Thankful Thursday

A few minutes ago, as I sat here beside the window, a fox loped across the front yard just a few feet from me. I’m thankful that I live where I often see wildlife as I go about my business. I’m thankful for my place, and for foxes, too.

I’m thankful for my youngest son, who tilled the garden for me. I’m thankful that both sons have enough—and maybe too much—work.

I’m thankful for youngest daughter who takes the pup for a run on the days youngest son has to work. The more exercise that dog gets, the better.

I’m thankful for rain yesterday and sunshine today. Perfect weather to green up the lawn.

I’m thankful for people who oversee things: countries, territories, cities, churches, households. God raises them up and puts them in place, and even though none of them do their God-appointed jobs close to perfectly, we’d all be worse off without them.

I’m thankful that “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in [my heart] to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” I’m thankful that the same power that brought the whole of creation out of nothing by command is the power that shone in my heart bringing new creation there. (Yes, I took that from my about page, but that’s one of the biggies to be thankful for, so I feel justified in repeating it.)

On Thursdays throughout this year, I plan to post a few thoughts of thanksgiving along with Kim at the Upward Call and others. Why don’t you participate by posting your thanksgiving each week, too? It’ll be and encouragement to you and to others, I promise.

Round the Sphere Again: A Little Church History

For the Month of May
Some biographies of influential historical Christians (Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Spurgeon, Moody, Lewis, and more) are on sale at Christian Audio. “Get to know these amazing men by listening to some of the best biographies available on christianaudio, now on sale for only $4.98 each” Plus, there’s a free download of the biography of E. M. Bounds. Read the details.

Two from Beggars All
A short list of resources from the Swiss reformer Uldrich Zwingli. 

A biographical sketch of the Morning Star of the Reformation, John Wycliffe, who is best known for “inspiring vernacular translations of Scripture.”

On Sunday
Tracing some of the history of the Lord’s Day. (The Upward Call)

For the Kids (and You, Too)
“The Church History ABCs by Steve Nichols and Ned Bustard is a fun way for kids to learn about great figures in Christian history.” Visit the book website for some church history activities, a list of funny church history facts (Did you know that John Wesley invented an electric shock machine?), and a gallery of portraits of figures in church history drawn by children. (HT: Justin Taylor)

This Week in Housekeeping

The Theological Term of the Week posts continue to be the most popular on this blog. Every week, the terms in alphabetical order page gets more hits than any other single page here. That makes me very happy, but it also means that I need to keep all those posts up-to-date—you know, get rid of dead links and add  links to good content that has come online since the original post was first posted. I’ll be dedicating a little time each week to doing just that, and I’ll let you know which terms I’ve spiffed up and what I’ve done.

This week I’ve updated these:

active obedience of Christ

• found a new source for The Active Obedience of Christ by J. Gresham Machen
• added two links: The Active  Obedience of Christ by Wayne Grudem and The Active Obedience of Christ - No Hope Without It! by John Samson
• added three related terms: passive obedience of Christ, justification, and imputation.

adoption:

• added seven related terms: conversion, glorification, justification,  reconciliation, regeneration, sanctification.

adoptionism:

• added four three related terms: Arianism, docetism, dynamic monarchianism, modalism.