But it isn’t a translation if you start making the stuff up!
Pyromaniacs lets the world know about some <sarc>quality</sarc> Biblical scholarship going on out there!
*now back to my Greek textbook. Consonantal Iota 3rd Declension Nouns, here I come!
Archive for June, 2007
I hate to say it…
Jun 26
Starting School
Jun 18
I’m taking a crash course in Greek this semester so I’ll likely have next to no time to post. I’m just giving fair warning. Peace.
Man therefore will be forever miserable, and remain eternally drowned and lost in these pollutions, unless there come to his help one that is able to succor; the treader upon the serpents head, the most might Lord over sin, death, and hell; by whose most divine virtue the defiled nature of man may be renewed, transformed, and perfectly purified.
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From True Chrstianity or, the whole economy of God towards man in four books, by John Arndt, translated by Anthony William Boehm in 1712, from a copy printed in 1809
“Worship” albums are a dime a dozen and the “christian” music world pumps them out like they are feeding an addicted population (with the same regard for spiritual quality that a street dealer has for his drug, that is to say, near none.) Sadly, the sheer volume of tepidness out there makes doubt the industry can sustain itself. Then, along comes an album that makes me really respect the heart behind the musician. Tim Hughes’ new album, Holding Nothing Back, seems genuine and real. Sure, there is a bit of gloss here and there, but his words reveal far more than any amount of post-production. His words cry out to God for renewal, for re-creation, and for realignment to the priorities of God.
It is refreshing to hear an album that emphasizes many aspects of the faith life, the CD starts with the glory of our salvation (Happy Day), while reminding us that that calling pulls us into a life of service (God Of Justice), and that the real meaning of all of this is God alone (Center of All.) This story arc closes with the final track, Take the World, that offers a counterpoint to all of the “noise” in the Church – the books, the CD’s, the cars, the fancy neckties, and all of the emptiness that pales, and that we need to cry out for God whether in voice, song, or silence.
Having been a worship leader off and on for a few years I would say that the song “Happy Day” would be a ton of fun to perform; the pacing, words, and style lead me to the believe that I could sing that song and pray it at the same time, which is what I need when leading worship. “Holding Nothing Back,” the title track, is a wonderful energetic push that could be an awesome song in the hands of a good worship team, it could certainly get people moving (if you are in that kind of church.) “Almighty God” is a great starter tune for a service it allows a leader to bring the congregation into the story of worship for the day; we must sing out today in worship, not just because it is Sunday, but because God requires, not by force, but by His own presence.
If your collection can fit one more album that you use to facilitate your personal worship or that you use to get ideas for corporate worship, this might just be an album worth shelling out a few bucks on iTunes to purchase.
It is not mere knowledge in which many of us are deficient. We have been instructed from our youth up in the word of God; we have read the Bible, we have heard so many sermons, attended so many meetings, and have associated with the pious, so that we are able to speak much of religion, of godliness, and divine things, and manifest great knowledge; but do we know as we ought to know? Do we know as to consider at the same time, what belongs to our peace? Have we experienced it in our hearts, or have we it only from reading an hearsay, and are, with all this, still ignorant of our inward state? O my friends! Let us consider what belongs to our peace! Those are not pronounced blessed, who know, but those who do. O how great will our responsibility for having known the will of the Lord, and not done it; for having taken his covenant into our lips, and yet hated reproof, having so often called God our Father, and yet not honoured him in our hearts; for having called him Lord, and yet not feared him in reality! Will it avail us that day, that we possessed an outward piety, and specious holiness? Will it avail us then to rely upon our outward religion, in which we have been born and bred, upon our going to church and sacrament, and such like merely external works?[...]Therefore let us reflect what belongs to our peace, and not continue longer in false security with our knowledge, but humble ourselves before him, who is now willing to come to us a a lowly monarch, as a king of peace, in order to make us happy subjects of his kingdom. Let us therefore submit and resign ourselves to him by a true and thorough conversion of the heart, and let ourselves be induced by the tears which he has shed, by the compassion with which he regards even us, and by the patience with which he still bears with us, to listen to his most gracious preacher of repentance, and obey his voice.
From Spiritual Crumbs from the Master’s Table by Gerhard Tersteegen, translated by Samuel Jackson, 1837.
A video montage to get you thinking about what it really is to cherish Jesus:
From Videos About Money via Desiring God Blog
Man ought to love nothing but God alone. And seeing that God alone is to be loved, it follows, that he who loves himself, is an idolator, and makes himself as God. What every one loves, in that his heart is fixed; and where his heart is fixed, thereto pays he his devotion. He is a servant of it, whatsoever it be, and devoted to it. Neither can we but be taken with the love and servitude of some thing or other, so as we become servants thereof, by despoiling ourself of our proper liberties; and consequently we have in this broken and divided state, as many lords who we are subject to as, we have objects whom we love. But if your love, O Man! be sincerely and simply directed towards God, then you are subject to no other Lord; then are you enslaved to no other object; and it is manifest you are hereby at liberty. Wherefore you must be very circumspect, that you follow after nothing that may hinder the divine love in you; and that you suffer not your soul to wander or your affections to run out into any of the creatures.
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He who seeks himself every where, and in all things, and follows after nought but his own profit, praise, and honour, never attains to tranquility; for always something or other meets him that brings perturbation. Therefore believe not that the increase of your wealth, fame, and honor in this world, is to you good and profitable; but rather set before you always the best things, the heavenly treasures, and immortal honours and glories, and contemn all such mean and passing things, and strive for this end to extirpate the very root of corruption, which hinders you in the pursuit of the love of God. For as much as in this love you shall find all the riches of God, and all the pleasures of paradise to be contained.
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From True Chrstianity or, the whole economy of God towards man in four books, by John Arndt, translated by Anthony William Boehm in 1712, from a copy printed in 1809
God Himself be thy spirit’s Sun,
Shining through thee with light and bliss!
Clear, and joyous, and pure and calm
Must thy soul-sky be, for a sun like this!
Martin Dober
Jun 1
The following entry in an old Moravian hymnal caused me to want to look further into Martin Dober’s life:
Dober, Martin, b. 1702, Swabia, potter, teacher, Moravian minister in Germany and England, highly gifted in original languages of Scripture and in the cure of souls, d. 1748.
No title to the hymn
- Jesus, Saviour, I emplore thee,—
Full of grace and truth Thou art,—
Where in aught I’ve sinned before Thee
Pardon unto me impart.
- Have I said I ne’er would leave Thee
And have I unfaithful been,—
Ah, see that look; forgive me;
Bitterly I mourn my sin.