This Week in Housekeeping

The amount of upkeep on the theological terms accomplished this week was paltry. Still, I’m especially happy to link to Fred Butler’s post two posts on presuppositional apologetics, which is —an easy-to-follow explanation of the difference between presuppositionalism and evidentialism, and a defence of presuppositional apologetics.

presuppositional apologetics

• Added a link to Fred Butler’s recent post Apologetic Methodology in a Nutshell.
• Update: Added a link to Fred Butler’s new post God Fearing Apologetics.
• Fixed some messed up links.

baptismal regeneration

• Fixed a messed up link and removed a dead link.
• Added a link to John Piper’s What Is Baptism and Does It Save?

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful for a quiet day to get things done. I’ve got a pretty long list of things I want to accomplish over the next month or so, and it feels good to cross a couple of items off. I’m thankful that God gave me the time and energy and know-how to do them.

I’m thankful that those in my family who were ill are back on their feet and either completely well or getting close to it.

I’m thankful for opportunities to serve—making meals, baking cupcakes, ordering books and cataloging them.

I’m thankful that because of what Jesus has done I do not have to fear dying. I’m thankful that death cannot separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. I’m thankful that for the believer, dying “however hard and hurtful in physical terms” is, to quote J. I. Packer in Eighteen Words, “a journey into joy.” 

What about you? What are you thankful for?

The Contrite Heart

The Lord will happiness divine

On contrite hearts bestow;

Then tell me, gracious God, is mine

A contrite heart or no?

I hear, but seem to hear in vain,

Insensible as steel;

If aught is felt, ‘tis only pain,

To find I cannot feel.

I sometimes think myself inclined

To love Thee if I could;

But often feel another mind,

Averse to all that’s good.

My best desires are faint and few,

I fain would strive for more;

But when I cry, “My strength renew!”

Seem weaker than before.

Thy saints are comforted, I know,

And love Thy house of prayer;

I therefore go where others go,

But find no comfort there.

Oh make this heart rejoice or ache;

Decide this doubt for me;

And if it be not broken, break —

And heal it, if it be.

—William Cowper in Olney Hymns

It’s a strange hymn isn’t it? Knowing Cowper’s story1 helps explain it, but still, it’d be very odd to sing it as a congregation. 

---

1Listen to a lecture on the life of Cowper by Michael Haykin or read these, posted here several years ago:

• Cowper 1
• Cowper 2