Dumb and Blind

Local dumb and blind idolators worship a dumb and blind statue.

Interesting phrases from the article:

"My husband and I have heard lots of stories about people who have been cured by the statue. That’s the main reason why I have come here to pray in front of her."

"...to worship the Madonna..."

"...a special Mass in honor of the statue."

God says,

"For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it" (Habakkuk 2:17-19)

"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them"(Psalm 135:15-18).

"It's ok, we're here to help... OOPS!!!"

Cop accidently shoots man out of a fig tree, thought he was using a stun gun.

Thanks, officer! I feel safer just by your presence!

Sight through a Glass, and Face to Face

A poem, by David Dickson.

I Love the windows of thy grace,
thro' which my Lord is seen,
I long to meet my Saviour's face,
without a glass between.
Oh! that the happy hour were come,
to change my faith to sight:
I shall behold my Lord at home
in a diviner light.
Haste my beloved, and remove
these interposing days;
Then shall my passions all be love,
and all my pow'rs be praise.

One more

The testing today was a very humbling experience. I just didn't have my best stuff today. I messed up some things, but recovered ok I guess. After I was done testing, I thought to myself, "Jerry, you're stinking the place up, this is not your best work." But a black belt came up to me and said, "You look awesome. You're going to make a very good black belt when you get there." And at the end of it all, I was presented with my brown belt. So, I'm tired, and relieved, and humbled, and... am looking forward to getting one more.

World Cup Update

This post consists mostly of a comment I left over at Erica's blog, about all the excitement about World Cup Soccer! Since the streets of America are in such a buzz about the big game this morning between America and Ghana, I decided to turn that comment into post of my own.

WORLD CUP UPDATE!!!

Look, I know that this is the biggest sporting event in the world and everything, but you have to understand something....

Americans don't care.

Americans don't care about soccer. And do you want to know why? Because it's not American. Americans care about REAL sports, like football (no, not soccer; soccer is not football, despite what the entire world thinks; soccer is soccer; FOOTBALL is football; the closest we'll come to acknowledging that soccer is football is to call the table game with the little guys with no legs "fussball"), baseball, and basketball. Americans love football, baseball, and basketball, because those sports are AMERICAN, and we don't care about anything that is un-American. Hockey, the distant 4th sport, being a Canadian invention, is only slightly acknowledged as a real sport -- the vast majority of Americans would rather watch a regular season FOOTBALL game over a playoff hockey game. And NO ONE is taking off work today to watch the American soccer team play Ghana, or Togo, or Quiznos, or whoever else gathered a bunch of guys to run around and kick a ball to an exciting 0-0 tie, or even an amazing 1-0 "blowout." Americans to NOT care about soccer, and they never will. Americans still measure themselves by feet and inches, drive on the right side of the street, can't find Ghana on a map, and are more interested in whether or not Terrell Owens looks good at Dallas Cowboy's mini-camp than they are concerned for soccer, even "American soccer."

One more thing, until American athletes grow up to be soccer players, instead of football, basketball, and baseball players, we will never win a World Cup. Until this country's Dwayne Wades, Derek Jeters, LaDainian Tomlinsons, Brian Urlachers, and
Kevin Garnetts grow up saying "I want to be a soccer player!" we aren't going to win squat. Do you know why the U.S.'s best athletes do not grow up to play soccer? It's because there is no money in soccer, because Americans don't care about soccer.

This has been WORLD CUP UPDATE.

UPDATE ON THE UPDATE: USA 1, GUANO 2. The streets are filled with crying Americans overturning cars and setting trash dumpsters on fire.

"Jesus Christ, this is the true God, and eternal life." -- John the Beloved.

THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.
BY A STUDENT.

Excerpted from:

THE
ORIGINAL COVENANTER.
VOL. II. SEPTEMBER, 1880. NO. 15.

He that hath the Son hath life.—1 John 5.12.

As in the days of our Lord’s personal ministry on earth, various views were entertained concerning his person and work; so in our own day the opinions of men on the subject are various and conflicting. To the question of the Saviour, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" the answer must contain many and opposing sentiments. Some, as the Arians, will admit that he is a super-angelic being, the best and noblest of all the creatures of God; while others, as the Socinians, regard him only as a man possessed of all human virtue. But while men are so divided in their opinions on the doctrine of Christ’s divinity, his true disciples are united in testifying to his supreme deity. The confession of all such will accord with that of Peter addressing his Master, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Anything short of this derogates from the honor due to his divine person.

That Jesus Christ is God, equal with the Father, the Scriptures furnish abundant proof. He is expressly called the true God—"We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5.20. These words teach most plainly the divine personality of the Son of God. They are the testimony which the Father has given concerning his Son, whom he commands all men to honor, even as they honor himself. In the latter part of the verse cited, the pronoun "this" {470} clearly refers to "Jesus Christ," immediately preceding; and it is of the person designated by this title, that the remainder of the verse is affirmed—"the true God and eternal life." Though the word "God" in the Bible is sometimes applied to angels and sometimes to magistrates, yet when so applied it never occurs in the form in which it is found in this verse. The "true God" is a title of Jehovah, and distinguishes him from all false gods and all creatures. In the 17th chapter of John, the Son designates the Father "the only true God," and the ascription of this title to the Son, proves him to be a divine person, equally with the Father. But this is only one of the many places in which he is explicitly called God, and in connections when it is impossible that any but the true God is intended. In the beginning of the Gospel by John it is declared, "The Word was God." Thus the "Word" here mentioned is a person, and that this person is the Son is proved by the 14th verse following—"The Word was made flesh," &c. In Acts 20.28, the elders are exhorted "to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." The "he" and "his" refer to God, immediately preceding. The language here used cannot be applied to the Father or to the Holy Ghost, for neither of them became incarnate, and, therefore, being a pure spirit, could not be said to purchase the church with his own blood. But the blood here mentioned is called the blood of God, emphatically "his own blood." There is but one in the universe to whom these words will truly apply, and that is to the eternal Son, who is God manifested in the flesh, true God and true man. Though blood can be predicated of his human nature only; yet by the indissoluble union subsisting between his humanity and his divine person, what could otherwise be attributed only to his human nature, can be ascribed to his whole person. Thus, having but one person, the blood of his natural body is called his own blood, which is indeed the blood of God. The language of this verse, therefore is irrefutable evidence that the Son is God, in the full sense of the word. But we are not limited to the New Testament for decisive proofs {471} of this doctrine. The Old Testament also furnishes conclusive evidence; and taken in the light which the New [Testament] has cast upon it, abundantly sustains the claim of the Son to an equality with the Father in all divine glory and perfections. By comparing John 12.41, with Isaiah 6.1, we are assured that he whom Isaiah saw sitting upon a throne, and who in the 5th verse is called the "Lord (Jehovah) of hosts," was the eternal Son. The ascription of the peculiar title Jehovah is sufficient of itself to establish the doctrine of his supreme deity; for it is the sacred name of the true God, and never in Scripture applied to any created being. It is expressive of his eternal self-existence, and contains in it that glory which he has declared he will not give to another. Isaiah 42.8. The Son is indeed a distinct person from the Father, yet in the divine subsistence he is one with the Father (John 10.30); so that the sacred name applied to the Son is not given to another. This title of Jehovah is frequently given to him throughout the Old Testament, as in Jer. 23.6, where he is called "the Lord (or Jehovah), our righteousness." All the visible appearances of God under the Old Testament economy were in the person of the Son, as appears from John 1.18—"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." He was one of the three men who appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre, and called a number of times in the same chapter by the name Jehovah. To him Abraham directed his address, and he remained while the other two went towards Sodom. Gen. 18.19. In Zech. 13.7, a man is declared to be the "fellow of the Lord of hosts." "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts, smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones." In the New Testament, Christ applies this prophecy to himself, thus proving his identity with the man who was Jehovah’s fellow, the shepherd that was to be smitten. This verse clearly holds forth the equality of the Son with the Father. How could a {472} mere man or created angel be the fellow and companion of Jehovah? The most excellent of his creatures are but of yesterday, and their highest employment is in adoring the glory of Jehovah, while they cover themselves in conscious unworthiness. None could be the fellow of Jehovah who was not his equal, for he was infinitely exalted above the comprehension of any created intellect, and to any such intelligence, his counsel is unfathomable. Evidently the man here spoken of is the same who is described in the 8th chapter of Proverbs, as being "daily his (Jehovah’s) delight; rejoicing always before him."

In addition to all the names of the true God being given to him, the same attributes are ascribed to him as to the Father, which would not be lawful if he were not God equal with the Father. Thus, eternity is attributed to him (Micah 5.2): "Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." This is said of him who was to come out of Bethlehem to be ruler in Israel, who is obviously the Lord Jesus. Matt. 2.6. In the eighth chapter of Proverbs, under the character of wisdom, he says, "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." Immutability is also ascribed to him (Heb. 13.8.): "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Heb. 1.12.), "Thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Omniscience is attributed to him (John 21.17): "Lord, thou knowest all things." He also knows all that passes in the minds of men (John 2.24): "He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man." (Matt. 12.25,) "Jesus knew their thoughts." This searching of the hearts of men is claimed by Jehovah, in the Old Testament, as his own special prerogative. Jer. 17.10. Amos 4.13. The ascription of this knowledge to Christ in the New Testament proves his equality with the Father.

He is also said to be omnipresent (Matt. 28.20): "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Christ, in making these promises to his disciples, {473} knew all the circumstances in which they would be placed till the end of time, and how widely they would be scattered; so that by his promise he is in all these meetings wherever they may be, though they be distant one from another. These promises he could not fulfill were he not the Almighty God, who alone is omnipresent and who filleth all in all.

The great work of creation is ascribed to him (John 1.5): "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." (Col. 1.16,17), "By him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible, and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist." The visible creation declares the glory of its creator. Even to those who are endowed with no other light than that of nature, the things that are made sufficiently proclaim the eternal power and Godhead of him who called them into being. Rom. 1.20. But when we consider the immeasurable extent of the universe, of which we see but a small speck; and the innumerable hosts of spiritual beings that are in heaven, we become lost in admiration of the power and glory of their omnipotent creator. All this is ascribed to Christ, and he upholds and governs the same. To any finite intelligence this is impossible. He only who is the Lord, wonderful in counsel and excellent in working, is capable of performing such a task. Those who say that Christ was only an instrument by which God created all things, and that he was only a creature destitute of creative power, are chargeable with a plain absurdity; for when it is said that all things were created by Christ, it is obvious that the word "all" is used in its universal signification, as is proved by John 1.3, "Without him was not one thing made that was made." Now, Christ is either God, eternally self-existent, or one of the "all things" that were made; and to say that he is a creature, seeing that he created all things, is to imply that he created himself, while he was a nonentity, which is nonsense. The only rational conclusion is, that he is {474} God, and that he created all things by his own inherent power.

He is also the author of the great work of redemption. Heb. 10.14, "By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Acts 20.28, "The church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." The work of redeeming a guilty world from the wrath and curse of an offended God could never be accomplished by any finite being. All creatures are dependent on the will of God for their being, and all that any of them can render to him is his own; and he requires all the services of his creatures as duties which they owe to him as creator. So that none could give a ransom to God for another, nor would the highest offering of the highest angel be of any more value as an atonement than the blood of bulls and of goats, which God has declared could not possibly take away sin. God is not profited by any of his creatures, and a jot or tittle of his law is of more value than heaven and earth. Matt. 5.18. But it is declared that Christ, by one offering, has forever redeemed and sanctified his people, and rendered that satisfaction to justice, which could not have been given by the eternal suffering of the whole human race. That his life was a sufficient ransom for the countless millions of his redeemed is full proof that he was a divine person: for as his body was a true natural substance, it of itself could not answer the ends of an atonement; therefore it must have been the infinite dignity of his person, to which his true body was united, that gave an infinite worth and efficacy to his sacrifice. His divinity was the altar that sanctified the gift.

Christ is also the proper object of worship, both by angels and men. (Heb. 1.6), "When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Equal praise and blessing is ascribed, by the whole host of the universe, to him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever. Rev. 5.13,14.

It is a divine command: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matt. 4.10), and to render worship to any living creature is idolatry; to which sin God {475} has annexed the penalty of death. The fact that the Scriptures ascribe this worship to the Son equally with the Father and Holy Ghost, undeniably proves that he is divine. He accepted this worship from his disciples while on earth. Matt. 14.33; John 9.36. He commissioned his apostles to baptize in his name, as well as in the name of the other two persons of the trinity, which is certainly an act of religious homage, and their successors have continued to do the same to this day. So if we refuse to acknowledge the deity of the Son, we must conclude that he was a setter-up of idolatry, and failed in the work which he came to do. He was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil, of which idolatry is among the chief; and we are infallibly assured that he finished the work which his Father gave him to do (John 17.4); and consequently he could not countenance idolatry. This worship, therefore, is an additional proof of his supreme deity.

Thus we have seen that the Scriptures everywhere represent the Son as a divine person: 1st, by ascribing all the names and titles of God to him; 2d, by attributing to him divine attributes; 3d, by representing him as the author of creation and redemption, and 4th, by requiring equal worship and honor to be given to him as to the Father. These proofs should be sufficient to establish this important doctrine, and they are but a few of the many which the Scriptures contain; so that all who, with the Bible in their hands, deny the doctrine of Christ’s divinity, are willfully ignorant and guilty of refusing to "honor the Son even as they honor the Father."

DONE (with part one)

Bam! I'm back from the test, and I completed the ordeal, it's done. I'm awful tired though. In the space of one hour: 85 pushups, 85 situps, 65 tricep dips (off the edge of a chair), sitting against the wall with legs together x 3 1/2 minutes, and legs apart 3 1/2 minutes, and finish it all off with a 1.5 mile run. I felt good, no side stitches, no albuterol, not too much pain. Next up, the actual karate portion of the test -- show what I know.

I think these tests are good for me, as they are opportunities for me to practice getting through difficulties, what I falsely perceive to be my own limitations, and my own fears. I'm thankful to God for granting me strength, not only for this manufactured practice trial, but for all trials in this life.

Strength

"For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall" (Psalm 18:29).

I ate some raw honey this morning, on my toast, in my coffee, and right out of the jar like Winnie the Pooh Bear, hoping it will help give me a boost of energy:

"Boost endurance with raw honey. A recent study performed at the University of Memphis Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory showed that the blend of sugars found in raw honey can significantly increase an athlete's average power and endurance. In its natural state, raw honey is an immediate source of energy, full of B-complex vitamins, amino acids and enzymes. The darker the honey, the more nutrient value there is. Add honey to toast, cereal or tea for added sweetness and a quick boost of energy."

We'll see. I've also prayed that the LORD would be so gracious as to strengthen me for this little trial of mine.

Here goes...

I'm nervous

I'm very nervous about tomorrow's test. I hope I'm ready. I hope I do well. I'll be glad to have it done and over with.

Of Oneness Anabaptist Pacifist Heretics calling me Antichrist

As Deejay pointed out in a recent comment on my blog, she and I were called "Antichrist" by some kind of anti-Trinitarian Anabaptist fanatic moderator in an online forum. I heard word that the typical Calvin-bashing was going on there (you know, they were going on about how Calvin enjoyed killing children, torturing people who didn't go to church, burning people that disagreed with him or insulted him, etc.). So, I took a peek at what was going on, and decided to jump in with some points of clarification (you know, that Calvin was not a civil magistrate, he never arrested anyone, never tortured anyone, objected to Servetus being "slow-burned" at the stake, and a bunch of other stuff that I was told I was lying about!). I also addressed the fact that it is the duty of the civil magistrate to punish evil-doers, as they have "the sword," this was also not well-accepted. I quickly gathered that among those in the discussion were people of varying degrees of pacifism, anti-magistracy, Pelagianism/Semi-pelagianism, and of anti-Trinitarianism, specifically of the Oneness persuasion.

I was given a bunch of verses, all spoken by Jesus Christ, God blessed forever, intermixed with strange and novel conclusions. When I rejected the strange and novel conclusions, I was told I was rejecting the Son, fleeing from His Word, and demonstrating the Spirit of Antichrist (pretty much like all Calvinists do, according to these guys). I supplied my own argumentation, rich with Scriptural demonstrations, which were outright ignored. Finally, the term Antichrist was being thrown around, and I decided to bow out and give the following verse some consideration: A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject.

You know, the whole episode gave me fresh appreciation for the idea of civil magistracy silencing and punishing heretics who will not respond to verbal Scriptural correction. It really is a big waste of time to argue with the incorrigible, something I certainly don't have time for anymore. What can you do? Lead the horse to water, as the horse bucks and pulls and bites, and hope and pray he will drink. But animals that continue to bite must be put down, no? Don't get me wrong, it's not my job to exercise such authority, but someone should be doing it. I also realize that I am not a pastor, and have no more authority to lead animals around than that which belongs to all Christians to mutually exhort and correct. So,

Here's some "water" for all the thirsty horses:

David Dickson's

Truth's Victory Over Error

Chapter. II.

Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.

QUESTION I.

"IS there but one only the true and living God?"

Yes; Deut. 6.4. 1 Cor. 8.4,6. 1 Thes. 1.7.

Well then, do not the Trithetiae err, who maintain, Three Gods numerically distinct, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?

Yes.

Do not likewise the Manicheans err, who maintain, That there are two Gods, being diverse and opposite, as to kind, viz. one good, the author and cause of all good things, and of things immaterial, being the God of the New Testament. The other evil, viz. the devil, the author and cause of all evil things, and of things material, being the God of the Old Testament?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

1st, Because though there be a plurality of persons mentioned in Scripture, yet it is ever God as one as is evident from the first chapter of the Revelation and the last. For if that one God have in himself all perfections, there can be no perfection beside him, and so no God but this one true God; for if there were, he should not be God, because not infinite in perfection. And if God be infinite in perfection, then surely there cannot be multiplicity of gods, seeing that which is infinite, in that respect, cannot be multiplied.

2d, It is evident from Deut. 32.39. where the Lord speaketh of himself, I even I, am he, and there is no God without me.

3d, Because God is omnipotent, and so cannot be hindered by any other in his working, Rev. 15.3.

4th, It is evident from Christ's words to the young man of the gospel, there is none good but one, that is God.

5th, From the words of Hanna in her song, For there is none beside thee, O Lord, neither is there any rock beside our God.

6th, From the testimony of the apostle, 1 Cor. 8.6. To us, says he, there is but one God.

7th, From what Christ said to one of the scribes, viz. the Lord our God is one Lord, Mark 12.39.

8th, Because God is a most absolute, and most perfect being, and so beyond all other things, one: John 10.29. Psalms 145.3. 147.5.

9th, Because this one blessed God is most absolutely sufficient, and furnished with infinite power, and wisdom, for the production, conversation, and ruling all things in heaven and earth.

10th, Because he is of all things without himself, the first and supreme cause, from which all the creatures visible or invisible, have their rise and beginning.

11th, It is evident, lastly, from the testimonies of the most wise heathens, who have been necessitated to acknowledge but one God only.

Quest. II. "Is God infinite in being and perfection?"

Yes; Job 11.7-9. 26.24.

Well then, do not the Vorstians, Socinians, and Anthropomorphitans err, who maintain, That God is finite in being, and perfection?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

1st, Because God hath a being from himself, and all things have their dependence from him: And therefore there can be nothing by which he can be limited, Rom. 11.36.

2d, Because God is every where present, in heaven and beyond the heavens, Jer. 23.24. Isa. 66.1.

3d, Because the Scripture affirms, that the perfection of God is the highest, is unmeasurable, unchangeable, and infinitely great, beyond all creatures, John 11.7-9. Psalm 115.3. Job 26.14.

Quest. III. "Is the only living and true God, a most pure Spirit, invisible, without a body and parts?"

Yes; John 4.24. 1 Tim. 1.17. Deut. 4.15,16. Luke 24.39.

Well then, do not the Vorstians, Anthropomorphitans, and Socinians err, who maintain, God to have a body, and endued with parts, and an outward shape and form?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

1st, Because God is the Father of spirits, Heb. 12.9.

2d, Because God is invisible, 1 Tim. 1.17.

3d, Because God is like to no bodily thing, nor can he be represented by any image, or corporeal likeness, Isa. 40.18. Acts 17.29.

Quest. IV. "Are there in the unity of the Godhead, three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity?"

Yes; 1 John 5.7. Matth. 3.16,17. Matt. 28.19. 2 Cor. 13.14.

Well then, do not the Arians and Socinians err, and others, Who deny the Godhead of the Son, and Holy Ghost?

Yes.

Do not likewise the Trithetiae err, Who deny the unity of the divine essence?

Yes.

Thirdly, Do not the Sabellians err, Who deny the real distinction of the persons?

Yes.

And lastly, Do not the Quakers err, who maintain, There are no persons in the Godhead?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

1st, From the places of Scripture already cited.

2d, From the apostolical benediction in which the three persons of the Godhead are called upon expressly, 2 Cor. 13.14.

3d, From 1 Cor. 12.4-6. Where the three persons are named Spirit, Lord, God. And from John 15.26. But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth.

4th, Because there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 1 John 5.7. These three must either be three persons, or three gods. This last is the height of impossibility; therefore they must be three persons. here they are put to silence, and have nothing to reply. Such is the strength and power of truth, which is able to stop the mouths of the greatest rebels against religion and reason. But there is good ground for the word Person, Heb. 1.3. where Christ is said to be the express image or impression of the Father's person. Because the person of the Son, perfectly represents the person of the Father, as an impression doth the seal: wherefore he is also called the image of the invisible God. Col. 1.15. The Greek word is hypostasis, substance or person, whereby is understood, the person of the Father as distinct from the Son, and subsisting of himself, and in himself, and is, as the original of the person of the Son, by an eternal and ineffable generation. That there are three persons in the Godhead; it is farther evident,

1st, From all the epistles written to the seven churches of Asia. For, as may be gathered from Rev. 1.1. it is the Father that sends, it is the Son that gives John the commission, and it is the Holy Ghost in the close, that is mentioned as joint speaker.

2d, Because in that epistle written to Thyatira, there are three distinctly named, first, the Father and the Son, in these words, These things saith the Son of God. Next, there is named in the last verse of that second chapter, the Spirit, he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

3d, Because in the beginning of that epistle to the church of Sardis, they are all three put together, These things, saith he, (viz. the Son) that hath the seven Spirits of God. Here God, that is the Father, is distinctly considered as another person. The seven Spirits are the Holy Ghost.

4th, Because these three persons are most fully and clearly distinguished in the fifth chapter. First, the Father sitting on the throne. Secondly, The Lamb, or the Son of God. And, Thirdly, The seven Spirits, or the Holy Ghost, so called from the pouring out of his gifts upon the churches, in that abundant manner, as if he were seven Spirits, or seven-fold Spirit.

It is evident also, that the Father, Son, and Spirit, are really distinct from one another, and are three persons. They are indeed, in respect of their essence, which is indivisibly communicable to them, one and the same God; but considered personally, they differ really, for the Father is not the Son, neither is he that sits upon the throne the Lamb: Neither the Father nor the Spirit were incarnate, but the Son, who died, and was buried, which cannot be said of none but of a person: It cannot be said that the Father died, or that the Spirit died. Next, Is not the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God, as the Son is the Son of God? And if that suppose a real distinct personality, this must do it also. Now, if the Father be God, and the Son be God, and the Spirit be God, who have one and the same divine nature and essence, indivisibly communicated to them; and so, if there be but one God, and yet these three really distinct, then they must be distinct persons, in respect of their personal properties, seeing they are persons, and distinct. The Son, as was said, is called the express image of the Father's person, which evidently shews, that the Father, considered as distinct from the Son, is a person, and subsists: If then thus it be, must not the Son, as distinct from the Father, and so lively and expressly representing his person, be a person also, having this from the Father? The same must be true likewise of the Holy Ghost, who is God equal with both, yet different from both; for he who proceedeth from the Father, and from the Son, must differ from the Father, and from the Son; as he who is begotten, must be distinct from him that begat him.

Some Quakers, either ignorantly or perversely, will have the word hypostasis, translated substance, as it is Heb. 11.1. and thus they read, Heb 1.3. The character or image of God's substance, which is to be understood of Christ, say they, not simply as God, but as man: but they might as well have said it signifies confident or confidence, because it is so translated 2 Cor. 9.4 and 2 Cor. 11.17. But they speak here consequentially to their own tenets, who in effect deny the Trinity, and all distinction between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, not only in words, but in very deed. The apostle in this place is proving Christ the Son of God, to be the lord and heir of all things; because God created the worlds by him, He is the brightness of his glory, the express image of his person, upholdeth all things by the word of his power. These titles are here given to the Son of God, as a creator, and a preserver of all things, which belong to him only, according to his divine nature: Therefore these titles must be understood of Christ, forasmuch as he is the eternal Son of God, and a light from the eternal light, of one essence and glory with the Father; nevertheless distinguished from the person of the Father, by whom the Father executes his operations, and shews his properties, even as the sun by its light doth shine.

Quest. V. "Is the Son of God of the same substance, power, and eternity with the Father?"

Yes; 1 John 5.20. Rom. 9.5. Isa. 9.6.

Well then, do not the Arians err, who maintain, The Son to be a creature, brought forth before the foundations of the world?

Yes.

Do not likewise the Socinians err, who maintain, The Son to have had no existence, before he was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

1st, From the Scriptures above cited.

2d, Because the Son is omnipotent, the creator and preserver of all things, Rev. 1.18. Col. 1.16,17.

3d, Because he is omniscient, and the searcher of the heart, Mat. 9.3,4. John 2.25. and 21.17.

Quest. VI. "Is the Holy Ghost God?"

Yes; Acts 5.3. 1 Cor. 6.19,20. 1 Cor. 3.16,17.

Well then, do not the Macedonians, or Pneumatomachians, Arians, Socinians, and many of the Anabaptists err who maintain, The Holy Ghost to be a creature, as do the Macedonians, or a power, virtue, or efficacy of the Father, as many Socinians and others do?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

1st, Because the Holy Ghost is to be worshipped as God, Mat. 28.19. 2 Cor. 13.14. Rev. 1.4.

2d, Because he is omniscient and knoweth all things, 1 Cor. 2.10,11.

3d, Because he is omnipotent, the maker, and preserver of all things, the worker of miracles, and it is he that sanctifies, and justifies the believers, Gen. 1.2. Psalm 33.6. Matth. 12.28. Compare Isa. 6.9. with Acts 28.25-27.

4th, Because Ananias is said to lie to the Holy Ghost, Acts 5.3. and v. 4 he is said not to lie to men, but to God.

5th, Because believers are said to be the temple of God, 1 Cor. 3.16,17. And they are said, 1 Cor. 6.19 to be the temple of the Holy Ghost; therefore the Holy Ghost is God, seeing to be the temple of God, and the temple of the Holy Ghost are the same.

6th, Because none can be properly sinned against but the true God; therefore the Holy Ghost is God, because many have been said to have sinned against the Holy Ghost. Matth. 12.31.

Quest. VII. "Doth not the Holy Ghost eternally proceed from the Father, and the Son?

Yes; John 15.26. Gal. 4.6.

Well then, doth not the Greek church err, who maintain, The Holy Ghost to proceed only from the Father?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

1st, Because he is sent by the Son, John 15.16. Acts 2.33.

2d, Because all things which are the Son's are the Father's except the personal properties by which they are distinguished; and all things are communicated from the Father to the Son, and consequently the Holy Ghost, John 16.13-15. Mat. 11.27. John 7.16.

3d, Because Christ gave to his apostles the Spirit by breathing it upon them, John 20.22. to shew that he proceeded from himself.

4th, Because he is the Spirit of the Son, no less than the Spirit of the Father: Gal. 4.6.

5th, Because if the Holy Ghost did not proceed from the Son, as truly as from the Father, he would not be a person really distinct from the Son which is contrary to John 14.16,17.

6th, Because it is said, John 16.14. He shall glorify me (namely, by his testimony, gifts, miracles) for he shall receive of mine, (that is, the doctrine of salvation which I have taught you, he shall also reveal it unto you, seeing he shall receive the same from me) and shall shew it unto you. And Rom. 8.9. He is called the Spirit both of the Father and of the Son. It is said if any man hath not the spirit of Christ; that is, the same Spirit which in the foregoing verse is called the Spirit of God, namely the Father, and is here also called the Spirit of Christ, because he also proceeds from Christ, and is procured for us by Christ, John 14.26. and 16.7.

No sugar to[day] in my coffee

Ahhh, I hurt my shoulder. No more workouts for me until "the ultimate workout" on Saturday (the physical fitness part of the Brown Belt test). I'd like to feel more prepared, but I'm not going to make any improvement over the next couple days anyway, and I can't risk hurting myself more. So, I'm just going to have to go in there and do it.

We ran out of sugar two days ago, or that I don't have any eggs to eat (ran out of those too), so if anyone could please email me some so I can eat breakfast today, that'd be totally sweet.

Birthday today

Daniel's 5th Birthday is today. While he's still "Little Daniel," he sure isn't "Baby Daniel" anymore. Wow... 5 years old. This morning Daniel got up early, and found me making coffee. He tells me that he had some really bad dreams, but he's not going to tell me what they were about because I "would flip out" if I heard about them. He hinted that one of the dreams was a sad one about a baby. So, he says he's just going to keep them "like a secret" and not share them with anyone.

We had a birthday party on Saturday for the twins (who turned 8 years old back in May), and for Daniel. Look, when you have this many kids, you just start having birthday "seasons," OK? So, the plan was for each kid to invite one or two guests, plus their 2 cousins were coming over -- we wanted to keep this kind of small. Well, the people Calle invited could not come, and so here it was late in the game, with not guests for Calle's birthday party. So she asks two girls at Karate Class to come, two very nice and well-behaved Mexican girls (who are cousins). Excellent, two last minute guests, all is well.

Saturday afternoon, when the party was supposed to start... no guests. No one showed up. We waited one hour later than the original start time, and by that time cousins Chandler and Spencer showed up. So, we start serving cake and icecream when a vehicle pulls in front of the house, and out come the two girls we invited, and two other little boys, and two other little girls, and mom, and grandmom (who habla no inglesa), and the vehicle drives off! So, we went from "where is everybody?" to "Mom, we have eight more people!" Now, to be fair, when we originally invited the girls, the mother asked me "Can family come?" gesturing to another little boy. I, of course, said "Si," apparently not understanding the ramifications of my open ended invitation. Wait, wait, it get's even more Mexican...

Get this, we had taco's for lunch, and beat on a pinata in the garage. That was the best pinata experience we ever had at our parties. Let's just say our guests knew how to whack that thing something fierce! It turned out very nicely, and we made a bunch of new friends. After they left, I talked a little about how it's kinda cool to have friends that are not the same as we are in many ways. So often it seems that people choose their friends based so much on common interests, that having friends around is just like having more or yourself around! This was a very different experience, and it was fun.

In other news: I'm very nervous about my Brown Belt testing, which starts this coming saturday (physical/conditioning test), and resumes next saturday (demonstrating that I know the curriculum, or, the Karate part of the test). I'm anxious for this to be over with. Do not get me wrong, I am NOT worried that I will not pass. I have confidence that I will pass just fine. But the testing process is a very challenging ordeal. I've been doing my pushups and situps and tricep dips and wall sitting, 2-3 times a week, for the past several weeks, but now with the test being in just 5 days, I'm wondering how I should proceed. Should I get one more, two more, none more, workouts in this week? Hmm...

Which brings me to the next topic: LEARN TO LOVE ANCHOVIES.

Maybe this is (the one) beer talking, but...

I felt pretty good while wrestling with a psychotic fella today (this was necessary for his own safety), and I even felt good right afterwards. But, while driving home from work, my back started hurting, and it's real stiff right now. If only I knew a Swedish girl that could walk on my back for me. Oh, wait... I'm married to one. Let's see, how can I get her to do this? Used to be that a wink and a nod would do the trick. But now I'm probably looking at painting a room, or getting a better paying job, or something of that magnitude. But my back hurts, lessening my ability to do these things. Oh, the horrid circular puzzle!

What do think I should do, Little J?


You don't know either, huh?

You know how I love the park.

All seven kids at Long's Park (big file, please be patient, or just nevermind it and look at the pic instead -- it's up to you).



Click here to watch 'All-Seven-@-the-Park'

[EDIT: LINK FIXED]

Health Food

Now I'm not a health food nut. I like me a good greasy burger, made out of whatever McDonald's makes them out of, any day of the week, twice on Thursdays. I don't care what the cow ate, if the steak tastes good. And don't tell me what the Chinese are using to make the won-ton "sausage," because I don't care cuz it's yummy. However, let me tell you about two things.

1. Whey Protein. I've been drinking one or two whey protein drinks a day. I mix a scoop (20 grams of protein) into a big cup of raw milk (how much protein's in a glass of raw milk???). Funny thing is that I seem to have gained a bit of weight, though everyone tells me I'm looking skinnier. Seems like I'm building muscle, losing fat. Cool thing about whey protein is that it has satiability, so it's like drinking a meal as far as hunger goes.

2. Raw Honey. Rachel's been taking a teaspoon or two of this daily for a couple months now, and her allergies (burning eyes, stuffy nose), which are normally very bad, have been very much under control (as in almost gone).

So, keeping in line with Willena and Cheryl's daily updates on what they ate, here's my breakfast so far this morning: 2 cups of coffee, sweetened once with raw honey (I usually sweeten my first cup, and just pour hot coffee into it without adding sweeetener for subsequent cups, not for health reasons, but perhaps just laziness), and 200 pushups. I'm not done with breakfast today though, I plan on a glass of milk and whey soon. Oh, and more coffee.

Medal Count

Yuck, sickness has come to our household. All the kids have, or are, barfing. Rach and I are just waiting for our turn. Fun, and just in time for summer!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the kids competed in their first tournament this past Saturday, an inter-school tournament. They competed in two events -- Universals (which are like kata, a one person exercise of pre-arranged moves in a pattern, but for the kids), and Sparring. They did very well -- Calle took Silver in Universals and Copper (4th) in Sparring. Conner took Gold in Universals and in Sparring. Cole brought home the Gold in Universals, and a Bronze in Sparring. Conner and Calle were in the same division -- hardly fair for people with differing last names!