Fatherly Advice
"We can be lifted up toward the Most High only if the Lord who lifts up the humble has stooped down to what is below. That is whay the soul that rises toward the things that are above asks the help of the Transcendent One and begs him to descend from His majesty in order to become accessible to those who are below." -Gregory of Nyssa Homily 10 on the Song of Songs
I prefer the early Christian vision of the nearness of God. Not that God is innately "near" or "approachable," but that the One who is essentially Transcendent will, when we humbly beg Him, stoop to help us.
Brotherly Wisdom
"Once again hear Jesus' words in John 14:13: 'Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.' Suppose you are totally paralyzed and can do nothing for yourself but talk. And suppose a strong and reliable friend promised to live with you and do whatever you needed done. How could you glorify your friend if a stranger came to see you? Would you glorify his generosity and strength by trying to get out of bed and carry him? No! You would say, 'Friend, please lift me up...please put my glasse on for me.' And so your visitor would learn from your requests that you are helpless and that your friend is strong and kind." -John Piper Desiring God p. 160
A professor in seminary defined prayer as "a symbol of complete dependence on God." I think this is a very helpful explanation of why a sovereign God--who's desires for us are clearly better than our desires for ourselves--whould instruct us to pray...so that we would learn and teach that we are helpless and our Father in heaven is strong and kind.
Fatherly Advice
"We are always together with one another. And for all the things with which we are supplied we bless the Maker of all things through his Son Jesus Christ and through his Holy Spirit. And on the day called Sunday there is a gathering together in the same place of all who live in a city or a rural district." -Justin Martyr Apology 1, 67.1-3, 7
Brotherly Wisdom
"The heart is also deceitful. It excuses, rationalizes, and justifies our actions. It blinds us to entire areas of sin in our lives. It causes us to deal with sin using only halfway measures, or to think that mental assent to the Word of God is the same as obedience." -Jerry Bridges The Pursuit of Holiness p. 64
So if my heart really is "deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (Jer 17:9), wouldn't it be just like it to pretend to be the Spirit talking to me?
Fatherly Advice
"Therefore, O Lord, who grants to faith understanding, grant to me ... that I may understand that You are, as we believe; and also that You are what we believe You to be." Anslem of Canterbury Devotions 2
Reading Tozer's quote below brought this prayer to mind. (Not that Anslem just "comes to mind," it just fits.)
Brotherly Wisdom
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us...For this reason the gravest question before the church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at any given time may say or do, but what he in his heart conceives God to be like...Before the Christian church goes into eclipse anywhere there must first be a corrupting of her simple basic theology. She simply gets a wrong answer to the question, "What is God like?" and goes on from there." -A.W.Tozer The Knowledge of the Holy pp. 9-12
Or as Dr. Bingham would paraphrase, "The most important thought you think is the thought you think about God, because it effects every other thought that you think and everything that you do."
Brotherly Wisdom
"A new book is still on its trial and the amateur is not in a position to judge it. It has to be tested against the great body of Christian thought down the ages, and all its hidden implications (often unsuspected by the author himself) have to be brought to light...The only safety is to have a standard of plain, central Christianity ('mere Christianity' as Baxter calls it) which puts the controversies of the moment in their proper perspective. Such a standard can only be acquired from the old books. It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between." -C.S. Lewis Introduction to On the Incarnation by St Athanasius of Alexandria
Notice I have logged Lewis' quotes, not under "Fatherly Advice," but "Brotherly Wisdom." We might be tempted in our love affair with the new, to call Lewis' books "old books." However, what Lewis means by old books is not 20 year old books, but 2000 year old books. This quote comes from an introduction to a "book" written in the 4th Century AD.
Fatherly Advice
"But for searching and right understanding of the Scriptures there is need of a good life and a pure soul, and for Christian virtue to guide the mind to grasp, so far as human nature can, the truth concerning God the Word." -St. Athanasius of Alexandria On the Incarnation 57
So, if Athanasius is right, the best interpreter of the word of God is not the un-invested, "objective" academe with all of the tools of historical research and grammatical insight, but the devout follower of the Word of God Himself, about Whom the word of God testifies.
Brotherly Wisdom
"For my own part I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that 'nothing happens' when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand." -C.S. Lewis Introduction to On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria
Fatherly Advice
"Truly He is that light which illuminates the whole understanding of those who are capable of receiving truth, as is said in the thirty-sixth Psalm, 'In Your light we shall see light.' For what other light of God can be named, in which any one sees light, save an influence of God, by which a man, being enlightened, either thoroughly sees the truth of all things, or comes to know God Himself, who is called the truth? Such is the meaning of the expression, 'In Your light we shall see light;' i.e., in Your word and wisdom which is Your Son, in Himself we shall see You the Father." -Origen De Principiis 1.1.1
Harvest
This morning as I walked to the office I heard what sounded like combines in the fields. The things are really loud, but surprisingly, the sound is refreshing. In my college days I used to drive a fair stretch of Highway 13 in Eastern Iowa. It was usually late on a Sunday afternoon that I was heading back to school. The low-hanging sun would cast an amber hue on the earth which made the fields look like gold. The combines would throw huge clouds of dust and chaff behind them which would mellow the suns beams that much more. The Scriptures use the metaphor of a field in two different ways. Jesus uses it to demonstrate that there are many people who have been prepared to receive His teaching. Now His disciples just need to go out and get 'em. Paul's image is similar, but in this case the preparation isn't to receive Christ, but to be made complete in Him. One points to the first-fruits. The other to the harvest in its fullness. The point in Jesus' illustration is the need for work on the part of the "farmers." Paul's point is specifically to downplay the role of the farmers, and to point to their completely dependence on God to cause growth. Either way, harvest is a beautiful picture of hope fulfilled. Much planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, and waiting has been done. All of this expects a completion. The process finds its worth in the produce. For the farmer, grain. For the believer, communion with God Himself, whether through the down-payment of, or through the full inheritance of the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
Fatherly Advice
"Q: I've an issue, world, to bring up with you. Who are you, and
whence, teach first, and whither do you roll?
And how do you revolve me, like a wheel that carries an ant?
A: Where I'm from I don't know, but I know it's from God.
And I roll towards something greater. But I don't turn you round.
But it's you, unworldly one, who act violently towards me.
Q: How then do you stand solid, whilst I'm unsteady?
A: I am something external, and what's the advantage of that?
But the things you want to do, you can do them, if you want.
Q: Well and good; but external things, who can bear them?
A: Why, is there something wrong?
Matter here is for the sake of the salvation of the good.
Q: Then the cause of you is someone greater?
A: You've got it."
-Gregory of Nazianzus A Conversation With the World
I have a collection of Gregory's poems translated by Peter Gilbert. I think he does an excellent job translating, not just the words, but the art as well.
This particular poem may seem strange unless you know that Gregory's preference was to be left alone in his study, "on the mountain," contemplating God and self. ("external things, who can bear them?") It was his understanding of the Church that constantly drew him out of the mountains and into the pulpit, into the Council, or out to the poor.
Brotherly Wisdom
"Among born-again adults, there was a 44% rise in those who gave nothing last year. Compared to 1999, the mean per capita donation to churches dropped by 19 percent in 2000. One-third of born-again adults said they tithed in 2000, but a comparison of their actual giving and household incomes reveals that only one-eighth did so." -Barna Research Update 2001, cited in Randy Alcorn The Treasure Principle
Since this update things have remained a little more constant. Evangelicals lead the way in giving...a whopping 24% of evangelicals gave 10% or more in 2007. Now, these are "evangelicals"--those who by definition believe and affirm the gospel. You know, the one where God gives His Only-Begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sin, and who lavishly pours out the Holy Spirit on His Church as a down-payment. 24% of us gave that God 10% or more of our resources. Good job guys!
Fatherly Advice
"For He didn't shave off any bit of godhead, and still he saved me, stooping as a doctor over my foul-smelling passions. He was a man, but God. David's offspring, but Adam's Maker. A bearer of flesh, but, even so, beyond all body. From a mother, but she's a virgin. Comprehensible, but immeasurable." -Gregory of Nazianzus De Filio
Gregory goes on for a page listing a human quality in tandem with it's divine counterpart. Litanies like this can be found throughout Gregory's writings. He loved to highlight the mystery--even paradox--of the incarnation.
Brotherly Wisdom
"Each generation of Christians is tempted to see its way of worship, its way of ministry, its way of doing spirituality as the most biblical or practical. History reminds us that our generation is not the only one that has ever lived the Christian life. We are Christians within a company of Christians, both present and past, both living on earth and with the Lord. History helps keep us from becoming infatuated with ourselves. History nurtures the godly virtue of humility." -D. Jeffrey Bingham Pocket History of the Church p.11.
Why the Name?
Some of you may be wondering what's with the name of my blog. It is from a song. Here it is:
In your manger cold
Fingers feel like stone
Mama wraps her shawl around your skin
Finally find your rest
On your mother’s breast
Mother of God Mother of Man
So sleep now my friend
Warm with the love of your kin
The love of your new found kin
Adam’s day is done
The two in the One
Father wraps the Son around our skin
So sing now my friends
Warm with the love of your kin
The love of your new found kin
The song is about the Incarnation. The beautiful truth that God unites humanity to himself by uniting His nature and human nature in the person of His Son. Suddenly God is not far off, but "with us." The Son, eternally existing with the Father and the Spirit, suddenly finds Himself in a new family. "Remaining what He was (divine), He became what He was not (human)." On the flip side, humanity suddenly has a new kin. But this relationship is not automatic. Now there is an "old man" and a "new man." To be "in Christ" is to be a part of this "new humanity." We are "included in Christ" when we hear the word of truth, the gospel, and believe it. Just makes you wanna sing, don't it?
Neato!
Jon referred to this in a comment below. I thought it was worth posting for this simple reason:
In this video you will see four men all of whom have advanced degrees, who are articulate in their reasoning and speech, and who are pastors. These men have said "Theology, thinking, and reasoning are important, not just for me, not just for my professors, not just for seminary students, but for all of the flock of God."
Fatherly Advice
"For when the thing that we love is near us, it is a matter of course that it should bring delight with it. And if you pass beyond this delight, and make it a means to that which you are permanently to rest in, you are using it, and it is an abuse of language to say that you enjoy it. But if you cling to it, and rest in it, finding your happiness complete in it, then you may be truly and properly said to enjoy it. And this we must never do except in the case of the Blessed Trinity, who is the Supreme and Unchangeable Good." -Augustine On Christian Doctrine 1.33
My paraphrase: "When you love something, it gives you joy. But if that joy is simply a means to a greater, more permanent joy, then you're not "enjoying" it per se, you're using it. But if you cling to it, and rest in it, enjoying it for what it is--not what it leads to, then you really are enjoying it. And this we must never do except in the case of the Blessed Trinity, who is the Supreme and Unchangeable Good."
God is to be enjoyed. Everything/Everyone else is to be used.
Brotherly Wisdom
"God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
God comes right out and tells us why He gives us more money than we need. It's not so we can find more ways to spend it. It's not so we can indulge ourselves and spoil our children. It's not so we can insulate ourselves from needing God's provision. It's so we can give--generously.
When God provides more money we often think, This is a blessing. Well, yes, but it would be just as scriptural to think, This is a test." -Randy Alcorn The Treasure Principle p.75
Fatherly Advice
For the way of all those who see is single and upward, illumined by the heavenly light, but the ways of those who do not see are many, dark and divergent; the one leads to the kingdom of heaven, uniting man to God, while the others lead down to death, separating man from God.
-Irenaeus of Lyons On the Apostolic Preaching
I love the language of salvation, not as an everlasting living in a place (heaven), but an eternal union with God. It is also interesting that he claims that the primary distinction between Christianity and all other "ways" is that our way is singular...this apparent rigidity would seem at variance with presentations of the faith that call for us to "flex" or "repaint" our faith to fit new and emerging cultures.
Brotherly Wisdom
"The Church is not simply an institution. She is a "mode of existence," a way of being. The mystery of the Church, even in its institutional dimension, is deeply bound to the being of man, to the being of the world and to the very being of God." -John D. Zizioulas Being as Communion p. 15.
This quote seems to be a stumbling block, both for those with a disdain for anything institutional in the Church, and for those who would view the Church as merely a social club or spiritualized corporation.
Brotherly Wisdom
"Prayer is God's appointed way to fullness of joy because it is the vent of the inward burnings of our heart for Christ. If we had no vent, if we could not commune with Him in response to His Word, we would be miserable indeed." -John Piper Desiring God p. 176
This, alongside "Fatherly Advice" (a daily post of patristic insight), will become a regular quote by a contemporary author. Warning: May contain numerous Piper quotes.
Fatherly Advice
I know we are as though making a great voyage on a raft,
or hastening towards the starry sky upon small wings,
when, with such poems, mind has moved to exhibit the Godhead
(which transcends the power of heavenly beings to worship as is due),
or the great Godhead's statutes, and the universe's helm.
- Gregory of Nazianzus Poem 1.1.1 De Patre
Gregory always begins his lengthier discussions of God by showing how inadequate we are for the task of discussing God. In his Theological Orations he goes on for pages about the mysteries of the natural world. The point being, "If we don't get this stuff, from this fallen world, why do we think we know so much about God?" In this introduction to a poem about God, he draws a picture of a tiny raft (the human mind) that can barely support the weight of it's own helm (the universe). Good stuff.
Shed Project
You can see here that I basically extended the deck and put the shed on the extended deck.
Had to paint as I went because it sits inches from the house.
It got dark.
A Depressing Time of Year
I remember last year feeling this same feeling coming off a high-energy, fun summer, and looking head-long into a long, cold off-season. Of course, this is the nature of camping ministry, but being prepared for it in no way lessens the burn. I miss the sounds of TAG Team downstairs doing dishes (yes, you can normally hear them upstairs). I miss the hype before chapel, and the energy we try to sustain throughout. I miss the quiet lull of cabin time and the roar of activities in the afternoon. By way of consolation, our fall schedule is filling fast--a welcome change from last year.