“The Synod of Dordt and The Complexities of being Reformed” is an excellent article written by Steven Wedgeworth at the Biblical Horizons Blog.
It is well worth your time both in terms of why a good grasp of Church history is so impactful to how we understand ourselves and, as to how we understand our own doctrinal positions.
I’ve provided a starter taste below.
That’s right – Cheeseburger in a can. And at 3.95 euros (about $5.84 US) – I am now convinced the end of the world is near.
Where’s Chuck Missler and Hal Lindsey when you really need them?
The Christian life has three ugly step children. They get lots of lip service, and often little action: Consistent Bible Reading, Prayer – and (the BIG one) Evangelism. We all know we ought to to do them. We all WANT to do them – at least on some level. But if one gets shoved aside more than any other – its the last one – evangelism.
Mark Dever has written an invaluable resource to help us out.
01.24.08 | 11:00 AM
Scientists have built the first synthetic genome by stringing together 147 pages of letters representing the building blocks of DNA.
The researchers used yeast to stitch together four long strands of DNA into the genome of a bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium. They said it’s more than an order of magnitude longer than any previous synthetic DNA creation. Leading synthetic biologists said with the new work, published Thursday in the journal Science, the first synthetic life could be just months away — if it hasn’t been created already.
“We consider this the second in our three-step process to create the first synthetic organism,” said J. Craig Venter, president of the J. Craig Venter Institute where scientists performed the study, on Thursday during a teleconference. “What remains now that we have this complete synthetic chromosome … is to boot this up in a cell.”
With the new ability to sequence a genome, scientists can begin to custom-design organisms, essentially creating biological robots that can produce from scratch chemicals humans can use. Biofuels like ethanol, for example.
“The J. Craig Venter Institute will be able to take a file stored on a computer and using synthetic chemistry, turn that information into life,” said Chris Voigt, a University of California at San Francisco synthetic biologist. “I would be shocked if it doesn’t come out in six months. I think they’ve done it.”
The technique is basically a reverse of the Human Genome Project, which translated DNA into the letters A, C, T and G, which represent the body’s building blocks: the nucleotides adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. Synthetic biologists’ ambitious goal is to arrange those letters to create never-before-seen organisms that will do their bidding.
The first phase of Venter’s three-step process, which he published last year, involved transplanting and “booting up” the genome of one species of bacterium into another. The remaining step is to combine the first two steps, then insert the new synthetic genome into a standard bacterium. Scientists said they expect the announcement of man-made life this year.
Copied and pasted in toto without edit from Wired.com
Don Kistler is a friend of mine. That’s not why I recommend these two titles however. Nor is it because of the wretched and egregious way he was treated by Ligonier Ministries (a tale for another day) – AND, which is NOT to be taken as a broad brush against all Ligonier, what it has done and IS doing for the Kingdom – but is related only to MY personal view on a particular issue. That being said…
I DO recommend these two titles for two very specific reasons. And one of those reasons does spring from his tragic and shameful expulsion (in my estimation – certainly there are two sides to every story) from Ligonier.
No, if you write to me, I will not say more.
Now my first reason for recommending these two books to you, is because these are excellent, impactful, soul edifying and Christ exalting volumes.
John Colquhoun (1748-1827) was a powerful Scottish preacher and writer. His nearly 50 years of ministry left behind a rich legacy. Not the least of which is this fine collection of “Sermons on Important Doctrines”. He was a doctrinal preacher. He believed sound doctrine, clearly explained and applied to the soul was the best means to aid men in loving and following Christ. He embodied Peter’s dictum that “I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”
You will not be disappointed by his clear, practical and powerful exposition.
Thomas Watson’s “Heaven Taken by Storm” is so near and dear to me personally. This little volume first came to me as a Soli Deo Gloria publication at a season of great despondency and trial. Its healing benefits are very real to me. And his vision of the Christian life that “Though heaven be given us freely, yet we must contend for it” – is so full of rich and important balance that it sets so many other things right at first glance. This new edition – with more modernized English ought to prove to be a truly valuable exhortation to actually pursue Heaven, and not imagine we stumble inside its glorious gates by accident.
I move to my second reason for recommending these books.
It is because these two titles (as well as several other resources available at Northampton – available HERE: Northampton Press )- are a response. However he has felt or expressed his pain privately, this is how one man – Don Kistler – has publicly responded to what he experienced as ill treatment, rejection and abandonment. He has sought to continue to build up the Body of Christ in the way he believes he is best able, through editing and reproducing the golden ministries of others from the best of our Christian heritage.
If this were the only reason, it would make it worth your purchasing these books, and introducing others to them as well.
I ordered mine today. I hope you will do the same.
Global Population in January of 2008 estimated to be approximately – 6,650,000,000 (6,641,114,623 to be closer).
The State of Texas has a land mass of 268,601 square miles.
Minus 6,687 square miles of water area, we are left with a total land area of 261,914 square miles.
There are 640 acres in a square mile.
An acre = 43,560 square feet.
640 (acres) x 261,914 (sq. miles) = 167,624,960 (acres) = 7,301,743,257,600 sq. ft.
7,301,743,257,600 sq. ft. divided by 6,650,000,000 people = 1098 square feet per person on the planet – in Texas ALONE.
My wife and I live in home slightly under 1000 square feet. We also raised a daughter there.
A 3 People per 1000 sq. feet – There’s room.
And then some.
Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary, do not be afraid, She heard the Angel say;
Fear is not becoming To the one whom God gives grace.
Soon dear Child, you’ll be with child, A Son you’ll bear, in love.
And you will name Him – Jesus – Man on earth, and, God above.
And He will be God’s Great One, The Son of The Most High
His is the throne of David. His rule will e’er abide.
Matt. 1.18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Joseph, do not be afraid, He heard the Angel say;
Take sweet Mary as your wife, Do not put her away.
This Child – is of the Spirit, For God in man will dwell.
As Father, you will name Him, Our Lord, Immanuel.
God with us! Will be His name – For that is Who He is;
The Savior of His people. Atonement’s work, is His.
Luke 2:8-20 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Shepherds, do not be afraid, They heard the Angel say;
In David’s town the Savior, Was born to you today
Hear now the good news message, Great joy for all who hear.
Christ the Lord, in Bethlehem – God’s Mercy, God drawn near.
Go find Him in the Manger; The King who’s Christ the Lord.
The Crowning jewel of Heaven, By angel hosts adored.
2 Cor. 5.16-21 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
People, do not be afraid, Our God bids us to say;
Draw near to blood bought mercy, To floods of boundless grace.
No stain beyond His cleansing. No past, past pardoning.
No sin that binds so tightly That He can’t give you wing.
Though sin infect so deeply, In Christ the Lord is found,
God’s blood bought grace – forgiveness – To all, in faith, abounds
Don’t come with your perfections, What e’er you think they be.
Bring sin, bring all your failing. His righteousness is free.
Let Christ be all your standing. He came, like you and me,
In sinful mankind’s likeness. He died to set men free.
Cast off all false pretension; Religious hopes as well.
Salvation’s in a Person – The Gospel tidings tell
People, do not be afraid, Our God bids us to say;
Draw near to blood bought mercy, To floods of boundless grace.
This Babe, born in a Manger, Brings peace with God and man;
To all who trust Him only, Its Him alone who can.
Who born, to die for sinners – Though sinless, yet, was He
Made sin, that we might in Him, God’s righteousness would be.
Walk in Wisdom – Gleanings from the Scripture
Matt. 13.18 – Hear then the parable of the sower. Mark 4.14 – The sower sows the word.
Walk in Wisdom - Gleanings from the ScriptureHeb. 1.1 - "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (more…)
ResponsiveReiding 