Adolphus Writer's Blog, page 6
April 28, 2018
Thoughts and Prayers
Thoughts and prayers, once a common expression of sympathy, now vilified as “not enough.” And, in one sense, these words aren’t enough. However, it isn’t the words that have power, but the One who listens to and answers them.
The Second Book of Kings contains a startling passage that illustrates some of the hidden reality behind our prayers:
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city.
And the serv...
April 10, 2018
Conspiracy
If only they could find the President guilty of collusion with the Russians to manipulate the 2016 election. Why, that would be a conspiracy to subvert the government; an impeachable offense; a veritable constitutional crisis.
But, so far, it’s not; not even close. If anything, some contend our President sounds much like the Founders.
Turns out, social media feeds this sort of thing by gaming what you see. It must increase its’ profits; why else would they do it? So much for knitting, quiltin...
March 20, 2018
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Perhaps the most important question in the world is: “Who do you say Jesus is?” The answer to this determines whether you will find yourself at His right hand or the left, saved or condemned, and filled with joy or weeping for eternity.
Three of the gospels ( Matthew 16:15, Mark 8:29, and Luke 9:20) record the Lord Jesus asking this very question:
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Ble...
March 6, 2018
Billy Graham – A Life Remembered
Please watch a stirring tribute to a man well used of God for His purpose of saving all those who will believe.
Billy Graham: A Life Remembered | Billy Graham TV Special , YouTube, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association , Published on Feb 23, 2018, Approximately 29 minutes
February 22, 2018
Vessels of Wrath
I was taken aback, a while ago, by a statement I read in G. K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy to the effect that, in his opinion, Calvinism gave rise to the deterministic worldview of the atheists of his century. Here’s a particularly striking quote:
The modern world is not evil; in some ways, the modern world is far too good. It is full of wild and wasted virtues. When a religious scheme is shattered (as Christianity was shattered at the Reformation), it is not merely the vices that are let loose. T...
February 7, 2018
No Shadow of Turning
Shadows are where things hidden lay or where those who wish to hide lurk. These are not characteristics of the Living God:
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change [or, turning.] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
January 25, 2018
By Faith
Sometimes appearances deceive us. Or could it be that they almost always do? As I grow older, I’m not sure. Take, for instance, this vignette from the first book of the Bible:
In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. Genesis 4:3-5...
January 12, 2018
This Video Struck Me
I was searching YouTube for Rosaria Butterfield’s testimony to send to a lunch-time friend and I ran across this:
How Churches Can Encourage Honesty About Sin , YouTube, The Gospel Coalition, Published on Dec 4, 2016
Rosaria’s statement, that starts at the 3:05 mark, grabbed me: “…That’s a starvation diet of family and community, nobody can live like that…”
Rosaria Butterfield, Sam Allberry, and Jackie Hill Perry discuss the value of community within the church. In light of my desire for chur...
December 27, 2017
What Is Christmas All About?
Some think it’s for SHOPPING! Retail certainly hopes so. Some think it’s for time off from normal obligations. Family and friends look forward to these times. Some think it’s discriminatory to single out a point of view that is only one among many. And some think it’s all too much.
But, the Lord Jesus Christ, through His servant, Luke, wrote:
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and th...
December 12, 2017
Whatever Shall We Pray in Times Like These?
Some think the President of the United States is unqualified and unfit to hold office. Some think this man is the best chance to turn America around peacefully. Providence has caused many more hurricane landfalls on the US mainland than in the past ten years. Russia and China continue to use their proxies, Iran and North Korea, respectively, to cause strife in the world with the goal of overturning the existing world order. Whatever shall we pray in times like these?
The Lord Jesus Christ, wh...
