Live and Die Happily

Reading the Heidelberg Catechism in class today. Was struck by the end of the second question: “…live and die happily.” I’m in class right now, so no time for commentary… just a copy paste of the Q&A for you.

Question 2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?

Answer: Three; (a) the first, how great my sins and miseries are; (b) the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; (c) the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance. (d)

(a) Matt.11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt.11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matt.11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 1 Cor.6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Tit.3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Tit.3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Tit.3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Tit.3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; Tit.3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (b) John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (c) John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 10:43 To him (Jesus) give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (d) Eph.5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Eph.5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Eph.5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Eph.5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 1 Pet.2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Pet.2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Rom.6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Rom.6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Rom.6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Rom.6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Justin Holcomb

I was browsing my professor’s church website this morning and came across a text of one of his recent sermons.  Let me just say, if I lived in Charlottesville, I might have to become Episcopal so I could hear this every Sunday.

Am I looking for God

A few weeks ago in my class the professor quoted G.K Chesterson:

“Every time a man knocks on the door of a brothel he is looking for God”

In class last week a classmate was sharing how that quote really impacted him and he found himself asking himself often, “am I looking for God right now?”. Like when aimlessly surfing the web, or being really ‘devoted’ to tv time or whatever the case may be. I thought it a striking practice. He did couch it with the idea that it is ok for us to enjoy hobbies or ‘free time’ or whatever, it’s just that line….am i just enjoying a facet of the life God has given me or am I hiding from my creator/looking for fulfillment in something other than Jesus?

slowly sinking?

The to-do list between work, school, church, and family is so utterly huge that I just spent 40 minutes trying to figure how to simply survive the next two weeks without missing anything… like taxes, my hermeneutics paper, or taking Jenn and the kids to the airport.

While I seem, on paper, to be able to survive the next two weeks… that then leads into the following four which don’t look a whole lot prettier.

Your prayers for me, and especially Jenn and the kids, are greatly appreciated.

Seminary Commercials

Going to Seminary run a competition this month to see creative ways people could get the word out about the website. Two people made commercials. Check them out:

Asher Sings the Hebrew Alphabet

This evening, as we were sitting on the back porch, Asher and I began to sing some songs. He was doing so well with the Hebrew Alphabet song that I got my phone and let him take the lead.  So, for your listening pleasure, Asher (3 years old) singing the Hebrew Alphabet (with me singing and laughing back-up).  Click the play button above to listen to the goodness!

Seminarians

I haven’t told ya’ll about my first day as a seminarian yet. I kind of wanted to wait till after the second day (I am only taking one class that meets for 3hrs on thursdays), seeing as how all we covered the first day was the syllabus! However, that syllabus-covering lecture was some great preaching.

Though I don’t know exactly what the rest of the class will be like, I do know it’s not like a “normal” seminary class. Seems like it will be more like a really intensive Bible study…interactive, practical, spiritual. A great transition back into academia I think.

Honestly I can’t remember my initial thoughts (yes, i blogged about it in my head on the drive home last thursday), except that i was so excited & refreshed. As my friend Dana said, “You get to spend 3 hours with other adults & have adult conversations & learn cool stuff!”. Yes. That was really great. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I love my job, but boy is it nice to have time to talk to adults with my full focus & attention.

This week’s reading assignment was on the Transforming Power of the Gospel. A little nugget for you:

…we often reduce the gospel to “God’s plan of salvation” for lost people to be saved from sin’s penalty, not realizing that it is also “God’s plan of salvation” for Christians to be saved from sin’s power. The same gospel message that saves sinners also sanctifies saints.

& Lastly, during prayer before class started he prayed (jenn’s cliff’s notes),

help us not seek the grace of God, but the God of grace, nor the truth of God, but the God of truth…

That last bit extends across the spectrum….not the love of God, but the God of love….

Oh & a life-changing tidbit: I discovered that I don’t believe God loves me. & you don’t either. yeah, i was a little offended too. But it was true. I’ll write another post later on how he knew.

Hebrew Update

Sweet! Got a B+ (91-93) in my Hebrew class.

Hey, want $50… and a book?

I’m running a competition over at goingtoseminary.com. It is open to everyone with a website… Sorry mom…

Photo Friday

So, we ordered all the books for our upcoming classes. I think one of Jenn’s books is still yet to arrive, but here is our reading list for the next 4 months:

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