A Call to My Peers and I

"Young men, "flee fornication" (1 Corinthians 6:18) if you love life.
"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." Flee the occasions of it, the company of those who might draw you into it, the places where you might be tempted to it. Read what our Lord says about it in Matthew 5:28. Be like holy Job: "Make a covenant with your eyes." (Job 31:1) Flee talking of it. It is one of the things that ought not so much as to be named. You cannot taste sin and not be defiled. Flee the thoughts of it; resist them, mortify them, pray against them, make any sacrifice rather than give way. Imagination is the hotbed where this sin is too often hatched. Guard your thoughts, and there is little fear about your deeds."
- John Charles Ryle

Scott's Top 7s: Hymns on the Atonement #7

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

1. What can wash away my sin?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   What can make me whole again?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
   • Oh! precious is the flow
     That makes me white as snow;
     No other fount I know,
     Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my pardon, this I see,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   For my cleansing this my plea,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
3. Nothing can for sin atone,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Naught of good that I have done,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
4. This is all my hope and peace,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   This is all my righteousness,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
5. Now by this I’ll overcome—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Now by this I’ll reach my home—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
6. Glory! Glory! This I sing—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
   All my praise for this I bring—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

1. 
   

Attitude of Worship

We honour the Son and

bring glory to the Father

by allowing the Spirit

to work powerfully though us.

Bob Kauflin

Scott's Top 7s: Basketball Vidys #1

Well thanks for following the first Scott's Top 7 Series. Here is the number #1 Basketball video around.

MJ all the way

“When you're a baby you learn 

that you can’t go through walls” 

Another dedication post to my beloved professor.

PJG

Scott's Top 7s: Basketball Vidys #2

Half way in this get's unreal

Pray For Christchurch, New Zealand

Pray for Christchurch, New Zealand. 

Tuesday Feb 22 - 6.3 magnitude Earthquake

For more info click here.

Man, you cut me deep

"Faithful 

are the wounds of a friend;

profuse 

are the kisses of an enemy"

Proverbs 27:6

Think about a doctor having to cut open a cancer patient. Once the incision is made he can get the cancer out, patch them up and send them to the ICU until they are restored to health. But to help the patient, he first had to cut into the skin. It is unimaginable to think that this doctor who, knew the patient had cancer, to say: "don't you worry, time should heal that". That doctor would lose his job and likely be sent to jail for not operating.

Lately, a friend of mine has been having doubts in his Christian walk. He keeps clinging to the next question and debatable topic over the Bible, Jesus, salvation, etc. We met this past week to have a beer and catch-up. As we did we reminded ourselves of the awesome truths of Christ, and we realized how God had deepened our relationship with each other. Over the years we've seen each other in the good and bad, through school, dating different girls, struggling with life choices, going out of our way to meet up, to email, phone, even send letters. God has grown us up and laid a mutual trust. So in a struggle, we look to the other for direction and honesty, not to butter the other up with "kisses" or false delights.

In Proverbs 27:6, there are 2 types of persons in view. The one who brings pain because he is faithful in telling the truth, and the one whose false comments are a veil, a trick, which will soon bring real pain. Both persons bring pain, one out of faithfulness, one out of deceit. Looking at verse 5 is crucial as well: "Better is open rebuke, than hidden love". How are we to build each other up when sin and/or ungodly traits are present? It is not by glossing over their sinful tendencies and still saying that we love them. It is by assessing their sin and rebuking it. If we love them we will bring it to their attention and seek their restoration to godliness. This is a faithfulness that is incumbent between friends. Friends, who want to see the other built up and conformed to Christ, will have it no other way.

As I can attest with my close doubting friend, it is comforting to have a friend who would come to me with his concerns. And I know if my doubts come I will have him there for me. Having faithful friends, those who care and are concerned for us definitely stirs up thankfulness to God.

Let's resolve to be honest not to hide our love for our friends but rebuke them in love and comfort them with the joy of the gospel for sinners who repent to Jesus. 

Scott's Top 7s: Basketball Vidys #3

Doctor's say they've never seen anything like it...

Our sin must be extremely horrible.


Nothing reveals the gravity of sin like the cross.  For ultimately what sent Christ there was neither the greed of Judas, nor the envy of the priests, nor the vacillating cowardice of Pilate, but our own greed, envy, cowardice and other sins, and Christ's resolve in love and mercy to bear their judgment and so put them away.  It is impossible for us to face Christ's cross with integrity and not to feel ashamed of ourselves.  Apathy, selfishness and complacency blossom everywhere in the world except at the cross.  There these noxious weeds shrivel and die.  They are seen for the tatty, poisonous things they are.  For if there was no way by which the righteous God could righteously forgive our unrighteousness, except that he should bear it himself in Christ, it must be serious indeed.  It is only when we see this that, stripped of our self-righteousness and self-satisfaction, we are ready to put our trust in Jesus Christ as the Saviour we urgently need.

--From "The Cross of Christ" (Leicester and Downers Grove: IVP, 1986), p. 83. Thanks John Stott.

Scott's Top 7s: Basketbarr Vidys #4

I think this counts...

“The product of discipline is freedom”

Another dedication post to my beloved professor.

 PJG

Scott's Top 7s: Basketball Vidys #5

Benoit taught me what ankle breakers were - and this is def the best one we've seen.

New Book

Tim Challies has a new book out - looks pretty stellar - Zondervan is publishing it.
Check it out.

Getting to know you...

I bet that my two friends/housemates, who out of pity for my self-consciousness seem to be browsing this blog, are pretty sick of hearing all about me. But I thought it would be nice to provide a glimpse into the "who I am" for their families back in Bellvegas, and the far west village of Edson. And for any of you web-surfers who seem to have fallen from their boards and lost copious amounts of blood from hitting their face off the coral, here's some info to read about me while you wait for the coast-guard to arrive [p.s. while you read push play for some music below...]:

I was born in Scarborough, Ontario in January 1990. I was two feet long and 8.5 lbs. (so says this newspaper). I grew up in Ajax, Ontario and attended Pickering Christian School. Yet, I met my best two friends in kindergarden - Daniel & Tyler. By grade 4 I moved to a suburb in North Oshawa called Brooklin. During this time I became hyperactive and acquired a fascination over donuts and milkshakes. I skateboarded a lot and listened to lots of punk-rock & Nirvana until about grade 10. By then Ty, Dan & I had started a band and we in about 2 years played a dozen shows around Durham Region. Half-way into grade 12, God changed my life and I came to trust Jesus Christ as my Saviour from sin, my God and my Lord. He really changed a whole lot in my life, and still has been to this day. Before grade 12 finished, I met Justine and we started dating. The band went on hiatus as Daniel went to California, Tyler went to St. Catherines and I went to University in London, Ontario.
By Christmas 2008 I knew that I should be getting some formal Bible education. I switched in January 2010 to Toronto Baptist Seminary, where I currently attend. While Justine was off in New Zealand going to Bible College there, I was hitting the books and living in the T-dot. I went back to my part time job working at the grocery store in Brooklin that summer and then returned to TBS in the fall. Justine started attending University downtown as well, which is totally awesome. And now it's reading week 2011 and you're basically up to speed. I'm working as a librarian part-time and a full-time student, going to a local church here in Toronto and just learning to delight in God and his salvation. He is a good God, and I'm glad I've been able to recount a bit of my life for you as he has dished it to me.

hahaha

Scott's Top 7s: Basketball Vidys #6

Benoit and I had fun with this one

Scott's Top 7s: Basketball Vidys #7

I've decided to do some 7 series.
You can tune in daily and expect to find the subsequent posts - it's going to be a pretty sick ride.
To start here - some of the best b-ball videos known to man.

Coffee - White or Black?

Probably one of the best videos around.

Of Primary Importance

“There is no doctrine in Christianity so important as 

the doctrine of Christ crucified. 

There is none which the devil tries so hard to destroy. There is none which it is so needful for our own peace to understand. By ‘Christ crucified,’ I mean the doctrine that Christ suffered death on the cross to make atonement for our sins, that by His death He made a full, perfect, and complete satisfaction to God for the ungodly, and that through the merits of that death all who believe in Him are forgiven all their sins, however many and great, entirely, and forever.”

~ J.C. Ryle

More Recommended Blogs

Here's a second recommended list of blogs that are worth your while:

Between Two Worlds - Mr. J. Taylor
For the Love of God - Dr. Carson
Rear-view Mirror - Mr. I. Clary
Heavenward - Pastor Scotty Smith

Specifically the fourth selection has become a recent favourite and a blessing to my soul. 

On Temptation

No temptation has overtaken you
that is not common to man.
God is faithful,
and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,
but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape,
that you may be able to endure it. 
1 Corinthians 10:13


This text is a needed encouragement in the times of temptation of God's faithfulness to those who trust in Jesus. 
Charles Spurgeon puts that ol' English preacher spin on it:


"It may help such a person if I remind him that there is no sin in being tempted. The sin is that of the tempter, not of the tempted. If you resist the temptation, there is something praiseworthy about your action. There is nothing praiseworthy about the temptation; that is evil, and only evil; but you did not tempt yourself, and he that tempted [you] must bear the blame of the temptation. You are evidently not blameworthy for thoughts that grieve you; they may prove that there is sin still remanining in you, but there is no sin in your being tempted. The sin is in your yielding to the temptation, and blessed shall you be if you can stand out against it. If you can overcome it, if your spirit does not yield to it, you shall even be blessed through it. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation." There is a blessedness even in the temptation, and though for the present it seemeth not to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless, afterward, it yieldeth blessed fruit to those who are exercised thereby.

C.H. Spurgeon Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington (Thursday Evening September 27th, 1883). 

What 's the big deal about being a friend?

As we are getting to know those around us we experience both the collision and the calming nature of social interaction. It can be quite challenging. And for a few of us we'll become friends. I've been reading through Job this week and came across Job's time when his three friends come to him in his distress. They are assured that it is because of sin that he experiences his torture, and Job is lamenting and complaining on the whole process. As he does, there is a spark of wisdom that comes from his mouth concerning the character between a man and his friend. The ESV and NLT translations give a complementary approach to Job 6:14:

"One should be kind to a fainting friend, 
but you have accused me
without the slightest fear of the Almighty."
- New-Living Translation

"He who withholds kindness from a friend
forsakes the fear of the Almighty."
- English Standard Translation

Job is in anguish after everything has been taken from him. He ponders what his friend Eliphaz has just spoken to him and how his three friends - Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar - are treating him. Not with kindness, but they assume it is his own fault that he is in trouble. No consideration, no comfort, no kindness. Job then states that they are acting without the slightest fear of God. They aren't even helping him understand how he has gone away, if he even has (6:24). Here Job sees it more likely for them to sell and barter their friend before showing any sincere love to him (6:27).
From this small text, we see a glimpse of how much friends mean to each other in times of distress. Our response and approach should be to show our care and wanting to restore them. When one is kind they are described as: friendly, generous, considerate, charitable, a person that is motivated from a sympathetic understanding. And what is our fuel to do such - what is our motivation? Our fuel is to do what is acceptable and approved in the sight of the God-Almighty. To show compassion. It is to mirror his character and kindness. The same kindness that sent Christ to die for his enemies, for his church, and for his friends.
To lack in kindness, is to deny God. I know there are times for sternness, times for discipline, times for instruction, but a love for God and his glory is our motivation, and if others are rightfully feeling hated and despised, we are not in the right. I repeat - we are not in the right.
As 1 John 2:9-10 states that even if we say we love God and hate our brother - we are liars.
Let us resolve to love others by showing kindness to them. This is one of the stronger roots of friendship. This is one of the marks of God's Holy Spirit on Christians. This is a mark we need to be known by. 

Sin and Christ

The more bitterness we taste in sin, 


the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.


Thomas Watson

Jesus' Teaching on Man

"It is difficult to understand those who cling to the doctrine of the fundamental goodness of human nature, and do so in a generation which has witnessed two devastating world wars and especially the horrors which occasioned and accompanied the second.  It is even harder to understand those who attribute this belief to Jesus Christ.  For he taught nothing of the kind.   Jesus taught that within the soil of every man's heart there lie buried the ugly seeds of every conceivable sin -'evil thoughts, acts of fornication, of theft, murder, adultery, ruthless greed, and malice; fraud, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly.' All thirteen are 'evil things', and they come out of the heart of 'the man' or 'the men', every man.  This is Jesus Christ's estimate of fallen human nature."

-From "Christ the Controversialist" (London: Tyndale Press; Downers Grove: IVP, 1970), pp. 139, 141. 
Excerpted from "Authentic Christianity", p. 146, by IVP. Thanks John Stott.

What is my calling or my vocation?

This question has been on my mind for some time.
Perhaps it has been plaguing you as well. Or maybe you are sure, dead-set, knowing God's intention and plan for you. What does God want me to do with my life? Regardless if you are certain or wondering - this section from John Frame's Doctrine of the Christian Life gives a much needed light on the subject of calling/ vocation:

"Although the term 'vocation' suggests a divine revelation to each individual of God's assignment to him, the Reformers did not consider vocation to be a special revelation. Special revelation is limited to Scripture. But God gives each believer wisdom to discover how God has gifted him and how he can best use that gift in God's kingdom. That wisdom should of course be compared with the wisdom of other believers, who can help us to evaluate our gifts. It would not be wrong to describe this process as 'existential revelation'... In vocation, God enables us to apply the principles of Scripture to our own lives and to our circumstances. In this process, we come to see God's will for our lives and to gain assurance that we are in the place where God wants us to be.

Vocation comes to us, then, by way of
(1) God giving gifts to us,
(2) the [Holy] Spirit enabling us to discern those gifts through self-examination and through the confirmation of others in the church,
(3) God providing oppourtunities for us to develop and exercise those gifts,
(4) God providing wisdom so that we can use those gifts
[a] in ways that glorify him,
[b] extend his kingdom,
[c] fulfill his mandates,
[d] and in the end enjoy him forever."

- John Frame, A Theology of Lordship: The Doctrine of the Christian Life (Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P & R Publishing, 2008), 312-313. 

Whether we are called for Christian ministry, or called to work an honest job -
one thing is for sure: that we be apart of the local church. There we serve God by serving others, consistently having Colossians 3:21 as our focus:
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, 
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

Noah's Ark

Yeap, they are building it. 

Male Superiority?

Doesn't man have superiority over women? What should we think of the Muslim approach? 


"Because men and women are equal (by creation and in Christ), there can be no question of the inferiority of either to the other.  But because they are complementary, there can be no question of the identity of one with the other.  Further, this double truth throws light on male-female relationships and roles.  Because they have been created by God with equal dignity, men and women must respect, love, serve, and not despise one another.  Because they have been created complementary to each other, men and women must recognize their differences and not try to eliminate them or usurp one another's distinctives."

*From "Issues Facing Christians Today" (revised and enlarged edn. London: Collins/Marshall Pickering, 1990), p. 263.
Excerpted from "Authentic Christianity", p. 145, IVP. Thanks John Stott. 

My Grace is Sufficient pt 2

But he said to me, 
"My grace is sufficient for you,
For my power is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This is a continuance of thought on God's grace to John Bunyan
through the reflection and application of this passage of Scripture.

"Therefore I still did pray to God, that he would come in with this Scripture more full on my heart; to wit, that he would help me to apply the whole sentence, for as yet I could not: that he gave, I gathered; but farther I would not go, for as yet it only helped me to hope there might be mercy for me, "My grace is sufficient"; and though it came no farther, it answered my former question; to wit, that there was hope; yet, because "for thee" was left out, I was not contented, but prayer to God for that also. Wherefore, one day as I was in a meeting of God's people, full of sadness and terror, for my fears again were strong upon me; and as I was now thinking my soul was never the better, but my case most sad and fearful, these words did, with great power, suddenly break in upon me, "My grace is sufficient for thee, my grace is sufficient for thee, my grace is sufficient for thee," three times together; and oh! methought that every word was a mighty word unto me; as my, and grace, and sufficient, and for thee; they were then, and sometimes are still, far bigger than others be."


Extracted from Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan, section 206 

Country Round 2

I posted a recommended list here for country haters about 2 weeks ago.
I've since been recommended some additional tunes and I'd like to share them with you.
This selection has more somber tunes that the previous post, maybe not love bug - hahaha.
Even if you despise country - give these a shot:


Johnny Cash - Falsom Prison Blues (Remix)
The Band Perry - If I Die Young
George Jones - Love Bug
Dean Brody - Brothers
Randy Travis - I Told You So
Miss. T. Swift - White Horse

If you have any other country music recommendations I'm game.

My Grace is Sufficient

Listen to how the God brought this old servant to the Lord in prayer.

"But one morning, when I was again at prayer, and trembling under the fear of this [Whether the blood of Christ was sufficient to save my soul], that no word of God could help me. That piece of a sentence darted in upon me, "My grace is sufficient." At this methought I felt some stay, as if there might be hopes. But, oh, how good a thing it is for God to send his Word! For about a fortnight before I was looking on this very place, and then I thought it could not come near my soul with comfort, therefore I threw down my book in a pet (a sulking in an upset childish manner). Then I thought it [God's grace] was not large enough; but now, it was as if it had arms of grace so wide that it could not only enclose me, but many more besides."

- Extracted from Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan, section 204. 

Promises - A Selection of Sweet Delights to the Soul: The Peace of God

If you've just joined in, this is the fifth installment of the series on A Selection of Sweet Delights to the Soul. Feel free to feast yourself in what God promises for those who love him in Jesus Christ from these previous posts. Today's will be looking at the peace of God.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, 
but in everything 
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 
let your request be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

These words may be hard to read, not just because it's ESV, but because of what the text is asking.
That is: to rejoice.
Try reading the above passage again.

Rejoice - what does that mean exactly? Macbook dictionary says
"to feel or show great joy or delight".
That is not easy. I believe Paul understands this. He, while writing this from prison, is still giving thanks to God. But, can we trust the words of a dying man? Yes - for God had carried his words along by the Holy Spirit. Paul tells the church of Philippi that they should be known for their reasonableness, gentleness, and forbearance with everyone. How often do we lash out at others due to our own worrisome attitude? Out of our impatience and ungrateful attitudes? When this happens, the question isn't "is my attitude based in sin?", but rather "which sin is my attitude coming from?". What are we told to do? In everything make your requests known to Jesus. Bringing the requests to God knowing that it is he alone that will help us weary sinners. Ask for help to turn from our sin to God. We are dependent on him. Present the requests thankfully, that through Jesus we can actually offer our requests to God! For Jesus our God intercedes amidst the Triune God-head, being our high-priest he brings our requests before the sacred throne. And when we have lifted our supplications and thanksgivings to the God-head, knowing they have been heard, there should be a peace in us. It is the peace that surpasses everything we will ever know on this earth. The peace of salvation which through Jesus is brought to destitute sinners and is guarded by the truth of his death and resurrection.
We sung these words in church yesterday and they are reminiscient of the compassion that Philippians 4 here exhibits:

"Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul."

So let it be.

What is the Bible about?

Hear what Christianity's Holy Book is all about
from our evangelical pope - D. A. Carson.

Great White Pines

“I’ve seen the Great White Pine. 

You can shake the hand of the man who's done that.”

This is a dedication post to one of my beloved professors. 

PJG

Promises - A Selection of Sweet Delights to the Soul: God is For Us (pt 2)

How then should we approach petitions in prayer?
It is once we have left our sin with it's own motives and will for God's will: then we are prepared.

We can humbly approaching our great God by faith in Jesus Christ asking for whatever he puts on our heart.
James recommends where we should start in our petitions and his is reminiscient of Solomon's request:

"If any of you lacks wisdom,

let him ask God, who gives generously to all 

without reproach, and it will be given him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,

for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea 

that is driven and tossed by the wind. 

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-9

Direction and warning is what James is here proposing. As we ask through Jesus Christ our Saviour, to know that he has the power to accomplish all things, small and great. So we should not doubt. This is hard. We aren't signing a contract with God. We aren't pinky-swearing. We aren't even getting an audible response. What we get is the promise that he will be generous to the faithful who submit to him in and with what they need. They can be sure that his plan will prevail. Let us pray that in us the response would be,  "Your will be done in us." Let us not swim upstream when God doesn't respond how we would like. When we ask for what we want God to do, its easy for our sinful motives to slip right in. Our petition must be humble submission to his purpose: for Jesus to be glorified as we delight in him. So in this heart, we are laying the requests and embracing the results of his response. Praise him in good and bad. Knowing that with God he does not abandon his own but gives generously to all. It is the man who doesn't see the results he wanted and doubts that God did not answer, because it was not what he wanted. But James tells us that that man is double-minded. He is only looking to serve himself, while  at the same time seeking God to see if God will bow to his sinful wishes and/or intent. He isn't being faithful, but he is using God as a pop-machine. Let us rather default to come before the throne, by faith. Ready to embrace God's response with praise to Jesus. 

What God has given us as image-bearers...

"Whatever mode God employed in creation (and the mode is eclipsed in importance by the fact), God made man in his own image or likeness. Although the Bible nowhere spells out in so many words what this means, the implications are clear. For everywhere Scripture assumes man's qualitative difference from the animals, and rebukes or ridicules man when his behaviour is more bestial than human in its irrationality of godlessness or selfishness. The divine image in man is a complex of qualities, which might be summarized as follows:

(a) Man has an intelligence, a capacity to reason and even to evaluate and criticize himself.

(b) Man has a conscience, a capacity to recognize moral values and make moral choices.

(c) Man has a society, a capacity to love and to be loved in personal, social relationships.

(d) Man has a dominion, a capacity to exercise lordship over creation, to subdue the earth and to be creative.

(e) Man has a soul, a capacity to worship, to pray and live in communion with God.

These capacities (mental, moral, social, creative and spiritual) constitute the divine image, because of which man is unique."

--From 'Reverence for Human Life', "Church of England Newspaper" (29 October and 5 November 1971). Excerpted from "Authentic Christianity", p. 143, by permission of InterVarsity Press.

Promises - A Selection of Sweet Delights to the Soul: God is For Us (pt 1)

"If God is for us, 

who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son 

but gave him up for us all,

how will he not also with him

graciously give us all things?

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 

It is God who justifies."Romans 8:31-33

Let this be no excuse to lash out, to pick fights, to hold the argument that "I hold the keys to the knowledge of God and you must submit to my divine inclinations." No, we as humans have sinful tendencies. We are prideful, and should be open to rebuke, to correction, and consideration of alternative views to our interpretation of Scripture and the Christian life. In gentleness, assessing what others say, and comparing their views with Scripture.

But in this passage we are given the hope that God will not abandon us. He in fact will give us everything we need. What does that look like? It's hard to say, but with a submissive attitude to the Lord, in humility and need asking him for provision, it could be just about anything. 

But if we hold sin in our heart - bitterness against another, hatred, irresponsibility, idleness, unrepentant sin - we are not acting as God's chosen people; we are then living in sin, and our motives are therefore tainted. 

It is once we have changed our heart's motives and submitted to God's will that we are prepared: ready to seek what is needed before him. We can biblically approach our holy God through Jesus Christ our priest, who is in heaven making our requests to God the Father for us. Let us ask then through faith in Jesus. For we have this promise from God that he will not hold back his hand from giving us all things.

(To be continued...)

Defining Friendship

My close friend Tyler sent me this talk on friendship this past fall.
I'm not a huge Driscoll fanatic, but this talk has been helpful. I've learned to assess my relationships
with other people a lot through it from a biblical standpoint.
Have a listen and tell me what you think.

Help telling friends about Christ

I'm Not a Gifted Evangelist
I came across this encouraging post by J. M. Stiles off the Gospel Coalition site.
It's for us who are Christians, not gifted with evangelism per se, but know we should be speaking up to our friends, family, and people we encounter about our Lord and Saviour.
* Thanks to Mr. T. Challies for linking this

Promises - A Selection of Sweet Delights to the Soul: God's Purpose

When your plans for the day change, for the future change,

when you are trying your best, but your plan is just not being accomplished - 

look to this promise of God:

And we know,

that for those who love God

all things work together for good

for those who are called

according to his purpose.

For those whom he foreknew

he also predestined to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

in order that he might be the firstborn

among many brothers. Romans 8:28-29

When my day is going downhill this is a passage that gives perspective. 

What am I doing? Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong? 

When I am being corrected, 

even because of my own sin, 

the correction is purposed for conformity to Christ: 

to being more like Jesus, and less like the man I use to be. 

God calls sinners to himself,

not for abandonment but for accomplishment - 

and what is to be accomplished?

it is his PLAN to conform me, you, the church of God to Jesus Christ. 

Even in the depths of trials our Almighty God is in control. 

That is wonderful, and that is a promise of God. 

Praise be to you: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

Unexpected Hymns

I've collected here a selection of hymns from people you probably haven't heard playing hymns.
Some of these are updated and some are the same ol' tune.
One band that sticks out right now is Page CXVI (aka Autumn Film's hymn collection).
They've released over 20 hymns in their rock-folk-eerie-(indie?) style;
for any Copeland fans this is the Christian carbon-copy. I've got all three of their EPs - I highly recommend them. But they're not the only ones doing the hymns.
Take a minute and have a listen.
You might just find the same old words sinking in deep.


Page CXVI - I've Got the Joy
Alan Jackson - Standing on the Promises 
Sufjan Stevens - Come Thou Fount
Carrie Underwood - How Great Thou Art 
Page CXVI - Rock of Ages
Sufjan Stevens - Amazing Grace
Judy Garland - Battle Hymn of the Republic 
Johnny, June & the Cash Family - Will the Circle Be Unbroken

I didn't put Elvis - I figured you've all heard him.