbs 9-21
Day 36: Proverbs 22-31; Ecclesiastes 1-9
Day 37: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Song of Songs; 1 Kings 5-7
Day 38: 1 Kings 8-15
Day 39: 1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 1-3
Day 40: 2 Kings 4-14
Day 41: Joel; Jonah; Amos
Day 42: 2 Kings 15-17; Hosea
Day 43: 2 Kings 18-19; Isaiah 1-10
Day 44: Isaiah 11-28
Day 45: Isaiah 29-41
Day 46: Isaiah 42-56
Day 47: Isaiah 57-66; Micah 1-4
Day 48: Micah 5-7; Nahum; 2 Kings 20-21; Zephaniah; Habakkuk
Day 49: 2 Kings 22-25; Obadiah; Jeremiah 1-5
Day 50: Jeremiah 6-16
Day 51: Jeremiah 17-28
Day 52: Jeremiah 29-38
Day 53: Jeremiah 39-50
Day 54: Jeremiah 51-52; Lamentations; 1 Chronicles 1-5
Day 55: 1 Chronicles 6-16
Day 56: 1 Chronicles 17-29
Day 57: 2 Chronicles 1-15
Day 58: 2 Chronicles 16-27
Day 59: 2 Chronicles 28-36
Day 60: Ezekiel 1-14
Day 61: Ezekiel 15-23
Day 62: Ezekiel 24-34
Day 63: Ezekiel 35-44
Day 64: Ezekiel 45-48; Daniel 1-4
Day 65: Daniel 5-12
Day 66: Esther; Ezra 1-4
Day 67: Haggai; Zechariah; Ezra 5-7
Day 68: Ezra 8-10; Nehemiah 1-9
Day 69: Nehemiah 10-13; Malachi; Matthew 1-4
Day 70: Matthew 5-14
Day 71: Matthew 15-24
Day 72: Matthew 25-28; Mark 1-7
Day 73: Mark 8-14
Day 74: Mark 15-16; Luke 1-5
Day 75: Luke 6-13
Day 76: Luke 14-24
Day 77: John 1-9
Day 78: John 10-18
Day 79: John 19-21; Acts 1-8
Day 80: Acts 9-14; James; Galatians 1-3
Day 81: Galatians 4-6; Acts 15-18; 1 Thessalonians
Day 82: 2 Thessalonians; Acts 19; 1 Corinthians 1-11
Day 83: 1 Corinthians 12-16; Acts 20; 2 Corinthians 1-9
Day 84: 2 Corinthians 10-13; Romans 1-9
Day 85: Romans 10-16; Acts 21-26
Day 86: Acts 27-28; Ephesians; Philippians
Day 87: Colossians; Hebrews
Day 88: Philemon; 1 Peter; 2 Peter; 1 Timothy
Day 89: Titus; 2 Timothy; 1-3 John; Jude; Revelation 1-2
Day 90: Revelation 3-22

Westminster Bookstore has a spanking fresh new look. They must have just uploaded the new design in the last hour or so, because it still had the old look when I was there this morning.

Check it out!

Throughout the month of October, you can go to Christian Audio to download The Life of David Brainerd (Unabridged) by Jonathan Edwards for FREE.

The opening chapters of the Life of David Brainerd reads like Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God: the Autobiography. This book has quickly become my new favorite. Brainerd struggled with melancholy, with which I can relate. I find it very encouraging to hear how he was weaned from dependence on his emotional and physical state to depend completely on Christ for both.

Use the coupon code OCT2007 to redeem this month's free audiobook download from christianaudio.com

Grace.

There was an almost tangible, steady flow of incoming grace throughout the whole day. Your prayers should have been counted in the attendance.

There is something I would like to share with you first, though. When you attend a funeral or viewing, you often do not know what to say. I know I don't. As I stood in the receiving line last night, I began to notice a pattern in the words that touched me the deepest.

"Your grandfather was a pillar of our church. Sunday won't be the same without him."

"You grandfather was my hero."

Even better: "I remember the first Sunday we visited the church. He welcomed us and took us out to dinner. That really impressed me."

My grandfather's torch burned bright. Letting us know more about his torch helps my cousins and me better pick it up. Granted, not everyone at a viewing or funeral will have known the deceased personally. But if did something special for you or there's something you remember about his character, please share it.

My grandfather always appreciated his pastors. But there was a pastor whom he especially loved and befriended. This pastor is now ministering at another church. A few years ago, my grandfather had asked him if he would be a part of his funeral someday. This pastor expressed that he would be honored, and when he heard of my grandfather's death, he wanted to be there today. A man found out about this and paid for the plane ticket. The pastor was able to fly in and speak at the funeral today, which meant a lot to our family.

My message went well. I struggled a few times with tears. But I noticed something about myself in the process. The tears were not for my grandfather. They were tears of joy, deep emotional response at the thought of God's amazing, overwhelming love. I've wondered before if I were cold. But I've just been blessed that everyone of my relatives who have passed away have been believers. I don't see their deaths as great losses. They merely passed through a door to a better life that I cannot yet pass through. It is just a matter of time until we are reunited.

I am still praying that God will bless the message I gave. I hope that my presentation of Christ was clear and that a seed was planted in someone that will be used as a means of grace for them.

This has always been one of my favorite hymns, and it ties in well with the theme of Effectual Grace. Yes, I know it was written by Charles Wesley, but when he wrote hymns, he tended to forget he was an Arminian.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

My grandfather passed away this morning around 12:15. Yesterday afternoon, I put together my thoughts on what I would like to share at his funeral. I wanted to post them here for you to read as well:


I was reading Psalm 43, and I believe it captures this moment very well:


We know from John 1, that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men… That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

We also know that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

So Jesus is the light and the truth.

The psalmist continues:


I am glad that I can tell you that the Light and the Truth did lead my grandfather. Paul tells us that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” I can tell you that my grandfather heard the word of God, and faith was given to him.

I am so glad that, in the words of the Apostle Paul, I can tell you today,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed my grandfather in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose my grandfather in Him before the foundation of the world, that he should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined my grandfather for adoption as a son through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed my grandfather in the Beloved. In Him my grandfather has redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of his trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon him, in all wisdom and insight making known to him the mystery of his will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In Him my grandfather has obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In Him my grandfather also, when he heard the word of truth, the gospel of his salvation, and believed in Him, was sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

To the praise of His glory, my grandfather has now acquired possession of it. As the psalmist says:


My grandfather has many friends in heaven who went before him. He has many relatives who went before him. There are many joys for my grandfather in heaven. He’s not confused anymore. His thoughts have been made perfect. He won’t fall down anymore. He can walk and he can talk with Moses and Elijah. He can sit with John the Baptist and with John the Apostle. But as the psalmist said, my grandfather has gone unto God his exceeding joy. Now and forevermore my grandfather knows the incomparable bliss of the presence of God.

The psalmist says:


My grandfather loved music. And I am sure that he loves it no less now. Now he’s hearing the good stuff. My grandfather loved Gene Autry and he loved Bill Gaither. But those are at best a shadow of the amazing music he is enjoying now. I don’t know if he has a mandolin or a banjo with him. But I know that he’s right in there with the rest of the celestial musicians making a joyful sound of praise to our God.

Now, let me read the rest of this Psalm to you.


We’re sad to see my grandfather go. But we’re not sad for him. I for one might be not a little jealous for him. But we’re sad for each other. We’re sad for ourselves. We loved him and we’re sorry that we are going to miss him.

But let me remind you that our time here is so short. It’s a vanity. It’s hardly worth considering. As I told a friend of mine recently, this life doesn’t deserve to be called life when compared to the life that is to come.

The psalmist finishes:


Hope in God.

I know my grandfather would not want me to close this without telling you this. My grandfather’s biggest problem was not that he had a broken hip. It wasn’t Alzheimer’s. No his biggest problem went deeper than that and went all the way back to the very beginning of his life.

My grandfather’s biggest problem – and it is my biggest problem and your biggest problem – is that there is a God who is holy and just and you and I are not. When my grandfather died, he stood before a holy and just God. And you and I will do the same when we die. He was to be judged on the basis of his own righteousness, or lack of it, or the righteousness of another.

My grandfather’s hope was this: Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, perfect obedience to God, not for His own well-being, but for His people. He did for my grandfather what my grandfather could not possibly do for himself. Not only did He live that life of perfect obedience, but He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.

When I witness to someone and point out to them that they are a sinner, they say, “But God will forgive me! God will forgive me!” Listen, for God to forgive you cost Him the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead, so that Christ died for our sin, He was raised for our justification. The gospel is objective: it is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. The gospel is also subjective: how are the benefits of Jesus made your own? How do you get it?

The Bible makes it clear: We are justified, not by our works, not by our effort, not by our deeds, but by faith and by faith alone. The only way my grandfather received the benefit of Christ’s life and death – the only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him and in Him alone. If you do that, then God declares you just, He adopts you into His family, He forgives you of all of your sins, and you begin your pilgrimage for eternity.

The Prizes

Three prizes will be awarded as follows:

* First prize: One case (40 copies) of The Truth of the Cross by R.C. Sproul and one copy of Jesus the Evangelist by Richard Phillips.
* Second prize: One copy of Jesus the Evangelist and admission for two to the Ligonier Ministries 2008 National Conference, Evangelism According to Jesus.
* Third Prize: One copy of Jesus the Evangelist and admission for two to the Ligonier Ministries 2008 National Conference, Evangelism According to Jesus.

Note: If the second or third prize winners are unable to attend the 2008 National Conference, they may substitute admission for two to The Cross of Christ Regional Conference in Dallas/Fort Worth (November 2-3, 2007) OR any two books published by Reformation Trust.

How Does it Work?

* Unless otherwise specified, these giveaways are open to anyone, anywhere.
* There will be one giveaway per month for the duration of the giveaway program.
* Participants can enter each draw only one time! Anyone trying to enter the same draw multiple times by using different email addresses will be disqualified from the current draw and all future draws.
* Everyone who enters a giveaway will earn a single ballot for that draw.
* Additional ballots can be earned by referring additional participants to the giveaway. A participant will earn one additional ballot per person he or she refers to the giveaway.
* The contest will close after 10 days. At that time I will randomly select the winner(s) from all the ballots entered.
* At the close of a giveaway all ballots will be erased and participants will need to re-enter their information to qualify for subsequent draws.

What Do I Do to Participate?

* You must provide your name and email address through the form provided. All information will be kept strictly confidential and will not be given away or sold to anyone, anytime for any reason.
* At the conclusion of the draw I will send an email to all participants to announce the name(s) of the winner(s).
* At the beginning of each subsequent giveaway I will send an email to all participants to announce the new giveaway.
* Participants can unsubscribe from the email list (automatically with no questions asked) at any time. However, participants who withdraw before the close of the current draw will not be eligible to win a prize.

After giving the confessional definition of the doctrine of "Irresistible Grace" yesterday, I want to, of course, look at what the Scriptures say.

To go from death to life, there must be a change, which the Scriptures call regeneration.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

There is the full power of the resurrection and ascension of Christ behind this regeneration:

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:15-21

Look at how the Scriptures describe this regeneration:

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19-20

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 5:24

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13-14

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

Look at these descriptions and tell me which part a man can do for himself? Which part did Lazarus have in his resurrection? Lazarus was resurrected. He was passive. He had no part in his resurrection. Neither do you in your regeneration.

You might suggest that Jesus did call Lazarus to come forth. And you are right. But could Lazarus come forth unless Jesus had already resurrected him? Could Lazarus have even heard the call to come forth unless Jesus had already quickened him? This is the same power that regenerates you.

After Lazarus was quickened, he heard the call and came forth. After you are regenerated, you follow with faith and repentance.

Jesus described it as a new birth. Do you have children? What part did they play in their birth? Was there some exercise of the will that bore them? Did you ask your child for his permission to birth him? Could he have even resisted? Is there anyone walking around today with a 13-year-old or 21-year-old still stubbornly in the womb? No, the birth was, quite frankly, violently forced upon them.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus founded your faith in you, and He will perfect that faith.

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

1 Corinthians 4:7

Why does one person believe and another person not believe? Because God regenerates one and does not regenerate the other. By the grace of God you are what you are.

You can sing "Just as I am" forty times, but only the Holy Spirit can regenerate the dead soul and bring it to faith. (I have to confess that as a young man I walked down many aisles just to shut up the song director so we could move on. But there was no work of the Holy Spirit in it.)

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

My grandmother is blind in one eye. I can shine a flashlight as long as I want into that eye and it will not see. Not until she has a new eye, will she see.
Look at the testimony of Lydia:

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Acts 16:14

The Lord first opened her heart! Or she would not have paid any attention to Paul.

As Jesus said,

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

John 5:21

Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

John 17:1-2

This is what happened in Antioch:

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 13:48

All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ: enlightening their minds, spiritually and savingly, to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good; and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.

Westminster Confession of Faith, X, 1

Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us "in the gospel.

Shorter Catechism

Why do some believe in Jesus, and others do not? Does God make the difference? Or does man?

We've already looked at man's condition in original sin. Not a pretty picture. Can a dead person will himself to life?

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3

There is nothing therefore, against which Calvinism sets its face with more firmness than every form and degree of auto-soterism. Above everything else, it is determined to recognize God, in His Son Jesus Christ, acting through the Holy Spirit whom He has sent, as our veritable Saviour. To Calvinism, sinful man stands in need, not of inducements or assistance to save himself, but precisely of saving; and Jesus Christ has come not to advise, or urge, or woo, or help him to save himself, but to save him; to save him through the prevalent working on him of the Holy Spirit. This is the root of the Calvinistic soteriology, and it is because this deep sense of human helplessness and this profound consciousness of indebtedness for all that enters into salvation to the free grace of God is the root of its soteriology. that election becomes to Calvinism the cor cordis of the gospel. He who knows that it is God who has chosen him, and not he who has chosen God, and that he owes every step and stage of his salvation to the working out of this choice of God, would be an ingrate indeed if he gave not the whole glory of his salvation to the inexplicable election of the divine love.

B. B. Warfield
"The Theology of John Calvin"