Tortured Genius?

Yep, I know that feeling!

 

If anyone would like to see the full version of this, documentary then please email me privately: No promises, but it could  perhaps be done.  CrazyCalvinist@googlemail.com 

Giving the name Calvinism the nobility it deserves

If you are a Christian, if you understand with your head, the doctrines of Grace, then please don’t declare oneself a Calvinist until you live those same doctrines with your heart. To do so, does anything BUT glorify God, and shames the Reformed cause and does it  much harm because of it.

A Few common MisperceptionsSometimes when you read or hear believers talk, who are not Calvinistic in beliefs, you feel that Calvinism is almost a dirty word to them. Not just because they can’t reconcile how God can choose some unto salvation and others unto damnation, with their view of a God of love, yet seeming to forget He is also a God of justice and wrath, but because they have seen Calvinists behave badly, and unlovingly, are professing Calvinists while not understanding the doctrines of grace or following the Reformed faith,  and because there are many fables concerning the man who the name was given after.

Yet what is Calvinism? Reformed or Covenant Theology? It is THE system of Biblical doctrine that was unearthed and set abroad by the power of God after being buried for over a 1,000 years and hidden and concealed all that time under the tyranny, oppression and apostasy of the Popish church. Martin Luther was the man who often spoke the truth, But John Calvin with his fine learning was the man who wrote and put onto paper the systematized theology now known as Calvinism, yet was really only going back to the doctrine of the early church and the times of Augustine. He didn’t invent it, the words inspired by God in the Holy Bible is the basis for true religion, i.e.. Calvinism. Anyone who calls oneself a Calvinist, is not following John Calvin as the founder of there faith. They are following the true teachings of Scripture, and if Calvin himself knew today that this system of theology was named after him, the man who lies in an unmarked grave out of a desire to not want his tomb being turned into a shrine of any kind, and therefore giving him some of the worship only entitled to by God, would very likely turn in that grave. Calvinism is Christianity in its purest, truest expression. And rather than man having any glory or power in his own salvation, we are utterly dependant upon God, not just for all providences in life, but including unto the power of salvation.

And unlike the picture that is sometimes painted of John Calvin and often Calvinists today, it is not an icy intellectualism, but it affects the heart, the mind and every part of man’s being. And you cannot be a Calvinist without inwardly being changed. And it has nothing to do with John Calvin, but the power of the Sacred Writing of the Bible.

So yes, we all see believers of all kinds behaving badly at some time. Calvinists and none Calvinists alike. We see them behaving badly and also unbiblically and unreformed. And I for one see my own shortfalls in these matters time and time again, as we are all sinners and weak. But anyone who bears the name of Calvinist, who openly and over a period of time, lacks, humility, meekness, lovingness, a seeking after Godliness and a whole hearted longing for piety, who is unwilling to deny themselves and serve God as their  first priority,  and being examples of the general nobility that the name deserves, then I would keep the fact that you say you are a Calvinist to yourself. As the name has noble origins, and one that basically means, you are living the Christian life in its truest and purest expression, and how the lost and those perhaps weak in faith, view those who claim to know Christ as their Lord, will always make a difference, in not only how the term Calvinism is received, but in how much we as Christians are able to obey Jesus final words in the Great commission.I think its almost a relief that the Outside the Camp Brigade put John Calvin in their hall of shame as unregenerate, as the hyper-Calvinist garbage that flows from there would be even more shameful if they extolled John Calvin and there fore took his name as a representative of there beliefs.

You can’t actually sully the name of Calvinism, without also sullying the teachings of the Bible

Many people will jeer at the going back to historic faith. They will knock the Scots as an example to follow as ancient, no longer binding, or, pre-historic. And that in these days, "anything goes" seems to be the order of the day. Yet if we go back to the forming of the WEstminster Assembly, and its purposes, and the creeds and standards of the Reformed church, we will see why Scotland is set above others as an example to follow. God is unchanging in ALL times. Both then, and now.

 

The convocation issued by the English parliament when it issued the call for the assembly included for the call

"to procure and preserve the peace at home, and nearer agreement with the church of Scotland and other reformed churches abroad…"

The S L & C includes the words,

" That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the grace of GOD, endeavor, in our several places and callings, the preservation of the reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, against our common enemies; the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of GOD, and the example of the best reformed Churches; and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of GOD in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, Confession of Faith, Form of Church Government, Directory for Worship and Catechising; that we, and our posterity after us, may, as brethren, live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us."

Note only England and Ireland are named, because Scotland already had the nearest attainable to True religion.

"The divines there congregated were men of imminent learning and godliness and minsterial abilities and fidelity. And not being worthy to be one of them, myself, I may the more freely speak that truth which I know. Even in the face of malice and envy that as far as I am able to judge by the information on all history of that kind, and by other evidence left to us. The Christian world since the days of the Apostles had never an official assembly of more excellent divines thatn this synod and the synod of Dordt. " [Richard Baxter–who though an imminent minister and scholar of the day, was passed over as being part of the assembly, tho knew many of the divines personally, but not being amongst them, had no axe to grind]

Do exactly as you like on the Sabbath

I posted this a year or two ago, on another blog space, but are reposting it now as sports, recreation, pleasing ourselves can become much the by-word. Putting ourselves and our needs before obedience and God’s glory.

This is an article from the Standard Bearer."When Ball Becomes Baal"

The above heading is within quotation marks. I cannot take credit for it. It is another man’s phrase — a certain Jim Elliff, writing an article for the Baptist Press. It is timely. It hits home.

Sports has become much of Christianity’s new “god.” Those of us living in West Michigan can verify that. Last month the Grand Rapids Press ran a three part series on Christians (of the Reformed community in particular) getting more and more involved in Sunday sports in every way — as fans, as participants, as professionals earning their living [desecrating] the Lord’s Day. The Grand Rapids community has noticed this development. The Grand Rapids Press thought it high time for the Christian community, its Reformed section in particular, to explain (and justify) itself after so long having condemned those who played on the Lord’s Day.
The same Christian churches that so recently condemned sports and recreation as a transgression of the Lord’s Holy Day, now have members out there hitting a pitching wedge to the green and trying to leg out a double with the best (worst?) of them. Professing Christians lead the Sunday hit parade. What gives? What changed? The community wonders.

The Christian "apologists" did their best to explain. According to the "apologists," the new "freedom" to “violate” the Lord’s Day has to do with Christian maturity, that is, Christians finally growing up and learning not to be so legalistic, that is, judging others by one’s own personal preference as to what one may or may not do on the Lord’s Day. Spiritual maturity means each has the right to determine for oneself what’s the best use of the Lord’s Day for one’s spiritual growth. Some evidently find arguing with an umpire over another blown call another step in their spiritual development.

In short, it appears to me what comes to light is a new insight into the Bible, in particular a passage we evidently have misinterpreted for all too long: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, (and spiritually mature), I embraced with even greater fervor childish things and refused to put them away even on the Lord’s Day." I am sure that is what I Corinthians 13:11 really must have meant to say.

Gizmo's and Gadgets

I have always liked gizmo’s and gadgets. And for a few years now, have been into video editing on my computer.  And figured I would A) Get a bridge that would enable me to turn my VHS video’s into DVD discs, and so conserve space that videos take up, that DVD’s don’t. And that also would allow me to share some things that amuse, entertain, interest or otherwise of note to me, with some of my buds.  Some on a private basis, but I’m also considering video blogging some of them too.

So, my latest gizmo and gadget is THIS. I had a video card bridge for several years, also made by dazzle. It still works but since I became disabled this way, the last thing I need across my room is trailing wires and cables, as I just go over them in my chair and can cause quite a lot of costly damage. So, I got this little gizmo, that sits on my desk, and it has no trailing wires. And because of its portability, if bed bound I just pick it up and connect it via USB to my laptop.  So, all in all I’m dead chuffed (scroll down) with it after giving it a test run tonight.  Video editing used to be horrendously costly as far as having the right tools for the  job goes,  the bridge I spoke of brought years ago, was over four times the cost of this little gizmo and much more cumbersome as mentioned.  I like the way as technology advances, the prices come down and what was once unaffordable or one couldn’t justify the cost, is not affordable the way it wasn’t previously.  So, watch this space for updates on video blogging. I’m not sure if I shall use this site or not, or if I shall find somewhere to host the videos, and link to them, or I may just use you tube to conserve my own webspace and may very well use this site if that is the case.  But my dazzle bridge, gets four stars-****- for being a Bobby Dazzler, and doing exactly as it says on the packet!

Gizmo's and Gadgets

I have always liked gizmo’s and gadgets. And for a few years now, have been into video editing on my computer.  And figured I would A) Get a bridge that would enable me to turn my VHS video’s into DVD discs, and so conserve space that videos take up, that DVD’s don’t. And that also would allow me to share some things that amuse, entertain, interest or otherwise of note to me, with some of my buds.  Some on a private basis, but I’m also considering video blogging some of them too.

So, my latest gizmo and gadget is THIS. I had a video card bridge for several years, also made by dazzle. It still works but since I became disabled this way, the last thing I need across my room is trailing wires and cables, as I just go over them in my chair and can cause quite a lot of costly damage. So, I got this little gizmo, that sits on my desk, and it has no trailing wires. And because of its portability, if bed bound I just pick it up and connect it via USB to my laptop.  So, all in all I’m dead chuffed (scroll down) with it after giving it a test run tonight.  Video editing used to be horrendously costly as far as having the right tools for the  job goes,  the bridge I spoke of brought years ago, was over four times the cost of this little gizmo and much more cumbersome as mentioned.  I like the way as technology advances, the prices come down and what was once unaffordable or one couldn’t justify the cost, is not affordable the way it wasn’t previously.  So, watch this space for updates on video blogging. I’m not sure if I shall use this site or not, or if I shall find somewhere to host the videos, and link to them, or I may just use you tube to conserve my own webspace and may very well use this site if that is the case.  But my dazzle bridge, gets four stars-****- for being a Bobby Dazzler, and doing exactly as it says on the packet!

Gizmo's and Gadgets

I have always liked gizmo’s and gadgets. And for a few years now, have been into video editing on my computer.  And figured I would A) Get a bridge that would enable me to turn my VHS video’s into DVD discs, and so conserve space that videos take up, that DVD’s don’t. And that also would allow me to share some things that amuse, entertain, interest or otherwise of note to me, with some of my buds.  Some on a private basis, but I’m also considering video blogging some of them too.

So, my latest gizmo and gadget is THIS. I had a video card bridge for several years, also made by dazzle. It still works but since I became disabled this way, the last thing I need across my room is trailing wires and cables, as I just go over them in my chair and can cause quite a lot of costly damage. So, I got this little gizmo, that sits on my desk, and it has no trailing wires. And because of its portability, if bed bound I just pick it up and connect it via USB to my laptop.  So, all in all I’m dead chuffed (scroll down) with it after giving it a test run tonight.  Video editing used to be horrendously costly as far as having the right tools for the  job goes,  the bridge I spoke of brought years ago, was over four times the cost of this little gizmo and much more cumbersome as mentioned.  I like the way as technology advances, the prices come down and what was once unaffordable or one couldn’t justify the cost, is not affordable the way it wasn’t previously.  So, watch this space for updates on video blogging. I’m not sure if I shall use this site or not, or if I shall find somewhere to host the videos, and link to them, or I may just use you tube to conserve my own webspace and may very well use this site if that is the case.  But my dazzle bridge, gets four stars-****- for being a Bobby Dazzler, and doing exactly as it says on the packet!

Don't despise the "little man"

The girl to whom Mozart was first engaged to be married became discontented with her choice when she saw more of the world, and gave up the composer. She thought him too diminutive. "I knew nothing of the greatness of his genius," she afterwards explained; "I saw him only a little man." How many of us act in the same way. We look on the outward person only, and forget that a very homely, even shabby exterior, may contain much goodness and greatness. [author unknown]

Don't despise the "little man"

The girl to whom Mozart was first engaged to be married became discontented with her choice when she saw more of the world, and gave up the composer. She thought him too diminutive. "I knew nothing of the greatness of his genius," she afterwards explained; "I saw him only a little man." How many of us act in the same way. We look on the outward person only, and forget that a very homely, even shabby exterior, may contain much goodness and greatness. [author unknown]

Don't despise the "little man"

The girl to whom Mozart was first engaged to be married became discontented with her choice when she saw more of the world, and gave up the composer. She thought him too diminutive. "I knew nothing of the greatness of his genius," she afterwards explained; "I saw him only a little man." How many of us act in the same way. We look on the outward person only, and forget that a very homely, even shabby exterior, may contain much goodness and greatness. [author unknown]

The most annoying woman on TV

The most annoying woman on British TV in my opinion, is the "Perfect housewife" Anthea Turner.  I remember I used to see her years ago in something, but no longer recall what it was, but I found her highly annoying then, and even more annoying now. And to make matters worse, not bad enough her being the "perfect housewife" she’s quite pretty too! But every week, on BBC 3 she gets two women who have been over taken by bad housekeeping and their house is often a tip, and takes them to task, and teaches them how to care for their homes in an orderly fashion. And then in between seeing the two women tackling the jobs, we see Anthea, dressing in white (usually) telling us how no one has anything as sparkly, white or clean as she does. And its PERFICK! Pfft!  She annoys me. I’m sure she’s  a very nice gel, cos she actually comes across as too nice, but, she is the most annoying women who enters  my living room. And maybe more so, since I am currently (tho not for long) living in a house too big for me to manage, and not wheelchair accessible at all, so makes it impossible to manage,  and she would manage to give even the best able housekeepers an inferiority complex, so yes, Anthea Turner, Perfick house wife extraodinaire, gets my vote as the most annoying woman on TV!