Category Archives: Quotes

Beatles ~ We Can Work It Out ~ Allistair Begg

O.K., you might be wondering what the Beatles and Allistair Begg have in common and why I am posting them together. Well “Dear” and I listen to Truth for Life with Allistair Begg when I drive “Dear” to work in the wee hours of the morning. We both were chuckling and singing this Beatles tune because Begg recited part of it for an illustration to his talk. He was talking about the importance of being part of a Church Family. The importance of sticking with your Church Family through good and hard times. Reconciling with your Church Family and not running away from problems but “working them out”.  Begg is an anointed preacher and he says it better than me so do click on the link below and listen to him in his own words. Growing up with the Beatles we find ourselves knowing many of their lyrics. We’ve sat around fires singing all the Beatles tunes we can remember into the wee hours of the morning. (Are you reading this D & J? Remember the Ski Lodge?) Anyway you can blame Allistair for this post and if you’ve never listened to him, we recommend you do. You can download his talks at Truth for Life. Oh, by the way, he’s originally from Scotland and he has a cool accent! He didn’t quote the whole song for sure but I am highlighting the lines he did quote.

Try to see it my way,
Do I have to keep on talking till I can’t go on?
While you see it your way,
Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

Think of what you’re saying.
You can get it wrong and still you think that it’s all right.
Think of what I’m saying,
We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.
Life is very short, and there’s no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it’s a crime,
So I will ask you once again.

Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There’s a chance that we might fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.
Life is very short, and there’s no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it’s a crime,
So I will ask you once again.

Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There’s a chance that we may fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

http://www.fab4collectibles.com/images/181)%20we%20can%20work%20it%20out%20%20266.jpg

http://www.bottradionetwork.com/station_kansasCity/images/AllistairBeggJune1406/AllistairPointing400.jpg

The Doxology ~ Awake My Soul and With the Sun

 Thomas Ken ~ (1637-1711)

Words: Thom­as Ken, Man­u­al of Pray­ers for the Use of the Schol­ars of Win­ches­ter Col­lege, 1674.

 

Ken wrote this hymn at a time when the es­tab­lished church be­lieved on­ly Script­ure should be sung as hymns—with an em­pha­sis on the Psalms. Some con­sid­ered it sin­ful and blas­phe­mous to write new lyr­ics for church mu­sic, akin to ad­ding to the Script­ures. In that at­mo­sphere, Ken wrote this and sev­er­al other hymns for the boys at Win­chest­er Col­lege, with strict in­struct­ions that they use them on­ly in their rooms, for pri­vate de­vo­tions. Iron­ic­al­ly, the last stan­za has come into wide­spread use as the Dox­ol­o­gy, per­haps the most fr­equent­ly used piece of mu­sic in pub­lic wor­ship. At Ken’s request, the hymn was sung at his fun­er­al, fit­tingly held at sun­rise.

 Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Thy precious time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem,
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.

By influence of the Light divine
Let thy own light to others shine.
Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways
In ardent love, and cheerful praise.

In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noontide clear;
Think how all seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.

All praise to Thee, Who safe has kept
And hast refreshed me while I slept
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless light partake.

Heav’n is, dear Lord, where’er Thou art,
O never then from me depart;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.

Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.

I would not wake nor rise again
And Heaven itself I would disdain,
Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed,
And I in hymns to be employed.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

So…I was very surprised to find out that there is so much more to the Doxology and that it was taken from a longer hymn called Awake My Soul and With the Sun. I’m glad to know the whole story behind this great piece probably every one of us has sung time and time again! Thanks Rich for the post on your blog!

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/w/awakemys.htm

ht: Rich Sclafani http://richsclafani.blogspot.com/2007/03/doxology.html

II Timothy and The Reformation Study Bible

This year I took a suggestion to read through the Bible in a different way. Retention is not my strong point. I have to write things down and read them over and over to really get the point, so this Bible reading method was a great suggestion for me. I am reading every book of the Bible 20 times before I move on to the next. I’m starting with the shortest New Testament Books. At this rate I’ll not finish till I’m dead…but that’s OK. I find myself in 2 Timothy on my 17th read. I’m highlighting some great verses with footnotes and comments from The Reformation Study Bible, R.C. Sproul ~ General Editor, ESV.  I want to give a “heads up” appeal to Moms and Grandmothers to pay attention here to the great opportunity they have with their children and grandchildren!

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

In the ESV footnotes they say the word of truth refers to  The gospel (2:8, 9, 4:2).

2 Timothy 3:14, 15; But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Footnotes: ( from whom you learned it) A reference to Timothy’s mother and grandmother, as well as to Paul himself. (from childhood) According to custom, the Jewish parent was to begin instructing a child in the law when the child reached five years of age. (Sacred Writings) The false teachers have been misinterpreting the Old Testament. (I Tim. 1:7, Titus 3:9) Timothy needs to remember the proper instruction he received from the hands of his mother and grandmother. The “Sacred Writings” here are the books of the Old Testament. The New Testament did not yet exist as a collection. (Salvation …in Christ Jesus), The Old testament interpreted properly, leads one to understand the central role of Jesus Christ in God’s overall plan for His Creation.

2 Timothy 3:16,17;  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

(breathed out by God) This is one of the most important expressions in the New Testament of the doctrine of the divine inspiration of Scripture. The Bible has been breathed out by the Spirit of God (2 Pet. 1:21). God is the source and ultimate Author of Scripture. Though written by human authors, Scripture nevertheless has the full weight of His authority.

The following is an excerpt from a theological note “The Authority of Scripture” and from the introduction to The Reformation Study Bible:

The Authority of Scripture … “Historic Protestantism accepts the Scripture as the only written revelation of God. It is inspired, or “breathed out by God” (2 Tim. 3:16), distinguishing it from all other words. As a result, the Scriptures are infallible and true in all that they affirm. They are sufficient, containing everything that is necessary to know for salvation and eternal life. They are clear, so that a person without special preparation can understand what God requires without the intervention of an official interpreter.”

And from the Introduction written by R.C. Sproul ~

“The Bible is an inspired book, that is, “breathed out” by God. Inspiration reaches far beyond the scope of the inspiration of human artist as commonly understood. The Bible offers more than brilliant insight, more than human sagacity. It is called “inspired” not because of its supernatural mode of transmission via human authors, but because of its origin. It is not merely a book about God; it is a book from God. Therefore the church confesses its trust and confidence that the Bible is the vox Dei, the veritable “voice of God.”

…God calls every Christian to pursue righteousness. Our trust is to be childlike, but our understanding must be mature. such trust and understanding require study of God’s word. The authentic disciple meditates on it day and night, continuing and remaining in it. Our goal is more than knowledge; it is wisdom and the fruit of inward and outward obedience.”

From my trusty dictionary I’ll share this definition.  Sagacity – the quality of being sagacious. Sagacious – 1. having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd.

So what have we learned, grasshopper? We the regular folk (those who need dictionaries to understand really bright people) can study and understand the Scriptures, with the help of the Holy Spirit.  We can be trusted with diligence on our parts to impart these truths to our children and our grandchildren. We can hear from the very voice of God because this book is from God.  We have all we need to be competent and equipped for every good work. This is amazing stuff.  Let’s study to show ourselves approved, dear Christ followers!

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/

https://store.ligonier.org/20design/new_ProdImages/REF20_book_3d_web.jpg

http://www.americanreadingforum.org/02_yearbook/html/06_Dowhower_final_files/image055.jpg

C. S. Lewis ~ Forgive ~ Mathew 6: 7-15

 

 

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard; …how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night, ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it means to refuse God’s mercy for ourselves.”

~C. S. Lewis

Mathew 6: 7-15(ESV)

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. 
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread, 
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

God the Spirit has been impressing on my heart and mind the need to forgive and to seek forgiveness from others. This has  been brought to the forefront of my mind through reading  God’s word and a Woman’s Bible Study I’ve been attending ~ Seeking Him (Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival). It is hard but oh so rewarding to follow through with those God has put on my heart to seek forgiveness from. I hope with God’s help to change patterns of thought and behaviour that take me down those roads of grumbling and bitterness (that is sin) and causes division in relationships. You need to give this some good thought and prayer. Ask God to reveal to you anyone you need to forgive and anyone you need to seek forgiveness from. Give yourself a few days to ponder this and keep in prayer over it. You might be surprised to find that you are harboring some bitterness that needs to be dealt with.

http://www.ecva.org/wordimage/articles/parker_reconciliation/images/reconciliation_01.jpg

Spring Reading Challenge Book Reviews

      

Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers

I need a dictionary close by when reading these mysteries. This story is set in the 1920’s in England. This particular mystery involves Peter’s brother, the accused murderer, whom Peter needs to clear of charges by finding out who really killed his sister’s fiance. Twisted plot, interesting characters, Old English style, and language give it a charming appeal.

This is one of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. I love the character that Sayers has developed in Peter Wimsey’s mother. Here are quotes from her in this book;

“I think there’s often a great deal in what one’s mother says.”…

“My dear child, you can give it a long name if you like, but I’m an old fashioned woman and I call it mother-wit, and it’s so rare for a man to have it that if he does you write a book about him and call him Sherlock Holmes.”

If you’d like to read more about Dorothy Sayers you can click here.

The Dogwood and Easter

 

This excerpt is taken from Christianity Today (April 2000), written by Virginia Stem Owens;

Although it has not happened since 1913, and won’t happen again till 2008, Easter can come as early as March 23, just barely inside the official limits of spring. But whether Holy Week falls in March or April makes little difference in Texas. It’s always springtime here by then.

People like the dogwood to be in full bloom for Good Friday. They like to point out to one another how the dogwood’s white blossom, shaped like an ivory Maltese cross, each point dented and tinged with red, is an emblem of Christ’s crucifixion wounds. They even send one another greeting cards bearing the so-called Legend of the Dogwood, which links the tree with the wood used for the cross.

The dogwood trees are usually blooming at about the same time I teach college sophomores the Housman poem that begins,

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Most of my students have never seen cherry trees in bloom. The Texas weather is too mild and genial for the cherry’s hearty nature, so I rely on the dogwood tree to furnish them with a reasonable facsimile of Housman’s vision. The decorative dogwood chooses to display its white blossoms along the highways precisely when they will be the most conspicuous—before their own leaves unfurl and before the other, taller trees have put on their new leaves. Thus, the shadowy recesses of the winter-bare forests provide the perfect background for the white blossoms.”

The Legend of the Dogwood 

There is a legend, that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber of the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it: “Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. ..two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember.”

I recognize that this is just a legend but I wanted to post these two entries because I’ve always loved the Dogwood blooms. If I look at them and think about what my Savior did for me that’s a good thing. He created the tree, the beautiful bloom, and you and me to enjoy it!

http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2000/aprilweb-only/43.0b.html

http://www.midamericawoodcarvers.org/patterns/dogwood.htm

Spring has Sprung in Seattle

Restore your light, O excellent chief

to your country; for it is like spring

Where your countenance has appeared;

To the people the day passes more pleasantly,

And the sun shines more brightly.

Horace, Odes, bk. 4, 5, 5.

My first Spring blooms have appeared in my yard in Washington

This is my Lenten Rose~ Helleborus

2016-02-11 February plants and food2

Click on Lenten Rose (above) to learn more about this popular plant.

My friend Beth gave it to me for my birthday last year.

The amazing thing is that these plants are still alive.

This too is only by the grace of God.

 Spring clean-up 021

My Camellias which look so nice in a bowl with water and floating candles.

My Lilies that my friend Jan gave me won’t bloom for a bit.

Thank you ladies for adding a bit of your gardening pleasures to my brown thumb yard!

And thank you Lord for keeping these beauties alive. (The plants and my friends)

ht: quote , Real Christianity by William Wilberforce, rev./updated by Bob Beltz

Molokans (Milk Drinkers)

 

 The following post on Molokans is a combination of material I copied from The Molokan Homepage, Wikipedia, and my own observations and additions about my families experience in the Molokan Church. I am italicizing my entries. This is a long post so I will shorten what appears on the post page and give you the option to continue reading more if you’d like. I’m organizing this material so my children and I have a better understanding of the history of Molokans and what we were brought out of by the grace of God. Tomorrow I’m posting an LA Times article on the Molokan Cemetery where my paternal grandparents and other relatives are buried.

 The Molokans (Russian: Молока́не) are a “Biblically-based” religious movement, among Russian peasants (serfs), who broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1550s. Molokans denied the Czar’s divine right to rule and rejected icons, Orthodox fasts, military service, the eating of unclean foods, and other practices, including water baptism. They also rejected the traditional beliefs (held by Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians) in the Trinity, the veneration of religious icons, worship in cathedrals, the adherence toward saintly holidays, and the decisions of Synods and Ecumenical Councils.

 The Molokans also called “milk drinkers” were persecuted by their countrymen and government, and were exiled to a remote area of Russia (Transcaucasia), where they lived and prospered for several generations. In 1833, there was a reported outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon a number of Molokans in the Transcaucasus region. This created a schism between Constants and the newly evolved Jumpers and Leapers. With what the Molokans believed to be an additional manifestation of the Holy Spirit, this new smaller sect began a revival with intense zeal and reported miracles that purportedly rivaled that of Christ’s Apostles. Condemnation from the Constant sect lead to betrayals and imprisonment for many of the Jumpers and Leapers, now called New Israelites by their anointed leader Maxim Rudometkin. Maxim Rudometkin, while he was in prison, wrote a spiritual book that was smuggled out by close friends and relatives who came to visit him that later become the basis for a sub-sect of the Molokan faith. This book, used as a companion to the Holy Bible, is known as the Book of Spirit and Life. Molokans who accepted this book and who followed Maxim’s interpretations of the Bible are known as Maximisti, which make up most of the Jumper and Leapers sect. (This was the group my family was a part of. Maxim classified them as the New Israelites, the new chosen ones). (more…)

Be Beautiful

I decided to respond to the “Carnival of Beauty” challenge to post something on “The Beauty of Being Made in the Image of God”.  I ran to several good sources I know. The first excerpts come from R.C. Sproul in his book, Now That’s a Good Question, and a couple articles in His Tabletalk Magazine. The last contribution comes from my brother’s blog, The Temple.

R.C. Sproul – Now That’s a Good Question

The basic call to a person in this world is to be a reflection of the character of God. That’s what it means to be created in the Image of God. Long before the Sermon on the Mount, God required the people of Israel to reflect his character when he said to them, “Be holy even as I am holy.” He set them apart to be holy ones. The New Testament word for that is saints.

From Tabletalk June 2003 – Imago Dei – Sproul

An image cannot reflect something utterly dissimilar to it. Rather, an image is a likeness of something beyond itself. It is not the original, but it mirrors the original.

…That we bear the image of the God of glory is an unspeakable blessing. But with this elevated status comes a weighty responsibility. We were made to glorify God – to reflect the character of God and that duty comes with a divine mandate “You shall be holy, for I The Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2)

” Thinking God’s Thoughts”  – Wayne Kenyon

Among created things, human beings are unique, for they are made in the image of God. As rational creatures, we are able to know God and , in a finite manner, think like Him.

For this reason, we have the great privilege of thinking God’s thoughts after Him. Also, as volitional creatures, we are able to reflect His excellencies in the manner in which we live and exercise dominion. This is our great responsibility.

…All of creation is also “for him”. With man’s great privilege to think God’s thoughts after Him comes the responsibility to take that which we receive and give it back to God in an act of worship. The God who is knowledge is worshipped by our knowing Him. The pursuit of knowledge is good. The only wise God is worshipped when His creatures are wise. This is done when we have the noblest of ends (i.e.,God Himself) and employ the most effective means of exercising dominion over His world. The God who is love is glorified when appreciative love for God is the motive from which we act. The God who is truth is worshipped when we “practice the truth” (I John: 1:6). God is worshipped when we model our lives after Him in loving obedience.

Finally from Steve at The Temple, a post on holiness. I’m including this because it personalizes holiness so well for me. Is what I’m doing the beautiful thing, the holy thing? Am I reflecting God’s image in me? Now in Steve’s words:

I wrote this in my journal some time ago:

“Holiness is doing something beautiful as opposed to not doing something ugly.”

I chose the words beautiful and ugly purposefully because they are not usually used in conjunction with holy behavior, and yet I think that they are wholly appropriate, and challenging. We are much more attracted to behaving beautifully, which may be defined as the most good. Beautiful is related to a word much closer to holiness: beatific. Being holy, being a holder of beauty. I like that correlation, it is an inspirational definition.

This perspective also hits the core issue in successful Christian living. What God wants from us is not simply the absence of evil acts, not even that we stop wanting to do bad things. God wants us to love to do the beautiful thing, the holy thing, the right thing. With regard to our speech, that is also the goal. So many of us, self included, have seen it as a matter of Christian freedom to use an occasional “strong” term, that was ultimately ugly. I am striving now to have only things of beauty as my expression in life, to the glory of the Beautiful One.

Be beautiful.

ht: Tabletalk from Ligonier Ministries and R.C. Sproul – June 2003

Come, Holy Spirit, heav’nly Dove

From Jan Karon’s, Light from Heaven:

 

Come, Holy Spirit, heav’nly Dove

With all thy quick’ning powers

Kindle a flame of sacred love

In these cold hearts of ours.

See how we trifle here below

Fond of these earthly toys

Our souls, how heavily they go

To reach eternal joys.

In vain we tune our formal songs

In vain we strive to rise

Hosannas languish on our tongue

And our devotion dies.

Come, Holy Spirit, heav’nly Dove

With all thy quick’ning powers

Come, shed abroad a Savior’s love

And that shall kindle ours.