Open Blogging

Kate says:

What happened with the Pottersfield audit? Haven’t been here in a while but I can’t seem to find the follow up info. This issue is still ongoing, correct? Can someone direct me in what to search for to find it? Thanks!

Jean says:

October 31 is celebrated in many churches as Reformation Day. If you celebrate the Reformation (or are just wondering what all the fuss was about), check out the following excerpt which compares and contrasts faith and works:

The Twofold Righteousness of Abraham

“Let us cite the example that Paul goes on to cite, that of Abraham. He says: ‘If Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness’ (Rom. 4:2-3).

“Here, too, please take note of Paul’s distinction as he recounts Abraham’s twofold righteousness. The one is of works; that is, moral and civil. But Paul says that this did not justify Abraham in the sight of God, even though it made him righteous in the eyes of men. He has glory before men by reason of that righteousness, but is yet without the glory of God.

“None can say that it is the works of the law, or ceremonial works, that are here condemned, for Abraham lived many years before the law. Paul simply speaks of Abraham’s works, and those his best works; for it would be absurd to argue as to whether a man is justified by evil works. If, now, Abraham is righteous by none of his works, so that, unless he puts on another righteousness (that of faith), both he and all his works are left under the power of ungodliness, it is apparent that no man can make any advance towards righteousness by his works; and it is further apparent that no works, efforts or endeavors of ‘free-will’ are of any avail in God’s sight, but that they are all adjudged ungodly, unrighteousness, and evil. For if a man himself is not righteous, neither are his works and endeavors righteous; and if they are not righteous, they merit damnation and wrath.

“The other righteousness is that of faith, and consists, not in any works, but in the gracious favor and reckoning of God. See how Paul stresses the word ‘reckoned’; how he insists on it, and repeats it, and enforces it. ‘To him that worketh,’ he says, ‘the reward is reckoned, not of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness,’ according to the purpose of God’s grace. Then he quotes David as saying the same about the reckoning of grace. ‘Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin,’ etc….

“In short, Paul sets ‘him that worketh’ and ‘him that worketh not’ side by side, and leaves none in the middle between them. He declares that righteousness is not reckoned to him that worketh, but is reckoned to him that worketh not, if only he believes.”

– Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will, transl. Packer and Johnston, pp. 295-96

Josh says:

One cuisine: Low Country Boil
One author: John Phillips
One genre of music: Motown 1960-1970
One TV show: Survivor
One place: Southport, NC
One season: Summer
One city: Savannah, GA
One game: Basketball
One book of the Bible: Genesis or John
One movie: Good Morning Vietnam

Xenia says:

Over here we celebrate neither Halloween or Reformation Day. No big surprise there, eh?

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

One cuisine: Hamburgers (anything on a bun)
One author: Erle Stanley Gardener
One genre of music: whatever genre Queen falls into
One TV show: Boston Legal
One place: On my boat
One season: Spring
One city: Lake Havasu – right where I am.
One game: Baseball
One book of the Bible: Mark
One movie: Commando (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

DavidM says:

I remember reading an article in 1983 in Christianity Today called “Reclaiming Reformation Day” by a Duane W.H. Arnold from Lutterworth, England. Anybody ever hear of him?

Jean says:

Whether one self-identifies with the Reformation or not, I would observe that the entire catholic and apostolic church (other than EO, if they wish to self-exclude) is the progeny of the Reformational insights of the beloved Martin Luther. The Current Pope would agree with me, as he has said:

“I think that the intentions of Martin Luther were not mistaken. He was a reformer. Perhaps some methods were not correct. But in that time, if we read the story of the pastor, a German Lutheran who then converted when he saw reality—he became Catholic—in that time, the Church was not exactly a model to imitate. There was corruption in the Church, there was worldliness, attachment to money, to power . . . and this he protested. . . . And today Lutherans and Catholics, Protestants, all of us agree on the doctrine of justification. On this point, which is very important, he did not err. He made a medicine for the Church.”

There has not been a man since the apostle Paul, nor since, that IMO understood and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ as purely as Rev. Dr. Luther. May the Church of Jesus Christ carry on blessed by his legacy.

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

it came to me after hitting send – Lutheran World Federation right before the year 2000.
This is what happens when you give up your confessions and free style it for years – you sell out to the anti christ. I think the book of revelation speaks to this in several places.

JoelG says:

I’ll play…

One Cuisine: I’m with Dan… Pizza
One Author: Buechner
One Genre of Music: Classical
One TV Show: Parts Unknown
One Place: Sunriver Oregon
One Season: Summer
One City: Hood River Oregon
One Game: Yatzee
One Book o’ the Bible: John
One Movie: Hoosiers

Jim says:

This is when people on crazy diets realize that they could talk for hours and decide to shut up.

Jim says:

Straight up keto will do it. I modified because of the fasting.

BrianD says:

Actually, if the definition of One Movie is “which movie are you watching right now”, it would be An Inconvenient Sequel. I’m trying to learn the basics of the climate change issue. We just got through a string of 90-plus degree days locally this week; Octobers should normally be cooler, highs in the 60s and 70s.

Instead of babbling on about the ‘blood moon’, the TV preachers ought to be talking about the days getting hotter and the number of hot days growing….

I’m on a low-carb, no-sugar, low-fat diet. Trying to stave off diabetes and lose weight. I’ve lost probably 20-30 pounds over the last couple of months. Trying to lose at least 50 lbs more, then 25-30 after that. I will tell you I don’t miss Whoppers, ice cream, icees, etc. and I actually like eating more veggies, fruits, low-fat/no-fat foods; I feel better and more energetic. Although at my age, I don’t have as much energy as I once did — after work is the best time for me to go to the gym, but work tires me out and it’s been too darn hot to walk outside (and too much time to go to the gym, get dressed, work out, and come back home).

BrianD says:

Oh, I’m just fine with them, Michael. Have you forgotten the night crew? 🙂

But I’m sure the reader who is easily offended by discussion of keto diets, favorite movies and fun is somewhere among you.

Oh, well. They can read George Bryson and James White.

PM says:

One cuisine: Mexican
One author: James Lee Burke
One genre of music: Cash(American era)
One TV show: The Office
One place: The Sierra Nevada
One season: Summer
One city: My Own
One game: Baseball
One book of the Bible: John
One movie: Shawshank and Napoleon Dynamite

Sorry. Had to bend the rules on that last one.

Jim says:

For those who have believed that red meat is unhealthy, I present the following from the American College of Physicians. Summary-evidence is too low to be considered credible.

https://acp.silverchair-cdn.com/acp/content_public/journal/aim/0/m191621tt1_table_1_causal_inference_assessment_based_on_summary_of_evidence_for_statistically_si.jpeg?Expires=1570397222&Signature=otVUXm56rWS9rRehaFBnGwtQH5zvziFxA9qO70F1qashE6dgyJ~oJLVL8wXDbZHemkunFbdmOzBpglriBiHyInHaGTLfDGEArxzLVFp-gI7ShkdBJVrM49OJ64b2yi7qduv8Tm6pwcAOi84X~sGtc~IYT3GW7r1FjWLqcrdmkx5HmDyKe9Xcxx9G9gT1b4UKFdnIIAQtdxntWcetNO~l38tJv7MWwEDrbqWJ9gF48KPi2JB6WyunTrqSnncIsQGOh1tuIrTC1X2m2nBWb~DJ0azbY1H5dSMThIHwprUx1wl6hgOufrMaUJwn-4RKI31eUak503f0QAodrAZ~DAqIoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIE5G5CRDK6RD3PGA

https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2752328/unprocessed-red-meat-processed-meat-consumption-dietary-guideline-recommendations-from

Jean says:

“The Naked Truth

“Who has the courage to take an honest look at this world of ours and call out the truth? Who has the heart to point out what we all know but are afraid to admit? Who will take a look at all this plastic and emptiness and loneliness and cheap imitation and describe what it really is? Who will call it?

“God will call it. He calls it by one name. And it’s a painfully simple name: death….

“The plain truth is, life isn’t all we’d like it to be. Not only will we die one day; we are dying every day of our lives. We’re dying to live, but we’re dying just the same. Like it or not, that’s the bottom line in the world we live in – everything else is pure sham. We’re going to have to look somewhere else for real life.

“The Surprising Alternative

“Christianity is the unbelievably good news that there is forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation to be had in the midst of this dying world of ours. And this is the real thing; not just the same old rat race traded in for another treadmill. This is God’s gift of life in exchange for death; LIFE in Person, in fact. In the person of Jesus Christ, who came ‘that they may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10).

“And He is the one who shapes our life for the 21st century.”

Harold L. Senkbeil, Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness, pp. 25-26.

Jtk says:

One cuisine: pizza
One author: Randall Munroe
One genre of music: ska
One TV show: Carbanaro Effect
One place: Albuquerque outdoors
One season: Summer
One city: San Diego
One game: Chess
One book of the Bible: John
One movie: High Noon

filbertz says:

cuisine: Cajun
author: Steinbeck
music: blues
TV show: sports center/Scott VanPelt
place: Alaska
season: fall
city: Sorento, Italy
game: tag
Bible book: Luke
movie: Shawshank Redemption