Friday Feature -- A-Rod's Letter of Apology Gets the Frank Caliendo Treatment

A-Rod gets the treatment he so richly deserves . . .

The American Religion -- Mormons Observing Lent?

This article caught my eye--Six Ways Mormons Can Enjoy the Spirit of Lent.  Why would Mormons want anything to do with Lent?--something Mormons have historically associated with paganism creeping into the church shortly after the age of the apostles.  Well, if American evangelicals are now attracted to such things, Mormons will do the same.

Notice the way in which the author of this essay (Kelsey Berteaux) explains how easily the Lenten season can be made to fit right in with Mormon notions of works-righteousness ("grace coupled with obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel") . . .

Though Latter-day Saints don’t observe the traditions of Lent, we can always learn a thing or two from it as we search for things that are of good report and praiseworthy. After all, we can always use a reminder to be better and have a more meaningful Easter.

Lent is well-known as a time to sacrifice. For the next 40 days (plus Sundays, which aren’t counted as part of the 40-day Lent tradition), make a “negative” change by resolving to take something bad out of your life. You could try giving up a TV program, excessive social media use, bad music, junk food, or something else you struggle with.

Here is the part that really jumped out . . .  A citation from the Book of Mormon is actually adduced to support the practice.

The idea behind this tradition is captured beautifully in the words of Lamoni’s father:

“I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day” (Alma 22:18).

There are other ways Lent can be co-opted by Mormons.

As with LDS fasting, traditional Lent followers donate the money saved from eating a sacrifice meal to the poor and needy. Consider donating the money you saved to fast offerings along with your normal monthly donation.

During Lent, incorporate the color purple into your life in some small way. Consider putting out a purple table runner, buying purple flowers, or hanging a purple picture in your home. Then, every time you see the item (or any other purple item you encounter during your day), think back on the Savior and His sacrifice on your behalf. Also remember the commitments you’ve made as part of your Lent celebration.

The point of observing Lent—however you decide to do it—is to find more meaning in the Easter season and draw closer to Christ. The best, and perhaps simplest thing you can do is resolve to learn more about our Savior and His sacrifice.

The pressing issue here, of course, is that the Mormon "Christ" is none other than the spirit-brother of Lucifer, who was raised by the Father--who, in Mormon theology, is also a glorified, immortal, and resurrected man.

Since Mormonism consistently seeks to masquerade as a "Christian" denomination, well then, if the evangelicals are interested in Lent, Mormons need to be as well.  Got to keep up with the Jones' you know.

Only in the bizarro world of American religion . . .

No Tax Deduction for Kitty

A cat (we call her by the generic name "Kitty") has moved into my yard and claimed the Riddlebargers as her designated cat-servants.

The implied agreement is that we will feed her and provide her with proper sleeping arrangements, in exchange for vermin removal.  A classic quid pro quo.  So far so good.  She is a good hunter--I'll grant her that.

According to a recent article as to whether or not pets provide any tax relief (Tax Deductions for Pets?), it is pretty clear that keeping my current arrangement with Kitty will do nothing to lower my taxes.

Believe it or not, you can actually deduct pet expenses for five reasons--none, of course, apply to me.

1).  Is your pet used as a guide animal?  Well, the only thing to which this cat will guide me is her food.

2).  Is your pet a guard animal?  Yeah, right.  The lazy cat just stares when the opossums show up at night to eat her food.  She doesn't even hiss.  I guess she figures she's trained us to provide more food for her in the morning.

3).  If you move and incur expenses moving your pets.  Let me just say this, if I ever move, whoever buys my house needs to know that the property comes with a cat.

4).  If you participate in a pet rescue program.  Well, there would be a debate about this one.  Did the Riddlebargers rescue her, or did she claim us?  And if I have to add another cat or two to claim the deduction, well then, I won't qualify.  One cat is too many.

5).  If your pet turns into a profession.  How any one could make a significant income from a spayed feline who sleeps all day, who is indifferent most of the time to her caretakers, and who catches a rat, mouse, or lizard whenever she feels like it, is beyond me.

Being claimed by a cat only makes me want a dog (I miss Andy).  Having a cat claim my yard as her own, certainly won't help me at tax time.  But it is nice to have someone on permanent vermin duty.  She stays, for now.

ISIS --Who They Are and What They Want

Here's a link to a very informative essay in The Atlantic on ISIS/ISIL, which details their agenda, their ideology, and their eschatology, which drives much of the movement and its leaders.

What ISIS Really Wants

"It Is I; Do Not Be Afraid" -- John 6:16-27

The Twentieth in a Series of Sermons on the Gospel of John

Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana.  He cleansed the Jerusalem temple of the merchants and money-changers who profaned it.  He healed a nobleman’s son, and then while in Jerusalem to celebrate a feast of the Jews, Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  In all of these miracles, Jesus has demonstrated that he is the word made flesh and the Son of God who has come into the world to grant eternal life, raise those dead in sin, and create faith (trust) that he is the redeemer and Messiah promised throughout the Old Testament.  When a large crowd followed Jesus out into a barren wilderness east of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus miraculously turned five barley loaves and two small fish into a meal which fed well over five thousand people.  In this dramatic miracle, Jesus shows himself to be a new Moses leading the people of God in a New Exodus.  And then later that same night, Jesus will miraculously walk across the Sea of Galilee in the midst of a storm and join his disciples.  Jesus is not only the New Moses, he is Lord of the sea.  He feeds the multitudes and calms the storm.  The one who tells us “it is I, do not be afraid,” is continuing to reveal just who he is and what he has come to do.

As we continue our series on the Gospel of John, we are working our way through the 6th chapter of John, one of the richest and most theologically profound passages in all the Bible.  Since the chapter is packed with important doctrines, it would not be good to rush through the entire chapter in one sermon–after all chapter 6 has 71 verses.  To most effectively cover this ground, I have broken the passage into six small sections.  Last time, we covered the first fifteen verses of John 6–the account of Jesus miraculously feeding well over five thousand people out in the wilderness east of the Sea of Galilee.  This is the fifth of seven miraculous signs in John’s Gospel which confirm Jesus’ identity as the word made flesh and the Son of God.  In this sermon, we will be looking at the second miracle recorded in John 6 (Jesus walking on the water as the disciples attempt to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat), and which, like the feeding of the five thousand, helps set the stage for the lengthy discourse which follows.

Next time, Lord willing, we will take up the first part of the so-called “bread of life” discourse which runs from John 6:22-58 (although we will touch briefly on the introductory portion of the discourse this time).  We will spend three Sundays going through the details of the discourse, before we look at the consequence of Jesus’ teaching–our Lord says a number of things in this passage which were so difficult for the crowds to accept that many of his followers turned their back on Jesus and walked away (vv. 59-71).  Throughout this chapter (in both miracles, as well as in the details of the discourse) Jesus repeatedly places himself at the center of Israel’s history, and either alludes to, or directly identifies himself with the great turning points in Israel’s history.  The passage is remarkable and well worth our time and attention.

As we saw last time, in John 6:1, the scene shifts from Jerusalem back to the region of the Galilee.  By this point in his ministry, Jesus is attracting larger and larger crowds who are now following him everywhere he goes.  Many people see in Jesus a miracle-worker who can help them with their most desperate needs–they seek healing for themselves or for their loved ones, or deliverance from demonic oppression.  But others see in Jesus’ miracle working power and willingness to confront the Jewish religious leadership someone fit to lead an insurrection against the hated Romans who occupied the Jewish homeland.  Now, wherever Jesus goes, word about his arrival spreads, and as we see in John 6, Jesus is unable to shake these large crowds, or find solitude to rest and to pray.

To read the rest of this sermon, Click Here

This Week at Christ Reformed Church (February 16-22)

Sunday Morning (February 22):  We return to our series on 2 Peter and Jude.  This coming Lord's Day we will take up Peter's discussion of the Lord's return (2 Peter 3:1-13).  Our Lord's Day worship service begins at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Afternoon:  Rev. Chris Coleman is conducting our  catechism service which begins @ 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study (February 18):  We are continuing our "Run Through the Letters of Paul" and we are in the opening chapter of Galatians. 

The Academy (February 20):  We are continuing our study of Michael Horton's theology text The Christian Faith.  We will be discussing the Filioque clause and then turning to chapter nine, which deals with God's decree (pp. 303-313).

For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website:  Christ Reformed Church

"A Noble Task" -- 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Here's the audio from this morning's sermon on the occasion of the installation and ordination of elders and deacons

Click Here

This Week's White Horse Inn

The Eternal Sacrifice

This week on the White Horse Inn we begin part six of our series on the Book of Hebrews, focusing on chapters nine and ten. Special guest Nancy Guthrie joins us once more as we delve into this critical section of the text. Nancy is a teacher and the author of several books including Holding On to Hope: A Pathway through Suffering to the Heart of God, Be Still, My Soul: Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering, and a five book series entitled Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament.

On this episode we will look at the nature of Christ’s eternal sacrifice. On what basis could Christ enter into the true Holy of Holies? What is the relationship between redemption and Christ’s sacrifice? How did the old covenant sacrifices ultimately relate to Christ? Was there any benefit to the sacrificial system of the temple? Why was it necessary for an eternal high priest to win our salvation? Join us as we meditate on the essence of the gospel of our redemption, the eternal sacrifice of Christ’s blood, on the White Horse Inn.

Click Here

Dr. Godfrey on the Crusades

A great lecture on an important topic.  Thanks to Ligonier Ministries for making this available!

"It's Good to Be the King"--Unless You Are a German King in Great Britain

Americans love the Royal Family and are quite fascinated by them.

In 1981, countless Americans stayed up very late to watch the fairy-tale wedding of lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, only to spend a very sleepless Saturday night years later watching the news coverage when Diana died in Paris in a horrific 1997 traffic accident.  Americans express great admiration for Queen Elizabeth, and we comb the tabloids to keep up with the doings of Kate and Prince William.

This fascination is aided by the fact that Great Britain has been our greatest ally through two world wars, the Cold War, and in the seemingly endless war on terror.

A recent essay in the BBC New reminded me that although Americans greatly admire Great Britain and the House of Windsor, during the Great War, the English people had big problems trusting their own monarch.  The UK was led by a man (King George V), whom many considered to be a German sympathizer, and who happened to be Kaiser Wilhelm II's first cousin.  

King George V cut a striking figure.  But he was a Hanoverian king, whose family name included the suffix "of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha."  This might not be that big a deal, until your nation is engaged in a fight to the death with Germany.  Throughout the war years, there was an increasing wave of suspicion that England's royals were not terribly loyal to England's cause.  And so with the stroke of a pen, the "Hanovers" of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, became the "Windsors," the Royal Family we now know and love.

According to a recent essay in the BBC News (Click Here), the growing pressure of anti-German sentiment in the UK in the years between 1914-1917, brought about a significant change in the Royal Family's identity.

So in 1917 the royal family saw their name change overnight, princes lost their titles and became lords, the Battenbergs opted for literal translation and became Mountbatten, and the quintessentially royal and English "Windsor" was introduced - the brainchild of the king's private secretary Lord Stamfordham.

"Prince Louis of Battenberg went to stay with his son at a naval base in Scotland and wrote in the visitors book 'arrived Prince Hyde, left Lord Jekyll'," says Mr Little.

The BBC News essay goes on to note, this name change had far-reaching consequences for many immigrants.

But the royals' decision to change name was a path also trodden by immigrants to the UK in the 19th and 20th Century, particularly Jewish.

For Jews and other immigrants arriving in the 19th Century to live in an East End populated by co-religionists a name change was unnecessary, but for those aiming for middle class respectability it could be a temptation.

It may be "good to be the king," just not a Hanovarian king from Saxe-Gotha, while ruling over a British empire, which happens to be at war with Germany.  It is worth noting that while the Hapburgs and Hohenzollerns lost all titles and rule, the Windsors live on, beloved in the UK, as well as here in America.