Calvin the Prophet?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 01:30PM 
Who would have thunk it . . . John Calvin apparently foresaw the rampant materialism and economic idolatry that characterizes so much of modern America. The writer concludes, "It's hard to say whether a Calvinistic revival in American life can provide us with the inspiration we need to rise out of our troubles. But given the positive impact that John Calvin has had on much of our history, I'm willing to put some faith in the old man." Click here: Calvin saw this coming - Opinion - USATODAY.com
We've all heard the leaders of al-Qaeda decrying the decadence of the West. So, what's up with the latest al-Qaeda "hip-hop" Jihad video? One of the more catchy lines is "Mortar by mortar, shell by shell, only going to stop when I send them to hell." Bin Laden and al-Zawahari have been in that cave way too long. Click here: Al Qaeda exporting jihad with a hip-hop vibe - CNN.com
The latest manifestation of evangelicalism's uncritical fascination with technology is "twittering" in church. I thought cell phones were bad enough. Time to have wardens again--stern, usher like-folk, who ensure that children behave themselves, people don't fall asleep, and that people don't send texts or twitter while the minister is preaching. If the preached word isn't all that important to you, might as well . . . Click here: Twittering in Church, with the Pastor's O.K. - TIME
Finally, yet another brave canine rescues his beloved family from a fire (probably started by the neighbor's cat, although creosote build-up in the fireplace was the "official" cause). Click here: Dog alerts HV couple to pre-dawn blaze when flue fire combusts outer wall wood : Happy Valley : Anderson Valley Po
Reader Comments (3)
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1884779_1884782_1884760,00.html
What is so interesting to me in this USA Today opinion article was its conclusion in which its confirmed "a Calvinistic revival in American llife": ""It's hard to say whether a Calvinistic revival in American life can provide us with the inspiration we need to rise out of our troubles. But given the positive impact that John Calvin has had on much of our history, I'm willing to put some faith in the old man."
Calvinism is like the gold building material laid on the foundation of Jesus Christ. When all the other building material of the Protestant evangelicalism is burnt up or falls apart, you are left with Calvinism.
"According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work." 1 Corinthians 3:10-13.
Although I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church in Muskegon, Michigan, I moved to Florida in 1977 to go to law school, and I stayed here in Florida. I attended and was a member, even a lay leader, in a large range of churches from Assembly of God to Baptist to Calvary Chapel to United Methodist to nondenominational churches and small fellowships. At first, I did not realize that Reformed doctrine would not necessarily be preached in all Christian Protestant churches. I thought that the problem was just with a particular minister. Eventually, a childhood friend, who now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, asked me if I remembered “TULIP”. I began to study TULIP, which is the Five Points of Calvinism and the most important part of Reformed doctrine. I studied the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism. That study made me aware that often what bothered me was not just bad preaching but rather it was bad doctrine (Arminianism). That study made me understand the importance of Calvinism a/k/a Reformed doctrine and led to the development of my web site located at www.reformeddoctrine.org .
It is my personal testimony that when I rediscovered Calvinism, it wasn't as if I heard some new doctrine. It was more like everything else fell apart, and I remembered and was left with the gold of Calvinism that I was taught in my youth.