Lighten Up!

Christian, have you ever been accused of being "too serious?" What is usually meant by your peers is that they want you to act as they act, generally flippant, and sometimes downright vulgar. Indeed, the Puritans were accused of this very thing, and those who would follow in their footsteps today meet the same label from a world that eschews anything that takes more thought than what we shall entertain ourselves with at this very moment.

I read the following text yesterday in my Bible reading plan. I noticed that the scripture also implores us to "lighten up." Yet, its meaning is quite different than the normal use of the phrase.

Ephesians 5:4-17 (English Standard Version)

⁴Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not become partners with them; ⁸for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

"Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Abraham Lincoln: Tyrant and Terrorist

Here's a video that tells the truth about the War for Southern Independence, and the lead aggressor opposing Southern freedom.

HT: http://reformedcovenanter.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/abraham-lincoln-tyrant-and-terrorist/

Samuel Davies Travel Mug

"The venerable dead are waiting in my library to entertain me and relieve me from the nonsense of surviving mortals." - Samuel Davies 1723-1761

I love this quote! I am now making it available on a high quality ceramic travel mug. Click here to view the mug and order online.

http://www.cafepress.com/fathertofather

What Man Hath Joined Together...

...Let not man separate.

Hurrah for the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals for disallowing a lesbian divorce case in the state of Oklahoma. How can you issue a divorce for what was never a legitimate marriage? Legal Counsel Tim Tracey of the Alliance Defense Fund rightly asserted that this was a back door attempt to undermine the marriage amendment of Oklahoma that was passed by 76 percent of the voters.

Here is a link for the One News Now story where I originally read this:

Click Here.

Running to Bethlehem - Reformation21 Blog

Yet another good article on preaching Christ throughout the whole of scripture:

Running to Bethlehem - Reformation21 Blog

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Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(Psalms 2:1-12)

Matt Chandler on Making the Gospel Explicit

There is a tendency is Christian circles to assume that the Gospel is simply something that we embrace once, then move on to "deeper" things. I enjoyed this video of Matt Chandler where he declares that we must be explicit with the Gospel, not just assume that people, even believers, don't need to hear it.

Saw this through Justin Taylor's blog.