“The moment you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first—wanting to be the centre—wanting to be God, in fact. That was the sin of Satan: and that was the sin he taught the human race. Some people think the fall of man had something to do with sex, but that is a mistake. (The story in the Book of Genesis rather suggests that some corruption in our sexual nature followed the fall and was its result, not its cause.) What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’—could set up on their own as if they had created themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (HarperOne, 1980), pp. 49–50

The question not infrequently comes to me: “What about cremation?”

This is an inherently difficult question because it touches a very personal and private decision, what to do with the remains of a loved one or what should be done with one’s own remains (it doesn’t get much more personal).

It’s also difficult because these are emotional decisions often made is a very difficult time.

Nevertheless, there are biblical patterns and doctrines from which we can learn and apply to this situation.

There is a consistent biblical pattern of burial of human remains. Perhaps the most outstanding OT example is Abraham’s quest to bury Sarah (Gen 23) as a sojourner in a foreign land. Other significant examples could be cited (e.g., Jacob, Joseph and others). This is clearly the biblical pattern, carrying right through the care given to the deceased body of our Lord himself.

According to the Apostle Paul, the biblical pattern was not grounded in sentiment but in a conviction: the resurrection. In 1 Cor 15 the Apostle Paul used an agrarian metaphor to explain the hope of the resurrection. According to Paul, our bodies are like seeds planted in hope, in the expectation of a glorious (if unusual!) harvest: the resurrection body, i.e., a glorified human body.

As my dear friend and colleague Steve Baugh graciously pointed out to me in 1985 or so, the act of cremation is at odds with the act of planting a body in the soil. For one thing, the imagery is not the same at all. Burial is done with regard to the body’s status as part of the image of God. We don’t just have a body. We are body and soul. That is who we are as image-bearers.

In modernity we’ve been taught to regard the body as a machine and in our disposable age we know what to do with broken down machines: we bin them. But the body isn’t just a machine. The materialists are wrong. However much we may think we know about the body, it is not just a machine. We are persons made in the divine image. Our bodies are part of our personhood. That is why it is wrong, a violation of creational law, to murder (Gen 9:1-6). To attack the body is to attack the image of God.

Thus, burial is not just a cultural custom. It’s an act of faith. When there is a choice between burial and cremation, the latter isn’t just a convenience or an economy, it’s a message about the body and the nature of our humanity and our status as image-bearers.

To be sure, there may be times when burial is simply impossible. In those cases, we must act like sojourners and make do, but just because some are forced by circumstances to a difficult and unhappy choice doesn’t make that choice desirable or preferable.

As to expense, at least some of this difficulty can be faced by planning and wise stewardship. We’re Calvinists. We should expect to die (if the Lord doesn’t come first). Who believes in sin and death more than we? In that case, knowing that the funeral business is a just that, a business in search of profits, if we investigate, we can probably discover less expensive modes of burial. Don’t expect the funeral home to tell you how to be buried inexpensively.

As we contemplate the last thing that will likely happen to our bodies let us at least give some serious thought to the message we are sending about the body and its relation to the image and to human dignity rooted in the image of God. If cremation is unavoidable, we can at least arrange some clear testimony to the hope of the resurrection. If, however, cremation is just one option among many, then we must ask, are we, as much as lies within us, testifying to our hope of the bodily resurrection or are we unintentionally sending another message? There’s no question whether God can and shall re-constitute bodies at the resurrection, the question is what message are we sending by our acts?

R. Scott Clark

(Original post – click here)

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Martyn Lloyd-Jones on what the church is for:

The primary task of the Church is not to educate man, is not to heal him physically or psychologically…. I will go further; it is not even to make him good. These are things that accompany salvation; and when the Church performs her true task she does incidentally educate men and give them knowledge and information…she does make them good and better than they were. But my point is that those are not her primary objectives. Her primary purpose is not any of these; it is rather to put man into the right relationship with God, to reconcile man to God. (Preaching & Preachers, 30)

I’ll never forget those grief-stricken eyes – sad, hollow, distant. She watched helplessly as her husband’s life withered away. He was a good man in his early forties, the father of two children, and committed to Christ, family, and ministry. Her husband’s dying pushed her to the borders of her faith. What good, what love, what meaning could she find in the death of this young husband and father? How could God let this happen?

To read the rest of this article by Paul David Tripp, click here

Pray -

1. That your minister would know and love the living God, would have a saving interest in Christ, being purchased by His blood, and thus would be bound to the Lord by the indissoluble bond of the Holy Spirit.

2. That your minister would know, embrace and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.

3. That your minister would be useful servant of the Lord, that he would know and love God’s word, God’s people, and God’s kingdom; that he would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell’s gates.

4. That your minister would study, practice and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

5. That your minister would love to pray, because he loves to commune with his God, and that he would be a man of prayer, characteristically.

6. That your minister would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that he would possess true Spiritual wisdom.

7. That your minister would be holy unto the Lord. That his tongue and heart would be wholly God’s.

8. That your minister would be kept from pride, and especially spiritual pride. That the Lord himself would be gracious to slay pride in him, and that your pastor would endeavor to always be putting pride to death, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

9. That God would give your minister guidance as to where to focus his efforts in ministry.

10. That He would protect your minister from himself, from the enemy of his soul, and from all earthly enemies.

11. That no decision which your minister ever makes or desire that your minister ever pursues would restrict his ability to pour his whole soul into the Gospel ministry.

12.That many would be converted and many built up under your minister’s ministry, to God’s glory alone.

13. That the Lord would bless your minister’s wife, with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.

14. That God would make your minister a decent husband and father.

15. That your minister would be a good friend to his wife, and love her self-sacrificially,

16. That your minister would be a good daddy to his children. That they would love God, their parents and the church.

17. That your minister would be a testimony in the home so that his wife might be able to respect him when he is in the pulpit, and so that your minister will be able to feed her soul, along with the rest of the congregation

J. Ligon Duncan III (born 1960) is a Reformed theologian, professor, author, and minister of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). He is currently the senior minister of the historic First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi

the difference between truth and error is not a chasm but a razor’s edge.

John Murray

Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather, it is the difference between right and almost right.

Charles H Spurgeon

5 Things Every Christian Needs to Grow is a book about Christians and farming. R.C. Sproul suggests five things that every Christian needs to grow–barley, wheat, corn… OK, I’m just kidding. But don’t you think the strangely ambiguous title could fit such a book? In reality, 5 Things Every Christian Needs to Grow is a reprint of a small book published in 2002 by Thomas Nelson. Revised, expanded and given a great new cover, the book has been republished by Reformation Trust, the publishing division of Ligonier Ministries.

Just as any living organism has requirements if it is to grow and thrive, in the same way Christians have God-given requirements that are necessary elements if there is to be any growth in grace and godliness. In this book R.C. Sproul describes five spiritual “nutrients” crucial to spiritual maturity: Bible study, prayer, worship, service and stewardship. In the Introduction Sproul borrows the biblical metaphor of athletics and writes, “Christians are called upon to train, to make sacrifices, and to embrace certain disciplines in order to give God ‘our utmost for His highest.’ This book deals with five of those disciplines: Bible study, prayer, worship, service and stewardship. Just as Olympic athletes work hard to achieve their best performances, our diligence in attending to these aspects of the Christian life will help determine our effectiveness in serving our Lord.”

Sproul teaches that the Word of God is God’s instrument for both conversion and spiritual growth. “By immersing ourselves in the Word of God, we begin to gain the mind of Christ and learn what discipleship is.” He offers advice on getting started in reading the Bible suggesting both methods and resources that will assist the new believer. When it comes to prayer, Sproul distinguishes between prayer as a duty, a privilege and a means of grace before offering practical tips on praying effectively. The chapter dealing with worship speaks of God’s regulations in worship, of the importance of worshiping in both spirit and truth and of the importance of preparation for times of worship. He then writes about service, saying that it is a practice essential to a vibrant faith and discussing the nature of servanthood. In the book’s fifth chapter he looks at sacrificial stewardship, discussing the tithe and the value of investing in the kingdom of God. And finally, in chapter six Sproul addresses a variety of relevant questions and answers (“Does God hear, act on, or grant the prayers of unbelievers?” “Should worship services have any focus on unbelievers?” “How often should a church celebrate the Lord’s Supper?”).

This is a small book, gift-sized really, and one that is very easy to read and digest. It is an ideal book to hand out as a gift or to give to a new believer. It offers introductory wisdom on disciplines that are crucial to the Christian life. Yet there is enough here that even a long-time believer will find biblical wisdom to challenge his Christian walk.

Review by Tim Challies – www.challies.com

To buy this book, click here

People cry when they read about ADD, not because it’s so sad, but because they finally have words to describe their world. Learning about ADD helps them to understand why school was painful and why they didn’t quite fit the academic mold. It explains for them why they often feel both anger and shame, and think of themselves as losers, even if they are successful. And it gives them insight into why they sometimes drive those who love them crazy. Somehow just knowing that other people experience ADD is comforting-it’s always nice to know you are not alone.

So if someone you love (your child, your spouse, your friend) struggles with ADD, the first way you can help is by taking the time to understand his or her world. At first glance it seems like a motley array of experiences: creative, forgetful, unreliable, easily distracted, impatient with the ordinary, quick to start projects but slow to finish them, highly focused on certain tasks, and highly distractible on others. It is a package that tests the limits of your patience. But study them. Look especially for strengths and weaknesses that are different rather than simply wrong.

The official definition, from Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV (the manual listing and describing psychiatric diagnoses recognized by the American Psychiatric Association), highlights three behaviors: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Technically, the term is ADHD (the H refers to hyperactivity). You can have ADD with hyperactivity and without it. The definitions aren’t precise, and there are no medical tests that can detect it, but some adults and children have more of these behaviors and some have less. (The complete definition of ADD from the DSM-IV is at the end of this article.)

God’s Perspective on ADD Brings Hope

Those who struggle with ADD are often discouraged and hopeless. But isn’t it true that God doesn’t view any of us as a hopeless case? No matter what our physical or spiritual struggles are, God’s work is to make us more like Jesus, and nothing, other than our own stubborn hearts, can keep us from becoming what God has called us to be. So, the second way you can encourage someone with ADD is to share God’s perspective on his or her particular struggles. The basic idea is this: all of us have some limitations, but, by God’s grace, we are all able to grow in wisdom and in becoming more like Jesus.

The Bible tells us that God made us spiritual and physical beings (Genesis 2:7). God is Spirit and we are created with a spirit. This means that at our core-in our spirits, our hearts, our souls-everything we do is related to God. We are connected to him; everything we do, say or think has to do with our relationship with God. In our hearts we are either living for God or against God. Do you live for yourself and your own reputation? Do you want more abilities so you can succeed in the eyes of the world? Do you grumble or complain? Are you quick to listen and take advice? All these questions reveal our commitment to ourselves, and the sins they expose are in all of us. The good news is that we can change, and the power to change is available to everyone. It comes not through new educational methods but through repentance, faith, and obedience.

But God also made us physical beings. He does not call our bodies right or wrong; they are called strong or weak. By design they have limitations. When you are cruel to another person your behavior is spiritual. How well you walk, do long division, follow directions, and remember details are related to your physical strengths and weaknesses. Struggling in these areas does not mean you are sinning. They are simply the result of being creatures with imperfect bodies and brains.

ADD is complicated. It includes behaviors that are expressions of our hearts (disobedience) and of our brains or bodies (attention abilities and the ability to link actions and consequences).

Physical Strengths and Weaknesses of ADD

The person with ADD, just like everyone else, has both physical strengths and weaknesses. Physical strengths might include some of the following characteristics:

• a high energy level,
• unusual creativity,
• a willingness to take risks, and
• an outgoing personality.

Physical weaknesses might include some of these struggles:

• a poor memory for the spoken or written word,
• difficulty sequencing behavior or devising steps to complete a task,
• difficulty establishing priorities,
• difficulty with sustained attention when tasks are not interesting,
• difficulty screening out irrelevant stimuli,
• difficulty judging the passage of time,
• difficulty knowing how to start a project,
• difficulty transitioning from one task to another,
• difficulty processing information when frustrated, and
• difficulty changing from one way of thinking to another.

These are just some of the strengths and weaknesses you might discover. Every person is uniquely made in God’s image so there will always be more to learn. Understanding the physical strengths of ADD can help you encourage those with ADD. They are good at some things, and hese are strengths they can build on. Understanding the physical weaknesses of ADD will help you deal more effectively with behaviors that might seem like personal affronts. For example, if your child isn’t listening to you, it’s possible that she doesn’t need discipline. She might need you to give her fewer and shorter directions and then follow up with her so she understands each step she needs to take.

The Spiritual Challenges of ADD

Now go deeper than physical strengths and weaknesses. The spiritual is our core, but it is often forgotten in discussions about ADD. This is true of every heart whether it is easily distracted or completely focused. You can tell if a problem is spiritual or physical by asking, “Does this behavior break God’s law?” If a behavior goes against what the Bible says, then the problem is spiritual. Everyone is prone to certain kinds of sins, and those who fit the ADD description are no different. They often specialize in the same spiritual problems:

• Difficulty persevering when a task is complicated or boring (Proverbs 6:6-8; 12:11; 22:29; 24:27)
• Talking before listening (Proverbs 10:19; 18:13; 21:23; James 1:19)
• Not doing what they say they will (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)
• Slow in learning from past experiences and the wisdom of others (Proverbs 3:1-2; 12:15; 15:31; 19:20; 19:27)
• Slow in seeking advice (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22)
• Poor self-control (Proverbs 25:28; 29:11)
• Rashness and impulsivity-acting before thinking (Proverbs 21:5)

Notice that all these problems are addressed in the wisdom books of the Bible, especially Proverbs. No one is born with wisdom. Wisdom comes from God, and he shares it with us in the Bible. We learn to be wise as we listen to God in the Bible, turn from our foolishness, delight in God’s forgiveness, seek his power to change, and then carefully consider our ways.

Can you see the hope in prescribing a lifelong pursuit of biblical wisdom for those with ADD? Although they are naturally more active and less reflective, they can still become wise by studying these passages and asking the Spirit of God to apply them. Remember that God gives wisdom to those who ask with humble faith. James says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6). Hopeful, isn’t it? We often think of ADD as an unchangeable genetic destiny, but we can be confident that change is possible because God promises to give wisdom to those who seek it.

Apply Biblical Wisdom

So how do you help someone with ADD grow in biblical wisdom? First, you need God’s wisdom for yourself. Pray and ask God to help you know where to start. Here are a few suggestions:

• Don’t try to address all the spiritual problems you see at the same time.
• Look at the list above, and then take one biblical principle to work on intensively.
• Include yourself in your instruction. Everyone needs to grow in wisdom.
• Become an expert in the books of Proverbs and James.
• Emphasize encouragement and instruction more than punishment.
• Remember that all wisdom begins with a growing knowledge of God. So be sure to simply talk about who God is and what he has shown us about himself.

Practical Strategies

At the same time you are teaching biblical wisdom, you also need to teach practical strategies for coping with the physical weakness of ADD. These strategies are especially written for those who are parenting a child with ADD, but they can be modified and applied to an adult.

• Begin by focusing on what he or she does best. Be their biggest cheerleader!
• Offer instruction in a way that is concrete. Make it vivid, visual, and memorable. For example, instead of “stop being so distracted,” you could say “do four math problems.”
• Provide structure. Structure refers to boundaries, guidelines, reminders, and limits. It is a fence that contains and directs. Some children with ADD have a style of thinking that is chaotic and disorganized. Structure helps them by imposing external controls.
• Have clear, simple, predictable, and written household rules.
• Anticipate and work to head off problems instead of always reacting to them. If a difficult situation cannot be avoided, prepare the child to face it with prayer and practice. After the difficult time is over (homework, chores), give your child feedback so he can see his progress.
• Use “to do” lists and establish reasonable deadlines.
• Have your child do the hard task before the easy one.
• Make exercise a priority.
• Speak the truth in love to your child. Share with him when he is monopolizing a conversation; help him prioritize his day; and give him feedback on his creative ideas.

Now settle in for the long haul. Change doesn’t come quickly for any of us and you will need divine patience as you work with someone who fits the description of ADD. But don’t forget, it is God who does the work of change (Philippians 1:6).