As I was driving my daughter to school today, the radio station I listen to in the morning was having a discussion about the decision by a school in New Jersey to ban any "religious" Christmas music in their "holiday" concert. Amusingly, this was said to be done in the name of "diversity." I haven't yet figured out how you create more diversity by banning an entire cultural expression.
I get a little of that at my own school. I'm asked to keep away from too much religious Christmas music (but it's not completely banned), then told I need to find music for Kwanzaa, which as far as I know only one of my students celebrates. Now I'm inclined to be genuinely culturally diverse in my concert selections. I always include Hanukah songs, and my last concert was a "trip around the world" using music from many countries covering five continents. (Somehow I missed Australia, but I'll make up for it in the future, I promise.) I can work with the guidelines I'm given.
So the object of our holiday celebrations is to avoid anything that even remotely hints at religion, right? Not quite. Tomorrow we, like many other schools are having a big Halloween celebration. At least some students at schools throughout the state will dress up in costumes that reflects the paganism that has become the hallmark of Halloween, albeit most unintentionally. Some costumes will reflect even darker aspects of the day. And, of course, the very name of the holiday refers to a celebration from an entirely different religious perspective.
I'm no Halloween spoilsport. I don't mind if children enjoy the fun aspects of the day. But I do think it's hypocritical to allow certain holidays to utilize religious symbolism while others have their symbolism banned. Of course, I also have heard of school districts that are banning Halloween celebrations under protest from some parents. Maybe this will start to get people wondering about that whole "diversity" thing and how you implement it!
As a Christian, I'm not really enamored of Halloween. I'm more of a Reformation Day man myself. (For our school Halloween parade, I'm dressing as a monk.) At the same time, I'm open to others celebrating holidays they enjoy without their having to worry about my sensitivities. Maybe if our society were more open to real diversity, these kinds of issues wouldn't arise. But then, there would be a need to confront the claims of Jesus Christ, and the sinful heart never wants to do that.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
What Israel forgot
In reading through the Bible, I have once again arrived at the Psalms. (Some years I use a system that reads an individual psalm each day, but this time I'm reading straight through.) By reading through the entire book over a few days, you can pick up repeated themes and phrases that the psalmists use, which can be very enlightening.
There are a number of psalms that refer to the events of Israel's past. These historical reminisces served as a reminder to Israel of what the Lord had done for them, both in blessing and in judgment. In a corporate setting, they would be a call to the congregation to pause and reflect on the relationship between Israel and God.
One word that struck e as I read through this time was the word "forgot." After recounting many of the awesome acts of God, several psalms note that Israel forgot what god had done and went their own way, chasing after other gods. As a result, they came under the Lord's judgment.
The psalmists don't dwell on why Israel forgot. They had the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, as well as the Law and the other extant scriptures. There were priests, Levites, and prophets to teach and remind the people of the Lord's work. I suspect there were two major reasons. First, that when they didn't need the Lord to do great and awesome things, they grew complacent and ignored the fact that God was active in their lives every day. Second, when they didn't see everything go their way, they were tempted to follow the latest "god" who promised to fulfill their desires.
These same reasons, complacency and selfish desire, are just as tempting today. My family is currently going through some struggles, and I'll admit I started wondering when God was going to do something about it. I forgot all the times that He had been faithful, and even beyond faithful, in bringing us through tough times before. As the situations are beginning to resolve, I freely acknowledge my own shame and embarrassment at my wavering faith.
To cure myself, I started doing what the psalmists did: writing down all that God had done for me and for my family in the past. As I recalled His faithfulness, I gained encouragement through the memory of His love, mercy, and faithfulness (as well as a stinging sense of rebuke at my own "forgetting"). It was an exercise well worth the time and effort, as it brought back my lapsed memory of the goodness of God.
So let me recommend this: if you're going through some hard times right now, stop and write down all the times you can recall that God brought you through the trials and into blessing. Think of how He has provided for you, how He has comforted you, and how He has blessed you even through the tough times. If you're like me, when you do this you will regain a sense of confidence and faith in the Lord, and be encouraged as you continue to go through whatever you are experiencing in your life.
There are a number of psalms that refer to the events of Israel's past. These historical reminisces served as a reminder to Israel of what the Lord had done for them, both in blessing and in judgment. In a corporate setting, they would be a call to the congregation to pause and reflect on the relationship between Israel and God.
One word that struck e as I read through this time was the word "forgot." After recounting many of the awesome acts of God, several psalms note that Israel forgot what god had done and went their own way, chasing after other gods. As a result, they came under the Lord's judgment.
The psalmists don't dwell on why Israel forgot. They had the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, as well as the Law and the other extant scriptures. There were priests, Levites, and prophets to teach and remind the people of the Lord's work. I suspect there were two major reasons. First, that when they didn't need the Lord to do great and awesome things, they grew complacent and ignored the fact that God was active in their lives every day. Second, when they didn't see everything go their way, they were tempted to follow the latest "god" who promised to fulfill their desires.
These same reasons, complacency and selfish desire, are just as tempting today. My family is currently going through some struggles, and I'll admit I started wondering when God was going to do something about it. I forgot all the times that He had been faithful, and even beyond faithful, in bringing us through tough times before. As the situations are beginning to resolve, I freely acknowledge my own shame and embarrassment at my wavering faith.
To cure myself, I started doing what the psalmists did: writing down all that God had done for me and for my family in the past. As I recalled His faithfulness, I gained encouragement through the memory of His love, mercy, and faithfulness (as well as a stinging sense of rebuke at my own "forgetting"). It was an exercise well worth the time and effort, as it brought back my lapsed memory of the goodness of God.
So let me recommend this: if you're going through some hard times right now, stop and write down all the times you can recall that God brought you through the trials and into blessing. Think of how He has provided for you, how He has comforted you, and how He has blessed you even through the tough times. If you're like me, when you do this you will regain a sense of confidence and faith in the Lord, and be encouraged as you continue to go through whatever you are experiencing in your life.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Saying "No" to yourself
I'm something of a news junkie. I watch several news broadcasts before I leave for work in the morning, and visit a number of news and commentary web sites in the evening. The one bad thing about being a news junkie is that you are exposed to a lot of bad news. I could list the events of today, but they would soon be pushed aside by a new set of a discouraging or evil news. If you want a list of negative headlines, just go watch the evening news for whatever day you read this post.
Many people, from a wide variety of viewpoints, want to stem the tide of evil, corruption, and just plain bad news that seems to engulf our world. They propose striking at any number of root causes-poverty, racism, education, immorality, and pretty much anything else you can name. Some of these efforts are incompatible, and the fights between the proponents of those viewpoints creates more bad news.
I think there is a root cause for all of these problems. Yes, I said all of them. OK, I'll make an exception for natural disasters, but even the way we deal with those can exhibit what I'm about to discuss. The root problem is the inability of most people (or more likely all people) to say "no" to themselves.
Jesus drove this point home during His ministry on earth. In Matthew 16:24 He says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (NIV) People often speak about their "cross" as some ailment, annoyance, or trial that comes into their life. That's not what Jesus means here. The cross was an instrument of torturous death, and Jesus asks us to die to ourselves. Our own wishes and desires become subservient to those of God.
This doesn't only run counter to what the secular culture believes, it runs counter to what many Christian teachers promote. They teach that the Christian should have success in life because God wants to bless us, and that if we want something we should just ask God for it and it will be ours. Jesus never teaches that. He does promise blessing, but on His terms, not ours. It doesn't always mean material success.
When people don't say "no" to themselves, they essentially decide that whatever they want they deserve, and if they deserve it no one has the right to keep them from it. It doesn't matter what other people want, or what they think, or how they might be affected; it's all about getting what I "deserve." There's a theological term for this attitude. It's called "sin."
We were not created to live for ourselves. Sin came into the world through Adam and Eve, and we live with its effects today. What Jesus calls us to do is to break the power of sin, and say "no" to our selfish desires and "yes" to God's desires for us. He created us, and knows what we need to function best. It can be hard to say "no," and it is definitely counter-cultural. But until we can do this, and spread this through our society, we will never be able to overcome the bad news we see.
Many people, from a wide variety of viewpoints, want to stem the tide of evil, corruption, and just plain bad news that seems to engulf our world. They propose striking at any number of root causes-poverty, racism, education, immorality, and pretty much anything else you can name. Some of these efforts are incompatible, and the fights between the proponents of those viewpoints creates more bad news.
I think there is a root cause for all of these problems. Yes, I said all of them. OK, I'll make an exception for natural disasters, but even the way we deal with those can exhibit what I'm about to discuss. The root problem is the inability of most people (or more likely all people) to say "no" to themselves.
Jesus drove this point home during His ministry on earth. In Matthew 16:24 He says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (NIV) People often speak about their "cross" as some ailment, annoyance, or trial that comes into their life. That's not what Jesus means here. The cross was an instrument of torturous death, and Jesus asks us to die to ourselves. Our own wishes and desires become subservient to those of God.
This doesn't only run counter to what the secular culture believes, it runs counter to what many Christian teachers promote. They teach that the Christian should have success in life because God wants to bless us, and that if we want something we should just ask God for it and it will be ours. Jesus never teaches that. He does promise blessing, but on His terms, not ours. It doesn't always mean material success.
When people don't say "no" to themselves, they essentially decide that whatever they want they deserve, and if they deserve it no one has the right to keep them from it. It doesn't matter what other people want, or what they think, or how they might be affected; it's all about getting what I "deserve." There's a theological term for this attitude. It's called "sin."
We were not created to live for ourselves. Sin came into the world through Adam and Eve, and we live with its effects today. What Jesus calls us to do is to break the power of sin, and say "no" to our selfish desires and "yes" to God's desires for us. He created us, and knows what we need to function best. It can be hard to say "no," and it is definitely counter-cultural. But until we can do this, and spread this through our society, we will never be able to overcome the bad news we see.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
"Seven Seasonable Question for All Believers"
The great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon published a monthly magazine for preachers called The Sword and the Trowel. I occasionally read an issue as if it was a magazine I had just received in the mail. (I realize bot "magazine" and "mail" are somewhat outdated concepts these days, but I'm old enough that it makes sense to me. And I actually read them from PDF files.) I came across an article he published in his January 1868 issue, and I think this short article is worth sharing in its entirety, without comment from me:
Seven Seasonable Questions for All Believers- Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I. Cannot I do more for Jesus this year than I have done in the past? Have I no wasted time or rusting talents?
II. What shall I do? What form shall my extra effort take? I must not be long in selecting, for time speeds; but, without neglecting my old work, what new labor shall I enter upon at once?
III. Can I give more to the work of Jesus? Ought I not to practice weekly storing? Am I a faithful steward with my substance? Am I really returning to my Lord in proportion as he has given to me? How much shall I give at orate?
IV. Ought I not, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to become more Christlike this year? I am certainly older in years, should I not grow in grace in proportion? Shall I not seek more grace at once?
V. Shall not my prayers be more constant and fervent during this year? Might not my whole life be more forceful for good if I had more power in secret prayer? Shall I be content to go on as I have done in this matter?
VI. Must I not labor after nearer communion to Jesus? Why should I not walk in the light of his countenance? Why should I cleave so much to worldly things? Shall there not, by God’s grace, be an improvement in this respect? Is there not grievous room for it?
VII. Can I not this very day aim personally at the conversion of at least one soul? Might I not go at once and talk with some unconverted relative or neighbor about his soul? O Lord, go with me! O Lord, use me in thy
service!
Seven Seasonable Questions for All Believers- Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I. Cannot I do more for Jesus this year than I have done in the past? Have I no wasted time or rusting talents?
II. What shall I do? What form shall my extra effort take? I must not be long in selecting, for time speeds; but, without neglecting my old work, what new labor shall I enter upon at once?
III. Can I give more to the work of Jesus? Ought I not to practice weekly storing? Am I a faithful steward with my substance? Am I really returning to my Lord in proportion as he has given to me? How much shall I give at orate?
IV. Ought I not, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to become more Christlike this year? I am certainly older in years, should I not grow in grace in proportion? Shall I not seek more grace at once?
V. Shall not my prayers be more constant and fervent during this year? Might not my whole life be more forceful for good if I had more power in secret prayer? Shall I be content to go on as I have done in this matter?
VI. Must I not labor after nearer communion to Jesus? Why should I not walk in the light of his countenance? Why should I cleave so much to worldly things? Shall there not, by God’s grace, be an improvement in this respect? Is there not grievous room for it?
VII. Can I not this very day aim personally at the conversion of at least one soul? Might I not go at once and talk with some unconverted relative or neighbor about his soul? O Lord, go with me! O Lord, use me in thy
service!
Monday, October 14, 2013
Another new Jesus conspiracy
I just read another article about a supposed "Bible scholar" who has come to the conclusion Jesus never existed. He claims that the story of Jesus was made up by the Romans (yes, the Romans) to pacify the Jews after the campaign of Titus by substituting a meek Messiah who urged submission to authority rather than the national hero many Jews expected. The purpose of his presentation, he says, is to show us how governments manipulate religion for their own purposes, and how Christianity is nothing but a Roman plot to do just that.
I'm not mentioning names because I think even the most skeptical reader of this blog would admit this is a pretty far-fetched construction. (The first article I read said even other "Jesus conspiracy buffs" reject it outright.) The dates don't align, the Romans had no reason or inclination to pacify the Jews (especially after Titus!), and, if this was a Roman plot to pacify the Jews, it failed spectacularly. But the author will get some attention, because people want to believe that Jesus wasn't really who He said He was.
Why is that the case? If Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and God Himself, the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of humanity, that means we are subject to Him and to His commands. It means that human beings are not autonomous creators of our own destinies, but rebellious sinners in need of reconciliation with God. It means, quite frankly, that we are wrong about ourselves, our lives, and reality itself. And ever since the Garden of Eden, we don;t like to be told that there is Someone to whom we are accountable.
What bothers people more, however, may be the very "good news" that sets all of that right. Through the real, historical Jesus, both man and God, and what He did on our behalf on the cross, all of our sin and rebellion can be forgiven and we can be reconciled to God and made right in His sight. All we are required to do is to place our faith in Him as the one and only way to God. It's a simple but life-changing transaction.
Why don't more people do this? I think one reason out of many is that Jesus tells us, "You are separated from God, and there's nothing you can do about it apart from me." People don't like to be told they have no control over their lives. They don't like to be told they can't help themselves out of their troubles. They don't like to be told they can't get to God without help. Accepting Jesus' offer is admitting your own sin and helplessness, and acknowledging that you don't have the power to get right with God yourself.
One way to avoid dealing with this is attempts to prove Jesus never existed, or that He was just some ancient Middle Eastern preacher, or that He was a great man but certainly not God. So we'll continue to have re-creations of Jesus in the image that satisfies the "scholar" and his viewpoint, that avoid confronting who Jesus is directly. Jesus will still be there, ready for them to come to their senses and see their need for Him, and always ready to forgive and reconcile.
I'm not mentioning names because I think even the most skeptical reader of this blog would admit this is a pretty far-fetched construction. (The first article I read said even other "Jesus conspiracy buffs" reject it outright.) The dates don't align, the Romans had no reason or inclination to pacify the Jews (especially after Titus!), and, if this was a Roman plot to pacify the Jews, it failed spectacularly. But the author will get some attention, because people want to believe that Jesus wasn't really who He said He was.
Why is that the case? If Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and God Himself, the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of humanity, that means we are subject to Him and to His commands. It means that human beings are not autonomous creators of our own destinies, but rebellious sinners in need of reconciliation with God. It means, quite frankly, that we are wrong about ourselves, our lives, and reality itself. And ever since the Garden of Eden, we don;t like to be told that there is Someone to whom we are accountable.
What bothers people more, however, may be the very "good news" that sets all of that right. Through the real, historical Jesus, both man and God, and what He did on our behalf on the cross, all of our sin and rebellion can be forgiven and we can be reconciled to God and made right in His sight. All we are required to do is to place our faith in Him as the one and only way to God. It's a simple but life-changing transaction.
Why don't more people do this? I think one reason out of many is that Jesus tells us, "You are separated from God, and there's nothing you can do about it apart from me." People don't like to be told they have no control over their lives. They don't like to be told they can't help themselves out of their troubles. They don't like to be told they can't get to God without help. Accepting Jesus' offer is admitting your own sin and helplessness, and acknowledging that you don't have the power to get right with God yourself.
One way to avoid dealing with this is attempts to prove Jesus never existed, or that He was just some ancient Middle Eastern preacher, or that He was a great man but certainly not God. So we'll continue to have re-creations of Jesus in the image that satisfies the "scholar" and his viewpoint, that avoid confronting who Jesus is directly. Jesus will still be there, ready for them to come to their senses and see their need for Him, and always ready to forgive and reconcile.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
How reading through the Bible helps
As part of my devotions every year, I read through the entire Bible. I generally alternate between the NIV (which I use as my primary teaching Bible, for several reasons) and a translation I haven't read through yet. Given the market for new translations, I shouldn't run out anytime soon! I've probably read through a dozen translations or so. I've read straight through the Bible, used daily Bible reading lists with an OT/NT/Psalm reading, and read through chronologically.
Why do I continue to do this? I believe that reading through the Bible gives you a perspective that can be missed by reading only isolated passages, or even just by reading through a book of the Bible. You start to see the whole panorama of the Biblical story, and to gain an understanding of how all those assorted types of literature fit together. You find themes that are repeated and repeated, and it begins to dawn on you that maybe God thinks those events and concepts are important.
I just finished reading through 2 Chronicles. Reading through Chronicles when you read through the Bible is an eye-opening experience. Sure, it seems more like an eye-closer as you slog through all those genealogical lists at the beginning of 1 Chronicles, but even they provide some insights into the sweep of Biblical history. (Next time you read through them, notice which genealogies are given more attention than others, and watch for the little stories told about some characters.) It is the narrative choices made by the author of the Chronicles and the theological comments that makes these books live.
After you've read through Samuel and Kings, you have a good grasp of the Biblical account of the history of Israel from the time of the last judge until the Babylonian Captivity. So why did the Holy Spirit inspire another historical record in Chronicles? The study of Chronicles after Samuel/Kings lets the reader see a view of Israel and Judah from the perspective of their fidelity to the Lord and His commands. Saul gets short shrift. The northern kingdom of Israel is almost ignored. What we see is the ups and downs of the kings and the people, and how their faithfulness and obedience (or lack thereof) affected their relationship with God.
You don't get this picture reading Chronicles in isolation. It's when you take the larger, longer view that these insights start to come out. This doesn't just happen in these books, however; reading large sections of Scripture, both Old and New Testament, can open up views you may never have seen before. Even after two dozen or so read-throughs, I still find events, ideas, and insights I have missed before or forgotten.
So let me encourage you to read through the Bible. You don't have to wait until January 1st and make it some kind of resolution. Start now. Find a "one year Bible" or an online checklist (Biblestudytools.com has several good ones), or just pick up your Bible and start to read. I think you will find it a blessing beyond what you may expect.
Why do I continue to do this? I believe that reading through the Bible gives you a perspective that can be missed by reading only isolated passages, or even just by reading through a book of the Bible. You start to see the whole panorama of the Biblical story, and to gain an understanding of how all those assorted types of literature fit together. You find themes that are repeated and repeated, and it begins to dawn on you that maybe God thinks those events and concepts are important.
I just finished reading through 2 Chronicles. Reading through Chronicles when you read through the Bible is an eye-opening experience. Sure, it seems more like an eye-closer as you slog through all those genealogical lists at the beginning of 1 Chronicles, but even they provide some insights into the sweep of Biblical history. (Next time you read through them, notice which genealogies are given more attention than others, and watch for the little stories told about some characters.) It is the narrative choices made by the author of the Chronicles and the theological comments that makes these books live.
After you've read through Samuel and Kings, you have a good grasp of the Biblical account of the history of Israel from the time of the last judge until the Babylonian Captivity. So why did the Holy Spirit inspire another historical record in Chronicles? The study of Chronicles after Samuel/Kings lets the reader see a view of Israel and Judah from the perspective of their fidelity to the Lord and His commands. Saul gets short shrift. The northern kingdom of Israel is almost ignored. What we see is the ups and downs of the kings and the people, and how their faithfulness and obedience (or lack thereof) affected their relationship with God.
You don't get this picture reading Chronicles in isolation. It's when you take the larger, longer view that these insights start to come out. This doesn't just happen in these books, however; reading large sections of Scripture, both Old and New Testament, can open up views you may never have seen before. Even after two dozen or so read-throughs, I still find events, ideas, and insights I have missed before or forgotten.
So let me encourage you to read through the Bible. You don't have to wait until January 1st and make it some kind of resolution. Start now. Find a "one year Bible" or an online checklist (Biblestudytools.com has several good ones), or just pick up your Bible and start to read. I think you will find it a blessing beyond what you may expect.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
God never shuts down!
In the US today we're experiencing another in a series of occasional "government shutdowns." That hardly leaves us bereft of government, but it makes for fascinating political theater as the parties do everything they can to not solve the problem while blaming the other side for the shutdown. (For the record, I think everybody's at fault on this one.) While the markets get nervous and some government employees are on furlough, history tells us that the long-term effects of this shutdown will be minimal. Still, a government that can't keep itself running is a concern to everyone living under that government.
I'm glad today that, while I am a citizen of the US, I am first and foremost a subject of the kingdom of God. I have a total confidence that He will always be in control, and that His kingdom will never shut down. I may experience many ups and downs in my life, but I know that my ultimate destiny is in the hands of an almighty God who promises me He will always be with me.
This confidence comes from theological beliefs. Many Christians think of theology as a difficult and esoteric field, limited to those who have the time, education, and inclination to spend hours in deep study to learn truths that rise above what the average person can understand. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Theology is, first and foremost, the study of God and His relationship to us. Every Christian is a theologian, even if they haven't been to seminary.
Theology can be a source a great comfort. The belief I state above, that God is always present and in control, relies on an understanding of the nature and power of God. God is everywhere, at all times, He loves us, and He has the ultimate power over everything He has created. That is the truth that brings us comfort today, and many Christians would agree with it.
Yet it is ultimately a theological statement. I could phrase it like this: God is omnipresent, timeless, omnipotent, and has a communicable attribute of love. I think many Christians would be, at best, puzzled by that statement. It's couched in scholarly language, which C.S. Lewis noted has the advantage of brevity at the expense of simple clarity. To me, that statement is meaningful and comforting, because I spend a lot of time studying theology and learning its "shorthand." The goal for a teacher or preacher is to make those concepts understandable to those who haven't learned the "shorthand" yet.
In the end, the comfort we find in our dependence on God is based on our theological understanding of God, however we express it. And it contrasts starkly with any confidence we can have in man-made constructs like human government. (As an aside, if you think theological language is hard to understand, try reading the laws passed by Congress!) My nation's government is shut down today, but my King will never shut down!
I'm glad today that, while I am a citizen of the US, I am first and foremost a subject of the kingdom of God. I have a total confidence that He will always be in control, and that His kingdom will never shut down. I may experience many ups and downs in my life, but I know that my ultimate destiny is in the hands of an almighty God who promises me He will always be with me.
This confidence comes from theological beliefs. Many Christians think of theology as a difficult and esoteric field, limited to those who have the time, education, and inclination to spend hours in deep study to learn truths that rise above what the average person can understand. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Theology is, first and foremost, the study of God and His relationship to us. Every Christian is a theologian, even if they haven't been to seminary.
Theology can be a source a great comfort. The belief I state above, that God is always present and in control, relies on an understanding of the nature and power of God. God is everywhere, at all times, He loves us, and He has the ultimate power over everything He has created. That is the truth that brings us comfort today, and many Christians would agree with it.
Yet it is ultimately a theological statement. I could phrase it like this: God is omnipresent, timeless, omnipotent, and has a communicable attribute of love. I think many Christians would be, at best, puzzled by that statement. It's couched in scholarly language, which C.S. Lewis noted has the advantage of brevity at the expense of simple clarity. To me, that statement is meaningful and comforting, because I spend a lot of time studying theology and learning its "shorthand." The goal for a teacher or preacher is to make those concepts understandable to those who haven't learned the "shorthand" yet.
In the end, the comfort we find in our dependence on God is based on our theological understanding of God, however we express it. And it contrasts starkly with any confidence we can have in man-made constructs like human government. (As an aside, if you think theological language is hard to understand, try reading the laws passed by Congress!) My nation's government is shut down today, but my King will never shut down!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)