(Today would have been my Mother’s 87th birthday. I wrote this tribute ten days after her death in 2008.) My Mother was not given to self-disclosure. Health updates, news about her activities, and reminiscences on her long life came only by my persistent personal inquiry. She was a quiet, godly woman, and conversations with her quickly turned away from herself and to her desire to know how Lynne, her grandsons, and I were doing. I never heard my Mother brag. She came to womanhood during the Great Depression and World War II, and was never at home with the moral climate and self-absorption of much of my Baby Boomer generation. When she prayed aloud, it was with the language and…
Read MoreYoung George Washington’s education included copying by hand “Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” In the process he learned not only penmanship, but a code of manners that shaped his character and conduct. Some of the 110 rules pertain to etiquette: “In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.” And, “Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs roll not the Eyes lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.” Fortunately, I’ve never been in situation that required me to: “Kill no Vermin as Fleas,…
Read MoreOur pleasure and our duty, Though opposite before, Since we have seen His beauty, Are joined to part no more: It is our highest pleasure, No less than duty’s call, To love Him beyond measure, And serve Him with our all. – John Newton
Read More93. How are these [The Ten] Commandments divided? Into two tables: the first of which teaches, in four commandments, what duties we owe to God; the second, in six, what duties we owe to our neighbor. 94. What does God require in the first Commandment? That, on peril of my soul’s salvation, I avoid and flee all idolatry, sorcery, enchantments, invocation of saints or of other creatures; and that I rightly acknowledge the only true God, trust in Him alone, with all humility and patience expect all good from Him only, and love, fear, and honor Him with my whole heart; so as rather to renounce all creatures than to do the least thing against His will. 95. What is…
Read More“ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (1662 Book of Common Prayer)
Read MoreClick here for tomorrow’s bulletin. MORNING WORSHIP (9:30): Charlie Wingard, preaching: 1 Kings 5-7 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL (11:00): 1. READING THE BIBLE BIBLICALLY A study of how to use the structure, genres, and themes of the Bible to read it with more wonder, depth and understanding. Having considered how these aspects are seen throughout Scripture as a whole, we will apply them to reading select books of the Old and New Testaments. 2. INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS Using the Westminster Larger Catechism, the class surveys important moral decisions that contemporary Christians face. Issues include the role of God’s law in a believer’s life, the sanctification of the Lord’s day, abortion, capital punishment, end of life issues, sexual purity, fidelity in…
Read MoreVarious & Sundry: August 30
Articles and clips of interest I viewed this week: Mrs. Thatcher won’t jump, a role model alternative to Miley Cyrus. Confused by the players in the Middle East crisis? Consult this chart. Are all sins equal? J.I. Packer’s answer. Meghan Cox Gurdon makes “The Case for Good Taste in Children’s Books.”
Read MoreHoliness by J.C. Ryle was the first book I read devoted to the believer’s personal holiness. Through the years I’ve returned to it many times for instruction and encouragement, and it remains atop my list of recommended books on the subject. Ryle loved the the gospel of God’s justifying grace in Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Not human works but Christ, by his meritorious life and atoning death, saves believing, repentant sinners. God justifies, and he also sanctifies as he works in believers to purify and make them holy…
Read MoreLeadership is influence. At home, church, and work Christian leaders influence for godliness or ungodliness; they build up or tear down, help or hinder Christ’s work In Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders, former director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship, provides standards to measure the quality of our leadership. Have you ever broken yourself of a bad habit? To lead others, one must be master of oneself. Do you retain control of yourself when things go wrong? The leader who loses self-control in testing circumstances forfeits respect and loses influence. He must be calm in crisis and resilient in adversity and disappointment. Do you think independently? While using to the full the thoughts of others, the leader cannot afford to let others do…
Read MoreToday’s fiscal meltdown in Detroit foreshadows America’s tomorrow. Washington’s promiscuous spending, immoral borrowing from future generations, and unfunded entitlement liabilities propel the nation toward catastrophe. To keep Mr. Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign focused, strategist James Carville coined the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” Too bad he didn’t drop a word. “It’s economy, stupid” would better serve our nation. Speaking at Westminster in 2009, the late Dr. Cortez Cooper reviewed Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary’s multiple definitions of the word economy: ECON’OMY, n. [L. oeconomia; Gr. house, and law, rule.] 1. Primarily, the management, regulation and government of a family or the concerns of a household. 2. The management of pecuniary concerns or the expenditure of money. Hence, 3. A frugal and…
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