The Sequoia Tree

THE SEED OF THE GIANT SEQUOIA
Sequoia gigantean, or Big Tree, grows only on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California at elevations varying from 5,000 to 8.500 feet above sea level. Individuals of this species are the largest living things on the face of the globe. Ranging from 250 to 330 feet high their diameters at the base vary approximately from 20 to 35 feet.
The Sequoia gigantean seems to go on living indefinitely and may stand as long as one hundred generations. The cells of the cambium layer and of the growing tips appear never to lose the ability to grow and reproduce. The tannin content of bark and wood discourages insects and fungi and retards fire. Even when fallen, the heartwood may stay sound for hundreds of years.
Giant Sequoias seldom produce cones until they are at least one hundred years of age. Each cone, from one to three inches long, contains 100 to 300 seeds, but these are so small that it takes 3,000 to weigh once ounce. Without the industrious pine squirrel very few sequoia cones would be dropped by the sequoias. Scampering in the treetops the squirrels cut off cones which sometimes fall as fast as seven or eight per minute. Later the squirrels hide the cones in holes and logs, and other likely niches—provision for the winter ahead. Cones stored in damp places usually remain closed, but those that can dry soon open and shed their seeds.
The age of the living sequoias is difficult to determine but the annual ring count of cut trees has indicated that many are from 3,000 to 4,000 years old. Some of these trees in California were already majestic giants when the star of Bethlehem rose in the heavens. Here they remained while the Cain of Christianity moved westward with “signs following”—the liberty of the individual, and of nations. Just yesterday, in a sequoia’s life, came the flowering of these Bethlehem’s principles in government—“We hold these Trust to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they re endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men…”

(From the introduction to the restored Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary--American Christian History Education Series. This dictionary should be in every home.)

JOY TO YOUR HEART

Joy to your hearts from ours. -Robert and Kay

Joy to the world the Lord has come and is here!

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,m which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" -Luke 2:8-11
Therefore, it is true:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall have life, a life which is in Christ Jesus, eternal and abundant. [read John, chapters 1-3]

Closer than a brother

Dr. Edwin P. Elliott, Publisher, long-time Managing Editor, and reviver of the Christian Observer – first published in 1813, Creator and Publisher of Presbyterians Week, and a pioneer in Internet ministry communications, died 11 October 2009, from the effects of a heart attack suffered two days before. Dr. Elliott was pastor at Reformed Presbyterian Church in Manassas, Virginia, from 1978 until his death. [www.christianobserver.com]

Dr. Edwin P. Elliott, Jr.
“There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” –Prov. 18:24
What more is there to say about Edwin? From the very beginning our friendship was as brothers. It started in the year 1973 and will continue, even as he is now embraced by the Savior and Lord in paradise.
At the beginning of the PCA I traveled from Zion Presbyterian Church, Tennessee, to a meeting of Presbytery in Mississippi. Edwin was the Clerk and he nominated me as recording clerk. It was a joy to serve Christ with Edwin. His knowledge of History and Reformed doctrine was an added blessing. Edwin was an encourager and a pusher. Some twenty years ago he started me writing the weekly Bible Studies for the Observer. The last ten years resulted in our fellowship over the phone at least two times weekly. We were continually developing our great love for Christ and his Church. There was no pessimism allowed, Christ was King and he would lead us always in victory. We also had a special love for our family. We rejoiced together over wives, Ann and Kay. We prayed together with thanksgiving as we thought of my daughter Dorcas, and his daughters, Laura, Rebecca, and Elizabeth (Izzi). Through the Hanover Presbytery we saw men growing in their faith and ministry; rejoicing that the Triune God was being honored, and God alone receives the glory. We believed that the power of building of the Church and the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom was of the Spirit and the Word, and therefore were not ashamed to be called Calvinists or Reformation Protestants. Therefore, Edwin held firm to the faith once delivered to the saints. There was in Edwin’s faith the understanding that there are only three books needed to make the Church strong: The Authorized Version of the Bible, The Westminster Confession of Faith and its Catechism, and the Psalter. Edwin would not have his name glorified in any way. I hope that I or any of us would have it any other way that God be glorified, alone. This was revealed in the service which I was privileged to lead. That service was filled with the Word of God read, and the Word of God Sung. Words of the Resurrection and Life from the New Testament; Words of life and hope from the Old Testament; interspersed with the singing of Psalm 90, 36, 12, 84. God’s Name be glorified in the same manner when I graduate as did Edwin. Surely, there is great joy in knowing a friend that is closer than a brother, one whom we will be rejoicing with in God’s eternity.
Dr. Robert L. LaMay

Pray for God to raise up true Christian statesmen

Considering that many things are not taught today about the Declaration of Independence (1776); let us look at one of its 56 signers: Charles Carroll of Carrollton
“Charles Carroll was the last of the signers to pass away, dying in 1832 at the age of 95. A strong and unequivocal declaration of his Christian faith appears in numerous writings, including a letter he wrote on his 89th birthday in which he declared: ‘On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.’ In other of his writings, Charles Carroll explained that his Christian faith was one of the chief reasons that he had entered into the American Revolution—he was fighting to preserve religious liberty. In fact, he was so committed to Christianity that he built and personally funded a Christian house of worship.
“Charles Carroll’s life and words confirm that he was a strong Christian, and he is one of that handful of Americans who have been honored at the Capital with a statue, located in East Central Hall.” --Spiritual Heritage, David Barton

500th Anniversary - II God's Glory in Creation

July 10, 2009 - 500th Anniversary of

of John Calvin - July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564

Psalm 104:1-4—“Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: who maketh the angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.”

John Calvin wrote that “stupid folk cannot plead the excuse of ignorance. Therefore the prophet very aptly exclaims that he is ‘clad with light as with a garment’ [Ps. 104:2]. It is as if he said: Thereafter the Lord began to show himself in the visible splendor of his apparel, every since in the creation of the universe he brought forth those insignia whereby he shows his glory to us, whenever and wherever we cast our gaze. Likewise, the same prophet skillfully compares the heavens, as they are stretched out, to his royal tent and says that he has laid the beams of his chambers on the waters, has made the clouds his chariot, rides on the wings of the wind, and that the winds and lightning bolts are his swift messengers. [Ps. 1-4:2-4.] And since the glory of his power and wisdom shine more brightly above, heaven is often called his palace [Ps. 11:4]. Yet, in the first place, wherever you cast your eyes, there is no spot in the universe wherein you cannot discern at least some sparks of his glory. You cannot in one glance survey this most vast and beautiful systems of the universe, in its wide expanse, without being completely overwhelmed by the boundless force of his brightness. The reason why the author of The Letter to the Hebrews elegantly calls the universe the appearance of things invisible [Heb. 11:3] is that his skillful ordering of the universe is for us a sort of mirror in which we can contemplate God, who is otherwise invisible. The reason why the prophet attributes to the heavenly creatures a language known to every nation [Ps. 19:2 ff.] is that therein lies an attestation of divinity so apparent that it ought not to escape the gaze of even the most stupid tribe. The apostle declares this more clearly: ‘What men need to know concerning God has been disclosed to them, … for one and all gaze upon his invisible nature, known from the creation of the world, even unto his eternal power and divinity’ [Rom. 1:19-20].” –Institutes of the Christian Religion

500th Anniversary of John Calvin - I. WORD & SPIRIT

July 10, 2009 - 500th Anniverary of John Calvin - July 10, 1509-May 27, 1564

This is the beginning of valuable quotes from John Calvin as we approach the 500th Anniversary of his birth; a birth which brought about by the providence of God a servant of the Reformation.

I. John Calvin was a man of the Word and of the Holy Spirit. Calvin wrote: “that the Holy Spirit so adheres in His truth, which He expresses in Scripture, that only when its proper reverence and dignity are given to the Word does the Holy Spirit show forth His power. And what has lately been said—that the Word itself is not quite certain for us unless it be confirmed by the testimony of the Spirit—is not out of accord with these things. For by a kind of mutual bond the Lord has joined together the certainty of his Word and of his Spirit so that the perfect religion of the Word may abide in our minds when the Spirit, who causes us to contemplate God’s face, shine; and that we in turn may embrace the Spirit with no fear of being deceived when we recognize him in his own image, namely, in the Word. So indeed it is. God did not bring forth his Word among men for the sake of a momentary display, intending at the coming of his Spirit to abolish it. Rather he sent down the same Spirit by whose power he had dispensed the Word, to complete his work by the efficacious confirmation of the Word.” [The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Word and Spirit belong inseparably together, Bk 1, Ch 9]

On National Day of Prayer

Gary DeMar of American Vision wrote the following concerning the prayers of politicians and Christians, reminding us what prayer really is.

Organizers of the National Day of Prayer are upset that President Obama is not officially participating in the observation. He will pray privately, as he does every day, the president’s spokesman said. His only public acknowledgement will be to issue a White House proclamation. Well, I’m kind of glad. I’m tired of politicians who take the name of the Lord in vain. Please tell me how someone who supports abortion on demand, homosexuality, and generational theft by government edict should serve as the national spokesman for a day of prayer.Of course, President Obama is not the first president not to acknowledge an official observance. There were no official observances during the Clinton administration. While President George W. Bush did hold a formal White House event during his tenure as president, the Bush White House also recognized the Islamic observance of Ramadan with a White House dinner.Maybe God is telling His people something this year. Joshua expected a victory against Ai. Israel won its first encounter with Jericho without a casualty. Why should the battle with Ai be any different? The spies thought Ai was weak enough that only “two or three thousand men need go up” (Joshua 7:3). Thirty-six Israelites were killed, and the rest were pursued and assaulted by the men of Ai with the result that “the hearts of the people melted and became as water” (v. 5). Bible believing Christians have become disheartened. You know what the Israelites were thinking. “Maybe we should not have ventured to participate in this social thing. We were at least safe when we were ghettoized beyond the Jordan.” There was even fear that things would get a lot worse once the “Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land” heard about the defeat (v. 9). Joshua, voicing these concerns to God, did what today's political remorseful are recommending. “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell on the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, both he and the elders of Israel” (v. 7). In a word, he prayed . . . hard. What did God tell him to do? “So the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them’” (v. 11). In effect, God told Joshua to stop praying and act on the evil that brought them the defeat!Prayer is not a magical formula, an incantation that brings forth God like a Genie from a bottle. Prayer is an admission of weakness. It is in weakness that God can best use us (2 Cor. 12:10). But true faith and trust are not exercised if we do not act on the belief that God will work for us even in our weakness. Prayer is not the end but the beginning of the work God has called us to do. J. I. Packer says it this way:The Spirit does what he does. His supernaturalizing of our lives enables Christians, as a matter of fact, to do much for the Lord that they wouldn't be able to do otherwise. That's the whole doctrine of gifts and ministry. It's my part to see what God calls me to do, to ask the Lord to enable me to do it, then to get up off my knees and go confidently into action, watching to see what help I shall be given, and finally to give thanks for what the Spirit did in and through me.There is sin in the Christian camp. Entire denominations support abortion and homosexuality. Those who claim to be Bible-believing Christians maintain that abortion should be a protected right and homosexuals should have special rights protecting behavior that the Bible calls an “abomination.” The sins of Achan—“the mantle of Shinar” (humanism) and “silver and gold” (mammon)—are the sins of the church. After we fall on our face, let's be careful not to cover our ears. We might just hear God's voice saying to us, “Rise up!"