January 26, 2025 by creatorworship
Toward the end of last year, I declared that I would reveal why my blog frequency had dropped off. This entry is the beginning of fulfilling that promise. After moving to East Tennessee in August of 2022, I was busy cleaning up the yard and arranging the house. I had it in my mind to build a workshop, perhaps a bit larger than the 12 x 20 shed I had constructed at the last permanent residence wherein we dwelled for 21 years (1). The most obvious place to put it for access and non-obstructiveness/obtrusiveness, was the back corner of the lot. However, there suspiciously resided there a rectangular area of brush. When I began to clear the vines and shrubbery, it revealed construction debris. I began to sort it for recycle, reuse (as filler), and reduction of payment for the landfill for acceptance (2). To see what I was up to for the initial months of this project, check out “Much Rubbish” (3).
- Obviously, permanent is more of a functional word than accurate word here.
- I had never lived in a locality where the public could not take their trash, even debris to the dump without a significant fee.
- Nehemiah 4:10
Posted in General, Project, Work | Tagged Clearing, Digging, Project, Recycling, Workshop | 1 Comment »
January 19, 2025 by creatorworship
Our two catechism questions for today are like two sides of the same coin. What God decrees, He accomplishes; nothing accomplished is outside of His decree; both proceed from His will. Because of this connection, His decree and accomplishment through creation and providential care are so inseparable that they are hard to talk about separately. Consider Psalm 115:3: “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” What He “does” is create and providentially guide, and what He “pleases” is His decree proceeding forth from His will, which cannot be overcome or questioned (1).
It is good to mention the Christian definition of providence. Rather than being an impersonal hand of an absentee manager as the Agnostics (notably Deists) and nominal Christians fancy it, providence is the care, control, and rule of an involved, benevolent Father God. Being a giver of good gifts (James 1:17) and “righteous in all His ways” (Psalm 145:17), He is not fickle, changeable, vindictive, or trifling. He is good. Foreordain is a word meaning simply to “appoint or decree beforehand.” (2) Certainly, He is an omnipotent and omniscient God to be able to pull off what He decrees (3). All glory be to Him.
Question 11: What are the decrees of God?
Answer: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:36; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 115:3; Amos 3:6.
Question 12: How does God execute his decrees?
Answer: God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 5:45; 6:26; Acts 14:17: Proverbs 16:9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1, 31
- Job 42:2
- https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+foreordain&FORM=DCTSRC
- all powerful and all knowing
Posted in Baptist Catechism, God Thoughts, theology | Tagged bible, Decrees of God, Faith, Glory of God, God, Jesus, Providence, psalms, Purposes of God, Theoloy | Leave a Comment »
January 16, 2025 by creatorworship
While reading an article on the need for lineman to build, maintain, and repair our electrical grid infrastructure, I did a double take at a quote from a lineman for a need for confidence and humility while being a lineman. All sorts of questions arose in my mind.
Is it possible to have both confidence and humility? If so, is it desirable or useful? Why do we think them antithetical?
Oxford Languages:
Confidence- the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something, firm trust; the state of feeling certain about the truth of something; a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities
Humility- a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness
If you are paying attention, you immediately see the assumed antithesis between these two concepts. On the one hand, “a feeling of self-assurance…”, while on the other hand, “a modest or low view of one’s own importance.” It seems that we have our answer: These concepts are mutually exclusive.
Not so fast! There is another contradiction, or at least variance, that must be reckoned with. In dictionary definitions, there are different entries (1,2,3… and so forth) representing different uses and connotations of the word. I have clumped the three main entries for confidence into one definition, separated by semi-colons (2). In all three entries for confidence, there is “someone”, “something”, or “self” trusted or believed. If that someone trusted is self, then it is hard to be simultaneously humble. Though the two words aim for different goals, namely “abilities or qualities” as opposed to “one’s own importance”, a high view of abilities and qualities does not particularly co-exist with a low view of one’s own importance.
However, if the something or someone being relied upon, trusted or believed, is outside of oneself, confidence and humility may co-exist and thrive. The best, most reliable object of trust is God the Creator and Savior.
Paul, in comparing believers with false teachers, contrasts the two by saying that believers “put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). Or least ways we should not, because when we do it means we are trusting self rather than God. By denying God, we are denying that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17) We should be humble, “so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:6b-7) Our abilities and qualities are all gifts from God. There is no place for us to be self-confident. However, we may be confident in God’s gifting and enabling while being humble since none of it comes from us.
In fact, our confidence in our God-given abilities is an acknowledgement of the greatness of the Giver. Acknowledgement of His gifts may also be a demonstration of humility, as we continually point to His gracious gifting and enabling. From the lineman’s point of view, the humility can keep us safe, while the confidence can enable us to complete our tasks well. Before God, that is how I want to live my life and fulfill my purpose.
- https://www.bing.com/search?q=confidence+definition&form=ANNTH1&refig=08ac3596b2d0443f8e9270eb877d7249&pc=HCTS&pqlth=10&assgl=21&sgcn=confidence+definition&smvpcn=0&swbcn=10&cvid=08ac3596b2d0443f8e9270eb877d7249&kpratsg=1&hsmssg=0
- The words are quoted accurately but not in the exact framework of numbered bulleting.
Posted in Connotations, Dependence, General, Reflection | Tagged Confidence, Humility, self-assurance | Leave a Comment »
January 11, 2025 by creatorworship
3 in 1 Multipurpose Oil (1) was as much an assumed part of a household when I was growing up as toast for breakfast. Its ability to “clean, lubricate, and protect” (1b) was as multi-purposed as Jell-O and Duct Tape (2). But all of these examples are uses rather than essentials of existence.
Deuteronomy 6:4, called the Shema (“to hear”) in Hebrew, says, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” It does not merely say that there is one God, but it also communicates that God is a unity, one in essence. However, 2 Corinthians 13:14 says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all,” and all are declared to be God in various places. How can there be one God who has three parts?
In reality, He doesn’t have three parts which is heresy (3). Instead, God is three persons, one in essence. Language and logic cannot fully explain or grasp triune God, three in one. It is true, the Bible teaches both the trinity and unity (4) of God in both the Old and New Testaments, and therefore, we believe it and declare it.
Thus, the catechism asks…
Question 9: Are there more Gods than one?
Answer: There is only one living and true God.
Deuteronomy 6:4, Jeremiah 10:10, Psalm 96:4-5.
Question 10: How many persons are there in the Godhead?
Answer: There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.
1 Corinthians 2:11, 8:6; John 1:1, 10:30, 14:9, 20:28; Acts 5:3-4, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3,8.
- a) https://www.fohbc.org/PDF_Files/3-In-One_Oil_CMunsey.pdf and b) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-in-One_Oil
- a) https://www.kraftheinz.com/jell-o/recipes and b) https://allusesof.com/electricity/19-uses-of-duct-tape/#:~:text=19%20uses%20of%20duct%20tape%201%201.%20Remove,Squeeze%20Toothpaste%20in%20their%20tube.%20…%20More%20items
- Either polytheism or modalism
- Though some skeptic will immediately point out that the words trinity and unity appear nowhere in the Scriptures, being labels for concepts clearly taught.
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, God Thoughts, theology | Tagged 1-corinthians, bible, Catechism, christianity, God, Jesus, Trinity, Triune God, Unity | Leave a Comment »
January 7, 2025 by creatorworship
First Advent Celebration is a better moniker for the day that most people called Christmas. It more precisely indicates what we are celebrating, the first coming of the Savior, in the flesh. So, I am developing the habit of remarking Blessed First Advent Celebration to you or Blessed Advent Celebration. The word “First” is included, of course, because God says there will be a second advent: “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Hebrews 9:28) This is also the reason that Advent Celebration is adequate (1), since any proper consideration of and thanksgiving for His first advent will lead to consideration and anticipation of His second.
Besides consideration of His coming and the result of rescue from sin based on the death of the God-man, we remember His many ancillary benefits: family, material provision, friends. My wife and I enjoyed the consideration of eight of our grandchildren at our eldest son’s house. If you would like to participate, click on meet and greet of these “Developing Youngsters.”
- …and easier to say and be understood,
Posted in Advent, Day of the Lord, Family, General, Grandchildren, Person of Jesus | Tagged Advent, Christmas, Faith, Family, Grandchildren, Hope, Jesus | Leave a Comment »
December 29, 2024 by creatorworship
Shouldn’t it be “Who is God?” That is a simpler question to answer. The God revealed in the Bible is the only true God, and there is no other (1).
But how do you describe the substance of something so utterly different than anything we understand? It seems like an unreachable goal. And yet, God has condescended to reveal much about Himself to His creatures in the Word of God so that we may know Him and glorify Him. The latter part of this statement brings up another question: Do you delight in God for His benefits, or do you delight in Him for who He is? Delighting in Him for His benefits is great and encouraged by such passages as Psalm 103, but delighting in Him for who He is, is a more glory-ascribing, higher calling.
I was reading Psalm 119 recently. In the psalmist’s ecstasy over God’s statutes, I can only claim that perspective and desire as a far-off ambition of which I have made the smallest, little progress. But herein may be found the danger of loving Him only for His benefits over His essence. We have a tendency, as many among “god-believing” people in our society do, of making God in our own image as a doddering grandpa, an impotent, weak, fair god who makes us feel good. When we are confronted with the true God of the Scriptures who is so utterly different from us, we are at best afraid and at worst repulsed. We do share the characteristic of having a spirit, but we live in a tactile, concrete existence far removed from His timeless, noncorporal experience. We are woefully finite, only eternal from this day forward by His Spirit’s enabling, and as changeable as the waves and tides. God doesn’t just feel awesome and transcendent, He is.
In the catechism question for today, all of His attributes fall under the superlatives of eternal, infinite, and unchanging, with no dilution of one character trait by another (2). Furthermore, the list of attributes given covers all of the categories, but it does not begin to plumb the scope or depth of them. For example, what about goodness? His goodness is expressed in kindness, mercy, compassion, provision, salvation, common grace, pleasures, purpose, and more.
So then, what is God?
Question 8? What is God?
Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
John 4:24; Psalm 89:14, 90:2, 147:5; James 1:17; Revelation 4:8; Exodus 34:6-7; 1 Timothy 1:17; Numbers 23:19
- Deuteronomy 4:35
- Love does not lessen justice, for example, nor vice versa.
Posted in Delights, General, Glory, God Thoughts | Tagged Attributes, attributes of god, Catechism, Essence of God, God, Spirit | Leave a Comment »
December 22, 2024 by creatorworship
Times, they are a changin’. My extended family has had a Thanksgiving tradition that has built up over 35+ years. We gather at my oldest brother’s house, eat lunch together, play flag football, watch a football game, go for a hike the next day, and meet back at my brother’s house for “haystacks” (1). Other parts to this tradition, like night-before soup supper have come and gone. Number of attendees at this gathering have varied from somewhere in the teens to over 60. Visits to in-laws, children, sickness, friends and classmates have caused a constant flux in the numbers. This year there were 24 souls in attendance, greatly reduced from just a few years ago. That did not dampen our joy at sharing the thankfulness for all that God has provided, family being high on the list. My generation, the four siblings were there, however, I am the only one from that generation who still plays in the flag football game. The group agreed that the next morning, which was supposed to have temperatures in the teens, was not a good time to hike for young and old. I convinced my older brother to go out on a hike anyway. Though I have hiked many places over many years, I had never been in Frozen Head State Park. He said that there was a 3-mile hike to a waterfall. It was far better than not going at all, and the prospect of just two of us meant that we could converse more deeply and catch up.
Present pursuits have limited my hiking and blogging. It explains why three days before our First Advent Celebration (2), I am just now blogging about a Thanksgiving hike. Pictures and commentary at “Two Frozen Head Waterfalls.”
- “Haystacks”, as my sister-in-law labeled them, is an individual’s mixture of salad parts topped with meat (turkey most usually or ground beef), cheese, salsa, beans, and whatever else is available and lacking whatever the individual does not prefer.
- It doesn’t slip off the tongue quite so easily as Merry Christmas, nor does it meet traditional muster, but it is more accurate.
Posted in General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Thanksgiving, Waterfall | Tagged Frozen Head State Park, Hike, Outdoors, Waterfall | Leave a Comment »
December 1, 2024 by creatorworship
What does the Bible teach and who is it written for?
These questions are covered in questions 6 and 7 of the Baptist Catechism:
Question 6: May all men make use of the Scriptures?
Answer: All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Scriptures.
Question 7: What do the Scriptures mainly teach?
Answer: The Scriptures mainly teach what man is to believe about God and what duty God requires of man.
It is at moments like these that I have to remind myself that the catechism is a concise question and answer format. That format has its significant advantages, making the main things the main things, but it does leave some holes that are hard to not comment on. The one detail I feel compelled to add about question 6 is “believe”. All men are commanded and exhorted to read, hear, understand, and believe the Scriptures. Examples include the command to the Philippian jailer to “believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31), “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12), “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25), and “unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
The succinct answer to question 7 is spot on. It is very God-centered rather than emphasizing what the sinner will get out of trusting God. The Scripture does list many benefits to trusting and obeying God, but these point also to His goodness and justice. I only feel compelled to clarify that our “duty God requires of man” is as follows: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29) since “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight.” (Romans 3:20)
Take note of the fact that the Bible does not look to any external source of authority or truth. Truly, Scripture alone properly understood by the guidance of the Holy Spirit is our source of truth and practice. We plead with all men to submit to it as such, because it brings life and godliness, peace and joy, purpose and direction.
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, God Thoughts, Grace, Obedience | Tagged Baptist Catechism, bible, Catechism, christianity, Faith, God, God Thoughts, Jesus, Scriptures | Leave a Comment »
November 27, 2024 by creatorworship
How do we know? How do we know we know?
I would like to propose a definition of “know”: to perceive and be convinced of truth. Since truth is what is in accordance with fact or reality rather than what is thought to be, knowing something that is not true is not knowing but believing something to be true that isn’t. This definition of truth accepts that truth is an absolute, not a perception or belief apart from reality.
So, back to the question: How do we know? How do we know that what we believe and claim to be true is in fact true? Not being omniscient, we must rely on (believe, hold presuppositions) sources of truth. Evidence for the truthfulness of a source is important. There are two types of evidence: internal and external. Question 5 of the Baptist Catechism gives both concerning the Christian’s source of truth.
Question 5: How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?
Answer: The Bible evidences itself to be God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, and its power to convert sinners and to edify saints. But only the Spirit of God can make us willing to agree and submit to the Bible as the Word of God.
The internal evidences are “heavenliness of its doctrine” and “the unity of its parts”. The former points to its high view of God and accurate view of man. The latter demonstrates its internal consistency even in the light of 40 authors in 66 books over 1500 years.
The external evidences are its “power to convert sinners” and “[power] to edify saints”. Lives are changed. This is the reason that personal testimony is so important and persuasive. The Bible is not just a set of facts and rules. It is a life-giving change agent. Other external evidences such as scientific discoveries, archaeology, logical arguments, historical confirmations, and answers to prayer, are useful, removing barriers to open-minded skeptics, but the Word of God opened to us by the Spirit of God is our only solid, unchangeable, ruling source of truth and knowledge.
Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Questioning, theology, Truth, Work of the Holy Spirit | Tagged Baptist Catechism, bible, christianity, Faith, Jesus, Questioning, Sources of Truth, theology, Truth, Word of God | Leave a Comment »
November 24, 2024 by creatorworship
Working alone on carpentry projects has its challenges, especially when it involves 16′ treated lumber (1) I was building a double beam from two 2″ x 8″ x 16′ treated boards that needed to span 13 feet. I set clamps in place to retain the boards as I set each one in place one at a time, one end at a time. When it came time to screw the two boards together for increased strength to support the carport roof, I wanted the tops of the two boards to be flush. One had a crown (arch along the board) of over 1/2″. The other one had no crown, being amazingly straight. They were far too stiff to force flush by hand while I screwed them together. I decided to let gravity do the work for me. I extended an 8′ 2 x 4 about 7′ over one side and clamped it in place. It did the trick (See the set-up at “Leverage“.)
Later, I was curious how much force the 2 x 4 was exerting on the boards to straighten them to flush. Given that 1′ of the 7′ was canceled out by the 1′ hanging over the other side, I had 6′ of board torquing on the 2 x 8’s. Torque = force x lever arm. The center of gravity of the 6′ or torquing board was at 4′. That is the lever arm. The weight of 6′ of 2 x 4 (really 1 1/2 x 3 1/2) varies with exact species and water content. This board was kiln dried but laid in the rain the other day. There are online calculators for board weight (2). Mine was somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 lbs. Therefore, the torque = (6 lbs) x (4 feet) = 24 foot-pounds. That would be the same as hanging my 150 lb person on a board extending about 2 inches from the board. I was actually surprised that it took no more effort than that. I would have only had to exert a little over 20 pounds at the base of my fingers at 14 inches on a lever arm (3). However, that is more challenging than it appears since I am standing on a ladder and needing to force the screw into the board and hold this pose, which involves some core strength, while I use my driver to install at least 1/2 dozen screws. I was not able to get into a position to merely lean on the board. Gravity assist was much easier.
- My wife and some of my friends say that I should ask my friends for help, but they would stand around most of the time while they waited for me to prep for the heavy lifting. My wife and a few of my friends also think that I have too much time on my hands, since I have time to write blog entries like this one.
- https://www.builderscalculator.com/lumber-weight-calculator
- My forearm is a standard 18″ cubit (elbow to middle fingertip). The pads at the base of my fingers are one handbreadth (4″) less.
Posted in Capentry, General, Project, Random thoughts | Tagged Carpentry, diy, interior-design, Leverage, Science, technology, Torque, Woodworking | Leave a Comment »
November 22, 2024 by creatorworship
Can you think of anything infallible? There are certainly things that are trustworthy and consistent, but only two things are truly infallible, God and His Word.
Question 4: What is the Word of God?
Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Psalm 19:7-8.
Contained in a limited 66 books of Old and New Testament as witnessed by internal evidence (1), these were then confirmed by the church fathers and counsels as the whole of the Bible, the Word of God (2).
This communication from God is most narrowly declared to be the “only infallible rule”. Only is quite the exclusive word and declaration. Cannot experience or conscience or reason or observation or evidence also be used? These may only be used as they agree with and confirm what the Word of God says, but all of these other rules are fallible. They do not hold a candle to the brightness in trustworthiness of God’s Word. We must submit to this Bible as our rule, our guide, our instructor and manager, the very words from our King.
To what part of life does the Scripture apply? It should have full reign over “faith and practice”, belief and conduct, which includes perspective, intention, speech, emotion (3) Right practice arises from right belief and right belief arises from right teaching which arises from truth which arises from the Word of God. If you base your faith and practice on any other foundation, you will be led astray and ruined.
God’s Word is declared to be truth by Jesus: “Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17b) The source of God’s Word is the inspiration of God resting upon the biblical authors (2 Timothy 3:16), directed or moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).
In a world awash with truth claims from Empiricism to Historicity to Existentialism to Spiritism, the Bible stands out by boldly claiming to have an exclusive corner on truth. Jesus, as its author and defender, claims Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6) All other truths, for the devout follower of Christ, are considered true to the extent that they line up with the Word of God.
May our practical (actual lived out) theology grow in alignment to our stated (what we argue for) theology.
- “Thus says the Lord”, 2 Peter 3:14-16, “The word of the Lord came to me saying”, John 5:37, 12:49, etc
- https://www.historyinthebible.com/supplementary_pages/church_fathers.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon
- In all of this list, our ability to perfectly align our faith and practice to God’s Word is beyond our capabilities, and no more so that in our short-term emotional responses, but we can do as David did, pour out our woes and come around to declaring God’s goodness, righteousness, and provision.
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Experience, Faith, General, theology | Tagged Baptist Catechism, Faith, God Thoughts, Inspiration, Practice, theology, Truth, Word of God | Leave a Comment »
November 20, 2024 by creatorworship
The second blog entry that I ever wrote was published on July 24, 2007, called “Two Books“. It is an introduction to a set of articles about Naturalism vs. Christianity as they relate to Science, or in a narrower sense, Creation vs. Evolution. Since the time of Augustine, scholars have spoken of two books of revelation, the Book of Nature and the Book of Special Revelation, the Bible.
Recently, I was considering the 3rd question of the Baptist Catechism (Collins, 1693), which asks, “How do we know there is a God?” The answer gives three reasons (three books?): “The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal Him unto us for our salvation.”
Which is it, two or three? The works of God, the Creation, and the light of nature in man are in actuality two volumes of the Book of Nature. Upon deeper inspection, the volume of the light of nature in man has two sections, the moral code written on the conscience and the ability of man to reason. These are strong pointers to the reality and attributes of God.
The Book of Nature in all of its parts cannot bring a person to salvation. It does, however, bring a person to account before God: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) In a more positive sense, this accountability can be used in pre-evangelism to open the heart of the skeptical to hear the Gospel. I know of a professor at LSU who was challenged by a Christian student as to how he knew what he was claiming to be true about evolution. It so set him to thinking about the subject that he went searching and eventually found Christ.
Posted in General | Leave a Comment »
November 17, 2024 by creatorworship
As we began the catechism questions in the worship service, The Catechism starts off with questions of highest import.
Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings? Answer: God is the first and best of beings.
Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 96:4; 97:9, 1 Samuel 2:2
First has more than one meaning. Chronologically it means first in time, or in this case, eternity. Additionally, it means first in position, rank, or accomplishment, as it says in Isaiah 44:6-7a: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it…”
He is best: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” (Psalm 8:1) Being best of beings extends far beyond power and glory. “There is no one holy like the Lord…” (2 Samuel 2:2a) Holy is so unreachable and unfathomable to us. We can better understand and appreciate a best being who “…is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” (Psalm 145:17)
He is best at being best, that is, He is best at any and all areas of which you may think.
Question2: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 16:11, 37:4, 73:25-26; Isaiah 43:7
What is our purpose for existing, our reason to remain alive, the goal around which we should center our lives? The answer given is twofold when the question asks for just one. I think that they are really one answer given from two perspectives, God’s and ours. Enjoying God, while obviously a great benefit to us, is the ultimate way to glorify God. Our passion of enjoyment of Him communicates more solidly than words that He is valuable and worthy of my attention, worship, witness, relationship, obedience, and our whole life. The more I cherish and desire Him, the more He is glorified. Therefore, do not look at your belief in God as a responsibility to be fulfilled but a relationship to be sought out.
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Blessing, General, God Thoughts, theology | Leave a Comment »
November 10, 2024 by creatorworship
Having heard catechism questions read in a worship service several times and done well, I thought it might be of benefit for our church to do so. I volunteered to the pastor, receiving an enthusiastic confirmation.
Following is how I introduced the subject to the church:
“Considering that “the Word of God [is] the only infallible rule of faith and practice” (1), why are confessions, creeds, and catechisms useful and prudent (though not necessary)? The truths about God, man, and the way of salvation are scattered throughout the Scripture like nuggets in a quartz vein of a goldmine. Many do not have the skills or inclination to dig so hard, tough that is no excuse to not learn and acquire them. So, a catechism is a systematic, focused, concise set of questions and answers to train the young, the uninformed (2), and the forgetful in the overall message of the Scriptures. We are accused of indoctrination. [Certainly,] the world continually teaches and persuades of its lies, so we must counter with truth carefully and consistently conveyed.”
I did not grow up with confessions and catechisms and only occasionally recited the Apostle’s Creed in church. In fact, when I first came in contact with them, I thought they were unnecessary and even detrimental since they could be a source of division. Furthermore, why not just study Scripture so that you get it right? That is more complicated than it may first appear. There are the matters of Hermeneutics (3) and Exegesis. Throwing around big words and saying it is complicated throws up red flags for many people to avoid the subject and claim agnosticism concerning truth. That is a cop out. The Scripture encourages and enjoins with these words: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (4)(John 16:13), and “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). So, you can know and must avail yourself to know. Having a tool to point you to the major points of truth in Scripture, like a confession or catechism with Scripture references to look up, is very helpful for the “young, uninformed, and forgetful.” They are also useful to parents and teachers of the Word in order to convey the basics and crucials of Scriptures while pursuing the study of the details in Bible Study.
God has no grandchildren, that is, each generation must be convicted, repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus, but that does not absolve the church, the teacher, and the parent from indoctrinating their hearers in the truth. All belief systems indoctrinate (5); we best not fall behind.
- This quote is part of the answer to question 4 of the Baptist Catechism of 1693 (Collins), which makes the rest of the sentence somewhat of an irony.
- I originally wrote “ignorant” which is not wrong, but I thought better of it since many people would be insulted by the term, though accurate.
- Three good articles on biblical hermeneutics: https://www.apologeticsindex.org/5846-biblical-interpretation-rules#hermeneutics; https://www.logos.com/grow/biblical-hermeneutics-guide/?msockid=091b1c02a8ee649603de0914a9f96573; https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-biblical-hermeneutics/
- Since context is king and this Jesus was speaking to His disciples, it is proper to understand that the truth they were to be guided into was the inspiration of the Scriptures. However, immediately after Jesus prays the Father “sanctify them in the truth;…” (John 17:17), He continues with “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word” (v.20). You, believer, are included.
- A fact I know all too well from having studied Biology at a secular university
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Education, Faith, God Thoughts, God's Word | Tagged Baptist Catechism, bible, Bible Basics, christianity, hermeneutics, Indoctrination, Jesus, Teaching Truth, theology | Leave a Comment »
October 18, 2024 by creatorworship
I have many irons in the fire, some of them red hot pokers. Others need patience because they just won’t heat up, that is, make progress. Check out a few of my recent efforts at “Never a Dull Moment“.
Posted in Cutting Wood, General, Project | Tagged Chainsaw, Cutting Wood, Projects, Work | Leave a Comment »
October 14, 2024 by creatorworship
My grandson was shooting me with a Nerf gun. Having few “bullets”, he had suction cup and round tipped projectiles. The round ones stung a bit. I wondered why. I thought of two reasons and my daughter thought of one. The suction cup-tipped projectiles flex when they strike, reducing the force of impulse by increasing the time of deceleration of the projectile, since Impulse = Force x time. Secondly, the round-tipped projectiles are thicker, and therefore more massive, increasing momentum from a heavier tip, since Momentum = mass x velocity. Thirdly, given the same force of propulsion, the better aerodynamics of the round tip would increase the speed at contact, increasing the momentum and impulse, since mass x velocity = Force x time (Momentum = Impulse). Physics is quite practical and satisfying in explanation. Perhaps some time I will tell you how to prevent a fireplace from smoking up a room.
Posted in General, Science | Tagged Impulse, Momentum, Physics, Science | Leave a Comment »
October 8, 2024 by creatorworship
A brother in Christ was laughing with me about how I make lists. It set me to thinking about how I organize, deal with, and convey information. I do make lists, either numbered or bulleted (1), often indented much like outlines I enjoyed in school, and metaphors. Somehow, those seem worlds apart, lists and metaphors, but they seem to delineate the two most divergent (2) types of human thinking, analytical and creative.
So, when I run across lists or metaphors in the Bible, my mind and emotions sit up and take notice. Reading through the Psalms recently I came to the following verses in Psalm 84:5-7:
“How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion!
Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength,
Every one of them appears before God in Zion.”
Heart as highway is certainly metaphorical, but initially I struggled with what it meant, how it represented the heart. Two sources of confusion were 1) What is the antecedent of “it”? and 2) What is the meaning of the metaphor in light of the change from inanimate, singular “it” to personal, plural “they” and “everyone”? Further, confusion arises from how to end verse 5. Many translators believe that “to Zion” is implied because verse 7 ends “in Zion.” Translations without this phrase struggle to make sense out of the words. The context of the psalm is the temple in Zion.
Clarity came to me by zooming out to see what the overall message was before making inroads (3) into the details of the metaphor. How does one gain strength in God? He is a believer, a follower, a disciple, a worshipper. These children of God are blessed because each one makes his heart to contain multiple highways for God, to God, to and for blessing, to and for worship, and to and for righteousness.
When these hearts pass through the valley of weeping (“Baca”), they make them into springs. The early rains (those needed to sprout the crop) make blessings (literally, pools (4)). These highways in the blessed ones’ hearts are wet, initially with tears, but ultimately with life-giving springs and pools. The antecedent of “it” is valley of Baca. The antecedent of “they” is the ones’ whose hearts are highways.
“Strength to strength” reminds me of the phrase in Romans 1:17, “faith to faith”, which I find to be very confusing words. I don’t know exactly how to interpret it, but the passage certainly conveys a transition from the strength of trusting in God through the trials of the valley of weeping to the triumphant appearance before God for worship (5).
And what is the ultimate point to be understood? Those who trust in God have strength and blessing even in the midst of sorrow, and they mark the world with that blessing, being enabled (strengthened) to appear before God for worship. So, “direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone” (1 Samuel 7:3 (6)), and He will bless and strengthen you.
- https://clearlyscientific.com/best-practice-writing-formatting-bulleted-lists/#:~:text=Sub-bullets%20should%20be%20indented%20further%20in,%20and%20it%E2%80%99s%20worth
- I am using the word divergent, not as opposed to convergent thinking, but in the usual way of considering the distance between the two, as in right and left brain.
- I hope that you didn’t miss that one.
- https://biblehub.com/interlinear/psalms/84.htm
- I keep assuming worship because Zion is where the temple was and that was where the children of Israel worshipped. The wider context of the psalm is about worship before God in the temple.
- 2 Chronicles 11:16-17, Isaiah 51:1, Hosea 6:3
Posted in Blessing, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Metaphor, Psalm, Strength | Tagged bible, Blessing, Faith, God, God Thoughts, Jesus, Metaphor, psalms, Strength, Trust, Worship | Leave a Comment »
September 15, 2024 by creatorworship
The superscription of Psalm 56 is one of the lengthier ones, but casual inspection lends little understanding. These subtitles to psalms were part of the original Hebrew (2), and they should be heeded as inspired Scripture which instructs, encourages, exhorts, and corrects (2 Timothy 3:16). The directions to the choir director indicate that the psalm, as are all psalms, are for public worship. This particular one is for the congregation to worshipfully hear from a choir. David indeed made it a statute that music be included with worship and the sacrifices and led by skilled men assigned to the task (3).
The present choir directive under consideration seems to be to a song, given by name, and a setting. The song, “Jonath Elem Rehokim”, is translated, “The dove of the distant terebinths”. The dove is seen as a faithful and forlorn bird, because they partner and mate for life and their call is melancholy (thus Mourning Dove). The terebinth (not to be translated as “oak”, as it is sometimes mistakenly translated (4)) is a small, resinous, Mediterranean tree from which turpentine is extracted. I think that the dove, distant, and terebinth sound sad. The song is not extant, but I feel sure that this was a sad tune for the sad subject of man who “man has trampled” (v.1), “they distort my words” (v.5), and “they attack…lurk…watch my steps…waited to take my life” (v. 6).
The setting adds to the sense of foreboding of the psalm. David wrote it either at the time or in memory of the time when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Though it does not say “seized” in 1 Samuel 21:15-19, this event was probably the one alluded to, David feigning madness before the Achish and the Philistines at Gath. It was a low point for David, exceeded only by his sin with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah her husband. In Gath, because of fear (v.12), David pretended to be mad, humiliating himself with scribblings and saliva running down his beard. And yet, David praises and trusts in God in this psalm and Psalm 34 (5), for his protection, direction, and future. May we all.
- hopefully
- https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-psalms/#:~:text=10%20Things%20You%20Should%20Know%20about%20the%20Psalms,Psalter%20consists%20of%20five%20%E2%80%9Cbooks.%E2%80%9D%20…%20More%20items item #5
- 1 Chronicles 15:19, 16:5,7,37, 25:1-2,6
- https://evangelicalfocus.com/zoe/16065/the-terebinth-tree-and-cultural-prostitution
- See Psalm 34 superscription; It is thought that Abimelech is a title, Achish a personal name for the same person.
Posted in Dependence, Faith, General, Praise, Psalm | Tagged bible, david, Faith, God, Psalm 56, psalms, Sadness, Trust in God | Leave a Comment »
September 9, 2024 by creatorworship
Since I returned from my trip to the Northeast in June (“Challenging, Tiring, and Inspiring” and 5 others), I have focused on a project around the house, purposely setting aside hiking. Saturday before last, I took a break from that project and went hiking with my partner and two guys I recently met. We had the easiest 10-mile hike I believe that I remember through a shady forest of reasonably old trees to some decent views, all the while conversing over things of substance in good fellowship. Check out a few pictures at “Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower“.
Posted in Fellowship, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged Fellowship, Hike, Outdoors, Views | Leave a Comment »
August 25, 2024 by creatorworship
The best way to make a splash with the grandchildren is to find something fun to do that they find so. After working with my son-in-law and friend on a concrete project, their mother suggested that I take the two grands to the local splashpad while her and Mamaw went to a bookstore. That sounded good on multiple levels to me. Check out a few pictures at the “The Pad“.
Posted in Family, Grandchildren | Tagged Cooling off, Family, Grandchildren, Splashpad | Leave a Comment »
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