Birches

Birches
By Robert Frost

When I see birches bend to left and right

Across the lines of straighter darker trees,

I like to think some boy's been swinging them.

Read more »

Prudent Listening

Proverbs 15:5

A fool despises his father's instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

The fool despises his father's instruction, thinking that he is smarter than his father. In some ways he may be. He may know more than his father about technological gadgets. He knows more than his father about what is fashionable. He may have more street smarts. But what the son (or daughter) doesn't know as well are the experiences of a longer life. What he lacks is maturity that comes with experience, especially the experience of making mistakes. He lacks the experience of playing the fool and then becoming wiser. Such wisdom a father (and mother) has to give.
Read more »

We are very pleased to announce that Pam Nothacker has agreed to be the preschool's first director. She has vast experience both in education and in directing children's programs. You'll want to meet her! You can enjoy a virtual introduction on the preschool web site but we're hosting a special meet-and-greet on April 25 from 7-8 p.m. for those who want to meet her in person or learn more about the preschool's programs.

Of special note is the preschool's newly announced plans to provide a three-morning track for four-year-olds. If you'd like more information, email welcome@tenthpreschool.org.

Sunday Services 4/14/2013

Join us this Sunday for our services.
AM (9 & 11): Dr. Liam Goligher preaching, “Approved Workmen” (2 Timothy 2:14–26). Hymns: Praise the Lord: Ye Heavens Adore Him; Come To the Waters; Breathe on Me, Breath of God.
Parish 4 will worship together in the Catacombs during the 11:00 service.
PM (Soli Deo Gloria 6:15): Sinfonia Sacra.
(6:30):  Rev. Yavuz Kapusuz preaching, “To Be Partners in Suffering” (Colossians 1:24–26). Hymns: At the Name of Jesus; Jesus Shall Reign; Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim.

Holy Sonnet 14: Batter my heart

I've posted poems of two clergymen. Here is a third, John Donne (1572-1631), who was an Anglican priest, a contemporary of George Herbert.

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you

As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;

That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend

Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.

Read more »

Gentle Tongue

Proverbs 15:4

A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Seek a gentle tongue, which is another way of saying seek a gentle spirit. Seek a tongue/spirit that is a tree of life to the broken, the downtrodden, the person weighed down in suffering and/or in guilt.
Read more »

Opportunity for Prison Ministry

Orientation for Tenth’s Federal Detention Center ministry will occur the second week of May (day to be determined). Men, especially, are needed to lead Bible studies. For more information and registration for this Center City ministry, contact David Apple at dapple@tenth.org

Light in the City: Spring Edition of The Latern

The latest CCA/Spruce Hill School newsletter is now online. Access it here.

DCCS Knight Tones

Looking over next Sunday's bulletin, I see that the DCCS Knight Tones will be singing in the morning services. DCCS stands for Delaware County Christian School. I know we have Tenth members attending the school. I wonder if some of them will be singing?

Boice Center Lectures

I received notice of a schedule for the Boice Center lectures for this year.

Boice Center Dates

Friday, 7/19 Jeff Jue - Inerrancy and Church History (1800-Present)
Friday, 8/23 Carl Trueman - Inerrancy and Church History (100-1800)
Saturday, 9/28 Vern Poythress - Inerrancy and Science

Friday, 11/15 Rosaria Butterfield - Gender, Sexuality & Identity in Christ

Help for Alpha's Helpline

During regular business hours, trained volunteers answer the Alpha Pregnancy Services  "Helpline" calls. If you would like to become one of these important “first-responders,” mark your calendar now for the next two-day training session. Saturdays, June 8 and 15, from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Email Anna at acoppedge@alphapre.org for more info and to register.

God's Grandeur

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-89) was a Roman Catholic priest. His poetry was published posthumously.

“God’s Grandeur,” by Gerard Manley Hopkins

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

Read more »

Being Watched

Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.

This is either bad news or good news, depending on who you are and what you are doing. For the wicked, this is bad news. They can get away with nothing. God sees all; he cannot be deceived, cannot be mocked. For the righteous, this is good news. God sees all their good deeds; he sees their suffering. They are never alone.
Read more »

God is Not a Cemetery Keeper

Mark 12:18-27                        God is Not a Cemetery Keeper

4/7/13              D. Marion Clark

Introduction

Is there life after death? Most people want to believe there is. But do we have due cause? The number one nonfiction book on the market is Proof of Heaven, no doubt because it supposedly offers proof that we will go on living and it will be a nice life. The proof comes from personal experience. That kind of evidence is what we think we need. Jesus was challenged with this very issue. Interestingly enough, the one who could have spoken from personal experience chose instead to turn to what Scripture says about God. For him, God – not man – needed to be the starting point.

Read more »

If

Here is a poem that James Boice had hung on his wall - "If" by Rudyard Kipling.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

Read more »

Shafer Recital

Temple music student Elizabeth Shafer is having her senior recital (trombone) this coming Friday night, 7:30, at Rock Hall on the Temple campus.

Commending Knowledge

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

The thought here is that the wise make good use of knowledge in their communication. Unwise use of knowledge is devastating and has a long history. From the childhood friend who shares that the other girls don't like you to the misuse of statistics and research, abuse of knowledge can wreak havoc. The wise, however, know what conclusions to draw from knowledge; they know how to communicate knowledge in such a way that it is received appropriately; they know when to keep silent, when they are casting pearls before swine and when they are providing a cold cup of water.
Read more »