Friday, November 30, 2012

Getting Ready for 2013 Part II


How to Spend a Half-Day Alone With God
  1. Pack a lunch. Bring your favorite beverage or water.
  2. Pack a back-pack, brief case, or tote bag with bible, hymn book, devotional book, pens, and notebook
  3. Find a quiet and secluded spot where you can be alone with no       distractions
  4. Divide the half-day into three (3) distinct parts 

          Worship 
  •  quietly wait on the Lord
  • pray words of adoration, appreciation, and admiration
  • read a couple to a few Psalms dealing with praise and worship of God
  • sing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs of praise and worship to God 

          Word 
  • read pre-planned sections or passages on spiritual growth 
  • meditate on a section of scripture that encourages spiritual growth, sanctification, or Christ-likeness
  • read Philippians in one sitting 

          Work 
  • First Half Day – evaluate 2012
                   Record evaluation in notebook.
                   Record areas that need growth or spiritual development. 
  • Second half day – strategize goals for 2013                      

                   Record goals in notebook
                   Record steps to achieve goals
                   Record plan for monitoring both steps and goals 
  • Third half day – finalize and commit to God 

                   Finalize any areas that need attention
                   Evaluate for sensibility and reality – are they achievable?
                   Pray and commit these goals to God 
                   Pray for guidance and wisdom
                   Pray for godliness and growth
                   Pray for God’s character and nature to be manifested to you                                          through the Word

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Getting Ready for 2013 Part I


Setting Spiritual Goals

Today is the second of the last day of November. In two days, Lord willing, the final month of the year will begin. Two thousand and twelve is winding down and rapidly coming to a close. Two thousand and thirteen will be upon us almost before we know it.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I subscribe to several axioms. An axiom can be defined as a “self-evident truth which needs no proof,” or “a premise or starting point of reason.” One of my favorite axioms that I subscribe to is as follows: “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” Many believers never hit spiritual goals in their lives because they are not aiming at any spiritual goals.

With that axiom in mind, allow me to ask you what are you aiming for in two thousand and thirteen in relationship to your spiritual life and/or growth? In other words, what spiritual goals have you established for this coming year?

The unfortunate truth is many people remain the same spiritually (usually at an infantile or toddler stage) year after year. The reason for this is they do not plan the means of their growth. It seems most believers have adopted a version of the Keswick philosophy which basically says, let go and let God. It seems many believers think that Christian growth is God’s responsibility and so they sit back and “leave the driving to Him.”

I propose to you that you should use the month of December to first, track you goals, accomplishments, failures, and growth in two thousand and twelve. Then secondly, plot or in reality “aim” for your spiritual growth in the coming new year.

I suggest that you take a least three half days during December and get alone with God and examine where you currently are in your spiritual life, where you would like to be next year, and the steps or means of how you (in absolute dependence upon God) achieve these steps.

Take a hard look at the spiritual “successes” and “high-lights” of this past year. Also, take a hard look at the failures and the areas which need improving or shoring up. Look for patterns that hampered and promoted spiritual growth. Here are some other categories that you might want to consider setting some goals.

What bible reading plan will you utilize next year? Try reading a different translation each year. Mix up the plan from year to year, sometimes read chronologically through the bible or read topically through the bible and so forth.

What books of the bible would you like to or need to meditate through slowly next year?

What plan do you have for scripture memorization? What sections of scripture do you want to memorize? How many verses do you want to memorize?

What reading plan do you have in place? 

What books will you read for your soul?

 What books will you read to enhance your spiritual growth? 

What books will you read for recreation? 

How many books would you like to read in regards to spiritual growth this coming year?

What bible conferences or seminars will you attend next year?

What do you want to accomplish in your devotional life? Do you have one? What areas is it lacking? How can you streamline or improve your devotional life?

How will you use your spiritual gift? In what capacity will you serve, build up, and assist the body of Christ this year? What ministry would you like to be part of? Are you connected to the body through a small group?

These are just a few areas and suggestions that you can sift through as you evaluate two thousand and twelve and plan for two thousand and thirteen. Take some time and set some goals in these areas.

In closing, I mentioned take three half days during December (some of you might need to use next November and December for two thousand and fourteen).

First half day – evaluate two thousand and twelve

Second half day – develop specific goals in a number of the above mentioned areas for two thousand and twelve

Third half day – establish the steps to achieve the goals you set and spend time fasting and praying for the upcoming year and the implementation of those goals.

Tomorrow in part two, I will briefly share “how to spend a half day alone with God."












Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Meet Scott M. Weldon


One of my goals for producing this blog is to expose my readers to godly individuals, both living and dead. I take great pleasure in sharing various pastors, missionaries, teachers, authors, and Christian workers with my readers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I also intend for you to be edified by exposing you to them.

I would like to expose you to a number of godly individuals in an interview process. Today, I would like to expose you to a man I have come to appreciate a great deal. He has become a good friend through his blog, By Grace Alone and corresponding via email. I am pleased to introduce you Pastor Scott M. Weldon of Faith Southern Baptist Church in Marshfield, Missouri.


What is your current position?

           
Pastor, Faith Southern Baptist Church

Where did you graduate from Bible College or seminary?

           
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Please describe your morning devotions. When do you begin them? What do your devotions consist of and or look like? How much time to you spend reading, meditating, praying, and etc?

           
This changes somewhat from day to day, but typically I begin reading from our “daily readings” (based on a read through the Bible calendar).  Sometimes I read through several chapters, sometimes one section gets my attention and I dwell more on that, maybe even cross reference some issues (I think I may be ADD…wait, what were we talking about?).  I’ve been known to spend the whole time tracking down some little thought that a particular text inspired and not getting back to the rest of the readings.  Not sure if that’s good or not, but…

            Sometimes I also read from a devotional type book; lately I’ve enjoyed a Through the Year book by John Stott, or I read through a prayer or two in The Valley of Vision.  I should probably be more disciplined, but I sort of let myself drift from book to book based on time, mood, etc.  (maybe this is more like an example of how NOT to do devotions!)

            I’m also a huge music person.  More often than not I have music playing, and sometimes a particular song will hit me and become the catalyst for that morning’s devotions.

            I don’t have a set “time” for prayer, as to length.  Sometimes I pray off and on while reading the text, based on thoughts it motivates.  Sometimes I read through the text and then take a longer time at the end for prayer. 

            This all sounds a bit wishy-washy on paper.  I think we ought to be disciplined in the fact that we spend time in the Word or in prayer; but I’ve never been one to think that we have to be overly rigid with “do this for 5 minutes, then do this for 5 minutes” etc.

What book (s) are you currently reading in these three categories?

a)  for your soul –
Reading a series of “devotionals” called PROOF (which will soon be a book by Timothy Paul Jones http://www.timothypauljones.com/)

b)  for pastoral ministry – Just picked up Creature of the Word, along with the videos.  Haven’t dug in yet, but it’s the next thing on my agenda.

c)  for personal enjoyment- Just finished Placebo by Steven James, and now starting an e-book called Knox’s Irregulars by J. Wesley Bush

Apart from the bible, what book do you most frequently re-read and why? 

            Two come to mind.  1. Pilgrim’s Progress, which I’ve read in a couple versions (original and “modern” update), our family has read together, we’ve listened to a “dramatized” version, and even bought the movie.  It’s just such a wonderful portrait of the Christian life with so much great thought and theology.      
 
            2. The aforementioned Valley of Vision.  The richness of the Puritans in their heart for God is truly amazing and inspiring.  While I don’t think just reading/praying written prayers is adequate, using these as springboards for my own prayer/devotional life has been very helpful over the years.
           

What three books (other than the Bible) have had the most impact or influence on your life? Why?
           
Wow, just three?  Hmmm…This answer might change based on what day you ask me, but as of right now the ones that come to mind, in no particular order…

            -Knowing God, by J. I. Packer.  Opened my eyes to so much of the greatness and glory of God.  Changed by perspective on life, faith, ministry, etc.

            -The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur.  It came at a good time for me.  I was teaching through Romans and coming to grips with some truths about salvation, election, etc. that were different from what many of my professors had taught.  Reading those same truths from MacArthur was a confirmation that I wasn’t just crazy.  (Well, maybe I am, but still…)
           
            10 Questions To Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Don Whitney (along with Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines; that’s cheating I know, but…)  Again, a timing thing.  I had a doctoral seminar with Dr. Whitney and picked up a couple of his books.  I think my own life had become a little stagnant, and so the in depth evaluation and the emphasis on spiritual disciplines came at a really good time. 

If you could study under any theologian in church history (excluding those in the bible) who would it be? Why?

            Sounds cliché, but Spurgeon.  Many may consider him a preacher, not a theologian, but really what’s the difference?  I would love to hear his heart, his motivations, catch a glimpse of his passion up close.  Just reading about his life, reading his sermons can be so challenging and encouraging at the same time, to spend time with him in person would only magnify that. 

What single piece of counsel or criticism has had the most effect on your preaching? 

            Counsel:  A friend in college would remind me constantly, “I know what Dr. So-and-so said in class, but what does the Word of God say?”  That challenge changed the course of my academic life and has stuck in my mind ever since.  Every time we proclaim the Word, it’s not a matter of what men say, what does God say?

            Criticism: We all get criticism, and I know that there have been some hurtful, personal things said to me that have lingered.  But honestly, I can’t say that any of them have affected my preaching.

What books on preaching have you found to be the most helpful to you.

            I recently picked up a copy of the classic Preaching and Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, but haven’t read it yet.  It may move into this category.  I don’t know that any one book on preaching per se sticks out, but John Piper’s Brothers We Are Not Professionals has been extremely helpful to me for ministry in general.  Of course, Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students is a classic, and just reading old sermons is a great thing for anyone.

Where in ministry are you most tempted to discouragement?

            Just that feeling of hitting a brick wall over and over.  You preach and preach and it seems like sometimes folks just don’t get it.  Some mornings you feel like you’re talking to an empty room.  And then, one day someone comes up and says something about how much this or that comment meant to them, and suddenly it all seems worth it.  Still, just that feeling of not moving forward in our spiritual maturity, constantly seeming to have to cover the same ground, that’s very discouraging.

What do you do for relaxation or leisure? What are your favorite hobbies?

            Spending time with my family.  I like to hunt with my oldest son, discuss books with my daughters, and hang out and generally spoil the youngest boy.  If my wife and I get a chance to get away, we love to have some good Italian food and browse some book stores.

            Hobbies:  reading, cheering on Missouri based teams in baseball and football (and hockey when they’re actually playing!), a little NASCAR, hunting, fishing, obsessing over my favorite bands, and collecting antique hymnals.

If you were not in the ministry what occupational job would you have chosen?

            I spent several years in Christian radio, and I wouldn’t mind doing more of that.  When I have the “unprepared” recurring dream, it swaps between Sunday mornings without a sermon ready, and being at the radio station without any songs ready to go…the dreaded dead air!


Addendum:  Gregg, thanks for doing this.  Spending time putting some of these things on paper (so to speak) has been helpful.  Makes me think, evaluate, etc.  Those are good things.  Thanks again.  




Tuesday, November 27, 2012

How to Pray for Lost Children




Over the last forty (40) years I have written a number of quotes, comments, pithy sayings, and poems in the fly-leafs of my bibles. Each Tuesday I am going to share those various entries from my bibles with you. I hope they will be as much of blessing to you as they have been to me. Sometimes I will be able to give credit where credit is due and sometimes I won’t be able to credit the source. I apologize for this to each one who contributed these gems over the last forty (40) years.

TODAY'S TREASURE:


"Let those that are united to me in tender ties as family be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory. Let not those of my family fall short of heaven."

Monday, November 26, 2012

Did You Know?



This Day in Christian History
 
November 26


1775: The American Navy began using chaplains within its regular service.

     1789: President George Washington proclaimed this date (a Thursday) to be the first national Thanksgiving Day holiday. (National Thanksgiving days were periodically proclaimed by presidents, until in 1863 Abraham Lincoln inaugurated the practice of annually setting the fourth Thursday in November aside for Thanksgiving Day.)

     1962: English apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter: 'No doubt [my body] has often led me astray: but not half so often, I suspect, as my soul has led IT astray. For the spiritual evils ... arise more from the imagination than from the appetites.'     
______________________________ 

    Source: William D. Blake. Almanac of the Christian ChurchMinneapolis: Bethany House, 1987. Additional information supplied by the author. Contact via E-mail: William D. Blake. (pilgrimwb@aol.com)

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Great Is Thy Faithfulness!


Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast hope of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
The Lord is my portion, says my soul,
therefore I will hope in him.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the the salvation of the LORD.

(Lamentations 3:19-26, ESV)

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Saturdays with Spurgeon #016



"I have heard all the news I need when I heard of eternal salvation by Jesus Christ."

--Charles H Spurgeon

Friday, November 23, 2012

Four Day Weekend!

So, this is what a four-day weekend feels like?

I think I like it!



Thursday, November 22, 2012

A Word of Thanks to You!


It is my prayer that thee and thine
enjoy this day with all it brings,
may family grace your lives sublime
and with joy its anthem rings.

Food and friends with God's good grace
around a hearth warm and choice,
good wishes to all speed with haste
loudly sounding forth with cheerful voice.

Please accept from Irene and me
our wish for you this Thanksgiving Day,
of good will and cheer given sincerely,
for this special time of worship and play.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Oft Missing Ingredient


Discipleship is so much more than just sharing the news about Jesus; it is also about teaching people to obey the commands Jesus gave us. Unfortunately, many churches have not taken this charge seriously, and they are experiencing significant problems. This whole issue of discipleship is critical if we want to save the church from the Sunday-morning show and make it a place where real relationship and real change takes place.

Real-lifediscipleship, How Do We Create Churches That Succeed, Jim Putman, p. 21

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

What Do You Love?




Over the last forty (40) years I have written a number of quotes, comments, pithy sayings, and poems in the fly-leafs of my bibles. Each Tuesday I am going to share those various entries from my bibles with you. I hope they will be as much of blessing to you as they have been to me. Sometimes I will be able to give credit where credit is due and sometimes I won’t be able to credit the source. I apologize for this to each one who contributed these gems over the last forty (40) years.

TODAY'S TREASURE:

"We serve what we love supremely"

Monday, November 19, 2012

Who Said It #2




"Faith ends where worry begins, 
and worry ends where faith begins."



Sunday, November 18, 2012

How Pleased and Blest Was I!



Isaac Watts

1. How pleased and blessed was I,
To hear the people cry,
“Come let us seek our God today!”
Yes with a cheerful zeal,
We'll haste to Zion's hill,
And there our vows and honors pay.

2. Zion, thrice happy place,
Adorned with wondrous grace,
And walls of strength embrace thee round!
In thee our tribes appear,
To pray, and praise, and hear
The sacred gospel's joyful sound.

3. There David's greater Son
Has fixed his royal throne;
He sits for grace and judgement there:
He bids the saint be glad,
He makes the sinner sad,
And humble souls rejoice with fear.

4. May peace attend thy gate,
And joy within thee wait,
To bless the soul of ev'ry guest:
The man that seeks thy peace,
And wishes thine increase,
A thousand blessings on him rest!

5. My tongue repeats her vows,
“Peace to this sacred house!
For here my friends and kindred dwell:”
And since my glorious God
Makes thee his blest abode,
My soul shall ever love thee well.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Saturdays with Spurgeon #015



"Blessed is that man who has done with chance, who never speaks of luck, but  believes that from the least even to the greatest, all things are ordained of the Lord. We dare not leave out the least even! The creeping of an aphid upon a rosebud is as surely arranged by the decree of Providence as the march of a pestilence through a a nation. Believe this, for if the least is omitted from the supreme government, so may the next be, and the next, until nothing is left in the Divine hands. There is no place for chance, since God fills all things."

--Charles H Spurgeon

Friday, November 16, 2012

Uglier Than Sin?


The Handy-man, or should I say “domestic maintenance engineer”, for our apartment complex was caught up on the jobs that he had been assigned. He was hunting around for some work when I suggested to Irene (who manages our apartments) that he could paint the office door. It is looking a little worse for the wear.

As a matter of fact, I described the condition of the door as “it looks uglier than sin.” It dawned on me as soon as I said those words that I must rid my vocabulary of that phrase. I don’t know of a greater misnomer and offensive statement to our Lord than, “uglier than sin.”

Some might argue that it is just an expression. It is nothing more than a colloquialism. In some parts of our country is an expression that is used as frequently as “right as rain,” or “a tough nut to crack.” Some might argue that I have “gone ‘round the bend” on this one.

Think about it for a moment. Can anything truly be uglier than sin? In order to answer this question, we must ask ourselves, “How ugly is sin anyways?” I think we can answer that sentence by looking at three (3) passages of scripture.

The first passage is Genesis 6:5-7:

“The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.’” (ESV)

Sin was so ugly to God that He was grieved over creating that which He once pronounced as “good.” Sin was so ugly that God determined to drown every living creature on the planet, save Noah and his family. I cannot imagine being so grieved over anything that I would determine to destroy it by drowning it by a massive and universal flood. Sin was so ugly that God in perfect righteousness, justice, and holiness drowned every man, woman, and child, except those seven souls whom He secured safely in the ark. The office door was certainly not uglier than that.

The second passage is Genesis 18:20 and 19:24:

“Then the LORD said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.’” (ESV)

“Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.” (ESV)

Sin was so ugly in these cities and the surround cities on the plains that God determined to destroy them with fire and sulfur straight from heaven. We read in verse twenty nine of chapter nineteen that God destroyed the cities of the valley. Again, men, women and children were incinerated as a result of sin. Sin, so ugly, that God destroyed a number of cities in the valley so as to punish sin.

The third and final passage to see the ugliness of sin is Matthew 27:45-46:

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (ESV)

There my friend, we truly see how ugly sin really is. Sin was so ugly and repulsive to the nature and character of God that he was pleased to bruise and crush his own Son who had become the sin-bearing sacrifice which appeased God’s offended character. Not only, was sin so ugly that God slew His own Son, but Christ had become so repulsive to God as he bore sin that God turned his back on him thus creating darkness. Can you grasp this? For the first time in all of infinite eternity there was a breach in the God-head. The eternal unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was interrupted by ugly sin. Sin was so ugly that the Father, until Christ died, abandoned the Son.

We can study and meditate on the crucifixion of Jesus and get a small glimpse as to the utter ugliness of sin. Only the perverted, drunken, or emotionally disturbed parent (s) plots to hurt and kill their own offspring. God, who in no wise is perverted, drunken, or disturbed plotted and accomplished the tortuous death of his own dear Son.

Needless to say, I am working to rid my vocabulary of this phrase. There is nothing on this earth save sin itself that is uglier than sin. Sin is so ugly, vile, and repulsive to God that God has judged sin in His Son. Not only has God judged sin, but one day he will rid his creation of sin entirely.

God, keep me from being so flippant, so casual, and so cavalier with a subject that is so repulsive to you that it caused you drown your creation, burn your creation, and to brutally slay your own Son.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

O, Sing to the Lord a Brand New Song


The Glory of God

Make a Joyful Noise to the LORD…  Psalm 98

Psalm 98
Written by Gregg Metcalf, Nov 2012



O, Sing to the Lord a Brand New Song

O, sing to the Lord a brand new song
For he has done such marvelous things
Give praise, give praise all ye throngs
Soar to heights with Celestial wings

The LORD has revealed His salvation
He has unveiled His righteousness
No longer hidden from any nation
He’s blazed a path in the wilderness

Make a joyful noise all the earth
Break forth with a joyful chorus
Sing of all his glorious worth
Of grace so vast and porous

Sing to him with flute and horn
With strings make a melody
From the elderly to the newly born
Lift up your voice in ecstasy

Let the sea roar all its days
and the rivers clap their hands
let grassy hills send forth praise
from those dwelling in the land

The LORD comes to judge the earth
He comes to judge with all equity
To give each and all their very worth
Given Him by His Father’s authority 

O, sing to the Lord a brand new song
For he has done such marvelous things
Give praise, give praise all ye throngs
Soar to heights with Celestial wings

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Book Review: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones - The Fight of Faith

Title:  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones - The Fight of Faith 1939-1981, Volume 2

Author:  Iain Murray

First Copyright:  1990

Type of Book:  Hardback

General Subject Matter:  Biography

Special Features:  Black and white photos, color photos

Price:  $39.00

ISBN:  978-0-85151-564-9

The purpose of the author in writing this volume was to record the abundant material related to the life of Dr. Lloyd-Jones as he "lived in more than one world" at the same time. According to the author, "For all most all the years covered by this volume their was little happening of an important Christian character with which he was not in some way related. Murray was able to record more of the life of Lloyd-Jones since he collected many personal notes of events and conversations.

The theme of this book is the involvement of Lloyd-Jones in Christian ministry from 1939 to his death in 1981. The thesis of this book is the man and ministry of Dr. Lloyd-Jones influenced and impacted global Christianity.

Just as in the precious volume, Murray uses narration to develop his thesis. Murray tells the story of Lloyd-Jones life, ministry, and impact on Christianity through a series of events in a chronological order. Being the skilled writer and biographer that he is, Murray often utilized argument to persuade and establish the veracity of many of his analysis and conclusions about Lloyd-Jones impact and influence on Christianity.

With regards to evaluating this volume for interest, accuracy, objectivity, and importance, it suffices to say that is an extremely valuable and important piece of writing. First, I found this volume, as the last, to be of extreme interest. Lloyd-Jones was quite a character. He was a tremendous student of scripture with a keen mind. The times and events both secular and spiritual that he lived through made very interesting reading. This book purports to be of extreme accuracy due to the fact that the author was an assistant of Lloyd-Jones, personal friend, and had access to the subject. Murray was able to collect material, make notes, authenticate, and verify much of what he wrote long before he put the first words of this biography on paper. The danger Murray faced was constantly before him of not being objective. However, as I read this volume I believe Murray was very objective. He never gave into "idol" worship nor did he make his subject out to be anything more than a sinner saved by grace.

This book delves in matters of pastoral ministry, evangelism, real Christianity, and the various "isms" that threatened biblical Christianity during Lloyd-Jones life time. Matters of separation, ecumenical ism, the eroding confidence in the scriptures, and even Billy Graham are covered in depth as they relate to, affect, or affected by Lloyd-Jones.

As far as the qualifications of the author, Iain Murray has been in the Christian ministry since 1955. In 1957 Murray co-founded The Banner of Truth Trust serving as the senior editor until 1996. Murray served as an assistant to Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones at the Westminster Chapel. Murray pastored Grove Chapel in Camberwell, London and St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Sydney. He is has authored numerous books including a number of biographies. He is amply qualified to write this biography of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
 
This book is replete with footnotes. It has a single appendix after the final page. It has an extensive and useful subject index. These footnotes provide additional information as was as documentation. They certainly help clarify and even extend points made by the author in the main body.

Although quite voluminous, some 830 pages, I whole-heartily recommend this book to every Christian. This book is well worth reading. I was mesmerized by the life and times of this truly gifted yet humble man of God. May God give us more men like Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones



Tuesday, November 13, 2012

It's Your Choice...




Over the last forty (40) years I have written a number of quotes, comments, pithy sayings, and poems in the fly-leafs of my bibles. Each Tuesday I am going to share those various entries from my bibles with you. I hope they will be as much of blessing to you as they have been to me. Sometimes I will be able to give credit where credit is due and sometimes I won’t be able to credit the source. I apologize for this to each one who contributed these gems over the last forty (40) years.

TODAY'S TREASURE:

"I do believe and support the freedom 
to chose your own religion: you can choose to go to heaven God's way or choose to go to hell your way."

--Donald Barnhouse

Monday, November 12, 2012

Son of Man


But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins   - he then said to the paralytic - 'Rise, pick up your bed and go home.'
(Matthew 9:6, ESV)


This was the favorite name of Jesus for Himself. This title or name appears some seventy times in the Gospels. It shows up some thirty times in Matthew, five times in Mark, twenty five times in Luke, and ten times in John.

This title actually has roots in the Old Testament. It was used by Daniel in chapter seven, verses thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen as a name for the promised Messiah. This is significant, because Jesus’ usage of this title was equivalent to claiming He was the Messiah.

Incidentally, this title or name was also applied to Ezekiel. This title or name appears some ninety times in relationship to Ezekiel. Some scholars think this implies the lowliness of man compared to God.