In short, this book is a gem.
Dr. D.A. Carson has edited a number of scholarly works and essays and has compiled them into a readable book, appropriate for the seminary professor, pastor or layman. He tackles St. John, chapters 14 through 17, where John provides a behind-the-scenes look at Jesus giving His disciples words of comfort, aid and hope, as the Lord prepares for His passion to begin.
Carson breaks down the words of Jesus often used in funeral messages from John 14:1-6. He sheds new light on Jesus', "I am the way and the truth and the life," showing what the Lord meant as He talked to confused disciples. Carson explains how the Father and the Son take care of the disciples - then and now - by sending the Holy Spirit, who makes clear the work of the Trinity. Carson's discussion on what Jesus meant when He said to the disciples, "My peace I leave with you..." is a masterpiece. He explains how this peace is vertical (with God), horizontal (peace with your neighbor) and personal (peace in your own heart).
I am just scratching the surface of what this book has to offer. What I loved most about the book is that you find Jesus on every page - comforting, assuring and praying for His disciples (and that includes you and me!). Find this book, mark it up, write what you've learned in your Bible. Again, D.A. Carson has produced a gem!
Book provided by Baker Books for review.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Delight yourself in the Lord!
What do you take pleasure in?
An Arizona sunset? A long-distance phone call from an old friend? Balancing a grandchild on your knee? Having the entire family at the dinner table for a meal?
Do you know that God wants to have a relationship with you in which you take pleasure in Him?
The psalmist David writes in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord. This you can do in so many ways. You can take pleasure...being in God's house to receive His gifts of grace...kneeling at the communion rail to feast on Christ's body and blood for the forgiveness of sins...in the assurance of God's love as found in the Gospels...celebrating old friendships and making new ones with Christ at the center...in being used by the Lord through meaningful service in the church.
A word from Holy Scripture can bring delight in the Lord. Lyrics from a great old hymn or a modern new one can produce a feeling of pleasure and contentment as we sing praises to our great and mighty God for His blessings. To take pleasure in your relationship with the Lord is to give thanks to God for His unlimited mercy and grace.
Psalm 37:4 comes with a promise - "and He will give you the desires of your heart." Don't misunderstand - this is not the promise of God's blank check with which you can do or have anything you want. David is simply noting that when a believer takes pleasure in their Lord, they seek to make His will their will and constantly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that their life is in line with the life that God gives - the new life through faith in Christ.
As you read, meditate and pray over this week's readings, heed the advice of the psalmist - Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!
An Arizona sunset? A long-distance phone call from an old friend? Balancing a grandchild on your knee? Having the entire family at the dinner table for a meal?
Do you know that God wants to have a relationship with you in which you take pleasure in Him?
The psalmist David writes in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord. This you can do in so many ways. You can take pleasure...being in God's house to receive His gifts of grace...kneeling at the communion rail to feast on Christ's body and blood for the forgiveness of sins...in the assurance of God's love as found in the Gospels...celebrating old friendships and making new ones with Christ at the center...in being used by the Lord through meaningful service in the church.
A word from Holy Scripture can bring delight in the Lord. Lyrics from a great old hymn or a modern new one can produce a feeling of pleasure and contentment as we sing praises to our great and mighty God for His blessings. To take pleasure in your relationship with the Lord is to give thanks to God for His unlimited mercy and grace.
Psalm 37:4 comes with a promise - "and He will give you the desires of your heart." Don't misunderstand - this is not the promise of God's blank check with which you can do or have anything you want. David is simply noting that when a believer takes pleasure in their Lord, they seek to make His will their will and constantly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that their life is in line with the life that God gives - the new life through faith in Christ.
As you read, meditate and pray over this week's readings, heed the advice of the psalmist - Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Did you see the one that said...
One of our regular visitors gave me a manila envelope as she left services last Sunday. She said, "There's something inside that will give you a chuckle." She had printed off from the internet a bunch of church signs with catchy sayings: "Catch up with Jesus - Lettuce Praise and Relish Him." But included in the material was some signs I hadn't seen before.
From an Anglican Church
Adam and Eve
The First People
Not To Read the Apple
Terms and Conditions
A Catholic Church Sign
Too Hot To Keep
Changing Sign
Sin Bad Jesus Good
Details Inside
A Presbyterian Church posted:
If You Are
Praying For Snow
Please Stop (they were snowed in)
A Baptist Church chipped in with this:
Whoever Stole
Our AC Unites Keep
One It Is Hot
Where You're Going
And finally from UCC Church
Tweet Others
As You Would
Like To Be Tweeted
Have a blessed day!
From an Anglican Church
Adam and Eve
The First People
Not To Read the Apple
Terms and Conditions
A Catholic Church Sign
Too Hot To Keep
Changing Sign
Sin Bad Jesus Good
Details Inside
A Presbyterian Church posted:
If You Are
Praying For Snow
Please Stop (they were snowed in)
A Baptist Church chipped in with this:
Whoever Stole
Our AC Unites Keep
One It Is Hot
Where You're Going
And finally from UCC Church
Tweet Others
As You Would
Like To Be Tweeted
Have a blessed day!
Monday, February 26, 2018
The World Hates
I am continuing to work through DA Carson's gem of a book, "The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus." His focus is on John, chapters 14-17 and in chapter 15, Jesus spends some time talking with His disciples about the opposition they will receive from an unbelieving world. Carson goes on to make this observation:
Nowhere is the world's hatred more clearly set forth than in those many people who judge themselves to be "liberal" but who are most illiberal when it comes to Christian absolutes. Them demonstrate their forbearance and large-hearted goodness when they confront diverse opinions, varied lifestyles, and even idiotic practices. But if some Christian claims that Christianity is exclusive (as Jesus insisted), or that moral absolutes exist because they are grounded in the character of God (as the Bible teaches), or that there is a hell to be shunned as well as a heaven to be gained, the most intemperate language is used to excoriate the poor fool. The world hates.
Page 133
Nowhere is the world's hatred more clearly set forth than in those many people who judge themselves to be "liberal" but who are most illiberal when it comes to Christian absolutes. Them demonstrate their forbearance and large-hearted goodness when they confront diverse opinions, varied lifestyles, and even idiotic practices. But if some Christian claims that Christianity is exclusive (as Jesus insisted), or that moral absolutes exist because they are grounded in the character of God (as the Bible teaches), or that there is a hell to be shunned as well as a heaven to be gained, the most intemperate language is used to excoriate the poor fool. The world hates.
Page 133
Saturday, February 24, 2018
4, count them, 4 opportunities to worship!
If it's the weekend, then it's time to plan to worship. At Life in Christ you've got four services to choose from.
Today at 5 pm - communion will be celebrated.
Tomorrow at 8 am - my sermon series, "Amazed!" continues at all services.
Tomorrow at 9:30 am - our new service with modern Christian music and communion.
Tomorrow at 11 am - communion will be celebrated.
Which one works best for you? Chose one and then come and join us at Life in Christ!
Today at 5 pm - communion will be celebrated.
Tomorrow at 8 am - my sermon series, "Amazed!" continues at all services.
Tomorrow at 9:30 am - our new service with modern Christian music and communion.
Tomorrow at 11 am - communion will be celebrated.
Which one works best for you? Chose one and then come and join us at Life in Christ!
Friday, February 23, 2018
What does God look like?
A Sunday school teacher had given an arts and crafts assignment to her class. As she walked around the room she stopped one little girl what she was drawing.
The girl said, "I'm drawing a picture of God."
The Sunday school replied, "No one knows what God looks like."
The girl replied, "They will in a minute!"
The girl said, "I'm drawing a picture of God."
The Sunday school replied, "No one knows what God looks like."
The girl replied, "They will in a minute!"
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Wow! What a hockey game!
My dear, sweet wife and I had eaten our low-cal chocolate bars and it was time to turn out the lights and get some shut-eye, as they say. But as I laid there, I kept thinking about what I was missing - Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin skiing in the Alpine combined event.
I was impressed how Shiffrin came back after a disappointing performance in the slalom, her best event. She nabbed the silver medal. Von, who raced last, hit a gate with the tip of her ski and was unable to complete the run.
With that done I was ready to head to bed. But first I thought I should check in on the USA/Canada Women's Gold Medal hockey game.
It was in the third period, the Americans had tied the game and they were really taking the action to Canada. Had it not been by stout goaltending from the Canadian goalie the Americans would have put the game away.
The 20 minute overtime period was equally exciting and, again, the American had their chances but couldn't score.
The game would end with a shoot-out and I was quite concerned. Even though the USA had really controlled the 3rd period and overtime, anything can happen in a shoot-out. And the USA had a 20 year-old goal keeper in the pipes.
The teams were tied after five shots. America went ahead with a beautiful goal that got past Canada's excellent goaltender. Then Canada sent out their best scorer. She tried to go through the legs of Maddie Rooney, the 20 year-old USA goaltender, but was turned aside. With that the USA overcame years of disappointment (they had finished second to Canada in the last four Olympics) and celebrated - they were gold medalists!
It gave me a warm feeling to see the players celebrating - it was pure joy! Watching them stand as a team while the Star Spangled Banner played gave me goosebumps.
But the most impressive things of all - the players were singing the National Anthem!
It frustrates me to see so many of our gold medalists remain mute while the anthem is being played. You happens it over and over again. And then you watch many athletes from other countries singing to their anthems with gusto and you can't help but wonder what is wrong with so many from our teams.
Not these ladies. They sang with pure joy. They looked proud to be Americans. They represented their country well. And I was glad to see it, even if it was past 1 am when I went to bed!
I was impressed how Shiffrin came back after a disappointing performance in the slalom, her best event. She nabbed the silver medal. Von, who raced last, hit a gate with the tip of her ski and was unable to complete the run.
With that done I was ready to head to bed. But first I thought I should check in on the USA/Canada Women's Gold Medal hockey game.
It was in the third period, the Americans had tied the game and they were really taking the action to Canada. Had it not been by stout goaltending from the Canadian goalie the Americans would have put the game away.
The 20 minute overtime period was equally exciting and, again, the American had their chances but couldn't score.
The game would end with a shoot-out and I was quite concerned. Even though the USA had really controlled the 3rd period and overtime, anything can happen in a shoot-out. And the USA had a 20 year-old goal keeper in the pipes.
The teams were tied after five shots. America went ahead with a beautiful goal that got past Canada's excellent goaltender. Then Canada sent out their best scorer. She tried to go through the legs of Maddie Rooney, the 20 year-old USA goaltender, but was turned aside. With that the USA overcame years of disappointment (they had finished second to Canada in the last four Olympics) and celebrated - they were gold medalists!
It gave me a warm feeling to see the players celebrating - it was pure joy! Watching them stand as a team while the Star Spangled Banner played gave me goosebumps.
But the most impressive things of all - the players were singing the National Anthem!
It frustrates me to see so many of our gold medalists remain mute while the anthem is being played. You happens it over and over again. And then you watch many athletes from other countries singing to their anthems with gusto and you can't help but wonder what is wrong with so many from our teams.
Not these ladies. They sang with pure joy. They looked proud to be Americans. They represented their country well. And I was glad to see it, even if it was past 1 am when I went to bed!
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