Divine Mercies

Here's a prayer titled "Divine Mercies" from "Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions" edited by Arthur Bennett (pages 16-17):

THOU ETERNAL GOD,

Thine is surpassing greatness, unspeakable
goodness, super-abundant grace;
I can as soon count the sands of ocean's 'lip'
as number thy favours towards me;
I know but a part, but that part exceeds all praise.

I thank thee for personal mercies,
a measure of health, preservation of body,
comforts of house and home, sufficiency of good
and clothing,
continuance of mental powers,
my family, their mutual help and support,
the delights of domestic harmony and peace,
the seats now filled that might have been vacant,
my country, church, Bible, faith.

But, O, how I mourn my sin, ingratitude, vileness,
the days that add to my guilt,
the scenes that witness my offending tongue;

All things in heaven, earth, around, within, without,
condemn me --
the sun which sees my misdeeds,
the darkness which is light to thee,
the cruel accuser who justly charges me,
the good angels who have been provoked to leave
me,
thy countenance which scans my secret sins,
thy righteous law, thy holy Word,
my sin-soiled conscience, my private and
public life,
my neighbours, myself --
all write dark things against me.

I deny them not, frame no excuse, but confess,
'Father, I have sinned';
Yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched
arms;
thou wilt not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near,
thou wilt not condemn me, for he died in
my stead,
thou wilt not mark my mountains of sin,
for he levelled all,
and his beauty covers my deformities.

O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging
to his cross,
hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side.

The truth about 'Angels and Demons'

Westminster Theological Seminary sponsored The Truth About Angels and Demons Web site in response to the movie "Angels and Demons," which is based on Dan Brown's popular novel.

The Web site looks like a good place to point people to who have questions about issues brought up in Brown's novels.

Here's a disclaimer for the DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons Web sites:

Westminster Theological Seminary's web site, TheTruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com joins Westminster’s already well recognized web site TheTruthAboutDaVinci.com. Both seek to present a balanced assessment of Dan Brown’s narratives, the historical data, and the philosophy set forth in his best-selling novels and movies. These are not “boycott” sites, which tell people to avoid the movies or books, or "rebuttal" sites whose only purpose is to oppose fact with fact. Our aim is to follow the injunction of the apostle Peter, who instructed the church to be prepared to "make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you... yet with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15-16).

While appreciating Brown’s engaging narratives, and recognizing any author's right to present a good yarn, we are concerned because the mix of fact and fiction in his books and films are leading many readers to question the Bible's message and its impact on history. Using the best resources we can find, both human and written, we want to set the record straight and commend the historic Christian faith to the sincere inquirer.

Every resource we draw from, including news stories and articles, has merits we deem worthy of inclusion on our sites and in our materials. They include Westminster's own faculty, who bring the Reformed theological perspective of the Seminary to bear upon the issues raised in Angels and Demons and in the Da Vinci Code. They also include persons and resources from outside our immediate community who may not agree with all aspects of our Reformed position, but whose integrity and wisdom eminently qualify them to contribute to this project, and contribute to healthy dialogue.

So Westminster Theological Seminary is pleased to welcome you to our discussions of and engagement with these fascinating and important issues. Thanks for visiting. If you would like to know more about Westminster, please visit our web site at http://www.wts.edu/.

Sincerely,
Dr. Peter A. Lillback, President

(HT: Desiring God Blog)

What is the wisdom of the world?

I suggest this definition of the “wisdom of the world”: it is the use of the human mind to achieve and maintain a ground for boasting before God and man. Now it begins to become really clear why merely human wisdom regards the cross of Christ as foolishness. The death of Christ on the cross is such a radical indictment of the hideousness of our sinfulness that human wisdom has to mount all its biggest guns to destroy the cross, lest it lose its ground for boasting.

(The quote above is from a July 13, 1980, sermon titled "The Wisdom of Men and the Power of God" by John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org)

The Divine Will

Here's a prayer titled "The Divine Will" from "Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions" edited by Arthur Bennett (pages 14-15):

O LORD,

I hang on thee; I see, believe, live,
when thy will, not mine, is done;
I can plead nothing in myself
in regard to any worthiness and grace,
in regard of thy providence and promises,
but only thy good pleasure.

If thy mercy make me poor and vile, blessed be thou!
Prayers arising from my needs are preparations for
future mercies;
Help me to honour thee by believing before I feel,
for great is the sin if I make feeling a
cause of faith.

Show me what sins hide thee from me
and eclipse thy love;
Help me to humble myself for past evils,
to be resolved to walk with more care,
For if I do not walk holily before thee,
how can I be assured of my salvation?

It is the meek and humble who are shown
thy covenant,
know thy will, are pardoned and healed,
who by faith depend and rest upon grace,
who are sanctified and quickened,
who evidence thy love.

Help me to pray in faith and so find thy will,
by leaning hard on thy rich free mercy,
by believing thou wilt give what thou hast
promised;
Strengthen me to pray until prayer be granted;

Teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy arise
from several degrees of prayer,
that when faith is begun it is imperfect and
must grow,
as chapped ground opens wider and wider
until rain comes.

So shall I wait thy will, pray for it to be done,
and by thy grace become fully obedient.

Rachel Barkley's book list

Rachel Barkley's book list:

“After the Bible, these books have had the most influence on my spiritual development. At various points in my life, each was the ‘right book at the right time’ and I have read many several times over. I list them for you in the hope that God might use the wisdom contained in them to draw you closer to Him, as He has done with me.”

Christian Living and Theology

• The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel The Main Thing - C.J. Mahaney
• The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness - Gerald Bridges
• Don’t Waste Your Life - John Piper
• Feminine Appeal - Nancy Leigh Demoss and Carolyn Mahaney
• Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus - John MacArthur
• The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd (The Swans Are Not Silent) - John Piper
• The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul
• Humility: True Greatness - C.J. Mahaney
• Knowing God - J.I. Packer
• The Pursuit of God - A.W. Tozer
• Pilgrims Progress - John Bunyan
• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Donald Whitney
• When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight For Joy - John Piper
• When People Are Big and God Is Small - Edward Welch
• Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be - Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck

Marriage and Parenting

• The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name - Sally Lloyd-Jones
• The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict - Ken Sande
• Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls- Gary Thomas
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart - Ted Tripp
• When Sinners Say “I Do”: Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage - Dave Harvey

Devotional

• For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word - D.A. Carson
• Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions - A.G. Bennett

Death is not dying

I recently learned about a video of Rachel Barkley, a wife and mother of two, speaking "about her life and impending death to a group of ladies in Vancouver." I haven't seen it yet but plan to watch it with my wife.

Some comments from others:

It is a compelling case for the gospel and the sufficiency of God's grace in His Son, Jesus Christ. ... Watch the video. Then encourage others to do so, as well. And pray for Rachel and her husband Neil, and their children, Quinn and Kate. (Founders Ministries Blog)

(She) delivered one of the most God-centered, gospel-soaked, honest, moving, and beautiful messages I have heard. I don’t know that Rachel has read John’s article, Don’t Waste Your Cancer, but she is a beautiful example of every point John made. (Desiring God Blog)

Rachael in her own words from the presentation: In His providence, God has used the tough things in my life to draw me closer to Him; to show me His great love and to teach me many things. I have learned that I am not perfect and I have the scars to prove it- thirteen of them, and they serve as the physical reminder of a spiritual reality that I can never be perfect on my own. I need a Savior. I have learned that the greatest evidence of God’s love is seen when I stand at the foot of the cross. He took my shame upon Himself and rescued me. I have learned that being a Christian is not just hope for the future, although it is most definitely that. It is the joy of knowing and trusting in a God who is loving and faithful no matter what the circumstances. (A Purposed Composition)

(HT: Founders Ministries Blog)

Update: Rachel Barkey (nee Sawer) went home to her Lord on July 2, 2009 at 37 years of age. Rachel is survived by her husband Neil and her children Quinn and Kate, parents Ben and Cathy Sawer, brother David (Johanna) Sawer and sister Andrea Sawer. (Source: Death is Not Dying)

Clayton's Story

Life is like a vapor. While some vapors dissipate more quickly than others, they sometimes leave a more lasting impact.

The 6-minute video about Clayton Mcdonald (April 26, 1990 -- March 16, 2009) is worth the time it will take to watch.

For more about Clayton, visit the Clayton Story Web site

(HT: Justin Taylor)

The real you has to meet the real God

"The only way to come to God is by taking off any spiritual mask. The real you has to meet the real God. He is a person. Your heart could be, and often is, askew. That’s okay. You have to begin with what is real. Jesus didn’t come for the righteous. He came for sinners. All of us qualify. The very things we try to get rid of—our weariness, our distractedness, our messiness—are what get us in the front door! That’s how the gospel works. That’s how prayer works.
In bringing your real self to Jesus, you give him the opportunity to work on the real you, and you will slowly change. The kingdom comes when Jesus becomes king of your life. But is has to be your life. You can’t create a kingdom that doesn’t exist, where you try to be better than you really are. Jesus calls that hypocrisy—putting on a mask to cover the real you. So instead of being paralyzed by who you are, begin with who you are. That’s how the gospel works. God begins with you.” — Paul Miller, A Praying Life (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress 2009), 33-34

The legacy of Edmund Clowney and the preaching of the gospel from all of scripture

New book: Heralds of the King: Christ-Centered Sermons in the Tradition of Edmund P. Clowney.

Sermons and other messages by Edmund Clowney: Edmund P. Clowney Legacy Corporation, free audio archives at WTS, and at RTS on iTunes.

(HT: Between Two Worlds)

Prayer and the gospel

“One of the most basic things that the gospel does is change prayer from mere petition to fellowship and the praise of his glory. Galatians 4:6-7 teaches us that when we believe the gospel, we not only become God’s children legally, but we receive the Spirit in order to experience our sonship. The Spirit leads us to call out passionately to God as our tender and loving Father. The Spirit calls out ‘Abba’ (4:7). In the very next verse Paul refers to this experience as “knowing God” (4:8). We do not just know and believe that God is holy and loving, but we actually experience contact with his holiness and his love in personal communion with him.” - Timothy Keller

(HT: Of First Importance)

10 questions Lisa Robinson always asks when reading the Bible

Lisa Robinson asks the following 10 questions when reading the Bible:

1. Am I considering the context?
2. Am I conducting connection fallacies?
3. Am I blowing up meaning?
4. Am I considering the correlation?
5. Is my flesh in the way?
6. Am I bringing my presuppositions into the reading of the text?
7. Am I reading my theological assumptions into the text?
8. Am I considering alternate theological positions?
9. Am I being dismissive of the text?
10. Am I prayerfully allowing the text to leap in my heart and change my life?

Read her amplifying comments for each question at the Parchment and Pen blog.

Gospel Motivation & Real Change

“All change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out of the changes that understanding creates in your heart. Faith in the gospel re-structures our motivations, our self-understanding, our identity, and our view of the world. Behavioral compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting.” - Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God (new York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 121.

(HT: Of First Importance)