Head-dibs

The Origin of TULIP? (Updated!) A question for readers: does anyone know the origin of the anglicized acronym T.U.L.I.P.? ht: Phil Johnson/Justin Taylor Posted using ShareThis

"That there exists in the human minds and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity, we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with some idea of his Godhead, the memory of which he constantly renews and occasionally enlarges, that all to a man being aware that there is a God, and that he is their Maker, may be condemned by their own conscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service. Certainly, if there is any quarter where it may be supposed that God is unknown, the most likely for such an instance to exist is among the dullest tribes farthest removed from civilisation. But, as a heathen tells us, there is no nation so barbarous, no race so brutish, as not to be imbued with the conviction that there is a God . . . . we know how reluctant man is to lower himself, in order to set other creatures above him. Therefore, when he chooses to worship wood and stone rather than b...

Responding to my last post, one reader commented on the section dealing with the failure of Psychology with the following: “ Certain paradigms of psychology (specifically the psychoanalytic and humanistic you mentioned) do not lend themselves well to science. That said, there are models, such as the cognitive-behavioral model, that are far from pseudo-science. The CBT model fairs so well in its attempts to demonstrate statistical significance in therapy, that is has even rivaled and surpassed the efficacy of many psychotropic medications. This is not some contrived psycho-philosophical idealogy that some Austrian intellectual pulled from a half-baked positivism; this is science. Is it an end-all answer? Absolutely not; but, if you are proposing that a nouthetic model is the only way to go, then I would ask that you take a second look at what you are considering .” I would like to underscore two features: first, the posts I am making at present have nothing to do with counseling, but ra...

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2) Reading an author’s introductory remarks brings great light to the purpose of writing. One truly cannot fully appreciate a work without hearing what the author says of his motivations, influences and reactions. Take for example Richard Wright’s novel “Native Son.” This work cannot be understood correctly without knowing who Bigger Thomas to the author and what his role is in the story—these comments are made in the introduction. There is no place for such explanation in the body of the work. A good introduction (and a good preface) provides the key to show how a work is to be read. This is what Calvin does for his readers in his Prefatory Address. Immediately the author at the doorstep explains the work in its final form is not what he originally set out to write, and so he greets the reader. His purpose is two-fold: to supply the people of France with spiritual food...

Since the 12 th century the English language has enjoyed the word “wisdom” as the fruit of the root “wis,” an archaic word which means “to know.” So, in a manner of speaking, humankind has been on the seemingly never-ending, ever-winding Yellow-brick road, braving the journey with our companions in this small world for the single purpose that we may someday meet the “Wis.” Then what? Go back to Kansas? What ultimate deliverance is mankind seeking in the quest “to know?” Release from ignorance? The object of knowledge is allusive; though, when we speak of wisdom, we refer to that object that embodies the accumulation of all that is learned philosophically, scientifically and theologically. Immediately the dilemma arises in that our collective knowledge philosophically and scientifically originates out of ourselves; that is, within the framework of mankind. So what have we learned other than what someone else thinks? Is this wisdom? Solon of Athens gave us, “Know thyself.” What...

I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art, My only trust and Savior of my heart, Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake; I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take. Thou art the King of mercy and of grace, Reigning omnipotent in every place; So come, O King, and our whole being sway; Shine on us with the light of Thy pure day. Thou art the life, by which alone we live, And all our substance and our strength receive; Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power, And give us strength in every trying hour. Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness, No harshness hast Thou and no bitterness; O grant to us the grace we find in Thee, That we may dwell in perfect unity. Our hope is in no other save in Thee; Our faith is built upon Thy promise free; Lord, give us peace, and make us calm and sure, That in Thy strength we evermore endure. (attributed to Jean Calvin)