Question

I was looking through some friends blogs and found some interesting thoughts. One caused me to want to ask a question of my limited audience.

Doughman has a post about the 5 points of Calvinism aka tulip. the 'l' in tulip stands for limited atonement. Now some out there I'm sure find limited atonement disturbing. It is hard to understand. I, for one, believe the limited atonement view based on what Scripture teaches on the subject. I am not going to list all the verses here because that is not my question. The problem I have is with the few verses which imply an unlimited view to the work of Christ. Here is my question:

In what way is the atonement UN-limited?

Rosh Hashanah

I think that is how it is spelled. Well last night I went to a Rosh Hashanah service in Santa Rosa. It was a very good evening. The people were very friendly and welcoming. So to any members of Shomai Torah (I think that is how it is spelled) Synagogue, I say thank you.

To my Christian brothers and sisters who may read this blog...it was fascinating to go through the whole service and think, wow they say so many things that are correct but they miss the truth. So much of the service is reciting Hebrew phrases that are condensed thoughts from Scripture. I wonder sometimes how they miss the whole meaning, then I remember Romans 11.

Perhaps I will give more details if I have time later. I think I will be going to Yom Kippur next Sunday evening if anybody is interested. We will see, any of you interested in joining?

I'm Finished

Well, now that the first week of school is over and I've received my workload for the quarter I realize, I'm dead. So here is what the quarter looks like, 1 (one) 20 to 30 page paper, 2 (two) 10 to 15 page papers, 8 (eight) 2 to 5 page papers, 2000+ pages of reading, 160 verses of Greek translation, not to mention quizzes and tests! Am I going to make it? Actually I believe I will. How will I make it? Grace, pure grace.

I was actually gloating a little that I didn't have any translation this quarter. JCrew was telling me all about his work load and I was thinking, "I'm so glad I don't have to do any languages this quarter." Little did I know (or remember) that I have exegesis of the Pastoral Epistles to contend with. So, I will actually be translating every week just like normal.

If you think about it pray for me, but don't feel guilty if I die this quarter.

Back In the Saddle

So I'm back in school. Today was the first day of classes. I have to say I am beat. I less tired after a day of hard labor at Pace. It is, however, great to be back at school with the mates learning about Christ and His glory. I may just blog every now and again about some fact we talked about in class.

I'm taking the Theology of Preaching with Steve Fernandez and Phil Howard. Today we learned that the purpose of preaching is to glorify Jesus Christ. I don't know why I didn't guess it considering everything Steve teaches comes back to this one point. We looked at some texts which did in fact show that the goal of preaching is to show the wonders of our savior. The whole point of getting up in front of people on Sunday morning should be to show how glorious Christ is. This message is for both sinners and saints.

I'm excited to be starting my last year. I will keep you updated on the goings-on at TCS.

Boom I Can See!

I'm here to announce something...no Julie is not prego, it is something that Julie has bugged me about for, well since the beginning of our relationship, my eyesight. For the longest time I have not been able to see very well. I had glasses but I hated wearing them. I would put them on for important things, like tv and movies, but never any time else. Well, I went to see my eye doctor and he told me my glasses needed to be twice as strong as what I currently had. Figures, the jerk. Anywho, I told him I don't like wearing glasses but that my father-in-law has contacts that he only changes (that is takes out of his eyes) once every two months. I said, 'I like that, sign me up'. 'Well,' he said, 'you have to work up to that and they really should be changed every month'.

So the announcement is I have glasses...no I got the contacts. I'm changing them every day for the first week then I get to try and wear them without taking them out when I sleep. I hope they work because I hate poking my eyes every morning. One benefit is that I can see! I love being able to look around and focus, especially without any glare from having glasses on my face. I would tell Julie, 'Point to something and I'll read it'. Oh we laughed and laughed, until we stopped. So if I see you but just walk on by it is not because I didn't recognize you without my glasses, I really don't want to talk to you.

We the Living, by Ayn Rand

I finished Ayn Rand's book. Two thoughts, good story, horrible philosophy. The protagonist is Kira a young girl wanting to live but is oppressed by the newly formed USSR. I won't tell the whole story here, in case you end up reading it, but I will discuss some of her ideology.

I enjoyed that Rand writes so accurately about communist Russia, the oppression, the hunger...etc. Her response, reacting to communism is as bad as communism itself, maybe worse. Rand is quoted on the back of the book that the main character Kira is the expression of her (Rand's) ideas, convictions, and values. Well all I have to say is her ideas are evil and sick, her convictions uncompelling, and values - what values? In the book Kira has two boyfriends, one she is living with...hum is that making a statement about values or ideas? At one point in the story Kira goes off on how believing in God is an excuse to not live life...and atheists have life? I thought the Bible said the fool says in his heart there is no God, and also that the one who has the Son (Jesus: who is God), has life...good 'conviction' Rand, maybe it should be downgraded to 'idea'.

I realize I'm ripping on the ideology of the book but really it was a good story and I would suggest reading it. Also it is good to see the philosophy that has shaped the world we live in. Rand is very individualistic which coincidentally so is our country. This book was written in 1937 so at the time I'm sure it was revolutionary. Hey maybe that was the goal of the book, to give those trying to bring revolution a cause - individualism? Well I hope some of you get the chance to read this book so we can discuss it. Remember good book, bad philosophy.

THE END