John Calvin – A Life Lived Wholeheartedly for God

 

The great Reformer John Calvin’s 500th birthday anniversary is in July (the 10th) and the wonderful people over at Ligonier Ministries have posted a super list of resources and reading materials on their website. 

 

 

 

 

 

Towering over the centuries of church history, there stands one figure of such monumental importance that he still commands attention and arouses intrigue. Called “one of the truly great men of all time,” his masterful expositions of Scripture laid down the doctrinal distinctives of the Protestant Reformation. His theological thunder defined and articulated the core truths of that history-altering movement in sixteenth-century Europe.

You can find the entire article and lists here, including the wonderful new expose edited by Burk Parsons John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology.     

Busy…

Don’t you just hate that word?  So, I won’t use it in this post (beyond the title).  Lately I have been encumbered by many and varied tasks.  As a matter of fact, this past week I have had some event or project to plan or do.  Here’s a run down of what I did (along with my WONDERful family).

• Sunday – Our whole entire family attended church together for the second week in a row!  Praise the Lord that Mom is able to attend once again.   Hopefully, all 8 of us will go to worship tomorrow.  A friend of my father’s came to church.  Dad makes friends everywhere he goes, he met this man at Office Depot® and had invited him to attend our church.  Since Mr. H usually has to work on Sundays, he had been unable to come until last week.  His wife is currently overseas staying with one of their two sons family’s while that son in is Iraq.  Both of their sons are in the Army serving overseas.   Then we came home, prepared lunch, ate lunch and cleaned up.  We were expecting some of our friends to show up to tour our gardens around 3, but they didn’t come until closer to 5.  While we waited, we kids decided to play a game of basketball (including Joel).  It was really fun because we are all pretty lousey at the game, but who cares we were having fun being together!   It started to rain and about that time the M’s showed up and we exchanged salutations and then proceeded to the back yard to show them our garden.    They stayed around for 30-45 minutes, until we had to leave for evening service.  Since I didn’t attend evening service, I worked on preparing food and drinks for our Memorial day bash.   We all got to be rather late.  Excitement ran high that night as we anticipated the next day’s events.

Joel, Phoebe and I in the kitchen getting things ready for Monday. 

• Monday – I got up around 6 and began work almost immediately on food prep for that afternoon.  There was a lot to accomplish and the event began at noon.  Phoebe, Jo and Dad assisted me in the many dishes we had to prepare, as the saying goes many hands make light work.   Most of the work was done by 10:30 and so Phoebe and I rode our bikes up to the park to see if the pavilion was open for our use.  Thankfully, it was the entire time we were up there.  Hardly anyone was at the park besides the 35-40 people from our group.   About 11 o’clock our friends the D family arrived.  They went straight to the park and so Phoebe and Jo went with Dad and Jaden to take our first load of stuff up there.  They were up there the entire time (11-5).    We all got really bad sunburns and now my face is beginning to peel. :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the pavilion – Mrs. D, Daniel, Jaden, Phoebe, Andrew & Joel talking and grilling.  Corn on the cob & hot-dogs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. P and Jordan at the playground                               Playing Ultimate Frisbee on the field – what a hot game.

• Tuesday – After all the excitement of the day before (what could top that?) we had to get up early in order to make it over to our friends (the H. family) house to help weed in our co-garden.  Even though the sky was cloudy and threatening rain we headed out anyway.   Inconveniently it began raining after we had been working for 30 minutes and so we were not able to do much work.  We were however able to discuss with Mrs. H our hopes for our Fall garden (to be planted in July-Aug.) and look at seeds and seed catalogues.   We bid them farewell and headed home to do chores, school and everyday things.  We actually got about an inch of rain, so it was pouring down for a while. 
• Wednesday – A pretty normal day.  We got a lot of school work accomplished and chores as well.  We have BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) on Wednesday nights so we prepared to go to that in the late afternoon.  It was a productive day all in all.  I got some more cleaning and laundry done which was great.
• Thursday – Since we had not been able to get much done at the H’s on Tuesday we had planned on going back up on Thursday morning before it got toohot.  So, around 8 we began loading up and headed out for their house.  Jaden was not going to accompany us originally, but he woke up just minutes before we left and so he did come with us.   He is quite a little man.   We were able to get a lot of weeding and composting done and were quite hot and tired after over 2 hours of hot stinky labor!    The garden is looking better – Thank you H’s for allowing us to co-garden with you, what a gracious gesture!  We greatly appreciate the opportunity.   After working up there for a while, we cleaned up and loaded up.  Jaden was tired (not used to getting up so early) and wanted us to drop him off at the house.  The rest of us were going shopping for food items for Friday night when our uncle was to come over for dinner.   Dad asked us if we could assist some friends of ours in moving several pieces of furniture from one apartment to another.  Since we still had the trailer on Joel’s truck, we agreed and headed off.  We completed the moving project in about an hour and then went to Kroger® to purchase items for tostadas.  Then once we had purchased the necessary items, we traveled back to our house and unloaded things and made lunch.  The rest of the day we did various projects around the house both inside and out.  The guys worked in the yard and garden.  While in the house, we girls cleaned, did laundry and did food preparation for the morrow.   I was so exhausted by the end of the day.  We also called our dear friend and uncle A.  I really miss having him right next door to see all the time, as do the others. :0
• Friday – I was up early (again!) and helped around the house by vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, doing laundry, straightening and cleaning mirrors and windows.  Then we had breakfast, family worship, Phoebe and I mowed the lawn, came back inside started on lunch, ate lunch, cleaned up lunch, rested a bit, waited for our friends the W’s to come over, began dinner prep (grating cheese, chopping green onions and cilantro, making fresh salsa, blending beans), visited with the dear W family (they are such a blessing!), said goodbye to them, finished dinner prep, and began the wait for uncle Greg to arrive.  Caleb and Jaden had been mowing two of Caleb’s customers lawns during this time (except for when the W’s were here).   We girls watched some of Fireproof in our room and just relaxed a bit.  Uncle Greg arrived about 6:30 and it was SO wonderful to see him!!!  We had a most delightful evening with him, talking, singing, playing our instruments and just enjoying each others company.  Joel arrived from work and soon thereafter we convened to the back yard where we ate a delicious meal of tostadas, green beans and salsa.    Our favorite.   Uncle Greg stayed until 10:30 or so and we had a great time together!  Can’t wait until the next time. 
• Today (Saturday) – We are getting ready to clean the church, mow the church lawn and go run errands.  Jaden is in desperate need of new clothing.  He is outgrowing EVERYTHING so I am hard put to find proper clothing items for each day.   He has taken it in stride and enjoys wearing his overalls quite frequently.   Hopefully, we can fix that problem… soon.  

I hope that you all have a very blessed Saturday and a most wonderful Sabbath!  More pictures over at the family blog.

Collegians Summit 09

Eagle Forum holds one big event annually for high school and college studentsto familiarize them with civil government, the constitution and legislative tools.  It is held at the Heritage Foundation and has a great lineup of speakers, Q & A times, book signings, forums and fellowship. 

I would encourage you to check into this wonderful opportunity at a different way to spend a few days of your summer this year.  You can find more info at the official website.

Happy Memorial Day!

Today is Memorial Day, a day we here in America set aside to honor the memory of our fallen soldiers, air-men, sailors and marines.   A day to remember and pay respect to them and their sacrifice!  May God bless their families today as they remember their fallen hero. 

A very Happy Memorial Day everybody!  I hope that you all have a blessed day and remember….

God Bless America!!! 

A warning

I have been reading through the book of II Timothy this month and noticing important warnings and exhortations that Paul gives to Timothy throughout this book.  The third chapter really is packed with advice and warnings concerning the last times.  Paul makes a list of what we should be aware of in the last days.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.   (II Tim. 3:1)

And then he proceeds into a lengthy description of the type of people who will be around during that time.

• Lovers of themselves (vs. 2)
• Lovers of money (vs. 2)
• Boasters (vs. 2)
• Proud (vs. 2)
• Blasphemers (vs. 2)
• Disobedient to parents (vs. 2)
• Unthankful (vs. 2)
• Unholy (vs. 2)
• Unloving (vs. 3)
• Unforgiving (vs. 3)
• Slanderers (vs. 3)
• Without self-control (vs. 3)
• Brutal (vs. 3)
• Despiers of good (vs. 3)
• Traitors (vs. 4)
• Headstrong (vs. 4)
• Haughty (vs. 4)
• Lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God (vs. 4)
• Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.  From such men, turn away! (vs. 5)
• These sort creep into households, taking captive silly women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts (vs. 6)
• Always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (vs. 7)
• These men resist the truth (vs. 8 )
• Are of corrupt minds (vs. 8 )
• Disapproved [debased] concerning the truth (vs. 8 )
• They will progress no further, for their folly is manifest to all (vs. 9)

Wow!  Don’t we see most of that today?  This world is a sinful place and we as Christians are called to a higher calling of righteous and pure living.   We must be discerning in an age of deception.

Jumping Rope

Last night we kids had a fun time jumping roping.  I’ve posted pictures on our family blog – Texas Skies.  There are some action shots, so go check it out!

Worldview News

Item #1

Frankfurt School Reigns Supreme at Notre Dame

By James Simpson

Asia will author its own destruction if it triggers a crisis over US bonds
Governor Gibbons criticizes Obama over denied meeting request
Economy limiting services of local police
Brazil and China eye plan to axe dollar
Prejean’s Story Points to Deeper Issues in Evangelical World
To read these stories look under our national and international news section at:
http://www.worldviewtimes.com/news

Item #2

A Message From Michael Reagan
By Michael Reagan

Item #3

Brannon Howse: Brannon’s Guest is Pastor Bob DeWaay. Topic: Uncovering the Emergent Church. Brannon and Bob discuss Bob’s new book on the Emergent Church. Bob explains the worldview and theology of numerous philosophers upon which the Emergent church has been built. Listen and understand why the Emergent Church does not defend essential Christian doctrines, does not discuss end times prophecy and why they are seeking to deconstruct everything. What is the connection between the worldview of President Obama and the Emergent Church? How does the worldview of the deconstruction of the Emergent Church fit in with the worldview of the anti-Christ found in Daniel 7:25 that states that the agenda of the anti-Christ will be to change the laws and times? Is the Emergent Church becoming the dominant, false church that will persecute the remnant of true believers in Jesus Christ? Why must we understand the worldview of the Emergent Church and who is their prime target? Click here to listen now.

Item #4

Brannon Howse: Topic One: Michael Reagan joins Brannon for the Reagan Report and to unveil the new Reagan.com website. This is a new weekly feature in which Michael will give us his take on what is happening in America and what we can do to be pro-active in the defense of our freedoms. Topic Two: Brannon presents the Worldview Weekend keynote presentation of Dr. David Noebel entitled, What’s in And What’s Out on Today College Campus. Click to listen now.

Item #5

Safe in the arms of government
By Henry Lamb

Item #6

John Maynard Keynes
By David Noebel

Item #7

Should Masons Hold Church Positions?
By Dr. David R. Reagan

Item #8

Chris Rosenbrough: Is Worship “Kissing God”?, Patricia King’s Friend Explains How Witchcraft Works, Was Michaelangelo a Proto-Lutheran, Killer Chip Tracks People & Releases a Poison to Kill Them. Click here to listen now.

Item #9

David Barton: Can the government take your children without cause? Guest: Gary Gates. Click here to listen.

Item #10

The 95 year-old lady
By Ray Comfort

You can read more columns at: ChristianWorldviewNetwork.com

Life of late~

Here it is already the 16th of May, and we are still getting rained on! About 3AM this morning I heard the wind pick up and what sounded like rain.  Sure enough, when I went to check the windows it was wet because some rain had been blown onto the windowsill.   As of right now (10:00AM) it is still raining steadly and the sky looks hopelessly gray and rainy. 

We had an eventful day yesterday.   First off, we continued with our Constitution class from Badnarik part 6.  I have been learning so very much and it is of the secondary importance in my life (behind God & family).   I have learned that for one, we must know our rights before we can defend them!  If we do not know them, than why should we even care if they are being eroded away?

After we had poked around the house waiting for Dad and Caleb to return from a couple of errands, we finally headed off to drop Caleb off at the church so he would mow.   After we had dropped Caleb off, the rest of us headed to Melissa  (about 20 min. N. of here) to go to a new friends house and look through some things they were preparing to sell (today) in a garage sale.   They were so very nice to us!  As soon as we walked in the door, we were welcomed enthusiastically even though only half of our family has met them, and only twice!    We enjoyed our time of sorting through clothing (for Mom’s benefit) and chatting with the ladies there, it was a fun afternoon.

We had to race home from Melissa, because yesterday evening at 7:00 our church was hosting a Mother/Daughter banquet for Mother’s day.  And, we had to prepare a salad and also be present to sing a special.    All went well, we were ready to walk out the door right on time, all dressed up and the salad ready.   Mom had been debating all week as to whether she should attend or not.  The rest of us were dearly hoping that she would come!  She decided that she could make it and wanted us to keep a tight lip, so as not to spoil the surprise.  All of the ladies were SO excited to see here at the banquet, and Mom enjoyed her time there ever so much…. What a joy and blessing from Above.

Our singing went well, after we had sung our song, the ladies requested that we sing another.  We complied happily and sang two for them.   Caleb, Phoebe, Jo and Mom, you all did such a lovely job of assisting me!

“How good and how pleasant it is when brethern dwell together in unity.” Psalm 131:1  A verse that Mom drilled into our way of thinking.  Thankfully, most days that is the way things go between siblings at our house. 

Today I have lots of cleaning, organizing and cooking to do in preparation for the Sabbath (tomorrow).  I must sign off for now! 

Shabbit Shalom (Sabbath Peace) to you and your loved ones!  ”I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”  Psalm 122:1

Worldview News

Item #1 Should a Christian be a Mason? By Dr. David R. Reagan 

Item #2 Brannon Howse: Show Topic: When a Nation Does Not Listen to God By Kay Arthur. This is a portion of the keynote presentation given by Kay at our recent Branson Worldview Weekend Family Reunion. This is a timely message for all Christians in America. Kay opens up God’s Word and walks us through parts of Jeremiah starting with chapter 25 which should be a warning to America and to all nations that do not listen to God. Jeremiah spent twenty three years calling on the people of Judah and Jerusalem to repent from their sins. Jeremiah warned them that if they did not repent they would be overtaken by Babylon as God’s judgment on to them. God is looking for men and women that will be as Jeremiah and call people to repentance and understand that God is a righteous judge that must judge sin. America’s cup of iniquity has over flowed and over flowed and God will hold our nation accountable. America deserves to be judged but even so we must about our Father’s work. We must pursue righteousness, commit the Bible to memory, be involved in discipleship, and know God’s Word. We are seeing the increase of the crimilization of Christianity and we must be prepared for the spiritual battle so we can lead the remnant in house churches if that is what is coming. God has a remnant just as we see in Jeremiah 42 and this can be the finest hour for the true church even if we lose it all but only if we proclaim the Cross. So do not fear my little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Matthew 12:34 NKJ). Do not fear any of the things which you are about to suffer…be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10 NKJ). Click here to listen now.

Item #3 Hate Crimes Legislation – Back Door Censorship By James Simpson

Item #4 The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:The Impact on Private Gun-Ownership in America 

Item #5 Jan Markell: The Kingdom of the Occult Part 1: In this two-hour series, Jill Martin Rische, the daughter of Dr. Walter Martin, talks about her new book, “The Kingdom of the Occult.” This resource book explains every occult practice past and present. The world of the occult began the day the devil was thrown out of Heaven. Since then, all mankind battles one element of the occult or another and this kind of information is essential. Click here to listen now.

Graduation Gift Idea #3 Survival Kit for the University of Humanism Glitzy brochures and slick websites that promote many of our universities don’t divulge the all-encompassing secular worldview that slashes God from every equation and consumes ill-prepared students. But collegians today will face many of the: 67% of professors who approve of homosexuality; 84% who condone abortion; 65% who embrace socialist and communist ideals. The results of four years’ exposure to these teachers are staggering. Recent research reveals that 91% of students from evangelical churches no longer believe in absolute moral truth. Even the Southern Baptist Convention found that 88% of young people from SBC homes slip away from the faith before they graduate from college. The reason? Most students say they did not learn enough Bible content growing up to enable them to make biblical life decisions, let alone defend a Christian worldview in the face of vicious opposition. This book provides worldview expert and best-selling author Brannon Howse’s briefing notes to prepare you for the worldview battle that takes place at the university of humanism-whichever one you attend. You will be ready to contend and not bend on topics like: Why evil and injustice do not negate the reality of a good God; Why the Bible can be trusted; Why Darwinian evolution is a lie; The liberal myth of “separation of church and state”; The authenticity of Jesus’ resurrection; What the fossil record really reveals; The myth of global warming; How dramatically crime would increase if guns were outlawed; And more! Only $12.00 (hardcover) Christian Worldview For Students Vol. II

Item #6 More of the Inconvenient Truth By Jan Markell 

Item #7 Chris Rosenbrough: Email, The Problem of Evil, Taliban Execute 2 Christians, Church Goers & Pastors Struggle to Define Spiritual Maturity. Click here to listen now. 

Item #8 Hebrews and God “Speaking” By Bob DeWaay 

Item #9 David Barton: Legislators Railroading Marriage Guest: Jerry Cox, Arkansas Family Council. Click here to listen now. 

Item #10 From Top Terrorists to Top Cops By Cliff Kincaid

Lockeing Up Leviathan – By Jerry Salcido

I found this fantastic article on Campaign for Liberty’s blog.  If you want a better understanding of our government, than I suggest you read this helpful article.

In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. Isaiah 27:1

Leviathan, that great mythical sea creature referenced only a handful of times in the Old Testament, was first referred to as synonymous with the State by Thomas Hobbes in his 1651 work on the social contract, entitled none other than Leviathan.

According to Hobbes, Leviathan or a strong central government is necessary to deter what Hobbes considered to be the natural state of man, which he described as “war of every man against every man“. Hobbes postulated that the State brings order and peace and makes society civilized.

Without need of either advocating or rejecting Hobbes’ arguments in favor of a strong State, one can hardly look upon modern governments, including the United States federal government and the individual United States, without agreeing that Hobbes’ depiction of the State as a Leviathan, that is, a threatening, powerful beast, was spot-on.

Like any carnivorous beast, Leviathan has a ravenous appetite, but it differs in that its appetite is never satisfied and it has even been known to eat itself to death. Leviathan’s only and favorite staple is, of course, taxes.

Taxation — whether direct, indirect, or through monetary depreciation (i.e., inflation) — keeps the State alive, permits it to grow, and facilitates its power, which so often becomes despotic. Taxes are, if you will, Leviathan’s super-food, packed full of vitamins and minerals and all wrapped up in a munchy morsel of the sweat and energy of those whose labor cooked it at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Taxes are to Leviathan what spinach is to Popeye. After several days on a diet exclusively of protein-rich taxes even the tiniest of critters will mutate into a Sigourney Weaver alien-like monster ready to devour all in its path.

If Leviathan is now breathing its fiery breath down the necks of every American it is because in the last one hundred years we have unLocked its cage, let it out, and voluntarily provided him a feeding platter of tasty tax-filled Wonka bars.

It has been long in coming, but some Americans are finally starting to realize the danger of Leviathan and that such a fiend must be stopped. On April 15, 2009, thousands of liberty-loving Americans held T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already) parties in hundreds of cities throughout the U.S. protesting the heavy burden of taxation that the State has placed on their backs. (Of course the neo-con politicians and media outlets that jumped on the bandwagon to transform the tea parties into an Obama bashing party in order to placate their voter base and audiences, and the Obama-hating-Bush-loving Republicans, are not included in the category “liberty-loving”.)

Read the rest of the article, click here.