Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms

Oct 31 , 1517 a little known monk by the name Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Church at Wittenberg. It was a treatise against all the corruption and heresy within the Catholic church. It began a reformation and revolution . If you gathered today in a protestant Church , you have Luther to thank . Unfortunately how many people today have even heard of the 95 Theses or the fact that the Catholic Church still preaches a gospel that is no gospel. In your Church this morning was any honor paid to Martin Luther . How many youth if you say Martin Luther , think of only Martin Luther King Jr. the black activist in the 60's. Sad really.

The reformation is far from over for the primary doctrines that drove the division between Protestants and Catholics still remain (contrary to what Chuck Colson thinks) . May the great truths of the reformation be declared with a new passion and thunder. Happy Reformation day .

Word Of God Speak - MercyMe

                                          

How many have said , if God would only speak , then I would believe . But He has spoken . We have an amazing book that is God's word to man that reveals Himself and mans problem. The problem with man is he is dead in sin and trespasses . He has no ears to hear,no eyes to see ,until God by the power of the Holy Spirit , opens the tomb of our hearts and the we hear the word say repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

What a blessed thing to do each day , to open the Bible and hear God speak . Do you tremble , you should .

Petra , A Rock of the Ages

Today the contemporary Christian music scene is a flood of numerous musical styles . From heavy grind core sounds of Demon Hunter to the pop styles of a Matthew West. Numerous artist regularly debut albums in the top ten secular charts like Third Day ,Mercy Me ,Casting Crowns and Chris Tomlin. Then you have long time artist who have sold millions of albums like Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W Smith. But all these artist might have not had the success they have had , if not for a few trail blazers.

One I think rises above them all and that is Petra. They emerged out of the Jesus movement in the early 70's but had more of a rock sound. There initial albums had a bit of Eagles and English Rock sounds blurred together. But it was clearly Christian based with lyrics that spoke of Jesus and used bible references all through their music. By the third album Washes Whiter Than , the style of music had moved a bit rockier in the vein of Styx,Kansas and Foreigner , which fit the vocalist at that time Greg X Voltz. Bob Hartman the founding member and guitarist , was the main force. They continued to forge their own sound and by Beat the System in 1984 , they were selling out arena's and selling really well. But at this time for personal reasons Greg X Votlz decided to leave. This marked a bit of a change in direction again.

With the new vocalist , John Schillt , who had more of a vocal style between Steve Perry of Journey and Lou Gramm of Foreigner , they began a more 80's melodic rock sound with Back to the Street in 1986. From there they truly hit their stride , forged a new rock sound and after 2 more releases , This Means War and On Fire , they hit what many fans consider the pinnacle of Petra , Beyond Belief. The song above was one of the hits from the album . They continued on having success till about the mid 90's , when the style of rock they were doing , kinda fell out of vogue. They have continued releasing albums and tour . They did do a farewell tour but have since recorded a new album with Greg X Votlz back in  the band .

What they did was open doors for the acceptance that rock as a music medium, could be infused with blatant Christian lyrics. They did meet opposition from many churches , who thought rock is of the devil foolishness.But they championed on . The music evolved over time but one thing did not was the clear Christian messages in the music. Unlike today in the Christian music scene that often the messages are blurred , Petra stood for the gospel of Jesus Christ. After becoming a Christian , I thought it was so cool to discover a band that rocked hard , had great ballads but exalted the Lord. Plus they always had scripture references , and I always looked them up as I listened to the song.

They where indeed trail blazers. Selling over 10 million albums on the way . So when I listen to Chapman,Tomlin,Third Day today , I always pull out my Petra once in a while and am thankful for the doors they opened for those artist that are finding success today.

Fav Albums: More Power To Ya,This Means War ,Beyond Belief , Jekyll & Hyde

Doesn't It Say Narrow

As I approach 50 in a couple of years ,  I have been to my share of funerals. Something that breaks my heart . It is never an easy thing to bid farewell to someone you loved or to watch someone you know go through the pain of loss. But it is appointed one day for all of us to face that last barrier .

As a Christian believer the hard thing for me is coming to grips with the fact I have never been to a funeral were the departed one was not "in a better place". Now I say this with the utmost restraint , that simply cannot be.If the Bible is true(it is) , then we have a big problem.

     [13] “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. [14] For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
(Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)

These are the words of Jesus . Talking about eternal life , heaven . Jesus states bluntly that few will find it. Why? First there is only one gate . Jesus himself . He is the way ,the truth and the life , no one can enter His Fathers presence but through Him.That the way is hard . Which means following Him will cost. It will cost the praise of men and the world. The way being easy is the thought that all is good , we don't need a Savior . We are all basically good and decent people .

So heaven is attained by death . As Theologian RC Sproul put it , we are justified by death. There is no need to give account for our sins , no need for a perfect Savior who died and rose again that one might be justified before a holy God. No sir, just drop dead , and you go directly  to heaven.

But the truth is this . If Christ had to come and atone for the sins of all who will repent and believe , then what should we say to those who are in a delusion of heaven for all . This must be dealt with with the utmost care .

It serves no purpose to go in guns blazing. To tell someone that their whole concept of an afterlife is a lie will do more harm than good. Plus it shows little respect concerning the situation. Also we must be careful to let God be God concerning the person who dies. Perhaps there was a last minute confession and cry out to the Lord. But lets be honest , this is a rarity and should not be an excuse not to bring the truth to bare on this eternally important subject.

The first thing one should do is offer no response when someone says , they are in a better place. Be silent. Place your concern on the living . Pray for them , offer emotional support. Let them talk . Listen and be slow to respond. Let grief work its opening . There is a reason the word of God tells us its better to be in the house of mourning than merry. Death awakens the heart to lofty questions. Is there life after death?Is there a God? What of heaven?

Pray God will give you a time to respond . To share the gospel . But don't make the deceased person the context. Place the person whom you are talking with at the center . There is no question that the idea that their  loved one is in hell according to the message of gospel could arise. Be loving but firm that apart from trusting in Christ , the wrath of God abides on all who will not repent. Those will never be easy words but who will we be , God pleaser or a man pleaser.

In a very practical way I deal with this issue each day. My Dad , who is 70 , has never turned to Jesus . In fact as sad as I'm to say , he uses His name in blasphemy not praise.I love my Dad dearly and pray for his soul . But I make no illusions that unless he repents and believes that he is a sinner , that Jesus , the Son of God , came to die for his sins , rose again for his justification , then he will die in his sins. He will stand before a holy God , a wretched sinner , and for his hatred of God , hell will be just .

That may sound harsh but I'm under no delusion of a better place apart from Christ.  The gate is narrow , may we seek to show others that truth .

Random Thinking

Just thought about a few things today as I scanned the news. So without further ado , here they are.

In an article on teen sexuality , it was revealed that teens are practicing many very unsafe sexual habits. In truth ,there really are no true safe sex habits but celibacy but that is another story . What surprised me was that a couple of the educators featured seemed quite shocked by this . Of course the solution put forth was better information. But my thought was , if you are going to tell kids they are nothing more than evolved animals , teach sex in a vacuum without any real objective moral standards , then why are you shocked? Then if a girl gets pregnant at a young age just get rid of the "cell's". Evidence of society in love with its sin.

So it was announced today that Bert and Ernie are not gay. Well is that a shocker . You can tell the effects the gay culture has had in contemporary thinking when this was only a issue in the late 90's . The same time gay rights started to become very militant.Sad to even to have to enter into this foolishness. I was just a tad too old to enjoy Sesame Street but my sister and brother did. Ernie and Bert were just two close friends , that's all . Its sickening to see how far we have fallen in society accepting a lifestyle that the word of God calls a perversion. Let me say this very clear , sin is sin . We are all sinners  and have our weaknesses  but God's word should not be shackled. Just as any form of sexuality outside the bonds of marriage is sin , and punishable unless one repents , turns to Jesus for forgiveness and strength to fight the sin within . But I fear the time will come it will cost to call a spade a spade , even if its done in a loving and compassionate way . Hey , I admit right here that I'm a wretch , deserving of God's wrath . I'm no better . But I needed someone to tell me I was hell bound sinner . The grace offered to me is the same to all . We need to speak the truth in love concerning this issue and be not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power unto salvation.

A friend from my child hood is having a real tough time . I will not go into all the details but suffice it to say , health and job issues even with his wife , are taking a toll. They were burnt by a church and he is broken and hurt. A Church that did not really care. But my question , how many are like this . If you know of a family or single person in real need , do you respond. How do we look at the Church in Acts that tells us the brethren were sharing and giving to each other. Way too many people sit in the pew thinking , I did it , I'm successful why can't they? Just have a little more faith? Really ! How do you deal with scripture that clearly states that God raises up one and not another . Two men could have the exact same abilities ,business and know how but one could fail . I'm as guilty as any on this issue of what I call , spiritual frozen. You know , the type that just prays ( I think James had something to say about that). But I have been truly convicted over the last couple of years to change my ways .So what can one do ? Give a oil fill up , anonymous . Send grocery cards , anonymous . That way they will not feel ashamed or owing to you. Give out of a cheerful heart , build up treasure in heaven . Why do we clutch unto things so tight . We brought nothing into this world , we can take nothing out.Make Jesus your treasure and the pocket book starts to become a little lighter.

Well just some random thoughts from my mixed up brain today . Till next time .

Reformed Rap

I have become totally convinced that reformed theology best reflects the truth of the scripture. The five sola's that emerged from the reformation, Sola Fide,Sola Gratia,Sola Christus ,Sola Scriptura and Sola Deo Gloria  became the battle cry against Catholic dogma. What followed later are some of the best confessions of faith that have stood the test of time.

From the Westminster Confession of Faith , the London Baptist Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism,Belgic Confession, Canons of Dordt and a few others that emerged from the reformation , are staples of reformed teaching. They should never be put on a pedestal even close to scripture, but one thing they all have in common is a deep and total reverence for God's word, and a desire to explain it in a systematics way. If you read any of them you will encounter teaching about justification, imputation , expiation,propitiation etc...

So what does this have to do with rap? Now I confess that in general I'm no fan of rap . In the secular world rap music is crude,sexual and violent. It has no redeeming elements at all. But one thing I will say , its rhythmic and if its done well musically , you recall  the beat. Recently within rap/hip-hop a couple of Christian artist have started to emerge as stand out rappers. A couple of Blogs I read linked to their material  and being curious , I had to check it out.

The two artist I checked are Curtis Allen(the Voice) and Shai Linne (the artist featured above) . The reason I featured the song above is it raps like a confession . It is a rapping Catechism . What impressed me is its depth of understanding of the doctrines of grace but what blew me away was the use of solid doctrinal terms as mentioned above. Reformed theology is shaping these artist lyrical rhymes and what they are delivering are messages that are solid meat . Compare what is rapped about in the above song with much of contemporary worship songs or Christian pop music. No comparison.

The  medium of hip-hop or rap is nothing new in the sense many cultures would use a rhythmic use of words to recite stories or even scripture. The Rabbi's of Jesus day could recite the whole Torah in a chant. Singing or rhyming is known to be a better way to recall things then just spoken word. Hebrew and Aramaic are very rhythmic . So they would lend themselves to recitation that way.Rap lends itself to teaching scripture truths because like the chanters of the past , they are the new story tellers.

That is why it is so cool that these artist will be listened to by those who will probaly not rush out and buy any of the confessions that I mentioned. In general we know from poll after poll, the youth in the Christian community have a very shallow doctrinal understanding. So it is exciting to know that if these artist are listened to , it will be like being exposed to the great confessions in a fresh new way. Hopefully it will inspire those who check out both Allen and Linne to do some research on the doctrines they mention . So I just might get out my bass boost and discover my inner rapper . Rap on my Christian reformed brothers .

Something for a Laugh

Since it will be Halloween soon , and even though I'm not a big fan , I do like a good scary film. But as a kid , I liked a good laugh as well. This film is tailored made for such an occasion. Find it , rent and laugh .

When To Engage

When you use online social media , like Facebook ,one will often read something that you will  be offended  by or feel attacked due to your beliefs. Often though it is more laughable than offensive because often  the statements against God , Jesus or the Christian faith are such  gross misrepresentations  that you can't take it serious. However  at the same time they have to be taken serious.

Using what Peter tells us to always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is within us , for me personally, when I have engaged in a discussion online , it just does appeal to me. Often what you write does not come off as clear or can be worded in a way that sounds angry or sarcastic. For many it comes easy , as I have read some who have engaged  in a excellent discussion/debate . I prefer the more personal , face to face approach.

However if its something so over the top , I will engage the comment . One rule of engagement before posting that is essential , read it out loud before sending it. What one writes on a comment section on a blog or Facebook will be in the cyber world for all to see.Sometimes when you read it out loud and verbalize it , you can tell if it makes sense and sounds right. That is my method. The second thing is if the person or persons  you have engaged make it personal or begin to insult , disengage. Nothing can be gained .

Ultimately God should be glorified in what you  write . Present the gospel without be ashamed and trust the Holy Spirit will take what was said and use it to bring about repentance and faith. I used to argue and want to win for the sake of winning . Now I realize that was sinful and smacked of one full of pride. All one wants to really do is present Jesus Christ , defend the faith with honesty and give God the glory.

Grace Unmeasured by Sovereign Grace Music

[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

We bring nothing to the table concerning salvation. It is grace from the start to the finish . It is started by God and finished by God . Our works are dung as Luther said , it is the work of Christ only that saves us . Grace is the one word that is lacking in all other religions . The other of course is the love of God , found only in Jesus Christ . Grace , what an amazing word. 

The Third Day Move

One of the staples of Christian music over the last 19 years , Third Day have just released a new album called Move. It is their 11th studio album since emerging on the scene in 1997. The success of the band has been amazing over that time . The first album exploded on the scene and they have not been slowed down at all.

Move is another solid piece of music , regardless of it falling under the name Christian. The songs are well crafted and have solid melodies through out. Mac Powell's vocals are in top form , and I would say with age ,he has become even more seasoned. Bringing that soulful , southern quality to bare on the songs.

The album kicks of off with the anthem Lift Up Your face, a call to have hope , for salvation is at hand. It more or less sets the tone for the rest of the album. From the get go you can tell that they have embraced the earlier sounds of southern rock again. Which is evident with the heavy groove on the rocker Move. Once again the album flows from mid tempo rockers to the slower anthem type songs TD is known for. The standout  one on this album is the song Trust in Jesus. Its very bold lyrics declaring that on the day of judgement the only thing that will save you is Jesus Christ.

The lyrics leave little to the imagination in declaring the greatness of God , the gospel of Christ and the hope one can have regardless of the circumstances one finds your self in. One will quickly find that you will be singing and remembering the riffs and melodies . Once again an excellent fresh piece of music from this experienced band that still burns with the fire to glorify God with their gifts .

********9 guitar picks out of 10*******

Stand Out Tracks: Lift Up Your Face,Move,Trust in Jesus,Gone,I'll Be Your Miracle,Don't Give Hope

What Does Her Father Do?

My lovely wife and I are soon coming up on our 26th year of the first date. It was not a blind date , I did see her picture before going out . But it was set up by my younger sister.  I still recall that my dating life had come to the point that I was sure of joining a monastery . Prepared to put on the monk habit , just kidding , but it was not going well .

So my sister starts talking to me at the first of October of a girl she had met at the Kingstec Tech Campus in her Secretarial course. Needless to say I was a bit skeptical . Generally it is never a good thing to be set up on a date by a sibling because if things go bad , well paint the picture . But she kept talking this girl up and how much she thought we would hit it off . So getting my interest , I relented and said sure but first no date with no picture .

So she relayed this to my future wife and she gave her a  a couple of pictures. Needless to say the nerves were on edge as I waited for my sister to get home from school. Would she be attractive or was my sister selling me a bit of snake oil. She produced a couple of pics and watched and waited for my reaction. Well it is obvious that I thought she was pretty. The first thing I noticed was her eyes , very beautiful. Plus everything else was A one . Anyway I told my sister , sure she could go a head and set up a date.

Then my sister said to me , there was one other thing. This was puzzling . So I asked her what this was about . She then told me I should know what her father did . She wanted me to guess. Figuring it had to be something that  would be worrisome for the guy who was going out on a date with this mans daughter the first thing in my head was Policeman. Nope was the sisters answer. It had to be something along those lines. Next answer ,  he had to be in the military. Nope. At this  point I was a bit baffled .

Seeing that I was stumped , my sister looks at me and with a serious tone tells me it is worse than either a Policeman or Military . Then she revealed what he did . Yes it was far worse , he was a .....drum roll ....a Baptist Minster . I guess my sister figured that he had a more intimidating individual in his corner , God.

Well even though I was by no means a Christian at this point in my life, I figured why not and as they say the rest is history. Best decision of my life.  I truly found a good thing , with a little help form my sis , and ultimately God's sovereign hand guiding all.


[22] He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the LORD.
 (Proverbs 18:22 ESV)

Why Do We Not Have That Fire?

There are times when I read something that jolts me . Its like it wakes one from a slumber. Today I read of a young Korean girl and her testimony. Her story was both moving and inspiring. Originally from North Korea where Christians have been killed of their faith, she shared her story and it was heart breaking . But the thing that truly got to me was her passion and heart for the gospel to be shared with the people of North Korea. It probably has cost her father his life but she still can see that the people must hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

It left me feeling embarrassed and humbled . Her was this young woman , only 18 , willing and wanting to return to her home country one day , knowing full well that perhaps death awaits her . so I asked myself , Why? Why does so much of our Christianity not have both the urgency and passion to share the gospel. If we truly love Jesus , should we not want to share that love. If we hold that apart from Christ and what He did on the cross for us , taking our sin and rising form the dead so that we may be justified , one is doomed to suffer the wrath of God  in hell. Then it follows , how come we do not seem to have that same urgency.

Comfort. I truly believe thats what it comes down to . We may not suffer as it is right now, like those in North Korea,China or a middle eastern country but that day could come. No , what we could suffer is , rejection. From friends ,co-workers , families and even possibly lose our status among our business or education peers. Does that not sound embarrassing and humbling.

Do we cry over our country , our neighbors ,families and co-workers ? Do we not have the same message , the same gospel that saves , that is empowered by the same Holy Spirit ? Are we not more than conquerors in Christ . May we prefer the mockery, ridicule and even persecution of this world , then to be comfortable and keep Jesus safely in our little cupboard , only to be taken out on Sunday in the safe zone.

I will pray for this young girl and her father . Plus the many more like them . May we in the west be moved by the courage and faithfulness our eastern brothers and sisters in Christ.

Regret , That Monster in the Closet

Who can really say that they have lived a life without regret. If there is anyone who can honestly say that , then they are either in denial, delusional or they happen to be the most perfect person in the world. Since there are no perfect people, well you figure it out.


I confess that I live with many regrets . Some more than others and looking back I realize that in many ways , there was only one real moment in time that I would change or alter. Of course if I was in a sci-fi show , I would simply jump into a time machine or twist the fabric of space and time , relay the information and alter the reality. But that is not a possibility .

Since that is never going to happen and one has to learn to deal with ones sins and mistakes.Trying to comprehend them within the context of God's sovereign control over the universe and even your sins and failures, knowing that within your decisions , for good or bad , God still guides in His providence.

Take the fall of David , a man after God's own heart. The greatest King Israel ever saw. In his sin against God , when he seduced or forced Bathsheba and then had her husband killed . He lived in torment of his sin . Until confronted by the prophet Nathan . From this fall , we were in turned blessed with Psalm 51(My favorite Psalm). God forgave David because he repented , cleansed him from sin . But the fall out of his sin , his failure cast a shadow over the rest of his reign. I can only guess but I can see David at times ,looking back and thinking, why or if only? But then running again to God again , being thankful for blessing him with Solomon . For even amid the ruin , God used it for His glory.

It is true he forgave David , but often I wonder if the scar of what he did ever fully healed till he went to be with God .

We have to find a way to live with regret. Trusting that the Lord has forgiven any of our transgressions . But I often think the full healing of the scars will on;y come when we are in the arms of Christ.

In the Lord of the Rings , Frodo who endured so much , at the end of the story his pains and hurts run too deep for even the restored Shire and destruction of Sauron to allow him to fully heal. He is given passage on the ships heading to the Grey heavens , to the white shores. In the movie they do this so well . As he says his tearful goodbyes to his fellow hobbit Pippin,Merry and Sam , he looks weary and tired . But after Gandalf guides on the ship heading to the white shores , his appearance returns to the Frodo we first saw, full of life and joy. His pain and burdens are gone, he is at peace.


Perhaps I'm wrong but this is how I feel. I trust I have been forgiven , that Christ has forgiven me and my sins are remembered no more but we live in the here and not yet. Scars still remain , reconciliation sometimes does not come , pain and disappointments still linger. As Romans says , the whole creation is groaning till Christ comes again. Then we are promised that are tears and pains will we wiped away ,Rev 21:4. Till then , perhaps its my Irish blood , but its hard not to at times be in tears and struggles. At those times we need to run to Jesus . Not to the world , for I guarantee you , that will not satisfy . Did it,done it and paid the price for it .

The Heart is an Idol Factory

Today I had to venture up to our local drugstore to pick up some prescriptions for my Dad . Now I usually do not like shopping on Sundays. Now I'm not going to get into the debate over whether there is a Christian sabbath of some sort that still remains ( although I do still hold that the Lord's day seems to carry some importance to it) .  What struck me today was the insanity of the traffic.

A new store opened up in a new shopping area. Needless to say it is in the same spot I had to pick up the prescriptions. So what should have been a 15 minute trip , turned into a hour . So as I was waiting in a traffic line to get into my lane to go home , a heavy stream of car after car moved by me in all directions. Having time on my hands , I watched this mad scramble to get to the new store. As each vehicle moved by me , I wondered how many of the passengers spent today thanking God for their existence .Who perhaps went to Church , prayed,read God's word and worshiped the Lord who sustains all things.

I was stirred in my soul as this scene unfolded before me. Then I realized in todays culture , shopping and visiting this new store is nothing more than an idol. Calvin rightly said the heart is an idol factory from birth. When we think of an idol , we think of a stature or figure that one would pray to. But all an idol is anything that one puts above the Lord. It can be family,sex,money,sports,shopping,working(greed) . The reason our hearts are idol factories , we are enemies of God in our natural state. Anything that will distract us from God , we will put in our lives.


[16] Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
(Acts 17:16 ESV)

I was reminded of this passage today after I got home . Paul became upset as he entered Athens , as he observed all the idols set up . Now those idols were tangible but would not Paul be just as upset to see the throngs of people , put things and consumerism above God . In todays fast paced world , money,sex and things are the new idols. People throng to the new and shiny like sheep. Idols are everywhere today.

The heart is a cauldron of sin and deceit . That is why idols fill our lives. They obscure and we pursue them because we want our own desires over a holy God. But God is in the business our tearing down idols and replacing our dead hearts with new hearts alive to Christ. The answer to breaking the idol factory is for Christ to take up residence.

When Paul saw all the idols , he Was provoked . What did he do? He preached the gospel of Jesus . May we reach out to those caught in the idol madness of a culture and share the only message of hope , the life ,death and resurrection of Christ.

There's a Fountain performed by Michael Harris

I absolutely love this hymn . This is an abbreviated performance but this mans voice is just , epic . May we rejoice that the Lamb of God laid down His life that we may be forgiven and reconciled .


[7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
(Ephesians 1:7 ESV)

There is a Fountain  by William Cowper (1731-1800)

1. There is a fountain filled with blood,
   Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
   And sinners plunged beneath that flood
   Lose all their guilty stains.
2. The dying thief rejoiced to see
   That fountain in His day;
   And there have I, though vile as he,
   Washed all my sins away.
3. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
   Shall never lose its pow’r,
   Till all the ransomed church of God
   Are safe, to sin no more.
4. E’er since by faith I saw the stream
   Thy flowing wounds supply,
   Redeeming love has been my theme,
   And shall be till I die.
5. When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue
   Lies silent in the grave,
   Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
   I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save.

These Are Some of My Favorite Things

As this is review Friday , where I feature something that is worthy of a word , I thought it would be good to start with  a few of my  favorite websites to visit .

The first is  Challies.com . Since he is a fellow Canadian , he has to come first .It is written by Tim Challies from Ontario.Within the blog world he is very well known .I have been reading  this blog for a few years now and have found the content excellent. He has written about numerous subjects and possesses a solid depth of understanding the word of God and how it relates to events and life. His site also features his reviews of books that he chooses for there content or the need for others to be aware of. It also features a neat feature called A La Carte , where he links to articles of interest . Just recently he introduced a new feature called connected Kingdom.  A  recorded program that covers current issues or topics . It is easy to use and should be on everyones list .

The next is the website of Pastor John Piper called Desiring God. The resources on this site are a wealth of information and solid reformed teaching from a Baptist perspective.One of the best features are the sermons that have been recorded of Piper's preaching . You can watch or listen to hundreds of sermons from one the best and passionate expositors of the Bible today. It also offers free downloads of the many books Piper has written . You cannot go wrong with spending some time on this site.

Alpha and Omega Ministries is simply the best apologetic site on the web. It is the ministry of Dr.James White . His site covers numerous topics from dealing with Atheism,Islam , Roman Catholicism and his absolutely clear defense of the doctrines of grace or that dirty word , Calvinism. His debates are listed and available for purchase , along with his books . The best features are his program Dividing Line , a live program where he covers issues from a biblical perspective and it allows for call ins. He also post numerous videos of dealing with things form textual criticism or how to answer tough questions. His debates are amazing and his mind is one of the sharpest I have ever heard. You can also find some of his sermons that he preaches Church. Truly a great site that honors God.

Ligonier Ministries is the ministry of RC Sproul . If you are a Christian who leans towards a reformed view , this man needs no introduction. He has been faithfully defending the faith for almost 45 years . The site offers articles that cover a wide range of topics. From devotional to apologetics , it gives solid meat to chew on and challenge you from Sproul and others. You can also listen to and view numerous messages from conferences put on by Ligonier. One of the great gifts of Sproul in both his writings and messages is his ability to speak scholarly but clearly. It also features articles from its monthly magazine called Table Talk , the best devotional out today. You can also order books, DVDs ,CD's etc...directly from the sites store . You cannot go wrong spending some time here.

The last I will feature is the White Horse Inn , the ministry of Dr. Michael Horton.  It is a weekly online broadcast  that features a round table discussion concerning subjects from a reformed biblical view. It features Horton and his faithful sidekicks , Pastor Ken Jones, Pastor Kim Riddlebarger and Dr. Rod Rosenbladt . It is lively , informative and one of the best ways to spend 30 minutes or so of your week. The site also features blog articles and links to Horton's magazine called Modern Reformation.

These are some of my favorite sites(I could keep going). I enjoy spending time learning from all of these men and their ministries . These sites prove that the internet can be an amazing tool to spread and defend the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. So get surfing or browsing for the glory of God.

I Can Carry You! (High Quality)

OK , I admit it , I'm a LOTR nut . Love the books and love the movies. There are so many scenes that move me  . So I'm sure you will see more of them in the future.

This scene near the foot of mount doom , when the toll of the journey and the evil of the ring has taken Frodo into a pit of despair. Unable to carry on . Totally defeated . But the theres Sam . Ever faithful Sam , who walks by Frodo through thick and thin.

When he picks up his friend, placing him on his back and begins that long track up the to the fires of mount doom .  Knowing that it could cost him his life but he is willing. Don't we all want a friend or mate like that. One who can carry the load for you when you can't . One who will not give up on you , no matter what .

I have been blessed in this life with amazing wife , wonderful sons and a few friends , who have walked with me . Ultimately is it not Jesus who carries us . He is the truest of friends . One who will never leave you , nor forsake you. He laid down his life for you , even while you were a sinner .

I will confess , every time I see this scene , my tear ducts do not do well . Just as every time I look at the cross and I'm overcome with the love of God . Amazing scene , that points to a greater truth .

That Time of Year

The last 2 years we as a family ,have participated with the organization called Operation Christmas Child. You basically fill a shoe-box full of toys and practical gifts for either a boy or girl . Then they are distributed over the world to under privileged children ranging from all ages. It is a ministry of Samaritans Purse , a relief organization that was started by Franklin Graham . He is the son of Billy Graham .

In the west , with all our Government help , if a child goes without it falls to poor parenting. We have so much here that even people who consider themselves living paycheck to paycheck have more than they need .There is real poverty in the west but when compared to the what these children have been through , its like comparing apples and oranges.

They have so little that this simple jester of getting some simple gifts at Christmas is really appreciated. Kids in this age with their cell phones , i-pods,fast food on every corner it seems ,do not even fathom what these children have to deal with on a day to day basis. So to do such a little thing and bring some joy is a wonderful thing. The scriptures teaches that it is better to give than receive . The blessing it is to give is remarkable.

Christians should be marked with good works to our neighbors and even within our Church with fellow believers. Giving is such a simple thing to do. So if you can afford a coffee a day , you can fill a shoe-box. All you have to do is open your eyes to see the need .

One Step Forward and the Two Step Back Tango

Commit. Fail. Confess.
Re-commit. Fail again. Confess again.
Re-re-commit. Fail again. Give up.

One of the blogs I read daily , yesterday had an article about sanctification or more simply put , growing in Christ. The words above were used to describe how many Christians live out the struggle.

Now it didn't end up in talking about giving up but laid down many very solid helps to overcome the defeatist idea many fall into. But what struck me was the words above and how it so described my life in many ways . Sometimes you can feel so defeated in ones struggle with sin and after you read  ones testimony of being able to get over a major sin, having it  removed instantly , one can say why can't I .

This can lead to two very bad ideas. The first you are doomed to never have any growth . You will stay in the pit of despair , never seeing the light of day.The second even more dangerous , a surrendering of the battle. To throw ones hands up and turn tale and run away. You say to yourself , if all I do is fail then why fight !

But the first thing one should never do is look at others and the growth they have shown. For who knows what areas we cannot see where they may struggle . For some yes growth happens quick and fast . But in must lives sometimes growing in holiness is a life long battle.

In life we are so used to the quick fix , we want the TV dinner way to growth. Plus we have heard so much nonsense like let go and let God ,that we forget that although we are saved apart from any work on our part , its all of grace,  in sanctification , there is a way in which we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to grow.There is some sweat in growth . The word does say to work out our salvation with fear ad trembling.

If we are in a battle , with the old sinful self(which we are) , even though our affections have been changed , we need to see this as a fight . Each day we must rise and face the day as a warrior for Christ.

    [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
(Ephesians 6:11 ESV)

Paul uses the idea putting on armor . Using a soldiers concept of rising , preparing for battle and strapping on his armor to go out and meet the foe . What good soldier before battle doesn't sharpen his sword or make sure his gun is ready to fire well. Our weapons need to be ready for our flesh,the world and the Devil all will try and tear us down . Study the Bible , pray , and know your weak points .

Growing in holiness comes with a fight . Stand firm Paul tells us ,and if you fall , rise up and enter the fray again . Pray , call out and trust that Christ has nailed all your sins to that blessed cross .

Being Thankful

Today was Thanksgiving Day in Canada . This is the hump holiday that seems to start a quick slide towards Christmas.

So after eating a wonderful meal and eating 2 pieces of pie with my family , I truly am thankful for all the blessings the Lord as graced me with .

As a Christian our lives should be one of thankfulness in all situations. If the times are hard and we ask , how can I be thankful ? The answer can only be found in the gospel of Christ. Thankful for His love,grace,strength,mercy, correction redemption,forgiveness and His sustaining power amid trials . If God is our first love , being thankful will not be depended on what is going on right now.

[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
(Colossians 3:16 ESV)

[18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)

Nathan Clark George - Alas And Did My Savior Bleed

What an amazing old hymn written by Isaac Watts and wonderfully performed by Nathan Clark George . May this prepare your heart and mind to worship God with a thankful heart. Beautiful words.



Alas!and did my Saviour bleed,
And did my sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut its glories in
When God, the mighty maker, died
For his own creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears
.
But tears of grief cannot repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away:
It’s all that I can do.

Friday Review Time

Starting next week , I  will use Friday as a review day. I have done reviews in the past but not very consistently. I have always  liked to write reviews. High school days in English. they were always my favorite things to do. Plus in general ,my marks were pretty good.

They will be taken from music , books ,movies or TV shows. They will serious ,fun , hopefully helpful and full of my in depth insight. Well maybe they won't be ground breaking but hey , its my blog and it gives me something to focus on.

For the thousands who read my blog and hang on to my every word , I can sense your excitement. Laugh track insert . Well it will be fun  for me .

Time For The Real Deal

OK , I know I wrote about sports and how many men tend to glorify the team and athletes . But sports and its inventive play is another gift from God . It is only normal that being an image bearer of the God who painted the sky with stars and gave us such amazing beauty on earth , humans should be creative . Sports is just a reflection of that.

So as long as one doesn't allow a sport to demand too much of your time and you keep it in perspective , why not cheer on your team. Paul even used some athletic metaphors in his letters .

As the time draws closer to the dropping of the puck , my teams will soon be action. I follow 2 teams primarily . The Leafs and the Bruins. My family ,growing up ,bled blue and white , the Leafs were the family team . From great players from Keon to Sittler .I recall well the TV being on every Saturday night to watch the Leafs play.

Cheering for a team that has had , how shall we say , challenges , has not been easy but one thing my parents taught me in life ,you don't give up on a team or a person if they fail. My mom loved hockey . Her favorite player when I was a kid was Sittler , number 27 . One of the best leafs to ever play the game. We shall see if  this year the Leafs finally turn the corner and get back into the play offs.

Hope springs eternal for every hockey fan this time of year . So kick back and cheer , but just keep it all in perspective . Its not war,not life or death . Its a fun game to watch and play . Now were are the snacks and a cold drink .

Update : Leafs win ! Leafs 3 Montreal 2   We are on the road to great things. Hey I did say , every hockey fan starts the season with a boundless hope in ones team . 

The Tragic Toll of Bullying

Recently in the British Sun  they ran a article about a little girl , only 12, who died of apparent heart failure. Her family thinks this was the result of bullying. It came to light that this young girl was being picked on apparently without mercy. They surmise it led to acute stress which led to a heart attack . Hard to prove, and it seems the police are not going to pursue the matter beyond the letters found in this little girls diary.

The real fact is bullying has led to many tragic deaths. Kids in school can be cruel , mean and full of hate. If your different in anyway . You don't fit into the click of jocks ,pretty girls. If you are poor , have a disability ,are overweight , too skinny , whatever it maybe , the words,taunts and sometimes physical violence can overwhelm a child. Leading to depression and in some cases , suicide. Plus the scars of the words and physical abuse,can last a life time.

It has been said , sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me. But we all know that is not true. Words can bring healing or destroy. Anyone who has suffered from being bullied can still recall the words that were said years after . I still remember being tormented about being short and numerous other taunts. Both my brother and brother-in-law suffered far greater . My brother was even taunted by teachers.The sad part as well most are bullied into silence.With parents not knowing until its too late sometimes.

It can happen even in Christian circles. In churches you can see clicks happen . Although there may not be open verbal abuse , we all know the look at those that don't fit into our little click . These type of attitudes have no place in a believers life.

As a image bearer of God , all humans have value. God knitted each person together in the womb. To bully is to hate an image bearer of God . One of the things that must mark a follower of Christ is love.


[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
(John 15:12 ESV)

Christians need to take no part in this within the fellowship . Love has to mark how we deal with each other . Young and old , rich and poor.


[39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
(Matthew 22:39 ESV)

When dealing with unbelievers we need to love them as ourselves. Bullying is a complete slap in the face of God . When one participates in this heinous act, you are hating what God has created.

What would have happened if someone had shown that little girl love.Had stood up for her and made her feel protected ?Her parents did not know ,sadly. May we watch what we say about others and if we are ever encounter bullying , don't be silent.Because as a Christian , and believing humans are created in the image of God , we have the best message against it . It all starts with the gospel.

I Got a Rock!

Anyone who grew up in the late 60's and 70's will instantly recognize this line form the Halloween special , Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  It originally aired in 1966 and since has become a standard every Halloween . The famous line was Charlie Browns response each time he checked his bag to see what he got when he went door to door. He always got a rock. Poor old Charlie Brown , but he kept on going.

Anyone who knows me , knows I have always loved Charlie Brown. The first special is the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas which aired a year in 1965. It was such a huge hit that it made sense another special was in order. In my mind these are the best of all the specials . Although The Great Pumpkin does not have the same impact of the Christmas special,it is still a fun and cool special.

Halloween has never been a  huge thing for me . Even as a child , I was reluctant to go out and stopped trick or treating when I was around 12. It just didn't interest me . As a Christian , I did go through a spell that I saw it as pure evil but have sense backed off of that view. I still don't get adults partying ,the foolishness that can happen but if its just little kids going out , dressing up and getting some free candy , why not .

So I will watch The Great Pumpkin , laugh and enjoy it , as I remember a slice of my childhood . Tuning in the CBC , on our  black and white TV with rabbit ears for better reception and hearing , I got a rock , from everyones favorite blockhead, Charlie Brown.

Lord's Day or No Day

Today was the Lord's day or as some have called it the Christian Sabbath . The early Church began to gather on  Sunday , as opposed to the Jewish Sabbath on Saturday. The reason being it is the day our Lord was raised form the dead and with that action , heralded in a new beginning.  The question that has been forming in my mind, how are we to view the concept of 6 days and 1 day of rest. Does it still hold any significance and is the Lord's day really a Christian sabbath? I haven't formed a clear answer yet. It is a interesting topic that many have tried to answer .


I cannot say that my mind is made up . Should we still view as a holy day , set apart to matters of the Lord or because of what Christ has done , now that he is our rest , has it shifted to something more . Someday I will try and put forth my conclusions . Far greater minds than mine have done so in the past but that should never stop anyone from reading scripture and using what has been written before, to draw ones own conclusions as long as they do not move towards heresy.


     [8] “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. [11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
(Exodus 20:8-11 ESV)

Keith and Kristyn Getty - By Faith

[5:1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 5:1 ESV)

By Faith - Keith & Kristyn Getty

By faith we see the hand of God 
In the light of creation's grand design 
In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness 
Who walk by faith and not by sight 

By faith our fathers roamed the earth 
With the power of His promise in their hearts 
Of a holy city built by God's own hand 
A place where peace and justice reign 

We will stand as children of the promise 
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward 
Till the race is finished and the work is done 
We'll walk by faith and not by sight 

By faith the prophets saw a day 
When the longed-for Messiah would appear 
With the power to break the chains of sin and death 
And rise triumphant from the grave 

By faith the church was called to go 
In the power of the Spirit to the lost 
To deliver captives and to preach good news 
In every corner of the earth 

We will stand... 

By faith this mountain shall be moved 
And the power of the gospel shall prevail 
For we know in Christ all things are possible 
For all who call upon His name 

We will stand... 

Its Hammer Time

While I was watching the free movie preview of Turner Classic Movies , I noticed they had a Hammer horror classic , The Horror of Dracula. I actually own the film in DVD but not having watched it for a while , sat down to be entertained.

It is a bit cheesy and there really is not much blood but the one thing that was so cool about the film was the presence of the the cross. Dracula being the embodiment of pure evil is repelled at the sight of the cross because he is unholy . Made back in the late 50's , it was clear that Christian symbols were still respected .

In modern horror films the Christian symbols are mocked and blasphemed . Even new vampire movies mock the cross and Christ. The cross  has no power over evil . No effect at all. I do believe that says something about attitudes towards the faith.

One thing is true , regardless if modern culture wants to dismiss or avoid Jesus and the gospel , He will have the last say. Bite into that .