Down the Stretch

Things have been quiet here over the last week, but I didn't want to let another day go without at least letting you know why. The answer is simple: finals week. Though I don't have a bunch of exams (just one, in fact, that I'll take today), I do have my share of papers to write, the queen of which is an enormous exegetical commentary on Ephesians 1:3-14. It's totally monopolizing my time, and so that's why I don't have anything more substantive just yet. Pray for me. Hopefully we'll be able to continue the series on the Jehovah's Witnesses on Friday.

Maybe I'll leave you with some of what I've been working on in Ephesians. Here's how Eph 1:3-14 fits within the context of the book:

Paul’s purpose in writing to the church in Ephesus is to make known to them their exalted position and identity in Christ as His body, the Church. He labors to help them understand the spiritual blessings they enjoy because of God’s grace to them in Jesus Christ. Then, on the basis of this glorious calling, knowing themselves accepted by God, Paul exhorts them (Eph 4:1) to walk in a manner worthy of that calling. Because they have been granted new life in Christ positionally speaking, they must now live out their new life in Christ practically speaking. They must bring their conduct into conformity with their calling.

As Paul contemplates what it means to be Christ’s body, the implications of having one’s identity so united with and rooted in the Person of Jesus Christ, and all of the glories of salvation and redemption, he explodes into praise and blessing, giving us one of the most beautiful benedictions in all of Scripture, recorded in Eph 1:3–14. Very similar to Hebrew praise poetry, 1:3 contains a call to praise (“Blessed be”) and the cause for praise (“who has blessed us”). Thus in Eph 1:3 Paul declares that God is to be blessed for the gracious blessings He pours out upon believers in Christ. Then, in Eph 1:4–14 he outlines those blessings according to the work of each Person of the Trinity: the election of the Father (Eph 1:4–6), the redemption of the Son (Eph 1:7–12), and the seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13–14). This opening eulogy lays the foundation, then, for the first three chapters in which Paul aims to overwhelm the Ephesians with an accurate picture of their identity as the Church.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places
in Christ.
- Ephesians 1:3 -

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So the plan has been to post every Tuesday and Friday, and here it is Tuesday and Friday's post is still headlining. Well, I'm just having an extraordinarily busy week with some car trouble, a couple of big assignments due soon, and shifting my schedule to be able to attend the Ligonier Conference at Grace Church this weekend. So, no new post this morning.

I actually do have another comment or two to make about Friday's post, which, in the absence of something new, I'll encourage you to read or even re-read while you wait. But if you can't wait, I'm including some of the prayers of the Bible that I find particularly encouraging, and will ask you to pray them for me during this busy time.

Thank you again to all of you who read For Our Benefit.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.

Christmas Stuff

So as we're getting ready to head home, things are a bit hectic and I haven't had time to write Monday's post. Lucky for you, my friend Dan Phillips has come up with some gems related to the season that I've thoroughly enjoyed. Hopefully you will too.

The first is a great story about the best Christmas decorations ever. I was never very festive around Christmas time. The lights and the decorating the tree and the window stick-ons and the lawn ornaments never really appealed to me. But I really enjoyed this idea:


That's just priceless.

I also enjoyed the following:

Oh, and just in case any of you wanted to know what I might want for Christmas (:oD), you can click here. Thanks!

The Yankees Win!

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.

They then do it to receive a perishable wreath...

...but we an imperishable.

Let the small glory of World Series Championship point you to the infinite glory of face-to-face communion with the Lord Jesus Christ in the fullness of the glory of heaven!

And with that vision, run in such a way that you may win.

While I'm Away: Funny Birds

We're still not all set up with internet access in the new apartment in California, so I have more funny videos that I hope you can enjoy in the absence of more substantive material.

While I'm Away: Impressions

While I'm away I'm not able to post much of substance. Here's something, though, that's pretty amazing.

This gentleman's name is Rob Magnotti and is appearing on the David Letterman Show for "Impressionist Week." This impressionist is not the art movement, but one who performs using impressions of famous people.

Enjoy.

What We're Up To

So this week my wife Janna and I are driving from New Jersey out to Southern California as I begin my tenure at The Master's Seminary. We're driving these 3,000+ miles in 5 full days. Our stops include Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Flagstaff (and the Grand Canyon) and finally our new home in Newhall, CA. We pray and expect that it will be a wonderful time together in this great transition period of our lives. Please pray along with us that God would be honored in all we do, say, think, and feel on this trip out there, that it would be a joy-filled, God-honoring time for Janna and me.

After this post it may take some time before I have internet access again, so Friday and Monday's posts are a bit lighter than usual. Hope you enjoy them.

In the meantime, if you're looking to be benefited by some Christian blogging, I'd encourage you, if you haven't, to read some past posts here at For Our Benefit that you haven't read yet.

And if you're sick of me, take a tour through those blogs listed in the "Blogs For Our Benefit" section on this main page.

Drop a comment to let us know you're praying. I'll post an update on our trip when I can, and maybe even include some pictures.

And, while I'm not saying much else of substance, let me express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all those who read (and the few that comment on) my blog. You are a great encouragement to me, and knowing you're reading makes it a joy to be writing.