Click here to see what Paige Patterson's call to manhood from the chapel at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Scroll ahead to about 08:40 and watch through to 10:45. Good stuff.

The other night, Alicia asked me about 2 Peter 3 and the new heavens and earth described there. I think John Owen (1616-1683) handled this the best, so I'll post his sermon here:

...the apostle makes a distribution of the world into heaven and earth, and saith, they “were destroyed with water, and perished.” We know that neither the fabric or substance of the one or other was destroyed, but only men that lived on the earth; and the apostle tells us, verse 5, of the heavens and earth that were then, and were destroyed by water, distinct from the heavens and the earth that were now, and were to be consumed by fire: and yet, as to the visible fabric of heaven and earth, they were the same both before the flood and in the apostle’s time, and continue so to this day; when yet it is certain that the heavens and earth, whereof he speaks were to be destroyed and consumed by fire in that generation. We must, then, for the clearing our foundation, a little consider what the apostle intends by “the heavens and the earth” in these two places:—

1. It is certain, that what the apostle intends by the “world,” with its heavens and earth, verses 5, 6, which was destroyed by water; the same, or somewhat of that kind, he intends by “the heavens and the earth” that were to be consumed and destroyed by fire, verse 7. Otherwise there would be no coherence in the apostle’s discourse, nor any kind of argument, but a mere fallacy of words.

2. It is certain, that by the flood, the world, or the fabric of heaven and earth, was not destroyed, but only the inhabitants of the world; and therefore the destruction intimated to succeed by fire, is not of the substance of the heavens and the earth, which shall not be consumed until the last day, but of persons or men living in the world.

3. Then we must consider in what sense men living in the world are said to be the “world,” and the “heavens and earth” of it. I shall only insist on one instance to this purpose, among many that may be produced, Isa. 51:15, 16. The time when the work here mentioned, of planting the heavens, and laying the foundation of the earth, was performed by God, was when he “divided the sea,” verse 15, and gave the law, verse 16, and said to Zion, “Thou art my people;” — that is, when he took the children of Israel out of Egypt, and formed them in the wilderness into a church and state. Then he planted the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth, — made the new world; that is, brought forth order, and government, and beauty, from the confusion wherein before they were. This is the planting of the heavens, and laying the foundation of the earth in the world. And hence it is, that when mention is made of the destruction of a state and government, it is in that language that seems to set forth the end of the world. So Isa. 34:4; which is yet but the destruction of the state of Edom. The like also is affirmed of the Roman empire, Rev. 6:14; which the Jews constantly affirm to be intended by Edom in the prophets. And in our Saviour Christ’s prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, Matt. 24, he sets it out by expressions of the same importance. It is evident, then, that, in the prophetical idiom and manner of speech, by “heavens” and “earth,” the civil and religious state and combination of men in the world, and the men of them, are often understood. So were the heavens and earth that world which then was destroyed by the flood.

4. On this foundation I affirm, that the heavens and earth here intended in this prophecy of Peter, the coming of the Lord, the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men, mentioned in the destruction of that heaven and earth, do all of them relate, not to the last and final judgment of the world, but to that utter desolation and destruction that was to be made of the Judaical church and state; for which I shall offer these two reasons, of many that might be insisted on from the text:—

(1.) Because whatever is here mentioned was to have its peculiar influence on the men of that generation. He speaks of that wherein both the profane scoffers and those scoffed at were concerned, and that as Jews; — some of them believing, others opposing the faith. Now, there was no particular concernment of that generation in that sin, nor in that scoffing, as to the day of judgment in general; but there was a peculiar relief for the one and a peculiar dread for the other at hand, in the destruction of the Jewish nation; and, besides, an ample testimony, both to the one and the other, of the power and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ; — which was the thing in question between them.

(2.) Peter tells them, that, after the destruction and judgment that he speaks of, verse 13, “We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth,” etc. They had this expectation. But what is that promise? where may we find it? Why, we have it in the very words and letter, Isa. 65:17. Now, when shall this be that God will create these “new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness?” Saith Peter, “It shall be after the coming of the Lord, after that judgment and destruction of ungodly men, who obey not the gospel, that I foretell.” But now it is evident, from this place of Isaiah, with chap. 66:21, 22, that this is a prophecy of gospel times only; and that the planting of these new heavens is nothing but the creation of gospel ordinances, to endure for ever. The same thing is so expressed, Heb. 12:26–28.

This being, then, the design of the place, I shall not insist longer on the context, but briefly open the words proposed, and fix upon the truth contained in them:—

First, There is the foundation of the apostle’s inference and exhortation, Τούτων οὗν πάντων λυομένων. — “Seeing that I have evinced that all these things, however precious they seem, or what value soever any put upon them, shall be dissolved, — that is, destroyed; and that in that dreadful and fearful manner before mentioned, — in a way of judgment, wrath, and vengeance, by fire and sword; — let others mock at the threats of Christ’s coming, — he will come, he will not tarry; and then the heavens and earth that God himself planted, the sun, moon, and stars of the Judaical polity and church, — the whole old world of worship and worshippers, that stand out in their obstinacy against the Lord Christ, — shall be sensibly dissolved and destroyed. This, we know, shall be the end of these things, and that shortly.”

There is no outward constitution nor frame of things, in governments or nations, but it is subject to a dissolution, and may receive it, and that in a way of judgment. If any might plead exemption, that, on many accounts, of which the apostle was discoursing in prophetical terms (for it was not yet time to speak it openly to all) might interpose for its share.

For ease of reading, I converted all the Roman numerals in chapter references to Arabic numerals.

• CHITTOR DISTRICT – On April 11, several Christians were severely beaten by Hindu militants after an evangelistic team returned from distributing gospel tracts in the area. While they were fellowshipping with believers, more than 50 militants attacked them and burnt their literature.
• HYDERABAD – On April 14, five Christians were arrested for distributing literature and praying for the sick at Gandhi Hospital. On April 15, twenty Christians were attacked by Hindu militants at Bethel Church in Borabanda. Four people were injured, including a three-year-old child. Pray for healing for the injured and ask God to comfort those in prison and their families. Pray Christians in India continue to share Christ with boldness despite their suffering. Acts 4:29

This week, WTS Books has Banner of Truth books on sale. There're many more than this, but I did want to point out a couple good ones (of course, they are Banner of Truth books, so they're all good!)

The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction by Sinclair Ferguson $5.50 $10
The Valley of Vision (leatherbound) $14.30 $26

I finished a real page-turner yesterday. I picked this up on the way home from our trip.

What Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer have done here is write a very good alternative to the Left Behind series (which I believe someone desperately needed to do).

Unlike Left Behind, the Last Disciple places the events of Revelation in the first century. As the authors' point out in the afterword, "the apostle John tells his first century audience that with 'wisdom' and 'insight' they can 'calculate the number of the Beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666' (Revelation 13:18). No amount of wisdom and insight would have given them the ability to figure out the number of a Nicolae Carpathia character in the twenty first century."

Much of the book is taken with the Romans and other unbelievers trying to decipher this new letter from John, the son of Zebedee, which gives the book a National Treasure feel.

So what's the big deal about the fall of Jerusalem? I'll let a couple characters from the book explain that:

"Yes. But remember the other improbable prophecies. That the temple in Jerusalem will fall, for example. If you've ever seen the temple high on the mount, you'd know how... well... how stupid that prediction is."
"Just for a moment, consider what if the impossible happened, that the temple did fall, as the self-proclaimed Messiah Jesus also claimed," Damian said. "What would that say about Jesus?"
...
"Vindication, I suppose," Azariah said slowly. "On several occasions Jesus called judgment on those who were about to kill Him. Used a Jewish prophecy phrase that means exactly that and was used repeatedly in our ancient writings: coming on clouds. He combined that phrase with another from a psalm of coronation and exaltation. Jesus declared to them, 'Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.' I remember the wording I read because of the absolute audacity of Jesus' claim. In effect, He was claiming deity in pronouncing judgment over Jerusalem, and if Jerusalem and the temple were to fall within the near future--may it not be so--it would mean that Jesus, not Caesar or another Jewish messiah, is Lord and King."
Azariah paused before continuing. "And there would be an incredible irony. He claimed to be the Lamb that was slain to redeem us. With the temple gone, there would be no other way to reach God but through Jesus. If He truly was divine."

'Tis the season and we're starting to see the ads and mailings trickle in. I got a card from John McCain yesterday, for example. Well, I'm going to take a stand and make a statement many Christians are unwilling to make. There are candidates that a Christian cannot in good conscience vote for. I'm going to take it a step further and tell you who:

• Joe Biden (D)
• Hillary Clinton (D)
• Chris Dodd (D)
• John Edwards (D)
• Rudy Giuliani (R)
• Dennis Kucinich (D)
• Barack Obama (D)
• Bill Richardson (D)
• Al Sharpton (D)

You can argue about many political issues, but you can't argue about abortion or the homosexual agenda. Abortion is murder. Murder is sin. Homosexuality is sin. These are black and white issues in the Bible. The above candidates have proven that they are in favor of both abortion and homosexuality.
Now, I also want to encourage you to keep a sharp eye out for the following candidates. Why? Because we either don't know their stance on these issues or they have been soft on these issues.

• Jim Gilmore (R)
• Duncan Hunter (R)
• John McCain (R)
• Ron Paul (R)
• Mitt Romney (R)
• Tommy Thompson (R)

Duncan Hunter and Jim Gilmore do not concern me much. For them, I simply do not know enough about their stances. They may be very good. I also do not have enough information to form an opinion on Tommy Thompson.
John McCain, however, wants to leave homosexual marriage to the states. He welcomes homosexuals into the military and has stated he would be comfortable with a homosexual president. He seems to want to take an "amoral" position on homosexuality.
Ron Paul is Libertarian. He was against a Constitutional Amendment banning homosexual marriage.
Mitt Romney claims to be "firmly pro-life", as evidenced by his endorsement of RU-486, pro-choice governorship, and pro-safe, legal abortion since a relative died from an illegal abortion. He also supports benefits for homosexual partners as long as they are not married and doesn't think homosexuality should prevent someone from being a Scout.

I highly recommend everyone go to On the Issues and take the VoteMatch quiz.

Reading Proverbs today, a message kept leaping out to me:

12:4 - An excellent wife is the crown of her husband...

14:1 - The wisest of women builds her house...

18:22 - He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

19:14 - House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Like many, I believed as a child that I was someday destined for greatness. Well, that greatness has come. She is my wife, and I have indeed obtained favor from the Lord.

• GALIMERA TOWN - Pastor Jeremiah Majhi held a three-day evangelistic meeting in his church in April, 2006, following which he baptized 20 new believers. While he was baptizing them, some members of anti-Christian Hindu groups came and beat him and the people who were being baptized. They destroyed his church and house. The attackers filed false charges against Pastor Jeremiah saying he was smuggling drugs and other materials. The authorities arrested him along with his nephew and have held them in prison since April 26, 2006. Bail applications have been presented and rejected. A new hearing is expected April 14, 2007.

• GUNTHAPUT VILLAGE - On March 30, a mob of 300 Hindu militants completely demolished a church building in an attempt to kill Pastor Shri Chetti. According to a report from the Global Council of Indian Christians, during the demolition, the militants demanded that all Christians leave the village and said they will not allow any Christian worship centers in the area. The church has been suffered persecution in the past when Hindu villagers burned down their building.

Pray these believers will continue to meet despite losing their property. Ask God to encourage them and for the persecutors to know Christ's love forgiveness and blessing through the testimony of these Christians. Romans 12:14, 21

Sometimes when you read chronologically, you see things you would not otherwise see. Case in point from this morning's reading:

2 Samuel 24:1 says, "Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, 'Go, number Israel and Judah.'"

1 Chronicles 21:1 says, "Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel."

Is this a contradiction? Or merely a paradox? I believe as in all cases, this is merely a paradox. But how can something be done by the Lord and by Satan? Aren't they at war?

I believe Martin Luther ably addressed this very issue:

God uses the devil and the evil angels. They, of course, desire to ruin everything; but God blocks them, unless a well-earned scourging is in order. God allows pestilence, war, or some other plague to come, that we may humble ourselves before him, fear him, hold to him, and call upon him. When God has accomplished these purposes through the scourge, then the good angels come again to perform their office. They bid the devil stop the pestilence, war, and famine. So the devil must serve us with the very thing with which he plans to injure us; for God is such a great Master that he is able to turn even the wickedness of the devil into good.

This numbering of Israel comes after the "sledgehammer to the stomach" section of David's life. The sin with Bathsheba. The violation of Tamar. The rebellion of Absalom. The insurrection of Sheba. Perhaps one of these or some secret sin or all of them as a whole moved God's anger against Israel. Whatever the cause, there is no need to question the inerrancy of Scripture.

Every now and then I like to cook up a new wallpaper to inspire myself.

I was reading the Cambridge Declaration when I decided to do this one today. Hope its a blessing to someone. If you would like it in a different size (this one is 1920 x 1200) let me know and I'll repost it.

Scott Brown has a very challenging post here on The Lives of Philip & Matthew Henry.
Fathers, are you really leading your family?

I've read a lot about good intentions lately.

[Saul] waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him.

Samuel said, “What have you done?”

And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”

And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

1 Samuel 13:8-14

And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”

And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
1 Samuel 15:17-23

I recently heard some comments regarding the second commandment that made me re-think what I was doing with The Rescue. I certainly had the best of intentions - a tool for envangelism. I decided I had best look into this further before continuing. Here's what I found:

“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

Deuteronomy 4:15-19

Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

Acts 17:29

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things... because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Romans 1:21-23, 25

We are forbidden to make an image of God. Even though I wanted to communicate God's truth through images, I should not have tried to imagine God. There is a much better focus for my energies and talents -- one I know God will bless:

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts...

2 Peter 1:19

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17

Last month, I told Alicia that her birthday present would come later, but I had a big surprise for her.

Well, this is the week. Later this week I'm taking Alicia on a little trip for her birthday present. All she knows is that we're going somewhere and doing something. I've told her the temperature so she knows how to pack. That's all she knows.

I won't be telling her where we are going. She won't know until she sees the big sign reading "Now entering "

She won't know what it is we're doing, until I -- well, I can't say that or it might be a clue.

This is fun.

INDIA - In the city of Varanasi, Rajendra Chawhan, a pastor and evangelist, has been working to reach non-believers in an area outside Varanasi. He has been holding prayer meetings that have grown to more than a thousand believers and this has angered radical Hindu groups. The pastor has been arrested and beaten several times. Following a recent prayer and healing service, Pastor Chawhan was beaten by Hindu extremists and taken to the police, who arrested him. This was the sixth time he had been arrested. Some Christians went to jail to protest his arrest and were beaten by extremists, while the police turned a blind eye. Pray God encourages, protects and gives wisdom to this pastor, and for his ministry to expand in the midst of these tough times. Ephesians 3:14-19

Hey, just found out about a really great sale going on and wanted to let you know about it. Westminster Bookstore has some reformed classics on sale through April 22. Some highlights:

Institutes of the Christian Religion (2 vols) - John Calvin $43.97 (usually $80)
Religous Affections - Jonathan Edwards $10.45 (usually $19)
Christianity & Liberalism - J. Gresham Machen $7.20 (usually $12)
Mortification of Sin - John Owen $5.40 (usually $9)

And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.

Numbers 22:3

You have heard the phrase, "If you can't beat them, join them." Moab feared the numbers of Israel, so they decided that since they could not hope to beat them by force, they would beat them another way. Balaam had a plan.

Behold, these, on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.

Numbers 31:16

What was this plan? Its in the first verses of Numbers 25:

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

Numbers 25:1-3

The Moabites invited them to partake in their pagan culture, and they came.

Well, let me remind you that there are Moabites at your gates. God has not yet taken us out of the world, so we are, in effect, surrounded by Moabites. Jesus died and rose again nearly 2,000 years ago and He's still intimidating the world. And, intimidated, they will welcome us to partake in their pagan culture.

Let me encourage you to not go with them. There's a better plan. The Israelites were given the plan of conquest. We have a similar plan in the new covenant. A plan of conquest by evangelism. Get the gospel to every creature wherever you are. Pray for your coworkers. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for your family. Pray that God would turn their hearts of enmity into hearts of love for Him.

In his work The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards, John Gerstner presented what he believed--after exhaustively studying his works--Jonathan Edwards would have counseled a seeker to actually pray. Not quite what you hear in most churches if you walk down the aisle:

Dear God, whom I hate with all my being precisely because you hate and threaten me with hell, I hate this punishment perhaps even more than I hate you. Or, maybe I should say that I love my comfort even more than I hate you. For that reason I am asking a favor of you. I want you to make me love you, whom I hate even when I ask this and even more because I have to ask this. I am being frank with you because I know it is no use to be otherwise. You know even better than I how much I hate you and that I love only myself. It is no use for me to pretend to be sincere. I most certainly do not love you and do not want to love you. I hate the thought of loving you but that is what I'm asking because I love myself. If you can answer this 'prayer' I guess the gift of gratitude will come with it and then I will be able to do what I would not think of doing now—thank you for making me love you whom I hate. Amen.

from The Valley of Vision

O GOD OF MY EXODUS,
Great was the joy of Israel's sons
when Egypt died upon the shore,
Far greater the joy
when the redeemer's foe lay crushed in the dust.
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives for ever.
He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave
free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.
Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil's sceptre is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is levelled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died, in him I rose,
in his life I live, in his victory I triumph,
in his ascension I shall be glorified.
Adorable redeemer,
thou who wast lifted up upon a cross
art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as man of sorrows was crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.
Once, no shame more deep than thine,
no agony more bitter, no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious, no advocate more effective.
Thou art in the triumph car leading captive thine enemies behind thee.
What more could be done than thou hast done!
Thy death is my life, thy resurrection my peace,
thy ascension my hope, thy prayers my comfort.

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

And [Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome] were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

So [Mary Magdalene] ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.

They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”

And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

And he said to them, “What things?”

And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

He said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.

But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

And they cast lots to divide his garments.

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:34-43

And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him.

And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”

And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!”

So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”

When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.

Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”

Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”

Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Luke 23:8-12

I wanted to share with you a new perspective I received last night at Shepherding Group. Our pastor has been teaching through Luke and this week we were in chapter 6.
I had just been reading Deuteronomy that morning, so chapter 28 was fresh on my mind when I got to SG last night.
As Dan started reading the Beatitudes, I was struck by the familiarness. But it wasn't familiarity with the Sermon on the Mount, I was recognizing the structure of blessings and cursings from Deuteronomy.
In 11:26-28, Moses told Israel, "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known."
In Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Moses gives the blessings of obedience. In v. 15-68, he gives the curses for disobedience.
In Luke 6:20-23, Jesus gives the Beatitudes. In v. 24-26, he gives the woes.
It struck me as a clear declaration of the New Covenant, of the Kingdom. The Pharisees had distorted obedience. They had "tied up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and laid them on people's shoulders" (Matthew 23:4). They focused on externals to the exclusion of the internal holiness and righteousness God desires. The Pharisees had missed what Moses had commanded in Deuteronomy 10:16, "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn." Again in 30:6, he said, "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."
Compare the two: Moses. Jesus. Mount Sinai. A hill in Galilee. Old Covenant. New Covenant. Law. Grace. A Promise. A Fulfillment. External. Internal. God visits man. God dwells with man. God on the mountain. God in our hearts.

In case anyone is interested, I'll post my plan here. You'll notice that I prefer to read the Bible chronologically.

Day 1: Genesis 1-11; Job 1-5
Day 2: Job 6-20
Day 3: Job 21-34
Day 4: Job 35-42; Genesis 12-15
Day 5: Genesis 16-26
Day 6: Genesis 27-37
Day 7: Genesis 38-47
Day 8: Genesis 48-50; Exodus 1-9
Day 9: Exodus 10-21
Day 10: Exodus 22-32
Day 11: Exodus 33-40; Leviticus 1-4
Day 12: Leviticus 5-15
Day 13: Leviticus 16-25
Day 14: Leviticus 26-27; Numbers 1-6
Day 15: Numbers 7-15; Psalm 90
Day 16: Numbers 16-25
Day 17: Numbers 26-34
Day 18: Numbers 35-36; Deuteronomy 1-7
Day 19: Deuteronomy 8-20
Day 20: Deuteronomy 21-31
Day 21: Deuteronomy 32-34; Psalm 91; Joshua 1-11
Day 22: Joshua 12-24
Day 23: Judges 1-9
Day 24: Judges 10-21
Day 25: Ruth; 1 Samuel 1-12
Day 26: 1 Samuel 13-20; Psalm 11; 59; 1 Samuel 21-24
Day 27: Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, 52, 56, 120, 140-142; 1 Samuel 25-27; Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63
Day 28: 1 Samuel 28-31; Psalms 18, 121, 123-125, 128-130; 2 Samuel 1-4; Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21
Day 29: 1 Chronicles 1-2; Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87; 1 Chronicles 3-5; Psalms 73, 77-78
Day 30: 1 Chronicles 6; Psalms 81, 88, 92-93; 1 Chronicles 7-10; Psalms 102-104

One month. Look at how much you've already covered!

Day 31: 2 Samuel 5-6; 1 Chronicles 11-16; Psalms 133, 106-107
Day 32: Psalms 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, 68, 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, 132; 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalms 25, 29, 33, 36, 39
Day 33: 2 Samuel 8-10; 1 Chronicles 18-19; Psalms 50, 53, 60, 75, 20, 65-67, 69-70
Day 34: 2 Samuel 11-15; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalms 32, 51, 86, 122, 3-4, 12-13, 28, 55
Day 35: 2 Samuel 16-21; Psalms 26, 40, 58, 61-62, 64, 5, 38, 41-42
Day 36: 2 Samuel 22-24; Psalms 57, 95, 97-99, 30, 108-110; 1 Chronicles 21-22
Day 37: 1 Chronicles 23-29; Psalms 131, 138-139, 143-145, 127, 111-118
Day 38: 1 Kings 1-4; Psalms 37, 71, 94, 119, 72; 2 Chronicles 1
Day 39: Song of Solomon; Proverbs 1-9
Day 40: Proverbs 10-21
Day 41: Proverbs 22-24; 1 Kings 5-8; 2 Chronicles 2-5
Day 42: 2 Chronicles 6-8; Psalm 136, 134, 146-150; 1 Kings 9; Proverbs 25-26
Day 43: Proverbs 27-29; Ecclesiastes; 1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9
Day 44: Proverbs 30-31; 1 Kings 12:1-15:24; 2 Chronicles 10-16
Day 45: 1 Kings 15:25-22:53; 2 Chronicles 17-18

You're halfway there!

Day 46: 2 Chronicles 19-23; Obadiah; Psalms 82-83; 2 Kings 1-8
Day 47: 2 Kings 9-14; 2 Chronicles 24-25; Jonah
Day 48: 2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 26; Isaiah 1-8; Amos
Day 49: Amos 6-9; 2 Chronicles 27-28; Isaiah 9-12; Micah; 2 Kings 16-17
Day 50: Isaiah 13-27; 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 48
Day 51: Hosea; Isaiah 28-34
Day 52: Isaiah 35-48; Psalm 76
Day 53: 2 Kings 18:9-19:37; Psalm 46; 80; 135; Isaiah 49-63
Day 54: Isaiah 64-66; 2 Kings 20-21; 2 Chronicles 32-33; Nahum
Day 55: 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35; Zephaniah; Jeremiah 1-6
Day 56: Jeremiah 7-22
Day 57: Jeremiah 23-34
Day 58: Jeremiah 35-40; Psalms 74, 79; 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36; Habakkuk
Day 59: Jeremiah 41-52
Day 60: Lamentations; Ezekiel 1-8

Two month mark!

Day 61: Ezekiel 9-19
Day 62: Ezekiel 20-31
Day 63: Ezekiel 32-41
Day 64: Ezekiel 42-48; Joel
Day 65: Daniel
Day 66: Ezra 1-6; Psalm 137; Haggai; Zechariah 1-7
Day 67: Zechariah 8-14; Esther; Ezra 7-10
Day 68: Nehemiah; Psalm 126

Drumroll and fanfare, please. (I love that I'm reading Malachi with the first chapters of the Gospels!)

Day 69: Malachi; Luke 1-2; John 1:1-14; Matthew 1-2
Day 70: Matthew 3-4; Mark 1-2; Luke 3-5; John 1:15-4:54
Day 71: John 5; Matthew 12:1-21; 5:1-8:13; Mark 3; Luke 6-7
Day 72: Matthew 11; 12:22-13:58; 8:14-34; Luke 11, 8; Mark 4-5
Day 73: Matthew 9-10, 14-15; Mark 6-7; Luke 9:1-17; John 6
Day 74: Matthew 16-18; Mark 8-9; Luke 9:18-62; John 7-8
Day 75: John 9:1-10:42; Luke 10-15
Day 76: Luke 16:1-18:14; John 11; Matthew 19; Mark 10
Day 77: Matthew 20-22; Luke 18:15-19:48; Mark 11-12; John 12
Day 78: Matthew 23-25; Luke 20-21; Mark 13
Day 79: Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22; John 13-17
Day 80: Luke 23-24; John 18-21; Matthew 28; Mark 16; Acts 1-3
Day 81: Acts 4-12
Day 82: Acts 13-19; James
Day 83: Galatians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians
Day 84: 1 Corinthians
Day 85: 2 Corinthians
Day 86: Romans
Day 87: Acts 20-28
Day 88: Colossians; Philemon; Ephesians; Philippians; 1 Timothy
Day 89: Titus; Hebrews
Day 90: 1 Peter; 2 Timothy; 2 Peter; Jude; 1 John
Day 91: 2 & 3 John; Revelation

If you wanted, you could continue with this plan and read the Bible through four times every year.

• ORISSA - On March 18, 2007, Hindu extremists attacked Abraham Burdhan with a sword. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts, Abraham was pulled off his bicycle, beaten with rods and sticks on his whole body and hit with a sword causing severe injury to his hand. Doctors are not hopeful they can save all four of his fingers and think he will lose two. Pray for Abraham's healing and the safety of more than 20 Christian families living in the area which is in the midst of more than 150 Hindu families.
• RAJASTHAN - Pastors Gorthan Leetha, Laxman Gorthan, Khana Gutta and Ramesh Gutta were attacked by Hindu radicals and handed over to the police, who are sympathetic with the radicals. They are being held in the local prison. In addition, more than 30 families had to flee the area when they were attacked and their homes destroyed. The families had to scatter to nearby villages and work as laborers. Meanwhile, VOM in partnership with Emmanuel Ministries is providing emergency food and clothing for the family, and their pastor is helping them relocate to relatively safe, Udaipur City. Pray for the pastors in prison and the families who have lost all their belongings. Ask God to comfort them and encourage them to continue standing for Him.
• KUNDRA - On March 25, Pastor Rajendra Chauhan was arrested after Hindu extremists complained he was involved in "forced conversions." He was charged under the State's Anti-Conversion Law because the police said he was holding large religious gatherings without asking permission. Through VOM's legal network, Pastor Chauhan was released. Pray his ministry will not be hindered by these challenges. Psalm 111: 5-9

At President Bush's news conference yesterday, he was asked the following question:

Since General Pace made his comments - they got a lot of attention - about homosexuality, we haven't heard from you on that issue.

Do you, sir, believe that homosexuality is immoral?

What did our "born-again christian" president have to say? Was it, "It is not what I believe that is important. It is what God believes. And He has made it plain in His Word that homosexuality is immoral. Leviticus 18:22 says, 'You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.' And in 20:13 He says, 'If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.' Paul said, in his letter to the Romans, 'For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.' Paul again said in his first letter to the Corinthians, 'Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.' You see, the Bible is very clear that homosexuality is immoral, but there is hope in Jesus Christ. If a homosexual will repent of his sin and turn in faith to Jesus Christ, he will be forgiven for his sin and become a new creation, just like all of us other liars, drunkards and sinners who have turned to Jesus." That's what he said, right?

Not exactly. After a bit of stuttering, he said,

"I will not be rendering judgment about individual orientation.

I do believe the don't ask/don't tell policy is good policy."

Rather sounds like another optimistic Pelagian, huh?
While his comments are definitely disappointing, its so easy for us to do the same thing, isn't it? So what should we do?
First, as always, pray for God to give you a spine.
Then, get to know God's Word. Read your Bible regularly. The Puritans read between 10 and 15 chapters every day. How are you doing? Right now, I'm trying to read through the Bible in 90 days. I'm in the middle of Deuteronomy, and, while--yes--it is very challenging, I'm really being blessed. It goes a long, long way toward helping you to think Biblically. Okay, I just realized how silly that was to say -- it's the only way to think Biblically. You have to have the Bible in you.
Also, don't let it be academic. That's my personal struggle. Remember it is alive. Remember that the God of Abraham and Isaac and Moses is your God, too. So, let me restate that first step: let God be your spine, and walk in His strength.