Status Report: July

Sitting…on the couch in the living room.

Thinking…about having a cup of after supper tea. 

Picking…the first two red tomatoes from the potted tomato plants on the back deck.

Watching…the Twins play Detroit. I’m so glad they’re finally winning once in a while so I can enjoy them again. I’m not a very loyal fan; I quit watching when things get hopeless.

Tiring…of the rain. It seems like it’s been rainy for months. Last night I dreamed that I woke up and went out to the backyard and the grass was knee high because the rain hadn’t stopped long enough for me to mow. My dream was partly right: The back yard does need to be mowed. Thankfully the grass isn’t knee high…yet.

Wishing…for summer. So far, we’ve had one nice weekend and that’s it.

Wanting…to skip my dental surgery tomorrow. It’s just a little thing—a one-half hour appointment—but I’m so tired of dental work! I’d really like to never see the inside of that dentist office again.

Reading…God’s Battalions by Rodney Stark (nearly done), Pierced for Our Transgressions (nearly done), and Killing Calvinism by Greg Dutcher. I finally finished The Hammer of God by Bo Giertz. I’m going to stick my neck out and say it’s a guys novel. It was also very Lutheran. Next up, I’m starting Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber.

Making…curtains to replace some old dingy ones in the kitchen. I’m using this fabric (In real life, the grey is lighter than it looks in the photo.), which I bought when I was in Vancouver for a day in May. 

Liking…that my youngest son has discovered the joy of barbecuing. Nothing makes him happier than taking charge of grilling our supper. He made his own sauce and grilled enough chicken for a big family dinner we had last weekend.

Wishing…you a joyful July.

Copying…Lisa. 

Sunday's Hymn: Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• I Bind Unto Myself Today at Gospel Grace
• Not What My Hands Have Done at Field Stone Cottage
• Let US Break Bread Together at The Happy Wonderer
• Face To Face with Christ, My Savior at Rosemary at Home
• God, I Will Praise Your Name at Conjubilant With Song
• Lord’s Day 27 at Tried With Fire 
• A Sunday Psalm: The Treasury of David - Psalm 5:9 at Theology for Girls
• Lord’s Day 27, 2012 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Things That Are Despised
• Faith Alone - July 1, 2012 at The Upward Call
• Sunday Prayer: Grace Active at Lisa Writes

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

Round the Sphere Again: Atonement

Penal Substitution Visualized
There’s one more infographic in the on-going Visual Theology series at Challies.com. Featured this time around is penal substitutionary atonement.

Definite Atonement Defended
Dan Phillips has posted an outstanding response to Roger Olson’s recent argument against definite atonement (Pyromaniacs): Part 1, Part 2.

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While we’re on the subject, here are a few of my favorite books on the atonement.

• The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance by Leon Morris. This book lays down the basics in a way anyone can understand. I’ve put it first because it’s a very good place to start learning about the atonement.
• In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement by J. I. Packer and others.
• Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, and Andrew Sachs. I’ve almost finished reading this and I plan to review it soon.
• Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray. This one’s a classic for a reason.