Beware of Baby

This British commercial amuses me!

If the video takes too long to load, then watch it HERE

Beware of Baby

This British commercial amuses me!

If the video takes too long to load, then watch it HERE

The old man still lives, even with the new

There is indeed something very mysterious in it, that so much good and so much bad, should be mixed together in the Church of God; as it is a mysterious thing, and what has puzzled and amazed many a good Christian, that there should be that which is divine and precious, as the saving grace of God, dwelling in the same heart, with so much corruption, hypocrisy and iniquity in it. [Jonathan Edwards]

The old man still lives, even with the new

There is indeed something very mysterious in it, that so much good and so much bad, should be mixed together in the Church of God; as it is a mysterious thing, and what has puzzled and amazed many a good Christian, that there should be that which is divine and precious, as the saving grace of God, dwelling in the same heart, with so much corruption, hypocrisy and iniquity in it. [Jonathan Edwards]

The hope of the Covenant from a Prison

Up on the death of the of King Charles the first, the Scots proclaimed the Prince of Wales King of Scotland, and sent commissioners to the Hague, to invite in into the kingdom, if he would remove popery and prelacy, and take the solemn league and covenant. The body of the English Presbyterians acted in concert with the Scots, for restoring the King upon the footing of the covenant. Several English ministers carried on a private correspondence with the chiefs of the Scottish nation; and instead of taking the engagement to the present powers, called them usurpers, and declined praying for them in their churches: they also declared against a general toleration, which the army and parliament contended for. In this course, Mr Love lost his life, and Mr Case was imprisoned about six months, under the new government, or Commonwealth. He made the best use that he could of his imprisonment, falling then into the meditation which he afterwards preached and printed, under the title of Correction, Instruction. The prison-house, where persons are confined for a good cause, is not a bad school for the ministers of Christ. Some of Paul’s epistles were dated there, and greatly savour of prison supports. And we are told, that Cervantes wrote his adventurers of Don Quixote in a prison: and, from so vigorous an exercise of all his faculties in that situation, we may conclude that a person may be in jail without being miserable.

Mr Case, after his release, was invited to be Lecturer at Giles’ in the Fields, near London. He continued here, till the King’s restoration, when the former incumbent was readmitted.

Mr Case was an eminently zealous Covenanter, as very clearly appears by his judicious and valuable sermons, which he preached at taking the covenant. His first sermon on this occasion was preached at Lawrence Church, on the fast day, September the 27th 1643. His second sermon was preached at Milk Street, upon Saturday evening September 30, for the preparation to the covenant. And his third sermon was preached on the Sabbath day in the morning, the first of October; immediately before taking covenant, in Milk Street Church. — in the pre-face to these three sermons, he says: –

“ To every soul that shall enter into this holy league and covenant; my request is, that they would look around them: life and death is before them; if we break with God now, we have just cause to fear, God will stand to covenant no more with us, but we’ll avenge the quarrel, with our utter destruction; if we be sincere and faithful, this covenant will be a foundation of much peace, joy, glory, and security, to us, and our seed, to the coming of Christ, which that it may be, shall be the earnest prayer of him, who is thy servant for Jesus’ sake.

“THOMAS CASE”

Thomas Case was one of the divines who made up the Westminster Assembly. The above was from the Memoirs of the Westminster Divines–By James Reid

The hope of the Covenant from a Prison

Up on the death of the of King Charles the first, the Scots proclaimed the Prince of Wales King of Scotland, and sent commissioners to the Hague, to invite in into the kingdom, if he would remove popery and prelacy, and take the solemn league and covenant. The body of the English Presbyterians acted in concert with the Scots, for restoring the King upon the footing of the covenant. Several English ministers carried on a private correspondence with the chiefs of the Scottish nation; and instead of taking the engagement to the present powers, called them usurpers, and declined praying for them in their churches: they also declared against a general toleration, which the army and parliament contended for. In this course, Mr Love lost his life, and Mr Case was imprisoned about six months, under the new government, or Commonwealth. He made the best use that he could of his imprisonment, falling then into the meditation which he afterwards preached and printed, under the title of Correction, Instruction. The prison-house, where persons are confined for a good cause, is not a bad school for the ministers of Christ. Some of Paul’s epistles were dated there, and greatly savour of prison supports. And we are told, that Cervantes wrote his adventurers of Don Quixote in a prison: and, from so vigorous an exercise of all his faculties in that situation, we may conclude that a person may be in jail without being miserable.

Mr Case, after his release, was invited to be Lecturer at Giles’ in the Fields, near London. He continued here, till the King’s restoration, when the former incumbent was readmitted.

Mr Case was an eminently zealous Covenanter, as very clearly appears by his judicious and valuable sermons, which he preached at taking the covenant. His first sermon on this occasion was preached at Lawrence Church, on the fast day, September the 27th 1643. His second sermon was preached at Milk Street, upon Saturday evening September 30, for the preparation to the covenant. And his third sermon was preached on the Sabbath day in the morning, the first of October; immediately before taking covenant, in Milk Street Church. — in the pre-face to these three sermons, he says: –

“ To every soul that shall enter into this holy league and covenant; my request is, that they would look around them: life and death is before them; if we break with God now, we have just cause to fear, God will stand to covenant no more with us, but we’ll avenge the quarrel, with our utter destruction; if we be sincere and faithful, this covenant will be a foundation of much peace, joy, glory, and security, to us, and our seed, to the coming of Christ, which that it may be, shall be the earnest prayer of him, who is thy servant for Jesus’ sake.

“THOMAS CASE”

Thomas Case was one of the divines who made up the Westminster Assembly. The above was from the Memoirs of the Westminster Divines–By James Reid

Only by grace

We are all utterly unable without the will, strength and grace of the Father. How grateful that ought to make us, and not to presume or abuse the grace that is given us freely, and without merit on our part. It came at a price, and that price is the precious blood of Jesus. what a price of inestimable worth. How freely it ought to let us lay aside our own wants, our own desires our own flesh, on this day, the one day in Seven that God askes us to give to Him. He gave so much, and yet we seem to give so little in return.

I am utterly without the power of obedience, O God, but let me not on that account withhold the effort; let me be ever trying that in the very endeavor strength may be given to me. Neither, although thus a fellow-worker with God, let me presumptuously share with Him the honour of my salvation. He works to will as well as to do: He inspires the effort as well as strengthens for the execution. Therefore, Heavenly Father, to Thee be all the glory— Thou beginnest the good work. Carry it onward to perfection; turn me and I shall be turned. And yet le me not forget that Thy grace worketh in me, not as in a passive and lifeless machine, but as in a purposing, willing, ever-doing creature; and in this capacity let me know that I cannot begin too early in the participation which belongs to me in the great work of my Christianization. More especially it is of importance that, like the man with the withered hand, I should put forth the conatus, even though I should yet be without strength. And who knows but that the strength has been already given, would I only set it in exercise? Let me, therefore, in the language of Paul to Timothy, stir up the gift that is in me; let all that is in me, be it great or little, be stirred up to bless His Holy Name, and obey His Holy Will.
Give me, O Lord, to be impressed as I ought by the terrors of Thy Law, when I listen to the demonstrations of those who are sons of thunder. Give me, also, to feel a secure refuge from these in the faith of Thy gospel, as expounded by those who are sons of consolations. The Church stands in need of of the services of both of her Boanergeses and her Barnabases.
And let me not be ashamed of the singularity in the profession of this gospel, even though I should, incur the charge of madness thereby. O save me from the hardihood of those who would thus belie even their own convictions of the truth, and cast such imputations on that system of doctrine which bears at least a creditable aspect in the eyes of the just, and the righteous, and the good. Let me feel that in so doing, I should bar the avenue to my heart of the only doctrine which by any possibility can save me, and alienate forever that Spirit whose function it is to take the things of Christ, and show them unto my soul, or give me the knowledge of Him which is life everlasting.
And let me remember that the great end and object, the terminus ad quem of the Christian doctrine, is not that I should believe as a Christian, but that I should do as a Christian; the one is a stepping stone to the other. If justified by faith, I am also judged by works. And let me therefore prove my affinity to Christ by doing the will of HIs Father and my Father, of His God and my God.–Thomas Chalmers from Sabbath Scripture Readings on Mark III

Thomas Chalmers--Sabbath Scripture Readings

A different side of the same coin, would be a recent quote by John Dickie, on Grace and its Abuse.

Only by grace

We are all utterly unable without the will, strength and grace of the Father. How grateful that ought to make us, and not to presume or abuse the grace that is given us freely, and without merit on our part. It came at a price, and that price is the precious blood of Jesus. what a price of inestimable worth. How freely it ought to let us lay aside our own wants, our own desires our own flesh, on this day, the one day in Seven that God askes us to give to Him. He gave so much, and yet we seem to give so little in return.

I am utterly without the power of obedience, O God, but let me not on that account withhold the effort; let me be ever trying that in the very endeavor strength may be given to me. Neither, although thus a fellow-worker with God, let me presumptuously share with Him the honour of my salvation. He works to will as well as to do: He inspires the effort as well as strengthens for the execution. Therefore, Heavenly Father, to Thee be all the glory— Thou beginnest the good work. Carry it onward to perfection; turn me and I shall be turned. And yet le me not forget that Thy grace worketh in me, not as in a passive and lifeless machine, but as in a purposing, willing, ever-doing creature; and in this capacity let me know that I cannot begin too early in the participation which belongs to me in the great work of my Christianization. More especially it is of importance that, like the man with the withered hand, I should put forth the conatus, even though I should yet be without strength. And who knows but that the strength has been already given, would I only set it in exercise? Let me, therefore, in the language of Paul to Timothy, stir up the gift that is in me; let all that is in me, be it great or little, be stirred up to bless His Holy Name, and obey His Holy Will.
Give me, O Lord, to be impressed as I ought by the terrors of Thy Law, when I listen to the demonstrations of those who are sons of thunder. Give me, also, to feel a secure refuge from these in the faith of Thy gospel, as expounded by those who are sons of consolations. The Church stands in need of of the services of both of her Boanergeses and her Barnabases.
And let me not be ashamed of the singularity in the profession of this gospel, even though I should, incur the charge of madness thereby. O save me from the hardihood of those who would thus belie even their own convictions of the truth, and cast such imputations on that system of doctrine which bears at least a creditable aspect in the eyes of the just, and the righteous, and the good. Let me feel that in so doing, I should bar the avenue to my heart of the only doctrine which by any possibility can save me, and alienate forever that Spirit whose function it is to take the things of Christ, and show them unto my soul, or give me the knowledge of Him which is life everlasting.
And let me remember that the great end and object, the terminus ad quem of the Christian doctrine, is not that I should believe as a Christian, but that I should do as a Christian; the one is a stepping stone to the other. If justified by faith, I am also judged by works. And let me therefore prove my affinity to Christ by doing the will of HIs Father and my Father, of His God and my God.–Thomas Chalmers from Sabbath Scripture Readings on Mark III

Thomas Chalmers--Sabbath Scripture Readings

A different side of the same coin, would be a recent quote by John Dickie, on Grace and its Abuse.

Movies, liberty and Freedom

One of my favourite all time movies, which is probably an odd choice for a female, is Braveheart. I am no fan of Mel Gibson, and I had nightmares for weeks, with his legs on dispaly in that kilt(!) but on a serious note, it is one of my very favourite movies of all time. William Wallance, great saint of Scotland, was of course alive long before the cause of the Covenanters and the religious wars of the Second Reformation. Yet he had that same spirit. The same fearless spirit, that would take him beyond most average people’s bounds, of what he was prepared to do, and how far he was prepared to go, and how much he was prepared to suffer for Christ and his cause, and the followers of Christ. William Wallace, knew what it was to die well. To die courageously, and above all, he was willing to sacrifice, even his own life, because of that courage and bravery and because the Spirit of God set him on fire, that no cause was too small, no cause too great, if it was for Christ and/or his kingdom. He sacrificed and willingly, even unto death, in the bravest, most noble way, possible, always knowng that his God would deliver him. That there is no death for the Christian.

Sometimes, when I sit in what feels like my own prison cell, I think about William Wallace. This is my favourite quote from the movie too, because I can so relate to it upon my own bed of suffering. YOu can be chained to a bed, driven into a cave the same as Alexander Peden was, who was a long time after Wallace. Yet you will never lose, your liberty in Christ. You will still always have your freedom. And no one can take that from me, or from you, no matter what is thrown at you, or how persecuted you may feel or become. True Freedom, is a spiritual thing. Freedom in Christ can never be chained, unless we allow it to be.

William Wallace
William Wallace knew what he was talking about.

Dying with Dignity

Don’t you love that phrase? Dying with dignity? Yet how do we understand it in our age? One most oft hears it used, in my country at least, about the Euthansia clinics in Switzerland. One of those clinics even has the word (in French) diginity in the name of it.

That according to modern thinking, when you have an incurable or terminal illness is the way to “die with dignity.” Yet what does the Law of God say about this?

The Westminster Shoter catechism says:

Q: What is required in the sixth commandment?
A: The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life,1 and the life of others.2

1. Ephesians 5:29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.
Matthew 10:23. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
2. Psalm 82:3-4. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Job 29:13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
1 Kings 18:4. For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.

Thomas Vincent in his “shoter catechism explained” says this on this commandment and section of the Catechism:

Q. 6. What are the lawful endeavours which we ought to use for the preservation of our life?
A. The lawful endeavours which we ought to use for the preservation of our life are — 1. Defence of ourselves with arms and weapons, against the violence of thieves and cut-throats that seek to murder us. “He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” — Luke 22:36. 2. Defence of ourselves with clothes, and in houses, against the violence of the weather and cold. “She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” — Prov. 21:21. 3. The nourishing and refreshing our bodies in a sober and moderate use of meat, drink, and sleep. “For no man hateth his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it.” — Eph. 5:29. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often infirmities.” — Tim. 5:23. “If he sleep he shall do well.” — John 11:12. 4. The exercising of our bodies with labour and moderate recreations. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet.” — Eccles. 5:12. ” To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” — Eccles. 3:14. 5. The use of physic for the removal of sickness and the recovery of health. “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” — Matt. 9:12. 6. Patience, peaceableness, contentment, cheerfulness, and the moderate exhilarating our spirits with God’s gifts, especially rejoicing in the Giver, and using all good means to get and keep our mind and heart in a good temper, which doth much tend to the preservation of our health, and a good temper also in our body. “A merry heart doth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” — Prov. 27:22.

In other words we are to go to all lawful lengths and means to preserve our own life. It doesn’t say, that its not true still if we are ill, no matter how hard that may gnaw at our flesh, which any of us if ill, whether for a brief time, or a short time, it always does, mostly because I think, our own bodies is not something we can take leave of or escape, we cannot, take a break from it, like we can many other kinds of afflictions.

Christians should be pro-life, and fight and do all they can to uphold the sanctify of human life. It has been my experience among, many Christians I have known, they are very good at condemning the abortionist, and the woman who has an abortion, but when it has come to people such as myself, they have not acted in a pro-life way at all.

Dying with dignity to me, has come to mean, that no matter how many times people knock me down in this condition, no matter how it hurts and no matter how for a while I may not know how to pick myself, that ultimately, holding onto God, I do pick myself up, and the blow has not been fatal. Yet, if those blows came predominantly from those within the Church, then they are saying one thing, while practicing something totally other.

The person who is in constant chronic pain, and ill in various ways, no matter the illness, needs to know they matter to others in that condition, just as much as they did when they were healthy. If that is not the case, they are devalued as a human being, because of their illness, because of their inability, and if their faith is weak, or in a moment of temptation, which we are all prone to, then they may feel the only choice left to them is to end the life that others think of no value, that have shown the person time and again, they are not worth the effort, or time or anything else. Their life has been totally devalued and obliterated, and any little bit of dignity they had, taken from them. People, whether unbelievers or believers can give the person dignity, they can die with dignity, by living their life out until God calls them Home, if they are not devalued, and tossed on one side like a piece of useless trash. When Chrstians however, who are supposed to be pro life, do that very thing and cast them aside, they are then major contributors to the trade of murder, no matter how pro-life they may think they are.

We are all hypocrites at heart. WE all have inconsistences between what we say, and what we do. But the type of inconsistency of this manner, is no light thing. It is the kind of thing that an unbelieving world notices, its not one of the kinds of things they think irrelevant. With big things they will either say, when seeing how we as Christians uphold our faith, “there must be someting to it..” and perhaps be curious to find out what.. or they will see the inconsistency as so blatant and over such an issue as life and death, they will think our faith is a lot of ole twaddle, to use when it is convenient for us to do so, to “spoil their fun,” but we certainly don’t take our own medicine and practice what we preach.

Thomas Vincent from the same chapter of the “shorter Catechism explained,” says also this:

Q. 9. How may and ought we to endeavour the preservation of others’ lives?
A. 1. Such as are magistrates, judges, and have power in their hand, ought to defend the innocent when oppressed, wronged, and in danger of losing their livelihood, especially when in danger of death. “Defend the poor and fatherless. Deliver the poor and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” — Ps. 82:3, 4. “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and shall not He render to every man according to his works ?” — Prov. 24:11, 12. 2. All ought to distribute necessaries of life according to their ability, unto such as are poor and in want. “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in pence, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit ?” — James 2:15, 16. 3. All ought to forbear all wrongs, and doing any injury unto any per-son, and to forgive such injuries as are done unto us, returning good for evil. “Be blameless and harmless, the children of God, without rebuke.”— Phil. 2:15. “Forgive one another, if any man have a quarrel against any.” — Col. 3:13. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Rom. 12:21.

Now don’t get me wrong. YOu can’t tar all beleivers with the same brush. I have been given dignity by some, a few, and still are. But mostly, my dignity has been taken from me, and dying with dignity as anyone would choose to, is no longer an option. I will die with dignity, but only by the hand of God, while many of his people have robbed me of such.

The euthanasia clincs are bad news; people like myself do not need the temptation of knowing they are there; that I can fly from England to Zurich and get it done for less tha a hundred UK pounds. But before Christians declare themselves pro-life, and we always do, no matter what, we need to start showing the world that we practice what we preach, and not only in things that suit our own personal tastes, or are pleasing to us. Or things that we can talk about, with little to no personal invovlement as the issues is far removed from our daily lives. Because people like me, when that is the caes, when it is very easy to say no to the abortionist, and to shout from the rooftops that Abortion is wrong and against God’s Law, but people like me, if you are one of those who has taken away the dignity I cuold have had, will be the time you really show how pro-life you really are. It is easy to speak about things that are easy for us, that do not affect us personally. How many of us find it easy to condemn homosexuality precisely because we have never been touched by it, so it makes it very easy to condemn and potificate about. But when there is an issue, that is a pro-life subject, and its not abortion, and its not such a black and white issue, and its not something that does not affect us up close and personal, if you take the easy way out, the way of robbing that person of any dignity of they have; of them not being worth time or effort to you, the same as anyone else is; then you will really show your inconsistency in declaring yourself to be pro-life. As the first time, something was not so black and white as the abortionists office, and not something you know would not be an issue for you ever, you fell and failed, which really shows how its easy to talk, and a lot harder to do. WE Christians can be very poor at practicing what we preach.

I have had a lot of friends in the online world over time. Many of them have said they wanted to help. There are those who have and done just that, still do so. Because it was their desire to in their hearts. The rest were just empty words, that sounded good. BEcause even in this medium, our actions always speak louder than our words. And the world is watching, the unbeliving world too. We will always betray ourselves by our actions, no matter what our words say. The Pro-life issue, is just one such way, I have seen many beleivers betray themselves over time, up close and personal. And I can imagine how the unbelievign world interprets that. What anything but a witness as we understand the term it is.