A Few More Baseball Pics

Personality Reduced to Chemicals

This article by Dr. Mohler, touches on one of the main problems of the materialistic world view which reduces everything to chemicals plus time plus chance in evolution.

Is Belief in God Just a Natural Phenomenon?

Below are some quotes from Francis Schaeffer which comment on the same problem.

"No one has presented an idea, let alone demonstrated it to be feasible, to explain how the impersonal beginning, plus time plus chance, can give personality... As a result, either the thinker must say man is dead, because personality is a mirage; or else he must hang his reason on a hook outside the door and cross the threshold into the leap of faith which is the new level of despair." ...

"In the same way, if man has been kicked up by chance out of what is only impersonal, then those things that make him want hope of purpose and significance, love, motions of morality and rationality, beauty and verbal communication - are ultimately unfulfillable and are thus meaningless. In such a situation is man higher or lower? He would then be the lowest creature on the scale." Page 95, The God Who Is There

"If we begin with less than personality, we must finally reduce personality to the impersonal. The modern scientific world does this in its reductionism, in which the word personality is only the impersonal plus complexity." Page 285, He is There and He is Not Silent

And these from John Frame applying the method of Van Tillian presuppositional apologetics.

"Van Til calls upon us to implement his transcendental method by the strategy of adopting the unbeliever's presuppositions for the sake of argument, in order to reduce them to absurdity. And, of course, we should also permit the unbeliever to attempt the same thing with our presuppositions." Page 320, Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought, John Frame

"I suspect that Van Til's strategy can be more clearly described as follows: We should address the unbeliever always from our own presuppositional commitment. From that commitment, however, we may legitimately examine the unbeliever's presuppositions and tell him our evaluations of them, how they look from our point of view. We may also evaluate their consistency (e.g., the consistency between rationalism and irrationalism) and factual accuracy from a Christian-theistic view of logic and evidence." Page 321, Ibid.

"In a practical situation, then, we should try to show the unbeliever that, for example, his rationalism and irrationalism separately and together destroy the intelligibility of the world and of human thought. But if this argument drives the unbeliever into a deeper irrationalism, we do not concede to him what his presuppositions permit him to concede, namely, that the world is an irrational place after all. Rather, we continue to press the claims of God's revelation. In some situations, we might point out that the non-Christian himself refutes his own irrationalism, for despite his philosophy he continues to live as if the world were a rational place. Thus, the unbeliever's own mind is part of God's revelation, witnessing against his irrationalist defense." 322, Ibid.

There is a Fountain Filled with Blood

William Cowper
Praise for the fountain opened

Zechariah 13:1 "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from EMMANUEL'S veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Loose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there have I, as vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow'r;
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.

E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply:
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler sweeter song
I'll sing thy pow'r to save
When this poor lisping stamm'ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe thou hast prepared
(Unworthy though I be)
For me a blood-bought free reward,
A golden harp for me!

'Tis strung, and tuned, for endless years,
And formed by pow'r divine;
To sound, in God the Father's ears,
No other name but thine.

The Life & Diary of David Brainerd

This is a couple of days old now.

I began reading The Life & Diary of David Brainerd last year but soon shelved it and moved on to something else. I was benefiting from it but it was pretty slow going. I downloaded it free from Christian Audio a while back and today began listening to it on my way to work. Amazingly if I stay according to plan, I will be able to listen to the entire book in just 2 weeks. I would prefer to actually read the book but this is a wonderful way to spend time with a work that I may not get time to spend with otherwise.

A few things struck me today. One of those was the thought that the best thing a person who tends toward legalism can do is to spend some time with someone who can "out legalize" them. The two that came to my mind were Luther and of course, Brainerd. Both were as vigilant as anyone could be in trying to keep God's law and both were driven to utter despair before yielding to the righteousness of God in Christ.

Brainerd got to the point where he was angry with God and with His way of salvation. He says,

The many disappointments, great distresses, and perplexity I met with, put me into a most horrible frame of contesting with the Almighty; with an inward vehemence and virulence finding fault with his ways of dealing with mankind. I found great fault with the imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity; and my wicked heart often wished for some other way of salvation, than by Jesus Christ. Being like the troubled sea, my thoughts confused, I used to contrive to escape the wrath of God by some other means. I had strange projects, full of atheism, contriving to disappoint God's designs and decrees concerning me, or to escape his notice, and hide myself from him. But when, upon reflection, I saw these projects were vain, and would not serve me, and that I could contrive nothing for my own relief; this would throw my mind into the most horrid frame, to wish there was no God, or to wish there were some other God that could control him.

Brainerd took the Bible as God's infallible Word. He didn't reject the authority of the Bible because it didn't suit his fallen mindset; he just didn't like what it said. That seems remarkable doesn't it!

One of the things that use to "irritate" him was the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

2. Another thing {that irritated him} was, that faith alone, was the condition of salvation; that God would not come down to lower terms, and that he would not promise life and salvation upon my sincere and hearty prayers and endeavours. That word, Mar_16:16. "He that believeth not, shall be damned," cut off all hope there: and I found, faith was the sovereign gift of God; that I could not get it as of myself, and could not oblige God to bestow it upon me, by any of my performances, (Eph_2:1, Eph_2:8.) This, I was ready to say, is a hard saying, who can bear it? I could not bear, that all I had done should stand for mere nothing, who had been very conscientious in duty, had been exceeding religious a great while, and had, as I thought, done much more than many others who had obtained mercy. I confessed indeed the vileness of my duties; but then, what made them at that time seem vile, was my wandering thoughts in them; not because I was all over defiled like a devil, and the principle corrupt from whence they flowed, so that I could not possibly do any thing that was good. And therefore I called what I did, by the name of honest faithful endeavours; and could not bear it, that God had made no promises of salvation to them.

This is remarkable on many levels but the thing that struck me was seeing justification by faith alone as a "hard saying". This sentiment we do not often find today. I think we think that salvation being by faith makes things rather more easy. I am reminded of what Tim Keller said in Minneapolis at the DGM National Conference in 2006. According to my memory he said, quoting someone else, since salvation is not by something we can do and then be done with, but by faith, there is nothing the Lord cannot ask of us. He may even ask for our son on the altar.

Trusting in God for all things is not something that we can naturally do. It is a supernatural effect and is ever the struggle of the Christian in this life. Perhaps our inability to trust our Heavenly Father in this life is our greatest grief. Lord Jesus thank Your for Your righteousness which is ours by our simple faith. May we ever increase to trust you more and more.

The last thing that struck me today was the folly of believing we can attract unbelievers to God through external means, entertainments, etc. "The unregenerate man hates the light of truth because it reproves his deeds and shows him his just desserts." There is nothing worldly attractive about being convicted of sin and seeing what that sin deserves before a holy God. Therefore to hope to attract unbelievers outside of the context of understanding our alienation from God and restoration to God through Christ, is utter folly.

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Read Brainerd's words on being confronted by a holy, sovereign God.

4. Another thing to which I found a great inward opposition, was the sovereignty of God. I could not bear that it should be wholly at God's pleasure to save or damn me, just as he would. That passage, Rom_9:11-23, was a constant vexation to me, especially Rom_9:21. Reading or meditating on this, always destroyed my seeming good frames: for when I thought I was almost humbled, and almost resigned, this passage would make my enmity against the sovereignty of God appear. When I came to reflect on my inward enmity and blasphemy, which arose on this occasion, I was the more afraid of God, and driven further from any hopes of reconciliation with him. It gave me such a dreadful view of myself, that I dreaded more than ever to see myself in God's hands, at his sovereign disposal, and it made me more opposite than ever to submit to his sovereignty; for I thought God designed my damnation.

All this time the Spirit of God was powerfully at work with me; and I was inwardly pressed to relinquish all self-confidence, all hopes of ever helping myself by any means whatsoever: and the conviction of my lost estate was sometimes so clear and manifest before my eyes, that it was as if it had been declared to me in so many words, 'It is done, it is done, for ever impossible to deliver yourself.' For about three or four days my soul was thus greatly distressed. At some turns, for a few moments, I seemed to myself lost and undone; but then would shrink back immediately from the sight, because I dared not venture myself into the hands of God, as wholly helpless, and at the disposal of his sovereign pleasure. I dared not see that important truth concerning myself, that I was dead in trespasses and sins. But when I had as it were thrust away these views of myself at any time, I felt distressed to have the same discoveries of myself again; for I greatly feared being given over of God to final stupidity. When I thought of putting it off to a more convenient season, the conviction was so close and powerful, with regard to the present time, that it was the best, and probably the only time, that I dared not put it off.

It was the sight of truth concerning myself, truth respecting my state, as a creature fallen and alienated from God, and that consequently could make no demands on God for mercy, but must subscribe to the absolute sovereignty of the Divine Being; the sight of the truth, I say, my soul shrank away from, and trembled to think of beholding. Thus, he that doth evil, as all unregenerate men continually do, hates the light of truth, neither cares to come to it, because it will reprove his deeds, and show him his just deserts, Joh_3:20. And though, some time before, I had taken much pains, as I thought, to submit to the sovereignty of God, yet I mistook the thing; and did not once imagine, that seeing and being made experimentally sensible of this truth, which my soul now so much dreaded and trembled at, was the frame of soul that I had been so earnest in pursuit of heretofore. For I had ever hoped, that when I had attained to that humiliation, which I supposed necessary to go before faith, then it would not be fair for God to cast me off; but now I saw it was so far from any goodness in me, to own myself spiritually dead, and destitute of all goodness, that, on the contrary, my mouth would be for ever stopped by it; and it looked as dreadful to me, to see myself, and the relation I stood in to God, I a sinner and criminal, and he a great Judge and Sovereign as it would be to a poor trembling creature, to venture off some high precipice. And hence I put it off for a minute or two, and tried for better circumstances to do it in; either I must read a passage or two, or pray first, or something of the like nature; or else put off my submission to God's sovereignty, with an objection, that I did not know how to submit. But the truth was, I could see no safety in owning myself in the hands of a sovereign God, and that I could lay no claim to any thing better than damnation.

It is not possible to read something like that without shuddering at the thought of how lightly we treat conviction of sin. I shudder to think about my own unconcern for sin. Lord, may we seek to do that which is unnatural, indeed to do that which is supernatural, by rightly seeing our natural position before you and therefore magnifying the work accomplished by Christ Jesus on the cross for the salvation of our souls.

New L&B Website

Miss Deanna redesigned the L&B website and we couldn't be more pleased. She really out did herself. Now all we have to worry about is taking pictures that match the quality of the website, which will be no small thing.

Thanks Deanna!!!

Tanner Picks Up 200th Win

This is a very nice article that ran in the Platte City paper about Coach Tanner (Lisa's brother). They won their 6th district title in a row and are playing today in Warrensburg for the chance to go to the State Finals in Columbia.

Ready for Spring Already

More Wilberforce

I hope nobody rearranged their day to watch Wilberforce on Sunday because he wasn't on! Not sure why I had bad information. The best I can tell, the documentary will next be shown on Friday, March 7 at 7:00pm, KCPT. See the pbs site for other show times.

I think most people who know a little bit about Wilberforce know that he stressed the "peculiar doctrines" of Christianity. Prior to reading the book, I wasn't exactly sure which particular peculiar doctrines he is referring to. This quote from page 176 is, I think, the best summary for what he is thinking:

"But the grand radical defect in the practical system of the nominal Christians, is their forgetfulness of all the peculiar doctrines of the Religion which they profess - the corruption of human nature - the atonement of the Savior - and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit."

Chapter Two is called Corruption of Human Nature and in this chapter he says that the depravity of man "is eminently the basis and groundwork of Christianity" Page 13. This theme he hits over and over and this is one of the main things I took away from the book. I may post some additional thoughts about this later.

The quotes which follow below are another main theme of the book and I think it can be described as an exhortation to be in the world but not of it. Again, I was amazed at how relevant and really how little things have changed.

Speaking on the erroneous notion that prevails in the church, that instead of Religion governing all areas of life, it is fenced to a small portion and in the rest we can do, it is believed, as we like. What a powerful phrase is decent selfishness.

"The instructive admonitions, "give an account of thy stewardship" Luk_16:2, - "Occupy till I come" Luk_19:13; are forgotten. ...

Accordingly, we find in fact, that the generality of mankind among the higher order, in the formation of their schemes, in the selection of their studies, in the choice of their place of residence, in the employment and distribution of their time, in their thoughts, conversation and amusements, are considered as being at liberty, if there be no actual vice, to consult in the main their own gratification.

Thus the generous and wakeful spirit of Christian benevolence, seeking and finding, every where occasions for its exercise, is exploded, and a system of decent selfishness is avowedly established in its stead; a system scarcely more to be abjured for its impiety, than to be abhorred for its cold insensibility to the opportunities of diffusing happiness. ...

Yet thus life rolls away with too many of us in a course of "shapeless idleness." Its recreations constitute its chief business. Watering places - the sports of the field - cards! never failing cards! - the assembly - the theatre - all contribute their aid - amusements are multiplied, and combined and varied, "to fill the void of a listless and languid life;" and by the judicious use of these different resources, there is often a kind of sober settled plan of domestic dissipation, in which with all imaginable decency year after year wears away in unprofitable vacancy. Even old age often finds us pacing in the same round of amusements which our early youth had tracked out. Meanwhile, being conscious that we are not giving into any flagrant vice, perhaps that we are guilty of no irregularity, and it may be that we are not neglecting the offices of Religion, we persuade ourselves that we need not be uneasy. In the main we do not fall below the general standard of morals, of the class and station to which we belong, we may therefore allow ourselves to glide down the stream without apprehension of consequences." Pages 97-99

The next quote I know all too well. My mind is alive in the morning but by evening I am dead; dead physically and all too often dead spiritually. Lord Jesus may our rest ever be taken in you.

"The seducing considerations of diligence in our callings, of success in our profession, of making handsome provisions for our children, beguile our better judgments. 'We rise early, and late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness.' In our few intervals of leisure, our exhausted spirits require refreshment; the serious concerns of our immortal souls, are matters of speculation too grave and gloomy to answer the purpose, and we fly to something that may better deserve the name of relaxation, til we are again summoned to the daily labors of our employment." Page 101

The next two quotes are an encouragement to me as I think upon being in the world but not of it.

"The Christian's path is beset with dangers - On the one hand, he justly dreads an inactive and unprofitable life; on the other, he no less justly trembles for the loss of spiritual-mindedness. ...

But to resume my subject, let us when engaged in this important scrutiny, impartially examine ourselves whether the worldly objects which engross us, are all of them such as properly belonged to our profession, or station, or circumstances in life; which therefore we could not neglect with a good conscience. If they be, let us consider whether they do not consume a larger share of our time than they really require; and whether, by not trifling over our work, by deducting somewhat which might be spared from our hearts of relaxation, or by some other little management, we might not fully satisfied their just claims, and yet have an increased over plus of leisure, to be devoted to the offices of Religion.

But if we deliberately and honestly conclude that we ought not to give these worldly objects less of our time, let us endeavor at least to give them less of our hearts; striving that the settled frame of our desires and actions may be more spiritual, and that in the motley intercourses of life, we may constantly retain a more lively sense of the Divine presence, and a stronger impression of the reality of unseen things; thus corresponding with Scripture description of true Christians, "walking by faith and not by sight" 2Co_5:7, and "having our conversation in Heaven" Phi_3:20." Page 155

"In the case even of those objects, which may more justly claim the attention of reasonable and immortal beings, in our family arrangements, in our plans of life, in our schemes of business, we become, without relinquishing the path of duty, more moderate in pursuit and more indifferent about the issue." Page 185-186

Lastly, this gem on marriage. It took several years for Wilberforce to write this book. It was finally published in 1797 the same year he married Barbara. That's a neat little nugget to consider as you read this.

"Doubtless, this more favorable disposition to Religion in the female sex, was graciously designed also to make women doubly valuable in the wedded state; and it seems to afford to the married man the means of rendering an active share in the business of life more compatible than it would otherwise be with the liveliest devotional feelings: that when the husband should return to his family, worn and harassed by worldy cares or professional labors, the wife, habitually preserving a warmer and more unimpaired spirit of devotion, than is perhaps consistent with being immersed in the bustle of life, might revive his languid piety, and that the religious impressions of both might derive new force and tenderness from the animating sympathies of conjugal affection. Can a more pleasing image be presented to a considerate mind, than that of a couple, happy in each other and in the pledges of their mutual love, uniting in an act of grateful adoration to the Author of all their mercies: recommending each other, and the objects of their common care, to the divine protection; and repressing the solicitude of conjugal and parental tenderness by a confiding hope, that, through all the changes of this uncertain life, the Disposer of all things will assuredly cause all to work together for good of them that love and put their trust in Him; and that, after this uncertain state shall have passed away, they shall be admitted to a joint participation of never-ending happiness. It is surely no mean or ignoble office which we would allot to the female sex, when we would thus commit to them the charge of maintaining in lively exercise whatever emotions most dignify and adorn human nature; when we would make them as it were the medium of our intercourse with the heavenly world, the faithful repositories of the religious principle, for the benefit both of the present and of the rising generation." Page 247

I really most highly recommend the reading of this book. It isn't easy going but it is very beneficial.