Spurgeon Quote

"Carnal men love the God they make, but not the God that made them" (Spurgeon Salt Cellars Pg. 110).

Spurgeon Quote

"Carnal joys breed sorrow, but spiritual sorrows breed joy.
Earth's entertainments are like those of Jael:
Her left hand brings me milk; her right a nail" (Spurgeon Salt Cellars Pg.109)

Spurgeon Quote

"Custom in sin kills conscience of sin.

Wrong can be so often done that the doer thinks he is right" (Spurgeon, Salt Cellars, Pg.109).

Thomas Brooks Quote

"That Christ should come from the eternal bosom of his Father to a region of sorrow and death; that God should be manifested in the flesh, the Creator made a creature; that he that was clothed with glory should be wrapped with rags of flesh; he that filled heaven and earth with his glory should be cradled in a manger; that the power of God should fly from weak man, the God of Israel into Egypt; that the God of the law should be subject to the law, the God of the circumcision circumcised, the God that made the heavens working at Joseph's homely trade; that he that binds the devils in chains should be tempted; that he, whose is the world, and the fullness thereof, should hunger and thirst; that the God of strength should be weary, the Judge of all flesh condemned, the God of life put to death; that he that is one with his Father should cry out of misery, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (Matt. 27.46); that he that had the keys of hell and death at his girdle should lie imprisoned in the sepulchre of another, having in his lifetime nowhere to lay his head, nor after death to lay his body; that that head, before which the angels do cast down their crowns, should be crowned with thorns, and those eyes, purer than the sun, put out by the darkness of death; those ears, which hear nothing but hallelujahs of saints and angels, to hear the blasphemies of the multitude; that face, that was fairer than the sons of men, to be spit on by those beastly wretched Jews; that mouth and tongue, that spake as never man spake, accused for blasphemy; those hands, that freely swayed the sceptre of heaven, nailed to the cross for man's sins; each sense annoyed: his feeling or touching, with a spear and nails; his smell, with stinking flavour, being crucified about Golgotha, the place of skulls; his taste, with vinegar and gall; his hearing, with reproaches, and sight of his mother and disciples bemoaning him; his soul, comfortless and forsaken; and all this for those very sins that Satan paints and puts fine colours upon" (Precious Remedies against Satan's devices Brooks Pg.36)!

Semper Reformanda

Semper Reformanda always reforming is our motto. Theological development is just that--development. Those of the reformed tradition boast of the soundness of their theology; and rightly so, for we are much more accurate in our interpretation of scripture than the various alternative and popular opinions. Let not pride enter into our hearts though. There is a great risk for it when one knows a truth while the other remains in ignorance. Did we not all have to crawl before we began to walk? It is God that teaches us in matters of theology. He coaxes us along, feeds us the milk of the word, teaches us the language, and brings meat consistent with growth. It is unfortunate that some are unwilling to try that which is contrary to their natural tastes, already having made up their minds before hand that something is not palatable. Not being open minded, they are obstinately unteachable of God; and are consequently, malnourished and stunted in their spiritual growth respecting the enlightening of the mind and understanding. Friends let us be open to God on the matters of theology laying aside our presuppositions. Do we dare say,"that so and so is not in character with my God!"? Rather let us say, "perhaps I am out of character with God?" and adjust ourselves accordingly.
Never forget that in always moving forward we never arrive in our theology. And however our theology is deficient it is never acceptable for it to be insufficient.

Contentment

"Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1Tim. 6:6)

But let us not be content with our Godliness, always seeking to advance in it.

Augustine Quote

"What tortuous paths! How fearful a fate for 'the rash soul' (Isa. 3:9) which nursed the hope that after it had departed fr0om you, it would find something better! Turned this way and that, on its back, on its side, on its stomach, all positions are uncomfortable. You alone are repose." (Augustine Confessions Bk. VI Pg. 110).

Positive Thinking

Let me say that I despise the movement, but would love to see a healthy form of "positive thinking" in the church. It will do us all much good. Especially those (and I am one of them) that have a problem with forgiving themselves and letting Satan steal their joy. Let us think along these lines: We are sinners, it is true. We have good reason and it is appropriate as long as we stay in the bounds of scripture, to give serious consideration to our sins. Let us not wallow in our sins, however, making more of them than Christ has done to them. To do so is sinful, the worst form of pride, blasphemous even, but rather let us rejoice in the God of our salvation. We have not began our salvation in the flesh neither can we finish it in the flesh. We have Christ's abounding love towards us, a covenant made in his very blood for our surety, infinite forgiveness, constant intercession, his Spirit sealed in us, sanctifying Word for us, and promise to us of his coming. Rejoice and be glad my friends. We have good reason to. God commands it: "Rejoice always!"

Memory Verse

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1Pet. 5:7).

Augustine Quote

"The authority of the Bible seemed the more to be venerated and more worthy of a holy faith on the ground that it was open to everyone to read, while keeping the dignity of its secret meaning for a profounder interpretation. The Bible offered itself to all in very accessible words and the most humble style of diction, while also exercising the concentration of those who are not 'light of heart' (Ecclus. 19:4). It welcomes all people to its generous embrace, and also brings a few to you through narrow openings (cf. Matt. 7:13-14)" (Augustine Confessions Bk. VI Pg. 96).

God Grew Tired of Us (Movie Review)

This movie documents the pilgrimage of a group of Africans(Sudan) known as "Lost Boys" as they travel from a war torn region to America. They are overwhelmed with their encounter with American life and culture as they both adapt and try to retain their own culture. This is a great movie for people to get a glimpse at what life is like for some outside of the USA. They are shocked to have electricity. They try to connect Santa Clause to Jesus. They cannot understand the lack of a sense of community--why people are so unfriendly in America. They wonder if New Yorkers have to go to the river to get their water. It's a great movie.

Augustine Quote

"You persuaded me that the defect lay not with those who believed your books, which you have established with such authority among almost all nations, but with those who did not believe them" (Augustine Confessions Bk. VI Pg. 95,96).

Thomas Brooks Quote

"It is not hasty reading, but serious meditating upon heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul....It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian" (Thomas Brooks Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices Pg. 21,22).

Sanctification

We cannot measure progress in terms of failure. Satan would have us believe that when we fall on the road of spiritual progression and religious duty that we are no longer fit to continue on in it. If we did not get up after having stumbled we would indeed not be fit for that heavenly kingdom that marks the final destiny of our journey. We don't measure our spiritual progress by counting the missteps of this life. Though we fall we press onward. Satan would have us disqualified, but Christ says "Having now thus fallen move forward with more endurance and caution." Consider Luke 22: 31,32. Our faith will never fail though we suffer much temptation and are beaten and battered by the assaults of Satan. Our justification is in Christ. Our sanctification is perfect in Christ. The eternal salvation of our souls are evermore secure--by Christ--not us. The war is won though there are many battles left to be fought. And though it is true that to backslide is to loose a step, we take another, and another, and so progress towards that heavenly city which is our final resting place. We are but pilgrims in a strange land and because of this our happiness is but in part. However, our sanctification is a guarantee and because of this we can have peace with ourselves and God. Yes there is much that is required of us respecting our sanctification, but there is much more in help from God. Satan will do his worse but Christ has done his best. Though it does not look at times as if we are making progress--we are. Outwardly, we may even be wasting away at times but inwardly we progress. In this world we may experience adversity on all levels: our flesh may tempt us, the world entice and harm us, our minds torment us, our bodies fail us, Satan attack us, but it is Christ that will save us. Contrast the happiness of the unbeliever here. He may not seem to suffer under any trials whatsoever in this world and so seem happy beyond measure. The Child of God may have many trials and cannot but barely form a partial smile on his face. Placing the two on worldly scales the balance would be in favor of the unbeliever. But he is without sanctification. The smile he now wears will shine no more when he enters the state of eternal punishment. Whereas the smile the Christian cannot seem to keep consistent will one day never know a frown again. Though we have much to be happy about in this present life we are still subject to a variety of experiences accompanied by a mixed range of emotions. We do not go on what we feel though, but on who we are. We are Christians. Press on my dear friends.

Spurgeon Quote

"Choice flowers bloom in the garden of affliction.
Some of us have there gathered such roses and lilies as grow nowhere else. Sweet herbs of sage, and balm, and a thousand others grow in this garden, whose hedge is of thorns.
He that enjoys a patient mind
Can pleasures in affliction find."

Spurgeon Quote

"Counsel must be followed as well as praised.
There is no use in hearing the gospel and admiring the sermon, unless we put it in practice" (Spurgeon Salt Cellars Pg. 106).

No Excuse

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth" (Rom. 8:33.
It is a favorite and probably the most popular criticism of unbelievers that we are inconsistent in our profession of faith, accusing us as remaining to be sinners, i.e. obvious hypocrites! They judge rightly. But only partly. They misunderstand the meaning of hypocrite (one who professes to be something he is not) knowing nothing of the justification of God, the imputation of Christ's righteousness, and indwelling sin in the believer. The hypocrite does not believe any of these doctrines. He is a nominal Christian, a professor only, an unbeliever at heart, fearful of being found out for his sins. A true believing Christian is not afraid of being found out in his sins, but is afraid of his sins! We confess our sins and are forgiven of them. If any say they have no sin they are liars (1 Jn.).
Instead of taking the time to learn what the true state of a Christian is, the unbeliever is all too willing to make false accusations against us. Accuse me of being a sinner. I am. I could not be a Christian if I was not. Though it ought not to be the case, I am more sinful than most. God has much to do in my sanctification. Christians are not allowed to sin. Nevertheless, we do sin. The Christian it is said may fall on the ship's deck but will not fall overboard. The rough seas of life bring many a slips. It is a stereotype that the Christian life is a bed of roses. It is a bed of roses with thorns! Don't fall short in your description of me. Describe me as a whole. I am not as the hypocrite who is outside of Christ but I am in Christ. I am not merely a sinner. I am a sinner justified freely by God's grace (Rom. 3:24). This is no "argument" nor do I have a "bone-to-pick. Rather this is a plea to not let my sins nor the sins of another be your excuse to deny the true Christian religion. Harden not your heart any further. Come join us sinners. There is no getting around sin. Either one is a sinner outside of Christ, and is therefore unforgiven, heading for eternal punishment. Or one is a sinner that is forgiven, and can come always for forgiveness, until the day of eternal life. Humble your pride. Away with that moralistic mentality. Come to Christ and receive his righteousness. Yours will not do. It is not enough. Do not deceive yourselves, your righteousness will not save you, but damn you. It falls short of what God requires. God only accepts those in Christ. Will you be saved along with us or be damned because of us?

John Calvin Quote

"For by his law it pleases him to prescribe for men what is good and right, and thus to hold them to a sure standard that no one may take leave to contrive any sort of worship he pleases" (Calvin Institutes Bk.I Pg.120).