I'm not a sports fan, even though I used to be very physically fit, watching sports gives me the yawn factor, but, if the contestants were cute like the below, I could watch a lot more sports!!
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Archive for November, 2006
The Bunny Wins By a nose!
November 30, 2006Such a pleasant soul!!
November 30, 2006
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Good Queen Bess!! Saint or villain?
November 29, 2006Unlike how history remembers Elizabeth I, she was brutal oppressor of the church. She was very much influence by the renaissance and was much more a child of that than of the reformation.
In the 16th century, it was such a brutal time, and there were more wars and massacres in Europe than at any time in mankind.
When Bloody Mary died on November 17th, (should be a national holiday I think!) after a wretched, miserable life. On the day she died, Elizabeth was at home in her garden sat under an oak tree reading, and William Cecil fell down at her feet and addressed her as “your majesty” to denote she was now Queen of England and pledged his allegiance. In reply she said, “It is the Lord’s doing. It is marvellous in our eyes.” To paraphrase the use of the Words from the Gospel. It sounded pious and humble at first glance, but it was anything BUT.
Many people remember the fuss when Nancy Regan consulted an astrologist regarding her husband’s career. Yet, Elizabeth I did this to know the date on which she would be crowned Queen of England.
As well as this being the time of the Reformation it was also the time of the Renaissance, and there was a revival or paganism and witchcraft.
The Reformation was a revival of Augustinianism.
The Renaissance was taking Thomas Aquinas thoughts which went along the lines of, you needed the Bible to understand some things in life. But not all things. Which gave room of course for the following thought of if you don’t need the Scriptures for all things, you don’t need it for anything. That man is master of his own destiny. Man was both a slave and master of the universe.
Elizabeth was truly a creature of the age and strongly influenced in the Renaissance.
History likes to remember Elizabeth I kindly, as Good Queen Bess, who almost single handedly defeated the Spanish Armada. But exactly who is the enigmatic Queen?
Otto Scott in his book which title currently escapes me(!) wrote of this age:
The printed page filled with the English language instead of Latin, swept away the medieval age in culture. Extraordinary energies were released, most strikingly in the theatre but in every branch of literature and knowledge. Discoveries in navigation were printed in English such as Sir Walter Raleigh’s monumental book, history of the world.
These changes ushered in Instrument makers and special craftsmen who laid the basis for the Industrial revolution. These were all changed that came with the Reformation of the church.” The religious faith of the reformation, lifted the people from the decadence of the Renaissance into levels higher than mankind had ever known.
When Queen of England she clung to many doctrines and idols of the Catholic Church though by her lips she professed Protestantism. She oppressed any objection to her religion – guarding it jealousy for her freedom to dictate England’s religion believing to not do so, would be giving up her rights as Queen.
In Cambridge University in 1595, William Barrat was the first person that stood up to challenge the doctrine or Predestination.
And laws regarding criticising Church of England dogma were viciously curtailed, with the forming and sitting of the High Commission. A bench of prelates who sat in judgement over what were considered crimes against religion.
For the first time during her reign, books were published in English and not in Latin But she was a GREAT PERSECUTOR of the church and persecuted and oppressed Puritanism as much as she did popishness.
Many plots were devised against her, and after one she took particular offence about, devised by Roman Catholics; she took to despising them with a vengeance, and put 11,000 people in prison as a result of it. She couldn’t stand the thought of giving any foreign power the right to intervene in England’s religion, seeing it as a direct threat against her crown.
However, Elizabeth openly siding with Protestantism was not through any religious reasons. It was merely she hated the Catholics more.
She oppressed the true church as much as she did popishness however. She was neither a papist or a protestant, she hated and despised all religion and hated preaching. She held to the divine right of kings, and she saw herself as head of the church.
The high commission oppressed and tortured both Catholics and Protestants alike. It was all the same to Elizabeth. She gave the head of the High Commission permission to use torture if necessary.
She sought to suppress parliament because many of the politicians were of the reformed faith, and many others either for political or material gain supported those who were Reformed. She suppressed Parliament because the puritans who were being so oppressed by her turned to Parliament for help. Petitions were drawn up and delivered but Elizabeth forbade them from interfering with the work of the High commission, which also had a spy network. Mail would be intercepted and read and other such invasions of privacy.
Elizabeth eventually came to the Elizabeth settlement/compromise which some of it read as:
The Church of England was to follow certain portions of its service in English and the rest would be in Latin.
She adopted Thomas Cramners first Edition of The book of Prayer, (which had many popish things that his later version omitted)
She said the church was to be united and have uniformity.
All ministers of it were to wear the same vestments and have the same rituals.
To disobey any of her wants in her settlement was to be deprived of ones office of preaching and thrown into destitution.
William Hetherington on History on the Westminster Assembly and Divines records such at this time:
Threats, persuasions and a dread of poverty induced some to conform but many who refused to conform were immediately suspended from office, some of whom were the best and ablest preachers in London and in England, Many churches were closed. Many of the most pious and most able men were ejected from the churches and cast upon the world in a state of utter destitution. Even forbidden to preach to others that Gospel which has been to their own souls glad tidings of great joy. Many of these people, churches and pastors were driven from their homes and the pastors driven from their weeping congregations and exposed to reproach and poverty because they would not consent to disfigure their person with the gaudy vestments characteristic of Romish superstitions.
But the puritans held to the belief of: The Truth is not negotiable.” So they were not likely to bow down and obey Elizabeth’s rules no matter what it may cost them. Many of them did pay the cost of being stripped of being able to preach and thrown into destitution, Miles Coverdale and John Foxe being just two names among many.
But the puritans saw the oppression and persecution against them as the refining fire. And God used that reefing fire to establish its first presbytery in Wandsworth, London On Nov 20, 1572, around a hundred years before the first Presbyterian church.
Elizabeth of course was outraged at it being done without her sanction and believed allowing independent preaching or teaching of the Word would fan the flames of discontent by people being able to think for themselves. She demanded she made head of this presbytery, which of course the Puritans involved refused, and by the time she caught up with them, other presbyteries had also been formed, so she was now up against even more opposition.
The Anglicans portrayed Puritanism which still continues to his day as being Fanatical extremists, and unhinged and unbalanced.
Yet who was it who never wavered in their beliefs? (The Puritans) And who was it who changed their doctrine every time a monarch demanded the do so? (The Anglicans)
But many puritans were round up and tortured and many others driven underground.
On April 23rd, 1603, after 45 years on the throne of England, Elizabeth breathed her last. (do I hear cheering?) As she lay on her deathbed, unable to speak because of her incapacity, those around her asked who was to be her successor. She couldn’t speak by this time, but when someone said the name James, she put her hands around her head in the shape of a crown to signify her assent.
So, Good Queen Bess, may be remembered fondly by historians, and the media as she sure makes a good story. But she was a cruel, brutal tyrant and oppressor of the church who hated preaching, and believed herself as Queen as head of the church, and Lord help anyone who tried to ever step on her divine right.
Love Hurts
November 28, 2006Of all kinds hurts, whatever age one is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyfNTW65JsY
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John Knox's Christocracy
November 27, 2006This will likely be my last post for now on John Knox. But I want to post a bit about the Christocracy he envisaged and spent his labours working towards. My how much of this puts Calvinist's today to shame.
He believed no one who was poverty stricken or in need of any kind, that was not of their own making–he gave them the name of "Impotent Beggars" as they could do nothing to change their estate–should be left in need and not taken care of by the church. Widows, orphans, the disabled, those fallen on hard financial times and had no way to provide for themselves or their families.
Those known as "sturdy beggars" however, were not given the same fall back for being taken care of. These were people who were physically strong and could work, or who had fallen on hard times through their own neglect, sin, and issues that go against the Word of God. But the impotent beggars he wanted relief to be provided to them by the church and the church taking care of their own.
In Geneva when Knox was there, as a student under John Calvin he saw how the hospital took care of the elderly, the very young and vulnerable and those too sick to take care of themselves, immigrants etc, and he wanted this implemented in Scotland and England.
In his document "A Brief exhortation to England" he laid out much of his vision.
He believed Christian education should be the foundation for the preservation of Protestantism. He urged for Christian schools to be founded in every town, in which the Church had the right to over-see the schools to see as they were teaching first and foremost from principles from the Word of God. He wanted Reformed churches to approve the teachers appointed to make sure they were suited to there calling.
- He wanted colleges and grammar schools in every town in Scotland and England.
- Scholarships to go on to higher education to be funded by those from within the church so that low status and financial straits never prevented someone having a good education and a good, solid grounding in the Word of God. Status shouldn't dictate education
- Those judged unfit for higher education were to be fully trained in vocations, so that they would be able to honestly earn their living, as Scripture says everyone should who is able.
- He believed in universal education for both boys and girls–though in that era girls were not permitted or it seen fitting for them to go on to colleges or universities.
- Attention was paid to the needs of the poor.
The goal was to train the youth, and to make them godly in whatever vocation they chose. They had to prove their character and godliness before being admitted to universities.
David Chiltern, said of John Knox:
Knox's continuing contribution is not just that of the Kirk of Scotland, which after four centuries still uses his order of Geneva in worship. Nor is it just that of a nation freed from bondage to sin and ignorance status tyranny. It is rather Knox's firm insistence and life-long demonstration that all men are religious in every aspect of life, and that no institution, high or low, can be seperated from its responsibility to God. That the greatest liberty is found in the greatest subservience to God's Law. That there is One Supreme King before whom all others must bow [Source unknown]
Where have all the John Knox's today gone? I find that a sobering thought.
The Internet? Nah…
November 27, 2006It will never work!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5chthW5xJo
The Internet? Nah…
November 27, 2006It will never work!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5chthW5xJo
This 'N That
November 27, 2006Even the Turks don't want him! Though maybe if they stuck him on top of the Christ-mass tree he would be useful! 
{click pic for full size} And fellow bloggers, (what is the female equivalent of "Fellow" such and such, huh?) I've found a few useful utilities this week that may or may not be of some use to some of you. Put an email link on a web page its a sure dunk cert you will start recieving spam. Now web design programmes such as Dreamweaver have extenstions you can download which is supposed to hide your email address and at least make it unable to be picked up by spam-bots. However, I found a site which seems to make a much better job of it than the add-ons for dreamweaver. Just write your code as you normally would if posting it unprotected onto a site, put it in the relevant box on the THIS site and click generate code and Bob's your uncle!
Another thing. If you have hard to follow or at times difficult email conversations. Or if you use more than one computer and need copies on whichever computer you may be using, not only of what your correspondent has said but what you have said also, then just check the releveant box on Outlook, to leave messages on server, (until you choose to delete them) and then download this add-on to at least try which enables you to automatically cc or bcc the emails you send to yourself also. It ony works with Microsoft Outlook as far as I am aware but also has a host of other outlook utilities such as scheduling email. So you can send at a certain time if you choose to and scheduling other tasks on ones computer and a variety of other useful functions. You can download it as a demo to try before you buy.
And finally wordpress users. I often hear discussion between bloggers of which is the best blog software to use. Well, personally I am hooked on wordpress, despite having accidentally deleted my blog several times! But you generally find blogger bloggers, and xanga bloggers tend to stay loyal to the one they are with. I have tried xanga before and its not my favourite by any means. However, I do have a xanga blog which has been there unused for ages. I've had it merely for commenting purposes. (That's another thing I don't like about xanga that folks can't comment unless they are xangians.) But I found this great wordpress plug-in which when you post on your wordpress blog, automatically logs you into your xanga post and posts the same post I am posting here across at my xanga blog without ever leaving my wordpress site. Its a useful thing if you want a larger audience or need to get info out there in a broad spectrum for one reason or another. I started using it Saturday night and as you can see it posts quite successfully and one thing I like too, is the commenting link acutally links back to this blog rather than the xanga comments. So the folks don't need to be xangians to comment anyway! The graphic isn't working over at xanga from this post currently but its only because I disabled hotlinking, and have now turned it back on, so future graphics should work over there too.
I have a hospital appointment today, and it seems very up in the air. I was iller all day yesteray and spent most of the day in bed, feeling really out of sorts, at five am this morning I am still awake, and I already had concerns about this appointment actually doing more harm than good, so, anyone who reads and prays for me, prayers would be appreciated, not only that the appt is a good one, that I use wisdom on if it is the right thing to actually attend the appointment given I feel so rough at the moment. Not doing so will put me back at the bottom of the queue on our wonderful NHS health system, and I waited three months for this initial assessment appointment tomorrow, so in some ways feel between a rock and a hard place in knowing what the wise thing to do is. Even this blog post is being written from my bed, so its real hard to know what to do for the best.
With that, I'll go slurp my coffee, and think about things that are not too painful. As often thoughts creep in, uninvited, and my state of isolation in a state of such affliction gives the enemy all the weapons he needs to get the upper hand at times. It gets very tiresome and wearing. Whoever said the devil makes work for idle hands sure got that right. Boredom is a big problem here. As I am ill, not brain dead.
On Despising of the Poor
November 26, 2006I often complain to someone I know of feeling me and my suffering is despised in various ways by those who are more prosperous.These words of Joseph Caryls’ from his practical observations on Job, say it well:
It will cure the rich of all contempt of others; what the Apostle James observed and censured in the rich of those times is found by too much experience among the rich at this day, Ye have despised the poor. Chapter 2:6. Consider it is the Lord who gave and he gave as a Lord, freely; he might have given thine estate to that poor man, and have left thee in that condition, thou so much despisest in thy brother. God gave him as much as his wisdom saw fit; and it seems he hath given thee more than thou are fit for. In despising him, thou doest aspert the dispensation of God, and whilst thou wound him in his poverty, thou woundest God in his providence. Consider it is the Lord that gives, and then be unconvinced, if you can, that while you contemn man in his wants, you question God in his wisdom; busy thyself hereafter in praising him who gives All, and leave despiting him who recieves less.
Against Tyranny
November 26, 2006John Knox, fought with the use of the Word of God against Tyranny all his life. Covenantal governments was what he sought, and he laid out and proved true how Presbyterianism and Tryanny cannot co-exist. He believed the same kinds of laws applied in Ecclesiastical government too.
Deut 13 is a good example what happens when God's people turn away to serve other gods.
Whether in the UK, US, or Canada or any other country Tryanny seems to rule unhindered in our days. As to one degree or another we have tryannical governments ruling over us. The theonomical camp, often seem to have some idealist view of what would make our countries work in the light of God's Law. And though no doubt some of them have good intent, I don't agree with them on quite a lot of things, which I won't bother to go into at this point. But the Christocracy of John Knox, was quite different to the Theocracy often advocated by the theonomy movement.
There seems to be some major points of disagreements on the matter of General Equity, by those who sit in the Theonomic camp, and those who are strict adherents to the Westminster Confession of Faith and its standards. Which on the matter of the Civil Magistrate, says thus:
I. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evildoers.[1]
1. Rom. 13:1-4; I Peter 2:13-14
II. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto:[2] in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth;[3] so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the new testament, wage war, upon just and necessary occasion.[4]
2. Gen. 41:39-43; Neh. 12:26; 13:15-31; Dan. 2:48-49; Prov. 8:15-16; Rom. 13:1-4
3. Psa. 2:10-12; 82:3-4; I Tim. 2:2; II Sam. 23:3; I Peter 2:134. Luke 3:14; Rom. 13:4; Matt. 8:9-10; Acts 10:1-2
{III. Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven;[5] or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith.[6] Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger.[7] And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief.[8] It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.[9]}
5. II Chr. 26:18; Matt. 16:19; 18:17; I Cor. 4:1, 12; 12:28-29; Eph. 4:11-12; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4
6. John 18:36; Acts 5:29; Eph. 4:11-12
7. Isa. 49:23; Rom. 13:1-6
8. Psa. 105:15
9. Rom. 13:4; I Tim. 2:2[III. The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he has authority, and it is his duty, to take order that unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire, that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed, and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administrated, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God]
John Knox was also of the belief, (and I agree with him on this) that by voting or in any way affirming any tyrannical leaders, we are partakers of their guilt, and will have to answer for any tryannical acts they do on our behalf (which if we voted for them–it is) at some point.
"Citizens are responsible for the religious, ethical, moral policies of those elected to office." [Knox]
History is mostly a lie. At least in the way it is remembered by our historians and written of it. On the eve of the American Civil War against English Tyranny, most folks believe because it is taught them that it is so, that a book by Thomas Payne, (a pagan of the time) was the best selling book of that time. When in actual fact, it was a book written by Hugeonots called "A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants" And the following quote is from it:
First, all accord in this, that there is only one Church, whereof Jesus Christ is the head, the members whereof are so united and conjoined together, that if the least of them be offended or wronged, they all participate both in the harm and sorrow, as throughout Holy Scripture plainly appears: wherefore the church is compared to a body. Now, it oftentimes happens, that the body is not only overthrown by a wound in the arm or thigh, but even also much endangered, yea, sometimes killed by a small hurt in the little finger. Vainly, therefore, does any man vaunt that this body is recommended to his care and custody, if he suffer that to be dismembered and pulled in pieces which he might have preserved whole and entire. The church is compared to an edifice: on which side soever the building is undermined, it many times chances that the whole tumbles down, and on what rafter or piece of timber soever the flame takes hold, it endangers the whole house of burning; he must needs be therefore worthy of scorn, who should defer to quench the fire which had caught his house top, because he dwells most in the cellar. Would not all hold him for a madman who should neglect by countermining to frustrate a mine, because it was intended to overthrow that wall there, and not this here.
Whether in church or state, we as private citizens do not have the right to bear arms to try and over-throw the tyrannical rulers of course. The Civil magistrate has the right to wield the sword. But we do not have to go along with and submit to laws and ethics that are contrary to God's word. John Knox influenced John Calvin's thinking on this greatly so that over his life he changed from the belief he had about it in earlier years. His commentaries on Daniel 6, written just a few years before his death show much of what he beleived about opposing Tyrannical rulers.
So wherever tyranny exists we must resist its taking hold. And pray, prayers similar to one I posted in this blog post: The Road to Tyranny. If we don't, nothing will ever change. We must use the weapons God gave us and not go beyond that though. Or else we then become as bad as the tryants we seek to oppose are.
