Whatever You Do!

"Whatever you do, find the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated passion of your life, and find your way to say it and live for it and die for it. And you will make a difference that lasts. You will not waste your life."

-John Piper

Not Yet Perfect!

"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousands of their faults because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore he is not dissapionted when he does not find it. "          -Charles Spurgeon

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:12-14

It's ALL About Him!

"Following Jesus is not about you and me. Being a Christian is not about us; it's not about our self esteem. It's about being sick of our sin and our desperation for forgiveness.
It's about seeing Christ as the priceless Savior from sin and death and hell, so that we will give up whatever it takes. Even if it cost us our families, our marriages, and anything else we cherish and posses."

-John MacArthur

A Calvinist's Honest Doubts; A Book Review

A Calvinist's Honest Doubts - By Reason and God's Amazing Grace
by Dave Hunt

"Experience shows that the reprobate are sometimes affected in a way similar to the elect, that even in their own judgments there is no difference between them... Not that they truly perceive the power of spiritual and the sure light of faith; but the Lord the better to convict them, and leave them without excuse, instills into their minds such a sense of his goodness as can still be felt without the spirit of adoption.
Still... the reprobate believe God to be propitious to them, inasmuch as they accept the gift of reconciliation, though confusedly and without due discernment... Nor do I deny that God illumines their minds to this extent, that they recognize his grace; but that conviction he distinguishes from peculiar testimony which he gives to his elect in this respect, that the reprobate never obtain to the full result or the fruition. When he shows himself propitious to them, it is not as if he had truly rescued them from death, and taken them under his protection, he only gives them a manifestation of his present mercy. I the elect alone he implants the living root of faith, so that they preserve even to the end."

Those were the horrifying words that Al read from John Calvin's Instititues lll. How could he believe in a God who seemed to take pleasure in deceiving people and damning them to hell? Or, should he believe in God at all?

Al had grown up in a devout Roman Catholic family, but shortly after his marriage to Jan, Al began to question the teachings of Catholicism because of the obvious contradictions between his Church and the Bible. Al got saved and was baptized as a believer, and he was able to lead his "new age" wife to Christ shortly there after.
Al and Jan faithfully served the Lord for eight years, their children were growing in the Lord, they prayed and studied the Word of God as a family.
God had really done a beautiful thing in Al's family's hearts and lives.

Al attended a small men's Bible study at his Church. Slowly, and almost unnoticed the doctrine of Calvinism was introduced. Al was eager to learn more about this seemingly deeper understanding. So, he got himself a Geneva Bible edited by R. C. Sproul. At first Al loved this new doctrine, and read all he could about Calvinism, but soon it began to trouble him very much. Most Calvinist's rejected the whole idea of "free will".
But those questions were soon forgotten in his excitement.

Al wanted Jan to understand this "new truth" also, so he began to study T.U.L.I.P more in depth. But soon he became very confused, how could he know he was one of the elect? This question began to trouble him night and day, he could get no rest!
He took his concerns to his pastor, but he just gave Al more books on Calvinism to read. But the more he read the less assurance he had. Al got to the place after reading Calvin's Institutes III, that he began to doubt everything he knew about Jesus Christ. Especially after finding out that Calvin said he knew he was one of the elect because of his Roman Catholic infant baptism. Should he return to his former faith?

Finally, Al decided to go talk to his wife about it again. He asked Jan how, since she had the ability to get saved, how did she know that sometime in the future she wouldn't decide to reject Christ - even in heaven? Jan told him that there would be nothing that could tempt me away from my Lord, no one is more wonderful than Him! Al then wanted to know why Satan rebelled...? Her answer was this; "Yeah, but he was never redeemed... never bought with the blood of Christ... He had no basis for loving God, no gratitude to Christ for dying in his place..."
Al said he didn't want to argue, but that he just wanted to know the truth. Jan told him "You really want to know the truth? Jesus said 'Thy Word is truth... I am the truth... the resurrection and the life...' He promised believer's eternal life... that we would never perish. I believe Him. That's all I need to know... it's that simple."

Al finally got it! He had assurance for eternity! And, God so loved the world, and is not willing that any should perish!
"We simply believe God's Word in all things, and we are therefore certain that we are saved and He in coming back to take us to His Father's house of many mansions to fulfill His promise 'that where I am, there ye may be also'. (John 14:1-3)"

"A Calvinist's Honest Doubts" is a very honest straight forward book on the errors on Calvinism, and where it may lead. The emphasis on the love of God for all men is beautiful! This book is a wonderful synopsis on Dave Hunt's book "What Love is This?" I loved it! :D

To Win Souls!

I would rather win souls
than to be the greatest king
or emperor on earth;
I would rather win souls
than be the greatest general
that ever commanded an army...
my one ambition in life
is to win as many as possible.
Oh, it is the only thing worth doing;
to save souls;
and men and women,
we can do it.

R. A Torry
(1856-1928)

The Firefighers

Imagine seeing a group of firefighters polishing their engine outside a burning building with people trapped at a top floor window. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with cleaning a fire engine—but not while people are trapped in a burning building! Instead of ignoring their cries, the firefighters should have an overwhelming sense of urgency to rescue them. That’s the spirit that should be behind the task of evangelism. But according to Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade“Only 2 percent of for Christ,believers in America regularly share their faith with others.” That means that 98 percent of the professing Body of Christ are “lukewarm” when it comes to obeying the Great Commission (Mark 16:15).

Oswald J. Smith said, “Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected.” We have polished the engines of worship, prayer, and praise and neglected the sober task given to us by God. A firefighter who ignores his responsibilities and allows people to perish in flames is not a firefighter; he is an impostor. How could we ignore our responsibility and allow the world to walk blindly into the fires of hell? If God’s love dwells in us, we must warn them. The Bible tells us to “have compassion...save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 22,23). If we don’t have love and compassion, then we don’t know God—we are impostors (1 John 4:8).

Charles Spurgeon said, “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” Please, examine yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Don’t be part of the great multitude who called Jesus “Lord,” but refused to obey Him. It will be professing believers who will hear those fearful words, “I never knew you: depart from me” (Matthew 7:21–23).                                                                         

                                                                                                                          -Ray Comfort

Backward Christian Soldiers
Backward Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight
With the cross of Jesus nearly out of sight.
Christ, our rightful master, stands against the foe
But forward into battle, we are loathe to go.

Like a mighty tortoise moves the Church of God
Brothers we are treading where we’ve always trod.
We are much divided, many bodies we
Having many doctrines, not much charity.

Crowns and thorns may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus hidden does remain.
Gates of hell should never ‘gainst the Church prevail
We have Christ’s own promise, but think that it will fail.

Sit here then ye people, join our useless throng
Blend with ours your voices in a feeble song.
Blessings, ease and comfort, ask from Christ the King
With our modern thinking, we don’t do a thing.

(Anonymous)

They loved not there lives unto death

"I have no more personal friends at school. But you know what? I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus. I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything, I will, I will take it.
If my friends have to become my enemies for me to be with my best friend, Jesus, then that's fine with me."
Rachel Scott, 17, Columbine martyr

"Father take my life, yes, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine envolpong fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as in oblation for the world. Blood is the only value as it flows before Thine altar."
Jim Elliot, martyr(written age 21)

"Now I have given up on everything else. I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought Him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and to die with Him. So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead."
Cassie Bernell,17, Columbine martyr

FAITH

Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future.
It's simply taking God at His word
and taking the next step.


Joni E. Tada

With Him We Cannot Fail

“Without the assistance of that Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot succeed.
With that assistance I cannot fail.
Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well.”

Abraham Lincoln

Strength in adversity

"I know that it is difficult to stand up for one's beliefs when they are being harshly challenged. But as one who has seen many challenges over a lifetime, I can assure you that personal faith and conviction are strengthened not weakend in adversity."

--- Ronald Reagan

On Missions & Witnessing

"If every Christian is already considered a missionary, then all can stay put where they are, and nobody needs to get up and go anywhere to preach the gospel. But if our only concern is to witness where we are, how will people in unevangelized areas ever hear the gospel? The present uneven distribution of Christians and opportunities to hear the gospel of Christ will continue on unchanged."

Gordon Olson

I love this!

Light up your face with gladness, hide every trace of sadness...Although a tear may be ever so near, that's the time you must keep on trying. Smile! What's the use of crying? You'll find that life is still worthwhile...If you just smile!