Posts from — December 2004

My break is coming to a close, and so I guess I should get back into the swing of things here.

Those of you that have signed up for a free iPod, if you could, please let me know what offer you signed up for. Some of them only take a number of days to complete, others are weeks, and some are even a couple months.

I ask to know which you signed up for so that I can know when five people have signed up for offers. That way, I can stop asking people to sign up for me after five, and let someone else have the precious referrals.

By the way, as of today, I have two completed offers, and six that have signed up, but not yet completed an offer.

Gaines said it first….

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will go on sale July 16

I should also point out that my friend Derek was published in this most recent Credenda. Yay Derek!

What better way to begin my christmas break than with a new Credenda Agenda in the mailbox!

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying:

For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him, he also will deny us:
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful:
he cannot deny himself.

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

So, we pay our pastor so that they won’t be burdened by having to make a living. So that they will be freed to have time to devote themselves fully to the ministry. Right?

So, what does that mean about pastor’s that go ahead and have a business anyhow?

In case you missed Barb’s announcment, there’s a Special Edition of St. Anne’s Pub now available – a discussion/interview with Douglas Wilson and Michael Horton on the Federal Vision. They talk about the sacraments, grace, the law/gospel distinction, merit, and some other delectables.

Good stuff.

Happy Anniversary to Megan and myself. Today marks four years of holy matrimony. Glory to God.

Today is my last real day of work for the next few weeks. Tomorrow we’re having a Holiday Luncheon, which Megan and the girls are coming in for. Which means most of my day will be shot… I won’t be able to get much done.

After that, my Christmas Vacation begins. Which lasts until January 3rd, when I will return to work for a week of preparations before classes begin. Two solid weeks. This time of year in particular I am thankful for my job.

I had a discussion with a friend last Saturday (travelling in a van, packed with furniture, helping another friend move) about feminism, and biblical roles for women, etc. Today, I stumbled into an online discussion about whether or not women can work outside the home.

One comment I made to my friend is that unbelief cannot comprehend how a woman can submit to her husband, and yet, at the same time, be a strong, intelligent woman that has a great deal of influence. These two categories, the world seems to think, are mutually exclusive.

In the discussion today, I made the comment that a woman’s primary focus is on the home, and the family. But, I said, if she can handle all of her home oriented responsibilities and still work outside the home, there is nothing in the Bible forbidding that.

Someone on the other side of the debate responded (after some further discussion, mostly agreeing with the principle of what I said) by saying, “If the Biblical principle being asserted is that raising children is one of the most important tasks a human can do, and it merits the full attention of two parents as much as they can give it, then that’s one thing; but it’s another thing to assert the “Biblical” principle (as some would) that a woman’s place is in the home, and she needs to shutup and make babies.”

I see this as further confirmation of what I was saying to my friend on Saturday. If a woman’s place is in the home, then that automatically means she is just a stupid piece of flesh whose only purpose is to make babies, and maybe do some cooking and housecleaning.

Enlightenment thinking, far from liberating the downtrodden, is simplistic, boring, and ugly.

Anyone know why circumcision was to be performed on the eighth day?