This isn't 'Separate but Equal.' They're One.

I read this today and found it to be thought-provoking.

This Isn’t ‘Separate but Equal.’ They’re One.
by Pastor Mark Driscoll on Friday, August 27th, 2010 12:40 pm

There is one God and that this God exists as three persons – Father, Son, and Spirit – that are absolutely equal in every way, sharing all attributes and qualities. Scripture is clear here. And yet there is a difference of role and function between them: We see this in Genesis where God, the Father, speaks. Jesus Christ is the Word of God, the agent of creation. And the Holy Spirit hovers above the water, bringing order out of chaos, but the Holy Spirit is not birthed out of the womb of Mary. There is a difference between the Father, Son, and Spirit. And they have particular functions that they accomplish, but they are, in a very real sense, in every real sense, one. There is one God.

The Equality of Echad

And so, it is possible for there to be difference, yet equality and oneness, even though there are more than one persons. What is true – and God’s image is true in the image of the man and the woman – that as God is one, the man and the woman in marriage are supposed to echad, one, Genesis says. They are to be one as God is one.

Continue reading here.

2 in 1 day?!

Six months of absence, & now 2 posts in 1 day! ;) I just read this blog post by Rev. Voddie Baucham & thought it was too good not to share. It's talking about John Piper's announced leave of absence, & I think there are some excellent points to be considered.

10 Things I Hope We Learn from John Piper’s Leave of Absence

John Piper has taught me much over the years. I consider it an honor to count him as a friend, and I am deeply saddened by his recent announcement that he will be taking a leave of absence for the remainder of 2010. In explaining his leave of absence, he writes:

The difference between this leave and the sabbatical I took four years ago is that I wrote a book on that sabbatical (What Jesus Demands from the World). In 30 years, I have never let go of the passion for public productivity. In this leave, I intend to let go of all of it. No book-writing. No sermon preparation or preaching. No blogging. No Twitter. No articles. No reports. No papers. And no speaking engagements. There is one stateside exception—the weekend devoted to the Desiring God National Conference combined with the inaugural convocation of Bethlehem College and Seminary in October. Noël thought I should keep three international commitments. Our reasoning is that if she could go along, and if we plan it right, these could be very special times of refreshment together.

As I contemplated Dr. Piper’s words, I could not help but realize that even in what must be a devastating moment for him, he is still teaching those of us who are listening. Here are a few things I hope we all learn:

1.I hope we learn that no man is indispensable, and that that it is the Lord, and not man who can proclaim, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt 16:18).

To read the rest of Rev. Baucham's post, go here.

Guilty!

I'm feeling more than a little guilty lately that I have virtually ignored my blog for the last 6 months! I think I just lost interest for a while but I hope to start posting more regularly again, even if it's just sharing daily devotionals I've come across, like before. Here's one for today that a friend sent me.

Psalm 142:3

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.

Hoping in God is hoping when there is no hope. Hoping in God is to trust that He will be there with us when we put our feet in places so godforsaken that He will be there holding us up when we are falling over the edge. Leading us through our private darkness. Being there--ahead of us, behind us, above us, under us, for us, and even in us.

--Lewis Smedes

Keeping Hope Alive