Meditate on it

"And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest."   -Psalm 55:6-8 "We are all too apt to utter this vain desire, for vain it is; no wings of doves or eagles could bear us away from the sorrows of a trembling heart. Inward grief knows nothing of place. Moreover, it is cowardly to shun the battle which God would have us fight. We had better face the danger, for we have no armour for our backs. He had need of a swifter conveyance than doves' pinions who would outfly slander; he may be at rest who does not fly, but commends his case to his God. Even the dove of old found no rest till she returned to her ark, and we amid all our sorrow may find rest in Jesus. We need not depart; all will be well if we trust in him." -Spurgeon The desire to flee and find shelter is a deep abiding one, woven throu

Ten minutes of Chesterton p. 26  Chesterton argues that theorists jump to hasty generalizations when they conclude things from reindeer drawings on caves.  We should not construct sweeping statements from the drawings.  Humorously, he points out that in the future, researchers could point to initials we've carved into walls or trees and conclude equally implausible reasons behind them (27). He pokes fun of Well's assertion that religion evolved slowly out of these three old world realities: 1. Fear of chief of the tribe--Wells calls "the Old Man" 2. phenomena of dreams 3. cycle of harvest...death/rebirth Chesterton concludes that they are too dissimilar, having no unifying theme: "Nor could anyone imagine any connection between corn and dreams and an old chief with a spear, unless there was already a common feeling to include them all"(27). Then he moves on to say that Wells intentionally makes them remoter than they really are, "For the pla

Winnie the Pooh talks about a "sustaining snack" of honey and a "sustaining book."  Certain psalms feel that way to me--like a wash of cool fall air, refreshing. After reading the scriptures and loving many translations through the years, I've determined that the language of the King James is incontestably superior in the psalms---no other translation will do. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb" -Psalm 37:1-2 It encourages me to think that King David had his own head games.  In one sense, of course he did, running around the country avoiding Saul or his own son.  It's too easy though to think that great men do not struggle with their own ghosts and shadows.  The message I get out of this is---keep your head screwed on straight.  Don't be anxious about what others are doing.  Trust God and you do you, s

A few days ago I noticed I was exactly halfway through the Fourfold Gospel plan, a chronological compilation and commentary on the gospels I've been working through since March.  As Jesus faced more crowds and opposing, I began feeling worn out too.  Unlike the disciples, I know the road ahead of him and need a break to refresh my mind and prepare myself for the intensity of leg two. So, the gospels will be on hold for awhile.  During the break, I plan to read the psalms quickly (well quickly for me) and Chesterton's Everlasting Man, published in 1925. ********************* I wrote the lines above a few weeks ago now and have been making strides in both books.  Chesterton has been busy laying an extensive attack against evolutionary theory (up to p. 27 in this electronic edition) . How do I find him thus far?  In his calm and persistent theological plodding, I find him much like C.S. Lewis, who was deeply impacted by this work of Chesterton's as an atheist.  I se

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Psalm 24, ESV "A David psalm. GOD claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it." Psalm 24 The Message It helps.  When I feel overwhelmed as I do now, it helps to remember that He is owner and keeper of all---the fullness of the earth, its people, animals, landscapes, problems, joys, and ultimate destiny. It reminds me of that quote "I am small.  He is big. Rest there." Life feels big to me today, but God's sovereignty is comprehensive, sufficient, enormous. Spurgeon's Treasury of David points out these words are on the Roayl Exchange in London. As we go about our trading and business, what solid words to be over us all.

Section 64 DISCOURSE ON SPIRITUAL FOOD AND TRUE DISCIPLESHIP PETER'S CONFESSION (At the synagogue in Capernaum)  JOHN 6:22-71 ON the Differences Between Gospels and Placement of this episode.... The Pulpit Commentary does a fine job of exploring the broader issues of these chapters and the differences of placement and purpose among the four gospel writers. John is forever content to ride his own wave of exposition, whereas the synoptics hold tighter and closer to each other. "Some commentators appear to have a morbid fear of reducing a difficulty, or seeing a harmony, between these four narratives. One thing is dear, that they are independent of one another, are not derived from each other, do each involve side views of the event distinct from the rest, and yet concur in the same general representation. The synoptists, however, place the "feeding of the multitudes" in the midst of a group of most remarkable and varied events. It is for them one page ou

Section 63, Subdivision B  & Section 78 The disciples return from their mission and report back. The mission of the twelve probably lasted several weeks, and the beheading of John the Baptist appears to have taken place about the time of their return. -Fourfold Jesus received news of John's death about the time the disciples returned back, so John's death is shadowing over the next few episodes. Jesus feeds 5,000. Over the last bit, Grace and I have had several conversations about the best way to reach people and minister.  I like C.S. Robinson's simple approach here.  It's a response to the disciples urging Jesus to let the pe "Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat. ”"Matthew 14:15-16 "MEN WILL COME TO MORE REAL WISDOM AN