Author Archives: arator

About arator

Jesus is alive and the whole Bible is about Him, and I am nobody. I like to till the earth and muse over all things theological.

Lord’s Day 34

Posted on August 23, 2009 by arator

(Third Part: Of Thankfulness—Questions 86-129) 92. What is the Law of God? God spake all these words, saying: First Commandment: I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house … Continue reading →

Posted in Heidelberg | Comments Off on Lord’s Day 34

Rain, Rain, Blessed Rain

Posted on August 21, 2009 by arator

have never seen rain like this in August. Most years in Oklahoma you need a stick of dynamite to dig a hole in the ground when August rolls around. It has always been a bitter-sweet affair: wishing the drought and … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Floral | Comments Off on Rain, Rain, Blessed Rain

Simple Rhyme

Posted on August 17, 2009 by arator

he hymn Man of Sorrows is atypical of the majority of hymns coming out of that period in American history defined as “revivalism,” that period making up the last half of the 19th century, and confined roughly to the northeastern … Continue reading →

Posted in hymns | Comments Off on Simple Rhyme

Lord’s Day 33

Posted on August 16, 2009 by arator

(Third Part: Of Thankfulness—Questions 86-129) 88. In how many things does true repentance or conversion consist? In two things: the dying of the old man, and the quickening of the new. 89. What is the dying of the old man? … Continue reading →

Posted in Heidelberg | Comments Off on Lord’s Day 33

Real Lilies

Posted on August 14, 2009 by arator

uite a few of the blooms I have featured on Fridays recently have been called “lily” but have not been true lilies. Well, today you get the real deal. There are about 90 species in the genus Lilium, probably the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Floral | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Real Lilies

Lord’s Day 32

Posted on August 9, 2009 by arator

(Third Part: Of Thankfulness—Questions 86-129) 86. Since then we are redeemed from our misery by grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we do good works? Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, renews us also … Continue reading →

Posted in Heidelberg | Comments Off on Lord’s Day 32

Crinum Lily

Posted on August 7, 2009 by arator

his may turn out to be an all-lily month for  my Friday Floral pics. I nearly waited too long for this weeks gem, but I knew I had a very narrow window on the Lycoris last week, and decided to … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Floral, Theology | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Crinum Lily

Faith and Repentance

Posted on August 4, 2009 by arator

n his Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem occasionally offers a personal comment relating to the current evangelical state in America. In his chapter on conversion, after showing from Scripture and logic that faith and repentance are inseparable, Grudem gives this analysis: … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Comments Off on Faith and Repentance

Lord’s Day 31

Posted on August 2, 2009 by arator

(Second Part: Of Man’s Redemption—Questions 12-85) 83. What is the Office of the Keys? The Preaching of the Holy Gospel and Church Discipline; by which two things the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and shut against unbelievers. 84. … Continue reading →

Posted in Heidelberg | Comments Off on Lord’s Day 31

Surprise, Surprise

Posted on July 31, 2009 by arator

he surprise lily is just that; a surprise. The other day I was scratching around the front gate, trying to get a handle on some low-growing weeds near the Don Juan climbing roses. It was mostly spurge, Oxalis, and that … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Floral | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Surprise, Surprise