November 2007

(David) If you live in the Toledo area--a chunk of real estate ranging from Ann Arbor in the north to Findlay in the south--join us for Christ the Word's fourth annual Messiah Sing-Along this Sunday evening, December 2, at 7 PM.

Christ the Word's Associate Pastor, Andrew Dionne, along with his team of musicians, are building a Sing to rival the best between Chicago and New York--and it's unique in that its accomplished performers are all professing believers in Christ.

Each year has seen an advance in the Messiah. This year an audience support chorus will be added. Next year, who knows? Perhaps an instrumental ensemble to complement the piano and organ.

For more information on the Messiah Sing-Along see the web site here. For those planning to attend, scores are available free of charge for the use of those who don't own a score.

Soloists for the Messiah Sing include:

(David) Okay, a couple assumptions at the outset.

First, a father has authority over the marriage of a daughter living in his home. This is demonstrated in Scripture by the father’s right to negate a marriage occasioned by a man’s seduction of his virgin daughter.

Second, nowhere ever is sex permitted outside marriage. However, it’s also the case that sex between unmarried adults establishes marriage when promises are exchanged and a father doesn’t veto.

Third, respect for authority is vital. But respect doesn’t require agreement. Nor does it necessitate absolute, unwavering, slavish obedience. Abigail respected Nabal by going to David with her caravan of goods, thus saving Nabal’s life—though he may not have seen it as respectful submission in the midst of his drunken stupor. Authentic authority is not always wise or godly authority. And just as we seek to change the hearts and minds of earthly rulers, so a suitor’s attempts to win a wife don’t necessarily have to come to a clanging stop at a father’s no, though the heart of the father’s authority over his daughter’s marriage must be respected.

(Tim) Noting that someone in Anacortes, Washington, is reading the blog through Verizon, I'm guessing he's sitting waiting for the ferry to take him somewhere in the San Juans, or over to Victoria. Is that you, Don?

And while we're talking about identities, let's do a little housekeeping.

A few minutes ago, I noticed someone was reading David's post, "Is it enough...," through an anonymizer. While recognizing there are some extraordinary circumstances when anonymizers serve a legitimate function, I suspect this is not such a case. So I repeat myself.

Brothers, I appeal to each of you to make your internet activity as public as possible. The Holy Spirit warns us that evil men shoot from the shadows, love darkness, and refuse to come into the light where their deeds may be seen and judged. So then, it's sanctifying to allow others to see our IP address.

Also to sign comments with our full names.

(David) In warfare it's essential not to confuse primary and secondary objectives. Stalin's son was captured by the Wehrmacht in World War II. Stalin refused every rescue plan, unwilling in any way to take the focus off the invading Germans.

The primary objective in the war of love is the heart of the potential bride. A suitor can win a father's approval but that's not the ultimate objective. A young man can win all sorts of hearts--his beloved's mother's, sisters', brothers', dog's, even her third-grade teacher's--but if he fails to claim hers, he loses the battle.

One might hope that by winning the daughter the suitor will gain the embrace of her family. But it doesn't always work that way. David gained Michal without ever winning her father's heart; Jacob never truly brought Leah and Rachel's family on board.

(Tim) Several years ago, I was talking with Doug Wilson about race relations and Doug said he feared racism was about to return, with a vengeance. At the time, I wasn't as inclined to pessimism as he was, but now I'm not so sure.

A recent New Yorker article on black French comedian, Dieudonné ("Letter from Paris: Laugh Riots" 11/19/07), recounts what Dieudonné referred to during several 2002 interviews as his "conversion." Since then, Dieudonné’s routines have had a virulent anti-Semitism at their center. Now Dieudonné considers Judaism to be "a scam. It's one of the worst because it's the first."

Some speculate that Dieudonné’s strategy is to ride the crest of a wave of racism taking western Europe, particularly France. According to the article's author, Tom Reiss...