I’ve been listening to Ken Samples via Christ Reformed Academy for some time now: so I’m pleased to report he now has a new Blog called Reflections.
Go check it out.
Month: January 2011
King Crimson – Elephant Talk
SteynOnline – Lars man standing – again
SteynOnline – Lars man standing – again.
Here’s a short extract:
…multiculturalism is merely an interim phase, a once useful cover for an Islamic imperialism so confident it now barely needs one. The good news is that European prosecutors are doing such a grand job with their pilot program of show trials you’ll hardly notice the difference when sharia is formally instituted.
King James Bibliolatry
I don’t always listen to Thought for the Day, but when I do it’s usually with disappointment and a sense of being underwhelmed. So it was with some surprise and pleasure that this mornings ‘Thought for the day’ given by Rhidian Brook bucked that trend. You can listen to it on the BBC by following the ‘Thought for the day’ link above, or follow the link to read the Transcript.
Here’s an excerpt:
Maybe the challenge is to move from an appreciation of how something is being said to what is being said. Even when the right words are in the right order The Bible – in any translation – is more than literature. As those King James translators themselves worded it in Hebrews: “The word of God is quick” (a living thing) or God breathed (to use a later translation). It contained a vital message from God to all man-kind, a message so important that it needed to be expressed in a language all could understand, and it didn’t require wealth or sophistication to hear that it had something very important to say. This was not just a book to be read, it was something to be ingested. And lived. It even had the power to transform.
In fact this particular daily thought brought back memories of listening to a sermon by Hywel Jones about 25 years ago. In this sermon Hywel warned against worshipping the Bible, of idolising it and so missing the point. It’s in our nature to worship, but we usually worship the creature rather than the creator even if in this particular case it’s such a ‘worthy’ thing as the Word of God. It’s a fine line isn’t it. There’s no mistaking the observation by Calvin that our hearts are ‘Idol factories’ confirming the truth of the Scripture that our ‘hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked.
And so, yes, we ought to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible – but let’s not worship it and commit the sin of Bibliolatry.
The Wilhem Scream again, and again, and again, and…
Kim Riddlebarger has The “Wilhelm Scream” Compilation on his Blog – it’s hysterical. But, dare I say it – I found another video on You Tube called ‘Scenes that should have the Wilhelm Scream…’ Watch the video below – equally funny. I think my favourite is Gladiator. You’ll need to watch the compilation to really enter into the spirit of it.
What’s wrong with Same-Sex partnerships?
A few days ago (Christmas Day) over here, Elton’s parenthood made front page news. All sorts of questions are asked when a high profile member of the entertainment industry obtains a child. Why do I say obtained? Although there’s the possibility of his biological parenthood, he didn’t have the child within the parameters of the usual man woman relationship. To be blunt, he bought the child. I do not intend any mean-spiritedness here at all. Like Carnegie perhaps he’s driven by a consuming desire to continue his name. Not in buildings, but in flesh.
But to answer the question – What’s wrong with Same-Sex partnerships? Behind the concept or idea of marriage lies a theology. What do I mean?
The Marriage model is based on the Love of the Lord Jesus for His church. The Church is the Bride and He is the Groom. It’s between a man and a woman. Homosexual or same-sex partnerships strike at the very heart of Christian Theology. Homosexual relationships are actually just as blasphemous as adulterous heterosexual relationships. These are not relationships intended by God. It would be stupid of me to deny that love exists between same sex partners – it clearly does. All I’m seeking to show is that the marriage model is where love is to be appropriately manifested.
To state it more clearly then, the marriage model begins and began with God. It was not something man (I’m using man generically here i.e mankind) initiated, invented or thought would be a good idea. No, Gen 2:24: ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ So this Biblical idea (Theology) goes way back. Here are the words of the Lord Jesus:
Mat 19:4 ‘He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
Mat 19:6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”‘
And further, the words of the Apostle Paul:
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour.
Eph 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Eph 5:26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Eph 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Eph 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
Eph 5:30 because we are members of his body.
Eph 5:31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Then we have the following statement:
Eph 5:32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Such is the sinfulness of man that he inverts everything, turns it upside down and makes it what it isn’t. So, the marriage model is based on Christ and the Church – a profound mystery.
But just in case anyone is tempted to take me to task for being prejudicial against any form of same-sex relationship, the Bible probably has more to say negatively about adulterous relationships than homosexuality. God hates adultery. This is so popular these days (has it ever been otherwise) that hardly anyone bothers about it – but God is bothered about it, Big Time. Lest we think we’ve escaped the searching gaze of The Lord, Jesus also has this to say:
Mat 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
Mat 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The Bible goes right to the heart – not just what we do or don’t do. That covers almost, actually all, people. What all this shows is this:
We all need a Saviour. Not one of us is innocent before The Lord God of heaven and Earth before whom we must all stand to give account at that last great day. Elton might be a sinner, but so am I. He and I need a Saviour – His name is Christ the Lord.
Related Articles
- Oh Elton, is money all that counts? (mirror.co.uk)
- Who’s the daddy? (thesun.co.uk)
Church History Lectures 2011
Following is the 2011 program of Church History Lectures at Bulkington Congregational Church. Do try and make it if possible. The lectures should be made available on-line soon after the lecture. You will be able to download them (with many other lectures) from the Bulkington website and from my website Here.
Church History Lecture
7:30pm Monday 21st February
The Legacy of the Protestant Reformation
Speaker: Dafydd Morris
Church History Lecture
7:30pm Monday 14th March
J.Gresham Machen, God’s Champion
Speaker: Geoff Thomas
Church History Lecture
7:30pm Monday 18th April
Why Augustine is important for Christians today.
Speaker: Nick Needham
The Intellectual Challenge of The Gospel
The booklet ‘The Intellectual Challenge of The Gospel’ arrived yesterday so as it’s not too long (40 pages) I thought it would be a good idea to read it through. This means a bit of break from ‘The Defence of the Faith’ but I’ll get back to that in due course as I need to think through and re-read the last few pages anyway.
On page 9 we read the following:
‘Still further, the Protestant adds, non-Christian thinkers in general, and non Christian scientists in particular, may discover much that is true about the universe that is made by God. Perhaps most of the great discoveries of science have been made by those who are not Christians. But such discoveries could not have been made unless the universe is what the Christian says it is, namely, created and controlled by God. There would be no order in nature and no rationality of relationships to be found anywhere in the universe had not God made them. Therefore the possibility of science itself presupposes the truth of the Christian concept of God. When, then, the non-Christian scientist discovers truth, this is not because of, but in spite of, his own theory of being and of knowledge.’
I’ve read it since starting this post – there’s much in it that’s over my head but there is much that I understand. For example, as Reformed believers we presuppose the Creator. Many scientists do not – yet they require a standard of objectivity that in another compartment of life is denied. For us, we (I) say with the Apostle Paul, ‘for me to live IS Christ.’ In every sphere, God is.
Romanian Witch tax
As of January 1, Romanian witches, astrologers, fortune tellers, valets and models (bit of a strange mixture) may eventually have to declare their income and pay taxes on it.
I guess they didn’t see that one coming!
Related Articles
- Witches, fortune tellers to be taxed under new Romanian labor laws (cnn.com)
- Witches threaten Romanian taxman (bbc.co.uk)
- Romanian Witches Cast Spell Over Tax Laws (news.sky.com)
Messing about by the River
Over the Christmas period we had a day out at Shrewsbury to do a bit of shopping. While the girls went round the shops I was left to my own devices. I was let loose to wander around Shrewsbury with a camera – a lethal combination as I’m prone to take a lot of pictures. I think I took over a 130 pictures and videos – I just can’t help myself.
After meandering round various passages, churches and other subjects to photograph I ended up walking along the River Severn. It was still partly covered in ice further along from the English Bridge towards the Railway Station. But I heard the sound of ice breaking and turned to see a load of ice being pulled with a log under other ice. At that time the ice was beginning to move as the temperature had warmed up considerably – a swing from -9 to +9 – and the current started moving the ice down the river. It was quite a sight, and sound. The video is one of about five taken at the time. It was really quite something though not on a scale that friends from the US will have experienced. Anyway, enjoy.