For as in Adam all die, euen so in Christ shall all be made aliue, But euery man in his owne order: the first fruites is Christ, afterward, they that are of Christ, at his coming shall rise againe. Then shalbe the end, when he hath deliuered vp the kingdome to God, euen the Father, when he hath put downe all rule, and all authoritie and power. For he must reigne till hee hath put all his enemies vnder his feete.
(1 Corinthians 15:22-25 Geneva)



Wednesday, May 27, 2009

One of My Favorites

A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER.
by John Donne


I.WILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun,

Which was my sin, though it were done before?

Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run,

And do run still, though still I do deplore?

When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,

For I have more.


II.Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won

Others to sin, and made my sin their door?

Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun

A year or two, but wallowed in a score?

When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,

For I have more.


III.I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun

My last thread, I shall perish on the shore ;

But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son

Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore ;

And having done that, Thou hast done ;

I fear no more.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same principle.

from The American Dictionary of the English Language 1828, Noah Webster

PHILOS'OPHY, n. [L. philosophia; Gr. love, to love, and wisdom.]

1. Literally, the love of wisdom. But in modern acceptation, philosophy is a general term denoting an explanation of the reasons of things; or an investigation of the causes of all phenomena both of mind and of matter. When applied to any particular department of knowledge, it denotes the collection of general laws or principles under which all the subordinate phenomena or facts relating to that subject, are comprehended. Thus, that branch of philosophy which treats of God, etc. is called theology; that which treats of nature, is called physics or natural philosophy; that which treats of man is called logic and ethics, or moral philosophy; that which treats of the mind is called intellectual or mental philosophy, or metaphysics.The objects of philosophy are to ascertain facts or truth, and the causes of things or their phenomena; to enlarge our views of God and his works, and to render our knowledge of both practically useful and subservient to human happiness.True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same principle.

2. Hypothesis or system on which natural effects are explained.We shall in vain interpret their words by the notions of our philosophy and the doctrines in our schools.

3. Reasoning; argumentation.

4. Course of sciences read in the schools.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A perpetually defeated thing that always survives her conquerors


From Foxes Book of Martyrs, John Foxe

Christ our Savior, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, hearing the confession of Simon Peter, who, first of all other, openly acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, and perceiving the secret hand of His Father therein, called him (alluding to his name) a rock, upon which rock He would build His Church so strong that the gates of hell should not prevail against it. In which words three things are to be noted: First, that Christ will have a Church in this world. Secondly, that the same Church should mightily be impugned, not only by the world, but also by the uttermost strength and powers of all hell. And, thirdly, that the same Church, notwithstanding the uttermost of the devil and all his malice, should continue.
Which prophecy of Christ we see wonderfully to be verified, insomuch that the whole course of the Church to this day may seem nothing else but a verifying of the said prophecy. First, that Christ hath set up a Church, needeth no declaration. Secondly, what force of princes, kings, monarchs, governors, and rulers of this world, with their subjects, publicly and privately, with all their strength and cunning, have bent themselves against this Church! And, thirdly, how the said Church, all this notwithstanding, hath yet endured and holden its own! What storms and tempests it hath overpast, wondrous it is to behold: for the more evident declaration whereof, I have addressed this present history, to the end, first, that the wonderful works of God in His Church might appear to His glory; also that, the continuance and proceedings of the Church, from time to time, being set forth, more knowledge and experience may redound thereby, to the profit of the reader and edification of Christian faith.

Do you like all the rain we have had?

"I also withheld the rain from you while there were still three months until harvest. I sent rain on one city--but no rain on another. One field received rain--while a field with no rain withered. I struck you with blight and mildew; the locust devoured your many gardens and vineyards, your fig trees and olive trees! I sent plagues like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword . . . says the Lord." Amos 4:7-10

"The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. At His direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men--or to water His earth and show His love." Job 37:10-13

Truly, then, God governs the elements!Earth and wind, fire and rain, hail and snow, stormy winds and angry seas--all obey His omnipotent word--and fulfill His sovereign pleasure! Therefore, when we complain about the weather, we are, in reality, murmuring against God! - Arthur W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Public education is as American as apple pie?

“A monopolistic system of education controlled by the state is far more efficient in crushing our liberty than the cruder weapons of fire and sword.”- J. Gresham Machen

“The first and basic premise of paganism, socialism, and Molech worship is its claim that the state owns the child” - R.J. Rushdoony

"Many public-school children seem to know only two dates--1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either occasion." - Samuel Clemens

In God's suprising and glorious providence....

Congratulations Jonathan and Monique on your engagement! May our good God knit together your hearts, guard your minds and grow you in Godliness until that glorious day of your marriage vows and beyond.


My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Song of Solomon 2:10-13 KJVR)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Means of Grace

The means of grace are in my hand The blessing is at God’s command
Who must the work fulfill;
And though I read, and watch and pray,Yet here the Lord directs my way
And worketh all things still.

I cannot speak a proper word, Nor think aright, but from the Lord
Preparing heart and tongue;
In Nature I can see no good,But all my good proceeds from God,
And does to grace belong.

I see it now, and do confess
My utter need of Jesus’ grace,And of His Spirit’s light;
I beg his kind and daily care;
O Lord, my heart and tongue prepareTo think and speak aright.

Prepare my heart to love thee well,
And love Thy truth which doth excel,And love thy children dear;
Instruct me how to live by faith,
And feel the virtue of Thy death,And find Thy presence near.

Prepare my tongue to pray and praise,
To speak of providential ways,And heavenly truth unfold;
To strengthen well a feeble soul,
Correct the Wanton, rouse the dull,And silence sinners bold.

John Berridge, 1716—1793

Sweetness


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Voddie shoots straight concerning govenment education

Thank-you, Mr. Spurgeon! I needed that.

“When a man is anxious--he cannot pray with faith, or serve his Master. When you worry and fret about your lot and circumstances, you are meddling with Christ's business, and neglecting your own! You have been attempting "providing" work--and forgetting that it is yours to "obey". Be wise and attend to the obeying--and let Christ manage the providing.”- C.H. Spurgeon
"It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to." so goes the advise of the audacious and honorable Bilbo Baggins to his beloved nephew. Well, this fits my sentements all too well about starting a blog. While I know that this may be a little more than just a wee bit knuckle headed, since I will be using time to post that I should be doing many other more important things and since I may even get knee deep in the big muddy for sharing the thoughts in my head with...well...just about anyone in the whole universe who stumbles onto it, but nonetheless I can no longer continue being one of those unheard, almost invisible non-blogging bodies in the bounds of the great bog of nothingness. I am sure that sometimes I will ramble on about whatever shred of fact or fiction gets stuck between my ears (kinda like I am right now) and at other times I may discuss some serious topic (Theology, History or Politics are most likely). I am also sure that many times I will procrastinate to post for a irresponsible amount of time, but still something with in just keeps saying, "you gotta blog, man. Stop being so ... 80-ish". So hang tight, batten down the hatches, assume a comfortable position and get the pepto readybecause here goes nothin.................

Desiring the Word

The Inspired Word-
1Pe 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Human Commentary
"by "the sincere milk of the word" is meant the Gospel, even the whole of it, and not, as elsewhere, the more plain and easy truths of it; which is compared to milk for its purity in itself, for every word of God is pure and for its purifying nature, as used by the Spirit of God; and for its sweetness and agreeable taste to a regenerate man" - John Gill

"The apostle, like a wise physician, having prescribed the purging out of vicious humours, goes on to direct to wholesome and regular food, that they may grow thereby. The duty exhorted to is a strong and constant desire for the word of God, which word is here called reasonable milk, only, this phrase not being proper English, our translators rendered it the milk of the word, by which we are to understand food proper for the soul, or a reasonable creature, whereby the mind, not the body, is nourished and strengthened." - Mattthew Henry

"After having taught the faithful that they had been regenerated by the word of God, he now exhorts them to lead a life corresponding with their birth. For if we live in the Spirit, we ought also to walk in the Spirit, as Paul says. (Galatians 5:25.) It is not, then, sufficient for us to have been once called by the Lord, except we live as new creatures. This is the meaning. But as to the words, the Apostle continues the same metaphor. For as we have been born again, he requires from us a life like that of infants; by which he intimates that we are to put off the old man and his works. Hence this verse agrees with what Christ says,
"Except ye become like this little child,ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God."(Matthew 18:2.)" - John Calvin

What's in the name?

It seems proper to take a few moments to explain the purpose behind the name I selected for this blog. I know it isn't terribly creative, but what do you expect from a government-schooled kid. At any rate, the title refers to the totality of life under the Lordship of Christ Jesus. When Jesus gave what has come to be called "the great commission", He Himself explained that while the scope of his mission was very large (baptizing and disciplining all nations), He had the power and authority to accomplish such a lofty plan. He prefaced the commission with, "All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to me". Note how much of the universe's authority is claimed by Christ. All of it! All heavenly authority is His! Angels bow to Him and carry out His commands. He is their rightful master. But, all Earthly authority is likewise claimed by Him! He, on that day many years ago, declared Himself as the potentate of all sultans and senators, kings and caliphs, presidents and prelates. They all must answer to the Lord of lord's and the King of kings, whether they exercise authority in the family the church or the state. The apostle Paul explains in his first epistle to the Corinthians that Christ must reign, "till he hath put all enemies under his feet". But this life under the present reign of Christ, life under the Son, is the antithesis of life under the sun, which is spoken of in the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon is explaining the worthlessness of a life lived with a solely horizontal perspective. If one wakes in the morning, by God's grace I might add, to carry on his miserable existence for his own money, power, prestige, etc., apart from Christ. He is living life under the sun and will eventually realize, as Solomon explains, it is a "chasing after the wind". Futile! Vain! Ultimately worthless! This is the thesis of all the "isms" of history: materialism, humanism, rationalism, pluralism, modernism, postmodernism, and on and on goes the bedraggled list of failed suspects in the desert of philosophical ideas. Life under the Son, lived for Christ, is the sole answer to the question, "What is my ultimate purpose in life." Therefore, this blog, will he my humble attempt to flush out this weighty thesis as it affects the day to day happenings of the 21 st century and reminisce on its success or failure in previous generations.