Lucid Theology

Take a look at this news special featuring 92 year-old Pauline Jacobi who, when being threatened, gave the thief an unexpected gift.

(HT: Challies)

School began recently for me which has kept me pretty busy—along with all my other responsibilities.It’s been a while since I last posted on my blog, but I thought it would be appropriate to post some thoughts today, September 11, 2007.

Today marks the sixth year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the failed-attack of what many have said would have been the White House, Flight 93. While the world looks on these events with disbelief and total astonishment, the Christian, in the midst of the worst imaginable events, has a hope that surpasses all worldly wisdom. We trust in a sovereign God who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:4b). He is at work always. He is always in control.

The attacks that Tuesday morning shook the confidence of many that day which led to their repentance and trust in God. Churches were packed, the country was unified as I had never saw it before. Prayer was commonplace and the name of God was overheard constantly on the news. Today, it is a different story. Most of it was superficial and momentary; nonetheless, we have a hope firmly planted on the God of the Bible who works all things for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).

Today is a day to remember God’s overwhelming mercy to a very heathen nation. The United States is not a Christian nation. We are not a “nation under God.” Yet, we as Christians, are:

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9, NIV).

We are the salt of the earth—the preserving agent in a perishing world. Today we remember the God who is bigger than all things and who is not surprised by any event. All things are for His glory and the human mind will never be able to fully grasp His intents behind world events—be they grandiose accomplishments or horrible catastrophes.

Soli Deo Gloria!

[Shortly after the attacks on 9/11, John MacArthur wrote an article on Grace to You website; read here]

Oh how easy it is for many of us Christians to neglect the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world. I am guilt of this very thing. Barrett from Recover the Gospel posted this:

1. Go through the 40 Days of Purpose study
2. Sit in prison for Christ while the nations do nothing.

Acts 5:41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

07.20 - 23 prisoners (6 males, 17 females)
07.25 - 1st prisoner killed (male, pastor)
07.30 - 2nd prisoner killed (male)
08.13 - 2 prisoners released (females)

19 prisoners remain.

Tomorrow, August 24, will be 40 days in a Taliban prison for these South Korean missionaries from Sammul Presbyterian Church. Please keep them in your prayers that 1) the world will wake up and they will be released and 2) God would be glorified through them by life or by death. Pray that they would be living in a way in prison that mystifies their captors to why death is gain for them.

Additionally, let us pray for pulpits around our nation that the lives of these Koreans would not be decreed as a waste.

On Sunday, August 19, 2007, Virgina Tech commenced the school year by having a memorial service for the 32 victims who lost their lives on April 16, 2007. It has only been four months and the pain and anguish for these students remain. We who know the Lord can trust in the sovereignty of God that indeed all things work together for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. As long as we tread this earth we will experience trials and pains, but the glorious reality remains that we have a hope that is real and unchanging. May God draw people to Himself.

We are to fall face down before God and intercede for these students at VT who do not know the Lord. Though we might not have all the answers, we do have one: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent by the Father to die on Calvary in our stead so that we might dwell in His house forever. We stand on solid rock.

“BLACKSBURG, Va. — The school year at Virginia Tech opened somberly Sunday as a bell tolled 32 times in memory of students, faculty and staff killed April 16 in the nation’s most deadly school shooting.

Thousands of students, teachers and members of the community, many crying and most wearing the school colors of maroon and orange, gathered on the Drillfield, the quadrangle at the heart of campus, as university President Charles Steger dedicated 32 memorial stones to the victims.

“They will forever occupy a special place,” he told the families of the victims.

Steger urged students and faculty to keep learning, teaching and serving the community.”

Read full story>>

After so many years in the war in Iraq, it becomes so easy to just munch away at the dinner table with the news that another suicide-bomber took with him x-number of lives. We get used to it. Yesterday (Tuesday, August 14, 2007), in the city of Qahtaniya (in Iraq), four truck bombs killed at least 190. People say that it looks like a nuclear bomb just swept the area.

We must never grow callous at the death of people—regardless if it’s here with a bridge collapsing or if half-way across the globe with a bombing; we are to be constantly interceding for the millions who die each day without Christ. We should own the lostness and pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers. People need to here the gospel. May Christ be glorified in all.

“Four truck bombs killed at least 190 people on Tuesday in two villages in a Kurdish-speaking area near the Syrian border, destroying houses and sending hundreds of the wounded to at least six hospitals as far as 150 miles away, the Iraqi authorities said.

Hours after the blasts, victims were still buried in dusty rubble as American helicopters ferried away the wounded.

“Half the houses are completely collapsed because they were made from clay,” said Capt. Mohammed Ahmad of the Iraqi Army’s 3rd Division. He said scores of families were obliterated in the blast that wiped out a market and a bus station.

Another Iraqi officer described the scene as apocalyptic: “It looks like a nuclear bomb hit the villages,” he said.

The bombs — including at least one rigged to a fuel tanker — detonated in quick succession around 8 p.m. in Qahtaniya and Jazeera, two towns populated mostly by Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking sect that mixes elements of Islam with the teachings of an ancient Persian religion. . . .”

(HT: 4 Truck Bombs Kill 190 in Kurdish Area of Iraq in New York Times)

NOTE: I’ve included pictures which are extremely graphic and disturbing. It is my desire to shout on behalf of those
that have no voices for the glory of God. Please don’t simply close this and check your e-mails or read another blog, but let us get on our knees for these babies and take a stand for what is right. We won’t know what
abortion is until we see what it does. Abortion has too often been a theoretical event that occurs but seems so distant.
My intent is to bring it home.

“WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL EVIL GOOD
AND GOOD EVIL,
WHO PUT DARKNESS FOR LIGHT
AND LIGHT FOR DARKNESS,
WHO PUT BITTER FOR SWEET
AND SWEET FOR BITTER”
- ISAIAH 5:20

In 2002, 1,082 American children died from violent assault; 2,347 American children died in a car accident; 32,867 American died from disease;1,310,000 American children died from abortion.

A great atrocity? Yes. I know this topic is not one that is very popular, but nonetheless, one which must be addressed.

A great atrocity exists when rescue workers search desperately under a fallen bridge for the possibility of life, yet are content in the death of millions of babies. This is the greater atrocity–because in this act, there is no recognition of the evil being committed.

In my state of Florida alone, 85,589 abortions were performed in 2001. According to AGI, on average, women give at least 3 reasons for choosing abortion: “3/4 say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities; about 2/3 say they cannot afford a child; and 1/2 say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.”

Thirty four years ago (January 22, 1973), Roe v. Wade was decided. Since this landmark decision was made, it is estimated that there has been 46 millions abortions.

Abort73.com is a site that tells the truth as it is:

“We believe that the best way to eliminate the injustice of abortion is to educate young people with the massive body of evidence that stands against it. We are not educating people into a new morality, but rather into a more consistent application of their existing morality, one which already holds that it is wrong to kill innocent human beings. While we recognize that abortion is symptomatic of the much greater problem of sin, it is a symptom which claims the lives of thousands of our unborn neighbors every year. We cannot be silent.”

Visit the Abort73 and know.

May your hearts break as has mine. Transform the knowledge into action. The pictures below are very real and have not been altered–they speak for themselves:

First Trimester Aborted Embryo - 7 Weeks from Conception

First Trimester Aborted Embryo - 9 Weeks from Conception

First Trimester Aborted Fetus - 10 Weeks from Conception

First Trimester Aborted Fetus - 11 Weeks from Conception

Second Trimester Aborted Fetus - 22 Weeks from Conception

“…[C]hildren are a gift of the Lord…” (Ps. 127:3a).

It is my opinion that nobody knows this better than the Duggar family. Now what you are about to read might very well place you in a state of bewilderment, amazement, and laughter.

It is no secret that I want to be a family man. I have often said that I want seven children and that when I meet my wife, it’ll be the first test whether she’s “the one” or not. My friends can’t believe that I would want so many kids (to drive me crazy!). The girls in my life warn me, ever so cautiously, that it won’t be up to me. And they’re partly right…I’ll compromise, six (laughs). But what if I were to say that a man and a wife currently have 17 kids. You wouldn’t believe me, would you? But it’s true.

Meet Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Married on July 21st,1984, they decided they didn’t want children at that time and took up birth control pills (the wife, mind you). Four years later they decided to have their first child which sadly ended with a miscarriage. At that moment, they realized the effects that birth control pills might have on the birth of a baby, so they repented and chose to trust God to give them children as He pleased and not rely on pills.

To date, they have been blessed with 10 boys and 7 girls: 1. Joshua James, 2. Jana Marie and 3. John-David (twins), 4. Jill Michelle, 5. Jessa Lauren, 6. Jinger Nicole, 7. Joseph Garret, 8. Josiah Matthew, 9. Joy-Anna, 10. Jedidiah Robert and 11. Jeremiah Robert (twins), 12. Jason Michael, 13. James Andrew, 14. Justin Samuel, 15. Jackson Levi, 16. Johannah, and the newborn 17. Jeniffer Danielle (picture below). And by the way, there’s no plans to stop as God continues to bless them with more; they consider it a privilege to rear these children, not a burden. Amen!

I kid you not…I felt as though I were reading an Old Testament genealogy. I thought that my hero in the faith John MacArthur had a lot…four (Matthew, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda). I’ve changed my mind.

To be honest, I feel inspired and motivated to have seven like never before. Vini, vidi, vici is the phrase Caesar one spoke which I have now appropriated. World, beware, Ivan is here! Let’s see, Grace, Gabriella, Gideon, Gwenn, Gale, Gunther, Glenn, Guy, Graham, Gillian, George, Gavin, Giles, Gustavus, Gloria, Gertrude, Gwendolyn, and Gisele. That’s my 18 (9 girls & 9 boys). Beat that.

Anyways, now you might be asking, “How does this family do it?” Good question. My only reply is by the grace of God. Here are some fun facts:

• Michelle has been pregnant 126 months of her life.
• The estimated number of diapers to date is around 90,000.
• Every month they do approximately 200 loads of laundry.
• Each child learns to play both the violin and the piano.
• The family has an intricate system of “jurisdictions” so that everyone knows exactly what their daily responsibilities are.
• They’re all home schooled.
• They spend under $2,000 each month in food (I couldn’t believe it).
• And get ready for this: They are debt-free.

These two parents would make the best CEO’s this world has ever seen.

Of all the things that shine the most is the commitment to God’s glory they have as parents. One of their motto’s is J.O.Y (”Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last”). They have daily Bible studies at 8 a.m., after breakfast of course, where they read over Proverbs (31 chapters in Proverbs correspond to the day of the month). Then at night Jim leads a Bible study where they “…discuss the passage together…” and then act out skits with the right and wrong actions (and many of the younger ones “fall asleep in daddy’s lap”).

I’ll stop. Take time and check them out on their web site and their page on Discovery Health. May God continue providing the wisdom they need to raise these children in a way that will exalt and glorify His name. In a world of suffering and pain we rejoice with the blessing of life in this beautiful family.

P.S. Imagine their family reunions as times passes? I’d be afraid with so many “J’s.” What do you think?