Astronomy Picture of the Day

The astronomy picture of the day is great way to worship the Creator.

Thank God for NASA.

John Piper's Skater Coat

(HT: Resurgence)

Can't Pray that Psalm

I don't know about you but I can't pray this Psalm, at least this verse, honestly:

"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering..." Ps. 26:1

Without wavering, C'mon!

However, when I look a few verses later I find that I can pray this:

"...Redeem me, and be gracious to me." 26:11b

The Exodus

"...the emphasis of the story as the suspense builds up is that YHWH is not merely intent on liberating slaves but on reclaiming worshippers." Christopher Wright, The Mission of God, 270

However, less we be purely reductionistic, Wright in typical well nuanced fashion keeps us from dangerous reductionism:

"The exodus, then, was indeed deliverance from slavery to sin--not Israel's own sin, but the sin of those who oppressed them. The exodus was a climactic victory for YHWH against the external powers of injustice, violence, and death. In the exodus God brought his people up and out from under the enslaving power to which they were in bondage..." ibid, 278

"...I do not reject or reduce the terribly serious spiritual realities of sin and evil that the New Testament exposes, or the glories of the spiritual dimension of God's redemptive accomplishment in the cross and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. I simply deny that these truths of the New Testament nullify all that the Old Testament has already revealed about God's comprehensive commitment to every dimension of human life, about his relentless opposition to all that oppresses, spoils and diminishes human well-being, and about his ultimate mission of blessing the nations and redeeming his whole creation." ibid, 280

A Comprehensive Prayer

A wonderful prayer to start one's day out with:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." Ps. 19:14

I love the comprehensiveness of the prayer: covering the "abundance of one's heart," and the mouth that displays it.

What a great thing to pray for. Can you imagine if for just an hour both your words and meditations were acceptable to God?

Maybe one of the reasons it is not so is because we do not ask for it to be so.

The "Gift" of Cerebral Palsy and the Horror of Abortion

(HT: Ray Ortlund Jr.)

"Not of Works" by William Cowper

Grace, triumphant in the throne,

Scorns a rival, reigns alone;

Come and bow beneath her sway,

Cast your idol works away.

Works of man, when made his plea,

Never shall accepted be;

Fruits of pride (vain-glorious worm!)

Are the best he can perform.

Self, the god his soul adores,

Influences all his powers;

Jesus is a slighted name,

Self-advancement all his aim;

But when God the Judge shall come,

To pronounce the final doom,

Then for rocks and hills to hide

All his works and all his pride!

Still the boasting heart replies,

What! the worthy and the wise,

Friends to temperance and peace,

Have not these a righteousness?

Banish every vain pretence,

Built on human excellence;

Perish every thing in man,

But the grace that never can.

(Source)

The Gospel Exposes the Cancer of Idolatry

"False gods destroy and devour lives, health and resources; they distort and diminish our humanity; they preside over injustice, greed, perversion, cruelty, lust and violence. It is possibly the most satanic dimension of their deceptive power that, in spite of all this, they still persuade people that they are the beneficent protectors of their worshipers' identity, dignity and prosperity, and must therefore by defended at all costs. Only the gospel can unmask these claims. Only the gospel exposes the cancer of idolatry. Only the gospel is good for the people."

Christopher Wright, The Mission of God, 178-179

The Jealousy and the Love of God

"God's jealousy for God's own self is a powerful dynamic throughout Scripture. But, on the other hand, God's battle against the gods of human hands (and all they represent) can be seen as a function of his loving benevolence toward us and indeed toward his whole creation. Divine jealousy is in fact an essential function of divine love. It is precisely because God wills our good that he hates the self-inflicted harm that our idolatry generates. God's conflict with the gods is ultimately for our own good as well as for God's glory. This further highlights why idolatry is such a primary sin in the Bible--identified as such by the primacy of the first two commandments of the Decalogue. It is not merely that idolatry steals God's glory but it also thwarts God's love--the love that seeks the hightest good of all God's creation. Idolatry therefore contradicts the very essence, the Godness, of God, for 'God is love.'" Christopher Wright

The Mission of God, 177

Jesus' Prayer

I found it interesting using Wordle the main word of Jesus in the High Priestly Prayer, recorded in John 17, is "world."

Mission Means...

"Mission means inviting all the peoples of the earth to hear the music of God's future and dance to it today."  Christopher Wright, The Mission of God, 134

Thoughts on Politics after Live-Blogging Both Parties

Let's make this clear: I like politics and am a Christian, and one who finds the idea of a "Christian nation" without the person of Jesus Christ bodily present dangerous. I'm looking to Jesus coming and establishing new heavens and new earth as King. The value of this kingdom is not one nation under God but many nations made as one under the Triune God.

I find abortion horrendous and think it matters even when not politically expedient to talk about. The idea that the economy is the main issue displays that we've got issues. As long as "potential" human beings are being killed it matters. I believe that a fetus is a baby. When many, including myself, at times, says: "O, your pregnant. Is it a boy or a girl?" The "it" is a human being created in the image of God.

I don't think kids in public schools should be forced to pray in school. Taking "prayer" out of schools was not the downfall moment in American history. This is contrary to Carman.

The state as state is to "bear the sword" to enforce justice in the land. This does not mean Christians, as individuals, are to "bear the sword," but it may mean Christians as members of the state, in fact, must at times use the sword. This means militaristic decisions and actions can be made by Christians in office.

However, chiefly, Christians must remember that they represent Jesus who did not take the sword and did not come (at first) to establish an earthly kingdom but died for sinners. He called His people to follow a path of suffering and not a path of militancy.

Conservative arrogance is disgusting.

If image and magnetic personality is what wins political elections (probably mostly due to the medium of television) then Obama and Palin are in and McCain and Biden are out. And if image and personality determines election we have deep problems. Jesus the Messiah and Paul the Apostle would never have won an election, nor would they have ran for one.

Here are my favorite lines from the two conventions:

"America needs to be known for the power of example rather then an example of power." President Bill Clinton (quote paraphrased).

"...Martha opened the door of her classroom. In walked 27 veterans, some wearing uniforms from years gone by, but each one carrying a school desk. As they carefully and quietly arranged the desks in neat rows, Martha said, 'You don't have to earn your desks...these guys already did...No one charged you for your desk. But it wasn't really free. These guys bought it for you. And I hope you never forget it.' I wish we all would remember that being American is not just about the freedom we have. It's about those who gave it to us." Governor Mike Huckabee

"I was blessed by misfortune." Senator John McCain

Live-Blogging Palin's Night at the RNC

5:15 Palin has been impaled by constant media coverage, some not too nice, so she has a lot to prove this evening. I am looking forward to this speech, dare I say, more than McCain's tomorrow. Some say that if she does well tonight all the backlash she has received the last few days will make her critics look really bad. If she doesn't perform well her critics look right and the McCain campaign face a downhill slope. We shall see...

Obama will be on the O'reilly Factor for the first time tomorrow.

Read Peggy Noonan's article in the WSJ today. It is good. (HT: JT)

This morning I heard on MSNBC some gentlemen basically mock the RNC for the large focus on abortion at the convention. It was treated as an old issue that was discussed in the 80's when now we've, in effect, moved onto more pressing issues like the fact that people are losing their houses. Gimme a break. Houses more important than whether what is in the womb is a human being or not? Now, I doubt the commenter wants to reduce issues of life on an equal playing field to that of housing but that he did.

Inserting Picture for effect regarding above sentence:

Housing


20 week-old baby

(Sources: Image 1 & Image 2)

5:30 "The biggest Vice Presidential speech ever", thus saith O'Reilly.

5:45 A good reminder from Paul the Apostle, in Romans 13:1, when thinking politically: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." Whether McCain or Obama their authority is derived and given, ultimately, from the sovereign authority of God over and above the authority of the voters. America only thinks the choice is theirs...

5:52 Romney, Huckabee, Guliani up to come this evening on the platform. There has to be a joke there somewhere with those three....

6:10 Romney is hammering liberals. Liberal vs. Conservative. "We need change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington."

6:45 Huckabee congratulating the "elite media for uniting the Republican party." Huckabee throws out a nice compliment to Obama and his historic nomination. Some things we don't want to change: "freedom, security, and the opportunity to prosper." A little play on Obama's change theme. Palin "got more votes running for Governor of Alaska then Joe Biden did running for President of the United States." Clever Huckabee. Olberman of MSNBC corrects Huckabee saying the vote statement is inaccurate and that Lincoln did not found the Republican party. Takes a little zing out of what was a strong ending to Huckabee's speech with an analogy of how kids get there school-desks. Answer: because the veterans earned it for them. Kids can't earn their desks. The veterans already paid the price for freedom to have them. The story was solid and sounded more like a sermon.

6:55 CNN seems to think, at least the current commentators, that the convention has gone too far right and compromises the idea of John McCain as reaching across party lines.

7:00 Another CNN commentator making a strong point about key women who have spoken at the convention like McCain's economic advisor and HP's CEO, which does reach across party lines and isn't classically "Republican."

CNN interviewer going after the sister of Palin on family issues and she is staying private and quiet. Good response.

7:11 Guliani up and rolling with the horizon of New York in the background. He thinks this election is the most important in a lifetime. Everything nowadays is the most important thing/event/person/idea in a lifetime. Guliani points out that everyone acknowledges McCain is an American hero and has "proved his commitment with his blood." Guliani snickering at Obama working as a "community organizer" immersing himself in Chicago politics. Hammering the indecisiveness of Obama voting "present" not "yes or no." An African American man is cheering at that line--shot by CNN. Obama has never run a city, state, military unit and has never had to lead people in crisis. Barack Obama "has never led anything...nada"....Cindy McCain says--me mouthreading--"thats good." Speech mainly showing the great difference in experience against Barack and John. He had some cute one-liners.

7:22 Much talk on the Surge and its success in Iraq. Intense speech by Guliani mainly labeling Obama as a flip-flopper toward the end. Some pretty clear and strong labels there in typical Guliani fashion. His advice to Obama when mulling over the next issue: "Next time call John McCain."

7:28 Endorsing strongly McCain's VP Palin and contrasting her executive experience w/ Obama's. A lot of cheers here toward the end. The strongest speech I've seen yet at the RNC and the most enthusiasm I've seen of course not in comparison to last Thursday at the football stadium. Guliani finishes...

7:28.30 Palin enters to lots of cheers immediately following Rudy.

7:31 She's honored to accept the nomination.

7:47 Introducing--2 boys and 3 girls in-between. A perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig, who as you know has Down Syndrome. "Our family has the same ups and downs as any other." She will be an "advocate" for special needs kids. "2 decades and 5 children later" her husband is still her "guy." "Every woman can walk through every door of opportunity...", as she introduces her parents who inspired that in her. "The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull: lipstick."

She is not going to Washington to get the good opinion of the "media elite" but to serve this good country. "Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties...the right reason is to challenge the status quo..." "We put the government of our state back on the side of the people."

8:00 She got rid of the luxury jet that citizens were paying for and she put it on Ebay. She has vetoed nearly half a billion dollars and the state has a surplus. She brought about the largest private infrastructure process in American history and is helping lead America to energy independence. "We can't leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers."

"When the Styrofoam Greek columns are held back to some studio lot...When that happens what exactly is our opponents plan? Answer: Take more of our money." Obama will increase income taxes, payroll taxes, death taxes, business taxes, and increase the tax burden upon American people by hundreds of billions of dollars.

8:05 Senator McCain's records of reform are why lobbyists don't like him. McCain isn't looking for a fight but "isn't afraid of one either."

"My fellow citizens the American presidency is not suppose to be a journey of personal discovery. In this world of threats and dangers. It's not just a community and it doesn't just need an organizer...let us face the matter squarely. There is only one man in this election who has ever fought for you."

8:08 Blows a kiss to a POW who is obviously emotionally moved.

"For a season a gifted McCain can inspire with his words, but for a lifetime John McCain has inspired with his deeds."

Speech done.

Fox News' Brith Hume: Palin "wow's" the delegates when her knees could have been knocking.

8:10 The whole family is on-stage her young baby in her hands. John McCain comes out and greets the family in a special cameo.

8:11 "Don't you think we made the right choice..." John McCain

8:15 Olbermann: "She clearly gives a great speech." Then Olbermann basically slams her with a quote from another.

"This is cultural alternative to Obama...nothing to do with Hillary Clinton." Chris Matthews.

8:20 FoxNews Kristol thinks most Republicans "now feel pretty good" about the ticket. Hume finds her poise "remarkable."

Oh boy, country music singer. Good ole' Southern Republicanism. Singing: "Were 'all just raisin' McCain."

'What an amazing speech...whether you think she's right...or wrong...clearly a star has been born in the United States." CNN's Wolf Blitzer

8:23 Obama campaign response: basically that it was a George Bush type speech written by a George Bush speech-writer.

8:24 "She was superb. She was a professional." Rudy Guliani

"...She is a force to be reckoned with." CNN's Anderson Cooper

8:30 Abortion not even mentioned--a great comment by Campbell Brown. This surprised me and definitely shows that it was meant for someone not in the conservative camp.

That's it for me. No doubt the enthusiasm that she brings to the ticket, though doesn't rise to the enthusiasm of Obama's supporters, has no doubt more than doubled the enthusiasm for McCain pre-Palin.

The Fundamental Difference Between Islam and Christianity

Chawkat Moucarry, who holds a doctorate in Islamic Studies and serves as Inter-Faith Relations director for World Vision, summarizes the fundamental different between Islam and Christianity:

"Above all, the means by which fallen human beings may be reconciled to God are fundamentally at odds in the two traditions. In biblically-faithful Christianity, the grace of God crowns everything, as guilty human beings are reconciled to their Maker by the sacrifice that God himself has provided in Jesus’ death on the cross. Christians are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live repentant and obedient lives that they would not otherwise choose. In Islam, while appeal is made to the mercy of God, the hope of paradise rests fundamentally on personal obedience to God, repentance, scrupulous avoidance of major sins, and confidence that one’s good deeds will in some way atone for one’s bad deeds." A Christian Perspective on Islam, 40

(HT: JT)