Silent Matters

Sunday evening we discussed what the Bible calls “fools” (Ps 14:1) who deny God. Well, I think that really defined the church I stumbled across on a blog. This church is in the same town as Liberty University (A famous conservative Baptist college). These fools will do almost anything to “clear” their conscience of God’s wrath.

Grace and peace,

dale

Last Sunday evening we studied the incommunicable attributes of God. This is the study of God’s attributes that are different from us humans and I said I would publish some questions on the blog related to the lesson. For those who did not attend the study, please join us next time (November 5th). Below are questions related to the lessons I would like the class to ponder:

1. In addition to the Bible, what proof do we have that God exists?
2. How can it be true that we cannot fully understand God, but we can truly know God?
3. What is the difference between “incommunicable attributes” of God and His”communicable attributes”?
4. How is God’s independence and ours different?
5. How can we understand that God does not change when the Bible says he changed His mind?
6. Why doesn’t time have any effect on God?
7. If God is present everywhere, is He also present in hell?

Verses to consider: Psalm 102:25-27 (HCSB)
25 Long ago You established the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

26 They will perish, but You will endure;
all of them will wear out like clothing.
You will change them like a garment,
and they will pass away.

27 But You are the same,
and Your years will never end.

Grace and peace,

dale

As Halloween quickly approaches and stores begin to stock up on costumes, candy, and decorations, I begin to feeling very much “alienated” from society because my family and I do not celebrate this holiday. Television and movie theatres quickly turn to blood and gore to entertain the masses. Everywhere I go, I can see signs of celebration of death and dying. That has been a part of this society for as long as I can remember and I am brought to mind 1 Peter 2:11-12 in which he writes:

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

That is exactly what we are; temporary residents (sojourners and exiles) of this place when our true home is prepared for us in heaven. We must keep watch over our lives and the lives of our children. How difficult this is at times like this! I was driving on the I30 and a very large bulletin-board advertising some horrorfest with a naked woman smiling while a monster smiles over her back. Have you seen that? Seems to be everywhere now. Also, I read an article in the Dallas Morning News regarding the costumes stores are selling this year. Read it yourself online. It tells about children’s costumes that will shame French maids. That saddens me that any parent would dress their children in skimpy outfits and present them as objects of sex.

There is nothing wrong with playing dress-up, but Tonja and I prefer the dressing-up to be educational and edifying to our children and other children. We heard of a homeschool group celebrate Reformation Day (which happens to fall on Oct 31 as well) in which the children dress as 16th century Christians, give skits, do Reformation artwork, and such. This is what I talked with the SFC staff about and we are considering that for next year but this year proved too soon to organize. This is not only good and fun for the children, but it can be quite fun for the adults as well as there is a lot of old hymn singing, old recipes, and games. Want some horror added to it? We can always burn someone at stake.  Any volunteers? Wait, didn’t I see Neall wear a bright orange Volunteer shirt at the Living Stones picnic?

One blog I appreciate which has posted on this subject is Tim Challie’s blog. He is on a discussion group Jeff and I belong to and I find his responses insightful. Read his post on the subject for more thought. Let me know your own thoughts.

Grace and peace,

dale