A Change Would Do You Good

In those immortal words of Sheryl Crow, I am officially announcing that my blog, Post Tenabras Lux, is relocating to Wordpress. In experimenting with Wordpress, I believe that it is a better product and affords some features which Blogger doesn't.

If you currently have a link to this blog on your website, I would very much appreciate it if you would update the address accordingly. My new address is www.candrewjones.wordpress.com. By the way, feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you think about the new site!

A Surreal Moment

After being on campus in class or independent study for most of the day, I have come home to settle in for additional reading. Just moments ago, as I was doing exactly as I had planned, a surreal experience hit me. As I reclined in my faux-leather desk chair, sipping a hot cup of coffee, and preparing to read a first-edition copy of William the Baptist (1877!), the strangest thought hit me. Musical notes, which I had previously not noticed, came together suddenly to inform me that my old English self, while reading the afore-mentioned book, was simultaneously tapping my toes to the music of Hilary Duff. Wow. That's strange.

I'm not going to try to explain why I have Hilary Duff on my computer. Let's just say that it was from an old contest I was forced to be a part of, and I guess I enjoyed it more than I thought.

My First Original Hymn

As part of a seminary class I am finishing, I had to compose an original hymn text. This took quite a while, but I must admit that it was very fun to do! The lyrics are to the tune of Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, a Charles Wesley hymn. If you'd like to listen to a clip of that tune in order to get the rhythm of my lyrics, click here. Here goes nothing...

Grace for Thee, O Weary Sinner

Grace for thee, O weary sinner!

Plagued with fears, thy strivings cling.

Though thou be in sin's dark winter,

Jesus' cross has brought thee spring.

Join thou now, His Priestly Nation;

Trust the blood which pardons thee!

Word of God, our Great Salvation,

Son of Man, Pure Trinity!

Speak, thy soul, with praise unceasing,

of the Christ who set thee free!

Guilt and pains, to Him releasing;

From thy soul all doubts must flee!

Now there be no condemnation,

Peace with God, eternally!

Now this life a consecration

'Til thine eyes His glories see!

A Hymn-I Asked The Lord

Here are the lyrics to a John Newton (1725-1807) hymn I've been listening to quite a bit lately. The version I have been enjoying is an altered arrangement performed by Indelible Grace, and a sample of the tune can be found here.
I think that if you consider the inner struggle of the hymnist as he battles with his own inner darkness and compare it to your own heart, you too, may find yourself radically changed.

1. I asked the Lord that I might grow/In faith and love and every grace/Might more of His salvation know/And seek more earnestly His face

2. Twas He who taught me thus to pray/And He I trust has answered prayer/But it has been in such a way/As almost drove me to despair

3. I hoped that in some favored hour/At once He'd answer my request/And by His love's constraining power/Subdue my sins and give me rest

4. Instead of this He made me feel/The hidden evils of my heart/And let the angry powers of Hell/Assault my soul in every part

5. Yea more with His own hand He seemed/Intent to aggravate my woe/Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,/Cast out my feelings, laid me low

6. Lord why is this, I trembling cried/Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?/"Tis in this way," the Lord replied/"I answer prayer for grace and faith"

7. "These inward trials I employ/from self and pride to set thee free/And break thy schemes of earthly joy/That thou mayest seek thy all in me/That thou mayest seek thy all in me."

Grudem on Women's Roles in the Church

Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Bible and Theology at Phoenix Seminary, recently has written a book entitled Countering the Claims of Evangelical Feminism. Grudem, a highly-acclaimed scholar and theologian within evangelical circles, provides specific lists of what he deems to be responsibilities in the church with relation to which genders may perform them.

Take a look at the lists provided here and let's chat about what you think. Should women be primary teachers for high school Sunday School classes? What about worship leaders? Preachers or small group leaders? I look forward to some lively discussion.

Special thanks to Tony Still for pointing me to this article through his blog, Simul Iustus et Peccator.

Link of the Week-Jib Jab's Year in Review

This week's Link of the Week is Jib Jab's Review of 2006. Enjoy!

Link of the Week-Mohler on Early Christianity

Just in time for Christmas (or soon after, in this case), major media outlets are releasing documentaries and cover stories about Christianity and its origins. What better time to discuss Christian beginnings than the birth of Jesus Christ, right?

This week's Link of the Week is Dr. Albert Mohler's review of the recent CNN documentary, After Jesus: The First Christians. I was able to watch a brief few moments of this work on Christmas Eve, and find Dr. Mohler's analysis to be compelling and fair.

In his discussion of Gnosticism, an ancient heretical view that arose in the second century, Mohler quotes narrator Liam Neeson. This quote is worth reprinting:

The New Testament Gospels are gospels of the cross. The Gnostic gospels are gospels of wisdom. The New Testament Gospels care about salvation from sin. The Gnostic gospels care about salvation from ignorance. The New Testament Gospels look to stimulate faith. The Gnostic gospels look to stimulate knowledge and insight.

Well said.