Sunday is Coming!

NO COMPROMISE!

Early Christian writers saw the dangers of mixing elements of the pagan worldviews of Greece and Rome with Christianity. Tertullian, an early 3rd century Christian writer, stressed that the biblical worldview must serve as the standard in evaluating all competing worldviews. In his work, What Does Athens Have to do with Jerusalem? he argued that Christians must never compromise their faith. Tertullian's point was that there is no common ground between Athens, the seat of man-centered philosophy, and Jerusalem, the source of godly wisdom and instruction:

"What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? What between heretics and Christians?"

Scientists & Biblical Creation

Samuel Miller (1770-1840) was a Presbyterian minister who wrote a definitive and very influential history of the scientific advances in the 18th century entitled, Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century. Throughout his comprehensive treatise, whether dealing with the scientific studies of Christians or pagans, he stressed the harmony of true science with the Christian faith and Biblical inspiration, including a strong defense of flood geology and a recent creation.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

On this date, in the year of our Lord 1885, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published under Samuel Langhorne Clemens' pen name, Mark Twain. This is not my favorite of Mr. Twain's works; rather, mine are as follows:
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Roughing It
Pudd'nhead Wilson


Many in our time would focus on the social issues entwined in Twain's writings. I will not. As a Christian, I would direct you to his worldview.
During his lifetime, Mr. Twain deliberately rejected God. Even in the work headlining today's entry, Clemens showed his own rebellion through the character of Huck Finn who: mocks prayer, sees all religious people as naive or hypocritical, and rejects traditional standards of right and wrong.
In the mid-1890's Clemens wrote, "Whoever has lived long enough to find out what life is, knows how deep a debt of gratitude we owe to Adam, the first great benefactor of our race. He brought death into the world." [While he does have his biblical facts straight,as a new widow, I can assure you that I wholeheartedly disagree with his attitude toward death!]
In The Mysterious Stranger, a work published six years after his death, Clemens unveiled his personal conclusion,"There is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream--a grotesque and foolish dream." [I say to you without any reservation that Samuel Clemons was WRONG! ...but he knows that now]

Are you wondering, then, why I enjoy reading Mark Twain's works? I believe he gifted those of us who came after him with insight of what life was like in 17th century American.,A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court being the exception. I would encourage you - have your young people read Twain...BUT...you read it first! Be ready to talk through the issues and opinions Twain expresses. His writing can be a valuable tool towards having frank discussions with your students. Take advantage of his enjoyable writing style. I promise, Twain will put a smile on your lips and a bring a chuckle out.

Bottom line in reading Samuel Clemons: that while his works, are individually often pleasant, together they reveal the sad history of a man's stubborn rebellion against his Creator God.

TEXAS...

A statue of Will Rogers and his horse, Soapsuds, stands on the Texas Tech campus. According to local legend, the statue, which was donated by a long-time friend of Rogers, was meant to be pointing west so that Rogers and his horse would be headed for the sunset (as it said on the plaque attached to the base). However, facing the sunset would have meant the horse's tail end would be pointed toward downtown, which would have sent a, well, mixed message to the university's supportive business community. Another adjustment considered would have sent an equally insulting message to the administrative office. Instead, horse and rider were adjusted 23 degrees to the northwest, so that today, Soapsuds' rear end is perpetually pointed toward Texas A&M.

Scientists & Biblical Creation

Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873) was one of England's leading 19th century geologists and a long-time professor of geology at Cambridge. Although he was a friend of Charles Darwin, Sedgwick always opposed Darwin's evolutionary ideas, prophesying that their result would be devastatingly harmful to the world.

Engrossing Earth Elements

It's a hurricane...it's a cyclone...no it's a typhoon!

In fact, they are all names for the same kind of violent storm originating over warm ocean waters. Hurricane (derived from a Carib Indian word) is typically used to describe these storms when they originate in the tropical Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea. A typhoon (from the Cantonese word tai fung) is a violent storm which originates in the western Pacific Ocean, and especially the South China Sea. Last but not least, a cyclone is a violent tropical storm originating in the Indian Ocean.

Why is the Orient called "the Orient"?

Continuing on with the fact that the lunar new year is in its second day of celebration...

The Orient has long been labeled by Westerners as "mysterious." Also mysterious is from whence the word Orient originated. The location "the Orient" and the verb "to orient" both come from the Latin word oriri, which means "to rise." Since the sun rises in the east, oriens was used in ancient times to denote the direction of the rising sun, the land and regions east of the Mediterranean. Orient, meaning the Eastern lands, passed into the English language,by way of Old French, during the 14th century.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gung hay fat choy! (May you posper!)

Sunday is Coming!

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island . He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. Then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened. Everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger, "God, how could You do this to me?!?" he cried.
Early the next day; however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.
"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It is easy to be discouraged when things are going badly. But we should not lose heart, because God is at work in our lives even in the midst of pain and suffering.
Note: If you know my life at present, you know that I am saying this to myself as to any of you.

"The Duties of Parents"

I place before you the opportunity to hear wise counsel from one of the wonderful Saints of the past, JC Ryles. He was an Anglican minister who served the Lord, his congregations, and the people of England with the true heart of a Shepherd. Obviously, it is not within my power to make you read this. I can only make it available to you. The piece is not short (3-4 pages), but is worth every moment of reading. You can find this piece, "The Duties of Parents" at http://biblebelievers.com/JCRyle1.hmtl

The other Blogspot

I've decided to reopen the other blog spot Charlie had. The title is, "What Most People Don't Know." All of the entries will deal with history (Texas, United States, as well as World).
If that sounds interesting to you...or some one you know...here is the address
http://whatmostpeopledontknow.blogspot.com/

Reading

"Reading Christians are growing Christians. When Christians cease to read, they cease to grow."
- John Wesley

Answer: Liquid Paper/The Monkees

Michael Nesmith's mother, Bette Nesmith Graham, is the creator of Liquid Paper. She created the first batch of what she referred to as, "mistake out" in her kitchen blender! Michael helped his mom by filling the bottles.

Poetry - "My Dog, He Is an Ugly Dog"

My dog, he is an ugly dog,
he's put together wrong,
his legs are much too short for him,
his ears are much too long.
My dog, he is a scruffy dog,
he's missing clumps of hair,
his face is quite ridiculous,
his tail is scarcely there.

My dog, he is a dingy dog,
his fur is full of fleas,
he sometimes smells like dirty socks,
he sometimes smells like cheese.
My dog, he is a noisy dog,
he's hardly ever still,
he barks at almost anything,
his voice is loud and shrill.

My dog, he is a stupid dog,
his mind is slow and thick,
he's never learned to catch a ball,
he cannot fetch a stick.
My dog, he is a greedy dog,
he eats enough for three,
his belly bulges to the ground,
he is the dog for me.

-Jack Prelutsky

Question

What is the connection between Liquid Paper and the singing group, The Monkees?

TEXAS

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as made "Don't Mess With Texas" practically the state motto. In fact, TxDOT has turned "Don't Mess With Texas" bumper stickers, hats, t-shirts, etc. into quite the side business.
Were you aware that you can report a litterbug on their website?? The offender won't receive a ticket...just a free litter bag.

Birthday !!!

Today is the birthday of French author, Jules Verne, born this date in the year of our Lord 1828. The following are some interesting tidbits concerning this man:

*often referred to as "the Father of Science Fiction"
*second most translated author (Agatha Christie is first)
*co-authored an one-act operetta
*Served as a city councilman for 15 years
*predicted: automobiles, the Internet, television, air conditioning, jukeboxes, electricity

One of his most famous quotes came at the ripe, old age of 12. Jules had attempted to stow away on a ship bound for India. He was caught and severely whipped by his father, at which time he lamented, "I shall from now on only travel in my imagination."

Answer

Laura Ingall Wilder's younger sister, Carrie, married a widower from De Smet, South Dakota (The Long Winter) named David Swanzey. In 1885, Mr. Swanzey went on a gold prospecting expedition with a wealthy lawyer from New York by the name of Charles E. Rushmore. Some time after 1925, the year Congress approved the creation of the monument of the four presidents to be made in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mr. Rushmore asked Mr. Swanzey to petition to have the mountain's name changed. Up until that time the mountain has gone by several different names. The Lakota Sioux called the mountain Six Grandfathers. The local pioneers called it by one of four different names: Cougar Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, Slaughterhouse Mountain, and Keystone Cliffs. Hmmm, but then a man with money comes to town...and Carrie's husband agrees to be part of the process.

Question

Today is Laura Ingall Wilder's birthday (author of the Little House on the Prairie books).

Question: What does the Charles Ingall's family and Mount Rushmore have in common?

I'll tell you tomorrow.

Sunday is Coming!

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, preacher of Westminster Chapel London stated,"The most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the Church, it is the greatest need of the world also." Biblical preaching, expository preaching is the greatest need at this time in the Church.
Tragically, exposition is being replaced with entertainment, doctrine with drama, theology with theatrics, and preaching with performances. What is so desperately needed today is for the pastors to return to their highest calling - the divine summons to "preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:1-2).
The entire written Word must be expounded. No truth should be left untaught, no sin unexposed, no grace unoffered, no promise undelivered.
There must be the clarion declaration of the Bible, the kind of preaching that gives a clear explanation of a biblical text with compelling application, exhortation, and appeal.
Every preacher should confine himself to the truths of Scripture. When the Bible speaks, God speaks. The man of God has nothing to say apart from the Bible.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, "I would rather speak five words out of this Book than 50,000 words of the philosophers. If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God. If we want conversions, we must put more of God's Word into our sermons."
May a new generation of strong men step forward and speak up, and may they do so loud and clear. As the pulpit goes, so goes the church.
(Dr. Steven J. Lawson, as printed in Tabletalk)
Thank you, Christopher, for being faithful to preach the whole counsel of God.