Fecund meaning Fruitful

Break Point last week discussing the sadly destructive Supreme Court decision referenced this article. This is about the way forward. Not primarily political action; but get married. Have babies. Here's a snippet of Kevin Deyoung's article:

The future belongs to the fecund. It’s time for happy warriors who seek to “renew the city” and “win the culture war” by investing in their local church, focusing on the family, and bringing the kingdom to bear on the world, one baby at a time.

Click for all the article.

Who was the Slave and who was the Free?

From Chrysostom, an early Greek Pastor:

"And consider both these points. Joseph was a slave but not a slave to men: wherefore even in slavery he was freer than all that are free. For instance, he yielded not to his mistress; yielded not to the purposes which she who possessed him desired. Again she was free; yet none ever so like a slave, courting and beseeching her own servant. But she prevailed not on him, who was free, to do what he would not. This then was not slavery; but it was liberty of the most exalted kind. For what impediment to virtue had he from his slavery? Let men hear, both slaves and free. Which was the slave? He that was entreated or she that did entreat? She that besought or he that despised her supplication?

"In fact, there are limits set to slaves by God Himself; and up to what point one ought to keep them, has also been determined, and to transgress them is wrong. Namely, when your master commands nothing which is unpleasing to God, it is right to follow and to obey; but no farther. For thus the slave becomes free. But if you go further, even though you are free you are become a slave. At least he intimates this, saying, 'Be not ye the servants of men'.”

Agile Decision Making

1. Observe

 What is going on around us? What’s the situation?

2.Orient

 What do we need to orient to, or adapt to, to figure out what’s going on and how we need to change in light of that current reality?

3. Decide

 We decide what to do. What have we identified? What opportunity or need is there for change? What can we decide on that will actually move us forward?

4 Act

 How can you see this through to make sure it’s completed? What will you do to observe then the results?

The full article

Singing One's Mealtime Grace

I was looking for a poetic prayer for meal times. Here is what I found in a number of hymnals:

1. Be present at our table, Lord;

Be here and everywhere adored;

Thy creatures bless, and grant that we

May feast in paradise with Thee.

2. We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food,

For life and health and every good;

By Thine own hand may we be fed;

Give us each day our daily bread.

3. We thank Thee, Lord, for this our good,

But more because of Jesus’ blood;

Let manna to our souls be giv’n,

The Bread of Life sent down from Heav’n.

It's Long Meter (LM) so can be sung to the Doxology for examine.

Here is my one verse version directed to Jesus:

Be present at our table, Lord;

Be here and everywhere adored;

By your own hand may we be fed;

Give us this day our daily bread.

The Apostle Paul Considered Himself a Faithful Jew

Speaking of his people to the Roman Governor Felix he said, "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets...."
Here

Jesus of the Scars

“Jesus of the Scars” by Edward Shillito

 If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.  

 The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.

If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

 

Why sleepless?

 I'll rise at midnight... (Psalm 119:62)

Not to stew and fret that I'm not getting eight hours of sleep. No to thank and praise the LORD.

Go ahead and sing about it (used any common meter CM tune like Amazing Grace etc.):

Psalm 119

 61 The wicked wrapped me 'round with cords; your law I did not slight.

62 I'll rise at midnight, thanking you for all your judgments right.

63 I'm with those who your precepts keep and all those fearing you.
64 Your mercy fills the earth, O LORD; teach me your laws to do.