“If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” John 4:10J. C. Philpot (1802-1869)
We cannot know the nature, though we may know the necessity, of the gift of God, till we experience its power as revealed and shed abroad in our soul. Then we know some measure of the gift of God when we feel eternal life flowing through our spiritual veins. How do I know I live naturally? Is not my participation of natural life known to me by an internal consciousness that I possess it? I know I live, because I feel that I live. And so, if we have spiritual life, there will be, at times and seasons, an internal consciousness that we have it; we shall feel the spiritual heart beat, and the spiritual lungs breathe, and the spiritual eyes see, and the spiritual ears hear: in a word, we shall be internally conscious of those emotions and sensations which are peculiar to the life of God in the soul. Spiritual life will be seen in its own light, felt in its own power, and shine forth in its own testimony.
The little that we do know (and it is indeed for the most part but a little) makes us long for more of it. If ever we have received “the gift of God” into our conscience; if ever we have felt the mysterious operation of divine life in our hearts; if ever we have known the sweet emotions and peculiar sensations by which it manifests itself, it has killed us to all other religions; and as a measure of divine life has flowed into the heart out of the fulness of the Son of God, we want no other religion but that which stands in the power of God; by that alone we can live, and by that alone we feel that we can die.
“Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein.” Caveat lector
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Monday, August 31, 2020
If thou knewest the gift of God
Sunday, August 30, 2020
A child of Jehovah, a subject of grace
My Father’s Will. 11s. (Can be sung to Bellevue/Firm
Foundation; also Redemption by Ingalls)
1. A child of Jehovah, a subject of grace,
I’m of the seed royal—a dignified race,
An heir of salvation, redeemed with blood,
I’ll own my relation, my Father is God!
2. He loved me of old, and he loveth me still
Before the creation he gave me by will
A portion worth more than the Indies of gold,
Which cannot be wasted, nor mortgaged, nor sold.
3. He gave me a Surety, a covenant Head,
To live in my name, and to die in my stead,
He gave me a righteousness wholly divine,
And viewed all the merits of Jesus as mine.
4. He gave me a Preceptor infallibly wise,
And treasures of grace to be sent in supplies;
Yea, all that I ask for my Father has given
To help me on earth, and to crown me in heaven.
5. He gave me a will to accept what he gave,
Though I was averse to his purpose to save;
He wrote in his will my repentance and faith,
And all my enjoyments for life and for death.
6. My trials and sorrows, my comforts and cares,
The spirit of prayer and the answer of prayers.
The steps that I tread, and the station I fill,
My Father determined and wrote in his will.
7. My cross and my crown are both willed by my God,
He swore to His will, and then sealed it with blood;
’Tis proved by the Spirit, the witness within,
’Tis mine to inherit, I’ll glory begin.
From The Baptist Hymn Book: comprising a Large and Choice Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, adapted to the Faith and Order of the Old School, or Primitive Baptists, by Gilbert Beebe (2nd stereotype edition, 1859), No. 1296, page 765
1. A child of Jehovah, a subject of grace,
I’m of the seed royal—a dignified race,
An heir of salvation, redeemed with blood,
I’ll own my relation, my Father is God!
2. He loved me of old, and he loveth me still
Before the creation he gave me by will
A portion worth more than the Indies of gold,
Which cannot be wasted, nor mortgaged, nor sold.
3. He gave me a Surety, a covenant Head,
To live in my name, and to die in my stead,
He gave me a righteousness wholly divine,
And viewed all the merits of Jesus as mine.
4. He gave me a Preceptor infallibly wise,
And treasures of grace to be sent in supplies;
Yea, all that I ask for my Father has given
To help me on earth, and to crown me in heaven.
5. He gave me a will to accept what he gave,
Though I was averse to his purpose to save;
He wrote in his will my repentance and faith,
And all my enjoyments for life and for death.
6. My trials and sorrows, my comforts and cares,
The spirit of prayer and the answer of prayers.
The steps that I tread, and the station I fill,
My Father determined and wrote in his will.
7. My cross and my crown are both willed by my God,
He swore to His will, and then sealed it with blood;
’Tis proved by the Spirit, the witness within,
’Tis mine to inherit, I’ll glory begin.
From The Baptist Hymn Book: comprising a Large and Choice Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, adapted to the Faith and Order of the Old School, or Primitive Baptists, by Gilbert Beebe (2nd stereotype edition, 1859), No. 1296, page 765
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Why Republicans Talk about Abortion, and other links
The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.
- A 19-year-old who admitted to blackmail, revenge porn, and bullying won his Democratic primary race for the Kansas House and is now running unopposed -- “Aaron Coleman, a progressive Democrat, is now running unopposed in the state’s November election.”
- A 25-year-old man has been charged in the shooting death of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant -- “Police have charged a 25-year-old man with first-degree murder after they say he shot and killed a 5-year-old boy last week in Wilson, North Carolina.”
- Coronavirus updates: CDC changes testing guidelines for asymptomatic people -- “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its COVID-19 testing guidelines and now says people without symptoms ‘do not necessarily need a test’ – even if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19.”
- Goodyear Announces They Will Only Sell Tires For Left Side Of Car -- “By the way, we want to emphasize that this is not a political decision and that we are in no way giving special treatment to one side of the vehicle.” [satire]
- Healthy Choices, Healthy Bodies -- “Developing a healthy relationship with food is the key to a strong mind and body. Making the choice to eat better is a challenge for some people.”
- Independent counsel faults Chicago prosecutor’s dismissal of Jussie Smollett case -- “Webb was appointed by a Cook County judge last year as a special prosecutor to review the handling of the case.”
- Kamala Harris Lies Repeatedly in First Speech as Biden’s Running Mate -- “Several advanced nations have suffered more fatalities per million population than the U.S.: Belgium, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Sweden. Donald Trump is not in charge of any of these countries.”
- Police declare riot as Portland protesters set fires, attack government building -- “The protesters, some wearing gas masks and carrying shields, lit fires in dumpsters and used lighter fuel to start a fire inside the Multnomah Building big enough to set off the sprinkler system, police said.”
- President Trump reportedly pushing coronavirus treatment that is also embraced by HUD Sec. Dr. Ben Carson and MyPillow’s Mike Lindell -- “Oleandrin looks to have antiviral activity at high doses in a test tube model.”
- Protester kicks at biker during Sturgis rally -- “...the protesters were demonstrating against Republican Gov. Kristi Noem’s decision not to shut down South Dakota during the coronavirus pandemic and that the Sturgis rally was being held during the pandemic.”
- Report details why Louisville police decided to forcibly search Breonna Taylor’s home -- “The report includes photographs of Glover entering and exiting Taylor’s building. In the application for the search warrant of Taylor’s apartment, police said they suspected drugs and money were being held at the residence.”
- Sorry ‘Factchecker,’ Nikki Haley Is Right — Obama Sent Iran a Planeload of Cash -- “The cash in question only became ‘Iran’s money’ after Obama secretly sent it to the Mullahs in an unmarked cargo plane — or, in the same way a bag of cash becomes the ‘kidnapper’s money’ once it’s delivered.”
- The Architectural Legacy of Diedrich Rulfs -- “More than 50 beautiful homes and other structures created by German immigrant Diedrich Rulfs have stood the test of time for more than 100 years to help define the landscape of Nacogdoches, Texas.”
- The two students who took on Coke and Pepsi -- “Later that year Mirco and Lorenz had their first 170 crates of Fritz-Kola to sell, some 4,080 bottles.”
- Why Republicans Talk about Abortion and Democrats Don’t -- “...at last week’s Democratic convention, as the party ratified its most pro-abortion platform in history, not a single speaker so much as said the word ‘abortion’.”
Friday, August 28, 2020
Peaceful Protest
Reporters and politicians no longer understand “peaceful
protests” – if they even care to. Standing amidst scenes of brutality and
burning they will speak of “mostly peaceful protests.” The tradition and right of
peaceful protest is inscribed in our Constitution, the First
Amendment. According to it, our government cannot prohibit or abridge “the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.”
“A peaceful protest, also known as nonviolent resistance or
nonviolent action, is the act of expressing disapproval through a statement or
action without the use of violence.”
This freedom is among the first, along with freedom of religion,
of speech, and of the press. It must be practiced, promoted, and protected.
However, it must also be appreciated and understood. “Peaceful” protest is non-violent.
That is not too hard to understand. Burning cars and buildings is not peaceful
protest. Dragging people out of cars is not peaceful protest. Threatening,
beating, or shooting people is not peaceful protest. Vandalizing property,
looting, or stealing is not peaceful protest. These are not even “mostly
peaceful protests.” Yes, sometimes while these things are happening another
group of people might be peacefully protesting. Nevertheless, when hoodlums
take over sections of cities and set themselves up in some kind of authority,
speaking of “mostly peaceful protests” quickly loses its meaning.
Mahatma
Gandhi and Martin
Luther King, Jr. were instrumental in developing and distilling the
practice of peaceful protest in modern times. This practice works through
gaining sympathy among the broader ranks of society. Peaceful protesters believe
in their cause. They are willing to expose themselves to physical danger. They
do not harass or harm those against whom they were protesting. This highlights
the justness of their cause. Resorting to violence and mob action means some
will recoil in horror from their cause, while others are incited to fight even
harder against. There is genius – and I believe biblical foundation – in the
method of peaceful protest as opposed to mob action.
Joel
B. Pollak writes, “As a
society, we have lost touch with what the idea of ‘peaceful protest’ is. This
is a very dangerous deficiency, because it means our political future could
become more and more violent and unstable...”
The right to protest is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
5 Ways Orwell’s ‘1984’ Describes, and other links
The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.
- 5 Ways Orwell’s ‘1984’ Perfectly Describes The American Left’s Quest For Power -- “The term “fake news” is so overused (and often misused) that it has lost all meaning. Unfortunately, this has allowed the dishonesty of the mainstream media to hide in plain sight.”
- CDC Is Warning People Not to Wear This Common Mask -- “...the organization recently updated their guidelines to caution people against wearing masks with vents or valves.”
- ‘Dead’ woman found to be breathing at Detroit funeral home -- “Our staff confirmed she was breathing and called a emergency medical crew, the funeral home said.”
- Gundlach, who called Trump's 2016 election, predicts he'll win again -- “...two-thirds of conservatives or moderate conservatives say that they have lied about their support for Donald Trump either directly or by omission.”
- Is Classical Education On The Right Side Of History? -- “Most of the people who talk about being on “the right side of history” simply don’t know much about history. If they did, they would know how often history changes its mind and that any claim to have objectively arrived on “the right side” of history is naïve and short-sighted.”
- Kamala Harris Lies Repeatedly in First Speech as Biden’s Running Mate -- “Wrong. Several advanced nations have suffered more fatalities per million population than the U.S.: Belgium, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Sweden.”
- Neck gaiters may actually increase COVID-19 transmission, study finds -- “Of the 14 masks, the two that proved least effective were a bandanna and what the researchers refer to as a neck fleece, also known as a neck gaiter.”
- Peaceful Protests -- “If you intend civil disobedience,...you accept the consequences of your actions if they are illegal.”
- People are loving this button hack to stop glasses steaming up while wearing a face mask -- “One woman has now revealed her simple, yet clever, technique for helping to stop her glasses getting foggy while she’s wearing her mask.”
- Police chief’s decision to quit may have just saved Seattle from itself -- “Having the city’s first Black police chief get driven out, supposedly in the name of furthering Black equality, was an embarrassment for our city.”
- Selective and cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes in unexposed humans -- “Based on these data, it is plausible to hypothesize that pre-existing cross-reactive HCoV CD4+ T cell memory in some donors could be a contributing factor to variations in COVID-19 patient disease outcomes, but this is at present highly speculative.”
- Some Questions for Kamala Harris About Eligibility -- “Interestingly, this recitation of the original meaning of the 14th Amendment Citizenship Clause might also call into question Harris’ eligibility for her current position as a United States senator.”
- The missing link? Children and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 -- “Due to global interest, there has unsurprisingly followed a lot of hype, and some misleading claims. This post aims to outline all the evidence available so far on the potential role of children in transmission of COVID-19.”
- The Roots of Our Partisan Divide -- “...the imputation of moral non-personhood has been aimed at a growing number of people who have committed no sin more grievous than believing the same things they did two years ago, and therefore standing in the way of the progressive juggernaut.”
- The Uighurs, China, and the lucrative hypocrisy of LeBron James and the NBA -- “Wesley Snipes said, “Always bet on black” but the NBA proves the most powerful color is green.”
- UK says 50 million face masks it bought might not be safe -- “The British government says it won’t be using 50 million face masks it bought during a scramble to secure protective equipment for medics during the coronavirus outbreak because of concerns they might not be safe.”
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Not so
On Sunday, August 23, “Good Morning America”
co-anchor Robin Roberts conducted a joint interview with Democratic
presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris. I have
noticed an interesting but incorrect report of the dust-up of Biden’s “you ain’t
black” comment.
During an interview on The Breakfast Club with
Charlamagne tha God (an American radio presenter, television personality, and
author, who is black), the host asked Joe Biden to come back on the program, adding,
“It’s a long way to November. We’ve got more questions.” Biden replied, “I tell
you if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you
ain’t black.” To which Charlamagne tha God replied, “It has nothing to do with
Trump. It has to do with the fact that I want something for my community.”
Now enter Robin Roberts, to lob soft pitches to
Biden and running mate Harris about the statement. (The interview transcript
can be found HERE.)
First, she throws out the actual phrase to Harris.
ROBERTS: So when you have a running mate who makes
a comment like, “you ain’t Black,” and leads some people to say, “he just doesn’t
get it.” Have you been able to speak truth to him about that?[i]
Harris deflects the question, bragging on Biden.
HARRIS: And Joe speaks the words and actually
knows how to say the words “Black Lives Matter.”
Of course, “Black Lives Matter” is an organization
rather than just a statement of concern for the lives of black people. Further,
Senator Harris brought up Joe Biden’s “personal reaction” to Charlottesville. That
is interesting in light of Biden’s acceptance speech at the DNC, in which he
lied about what Donald Trump said about Charlottesville – that Trump said “neo-Nazis
and Klansmen and white supremacists” were “very fine people.” This lie has been
exposed for a couple of years now, yet Biden repeated it in his speech. (I
guess truth does not matter in political. In fact, I’m pretty sure of it!)
Trump did say there were “very fine people on both sides” of the Confederate
monument debate, but that there also were some very bad people on both sides.
He clearly condemned the neo-Nazis and white supremacists: “I’m not talking
about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned
totally.”[ii]
Now we come to the point where both liberal and
conservative media have headlined that Joe Biden admitted that he should not
have made the “you ain’t Black” remark – each side for their own reasons I
suppose. Biden made a reference to The Breakfast Club interview, and said he should
not have said “that.” However, he revised what “that” was, and the
pro-Democratic anti-Trump interviewer never called him on it. Just slid on to
something else to beef up Biden’s Black Lives Matter creds.
BIDEN: You know, when I was asked a question
about, you know, why should someone vote for you or they were talking about
Trump, and I said, he said, “Well, we like Trump.” I said, Well, and I
shouldn't have said it. And I said, “Well, OK. Who are you? How could you vote—how
can a Black man vote for him?” I shouldn’t have said that.
Say it ain’t so, Joe. I guess you’ve been run
through the Black Lives Matter washing machine and all you’ve said and done are
cleansed and forgiven. But you didn’t actually apologize to Charlamagne tha God,
and you didn’t apologize directly for saying to this black man and blacks in
general “I tell you if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or
Trump, then you ain’t black.” People are who they are based on who they are,
not on whether or not they vote for you, Mr. former Vice-President.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
In other words, a to z
- angustation, noun. The condition of being narrowed, constricted, limited, or confined; the action of narrowing, constricting, or compressing something; an instance of this.
- billet-doux, noun. A love letter.
- calligram, noun. A word or piece of text in which the form and layout of the letters creates a pictorial or ornamental design, esp. one related to the meaning of the words themselves.
- cruciverbalist, noun. A designer or aficionado of crossword puzzles.
- coorie, verb, intransitive. To crouch, stoop, or keep low, esp. for protection. (usually with down, in.)
- delicatesse, noun. The quality of being delicate (in various senses); an instance of this. Also: that which is delicate; a delicate thing, a delicacy.
- delicatessen, noun. A store selling foods already prepared or requiring little preparation for serving, as cooked meats, cheese, salads, and the like; a small shop that sells high-quality foods, such as types of cheese and cold cooked meat, often from other countries (informal deli).
- hortatory, adjective. Urging to some course of conduct or action; exhorting; encouraging.
- juberous, adjective. Uncertain and reluctant; dubious; undecided.
- limn, verb (used with object). To portray in words; describe.
- quixotic, adjective. Foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially, marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action. (From Don Quixote, the hero of the novel El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes.)
- rodomontade, noun. Vainglorious boasting or bragging; pretentious, blustering talk.
- situationship, noun (slang). A relationship that is undefined or has no title – often a confusing mix between a platonic friendship and a romantic relationship.
- soirée musicale, noun. A gathering or party at which musical entertainment is the main feature. Also: a programme of classical or operatic music, usually of relatively short, popular pieces, presented in the evening, frequently to a paying audience.
- yaw, verb (used without object). To deviate temporarily from a straight course, as a ship.
- yever, adjective. Greedy; gluttonous; covetous. Also: desirous, yearning.
- zhuzh, verb. To make (something) more lively and interesting, stylish, or appealing, as by a small change or addition (usually followed by up).
Monday, August 24, 2020
Billings on Composition
“Musical composition is a sort of something, which is much better felt than described (at least by me) for if I was to attempt it, I should not know where to begin or where to leave off…although I am not confined to rules prescribed by others, yet I come near as I possibly can to a set of rules which I have carved out for myself; but when fancy gets upon the wing, she seems to despise all form, and scorns to be confined or limited by any formal prescriptions whatsoever; for the first part [tenor] is nothing more than a flight of fancy, the other parts are forced to comply and conform to that, by partaking of the same air, or, at least, as much of it as they can get: But by reason of this restraint, the last parts are seldom so good as the first; for the second part [bass] is subservient to the first, the third part [treble] must conform to the first and second, and the fourth part [counter or alto] must conform to the other three; therefor the grand difficulty in composition, is to preserve the air through each part separately, and yet cause them to harmonize with each other at the same time.”William Billings, Continental Harmony, p. 32
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Keeping us out of Richmond
President Abraham Lincoln once asked General Winfield Scott this question: “Why is it that you were once able to take Mexico City in three months with five thousand men, and we have been unable to take Richmond with one hundred thousand men?”
“I will tell you,” said General Scott. “The men who took us into Mexico City are the same men who are keeping us out of Richmond.” -- Confederate Veteran Magazine, September 1913, page 471.
“I will tell you,” said General Scott. “The men who took us into Mexico City are the same men who are keeping us out of Richmond.” -- Confederate Veteran Magazine, September 1913, page 471.
Monday, August 17, 2020
Post office pookie
The Post Office has been placed in the middle of a tug of war of the November general election. Here are a couple of Forbes articles that clear up a few discrepancies in what we keep hearing.
- Post Office Pensions: Some Key Myths And Facts -- “ALL companies are required to fund any pension promises they make to their employees.”
- Separating Fact From Fiction On Trump And The Post Office - And Why It Matters -- “The fact that we appear frustratingly incapable of honest discussions on Social Security, and that we likewise appear to be unable to have a discussion about how much mail delivery actually costs and who and how we should pay for it, are two sides of the same coin.”
Newton quote, I am afraid there are Calvinists
“I am afraid there are Calvinists, who, while they account it a proof of their humility that they are willing in words to debase the creature and to give all the glory of salvation to the Lord, yet know not what manner of spirit they are of...Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines as well as upon works; and a man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature, and the riches of free grace.”John Newton
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Look, ye saints
1. Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious:
See “the man of sorrows” now;
From the fight returned victorious,
Ev’ry knee to him shall bow.
Crown him! Crown him!
Crowns become the Victor’s brow.
2. Crown the Saviour, angels, crown him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of pow’r enthrone him,
While the vault of heaven rings.
Crown him! Crown him!
Crown the Saviour “King of kings.”
3. Sinners in derision crowned him,
Mocking thus the Saviour’s claim;
Saints and angels crowd around him,
Own his title, praise his name.
Crown him! Crown him!
Spread abroad the Victor's fame!
4. Hark! those bursts of acclamation!
Hark! those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown him! Crown him!
“King of kings and Lord of lords.”
This hymn was written by Thomas
Kelly and published in his Hymns on Various Passages of Scripture,
Dublin, 3rd edition, 1809. Some of the tunes to which Kelly’s hymn is set
include Bryn Calfaria by William
Owen (1852), Coronae by William H.
Monk (1871) Cwm Rhondda by John
Hughes (1907), and Regent Square
by Henry T. Smart (1867).
Friday, August 14, 2020
Enjoy Your Prayer Life, and other review links
The posting of reviews does not constitute endorsement of the products or reviews that are linked.
- Book Review: Enjoy Your Prayer Life, Michael Reeves -- “According to Reeves, we need to ‘think first about what prayer is’.”
- Book Review: If You Bite & Devour One Another, by Alexander Strauch -- “This book mines Scripture to discover God’s way for handling conflict in the church...a nuts-and-bolts guide to dealing with real conflict between real people in real churches.”
- Book Review: Kiffin, Knollys and Keach -- “I had read a little about the 17th century baptists, but not nearly as much as I should have. This book filled in a lot of the gaps in my knowledge.”
- Book Review - Readings in Baptist History: Four Centuries of Selected Documents by Joe Early -- “This work fills a largely overlooked niche in the literature on Baptist history.”
- Book Review: Saturate, by Jeff Vanderstelt -- “...his methodology seems to be: treat unbelievers as Christians and they may want to follow Jesus whereas the Bible teaches: love Christians and unbelievers will see this and may want to follow Jesus, too...”
- Book Review: The Elder, by Cornelis Van Dam -- “While I unreservedly commend this book to you, I should point out that since Van Dam is a presbyterian, Baptists will have meaningful differences between their understanding of the office of elder and Van Dam’s proposals.”
- Book Review: The Evangelicals, By Frances Fitzgerald -- “She is fine with evangelicals as long as they keep their retrograde religiosity private, but holding traditional Christian convictions in the public square is out of bounds.”
- Book Review: Why Church? by Scott Sunquist -- “Compounding this concern was Sunquist’s endorsement of the Roman Catholic Church as a viable option for people seeking a local church.”
- Reflections on a Review -- “As I pointed out in the review, when defining “headship,” Byrd relies on a feminist scholar named Sarah Coakley to deny that “headship” involves any authority on a husband’s part.”
- Review of A Complete Categorized Greek-English New Testament Vocabulary -- “...Holly’s book brings together material from several different sources into one convenient handbook, and therefore it has a certain usefulness.”
- Roger Scruton on Marxism and Totalitarianism -- “In every totalitarian experiment, therefore, you will find that the first act of the centralized power is to single out certain groups for punishment.”
- The Chattahoochee Musical Convention: A Review -- “Miller’s preface makes it clear that the impetus and basic shape of the book came from the Georgia singers who participate in the convention and who have long been aware of Thurman’s manuscript and of the unusually copious surviving records of its history, still proudly displayed at annual sessions.”
Thursday, August 13, 2020
The cowboy and the atheist
An old cowboy, who had just started to read his book, replied to the total stranger, “What would you want to talk about?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said the atheist. “How about why there is no God, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?” as he smiled smugly.
“Okay,” he said. “Those could be interesting topics but let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff – grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?”
The atheist, visibly surprised by the old cowboy’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, “Hmmm, I have no idea.”
To which the cowboy replies, “Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don’t know crap?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said the atheist. “How about why there is no God, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?” as he smiled smugly.
“Okay,” he said. “Those could be interesting topics but let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff – grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?”
The atheist, visibly surprised by the old cowboy’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, “Hmmm, I have no idea.”
To which the cowboy replies, “Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don’t know crap?”
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Elder M. W. Miracle
Meredith Woodson Miracle was a Primitive Baptist preacher, and an active participant in Sacred Harp singing in Texas. Meredith W. Miracle was born in 1857 in Kentucky, the son of John Dixon Miracle and Mary Ann Phillips. The 1860 census records Meredith living in Booneville, Owsley County, Kentucky in the home of his father and mother (his mother died circa 1865).
He married first Martha A. Hughes in Logan County,
Arkansas, December 24, 1878. Miracle received a State of Arkansas Teacher’s
License, October 21, 1879 to teach in Logan County, which was good for two
years. The 1880 census shows he, his wife, and young daughter living at Clark,
Logan County, Arkansas. He was a school teacher. In 1883 his wife Martha died,
possibly in or after childbirth. Miracle’s memorial to her (see below)
describes two girls who died before she did. M. W. Miracle married Mary
Evans in 1888.
Through newspapers and censuses we can trace some
of the movement of the Miracle family. He was a teacher, businessman, and
newspaper editor. When he was licensed and ordained as a Primitive Baptist
minister is not clear.
- 1857 born in Kentucky (Booneville, Owsley, County, according to his death certificate)
- 1889 living in Boston, Madison County, Arkansas[i]
- 1895 living in Huntsville, Madison County, Arkansas and “engaged in the business of selling organs.”[ii]
- 1900 living in War Eagle Township, Huntsville, Madison County, Arkansas, Census and a farmer[iii]
- 1905-1906 living in Springdale, Washington/Benton counties Arkansas; sold a fire-escape patent[iv]
- 1907 living in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas[v]
- 1908 living in Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma, and had a patent on steam washing machine[vi]
- 1910 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas as manager of a supporter factory[vii]
- 1912 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas[viii]
- 1917 died in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
As a businessman, M. W. Miracle supported his
family through various endeavors – from farming, inventions, selling organs, and
managing a factory (which may be what brought him to Dallas). He received a
patent on an Automatic
Computing Device in 1912.
Elder M. W. Miracle began publishing The
Sacred Harp Monitor in December 1912, under the auspices of the State
Sacred Harp Association of Texas.[ix] Around 1915 Elder Miracle
moved on to edit “The Good Old Songs Department” in C. H. Cayce’s
periodical The Primitive Baptist. In a 1938 newspaper article,
James R. Stotts says that he and Miracle purchased the Huntsville Republican newspaper from M. W. Peach. He does not
indicate what year.[x]
In addition to writing in The Sacred Harp
Monitor and The Primitive Baptist., Elder Miracle wrote at
least on book – The
Gospel In Shadows, published posthumously in 1919.[xi]
It is my understanding that he served as pastor of the Primitive Baptist Church
in Oak Cliff, Dallas County, Texas, and doubtless several others.
Zack C. Hull, the publisher, advertised it this
way in Zion's Landmark, June 15, 1919, p.
351:
Written by Elder M. W. Miracle, deceased. This is a book that should be in the hands of all lovers of truth. It is very inspiring and instructive. The book is bound in cloth and contains thirty-four chapters. The price of the book is $2 postage paid. If you are not satisfied with the contents and do not feel that it is worth a great deal more than the price, we will refund your money. Send for the book now.
Elder Miracle’s death certificate appears to say
he died of stomach cancer, noting his age as 60 years, 5 months, and 2 days.
Any other information on Meredith Woodson Miracle will be appreciated.
A memorial of Martha A. Miracle, from The Gospel Messenger and Primitive Pathway,
January 1886, p. 41:
MRS. MARTHA A. MIRACLE.
My beloved companion, Martha A. Miracle, departed
this life the 31st day of October, 1883, aged twenty-two years and
twenty-two days. She was the mother of three little girls; the younger two
having passed on before. The oldest one, (a beautiful and lovely child of
six years.) is still spared to comfort me with its sweet prattle. She never made
any outward profession of religion, but all who witnessed her resignation
to the will of her Redeemer in her illness, and for some time before, have
strong evidence that she was an humble child of Jesus. At the time we consigned
her last dear babe to the solemn tomb, she knelt at its side and poured out
her soul in prayer to God to prepare her to meet her babies in heaven. In about
two weeks she was severely taken with typho-malarial fever and only survived
thirty-one days, during a greater part of which time she was conversing with
her departed infants and shouting praises to the God of her salvation. One
evening, about a week before she feel asleep, she looked up to me, with
a supernatural expression, and requested me to listen to the beautiful music,
and after suffering and rejoicing thirty-one days, she sweetly, as in a
dreamy slumber, fell asleep in Jesus. She was a firm believer in the doctrine of
salvation by grace. It is a great consolation to me to think that the second
death hath no power over her. I feel that the Spirit is willing, but the
flesh is weak, therefore I ask the prayers of God's people in my sad bereavement.
I remain a sinner in hope, M. W. MIRACLE.
Melson, Ark., Oct. 4th, 1885.
[i] St. Paul Republican (Saint Paul, Arkansas), Friday 17 May 1889, Page
1
[ii] The Mountain Air (Saint Paul, Arkansas)
Saturday 11 May 1895, Page 3; Daily Arkansas
Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) Tuesday 06 Nov 1894, Page 5
[iii]
1900 Madison County, Arkansas Federal Census
[iv] Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock,
Arkansas) Thursday 30 Mar 1905, Page 4
[v] Fort Smith Times (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
Sunday 03 Feb 1907, Page 6
[vi] Berwyn Light (Berwyn, Oklahoma) Thursday
03 Sep 1908, Page 1
[vii]
1910 Dallas County, Texas Federal Census; All Purpose Supporter and Shoulder
Brace Manufacturing Company
[ix] It
is not clear how long the Monitor was
published, but a surviving October 1913 issue indicates it was still in print
at that time. The rise of The Sacred Harp
Courier in 1914 probably succeeded the Monitor.
[x] “James
R. Stotts Writes Story of His Old Home and Friends,” The Madison County Record (Huntsville, Arkansas) Thursday, 18 Aug
1938, Page 1
[xi] Atlanta,
GA: Zack C. Hull, 1919. Elder Miracle’s “Preface” is dated January 31, 1916.
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Another Medical Expert, and other links
The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.
- Another Medical Expert Confirms: Hydroxychloroquine Saves Lives, ‘Propaganda War’ Is Killing People -- “In an op-ed published by Newsweek, Yale Epidemiology Professor Dr. Harvey Risch wrote that hydroxychloroquine is ‘highly effective, especially when given in combination with the antibiotics azithromycin or doxycycline and the nutritional supplement zinc.’”
- Are masks giving men a licence to leer? -- “Women across the country are reporting a rise in ‘aggressive eye contact’ since the introduction of face coverings in some public places.”
- Beza and Revelation 16:5 -- “This KJV reading of Revelation 16:5 is based on Theodore Beza's 1598 edition of the Textus Receptus.”
- Conservative Justices Declined to Take Up Second Amendment Case after Roberts Signaled He Would Side with Liberals -- “The four most reliably conservative justices were not confident that they would get a fifth vote from Roberts on the case or similar cases addressing the Second Amendment, according to unidentified sources cited by CNN.“
- Gallup Poll: Black Americans Want Police to Retain Local Presence -- “Although Black Americans seem about as comfortable as Americans overall with the amount of police presence where they live, they differ markedly in their perceptions of how their local police might treat them if they were to interact.“
- Rutgers University Says Grammar Is Racist, Gets Called Out For Assuming Minorities Can’t Write Correctly -- “It’s like these people believe that being non-white is an inherent handicap or learning disability...That’s racism. It has become very clear to me that those who claim to be ‘anti-racist’ are often the most racist people in this country.”
- ‘Sobering’ report shows hardening attitudes against media -- “Our concern is that when half of Americans have some sort of doubt about the veracity of the news they consume, it’s going to be impossible for our democracy to function.”
- Supreme Court in Mexico Rejects Effort to Expand Abortion Nationally -- “The first bench of the Mexican Supreme Court on July 29 overturned a lower court’s ruling that could have opened the door to legalized abortion throughout the country. In a 4-1 ruling, the panel of justices rejected a lower court’s attempt to require the state of Veracruz to legalize abortion.”
- Teen Hospitalized After Botched Abortion at Michigan Avenue Center for Health in Chicago -- “All the Goyal clinics have had more than their share of failed health inspections over the years, with serious citations that included sanitation issues, ill-equipped crash carts, and lack of staff training.”
- The COVID Panic Is a Lesson in Using Statistics to Get Your Way in Politics -- “Things get even more lopsided if one number is being continually updated in real time while other numbers are updated only occasionally.”
- Think Cancel Culture Doesn’t Exist? My Own ‘Lived Experience’ Says Otherwise -- “Given the moral authority that many progressives assign to the lessons of ‘lived experience,’ it seems counterintuitive that they are the ones now strenuously downplaying the scourge of cancel culture.”
- Vegan mom faces backlash over ‘ridiculous’ babysitting demands: ‘This lady is insane’ -- “...ad for a vegan-only caregiver on Facebook...offered just $100 per week, but asked for an applicant willing to work from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.”
- Whacking the Wolves -- “Brothers, does your church have a process for identifying regenerate members? And does it have a process for identifying faithful men who are able to teach others also...”
- Why Reformed Christians Are Vulnerable To Social Justice -- “John MacArthur said he was concerned many influential members of the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement had a high view of culture and a low view of scripture. The Reformed movement’s attempt to redeem the culture has inevitably made it conform to the culture.”
Monday, August 10, 2020
I pledge allegiance
I pledge allegiance to my God, Creator of heaven and earth; and to his word, which he has given, inspired, true, and pure; one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Sunday, August 09, 2020
An Evening Hymn
“An Evening Hymn,” by Thomas Ken (1637-1711).
Ken’s evening hymn was paired with Thomas Tallis’
tune in The Harmonious Companion
(London: W. Pearson, 1732). The “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”
doxology first appeared separately from Ken’s other hymns, but has since
frequently be paired with various texts. It was printed with the Old Hundred tune
in The Federal Harmony, Part 2
(Boston: John Norman, 1790).
1. All praise to thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath thine own almighty wings.
2. Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done.
That with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3. O! may my soul on thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close.
Refresh my strength, for thy own sake,
To serve my God when I awake.
4. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Saturday, August 08, 2020
The past is a foreign country, and other quotes
The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify when possible.)
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” -- Leslie Poles Hartley
“I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.” -- Oliver Cromwell
“A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.” -- Mark Twain
“Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.” -- Unknown
“My life is a mystery which I do not attempt to really understand, as though I were led by the hand in a night where I see nothing, but can fully depend on the love and protection of Him who guides me.” -- Thomas Merton
“Some say our problem is that Christianity is not taught in school. Perhaps our greater problem is that Christianity is not taught in church.” -- Heard
“Christ, not Caesar, is head of the church.” -- John MacArthur (and probably numerous others)
“When God lets you hit rock bottom, he shows you he is the rock at the bottom.” -- Unknown
“Never dumb down your faith to fit your doubts.” -- Steve Brown
“Social media companies are not the arbiters of truth.” -- Courtney Parella
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” -- Leslie Poles Hartley
“I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.” -- Oliver Cromwell
“A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.” -- Mark Twain
“Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.” -- Unknown
“My life is a mystery which I do not attempt to really understand, as though I were led by the hand in a night where I see nothing, but can fully depend on the love and protection of Him who guides me.” -- Thomas Merton
“Some say our problem is that Christianity is not taught in school. Perhaps our greater problem is that Christianity is not taught in church.” -- Heard
“Christ, not Caesar, is head of the church.” -- John MacArthur (and probably numerous others)
“When God lets you hit rock bottom, he shows you he is the rock at the bottom.” -- Unknown
“Never dumb down your faith to fit your doubts.” -- Steve Brown
“Social media companies are not the arbiters of truth.” -- Courtney Parella
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