Acceptable Worship

One of the great things about getting a theological education is exposure to writers that have been around for literally ages: It's like finding diamonds in the dust. Here's a quote about the role of emotions in worship:

That religion which God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull, and lifeless wishes, raising up but a little above a state of indifference: God, in His Word, greatly insists upon it, that we be in good earnest, "fervent in spirit," and our hearts vigorously engaged in religion, and our wills and inclinations be not strongly exercised, we are nothing. The things of religion are so great, that there can be no suitableness in the exercises of our hearts...unless they be lively and powerful! In nothing is vigour in the actings of our inclination so requisite as in religion; and in nothing is lukewarmness so odious.
Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections

So let's be vigorous. On any given Sunday, with the household of God - leaving the drudgery, the baggage of life behind, let us take our eyes off ourselves and look toward Him: he is the author and benefactor of our faith. In acknowledgment of his all-sufficiency specific to our lives, let us pour out our hearts. Let the response that we give to him in song, in public exaltation, be worthy in some measure, of praise befitting The King.

Watch, weep.

Some days it's hard to feel patriotic. There's not much to say after

This:



This:



And this:



[Unreported World - India Land of Missing Children]

The End is Here

There are many things that indicate the coming of the end of this current superpower - prophets of doom have pointed to the rise of the Spice Girls, Britney, and many such fearful cataclysms of the age.

However, I believe that when historians look back at our generation and attempt to pinpoint the one watershed event that started the fall of American Civilization, unanimously this will be it:



How can anyone miss it?