Using Filters in Reporting Services

This is a technical post, but I discovered something very helpful today and I wanted to share it with whomever it may help.  I had a need within Reporting Services 2005 to display a table, and only display a line of text if a particular value populated at least one row of that table.

I didn't want to alter the stored procedure because I don't have permissions for that, and to request it and wait is more trouble than its worth.  So I wanted to handle this within Reporting Services itself.

I tried to use the "Count" function.  However, the Count function only returns the total number of values returned in the dataset.  I wanted to do something like this in the Hidden property of the table row containing my text:
=IIF(Count(Fields!ActionCode.Value=21)>0, False, True)

However, since Count only returns the total about of data it was always returning a false value whether ActionCode equaled 21 or not.

My solution:
I defined another dataset that queried the same stored procedure as my dataset used to populate my table.  However, in this dataset I clicked on the Filters tab.  In that field, I filter the data to only return records where the ActionCode = 21 (In the "Value" field, be sure to specify =21, because simply entering 21 treats it as a string value).

Now, back in the hidden property field I can use the "Count," but I specify the new dataset:
=IIF(Count(Fields!ActionCode,"dsCheckForRemoved")>0, False, True)

Now...since 21 represents a "removed" condition I only get back records in this dataset if that condition exists.

This gives me what I need and I can display that message independent of the other rows in the table.

Hope this helps someone.

Which Kindle?

For months now I've been saving for a Kindle.  However, all this time I was saving for the DX, mainly due to the fact that the DX had a native PDF reader.  A lot of the stuff I like to read is in the public domain and is readily available in PDF format.  This is mostly because they are scanned images of very old books.  Some of these books use the "old English" format where the letter "s" looks like the letter "f."

There are new developments recently announced by Amazon that have caused me to perk up.

First of all, the standard Kindle 2 now includes a native PDF reader on its own.  Plus they've lowered the price to $189!  What a deal:


Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation

They also have a new version of the DX out. And that price has been reduced as well! ($379)

Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 9.7" Display, White, 3G Works Globally – 2nd Generation

So, it seems like it's getting harder to choose between the two. The main (only?) advantage of the DX over the standard one now is a bigger screen, and more memory. The standard Kindle holds 1500 books. The DX holds 3500.

The other thing I'm really wanting to do is to access my Logos 4 library from it. I've heard that you can get to it through http://library.logos.com

I've got enough money saved to get the standard Kindle today.  So, should I take the plunge, or hold out for the DX?

Leave a comment with your opinion.  Also...click through the links above to check out the specs at Amazon's site.  If you buy through my link I'll get a small commission.

Thanks!
Mike

The Lord's Day

As we entered the building at GracePointe Baptist Church yesterday, Pastor Jeff  Brown was speaking concerning the Lord's Day.  As we were running a few minutes behind I didn't catch all that he was saying, but I spoke with him after the service and he confirmed what I thought he was saying.  I agree with Pastor Jeff that the Lord's Day is to be kept holy.  The world invents new holidays and loves to put them on the Lord's Day.  Yesterday was Father's Day.  Being a father of seven children, and teaching them the Fifth commandment, which is, Honour your father and your mother, I like Father's Day.  I like to call my own father and express my thankfulness to him for being a good father, particularly when I was growing up.  Yet, the focus yesterday should have been, as it is each Lord's Day, on our Heavenly Father.

It seems strange that the church does not appreciate the sabbath day that the Lord has given us for our own benefit.  Those who bother to celebrate the sabbath at all tend to complain that it is restrictive.  Yet the sabbath day is a picture of our rest in Christ.  I appreciate the way the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith regards the sabbath day:

Chapter 22

Paragraph 8. The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations,30 but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.31

30 Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22
31 Matt. 12:1-13

Brothers, this is a blessing!  Let us abstain from our worldly employments *and* our recreations on this day and spend the "whole time" in the public and private exercises of his worship.

The sabbath is not a legalistic standard by which we can measure our own holiness.  For indeed you do not gain any favour with the Lord by your consistent keeping of the sabbath.  Rather, this is a gift that God has given us.  One day in seven we are allowed rest and the complete devotion to the worship of our Lord without the normal everyday distractions that continually plague us during the rest of the week.

So then, let us earn our living the other six days.  Let us entertain ourselves, if we must, on the other six days.  But let us devote the Lord's Day to Christ Jesus, our glorious redeemer and saviour.  To Him be all glory, honour, and praise.

Win - Win Proposal

How would you like to earn anywhere from 1-25% cash back every time you shop on the internet?  I found a great way to do this.  It's a service called "ebates."  It's free to join and has hundreds of online stores, including my favorite - eBay!

I use this to bid on coins through eBay.  If you get a great deal on your bid, combined with your ebates rebate, you may actually get to buy silver coins at below melt value!

ebates has links to hundreds of other stores besides eBay as well.  You can also receive a $5 referral payment for each person you refer to ebates.  So you see that I do have a vested interest in recommending this to you.  :-)  However, I would never recommend it only because it benefits me.  I have used ebates for quite some time and I'm very pleased with it.  I know you will be pleased with it as well.  Additionally, they are currently running a promotion whereby if I recommend 50 people, they will give me an iPad!  I've been saving for one of those to use with my Logos bible software.  Enroll with my referral link, then refer people from your blog as well.

Here's the link:
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=SQJZEJ8J0%2Bv8HiHdi0aVHg%3D%3D

Please click through and sign up.  It's totally free and will pay you back when you do your normal shopping that you would do anyway.

Thanks!
Mike

GOSPEL SONNETS - Chapter 5 - Section 2

GOSPEL SONNETS
By Ralph Erskine
Chapter 5

SECTION II. - A legal strain of doctrine discovered and discarded.


No wonder Paul the legal spirit curse,
Of fatal errors such a feeding nurse.
He, in Jehovah's great tremendous name,
Condemns perverters of the gospel scheme.
He damn'd the sophist rude, the babbling priest
Would venture to corrupt it in the least;
Yea, curs'd the heavenly angel down to hell
Who, daring, would another gospel tell. (1)
Which crime is charg'd on these that dare dispense
The self-same gospel in another sense.
  Christ is not preach'd in truth but in disguise,
If his bright glory half obscured lies.
When gospel soldiers that divide the word,
Scarce brandish any but the legal sword;
While Christ the Author of the law they press,
More than the End of it for righteousness;
Christ as a Seeker of our service trace,
More than a Giver of enabling grace;
The King commanding holiness they show
More than the Prince exalted to bestow:
Yea, more on Christ the sin-revenger dwell,
Than Christ Redeemer both from sin and hell.
  With legal spade the gospel-field he delves
Who thus drives sinners in unto themselves;
Halving the truth that should be all reveal'd,
The sweetest part of Christ is oft conceal'd.
We bid men turn from sin, but seldom say,
"Behold the Lamb that takes all sin away!"
Christ, by the gospel rightly understood,
Not only treats a peace, but makes it good.
Those suitors therefore of the bride, who hope
By force to drag her with the legal rope,
Nor use the drawing cord of conqu'ring grace,
Pursue with flaming zeal a fruitless chase;
In vain lame doings urge, with solemn awe,
To bribe the fury of the fiery law:
With equal success to the fool that aims
By paper walls to bound devouring flames.
The law's but mock'd by their most graceful deed,
Who wed not first the law-fulfilling Head;
It values neither how they wrought nor wept
Who slight the ark wherein alone 'tis kept.
Yet legalists "Do, Do," with ardour press,
And with prosperous zeal and warm address
Would seem the greatest friends to holiness;
But vainly, could such opposites accord,
Respect the law, and yet reject the Lord.
They shew not Jesus as the way to bliss,
But Judas like, betray him with a kiss
Of boasted works, or mere profession puft,
Law-boasters, proving but law-breakers oft.

(1) Gal. i. 7. 8.

From the Inside Out

This past Lord's Day I was in a Reformed Baptist church and heard the Hillsong praise and worship song entitled, "From the Inside Out."  Since leaving the charismatic church in 2004/2005 I have primarily attended Reformed congregations where only hymns or psalms were sung.  I spoke to the pastor, and sought his permission to critique this song on my blog.  He revealed to me that there was at least one phrase in this song that he did not appreciate.  His suggestion in performing this critique is that we may find a way to transform this song espousing false doctrine into one which is biblically sound.  My desire is much simpler than that.  I propose that we scrap it, and stick with biblically sound music that has served the church well over the past centuries.

Here are the lyrics which I found freely on the internet.  I think "fair use" should allow me to copy them here for critiquing purposes.  My comments are in red.

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

The author's point here is that God's mercy and grace is everlasting and continues to forgive us of our sins.  This is true.  However, the danger we must guard ourselves against is an antinomian attitude that our sins do not matter and we may break God's law indiscriminately without any concern of recourse.  Consider this passage from Hebrews 6:


For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
(Hebrews 6:4-6)

So, we should be extremely cautious to have an attitude of, "I can sin the same sin a thousand times over, and I can always count on God's forgiveness."  You may just prove yourself to be reprobate if these thoughts are yours.

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

Is God's "light" the only thing that never fades?  What about His Word?

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
(Isaiah 40:8)

Now, one may claim that God's Word is the "light."  However, this does not seem to be what is referenced in judging from the context of the rest of this song.  The "light" seems to be implied from the first verse as His mercy and grace.

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

This was the most troublesome verse to me when I heard this last Lord's Day.  First of all, we do not "give" God control of our heart and our soul.  He draws us to Himself.  To speak of giving Him control is to embrace an Arminian understanding of theology, hardly appropriate for a Reformed Baptist Church.  Secondly, what in the world does "consume me from the inside out Lord" mean?  Usually something that is consuming you from the inside out is a cancer.  It's a bad thing.  In trying to give the benefit of the doubt to this author I tried to think of any passage where consuming a person is referenced.  The best I could come up with is:

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
(John 6:53)

So we are commanded to "consume" Christ.  But nowhere are we taught to pray that He would consume us.  Thirdly, what is the emphasis of this part of the song?  (and it is the main part that is repeated over and over again.)  "I give..."  "Consume me..."  "become my..."  Words such as I, me, or my are tell tell evidence of who this song is really about.  Is it about Christ, or is it about "me?"  "I" seem to be the primary subject in this song.  There is a brief mention of longing for God's justice.  Believe me.  We should be loathe to cry out for God's justice.  I suggest that the author stick with the mercy plea in the first stanza.  God's justice demands hell for all eternity over a single sin.  Praise God that Christ has fulfilled the justice on our behalf.  Lastly, the words of "my embrace" and "love you from the inside out" are syrupy "Jesus is my boyfriend" type of "love songs" that real men would never sing.

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

For someone intent on "losing myself" this author sure spends a lot of time singing about "myself."  

The rest of the lyrics are simply a repeat of what has already been said, typical of the "7-11" style of today's worship music (seven words sang 11 times).

Certainly not all hymns are praiseworthy either.  We must be discerning when we select what we will sing in worship to the Lord.  In critiquing a song such as this one, it becomes clear why some churches embrace exclusive Psalmody.  When only the Psalms are sung, we can be assured that every word is doctrinally sound.

I do not believe that it is necessary to sing only Psalms.  However, if we are singing songs that are outside the infallible Word of God, we must be diligent to make sure that those songs are faithful to the teaching of scripture and consistent with Reformed orthodox doctrine.  What we don't want to do is to bring false doctrine into the meeting of the saints.  We must constantly be on guard against that.  Most of today's music gives us ample "target practice" for critiques such as this one.  In my opinion, it is best left out of worship altogether.

Unbelief Worse Than Sodomy

For the past seven weeks each Lord's Day I am reading a sermon from James Durham (1622-1658) concerning Isaiah 53 to my family.  This is from sermon 7 of Christ Crucified:  The Marrow of the Gospel in 72 Sermons on Isaiah 53.  Speaking on the dangers of unbelief, Mr. Durham declares:

"It thwarts with both the law and the gospel.  It thwarts with the commands of the first table, and so is a greater sin than murder or adultery, nay than sodomy, though these are great, vile and abominable sins.  Which may be thought strange,yet it is true.  It makes the person guilty of it more vile before God, than a pagan Sodomite; the nature of the sin being more heinous, as being against the first table of the law, in both the first and second commands thereof; it being by faith in God, that we make God our God, and worship God in Christ acceptably. Next, it is not only a sin against the law, but a sin against the gospel, and the prime flower (to speak so) of the gospel."

Friend, repent of your wicked sin of unbelief.  Turn your eyes toward Christ and throw yourself on His mercy.

A Word From God

Today I have a special treat for you. I received a word from God. It was just as plain as the text you are reading in this blog. To avoid any confusion, I'll let you know that the Word from God is only what is contained in the quotes below. So without further delay hear the Word that God is speaking to His Church. Thus saith the Lord:

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

Isn't that good? Have you heard that before? You should have. It is Hebrews 1:1-2. What God is telling us in this passage is that wherein times past he spoke "new" words of revelation by the mouths of prophets, upon the closing of the canon of scripture the whole of what He has to say to us is contained in the pages of scripture. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh.

So the next time you hear someone proclaiming that they have a "Word from God," what better come from their lips (or keyboard) next is only the text of scripture, and it needs to be in context (read the rest of Hebrews 1, and I think you'll see that I've not violated context here). Scripture alone is infallible, and is the only way God communicates with us, His beloved people.

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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

Posted using ShareThis

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.

Time

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away;

They fly forgotten, as a dream

Dies at the opening day.

- Isaac Watts

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Isaac Watts, 1707, text of 1709

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God:

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down:

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Two Days of Hands On Homeschooling - For Daddy

We are at the end of the second of two "snow days" that I received off from work. These days have been quite productive. On day 1, I got to work with Paton and Justin on their math. Today, I got to help Brittney dissect a crayfish (or crawdad, as I've taught her to say!). I also managed to pick up a generator at Sam's yesterday morning. I was on my way to the office when my friend and colleague called to tell me that the state offices were closed and I should go home. Well, Sam's wasn't too far out of the way, so after Sheri called to find out they had them, I swung by there and picked one up. It fit completely in the trunk of the Mercury! We recently bought that car from my dad, as it had belonged to my grandfather. Later that afternoon before the really bad sleet began to fall, I made a quick trip to Lowe's to pick up a power transfer switch for the home. So, I spent a couple of hours getting that hooked up today. This was in anticipation of losing power, which we never did. It's a great backup anyway, even if we don't need it during this snow storm. As I write this, the snow is still falling. Looks like we'll be shut in throughout the weekend as well.

Michael is in Texas with Sheri's mom. They rode the train down there. The plan is for them to attend the Ft. Worth Stock Show rodeo tomorrow night. Glad they're having fun. They've got a lot of rain, but at least they're not stranded at home.

Gotta run...homemade pizza's ready... It's great to have a grain mill, a dough mixer, and a wife and daughters that know how to use them.

Texaplex

Oklahoma Legislative Alert

Many of my readers are homeschoolers in Oklahoma. If this includes you, please read the following legislative alert I received from OCHEC.

------

Legislative Alert SB1403

Author Sen. Mary Easley

January 15, 2010

Senator Mary Easley, has pre-filed a bill for the 2010 session that would include the following language into law: "The parent or guardian of a child utilizing other means of education shall provide written notification to the public school district of residence of intent to utilize other means of education prior to the first day of each school year, or within ten (10) days of the beginning of the provision of such other means of education to the student."

OCHEC opposes this bill because, regardless of it's intent, it accomplishes nothing. It is unnecessary and is wasteful of both the parent's and state's time and resources.

Notification will not improve home educated students academically. Studies have consistently shown that there is no correlation between the amount of state regulation of home education and academic success.

Notification will not prevent parents from fraudulently claiming to be home educating their child. Oklahoma's laws regarding truancy and educational neglect have been reviewed and found to be adequate, when enforced. If there are parents willing to incur charges of truancy, they would certainly be willing to file a fraudulent notification. Scofflaws will continue to scoff at laws.

Please contact Senator Easley by telephone, email and/or mail and express your opposition to this bill. This would also be an excellent opportunity to contact your senator and ask that this bill be opposed. Contact information may be found at: www.lsb.state.ok.us .

Once the bill has been assigned to a committee, OCHEC will request that you contact the members of the committee and ask that the bill not be heard.

Small Group Bible Studies

HT: http://www.extremetheology.com

The Pain of Miscarriage

Here is a very helpful Kevin Swanson - Generations program. I'd encourage you to give it a listen.

Psalm 77

This Psalm was read, expounded, and sung during the Lord's Day meeting today. It really ministered to me.

Psalm 77:1-20 (ESV)

(1) To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.

(2) In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.

(3) When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

(4) You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

(5) I consider the days of old, the years long ago.

(6) I said, "Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart." Then my spirit made a diligent search:

(7) "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?

(8) Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?

(9) Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" Selah

(10) Then I said, "I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High."

(11) I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

(12) I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

(13) Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?

(14) You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

(15) You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

(16) When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.

(17) The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.

(18) The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.

(19) Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.

(20) You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

What E'er My God Ordains is Right

What E'er My God Ordains is Right

Samuel Rodigast, 1675

Tr. by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

1. What e'er my God ordains is right:

Holy his will abideth;

I will be still what e'er he doth,

And follow where he guideth:

He is my God;

Though dark my road,

He holds me that I shall not fall:

Wherefore to him I leave it all.

2. What e'er my God ordains is right:

He never will deceive me;

He leads me by the proper path;

I know he will not leave me:

I take, content,

What he hath sent;

His hand can turn my griefs away,

And patiently I wait his day.

3. What e'er my God ordains is right:

Though now this cup, in drinking,

May bitter seem to my faint heart,

I take it, all unshrinking:

My God is true;

Each morn anew

Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,

And pain and sorrow shall depart.

4. What e'er my God ordains is right:

Here shall my stand be taken;

Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,

Yet am I not forsaken;

My Father's care

Is round me there;

He holds me that I shall not fall:

And so to him I leave it all.

AMEN

2009 Year in Review

I'm sitting down to write this entry after just returning from a sonogram appointment. What has happened today is characteristic of this entire year. What I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that God is sovereign and that nothing happens outside of His control. It's not that we have some battles that God wins and other battles that satan wins. Rather God orchestrates everything that comes to pass, and He is victorious over all. Satan has no power beyond what God has given him. This is a truth that has given me strength to stand in the midst of intense trial and difficulty. Today we saw that our third little baby conceived this year has no heartbeat. This comes two short weeks after seeing the heartbeat. I'd ask for a second opinion, but today's sonogram only showed 2 days of growth since the measurements a fortnight ago. While I trust in a loving God that works all things for my good, it is still hard to deal with these human emotions. There's another family in my extended family that has endured the same trial. God is working something in both our families, though it remains a mystery to us.

The year has not been entirely composed of bad news. First, as I have mentioned, God has used and continues to use the trials to bring about positive change in our lives. Next, there have been strides that the children are making in their learning and training. Brittney, Brianna, and Justin are doing well learning the piano. Brittney continues to advance in her sewing. She is being a very big blessing in sewing clothes for herself and her sisters. She even had an amazing opportunity this month to sit under the instruction of Lisa Sorrell and make herself a pair of leather ladies shoes. We did not entirely know the reputation of Mrs. Sorrell, but apparently she is a world famous bootmaker. Everyone we've talked to that knows anything about boot and shoe making knows her and admires her work. Here is her website: http://www.customboots.net/ This was a great opportunity for Brittney to learn from an expert. Brittney enjoyed it very much and may want to pursue this interest further.

Michael has established for himself a good reputation as a hard worker in our neighborhood. He is regularly hired to do flowerbeds, work on fences, weed eating, or whatever other odd jobs that need to be done. He is trying to save money for land in order to build his own home.

Brianna continues to excel in her piano playing. She is also working with Brittney in improving her sewing ability. She and Brittney are making quilts and doing an excellent job.

Justin is doing very well at the piano. He is "all boy" and loves to play outside and wrestle.

Paton is coming along very good in his reading. He now takes his turn reading during our family worship time. We have to encourage him to speak up because he's a little soft spoken. But he's doing great.

Sarah loves to play with Samuel. She got her first haircut in December.

Samuel is speaking quite a bit in sentences. Sometimes you have to guess what he's saying, but if you get it right he'll tell you. "Yes."

I have also been blessed to have a Christian brother in my life, Robert Graham. As I mentioned in my 2008 Year in Review, he hired on in October of that year. Over this past year we have become very good friends. We have a lot of discussions on the way to and from work. He lives only a mile away from me and sits in the cube right next to me at work. We've been able to save gas riding together and build each other up with Christian fellowship on a daily basis.

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention the blessing of my dear wife, Sheri. The things that we've been through this year, we've certainly faced them head on together. We celebrated 19 years of marriage this year. She remains a constant strength in my life. Sheri, I love you and I thank God for you.

Only the Lord knows what 2010 will bring. We would still love to move back down to Texas. Maybe the Lord will bring that about.

I Was Mugged?

The news of my mugging has been greatly exaggerated:

http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-handicapped-man-at-knifepoint-story,0,6635769.story

Anyone who tries to mug this Mike Southerland better come with more than a knife. I've got a 9mm round waiting for him. Plus, 13 more in the magazine. :-)

Vision Forum Year End Liquidation

The Government Can

Contemplating the Psalms

This is my prayer tonight. Thank you Father, for Your Word. So much of this Psalm hits home. Please, Lord, grant that desire in verse 9. I repent of my wickedness. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Psa 38:1-22

(1) O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

(2) For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

(3) There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

(4) For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

(5) My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

(6) I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

(7) For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

(8) I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

(9) Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

(10) My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

(11) My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

(12) They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

(13) But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

(14) Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

(15) For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

(16) For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

(17) For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

(18) For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

(19) But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

(20) They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

(21) Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

(22) Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

True Ecumenicalism

There is an ongoing debate among "Christians" today. One camp embraces unlimited ecumenicalism. This group would have all Christians (and in some cases, all people regardless of faith) to set aside their differences and unite. Another camp, or actually several "camps" because they never unite, proclaims that unless someone holds to their particular conviction on every jot and tittle of scripture they are cursed and destined for hellfire.

So what is the answer?

Christ would have His Church united. Yet, that should never happen at the expense of compromising things that can never be comprised.

Here are some guidelines that I consider in determining with whom to unite and with whom to separate.

1. Is the message preached one of repentance of sin and embracing of salvation won for us by the sole work of Christ Jesus alone, paid for with His own blood upon the cross of crucifixion?

2. Is the message supported through scripture alone? I may disagree with my brother on his interpretation, but we must accept the Bible as the absolute inerrant Word of God. This must be the standard, or else there is no foundation for discussion.

3. Is faith alone all that is required for justification before God? God has given faith, in the first place, to whom He will. Works should never be added as a requirement for justification. Works will follow faith, not the other way around.

4. Does the message preached go out to everyone, adding no stipulation of goodness on the part of those evangelized? God's grace is sufficient to cleanse any sinner of His own choosing. There is no merit won by men, whether by works or by social status that wins any favor with God.

5. Is the message preached glorifying to God alone? In an age of self centeredness, it is becoming increasingly common for sermons to exalt man, or to offer some "life benefit" to its hearers. This may come as a shock to some, but it's really not all about us. It is all about Him.

If the answer to these questions is "yes" for your particular congregation, then, though I might not agree with you on every point, we can have true Christian fellowship. If, on the other hand, you reject one or more of these points, then how can we have any fellowship?

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

(Amo 3:3)

This, my friend, is my take on True Ecumenicalism.

Christ at the Center

"All the Reformers said that if you read the Bible by yourself in a corner, there's no telling how many spirits you'll be filled with. That just means, as Luther said, that every man will go to hell in his own way. An external word takes the form of a corporate event. It is preached. It's not us determining for ourselves over in a corner what we believe and how we'll live. It's the obsession with the spiritual disciplines that's actually very individualistic."

- Michael Horton, "Christ at the Center", Christianity Today, November 2009

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/november/30.47.html

In Christ Alone, Throughout the Ages

Last night I was teaching my wife about the aspects of covenantal theology. I want to share some of these thoughts and scriptures with you quickly before I must leave for work.

God has always worked with man through covenants. I pointed out that the Old Testament church (and yes, they can be called the church) was saved by believing on the saviour who was to come. We see a prophecy of Christ even in the Garden of Eden.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
(Gen 3:15)

Then again, in this morning's Bible reading, consider this.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
(1Pe 1:18-20)

Sorry...that's all I have time for, for now. Ponder these verses and consider.

A Visit From Rev. B. M. Palmer

Having a house full of sick children, we held Lord's Day services in our living room this morning with only our family in attendance. We were blessed, however, with a visit from Rev. B.M. Palmer. He offered a sermon entitled, "Spirit of Contradiction in the Treatment of the Gospel." As you may know, Dr. Palmer died in 1902. He was a contemporary of Dr. R.L. Dabney, James Henley Thornwell, and John L. Girardeau. Mighty fine company if you ask me. So, it was a pleasure to read one of his sermons to my family. The sermon text was Matthew 11:16-17:

"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented."

Dr. Palmer's exposition of this passage involved the response that those in the world have upon sharing law and Gospel. In speaking of God's holiness; of His perfect righteous standard; and of His necessary judging of sin; the world recoils in horror at the thought of a God who upholds judgment and does not simply pardon all. Yet, even in our Earthly courts, we would think a judge very poor indeed who did not hold criminals to account for the crimes they have committed against the innocent. God's holiness and justice is a fact that the world can not stand.

On the other hand, when the news is shared with the lost that the blood of God's own Son was shed for the remission of our sins, the world likewise recoils and can not understand the substitutionary atonement. Whereas in the first case, the holiness of God drives them to depend upon their own works for their justification, Christ's answer is that He has paid in full the price required by God. Their reaction is that "free justification, without reference to any human works, gives a free charter to sin; and that the proper inference from the doctrine is, that men may continue in sin in order that grace may abound, turning the very grace of God into licentiousness."

Men object to the mystery and the simplicity of the Gospel. Palmer offers a two fold solution to this problem.

1. These contradictions annihilate each other and prove the Gospel to be true. "How is it possible that the Gospel can make God too severe in His holiness, and at the same time destroy the very holiness which is proclaims, and make it an impossibility to Him and an impossibility to the creature?"

"No, my hearer, I challenge your attention to the fact that a system which is exposed to these contradictory allegations is, by the very force of the charges, proved to be true. And yet, like her blessed Master, it shall always been the fate of this Gospel to be crucified betwixt these two thieves. It shall find the objections coming from the one side and the objections coming from the other side, and yet it shall live in the midst of all this cross-fire. And, sinner, when the Gospel has outlived it all, and meets you, in the Person of its Great Author, upon the judgment seat, remember that there will come the long, long, long eternity to you, in which to continue this unprofitable wrangling forever."

2. "But, brethren, 'wisdom is justified of her children.'"

Christians, we are the example to the world that the message of law and Gospel is a true message as it works in our lives.

"It is for us to show, by the purity of our lives, the self-denial of our conduct, and yet the cheerful happiness with which we encounter our trials and perform our duties, that there is no foundation for these mistaken pleas against the glorious Gospel of the blessed God."

As sinners redeemed from the curse of the law we can rest knowing that God's perfect standard of righteousness has been upheld by the substitutionary atonement of Christ. And while in our human frailty we still sin, we purpose not to sin freely that grace may abound. Christ's sacrifice bought not only our justification, but also our sanctification, and His Gospel is sufficient for both.

Dr. Palmer's sermon can be found in the reprint of his book entitled, "Sermons by Rev. B.M. Palmer Pastor First Presbyterian Church, New Orleans Volumes I and II." It is a single volume consisting of the texts of both the original volumes. It is published by Sprinkle Publications. Here is the link.

Climbing Out of Babyhood

This morning my son Samuel was awakened by a thunderstorm. He cried
for a couple of minutes. As Sheri and I were talking about going to
get him out of his crib, he comes to our door. Samuel turns 2 today.
The ability to get out of the baby bed is definitely an indicator that
it's time for a "big boy" bed. Another day, another milestone.
Praise God for allowing me to be a father and watch my children grow
from infants to adults.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Priorities of a Church

A friend of mine posted a thought provoking blog entry regarding the priorities of a church, and just what the responsibilities of the church should be. Though he is asking for details, I believe a general principle can guide all our responses. The church should prioritize its responsibilities as follow:

1. Duty toward God

2. Duty toward members (of both the local church and the church universal)

3. Duty toward the lost

So then, worship is the primary responsibility. Included in that is the preaching of the Word, prayer, singing. As a natural consequence, the building up of the body encourages the worship of God. Finally, evangelizing the lost is the means whereby God adds souls to the body. Keeping these priorities in mind should help to answer the question of the details. By the way, these priorities similarly apply to other spheres of government as well, keeping God as the top priorities, but the other responsibilities vary according to the people involved.

For your reference, here is a link to my friend's post: Click Here.

What Should the Church Look Like?

Historically there are three distinguishing marks that identify a true church. They are:

1) The preaching of the Word

2) Administration of the sacraments/ordinances (The Lord's Table and baptism)

3) Administration of church discipline

If any of these three are lacking, then you don't really have a true church. However, how do you know if a church is fulfilling these things properly? I have found a web site that seeks to answer that question. The details of these three marks are expanded into "9 Marks," which just so happens to be the name of their website. :-) http://www.9marks.org

Mark Dever leads this ministry. Here he describes the following nine marks of a "healthy" church. If you read these, you will see the historical three marks contained in these points. Yet, there is a clarity offered here that is very worthwhile. I intend to spend some time browsing through this site. The nine marks are:

1. Expositional Preaching

2. Biblical Theology

3. Biblical Understanding of the Good News

4. Biblical Understanding of Conversion

5. Biblical Understanding of Evangelism

6. Biblical Understanding of Membership

7. Biblical Church Discipline

8. Promotion of Christian Discipleship and Growth

9. Biblical Understanding of Leadership

Modern Reformer of Education

A hero of the homeschool movement has gone home to be with the Lord today, October 12, 2009. Chris Klicka was truly a reformer in education. He fought for the rights of parents across the country and around the world to homeschool their own children. I have his book entitled Homeschooling: The Right Choice. It has been a very good reference when defending my and my wife's choice to homeschool our own children against naysayers.

Chris battled multiple sclerosis for 15 years. Yet he was a champion through it all. He never failed to give glory to God. He never complained about his condition, and neither did he allow it to slow him down. He was a senior attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Association.

Please join me in praying for his family. He leaves behind a wife and seven children ages 11 - 21.

Here is a link to the announcement on the HSLDA site:

http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200910050.asp

10% Off at Getty Music

Friends,

I have discovered some very good music. They are called "modern hymns." The songs have a richness of doctrine that I appreciate in the old hymns, and yet they are new. The authors are a couple, Keith and Kristyn Getty. I've seen their music added as a supplement in a few Reformed churches that I've visited lately. The website is http://www.gettymusic.com

I placed an order last night and they sent me a 10% off coupon good for the next two weeks that they invited me to share with my friends and family. My readers are my friends. So, if you want to order, enter the following code at checkout for a 10% discount: Southerland35590

I'm not an affiliate or anything, so don't do it to "help me out." Order only if you enjoy their music after previewing it at their site.

Blessings,

Mike

GOSPEL SONNETS - Chapter 5 - Section 1

GOSPEL SONNETS

By Ralph Erskine

Chapter 5

Arguments and encouragements to Gospel Ministers to avoid a legal strain of doctrine, and endeavour the sinner’s match with CHRIST by gospel-means.

SECTION I. – A legal SPIRIT the root of damnable Errors.

YE heralds great, that blow in name of God
The silver trump of gospel-grace abroad;
And sound by warrant from the great I AM,
The nuptial treaty with the worthy Lamb,
Might ye but stoop th' unpolish'd muse to brook,
And from a shrub an wholesome berry pluck;
Ye’d take encouragement from what is said,
By gospel-means to make the marriage-bed,
And to your glorious Lord a virgin chaste to wed.
The more proud nature bears a legal sway,
The more should preachers bend the gospel-way:
Oft in the church arise destructive schisms
From anti-evangelic aphorisms;
A legal spirit may be justly nam'd
The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd.
Hence Pop'ry, so connat'ral since the fall,
Makes legal works like saviours merit all;
Yea, more than merit on their shoulder loads,
To supererogate like demi-gods.
Hence proud Socinians seat their reason high
‘Bove ev’ry precious gospel mystery,
Its divine Author stab, and without fear
The purple covert of his chariot tear.
With these run Arian monsters in a line,
All gospel-truth at once to undermine!
To darken and delete, like hellish foes,
The brightest colour of the Sharon Rose.
At best its human red they but decry
That blot the divine white, the native dye.
Hence dare Arminians too, with brazen face,
Give man’s free will the throne of God’s free grace;
Whose self-exalting tenets clearly shew
Great ignorance of law and gospel too.
Hence Neonomians spring, as sundry call
The new law-makers to redress our fall.
The law of works, into repentance, faith,
Is chang’d, as their Baxterian bible saith.
Shaping the gospel to an easy law,
They build their tott’ring house with hay and straw;
Yet hide, like Rachel’s idols in the stuff,
Their legal hands within a gospel muff.
Yea, hence springs Antinomian vile refuse,
Whose gross abettors gospel grace abuse;
Unskill’d how grace’s silken latchet binds
Her captives to the law with willing minds.

Preaching Christ - Week After Week After Week

Click here to link to a podcast that I really enjoy. The speaker is Chris Rosebrough and the program is called "Fighting for the Faith." In this episode what I really want to point out is the sermon review. Chris reviews a Charles Spurgeon sermon. It is his first sermon in the Tabernacle. I have had discussion with friends lately concerning whether the Gospel should be included in every message. Spurgeon certainly thought so. "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" never grows old as a topic. Preaching Christ throughout the entire scripture, whether Old or New Testament, is essential for solid Christian preaching. If you listen to the podcast, the sermon review is the last thing he does, and it takes up a good portion of the second half of the program. Chris is a confessional Lutheran. As a Reformed Baptist I don't always agree with everything he says, but I can say that in most cases we agree. As exampled by his reviewing a Spurgeon sermon, he views Reformed Baptists in the same way.

Trackback

Self Feeders

To be sure, the local church involves fellowship among the saints,
which includes works of service to the household of faith. But we
have confused the priesthood of all believers with the ministry-hood
of all believers, as if Christ had never instituted the offices that
we find in the epistles. In this approach to ministry, every sheep
must be a shepherd. The call to the sheep to become self-feeders is
the natural consequence of this impoverished line of thinking.

Christless Christianity, Michael Horton, p. 228

--
Sent from my mobile device

19 Years Ago

…was the best day of my life. On August 25, 1990 Sheri Cross became Mrs. Sheri Southerland. The Lord has carried us through many changes. Through it all He has richly blessed us. She has faithfully followed my lead with each new milestone that God has brought us through. Many women would have grown frustrated long ago. Yet, the Lord blessed me with a wife who understands what it means to trust her husband. While she has always been my faithful counselor, she also knows that God has placed the responsibility to lead our family upon my shoulders. To face this challenge alone would have been an insurmountable burden. But with Sheri by my side, I joyfully embrace each new lesson the Lord is teaching us.

To my sons, seek a wife like your mother. She is a godly lady. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. A wife like her will be the greatest blessing you will ever have in your life.

To my daughters, seek to be like your mother. Her love for her husband and children is striking. Her patience and self sacrificing is honorable. Her undying faith is a beauty beyond compare.

To my beautiful bride, I love you. I am so very blessed to have you by my side.

Happy Anniversary sweetheart.

His First Rodeo

Here's my son's first attempt at bull (steer) riding. I think he did a great job for his first time.

Marriage - The Story of the Gospel

Just a quick update as we retire for the evening. My wife and I are currently in Wake Forest, NC where we have just completed the first night of a marriage conference hosted by Scott Brown at his home.

Dan Horn spoke tonight on the picture of marriage as being a picture of the Gospel. What a powerful message! The Lord has really put it on my heart lately of the importance of the Gospel in every message preached from the pulpit, and the primacy of it in every facet of our lives.

Does our marriage, does your marriage show the world a picture of the Gospel? Or is it skewed? The reason sodomite "marriage" is such an abomination is that it blasphemes Christ and His Church. There are not two Christs or two Churches. Yet that is what sodomy tries to declare.

I'll go into more details later next week, Lord willing. But for now I want to say that the messages are powerful and I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend with my bride.

Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade was the landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down state laws prohibiting abortion. I’m going to use a word in this article that I don’t believe is entirely accurate when applied to this case. That term is “legalized.” It is said that Roe v. Wade “legalized” abortion. And in a sense, that is correct. Though if we simply consider the form of government that we have, you will realize that it is not the job of the Supreme Court to make law. That dirty work is supposed to be left to the legislative branch of government. Yet, despite overstepping their jurisdictional boundaries, the Supreme Court has, in effect, legalized elective abortion for all nine months of pregnancy for any reason whatsoever.

Roe v. Wade was decided on January 22, 1973. The plaintiff was an anonymous “Jane Roe.” The defendant was District Attorney of Dallas County Henry Wade. The case revolved around Jane Roe, later identified as Norma McCorvey who claimed she had been raped and desired an abortion. Texas law denied her the abortion. Attorneys Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington jumped at the opportunity to advance their own agenda at the expense of McCorvey. They filed suit on her behalf. Norma McCorvey is now an outspoken pro-life advocate, though she was once a worker in an abortion mill. She admits that she lied about being raped. In her book, Won By Love, she details how a little seven year old girl, a daughter of a pro-life protester loved her unconditionally. Emily would constantly tell Norma, “Miss Norma, we’re praying for you.” At the time Norma’s identity was still protected. This small group of protesters had no idea they were talking with the very Roe of Roe v. Wade. The little girl’s persistence finally paid off when Norma McCorvey repented of her sin and turned to Christ. Norma McCorvey now leads a pro-life ministry called “Roe No More.” Listen to her testimony about the effects that this little girl had on her.

As my mind was challenged to consider the truth of the Gospel, God began working on my heart through a 7-year-old girl named Emily, the daughter of O.R. volunteer Ronda Mackey.

Quite understandably, I had difficulty relating to children. I had given birth to three, all of whom had been placed for adoption (one of them against my will). And because I worked in an abortion clinic, I was fearful of bonding with anyone so young. It was part of my denial. When you know what is happening to the children behind closed doors, it's difficult to become attached to them outside.

Emily's blatant affection, frequent hugs, and direct pursuit disarmed me. The little girl's interest was all the more surprising considering Emily made it very clear that her acceptance of me wasn't an acceptance of my lifestyle. Early on in our relationship, I explained to Emily, "I like kids and wouldn't let anyone hurt little kids," to which Emily responded, "Then why do you let them kill the babies at the clinic?"

On another occasion, I invited Emily into my office. As I made appointments, Emily kept herself occupied. During one phone call, I lost my temper and said to a caller, "I'd just as soon see you in hell as see you in here," and Emily responded, "You don't have to go to hell, Miss Norma. You can pray right now and Jesus will forgive you."

This childlike faith cut open my heart, making me receptive to the truth being shared by the adult volunteers at Rescue. I wasn't won over by compelling apologetics. I had a ninth grade education and a very soft heart. While the O.R. adults targeted my mind, Emily went straight for the heart. And over time, Emily began to personify the issue of abortion--especially when Ronda broke down and told me that Emily had almost been aborted.

If any of you are familiar with this case, or you have been told that Roe v. Wade only prohibited abortions in the first three months, you have been fed a half truth. Roe indeed declares that abortion is legal for any reason for the first three months. However, it also allows for abortions after the three month time period for reasons of rape, incest, or the health of the mother. There is a much less publicized companion case, Doe v. Bolton that was also decided on the same day as Roe. This case defined “health of the mother” to be anything that a woman and her doctor decide it to be, including psychological health. Here is the official statement:

Whether, in the words of the Georgia statute, "an abortion is necessary" is a professional judgment that the Georgia physician will be called upon to make routinely. We agree with the District Court… that the medical judgment may be exercised in the light of all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age - relevant to the well-being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.

So, with the supported of the companion case, Roe indeed legalizes abortion for all nine months of pregnancy for any reason whatsoever. This is also why pro-lifers are so adamant about not including exceptions in any pro-life legislation that is proposed. We are particularly opposed to any language that makes “health of the mother” a valid exception. As a side note, “Mary Doe,” later identified as Sandra Cano, identifies herself as pro-life and claims that her attorney, Margie Pitts Hames, lied to her in order to have a plantiff.

Roe v. Wade did not come to us in a vacuum. Like most bad law, it came from bad precedent. In 1965 another egregious case was decided in Griswold v. Connecticut. This is the Supreme Court decision that struck down state prohibitions on birth control. In this decision the Supreme Court somehow “discovered” a secret “right to privacy” that had been hidden in the "penumbras" and "emanations" of other constitutional protections besides the original Bill of Rights. What most of the American people do not understand is that chemical forms of birth control often cause spontaneous abortion. How appropriate then, for it to be the precedent used for the outright killing of children through mechanical means. This assertion is thoroughly documented in Randy Alcorn’s book, Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortion? Sadly, just like the abortion issue today, the churches of 1965 had already failed to speak out against the deadly effects of chemical birth control. When God’s people are silent, depraved human nature takes over and commits terrible sins.

As Christ Loved the Church

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
(Eph 5:25-27)

When I think of that admonition that I am to love my wife as Christ loved the church, I am overwhelmed. I do love my wife. But do I love her to that degree? I am mere mortal. Christ is divine. I can't possibly love my wife like Christ loved His church. Christ lived a sinless life for His church. Then He bled and died on her behalf. He took her place. He who was without sin died for me! This He did so that she (I) should have no spot or wrinkle, but that she (I) should be holy and without blemish.

Yet, the very thing that Christ did for me (as a member of His church) is the only thing that enables me to do the same for my wife. No, I can't live a sinless life for her. But when I walk in the spirit, I'll not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. I can't make her pure and holy, but as I admonish her through the scriptures I lead her to the One who can.

Lord, wash me in your Word, so that I can wash her in your Word. Amen.

Lessons Learned

There's nothing so devastating to a parent than losing a child. Yet the Lord has been pleased to bring us through that trial twice this year. The world may consider it no great loss. After all, these children were lost very early. We never were able to hold them in our arms. We never even knew if they were boys or girls.

I've found that when the Lord brings you through a trial He will teach you things, if you are willing to learn. I share these with you in hopes that it may help another hurting soul and draw you closer to our Father God.

1) In times of great heartbreak and trial, pour your heart out to the Lord. Tell Him your sorrows and your griefs. He tells us in His word that He is familiar with suffering.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

(Isa 53:3)

Our Lord can relate. Christ suffered greatly on our behalf. He has a compassionate heart to those who are going through hardship.

2) Turn to the scriptures for your comfort and guide. The Psalms are replete with passages exhorting us to trust in the Lord. For this particular trial Job 1:21 helped me to face it.

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

(Job 1:21)

3) Realize that all of our children belong to the Lord. He has only entrusted us as stewards to care for them here on Earth. If He takes them home, then He is within His right to do so.

4) Use this as an occasion to draw near to your spouse. I am a husband. So I mainly speak through that perspective. When the miscarriage is going on I feel so helpless. I've found that often the best thing I can do is to pray for my wife, hold her, and comfort her.

5) Love your other children. If you don't have other children, then this may not apply to you, but in my case the Lord has blessed us with seven beautiful children. Hold them close. Praise the Lord that He gave you the ones that you do have. Give them grace as they grieve in their own way.

6) Finally, appreciate the church universal. I received a great outpouring of support from Christians around the world. Technology has brought us together. The Lord has provided the bond.

The Simplicity of the Gospel

I was in a meeting recently where the participants were holding up the ideal of simplicity. Simplicity has its place, though we should be careful not to idolize it above all other virtues. For we read in the scripture:

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

(Pro 1:22)

Yet, when it comes to delivering a message to God's people, nothing is better than the simplicity offered in the Gospel. I'm currently reading Charles Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students. I can't get through the chapter on "Sermons - Their Matter" without having to stop and comment.

Consider Spurgeon's thoughts on simplicity and the Gospel.

We must throw all our strength of judgment, memory, imagination, and eloquence into the delivery of the gospel; and not give to the preaching of the cross our random thoughts while wayside topics engross our deeper meditations. Depend upon it, if we brought the intellect of a Locke or a Newton, and the eloquence of a Cicero, to bear upon the simple doctrine of 'believe and live,' we should find no surplus strength. Brethern, first and above all things, keep to plain evangelical doctrines: whatever else you do or do not preach, be sure incessantly to bring forth the soul-saving truth of Christ and him crucified.

Spurgeon on Feeding the Flock

Alas! the indistinct utterances of many concerning the grandest of eternal realities, and the dimness of thought in others with regard to fundamental truths, have given too much occasion for the criticism! Brethern, if you are not theologians you are in your pastorates just nothing at all. You may be fine rhetoricians, and be rich in polished sentences; but without knowledge of the gospel, and aptness to teach it, you are but a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Verbiage is too often the fig-leaf which does duty as a covering for theological ignorance. Sounding periods are offered instead of sound doctrine, and rhetorical flourishes in the place of robust thought. Such things ought not to be. The abounding of empty declamation, and the absence of food for the soul, will turn a pulpit into a box of bombast, and inspire contempt instead of reverence. Unless we are instructive preachers, and really feed the people, we may be great quoters of elegant poetry, and mighty retailers of second-hand windbags, but we shall be like Nero of old, fiddling while Rome was burning, and sending vessels to Alexandria to fetch sand for the arena while the populace starved for want of corn.

- Charles Spurgeon, Lectures to my Students, p. 81

The Family or the Church?

A friend of mine mentioned to me today an experience whereby an elderly gentlemen was commenting on how nice my friend's family was. This man was a World War II veteran who was in the second wave of the Normandy invasion. He was 91 years old and had trusted Christ as his saviour in 1947 after he returned home from the war.

His comments to my friend was that "God loves families. You know, He created families before He created the church."

I love families too. I love my own family enormously. Yet, as my friend relayed this story to me I felt an uneasyness. There was just something that wasn't quite right about this man's comments.

I began to ponder the question, "Which came first, the family or the church?"

The Belgic Confession declares in Article 27:

This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until the end, as appears from the fact that Christ is eternal King who cannot be without subjects.

So, the author of the Belgic Confession confirmed my suspusion. But I wanted something a little more concrete than a confession that is not even the primary confession that I adhere to. (which is the London Baptist Confession of 1689)

Scripture is the ultimate authority. What does it have to say about the family?

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

(Luk 14:26)

What does it have to say about the church?

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

(Eph 5:25-27)

So, I believe it is clear from scripture that Christ esteems His church above families. But there is still the nagging question; Did He create the family before He created the church?

The first family was made up of Adam and Eve. They had their beginning in the Garden of Eden. But when did Christ create His Church? First we must ask who is the Church? The Church is made up of all Christ's elect. The Church is and has always been God's people throughout the ages. Thus it is not incorrect to call ancient Israel, "The Church."

So, when was the Church created? It was created when He elected His own. I believe this verse speaks clearly as to when the Church was created:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

(Eph 1:4)

So then, I submit to you that this elderly gentleman, in spite of the honour I have for him in serving our country, is wrong when it comes to the dicotomy between the Church and the family. The family is certainly a blessing from God. But His Church is the apple of His eye.

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Our Lord's Apples

"Take no heavier lift of your children, than your Lord alloweth; give them room beside your heart, but not in the yolk of your heart, where Christ should be; for then they are your idols, not your bairns. If your Lord take any of them home to his house before the storm come on, take it well, the owner of the orchard may take down two or three apples off his own trees, before midsummer, and ere they get the harvest sun; and it would not be seemly that his servant, the gardener, should chide him for it. Let our Lord pluck his own fruit at any season he pleaseth; they are not lost to you, they are laid up so well, as that they are coffered in heaven, where our Lord's best jewels lie." - Samuel Rutherford (1600 - 1661)

A Sugared Gospel

"Avoid a sugared gospel as you would shun sugar of lead. Seek the gospel which rips up and tears and cuts and wounds and hacks and even kills, for that is the gospel that makes alive again. And when you have found it, give good heed to it. Let it enter into your inmost being. As the rain soaks into the ground, so pray the Lord to let his gospel soak into your soul."

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Can You Be a Christian and not Learn?

Convince them what a contradiction it is to be a Christian, and yet
refuse to learn; for what is a Christian but a disciple of Christ?
And how can he be a disciple of Christ, that refuseth to be taught by
him? And he that refuseth to be taught by his ministers, refuseth to
be taught by him; for Christ will not come down from heaven again to
teach them by his own mouth, but hath appointed his ministers to keep
school and teach them under him. To say, therefore, that they will
not be taught by his ministers, is to say, they will not be taught by
Christ; and that is to say, they will not be his disciples, or no
Christians.

- Richard Baxter The Reformed Pastor pp. 234-235

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Applying the Gospel to Our Idols

Preach it Brother Stephen! This is a followup to the last message I posted by him on Gospelizing. It is a "must listen."

Win a Copy of Bible Works 8!

There is a very good Christian blog that I like to follow called Cal.vini.st. This month they are giving away two copies of Bible Works 8 software valued at $349 each. Visit this link to visit their site and sign up:

http://cal.vini.st/2009/06/cal-vini-st-first-anniversary-giveaway/

This is awesome software that will certainly help you in your study of God's Word.

If you happen not to win the prize, there is a free software package I have used for years called E-Sword. While it may not be in the same league at Bible Works, I can tell you that it is certainly a great piece of software to have on your system, especially if you have no other package. Visit this link to download it free of charge:

http://www.e-sword.net/

A Good Thing

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the
LORD. - Proverbs 18:22

Today my best friend is celebrating her 40th birthday. In August we
will have been married 19 years. She is a faithful wife, a loving
mother to our seven children, and my very best friend.

Of all the decisions I've ever made in my life, marrying Sheri has to
be the best one.

I love you sweetheart. Thank you for being such a blessing in my life.

Love,
Michael

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"Gospelizing"

I've found oftentimes that when God is teaching me something it tends to come at me from many different angles in my life. Within the past few weeks I've been encouraged to preach the Gospel not only to unbelievers, but also to believers. This encouragement has come from two good friends, one or two "bigger name" pastors (Mark Chandler being one of them), books that I've been reading from men of old (like Richard Baxter and Charles Spurgeon), and also from a pastor whom I sat under for about 6 months before we moved away from Nashville, Pastor Stephen Gambill at Reformed Baptist of Nashville. Mind you that I did not ask Stephen about this, but rather noticed that he "just so happened" to be preaching on the same topic. I follow his blog and listen to many of his sermons.

Here is Pastor Stephen's latest message on this very subject given in the Sunday School portion of their service on June 14 of this year. For those friends of mine who may be reading this blog, please listen to this message. He nails down just what I'm talking about. Preaching the Gospel is much more than simply winning souls into the Kingdom through the message of the cross. Though it includes that, it is much deeper than that as well.

Enjoy.

The Old Truth of the Gospel

"The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again."—C. H. Spurgeon