series, schmeries.

blogging has taken a backseat lately, and my plans for a Watchmen series have been put on indefinite hiatus.

more on that later.

In the meantime, however--check out this awesome drawing by cal.vini.st--BibleWorks 8!!!!

On the Horizon...

Forthcoming: No kidding, a series: "Why I Watched the Watchmen."

In view of that, I tender this: This gets pretty close to what Alan Moore (creator) had in mind in Watchmen--only he imagines something much darker and more harmful. He's not wrong, in my opinion. Not altogether, anyway.

So your homework, class--how might this idea (from the link above) be brought into conversation with the Gospel? Or, to sound less emergentish, what does the Gospel speak to such things?

Why You Should Be Reading the Puritans...

"I was bemiracled with mercy; as the sea overflows and breaks down the banks, so the mercy of God broke down the banks of my sin, and mercy sweetly flowed into my soul. You that have been monuments of God's mercy, should be trumpets of praise; you that have tasted the Lord is gracious, tell others what experiences you have had of God's mercy, that you may encourage them to seek to him for mercy."

--Thomas Watson, from A Body of Divinity

long time, no see!

Sprite has kindly brought it to my attention that I've been conspicuously absent lately.

My excuse?

A no-carb diet. (Get it? WayBread? Carbs? Ah, the perils of an all-too-sophisticated sense of humor!)

By way of apology, I encourage you to meet my pastor.

This is part 1 of a 3-part interview between he and C. J. Mahaney.

(Here's Part 2, and here's Part 3, as well.)

Now lay off, Sprite! Geez.

Sound Words on Sound Doctrine

From an interview with Ligon Duncan:

When engaged in polemics it does not take too long before strong words can be spoken against your character. The great New Testament scholar Gresham Machen was often vilified and subject to personal attacks. Why does this happen and how should you handle it?

Expect it. Those who teach aberrant doctrine successfully are always, always possessed of two qualities – pride and intelligence. Both of these will often feature in their defense against critiques of their work.Be determined to know their view (and to be able to articulate it) better than they know it themselves. If you cannot to state the position of your opponent, in your own words, in a way in which they can recognize themselves, then you do not yet understand your opponent’s position and you are not yet ready to enter into polemics with it. Following this counsel would, by the way, cut out 99% of theological discussion on the internet! Refuse to take the insults thrown back at you personally. You are a servant of the word. And if a servant, you must be prepared to be treated like a servant. The only thing that matters is the glory of God, the vindication of the word, the upholding of the truth, the faithful proclamation of the Gospel and the good of souls. Let them cast what aspersions they may. You only crave the affirmation of One.

HT: Justin Taylor

An AWESOME Resource Available...For Free!!!

Crossway is making the online version of the ESV Study Bible free to any and all for a limited time. Just visit the ESV Online Study Bible page and create a username/login for free access to all features through March 31st.

HT: Z

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum...

I was accosted by a Jehovah's Witness today in Panera. He saw me studying Genesis and sat down to talk Scripture with me for a good 30-45 minutes. At first, I felt rather unprepared for the exchange--I'd been slack in devotions lately, busy with work, and awfully short-tempered thanks to that combination. The gentleman didn't identify himself as a JW either--it wasn't until he wanted to debate the finer points of eschatology, the Name of God, and the Trinity (within about 10 minutes of our conversation) that I realized what was going on.

This isn't the first time I've had encounters like these, by any means--but today really made me stop and think and thank God for Scripture. I'd come across the following in Calvin not long ago (see--I told you I'd get to him sooner or later!):

"...when [Isaiah] says, 'My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever,' he does not tie down the ancient Church to external doctrine, as he were a mere teacher of elements; he rather shows that, under the reign of Christ, the true and full felicity of the new Church will consist in their being ruled not less by the Word than by the Spirit of God."
(Insitutes, 1.ix.1; trans. Beveridge)

Calvin says something here that I think is so profound: that the Church's "true and full felicity"--in other words, her joy, her happiness, and her utter delight--is in her submission to Scripture and to the Holy Spirit.

This is what the JW who spoke to me today didn't have. He acknowledged Scripture to a point, but rested equally on his own reason and judgment. To couch this in the language of the Colossians sermon I gave last week (and will be giving again tomorrow to a local Korean church), the Gospel wasn't enough for this man.

May God grant this gentleman eyes to see and a heart to respond to the cry of the Gospel--and may He grant me a heart to treasure and prize the Gospel far, far more.