Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

JP: Thought many would find this interesting:

The Background, Poetry and Scripture of “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”

More on the author of this hymn

Thanksgiving menu – 1621

JP: Kathee and I wish each of you a happy Thanksgiving.

What Was Actually on the Menu?

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

4BYA Bible study – Wednesday 12/2/09

• What: Final Wednesday night 4BYA Bible study
• Where: Peets’. If unsure of location let Jim or Kathee know and we will send you directions
• When: Wednesday night December 2nd, at 7:00 p.m.
• What else: Refreshments
• Speaker: Ben Fugate
• Time: 7:00 until 8:30 or so.

My King Won’t Bow

JP: Interesting read by “The Irish Calvinist”. Comment: This is not about whether President Obama should or should not have bowed before the Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife!

My King Won’t Bow

Excerpt:

This is a news story that causes me to be reminded and refreshed by my King. Indeed he is all powerful. He has no rivals. He cannot be defeated. He will not fail. He will not bow. In fact, when he comes to reign on earth all people everywhere, indeed even kings & presidents, they will bow down before him (Phil. 2.9-11 ). He alone is worthy (Rev. 5.11-13 ).

Just like the kings in the Bible provoke me to see their lack of Christlikeness so to my president causes me to hunger and long for a King who does not bow. Instead he stands to receive the praise that is due him as the unrivaled King of glory the King of kings.

Do Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 refer to Satan?

JP: Interesting read by Doug Roman.

Do Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 refer to Satan?

“To the Sources?” and 5 more!

JP: Good read by Kevin DeYoung. “Ad fontes” is Latin for “to the sources”!

Six Questions for Evangelicals to Ask Themselves

Excerpt:

1. Ad Fontes. Do we read the Bible as often as we read books about the Bible?
2. Sola Scriptura. Is Scripture alone the supreme authority to which we direct thoughtful attention each day?
3. Priesthood of Believers. Do our neighbors and friends see in us a commitment to gospel ministry worked out in a regular routine of service?
4. Solus Christus. Do we enter God’s presence directly and with confidence by virtue of the high priesthood of Christ?
5. Sola Fide. Do we rest in our Lord’s finished work, accessed by faith alone, as the sole basis of our right-standing with God?
6. Soli Deo Gloria. Do we regularly communicate the good news of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and new creation, believing that the Holy Spirit will extend redemption through the foolishness of this message to save lost people and transform the world?

Image of well worn Bible: Flickr: Doug1021

Coins circa destruction of Jerusalem found

JP: Interesting read

Israel displays coins from ancient Jewish revolt

Excerpt:

About 70 coins were found in an excavation at the foot of a key Jerusalem holy site. They give a rare glimpse into the period of the Jewish revolt that eventually led to the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, said Hava Katz, curator of the exhibition.

The Jews rebelled against the Roman Empire and took over Jerusalem in A.D. 66. After laying siege to Jerusalem, the Romans breached the city walls and wiped out the rebellion, demolishing the Jewish Temple, the holiest site in Judaism.

The coins sit inside a glass case, some melted down to unrecognizable chunks of pockmarked and carbonized bronze from the flames that destroyed the Temple.

“These really show us the impact of the destruction of Jerusalem in the first century,” said Gabriela Bijovsky, an antique coin expert from Israel Antiquities Authority. “These are a very vivid, dramatic example of that destruction.”

“The most important coins we have are from those last four or five years of the rebellion against the Roman army, and one coin we found was actually minted very close to the destruction of the Second Temple,” she said.

The coins were excavated from an ancient street below the Temple Mount, experts said. Archaeologists had to sift through debris and remove boulders thrown off the Temple Mount during the Roman raid before they found the road and the hoard of coins.

Image: by BERNAT ARMANGUE, AP

More on the siege of Jerusalem here.

Doug and Marie McLachlan: Coffee connect up

• What: Coffee connect up
• Who: Doug and Marie McLachlan
• When: Saturday December 26th @ 10:30 am
• Where: Mountain Mudd in New Hope
• How much: you decide …. you buy
• Theme: “core values” for Christian living
• Format: Informal fellowship and Q & A.

Pic from last year!

Manicure / Pedicure / Spa event

Friday the 13th

JP: A post from Friday March 13th … but works on Friday November 13th too!

In Christ, There Is No Bad Luck

Today is Friday the 13th! Bad luck day.

In case this or any other superstition frightens you or, worse, controls you, take the sword of the Spirit and kill it.

Here’s a few sword thrusts that I use.

There is no enchantment against Jacob,
no divination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
“What has God wrought!” (Numbers 23:23)

Does this apply to us Christians? Yes. Because “It is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). That’s us. We are Jacob. We are Israel.

And because we are, “all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

So in Christ we cannot be cursed. There is no jinx or hex that can stick against those who are in Christ Jesus.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13)

Christ took on himself every curse that is against me. God is for me and no one can successfully be against me.

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1John 4:4)