Or dates, to be exact. I've always loved history, but have never been very good at recalling dates. That's why I love this nifty map from www.mapsofwar.com. It shows the history of religion in a mere ninety seconds and includes the dates in a way that makes them easy to remember. It's perfect for anyone who struggles with dating (well, at least the dating of historical events.) Enjoy!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
And Can It Be That Wesley Wednesdays Are Back Again?
Yes it can!
And can it be that "And Can It Be" is our featured hymn of the week?
Yes again!
And can it be that I've included all six verses for your edification?
You've got it!
Enjoy one of my all time favorites.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
And can it be that "And Can It Be" is our featured hymn of the week?
Yes again!
And can it be that I've included all six verses for your edification?
You've got it!
Enjoy one of my all time favorites.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
101 Galatians
Hey, that's actually not a bad idea for a kids' movie. I can see it now: "The Apostle Paul gives birth to an adorable brood of young Galatian Christians only to have them snatched away by the frightening Circumcision DeVille! Will Paul ever get his precious Galatians back? Find out this spring when the studio that brought you "Larryboy and the Rumor Weed" and "Dave and the Giant Pickle" presents "101 Galatians!"
So my small group Bible study is currently studying Galatians and a question came up a few weeks ago when we discussed 2:11-21. When Peter starts distorting the gospel by refusing to eat with the Gentiles, Paul calls him on it in public - "But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" (Galatians 2:14)
It seems Paul's harsh and public rebuke was necessary given that Peter's actions were presenting false teaching about the gospel and were influencing the other Jews. This makes me wonder if and when we should publicly rebuke false teaching. For instance, suppose you hear a pastor teach that we're not really free from sin. Or that you'll always prosper financially if you are walking with God. Or that God isn't sovereign. Do you stand up in the middle of service and rebuke them? Do you wait until the service is over and gently take them aside? Do you chalk it up to a bad Sunday and ignore it all together?
I currently don't have a thoughtful or developed opinion on this subject and I'd love to hear people's thoughts. Do you think it's appropriate to publicly rebuke the false teaching of another Christian? If so, when? What criteria would you use in deciding whether to publicly or privately address false teaching? Any comments would be much appreciated.
In the meantime, I'm going to call the VeggieTales people about my movie idea. Those DVDs are going to sell like hotcakes.
So my small group Bible study is currently studying Galatians and a question came up a few weeks ago when we discussed 2:11-21. When Peter starts distorting the gospel by refusing to eat with the Gentiles, Paul calls him on it in public - "But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" (Galatians 2:14)
It seems Paul's harsh and public rebuke was necessary given that Peter's actions were presenting false teaching about the gospel and were influencing the other Jews. This makes me wonder if and when we should publicly rebuke false teaching. For instance, suppose you hear a pastor teach that we're not really free from sin. Or that you'll always prosper financially if you are walking with God. Or that God isn't sovereign. Do you stand up in the middle of service and rebuke them? Do you wait until the service is over and gently take them aside? Do you chalk it up to a bad Sunday and ignore it all together?
I currently don't have a thoughtful or developed opinion on this subject and I'd love to hear people's thoughts. Do you think it's appropriate to publicly rebuke the false teaching of another Christian? If so, when? What criteria would you use in deciding whether to publicly or privately address false teaching? Any comments would be much appreciated.
In the meantime, I'm going to call the VeggieTales people about my movie idea. Those DVDs are going to sell like hotcakes.
Monday, January 15, 2007
A Blaise of Glory
I love going to parties where the main course is a large variety of appetizers, like cheese fondue, mini quiches, artichoke dip with sourdough bread, etc. You're more than adequately nourished and you get to sample lots of different flavors and textures. Plus, if you hate one appetizer, there's usually nine or ten more to choose from. And you don't even need silverware! When it comes to dinner, I want ease and options.
My taste in food definitely mirrors my taste in literature. I like lots of small bites as opposed to one large meal. I'm much more satisfied reading a few Flannery O' Connor short stories in one afternoon than spending a month completing "Great Expectations." That's probably one of the reasons I love "Pensees" by 17th century French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher Blaise Pascal.
"Pensees" (thoughts) contains hundreds of Pascal's brilliant thoughts on God, imagination, the state of man, vanity, and more. They're the literary equivalent of a great appetizer: nourishing, delicious, and small enough that you can finish one in less than a minute.
I like reading a few of Pascal's thoughts from time to time and here are two that I've recently enjoyed. Bon Appetit!
#172. We do not rest satisfied with the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if in order to hasten its course; or we recall the past, to stop its too rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander in the times which are not ours and do not think of the only one which belongs to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists. For the present is generally painful to us. We conceal it from our sight, because it troubles us; and, if it be delightful to us, we regret to see it pass away. We try to sustain it by the future and think of arranging matters which are not in our power, for a time which we have no certainty of reaching. Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means; the future alone is our end. So we never live, but we hope to live; and, as we are always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be so.
#181. We are so unfortunate that we can only take pleasure in a thing on condition of being annoyed if it turn out ill, as a thousand things can do, and do every hour. He who should find the secret of rejoicing in the good, without troubling himself with its contrary evil, would have hit the mark. It is perpetual motion.
My taste in food definitely mirrors my taste in literature. I like lots of small bites as opposed to one large meal. I'm much more satisfied reading a few Flannery O' Connor short stories in one afternoon than spending a month completing "Great Expectations." That's probably one of the reasons I love "Pensees" by 17th century French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher Blaise Pascal.
"Pensees" (thoughts) contains hundreds of Pascal's brilliant thoughts on God, imagination, the state of man, vanity, and more. They're the literary equivalent of a great appetizer: nourishing, delicious, and small enough that you can finish one in less than a minute.
I like reading a few of Pascal's thoughts from time to time and here are two that I've recently enjoyed. Bon Appetit!
#172. We do not rest satisfied with the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if in order to hasten its course; or we recall the past, to stop its too rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander in the times which are not ours and do not think of the only one which belongs to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists. For the present is generally painful to us. We conceal it from our sight, because it troubles us; and, if it be delightful to us, we regret to see it pass away. We try to sustain it by the future and think of arranging matters which are not in our power, for a time which we have no certainty of reaching. Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means; the future alone is our end. So we never live, but we hope to live; and, as we are always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be so.
#181. We are so unfortunate that we can only take pleasure in a thing on condition of being annoyed if it turn out ill, as a thousand things can do, and do every hour. He who should find the secret of rejoicing in the good, without troubling himself with its contrary evil, would have hit the mark. It is perpetual motion.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
"The Time Has Come," The Walrus Said, "To Talk Of Shallow Things . . ."
One of the great minds of our time once said, “We are living in a material world and I am a material girl.” The other night, I was thinking about the material things that daily give me pleasure and I realized that many of them are under $5. Then I thought, why not write about my favorite products so others can share the joy? (Plus, maybe Target or Trader Joe’s will give me a discount if they hear I’m hawking their wares.) So, without further ado, here are four of my favorite material possessions.
1. Trader Joe’s French Liquid Soap. You know how single women in movies always live in those adorable apartments filled with shabby chic furniture and fresh daisies and pink kitchen utensils? And how they have different coordinating shoes and purses for every single outfit? And how they have successful careers doing darling things like owning children’s bookstores or planning weddings? And how they eat cheeseburgers and entire pints of Ben and Jerry’s all the time, yet never seem to gain any weight? Trader Joe’s French Liquid Soap makes me feel like I am this sort of girl. It comes in three delightful varieties: Lavender, Orange Blossom Honey, and Shea Butter and it is truly the perfect single girl soap. The cute packaging, feminine scents, and fact that it’s made in France say, “I’m stylish and trendy, in a unique and whimsical way that doesn’t look like I care about being stylish and trendy,” but the cheap Trader Joe’s price says, “I’m just a normal, working class girl.” Whenever I wash my hands, I think my hair looks a little like Meg Ryan’s.
2. Annie’s Microwaveable White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese. At the end of a long day, the last thing I want to do is cook dinner. Annie’s Mac and Cheese comes to my rescue every time. It’s delicious, organic (which somehow makes me feel all right about making my dinner from a packet), and only takes one half a cup of water and three minutes to prepare. You can dress it up with olive oil and parmesan cheese, but it’s great on its own too. Best of all, you can buy a box of five servings for under $3. It’s like a tastier, healthier, and much more sophisticated version of Top Ramen.
3. Method Pink Grapefruit Dishwashing Soap. Who knew that I would grow to feel so passionately about a dishwashing soap? There are three things that I particularly love. First, the bottle is surprisingly aesthetically pleasing. I never thought about bottle design as an art form until I saw the Method bottle. It's the first soap I've been proud to display on my counter. Second, the scent is fresh and light and makes my kitchen smell so clean. Third, the soap is a perfect shade of pink and totally coordinates with the rest of my kitchen.
4. Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips. My philosophy has always been: the darker the chocolate, the better the chocolate. That’s why these chocolate chips are so amazing - they’re the perfect combination of sweet and tart. I would feel sort of guilty about eating an entire chocolate bar every day, but have no qualms about consuming mass quantities of these chips because they’re so small (ah, the tricks my mind can play.) They hit the spot whenever I’m craving chocolate and they’re especially delicious at the bottom of a cup of hot chocolate.
Those are my four favorites. Although hand soap and macaroni and cheese are just cheap, material things, they did get me thinking about enjoying life. There are so many daily gifts that I completely miss because I’m discontented about something. I don’t think about the delicious flavor of the perfect chocolate chip or thank God for giving us taste buds because I’m too busy comparing myself to my friends. I don’t stop and take in the wonderful smells that surround me each day because I’m preoccupied with the things that I want and don’t have. It’s amazing that my day is filled with hundreds of gifts to enjoy, yet I still feel sorry for myself or like God owes me something. It’s not only ungrateful; it’s not living in reality.
So go to Target, buy some Method, and take time to stop and smell the dishwashing liquid.
1. Trader Joe’s French Liquid Soap. You know how single women in movies always live in those adorable apartments filled with shabby chic furniture and fresh daisies and pink kitchen utensils? And how they have different coordinating shoes and purses for every single outfit? And how they have successful careers doing darling things like owning children’s bookstores or planning weddings? And how they eat cheeseburgers and entire pints of Ben and Jerry’s all the time, yet never seem to gain any weight? Trader Joe’s French Liquid Soap makes me feel like I am this sort of girl. It comes in three delightful varieties: Lavender, Orange Blossom Honey, and Shea Butter and it is truly the perfect single girl soap. The cute packaging, feminine scents, and fact that it’s made in France say, “I’m stylish and trendy, in a unique and whimsical way that doesn’t look like I care about being stylish and trendy,” but the cheap Trader Joe’s price says, “I’m just a normal, working class girl.” Whenever I wash my hands, I think my hair looks a little like Meg Ryan’s.
2. Annie’s Microwaveable White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese. At the end of a long day, the last thing I want to do is cook dinner. Annie’s Mac and Cheese comes to my rescue every time. It’s delicious, organic (which somehow makes me feel all right about making my dinner from a packet), and only takes one half a cup of water and three minutes to prepare. You can dress it up with olive oil and parmesan cheese, but it’s great on its own too. Best of all, you can buy a box of five servings for under $3. It’s like a tastier, healthier, and much more sophisticated version of Top Ramen.
3. Method Pink Grapefruit Dishwashing Soap. Who knew that I would grow to feel so passionately about a dishwashing soap? There are three things that I particularly love. First, the bottle is surprisingly aesthetically pleasing. I never thought about bottle design as an art form until I saw the Method bottle. It's the first soap I've been proud to display on my counter. Second, the scent is fresh and light and makes my kitchen smell so clean. Third, the soap is a perfect shade of pink and totally coordinates with the rest of my kitchen.
4. Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips. My philosophy has always been: the darker the chocolate, the better the chocolate. That’s why these chocolate chips are so amazing - they’re the perfect combination of sweet and tart. I would feel sort of guilty about eating an entire chocolate bar every day, but have no qualms about consuming mass quantities of these chips because they’re so small (ah, the tricks my mind can play.) They hit the spot whenever I’m craving chocolate and they’re especially delicious at the bottom of a cup of hot chocolate.
Those are my four favorites. Although hand soap and macaroni and cheese are just cheap, material things, they did get me thinking about enjoying life. There are so many daily gifts that I completely miss because I’m discontented about something. I don’t think about the delicious flavor of the perfect chocolate chip or thank God for giving us taste buds because I’m too busy comparing myself to my friends. I don’t stop and take in the wonderful smells that surround me each day because I’m preoccupied with the things that I want and don’t have. It’s amazing that my day is filled with hundreds of gifts to enjoy, yet I still feel sorry for myself or like God owes me something. It’s not only ungrateful; it’s not living in reality.
So go to Target, buy some Method, and take time to stop and smell the dishwashing liquid.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Jonathan Edwards: Self Esteem Crusher
Just when you've made your New Year's resolutions and are feeling pretty good about yourself, Jonathan Edwards comes along and makes you feel like crud.
For example, compare one of my recent resolutions to one of Edwards':
Jenny: "Plan a monthly social event for all my friends."
Edwards: "Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it."
See what I mean? Edwards wrote seventy resolutions between 1722 and 1723 and they're inspiring, practical, and warrant frequent review. They're also extraordinarily humbling when you consider that Edwards wrote them between the ages of 19 and 20. I mean, it took me until I was 25 to come up with "eat five fruits and vegetables a day."
If you'd like some help forming your list of New Year's resolutions, you can check out Edwards' at http://www.reformed.org/documents/Edwards/index.html
Here are a few that particularly resonated with me.
Resolution #5: Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolution #8: Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
Resolution #17: Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
Resolution #25: Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
Resolution #54: Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it.
Resolution #57: Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin.
Happy New Year!
For example, compare one of my recent resolutions to one of Edwards':
Jenny: "Plan a monthly social event for all my friends."
Edwards: "Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it."
See what I mean? Edwards wrote seventy resolutions between 1722 and 1723 and they're inspiring, practical, and warrant frequent review. They're also extraordinarily humbling when you consider that Edwards wrote them between the ages of 19 and 20. I mean, it took me until I was 25 to come up with "eat five fruits and vegetables a day."
If you'd like some help forming your list of New Year's resolutions, you can check out Edwards' at http://www.reformed.org/documents/Edwards/index.html
Here are a few that particularly resonated with me.
Resolution #5: Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolution #8: Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
Resolution #17: Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
Resolution #25: Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
Resolution #54: Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it.
Resolution #57: Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin.
Happy New Year!
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