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Thoughts and Meditations
Personal comments made by David F. Reagan unless otherwise stated
SEPTEMBER, 2004
September 30, 2004
Early Bible Texts Found - Silver amulets found in ancient cave in Jerusalem and dated to 600 B.C. have portions of the priestly benediction from Numbers 6 on them. This is the oldest known text of the Mosaic Law.
Our Baptist Heritage - James Beller has written Ten Affirmations of our Baptist Heritage. Very interesting.
Facts are Stubborn Things – Unknown to many, future second US President John Adams served as the attorney who defended the soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre in 1770. In his successful defense, he told the jury “Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictums of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” –from John Adams by David McCullough (p.68)
Is There a Priesthood in your Future? - Roman Catholics becoming creative in their recruitment of future priests. The Philippines has a shortfall of 25,000 priests.
Public Security in China - How the Chinese control the practice of religion.
Caring for the Elderly - Article on the importance of caring for aging parents.
Deep Enough Deep Enough – John Taylor (1752-1835) was an important pioneer Baptist preacher in Virginia and Kentucky. According to Baptists on the American Frontier (p.48-49), he worked to encourage young preachers but often in an abrasive way. At one associational meeting, a young man was preaching from Ezekiel 47:3-5 where the water coming from the temple continually gets deeper.
The preacher called his four points ankle-deep, knee-deep, loin-deep, and the depth for swimming. He identified ankle-deep as repentance from sin and knee-deep as assurance of salvation. While the young man took an hour preaching these two points, Taylor sat behind him with his head bowed and resting on his hand. The young man finally stated, “Thirdly, we go a little deeper where the water reaches the loins.”
At that, John Taylor straightened up, pointed his finger, and said, “Young man, come ashore. You are deep enough, deep enough.” The young preacher sat down in some embarrassment, but he had learned a good lesson.
September 29, 2004
Train Them Up - John Adams is a letter to Abigail concerning the raising of their own children wrote, "Fire them up with ambition to be useful." --from John Adams by David McCullough (p.33).
Adoption in Rome - Article on the practice of adoption in the Roman Empire. This was the time when Paul used adoption to illustrate one facet of salvation (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5-6)
Promoting Islam - While Christianity and the Bible are taboo in America's public schools, programs are being set up to promote Islam.
More Calls to Kill the Jews - Two times in three days, the official Palestinian Authority TV broadcast called for the annihilation of the Jews. How would the world news media treat it if the official Israeli broadcast said the same about the Palestinians?
Surprise! Men and Women are Different - New studies keep confirming more medical differences between men and women. The feminists still don't get it.
Are These Walls Coming Down? - Experts fear that several sections of the wall around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem are at risk of collapsing. Protrusions are appearing in several sections of the wall. Excavations are increasing the risks.
Hate Crimes Law in California - Just signed by Arnold Schwarzeneggar, this law sets up a basis for suppression of free speech against sodomy.
September 28, 2004
Females More Prone to Sweet Tooth Indulgences? - Honest. This is a Science Daily article. A study at Florida State University indicates that females are more disposed than males to "succumb to the temptation to overeat." Being an overweight male, this gives me little comfort. But it makes me wonder if the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden might have been chocolate covered. Hmmmmmm.
War Against Porn - Conferences train citizens to fight pornography in their communities. Average child is exposes to porn at age of nine.
Life in a Fundamental Baptist Church - Liberal non-believer spent several months in a conservative Baptist church researching a book and tells his story. He even became a Christian and started going to another church.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research - It is not necessarily the cure-all it is claimed to be. There are no clinical tests with humans and 98% of the tests with animals have created "lethal deformities." Also, it promises to be a divider of the rich and poor.
Beginning with the Man of God – Although I do not like the word clergyman, the following is an excellent quote from The Spiritual Life by Andrew Murray (p.170). “The first duty of every clergyman is to beg of God, very humbly, that all that he wants to be done in his hearers, may first be fully and truly done in himself.
September 27, 2004
Homeschooling in a Family of Ten - Interesting story of a homeschooling family.
More Work Demands More Waiting – “The more work, the more need of waiting upon God; the doing of God’s will would then, instead of exhausting, be our meat and drink, nourishment and refreshment and strength.” –from Waiting on God by Andrew Murray (p.87)
Dealing With Nightmares - Christian Health article about reducing the frequency of nightmares for those who deal with them.
September 26, 2004
Messianic Muslim Preaches Soon Return of Jesus - Says that Allah and the God of the Christians is the same God. His mother told him, “If I had known you would become a Christian I would have strangled you as a baby.”
Man Rooting Like a Hog – “Who can sufficiently bemoan it, that man, who is capable of and created for so high an honour, and so heavenly an exercise, as to serve his Maker here, and to enjoy him hereafter, should all his time, like a hog, be digging and rooting in the earth, and not once look up to heaven in earnest, till the knife is put to his throat, that he cometh to die and enter into the other world?” –from The Works of George Swinnock, Volume 1 (p.13)
September 25, 2004
Christian Rock Exposed - Three-part article examines Contemporary Christian Music.
Missionary to the Congo - Good summary of the life of George Grenfell (1849-1906) and his work as a missionary in the Congo.
Creating the Image of Jesus - Christians and Movie-makers are creating the image that people expect to see and not the real Jesus.
September 24, 2004
Jewish Wedding - Teaching on the Jewish wedding from Genesis 24.
Church Plans Last Service - Rosedale Baptist Church of New Mexico holds its final service on October 2nd.
Jewish Prayer Shawl - Teaching on the Jewish prayer shawl and its place in the Bible and in Jewish tradition.
September 23, 2004
Falling Crucifix Kills Woman - 72 year old woman in Italy killed when 7 foot metal crucifix falls on her.
Tax-funded Drill Pretends that Homeschoolers are Terrorists - Public school drill in Michigan uses mock homeschool group as the bad guys.
Why Capital Punishment is Pro-Life - Good article on the death penalty. See also our article on whether or not Jesus would oppose the death penalty.
Revival of Beheading - Islamists are bringing back execution by beheading. It is an interesting fact that saints in the tribulation will be "beheaded for the witness of Jesus" (Revelation 20:4).
Why Charles Spurgeon Never Became a Reverend - Charles Spurgeon "never 'officially' became a 'reverend,' although in his early ministry he adopted the title of 'reverend' out of courtesy. Later he changed and all knew him as simply 'Pastor' Spurgeon, or 'Mr.' Spurgeon. He said, 'Reverend and sinner make a curious combination; and I know I am the second, I repudiate the first.'" –from Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers by Lewis Drummond (p.206). Note from David Reagan: I agree with Spurgeon and do not use the title Reverend. The only One called reverend in the Bible is God (Psalm 111:9).
How Europe is Becoming Eurarabia - Alarming news on how quickly Europe is becoming Islamized. This needs to be read and understood.
Religion in USA on the Decline - Report shows that increasing numbers of Americans do not identify with any faith.
Spurgeon Deals with Lady Who Doubts Her Salvation - [from Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers by Lewis Drummond (p.166)]. "Another old lady in Waterbeach, whom Charles described as Mrs. 'Much-afraid,' had professed faith in Christ for over fifty years but could never be certain that she would finally enter through heaven's gates. Always doubting and fearing her own spiritual relationship to Christ, she lived in constant turmoil. One day while talking with Charles, she told him all hope was gone, that she had no faith. In fact, she believed she was actually a hypocrite and did not know Christ at all.
"Charles pungently replied, 'Then don't come to the chapel anymore, we don't want hypocrites there. Why do you come?' The lady, somewhat surprised, replied, 'I come because I can't stop, anyway, I love the people of God; I love the house of God, and I love to worship God.' Charles looked at her and said, 'Well, you are an odd sort of hypocrite; you are a queer kind of unconverted woman.' Then Charles did something startling; he offered to give her 5 pounds for her hope of salvation is she would sell it to him. 'Why, I would not sell it for a thousand worlds.' The lady got the message and that ended the conversation--and probably much of her fear."
September 22, 2004
Keeping Up With Your Congregation – Charles Spurgeon accepted his first pastorate in Waterbeach Baptist Church at the age of seventeen. On his first anniversary at the church, Pastor Cornelius Elven said to him, “Lad, study hard; keep abreast of your foremost Christians; for if they outstrip you in knowledge of Scripture or power to edify, they will be dissatisfied with your ministry.” –from Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers by Lewis Drummond (p.165).
Anna Emmerick to be Beautified - The German nun and mystic whose visions gave much of the extra-biblical material for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is in line to be beautified as a Roman Catholic saint by Pope John Paul II.
Churches in Mexico Jam Cell Phones - Several Catholic churches have gone to illegal cell phone jammers to establish some peace and quiet in the services.
Island City Baptist Church - News story on new independent, Baptist church in Winona, Minnesota.
September 21, 2004
Judaized Christianity - See what Al-Jazeerah, the influential news source for the Arab world, is publishing about the Christians in America.
"This Is the Day" - The power of church hymns and choruses while sifting through flood damage. Great story!
Spurgeon and Spiritual Rules About Prayer – Early in his Christian life, Charles Spurgeon wrote: “I have found, in my own spiritual life, that the more rules I lay down for myself, the more sins I commit. The habit of regular morning and evening prayer is one which is indispensable to a believer’s life, but the prescribing of the length of prayer, and the constrained remembrance of so many persons and subjects, may gender unto bondage and strangle prayer rather than assist it.” –from Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers by Lewis Drummond (p.132).
Plains Baptist Challenger, September, 2004 - This month's Challenger is now on-line. Articles on Bible translations and History or Terrorism.
Bill to Protect Freedom of Speech by Pastors - In the last fifty years, IRS rules have restricted the freedom of speech allowed to pastors on issues the government deems political. A bill is in the works to restore earlier freedoms. You can help.
Theology of Eastern Orthodoxy - Many professing Christians from the western world are converting to Eastern Orthodoxy. What does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe? What should we know about it?
September 20, 2004
Foundations of Our Faith – From The Attributes of God, Volume Two (p.112) by A. W. Tozer. “Since then I have learned that nobody knows enough to contradict the Word of God successfully. One man told me, ‘Sometimes I am troubled by the foundations of my faith. But when I’m worried about the foundations, I dive deep down into the Bible and examine the foundations. And I always come back out and shake the water out of my hair and sing, How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!’ You may be sure nobody knows enough to contradict the Word of God.
Noah’s Ark and the Passover Lamb – Here is a quote from The Law of the Offerings by Andrew Jukes (1815-1901). It compares the resting of Noah’s ark on land, the offering of the Passover lamb, and the death and resurrection of Christ.
“The ark, with all its burden, rests on the mountains of the new world, months before any portion of that new world could be seen. Christ, as our Ark, has rested in resurrection, with all the redeemed family in Him; for in Him we are already ‘risen’ while as yet the waters of judgment (for ‘now is the judgment of this world’ John 12:31) are resting on the world.
“And mark the foreknowledge of God; the day the ark rested was the very day and the very month on which, ages afterwards, Christ, the true Ark, rested in resurrection. ‘The ark rested on the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month’ (Genesis 8:4). On that day Christ rose from the dead. The fourteenth day of this seventh month (afterwards, by God’s command, called the first month – Exodus 12:2) was the Passover; the fifteenth, the feast of unleavened bread (Leviticus 23:5-6); and the third day from that, ‘the seventeenth day,’ was the day Christ rose from the dead.”
September 19, 2004
The Young Turn to Astrology - Two-thirds of the 18 to 24 age range in a survey in England believe in the power of horoscopes--twice as many as believe in the Bible. A Church of England spokesman said, "Horoscopes are fine for a bit of fun and entertainment." The Bible name for those who follow astrology is "an observer of times" and those who practice it "are an abomination unto the LORD" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Types of Types – Andrew Jukes (1815-1901) in The Law of the Offerings (p.20) gives a general overview of the kinds of types that are found in several of the books of the Old Testament. His belief is that different Old Testament books lean to particular kinds of types. According to him:
September 18, 2004
A Witch's Wedding - Wedding in Edinburgh, Scotland, weds two practitioners of Wicca. The wedding is hailed as "the biggest thing to hit pagan witchcraft for years." The couple will jump over a broomstick and have their hands tied together with a red cord during the ceremony. As Revelation 9:21 states, "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."
Opposing God With our Scorn - Stephen
Charnock in The Existence and Attributes of God (Vol.1, p.131) states, "We cast out our mire and
dirt against God when he acts cross to our wishes, and flatter him when
the wind of providence joins itself to the tide of our interest. Men set a
high price upon themselves, and are angry God values them not at the same
rate, as if their judgment were more piercing than his." September 17, 2004
Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats - Great quotation from Charles Spurgeon about amusement in the churches.
Sanctification Undefined - Oswald Chambers in The Place of Help (p.94) states: "[W]hen I think I can define what sanctification is, I have done something God refuses to do. Books about sanctification are much clearer than the Bible. The Bible is uncommonly confusing, so is human life. There is only one thing that is simple, and that is our relationship to Jesus Christ."
Religious Freedom Improving in India - Report shows fewer incidents of persecution in the world's second largest country.
September 16, 2004
Kurds and Jews - Genetic tests indicate that Kurds may be the closest relatives of the Jews. The Kurds live in northern Syria, northern Iraq, and western Turkey. This is the general area into which the northern tribes of Israel were taken by the Assyrians at the time of their captivity (See 2Kings 17:6).
George Washington and the Jews - Our first president leaves a lasting heritage to the Jews of America.
Freedom of Religion in US Schools - The Rutherford Institute has launched a campaign to inform students, parents, and teachers about their rights in US public schools. They have the right to free speech and freedom of religion to a much greater degree than many now assume. This is a good place to start to understand the rights students and teachers have in the schools. Do not give them up by not knowing what they are.
History of Rolling Thunder - Taken from the hymn How Great Thou Art, "rolling thunder" has been used in various ways.
September 14, 2004
1588 Welsh Bible Online - The first complete translation of the entire Bible into Welsh. You may not be able to read it, but there is some good introductory material in English.
Story of Freedom of Religion in America - The Baptist preacher John Leland and the part he had in getting the First Amendment added to the U. S. Constitution.
Adoniram Judson - Good summary of the life of this early Baptist missionary to Burma.
Communication With the Dead on the Increase - A recent Gallop poll found that 38% of Americans believe in ghosts and 28% can hear or mentally talk to the dead. A few years ago the numbers were 25% and 18% respectively. The Bible calls such a person "a consulter with familiar spirits" or a "necromancer" (Deuteronomy 18:11-12) and calls them an abomination to the Lord.
Bringing Up Godly Children - a couple of quotes from The Mackintosh Treasury by C. H. Mackintosh (published in 1898).
The Holy Prepuce - I have no desire to offend anyone, but this article says a lot about Roman Catholic tradition. It speaks of the belief (blasphemous as I see it) that the foreskin of Jesus was preserved from His circumcision and that it had miraculous powers. It was simultaneously claimed to exist in several different Catholic churches.
September 13, 2004
Jerry Falwell's Church - David Cloud visits Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia and makes some interesting observations.
Take a Test on the Teachings of the Jewish Rabbis - This one is super-hard but interesting. Don't say I didn't warn you.
You Don't Say! - Study by the RAND think tank has concluded that the shows on TV influence teen sexual behavior making them twice as likely to engage in the behavior they view on the screen. Not to worry though. The TV industry is not planning to make any changes.
September 12, 2004
Pope John Paul II on Mary - She is our common Mother since the dying Jesus entrusted all of us to her. Spoken on the feast of the name of Mary, the pope said of her name that "this name is the dearest for Christians." See On Feast of the name of Mary. Unfortunately, none of this is true according to the Bible.
Bible Quotation Frees Child Molester - Sentence against a child molester is overturned because judge quoted Bible passages against sodomy. Movement is trying to force judge to retire.
Oswald Chambers on Prayer - "Prayer is not a preparation for work, it is work. Prayer is not a preparation for the battle, it is the battle. Prayer is two-fold: definite asking and definite waiting to receive" (from Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God - p.110).
Born-Again Divorces - According to survey, those who claim to be born-again are as likely to get divorced as those who make no such claim. What is missing in this picture?
God's Word or Human Experience - In a letter of February 4, 1907, Oswald Chambers wrote, "Never compromise with those who water down the word of God to human experience, instead of allowing God to lift up our experience to His Word" (from Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God - p.107).
September 8, 2004
Looking For the Saviour - Are you looking for the Saviour? Those that love Him will look for Him.
"I love the windows of Thy grace, Through which my Lord is seen, And long to meet my Saviour's face,
Oh, that the happy hour were come, To change my faith to sight? I shall behold my Lord at home, In a diviner light.
Haste, my Beloved, and remove These interposing days; Then shall my passions all be love, And all my powers be praise."
by Octavius Winslow
September 6, 2004
Grey Hairs - I've always heard that grey hairs were a sign of wisdom, but while looking through Preaching from the Types and Metaphors of the Bible by Benjamin Keach I found an interesting application of grey hairs. Hosea 7:9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
"1. Grey hairs are a sign that a man's best days, his youthful days are gone: so some Sins and judgments upon a people, are a sign that their best days are past away, that their youth and glory is departing.
2. Gray hairs are a sign of old age: so some Sins and judgments upon a people, show forth that they are old in wickedness.
3. Gray hairs come oft-times by great grief. Scaliger tells us of a young man, who through the extreme trouble of his spirit, was turned Grey in one night: so the judgments and miseries of a people, because of their Sins, make them Grey-Headed, and thereby look old and withered, &c."
These are just a few, Keach has more but I will leave you with these.
September 4, 2004
A Backbone For Christ - Somewhere around the mid to late 200's AD, a Deacon named Laurentius was approached by the magistrate for the sake of giving money for the poor. Laurentius responded that the Church had valuable treasures, asking the court to send horses and wagons for them, and give him three days to produce them. They granted his request, and when the day came, he brought loads of widows and the poor, saying; "These are the treasures of the Church." For this act they roasted him alive on a gridiron; but with much backbone he bore his sufferings, and told the executioner; "This side of my body is roasted enough, now turn it and roast the other; and then, if thou wilt, devour it." A History of the Baptists Volume One by Thomas Armitage
The Humanity of Christ - "We must know Jesus as once tabernacling in the flesh, and dwelling among men as man,- hallowing earthly spots with His presence- entering the dwellings of men- sitting with them at their tables- noticing and blessing their children- mingling in the scenes of domestic life- smiling upon our loves- sanctioning our marriage-feasts- healing our diseases- pitying our infirmities- weeping at our tombs- consecrating our loneliness and solitude; in a word, unvailing a bosom the perfect reflection of our own in all but its sinfulness." The Sympathy of Christ by Octavius Winslow
September 2, 2004
Darwin Evolved - Yes, of course this is a twist on his teaching, but listen to what he said toward the end of his life. When reflecting on his work, Darwin, said "I was a young man with unformed ideas. I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything; and to my astonishment the ideas took like wildfire. People made a religion of them."
"Being bedridden many months before his death, Darwin was often found reading. When one visitor asked what it was he was studying, he replied: Hebrews, still Hebrews. The Royal Book," I call it.
After speaking on "the holiness of God" and "the grandeur of this Book," Darwin declared: Christ Jesus and his salvation. Is not that the best theme?" From the book America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations pg. 199
Beat a Mormon with his own book - Have you ever thought about trying to win a Mormon to Christ using the Book of Mormon? Below is a reference that you could use.
Alma 11:38-40 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last; And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else. No I do not believe that the Mormons are a Christian group, but Satan always takes some truth and mixes in lies.
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