Wednesday, April 28, 2010

FREE COMICS!

Since I had a few minutes, I just want to send out a reminder (or, in some cases, an advisement) about Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 1, 2010.  Check out the website for more info, i.e. what comic stores plan to participate, what books each publisher is offering, etc. 

Usually, the big two companies (DC, Image and Marvel) will put out a LOT of superhero offerings, but if you're not into all of the Superhero madness the independent publishers will put out a few good books, too.  My wife Jenn and I became a fan of The Stuff of Legend and Bayou as a result of Free Comic Day.  I also ended up getting a free reprint of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic last year. 

In addition to the free books, most comic stores will have some VERY good sales that day.  Although the budget doesn't call for much, I'm hoping to fill out my Incredible Hulk collection (one of my lifelong goals is to get both of Peter David's Hulk runs either in trade format or the actual issues).

So, whether you're a longtime comics fan, a newcomer, or someone who grew up with comics and has been out of the loop for a few years, pop into your local comics store.  Hopefully, you'll be glad you did.      

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 20

Lord’s Day 20
53. What do you believe concerning the “Holy Spirit?”
First, that He is co-eternal God with the Father and the Son.1 Second, that He is also given unto me:2 by true faith makes me a partaker of Christ and all His benefits,3 comforts me,4 and shall abide with me forever.5
1 Gen 1:1-2; Isa 48:16; Mt 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; 2 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13; 3 1 Cor 6:17; Gal 3:14; 1 Pt 1:2; 4 Jn 15:26; Acts 9:31; 5 Jn 14:16-17; Rom 15:13; 1 Pt 4:14; 1 Jn 4:13

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Heidelberg, Week 19

Lord’s Day 19
50. Why is it added: “And sits at the right hand of God?”
Because Christ ascended into heaven for this end, that He might there appear as the Head of His Church,1 by whom the Father governs all things.2
1 Eph 1:20-23; Col 1:18; 2 Ps 110:1; Mt 28:18; Jn 5:22-23; 1 Pt 3:22
51. What does this glory of Christ, our Head, profit us?
First, that by His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly gifts upon us, His members;1 then, that by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.2
1 Acts 2:33; Eph 4:7-12; 2 Ps 2:9, 110:1-2; Jn 10:27-30; Acts 2:33; 1 Cor 15:25-26; Rev 19:11-16
52. What comfort is it to you that Christ “shall come to judge the living and the dead?”
That in all my sorrows and persecutions, I, with uplifted head, look for the very One, who offered Himself for me to the judgment of God, and removed all curse from me,1 to come as Judge from heaven,2 who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation,3 but shall take me with all His chosen ones to Himself into heavenly joy and glory.4
1 Lk 21:28; Rom 8:22-25; Php 3:20-21; Tit 2:13-14; 2 Lk 21:28; Rom 8:23-24; Php 3:20-21; Tit 2:13; 3 Mt 25:41; 1 Thes 4:16-18; 2 Thes 1:6, 10; 4 Mt 25:31-46; Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thes 4:16-17; 2 Thes 1:6-10; Heb 9:28

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 18

Lord’s Day 18
46. What do you understand by the words “He ascended into heaven?”
That Christ, in the sight of His disciples, was taken up from the earth into heaven,1 and continues there in our behalf 2 until He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.3
1 Mt 26:64; Lk 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Rom 8:34; Eph 4:10; Heb 4:14, 7:23-25, 9:11, 24; 3 Mt 24:30; Acts 1:11, 3:20-21
47. But is not Christ with us even unto the end of the world,1 as He has promised?
Christ is true man and true God. According to His human nature He is now not on earth,2 but according to His Godhead, majesty, grace, and Spirit, He is at no time absent from us.3
1 Mt 28:20; 2 Mt 26:11; Jn 16:28, 17:11; Acts 3:19-21; Heb 8:4; 3 Mt 28:18-20; Jn 14:16-19, 16:13; Eph 4:8; Heb 8:4
48. But are not, in this way, the two natures in Christ separated from one another, if the manhood is not wherever the Godhead is?
Not at all, for since the Godhead is incomprehensible and everywhere present,1 it must follow that it is indeed beyond the bounds of the manhood which it has assumed, but is yet nonetheless in the same also, and remains personally united to it.2
1 Jer 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49; 2 Mt 28:6; Jn 1:14, 48, 3:13, 11:15; Col 2:9
49. What benefit do we receive from Christ’s ascension into heaven?
First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven.1 Second, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge, that He as the Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself.2 Third, that He sends us His Spirit as an earnest,3 by whose power we seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and not things on the earth.4
1 Rom 8:34; 1 Jn 2:1; 2 Jn 14:2, 17:24, 20:17; Eph 2:4-6; 3 Jn 14:16; Acts 2:33; 2 Cor 1:21-22, 5:5; 4 Jn 14:3; Col 3:1-4; Heb 9:24

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 17

God is totally sovereign.  I had no idea that in my laxness in keeping up with the Catechism posts on this blog that today's post would match up with Easter Sunday.  He is truly faithful.

That said, Happy Easter.  He is Risen.  


Lord’s Day 17
45. What benefit do we receive from the “resurrection” of Christ?
First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of the righteousness which He has obtained for us by His death.1 Second, by His power we are also now raised up to a new life.2 Third, the resurrection of Christ is to us a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.3
1 Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 15:15-20, 54-55; 1 Pt 1:3-5, 21; 2 Rom 6:5-11; Eph 2:4-6; Col 3:1-4; 3 Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 15:12-23; Php 3:20-21