The Word of God is Living

The following is excerpted from a sermon entitled, "The Talking Book," which was preached by Charles Spurgeon on October 22, 1871:

[T]he Word is living. How else could it be said: "It shall talk with thee"? A dead book cannot talk, nor can a dumb book speak. It is clearly a living book, then, and a speaking book: "The word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." How many of us have found this to be most certainly true! A large proportion of human books are long ago dead, and even shrivelled like Egyptian mummies; the mere course of years has rendered them worthless, their teaching is disproved, and they have no life for us. Entomb them in your public libraries if you will, but, henceforth, they will stir no man's pulse and warm no man's heart. But this thrice blessed book of God, though it has been extant among us these many hundreds of years, is immortal in its life, unwithering in its strength: the dew of its youth is still upon it; its speech still drops as the rain fresh from heaven; its truths are overflowing founts of ever fresh consolation. Never book spake like this book; its voice, like the voice of God, is powerful and full of majesty.

Whence comes it that the word of God is living? Is it not, first, because it is pure truth? Error is death, truth is life. No matter how well established an error may be by philosophy, or by force of arms, or the current of human thought, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all untruth shall be as stubble before the fire. The tooth of time devours all lies. Falsehoods are soon cut down, and they wither as the green herb. Truth never dies, it dates its origin from the immortals. Kindled at the source of light, its fame cannot be quenched; if by persecution it be for a time covered, it shall blaze forth anew to take reprisals upon its adversaries. Many a once venerated system of error now rots in the dead past among the tombs of the forgotten; but the truth as it is in Jesus knows no sepulchre, and fears no funeral; it lives on, and must live while the Eternal fills His throne.

Over and above all this, the Holy Spirit has a peculiar connection with the word of God. I know that He works in the ministries of all His servants whom He hath ordained to preach; but for the most part, I have remarked that the work of the Spirit of God in men's hearts is rather in connection with the texts we quote than with our explanations of them. "Depend upon it," says a deeply spiritual writer, "it is God's word, not man's comment on it, which saves souls." God does save souls by our comment, by still it is true that the majority of conversions have been wrought by the agency of a text of Scripture. It is the word of God that is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. There must be life in it, for by it men are born again. As for believers, the Holy Spirit often sets the word on a blaze while they are studying it. The letters were at one time before us as mere letters, but the Holy Ghost suddenly came upon them, and they spake with tongues. The chapter is lowly as the bush at Horeb, but the Spirit descends upon it, and lo! it glows with celestial splendour, God appearing in the words, so that we feel like Moses when he put off his shoes from his feet, because the place whereon he stood was holy ground. It is true, the mass of readers understand not this, and look upon the Bible as a common book; but if they understand it not, as least let them allow the truthfulness of our assertion, when we declare that hundreds of times we have as surely felt the presence of God in the page of Scripture as ever Elijah did when he heard the Lord speaking in a still small voice. The Bible has often appeared to us as a temple of God, and the posts of its doors have moved at the voice of Him that cried, whose train also has filled the temple. We have been constrained adoringly to cry, with the seraphim. "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Hosts." God the Holy Spirit vivifies the letter with His presence, and then it is to us a living word indeed.

Does Perry Noble Need to Heed His Own Advice?

Have you always wondered what is the secret behind a mega church pastor's sermon success? Well, if so, then you should have tuned in last week to the webcast of the Preach Better Sermons online conference. Speakers for this online-only event included Andy and Charles Stanley, Perry Noble, and Louie Giglio, among others.

The Christian Post enlightens us as to some of Perry Noble's advice to the viewers of this event:

NewSpring Church Pastor Perry Noble advised the thousands of pastors watching online to begin with the Word of God and not a VH1 video or popular song. 

"Let the text, the Bible drive the sermon. Don't say I saw a video on VH1 and I want to establish a sermon around that," the South Carolina megachurch pastor exhorted. "The Word of God has to be where it starts. I'm so passionate about that." (Online Source)

Um...has Perry Noble forgotten about Easter 2009?


Well, it was nearly three years ago, so perhaps it slipped his mind. But what about the Spring of 2011, when Newspring Church featured Katy Perry's then-hit single "Firework" in the Sunday service?


Glad to see that popular songs aren't driving the services there at Newspring. The Christian Post article continues:

Noble, whose church is getting ready to launch its eighth campus, said nearly every idea that he has preached on for the past five years came out of his quiet time. He made it clear, however, that his quiet time with the Lord is not sermon prep time. 

"But while I'm reading the Bible to try my best to hear the voice of God, if something pops in my mind, I write it down," he explained. 

"A preacher preaches best when he preaches out of the overflow of his heart. I really want to try my best to communicate that idea that God set my heart on fire with." (Online Source)

We certainly hope that Noble is not listening for an audible voice from God, however, it's difficult to imagine that a careful study of Scripture would lead one to use the above two songs in a Sunday worship service. But then, Noble has previously explained what led him to the decision to play "Highway to Hell" for the Easter Sunday service, and he does seem to claim that the idea came from God.


So which is it? Is Perry Noble preaching from the Word of God, or from an "idea that God set [his] heart on fire with?" One is clear, God-breathed Scripture, while the other seems to be an emotionally driven whim. So what does Perry Noble's track record indicate? Is he really allowing the biblical text to drive the sermon, as he described to the online viewers of the Preach Better Sermons event?

Well, it wasn't too long ago that we heard Perry Noble preach Matthew 6:33 as a text that commands tithing. So, even if he is opening a Bible on the stage each week, it appears that Noble is still in need of a refresher course in biblical hermeneutics and exegesis.


It seems, then, that Perry Noble knows the right thing to say when discussing what a pastor should do. Unfortunately, it appears that he at times has difficulty practicing what he preaches (pardon the pun). Nevertheless, we certainly hope that Perry Noble will begin to heed his own advice. How nice it would be if those soon-to-be eight campuses of Newspring Church would begin to hear the clear, un-compromised Word of God preached each week rather than merely having their itching ears scratched.

SEE ALSO:
Perry Noble Says "Seek First" Means "Tithe"
Robert Morris Teams Up With Hybels, Noble, and Word Faith Preacher Tim Ross
"Code Orange" Speaker Perry Noble

Sunday Morning Praise

O God, Our Help in Ages Past


This hymn, written by Isaac Watts, is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. Early on in his Christian life, Watts felt concern over the music being sung in churches. "His father one day challenged him to write something better for the congregation, a challenge which he accepted (Kenneth Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, 184)." Indeed, Watts went on to become one of the most well-known and well-loved hymn writers even to this day.

This 'n' That

Well, if this is global warming, sign me up! I love Spring. I really love Spring in the middle of March! What a blessed morning it has been to have the windows open and to see the sun shining and hear the birds singing. It is on days like this when I marvel at how anyone could dare deny the existence of a perfect and sovereign Creator. What I especially love about the spring months are the flowers and the colors. Nothing can generate a smile more than seeing the bright cheerfulness of tulips and daffodils in the midst of a hopelessly fallen world. Truly we do serve a kind and gracious God.

I was out of town for most of this week, so today's update is a bit abbreviated. If you're enjoying gorgeous weather as I am, take the extra time and get outside and praise God for His goodness. And now, here's your week in review (kind of):

• Rowan Williams has announced that he will be stepping down as Archbishop of Canterbury. No comments from this peanut gallery. Not yet, anyway.

• The new iPad is here. Great, this means that I'll spend the next couple of months repenting of the sin of covetousness.

• I'm really looking forward to this conference.

• Hooray! The audio from the 2012 Shepherd's Conference is now available!

• Pastrix Paula White, with the help of T.D. Jakes, is having a "God encounter" at her church. Hm...what say you about this, James MacDonald?

• No, this is not a joke. It's a clip of an actual service from the Crystal Cathedral.

• Russian and South Korean researchers are planning to resurrect the woolly mammoth. Yeah, because that's something we need wandering the streets. Good luck with that.

• Which matters in a church: good works, or sound doctrine?

• Nate Busenitz offers thoughts on "throwing prophecy under the Agabus."

• The coming persecution:

A King's Way Comparison

Christine Pack of Sola Sisters has created a helpful visual aid that assesses the conflicting claims surrounding the Rick Warren - King's Way controversy. It provides a nice, clean comparison of the entire debacle.

(Online Source)

Worldliness: A Great Danger to Man's Soul

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Worldliness is one of the greatest dangers that beset man's soul. It is no wonder that we find our Lord speaking strongly about it: it is an insidious, specious, plausible enemy; it seems so innocent to pay close attention to our business! It seems so harmless to seek our happiness in this world, so long as we keep clear of open sins! Yet here is a rock on which many make shipwreck to all eternity. They "lay up treasure on earth," and forget to "lay up treasure in heaven." May we all remember this! Where are our hearts? What do we love best? Are our chiefest affections on things in earth, or things in heaven? Life or death depends on the answer we can give to these questions. If our treasure is earthly, our hearts will be earthly also. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be."

Let us learn from our Lord's caution about worldliness, what need we have to watch and pray against an earthly spirit. What are the vast majority of professing Christians round us doing? "They are laying up treasure on earth:" there can be no mistake about it; their tastes, their ways, their habits, tell a fearful tale. They are not "laying up treasure in heaven." Let us beware that we do not sink into hell by paying excessive attention to lawful things. Open transgression of God's law slays its thousands, but worldliness its tens of thousands.

- J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew, 56-57. 

The King's Way Controversy Continues to Confuse

The following was written by Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries and Christian Research Network.

RICK WARREN SAYS NO KING’S WAY DOCUMENT AND NO SADDLEBACK “STAFF” INVOLVED

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Mar 11, 2012

As Apprising Ministries covers the slide into apostasy within mainstream evangelicalism you’ll be witnessing an alarming syncretism and alliances one would never have dreamed of even a couple of years ago.

For example, I carefully documented in Rick Warren And Teachings Of Demons that prominent Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren clearly holds that the apostate Church of Rome, which anathematized the Gospel itself, is part of the Body of Christ and a legitimate expression of the Christian faith.

More on that another time, suffice to say here that this is also the vision of charismatic Southern Baptist Bible teacher Beth Moore as well. In fact, you need to know that this really is the prevailing position of much of the younger sectors of greater Christendom.

We shift slightly now and observe that Rick Warren’s become embroiled in a controversy involving Islam. I began my coverage a couple of weeks ago in Rick Warren, Islam, And Jim Hinch after personally speaking with Hinch, who was under the impression that Warren believed Christians and Muslims believe in the same God.

The conflict starts with free lance reporter Jim Hinch’s report Rick Warren builds bridge to Muslims, which ran in the Orange County Register. The story spoke of a “joint effort” between Saddleback Church and the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC):

informally dubbed King’s Way, caps years of outreach between Warren and Muslims… At [a] dinner, Abraham Meulenberg, a Saddleback pastor in charge of interfaith outreach, and Jihad Turk, director of religious affairs at a mosque in Los Angeles, introduced King’s Way as “a path to end the 1,400 years of misunderstanding between Muslims and Christians.” (Online source)

Interestingly enough, the ICSC itself is carrying Hinch’s story Rick Warren builds bridge to Muslims. At first glance this would all seem simple enough; a report of a dinner at Saddleback Church where Turk and Meulenberg (pictured below) present their joint effort involving a document they’d written called the King’s Way:

However, as I then showed you in Rick Warren, Ed Stetzer, And Watchbloggers, Warren denies the conclusions Jim Hinch drew in his initial OC Register report; and further stated:

Christians have a fundamentally different view of God than Muslims. We worship Jesus as God. Muslims don’t. Our God is Jesus, not Allah. (Online source)

The confusion really began to grow when I brought you a small section from what I was told is the King’s Way document in Apprising Ministries Exclusive On Rick Warren, Jim Hinch, And Islam:

I. WHO: we believe in ONE GOD:

1. God is one (Mark 12:29; Muhammed 47:19)

2. God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1; Al Shura 42:11)

I would then be cited in Religion: God, Allah and Rick Warren by Terry Mattingly, who:

directs the Washington Journalism Center at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. He writes this weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service.

Mattingly’s father was a pastor and his mother is a language arts teacher. Thus, it’s no surprise that Mattingly is a journalist and teacher who focuses on religion and that he continues to study both writing and religion. (Online source)

In his piece Mattingly quotes what he says is an email from Rick Warren who absolutely insists that:

“Neither I, nor my staff, had ever seen such a document UNTIL the article mentioned it. It wasn’t created or even seen by us. … Saddleback church as a church was not involved,”… (Online source)

So this story takes on yet another twist. We have no reason to doubt Terry Mattingly received the email from Rick Warren cited above. However, it only serves to bring up more questions. What does Rick Warren mean by staff? He says, “It wasn’t created or even seen by us.” Who then would be the “us” to which Warren refers?

Is Abraham Meulenberg, listed in the article as a Saddleback pastor, really not part of this “staff?” What exactly is this King’s Way, which was presented during a dinner at Saddleback Church? And why all ambiguous language, which is so vague it quite easily allows for someone to interpret that this document is speaking of the same God.

Take for example, that’s how it was seen by Jim Hinch, by at least some at the ICSC, and then there’s On Islam. Before quoting from Hinch’s OC Register piece, they opened their own coverage of King’s Way Unites US Evangelicals, Muslims by stating:

Overcoming decades of misunderstanding, Muslims and evangelical Christians in the Orange County in California are establishing new partnerships that focuses on the principles both faiths share. (Online source)

Yet now Rick Warren has issued On Responding To False Accusations where he takes another shot at the integrity of veteran freelance reporter Jim Hinch and then levels an ad hominem attack directed at me:

Predictably, to defend himself after my interview corrected his errors, the Orange County Register reporter released a segment of the so-called “document” to the I-hate-Saddleback bloggers – giving them a supposed smoking gun. Unfortunately, he forgot to ask if any Saddleback pastors had actually signed or even seen this paper.

We had not! But now we’ve heard that there will be a second article this Sunday in the Register giving a platform and legitimacy to attackers who didn’t know the facts either. So don’t be surprised if it’s wrong again. (Online source, emphasis mine)

The record will show that I was the one who initially published the segment in question. Sorry to disappoint Rick Warren, but I don’t hate him, nor do I hate anyone at Saddleback Church. Now I know Rick Warren seems somewhat of a “teflon” pastor where no charge can stick to him, but perhaps now he’s finally gone too far.

Maybe it’s time for someone to begin looking more closely at Warren’s own conduct here, as well as the words he’s using in this sad situation. No Saddleback pastors “signed or [had] even seen this paper?” Let’s consider the following from Jihad Turk, whom Rick Warren refers to “a our Muslim friend,” and even links to himself:

When I was approached almost two years ago by Saddleback pastor Abraham Meulenbergwho expressed interest in exploring ways that we can bring our communities together in friendship, I welcomed the initiative. (Online source, emphasis added)

As I get set to close this out, for now, I leave aside the alleged King’s Way document itself, and instead, point out that Warren’s Muslim friend seems to contradict his statement about no Saddleback pastors being involved. Well, which is it? So, I guess we now even have to ask: What does Rick Warren mean by pastor?

Have we headed into Bill Clintonesque double speak? I’m afraid it’s about to get worse for Rick Warren; I point you now to Jim Hinch’s follow up report released today. Among other things, in Effort to reach out to Muslims stirs outcry, note carefully what Hinch tells us about Saddleback Church concerning his original report:

In a series of phone conversations Feb. 27, David Chrzan, Warren’s chief of staff, told this reporter and a Register editor that the story was factually correct except in its statement that Warren believes Christians and Muslims worship the same God. It would be more accurate to state that Christians and Muslims both believe in one God, Chrzan said.

Chrzan asked that the Register publish a correction to the story but later withdrew the request. (Online source, emphasis mine)

One would think David Chrzan would be part of the “staff” Rick Warren referred to above. And Hinch’s own testimony is that his initial report was ”factually correct” according to Chrzan, who tells us himself that he’s a”pastor” and “Chief of Staff & Communications Navigator at Saddleback Church”:

(Online source)

Forget the idea of whether Muslims and Christians “worship” the same God and any charge of Chrislam. Here they only serve as rabbit trails. This a key point: If Jim Hinch’s story really is factually correct, then there would be a King’s Way document; and further, at least one other Saddleback pastor also knew about this King’s Way:

Tom Holladay, associate senior pastor at Saddleback, said the outreach to Muslims is part of Saddleback’s PEACE Plan, a wide-ranging effort to solve major world problems by mobilizing governments, businesses and faith communities.

“This is us serving our own community with Muslims here in Orange County,” said Holladay. “We realize we don’t agree about everything and we’re very open about that. … You just recognize the differences and recognize the points where you can work together.” (Online source)

To get to the bottom of this, someone needs to sit Rick Warren down and make him define the words he’s using.

See also:

JAMES ROBISON AND RICK WARREN WORKING TO REVERSE THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

JOHN PIPER, RICK WARREN & FOSTER-WILLARDISM

MARK DRISCOLL, ACTS 29 NETWORK, AND RICK WARREN

Moody Church Welcomes Spiritual Formation Expert Larry Crabb

The Moody Church in Chicago is led by senior pastor Erwin Lutzer, who is widely known to be a staunch defender of maintaining a biblical worldview rather than succumbing to the liberal compromises of the day. That is why it is rather curious that Lutzer has chosen to hand his pulpit over to Larry Crabb, a psychologist-turned-spiritual-formation-expert whose efforts and books tend to promote contemplative prayer, mysticism, and elevate subjective experience over and above objective truth.

Crabb was invited to lead the 2012 Leadership Summit that was held at Moody Church on Saturday, March 10. Following this, he will be ushered into Erwin Lutzer's pulpit to preach the Sunday service on March 11.

(Online Source)

(Online Source)

So, just who is Larry Crabb? According to the website of his organization, New Way Ministries, 

Dr. Larry Crabb is a well-known psychologist, conference and seminar speaker, Bible teacher, popular author, and founder/director of NewWay Ministries. In addition to various other speaking and teaching opportunities, Dr. Crabb offers a weekend conference throughout the country entitled Life on the Narrow Road and a week-long School of Spiritual Direction held in Colorado Springs, CO. He currently is Scholar in Residence at Colorado Christian University in Colorado and serves as Spiritual Director for the American Association of Christian Counselors. Dr. Crabb has authored many books including; Understanding People, The Marriage Builder, Finding God, Connecting, The Safest Place on Earth, The Pressure's Off, Shattered Dreams, and SoulTalk. His latest book, The PAPA Prayer, was released in February 2006. Dr. Crabb and his wife, Rachael, live in the Denver, Colorado area. 

Educational Background 

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Illinois, 1970 (Minors: Speech Therapy and Philosophy of Science)
M.A. Clinical Psychology, University of Illinois, 1969
B.S. Psychology, Ursinus College, 1965

(Online Source)

Obviously, Crabb's background in psychology is quite extensive. Unfortunately, this has seeped quite extensively into his writing and work. Just one example is found New Way Ministries' course offerings of the School of Spiritual Direction (SSD). Crabb describes the SSD in the following manner:

I call it the Passion/Wisdom Model of Spiritual Direction, and I see it as offering the opportunity for our interior worlds and supernatural reality to meet. This model offers a conceptual understanding of the private and often confusing world beneath the surface of our everyday lives and a rhythmic strategy for following the Spirit into the depths of people’s souls, including our own. That is where God’s Spirit is moving us into the Father’s presence and into the light of the Son so that we can (1) enjoy God, (2) accept ourselves, and (3) engage with others in the energy of Christ. (Online Source)

What we read above is, at best, psycho-babble with a "Christianese" twist. At worst, it's mystical deception. As was mentioned above, Crabb has authored numerous books. The most recent of these, The PAPA Prayer, was briefly reviewed by Pastor Gary Gilley. Of this work, Gilley says,

Most importantly the ideas presented are not in any way drawn from Scripture. Crabb’s experience and imagination is the seed-bed of The PAPA Prayer. What little Scripture Crabb uses is taken out of context or distorted (e.g. pp. 29, 45-51, 111, 116, 119). Probably the most “creative” use of Scripture was tagging on a command by Jesus given to John based on Revelation 1:16-17, “Then the risen Christ placed His right hand on John and spoke. ‘Don’t be afraid. I’m alive and because I’m alive, you’re alive. Advance My kingdom until I return with great power to finish the job’” (p. 118). This last statement is simply not there (maybe Crabb should review Revelation 22:18-19).

The author also introduces his newer devotion to mysticism a number of times (pp. 123, 146, 149). As a matter of fact, in disguised form he promotes all three stages of classic mysticism: purgation, illumination and union (pp. 146-149). Centering and contemplative prayer is also recommended (pp. 9, 22). Even a little visualization in the form of dancing with God (pp. 19, 107, 163) is evident. 

But the heart of the book, and its chief error, is the goal behind the PAPA prayer. The PAPA prayer is a means by which we hear the voice of God—not necessarily audibly, but at least inwardly, “Prayer is more about us hearing God than about His hearing us. We’re the audience” (p. 71). Crabb promises, “PAPA will speak to you [if you follow Crabb’s formula]. He loves a good conversation with His children” (pp. 143-144). This is the carrot that will draw people to the PAPA prayer and is the reoccurring theme throughout (pp. XIV-XVI; 8, 9, 12. 13, 19, 71, 80, 85, 124, 143, 165). But where in Scripture are we taught any such thing? Yes, there were rare occasions in the Word when God spoke to someone while he was praying, but nowhere are we told that this is either the norm or the purpose of prayer. Prayer in the Bible is us speaking to God; it is the Scriptures that speak to us.

Crabb does not find his PAPA prayer in the Bible. It is drawn from experience, mysticism and faulty theology. (Online Source)

As Gilley notes, experience is what dominates Crabb's book. Indeed, experience is at the very heart of the vast majority of deceptions which today plague our churches. When the quest for a warm, welcoming experience is sought through such means as centering or contemplative prayer, then our ravenous enemy has a wide doorway through which to walk.

Larry Crabb has authored another book which ought to be of concern to the Christian. In his book, SoulTalk, Crabb explains that, while in the hospital awaiting surgery, he was privileged to discover a sort of secret language of the Holy Spirit, a language that Crabb calls "SoulTalk." He writes,

I believe God kept me alive so I could speak about it, so together we could start dancing with God. Then we'll learn SoulTalk, and we'll speak with power into people's lives, especially the people we love most. (Online Source)

Dancing with God? Where is the Scripture that speaks to this? Where is the verse that speaks about "SoulTalk?" Check your Bible if you like, but you will not find these references.

Throughout this book, Crabb speaks about "catching the vision" of the Spirit. He speaks of looking into one's own soul, and then into the soul's of others so as to communicate "with power." Yet, is not God the only One who can see into the mind, heart and very soul of any man?

It is not the duty of men, not even redeemed men, to learn to speak some secret, even gnostic, language. It is not the job of redeemed men to search within themselves in their efforts to learn to communicate this imaginary, "supernatural" language. The duty of redeemed men, rather, is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for our sins. The Bible does not speak of "SoulTalk," but it does talk of souls. And it tells us what will happen to those souls who die without Christ.

While we ought to be concerned that Erwin Lutzer has decided to welcome such a spiritual formation proponent as Larry Crabb into his pulpit, we ought not be surprised. After all, Lutzer himself has endorsed The PAPA Prayer.

(Online Source)

We pray the congregation of Moody Church will be listening with great discernment as Larry Crabb stands and teaches from that once great pulpit.

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Sunday Morning Praise

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus


This hymn was written by Louisa M.R. Stead. The lyrics are a result of perhaps one of the darkest hours of Stead's life, the drowning of her husband.

While eating their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries of help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea. Mr. Stead charged into the water. As often happens, however, the struggling boy pulled his rescuer under the water with him, and both drowned before the terrified eyes of wife and daughter. Out of her "why?" struggle with God during the ensuing days flowed these meaningful words from the soul of Lisa Stead. (Kenneth Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories, 288).

Indeed, is any trial too great for our Savior? Perish the thought! What a sweet, sovereign Savior we serve.

This 'n' That

Last night was a full moon. As I drove home, the moon, a glorious creation of our holy God, was before me nearly the entire way. As such, I couldn't get the following song out of my head:

O Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all
The worlds Thy Hand hath made,
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout
The universe displayed;

Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!

Which, of course, led me to ponder Psalm 8:

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

And now, here's your week in review (kind of):

• Did I mention that this week is the Shepherd's Conference? Last day to catch the live stream!

• Where are the churches for people who like church?

• A great teaching on definite redemption. 

• Carl Trueman excellently articulates some thoughts on Lectio Divina.

• Harold Camping has apologized and promised not to offer any new doomsday predictions. 

•  Wheaton College professor has been arrested for something terrible.

• This is a dumb idea. But then, the FDA rarely has good ideas.

• Remember the church that hired a convicted sex offender as their pastor, and decided to ban minors from the services as a result? That church has been asked by the Jacksonville Baptist Association to resign from the the JBA.

• Fred Butler has written a wonderful examination of apologetic methodology, especially as concerns Old Earth Creationists and Young Earth Creationists.

• Pat Robertson says marijuana should be legalized. Really, could somebody please ask this man to just stop talking?

• Looking for a site full of satire? Check out Steam Tunnel Pilot.

• Donald Miller's not-so-wonderful book, Blue Like Jazz, has been made into a movie. Sounds like the typical Christian film: "raw, gritty, with some foul language...rated PG-13 because of mature themes, and some references to sexuality, drugs and alcohol." Wait a minute...that doesn't sound very Christian after all...

• Head to Nevada to check out the latest "Christian" relics, including the very crown of thorns worn by Christ! Um...okay... 

• "It is God whom we must please, and there is only one message that pleases God."