Thursday, April 13, 2006
Monday, April 10, 2006
Which Scottish Theologian are you?
You scored as James Orr. You are James Orr. You are not afraid of Scholarship, but you know that scholarship is not necessarily objective.
Which Scottish Theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Friday, April 07, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
Growing Up In Arkansas
I got this in an email today, it kind of funny.
You know you're from Arkansas if:
1. "How 'bout them Hogs" is a common phrase around your house.
2. Everyone you know has been on a "Float Trip."
3. "Vacation" means driving to Hot Springs or maybe even Branson.
4. You've seen all the biggest bands ten years AFTER they were
popular.
5. You measure distance in minutes rather than miles. For example,
Well, Conway's only 20 minutes away."
6. Up North to you means Missouri.
7. The phrase "I'm going to the Lake this weekend"
only means one thing.
8. You know several people who have hit a deer.
9. Your school classes were canceled because of cold.
10. Your school classes were canceled because of heat.
11. You instinctively ask someone you've just met, "What High
School did you go to?"
12. You've had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
13. You think ethanol makes your truck "run a lot better."
14. You see people wear bib overalls at funerals.
15. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no
one in it, no matter what time of the year.
16. You know in your heart that Arkansas can beat Texas in
football.
17. You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition.
Example:
"Where's my coat at?"
18. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit,
vegetable, animal or grain.
19. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave
both unlocked.
20. You think of the major four food groups as beef, pork, catfish,
and Sweet Tea.
21. You carry jumper cables in your car and know that everyone else
should.
22. You went to skating parties as a kid.
23. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, ranch and ketchup.
24. You eat dinner at noon and supper at night.
25. The local paper covers national and international headlines in
one column, but requires six pages for sports.
26. You think I-40 is spelled and pronounced "ah fahty."
27. You'll pay for your kids way through college unless they want
to go to UT 28. You think that "deer season" is a National Holiday.
29. You know that you can't get anywhere without going through
Little Rock first.
30. You can't think of anything better than sitting on the porch in
the middle of the summer during a thunderstorm.
31. You know what time to be home for curfew -- not because of the
law, but because of the mosquitos!
32. You've said, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity."
33. You know all four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer
and Football.
34. You know if another Arkansan is from the Ozarks, Northern,
Central, or Southern part of AR as soon as they open their mouth.
35. You know that Bill Clinton, Ted Danson's wife, and John Grisham
are all from Arkansas.
36. You failed World Geography in school because you thought Paris,
London, Bismark & Nashville were cities in Arkansas (& they are)!
37. You think a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
38. You know what "Wooooo Pig Sooie " means.
39. You actually get this and forward it to all your Arkansas
friends.
You know you're from Arkansas if:
1. "How 'bout them Hogs" is a common phrase around your house.
2. Everyone you know has been on a "Float Trip."
3. "Vacation" means driving to Hot Springs or maybe even Branson.
4. You've seen all the biggest bands ten years AFTER they were
popular.
5. You measure distance in minutes rather than miles. For example,
Well, Conway's only 20 minutes away."
6. Up North to you means Missouri.
7. The phrase "I'm going to the Lake this weekend"
only means one thing.
8. You know several people who have hit a deer.
9. Your school classes were canceled because of cold.
10. Your school classes were canceled because of heat.
11. You instinctively ask someone you've just met, "What High
School did you go to?"
12. You've had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
13. You think ethanol makes your truck "run a lot better."
14. You see people wear bib overalls at funerals.
15. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no
one in it, no matter what time of the year.
16. You know in your heart that Arkansas can beat Texas in
football.
17. You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition.
Example:
"Where's my coat at?"
18. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit,
vegetable, animal or grain.
19. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave
both unlocked.
20. You think of the major four food groups as beef, pork, catfish,
and Sweet Tea.
21. You carry jumper cables in your car and know that everyone else
should.
22. You went to skating parties as a kid.
23. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, ranch and ketchup.
24. You eat dinner at noon and supper at night.
25. The local paper covers national and international headlines in
one column, but requires six pages for sports.
26. You think I-40 is spelled and pronounced "ah fahty."
27. You'll pay for your kids way through college unless they want
to go to UT 28. You think that "deer season" is a National Holiday.
29. You know that you can't get anywhere without going through
Little Rock first.
30. You can't think of anything better than sitting on the porch in
the middle of the summer during a thunderstorm.
31. You know what time to be home for curfew -- not because of the
law, but because of the mosquitos!
32. You've said, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity."
33. You know all four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer
and Football.
34. You know if another Arkansan is from the Ozarks, Northern,
Central, or Southern part of AR as soon as they open their mouth.
35. You know that Bill Clinton, Ted Danson's wife, and John Grisham
are all from Arkansas.
36. You failed World Geography in school because you thought Paris,
London, Bismark & Nashville were cities in Arkansas (& they are)!
37. You think a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
38. You know what "Wooooo Pig Sooie " means.
39. You actually get this and forward it to all your Arkansas
friends.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Joy of the Lord is your Strength
It is an unfortunate thing for the Christian to become melancholy. If there is any man in the world that has a right to have a bright, clear face and a flashing eye, it is the man whose sins are forgiven him, and who is saved with God's salvation.
(C.H. Spurgeon)
All our joy must terminate in God; and our thoughts of God must be delightful thoughts. Observe, It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in him always; at all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for him, or are afflicted by him. We must not think the worse of him or of his ways for the hardships we meet with in his service. There is enough in God to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst circumstance on earth.
(Matthew Henry)
(C.H. Spurgeon)
All our joy must terminate in God; and our thoughts of God must be delightful thoughts. Observe, It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in him always; at all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for him, or are afflicted by him. We must not think the worse of him or of his ways for the hardships we meet with in his service. There is enough in God to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst circumstance on earth.
(Matthew Henry)
Uncle Tank
This is the big story in my life right now I will be an uncle in a month or so. Uncle Tank I kind of like the sound of that:) lol
Its mom and my two sisters
Its my sister Rachel and her friend Jennifer.
Its my sister and I.
Its mom and my two sisters
Its my sister Rachel and her friend Jennifer.
Its my sister and I. 
Its mom and Mary Kay my best friend's mother
Friday, March 24, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Monday
I got little bit of culture yesterday I had my first experience with Indian food and I’m not talking about Native American food I have gotten that response all day today that I’ve told this story. You know I was kind of surprise myself for the most part I like it some of it was a bit spicy especially the green sauce wow that was hot I like it though, the only thing I did not like was the goat it ranks up there with liver with me.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Desert Picture
"This prominent circular feature in the Sahara desert of Mauritania has attracted attention since the earliest space missions because it forms a conspicuous bull’s-eye in the otherwise rather featureless expanse of the desert. Described by some as looking like an outsized fossil in the desert, the structure, which has a diameter of almost 30 miles, has become a landmark for shuttle crews. Initially interpreted as a meteorite impact structure because of its high degree of circularity, it is now thought to be merely a symmetrical uplift that has been laid bare by erosion. Paleozoic quartzites form the resistant beds outlining the structure."
Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
Saturday, March 11, 2006
From Martyn Lloyd-Jones book on Depression
I have read part of this book have to finish it one day:)
Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in this psalm] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul?’ he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: ‘Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.’
... This self of ours… has got to be handled. Do not listen to him; turn on him; speak to him; condemn him; upbraid him; exhort him; encourage him; remind him of what you know, instead of listening placidly to him and allowing him to drag you down and depress you. For that is what he will always do if you allow him to be in control. The devil takes hold of self and uses it in order to depress us. We must stand up as this man did and say, “Why art thou cast down? Why are thou disquieted within me? Stop being so! Hope though in God, for I shall yet praise Him…” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression p. 20, 21
“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in this psalm] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul?’ he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: ‘Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.’
... This self of ours… has got to be handled. Do not listen to him; turn on him; speak to him; condemn him; upbraid him; exhort him; encourage him; remind him of what you know, instead of listening placidly to him and allowing him to drag you down and depress you. For that is what he will always do if you allow him to be in control. The devil takes hold of self and uses it in order to depress us. We must stand up as this man did and say, “Why art thou cast down? Why are thou disquieted within me? Stop being so! Hope though in God, for I shall yet praise Him…” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression p. 20, 21
Puritan Quote of the Week
"In the Word Preached the saints here Christ's voice, in the sacrament they have his Kiss"
Thomas Watson
Thomas Watson
Friday, March 10, 2006
Weird Friday
Busy Busy They been keeping me really busy here at work and not been able to post as much as I want.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Free Will
Here is a pretty good post on the Free Will of God. "Does God Have a Libertarian Free Will? by J.W. Hendryx"
Puritan Quote of the Week
"Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth; and that he is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence, and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service; and that he is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped; and that he is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to him with whom we have to do. The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of his all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy."
RICHARD BAXTER
RICHARD BAXTER
Saturday, February 25, 2006
That man will never be a proud man!
Humility may well be called the 'queen of the Christian graces'. To know our own sinfulness and weakness, and to feel our need of Christ, is the very beginning of saving religion.
Humility is a grace which has always been the distinguishing feature in the character of the holiest saints in every age. Abraham, and Moses, and Job, and David, and Daniel, and Paul--were all eminently humble men. Humility is a grace within the reach of every true Christian.
Would we know the root and spring of humility? One word describes it. The root of humility is right knowledge. The man who really knows . . . himself--and his own heart; God--and His infinite majesty and holiness; Christ--and the price at which he was redeemed;that man will never be a proud man!
He will count himself, like Jacob, "unworthy of the least of all God's mercies!"
He will say of himself, like Job, "I am vile!"
He will cry, like Paul, "I am chief of sinners!"
Ignorance! nothing but sheer ignorance! ignorance . . .of self, of God, of Christ, is the real secret of pride! From that miserable self-ignorance may we daily pray to be delivered!
He is the wise man who knows himself! And he who knows himself, will find nothing within to make him proud.
(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Luke" 1858)
Humility is a grace which has always been the distinguishing feature in the character of the holiest saints in every age. Abraham, and Moses, and Job, and David, and Daniel, and Paul--were all eminently humble men. Humility is a grace within the reach of every true Christian.
Would we know the root and spring of humility? One word describes it. The root of humility is right knowledge. The man who really knows . . . himself--and his own heart; God--and His infinite majesty and holiness; Christ--and the price at which he was redeemed;that man will never be a proud man!
He will count himself, like Jacob, "unworthy of the least of all God's mercies!"
He will say of himself, like Job, "I am vile!"
He will cry, like Paul, "I am chief of sinners!"
Ignorance! nothing but sheer ignorance! ignorance . . .of self, of God, of Christ, is the real secret of pride! From that miserable self-ignorance may we daily pray to be delivered!
He is the wise man who knows himself! And he who knows himself, will find nothing within to make him proud.
(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Luke" 1858)
Friday, February 24, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
The Theology of kissing
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
The Language of Patience
Patience consists of a willing submission to the dispensations of divine providence. When Job said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? " (Job 2:10), that was the language of patience. "The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11) was the supreme example of this grace. It is the ready acquiescence of the soul to whatever God sees fit to lay upon it. It is the calm enduring of provocation and persecution, especially trial which comes unexpectedly. It is a steady and thankful bearing of all troubles, however grievous and long protracted, mortifying the opposite passions of fear, anger, anxiety, inordinate grief; refusing to be overwhelmed by those troubles, persevering in the discharge of duty to the end; finding relief by faith and in communion with God: resting in His love, leaning on His arms, and encouraging oneself by the certain expectation of that eternal and blessed glory which awaits us after our appointed race is run.
(A.W. Pink)
(A.W. Pink)
Saturday, February 18, 2006
My friend Bill and his new Baby Audrey
Bill and his new Baby
Bill's mother and the new baby
Bill and I and his new baby
They even let me hold the Baby!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
by John Rippon
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
Puritan Quote of the Week
"None so empty of grace as he that thinks he is full."
THOMAS WATSON
"Knowledge without repentance will be but a torch to light men to hell."
THOMAS WATSON
Sin hath the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages."
THOMAS WATSON
THOMAS WATSON
"Knowledge without repentance will be but a torch to light men to hell."
THOMAS WATSON
Sin hath the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages."
THOMAS WATSON
Sunday, February 12, 2006
How Weird Are You?
| You Are 20% Weird |
 Not enough to scare other people... But sometimes you scare yourself. |
ok if you say so
The Hobbit
Rolling Stone interview Peter Jackson last December and this is what he said about the making of The Hobbit
"And what's the status of The Hobbit?
New Line have the rights to produce a film of The Hobbit, but it has to be distributed by MGM. If you remember, about six or eight months ago, MGM was bought by Sony, which was frustrating, because it looked like Time Warner [New Line's parent corporation] was going to be the buyer -- and then all the rights would've been in the family. But now Sony and New Line will have to talk to each other. I keep asking about it, just out of interest, but they haven't sat down yet. Hopefully someday the phone will ring -- "Hey, let's do The Hobbit" -- which I'd be perfectly happy to do."
"And what's the status of The Hobbit?
New Line have the rights to produce a film of The Hobbit, but it has to be distributed by MGM. If you remember, about six or eight months ago, MGM was bought by Sony, which was frustrating, because it looked like Time Warner [New Line's parent corporation] was going to be the buyer -- and then all the rights would've been in the family. But now Sony and New Line will have to talk to each other. I keep asking about it, just out of interest, but they haven't sat down yet. Hopefully someday the phone will ring -- "Hey, let's do The Hobbit" -- which I'd be perfectly happy to do."
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Idolatry of the heart
IDOLATRY is the sin of the entire human race. When we speak of idolatry we need not think of blocks of wood and stone, and men bowing down before them; for our native land swarms with idolaters. Neither need you go into the streets to find them: stay where you are, and look into your own hearts, and you shall find idols there. This is the one easily besetting sin of our nature-to turn aside from the living God and to make unto ourselves idols in some fashion or another; for the essence of idolatry is this-to love anything better than God, to trust anything more than God, to wish to have a God other than we have, or to have some signs and wonders by which we may see him, some outward symbol or manifestation that can be seen with the eye or heard with the ear rather than to rest in an invisible God and believe the faithful promise of Him whom eye hath not seen nor ear heard. In some form or other this great sin is the main mischief in the heart of man; and even in saved men this is one of the developments of remaining corruption. We may very easily make an idol of anything, and in different ways. No doubt many mothers and fathers make idols of their children, and so many husbands and wives idolize each other. Equally is it certain that many a thoughtful man makes an idol of his intellect, and many another makes an idol of his gold, or even of that little home wherein he enjoys so much contentment. Anything, however holy, which comes between us and the personal dealing of our soul with God, as he is revealed in Christ Jesus, by faith and love and hope, becomes an idol to us. – C.H. Spurgeon
"...we may gather that man's nature…is a perpetual factory of idols" (Institutes I.xi.8).
-John Calvin
"...we may gather that man's nature…is a perpetual factory of idols" (Institutes I.xi.8).
-John Calvin
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Not that I would recommend this movie but here is a few of my favorite quotes from this movie
Joel: random thoughts for Valentine's day, 2004. Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.
Joel: Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?
Joel: random thoughts for Valentine's day, 2004. Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.
Joel: Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?
Friday, February 10, 2006
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Advice to the Inquiring Sinner
by Dr. W.G.T. Shedd
"Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts16:29-31
It is not right or safe to depart from the method prescribed in the Scriptures for an anxious soul to take in order to salvation. Even a slight deviation, however well intended, works mischief. We have heard during seasons of religious awakening, the inquirer exhorted to "give his heart to God," to "submit to God," to "resolve to serve Christ." This is not the direction which Paul gave to the anxious jailer, and neither does it agree with the declarations of our Lord respecting the particular kind of act which man must perform in order to salvation. The Jews once came to the Redeemer asking what they must do to work the works of God, and his reply was, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." The first act for the soul in order to salvation is the act of faith. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," is the first and only direction, therefore, which should be given to an inquiring sinner. When this has been done, other things will follow naturally, and be done in their order and place; but until it has been done, not a step toward heaven can be taken.
There are objections to the other direction to which we have alluded, which we will specify: In the first place, when an inquiring person is bidden to give his heart to God, he is commanded to present something to God, instead of being invited to receive something from him. The gospel method is thus wholly reversed. The Scripture representation of the way of salvation indisputably makes it, from first to last, a blessing which comes down from God to man. It does not go up from man to God. "Ask and ye shall receive." Christ is appointed "to give both faith and repentance," as well as the remission of sins. Even the very first exercises of sorrow for sin, and the very first and faintest exercise of faith, are wrought by God. When, therefore, a sinful man is bidden, as the first act upon his part, to give his heart to God, he is converted from a recipient of salvation to an agent and author of it. He is urged to do a "work" as the very first thing in the process. And it is a work which is the most difficult of performance, for a helpless and guilt-smitten sinner, that can be conceived of. In reality, the whole immense burden is thrown upon the poor despairing soul, in the very outset. He is told that if he will give his heart to God, if he will submit his will to Christ, his salvation is assured. But this is to put in the forefront of the religious experience something that does not belong there. No man can surrender and sweetly submit his heart to God, unless he believes that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.
We are not speaking, of course, of the succession in time. The two things may not be distinguishable in time measured by the clock, but in the order of nature the soul must first accept and receive Christ as its atonement before God, before it can become subject and submissive to his will. And, therefore, this act of faith must be urged upon the inquirer first of any, and before any other act is spoken of or enjoined.
In the second place, this direction conceals Christ and his sacrificial work from the guilt-smitten soul. While it is engaged in the attempt to overcome the love of self, and to give itself wholly to God, it cannot see the cross, because, if for no other reason, it is too much absorbed. It is looking within, instead of looking out and away to the Lamb of God. It is summoning its energies to overcome its own self-love, and subdue its obstinate aversion to holiness, instead of sending up an imploring and believing glance to the merciful Redeemer who "of God is made unto it wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification." The true answer to the sinner's inquiry, What shall I do?" is, to say to him, " Do nothing only believe." But if the answer that is given be the one which we are criticizing; if he be told to give his heart to God; he is bidden to "do," and this will prevent his "believing." No one can do two things at once; and if the anxious inquirer be straining every muscle to its utmost tension in order to subdue his native depravity, how can he relax every muscle and in helpless impotence cast himself upon Christ? We cannot open and shut the hand in one and the same instant, and by one and the same volition. Our Lord affirms that his yoke is easy. It is so, because the act of faith is not a strenuous and vehement act, but a trusting and recipient one. It does not try to originate holiness by its own volition, but it longs to receive the holiness which is freely given it of God. The eye and not the hand is the member of the body which the Holy Spirit has chosen, by which to explain the act by which salvation is secured. Look unto me, and be ye saved. Behold the Lamb of God. We are not to raise the hand and lift at a burden; we are not to raise the foot and run a long and severe race; but we are simply to open the eye and gaze steadily upon the atoning Christ, dying a sacrifice for our guilt.
It is indeed true that after faith has come, after the soul has beheld the cross, after the eye has performed its function, the hand and the foot and all the members of the body come into requisition. Having accepted and received Christ by faith, and having thereby been delivered from condemnation, the soul is then to run a race, and fight a fight, and carry a burden. But the previous faith makes all this activity easy and successful. When the eye has seen the Lord, it is easy then to lift the hand for him. Faith works by love, and the love of Christ constraineth us. In giving advice, therefore, to inquiring souls, we should not direct their attention, first of all, to the results of faith in Christ, but to faith itself.
The surrender of the heart to God, entire submission to his will, a steady and strong determination to obey the commandments of Christ, renunciation of the world as the chief good, these fruits of belief on the Lord Jesus Christ ought to be kept in the background while the soul is urged, first of all, and as the one thing needful, to cast itself humbly and penitently upon the atoning work of the Son of God. There is no danger of undervaluing the consequences of faith, by thus laying stress upon faith in the outset; for only from faith as the root can all these consequences spring. He who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ finds that in so doing he has given his heart to God as the natural result. But he who attempts to give his heart to God, before he has believed on the Son of God, is attempting an impossibility, and that too by a dead lift.
There are two invitations given by the Lord Jesus Christ, which cover the whole subject of a sinner's salvation. One is an invitation to come to him, and the other an, invitation to come after him. Examples of the first are: "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt.11 :28. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. Examples of the second are: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." Matt.11:29. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matt.16:24.
The first of these is an invitation to come to the Saviour, by trusting penitently in his atoning blood in order to pardon and reconciliation with God's holiness. The second is an invitation to come after the Saviour, by imitating his character and example. And they must be accepted in the order in which the Saviour has placed them. A reversal of the order is fatal. If the sinner attempts to come after the Saviour before he has come to him, to copy the Redeemer's life and conduct without seeking peace with God by trust in the Redeemer's offering for sin, it will be an utter failure. A pacified conscience and a sense of being forgiven, must go before all true obedience. If, again, the sinner separates these two invitations, the consequence is equally fatal. If he attempts to obey the first without obeying the second, to come to Christ without coming after him, he is James's antinomian and his faith is dead faith without works. And if he attempts to obey the second invitation without obeying the first, to come after Christ without coming to him, he is Paul's legalist, who has no true sense of sin, rejects Christ's expiation, and expects salvation by moral character and a moral life.
W.T.G. Shedd was the Baldwin Professor in Union Theological Seminary, New York
This article is taken from his work called: Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: A Miscellany. (1893) Pages 216-221.
"Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts16:29-31
It is not right or safe to depart from the method prescribed in the Scriptures for an anxious soul to take in order to salvation. Even a slight deviation, however well intended, works mischief. We have heard during seasons of religious awakening, the inquirer exhorted to "give his heart to God," to "submit to God," to "resolve to serve Christ." This is not the direction which Paul gave to the anxious jailer, and neither does it agree with the declarations of our Lord respecting the particular kind of act which man must perform in order to salvation. The Jews once came to the Redeemer asking what they must do to work the works of God, and his reply was, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." The first act for the soul in order to salvation is the act of faith. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," is the first and only direction, therefore, which should be given to an inquiring sinner. When this has been done, other things will follow naturally, and be done in their order and place; but until it has been done, not a step toward heaven can be taken.
There are objections to the other direction to which we have alluded, which we will specify: In the first place, when an inquiring person is bidden to give his heart to God, he is commanded to present something to God, instead of being invited to receive something from him. The gospel method is thus wholly reversed. The Scripture representation of the way of salvation indisputably makes it, from first to last, a blessing which comes down from God to man. It does not go up from man to God. "Ask and ye shall receive." Christ is appointed "to give both faith and repentance," as well as the remission of sins. Even the very first exercises of sorrow for sin, and the very first and faintest exercise of faith, are wrought by God. When, therefore, a sinful man is bidden, as the first act upon his part, to give his heart to God, he is converted from a recipient of salvation to an agent and author of it. He is urged to do a "work" as the very first thing in the process. And it is a work which is the most difficult of performance, for a helpless and guilt-smitten sinner, that can be conceived of. In reality, the whole immense burden is thrown upon the poor despairing soul, in the very outset. He is told that if he will give his heart to God, if he will submit his will to Christ, his salvation is assured. But this is to put in the forefront of the religious experience something that does not belong there. No man can surrender and sweetly submit his heart to God, unless he believes that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.
We are not speaking, of course, of the succession in time. The two things may not be distinguishable in time measured by the clock, but in the order of nature the soul must first accept and receive Christ as its atonement before God, before it can become subject and submissive to his will. And, therefore, this act of faith must be urged upon the inquirer first of any, and before any other act is spoken of or enjoined.
In the second place, this direction conceals Christ and his sacrificial work from the guilt-smitten soul. While it is engaged in the attempt to overcome the love of self, and to give itself wholly to God, it cannot see the cross, because, if for no other reason, it is too much absorbed. It is looking within, instead of looking out and away to the Lamb of God. It is summoning its energies to overcome its own self-love, and subdue its obstinate aversion to holiness, instead of sending up an imploring and believing glance to the merciful Redeemer who "of God is made unto it wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification." The true answer to the sinner's inquiry, What shall I do?" is, to say to him, " Do nothing only believe." But if the answer that is given be the one which we are criticizing; if he be told to give his heart to God; he is bidden to "do," and this will prevent his "believing." No one can do two things at once; and if the anxious inquirer be straining every muscle to its utmost tension in order to subdue his native depravity, how can he relax every muscle and in helpless impotence cast himself upon Christ? We cannot open and shut the hand in one and the same instant, and by one and the same volition. Our Lord affirms that his yoke is easy. It is so, because the act of faith is not a strenuous and vehement act, but a trusting and recipient one. It does not try to originate holiness by its own volition, but it longs to receive the holiness which is freely given it of God. The eye and not the hand is the member of the body which the Holy Spirit has chosen, by which to explain the act by which salvation is secured. Look unto me, and be ye saved. Behold the Lamb of God. We are not to raise the hand and lift at a burden; we are not to raise the foot and run a long and severe race; but we are simply to open the eye and gaze steadily upon the atoning Christ, dying a sacrifice for our guilt.
It is indeed true that after faith has come, after the soul has beheld the cross, after the eye has performed its function, the hand and the foot and all the members of the body come into requisition. Having accepted and received Christ by faith, and having thereby been delivered from condemnation, the soul is then to run a race, and fight a fight, and carry a burden. But the previous faith makes all this activity easy and successful. When the eye has seen the Lord, it is easy then to lift the hand for him. Faith works by love, and the love of Christ constraineth us. In giving advice, therefore, to inquiring souls, we should not direct their attention, first of all, to the results of faith in Christ, but to faith itself.
The surrender of the heart to God, entire submission to his will, a steady and strong determination to obey the commandments of Christ, renunciation of the world as the chief good, these fruits of belief on the Lord Jesus Christ ought to be kept in the background while the soul is urged, first of all, and as the one thing needful, to cast itself humbly and penitently upon the atoning work of the Son of God. There is no danger of undervaluing the consequences of faith, by thus laying stress upon faith in the outset; for only from faith as the root can all these consequences spring. He who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ finds that in so doing he has given his heart to God as the natural result. But he who attempts to give his heart to God, before he has believed on the Son of God, is attempting an impossibility, and that too by a dead lift.
There are two invitations given by the Lord Jesus Christ, which cover the whole subject of a sinner's salvation. One is an invitation to come to him, and the other an, invitation to come after him. Examples of the first are: "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt.11 :28. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. Examples of the second are: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." Matt.11:29. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matt.16:24.
The first of these is an invitation to come to the Saviour, by trusting penitently in his atoning blood in order to pardon and reconciliation with God's holiness. The second is an invitation to come after the Saviour, by imitating his character and example. And they must be accepted in the order in which the Saviour has placed them. A reversal of the order is fatal. If the sinner attempts to come after the Saviour before he has come to him, to copy the Redeemer's life and conduct without seeking peace with God by trust in the Redeemer's offering for sin, it will be an utter failure. A pacified conscience and a sense of being forgiven, must go before all true obedience. If, again, the sinner separates these two invitations, the consequence is equally fatal. If he attempts to obey the first without obeying the second, to come to Christ without coming after him, he is James's antinomian and his faith is dead faith without works. And if he attempts to obey the second invitation without obeying the first, to come after Christ without coming to him, he is Paul's legalist, who has no true sense of sin, rejects Christ's expiation, and expects salvation by moral character and a moral life.
W.T.G. Shedd was the Baldwin Professor in Union Theological Seminary, New York
This article is taken from his work called: Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: A Miscellany. (1893) Pages 216-221.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
INDWELLING OF Holy Spirit
It is asserted many times in Scripture, that the bodies of the saints are the temples of the Holy Ghost. God dwelleth in you: ye are the temples of God. Now, do not cut that down, and say that it means that he influences us and operates upon us. It does mean that, but it means a great deal more; it means literally this—that the Holy Ghost, the third Person of the sacred Trinity actually dwells in every regenerate man and woman, that he has made our bodies to be his shrine, and he is the indwelling Lord. 754.322The Spirit of God doubtless illuminates the intellect and guides the judgment, but this is not the commencement nor the main part of his work. He comes chiefly to the affections, he dwells with the heart, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts.” Now,the heart is the centre of our being, and therefore doth the Holy Ghost occupy this place of vantage. He comes into the central fortress and universal citadel of our nature, and thus takes possession of the whole. 1435.536
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
The Right to be Wronged
I was reading Steve Camp Blog and found this jewel “The Right to be Wronged” something we all need to remember.
Puritan Quote of the Week
"Christ did not die for any upon condition, if they do believe; but He died for all God's elect, that they should believe."
JOHN OWEN
lol. Have not done this in a while:)
JOHN OWEN
lol. Have not done this in a while:)
Sunday, January 29, 2006
How Observant Are You?
| Your Observation Skills Get A B- |
 Your senses are pretty sharp (okay, most of the time) And it takes something big to distract you! |
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
When you Read the Bible
Always join self-reflection with reading and hearing the Word of God. When you read or hear, reflect on yourselves as you go along, comparing yourselves and your own ways with what you read or hear. Reflect and consider what agreement or disagreement there is between the word and your ways. The Scriptures testify against all manner of sin and contain directions for every duty. As the apostle says, 2 Tim. 3:16, “And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Therefore when you there read the rules given us by Christ and his apostles, reflect and consider, each one of you with himself, "Do I live according to this rule? Or do I live in any respect contrary to it?"
When you read in the historical parts of Scripture an account of the sins of which others have been guilty, reflect on yourselves as you go along, and inquire whether you do not in some degree live in the same or like practices. When you there read accounts how God reproved the sins of others, and executed judgments upon them for their sins, examine whether you be not guilty of things of the same nature. When you read the examples of Christ, and of the saints recorded in Scripture, inquire whether you do not live in ways contrary to those examples. When you read there how God commended and rewarded any persons for their virtues and good deeds, inquire whether you perform those duties for which they were commended and rewarded, or whether you do not live in the contrary sins or vices. Let me further direct you, particularly to read the Scriptures to these ends, that you may compare and examine yourselves in the manner now mentioned.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Calvinism is the Gospel
I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor.There is no soul living who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answer I wish to be called nothing but a Christian; but if you ask me, do I hold the doctrinal views which were held by John Calvin, I reply, I do in the main hold them, and rejoice to avow it.
But far be it from me even to imagine that Zion contains none but Calvinistic Christians within her walls, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views. I believe there are multitudes of men who cannot see these truths, or, at least, cannot see them in the way in which we put them, who nevertheless have received Christ as their Saviour, and are as dear to the heart of the God of grace as the soundest Calvinist in or out of Heaven.
-C.H. Spurgeon
Saturday, January 21, 2006
JOB
I found out Friday that I got the job that I interviewed for last mouth. The Lord has blessed me. I should start as soon as they back fill my position which should be in 2 to 3 weeks. Thanks all for your prayers and support over the last few months
Thursday, January 19, 2006
NASB MacArthur Study Bible
Look like they set a date for NASB MacArthur Study Bible release March 29, 2006. Can’t hardly wait
Untitled poem and unknown author
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But (God, to be a Christian says: "No, not till you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved only by me alone, discovering that only in me is your satisfaction to be, found, will you be capable of the PERFECT LOVE, the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with me, exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longing."
"I want you to stop planning, stop wishing and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learn the things I tell you. Just wait. That's all."
“Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look away at the things others have gotten, or that I have given them. Don't look at the things you think that you want. Just keep looking off and away up at me, or you will miss what I want to show you."
And then when you are ready I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of. You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have you both ready at the same time), until you are both satisfied exclusively with me, and the life that I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience that love that exemplifies you relationship with me, and is thus, the PERFECT LOVE."
"And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in flesh a picture of your relationship with me and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with myself."
"I want you to stop planning, stop wishing and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learn the things I tell you. Just wait. That's all."
“Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look away at the things others have gotten, or that I have given them. Don't look at the things you think that you want. Just keep looking off and away up at me, or you will miss what I want to show you."
And then when you are ready I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of. You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have you both ready at the same time), until you are both satisfied exclusively with me, and the life that I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience that love that exemplifies you relationship with me, and is thus, the PERFECT LOVE."
"And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in flesh a picture of your relationship with me and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with myself."
ESV
I still have not made my mind up on the ESV version of the Bible yet I’m still kind of partial to the NASB, because it still more of a literal version of the Bible then the ESV (see chart) but we watch a video on it Sunday and it gave a pretty good argument for the ESV of the Bible and there were people endorsing it that I respect in Christendom: John Piper, J.I Packer, Al Mohler. Have to do a little more research. Here it is online ESV Online Edition
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Prone to Wander
We should be much concerned to know whether we do not live in some way of sin, because we are exceedingly prone to walk in some such way. — The heart of man is naturally prone to sin. The weight of the soul is naturally that way, as the stone by its weight tendeth downwards. And there is very much of a remaining proneness to sin in the saints. Though sin be mortified in them, yet there is a body of sin and death remaining. There are all manner of lusts and corrupt inclinations. We are exceeding apt to get into some ill path or other. Man is so prone to sinful ways, that without maintaining a constant strict watch over himself, no other can be expected than that he will walk in some way of sin.Our hearts are so full of sin that they are ready to betray us. That to which men are prone, they are apt to get into before they are aware. Sin is apt to steal in upon us unawares. Besides this, we live in a world where we continually meet with temptations. We walk in the midst of snares. And the devil, a subtle adversary, is continually watching over us, endeavoring, by all manner of wiles and devices, to lead us astray into by-paths. 2 Cor. 11:2, 3, “I am jealous over you. I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety; so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 1 Pet. 5:8, “Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” — These things should make us the more jealous of ourselves.
[Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above!]
Monday, January 16, 2006
Unconditional Election
Union between Christ and his people was planned already in eternity, in the sovereign pretemporal decision whereby God the Father selected us as his own. Christ himself was chosen to be our Savior before the creation of the world (1 Pet. 1:20); Ephesians 1:4 teaches us that when the Father chose Christ, he also chose us. - - by Anthony Hoekema
Who will be saved?
by R.C Sproal
Everybody needs to have some understanding of predestination since it’s in the Bible.
The dictionary says that “predestinate” means, “to foreordain to an earthly or eternal lot or destiny by divine decree.” Or, in simpler terms predestination means, “God’s decision as to what will happen to a person, especially after they die (heaven or hell).”
There are two basic responses to the idea of predestination:
1. God makes His choice based on his foreknowledge. This means that God (who is omniscient) chooses those He saw from the beginning who would choose God, have faith and follow Christ.
2. From all eternity God decided to save some members of the human race and to let the rest of the human race perish. God made a choice – He chose some individuals to be saved unto everlasting blessedness in heaven, and He chose others to pass over, allowing them to suffer the consequences of their sins, eternal punishment in hell. He chooses based on His good pleasure who will receive grace and who will not. Those that He gives grace, are changed. They desire God and receive the gift of faith and salvation.
In the previous article we studied Total Depravity and determined that nobody chooses God by their own goodness. Based on that, we can see that option #1 above isn’t a likely answer, but let’s see what the Bible says about predestination.
Romans 8:28-30
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (NKJ)
1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. (NKJ)
Romans 9:6-25
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved." (NKJ)
Who will be saved?
by R.C Sproal
Everybody needs to have some understanding of predestination since it’s in the Bible.
The dictionary says that “predestinate” means, “to foreordain to an earthly or eternal lot or destiny by divine decree.” Or, in simpler terms predestination means, “God’s decision as to what will happen to a person, especially after they die (heaven or hell).”
There are two basic responses to the idea of predestination:
1. God makes His choice based on his foreknowledge. This means that God (who is omniscient) chooses those He saw from the beginning who would choose God, have faith and follow Christ.
2. From all eternity God decided to save some members of the human race and to let the rest of the human race perish. God made a choice – He chose some individuals to be saved unto everlasting blessedness in heaven, and He chose others to pass over, allowing them to suffer the consequences of their sins, eternal punishment in hell. He chooses based on His good pleasure who will receive grace and who will not. Those that He gives grace, are changed. They desire God and receive the gift of faith and salvation.
In the previous article we studied Total Depravity and determined that nobody chooses God by their own goodness. Based on that, we can see that option #1 above isn’t a likely answer, but let’s see what the Bible says about predestination.
Romans 8:28-30
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (NKJ)
1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. (NKJ)
Romans 9:6-25
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved." (NKJ)
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Narnia
I went and saw Narnia the other day, and I thought it was pretty good I really enjoyed it and it may even be better then King Kong it’s definitely not as long as King Kong. I hate that I did not get to read the book before I saw it I was going to but never got out of the first book, I think I got about half way though the first book, I will have to pick it up again and see the how the book compares to the movie. I read a rumor the other day that the squeal Prince Caspian was moving forward.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Friday
I don’t remember where I found this but I thought was pretty:)
An announcements coming soon about the job I interview for last month, the Corp wheels sure do turn slowly sometime.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Spurgeon's Sermon: on Free Will
...Any one who believes that man's will is entirely free, and that he can be saved by it, does not believe the fall...
But I tell you what will be the best proof of that; it is the great fact that you never did meet a Christian in your life who ever said he came to Christ without Christ coming to him. You have heard a great many Arminian sermons, I dare say; but you never heard an Arminian prayer - for the saints in prayer appear as one in word, and deed and mind. An Arminian on his knees would pray desperately like a Calvinist. He cannot pray about free-will: there is no room for it. Fancy him praying,
"Lord, I thank thee I am not like those poor presumptuous Calvinists Lord, I was born with a glorious free-will; I was born with power by which I can turn to thee of myself; I have improved my grace. If everybody had done the same with their grace that I have, they might all have been saved. Lord, I know thou dost not make us willing if we are not willing ourselves. Thou givest grace to everybody; some do not improve it, but I do. There are many that will go to hell as much bought with the blood of Christ as I was; they had as much of the Holy Ghost given to them; they had as good a chance, and were as much blessed as I am. It was not thy grace that made us to differ; I know it did a great deal, still I turned the point; I made use of what was given me, and others did not-that is the difference between me and them."
That is a prayer for the devil, for nobody else would offer such a prayer as that. Ah! when they are preaching and talking very slowly, there may be wrong doctrine; but when they come to pray, the true thing slips out; they cannot help it. If a man talks very slowly, he may speak in a fine manner; but when he comes to talk fast, the old brogue of his country, where he was born, slips out. I ask you again, did you ever meet a Christian man who said, "I came to Christ without the power of the Spirit?" If you ever did meet such a man, you need have no hesitation in saying, "My dear sir, I quite believe it-and I believe you went away again without the power of the Spirit, and that you know nothing about the matter, and are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity." Do I hear one Christian man saying, "I sought Jesus before he sought me; I went to the Spirit, and the Spirit did not come to me"? No, beloved; we are obliged, each one of us, to put our hands to our hearts and say-
"Grace taught my soul to pray,
And made my eyes to o'erflow;
'Twas grace that kept me to this day,
And will not let me go."
From Spurgeon's Sermon, Free Will - A Slave
Are you a Heretic
You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.
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Monday, January 09, 2006
Sunday
I had a real treat yesterday for the morning worship serves. Dr. Bruce Ware a professor from Southern Baptist theological Seminary and author of many books in opposition to open theism preach in our morning serves. He preached on how imported the Doctrine of the Trinity was to Salvation, you can listen to it here. Dr Ware also has a new book out that I need to get Father, Son, & Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, & Relevance.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Total Depravity
Let first look at the concept of Total Depravity. Westminster Confession states that Total Inability is "Man, by his fall Into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto." (Ch. IX, sec. III.)
"Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty" - John Calvin
byJohn G. Reisinger
What does the phrase "total depravity" mean?
I. Negative. Let us note what we do NOT mean by "total depravity."
A. We do not mean that man is without a conscience or any sense of right or wrong.
B. Total depravity does not mean that every sinner is devoid of all the qualities that are both pleasing to men and useful to society when those qualities are judged only by a human standard.
C. We are not saying that every sinner is prone to every form of sin.
D. We do not mean that every sinner is as intense as he can be in his sin.
II. Positive. What we DO mean by "total depravity." What DOES the Bible itself teach?
A. Every sinner, including you and me, is destitute of, or without, that love to God which constitutes the fundamental and all-inclusive demand of God's law.
B. Total depravity means that every sinner is guilty of elevating some lower affection or desire above regard for God, His Law and the Gospel.
C. That "something else" that all men love is an idol called "self" or "me."
D. Every sinner is possessed with a nature, inherited from Adam's fall, that is completely hostile toward God.
E. By total depravity, we mean that every part of man's being and nature has been affected by sin.
F. Man has a nature that will not permit him to choose God or righteousness.
"Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty" - John Calvin
byJohn G. Reisinger
What does the phrase "total depravity" mean?
I. Negative. Let us note what we do NOT mean by "total depravity."
A. We do not mean that man is without a conscience or any sense of right or wrong.
B. Total depravity does not mean that every sinner is devoid of all the qualities that are both pleasing to men and useful to society when those qualities are judged only by a human standard.
C. We are not saying that every sinner is prone to every form of sin.
D. We do not mean that every sinner is as intense as he can be in his sin.
II. Positive. What we DO mean by "total depravity." What DOES the Bible itself teach?
A. Every sinner, including you and me, is destitute of, or without, that love to God which constitutes the fundamental and all-inclusive demand of God's law.
B. Total depravity means that every sinner is guilty of elevating some lower affection or desire above regard for God, His Law and the Gospel.
C. That "something else" that all men love is an idol called "self" or "me."
D. Every sinner is possessed with a nature, inherited from Adam's fall, that is completely hostile toward God.
E. By total depravity, we mean that every part of man's being and nature has been affected by sin.
F. Man has a nature that will not permit him to choose God or righteousness.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
TULIP
Over the next few weeks let’s look at one of my favorite doctrines in the Bible. The Doctrine of Election
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Charles Spurgeon
Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be. If he charges you falsely on some point, yet be satisfied, for if he knew you better he might change the accusation, and you would be no gainer by the correction. If you have your moral portrait painted, and it is ugly, be satisfied; for it only needs a few blacker touches, and it would be still nearer the truth. 2031.367
Pastor use this in a illustration this morning sermon. I thought it was pretty good:) and it;s my first post of the year:)
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