A Good Friday Meditation: becoming a curse for us

RC Sproul on "The curse motif of the atonement".

HT: KdY

Easter: It is a dangerous time of year

It was from the imagination of C.S. Lewis that we were first exposed to a devil’s diabolical advice for the capturing of the human heart through the fictional correspondence between a senior devil, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood. Now pastor and author, James Emery White, has 'uncovered' a new letter, related to Easter...

My dear Wormwood,
It is that dreadful time of year again when even those most firmly in our clutches find themselves maddeningly open to venturing into Enemy territory and attending a service celebrating that event-which-must-not-be-named.

Granted, we have been effective at neutralizing much of the threat this time of year poses to patients such as yours by ensuring the stupid humans go on vacation. Making the time surrounding that event-that-must-not-be-named prime time for vacations and school breaks, was one of the more brilliant suggestions from our tactical division.

I am, however, concerned that this year you report your patient is staying home. This makes him vulnerable. If he goes at all, make sure it is to one of those sappy affairs that is all butterflies and sunrises, eggs and bunnies – all new beginnings and positive thoughts.
Sappiness we can deal with.

But it is best if he doesn’t go at all. And certainly not to anything that would actually explain the event-that-must-not-be named!  I can barely even bring to mind that noxious moment when He refused to admit defeat at the hands of Our Father Below and resorted to trickery and deceit – and called it a victory!

We were cheated! (I must calm down…I feel myself turning into a newt!)
This means you must be on guard against the Enemy’s more annoyingly earnest followers who would invite him to one of their pathetic celebrations. Particularly the ones where someone might actually present things purely from the Enemy’s point of view!

We can’t afford a repeat of what happened with your former patient. Need I remind you how you let her slip through your fingers?  Yes, I think I will.

First, you let her begin that friendship with that most awful of creatures, an actual follower of the Enemy. Not one of the overbearing, obnoxious, self-righteous, legalistic types I actually recommend you bring into her orbit, but the most revolting kind of all; the likable, normal, authentic kind. Oh, how I hate them!

It wasn’t long before they began hearing of grace (I can barely bring myself to write such a contemptible word!), the most powerful of the Enemy’s weapons and the one thing we try most to protect humans from understanding, much less believing.
Indeed, if you recall, it was precisely at this time of the year that she accepted an invitation from the aforementioned type of nauseating creature to precisely the kind of service I am warning you about. And it was the worst possible kind – one where the event-that-must-not-be-named was not only celebrated, but the disgusting human who spoke even gave reasons to appeal to both her heart and her mind!  Her mind!
The one area we pride ourselves on owning, and have convinced the world one must abandon to even consider the Enemy!  This must not happen again.

Don’t rely on any of our departments brewing bad weather this weekend – even we can’t bring rain everywhere at the same time. And the Enemy has a way of bypassing such efforts and luring them anyway.
(We aren’t really quite sure what happens when those idiots pray – it’s an area we have yet to be able to invade).
And don’t settle for mischief with the service itself (bad microphones and the like). Have your fun with such things, but remember that you are not a junior tempter anymore! Be a true warrior of the Father Below and rise to the occasion of preventing the Enemy of gaining any ground by keeping him away from any of those sniveling Enemy-lovers who would take it upon themselves to invite him to one of their revolting events.

Every day we lure more of their pathetic lives into our own ravenous desire that, in the end, consumes their very soul. This is the satisfying route. Yet the Enemy would have them as sons and daughters! It makes me want to vomit.

So whatever you do, keep your patient safe. The event-which-must-not-be-named must be neutralized! All to say, it is a dangerous time of year. Don’t disappoint me.

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

Les Misérables - an 'honest trailer'

Continuing with the Victor Hugo theme, for those who are experiencing cold turkey as you await the DVD release, and for the rest of humanity who wondered what all the fuss was about, this is good ...

Six Nations Rugby: Les Misérables!

Phew!  So we didn't get the wooden spoon - that distinction went to the French (who, of course, dispute l'honneur, on a technicality).
But neither did we wrap ourselves in glory either. Losing to the Italians, who genuinely played well.
And BOD? potentially his last game in the green jumper, exiting under a cloud of shame? Not a great day all round for Irish Rugby. Mr Kidney's successor, presumably, has it all to do ...
Quel dommage!

The story of Patrick (Veggie Tales Version)

In anticipation of the great man's day on Sunday, here's the story of Patrick. One or two little historical inaccuracies here and there, but, on the basis that even the definitive versions of his biography disagree, it's as good a telling as most. Fifteen hundred years plus later - we still need Patricks to come and live and share the Gospel on this island. (See the John Owen quote on the LH sidebar - beneath the Celtic Cross)

 Update: for a slightly less cartoonish version of Patrick (and only just slightly less), you might wish to look here.

Crazy little thing called love

HT:  Bill Watterson

Milos: Libertango

Here's a catchy wee tune given the Milos Karadaglic touch.  I wish I was this good... at the guitar, I mean.  As a dancer, I'm already incomparable ...

Sunday Sermon: Gospel shaped community 02

Continuing to examine Paul's vision for a Gospel shaped community in Romans 12.  First few minutes of the recording are missing.  You can listen below, or download here.

Knowing, living and sharing the Gospel as a lifestyle

With thanks to Justin Taylor ...

"The Story" ESV Bible looks like a great resource for growing disciples and helping others confidently reach out to others with the Gospel.
The short video below is helpful in getting to the heart of what our theme, 'Gospel-Community-Mission' is all about.

Piper on preaching

Last August, John Piper preached to his church, Bethlehem Baptist, from 2 Timothy 4, about the primacy of preaching. As he drew towards the end, he said - or should that be preached ...

“Preach the word! Preach the whole, inspired, all-profitable Bible.
“What is preaching? The word here, “preach”, is the word “herald.” It’s not teaching, it’s not conversing, it’s not sharing, it’s heralding.  Heralding, before there was internet, or television, or radio, or telephones, telegraphs, was what the town crier did to bring messages, for example, from the King.  And it would sound like this:

“Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! The King has a message for you - from the royal scroll, with the imperial seal. All of you who have hated the King, belittled the King, conspired against the King, are hereby instructed and invited and compelled by the King, at the cost of your life, to appear before His representative and lay down the arms of your rebellion. And if you will lay down the arms of your rebellion, and you will swear fealty to your King, he will, because of the sacrifice of his Son, on that day pardon all your treason and all your discountenancing of his glory.  And, at a time appointed by his counsel, he will come to you, and he live with you, and he will adopt you into his family, and you will receive every conceivable blessing in his treasures. Thus saith the King!”

"That’s heralding. It’s not teaching. Oh, it’s got teaching in it.  We call it in Bethlehem expository exultation. It’s a preacher loving what he has seen and being so thrilled with it that he just [exclaims], 'Do you see what the King has for you?' 

One day ... perhaps!

My dear friend, model and encourager, Derick Bingham, now in glory himself, used to quote the Puritan who was asked what he planned to do in heaven.  The Puritan replied, "I'll probably spend the first thousand years gazing into the face of Jesus, and then I'll have a look around!"

The prospect of the New Heaven and New Earth (not simply an unclear, misty "heaven") means that we shall have an eternity to 'look around' and perhaps try some new things that might have passed us by on earth the first time. This looks good... 
(I wonder if aeroacrophobia is a redeemable, reversible effect of the Fall!)

HT: Vitamin Z

Sunday sermon: Gospel Shaped Community 01

On the basis of God's mercy revealed and demonstrated in the Gospel, Paul appeals to the Christians in Rome to give themselves selflessly, like living sacrifices, to the life, worship, witness and fellowship of the local church (Romans 12: 1ff).  
But dangerous threats to the unity, vitality and ministry of this fellowship lie close to home.  They don't come from without; but from within, from our own hearts...

When uploaded, you can listen to the sermon here, or directly below.

Virtually real 'virtual reality'

Ever wondered in TVland and movieworld what is real? Wonder again...

 HT: Richard Walker
See also here.