Train in a Distance:

She was beautiful as southern skies
The night he met her
She was married to someone
He was doggedly determined that he would get her
He was old, he was young
From time to time hed tip his heart
But each time she withdrew
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true

Well eventually the boy and the girl get married
Sure enough they have a son
And though they both were occupied
With the child she carried
Disagreements had begun
And in a while they fell apart
It wasnt hard to do
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true

Two disappointed believers
Two people playing the game
Negotiations and love songs
Are often mistaken for one and the same
Now the man and the woman
Remain in contact
Let us say its for the child
With disagreements about the meaning
Of a marriage contract
Conversations hard and wild
But from time to time
He makes her laugh
She cooks a meal or two
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks its true

What is the point of this story
What information pertains
The thought that life could be better
Is woven indelibly
Into our hearts
And our brains

So what do you think?  What are the biblical applications of these sociological truths?  Is it any wonder that the Scriptures tell us there is great gain in godliness with contentment?  What is your Train in the Distance?

From A Quest for More and based on Romans 8:22-25:

Being ungodly is not just about committing a certain lists of sins.  It is also about finding fulfillment outside of God, which leads me to commit an endless list of sins of the heart … We are supposed to groan because there are things that we have been promised but do not yet have.  We are supposed to groan because the full expression of God’s Kingdom has not yet come.  We are supposed to groan because we are not yet all that God shed the blood of his Son for us to become.  We are supposed to groan because the temporary pleasures of this physical world do not satisfy us; they always leave a void in our hearts.  We are supposed to groan because in every situation and circumstance we see the damage that sin has done and is wrong.  We are supposed to groan because we recognize how we each give into the temptation to seek in the physical world what we can only find in the Lord and what will only be fulfilled in eternity.  This side of eternity, groaning is meant to be the default language of the big kingdom.

Is 2-3 hours long enough to call it a Lord’s Day?  Why would a Christian need to set aside a whole day?  Why would a Christian want to set aside a whole day?  Walt Chantry has a wonderful answer.

“If a Christian takes a bit of time on the Sabbath for private Bible reading and prayer, if he is faithful in public worship on God’s holy day, if time is spent teaching his children God’s Word, time preparing and teaching a Bible lesson, time visiting the sick and poor in Jesus’ name, time witnessing to a friend, time fellowshipping with the saints, time singing praises to God - soon the day seems all too short for the spiritually minded. There is so much to do for God in private, in the family, in the church. There is so much to do in worship and praise. It is a holy day, different from the other six. It is devoted to the Lord in his worship and service.”

- Walter Chantry

The following is an excerpt written in a letter by Stonewall Jackson to his sister following the Sunday when his wife, Ellen, had given birth to their stillborn infant son and died herself of hemorraging.

My dearest Ellie breathed her last on Sunday evening, the same day on which the child was born dead.  Oh! the consolations of religion!  I can willingly submit to anything if God strengthens me.  Oh! my Sister would that you could have Him for your God!  Though all nature to me is eclipsed, yet I have joy in knowing that God withholds no good things from them that love and keep his commandments.

I have never experienced anything like what Stonewall Jackson faced on that given Sunday, but I have experienced the strength and love of God and can testify “Amen” to what has been said.  If there are any readers who do no know God, then Oh, that you could have Him for your God!

Last week’s post, on how the Post Modern mindset may be found just north of your shoulders and mine, brought up the the issue of Non-essential truth. While doing research in an attempt to write on this subject, I came across some great truths from C.H. Spurgeon on the subject.

Let us hold God’s truth, but not with a slippery hand. If a doctrine be true, let us grip it [tightly], though the earth shake or the heavens fall. Christian men, where there is a love for God’s truth, God will bless his Church; but because this is a time-serving age, because we have not come out plainly with those things which distinguish us from each other, because we have paid too much deference to each other’s views, and have not boldly declared the great truths of his Word. - these are the reasons why God has to some extent deserted us. You say, “I do not see so much [value] in doctrines, after all.” Then you will not see much blessing. I love so much what I believe to be true, that I would fight for every grain of it; not for the “stones” only, but for the very “dust thereof.” I believe that we ought not to say that any truth is non-essential; it may be non-essential to salvation, but it is essential for something else. Why! you might as well take one of the jewels out of the Queen’s crown, and say it is non-essential, but she will be Queen all the same! Will anyone dare to tell God that any doctrine is non-essential?

Oh gracious Spirit, hast thou written what is non-essential?
Hast thou given me a Book respecting which I say, “My father and mother believed it all, but it is not necessary for me to believe it“? God has given me a judgment; am I to follow in the wake of other people, thinking I shall be sure to be right and that God will never ask me what I was? An easy kind of religion is this! It was not so in the days of good old John Bunyan and Berridge; they sang a far different song. But now people are saying,
“I can listen to So-and-so and So and-so” - men who contradict one another. We cannot think [highly] of people, who can hear opposite opinions, and yet believe both to be correct. We cannot expect much growth unless you hold the truth, and take pleasure in the stones of Zion, and, “favor the dust thereof,” - every atom of [the truth].

–Charles Spurgeon, Zion’s Prosperity

Do not follow a part of his orders, and neglect the rest. The Lord Jesus must be received as a whole, or not at all. Do not say “This is non-essential“, for such a speech is flat rebellion. I do not believe in any words of our Lord being non-essential. They may not be essential to our salvation, but every word of Christ is essential to our spiritual health; neither can we disregard the least of his precepts without suffering loss through our disobedience. Be very careful that you follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; no other kind of walking is safe in such a world as this. Do what he bids you, as he bids you, and it shall he well with you.

–Charles Spurgeon, Blessed Promises For Dying Outcasts

There is a man in the world, whose views are not quite in consistency with Scripture. He says, “Well, it does not matter it is a little thing, a very little thing.” Yes but that little wrong thing leads to a great wrong thing. The sinner’s path is down hill, and when you take one step in violation of Scripture precept, your next step is not only easy, but seems even to be forced upon you. Doubt election, you will soon doubt perseverance, and you may soon come to deny redemption.

Where did the errors of the church of Rome come from? Were they all born in a day? No, they came by slow degrees. … If you tamper with one truth of Scripture, he that tempts you to meddle with one, will tempt you to tamper with another, and there will be no end to it, till, at last, you will want a new Bible, a new Testament, and a new God. There is no telling where you will end when you have begun.

–Charles Spurgeon, Importance of Small Things In Religion

(ht:jb)

With that said, I still want to try and tackle the issue of what is essential to salvation in the coming days. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on these quotes though.

Our oldest invented a word of her own today and I think it may have great usefulness.

Argusation

Please us that word in a sentence:

Dad we were right in the middle of an argusation about my new toys.

Let me ask you , “Has anyone ever called you a religious fanatic?” If you answer that question by saying to yourself, “No, that has never happened to me.” My next question is, “Why not?” Because anybody who takes their faith seriously and speaks in behalf of Christ and His kingdom will at some point, and often and many points, be accused of fanaticism.

Monday Heather had to take Tyler in to the Doctor to have some things checked (he is fine). They were sitting in the exam room waiting and the Doctor came in, looked at Tyler, and said

“So, what brings you in today?”

Tyler replied back without hesitation,

“My mommy!”

An excerpt from Hugh Latimer’s sermon “Sermon on the Plough”:

And now I would ask a strange question: who is the most diligentest bishop and prelate in all England that passeth all the rest in doing his office? I can tell for I know him who it is; I know him well. But now I think I see you listening and hearkening that I should name him. There is one that passeth all the other, and is the most diligent prelate and preacher in all England. And will ye know who it is? I will tell you: it is the devil. He is the most diligent preacher of all other; he is never out of his diocese; he is never from his cure; ye shall never find him unoccupied; he is ever in his parish; he keepeth residence at all times; ye shall never find him out of the way, call for him when you will he is ever at home; the diligentest preacher in all the realm; he is ever at his plough; no lording nor loitering can hinder him; he is ever applying his business, ye shall never find him idle, I warrant you. And his office is to hinder religion, to maintain superstition, to set up idolatry, to teach all kind of popery. He is ready as he can be wished for to set forth his plough; to devise as many ways as can be to deface and obscure God’s glory…O that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine as Satan is to sow cockle and darnel.

Think of how diligent Satan is, knowing he is defeated. How much more diligent should we be, knowing the victory is ours!

(ht: Michael Mckinley)

Piper’s message on suffering was vintage Piper. He traced through the last 3 chapters of Hebrews demonstrating that we must share with Christ in his suffering and that “the sweetest fellowship is fellowship of His sufferings.” He also reminded us that suffering is a large part of the attractiveness of the Gospel. When we rejoice in suffering, that will catch the world’s attention:

The world will not glorify Christ because Christians are healthy and wealthy, because that is what they already live for.

I want to recommend this message to women. There is gold in the middle of the message as Piper talked about “strong” women in his church. Women who are faithful and love theology, women who have stayed with unconverted husbands for years, women who have suffered and found joy in the gospel. I believe it will be a great encouragement.

One last quote just for fun:

iPhones are killing us

Listen and find the context it will serve you well.