It's perseverance time again! This time, it's all about 2 Peter. He reminds us in this second letter that any notion we have of "eternal security" should be based on the grace of God. His grace, as opposed to a fatalistic attachment to the biblical doctrine of election. There are real battles to be won in our lives by God's grace. Because of election, we take hold of grace, taking the warnings seriously. We do not sit idly by, waiting for a glorification we have no part in. No one should ever quote Philippians 2:12 or 2:13 separately. They go together. That's a bold thing to say, but I'm serious. I can tell if someone is a zealot Calvinist, or a fearful Arminian by which one of those verses they quote. It's a pet peeve. Confessions of a Calvinist annoyed by Calvinists (some of them).
Today, you’re 35. Or at least you would be, in this place. You probably know this, but we’re OK. Not great, but OK. We know you wouldn’t want us moping around and weeping all the time. We try not to. Actually, I guess part of the problem is that you didn’t know how much we loved you. And that you didn’t know how to love yourself. I hope you have gotten to Love by now. Not a place, but fills everything in every way. I’m not Him, but he probably said, “Dear daughter/sister, you have been terribly hard on yourself. Rest now, and be at peace.” Anyway, teaching is going well, and I tell the kids all about you. They all say you are pretty. I usually can keep the boys from saying something gross for a few seconds. Mom and I are going to the game tonight. And like 6 more times, before I go back to South Carolina. I have seen Nicky twice, but I myself haven’t seen your younger kids. Bob took pictures of the day we said goodbye, and we did a family picture at the Abbey. I literally almost a...
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