With Christ in the school of prayer, by Andrew Murray, 48

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

‘Because of his importunity;’ Or, The Boldness of God’s Friends.
‘And He said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’ and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not:  the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.  I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.’—Luke xi.5-8.

THE first teaching to His disciples was given by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount. It was near a year later that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  In answer He gave them a second time the Lord’s Prayer, so teaching them what to pray. He then speaks of how they ought to pray, and repeats what he formerly said of God’s Fatherliness and the certainty of an answer.  But in between He adds the beautiful parable of the friend at midnight, to teach them the two fold lesson, that God does not only want us to pray for ourselves, but for the perishing around us, and that in such intercession great boldness of entreaty is often needful, and always lawful, yea, pleasing to God.

The parable is a perfect storehouse of instruction in regard to true intercession.  There is, first, the love which seeks to help the needy around us: ‘my friend is come to me.’ Then the need which urges to the cry ‘I have nothing to set before him.’ Then follows the confidence that help is to be had:  ‘which of you shall have a friend, and say, Friend, lend me three loaves.’ Then comes the unexpected refusal: ‘I cannot rise and give thee.’ Then again the perseverance that takes no refusal: ‘because of his importunity.’ And lastly, the reward of such prayer:  ‘he will give him as many as he needeth.’  A wonderful setting forth of the way of prayer and faith in which the blessing of God has so often been sought and found.

Beulah land: heaven or not?

Squire Parsons wrote a Southern Gospel song, "Sweet Beulah Land," which has been quite popular. One stanza of it goes like this: 

Beulah Land, I'm longing for you

And some day on thee I'll stand.

There my home shall be eternal.

Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land

It's clear that Parsons, and most of the others who have heard or sung this song, think Beulah Land is another name for heaven. The song appeals musically, and to the emotions. So does the idea of being with Christ in heaven. However, "heaven" wasn't the original meaning of "Beulah land."

Here's the Wikipedia: "Literary works have used "Beulah" as the name of a mystical place, somewhere between Earth and Heaven. It was so used in The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and in the works of William Blake..." Here's a quotation, with emphasis added, from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress:

{382} Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the Pilgrims were got over the Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah, whose air was very sweet and pleasant, the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves there for a season. ... Here they were within sight of the city they were going to, also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven. In this land also, the contract between the bride and the bridegroom was renewed; yea, here, "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so did their God rejoice over them." [Isa. 62:5] Here they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. [Isa. 62:8] Here they heard voices from out of the city, loud voices, saying, "'Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh! Behold, his reward is with him!' Here all the inhabitants of the country called them, 'The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord, Sought out'", etc. [Isa. 62:11,12]

Bunyan's Beulah land was not heaven. It was close, on the borders, to heaven, a state of fellowship with God that comes with maturity and sanctification. Note the heading of a section a little further on in the book:

"{392} Christian's conflict at the hour of death"

Another song, older than the one by Parsons, is entitled "Beulah Land," by Edgar P. Stites. It includes this: 

I’ve reached the land of corn and wine,

And all its riches freely mine;

Here shines undimmed one blissful day,

For all my night has passed away.

Refrain:

O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,

As on thy highest mount I stand,

I look away across the sea,

Where mansions are prepared for me,

And view the shining glory shore,

My heav’n, my home forevermore!

It seems all but certain that the author had Bunyan's meaning in mind. The Pilgrim's Progress was, at one time, said to be the second most widely read book in English, after the Bible, and the author, who wrote these words nearly 150 years ago, would have known the book, and most likely read it.

When I was several decades younger, I heard a parody of this song on a non-religious radio station. It included:

 Saskatchewan, the land of snow

Where winds are always on the blow

Where people sit with frozen toes

And why we stay here no one knows

[Refrain]

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan

There's no place like Saskatchewan

We sit and gaze across the plain

And wonder why it never rains

And Gabriel blows his trumpet sound

He says: "The rain, she's gone around"

This song, written by Alan Mills in 1960, used the tune of the previous one, "Beulah Land." I mention it here to indicate the popularity of the song by Stites, and, in turn, of Bunyan's work.

This post is not meant to disparage Squire Parsons, or anyone who has liked his song, but is meant to add some historical context to the subject of it. Bunyan's idea was, I think, to encourage us to be so close to God that we were ready for heaven.

Thanks for reading.

Sunspots 795

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Finance: FiveThirtyEight has economists discuss what happens to the US economy if a vaccine is found. The consensus is that it would take months, maybe a year or more, for the economy to return to normal.

Health: Gizmodo tells us why using plasma from convalescent COVID patients may not be such a good idea.

NPR reports that the rationale for using such treatments seems to be more political than it should be -- the science isn't clear yet.

Humor: (or something - it is potentially not funny) Some researchers have figured out how to make a key to break in to a lock by using the sounds the keys make when they are inserted.

Politics: FiveThirtyEight discusses the history of how women have voted, since gaining the right to vote 100 years ago. At first, they voted just like men. No longer.

FiveThirtyEight also discusses the Republican party, which, it says, has been turning in a Trumpian direction even before Mr. Trump, and is almost certain to continue in that direction.

Science: An asteroid, as large as a car, came within 2,000 miles of the earth recently, says Gizmodo and other outlets.

Gizmodo also reports that the Tasmanian Tiger (which became extinct less than 100 years ago) was not as large as we thought it was.

Listverse tells us about some amazing mushrooms.

Sports: (And, maybe, Christianity) The WNBA teams are all living and playing at the same place, in Florida. But each game has a designated home and visitor team. The home teams are doing significantly better, and no one is sure why, according to FiveThirtyEight. That's hard to explain. One possible factor is the chapel meetings before the games.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray, 47

 This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

Father in heaven!  Thou didst send Thy Son to reveal  Thyself to us, Thy Father-love, and all that that love has for us.  And He has taught us, that the gift above all gifts which Thou wouldst bestow in answer to prayer is, the Holy Spirit.

O my Father!  I come to Thee with this prayer; there is nothing I would—may I not say, I do—desire so much as to be filled with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit.  The blessings He brings are so unspeakable, and just what I need.  He sheds abroad Thy love in the heart, and fills it with Thy self.  I long for this.  He breathes the mind and life of Christ in me, so that I live as He did, in and for the Father’s love.  I long for this.  He endues with power from on high for all my walk and work.  I long for this.  O Father!  I beseech Thee, give me this day the fulness of Thy Spirit.

Father!  I ask this, resting on the words of my Lord:  ‘HOW MUCH MORE THE HOLY SPIRIT.’  I do  believe that Thou hearest my prayer; I receive now what I ask; Father!  I claim and I take it:  the fulness of Thy Spirit is mine.  I receive the gift this day again as a faith gift; in faith I reckon my Father works through the Spirit all He has promised.  The Father delights to breathe His Spirit into His waiting child as He tarries in fellowship with Himself.  Amen.

Sunspots 794

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: (and health) In Christianity Today, a preacher reflects on his experience when he apparently caught COVID from the worship leader who was on the platform (and singing and talking) with him.

Christianity Today also reports on a survey that indicates that most Christians, especially those who are well off, don't really give very much to charitable causes.

Christianity Today also has published an article on Christian attitudes during a season of on-line dating.

Computing: Gizmo's Freeware suggests that RadioBox is a good, free program for listening to lots of radio stations.

Gizmo's Freeware also suggests a free alternative to Microsoft Office.

And Gizmo's Freeware points us to over 900 free-to-use fonts.

 

Education: Grammarphobia tells us whether "news" is singular or plural.

Environment: Gizmodo reports that internal government documents state that the proposed border wall is the biggest threat to endangered species in the southwest.

Health: Gizmodo discusses the ins and outs of a vaccine for COVID-19.

Politics: (and Christianity) Relevant discusses the moral misguidedness of each of the major political parties.

Christianity Today discusses Joe Biden's Catholic faith.

FiveThirtyEight discusses the probable impact (or not) of Kamala Harris as a vice-presidential candidate.

Relevant discusses the religious background of Kamala Harris.

Science: Gizmodo reports that invading toads are doing well in Qatar, which is not where you'd expect to see toads flourish.

Gizmodo, and other outlets, report that Death Valley has probably had the highest surface temperature ever recorded, during the past few days.

Sports: FiveThirtyEight tells us why left-handed pitchers often do so well.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

With Christ in the school of prayer, by Andrew Murray, 46

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

And when once we have learned thus to believe for ourselves, and each day to take out of the treasure we hold in heaven, what liberty and power to pray for the outpouring of the Spirit on the Church of God, on all flesh, on individuals, or on special efforts!  He that has once learned to know the Father in prayer for himself, learns to pray most confidently for others too.  The Father gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, not least, but most, when they ask for others.

Sunspots 793

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Weekend Fisher sees the world more clearly, because of COVID.

Environment: As the Antarctic heats up, some penguins are better off, some are much worse off, says Gizmodo.

Gizmodo also reports that hurricane prediction numbers have been increased over previous predictions.

NPR reports that, in addition to trying to save tigers and whales, we should be concerned about tapeworms and other parasites.

Finance: (or something) Gizmodo reports that people are working longer hours during this pandemic.

Health: NPR reports that airlines can require passengers to wear masks.

History: He Lives argues that being a believer in a young earth, as apparently most of the church fathers did, is not the same thing as being a young-earth creationist today.

Politics: Ken Schenck talks about race, and points out a variety of white responses to the topic.

FiveThirtyEight says that most Americans don't want to postpone the November 3 election.

Science: Gizmodo reports that it's relatively easy to measure tire wear, and detect nails, by radar.

Gizmodo also reports on studies of Jupiter's atmosphere, including lightning and mushy hail.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

With Christ in the school of prayer, by Andrew Murray, 45

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

Let us now believe this. As we pray to be filled with the Spirit, let us not seek for the answer in our feelings.  All spiritual blessings must be received, that is, accepted or taken in faith. Let me believe, the Father gives the Holy Spirit to His praying child. Even now, while I pray, I must say in faith:  I have what I ask, the fulness of the Spirit is mine.  Let us continue stedfast in this faith.  On the strength of God’s Word we know that we have what we ask.  Let us, with thanksgiving that we have been heard, with thanksgiving for what we have received and taken and now hold as ours, continue stedfast in believing prayer that the blessing, which has already been given us, and which we hold in faith, may break through and fill our whole being.  It is in such believing thanksgiving and prayer, that our soul opens up for the Spirit to take entire and undisturbed possession.  It is such prayer that not only asks and hopes, but takes and holds, that inherits the full blessing. In all our prayer let us remember the lesson the Saviour would teach us this day, that, if there is one thing on earth we can be sure of, it is this, that the Father desires to have us filled with His Spirit, that He delights to give us His Spirit.

If you have any non-commercial use for the graphic, help yourself.

Todd Charles Wood, Young-Earth Creationist, on the death of Glenn Morton, ex-Young-Earth Creationist

Todd Charles Wood is a young-earth creationist, perhaps the most significant scientist who believes that the earth is not very old. He has had helpful discussions with old-earth creationists, as well as other young-earth creationists. His blog is must reading for me. He recently published a tribute to Glenn R. Morton, who died a few days ago. Morton was a young-earth creationist geologist who came to doubt young-earth creationism because YEC explanations didn't explain the geology he found as a petroleum geologist. Not only that, but Morton asked other practicing geologists, trained by the Institute for Creation Research, as he had been, if there was anything they were taught there that actually helped them in their work. None of them could name one fact or phenomenon that did so.

In his tribute, Wood laments the treatment of Morton, whose Christianity was frequently questioned, as he began to be more open about his doubt of  YEC. And, says Wood, he's been there, although he is a staunch proponent of YEC. A prominent YECer called him a heretic last week, apparently for questioning some part of YEC doctrine.

Says Wood: There's something really defective in a group that deals with disagreement by demonizing the opposition and excommunicating people who think differently.  That's how cults work.  That's how con artists work.  But I think it's even worse than that.  If you say you can only be a good Christian if you believe in young-age creationism, you just added something to the gospel.  That makes the you the actual heretic!

Beliefs in origins are secondary to the gospel, and Christians should remain in fellowship with others who differ in their beliefs on this subject, as Wood tries to do.

Thanks for reading!

 

*  *  *  *  *

Added August 15, 2020: The Panda's Thumb, a mostly anti-creation blog, has published a tribute to Morton.

Sunspots 792

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

The Arts: Speculative Faith has a discussion of how adapting a book to a movie can go bad, using The Voyage of the Dawn Treader as the main example.

Christianity: A Christianity Today article points out the importance of churches gathering together. (The article does not advocate unbounded opening under today's circumstances.)

A Relevant writer says that God isn't particularly interested in blessing America.

Computing: WindowSwap lets you look out someone else's window, and lets others look out of yours.

Gizmo's Freeware reports on Converter 365, which will convert many file formats to others. There's no need to sign up, and no charge. It works!

Environment: (and Ethics) Christianity Today has an article about the rights and wrongs of exploring other planets. Can we do so without altering any life that is already present there?

Gizmodo reports that places that were most polluted, 35 years ago, are still polluted badly.

All time heat records have recently been set in several locations in the Middle East, according to Gizmodo.

Gizmodo also reports that two long-standing ice formations, in Canada, have disappeared.

Health: USA Today reports that fly-by-night brokers are profiting massively from government purchases of anti-COVID supplies.

Relevant (and other outlets) report that a doctor from Houston, who recently was part of a presentation supporting President Trump's debunked views on COVID therapy, and other aspects of the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic, has some really strange views. (Demons can attack you through sex; reptiles are part of the government.)

Gizmodo has published some reflections on the idea of dying of old age (or at an old age).

History:

Humor: Gizmodo reports on an exploration of what would happen if a rifle barrel were bent back toward the stock, as in Bugs Bunny cartoons.

(Or not) Jalopnik reports that way too many pleasure boats showed up when the recent space vessel landed in the ocean.

Philosophy:

Politics: FiveThirtyEight on how Republicans have an advantage in the Senate, despite Democrats representing more people.

FiveThirtyEight also discusses our perceptions on crime. We think we are much more likely to be robbed than we actually are, and the crime rate (although it's hard to pin that down) has been going down, not up, for many years.

FiveThirtyEight also reports on three dozen recent state elections. Many of them were all mail-in, and voter turnout (or turn-in) was up significantly.

Science: Gizmodo reports that the source of most of the boulders at Stonehenge has been found, and it is 20 or so miles from the site.

Gizmodo also reports on a recurring cloud on Mars, large enough to be seen by ordinary telescopes on earth.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray, 44

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

And now, the lesson Jesus teaches us today in His school is this:  That the Father is just longing to give Him to us if we will but ask in the childlike dependence on what He says:
‘If ye know to give good gifts unto your children, HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.’  In the words of God’s promise, ‘I will pour out my Spirit abundantly;’ and of His command, ‘Be ye filled with the Spirit’ we have the measure of what God is ready to give, and what we may obtain.  As God’s children, we have already received the Spirit.  But we still need to ask and pray for His special gifts and operations as we require them.  And not only this, but for Himself to take complete and entire possession; for His unceasing momentary guidance.  Just as the branch, already filled with the sap of the vine, is ever crying for the continued and increasing flow of that sap, that it may bring its fruit to perfection, so the believer, rejoicing in the possession of the Spirit, ever thirsts and cries for more.  And what the great Teacher would have us learn is, that nothing less than God’s promise and God’s command may be the measure of our expectation and our prayer; we must be filled abundantly.  He would have us ask this in the assurance that the wonderful HOW MUCH MORE of God’s Father-love is the pledge that, when we ask, we do most certainly receive. 

If you have any non-commercial use for the graphic, help yourself.