The Wicket Gate

The Stones and the Village People

2007-01-30T15:35:00.000-05:00

The latest in British archaeological discovery: Stonehenge people unearthed!

He speaks...

2007-01-15T11:16:00.000-05:00

Yeah yeah yeah. I know. Is Andrew dead? The fact is, actually, I am. But that’s still no excuse to be in absentia when stewarding a blog. Either shut it down or keep it active, that’s my philosophy. But frankly, I think the reason I haven’t graced the web with my prosaic presence was simply due to the inconvenient truth that I have had, unlike I did during my year of faithful blogging, gainful employment. While serving as a caffeine technician in the Autumnal months, and now as a Tour Consultant at EF Education in Cambridge, I have had time next to nil to blog. I think. Maybe I do have time… I’m not sure if it’s the time factor or the lost interest factor. Needless to say, I think I want to regenerate my blogicity. To do that, I feel the need for a new style, a new look, a new approach. So there it is. I am returning, but not as what you see and have seen. I will retire The Wicket Gate, at least until a rainy day, and will birth something new, cutting edge, post-postmodern yet with ancient gravitas. Maybe I’ll even stop using over-the-top quasi-intellectual lingo....probably not.

In closing, I would appreciate all thoughts, good ideas, questions, or input. This site will be running until the inauguration of my latest innovation.

Thousands upon Thousands of Books

2006-08-28T10:31:00.000-04:00

I've never been to one, but on Saturday, September 9, Christian Book Distributors (see link on right) is having one of their four annual warehouse sales at their HQ in Peabody, Mass. I'd be kind of scared to go; there are so many books I want, especially commentary sets, that I wouldn't know where to begin. Oh, not to mention the $$ factor.
CBD needs to empty out thousands of books to make room for new inventory, so some of the prices are practically give-away. For example, Calvin's commentaries, a 22 volume set, is published by Baker and the retail price is $1,000 US. But not at CBD! They charge $99.99!! To give you an example of how huge the warehouse sale is, here's some warnings from the website and tips on preparing:

"Take a few minutes to jot down the titles AND stock numbers of the specific products that you want to locate at the sale. CBD staff at computer stations will then be able to quickly print out the warehouse locations of your books, saving you time and energy!
Plan on spending the day. Eat a hearty breakfast, dress in layers, and wear comfortable shoes. Many folks find it easier to leave their little ones at home. Make sure you bring along totes to help you carry your wonderful "finds" more easily."

It starts at 7:00am and I heartell of people lined up outside in the wee hours ready to fight at the bargain tables.

Hahvid Yahd

2006-08-21T12:25:00.000-04:00

Hi folks! Thought I was dead? Well, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am indeed alive.

After one and a half months of courting a prospective job at Harvard, including 4 interviews there, the position has been filled and not with me. Oh well, keep looking. Please pray for us as I'll be separate from my wife and baby for a time. Ciao.

P.S. I hope to resume my updating.

Where Andrew Pleads with Readers

2006-07-19T21:19:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry to those who have been faithful loiterers at the Wicket Gate! Everything's been crazy! We're in the States, I'm having job interviews, we're looking for a home... I'll be back!!

Allah Mia!

2006-06-10T19:42:00.000-04:00

Separated at birth?

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (1966 – 2006)

Luciano Pavarotti al-Zarqawi (1935-)

Fright of Passage

2006-06-07T09:56:00.000-04:00

It is indeed a sad thing when we can measure the maturity of a nation in the free world by its terror threats. In this spirit we now see that Canada has joined the parade of western superpowers with today's front page headline: Terrorist "Cell planned to behead Prime Minister."

Just the other day someone was saying how Canada's different from the States in that no one has the need to assassinate the PM. Well, the time has come.

17 men were arrested near Toronto at their terrorist training camp after people heard excessive gunfire in an area designated "No Hunting." The accused bearded fanatics told people prior to their trip that they would be "extreme camping."

With 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate to make a bomb, the men were planning on storming Parliament Hill, taking hostages including PM Harper, and demanding the release of all Muslim prisoners and the withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan. If their demnands weren't met they would behead their hostages and blow up the Peace Tower, the CSIS (the Canadian "CIA") building, and the Stock Exchange. Thankfully, law enforcers caught them before any of their intended horror could be realized.

There are now snipers on top of Ottawa's buildings, and added security around Stephen Harper.

When the Conservative PM was asked about this threat on his life, he answered, "I can live with all these threats as long as they're not from my caucus."

And then we all chuckled. "Oh that Stephen."

"The Romance of Orthodoxy" -Wilson

2006-06-02T18:54:00.000-04:00

"As you come to worship, always remember the romance of orthodoxy. By this we do not mean romance in the popular sense, romance having to do with mere sentimentalism. Rather, we are referring to truth in the sentiments, love in the affections, and deep courage in the battle – we are thinking of true adventure. We are talking about dragon-slaying, and all the emotional glory that accompanies it. The Scriptures declare that it is our purpose here, in this assembly of worship, to tread the serpent underfoot, for we are the body of our Lord and master. He treads the worm underfoot, crushing the head. We are His feet, and so we are privileged to crush the head of the dragon.

This not done with our paltry substitutes – it is not done with bow wow theological dogmatism, it is not done with liturgical correctness, it is not done by lining our ideological thoughts up in sterile little lines. Secular philosophy has no calendar, autonomous ideology has no rhythm, blind rationalism doesn’t know how to look forward to Christmas, or how to remember Pentecost.

Throughout, the Scriptures are clear. The just shall live by faith. This includes the cycle of our lives, and recovering this aspect of orthodoxy is a great romance, a great adventure."

Courtesy: Blog and Mablog

Gotta Love Classical Christian Homeschool Curriculum

2006-06-02T16:31:00.000-04:00

From Trivium Pursuit Online.

Well, Jesus WAS frank with us

2006-06-02T11:35:00.000-04:00

Westminster Theological Seminary had a great ad for their Da Vinci website in USAToday.

Where in the World is Sean and Ruth Carroll?

2006-05-31T21:50:00.000-04:00

I can't imagine having a 24th birthday like this...

Veni Vidi Vinci

2006-05-31T16:54:00.000-04:00

...I came, I saw, I led a Da Vinci seminar.

Please pray for me as I begin a seminar on the Da Vinci Code tonight at Bilberry Creek Baptist Church in Ottawa. It's scheduled for two weeks, but probably will continue as people have questions and issues to resolve. There will be non-believers there most likely. Pray that I would have wisdom and knowledge and "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks me for a reason for the hope that is in me" (1 Pet. 3:15).

Quiz Result: Dead On

2006-05-25T16:40:00.000-04:00

Your Scholastic Strength Is Deep Thinking

You aren't afraid to delve head first into a difficult subject, with mastery as your goal.
You are talented at adapting, motivating others, managing resources, and analyzing risk.

You should major in:

Philosophy
Music
Theology
Art
History
Foreign language

What Should You Major In?

Preemptive Grace

2006-05-25T11:24:00.000-04:00

"Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which briefly stated means this, that before a man can seek God, God must first have sought the man. Before a sinful man can think a right thought of God, there must have been a work of enlightenment done within him; imperfect it may be, but a true work nonetheless, and the secret cause of all desiring and seeking and praying which may follow.

We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. 'No man can come to me,' said our Lord, 'except the Father which hath sent me draw him,' and it is by this very prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for he act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him; and all the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: 'Thy right hand upholdeth me.' In this divine 'upholding' and human 'following' there is no contradiction. All is of God, for as von Hugel teaches, God is always previous."

-A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, opening paragraphs (the whole text is also online for free).

Proud Papa

2006-05-24T10:03:00.000-04:00

Everyone Has a Morning Ritual

2006-05-22T11:01:00.000-04:00

I was just fooling around with a drawing tool in Microsoft Word and I got carried away.

Radars for the Lost Ark

2006-05-22T10:19:00.000-04:00

My good friend David Graves just returned from Turkey on a reconnaissance mission to Mount Ararat. David, with the Archaeological Imaging Research Consortium (ArcImaging), will be conducting an expedition to the peak of the biblical mountain and will be using ground penetrating radar for the first time on the icecap to search for any evidence of man-made objects, especially those made of wood. His trip dealt mostly with meeting with the Turkish government. See some photos of Ararat and Hittite ruins on his blog here.

Congratulations, David, on a successful trip. Godspeed in July!

Science

2006-05-19T11:37:00.000-04:00

"Science and religion are not at odds.

Science is simply too young to understand."

-Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, pg. 70

Belief In Yourself

2006-05-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

"THOROUGHLY worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true. Once I remember walking with a prosperous publisher, who made a remark which I had often heard before; it is, indeed, almost a motto of the modern world. Yet I had heard it once too often, and I saw suddenly that there was nothing in it. The publisher said of somebody, "That man will get on; he believes in himself." And I remember that as I lifted my head to listen, my eye caught an omnibus on which was written "Hanwell" [the lunatic asylum in London]. I said to him, "Shall I tell you where the men are who believe most in themselves? For I can tell you. I know of men who believe in themselves more colossally than Napoleon or Caesar. I know where flames the fixed star of certainty and success. I can guide you to the thrones of the Super-men. The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums."

He said mildly that there were a good many men after all who believed in themselves and who were not in lunatic asylums. "Yes, there are," I retorted, "and you of all men ought to know them. That drunken poet from whom you would not take a dreary tragedy, he believed in himself. That elderly minister with an epic from whom you were hiding in a back room, he believed in himself. If you consulted your business experience instead of your ugly individualistic philosophy, you would know that believing in himself is one of the commonest signs of a rotter. Actors who can't act believe in themselves; and debtors who won't pay. It would be much truer to say that a man will certainly fail, because he believes in himself.

Complete self-confidence is not merely a sin; complete self-confidence is a weakness. Believing utterly in one's self is a hysterical and superstitious belief like believing in Joanna Southcote: the man who has it has `Hanwell' written on his face as plain as it is written on that omnibus." And to all this my friend the publisher made this very deep and effective reply, "Well, if a man is not to believe in himself, in what is he to believe?" After a long pause I replied, "I will go home and write a book in answer to that question." This is the book that I have written in answer to it."

-G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Be Born Twice

2006-05-11T12:29:00.000-04:00

Be born once, die twice. Be born twice, die once.

Adam's Race

2006-05-09T19:08:00.000-04:00

I am literally sick and deeply disturbed by people who claim to be Christians, even Reformed Christians, who are so carnal, ignorant, and just plainly deceived, that they uphold a philosophy of racism. For several years now I have been aware of a site called Little Geneva. Not only do they perpetually betray themsleves as morons, they are the worst theologians I've ever seen!

I wish I could brush them off as some fringe group of toothless rednecks, not worth a response. But their dragnet has scooped up so many Christians that they are now a semi-semi-mainstream group of toothless rednecks. We should all pray that churches would discipline such people.

Racism defined is simply a belief that races exist, which is Darwinian through and through. Let's argue about cultures if you want. Let's discuss the superiority and inferiority of various cultures. But there is only one race according to Scripture, and it is the benai Adam, sons of Adam. There are different ethnic groups. Different national identities. The Babel incident provoked God to separate all of humanity lingusitically. Ok, let's debate English language supremacy. But races do not exist. And even if they did, White Anglos couldn't be further from a Mesopotamian/Edenic gene pool.

I do believe that there are specific marks of a Christian culture: monogamy, sanctity of life, modesty, patriarchal nuclear family, etc. Thus, tribes in Africa that practice the opposite of these, I would say, are an inferior and poor culture. I do not believe in a sort of anthropological relativism tha is toted today in the UN. I believe that when missionaries were teaching a so-called "Western" style of music to the heathen it was actually a Christian style, having been developed over almost two millennia of Christian worship. And yes, I'm a proponent of Christian supremacy, as God decreed. The Old Testament saints were prohibitted intermarriage always due to RELIGION. When the Faith was national, as it was for Israel, then marrying outside of Israel obviously is being unequally yoked. Now that the Faith transcends national/ethnic boundaries (Matt 28:19) the problem is not ethnic intermarriage, but marrying a non-Christian.

To even acknowledge separate races of mankind implicates a belief in evolution, which of course these "Christian" racists would deny whole-heartedly. Christianity is not a white religion. It's a semitic one. To be derogatory towards Jews just because they are Jews makes me wonder if these fools all have pictures of Euro Jesus on their walls, you know, the Salvador Dali blonde, blue-eyed, clean shaven edition of Yeshua (Oh wait, these folks probably also interpret the second commandment to prohibit the representation of human Jesus).

Now I know they would all call me a Yankee with some warped transcendentalist, Boston Brahmin worldview. But I guess that's ok, seeing that I called them toothless trailerpark hicks. I don't want to hurt their feelings any more than I already have, but if "y'all" knew how to read good, you should try reading the Bible some day.

Harvard Student Requirements

2006-05-09T12:26:00.000-04:00

Here's a selection from the 1642 and 1700 editions of the Harvard College Laws. I wonder if students are still held to these gems:

1.Everyone competent to read Cicero or any other classic author of that kind extemporaneously, and also to speak and write Latin prose and verse with tolerable skill and without assistance, and of declining the Greek nouns and verbs, may expect to be admitted to the College: if deficient in any of these qualifications, he cannot under any circumstances be admitted.

2. Every one shall consider the mayne End of his life and studyes, to know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternall life. Joh. 17.3.

5. In the publicke Church assembly they shall carefully shunne all gestures that shew any contempt or neglect of Gods ordinances and bee ready to give an account to their tutors of their profiting and to use the helpes of Storing themselves with knowledge, as their tutours shall direct them, and all Sophisters and Bachellors (until themselves make common place) shall publiquely repeate Sermons in the Hall whenver they are called forth.

6. they shall eschew all prophanation of Gods holy name, attributes, word, ordinances, and times of worship, and study with Reverence and love carefully to reteine God and his truth in their minds.

-No one must, under any pretext, be found in the society of any depraved or dissolute person.

8. All students must refrain from wearing rich and showy clothing, nor must anyone go out of the college yard, unless in his gown, coat, or cloak.

14. If any student is absent from prayers, or recitation, unless necessarily detained, or by permission of the President or tutor, he shall be liable to an admonition

16. If any student shall, either through wilfulness or negligence, violate any law of God or of this college, after being twice admonished, he shall suffer severe punishment, at the discretion of the President or his tutor.

17. Every student who, on trial, shall be able to translate from the original Latin text, and logically to explain the Holy Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, and shall also be thoroughly acquainted with the principles of natural and moral philosophy, and shall be blameless in life and character, and approved at public examination by the President and the Fellows of the College, may receive the first degree. Otherwise, no one shall be admitted to the first degree in Arts...

18. Every scholar who has maintained a good standing, and exhibited a written synopsis of logic, natural and moral philosophy, arithmetic and astronomy, and shall be prepared to defend a proposition or thesis; shall also be versed in the original languages, as aforesaid: and who carries with him a reputation for upright character and diligence in study, and shall pass successfully a public examination, shall be admitted to the second, or Master's degree.

Two in the Bush

2006-05-08T14:41:00.000-04:00

Watch one of the funniest moments on television here.

Birthday Belly Rub!

2006-05-05T11:50:00.000-04:00

I'd like to send out a Happy Birthday belly rub to my man Gautama Buddha who turns 2,569 years old today! From all of us at the Wicket Gate, we'd like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for leading over 500 million souls astray. Cheers!

Wicket Gate Mail Bag

2006-05-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

I thought "fan mail" would sound a bit too presumtuous.
I'd like to share a poem that was emailed to me from Jon Caudle, the Polyphonic Poet from Missouri:

The Belli's done it, once again,

And found a psycho to expose

Before, Mainline Darwinians,

Now, Disp-Sensational wackos.

Now, ev'ry head bowed, ev'ry eye closed ...

Mr. Caudle, I am honored, and I thank you.

*All original odes, ballads, sonnets, and classical epics submitted to the Wicket Gate are greatly appreciated.

Jack Van Idiot

2006-05-04T17:33:00.000-04:00

I just saw a commercial for Jack Van Impe's prophecy show, and I wanted to pass on the news: You have to get saved because if you don't, when the Rapture comes you'll be left behind and then the something (I don't remember what) will come out of the European Union and there'll be a 7 year peace contract, which will get broken, and then from then on... bedlam. After that little announcement, Roxella, his wife said, "Tune in to 'Jack Van Impe Presents.' It will change your life."

In the Dust of the Rabbi

2006-05-03T22:13:00.000-04:00

I have just finished leading a five week Bible Study at church called "In the Dust of the Rabbi." It is a DVD with 5 sessions, with Ray Vander Laan leading a small group of Christians -and us- through the world of the disciples: Galilee, Bethsaida, pagan temples in Turkey, etc. The lessons are on discipleship. The premise is based on an ancient Jewish proverb, “Follow a rabbi, drink his words, and be covered with the dust of his feet.” We should follow our rabbi so closely that the dust he kicks up will cover us. If Jesus is our rabbi, and he is, we should be true disciples, which means that we have to eat, sleep, breathe, live, and die His words.

It was a challenging series. Pagan worshippers would spend their entire lives (literally, like 57 years) building ONE column for a temple for their non-existent god so they could hear maybe one oracle from him in their whole lives, "And you can't even get up ten minutes early to read your Bible," the host yelled out, and we have the complete Words of the true God!

I reccomend this series. It's volume six in an eight DVD series put out by Zondervan and Focus on the Family. There's other ones on Old Testament and early Church themes, all archaeological, on-location, and practical/devotional. We see the pagan society in which the Christians lived and how they had to be countercultural in almost every aspect of the lives, from economics to politics, and how nothing has changed today.

Example: an ancient businessman or craftsman makes his living selling his wares in the large agora (marketplace) in the city. He's wealthy because of it. Suddenly he becomes a Christian. When he goes to sell his products in the market, the agora's president says, "Welcome to our city! We're so glad you've come to our market, you have the finest cloth in the land. Go and place some incense on the agora's altar to Zeus, and then set up your table."

"But I don't believe in Zeus."

"Wh-- You don't believe in Zeus? You reject our gods?! Well, you can't sell here!"

Now the Christian is cut off economically and has to find something else to do, or some other way. Most of us don't have physical altars to pagan gods at our work (unless you work in China Town), but how about, I don't know, working on the Lord's Day? Sometimes disciples of Christ have to obey his Word and cut their earthly losses. He'll take care of us, he always does.

In the fall I started a series on 1 John, ended it March, and now completed this one. Next we're starting a series on....you guessed it, The Da Vinci Code! After much interest, I'll start this series in anticipation of some visitors from outside the church, because it will be advertised in the newspaper. Pray that folks will be reached and taught.

God Uses Means

2006-05-01T20:28:00.000-04:00

I firmly believe that throughout the history of the Church God uses heresy to strengthen her. The Church would not have firmly established the doctrine of the deity of Christ had it not been for her enemies contradicting it. The early councils and creeds were the defenses of attacks on our most fundamental doctrines.

Thus, I believe The Da Vinci Code is great. It gets people talking about our most sacred beliefs at the water cooler, on the train, at Starbucks. It's like a revival but lacking the Holy Spirit. We should all jump on this opportunity to proclaim Christ to all those who have him on their minds. We shouldn't be afraid of the Code. The Kingdom is indestructable.

Go see the movie. Read the book. And learn why it is not true, for crying out loud. The Kingdom is indestructible.

You Say You Want A Revelation...?

2006-05-01T12:56:00.000-04:00

I posted a short little blurb on Patriots Day regarding the American Revolution and no one really cared for many days...

And now, 15 comments later, the Battle of Lexington and Concord has turned into a theological battle of huge proportions. Read it, it's entertaining.

The Truth About Da Vinci

2006-04-26T17:24:00.000-04:00

I just got an email from Westminster Theological Seminary (see side link) introducing a wonderful new site they have just launched: TheTruthAboutDaVinci.com. It is impressive, a good resource for anyone who wants answers to questions like "Is the Bible true?" "Did Jesus Marry?" etc., etc. There are video and audio clips, and all sorts of resources. They even have fancy mystical background music... It looks like it could be the website for the novel itself! Except, this debunks Dan Brown's ridiculous claims.

Miscellany

2006-04-26T13:37:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to David Graves for updating his blog, Deus Artefacta, twice in one week!
I give a hearty "Amen" to this.
What political flavor are you? Take this short quiz and report back.
This excites me.
Michael Haykin of Toronto Baptist Seminary has renovated his blog, Historia Ecclesiactica, and now allows comments.

Aww, She's Growing up...

2006-04-26T10:32:00.000-04:00

I'd like to extend my congratulations to the government of Canada who has seen the error of their ways, repented, and is now in the process of abandoning Kyoto and adopting the far more efficient and successful American method of reducing greenhouse gas emission.

Read story here.

Conspiracy I Tell You: Trip to Quebec Exposes Lies on All Fronts

2006-04-23T22:11:00.000-04:00

So we went to Montreal yesterday. We had a wondeful time visiting Emily's sister and her husband in their new home. Angela (my sister-in-law) had recently worked as the main researcher for a book published by her pastor, Claude Houde, of L'Église Nouvelle Vie (The Church of the New Life). The book is called Les Mensonges du Code Da Vinci, or "The Lies of the Da Vinci Code." Houde wanted to write a book countering the CODE in French, while there are so many English out there. Although I cannot read it, I'm sure it's sound. Congratulations Angela Fay on her hard work! The church is the Montreal French cousin to David Wilkerson's New York church, of "Cross and the Switchblade" fame.

Another highlight of the trip was a visit to DUNKIN' DONUTS!! After four years in New Brunswick with nothing but Tim Horton's, which can't hold a candle, or, cruller, to DD, and with virtually none in Ontario, I enjoyed a stop at a Dunkin' Donuts in Quebec. My noisette coffee was delicious, and I got a vanille francais for Emily. Oh the memories of America. However, one thing was found askew...

Amidst all the standard donuts in the display case, plain, chocolate, jelly, etc. (all in French of course), there was one that seemed familiar but was called something else. It was a Boston Cream, yes, the ancient traditional donut, one of the patriarchs of donutia. Everyone knows the Boston Cream, most like Boston Creams, it's a safe donut choice. Being from the Boston area I'm proud that I can walk into a donut shop anywhere in the world and see a neat arrangement of Boston Cream donuts, paired up in parallel rows like a militia; minutemen training on the Boston Common.

Not in Quebec.

Big surprise...

No no no, it is not a Boston Cream in Quebec! Boston is far too English for the Quebecois, let's call it something else, something...more...cultured...more European... Yes... let us call it a...Costarde Parisienne!

You've gotta be kidding me.

*******************************************

Somewhere in Massachusetts, the dark boardroom at the Dunkin' Donuts Head Office. A dim light illumines chubby faces on either side of a conference table, two Quebecers sit across from the executives, who are pondering what was just suggested. "Trust us," repeat the two men with thick redneck-French accents, "No one will by dem if dey are called da Boston Crem. Do you want more riot blood on your hands like you had before you change da London Loop-d'-Loop to da French Cruller? Parisian Custard is what we must say. Costarde Parisienne, Parisienne... Parisienne... (echoes)
The execs sip their coffee.
(Fade to black)

Carrying the Botticelli Torch

2006-04-20T11:36:00.000-04:00

No, I haven't actually attempted oil painting yet. But there's more than just great Renaissance masterpieces to be passed down through the Botticelli family lineage. My Nana (Botticelli) has carried a heritage of Italian holiday delicacies, which we only have one day a year (i.e. Easter has its own dishes and Christmas likewise). Being removed from my family for a time, and in Canada with my own new family, I felt the need to call Nana and inscribe a few of her recipes for myself, so I could enjoy Easter the way I had for over two decades.

After being quite nervous in attempting these traditions on my own, and venturing to Ottawa's "Little Italy" to find some necessary ingredients, I successfully made two Botticelli Easter favorites.

The first were my Nana's Anise Cookies which, ironically, she didn't bake this year, so I made everyone jealous on Easter Sunday when I emailed a picture to the family gathering! Although there is some anise in the cookie itself, most of it is in the icing. Anise is the flavor of Sambuca and black licorice.

The other dish is a real family favorite, called Pizza Pastare, or Pastare (pa-STA-ray, but with the Italian rolled "r" it sounds kind of like pa-STA-day). Pizza just means pie contrary to the North American assumption. It's made with 2 lbs. of Ricotta, 1 lb. orzo pasta, a dozen eggs, a stick of pepperoni, and lots of Pecorino Romano cheese. It bakes all together and its texture is like that of a very firm cheesecake, but not creamy, more crumbly.

Mille Grazie Nana! (Not that she has, or would know how to use, a computer.)

You Say You Want A Revolution

2006-04-19T11:55:00.000-04:00

On this day, 231 years ago, the American colonists began their War of Independence with the shot heard 'round the world, at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, just down the road from where I was born and raised. And the rest, as they say, is providence.

Buona Pasqua!

2006-04-16T12:37:00.000-04:00

He is risen indeed!

Sacrifice

2006-04-14T18:30:00.000-04:00

"In Russia, before the days of Communism, Christians greeted one another at Easter time with the words, 'Christ is risen,' and the person being addressed would respond, 'Christ has risen indeed!' As everyone knows, religion in Russia was forbidden during the years of Communism. To atheistic Communists there was no God and they replaced Christian Easter Sunrise Services with Sunrise Communist Rallies, to which all people of the community were requested to attend.

I read about one such meeting where, as the sunrise rally was drawing to a close, the Communist leader asked the large gathering of some ten thousand people if there was anything anybody wanted to say. A long silence followed. Nobody moved. Finally a teenage boy came forward. As he approached the podium, the leader warned the boy saying, 'You must tell only the truth,' meaning Communist 'truth.' 'If you don't, you will be shot.'

All eyes were fixed on this lad as he stood at the podium about to speak. He was flanked by soldiers, rifles pointed at his head. For several brief moments he remained silent. Then standing tall and taking a deep breath, he called into the microphone: 'Christ is risen!'

As the story goes, the explodingrifles shattered the silence of the early morning. Only one sound drowned out the crack of the rifles as the teenage boy collapsed to the floor in death. It was the resounding response of ten thousand voices shouting: 'Christ has risen indeed!'"

(by Rev. Don Collar, pastor of Bilberry Creek Baptist Church, Ottawa.)

Don't Pass Over Maundy Thursday

2006-04-13T14:04:00.001-04:00

"Maundy is from a Latin word meaning "Mandate" or Commandment. It reminds us that on the Thursday before Jesus Christ was crucified he instituted the Holy Communion at the Last Supper. At that Supper he commanded his disciples to continue with this celebration of Holy Communion as a way of remembering what his death accomplished. He also commanded his disciples to serve others by using the image of the washing of the feet of his disciples."
(cited from here)

The following scripture is appropriate for Passover/Maundy Thursday. It's from the Scholars Version (Read my previous post):
.
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, I certainly won't drink any of them fruit of the vine from now on until God's domain is established!"
And he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it into pieces, offered it to them, and said, "This is my body which is offered for you. Do this as my memorial."
And, in the same manner, the cup after dinner and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Yet look! Here with me at this very table is the one who is going to turn me in. The son of Adam goes to meet his destiny; yet damn the one responsible for turning him in."
And they began to ask one another which of them could possibly attempt such a thing...
..."You are the ones who have stuck by me in my ordeals. And I confer on you the right to rule, just as surely as my Father conferred that right on me, so you may eat and drink at my table in my domain, and be seated on thrones and sit in judgment on the twelve tribes of Israel. "Simon, Simon, look out, Satan is after all of you, to winnow you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your trust may not give out. And once you have recovered, you are to shore up these brothers of yours."
He said to him, "Master, I'm prepared to follow you not only to prison but all the way to death."
He said, "Let me tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow tonight until you disavow three times that you know me."
(Luke 22:17-23, 28-34) .

And the rest, as they say, is Eastery.

Hath Not a Judean Eyes?

2006-04-13T13:20:00.000-04:00

As we reflect on this Maundy Thursday on the faithful act of obedience of Saint Judas, I was skimming The Complete Gospels which is a book containing a new translation of the canonicals plus all the other "gospels" yet discovered (except the new Judas), i.e. the gnostic and false gospels. You may already know of this; it's called the Scholars Version. Because it's a project of the Jesus Seminar we may grimace at some of their translation choices which cast aside are traditional doctrine words (I mean, the "Scholars" Version sounds pretty presumptuous, as to distinguish themselves from those whacko evangelical pseudo-scholars). For instance, "kingdom" is changed to "imperial rule", and the "Word" in John's prologue is "the divine word and wisdom", which tries to capture the full implication of the Greek Logos. I personally think that's a good move.
.
One thing I'm not too sure of is the rest of John 1:1: "In the beginning there was the divine word and wisdom. The divine word and wisdom was there with God, and it was what God was." That sounds like it's trying to pick a fight with an ancient church council...
.
But what is very interesting is it's choice of words for what we commonly refer to as the Jews. It is very annoying when people talk about the Old Testament practices as "Judaism" and "Jewish". Not even secular scholars say that, and the SV doesn't either. You won't find the word Jew in here. They actually have included a short essay on nomenclature for Israel-ish people. They may have a different agenda in their reasoning, but I believe the divisions are true. They distinguish between three periods of history:

Israel, Israelites and Israelite religion: first temple (ca. 950-560 B.C.)
Judea, Judeans and Judean religion: second temple (ca. 520 B.C.-AD 70)
Jews and Judaism: religion of the rabbis, talmud, and synagogue (ca. 90-continuing)

So then, the placard on the cross reads: "King of the Judeans," and Jesus' opponents in John's gospel are "the Judeans."
This is interesting and, I believe, a necessary distinction, because so many Christians today think that Jesus was disconnected from Israel and the Old Testament system because he was always criticizing it. But he was not. He was critical of the Judeans and their variation of true Israelite religion. Remember, he was never against the Pharisees because they were faithful to the Torah. He only rebuked their hypocrisy in this regard. Therefore, Jesus and John the Baptist were not liberal rebels, but only conservative Israelite puritans. Think about it. When Jesus gave the parable of God's vineyard and the tenants in Matthew 21:33ff, the vineyard is the temple, and the tenants beat and killed God's true servants and son. Then, "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them." Jesus was condemning the tenants of God's vineyard, not God's vinting business itself.

.
The Scholars Version makes the case for these terms, saying, "The failure to observe crucial transitions in the history of Judaism has contributed to the tragic history of anti-semitism among Christians, which the new terminology will help put to an end. Further, it will set the historical record straight" (p195). I don't know about their former reason, but the latter is good enough. I'm not endorsing this translation as superior to Christian translations, but it's a good reference. Sometimes secular linguists and historians give fresh air to our sometimes stuffy artificial traditions.

Judas According to My Favorite 13th Century Tuscan Theologian (among all the 13th Century Tuscan Theologians)

2006-04-11T10:40:00.000-04:00

"...To bring a spirit from the circle of Judas;

That is the lowest region and the darkest,

And farthest from the heaven which encircles all."

Dante's Inferno, Canto IX:27-29

Longfellow's translation

And a word from our Lord regarding his betrayer:

"While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled" (John 17:12, ESV).

He ain't sounding like a good guy to me.

Gospel of Arnold Found!

2006-04-10T16:02:00.000-04:00

Incredible news from Theosebes.

More Judas Information (2)

2006-04-10T13:24:00.000-04:00

When decay has a sense of humor:

"When we got the first translation of the Judas gospel back, we were on the edge of our seats reading about a revelation Judas had where he went into a cloud. It read, “Those standing on the ground heard a voice coming from the cloud, saying. . . ” Then, just as we thought we were going to find out what the voice said, we saw “ . . .Void.” The words were missing because a fragment was missing from the papyrus."

from National Geographic

More Judas Information

2006-04-10T12:41:00.000-04:00

There is a thorough overview of the Judas gospel contained in video interviews with its four key interpreters: Craig Evans, Marvin Meyer, Bart Ehrman, and Elaine Pagels (each expert having 6 video clips). They all have good things to say, although some may not be Christians. They all see the value of the document in that it provides a look at the diversity of the early Christian community, i.e. Gnosticism. No one really sees it as an authentic record of Jesus or Judas, but more as a glimpse into 2nd century gnostic theology. Evans gives a good defense of the reliability of the four canonical gospels we have, where they are evidentially the earliest histories and memories of Jesus. The gnostic gospels insert later ideologies into the mouths of Jesus and the disciples. The videos are worth watching.

The Suitcase

2006-04-10T11:13:00.000-04:00

A man was on his death bed and he cried out to God, "I haven't finished packing," to which the Lord replied, "You cannot bring anything with you."

"Please, Lord!" replied the man desperately, "Just one suitcase!?" The Lord answered, "I'll tell you what: you may bring one suitcase only and you may fill it with whatever you desire."

The man, now rejuvenated, got an empty suitcase and filled it with gold bars, pure and glistening. There were so many that the zipper didn't quite close all the way. The excited man couldn't even lift it or drag it, so he nestled up next to it and, clutching the handle, died.

The man found himself at the Gates of Heaven, and Peter (the dead man assumed he was Peter based on all the heaven jokes he heard in his life) started waving his hands, "Woah, woah, woah, you can't bring that in here!" The man confidently answered, "The Lord gave me special permission."

A massive angelic being, like nothing the man had ever seen, appeared next to the alleged Peter, "You called, Sir?" the angelic voice rang. "Yes. Please ask the Lord if this man has a right to bring this suitcase with him into Paradise." The angel vanished and immediately appeared again. "He has permission, Sir."

The man gave a proud nod, and started to walk toward the gate. "Wait," the Petrine doorman said, "May I have a look at what you so desire to have with you in Paradise?" The man set down and unzipped his case. The contents shone and glittered in the dead man's eyes and he smiled with satisfaction and joy as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"I can't believe it!!" the gatekeeper exclaimed, "You brought pavement!!?"

"What a Friend We Have in Judas"?

2006-04-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

My title is actually taken from a newspaper headline (question mark mine). Tonight, Sunday, at 8:00 there is a feature documentary on the so called Gospel of Judas. I really want to see it but it's on the National Geographic Channel, which I don't have. A lot of it is a reenactment of Jesus and Judas, Church history and fathers (see photo of Christians being persecuted below), and the discovery of the papyrus book. Of course they also show how they've translated it and dated it, as well as interviews with all the scholars involved. I wanted to see it, mainly because Dr. Craig Evans is one of the official interpreters and is on the show. I have had the privilage of many conversations with him over the last few years, not only at ABU, but in Ottawa when he was speaking at the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition. There is, however, a good preview video of tonight's show, and Craig Evans is on near the end of the clip, saying, "I don't think 'Judas' contains authentic historical Jesus and Judas tradition." Watch it here.

New Gospel Discovered!

2006-04-07T11:32:00.000-04:00

Last fall, I spoke on the phone with a certain archaeologist friend who had just gone out to lunch with a couple other biblical scholars and Dr. Craig Evans*, the evangelical Dead Sea Scrolls and New Testament scholar/author. Dr. Evans secretly told them, under dim lights and the din of a bistro lunch crowd, that an ancient document has been uncovered in Egypt, a lost document that we have only heard referred to in other sources, namely Josephus, but have never actually found. It's a document that relates to Jesus, and will make a big impact on the archaeological/biblical literature world, according to Evans. But being under a confidentiality agreement, he could not share any detail. He said it would be publicized in the Spring.

Well, it is now Spring, and this morning as I was enjoying my orange juice and whole wheat English muffin with strawberry jam, I picked up the Ottawa Citizen and smack on the front page I saw it: "Ultimate Traitor Redeemed: Judas did as Jesus asked. Ancient document suggests Christ requested 'betrayal'." There it was. A 1,600 year old papyrus manuscript found in the Egyptian desert has been translated and authenticated as the lost Gospel of Judas (click to explore the document).

Now, we have many gnostic gospels out there, all very ancient, but obviously bogus, like the Gospel of Joseph where little Jesus helps his carpenter father fix a measurement mistake by 'stretching' a plank to be the right size. Or the Gospel of Thomas where young Jesus yells at his friend which actually kills him, only to raise him back to life so he wouldn't get in trouble. He also entertains all his playmates by making birds out of clay which then fly away into the sky. Every aspiring writer in the first few centuries wanted to contribute to the Jesus phenomenon. Kind of like the Da Vinci Code. How many rip-offs are there now? 200? A heard a publisher say that they receive numerous Da Vinci Code style manuscript submissions every single day, which they just cast aside. Should it surprise us that there are false gospels? Not at all.

Craig Evans was quoted in the Ottawa Citizen: "The gospel of Judas turns Judas's act of betrayal into an act of obedience," said Craig Evans, professor of New Testament studies at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, N.S., who helped interpret the document. "The sacrifice of Jesus's body of flesh in fact becomes saving. And so for that reason, Judas emerges as the champion and he ends up being envied and even cursed and resented by the other disciples."

Wow. Andrew Lloyd Webber apparently had his own copy of this document because that is exactly the premise of Jesus Christ Superstar! Judas the Hero. I'm not at all surprised by the content of this papyrus. It's nothing new, we've heard it all before. Now what would be really interesting is if archaeologists found Paul's real 1st letter to the Corinthians. In our 1 Cor. he alludes to the other letters he's already written. Imagine finding more instruction from the Apostle? Maybe I should write a false one and make a hit Broadway rock opera out of it!

Anyway, you can read today's breaking news article here.

*Craig Evans has written

Jesus and the Ossuaries, of which I have a signed copy
The New Internat'l Biblical Commentary of Luke, of which I have signed copy
Who was Jesus: a Jewish-Christian Dialogue
Jesus and Empire: the Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder
Eschatology, Messianism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Christian Beginnings And the Dead Sea Scrolls
Anti-Semitism and Early Christianity: Issues of Polemic and Faith
plus many other commentaries and books, etc., all of which I'd like to have signed copies.

Look Alike?

2006-04-06T13:42:00.000-04:00

I saw Kenny Rogers on TV last night and thought he bore a striking resemblance to Sir Derek Jacobi, who played Senator Gracchus on Gladiator. Really, the similarity is unkenny.

John Donne and the Atonement

2006-04-05T12:12:00.000-04:00

Emily has posted a worthy reflection on the atonement via an incredible poem by her thesis subject, John Donne. The post is right below the beautiful pictures of my daughter on Letters Mingling.

Prayer: Faithful vs. Empirical

2006-04-04T14:33:00.000-04:00

Letter to the Editor, Ottawa Citizen
From Andrew Belli
Re: "To Pray or not to pray: study says don't", March 31

Dear Editor,
How interesting it is that in one issue of the Citizen there were two studies "disproving" remedies for heart problems! Firstly, on A4 we are informed that red wine may not be as beneficial for fighting heart disease as we once thought. Secondly, we were enlightened by new advances in science telling us that prayer is ineffective regarding heart bypass surgery.
Are you kidding me? I almost don't have any words for something so ludicrous. The American Heart Journal is actually publishing an "experiment" to test how prayer affects the recovery in patients? I am reading this days after my good friend returned home after a complicated heart surgery where even the doctors doubted his survival. The Boston surgeon told my friend's wife to pray, and to have our church pray. We did incessantly, and my friend is healthy and recovering after being opened up four times. (Incidentally, prior to surgery the surgeon told my friend to drink wine.)
The study reports that people in churches were given written prayers with anonymous prayer objects. Do you think God jumps through our inquisitive hoops? Do you think he's tricked by scientists and insincere prayers? God is not a guinea pig in a cage. Prayer is not a magical incantation. It's a personal conversation with God. Jesus warned not to pray with "vain repetitions" but to "pray in secret" so God will answer you (Matthew 6:5-8). As well, we're warned regarding prayer, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives" (James 4:3). Scientific data is a wrong motive. The issue here is faith.
Who in this story actually has the "heart problem"? Let's stick to experimenting with the effects of alcohol and aspirin. And if I were one of those scientists, I'd be asking God to turn my watery prayers into wine.

Do Folk Holidays have Under-the-door Policies?

2006-04-02T14:41:00.000-04:00

My wife informed me that April Fool's day lasts only until 12:00 noon on April 1. It's a RULE. Well, having written my previous post at 8:30pm last night, I broke the rule. Sorry. I guess I should go to confession.

After Long Consideration

2006-04-01T20:38:00.000-05:00

Some of you have been aware of what I am about to say for a long time. After months and months of inner conflict and converstaion with men I respect, I have made an extremely life-changing decision that may alter many relationships I have before enjoyed. Through much study and prayer, having been convinced of paedobaptism and the imperative of apostolic succession, I am now taking the necessary steps to join the communion most referred to as the Roman Catholic Church. I never thought I would be making such a pilgrimage, but truth is truth, and the church which hails from Rome, founded by Peter and Paul, is the biblical and true Body. Because I was married prior to conversion I will still be allowed to make priestly vows. To all my Baptist and Presbyterian friends who were unaware of this situation, I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Caesar Feared Christian Prayer

2006-03-31T15:26:00.000-05:00

Take a moment to read this ancient letter by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It goes to show that even great persecutors of the Church are awestruck at the power of God in our lives.

"Epistle of Marcus Aurelius to the Senate, in Which He Testifies that the Christians Were the Cause of His Victory.

The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus...to the People of Rome, and to the sacred Senate greeting: I explained to you my grand design, and what advantages I gained on the confines of Germany, with much labour and suffering, in consequence of the circumstance that I was surrounded by the enemy; I myself being shut up in Carnuntum by seventy-four cohorts, nine miles off. And the enemy being at hand, the scouts pointed out to us, and our general Pompeianus showed us that there was close on us a mass of a mixed multitude of 977, 000 men, which indeed we saw; and I was shut up by this vast host, having with me only a battalion composed of the first, tenth, double and marine legions. Having then examined my own position, and my host, with respect to the vast mass of barbarians and of the enemy, I quickly betook myself to prayer to the gods of my country. But being disregarded by them, I summoned those who among us go by the name of Christians. And having made inquiry, I discovered a great number and vast host of them, and raged against them, which was by no means becoming; for afterwards I learned their power. Wherefore they began the battle, not by preparing weapons, nor arms, nor bugles; for such preparation is hateful to them, on account of the God they bear about in their conscience. Therefore it is probable that those whom we suppose to be atheists, have God as their ruling power entrenched in their conscience. For having cast themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me, but also for the whole army as it stood, that they might be delivered from the present thirst and famine. For during five days we had got no water, because there was none; for we were in the heart of Germany, and in the enemy's territory. And simultaneously with their casting themselves on the ground, and praying to God (a God of whom I am ignorant), water poured from heaven, upon us most refreshingly cool, but upon the enemies of Rome a fiery hail. And immediately we recognised the presence of God following on the prayer- a God unconquerable and indestructible. Founding upon this, then, let us pardon such as are Christians, lest they pray for and obtain such a weapon against ourselves. And I counsel that no such person be accused on the ground of his being a Christian. But if any one be found laying to the charge of a Christian that he is a Christian, I desire that it be made manifest that he who is accused as a Christian, and acknowledges that he is one, is accused of nothing else than only this, that he is a Christian; but that he who arraigns him be burned alive. And I further desire, that he who is entrusted with the government of the province shall not compel the Christian, who confesses and certifies such a matter, to retract; neither shall he commit him. And I desire that these things be confirmed by a decree of the Senate. And I command this my edict to be published in the Forum of Trajan, in order that it may be read. The prefect Vitrasius Pollio will see that it be transmitted to all the provinces round about, and that no one who wishes to make use of or to possess it be hindered from obtaining a copy from the document I now publish."

Lessons in Life from India

2006-03-31T11:29:00.000-05:00

An Indian doctor and his assistant now face a two year prison term and fine for revealing the sex of a fetus to its mother. India has illegalized what they rightly call "feticide", as hundreds of thousands of female babies are aborted every year, throwing the gender ratio out of whack. On hidden video, this doctor was caught telling the undercover woman that her baby was a female, and told her "it can be taken care of." This is a huge problem in India, where there are millions of females "missing" from society. All nations should learn from India, not the least of which is China, where a similar travesty occurs.
An Indian official said that one should be "proud" to have a baby girl. AMEN.

Concerned? Check out India Female Foeticide.org

This Just In: Prayer Doesn't Work

2006-03-30T17:41:00.000-05:00

Over the past month, my church has been earnestly praying for our pastor's health. He had a heart surgery which was intended to keep him in the hospital for 2-3 days but turned into a month. At the time of the operation things looked grim by major complications. Straddling death's threshold, we weren't sure Dan would make it. There were times the doctors doubted he would. I had some confrontations with God that week, and I prayed that his will WAS that he spare my mentor and friend. I didn't resign to some fatalistic view where "we don't know what God's will is, blah, blah, blah." I know God is sovereign, and his will is what it is. But the Bible demonstrates how we should approach these situations and I boldly pleaded that God's will was that he heal him. Dan is home now, weak, but healthy and recovering. We are all rejoicing in God's grace in answering prayer.

BUT, I just recieved an email from my Uncle John, who also is a member of my flock, who laughed out loud when he read this brand new news article proclaiming that "Study Fails to Show Healing Power of Prayer." Oops. I repent of my foolish illusion that God heard us.

Homiletic Calisthenics

2006-03-28T20:14:00.000-05:00

"Though preachers differ in the expenditure of energy given in a sermon, it has been estimated that a half-hour address can use as much physical energy as eight hours of manual labor. Billy Graham, for example, has been cautioned by physicians against the danger of physical exhaustion due to preaching.... Dynamic preaching requires physical strength and stamina. When the preacher's body goes out of shape, it will invariably affect the quality of his speaking."

-R.C. Sproul, from "The Whole Man," in The Preacher and Preaching, cited in Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch

Sets the Captives Free!

2006-03-28T16:37:00.000-05:00

While I was finishing my post on the death penalty for Abdul Rahman (see below, "Verbum Dei III"), I read the New York Times headline: Afghan Convert to Christianity Is Released.

Praise the Lord.

Verbum Dei III

2006-03-28T15:04:00.000-05:00

The other day I heard someone refer to the Afghan Christian convert now facing the death penalty, saying, "he was converetd by the Roman Catholics, but still..." Is he a REAL Christian, some evangelicals may wonder.

Remember what Paul said in I Corinthians 12:3, "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit."

Some of us might object, "That's not true! I know tons of nominal Christians who say 'Jesus is Lord' and are without the Holy Spirit." Or how about Jesus' very own warning that many will come to him at their judgement and say, "Lord, Lord!" but Jesus will only reply to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (Mat 7:23)?

Paul here is not referring to lipservice. In fact, Jesus had little patience for lipservice. Consider when the rich young ruler came and called Jesus "Good Teacher" (Lk 18:18). Did Jesus bask in the glow of one of his biggest fans, absorbing all the flattery? No, he said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." Again, when Nicodemus in John 3 went to the Saviour under cover of darkness, he heaped on the protocol, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, etc. etc." Jesus wasn't impressed. He cut through the fluff and questioned Nicodemus' credentials.

So how can Paul say that "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit"? Jesus knows men's hearts. He knows when "Lord" is flattering lipservice and when "Lord" is submissive worship. In the early Church, Christians lived in a hotbed of persecution, where Roman soldiers at any moment could stop a Christian in the street and place his sword at the believer's throat before posing the question, "Kaesar estin Kurios or Iesou Kurios? (Is Caesar Lord or is Jesus Lord?)" The true answer would cost their life. There weren't many lukewarm or nominal Christians during this time when the price was so high. You better believe that the man, woman, or child who said "Jesus is Lord" at sword point, or about to be burned alive or torn apart by animals, had the Holy Spirit of God in them.

In the Western world today, everyone and their cat claims to be Christians, but in the Muslim and Chinese worlds, there's no playing around. Persecution purifies the Church. It does an incredible job of separating the wheat from the weeds.

We all say "Jesus is Lord," but will we say it when the death penalty is upon us? Abdul Rahman, the Afghan convert to Christianity who faces death by an Islamic government, says "Jesus is Lord." Roman Catholic or not, I believe Brother Abdul abides in Christ and is alive in the Spirit.

Cartoon Incarnate

2006-03-27T17:44:00.000-05:00

Some Brits created a really well done live action opening sequence of The Simpsons (no, no commas are needed I checked three times). That means real actors, real scenery, etc. to recreate the famous opening theme to the 17 year old animated series. You can watch it here.

Cartoon

2006-03-25T13:31:00.000-05:00

Is this a new low? I'm really posting cheesy church bulletin cartoons?

BIBLIOMANIA!!

2006-03-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

...or bibliolatry(?)

I'm broke. Being an alien in Canada I am legally employmently challenged. And my lovely wife is maternally... leaved. But although I am without funds, God has never failed to provide our needs. And many times God provides the desires of our hearts, whether or not we actually "need" them. Every month or so I get a catalogue from Christian Book Distributors, the cheapest and most thorough company of its kind in the world (see link at the right). It's the only place where you can say that you saved thousands of dollars on books! I am a member (at $5 a year) and get them even cheaper. For example, the 22 volume set of Calvin's Commentary by Baker publishers costs $1000 retail. As a member I can buy it at $99.99. The 38 volume set of the Early Church Fathers (retail: $1100) you can buy at $219.99. I recently bought the Works of Jonathan Edwards for $44.99. This company puts books, that at one time could only be afforded by institutional libraries, into the studies of laymen and churches. They also have all the current bestsellers and music, etc., etc. all cheaper than elsewhere.

But, alas, even cheap = steep when you have nothing. However, as of this week I am several books richer. Thanks to the generosity of a semi-retired pastor, I harvested from a library that had been built across three decades. He approached me the day after I sadly browsed the CBD catalogue wondering how I could acquire additional resources. Although he kept most of his commentaries and classics, I was able to spend two days amidst his 4-6,000 books and left his house with 115 great ones. I am humbled that he thought of me (I barely know him) just because I am a student of theology/biblical studies, before he ships much of them off to Bible schools and colleges. Because he went to Moody and Dallas Seminary, he had good standards. Although I would never go to those schools (although I've heard that Dallas has evolved from their dispensationalism to a more Reformed view), alumni have at least a solid Bible-centered ministry and library. He probably had every volume ever published by John MacArthur, of which I attained 21.

So here I am, having strengthened some weak areas of my library, such as:

Some classic Reformed works, including Boice, Lloyd-Jones, Baxter, Spurgeon, Schaeffer, Packer, Jay Adams, etc.
general biblical studies references (sets of Bible encyclopedias, dictionaries, lexical works, etc.)
nouthetic counselling
church eldership
contra-Charismania/Toronto Blessing
cults and 'isms' (like Mormon, JW, Romanism)
missionary biographies, memoirs
a few demonological books
a great book on the four views of the millennium
4 works of Aristotle, 2 of Plato, 1 Marcus Aurelius
and a partridge in a-- oh sorry

In addition, a great treasure, which he surprisingly gave without hesitation is a theological book printed in 1732 called Limestreet Lectures, which were given in London. It's in good condition for being 274 years old. It's about 470 pgs. and contains 26 sermons on those wonderful doctrines like "Particular Election", "Imputation of Adam's Sin", "Particular Redemption", Justification, "Efficacious Grace", and "Perseverence in Grace".

Having said all this, I was hoping someone knew of a good cataloging software program. Emily's itching to start inputting our c. 1000 books into a good system (I have already mourned the loss of some loved books that were never returned, not remembering who took them... someone at ABU!). Any recommendations?

Answer

2006-03-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

Not all guess at once now! I'm not a sports buff, but my dad asked me this and I thought it was interesting. The two figures named in the Baseball Hall of Fame who had nothing to do with the sport, were none other than Abbott and Costello! The famous comedy duo made baseball and comedy history with their hilarious routine "Who's On First." If you've never heard it before or if you just want to be amused all over again, listen to the skit here.

Trivia

2006-03-23T11:14:00.000-05:00

Without searching the internet, does anyone know the answer to this question?

There are two names in the Baseball Hall of Fame who had nothing to do with baseball, not playing, coaching, administration, nothing. Yet they are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Does anyone know who these two people are?

"Ever Present Need"

2006-03-22T11:08:00.000-05:00

I've had a beautiful and haunting melody in my head for a while, by Steve Bell. I wish I was able to have the entire song available in audio, but you can here a portion of it here (it's number 3).

Ever Present Need

- Steve Bell

Lyrics adapted from Daniel Ladinski’s translation of

‘Our Need for Thee’ in Love Poems from God.

Original poem by St. Francis of Assisi.

Darkness is an unlit wick

A simple spark would vanquish it

Truly I could burst to flame

Every time you call my name

Do I do for you the same

God is like a honey bee

Penetrates the soul of me

Dearly draws the sweetness in

Nectar of the meek love is

He in me and I in him

In our ever present need of thee

Grant we fathom peace

Fashion instruments of souls set free

For don’t the caged ones weep

Sometimes sober sometimes bliss

Every union knows of this

But I have stood here in his rain

And bear the marks of fertile plains

Swelling streams and swollen grain

So will I console the fall

Of cheerless creatures great and small

What of sadness can endure

When love divine makes insecure

The crowing claims of shame’s allure

In our ever present need of thee
Grant we fathom peace
Fashion instruments of souls set free
For don’t the caged ones weep

My Baby

2006-03-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

For family and friends who want their fill of Miriam photography, Emily has created an MSN photo album. There are several groups of photos. Click the triangle under "Photo album" to see a menu of the others.

Maintenance

2006-03-22T10:27:00.000-05:00

I realized that what I see when I look at my computer screen is not necessarily what you, the viewer, sees. I spent a lot of time in the early stages of Wicket Gate getting all the fonts just right, with a fancy title and an old-fashioned type for my posts, etc. But, unless someone actually has those fonts installed on their computer, they will not see it. What they will see is an oversized and awkward Arial font or something. So I've renovated everything into standard Times New Roman so we're all on the same page. (And No Evghenis, my font choice had nothing to do with an Italiocentric worldview).
I apologize for a previously ugly website... from where I sit it looked nice.

Jesus Was Not A Model

2006-03-21T18:07:00.000-05:00

...for baptism. I don't know how many times I've heard Baptist (and other) preachers cite Jesus' baptism by John as proof for our baptism. Jesus was not baptized to 'set an example'. Neither was he baptized in the way John the Baptist baptized everyone else, ie for repentance.

Indeed, Jesus commands baptism (Matt 28:19), but his own personal baptism was to fulfill Mosaic law regarding the anointing of priests before they began their service. A thorough but brief explanation of the true purpose of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan is found here.

Carroll of Arabia

2006-03-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

My friends Sean and Ruth Carroll are still alive in Yemen. In a recent email, Sean wrote, "There's a small desert behind our apartment (go figure). It takes about an hour to cross, so we wander in it from time to time, and sometimes climb the mountains on the other side. Camels also wander the desert, free-range. I try to talk to them, but they're snobs... " I'm happy to see they are having an adventurous time. In my last post about them, I said that Sean hates olives so he wouldn't survive well in the Middle East, but he has informed me that he now likes olives. I personally could eat olives all day long, washed down by extra virgin olive oil. Below is a picture of our hero in his new backyard. (For a soundtrack for this picture click here.)

Afghan Martyr

2006-03-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

According to the Washington Times today, an "Afghan man faces death for Christian conversion." 41 year old Abdul Rahman was arrested when his family accused him of becoming a Christian. (What a real-life illustration of my previous blog.) He now faces being put to death by the Afghanistan government, who says that this is "an attack on Islam." I'm so glad we got rid of the Taliban there so Afghanistan can have religious freedom.

And we are supporting this country why??

courtesy of DW.

Verbum Dei II

2006-03-19T18:12:00.000-05:00

Exodus 1:16-17

"Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 'When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.' But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live."

God cares little of kings and powers, mighty nations and armies, as he says, "Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales... Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing." (Is 40:15, 17). To God, the pharaoh of Egypt was just another enemy to his people. He remains nameless in the historical record of the redemption of God's children. All that's said about him was that he "did not know Joseph" (Ex 1:8), in that he was ignorant of the good ol' days where Pharaoh and Joseph were friends, and that Egypt and Israel coexisted in peace. Archaeologists, Egyptologists, and Biblical scholars have always debated who the pharaoh was at this time. Out of all the museums filled with Egyptian history, we may never know for sure who this pharaoh was.

What we do know for sure is that the Hebrew midwives in Egypt prior to the Exodus were named Shiphrah and Puah. My pastor has said that when we study the great civilizations of the world we study their "ruins," but when we study the history of God's people all we have are pages in a perfectly preserved and unruined book. "So who cares about Shiphrah and Puah?" you may ask. (Let me finish, stop interrupting with questions.) These two heroines did more for the human race than the highest ruler of the most powerful civilization in the ancient world. Their names are written down because they saved Hebrew babies from infanticide. These pro-life women had more power over the destiny of the world than mighty superpowers. Before Miriam placed Moses in the Nile and then boldly approached pharaoh's daughter about him, before Jocheved decided to put her baby in the basket, these two midwives blatantly stood against government and feared their God. And about the helper of Israel God says, "He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him" (Is 41:2).

We probably will never be as powerful as a pharaoh, or as important a leader as Joseph, or Moses or Aaron. But will we be as faithful as Shiphrah and Puah in fearing God and living out his commands regardless of opposition be it pharaoh, president, prime minister, or principal?

The next time someone talks about 'making a name' for himself, remember what my professor Dr. Stephen Dempster once said regarding power and legacy: "Remember, we name our dogs Caesar, and our sons Paul."

Interesting Blog

2006-03-18T11:24:00.000-05:00

For anyone interested in Christianity and history discussions, especially new ideas, check out The Interesting Narrative Life of an Enlightened Imposter in the Land of the Puritans, a blog of an MDiv student at Boston University, who ALSO has a quote from Pilgrim's Progress under his blog title.

Stop and Reflect Amid the Pints of Green Beer...

2006-03-17T13:01:00.000-05:00

"St. Patrick's Day should remind us that even white people first came to Christianity through missionaries. "

-Gene Veith

A Christian Hero

2006-03-17T09:49:00.000-05:00

"The Shield of Saint Patrick"

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

--Patrick, First Bishop of Ireland

(AD 387-464)

Sorry

2006-03-16T20:39:00.000-05:00

There were some dead links in my "New Blogs" post. They are now fixed. Sorry for the sub-standard blogging.

"Science Fiction"

2006-03-16T16:06:00.000-05:00

I guarantee you'll laugh when you listen to this hilarious song by Doug Wilson about evolution, actually quite similar to a post I made a few weeks ago.

New Blogs

2006-03-15T13:21:00.000-05:00

or, new to the Wicket Gate. Several deserve to be linked on my blogroll, so here we go. Introducing (in a non-exhaustive, linked-as-I-think-of-them sort of way):

Reject the Null - a montage of lofty, but casual existential and scientific silliness (with commentary) by three students of my Alma Mater.
Yemeni Cricket- the Middle Eastern adventures of my small fishing village New Brunswicker friend Sean Carroll and his wife Ruth.
The Book of Ruth - Ruth Gilmore
Dookin - Dr. Ben Faber and family.
Sunrise, sunset--a day in the life of a fool - Joel Faber
Blog and Mablog- an entertaining blog of pastor and author, Douglas Wilson

& Miscellaneous websites:

Middleborough, MA- my hometown, settled in the 1620's.
Patrica, Italia - my Old World hometown, settled thousands of years ago. Enjoy the virtual tour
Virtual Oxford- a fantastic 3D panoramic tour of almost every corner of the ancient university city. It feels like I'm back, but without the cucumber sandwiches and 500 year old library books.
Samuel Adams - America's world-class brewery, Boston. The only American brewer that meets Germany's strict beer purity standards.
Slow Food USA- an Italian-founded international association reacting to the disgusting and pathetic culture of fast food.

Planetary Therming

2006-03-15T13:12:00.000-05:00

(...As a blogger I'm totally entitled to make up words. And I'm entitled to my entitlements.)

ABUer Chris Johnson has an interesting post on global warming, based on research from the UK. This study proposes alternative theories as to the cause of the popular scientific phenomenon.

Verbum Dei, Part I

2006-03-14T12:31:00.000-05:00

Wow, this sounds like the beginning of a Wicket Gate ongoing feature on the Word of God! And it is. It's high time we start looking at Scripture passages on this blog with the desire to know God better. Verbum Dei (the Word of God) will feature short passages with some reflection. That's all. All input is welcome.

Every now and then the Word feeds me something I had never noticed before, or maybe I had noticed but it never "hit home" until one day. One such passage is Jesus' teaching in Luke 14:12-14.

"When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

What a fascinating teaching on 'downward mobility'! The Lord speaks of being repaid as if it were a punishment: "LEST they also invite you in return and you be repaid." Rather than taking in those you love or who are well-off, he compels us to invite poverty and ill-stricken people to our tables, the reason being "BECAUSE they cannot repay you."

This is just like the Savior, who left his heavenly glory and majesty to condescend into the gutters of the earth to serve wretched sinners like you and me his Bread of Life and Living Water. We mustn't, however, take this as a literal condemnation of entertaining our loved ones. Jesus is saying that in regards to charity and compassion, setting out a feast for our family and friends proves nothing. That's just being civil and polite. As usual Jesus criticizes social convention, not because it is necessarily evil but because it's not as precious as we believe it to be. Entertaining rich people with the expectation of being repaid is not hospitality, but rather "commercial exchange", as one commentator put it.

True charity is spending money on a feast for those who could never repay you. Remember what the Lord said in a similar teaching? "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:44, 46-48).

We were poor, lame, and blind, and Jesus invited us to supper. We were his enemies, and "WHILE WE WERE ENEMIES we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Rom 5:10).

Friends, it is impossible to repay him who saved us. Why should we expect compensation for our love?

So Two Maritimers Walk into a Maktab...

2006-03-13T12:17:00.000-05:00

which means "school." Muslims have no need for bars. My dear friends Sean and Ruth Carroll from New Brunswick have moved to the Middle East where Sean has taken a position as an English language professor at a university in Al Mukalla, Yemen. It will be a challenge to live half way across the world in a strange land, where Sean doesn't even like olives (!), and they do not speak Arabic. Not to mention the oppressive heat, even though they're on the ocean. It should be an exciting experience for them.

Please keep them in your prayers as they serve the Yemeni people in 'various' ways. Please be discerning in your comments for reasons of security. I forget the name of the university but will post a link to it once I get it. The Carrolls do have a blog, Yemeni Cricket, where they always let their conscience be their guide.

CUTE

2006-03-12T00:08:00.000-05:00

(kyoot)
adj. cut·er, cut·est
1. Delightfully pretty or dainty.
2. Obviously contrived to charm; precious: "[He] mugs so ferociously he kills the humorit's an insufferably cute performance" David Ansen.
3. Shrewd; clever.
4.

Loome Theological Books

2006-03-10T13:20:00.000-05:00

With 275,000 volumes for sale, I had so much druel on the keyboard it short-circuited... Visit Loome Theological and Books.

Money...(pff) Who Needs It?

2006-03-09T14:19:00.000-05:00

I do.

More Miriam

2006-03-02T19:28:00.000-05:00

Ash Wednesday

2006-02-28T19:18:00.000-05:00

"If the lost word is lost, if the spent word is spent
If the unheard, unspoken Word is unspoken, unheard;
Still is the unspoken word, the Word unheard,
The Word without a word, the Word within
The world and for the world;
And the light shone in darkness and
Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
About the centre of the silent Word.

O my people, what have I done unto thee.

Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
For those who walk in darkness
Both in the day time and in the night time
The right time and the right place are not here
No place of grace for those who avoid the face
No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny the voice"

from the poem "Ash-Wednesday" by T.S. Eliot

2006-02-27T14:53:00.000-05:00

Pastor Dan Casieri is still in critical condition and has not yet been awakened. Please continue to pray for him, that God would heal him and allow him to remain with us.

Prayer Request

2006-02-25T11:37:00.000-05:00

I am asking everyone to please pray for my pastor Dan Casieri who went in for heart surgery Friday morning. There were complications during and after the operation and we're now waiting for him to stabilize. He probably won't wake up until Sunday. Please ask God for healing, and also for comfort and strength for his family.

Nana and Aunty Laura's Visit from Massachusetts

2006-02-23T11:23:00.000-05:00

Tickled Pink

2006-02-20T12:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Miriam

2006-02-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

Miriam Elizabeth Belli

2006-02-17T11:23:00.000-05:00

was born at 4:48am on Friday, February 17. She was 7lbs. 14oz. and healthy. Emily had a 24 hour labor and did amazingly well. She's doing great. With the addition of my daughter, now both of the most beautiful girls in the world are right here at the Civic Hospital. I just came home but am going back to the hospital. Check for updates.

2006-02-15T22:32:00.000-05:00

Trying hard to choose

a subject for my haiku,

I thought of this one.

Adventures with the Belli's

2006-02-15T09:46:00.000-05:00

Emily recounts an exciting night in the life of our family on her blog, Letters Mingling.

Feast of Saint Valentine

2006-02-14T14:24:00.000-05:00

For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day

Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.

-Chaucer, Parliament of Foules

Valentino, Bishop of Rome, was jailed for helping martyrs in prison. While there, the jailer was converted when Valentine restored his blind daughter's sight. He was beaten and beheaded in 269. In order to honor this devout priest who gave his life to the ministry of the gospel and who died for Christ, it is obvious that chocolate and flying chubby babies are the way to do it.

Actually, some believe that February 14 was a Roman holiday in which boys would draw girls' names in some sort of honor to the fertlity and sex goddess Februata Juno. Of course, Christian leaders went and 'sanctified' the pagan day- like Christmas and Easter -and named it for St. Valentine in order to distract their flock from paganism... Well, 2000 years later it worked; the day is all about self-sacrificial Christian service and not at all about eros...

Valentine is the patron saint of the following:

Betrothed couples
Against fainting
Bee Keepers
Epilepsy
Greetings
Greeting Card Manufacturers
Love
Happy Marriages
Plague
Travellers
Young People

I'm sure there's an entertaining Valentine's Day story someone could come up with incorporating the above items.

Evolution Sunday

2006-02-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

If you didn't know, yesterday was Evolution Sunday, where churches across the globe distanced themselves from those wascally cweationists, and celebrated the contributions of Charles Darwin. I'd like to share the liturgy of our solemn worship with you now.

The choir led us in a rousing rendition of

"Guide me O thou great Selection,
Primate through this barren land.
I am fit, so sure is my survival;
Change me to an upright man.
Evolution, Evolution,
Morph me till I can no more;
Morph me till I can no more."

Then we all recited the Five Points of Darwinism, or the acrostic "THORN," as we say in our circles:

Total Vulnerablity- we're at the mercy of nature
Humanism- we must strive to advance a master race
Oops- we're the product of chance, not design
Resistance is Futile- you will be assimilated
Natural Selection- (although it IS unconditional)

Then we heard a wonderfully zealous sermon on sanctification called, "From Goo, to the Zoo, to You"

And we of course recited the Nicene Creed (21st Century Version):

I believe in the Bang Almighty,
the Beginner of space and earth,
and in the Primordial Goo, life's womb:

In which life was conceived by complete chance,
born as an amoeba,
evolved into an insect,
and then a worm, fish, and a whale.

Thus the origin of mammals.

The third billion year period it rose from the sea.

It ascended onto the beach
and crawled into the forest,
where it became an ape
so he could hide in the trees away from predators
in order to stay living and not become dead.
From whence it came down from the trees and began to farm, create religion, and have mortgages.

I believe in the Survival of the Fittest,
the holy Natural Selection,
the evolution of organisms,
the nonexistence of sins,
the worthlessness of the body,
and life nothing special.
Amen.

Finally, we partook of a communion of bananas in remembrance of Charles Darwin.

Of course we didn't offer up any prayers of petition because we know that praying against cancer and other illnesses would be against natural selection, and would be contrary to survival of the fittest.

2006-02-11T12:14:00.000-05:00

"By perseverence the snail reached the ark."

Charles H. Spurgeon

Blogging

2006-02-09T18:51:00.000-05:00

I need to say this. Most people who bother looking at my blog know me. And by knowing me, they know my personality. I like to provoke reactions, and not always "walk on eggshells" around issues. I don't say things out of ignorance (most of the time) and neither do I mean to belittle other people. Once in a while I post something that I know will generate discussion.

My jeremiad on the global warming theory was one of those sure winners. I definitely received what I predicted, but on a greater scale, as many of my Canadian friends weighed in on the debate. Although I've been accused of stupidity in having this opinion, which many thousands of scientists hold to be true, I'm no less convinced than when I started. Call it stubbornness. By the way, what would I possibly have to gain by not believing in global warming unless I just believe otherwise based on the legitimate science I've seen?

My biggest concern here is the rhetoric that people have used against me. I'm not attacking what you said, I'm just saying that we hear these same arguments from those who hold to evolution and Darwinism. So I guess I'm just saying that, should we buy into any scientific theory beacuse of the following rhetoric? If yes, then none of us should be Creationists because a seeming "consensus" of scientists believe otherwise.

"I am very suprised that you just seem to look past this evidence."
"I believe that you should be aware that quite probably a much larger number of reputable scientists contribute to organizations such as this than the few that you have found to back up your beliefs."
"Lots of scientists have said global warming is extremely real. In fact, I think most scientists have made such conclusions. Those who deny it are the exception."
"I think that this is clearly an example of someone who wants what they believe to be made true."
"I am deeply saddened by the mentality of ignorance that you have subscribed to."

Whether global warming be true or not, as a Christian I must never follow a broad path just because it's broad. But I'll follow it if it's true, broad or not. But in this present case, I am still not convinced of its truth.

Colonial Church of Edina

2006-02-07T13:02:00.000-05:00

Okay. I found a website for the Colonial Church of Edina, Minnesota. You may or may not be wondering how there could be something colonial in Minnesota. But the reality is, a contemporary "Puritan" congregation has constructed a HUGE facility in the desire to be closer to their Colonial founders. Their property holds a Puritan-style meetinghouse (see photo) and a New England covered bridge among many other facilities. There's also the Jonathan Edwards Youth Center and Lounge, the Anne Bradstreet Hearth Room, and many other rooms named for old American Christians.

The fellowship hall has a great symbolic theme. It's called the Pastor John Robinson Great Hall (he was the Pilgrims' pastor) and it's an open room filled with natural light. They say, "The pastor whom the Pilgrims of the Mayflower left behind counseled them that 'God hath yet more truth and light to break forth from His Holy Word.' This place of eating and meeting allows us to be open to the light."

What a great idea. Granted, naming every single room for someone may be overkill, but it's still a noble effort. I think I'll visit them someday... the next time I'm in Minnesota...

See the rest of the pictures here.

Happy 100th Birthday to a Hero

2006-02-04T12:18:00.000-05:00

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Feb. 4, 1906-April 9, 1945), German pastor and theologian, is remembered for both his written works as well has his involvement in Nazi resistance. His most celebrated book, The Cost of Discipleship, is still one of the most widely celebrated books on Christian growth ever printed. There is a film portraying his heroic life, and he's one of the ten 20th century martyrs depicted in the statues over the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey.

While involved in a conspiracy plot to assassinate Hitler, Bonhoeffer was imprisoned when a money trail (money used to smuggle Jews into Switzerland) was traced to him. When the Nazis later discovered his plot to kill the Führer, he was hanged at the concentration camp at Flossenbürg... three weeks before its liberation. His most famous quote from Discipleship is, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."

On the 100th birthday of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the least we can do is quitly consider: are we willing pay the ultimate cost of following Christ?

"Cheap Grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting
to-day for costly grace.
Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us
from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow upon ourselves.
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance,
baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution
without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace
without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly
go and sell all that he has…"

False Alarm

2006-02-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, our little baby came out yesterday, saw its shadow and hurried back inside. So it looks like six more weeks of pregnancy! (Sigh)

Global Warming Myth #3

2006-02-02T09:42:00.000-05:00

Myth #3 Human-Caused Global Warming Will Cause Cataclysmic Environmental Problems.

"Proponents of the theory of human-caused global warming argue that it is causing and will continue to cause all manner of environmental catastrophes, including higher ocean levels and increased hurricane activity. Reputable scientists, including those working on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations organization created to study the causes and effects of global climate warming, reject these beliefs.
Sea levels are rising around the globe, though not uniformly. In fact, sea levels have risen more than 300 feet over the last 18,000 years - far predating any possible human impact. Rising sea levels are natural in between ice ages. Contrary to the predictions of global warming theorists, the current rate of increase is slower than the average rate over the 18,000-year period.
Periodic media reports link human-caused climate changes to more frequent tropical cyclones or more intense hurricanes. Tropical storms depend on warm ocean surface temperatures (at least 26 degrees Celsius) and an unlimited supply of moisture. Therefore, the reasoning goes, global warming leads to increased ocean surface temperatures, a greater uptake of moisture and destructive hurricanes. But recent data show no increase in the number or severity of tropical storms, and the latest climate models suggest that earlier models making such connections were simplistic and thus inaccurate.
Since the 1940s the National Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory has documented a decrease in both the intensity and number of hurricanes.
Since factors other than ocean temperature such as wind speeds at various altitudes seem to play a larger role than scientists previously understood, most agree that any regional changes in hurricane activity will continue to occur against a backdrop of large yearly natural variations.
What about other effects of warming? If a slight atmospheric warming occurred, it would primarily affect nighttime temperatures, lessening the number of frosty nights and extending the growing season. Thus some scientists think a global warming trend would be an agricultural boon. Moreover, historically warm periods have been the most conducive to life. Most of the earth's plant life evolved in a much warmer, carbon dioxide-filled atmosphere.

Conclusion

As scientists expose the myths concerning global warming, the fears of an apocalypse should subside. So rather than legislating in haste and ignorance and repenting at leisure, our government should maintain rational policies, based on science and adaptable to future discoveries."