A few pictures from the Holidays

Here are the kids making chocolate dipped candy coated pretzels

Mom making home-made marshmellows

and Alyssa giving all the junk food a big thumbs up.

Twas two nights before Christmas...

For the longest time our youngest daughter was afflicted by Limabeanaphobia; that’s right, she was afraid of Lima beans. She would wake up in the night after having nightmares about Lima beans. She would be scared to go to sleep because of Lima beans and she would want me to pray about the Lima beans before she went to bed. I don’t have any idea why; we never even ate Lima beans that I could remember (they kinda scare me too).

She finally got over the Lima bean thing and then she had a nightmare about hairy bugs in her bed. For weeks she slept on the floor or in her sister’s bed. In desperation to get her back in her own bed we finally bought a bottle of Lavender spray and assured her that we probably thought that the bugs would maybe not like the spray and they would never come back to her bed again. So now for the past several weeks we have had to go through an elaborate bed time ritual of taking everything out of her bed and spraying it down with Lavender spray.

I was thrilled to death last night when I got her in bed without doing the Lavender ritual; she didn’t seem to notice that we had just skipped right over it, we just read the Bible and went right to bed. But at 2:36 AM I woke up to “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” I fumbled out of bed, stumbled down the stairs and ran into the girl’s room where Alyssa was sitting in bed waiting for me to show up. “Daddy” she said “we forgot to spray my bed.” So there I was at 2:30 in the morning taking everything out of bed so I could spray it down with the Lavender spray.

Half asleep with only the light of a night light, I picked up the bottle and proceeded to spray myself right in the face. It seems like there’s always something to mess up a good nights sleep.

Given For You

New at Polemos
Lord's Supper

The Mystery of the Lord's Supper: Sermons by Robert Bruce preached at St. Giles, Edinburgh By Robert Bruce / Christian Focus Public

Given For You: Reclaiming Calvin's Doctrine of the Lord's Supper By Keith Mathison / P & R Publishing Is the Lord's Supper, a time of communion with our Lord and with his people, a high point in our lives? What thought do we give to biblical teaching on this sacrament? In this book Keith Mathison seeks to "encourage prayerful reflection and discussion about this now neglected sacrament." He introduces, explains, and defends "a particular understanding of the Lord's Supper--a Reformed understanding. The doctrine of the Lord's Supper presented and defended by John Calvin is the biblical doctrine, the basic doctrine of the sixteenth-century Reformed churches, and the doctrine that should be proclaimed in Reformed churches today." In a final chapter on practical issues, Mathison addresses the frequency of communion, the elements to be used, and the practice of paedo-communion.

The Lord's Supper: Eternal Word in Broken Bread By Robert Letham / P & R Publishing A call to a renewed hunger and thirst for the Lord's Supper, this book unfolds a historic reformed understanding in contrast to other views. Building on careful, biblical analyisis, Robert Letham explains why we have the Supper, how we partake of Christ in it, who should take communion, and related matters.

The Child Who was God

Earlier today I had the privilege of driving an unconverted co-worker across part of town and had good providence of catching most of the Grace to You program (Thats the teaching ministry of John MacArthur to those of you who may be unfamiliar with it).

In the providential care of God we got to hear part 2 of an excellent, and very interesting message entitled "The Child Who was God" which I would highly recommend listening too if you have the time. The message dealt with the deity, power and authority of Jesus Christ from Colossians chapter two where Paul says:

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

The Child Who was God Part1
The Child Who was God Part2

Putting Amazing Back into Grace

New at Pol'-e-store
Doctrines of Grace (Calvinism)

Putting Amazing Back into Grace, Second Edition By Michael Horton / Baker What does it mean to be "saved by grace"? Many believers are confused and intimidated by the doctrine of salvation, and as a result are missing out on the freedom of God's grace. Michael Horton reminds us of the Reformation's radical view of God and his saving grace, the liberating yet humbling truth that we contribute nothing to our salvation. This book clearly lays out the Scriptural basis for this important doctrine and the implications of this message for a vibrant evangelical faith. Horton's accessible treatment of who does what in salvation will inspire a fresh amazement at God's grace.

The Reign of Grace By Abraham Booth & Edited by Richard Inns / Evangelical Press In this work the author examines the very nature of divine grace and how it operates in every part of our salvation, dealing with its sovereignty in such subjects as our election, calling, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, leading us eventually to eternal glory. He seeks to humble the pride of a man and show that grace, when rightly understood and embraced, leads to a life of love and holiness.

Why I Am Not an Arminian By Robert A. Peterson & Michael D. Williams / Inter-varsity Press What's wrong with Arminianism? Arminian theology is sweeping through the evangelical churches of North America. While most Arminians are good, sincere, orthodox Christians, authors Roberts A. Peterson and Michael D. Williams contend that aspects of Arminian thought are troubling both biblically and theologically. In particular, they argue, Arminians have too lofty a view of human nature and an inadequate understanding of God's sovereign love in Christ. This book explores the biblical, theological and historical background to the Calvinist-Arminian debate. The irenic nature and keen insight of this book will be appreciated by laypeople, pastors and scholars alike.

Chosen by God By R.C. Sproul / Tyndale House Predestination, says the author, isn't just for Calvinists. It is for all biblical Christians. Predestination doesn't create a whimsical or spiteful picture of God, but paints the portrait of a loving God who provides redemption for radically corrupt humans. There is mystery in God's ways, but not contradiction. Point by point, the author examines the scriptures on predestination and refutes the naysayers. Chosen by God is an excellent introduction to the Reformed or Calvinist view of God's sovereignty and God's election.

Mystery of Providence By John Flavel / Banner Of Truth Do we beleive that everything in the world and in our own lives down to the minutest detailes is ordered by the providence of God? Do we ever take time to observe and meditate on the workings of providence? If not, are we missing much? It should be a delight and pleasure to us to discern how God works all things in the world for His own glory and His people's good. But it should be an even greater pleasure to observe the particular designs of providence in our own lives. 'O what a world of rarities', says John Flavel, 'are to be found in providence...With what profound wisdom, infinite tenderness and incessant vigilance it has managed all that concerns us from first to last'. It was to persuade Christians of the excellency of observing and meditating upon this that Flavel first published his Mystery of Providence in 1678. Since then the work has gone through many editions. Based on the words 'God that performeth all things for me' (ps.57 v 2) this work shows us how providence works for us in every state and experience of our lives. The book is richly illustrated from the lives of believers and from the author's wide reading in church history. There are avenues of spiritual knowledge and experience opened to the Christian in this work which he probably never knew existed.

Our Accountability To God By Arthur W. Pink / Moody Publishers Who is man before God? Do we truly understand the results of sin and our fallen nature, or the scope of God's forgiveness? Previously published as Gleanings in the Scripture, Pink's exhaustive study provides you with a deeper and clearer understanding of the Almighty's amazing love toward us. Approx. 500 pages, softcover from Moody.

John Piper is Bad

Somebody has way too much time on their hands.

Roman Catholicism

Catholicism
Articles, Sermons and Other Writings

• Is Sola Scriptura a Protestant Concoction?
  A Biblical Defense of Sola Scriptura
  by Dr. Greg Bahnsen
• Roman Catholicism
  Martyn Lloyd-Jones
• Penance and Confession
  William Webster
• The Assumption of Mary
  William Webster
• Summary Chart of the differences between Biblical Truth and Catholicism
  Richard Bennett
• Idolatry
  J.C. Ryle
• Salvation, Not in the Sacramental System, but in Christ Alone
  Richard M. Bennett

"Socialization Blues"

Starting with the Lordship of Christ

One thing I’ve noticed in all my years of sharing the Gospel is that when someone who loves their sin is first exposed to the Gospel and first feels the sting of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, they will often respond by attacking the veracity of the Word of God. It’s like trying to wake someone up and they keep pulling the covers back over their head in order to hide in the darkness.

I found myself listening to an apologist on a Christian radio station recently when a man called in questioning the reliability of the Word of God. The host did an admirable job defending the Word of God and trying to prove its reliability, but no matter how hard he tried the caller wouldn’t listen to reason.

It seems that we frequently forget that mans problem with God is not a simply a matter of evidence and proof, but rather it is a moral problem; man loves sin and hates God. Unless the Holy Spirit is at work no amount of evidence or proof is going to shake the unbeliever from his unbelief.

I’ve frequently suggested that we do not need to prove the existence of God; all men know deep in their hearts that God exists and we shouldn’t indulge the in their sinful desire to sit in judgment upon God, but what about the Word of God? Shouldn’t we prove that the Word of God is really the word of God before we should expect people to trust it?

Again, there’s a place for proofs and evidence, but in many cases they are not what’s really needed. If mankind recognizes the fingerprints of their Creator in the general revelation of creation, how much more so will they recognize the voice of their Creator in the special revelation of Scripture? While we must certainly defend the faith, we must do it in a biblical manner; we do not start with man as the judge and Gods Word as the defendant. Such a practice turns things entirely on their head! We have to start with the Lordship of Christ and the Word of God as the Judge; that is the way it ought to be.

Perhaps we could make a little more headway by exposing peoples questioning of the Word of God as the moral rejection of the truth that it is rather than letting them hide behind the mask of needing evidence in order to believe.

Consider Your Children

Consider your children
Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

"Consider what your children are now capable of, even in the days of their childhood. They are capable of receiving impressions now which may abide upon them while they live. They are capable of honoring God now, if they be well taught; and by their joining, as they can, in religious services with so much reverence and application as their age will admit, God is honored. The hosannas even of children well taught will be the perfecting of praise and highly pleasing to the Lord Jesus.

Consider what your children are designed for, we hope, in this world: they must be a "seed to serve the Lord," which shall be "accounted to him for a generation." They are to bear up the name of Christ in their day, and into their hands must be transmitted that good thing which is committed to us. They are to be praising God on earth, when we are praising Him in heaven. Let them then be brought up accordingly, that they may answer the end of their birth and being. They are designed for the service of their generation and to do good in their day. Consult the public welfare then, and let nothing be wanting on your parts to qualify them for usefulness according as their place and capacity is.

Consider especially what they are designed for in another world: they are made for eternity. Every child thou hast hath a precious and immortal soul, that must be forever either in heaven or hell, according as it is prepared in this present state—and perhaps it must remove to that world of spirits very shortly—and will it not be very sad, if through your carelessness and neglect your children should learn the ways of sin, and perish eternally in those ways? Give them warning, that if possible, you may deliver their souls, at least, that you may deliver your own, and may not bring their curse and God's too, their blood and your own too, upon your heads."

Fearing God in His Sovereign Majesty

Fearing God in His Sovereign Majesty
by A.W.Pink

"Why is it that, today, the masses are so utterly unconcerned about spiritual and eternal things, and that they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God? Why is it that even on the battlefields multitudes were so indifferent to their soul's welfare? Why is it that defiance of heaven is becoming more open, more blatant, more daring? The answer is, Because "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom 3:18). Again; why is it that the authority of the Scriptures has been lowered so sadly of late? Why is it that even among those who profess to be the Lord's people there is so little real subjection to His Word, and that its precepts are so lightly esteemed and so readily set aside? Ah! what needs to be stressed to-day is that God is a God to be feared. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Pro 1:7). Happy the soul that has been awed by a view of God's majesty, that has had a vision of God's awful greatness, His ineffable holiness, His perfect righteousness, His irresistible power, His sovereign grace. Does someone say, "But it is only the unsaved, those outside of Christ, who need to fear God"? Then the sufficient answer is that the saved, those who are in Christ, are admonished to work out their own salvation with "fear and trembling." Time was, when it was the general custom to speak of a believer as a "God-fearing man" —that such an appellation has become nearly extinct only serves to show whither we have drifted. Nevertheless, it still stands written, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him" (Psa 103:13)! When we speak of godly fear, of course, we do not mean a servile fear, such as prevails among the heathen in connection with their gods. No; we mean that spirit which Jehovah is pledged to bless, that spirit to which the prophet referred when he said, "To this man will I (the Lord) look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word" (Isa 66:2). It was this the apostle had in view when he wrote, "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" (IPe 2:17). And nothing will foster this godly fear like a recognition of the sovereign majesty of God."

Regulative Principle Links

I had a few problems with these links but I got them straightened out now-

Regulative Principle
Audio Links

1. The Corporate Worship of the Church #11
   The Regulative Principle: Historical and Theological
   Sam Waldron

2. The Corporate Worship of the Church #12
   The Regulative Principle: It's Scriptural Support
   Sam Waldron

Scriptural Support of the Regulative Principle

New at Polemos
Regulative Principle
Audio Links

• The Corporate Worship of the Church #12
  The Regulative Principle: It's Scriptural Support
  Sam Waldron

They are new every morning!

Yes! We woke up with electricity this morning and it looks like all of our trees are still standing! On the way home from work yesterday I noticed numerous trees that were beginning to break under the weight of all the ice that we've had and I thought for sure that we would lose something.

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3: 22,23

There's an odd phenomenon being reported

For a Few, the More Kids the Merrier
By LISA TAKEUCHI CULLEN

"There's an odd phenomenon being reported.....highly educated, highly compensated couples popping out four or more children--happily and by choice. "

Can anyone believe it??? Smart people having several children? What could be going on here?

"What most outsiders want to know, though, is how in heck these parents keep straight who's got Taekwondo class and who needs new sneakers and who's desperate for some quality time alone with Mom or Dad...."

How on earth do they do it?

Click here to read more....

College Without Compromise

I heard these folks speak at the last home school convention in our area and enjoyed them very much!

New at Pol'-e-store
Home Schooling/Education

College Without Compromise
By Scott & Kris Wightman / Homeschool Sampler Publishing

CBD Says "Worried about whether your budget---or your child's faith---will survive a typical 4-year college education? Here's an independent study approach that flows seamlessly from high school into a condensed college experience. Utilizing tools including credit by examination (CLEP); dual enrollment; professional and continuing education; distance learning; and others, students can earn a tailor-made degree and you can save thousands! 195 pages, softcover from The Homeschool Sampler."

History of the Regulative Principle

Regulative Principle
Audio Links

• The Corporate Worship of the Church #11
  The Regulative Principle: Historical and Theological
  Sam Waldron

A fire by night

Fire and Ice

After some unusually warm weather here in the Midwest we're finally getting a little winter. For those of you who have never seen freezing rain, it's quite an experience (and it makes for some good sledding).

Yesterday the boys and I braved the first freezing drizzle storm of the year in order to go get a little free fire wood from a friends acreage. It was a lot of work chopping ice covered wood all day but as in all other areas of life, good things generally don't come without hard work and suffering.

And just as in most other areas of life the perseverance paid off in the end. It sure was nice when we were done to come in the house, light a big fire and enjoy the fruit of our labor!

The Uncertainty of Life

Evangelistic
Audio

• The Uncertainty of Life and the Certainty of Death
  Albert N. Martin

The End for which God gave His Truth

Some Good Quotes
Doctrinal Knowledge and Understanding

"The end for which God gave His truth was not so much the instruction of our minds as the transformation of our lives. But a person cannot come directly to the life and experience, he must come mediately through the mind. And so God’s truth is addressed to the understanding and the Spirit of God operates in the understanding as the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge. He does not illuminate the mind simply that the file drawers of the mental study may be crammed full of information. The end for which God instructs the mind is that he might transform the life."

Albert Martin The Practical Implications of Calvinism

Limited Time Offer

For a limited time we are offering a free cassette tape copy of a very powerful message entitled "The Doctrine of Hell Part3 -What will Hell be Like" by Ted Donnelly. There are absolutely no strings attached, all that we ask is that you give it away when you're done with it if you have anyone to give it too; it's an excellent evangelistic message! Or if you'd rather, the mp3 version can be downloaded here:

• The Doctrine of Hell Part3
  Ted Donnelly

Just email us your address (to jkb@polemos.net) and we'll throw a copy in the mail (until they're gone).

Entrepreneurial Bootcamp

New at Pol'-e-store
Business/Employment

The Best of the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Christian Families Audio CDs
By The Vision Forum, Inc

"Christian entrepreneurship involves the calling of men to live fruitful, productive, creative, problem-solving, dominion-oriented, kingdom-advancing, Lordship-loving lives. This is manifest as men advance their roles as fathers, reformers, leaders, servants, masters, and visionaries.Not all men will start independent businesses, but all Christians can be entrepreneurially oriented as to their management, investment, and creative use of assets and resources. raw from the collective wisdom of highly-effective Christian entrepreneurs and family men who share a lifetime of wisdom, illustrating both successes and failures, for a victorious vision of economic and spiritual fruitfulness. Learn how Christian entrepreneurship can and must emphasize multi-generational faithfulness, inheritance, jurisdiction, and the household as an economically productive, God-ordained unit for cultural transformation. 20 Hours on 20 CDs. 20 Messages."

Don't be a Moran!

The Meaning of the Cross

Here’s a very good message from Paul Washer! You can be wrong about a lot of things and it won't affect your eternal destiny, but if you’re wrong about the cross you’re in trouble!

• The Meaning of the Cross
  Paul Washer
  

Happy Birthday Michael!

Happy 9th Birthday Michael!

William Hendriksen's New Testament Commentary

For anybody out there looking for a really good set of commentaries from an entirely reformed perspective, here's a good sale price on William Hendriksen's and Simon J. Kistemaker's 12 volume New Testament Commentary. I wish I had a set (hint, hint).

New Testament Commentary, 12 Volumes
By William Hendriksen & Simon J. Kistemaker / Baker

Retail Price: $700.00
Preferred Customer Price: $99.99
You Save $600.01 (86%)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)

3 of 3 Reviews Showing:

Reviewed by Tom Campbell (LaFollette, TN), February 07, 2003

An excellent commentary set for the pastor or serious student of the NT. The exegetical insights are combined with a bit of helpful application, something almost unheard of in expositional commentaries. I turn to these volumes regularly with much profit. I highly recommend these!

Reviewed by Matthew Bailey (Chattanooga), December 04, 2002

Wow! Beautiful commentary! Beautiful books!

Reviewed by Michael Price (USA), July 11, 2002

Excellent! This set of commentaries covers the entire New Testament, and that it is Reformed in theological orientation is most important. I highly recommend it. I only wish that the explanations and applications are more detailed and advanced, but I understand that one cannot demand everything from a single set of commentaries.

Calvinism in History

Doctrines of Grace (Calvinism)
Article Links

• Calvinism in History (The Book)
  Loraine Boettner
  

Our Two Youngest Girls

Theses Sabbaticae

New at Pol'-e-store
Lord's Day, The

Theses Sabbaticae. Or, the Doctrine ...

Thomas Shepard

Best Price $14.00
or Buy New

New at Pol'-e-store- Amazing Grace, DVD

New at Pol'-e-store

Amazing Grace, DVD
By Foxfaith

CBD Says- "Amazing Grace, from acclaimed director, Michael Apted, tells the inspiring story of how one man's passion and perseverance changed the world. Based on the true-life story of William Wilberforce (Gruffudd), a leader of the British abolition movement, the film chronicles his epic struggle to pass a law to end the slave trade in the late 18th century. Along the way, Wilberforce meets intense opposition from members of Parliament who feel the slave trade is tied to the stability of the British Empire. Several friends, including Wilberforce's minister, John Newton (Finney), a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, urge him to see the cause through. Rated PG. Approx. 111 Minutes."

DVD Special Features:

• Widescreen, Closed Captioned
• English, Spanish and French Subtitles
• Audio Commentary with Director Michael Apted and Ioan Gruffudd
• How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace - Documentary
• Finding Freedom
• Interactive Discussion Tools and Study Guides
• Music video of Grammy Nominee Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace

New at Pol'-e-store -Creationism/Evolution

New at Pol'-e-store
Creationism/Evolution

Scientific Creationism By Henry M. Morris / New Leaf Press (master Books) CBD says- "Henry Morris' seminal work on the subject has been used as a supplementary text in public universities. It provides an in-depth examination of the research for creation and covers dating methods, geology, biology, and many other areas. This book presents one of the strongest defenses of biblical creationism."

Many Infallible Proofs By Henry M. Morris / New Leaf Press (master Books) CBD Says- "Packed with facts and proofs about Christianity, Christ, God, creation, science and more, Henry Morris - the grandfather of Scientific Creationism - shows what impact God's Word can have on the world. At once shining light on little known truths of the faith, strengthening believers through the Scripture, and providing information for skeptics or unbelievers, Many Infallible Proofs can also be a valuable tool in evangelism by showing where we can engage the individual we may be witnessing to. Henry Morris was on the forefront of the Christian anti-evolution movement until his death in 2006, producing many books and contributing greatly to the Young Earth model for creationism. This book, updated from his 1974 classic, is indicative of his committment to the glory of God through biblical truths."