“ No amount of fees paid to learned doctors and no amount of classics received in return, appear to us to be evidences of a call from above. True and genuine piety is necessary as the first indispensable requisite; whatever “call” a man may pretend to have, if he has not been called to holiness, he certainly, he certainly has not been called to the ministry.”
Charles Spurgeon “ Lectures to my students” page 3
Monday, February 16, 2009
blogworthy quote 1
“ I read the other day, that no phase of evil presented so marvelous a power for destruction, as the unconverted minister of a parish, with a 1200.00 organ, a choir of ungodly singers, and an aristocratic congregation. It was the opinion of the writer, that there could be no greater instrument for damnation than that. People go to their place of worship and sit down comfortably, and think they must be Christians, when all the time all that their religion consists in, is listening to an orator, having their ears tickled with music, and perhaps their eyes amused with graceful action and fashionable manners; the whole being no better than what they hear and see at the opera ….
Thousands are congratulating themselves , and even blessing God that they are devout worshipers, when at the same time they are living in an unregenerate Christless state, having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. He who presides over a system which aims at nothing higher than formalism, is far more a servant of the devil than a minister of God. “
( Lectures to my students Charles Spurgeon page 6)
Thousands are congratulating themselves , and even blessing God that they are devout worshipers, when at the same time they are living in an unregenerate Christless state, having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. He who presides over a system which aims at nothing higher than formalism, is far more a servant of the devil than a minister of God. “
( Lectures to my students Charles Spurgeon page 6)
Friday, February 13, 2009
update
It's interesting when you stop to think about this question: " what is newsworthy ?"
When I read end of year reports, I usually see numbers and statistics, events participated in, and the like. What's to report ? I suppose I was really encouraged about a month ago when I came home from the store.
Back ground first: We have been in need of a major overhaul on landscaping, but we were waiting for the right time. We had a massive amount of rock in the yard that needed to be hauled off. Have you ever tried to do this with a shovel ? It's like trying to mow 10 lawns with a pair of scissors. So, I come home from the store and I notice my neighbor has a bobcat next to his house ( the kind of machine that moves much rock). So, I say, " Hi Joe" and he volunteers his bobcat to move our rock around. WOW ! I didn't even bring it up... he initiated it. So, the next day, he pushes most of our rock into 3 piles in the front yard and removes a rock wall we needed removed. This was worth quite a bit of dinero. So, I call another friend... he gives me the name of a man with a truck and he comes and removes the piles for a very fair price. So, our landscaping is at least removed for now and we are preparing for the next phase.
Moral of the story: Those who wait on the Lord, will get their strength renewed. We are thankful for how God uses people to participate in our lives.
Also: I made a commitment in June of 2006, to read God's word every day. As a result of that commitment, I feel like my life has changed dramatically. I realize that we all sort of have this goal as a good idea, but when we actually do it, there are rewards that cannot be typed out in a blog of this size. My prayer for you, o reader of the blog, is that you would see the value of reading / studying God's word every day. I have found that if this does not happen in the morning, it becomes next to impossible.
Also: I have witnessed first hand, the value of praying for my kids. I have seen changes in them that have helped me keep going. They certainly have a long way to go, but I am thankful for "setbacks" and "delays" that worked together for their good.
Also: I have found that if you are an irritable person, you will find much to irritate you. As I look around and observe the people who are easily angered I find myself saying: " Lord, don't let me be like that."
When I read end of year reports, I usually see numbers and statistics, events participated in, and the like. What's to report ? I suppose I was really encouraged about a month ago when I came home from the store.
Back ground first: We have been in need of a major overhaul on landscaping, but we were waiting for the right time. We had a massive amount of rock in the yard that needed to be hauled off. Have you ever tried to do this with a shovel ? It's like trying to mow 10 lawns with a pair of scissors. So, I come home from the store and I notice my neighbor has a bobcat next to his house ( the kind of machine that moves much rock). So, I say, " Hi Joe" and he volunteers his bobcat to move our rock around. WOW ! I didn't even bring it up... he initiated it. So, the next day, he pushes most of our rock into 3 piles in the front yard and removes a rock wall we needed removed. This was worth quite a bit of dinero. So, I call another friend... he gives me the name of a man with a truck and he comes and removes the piles for a very fair price. So, our landscaping is at least removed for now and we are preparing for the next phase.
Moral of the story: Those who wait on the Lord, will get their strength renewed. We are thankful for how God uses people to participate in our lives.
Also: I made a commitment in June of 2006, to read God's word every day. As a result of that commitment, I feel like my life has changed dramatically. I realize that we all sort of have this goal as a good idea, but when we actually do it, there are rewards that cannot be typed out in a blog of this size. My prayer for you, o reader of the blog, is that you would see the value of reading / studying God's word every day. I have found that if this does not happen in the morning, it becomes next to impossible.
Also: I have witnessed first hand, the value of praying for my kids. I have seen changes in them that have helped me keep going. They certainly have a long way to go, but I am thankful for "setbacks" and "delays" that worked together for their good.
Also: I have found that if you are an irritable person, you will find much to irritate you. As I look around and observe the people who are easily angered I find myself saying: " Lord, don't let me be like that."
Monday, February 2, 2009
Does God have 2 wills ?
Have you ever wondered how God can desire one thing and yet determine that another thing actually come to pass ?
I have too.
This is an article by John Piper called : " Does God have two wills ? " I found it helpful in explaining the relationship between man's responsibility and Divine sovereingty.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1580_Are_There_Two_Wills_in_God/
I have too.
This is an article by John Piper called : " Does God have two wills ? " I found it helpful in explaining the relationship between man's responsibility and Divine sovereingty.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1580_Are_There_Two_Wills_in_God/
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