We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful

This will be a sorrowful Christmas for many in Newtown and, indeed, around the country. This is almost an unbelievable tragedy and yet the bigger question, as we look down through man's past, is why does not happen more? That it does not happen more in our safe, little American towns makes it all the more tragic when it does. And so, we search for answers. Our secular media interviews myriads of psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health workers in an effort to help their viewing American public come to terms. Yet, there are no answers without Christ. It seemed appropriate for one news channel to report that Newtown folks would be gathering at the local church for prayer and comfort but returned to the secular purveyors of mental health for the "how's and why's." Indeed, an increased use of the adjective evil has been heard repeatedly on the news channels. But I think the term is unjustified, for at its root it must be defined in Biblical terms, without properly defining and employing its opposite defined in the same manner. Douglas Wilson nails it

It is not possible to build a culture around a denial of God-given standards, and then arbitrarily reintroduce those standards at your convenience, whenever you need a word like evil to describe what has just happened. Those words cannot just be whistled up. If we have banished them, and their definitions, and every possible support for them, we need to reckon with the fact that they are now gone. Cultural unbelief, which leads inexorably to cultural nihilism and despair, is utterly incapable of responding appropriately to things like this, while remaining fully capable of creating them. In the prophetic words of C.S. Lewis, “In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.”

Doug Wilson

So this is a good time to reflect but not just on the tragedy but on the Maker and Creator of the universe. The One who will bring justice for the sufferers of this situation. The One who will make all things right at the end of time. And the One who comforts the broken and hurting now.

So we must confess that while the spirit of Christ is alive in the world, the spirit of Herod is not yet gone. And the only way to expel that kind of darkness is to boldly proclaim that Jesus came into this world precisely to destroy this kind of darkness through His death and resurrection. He was born in Bethlehem from Mary, and He was born again in Jerusalem, the first born from the dead. His grave, just like Mary, was full of grace. - Doug Wilson

Grieving A Loss - Nancy Guthrie

This is well worth watching - you too, guys.

Christ's Attitude Toward Death Dr. T. David Gordon

Dr. T. David Gordon

It Is Not Death To Die

From the Come Weary Saints album, the lyrics of this song are worth some contemplation…

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears

O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die

Original Words by Henri Malan (1787-1864). Translated by George Bethune (1847).
Music, Chorus, and Alternate Words by Bob Kauflin

Trusting Providence

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev. 21:4

It’s been a tough week. A good friend’s sister died of cancer, another good friend’s mother had cancer surgery, my counterpart’s wife in Texas had cancer surgery and a co-worker that I’ve known the last sixteen years had a heart attack. As believers we’re often reminded of the brevity of life but this week it really hit home. Of course, this prompted numerous conversations on the Providence of God at the funeral home today. What a blessing to have gone to a funeral surrounded by likeminded, Reformed saints. As we lamented the loss of my friend’s sister, we also rejoiced in the fact that God is good and through a series of events, God ordained of course, she became a believer in the last year of her short life. As we examine our lives it is often very easy to recognize the work of Providence. In my life I’ve seen God work His Providence in marvelous ways. Situations that at one time were difficult to endure later became the seeds of happiness. When pondering Providence I often pull from my bookshelf what is probably my most favorite book, The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (its one of the Puritan Paperbacks published by Banner of Truth Trust.) On pages 126 – 128 we find the following, “Consult the various Providences of your life in this point, and I doubt not but you will find the truth of these promises as often confirmed as you have been in trouble. Ask your own hearts, where or when was it that God forsook you, and left you to sink and perish under your burdens?...You read that the Word of God is the only support and relief to a gracious soul in the dark day of affliction (Psalm 119:50, 92: 2 Sam. 23:5), and that for this purpose it was written (Rom 15:4). No rules of moral prudence, no natural remedies can perform for us that which the Word can do…The written Word tells us that the best way to gain inward peace and tranquility of mind under puzzling and disturbing troubles is to commit ourselves and our case to the Lord (Psalm 37:5-7: Prov. 16:3).” And so I take a few moments to contemplate what we find in Psalm 77, “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” I contemplate and remember that I am blessed.