Theological Fitness: Part Three

In the last blog post Aimee herself commented she could imagine talking on the porch with 

me about her book, Theological Fitness. So I read chapter three on the front porch as pictured. My dog Ziggy enjoyed sitting there in the shade.  Join us in this discussion. 

There are lots of terms in chapter three that are part of Aimee Byrd’s life and vocabulary and an author should write about things they know. First you have the martial arts terms—circuit training and super-sets, sissy-squats, open dojo, jujutsu, blitz attack, skull crushers, spider push-ups, supination arm extensions and then the reference to an 80’s karate film and extra chins. Extra chins? Than is what old ladies have I’m thinking!  But she means that you go to God’s Word for extra strength in your faith journey, to be able to endure extra rounds as in a fight. You have the terms Aimee’s kids have made up and their toothpaste battles.  In this athletic family Aimee even endures childbirth without drugs. But this is all well and good because the analogy goes along with spiritual fitness, the subject of this book.

Now about the term in the title—“Superabundantly Engaged”, her HWTV or Housewife Theologian version of Hebrews 2:1 and giving more earnest heed. By this term she means to pay attention to Scripture, to the preached Word, and to opportunities to encourage others and to pray. We are to pay attention to our faith, our calling and the ministry of the Gospel. She also uses the term active listening for engagement.

Lady Jane Grey was brought up. I thought I had to look this up to refresh my knowledge as I was tempted to do for the martial arts terms.  But soon Lady Jane Grey is discussed—an historical figure in England who for the joy set before her was executed as a teenager. She endured to the point of death because she stood for her faith. Aimee then writes about Jesus Christ on the cross and notes, “We cannot even pretend to understand the theological, spiritual, emotional, and physical fitness this took”(p. 75). Anchored in Jesus Christ we hold fast and He has the victory.

Below are the questions from “Superabundantly Engaged”. The book questions for chapter 3 are in red and my answers are in black. The questions are called “Going the Extra Mile”.

1.     Why is it such a struggle to hold fast to your hope? When is it particularly more difficult for you to hold fast to your confession? When life has handed me challenges, it is a struggle to hold fast. When I am criticized or called a hypocrite I have had to hold fast, not defend myself, and carry on. Because I want people to like me, this can be hard. But people do not have to like me—hopefully they see Christ in me and that I am a pilgrim on a journey, not yet arrived at the destination. I can point them to Scripture such as some of the great passages mentioned in this chapter of the book. See Hebrews 3:14; 4:14; 6:17-18; 10:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Philippians 2:14, 16; I Thessalonians 5:20-21; and finally Revelation 2:25-26.

2.     Do you find that you tend to be easily distracted or persuaded to give up on the whole Christian life? I am in my early 70s and I realize that there is no way I would want to give up the whole Christian life. Christ has been my strength and burden bearer and what a privilege it is to come to Him daily. My daily Scripture dependence is much better than other disciplines in my life such as careful eating, exercising and house keeping. I did not grow up in an athletic family, but my parents did live a godly life. 

3.     Are you more tempted to look to your own successes and accomplishments in order to persevere than to God’s promises in Christ? Do your failures send you into despair that you may not finish the race? When I look to “my own successes and accomplishments” I really am just overwhelmed at how the LORD has helped me. Yesterday I had a group of ladies over who had prayed for me during my caregiving, death of my husband and also my downsizing and moving. I rejoiced with them at the answered prayer that they could see in my apartment. Failures and despair—not really because I know that finishing the race will be in God’s timing and with His strength. I watched my husband die in our bedroom; he finished the race in God’s time with His strength. 

4.     Do you have a plan for theological training? How could you get a plan together or help someone else in discipleship? What unanswered questions do you have about Christianity that you may want to investigate? Is there a doctrine that you have wanted to learn more about? As a matter of fact I do have a plan for theological training. I have been taking seminary counseling classes and daily email others with Scripture and/or encouragement. I will be in a study group in the fall for a David Jeremiah book and a Randy Alcorn book. No doubt there will be more theology that will come up for me to study. Like who is Melchizedek? Aimee, I will look out for those doctrines and appreciate your weekly Mortification of Spin podcast with two ministers. Many theological terms I can handle now because of my excellent pastors in the past. Beyond orthodox theology, however, is orthopraxy—how I am living out the Christian life and I have observed some in the Reformed faith who know the doctrines but lack some of the fruit of the Spirit in their Christian walk. 

5.     Often I have well-meaning friends who confess they just aren’t good readers. They also may have trouble focusing on the sermon. What are some methods that can help teach someone to be more engaged before, during and after they read or sit under the preached Word? In my youth I had the privilege of listening to Rev. Dwight Small, a man who worked with Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse. I took notes. I regret that I threw away my notes from those early days. Maybe six years ago I purchased a small notebook computer for note taking of sermons and seminary classes. I listen to sermons on podcasts. I am worshiping in a church that provides a template for the pastor’s sermon and I follow along and take notes with that. 

I want to add that engagement includes meditation and praise during the whole worship experience. Engagement includes not looking around the sanctuary observing people. Engagement includes looking up related Scripture and writing in the large margins of my Bible. 

6.     Hebrews 12:12 acknowledges the heavy blows that we all encounter. But it doesn’t excuse our staying down. How can we be encouragers of the gospel to one another at these times? I have several lady friends whom I am contact with daily through the computer. I am writing a seminary dissertation on dementia caregiving and am there for these caregivers myself, having gone through seven years of caregiving myself. I send these caregivers encouragement by email. 

7.     See this chapter’s definition of having “extra chins”—what does it mean to have extra chins in the Christian life? How is this analogy important for both the heavy blows and the trivial, mundane matters that may wear us down? What kind of conditioning does a Christian train under for extra chins (think ‘80s karate movies)? Aimee I am not thinking of those movies! Extra chins means to me being strengthened with Scripture and prayer. During the time I needed to give my late husband morphine every four hours, I had Scripture cards by my bed and I prayed for strength. Others were praying for me as well. Extra chins means practicing forgiveness of others and being quick to ask for forgiveness from them when I am wrong. Extra chins means listening to the quite voice that tells me what is the next thing to do. I heard of a doctor who was told to go back and pray. See HERE for his exciting story.

8.     How does it put things in perspective when we think of the image that Hebrews 6 gives us of Christ being our anchor in the heavenly sanctuary? Who’s the One really holding on? He is our anchor and He is the one holding on to us. Hebrews 6:19-20 reads: 

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 

Behind Casting Crowns Music

Stories Behind Casting Crown Music

I have a playlist on my iPod that I put on in the car on our half-hour ride to church on Sunday--standard favorites such as "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and other hymns that draw us into a worship mode. It seems every generation has its music and as a senior citizen I have not kept up with Christian rock music to any great extent. It doesn't catch my attention on the radio.

Then there is  the Christian group
Casting Crowns. 

A year ago we enjoyed them at Plant City, Florida's Strawberry Festival as reported HERE. The Strawberry Queen herself told the audience to enjoy the worship, not the concert. People in the audience were indeed worshipping and singing their songs as they led the concert.  I do have two of their CDs and have downloaded other songs into my iTunes library. Why I also have a Casting Crowns playlist to listen to in the car. What lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall said in the concert has resonated with me and I was glad to read one of his four books,

Lifestories: Finding God's "Voice of Truth" 

Through Everyday Life. 

The book made my Casting Crowns playlist come alive.

The creative part of me enjoyed how Casting Crowns songs came to be as described in this book. The devotional side of me enjoyed the reflective questions called The Bottom Line at the end of each chapter. (This might be a good resource for a youth group study.)  The theological side of me recognized Mark Hall's Reformed thinking in the book. I do like that he both sees God's election and our responsibility to evangelize. On tour they take time for their behind-the-scenes people in sharing the gospel. Then they usually make it back home to minister at their own churches, although they are so successful they wouldn't have to ever make it back home to their churches.

Mark Hall tells how one of his songs,  Praise You in the Storm, took off after Hurricane Katrina. See it on YouTube HERE.

You're Already There is a song that touched me at the 2013 concert where I took this picture.

We had great seats and my husband really liked the concert. 

Last year's concert may be one of the last events of this sort that I am able to take my husband to because of his decline with dementia. As a caregiver this song lifts my spirits when I hear it on my playlist. The LORD is already there with the ending time for my husband's dementia.

Then there is the Casting Crowns song,  If We Are the Body. We are the body of Christ as Christians according to Scripture. Since reading about this song, I have been propelled to do several acts of kindness and bold witnessing beyond really what I would ordinarily think to do. Here are some lyrics from that song:

But if we are the body,

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing? 

Why aren't His words teaching? 

And if we are the body, 

Why aren't His feet going? 

Why is His love not showing there is a way?

 (pp. 39-40)

Just a few more gems from Mark Hall's book:

• "Authentic Christianity is nothing if not transparent." (p. 145)
• "When I'm not living for Jesus daily and show up at church after squeezing out life on my own terms all week, I'm needy when I walk through the doors. . . . I am so needy because I'm not complete when I get there [to church], and when I'm not being completed by my walk with Jesus, I unwittingly demand completeness from people. I raise the bar of expectations, and people don't meet my needs because it is impossible for people to do so." (p. 99-100)
• He quotes Colossians 3:17 and writes "That means all of life is worship. If we are so accustomed to thinking of worship as mere music, then we should realize the song starts when we awake in the morning." (p. 113)

Above all about this book and the popularity and success of the Casting Crowns Christian rock group, I love the band's name. The band members will one day cast their crowns at Jesus feet as we read in Revelations.

Looking forward 

to the day

when I can also

cast my crown

at His feet. 

Chapter Twelve, "Expensive Grace"

Today is Halloween. Aimee has reflected on Halloween over at the "Mortification of Spin" podcast as has AlbertMohler.com's "The Briefing" podcast.

I have come to the last chapter of  Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd. I have finished the book that was intended to take twelve months and be discussed in a group of women. I read this last chapter in the middle of the night, a hard time in my caregiving journey with my husband's Alzheimer's and my reflections begin below. The Journaling Questions from pp. 239-240 are in red and my answers are in black.

• What was your utopian vision of marriage and your future as a Christian? Possibly the "happily every after" myth. Marriage will make life easier. 
• Dating is a preparation and training time before marriage. How often in your dating relationships did you forsake all you had to give for a bowl of pottage? Have you continued this behavior in your marriage? How is this symbolic of your discipleship?
• Where are you affections out of balance? I wrestle with depression these days as a caregiver. I want my cross to be easy and it is not. I need to accept the role of a senior citizen whose husband is going down hill. How can human affections be a bad thing, and how must they change for a disciple of Christ? I need to accept that cross that is before me. 
• Have you ever considered your status as a Christian to have costly consequences? Think of a time where you have grown spiritually from enduring an affliction faithfully. Was the outcome what you expected? Measure the value of what you have lost to that which you have gained. I have and I am. 
• How does a theology of the cross completely contradict the so-called American spirituality of our culture? What does the world tell us to desire as opposed to what Christ tells us to desire? Brene Brown, best-seller spiritualist whom is featured on Oprah, says to accept shame. On the other hand, Christ tells us to deal with sin by confessing and  coming to His cross. Dr. Brown totally misses the mark, but I am reading her book The Gift of Imperfection to understand people who quote her at Toastmasters. 
• How do you see cheap grace being offered in much of contemporary evangelicalism? How is this a great challenge for the church today? I am in a Reformed church now and do not know how cheap grace is being offered. 
• If the profession of the gospel demands the cross, how do many so-called Christian messages being taught and preached today completely miss the mark? "Your best life now" ideas certainly miss the mark.  My best life will be in heaven when I lay my crown at His feet. 
• In what ways does this Scripture in Luke 14:25-33 contradict the cultural obsession with independence and competency? Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. This concept has so hit me and blessed me with this chapter 12. 
• How does affliction lead us to the cross? There is nothing to do for our heavy load but accept my cross of suffering, follow Christ and become His disciple. 
• What is the danger of confusing gospel with law? What I can do and preform is the law. Taking up the cross of suffering is the gospel of grace, expensive grace. I get it. 
• If you are single, what presuppositions do you have about housewives? When I was single, which I was until I was 40, I thought that housewives were wonderful but boring. Do you think that there are similarities in the world's view of housewives and their view of Christians? Yep. 
• In what ways does your role in marriage symbolize our Scripture passage? I have been thinking about being myself in all of life, not putting on airs, and yes coming to the cross. Still being "me" has to be transformed into being that disciple that is willing to accept suffering. Being willing to accept suffering I am sure is a key to my depression that has encircled me of late as my husband's dementia has gotten worse. I have to accept enough theology to realize this. As I pour over lamenting passages of Scripture, such as many in the Psalms, I realize that He will bear me up as I bear that cross.  

Aimee writes,

So in this final chapter, I hope to prove all those wrong who claim that doctrine and theology are impractical, and I will do so my using the words of a so-called stuffy theologian from the sixteenth century, John Calvin himself, to help us ordinary housewives. . . . Calvin suggests that so many of us give in to even the smallest temptations because we have this false, ideological picture of an easy Christian life. He warms us, "No man will ever become fit to serve Christ till he has undergone a long preparation for warfare."  (p. 227-228)

My husband once owned Calvin's Institutes, but in simplifying our library my husband was willing to part with many books and our collective theological library has been pared down and is collecting dust on the bookshelves. I am glad that our Associate Pastor got the Institutes, and that I can benefit from the theology in his sermons.

Can I be a caregiver theologian? Put it simply, 

I can as I accept the suffering laid out before me. 

Calvin, via Aimee, has at least taught me that. 

Thank you, Aimee Byrd, for taking me on this journey applying theology in my life. Now for the hard part--taking up that caregiving cross willingly. Yet He has promised His burden is light. 

Chapter Ten, "What About Sunday"

How was your Sunday? I do love Sundays, although it is always a special effort to get my husband out of the house to church. One Sunday my husband couldn't go and I went without him, not knowing if this would be the norm, or if I would be staying home from then on and watching the worship service on Skype.

Fortunately I do have a volunteer caregiver Christian neighbor who helps get hubby to church. Kenny even lifts the wheel chair into the back of our SUV--a task too difficult for me. Kenny is even choosing to go to our Reformed church, leaving behind his Baptist background. I gave him Nicene Council's DVD "Amazing Grace" and "The Late Great Planet Church".  Several years ago I had purchased extras of these DVDs not knowing who would get them.

Aimee writes:

We are called out from all of our own working to receive. What are we receiving? It is so much more than moral instruction, or how to have Christ reign over your finances, fix your marriage, and help you attain your best life now. We are actually receiving Christ and his benefits through the preached Word and the sacraments. (p. 194) 

Amen, Aimee. I get it. Those humanistic topics in the sermons really bother me and I am glad that I do not receive them in our worship service.

These are reflective questions from pp. 200-202 of Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd. The questions are in red and my answers are in black.

• How would you describe your current attitude toward regularly attending church on Sunday mornings? Highlight of week. How do you think your attitude affects your family's view of the church service? My husband and I love our church and I love the fact that we worship at 2 pm now. 
• Do you consider the church as consisting of both holy people and holy place? Yes. How would that then affect: Your preparations before you Go? The ways you view and treat others there? How would you protect this time and space? Prepare for the worship. 
• How is God uniquely present with us in our worship service in a way that is different from the rest of the week? How are we much more privileged in this way than the believers of Old Testament times?
• God in his majesty is graceful in both the spiritual and civil governments. What are the similarities and differences of how his grace affects believers and unbelievers?
• Why is the language of the temple so important throughout Scripture? This is where God dwells, or tabernacles among us. What is the meaning of the temple, and why is it so significant?
• How is your own weekly routine a story about nothing? I am going to read up on Seinfeld--the show about nothing and reflect. Is that what Monday through Saturday is supposed to be for us--insignificant? Not really. Every day is significant. I enjoyed the significance of what my husband was able to do this morning. He participated more fully in his getting dressed and walked without the walker to his spot in the den. 
• What difference does Sunday make to our story? In other words, how is our worship service an act of the future breaking into the present, reorienting our thinking and living between the already and the not yet? Since I worship in a Reformed church, I often hear "already and not yet". I do not have to just sing Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world, Going home to meet my LORD. I have His presence already and already celebrate this reality on Sundays. 
• In looking at our worship service as a covenant renewal ceremony, what covenant are we renewing? Would the answer be "the covenant of grace"? Aimee wrote I think it goes without saying that the implications of being included in the covenant of grace make life much more challenging for the Christian in some ways. (p. 495) In light of this, should we be preparing and accommodating our services primarily for unbelievers who may be visiting?  We don't. Should our service look the same as our weekly entertainment venues to appear more attractive and updated? No. 
• How do our responsibilities as citizens of God's heavenly kingdom have stronger implications than our citizenship in the common society? What may be some circumstances  where this would become apparent? How does this actually benefit unbelievers?
• Do you find it hard to offer grace within the community of God's covenant people? Sometimes I feel I need others to say a word or encouragement for my caregiving journey for my husband. For example, my friend who is a caregiver also wants her pastor to ask how she is doing.  Have you ever taken an injustice rather than asserting your own righteousness? My righteousness is as filthy rags and I need to forgive any injustices. Aime writes In the spiritual realm, justice has already been served and grace reigns. (p. 195) Do you teach this to your children? I teach what to do about bullies to students when I substitute teach. 
• How has the church throughout history tried to impose its rule on the world? What dangers have come from that? Do you struggle with confusing these two kingdoms in your own politics? What are the particular challengers of this for American Christians?  I have seen so much debate about two kingdoms when John Framer's book came out criticizing Michael Horton whom I respect. Two years ago I wrote about this HERE.  Aimee, I want everyone in the Reformed world to get along. Theology hurts sometimes. 

What doesn't hurt is the Sabbath. How much I do need that weekly Sabbath rest and observance. I wrote once HERE about Christians who are not in worship service.  I hope to challenge some people I know on that issue also of non-church attendance. 

Six days ago I posted chapter nine of this book. There has been one comment from my dear social media friend and only 9 views but that's okay--this blog is not my idol. However, yesterday I posted on my caregiving blog HERE and in 24 hours there has been 236 views including a new caregiver Christian who needs that blog for her journey. Thank you, LORD!

Also thank you for the Sabbath that gives 

us rest from our labors. 

Chapter Five, "Here We Stand"

By now maybe you have purchased Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd. The Journaling Questions from pp. 111-112 are in red and my answers are in black. These questions require more time and thought, but I will post how I have answered so far. I may go back and revised this post, trying to pull out more responses as I learn and reflect more.

• What lies of this world are attractive to you? That a person can have Martha Stewart perfection in her life. Make a chart with contrasting biblical truths (and Scripture references). About perfection, as Scripture says, there is none righteous, no not one. We all have gone astray and seek our own way. 
• How much time do you spend in the truth of God's Word? Half an hour or more each day. I need to meditate on specific verses to help me through the day. A friend has challenged me to write out these verses on cards. 
• Recall a time when you made a stand for God and his truth. What sacrifices did you have to make?
• Is God's Word authoritative in your life? Yes. Are you submissive to it? Yes, but keep finding areas where I need to grow. Stay out of God's Word, and you don't think you need to grow anywhere!  Do you communicate it well to others in both your speech and your actions? Yes and no.  How much do your daily conversations obscure God's truth? I hate to think how much of it does obscure His truth. How does it affect your everyday practical living? My social media friend suggested I write out Scripture that screams out to me now. How does this correlate with living in reality versus living in a fantasy? I need it to be central so that I don't live in a pity party about my lot as a caregiver. 
• How does the gospel's content and power help us in our sanctification? The Holy Spirit convinces us of our own sin and areas where we need to repent.  
• Do you try to unite with others using your own efforts? As an extrovert I probably do.  Contrast this with true unity.
• Our culture today confuses truth with the aggrandizement of our own feelings and self-image. How is this a dangerous lie? Self-esteem is not a biblical concept. We are simply sinners saved by grace.  How has this counterfeit been a temptation for you?
• For you visual thinkers, draw a picture using perspective (distorted or true) in conversations, philosophies, dreams, goals, ideas, and everyday happenings. Is it pretty? I need a sample to complete this. 
• When it comes to loving confrontation, toward which side does your pendulum tend to swing--that of over--accommodation, or harsh judgment? In what ways do you need to depend on the Holy Spirit in this area? Over-accommodation probably because I have been hurt by others and may have hurt them in return. I have tried to apologize when I have discovered I have hurt someone. Rather than harsh judgment I need to make our needs known to others simply and stop over-accommodating others by thinking others should ask. 
• Why do you think some of the Bible's teachings are so offensive? Homosexuality and gay marriages run counter to many in our culture. Some people think that being accepting is what Christianity is all about. 
• Would you describe yourself as a discerning person? I have been known to be gullible. What is the "lasting value" of your conversations, daily duties, books you've read, songs you listen to, etc.? Good question for evaluating my priorities. 
• How can you better relate authentically to those who hold to a different denominational confession from yours? Our friends go to a Missouri Lutheran Church and at times we attend services with them--such as at Easter or Christmas. We are allowed to partake in communion there, but they are not allowed to at our church where the table is "fenced". I think it is easier for us to go to their church than for them to come to our church. What is the difference between having strong convictions and having a sinful doctrinal pride? I really am annoyed with those who show doctrinal pride. It's as if they have their opinions all worked out and others need to cow-tow to their opinions. However they may feel they just have strong convictions. 

Perhaps it's like the difference between Dr. Francis Schaeffer and his wife Edith Schaeffer. He was more the theologian and she had a unique "housewife theologian" viewpoint. Recently after googling I was reminded HERE how they met and began dating--has to do with theology. I have ordered one of her books. 

Chapter Three, "Do Your Mind?"

I have to admit that I need to read this book because theology has such a bad connotation with me recently as I have seen Internet arguments. I need a fresh appreciation for theology, Aimee. You seem to imply that it is really just a daily living of dynamic faith in all areas of life incompassing ethics and decision making.  The word "Christian" has become so watered-down--almost everyone is one according to their understanding. But discipleship in Christ  is certainly different and has to include both affective and cognitive areas.

"There seems to be an aversion to learning biblical theology. . . . conversion is not merely a ticket out of hell. It is the beginning of a whole new life, not just an end to the old one," writes Aimee Byrd on p. 55.

This chapter really capsulizes what Aimee Byrd is saying about being a theologian, or a careful Christian and housewife in all areas of life. She desires that we do more than "get by" and p. 55 continues:

"God's grace is so magnificent that it not only allows us eternity with him once we die, but also initiates an intimate relationship with him now through his Spirit as he sanctifies us into the likeness of his Son." 

"WITH" reminds me of Skye Jethani's book I reviewed HERE and HERE. There is so much meat in Aimee's chapter three, that you really have to get the book and read it for yourself. Value using Scripture in all of life and value the church, God's people,  as the instrument He uses (though not because it is perfect) for our sanctification.

As I wrote in the last two posts on Housewife Theologian, I can't be in an actual study on this book, so I decided to give my input here. The chapter three questions from pp. 69 and 70 challenge me and probably will you as well. Again the questions are in red and my answers are in black.

• Think of a regular day in the life of you. Do you feel as if you are merely getting by as a Christian, or do you feel confident that you are integrating your life well with God's truth? In what ways do you think you may be conformed to this world? This month has been so busy for me as I have taken on a long-term substitute job through September 30. I strive to be the best teacher for these educationally handicapped students, not merely fill a spot legally. Several students are reading better as I have been concentrating on giving them skills they need. Then my life at home includes practical details of caregiving for my husband who has mixed dementia and now is struggling to walk. I am just "getting by" this month and prayers are appreciate. 
• Can you specifically recall a time when you could honestly characterize yourself as loving God, even to the contempt of yourself? Aimee, is this a trick question? He is all I love and I abhor my imperfections and need his grace each day to overcome sin in my life. 
• Read Matthew 7:21-12. Do you intimately know God and his Word? I am daily in the Word, but need to meditate on it and put it in context more.  Do you know it well enough to discern his will in tough situations? I think that prayer enters here. LORD, what do you want me to do today? How can I obey You.  Does he know you by your obedience to his Word, or do you serve him on your own terms? My own terms do not work. Does he see you in his church? Yes but my church attendance and involvement used to be so busy that I rarely relaxed and worshipped in church. Now worship is a highlight of the week. 
• Do you feel confident enough to teach someone else about God's Word, or do you still need milk yourself? Explain.  I feel confident one-on-one to point others to the Bible. 
• What is the difference between Christian spirituality and the Christian mind? Not sure where this question is going.  Spirituality may point to the fruit of the Spirit and the Christian mind may point to doctrine. We need both. Not all believers are intellectually literate or even capable in theology, but all are called to grow in grace and the knowledge of our LORD. 
• Does your neighbor know the same "you" as the person sitting beside you on the pew on Sunday mornings? One of our neighbors recently chewed me out and included my Christianity or his stereotype of how hypocritical Christians are in his rant against me. He thought I should join his campaign against another neighbor and had no idea that Christianity also includes truth and peacemaking.  Is your faith something that you keep private and separate from everyday life? I walk a fine line in substitute teaching in public schools and also in teaching classes for DUI offenders. However, I DO NOT see a need TO AVOID mentioning my faith in these settings. I would hope that my excellence in teaching also honors our LORD. 
• See if you find yourself compromising God's truth in conversations this month. How can you change this? Are you afraid of what others might think if you discuss the content of your faith, or do you just feel ill-equipped to share? My husband and I were out to dinner last night and met an unchurched couple. I did bring up faith issues with them, and we may get together in the future. Stay tuned and pray. There are divine appointments that can happen. 
• How is it that we are able to know God truly but not exhaustively? I would say that I know God personally, but cannot know ALL about Him. Why is this an important distinction? Perhaps this has to do with faith and we read that it is impossible to please Him without faith. 
• Why is God's Word so important to the renewing of the mind? God's Word is a treasure and I need Scripture to test my perceptions and to guide me in daily living.  
• Assess your mental status as a housewife. Actually I would rather study than do housework, but am prompted to do both. Have a list of things to do today, Saturday. Do you enjoy learning? Yes. How does your continued learning affect your role as a housewife, sister, mother, friend, employee, neighbor, or church member? Hopefully I am learning to have a quiet and gentle spirit and am not going around as a know-it all. How does it affect your beauty? Oh no! I thought that concept was in the last chapter. Well maybe I can say that I need to beautify our home today. 
• What is the importance of learning in the community of the local church versus learning in isolation? I think it is both. How would learning church history be helpful? We are told we learn from history, or else we repeat its mistakes. What other messages are vying for your allegiance? Aging issues such as my husband's dementia and saving for a new roof. 
• What new thing have you learned this year? One thing? Make a plan of action. I probably need "to do" lists. What are your goals of learning for the rest of the year? How do you intend to meet them? I am writing a seminary dissertation on being an Alzheimer's caregiver in my "spare" time. My pastor/professor knows I like to study and write and he chose this topic for me. Please pray for this undertaking. 
• Will there still be learning in heaven? I think we will know our LORD then, but continue to enjoy Him forever and to discover new marvels. 

Stay tuned for "Hear Me Roar", chapter four. 

About Piety and Theology

From The Resurgence Blog Theological Enemies Post

Philip Ryken, President of Wheaton College and author of Loving the Way Jesus Loves, writes on loving your theological enemies. He says, "Be loving in church, in friendships and online." There are blogs that I don't like to go to now because the comments are not loving. People are bent on being "right". LORD, please forgive our pride. No longer do I care to debate. I care to grow in sanctification, love for my LORD and for everyone.

Video from The Gospel Coalition on Pietism and Confessionalism

Mike Horton, Ligon Duncan and Devin DeYoung discuss this issue. Duncan says, "In the face of dead orthodoxy all of us are concerned about piety, and about confession and about a lived-out theology. We are not interested in having our heads filled up with notions that do not express themselves in the totality of our being in the way we think, in the way we act, in the way we life." Horton says he is not a pietist, but believes in piety. I wonder if I am a pietist at heart reacting to the Reformed debates which see to go on endlessly.

From the Ligonier blog  Theology and Doxology

Here Michael Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at Southern Baptist Seminary, writes on the "cold intellectual system" of the Sandemanians. He points out that "faith and right theology must entail more than knowledge."

LORD, may I show Your love in my life, not just theological obsession. I repent of my theological obsession earlier on this blog. When I get to heaven, may You say well done with how I handle creeds and piety and keep me growing in wisdom and knowledge. Amen.

20 Ligonier Conference Quotes

Moderator Chris Larsen asks questins of RC Jr.,
 Horton, Tackett, Meyer and Sproul, Sr.

I was privileged to have the time to listen to the live streaming of the 2012 National Ligonier Conference held at the end of this week in Orlando, Florida. Quotes were put on the TV screen under the speaker and Ligonier and Greenbaggins blogger also reported. So I picked up quotes and checked them with other sources.

I got a favorable impression of theology from this conference. I loved the casual way in which R. C. Sproul himself said that he keeps changing his mind about the end times and doesn't have an opinion about how old the earth is. Nobody was particularly political as you see from quote #16 below.

I am just going to list 20 Quotes here, but you can go to the links below for summaries of eleven of the presentations.

1. St. Francis of Assisi – They should pray more than they study. Quoted by Robert Godfrey.

2. Al Mohler gave fourteen noetic effects of sin, that is, fourteen ways the fall affected our thinking:

a) Ignorance

b) Distractedness

c) Forgetfulness

d) Prejudice

e) Faulty Perspective

f) Intellectual fatigue

g) Inconsistency

h) Failure to draw right conclusions

i) Intellectual apathy

j) Dogmatism and closed-mindedness

k) Intellectual pride

l) Vain imagination

m) Miscommunication

n) Partial knowledge

3. It is not enough to go to four Bible study groups a week. This can mask the fact that you aren’t digging into the Word of God yourself. Dig into it for yourself. Pray to God over passages.  —Sinclair Ferguson

4. God's great concern is never for what we do or who we are...but that we know Him and are known by Him. —Sinclair Ferguson

5. We need to be filled with the Word of God so that we have something to think about when we're not thinking about anything. —Sinclair Ferguson

6. Greenbaggins on his blog said that RC Sproul, Sr., said , “We need to contend for the truth without being contentious.” I missed that, but am grateful for the Greenbaggins blog picking that up.

7. We have to fight the reality of the fall. Without the fall there is no Savior. —Del Tackett

8. Parents, give your children a Bible. Their faith needs to be anchored in God's Word, not yours. —R.C. Sproul, Jr.

9. According to Christian Smith, the practicing religion across America today is moralistic therapeutic deism. —Michael Horton

10. All truth is God's truth, but not all truth is in the Bible. —Michael Horton

11. Much of evangelicalism today is selling its soul to popular culture in the name of being relevant. —Michael Horton

12. This is our Father's Kingdom. This Kingdom will last because we didn't build it. —Michael Horton

13. Michael Card spoke on “Christ and Creativity." He said “You are not your gift.” I was thinking that some celebrities need to learn that. Then he sang some of his songs. First he sang “Better Freedom”: Christ revealed Himself to me, Enslaved my soul to set me free, I was bound to Him at Calvary, And found a better freedom. I found this song on a By/For :: Sweet Sacrifice Podcast and downloaded it. That song was new to me. Then he sang a song I love and have heard--“Things We Leave Behind”: When we say no to the things of the world, We open our heart to the love of the Lord, And it’s hard to imagine the freedom we find , From the things we leave behind. I downloaded this song from iTunes. 

14. You are the most connected generation in all of human history, but you are also the loneliest! [On Facebook] we say Here’s my story and I want you to love it. Then he noted that we get angry when someone steps on our script which leads to depression, despondency and finally lack of hope. —Del Tackett

15. A commitment to Christ and Christianity is not a commitment to defending all things done by Christians. —Robert Godfrey

16. Neither the Republican Party nor the Democrat Party care about the cause of Christ. —Robert Godfrey

17. Don't let the world and its marketing establish your desires. —Robert Godfrey

18. Ignorance is not bliss. Knowing Jesus Christ is bliss. Live not to build a name for ourselves in this world. —Robert Godfrey

19. We're not saved from low self-esteem...we are saved from the wrath of God that rightly hangs over every unconverted person. —Steven Lawson

20. The mind does not love God at all and it will not love God unless God the Holy Spirit changes the disposition of our hearts. By nature we do everything we can to suppress every natural revelation given to us, and that is not without consequence. What does it mean to love with the mind? It means to think about God with reverence and with adoration. —RC Sproul, Sr.

It is amazing what you can learn from your computer! These links are from this conference and I have 34 pages of notes!

Session One with RC Sproul Sr.

Session Two with Robert Godfrey

Session Three with Al Mohler

Session Four with RC Sproul Jr.
Session Five with Sinclair Ferguson

Session Six with Stephen Meyer

Session Seven with Michael Horton

Session Eight with Del Tackett

Session Nine with Robert Godfrey

Session Ten with Steven Lawson

Session Eleven with RC Sproul Sr.

On Resolutions

“Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.”― John Heywood

I finally kept a resolution last year. Yes, I did start with January 1, 2011, and finish December 31, 2011. The resolution involved my devotions--a rich practice of applying Col. 3:6. Highly edifying in my life. Study of the whole Bible, with more than just listening to the Daily Audio Bible all year as I have for several years; in 2011 I found my highlight verses for year. Much more punch in my life than just listening to the Bible all year.

I actually typed them up and that list is 164 pages single spaced 11 point type. I used the New Living Translation. In 2012 I will use the NIV Passages Bible in  an e-Book that lets me highlight and shows those highlights in context. Just this week I put this on my Nook and every day it will open up to the OT, NT, Psalm and Proverbs without my having to do much. A comment I heard about e-Bibles is that it is hard to find your way around in them. Not for with this Bible on and e-Book for my purposes on continuing letting the word of Christ dwell in me richly (Col. 3:16).

Jesse Johnson has said much about resolutions in the Cripplegate blog Self-examination and Resolutions post. Go there! Nathan Busenitz also wrote on the same blog  about Top Ten .

But the problem with resolutions is the same as a "to do" list. It depends upon human will. Rather I think we need to have a heart towards God and find out what He wants us to do. Be WITH HIM.

Four years ago this blog was started and my goal was theological. Now I am pretty fed up with theological debates because people are all consumed in the debate. My brother says it's a "guy" thing.  Rather as I age I just want to have that quiet relationship with the LORD, to meditate on His word and to concentrate on prayer--rejoicing, intercession and supplication. This is what I should have been doing all along instead of depending on my efforts of the flesh.

I just started a small journal that I am carrying around in my purse now with prayer for the week:

• Sunday--My church family and other congregations I have been a part of
• Monday--My sibblings and their families and two recent widowers
• Tuesday--My husband's family
• Wednesday--People who are acquaintances and friends
• Thursday--My cousins and the few older persons in the family (we are seniors now)
• Friday--My social media friends
• Saturday--My neighbors, our politicians, legislation, the election of 2012, and the world

This doesn't leave me much room to be self-centered, but I am requesting special prayer from a few friends about my husband's Alzheimer's. On my computer desktop I created Word documents for each day of the week so I can check back. Some of the daily prayers I have also posted on people's blogs. I also am writing prayers that praise God in the book and cherishing this time WITH Him.  Hopefully a new attitude of prayer with come into my life even as Bible meditation did last year.

LORD, make me willing to follow your bidding in 2012.
Help me be with Your program.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

With all the terms out there, Two-kingdom is new to me. So is Escondido Theology.  John Frame in his fresh-off-the press book, The Escondido Theology: A Reformed Response to Two Kingdom Theology makes some striking distinctions about the reformed camps. I did not want to read much theology anymore, but was able to buy the book at a discount from Whitefield Publishing.

So I read it, not understanding all of it, but causing much reflection. Basically it is a collection of Frame's critique of writing from former colleagues at Westminster Seminanry in Escondido, California.

Frame points out that "postmillennialist encourage Christians to seek change in political and social institutions. Such encouragement is counter to the tenets of the Escondido theology." (p. 6) Since I decided on postmil finally after much deliberation on this blog and after my pastor's preaching over the last year, it occurred to me that I need also to take a fresh look at change in our society, rather than have that two-kingdom approach. Some call this "theonomy", a position, that I thought I had rejected. But it won't be my preoccupation--Scripture is my preoccupation.  All this theology should draw me back to Scripture, meditation and prayer--not time on theology attacking other believers.

Frame says that some of the Escondido theologians belittle private worship and relevance of Power Point in churches. He says they also have a hesitancy for unity with other believers not in their Reformed camp. In critiquing one author Frame writes:

No shades of gray can be discussed, balanced, and weighed. Only light and dark exist, and Clark, because he knows the objective truth, is always on the side of light. p. 7

Those given to prayer and evangelism are treated with some suspicion, as if they are at least on the brink of losing their allegiance to the Reformed movement. p. 116

I do not have the background to critique this book and those who have two-kingdom theology. I do not see anything wrong with Power Point, but that is not a significant point, Mr. Frame. I would not choose a church on the basis of Power Point. Yes, we all need private worship and are called to that, but I seriously doubt the men in Escondido don't engage in private worship.

Prayer and evangelism have always been important to me. So is what happens in our country and in the world important to me. I want to vote carefully and be there for others and tell them about Jesus.

I also read in Scripture about unity of Christians. At times do we need critiques, or can we just all get along? I am hurting about the journey I have with my husband's Alzheimer's, and really go to church for worship and comfort. Theological debate in the Reformed church makes me sad.

I am a friend to anyone who fears you—

anyone who obeys your commandments.

Psalm 119:63  NLT

I want to be a friend of people who fear the LORD

and obey His commandments whatever their theology.

Wrestling with the Election Issue

November 2 we are voting in our country. Never discuss theology or politics, they say. Well I will be in trouble here, then, because I am pondering and wrestling with ideas. However, I will not write about politics in this post, but theology that I am wrestling with--specifically election.

Now theological election doesn't seem politically correct. I am not here talking about electing church leaders, but how God elects some for salvation and not others. Why is it that God should choose some and not others to be saved through the death of His Son Jesus Christ? Does election mean God kidnaps people? Zaps some He chooses? Predestines them? Or, do people themselves choose to believe Jesus Christ as God's plan of salvation and God doesn't decide this? It's their "free will". Free will seems politically correct, doesn't it like free elections--democracy!

Since I was a teenager, I have always been aware of the controversy between "free will" and "predestination," and I looked at it simplistically as two sides of the same coin, or two sides of a woven rug. A rug makes sense on the decorative side, but not on the other side. Romans 8 tells us to both work out our salvation with fear and trembling and that it is God who works in us--two sides of the same coin, if you will.  This sounds like both Arminianism and Calvinism. This  link contrasts the election and free will but doesn't provide a synthesis like my two sides of a coin or two sides of a rug analogy.

Four Views of Salvation and Election. This site contrasts four views. Here Phillip R. Johnson suggests that under the Calvinist viewpoint we have Supralapsarianism and Intralapsarianism; Supra and Infra have to do with when God decreed the elect.  Furthermore Johnson denotes not merely Arminianism, but also Amyraldism. Amyraldism says God provides salvation sufficient for all, elected some and passed over the rest. He explains that Arminianism asserts that God called all to salvation, but elected those who believe.

Then there's C. Michael Patton who contrasts individual election vs. corporate election on a Pen and Parchment twelve reasons post. Patton draws heavily upon Romans 8:31 through Chapter 11 of Romans in favor of individual election. He also convinces me of individual election when he quotes Acts 13:34 which says as many as had been appointed for eternal life believed. Patton further explains in a Corporate Election post letter to his friend Dan Wallace.

Now Calvinists have typically expounded on election with T.U.L.I.P.

T otal Depravity

U nconditional Election

L imited Attonement

I rresistable Grace

P erseverence of the Saints

To throw more into this discussion there are the above five point Calvinists and then there are four point Calvinists. Are you with me so far, gentle reader? Actually I didn't research the fours and the fives, . . . but there is more! Then there is Martin Luther's Double Predestination.

Here comes Richard Land who rejects T.U.L.I.P. in favor of his invention another view of D.E.S.I.R.E.

“D” stands for “Disabling Depravity”, meaning no part of man has escaped the contamination and moral wreckage of the fall. However, man is not so depraved he has to be the object of irresistible grace.

“E” stands for “Eternal Now” election as explained earlier.

“S” stands for “Sufficient Salvation”, meaning that Jesus Christ substitutionary death on the cross was, is, and will be, sufficient for all who respond in faith to His, and the Holy Spirit’s, “initiatory call of conviction”.

Thus, the “I” in D.E.S.I.R.E. stands for the fact that, as the apostle Paul says, “the natural man does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him” (I Cor. 2:14).

The lost man must be the object of the Holy Spirit’s “initiatory call of conviction” which enables him to understand his fallenness and lostness and illuminates the truth of the Gospel to him. God must take the initiative, but His call is not “irresistible”.

“R” stands for “Regenerative Grace”. In the D.E.S.I.R.E. model, as a person attempts to respond to God’s initiatory call and conviction, God gives him saving faith and regenerates him from above. The apostle Paul declares to the Ephesians, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift, not from works, so no one can boast” (2:8-9).

We cannot lose our salvation because it is not ours. We are not saved by “our” faith, but by our God-enhanced, Spirit-completed faith.

Consequently, the “E” in “D.E.S.I.R.E.” stands for “Eternal Security”, which means “our” salvation is eternally secure in His grace and sovereignty. From the moment of conversion forward the Lord Jesus has promised that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:35-39).

Supra, Intra, Amy, Arm, Individual or Corporate, TUPIP or DESIRE?

What makes sense? This is as complicated as eschatology, the original topic of this Millennial Dreams blog. I think of the words in the hymn "I am not skilled to understand/What God hath willed/What God hath planned/I only know at His right hand/Stands One who is my Savior."  More than just a hymn, however, I rest on Scriptures such as what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Boasting seems to be a key word—Paul wouldn’t boast about his background and he was the least likely to turn out to be a Christian--in fact he had been a persecutor of Christians. Paul wouldn't boast also about his good works because they had been prepared beforehand. But Paul also wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:2 behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

I guess you have to say you are elect if you respond to that call of salvation and as 2 Peter 3:18 says you are growing in the grace and knwledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.