Prophecy and inspiration

HYMN 151, L. M.

Prophecy and inspiration.

'Twas by an order from the Lord
The ancient prophets spoke his word;
His Spirit did their tongues inspire,
And warmed their hearts with heav'nly fire.

The works and wonders which they wrought
Confirmed the messages they brought;
The prophet's pen succeeds his breath,
To save the holy words from death.

Great God, mine eyes with pleasure look
On the dear volume of thy book;
There my Redeemer's face I see,
And read his name who died for me.

Let the false raptures of the mind
Be lost, and vanish in the wind;
Here I can fix my hope secure;
This is thy word, and must endure.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II, 1707

The debt ceiling fraud

If you're listening to the news at all, you've read and heard ad nauseum the hand-wringing episodes over the national debt ceiling. Now I'm no economist, and I might be wrong, but it seems to me that the so-called debt ceiling is mostly a fraud perpetrated on the U.S. public.

Why do I say that? Let me put it in simple terms that I can understand. The debt ceiling is basically a credit limit. If I apply and obtain a credit card, the lending institution sets the credit limit. I can borrow up to that amount and no more. In the case of the Congress, they are the ones borrowing and setting the credit limit. A little conflict of interest? What is the purpose of having it if they just bump it up whenever they need to? Sounds like a lot of hocus pocus to me.

Sacred Harp Singing School

If you're in Southeast Texas, take advantage of the Sacred Harp Singing School sponsored by the Florida Avenue Baptist Church and Heritage Baptist Institute. It will be at the Florida Avenue Church's fellowship hall this Saturday, July 30.

When: Starts at 10 a.m.
Book: 2006 Sacred Harp, Cooper Edition
Location: 645 W. Florida Ave.
Beaumont, TX 77705

For more information please email: sheilatx-AT-hotmail.com

A sea of comfort

(Rom. 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

"A self acclaimed minister boldly informed me some years ago that only good things work together for good: bad, evil, and sinful things, said he, could never work together for the good of the redeemed. Does this not drain dry the sea of comfort found in this verse? Where does the child of grace go for comfort when plagued with inner sin and outward trials if God does not work evil for their good?" -- From 'A Blessed Promise', Wayne Gregory, July 9, 2011

Hymn 45 by Watts

Hallelujah Meter 6.6.6.6.8.8.

Hosannah to the King
Of David's ancient blood!
Behold, he comes to bring
Forgiving grace from God:
Let old and young attend his way,
And at his feet their honors lay.

Glory to God on high,
Salvation to the Lamb;
Let earth, and sea, and sky,
His wondrous love proclaim:
Upon his head shall honors rest,
And every age pronounce him blest.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book III, 1707

Follow the money

A new Texas law requires doctors performing abortions to show women the results of their sonograms and explain the child and its development. Abortion doctors normally do ultrasounds for their own benefit but don’t usually give women detailed information about it.

A group is bringing suit against this new law. Dr. Alan Braid, an abortion practitioner in San Antonio, objects to the law, saying "My job is not to make the patient feel guilty about her choice or force information on her that she does not want; my job is to care for the patient, act in her best interests, and respect her autonomy. To provide her information that she does not want and that may cause her harm is certainly against my oath as a physician to 'do no harm'."

Unbelievable! A man who is about to snuff out an innocent life invokes the "do no harm" clause!? Might it have more to do with not making a sale than doing no harm? In any other case a doctor would be negligent to not discuss all the details with the patient so she could make informed consent. Why not in this case?

Come, let us join our friends above

Let saints on earth in concert sing
With those whose work is done;
For all the servants of our King
In Heav'n and earth are one.

One family, we dwell in Him,
One Church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.

One army of the living God,
To His command we bow;
Part of the host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now.

E'en now to their eternal home
There pass some spirits blest;
While others to the margin come,
Waiting their call to rest.

Jesu, be Thou our constant Guide;
Then, when the word is given,
Bid Jordan's narrow stream divide,
And bring us safe to Heav'n.

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Funeral Hymns, 1759.
Derived from Wesley's hymn "Come, let us join our friends above."

In memory

Susan Delaine Vaughn Milstead, passed away Saturday July 2, 2011. She was the youngest and last surviving child of James Thomas Vaughn and Delanie Jane Whitten.

The book of God's decrees

HYMN 99 C. M.
The book of God's decrees.

Let the whole race of creatures lie
Abased before their God;
Whate'er his sovereign voice has formed
He governs with a nod.

Ten thousand ages ere the skies
Were into motion brought,
All the long years and worlds to come
Stood present to his thought.

There's not a sparrow or a worm
But's found in his decrees;
He raises monarchs to their throne,
And sinks them as he please.

If light attends the course I run,
'Tis he provides those rays;
And 'tis his hand that hides my sun,
If darkness clouds my days.

Yet I would not be much concerned,
Nor vainly long to see
The volume of his deep decrees,
What months are writ for me.

When he reveals the book of life,
O may I read my name
Amongst the chosen of his love,
The followers of the Lamb!

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II, 1707