If you have 3.5 minutes, you can learn a great deal from this.
HT: Collin Hansen who post anticipating he 2011 Gospel Coalition Conference.
If you need to be moved from one place emotionally to another: (1) Identify a Psalm that relates to your experience. (2) Systematically memorize it over a period of time. (3) As you do so, experience the movement of the Psalm and be transported by the Spirit in conjunction with the Word.
Psalms are poetry. This means that they are truth to be experienced. The idea with poetry is not that we simply learn objective truth. Rather, poetry, particularly in the case of the Word of God, transports us through an experience.
You might respond, “Well, when I read Psalms, it doesn’t make that much of a difference.”
We cannot experience poetry with a quick read. Rather, we need to hear the Words – - to reflect on them – - to prayerfully take in delight at pondering the images. There is no better way to accomplish this than through memorization.
*****************
But, how does one go about memorizing? As I have posted in the past (see these posts), a system is needed. (This post provides a concise summary of my approach).
Below are two pages from my moleskin that picture how I went about memorizing Psalm 65 this summer. While you wouldn’t be able to read my writing even if it was larger, you can see that my basic approach was to mediate on the Psalm by saying it over and over again.
If you were to turn to the next page, you would see notes that I made while memorizing the Psalm – - ways that the Psalm moved me.
I appreciated this Psalm initially, but nowhere near the degree to which I savor it now.
*************
Why Psalm 65?
I chose Psalm 65 initially because of verse 6, “The one who established the mountains being girded with might.” I was staying in the Lauterbrunnen valley (see below) at the time, arguably the most beautiful valley in Europe. My goal was for the poetry of the Word of God to interpret the beauty for me so that I could move from the place of initial awe to one of worship.
What I discovered by memorizing the Psalm – - was that this is a Psalm about joy and happiness. Indeed, the place where it moves the prayerful “meditator” is to one of celebration.
One of my favorite things to do in the Lauterbrunnen Valley was watch this cog wheel train wind its way up the side of the mountain. It was as though I was watching a life-toy train. What a joy to meditate on the truth that the Triune God established these mountains, being girded with might (Psalm 65:6).
Which is the right Psalm for you to begin memorizing? There are only 150 to chose from. So it shouldn’t take that long to identify one.
One of the things I appreciate most about Dr. Mohler’s leadership is his interaction with current issues. Dr. Mohler writes:
The New York Times Magazine addresses an important question in its August 22, 2010 cover story — “What Is It About 20-Somethings?” With this cover story, the venerable newspaper gives cultural attention to a phenomenon some now call “failure to launch.” In her article, writer Robin Marantz Henig probes this issue with care and insight. In all probability, this cover story will be discussed for years to come.
The reason for this becomes clear once you read the essay. Henig lets her readers understand the scale of the issue — we are not talking about a passing phenomenon that is linked to the economic recession. We are talking about a major change in the way young people move toward adulthood . . . if they are moving toward adulthood.
As Henig summarizes:
It’s happening all over, in all sorts of families, not just young people moving back home but also young people taking longer to reach adulthood overall. It’s a development that predates the current economic doldrums, and no one knows yet what the impact will be — on the prospects of the young men and women; on the parents on whom so many of them depend; on society, built on the expectation of an orderly progression in which kids finish school, grow up, start careers, make a family and eventually retire to live on pensions supported by the next crop of kids who finish school, grow up, start careers, make a family and on and on. The traditional cycle seems to have gone off course, as young people remain un tethered to romantic partners or to permanent homes, going back to school for lack of better options, traveling, avoiding commitments, competing ferociously for unpaid internships or temporary (and often grueling) Teach for America jobs, forestalling the beginning of adult life.
The focus of Henig’s article is on young people in their 20s — a period she describes as a “black box.” As a generation, they are constantly moving residence (one-third move each year), changing jobs (average is seven jobs in their 20s), and moving back home with parents (one-third at least once). Two-thirds cohabitate with “a romantic partner” and delay marriage until their late 20s.
Henig cites one sociologist who calls all this “the changing timetable for adulthood.” How big a change? Consider this: In 1960, the vast majority of young adults had accomplished the five standard milestones used to measure adult status. These milestones include completing school, leaving home, getting married, having a child, and establishing financial independence. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than one-half of all young women reached these milestones by age 30 in 2000. Even more concerning — less than one third of all young men did.
Marilynne Robinson’s introductory words to the essay, “Thinking Again”:
It will be a great day in the history of science if we sometime discover a damp shadow elsewhere in the universe where a fungus has sprouted. The mere fossil trace of life in its simplest form would be the crowning achievement of generations of brilliant and diligent labor.
If you feel like really stretching your mind, then you might try Marilynne Robinson’s book of essays, Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self (The Terry Lectures Series)
I am thankful for the simplicity of life in rural Illinois. . . a 100 km, nine day traffic jam in China.
By Guo Qiang and Fang Yunyu
Traffic authorities were still struggling to cope with days-long congestion on a major national expressway, nine days after traffic slowed to a snail’s pace, and nearby residents are profiting on the latest traffic snarl by overcharging drivers for food.
Since August 14, thousands of Beijing-bound trucks have jammed the expressway again, and traffic has stretched for more than 100 kilometers between Beijing and Huai’an in Heibei Province, and Jining in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China National Radio (CNR) reported Sunday.
Small traffic accidents or broken-down cars are aggravating the jam, the report said.
"Insufficient traffic capacity on the National Expressway 110 caused by maintenance construction since August 19 is the major cause of the congestion," a publicity officer with the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, told the Global Times on condition of anonymity Sunday.
Under current traffic regulations, the National Expressway 110 (G110), heading northwest from Beijing to Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province, and then heading directly west, is available to trucks with a carrying capacity of eight tons and above. The road suffered serious damage due to the greater volume of heavy trucks.
This month there have been more trucks carrying excessive coal or fruit, but the Beijing section of the Beijing-Tibet Expressway is available only to trucks with a weight of less than four tons.
The congestion is expected to last for almost a month, since the construction is due for completion September 13.
HT: Metro Mark
There are times when it needs to be pointed out that a statement is completely at odds with Almighty God – - indeed, that it is liable to judgment. Tim Keller appropriately made this point while preaching on the Sermon on the Mount.
The title to this post points to one of the most despicable uses of language in our culture. People are all too willing to casually assign something to perdition without thinking about the reality of what they are saying. For something to be “damned” means it is an object of the wrath of God. If we have even a trace of wisdom, then we ought to tremble at the thought (Proverbs 9:10).
Flippant references to the condemnation of Almighty God demonstrate a disregard for the idea that we are accountable to our Creator. (Here I point to Joe Thorn’s recent series of articles on Hell.”
Having said that, there are times when it is appropriate to carefully notice that something is a direct affront to God. Being careful means making sure that those who hear know that what is said is meant seriously and in keeping with the truth of Scripture.
During sermon preparation today, I can across this appropriate use of the phrase from Tim Keller:*
Jesus Christ said, “I have utterly fulfilled the Sermon on the Mount. Therefore, when you believe in me, not only does everything that you deserve come onto me, but everything I’ve done comes onto you.” That means that when God looks at you, Christian friends, He sees someone who is beautiful as the person who does the Sermon on the Mount every day. Absolutely every day. That is high. That a higher view of the law. Jesus Christ says, “I take the law more seriously than any religious person! The religious person says, ‘Do your best.’ I say, ‘No, you have to be perfect!’ Absolutely perfect! I’ve been perfect for you.” That great hymn writer John Newton has these words: “To see the law by Christ fulfilled and hear His pardoning voice, transforms a slave into a child and duty into choice.”
So what does all this mean? First of all, by the phone booths and bus stops all over New York, there’s an ad showing a beautiful model in undergarments which says, “Inner beauty only goes so far.” I’m going to say something to get your attention so you can say you heard a Presbyterian minister say it. “That’s a damned lie.” Damned? “Absolutely!” It’s making fun of the values of the kingdom of God. You will never have the upside-down kingdom—where instead of looking for power and success and approval, you live a life of sacrifice – - unless you have the inside-out kingdom. The inside-out kingdom says that what really matters is who I am to Jesus and who I am in my heart, and not whether I look right. The wealth I need, the reputation I need is all wrapped up in Him. That makes Christians radically free. We’re not self-conscious. We’re not scared about our bank account. So you can never have the upside-down kingdom unless you have the inside out kingdom.
Don’t buy the world’s despicable lie that appearances and externals are what is most important. Rather, understand that if you turn in repentance from your sin, and put your faith in Christ, then there is now no condemnation for you. Rather, you are a new Creation (2 Cor 5:16-17).
* “The Inside-Out Kingdom,” by Timothy J. Keller, in The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Vol 19, Number 2, Winter 2001, page 48.
God’s people need the “spine” and character to shine the light of Christ in controversies that arise in the public square. Doug Wilson effectively points this out in a post regarding the mosque controversy.
Previously, I pointed to a column by Ross Douthat on the building of a mosque at Ground Zero. Now, Doug Wilson begins a post on the mosque by noticing:
The proposed Ground Zero mosque provides us with a wonderful case study of public square issues, and of the great need for a new Christendom. And since the opportunities in this situation to gain wisdom are enormous, it is not surprising that just about everybody is refusing to do so. . .
He concludes:
Someone really does need to tell secularist America that her gods are genuinely pathetic. And currently, the Muslims are doing this because the Christians won’t. And the Christians who won’t do this are not so much in need of a different kind of theology as they are in need of a different kind of spine.
Here to read the whole thing.
HT: Tim Challies
An excellent sermon from Tim Keller, this one on the justice of God (Matthew 11:20-30).
Keller explains . . .
- That truth is difficult to make accept at first, but it makes sense if you think about it.
- We cannot understand the love of God apart from the justice of God.
- We cannot rest apart from understanding the justice of God.
- What repentance means — “My whole working philosophy is wrong.”
- The three big idols of contemporary culture.
Click here to listen.
I like, “Meat head resigns.” But, there are a lot to choose from (here).
HT: Jeremy Carr
I am back from sabbatical and praying that most of our people can be with us this weekend. No matter how large the clan, family dinners aren’t the same when even one person is missing.
Together, Jamie and I have a family the size of many small countries. Jamie is the 7th of 7 (a Limbaugh). I’m the second of 6.
Jamie’s people are prolific. At any given time, multiple babies are on the way. Even last week we welcomed Owen into the world. Owen lives in New York city, goes to Redeemer Presbyterian (or will begin attending shortly).
Owen living in New York points to a challenge. It becomes increasingly difficult for everyone to make Christmas dinner. Space isn’t so much the problem as we moved to a hotel a number of years ago. The challenge is that people are scattered from Dan to Beersheba, as it were. So far Jamie’s siblings have all made every Christmas dinner. But, we now accept that the grandchildren (who are having their own children) can’t make it every Christmas.
But, that doesn’t mean it is easy. If someone is missing from a Christmas dinner, then you can count on the fact that multiple times throughout the day, he or she will be missed. And, this is as it should be. Families dinners aren’t the same without you.
I pray that you will be with your church family this weekend. Greet people at the door like you are arriving at Christmas dinner. I understand there are legitimate reasons to miss church. But, if even one person is gone, let’s miss him or her.
