Tie and Toga

Tie and Toga 5 December 2006

2006-12-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

On today's program, the apocryphal books are up for discussion in connection with what we confess in Article 6 of the Belgic Confession.

ARTICLE 6 - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANONICAL AND APOCRYPHAL BOOKS

We distinguish these holy books from the apocryphal, namely, 3 and 4 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, additions to Esther, the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men in the Furnace, Susannah, Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Manasseh, and 1 and 2 Maccabees. The church may read and take instruction from these so far as they agree with the canonical books. They are, however, far from having such power and authority that we may confirm from their testimony any point of faith or of the Christian religion; much less may they be used to detract from the authority of the holy books.

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The music at the beginning and end of the program is from the Indelible Grace CD, For All the Saints. To learn more about Indelible Grace, go to their website.

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To download the program (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Tie and Toga 28 November 2006

2006-11-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

On today's program, we're discussing Articles 3 and 4 of the Belgic Confession....

ARTICLE 3 - THE WORD OF GOD

We confess that this Word of God did not come by the impulse of man, but that men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God, as the apostle Peter says (2 Pet 1:21). Thereafter, in His special care for us and our salvation, God commanded His servants, the prophets and apostles, to commit His revealed Word to writing¹ and He Himself wrote with His own finger the two tables of the law.² Therefore we call such writings holy and divine Scriptures.³

¹ Ex 34:27; Ps 102:18; Rev 1:11, 19. ² Ex 31:18. ³ 2 Tim 3:16.

ARTICLE 4 - THE CANONICAL BOOKS

We believe that the Holy Scriptures consist of two parts, namely, the Old and the New Testament, which are canonical, against which nothing can be alleged. These books are listed in the church of God as follows.

The books of the Old Testament: the five books of Moses, namely, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther; Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

The books of the New Testament: the four gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles; the thirteen letters of the apostle Paul, namely, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon; the letter to the Hebrews; the seven other letters, namely, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude; and the Revelation to the apostle John.

To download the program (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Genuine Podcast

2006-11-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

Up till now, Tie and Toga has not been a real podcast. You could download the episodes, but then you'd have to manually load them into your ipod or other MP3 player. No more! I just burned a proper RSS feed for the program and it is now the real deal. Just click on the RSS icon to the right, below "I Power Blogger."

Tie and Toga 21 November 2006

2006-11-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

On today's podcast, we're continuing our series on the Belgic Confession. Article 2 is up for discussion today.

ARTICLE 2 - HOW GOD MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO US

We know Him by two means: First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most beautiful book,¹ wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many letters leading us to perceive clearly the invisible things of God, namely, His eternal power and deity, as the apostle Paul says (Rom 1:20). All these things are sufficient to convict men and leave them without excuse. Second, He makes Himself more clearly and fully known to us by His holy and divine Word² as far as is necessary for us in this life, to His glory and our salvation.

¹ Ps 19:1-4. ² Ps 19:7, 8; 1 Cor 1:18-21

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Tie and Toga 7 November 2006

2006-11-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

On today's program, we continue with our series on the Belgic Confession. Pastor Bredenhof reads an excerpt of a letter from Guido De Bres to his wife. You can find the full letter by clicking here. We spend the rest of the program with Article 1:

ARTICLE 1 - THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD

We all believe with the heart and confess with the mouth¹ that there is only one God,² who is a simple and spiritual Being;³ He is eternal,⁴ incomprehensible,⁵ invisible,⁶ immutable,⁷ infinite,⁸ almighty,⁹ perfectly wise,¹⁰ just,¹¹ good,¹² and the overflowing fountain of all good.¹³

¹ Rom 10:10. ² Deut 6:4; 1 Cor 8:4, 6; 1 Tim 2:5. ³ Jn 4:24. ⁴ Ps 90:2. ⁵ Rom 11:33. ⁶ Col 1:15; 1 Tim 6:16. ⁷ Jas 1:17. ⁸ 1 Kings 8:27; Jer 23:24. ⁹ Gen 17:1; Mt 19:26; Rev 1:8. ¹⁰ Rom 16:27. ¹¹ Rom 3:25, 26; Rom 9:14; Rev 16:5, 7. ¹² Mt 19:17. ¹³ Jas 1:17.

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To download the program (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Tie and Toga for October 31, 2006

2006-10-31T14:25:00.000-08:00

Today is Reformation Day and to commemorate this occasion, Tie and Toga is beginning a series on the Belgic Confession. On today's program we discuss the purpose of confessions, the nature of their authority, some of the history of the Belgic Confession and a bunch of other stuff. Enjoy!

To download the program (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Tie and Toga for October 17, 2006

2006-10-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

On today's program, the Langley co-pastors talk about the church situation in the Netherlands, particularly with the sister churches of the Canadian Reformed. They also discuss this video by Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. You'll want to watch the video before listening to our discussion...

To download the program (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Coming Soon

2006-10-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

Well folks, we are on our way back. We are planning to get back into the groove with Tie and Toga starting next week Wednesday. We've got a great show lined up with some riveting discussion. I can't tell you now what it's going to be about, but I can give a hint. Let's just say it involves the fellow in the picture above. If you know who he is, great. If not, you'll soon find out.

Sabbatical

2006-06-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

Tie and Toga will be taking a sabbatical for the next while. As you may know, Pastor Visscher is going to be away on mission business for most of July. I will be having my vacation in August. And then Pastor Visscher will be gone on his vacation for part of September. So, hopefully we will be back on the air at the end of September.

Tie and Toga for June 21, 2006

2006-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

On today's program, the Langley pastors interview Dr. Arjan DeVisser, one of the professors of our seminary in Hamilton. We talk about his work at the Theological College, his past experiences in South Africa, and some of his observations about Canadian Reformed church life.

To download the program (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Tie and Toga Podcast for June 13, 2006

2006-06-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

On today's program, we discuss love, law, and a couple of picks for summer reading.

To download the program (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Through the course of the show we mention some resources. Here they are:

D.A. Carson, Love in Hard Places

D.A. Carson, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God

Shane Lems' Article in the Outlook, The Two Parts of the Heidelberg Catechism: Law and Gospel

Rod J.K. Wilson, How Do I Help a Hurting Friend?

W. Robert Godfrey, An Unexpected Journey

Tie and Toga Podcast for 6-6-06

2006-06-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

On today's program: we dive into the mailbag again and interact with some listener feedback to last week's show. We also spend some time discussing church discipline. Finally, we have the first ever Tie and Toga contest. You can't win if you don't play!

During the program we mention a couple of resources:

Kim Riddlebarger's new book, The Man of Sin

Josh Harris' book, Stop Dating the Church

To download (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Tie and Toga for May 30, 2006

2006-05-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

On today's program (50 minutes), we interview Pastor George VanPopta of the Ancaster Canadian Reformed Church. We talk about his involvement with the radio program "What Does The Bible Say?", Streetlight Ministries, and also the Standing Committee for the Book of Praise/Joint Song Book Committee.

During the program, the recent press release of the JSBC is mentioned. You can find it on-line here.

To download (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Tie and Toga for May 23, 2006

2006-05-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

On today's podcast, the discussion continues about certain things which might be culturally conditioned (but not necessarily Biblical) in the life and worship of the Canadian Reformed churches. We're also interacting with some of the comments of another listener regarding the Theological College in Hamilton.

During the program, we mention a paper, "Why Do the Canadian Reformed Churches Have Their Own Seminary?" This paper is appendix #3 in the Acts of Synod Chatham 2004 (p.224). Unfortunately, this is not available on-line.

To download (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

Tie and Toga for May 16, 2006

2006-05-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

On today's program we discuss the state of the process towards full federative unity between the United Reformed and Canadian Reformed churches. This is followed by some discussion about the Genevan tunes, the use of the organ in worship, and the issue of dressing appropriately for Sunday worship.

To download (recommended), right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Click here to listen on-line (this option may not work depending on what software you have installed on your computer -- Firefox and the Quicktime plug-in are recommended).

As always, we welcome listener feedback. You can e-mail us or leave a comment here.

Tie and Toga for May 9, 2006

2006-05-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

In today's podcast, Pastors Visscher and Bredenhof discuss the relationship between the sovereignty of God and our prayers. Do our prayers change God? This is followed by some discussion about the ethnicity of the Canadian Reformed Churches past and present. Did we switch from Dutch to English too quickly? We made that change in language, are there perhaps other ethnic elements that also need to be abandoned? Tune in and find out!

To listen on-line, click here. To download, right-click here and select "Save Target As"

Tie and Toga for May 2, 2006

2006-05-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

On today's program, the co-pastors discuss a number of books they've been reading recently, both picks and pans.

These are the books discussed by Pastor Visscher:

The Basic Ideas of Calvinism, H. Henry Meeter, Baker, 1990.

Martin Bucer, A Reformer and His Times, Martin Greschat, Westminster John Knox, 2004.

The Futures of Evangelicalism: Issues and Prospects, Craig Bartholomew, Robin Parry and Andrew West, eds., Kregel, 2003.

These are the books discussed by Pastor Bredenhof:

No Other God: A Response to Open Theism, John M. Frame, P & R, 2001.

The Journey of Desire: Searching for the Life We've Only Dreamed Of, John Eldredge, Nelson, 2000.

Way Out There: The Best of Explore, James Little ed., Greystone Books, 2006.

Click here to listen on-line. To download, right-click here and select "Save Target As"

As always, we look forward to hearing your feedback!

What Happened?

2006-04-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry folks, there is no Tie and Toga podcast for this week. Pastor Visscher is enjoying a well-deserved holiday. We hope to be back on the air next week.

Tie and Toga 18 April 2006

2006-04-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

In today's podcast we have a look at some of the mail we've received in the last week. We discover one of Pastor Visscher's summer jobs from the past! We continue our discussion on hospitality, especially looking at the question of how do we treat visitors to our churches who used to be Canadian Reformed but are no longer. We also have some lively discussion on Canada's role in Afghanistan and some thoughts on Iraq and Iran.

To listen online, click here. To download, right-click here (and click on "save as").

Program Notes for April 11, 2006

2006-04-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

In today's podcast (our first), we discuss the matter of hospitality in the Canadian Reformed Churches. Is this a problem? If so, how do we account for it? How do we fix it? What do the Scriptures say about it?

We also spend some time discussing recent issues in Canadian politics from a Christian perspective. We discuss the recent Throne Speech and the ethics of floor crossing.

If you've got comments or questions, you can leave them here on this blog, or you can e-mail us. Our addresses are mentioned in the podcast. We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to leave some feedback for us!

Welcome!

2006-04-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Tie and Toga!

This is the on-line home of the podcast of Pastors Jack Visscher and Wes Bredenhof. Our first podcast is currently in pre-production. If everything goes according to plan, you should see it a notice of it here on Tuesday afternoon, along with the program notes.