“In the media today, the Christian media, there’s too much triffling with God, too much slapstick, too much triviality. There aren’t enough tears. There isn’t enough seriousness. The Joy has a light silly flavor to it. Not the kind of flavor that out to be there when you have suffered and died with Jesus. We ought to be calling the world to a kind of joy which has tears on it’s face and can walk through dark valleys. Instead of trying to sound like the silly banter of primetime, drive time, world.”
John Piper, “Looking at the Kindness and Severity of God 2
Christians should be all over the Manhattan Declaration; it’s anti-abortion with traditional views of marriage and in defense of religious liberty. So why did one of our beloved Christian leaders decline to sign it?! Well, read on and be encouraged. Sproul is yet again a living example of standing firm for the faith of the gospel (Phil 1:27): The Manhattan Declaration: Why didn’t you sign it, R.C.?
I’ve long had a desire to learn the original language of the Bible. There was a crash course that came into town; it would have cost $250. I signed up for it, but they canceled it due to lack of students. I could learn on my own, but it seems very difficult, and who will correct me! I could enroll at Cornerstone seminary, they provide several years of Greek and Hebrew to train their students; but I would have to drive 2 hours every week and stay at a hotel. On the other hand, I’ll have a master’s degree and will be ready for full-time ministry; I just don’t feel at the moment that in God’s providence He wants me to do that. He certainly has arranged for me to be in a house with a mortgage that takes an engineer’s salary to pay.
Today Logos announced 15 hours of videos for learning how to study the Greek and Hebrew using Logos software tools. I looked at the intro video and this would sound strange if I didn’t give you a little background, but I got a little choked up. I really want to learn the original languages, and this looks good to me.
I’m planning to create a seperate website from my LombardiSpot blog that would be more focused on Christian content. Tell me, what name sounds better to you, “Holy Aware” or “Today’s Reformer”? Holy Aware is a bit of a play on words, I would be writing on topics that are intended to build on an awareness of our Holy God and all thing Holy towards the end that we are wholy aware of all things holy; get it? 
And then “Today’s Reformer” would suggest more of a focus on communicating thoughts, ideas, and teachings that bring reformation to our lives for the glory of God, with a bit of a harcking back to the days of the reformers; I’ve heard the sentiment echoed that American Evangelicism is in the midst of another reformation, thus Today’s Reformer would identify with that.
So, which do you like? “Holy Aware” or “Today’s Reformer”. Please comment.
I started reading a book titled “Come, Ye Children”: A Book for Parents and Teachers on the Christian Training of Children, by Charles Spurgeon. The title suggests that he’s addressing children, but Spurgeon looks further than the simple age-based definition.
The lambs are the young of the flock. So, then, we ought to look specially and carefully after those who are young in grace. They may be old in years, and yet they may be mere babes in grace as to the length of their spiritual life, and therefore they need to be under a good shepherd. (Spurgeon, Come Ye Children, 8)
I really like this definition. It expands the concept of children to perceive the needs of people based not on physical-age, but spiritual-age. Spurgeon goes on to challenge the shepherds, whether they be parents, or teachers:
Christian children mainly need to be taught the doctrine, precept, and life of the gospel: they require to have Divine truth put before them clearly and forcibly. Why should the higher doctrines, the doctrines of grace, be kept back from them? They are not as some say, bones; or if they be bones, they are full of marrow, and covered with fatness. If there be any doctrine too difficult for a child, it is rather the fault of the teacher’s conception of it than of the child’s power to receive it, provided that child be really converted to God. It is ours to make doctrine simple; this is to be a main part of our work. Teach the little ones the whole truth and nothing but the truth; for instruction is the great want of the child’s nature. (Spurgeon, Come Ye Children, 8)
This is one of the reasons it is so important for parents to understand the difficult doctrines and be able to explain them in simpler terms. We should strive to learn those doctrines which are difficult to grasp and master them in such a way that we can turn to those who are children, and patiently and lovingly feed the lambs. Which brings me to the verse of Scripture Spurgeon points out for this call to “feed the lambs”
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ” (John 21:15, ESV)
So both parents of children, or teachers of spiritually-younger Christians are called by our Lord Jesus Christ to provide spiritual food. By doing this, not only are we loving those who we care for, but we are also loving Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord and King.
I haven’t wrote many posts on what’s going on inside the Lombardi household, so I could go into details, but I’ll just give an overview.
Jenn and I are coming upon our 7 year anniversary (woohoo!). It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I’ll have to write more about that. Matthew is now 4 years old and Claire is 2 years old. It’s nice to hear Claire talk more and more; she’s such a bundle of joy (and spices). We have been endeavoring to provide a spiritual nurturing home environment. Jenn can probably write more about what she does during the day; during the evening we regularly have family devotion time which involves opening prayers, worship from the hymnal, bible stories, and closing prayers where everyone is required to pray.
We are now attending at two churches; West Hills is our home church, and Veritas is a church plant that we have recently began attending. I’ve also began leading a community group at our home with people who attend at Veritas. I love this group of people and I really do hope to see increased spiritual growth and vitality for everyone in the group~including me.
My parents (a.k.a grandparents), are coming over most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings before dinner and watching the kids for a little over an hour while Jenn and I go to Gold’s Gym and work-out. They seem to enjoy the time, my mother commonly saying, “take your time”, as we head out the door. I know what she means although the Gym is not someplace that you should be taking-your-time.
Jenn and I have been fitting in some additional learning time with DVD’s from Puritan Picks. So far we’ve watched Christian conference videos and seminars; our community group is currently going through the “Battling Unbelief” series; I had chosen it for our group after having rented it from Puritan picks and watched it with Jenn.
I’m also becoming a bit of a self-proclaimed web-designer, pouring over articles online and learning all I can about this world-wide-web and the social conversation that’s going on on-line. I have a lot more respect for web-designers after trying to learn the trade myself; and of course, I’m still just a newbie at this. The reason I’m doing this is to both redesign the Veritas website, but also to redesign my website and also begin a new website focused on spiritual topics and discussions.
And lastly, what’s going on with Rob AND Jenn Lombardi? Well, we don’t share everything, but lets just say that we are greatly in-love with each other and I know I speak for the both of us when I say that it is an amazing grace from God, that the two of us, an engineer from California, and a country girl from Alabama, have come together and are now experiencing all that we are experiencing between each other: love, spiritual-unity, fidelity, integrity, joy, passion, transparency, and children. But of course, it’s all tempered by a fair share of fleshly struggles which we get through by the grace of God with the strength that He provides, which repairs our brokenness and increases our unity.
