This Blog Has Moved

to Wordpress.

You can find it here: www.coramdeo2.wordpress.com

Thank you!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Larry

Tolle Lege!

Tolle Lege means "take up and read!" A book you should take up and read is Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris.

I've only read several chapters, but I heartily recommend it. While the book is intended for teenagers, people of all ages can benefit from it. The information they present applies to all of us, especially those of us who used to be teenagers - like me!

It's subtitle is "A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations" and it's worth the price and a read.

Alex and Brett have a great website, too. Chrck it out here.

A Thought on Blogging

Blog entries are a rough draft, a first version of someone's thoughts - in this case, mine.

They aren't meant to be formal papers or essays, necessarily. I wouldn't turn any of my posts in to a theological journey for review or publication. They aren't usually formal declarations. They'll probably contain errors in language and logic.

What these blog posts are is a first-draft record of some of my thoughts (praise God not all of my thoughts - I don't want everything going out into cyberspace). Take them for what they are, which goes for every other blog out there, too. In other words, don't be too harsh (which can happen to me when I forget that no specific blog post contains all of someone's thinking on an issue, just part of it).

Something to think about.

Turning the Tables

Atheists usually ask the question, "How can God exist when there is so much evil in the world?" There are variations, but that's the basic question.

We should do our best to answer that question, but so should the atheist. They should be asked, "How do you explain so much evil in the world?"

We have an answer. Atheists don't. In naturalistic Darwinism, which most atheists are committed to, there is no purpose for evil. The atheist also doesn't have any moral basis for calling anything evil or good because naturalistic Darwinism cannot explain morality.

It's time to turn the table on atheists. Sure, we'll try to answer the question, but so should they.

Quick Take on "I'm spiritual, not religious."

I heard that statement again last night. After someone asked me if I was a Christian, they made it plain they were not, however they were "spiritual."

That statement has bothered me as long as I've heard it. What does it mean? It's too vague and ambiguous to have much of any meaning at all.

Botton line, the people who say it:

1. Want the benefits of religion without any of the responsibilities.

2. Want to be able to pick and choose what they like and leave the rest behind - like a giant religious buffet.

That's my take, anyway.

"In Christ Alone"

In 2001, Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote and published a song called "In Christ Alone." They probably didn't know that it would become a classic hymn of the church. It's in my "top five hymns of all time" list. We sang it in church last Sunday and I was reminded of just how good it is. Here it is:

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all -
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid -
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death -
This is the pow'r of Chirst in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home -
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

This hymn never fails to bring tears to my eyes - the realization, that is, that it is only because of Jesus Christ and His finished work on my behalf that I can stand in His presence. Deep theology wrapped in excellent music. What more could we ask for?