Thursday Follies

Oh the memories! I was only about 4 years old when I recall tuning into CBC and watching the Caped Crusader fight crime. It was colourful , with its bam , zonk and pow fights. Spending time with the Batman transformed me into the pretend fighter , making my own mask , putting a towel around my neck for the cape . Man I was the coolest . It doesn't hold up very well of course compared to the new , intense and uber serious Dark Knight but for a little boy , it was the best . Still has the retro fun factor.

The Two Johns

If I was to recommend to a new Christian a couple of Pastors to read and listen to , they would be the 2 Johns . Both John Piper and John MacArthur have had long and fruitful ministries. Both have Pastored their Churches faithfully for over 30 years and the influence has been wide sweeping. They have been the backbone to many discovering the distinctives of reformed theology form a baptist , evangelical perspective .

Both their websites offer a depth of teaching which spans the years of solid preaching and teaching. The sermon wealth is deep and will lead you into solid doctrine .

If I were to suggest which books to pick up and read I would suggest Ashamed of the Gospel by MacArthur and Desiring God by Piper . They are solid introductions to both the mens writing styles and will give a feel for their strong dedication to the gospel and firm defence of God's revealed word .
Both these men have laboured faithfully for the Lord over these years and we have been richer for it .

Quick Quote

J.C Ryle  on the total depravity and corruption of the human nature. 


“The corruption of human nature is no slight thing. It is no partial, skin-deep disease, but a radical and universal corruption of man’s will, intellect, affections, and conscience. We are not merely poor and pitiable sinners in God’s sight: we are guilty sinners; we are blameworthy sinners: we deserve justly God’s wrath and God’s condemnation. I believe there are very few errors and false doctrines of which the beginning may not be traced up to unsound views about the corruption of human nature. Wrong views of a disease will always bring with them wrong views of the remedy. Wrong views of the corruption of human nature will always carry with them wrong views of the grand treatment and cure of that corruption.”

Monday Musings

Just the other day I listened to a brief podcast  Pastor David Platt concerning the truth and nature of hell. Briefly he touched on the nature , conscious  reality of eternal torment and the fact that from the lips of Jesus Christ , the doctrine of eternal punishment has its deepest revelation. It was a truly sober and somber listen. You cannot encounter this teaching without coming away a bit shaken. If you can , then you do not understand the scripture or have some of the biggest blinders on in the world .

So many times within many Churches today the doctrine of hell and the wrath of God is completely ignored or not even touched. You have certain type of "preachers" who will smile and tell you God has a wonderful plan for your life and you will not hear the words repent ,the cross, hell ,wrath etc... these words never leave their lips.

But the reality is there is a hell , wrath is being revealed and one day Jesus Christ will pour out the wrath of God on all who are enemies of God on that last day.

This should shake us , stir us and move us to pray with more fire and earnestness .  It should brake our hearts for those we know do not confess Jesus as Lord . It must loosen our lips to proclaim the gospel and tell of God's grace of the gospel found in Jesus . Plus it must awaken the need for both local and global missions .

When scripture tells us to redeem our time for the days are evil , may we heed this and realize we must wake up from our sleep and comforts .

Thursday Follies Oops

I forgot to put up my fun clip for Thursday so here it is . Two of my favorite things growing up , the Muppet Show and Bob Hope. How can one go wrong. Enjoy.

Now What ?

Yesterday I commented on the concept of seeing the actual working out of Darwinism  displayed for all to see in the sinking of the luxury liner that has been in the news . It was not a pretty sight.

So if one is going to live by the motto "there is no God " then what is one to do with this very brief and fleeting life.  I have commented in the past but after reading the events that occurred it really brings it into focus. If there is no God there is no reason to search for purpose but each moment we live should be dominated by 2 main driving forces. 

These would be power and pleasure . Power to dominate and subdue all who stand in your way so that you may achieve maximum amount of pleasure . If there is no reason to worry about a future judgement , then whatever actions I take , which have no moral value anyway , to fulfil those goals should be pursued. If it means to survive by pushing the weak aside to get to the lifeboat , so be it . By taking God out of the picture , we are left with a chilling world view which will have drastic consequences . 

In Romans it clearly tells us the judgement has already began , that God's wrath is being poured out by giving people over to their lust . So when I read of the cruelty and selfishness displayed in events like this ship , I see the actions of the men as God handing them over to thier own desires .

That is where we all would be if it were not for God's love and grace.

Living Out What We Have Been Taught

The story of the Luxury liner that went aground and tipped over submerging a large portion of the ship has had much press. The focus on how the captain abounded ship and the refused to go back on and help with rescue efforts . He has earned the title chicken of the sea. But more details have been emerging about how men where forcing themselves past women and children to get to the lifeboats. Stories of bribing staff to get on the lifeboats . Plus the fact that the majority of those that went missing where the weakest . Women , the youngest a little girl only 5 , the aged , perished and I think its a result of what a happens when evolutionary theory is ingrained into our consciousness.

Within the very core of this theory is the survival of the fittest . That those who are the strong will over power the weak to survive. Within this theory , this is seen as beneficial for the survival of the species. If humans are evolved , walking ooze then why would we even care if those aboard this ship couldn't make it . Who we think we are has consequences in how we will live. With any idea of humans being created in the image of God and the call of God to men to be protectors , providers and defend the weak rejected by the preaching of Dawkins , Hitchens and the like , are we surprised at the outcome. You could call this the ultimate form of bullying. But then again if I can bully another into submission , so what . Sooner or later I will be the one overcome by one bigger , stronger . That is the natural outworking of Darwinistic thinking.

If we believe in the God revealed in the Bible , then how we react in these types of crisis should be different. I'm not saying that an atheist would not sacrifice himself for the greater good , but in my view he  acts contrary to any idea within his world-view of any greater good. All one has to do is look at the Titanic and see overall how the Judeo - Christian world view effected how many men acted .