On Works

Who wrote:

Yet the nomenclature chosen to designate these two epochs suffers from a lack of preciseness. To speak of a covenant of 'works' in contrast with a covenant of 'grace' appears to suggest that grace was not operative in the covenant of works. As a matter of fact, the totality of God's relationship with man is a matter of grace. Although 'grace' may not have been operative in the sense of a merciful relationship despite sin, the creational bond between God and man indeed was gracious.

This terminology further suggests that works have no place in the covenant of grace. But from the biblical perspective, works play a most essential role in the covenant of grace. Christ works for the salvation of his people. His accomplishment of righteousness for sinful men represents an essential aspect of redemption. Still further, those redeemed in Christ certainly must work. They are 'created in Christ Jesus unto good works' (Eph 2:10). Scripture consistantly indicates that the final judgement of man shall be according to works. While salvation is by faith, judgement is by works.

I Love our Library

I got sick :o(

On the bright side, we have one of the greatest county libraries ever. They have very extensive collections in books and DVDs, and are very willing to buy new materials requested by patrons. Since September they have purchased the following at my request --
+ Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner
+ Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine by Anna Reid
+ Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
+ The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff

Sick Baby

Kate is sick. She is quite miserable, and the older she gets, the more she fusses about things like trying to un-stuff her nose. I am so tired, in spite of being forced to nap with Kate this morning. Mike was already sick with this last week, so I am dreading being the next to fall. Christ, have mercy.

Weekend

I rushed off to North Carolina on Friday for the day and really enjoyed hanging out with my mom. Kate did too. Four and a half hours of driving well spent.

Saturday, Mike brought me a Chick-fil-a breakfast biscuit in bed (Be still my heart!) and I had an inpromptu gathering with my best local friends that was very encouraging and edifying.

On Sunday morning we got up early and before 7:30 so we could make it to worship at Providence Church in Lynchburg. We enjoyed the service and the kind parishoners there very much. We spent the afternoon at the Okimotos, hanging out, eating good food and getting a kick out of their tremendously entertaining girls. Since our last visit, they have acquired another adorable girl-baby and a nice minivan. Congratulations to them! Ashley and Geneva show me how much I have to look forward to in the coming years with Kate. Kate tried to eat Fiona and also to poke her eyes out, but she emerged unscathed. Having two big sisters has made her mostly resilient.

Weekends are glorious.

Carolina Basketball

I'm loving watching the Tar Heels this season! We actually brought a 13" TV from my parents so we can watch games without dragging the baby to the sports bar, as we have been the rest of the season. It's glorious!

Now if Wake just loses and we don't, the ACC regular season title is ours...

We Need to Get a Farm

You know, I've never really given RC Sproul Jr & Co. much credit. In fact, I'll admit that I've been one of those reformed people who laugh and snicker, and felt self-righteous that I was ministering in the city and not running away from the world, but lately I've been thinking that it would be good for Christians to own farms and work them.

At least, it would keep us so busy that we wouldn't have time to draft heresy charges in a discussion forum, or gossip in parking lots. A lot of our communal sins as Christians could be avoid if our hands weren't so idle.

Then again, or perhaps case-in-point, I am writing this at 11:55, when I should be: (a) grading, (b) reading, (c) sleeping, or (d) talking with my lovely wife who made me the best V-day dinner ever.

Everything changes...

It's funny to see how far my opinions shift in so little time. Consider cloth diapering. When we lived in Austin, a few people asked me if I was planning on using cloth. (People are crunchy enough in Austin to ask those sorts of questions.) My immediate reaction was "GROSS! NO!" I did manage to mumble feeble excuses (no washer and dryer, moving so soon after the baby...) but internally I was thinking "No way!"

It took about 3 months for me to get interested in cloth, and another month of obsessive comparisons before I placed my first order.

I've been using cloth for more than three months now, and I adore cloth. Even now that she's not exclusively breastfed (parents will know what that means). I am contemplating making a few of my prefolds into fitteds and also making a few more all-in-ones and pockets to augment the WAHM AIOs I have and the Wonderoos we use at night. I love that I am saving money and putting cotton and fleece next to Kate's skin. Lessening landfill waste isn't a bad thing either. I still wouldn't mind someone buying me a mini-sprayer, though...

Recent Reads

A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine (9) An excellent book if you are seeking to understand how children learn, the different areas they can be gifted and weak in, and how to help them to improve their weaknesses and enhance their strengths. A must-read for teachers and homeschoolers. Dr. Levine is a secular pediatrician that leans liberal, and occasionally he takes a position on education that a parent or teacher might have a qualm with, but these are not frequent and are always very easy to spot. (Borrowed from the library.)

Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel (9) Written from a broadly evangelical perspective, this book on childrearing was breath of fresh air. It's *NOT* a book about why you shouldn't spank your children and it's *NOT* a book about how you should allow your children "grace" to do whatever they feel like. This father of four describes how he and his wife aimed to parent in a Christ-like fashion and cautions against common misconceptions in the evangelical community, such as fear-based parenting. I highly recommend it. (Borrowed from the library.)

In the Beginning by Chaim Potok (6) This is not Potok's best, but it's a good novel by modern standards. The protagonist is a Jewish boy in New York City (surprise!) and documents his childhood and adolescence. I am almost finished with all of Potok's novels. (Borrowed from the library.)

Ashes

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

We observed Ash Wednesday at the ECUSA parish around the corner. It was a blessing to be with them and to reflect on our mortality. The season of Lent, with all of its sobriety, is the precursor to the joy of Eastertide and the resurrection of Christ, who has conquered death and the grave.

Somehow all of this helped me cope with Carolina's loss to Dook last night. I cling to a hope of resurrection in the Smith Center next month. (Is that completely sacreligious?)

Update

We had a good trip to North Carolina over the weekend and enjoyed visiting with the Baxters and various folks at Christ Church North Carolina. Except for Sarah and Leah, who we missed because when we come into town, they get sick. It's happened three times now. We are a plague to them. Kate slept miserably at my parents' house, as usual. I guess I could start putting her down to sleep several times a week in the pack 'n play, but it is mostly used for contained play while I shower, cook, etc. so I think that is just not going to work. I use the same routine and sleep cues as at home, but she is not easily tricked.

Challies Monthly Giveaway

Tim is giving away the new ESV Reformation Study Bible and an autographed copy of The Holiness of God this month! [You can use Referral ID 32059]

Car Update

Last week, my CD player was installed. Best Buy is mailing a check. We were able to buy an iCarPlay with a Best Buy gift card given to me by the Raleigh store. It was so fun to drive down 85 and have so many choices as to what to listen to!

Carolina v. NC State tonight! Kate and I are pumped up and ready to cheer the Tar Heels on to victory.

Run, Don't Walk

Google released a new version of Picasa recently. It is absolutely terrific. Very decent digital photography editing program FOR FREE. It's auto functions work well, plus you can do neat things like black & white, sepia, etc. Did I mention that it's free? I had the old picasa, which I used to crop pictures and fix red eye, but the upgrade is like AAA baseball in comparison to little league.