An Interesting Quote

Our pastor was talking today of the method God uses to bring people into the family of God: preaching. He was talking on why we need to just get the message out there, to be a reporter or a mailman, as it were, and not a salesman. I believe he was quoting someone when he said this:

"The Word of God creates its own audience just as it once created its own world."

I waited around after the service to ask him who said this ... and to make sure I had the quote right, but I could not get a chance to talk with him. (this happens) I could ask him on Wednesday when I go to work, but I don't want to wait that long.

Does anyone know the quote?

It caused me to think of this verse of Scripture:

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

A Great Hymn!

We sang this hymn in church today. I had forgotten about it, it had been so long since we sang it. What a joy to sing about His gracious plan. Do you know this song? It is not on Cyberhymnal; I was so surprised. I think it was written in 1945.

My Hope Is In The Lord
by Norman J. Clayton

My hope is in the Lord, who gave Himself for me.
And paid the price of all my sins at Calvary.
For me He died, for me He lives,
And everlasting light and life He freely gives.

No merit of my own, His anger to suppress,
My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness.
For me He died, for me He lives,
And everlasting light and life He freely gives.

And now for me He stands, before the Father's throne,
He shows His wounded hands, & names me as His own.
For me He died, for me He lives,
And everlasting light and life He freely gives.

His grace has planned it all, 'tis mine but to believe,
And recognize His work of love, and Christ receive
For me He died, for me He lives,
And everlasting light and life He freely gives.

Unashamed of Grace

Unashamed of Grace
That Incredible False Christian

A classic post by my friend, Matthew. Go see the Scriptures that he presents and think about the points he raises with his witty sense of irony.

Oh my, look at the time.

My Irrational Question

Is the sinner ...who simply trusts Christ in a moment of conviction over the truth of the Christ's sacrifice and His authority to offer salvation NOT saved ... unless he submits to the Lordship of Christ and is categorically ready to give up his blatant sinful lifestyle?

I asked this question of Phil Johnson on his 400 comment post that he claims represents a done argument (????).

He said it was an irrrational question. What do you think?

It seems LS proponents would answer the question in the affirmative. IOW, such a person cannot be saved. One must commit their life and turn from all known sin in order to receive Christ.

They feel the question has been answered once and for all and the discussion is over.

Yes, and Hillary Clinton is taking measurements in the oval office ... for new window treatments.

What is going on ....

You know, there is so much going on around blogdom. I feel that I am really missing out because I don’t have time to read and interact. I skim through things, glance at the comments, and then I must get out of blogdom before I can properly read and digest anything ... let alone make a comment! For example, over here at this blog, there is some very interesting posting going on. I actually read the latest entry, but the lengthier articles forbode me because of my lack of time. Like this one: here, by Antonio. I just love the title of it and I am sure I could find some way to disagree with him, or maybe not. hehe

Over at the Bluecollar Blog, Mark is going through extended efforts to post a complete sermon by Spurgeon. I believe he was prompted to do this because on this post, which I found quite disturbing, Brian (Bhedr) posted a portion of Spurgeon's sermon to illustrate a point contrary to the post. Apparently, Mark thinks that Brian took the long quote out of context and that Spurgeon (his homeboy) was really in the Lordship camp. So, Mark is posting the entire sermon to prove his point. I wish I could read it! I do like a lot of Spurgeon's sermons, but where is the time? These blogs are so full of words and they take many minutes to read and reflect on.

Then, at another blog that I visit occasionally, I saw a post last week that prompted me to comment because
1. It was a short post
2. The conundrum presented was so easy!
In a rare moment of agreement on these issues, Daniel commented that he thought I was right after I posted my comment. (One Calvinist commenter was really left scratching his head.) Since then, I am sure the other shoe has dropped and I would not be so easy to agree with, but do I have time to read Daniel's long posts? Here is a listing of them:
How It Happens..., Carnal Christianity Part I - False Converts, Romans Seven..., Carnal Christianity Part II and Carnal Christianity Part III. Man, I wish I did!

Over at Doxoblogy, Jeremy posts that only Calvinists can have peace in the midst of trials. He seems to think that "Arminians" (by which I am sure he means any non-Calvinist) do not know about the sovereignty of God, his protection, and the fact that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Now, that was a short post, posted while he is on a cruise ship with James White, Steve Camp and others. (Ah! The lightbulb just went on. I think I know where that post came from.) I could've commented easily, but Jeremy doesn't respond to my jabs anymore ... and that just takes all the fun out of it!

Over at this blog, Antonio has been writing some posts that are interesting sounding: Will All True Christians be Presented Blameless at the Judgment Seat of Christ? And … Is Eternal Security an Optional Component of the Gospel? I am certain that these would make me think and that I may have a few comments to make, agreeable ... or maybe not? We'll never know because I don't have the time to read the posts!

I noticed that KC responded to Antonio about eternal security and the knowledge of it being essential to salvation, over here, which I am sure would be a good read as well, but NO! I have no time to read these blogs which require so much time and contemplation. I don't have it right now!

I am having a baby in 6 weeks (or less, hopefully less) and I feel like my life is about to become very crazy and that I will be "chained to the baby", having no time to do anything. I always feel this way at this point in a pregnancy. I have a list of many thing to do. Some of these things are things that I have put off for even 3 years! Suddenly, over the past month, I have entered panic mode and I feel like I must get it all done before the baby comes. Crazy, I know.

Remember the bathroom that John and I were tearing out and remodeling?



It has been done for about a month, (boy did that take a long time!), but I still have to make the window treatment (valance) for it. Look, here sits the fabric, just waiting for me.



I have taken some time in the last month to work on the baby's room. I painted it with a green wash. Obviously, there is still some more work to do in there.



Yesterday, I caulked all the windows in the house. This was another project that I had put off since July. It was only an interior cosmetic caulk job!

Perhaps the biggest of all my projects is SCRAPBOOKING! I keep one scrapbook for each of our three children .... and one to keep for myself when they grow up and leave, taking their own books. These books are like a history, or a survey of their lives from year to year. I was THREE YEARS BEHIND on these things! Sheesh, I was almost starting to forget what some of the pictures were! Well, I am about halfway done with catching their books up.



Oh, I found an interesting new blog. I wish I could read it thoroughly! It seems this guy and Antonio have some history together. It is neat to skim the comments going back and forth between the two of them and others jumping in also. Gojira is his screen name. He also posted a response to one of Antonio's entries on his own blog.

This blog is the one thing I CAN do. His posts are light-hearted and very short. I visit and comment almost daily because it is do-able. I have that much time, yes. I love the chap.

There are many other great blogs that I haven't mentioned, which I also miss.
Hopefully, I will get caught up on my projects soon. I will be back around your blogs!

I am still be posting here, seldom as it may be.

Don't be surprised if I pop over to your blog and say hi. After the baby is born and I get in the swing of it, I am sure I will be back to more intense reading and commenting! I love blogging, I do.

A Political Email I Received

This illicted an odd reaction from me. Part of me wanted to laugh, but at the same time, I wanted to cry.

While walking down the street one day a US Senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you." "No problem, just let me in," says the man. "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse. Standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf; and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and wave at him while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him."Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time. Before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns."Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with foul smelling waste and putrid garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.The Devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse. We ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The Devil looks at him, smiles and says,"Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."

The Bible Has it Right

OK, so my mind is enveloped in the pregnancy. I have been thinking about it all the time. I have pondered Scriptures and made applications to Biblical truths in my ponderings. I decided rather than let my blog go quiet while I am enveloped, I would share some of my thoughts on children, families, etc... as they relate to other things in the Bible. For example, in a future post, I will discuss, "What is the requirement for this baby to become my child" ... things like that. Get it?

Firstly, though, I have a rather simple post on how I see Genesis 3:16 relating to this place I am in right now. I have three children already. I need to say that with the first two children, I never felt some of this because it was all so new and was exactly what I desired.

If I hadn't said this already, having a fourth child at this time is not what I had planned. It really took me by surprise, and if I am honest, I cried about it. It was really not what I wanted to do. Obviously, I have been warming up to the idea. (I think this is why God gives us 9 months.) I know that God has His hand in it and that children are a gift from the Lord. Knowing all this doesn't stop the feeling of being a bit overwhelmed and perhaps having feelings of (even) dread at times. How am I going to handle it all?

I was talking to John the other day and I just want to share with you something I said to him. This is me at my worst. This is not pious. These words are the honest, un-retouched thoughts of a woman who has had a few children and is expecting a child at a time that she wasn't really geared up for it. Get it?

Warning: frank, not-so-virtuous thoughts ahead:

"Pregnancy is like an irony played on the mother. You find out you're pregnant; your mind is thrown into a tizzy over the implication of it all. Then time goes on ... and you feel physically sick, or tired, or both. There is no release from the fact that the big day of pain and the years of responsibilty is coming. There is no escaping it ... it will be here. You are on a countdown to the beginning. As the countdown progresses, you become more and more uncomfortable physically. You find yourself wanting the day ... that you have been dreading ... to come, because the process of getting to it is so miserable."

At this point, my husband quoted Genesis 3:16 to me.

To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your grief and your suffering in pregnancy and the pangs of childbearing; with spasms of distress you will bring forth children. (Genesis 3:16)

I thought, "Wow, that could not have been better put."

I must say emphatically that I do not constantly feel the negative way I described above. I am becoming more and more excited about little #4. I know I will fall in love with him/her and I will forget all the trouble of childbearing. John and I hadn't planned the third child, either, but what would we do without him? He is the joy of the family.

John also said this to me while we discussed Genesis 3:16:

"The woman's blessings come to her through sorrow."

Crosswords: Propitiation

Could you stand to hear some excellent gospel preaching on Romans 3:25 from my pastor, Philip De Courcy?
Go here and then click on the November 5, A.M. message on the left side of the web page.

I know there are things that my friends from various camps could nitpik ... But I thought it was a great message ... I was edified by being a hearer!

I hope some of you will have time to listen to it.
(I especially hope my anonymous visitor from a few weeks ago will.)

If you do, take note of these things near then end:

31:59 - he speaks about what is and is not the means of salvation.

I wondered about what he said on 33:46. Is this the doctrine of "imputed righteousness"? I am just curious.

When he got to 34:00 I think I almost heard him say "Absolutely Free!"

Near the end of his sermon, soon after the above references, he talked about "total dependence." I thought it was an excellent point and rules out looking to one's self for assurance. (But then there is that nitpicking...) What do you think?