Status Report: September

Sitting…at my desk, aka, the kitchen table.

Drinking…my morning coffee.

Waiting…for the grandchildren to arrive. Wednesday is when all three spend the day at my home. My house will be busy and (mostly) happy today. 

Wondering…where summer went. I’m not sure we ever had summer this year. And yesterday morning there was frost on the ground, fog in the air, and snow on the mountain. It is chilly, chilly, chilly already. 

Also wondering…where my ESV Study Bible went. I left it under the pew while I stayed in the toddler room during the service last Sunday and when I returned to retrieve it, it was gone. I’m sure someone thought it had been left behind accidentally and took it to return it, but it hasn’t shown up yet. If I never get it back, at least I’ll be able to tell people about the time someone stole my Bible in church.

Anticipating…picking cranberries. They’re ready, but I’m waiting for the forest floor to dry out a little before I kneel to pick.

Planning…to go back to planting a big garden next year so one hungry gopher won’t be able to eat half of everything. If you follow me on Twitter, you may already know about the back yard rodent that ate three heads of cauliflower, one whole broccoli plant, head and all, and lots of kale leaves. He likes the brassicas, I guess.

Feeling…a bit stressed because of all the nasty stuff happening in the world. I can’t shake the feeling that something somewhere will blow up, so to speak. I’m tempted to stop reading or watching to the news—or at least listening to the news on the radio before I get up in the morning.

Reading…Taking God Seriously: Vital Things We Need to Know by J. I. Packer, and The House of Wittgenstein: A Family at War by Alexander Waugh. Progress is slow. I’m hoping to get back to regular reading again once the berry picking season is over and what’s left in the garden is in. 

Studying…Ephesians—slowly, two or three verses a day. I’ve made it half-way through the fifth chapter. Unfortunately, all my notes are in my lost (stolen?) Bible.

Thanking…God that he rules the universe and is in control of the history of the world. 

Wishing…you a colorful September. May your autumn be a long one. 

Greeting…the grandkids.

Theological Term of the Week

monism
“[T]he view that everything is ultimately one,” that “nothing that exists is really distinct from anything else that exists.”1

• Scriptural that disproves monism by affirming the Creator and creation distinction:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

• From What’s Your Worldview? by James N. Anderson:

[T]he Monist has to say that the apparent diversity we experience in the world is an illusion. The distinctions we make between things are only in our minds, because if those things were really distinct from one another, there would be more than one thing in existence.

Monism is a very radical philosophy. It has generally proven more popular in Eastern philosophies and religions than in Western ones. While it has enjoyed some sophisticated defenders over the course of history, it faces some quite formidable objections.  …

[I]t’s tough to live as a consistent Monist. Our everyday thoughts and decisions presuppose real distinctions between things: between your body and my body, between your spouse and my spouse, between your car and my car, between your credit card and my credit card, and so on.

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Heidelberg Catechism

Question 51. How does the glory of Christ, our head, benefit us?

Answer: First, by his Holy Spirit he pours out heavenly graces upon us, his members. (a) Then, by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies. (b)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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