Gloria Filiorum Patres

CJE received a invite to accompany a young lady to the park today. After much, some, prayer, some drool and smiles, he took the young lady up on the offer and they went to Heathwood Park. Apparently they had a great time and they look forward to doing this again soon.

Church Membership

Timmy Brister at Provocations & Pantings, has done some posts on “Church Membership“. I happen to have picked up the book “Enduring Community” by Habig and Newsom. I’ll be interested to look at his posts when I’m completed.

I picked this book up when it first came out as a recommendation from my “family” pastor, Jim Wilkerson (blog). He has always been one I took serious when he recommended a read.

I got into the book, about half-way, when apparently I became distracted and stopped it. I recently finished two “non-Puritan” books and wanted to do a third and first picked up Piper’s “Let the Nations Be Glad” but could not get into the book. I found that his preaching style and grammar do not translate well FOR ME into a book. So after tasting and seeing, I set it down and began Enduring Community. Pastor Habig is now up in Greenville, SC pastoring Downtown Presbyterian, with some dear friends of mine.

Modesty

CJ Mahaney has just finished his 7 part series on Modesty. A must read.

Josh is twittering:
Check it out here

The McGuires welcome Asher into their covenantal family. Many blessings to each of you and we look forward to hearing what wondrous and marvelous things the Lord will do through Asher.

I received a notice in the mail from RTS/Charlotte. They informed me of some exciting news for their campus this summer. Here is what the letter contained:

RTS - Charlotte is privileged to have Dr. Donald A. Carson and Dr. Michael Horton teaching this summer.

• Dr. D.A. Carson will teach a course on the Exposition of Hebrews, June 16-20. This course will analyze the message and purpose of Hebrews and apply it today. Dr. Carson is a research professor of NT at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
• Dr. Michael Horton will teach Ministry in a Post-Modern Context (June 23-27), which will reflect on challenges and opportunities in the post–modern world and suggest a “third way” beyond wholesale acceptance or rejection of current cultural trends. Dr. Horton is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. He is also the president of White Horse Media, for which he co-hosts the White Horse Inn.

For information on taking these courses for credit or audit, contact the Admissions office at RTS Charlotte, www.rts.edu, admissions.charlotte@rts.edu, 704-366-5066, 2101 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226.

Brothers, please find this post as an encouragement to “flee from evil and to cling to that which is good”. It is the sin which is often difficult to see as such, the one which so easily entangles.

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS — Dealing Treacherously With Your Wife

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS, volume 7, number 18, May 1, 2008

. . .the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and your wife by covenant, Malachi 2:14

Dealing Treacherously With Your Wife

Listen carefully men. You already know pornography is sinful and that it will rob your soul of vitality, destroying your marriage and family. Any pastor will tell you that. Most of you reading this have dabbled in pornography to some degree, but I doubt that many men reading this are enslaved to it. But I bet you have taken a look at the Sports Illustrated annual swim suit issue, and I bet you occasionally cast your eyes on magazine and website layouts of celebrities in swim suits or other revealing attire. You may say, “What’s wrong with that. I don’t think it is lust. I just like to look at women from a distance. No harm, no foul. Men are sexually aroused by sight. I can’t help it.”

The prophet Malachi is taking the post-exilic covenant people of Yahweh to task for a number of violations of His covenant with them. They are offering blemished sacrifices. They are robbing Him by not tithing. And they are dealing treacherously with the wives of their youth. The context of this indictment, along with the use of the Hebrew word for treachery in Jeremiah 3:20, makes clear that treachery with one’s wife is adultery. Treachery with God is spiritual adultery. Malachi uses covenantal language, reminding Judah of God’s covenant with them, that He is a God to them, and they are a people to Him, that they are married. Breaking the covenant has resulted in Judah’s long exile to Babylon, and though they have been graciously restored to the land by Yahweh, they are back at it again. Malachi points out that God is no longer regarding their sacrifices, that He no longer regards them with favor, though they weep and groan in making them. Yahweh sees through their lascivious charade. Have you considered that God may be resisting you in ministry, in your work, in your finances because you are dealing treacherously with your wife? You may want to look at that.

But what harm is there in looking at the SI swim suit issue or something akin to it? Think about this from your wife’s perspective. She is thinking, “My husband no longer finds me attractive. I guess the ravages of time and bearing children have taken their toll on me.” You may still think this is nothing, that all men do it, that you would not dream of actually engaging in a sexual liasion with another woman. First, your wife does not know that, but secondly, how can you be so sure you will not succumb to it at some point? Never forget the deceitfulness of sin and the power of indwelling sin. Your lascivious look at other women at the gym or office, your long or repeated gaze at a woman on a plane is like a battering ram used by ancient warriors seeking to break down the gate of a fortress during a seige. One or two hits by the battering ram does not seem to weaken the gate at all. However it is weakening and by the time numerous hits have been made, the gate begins to give way, eventually falling, bringing destruction from the hordes which rush in to destroy. That’s the way it is with repeated looks at other women. You become emboldened and one of these days, you will say some things you ought not to say which will lead to the physical act of adultery, which very likely will cause you to lose all you have. Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.” Undisciplined eyes can destroy you.

A well known preacher a number of years ago found himself on a plane, sitting next to an attractive woman and he was flirting with her, and she with him. Upon landing in Chicago, his next flight was cancelled due to a snow storm and when she suggested that he spend the night with her at her apartment, he agreed. His one time fling cost him the respect of the evangelical world. He has said that this did not simply come out of nowhere. He now realizes that he was filled with pride, that he had long been dealing treacherously with his wife in his thought life.  The time was ripe and he fell into grievous sin.

What ought you do to protect yourself against dealing treacherously with your wife?  Here’s what won’t work. Simply praying about it, asking your friends to hold you accountable, thinking about all you will lose if you persist in gazing at other women, won’t get it done. Your bent toward sensuality is far too strong to stand against such paltry efforts. I am not saying that you should not pray or have accountability or think on the dire consequences of such action; but I am saying these are not enough. These are not your best weapons. What, then, should you do? You need to understand the root of such sin. It is idolatry. You are looking for the creation (another woman) to meet your deepest needs. And why is that? Because you are forgetting who you are. You are forgetting the grace of God given to you in Christ. You are still looking to your job, your position, status, money, or children to fill a need which only God can fill. You are looking to the creation rather than the Creator Redeemer. Here’s the truth, if you are in Christ- God loves you, really loves you. He will not forsake you or condemn you. He is never ashamed to call you His brother. There is nothing you can do to warrant His condemnation or judgment. And because your salvation is so rich and free, because you did nothing to merit it, you are able and willing to give your life totally to God. If you earned your salvation through some effort on your part, then you would be justified in saying to God, “I have done my part. Now, keep your end of the bargain.” But since God is the only author of your salvation, you cannot stop by giving Him only part of yourself. He gets it all, and therein lies your freedom. You can unreservedly, unhesitatingly, unequivocably give yourself body, soul, and spirit to the One who loves you, who will never let you go. I promise you this- when you truly live out who you are, when you find your deepest needs met in the lover of your soul, then you will find that you don’t have a need to look at other women. And the more you find victory here, then the greater your love and attraction to your wife, the greater your faith, the greater your holiness, the greater your peace.

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS is a weekly devotional by Reverend Al Baker, pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church in West Hartford, Connecticut.

If you would like to add your, or someone else’s, name to the list to receive this weekly devotional (or be removed from it), please contact us at admin@christcpc.org.

The Lord has brought us through a season with JMEjr and into a new season with him. He has begun, for the most part, to drop his afternoon nap, or should be dropping it. A little lot sooner than my precious wife we would have wanted it. But here we are. Well what does one do with an almost 3 year old who wants to no longer take his nap in the afternoon (actually, he does not mind taking it, he just finds it more difficult to fall asleep in the evening)? Well, you let him play with a new toy, like play - dough. You let him do some stuff in his room by himself. JMEjr is quite capable and actually enjoys time by himself, so this was not difficult. On his first day of his roomtime, we left him alone in his room. Notice the toys along the window or the animals below the window? He played zoo and we heard him talking to his animals, etc. It was very enjoyable to listen to him play. He must have played so hard because when I went to wake him up…. this is how I found him.

He put himself to sleep. He got a pillow, laid it on the floor, covered himself with a blanket.

Probably not… at least the same Tiger dad was.

“The sun makes a coward of us all.”

- BSD

This is a follow up post to an earlier one found here.

Having now completed the book, I continue with my earlier statement that it is an educational read into the life of the members of the Edwards’ family. I will add that at times, I found that many items were repeated and sometimes even in the same chapter and at times the same paragraph, but I will not allow this to affect my original thoughts or suggestion that it is a good read and suggest it. The latter chapters dealt more with Mrs. Edwards and the children, especially Mrs. Edwards, than the earlier chapters and even at that, the earlier chapters spent more time with the ministry at Stockbridge and relationships with the Indians and other Englanders, than it did with Jonathan Edwards.

Even if you do not care for biographies, this may be what is used to prompt you in to the benefits of reading biographies. As before, I will post some “stick-ems” (words, sentences which are worthy to remember).

When Jonathan Edwards shared with the children of Mrs. Edwards sickness and her faith he reassured them only with the comfort of the fact that she possessed an “unweaned resignation to the Divine will.” (p. 210) This comes into practice much in the remaining chapters.

When speaking about the family’s medical practices, the author writes, “But although the family quickly availed themselves of the best medical advice of the day, they never forgot for a moment the dispenser of health and the withholder of the same. In every sickness the children were taught to resign themselves to the will of God.” (p. 211)

When the daughter, Esther Burrs, had visited it was during a hostile time with the Indians. The family’s slave and second-mother to the children, Venus, urged the new mother to leave early. Sensing Esther’s hesitancy to leave and not because of the fear of Indians getting her, Venus said, “I do declare, Miss Esther, I believe you are more afraid of your father than you are of the Indians.” (p. 226)

Upon Jonathan Edwards’ deathbed, he continued to urge his children to a nearness of God, he wrote, “who are now like to be left fatherless; which I hope will be an inducement to you all, to see a Father who will never fail you” and “Trust in God, and ye need not fear.” (p. 232)

What Jonathan Edwards left to the son who followed in his religious work (who happened to be Jonathan Jr.) was the following from his personal library:

• 301 volumes
• 536 pamphlets
• 48 maps
• 30 unpublished manuscripts
• 1074 manuscript sermons

all these had a total worth at that time of 415 dollars, today’s worth is about $5,000. (p. 235)

Legacy’s must be passed: (p. 239)

• Man proposes. God disposes
• The frowns of heaven
• O what a legacy
• The vinegar of life

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions: (p. 240)

• Resolved, never to DO, BE, or SUFFER, anything, in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God
• Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can
• Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live
• Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s

All of his Resolutions may be accessed here.

In closing, the words which were said of both Jonathan Edwards, “It is seldom that a son has such a father, and it is still more rare that such a father leaves behind him a son so worthy of his lineage.” (p. 242)

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote of the Puritans, “They are too honest to dilute the vinegar of life.” Such theology produces strong men and strong sons, not too proud to bow the neck to the “frowns of heaven” and to drink “the vinegar of life.” (p. 242)

Justin Taylor posted an article which was written by Abraham Piper (son of John Piper) which pertains to The Haven’s family verse. He wrote it for those who blog and how those who blog should be blogging.

His twelve points are listed below, but read the article so you may understand why these are his points.

1. Blog uniquely.
2. Don’t let the importance of truth minimize the importance of presentation.
3. Be familiar with the blog genre and write for it.
4. Use interesting and informative titles.
5. Write to process your thoughts, but don’t post to process.
6. Set yourself some kind of limit as you write.
7. Think nugget-sized posts.
   
8. Syndicate your whole feed.
9. Keep in mind that the blogosphere is not a boys club.
10. Let the general flavor of your blog be positive, not contentious.
11. Be both confident and reasonably open-minded.
12. Recognize that it’s OK to take blogging seriously and to try to succeed.

“The Puritans were too honest to dilute the vinegar of life.”

- Harriet Beecher Stowe

I have been reading Mrs. Edna Gerstner’s Jonathan and Sarah: An Uncommon Union and am almost finished with it. It has been a fun, easy, informative read into the life of Jonathan Edwards, his family and his ministry. Not too detailed, but enough. Not too elementary, but enough. I do suggest this as a good book to read, if you want to know more personal characteristics of the Edwards’ family.

Throughout it have been some excellent quotes to remember and I will jot some down here and if I am able, will go back and try to remember some earlier ones.

“Every Christian family ought to be, as it were, a little church consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by His rules.” (p. 127)

It is said of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards the following, “While her husband wrestled with great theologies of the faith, Mrs. Edwards walked like a child with her God, frequently ecstatic to be with Him.” (p. 155)

Of her parenting: “Amazing but true, it seems to be the fact that in raising a house full of children Sarah Edwards had never been known to raise her voice. Yet she controlled her children. It was said she never let the children taste the heady wine of disrespect. It was axiomatic with the household that parents were respected. All the children rose when any adults, including the parents, spoke to them. They learned obedience with their first steps.” (p. 155)

Of his parenting: “Jonathan Edwards, the pastor-father, worked diligently to see that his own family became a part of the greater family of God.” (p. 137)