Rebecca Stark is the author of The Good Portion: Godthe second title in The Good Portion series.

The Good Portion: God explores what Scripture teaches about God in hopes that readers will see his perfection, worth, magnificence, and beauty as they study his triune nature, infinite attributes, and wondrous works. 

                     

Entries by rebecca (4107)

Friday
Dec172010

My Place 17

This photo was taken at 10:09 AM—just a couple of minutes after our official sunrise time—and at -33C.1 As you can see, we already have quite a bit of snow, too.

I’ve been whining for the last week that I’m ready for spring. I’m becoming a weather wimp, I guess. It’s December in the Yukon. What do I expect?

At least the sky is clear, so the 5½ hours of daylight will amount to something.


1That’s -27F, for those of you who are metric impaired.

Thursday
Dec162010

Round the Sphere Again: Controversial

Assurance
The first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism was, when it was written, a polemical statement (Carl Trueman), for 

At the pastoral heart of the Protestant Reformation lay the doctrine of assurance, the idea that every individual believer could know—indeed, should know—that God was gracious to them. This was critical because, as the Reformers rightly saw, it lay at the heart of the Christian life, a life which was to be marked not by works done in a servile manner in the hope of thereby earning God’s favour, but rather by works done out of gratitude to God for his grace, and in a spirit of confident freedom. Medieval Catholicism was built upon a different strategy, where doubt of God’s individual mercy was a means by which to keep believers on the straight and narrow, so to speak. When the Heidelberg Catechism kicks off with a statement about assurance, it was also kicking Catholicism in the theological shins.

Trueman says assurance is no longer the issue it once was “because the whole notion of assurance, and the lack thereof, has become nonsense for most Christians.” Read the whole piece to see why this is so.

Atonement
Martin Downes reposts a piece on the repugnancy of the atonement to the unregenerate mind (Against Heresies). Not everyone considers Christ dying in our place to be a beautiful thing!

Addressing
Rick Warren’s message at the Desiring God National Conference. (Phil Johnson with Christ Arnzen of Iron Sharpens Iron.)

Thursday
Dec162010

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful for the opportunity to sing with my church choir at an extended care facility this evening.

I’m thankful that the shortest day is almost here and it gets better after that. I’m thankful for oil in the tank that feeds the furnace. I’m thankful a my new humidifier to take the edge off the winter dryness.

I’m thankful for my youngest son who turned 21 on Tuesday. I’m thankful that he’s easy to please when it comes to parties and gifts. I’m thankful that he is willing to walk the dogs even when it gets cold.

I’m thankful for quiet times to think about the meaning of Christ’s birth.

On Thursdays throughout this year, I’m posting 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 an encouragement to you and to others, I promise.