The Walk

"I have taught all men repentance and remission of sins,

according to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For that Gospel I am here,

with a cheerful mind and courage,
ready to suffer death.
What I taught with my lips I now seal with my blood."

John Huss at the stake to be burned -- 1415

Self-Incriminating Evidence

Scene: Public School Office, this A.M.

The Recess Duty Teacher brought in the two boys.

The first was crying and holding his hands over his left eye. With no bodily fluids leaking forth, I asked the teacher what happened.

She replied, "He punched him... in the eye."

The second boy exclaimed, "I did not hit him, I didn't shove him, I did nothing... besides he did it too."


Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

For Whom Shall We Mourn

Here is an appropriate response to the Tiller tragedy by Vision Forum Ministries:

(click on the text below to view the complete article)

George Tiller is dead. For whom shall we mourn?

First, we mourn for the many children he murdered whose names will never make headline news, but whose murder were painful, violent, and bloody at the hands of this man. Second, we mourn for the future children who may be killed as a result of the way the pro-abortion movement will capitalize on this unlawful killing. Third, we mourn for a nation that has broken covenant with God, and that is deserving of God’s just wrath for its complicity in child sacrifice.

Finally, our mourning must lead us to prayer for the Church. God forbid that the blood of the innocent would be on our hands. If we would humble ourselves before the Lord and simply refuse to tolerate abortion in our own ranks, who knows what great things might be lawfully done, with God’s blessing, to bring murderers like George Tiller to an appropriate and earthly justice?

We must not only stand for the truth,
but we must stand for it in a holy manner,
and not as proud persons do;
we must observe that rule,
"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you
a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear" (I Peter 3:15).
We must not bring passion into God's cause
nor must our lives give our tongues the lie. (Richard Sibbes 1577 - 1635)

Dead Men Do Tell

John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa,

was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

preserved, pardoned and appointed to preach the Faith he had

long laboured to destroy.

In Need of Pardon

“O Most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ, my merciful and loving Father;
I acknowledge and confess my guilt in the weak
and imperfect performance of the duties of this day.
I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of my sins,
but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers are become my sin,
and they stand in need of pardon.”
“ I have sinned against heaven and before Thee in thought, word, and deed.
I have contemned Thy majesty and holy laws.
I have likewise sinned by omitting what I ought to have done
and committing what I ought not.
I have rebelled against the light, despising Thy mercies and judgment,
and broken my vows and promise.
I have neglected the better things.
My iniquities are multiplied
and my sins are very great.
I confess them, O Lord, with shame and sorrow, detestation and loathing
and desire to be vile in my own eyes
as I have rendered myself vile in Thine.
I humbly beseech Thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins
for the sake of Thy dear Son and only Savior Jesus Christ
who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me.”

"Make me to know what is acceptable in Thy sight,
and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding,
and help me thoroughly to examine myself
concerning my knowledge, faith, and repentance,
increase my faith, and direct me to the true object,
Jesus Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life, ..."

A Portion of George Washington's personal prayers

Lament, Repent, and Rejoice

Returning to Israel after 70 years in exile the people did something that they had not done for nearly two generations. They heard and understood the Word of God.

"And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra...read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law....the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” Nehemiah 8:1-3, 7-11

Why did the people cry during the reading of God's Word? They heard what God expected in their lives and realized they did not measure up and they mourned their past. After listening and weeping all morning the leaders told them to stop crying. They said today is a day for joy and celebration. Why joy? Because their relationship with God was restored. Their sin had been exposed, as it always is by the Word of God. They had repented and lamented their sin and now Nehemiah, Ezra and the leaders were telling them to rejoice. Rejoice that God had brought them back to Himself.

And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. Nehemiah 8:12

For this New Year, let our heart be broken for our sin, let us repent, lament and let us rejoice because God has allowed us to hear His Word and understand.