Aug 31 2009

Four Vital Choices


ewfattyWhen I returned from a weekend trip I found this  gracEmail from Edward Fudge (http://edwardfudge.com). I quote it here and solicit your comments.

For Christians other than Lutherans and Calvinists, the four gospel slogans: “grace alone, Christ alone, faith alone, Scripture alone,” might sound less than obvious. The third expression (“faith alone”) sometimes even provokes a vigorous denial. But properly understood, the four Reformation motto’s well summarize biblical teaching about our salvation. How would you complete each of the following sentences?

* * *

1. God saves us as a matter of: (a) grace alone (wholly a gift)? (b) grace partially (somewhat a gift; somewhat merited)? or (c) grace not at all (wholly merited)? We affirm that God saves us as a matter of grace alone (wholly a gift). Luke 17:10; Romans 5:8-10.

2. God is gracious to us because of the pleasing activity of: (a) Christ alone, as our representative (entirely his obedience)? (b) Christ partially (partly Christ’s obedience; partly our obedience)? or (c) Christ not at all (entirely our obedience)? We affirm that God is gracious to us because of the obedience of Christ alone as our representative (entirely his obedience). 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Colossians 1:19-22; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 10:5-10, 14.

3. We receive, experience and enjoy God’s gracious favor and salvation through: (a) faith alone (wholly relying on God for it)? (b) faith partially (somewhat relying on God for it; somewhat relying on something else)? or (c) faith not at all (wholly relying on something/someone other than God)? We affirm that we receive, experience and enjoy God’s gracious favor and salvation through faith alone (wholly relying on God for it.). Romans 3:21-27; Romans 4:1-5, 23-25.

4. These principles are true because they rest on the authority of: (a) Scripture alone (our only appeal is to the Bible)? (b) Scripture partially (we appeal to the Bible in part; to other authorities in part)? or (c) Scripture not at all (our only appeal is to authorities besides the Bible)? We affirm that these principles are true because they rest on the authority of Scripture alone (our only appeal is to the Bible.). 2 Timothy 3:14-15; 2 Peter 1:16-21.

_______________________

Copyright 2009 by Edward Fudge. Permission hereby given to forward, copy and distribute in any quantity, so long as no changes are made, this paragraph is included, and no financial profit is involved.

I’m curious, how do you respond to these four statements and the questions Edward Fudge asks?

Some church of Christ people will balk at the word “Reformed” and dismiss the whole because of that one word. Do I believe what I believe because I have found it in Scripture or because someone said it’s true? I fear that far too many fall into the latter category.

Your thoughts?

Royce

Aug 27 2009

Cash for Clunkers Misfires


The Obama administration’s “Cash for Clunkers” program misfires terribly! The clunkers deal is another example of how liberal policy makers short sightedness sorely miss the mark of actually being helpful to the American people

“Clunkers” misfired in several ways. Who was helped most? Was it the United States? If you guessed yes you were wrong. The Japanese and Koreans got top billing. Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai outsold domestic brands in a big way. Ford trucks did well, but the Japanese and Korean brands beat the big 3 by a two to one margin in car sales.

Typical of government managed programs, dealerships have complained that the gov’t website where they were to submit the voluminous info needed to apply for rebates was constantly unavailable because the servers could not handle the volume. The deadline was extended by a day to help alleviate the problem. Dealers also report that they are still waiting for the bulk of rebate money with many of them having not received a penny to date.

The big idea as I understand it was to get gas guzzelers off the road, give an economic shot in the arm to GM, Ford, and Chrysler, and lessen the U.S. carbon footprint. Just how successful has the program been?

It is true that all the U.S. brands sold more units, and finance companies made out like bandits as well. That is good isn’t it? But, it is good for only one narrow segment of the U.S. economy. Scratch the labor unions backs and they will scratch yours at the polling place is the bottom line.

Has anyone thought about the thousands of used car dealers whose inventory source temporarily dried up? They are U.S. citizens too, small business men and women who have families to feed. 700,000 cars and trucks is a huge hit for secondary dealers.

How many of those 700,000 will be repossessed in the next year? I’ll wager the number will be staggering. Any time the government is throwing cash around, greed and ignorance overwhelms common sense and people do dumb things. There is no doubt that many people signed up for loans they can’t repay. So, the end result for them is that they will be off their rubber wheels and on their rubber heels in a few months. How’s that for helping the economy?

Then there is the pollution question. Experts agree that the “Clunkers” program’s impact on carbon emissions is so minuscule it is hardly worth doing the math, so much for solving global warming.

I predict that even more than the $3 billion already allotted will be needed before all the dealers are paid. Do the math, the numbers don’t work. $3 billion to one narrow segment of the U.S. economy and that is good?

Democrats are all about style over substance. To them, posturing is every bit as important as actually doing something worthwhile. Weepy Hollywood types make dopey speeches about some cause in a far away place and are praised by the salivating media as if they are actually doing something to help. Cash for Clunkers is only the tip of the iceberg. Hang on baby, it’s gonna be a rough ride.

Liberalism unleased is a dangerous thing.

Royce

Aug 24 2009

The Wordsmith


Now for something lighter, and just so you’ll know that yours truly can turn a rhyme…. A poem I wrote in Dec of 2000. I awoke in the middle of the night, ran up to my office and as fast as I could type wrote “The Wordsmith”.

I am an artist but have no brush in hand. I am not a singer,
and I don’t have a band.

I don’t hammer on an anvil or shape a piece of steel,
or mold a lump of clay as it turns on a potter’s wheel.

I am a wordsmith and my art is words,
ideas covered in phrases and thoughts with noun and verb.

Common sense and wisdom are hidden in my heart,
until they are colored with the tapestry of my art.

I have never made a penny, yea, less than a widow’s mite,
but words placed on purpose give me great delight!

The way I arrange the letters allows all to see,
inside the artist’s mind and heart. What you really see is me.

It just makes me happy to write a line or two,
to unwrap my latest masterpiece for all the world to view.

I am a wordsmith and if all my art is read, I’ll be happy with my one color work if you listen to what I’ve said.

You don’t have to like my art, and you don’t have to agree,
but just knowing you have looked is good enough for me.

I would like to write for a living but it’s hard to get a start,
so how about a quarter? Can you find it in your heart?

Royce Ogle
Dec 31, 2000

Aug 20 2009

The “S” Word


Last evening just before time for “Peak of the Week” at White’s Ferry Road Church I was suddenly and soundly reminded that the prince of darkness is steadily at work. As Carol and I finished our dinner my cell phone brought the news that a former associate and dear friend had committed suicide.

In the rush and confusion of the next few moments my emotions raged. A smothering sadness soon gave way to intense anger at the evil one and then compassion for a grieving son, sisters, and mother. Today I will visit with some of them and listen as they ask dozens of questions that have no answers, and love them however I am able.

I have lost a friend, and in one of the ugliest ways. For some reason all hope was lost, uncertainty about the future overwhelmed, rational thought became impossible, the inner turmoil was unbearable, all possibilities but none will ever be clear. I only know that my friend whom I loved took her own life.

And I know that my troubled friend went out to face my Heavenly Father who is altogether just, loving, long suffering, and knew my friends end long before any of us knew her beginning.

The name on her church is different than mine but she trusted the same Christ I do. She took her own life, an awful sin and affront to God. I ask myself, isn’t suicide one of the myriad of offences Jesus bore in his body and paid for in full?

I’ll close this post with a quote from John Piper. These are remarks he made at the funeral of his friend who also took her own life in 1982. They express my heart today.

A Question

Finally the question: What about our friend? Was she made new when she put her life into the hands of God? We have good reason to think she was on the new road. Not instant change, but on the road. The wounds of sin don’t heal easily.

But then came the suicide. And in our minds there lingers the question: Is she safe with Christ? Or does suicide bring condemnation? Jesus has a word for us here:

Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of eternal sin. (Mark 3:28–29)

Only one thing puts a person beyond forgiveness: blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. But this is not any single act, for Jesus says any sins and blasphemies will be forgiven those who follow him. No. Blasphemy against the Spirit of God is treating the Spirit as dirt by continually and persistently resisting and rejecting this call to repentance until death.

No single sin, not even suicide, evicts a person from heaven into hell. One thing does: continual rejection of God’s Spirit. Our friend, we believe, gave up that resistance and accepted the forgiveness of Christ. What sort of momentary weakness, what brief cloud of hopelessness caused her to take her life remains a mystery. But no one can say this: that her final act is unforgivable. Nor any other act by any of us. For Jesus said: all sins will be forgiven the sons of men if they give up resisting the Spirit and look to Jesus for salvation.”

Royce