Divine Afterthought or New Community?

Pure Church: What God Has Joined Together, Let Not Man Separate

Taking time over coffee today to read a bit, I really must pass on the above post with pure and simple gratitude to Thabiti Anyabwile, at Pure Church, and the heart expressed in the above post. Follow the link. It merits note.

Grace and Peace
-T

Here's an excerpt:

"First, I am assuming that we are all committed to the church. We are not only Christian people; we are also church people. We are not only committed to Christ, we are also committed to the body of Christ. At least I hope so. I trust that none of my readers is that grotesque anomaly, an unchurched Christian. The New Testament knows nothing of such a person. For the church lies at the very centre of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is God's new community. For his purpose, conceived in a past eternity, being worked out in history, and to be perfected in a future eternity, is not just to save isolated individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness, but rather to build his church, that is, to call out of the world a people for his own glory. ... So then, the reason we are committed to the church is that God is so committed." - Rev. Dr. John Stott

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Truth or Tunes? A Needed Note

Bob Kauflin's observations on Truth and Music merit note. Whilst the video has been "in the cloud" quite some time, I just came across it this morning and really think the comments on truth and tunes needs a hearing.

Grace and Peace,

-T

P.S. For more worship related content and resources, Bob Kauflin's blog, Worship Matters, can be found here.

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An Unpopular Message : A Needed Word

The Word of the Lord.

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:1-4; ESV)

Thanks be to God
Amen



Note: Sir Norman Anderson is mentioned by Dr Piper. Without the aid of context from the broader message, maybe the following link, offered for your information,is useful?: FYI here.

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Whilst Rivers Clap Their Hands: His Righteousness Revealed

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

A Psalm.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

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Hoppin' Who?

What are your New Year's day traditions? Growing up from southern roots, I can tell you mine. Lunch time New Years day sees the table set, the family gathered and HOPPIN' JOHN on the table. At least amongst coastal southerners, it's a South Carolina Low Country practice with African and Carribean beginnings that predates the mid 1800s.

Sadly, eating Hoppin' John was originally considered a symbol of good fortune and thought to bring good luck to everyone back in the day. (I really would prefer that the traditional meal not be rooted in superstition.) Nonetheless, it remains as a connection to a regional and agricultural coastal Carolina heritage.

So, just what is Hoppin' John? Well here's a recipe and a link to an article from the Seattle Times (originally from the Charlotte Observer) that will shed a little light on the matter. Plus, it sets the field peas and rice dish - served with collard greens- in a global context of other "for the sake of prosperity" meal choices from around the globe.

So, eat well, enjoy your meal, and put your confidence wholly in God.

Grace and Peace

-T


HOPPIN' JOHN

From "The Glory of Southern Cooking," by James Villas (Wiley, 2007).

¼ pound slab bacon, cut into ¼-inch cubes

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 pounds black-eyed peas, fresh or frozen

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Red pepper flakes to taste

Hot, cooked rice

3 large ripe tomatoes, chopped

1. Fry the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

2. Add the peas, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the peas are tender but not mushy, about 1 hour. (It may take less time for frozen peas, so taste them after 30 minutes.)

3. Drain the peas, then serve over hot rice topped with chopped tomato.

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