Heidelberg One

I recently read Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport: Making Connections in Today's World by Richard Mouw.   It was an interesting book and I enjoyed it.  He spent much of the book talking about the Heidelberg Catechism.  If you're unfamiliar, the Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine. The catechism was divided into fifty-two sections so that one could be explained in preaching each Sunday of the year.  It had actually been a while since I read the very first question and answer of this document.

The last few months have been peppered with deaths in the lives of many friends.  They've been in mourning and I my heart aches with them.  It's sad to see so many friends in pain and overcome with grief.  I wish that grief was not a part of this fallen world, but it is and there's nothing we can do to change that.  But in this season of death, this brings me comfort.  (Green text is my emphasis.)

Question 1.
What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer.
That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a)
am not my own, (b)
but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c)
who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d)
and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e)
and so preserves me (f)
that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g)
yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h)
and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i)
and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

(a) Rom.14:7,8. (b) 1 Cor.6:19. (c) 1 Cor.3:23; Tit.2:14. (d) 1
Pet.1:18,19; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2,12. (e) Heb.2:14; 1 John 3:8; John
8:34-36. (f) John 6:39; John 10:28; 2 Thess.3:3; 1 Pet.1:5. (g)
Matt.10:29-31; Luke 21:18. (h) Rom.8:28. (i) 2 Cor.1:20-22; 2 Cor.5:5;
Eph.1:13,14; Rom.8:16. (j) Rom.8:14; 1 John 3:3.

In Memory of:

Winston's Sister

Karen's Dad

Maria's Husband

Jan's Husband

Mailee's Friend

Sean's Mom and Dad

Nancy's Cousin

Molly's Friend

**This is a shot I took from my best friend's porch in Louisiana.  I LOVED watching sunsets there!**