tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203742522024-03-14T02:44:12.146-05:00Dawg on the LawnBut seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt 6:33Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.comBlogger551125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-12294377747094397712010-11-14T15:17:00.005-05:002010-11-14T15:53:06.346-05:00Taking a Break<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalXXdqUup5PeNAThhbST4ENA2Uc9Z33iZ3ZhMtxx9K2LFvpCeoEjpB5cXRqxxWUNzM3FYe0ZPn2-fTamsHHLcA0a1hjL-9M-b1p5vwpRFgZE7H1TyTki_gPs8vk0kakkn0Y1Y/s1600/monkey-hiatus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 273px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539504330346001154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalXXdqUup5PeNAThhbST4ENA2Uc9Z33iZ3ZhMtxx9K2LFvpCeoEjpB5cXRqxxWUNzM3FYe0ZPn2-fTamsHHLcA0a1hjL-9M-b1p5vwpRFgZE7H1TyTki_gPs8vk0kakkn0Y1Y/s320/monkey-hiatus.jpg" /></a><br /><br />To all the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dawg</span> followers:<br /><br />I'm going to take a break from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dawg</span> on the Lawn for awhile and devote some undivided attention to my other blog, <a href="http://hfots.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#990000;"><em>His Feet on the Street</em></span></a>.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;">His Feet on the Street</span></em> is a local evangelism ministry that I started back in the spring of '09 that takes the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the streets/jails/retirement homes/events, etc to the Cherokee and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pickens</span> county areas here in my little space in north Georgia.<br /><br />I want to spend more time on the <span style="color:#990000;"><em>His Feet</em></span> blog and possibly overhaul the format to meet my ever changing ideas on how it should look and feel.<br /><br />I will still post here occasionally and will be back sometime in the future full time again.<br /><br />Thanks to all those who have followed closely and at a distance. Please feel free to drop by <em><span style="color:#990000;">His Feet</span></em> as often as you wish!<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dawg</span>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-31713045690176358752010-11-04T06:37:00.002-05:002010-11-04T06:49:15.141-05:00Reid - "just saying no doesn't do the trick."From <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_election_reid">Yahoo News -</a><br /><br />WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says lawmakers of both parties need to start working together now that Republicans have reduced the Democrats' dominance in the chamber.<br /><br />Reid said on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">NBC's</span> "Today" show that he planned to speak Wednesday with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on ways to "build a consensus and move this country along."<br /><br />Senate Democrats lost at least six seats on Election Day, but narrowly held their majority. Reid himself survived an aggressive challenge from tea party favorite Sharron Angle to win re-election.<br /><br />The Nevada Democrat said he has a "good relationship" with McConnell, but he asked the Republicans to be more open to compromise, telling ABC's "Good Morning America" that "just saying no doesn't do the trick."<br /><br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">American voters have stopped the Obama train. Now it's time to see if the bunch we sent to Washington can turn the train around and get it headed in the right direction again.<br /><br />Reid says that "just saying no doesn't do the trick". <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Umm</span>, not saying no <em>enough</em> is what put the train on the wrong tracks full speed ahead to begin with.<br /><br />Neil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Boortz</span> said yesterday that Americans have put the republicans "on probation".<br /><br />This may well be "Custer's last stand" or the "Invasion of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Normandy</span>" for the republican party.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">We'll see...</span>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-50112272752060827782010-11-03T06:45:00.001-05:002010-11-03T06:47:25.455-05:00SOLA GRATIAGRACE ALONE<br /><br /><em>He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness,<br />but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,<br />so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.</em><br />Titus 3:7<br /><br /><em>But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died,<br />much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.</em><br />Romans 5:15<br /><br /><br />I think it well to turn a little to one side that I may ask my reader to observe adoringly the fountain-head of our salvation, which is the grace of God. "By grace are ye saved." Because God is gracious, therefore sinful men are forgiven, converted, purified, and saved. <br /><br />It is not because of anything in them, or that ever can be in them, that they are saved; but because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy, and grace of God. Tarry a moment, then, at the well-head. Behold the pure river of water of life, as it proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb! What an abyss is the grace of God! Who can measure its breadth? Who can fathom its depth? Like all the rest of the divine attributes, it is infinite.<br /><br />- Charles H. Spurgeon, All Of Grace<br /><br /><br /><br />From <a href="http://www.ondoctrine.com/fivesola.htm">On Doctrine</a>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-2691672474985309462010-11-01T15:34:00.000-05:002010-11-01T15:35:56.436-05:00SOLA FIDEFAITH ALONE<br /><br /><em>Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.</em><br />Romans 5:1-2<br /><br /><em>For by grace you have been saved through faith,and that not of yourselves;<br />it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.</em><br />Ephesians 2:8-9<br /><br /><br />The truth which we plead has two parts:<br /><br />That the righteousness of God imputed to us, unto the justification of life, is the righteousness of Christ, by whose obedience we are made righteous.<br /><br />That it is faith alone which on our part is required to interest us in that righteousness, or whereby we comply with God's grant and communication of it, or receive it unto our use and benefit; for although this faith is in itself the radical principle of all obedience,-- and whatever is not so, which cannot, which does not, on all occasions, evidence, prove, show, or manifest itself by works, is not of the same kind with it,--yet, as we are justified by it, its act and duty is such, or of that nature, as that no other grace, duty, or work, can be associated with it, or be of any consideration. And both these are evidently confirmed in that description which is given us in the Scripture of the nature of faith and believing unto the justification of life.<br /><br />- John Owen, The Doctrine Of Justification By Faith<br /><br /><br /><br />From <a href="http://www.ondoctrine.com/fivesola.htm">On Doctrine</a>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-56371048290096217282010-10-29T06:44:00.002-05:002010-10-29T06:47:10.938-05:00Sola ScripturaSCRIPTURE ALONE<br /><br /><em>The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.</em><br />Psalm 19:7<br /><br /><em>You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of,<br />knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation<br />through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;<br />so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.</em><br />2 Timothy 3:14-17 <br /><br /><br />The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, Having Been Given By Inspiration of God, Are the All-Sufficient and Only Rule of Faith and Practice, and Judge of Controversies.<br /><br />Whatever God teaches or commands is of sovereign authority. Whatever conveys to us an infallible knowledge of his teachings and commands is an infallible rule. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the only organs through which, during the present dispensation, God conveys to us a knowledge of his will about what we are to believe concerning himself, and what duties he requires of us.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hat Tip: <a href="http://www.ondoctrine.com/fivesola.htm">On Doctrine</a>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-13681303968185677502010-10-28T06:43:00.001-05:002010-10-28T06:45:56.464-05:00Solo ChristoCHRIST ALONE<br /><br /><em>And there is salvation in no one else;For there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.</em><br />Acts 4:12<br /><em><br />For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,who gave Himself as a ransom for all,the testimony given at the proper time.</em><br />1 Timothy 2:5-6<br /><br />That there is no remedy but in Jesus Christ; there is nothing else will give you true quietness. If you could fly into heaven, you would not find it there; if you should take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth, in some solitary place in the wilderness, you could not fly from your burden. So that if you do not come to Christ, you must either continue still weary and burdened, or, which is worse, you must return to your old dead sleep, to a state of stupidity; and not only so, but you must be everlastingly wearied with God's wrath.<br /><br />Consider that Christ is a remedy at hand. You need not wish for the wings of a dove that you may fly afar off, and be at rest, but Christ is nigh at hand, if you were but sensible of it. Romans 10:6, 7, 8. "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith which we preach." There is no need of doing any great work to come at this rest; the way is plain to it; it is but going to it, it is but sitting down under Christ's shadow. <br /><br />Christ requires no money to purchase rest of him, he calls to us to come freely, and for nothing. If we are poor and have no money, we may come. Christ sent out his servants to invite the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. Christ does not want to be hired to accept of you, and to give you rest. <br /><br />It is his work as Mediator to give rest to the weary, it is the work that he was anointed for, and in which he delights. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."<br /><br />- Jonathan Edwards, Safety, Fulness and Sweet Refreshment in ChristDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-35935138255473671692010-10-22T11:43:00.000-05:002010-10-22T11:44:59.982-05:00Soli Deo GloriaTO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY<br /><br /><em>Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.<br />For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.<br />Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place.<br />Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;<br />Bring an offering, and come before Him; worship the Lord in holy array.<br />Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;<br />And let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns."</em><br />1 Chronicles 16:23-31<br /><br /><em>Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!<br />How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!<br />For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?<br />Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?<br />For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.<br />Amen.</em><br />Romans 11:33-36<br /><br /><br />Let us, therefore, labour to submit to the sovereignty of God. God insists, that his sovereignty be acknowledged by us, and that even in this great matter, a matter which so nearly and infinitely concerns us, as our own eternal salvation. This is the stumbling-block on which thousands fall and perish; and if we go on contending with God about his sovereignty, it will be our eternal ruin. It is absolutely necessary that we should submit to God, as our absolute sovereign, and the sovereign over our souls; as one who may have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and harden whom he will.<br />- Jonathan Edwards, God's Sovereignty In The Salvation Of MenDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-193933820455563332010-10-21T06:44:00.004-05:002010-10-21T07:01:36.348-05:00"I don't know how God creates. I don't know how we got here."<span style="color:#3333ff;">Those words come from Glenn Beck yesterday on his radio show. Even though Beck says he </span><a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=217621"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#990000;">would be shocked</span> </span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;">if he found out from God that he indeed came from monkeys, he would be "cool" with it.</span><br /><br />From <a href="http://www.wnd.com/">WND</a> -<br /><br />Glenn Beck addressed the question on his radio show today as he came to the defense of Christine O'Donnell, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Delaware under fire for challenging evolution.<br /><br />"Did evolution just stop?" Beck asked rhetorically. "I haven't seen the half-monkey/half-person yet. ... There's no other species that's developing into half-people."<br /><br />"I don't know how God creates. I don't know how we got here," he continued, wondering what God might tell him after he dies. "If God's like, 'Yup, you were a monkey once,' I'll be shocked, but I'll be cool with it."<br /><br />Beck explained, "If God didn't create, if things evolve, then your rights evolve. You're not endowed by your Creator.<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">No evolution Mr. Beck. Go back and read the Bible. </span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">God created man.</span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Oh, and by the way, Jesus is God too.</span>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-83729556744393494912010-10-15T19:30:00.002-05:002010-10-15T19:35:29.353-05:00Just for fun -How many ____________ does it take to change a lightbulb?<br /><br /><br />How many Charismatics?<br />One - since his or her hands are in the air anyway.<br /><br />How many Calvinists?<br />None. God has predestined when the lights will be on..<br /><br />How many Baptists?<br />CHANGE?? But we have NEVER done it that way before!<br /><br />How many Neo-evangelicals?<br />No one knows. They cannot tell the difference between light and darkness.<br /><br />How many TV evangelists?<br />One. But for the message of light to continue, send in your donation...<br /><br />How many Dispensationalists?<br />Two - one to change the bulb and one to keep the promises to the old bulb.<br /><br />How many Promise Keepers?<br />None - unless Coach McCartney says it's manly to do so.<br /><br />How many Calvinists?<br />Every Calvinist knows only God can change a lightbulb.<br /><br />How many Episcopalians?<br />None, they assume darkness is the nature of the bulb and it would be harmful and disrespecful to violate personality of the bulb.<br /><br />How many Quakers?<br />Someone will, but there is no one officially called to be a bulb changer.<br /><br />How many Arminians?<br />Only one, but first the bulb must want to be changed.<br /><br />How many Baptists?<br />Two, one to change the bulb, the other to preach on tithing in order to pay for the new bulb.<br /><br />How many Premillennialists?<br />While knowing where the lightbulbs are, they are persuaded to wait for the official lightbulb changer but no one knows when he will arrive.<br /><br />How many Arminians?<br />Since the bulb has free will - it must make the decision.<br /><br />How many Amillennialists?<br />Two, one to change the bulb, the other to remind others not to fear the<br />old darkness or trust the new light--both are only symbolic.<br /><br />How many Postmillennialists?<br />One, but now he has to rethink his eschatology....<br /><br />How Many Liberal Christians?<br />None - they don't think it needs to be changed.<br /><br />How many Evolutionists?<br />None - it will change itself - it will just take billions and billions of years.<br /><br />How many Lutherans?<br />17 - 5 to form a commitee to find and nominate 9 people to a committee which shall then discuss the issues of light bulb changing, from which that commitee shall appoint three other people to carry out the final resolution of the second committee - which is that one person shall supervise while one changes the bulb and one will follow up in one month's time to investigate the performance of the bulb.<br /><br />How many Modern Evangelicals?<br />It doesn't matter as long as we love each other.<br /><br />How many Seventh Day Adventists?<br />Just one - as long as it isn't Saturday.<br /><br />How many Charismatics?<br />30 - 1 to change the bulb and 29 to laugh about it!<br /><br />How many Mormons?<br />None - it's beneath the character of a god to stoop and change a light bulb.<br /><br />How many Atheists?<br />1 - but they are still in darkness.<br /><br />How many Independent Baptists?<br />Only one, anymore than that would be considered ecumenical.Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-73998025958464186322010-10-14T06:37:00.003-05:002010-10-14T06:41:22.563-05:00O the preciousness of this truth!<p><em>God is infinite in power, and therefore it is impossible for any to withstand His will, or resist the outworking of His decrees!!</em></p><p>Such a statement as that is well calculated to fill the lost sinner with alarm--but from the believer, it evokes nothing but praise.</p><p>Let us add a word, and see what a difference it makes--<em>"<strong>My</strong> God is infinite in power, and therefore it is impossible for any to withstand His will, or resist the outworking of His decrees!!"</em></p><p><em><strong>My</strong> God is infinite in power!</em> Then "I will not fear what man can do unto me!" </p><p><em><strong>My</strong> God is infinite in power!</em> Then "whenever I am afraid--I will trust in Him!" </p><p><em><strong>My</strong> God is infinite in power!</em> Then "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep--for You alone Lord, make me dwell in safety!" </p><p>Psalm 4:8"There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. The eternal God is your refuge, and <strong>His everlasting arms</strong> are under you!" Deuteronomy 33:26, 27</p><p><span style="color:#ff0000;">O the preciousness of this truth!</span> Here I am--a poor, helpless, senseless 'sheep,' yet I am secure in the hand of Christ! And why am I secure there? None can pluck me thence--because the hand that holds me is that of the Son of God, and all power in heaven and earth is His!</p><p>I have no strength of my own--the world, the flesh, and the Devil, are arrayed against me--so I commit myself into the care and keeping of my Lord Jesus. And what is the ground of my confidence? How do I know that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him? I know it because <em>He is God Almighty</em>--the King of kings and Lord of lords!</p><p>A.W.Pink</p>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-65537921625195312982010-10-06T06:49:00.002-05:002010-10-06T06:53:06.050-05:00Jesus Plus Nothing"There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament<br />gospel of salvation than this: that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret to mean that… because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at<br />all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will<br />redound all the more to the glory of grace… If my preaching and presentation of<br />the gospel of salvation does not expose it to that misunderstanding then it is not<br />the gospel."<br /><br />Martin Lloyd JonesDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-24314157960172322982010-10-04T08:36:00.001-05:002010-10-04T08:36:44.395-05:00Quote of the Day -"We profess to be strangers and pilgrims, seeking after a country of our own, yet we settle down in the most un-stranger-like fashion, exactly as if we were quite at home and meant to stay as long as we could. I don't wonder apostolic miracles have died. Apostolic living certainly has."<br /><br />Amy Carmichael - MissionaryDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-52317486365750627762010-09-29T07:11:00.002-05:002010-09-29T07:14:33.935-05:00Desperate times call for desperate measures -From The <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/obama-talks-about-his-faith-2/?hp">Caucus Blogs</a><br /><br />ALBUQUERQUE — President Obama expounded Tuesday on the reasons he became a Christian as an adult, telling a group of residents here that he was a “Christian by choice” and that “the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead – being my brother and sister’s keeper.”<br /><br />Mr. Obama, who has been criticized by conservative pundits who have questioned his Christian faith, gave a lengthy discourse on it in response to a woman who said she had three “hot topic questions” for him. The first was: “Why are you a Christian?” The second was on abortion — the president said it should be “safe, legal and rare” —and her third was whether Mr. Obama would accept her husband’s chili pepper. He said he would.Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-20918852268961714382010-09-28T06:40:00.001-05:002010-09-28T06:42:07.238-05:00Christians cleared for witnessing to MuslimsFrom WND -<br /><br />Jurors in Michigan have rejected, at least for now, the concept of a "dhimmi" status for Christians, ruling that four evangelists who went to an Arab festival not just to be present but to "change minds" did not commit a breach of peace as police had claimed.<br /><br />The word comes from the Thomas More Law Center, which defended the four Christians after they were charged for being at an Arab festival in Dearborn, Mich.<br /><br />Officials said the verdict came from a jury of six Dearborn residents late Friday, who concluded that Nabeel Qureshi, Paul Rezkalla, Negeen Mayel and David Wood were not guilty of breach of peace charges.<br /><br />The issue strikes directly at the heart of what many fear is developing across the nation: where Muslims are given a special treatment that subjects those of other faiths to second-class status.<br /><br />Read rest of story <a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=208929"><span style="color:#cc0000;">here</span></a>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-63974559672082163192010-09-25T07:38:00.000-05:002010-09-25T07:39:35.712-05:00Quote of the DayAs God carries on the work of converting the souls of fallen men through all ages, so He goes on to justify them, to blot out all their sins, and to accept them as righteous in His sight through the righteousness of Christ. He goes on to adopt and receive them from being the children of Satan to be His own children, to carry on the work of His grace which He has begun in them, to comfort them with the consolations of His Spirit, and to bestow upon them, when their bodies die, that eternal glory which is the fruit of Christ's purchase.<br /><br />Jonathan EdwardsDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-16079719139762515482010-09-22T07:49:00.001-05:002010-09-22T07:53:12.975-05:00Names - By Mark CahillAs most of you know, I played basketball back in the day. I really used to love that sport. It was such an idol in my life. The good news for me now is that sports have taken a huge back seat as I walk through this world. I follow them a little bit, but in no way does it have the same pull in my life like it used to, and I am very glad about that! Have you ever had an idol in your life that you have now put to the side? Isn’t it a great feeling knowing that it isn’t as important anymore? To me, It is one of the best feelings in the world!<br /><br />I happened to read an article recently about Shaquille O’Neal. As I read it, I ran across a very interesting statement.<br /><br /><em>“I know I will play in the NBA next season,” said O’Neal. “International? No. The good thing about me and my career is I came in, did it my way, did more than expected. For every athlete or every great person, there’s a time when it has to end. When and if it ever ends it will be very graciously.”<br /><br />“We’re going to have a big party. We’re going to have a ceremony, and the next thing I’ll be waiting for is the entrance into the place where your name will never be forgotten.”<br /></em>(<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5434969">http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5434969</a>)<br /><br />Now what got me about that last paragraph was ‘the place where your name will never be forgotten.’ Of course, he was talking about the Basketball Hall of Fame. And any basketball player knows that would be one of the major highlights of your career to reach that goal. For many it would be the pinnacle. Of course, there is only one problem. I dare you to go to the Hall of Fame and walk around. You will see these plaques with people’s names on them and you will ask the question, “Who is that?” So even if you got enshrined there, people would still forget who you are! You see, Shaq had set his sights very low.<br /><br />Philippians 4:3 says,<br />“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”<br /><br />Revelation 20:12 states,<br />“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”<br /><br />What Shaq doesn’t realize is that there is a place where he really, really wants his name to be written.<br /><br />It is the Book of Life.<br /><br />God will be opening that book one day. It will have the names of people that are born again. Is your name in there? It is all that will matter the day you die. If it is written in there, what are you doing to make sure others names are written in there as well?<br /><br />If you think about it, there are plenty of places where we don’t want our names written:<br /><br />* A tax notice from the IRS<br />* A traffic ticket<br />* A disciplinary report from school<br />* Some will say an obituary page<br />* An eviction notice<br />* Bankruptcy papers<br />* A non sufficient funds statement from the bank<br /><br />But also, there are tons of places where we do want our names written:<br /><br />* A MVP Trophy<br />* A Report Card with Straight A’s<br />* A Promotions List<br />* The Dean’s list<br />* A Lottery Check<br /><br />Those all sound really good in one sense, but if your name is not written in the Book of Life, it literally has been a life not worth living.<br /><br />Jesus says in Luke 10:20 says,<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”</span><br /><br />Mark CahillDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-76756121235334435952010-09-21T06:53:00.001-05:002010-09-21T06:56:05.372-05:00Lost Hymn of the Week: "Let Us Love, and Sing, and Wonder"Let us love, and sing, and wonder,<br />Let us praise the Saviour's name!<br />He has hushed the law's loud thunder,<br />He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame;<br />He has washed us with his blood,<br />He has brought us nigh to God.<br /><br />Let us love the Lord who bought us,<br />Pitied us when enemies,<br />Called us by his grace, and taught us,<br />Gave us ears and gave us eyes:<br />He has washed us with his blood,<br />He presents our souls to God.<br /><br />Let us sing, though fierce temptation<br />Threaten hard to bear us down!<br />For the Lord, our strong salvation,<br />Holds in view the conqueror's crown,<br />He who washed us with his blood,<br />Soon will bring us home to God.<br /><br />Let us wonder; grace and justice<br />Join, and point to mercy's store;<br />When through grace in Christ our trust is,<br />Justice smiles, and asks no more:<br />He who washed us with his blood,<br />Has secured our way to God.<br /><br />Let us praise, and join the chorus<br />Of the saints enthroned on high;<br />Here they trusted him before us,<br />Now their praises fill the sky:<br />"Thou hast washed us with thy blood;<br />Thou art worthy, Lamb of God!"<br /><br />John NewtonDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-51444194192915900252010-09-15T06:56:00.000-05:002010-09-15T06:57:39.703-05:00Repent and believe the gospel -"Go with me to Scripture and show me, please. I would love you to stand up and tell me where anyone evangelized that way. The Scripture does not say that Jesus Christ came to the nation of Israel and said that “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, now who would like to ask me into their hearts? I see that hand.”<br /><br />That is not what it says. He said, “Repent and believe the gospel.”<br /><br />Paul WasherDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-70419196183431618802010-09-12T13:34:00.001-05:002010-09-12T13:37:05.017-05:00Faces<object width="425" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bL1bbtqaak0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bL1bbtqaak0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Tony Miano of <a href="http://thelawmanchronicles.blogspot.com/">The Lawman Chronicles</a>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-24750374672965215122010-09-09T06:44:00.006-05:002010-09-10T10:34:40.390-05:00Quran burning??<span style="color:#3333ff;">Updated: Flashback:</span> <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/285123/christians_in_gaza_fear_for_their_lives.html"><span style="color:#990000;">Muslims burn Bibles and destroy crosses</span></a> -<br /><br /><br />From <a href="http://5ptsalt.com/2010/09/08/why-the-quran-should-not-be-burned/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ptsalt</span></span></a><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”</span></em> – Matthew 17:27<br /><br />In the passage above lies a small phrase that is often overlooked.<br /><br />Jesus says, “However, not to give offense to them…”.<br /><br />In context, the passage has to do with the payment of the Temple tax. Our beloved Peter has just finished a conversation with the tax-collector who has asked Peter, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” (v. 24) to which Peter replies “yes” (v.25).<br /><br />There are many amazing things in this passage. One being that our Lord was obviously aware of the conversation. In verse 25 we read that after Peter came into the house our Lord and His disciples were staying in, Jesus spoke to Peter first concerning the subject of paying the Temple tax! Our Lord knows all things!<br /><br />In the news lately, much ado has been made concerning a Florida church which plans to burn the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Quran</span> on September 11, 2010. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> heard the reasoning’s of the fellowship’s pastor and associate pastor on the news, and I believe their reasons for burning the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Quran</span> are, in the end, more an act of intentional offense than anything closely resembling Christian motives. Burning the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Quran</span> is not spiritually beneficial for anyone; not in outreach to the Muslim community, not to Christians or their churches. It may be viewed as ‘patriotic’ by some, yet how patriotic is it to purposefully make others angry? More importantly, how Christian is it? How will burning the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Quran</span> proclaim the Gospel witness?<br /><br />It won’t. It will simply inflame the anger of a lost people.<br /><br />In the passage quoted from Matthew above, our Lord Jesus is willing to pay the Temple tax. The reason He gives is specifically “not to give offense to them.”<br /><br />Not to give offense. There is a thought we would do well to heed daily. As Christians, we are to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not hinder it in any way. We are to be Christ-like in our behavior and indeed, in our thoughts. When it comes to our witness to the world, ‘patriotism’ and anything else must not supersede the furthering of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Burning the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Quran</span> will offend Muslims. It will offend them greatly. Now what is the wise thing to do here? What will be the most beneficial, for the Christian Church and for Muslims? What would be most Christ-like?<br /><br />Don’t burn it.<br /><br />It’s not necessary, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">doesn</span>’t help, will bring more harm than good, and according to this passage in Matthew, is not Christ-like at all. It is quite the opposite of Christ-likeness.<br /><br />You may have strong resentment towards the Islamic community; you may still be angry about 9-11. Yet brethren, burning the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Quran</span> is not a Christian act, it is carnal in the worst way. Let us search our hearts in light of the Scriptures and check our motives in this matter so that we, as representatives of the true Church of Jesus Christ, do not give unnecessary offense to those who need the Gospel so desperately.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">See </span><a href="http://jimmykinnaird.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/10-reasons-to-not-burn-a-koran/"><span style="color:#990000;">HERE</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"> for Ten Reasons NOT to burn a Quran - from Jimmy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Kinnaird</span></span><br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Remember, folks—the Muslims who are willing to riot and rampage over the burning of a few Qur’an’s in Florida do not need any provocation to destest the “kafirs.” They are offended by our mere existence. Think about it.<br /><br />- James White<br /><br />HT - <a href="http://defendingcontending.com/">Defending/Contending</a><br /><br /><br />The reason not to burn Qurans is that it's unkind – not to jihadists, but to Muslims who mean us no harm. The same goes for building a mosque at Ground Zero – in both cases, it's not a question of anyone's "rights," it's just a nasty thing to do.<br /><br />Ann Coulter<br /><br /><br />"People have a constitutional right to burn a Koran if they want to, but doing so is insensitive and an unnecessary provocation -- much like building a mosque at Ground Zero,"<br /><br />Sarah PalinDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-4139680578645419922010-09-07T11:34:00.000-05:002010-09-07T11:35:17.578-05:00We have an Advocate!Be always greatly abased for your remaining sin, and never think that you lie low enough for it; but yet be not discouraged or disheartened by it; for, though we are exceeding sinful, yet we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; the preciousness of whose blood, the merit of whose righteousness, and the greatness of whose love and faithfulness, infinitely overtop the highest mountains of our sins!<br /><br />Jonathan EdwardsDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-48436419762082930092010-09-05T15:11:00.001-05:002010-09-05T15:13:39.744-05:00Calvinism and Evangelism - Bill WelzienFrom <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/5UZMF"><span style="color:#000099;">Evangelism Matters</span></a><br /><br />Many people think that "Calvinist evangelist" is an oxymoron. What do you think? Can someone be seriously Calvinistic and at the same time seriously evangelistic? Does a belief in the absolute sovereignty of God take the wind out of the sails of evangelism?<br /><br />We live in a day of gross ignorance with regard to sound theology. We should continually yearn for sound (wholesome, healthy) doctrine (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18). As we Christians learn and respond rightly to sound doctrine, we begin to think correctly, and our lives begin to demonstrate the resulting godly fruit. So how should a belief in Calvinism affect our belief in evangelism?<br /><br />What Is a Calvinist?<br />Well, what is a Calvinist? A Calvinist believes in sola Scriptura. That is to say, he believes that the Bible, exclusively, is God's very word. Therefore, to him the Bible alone is the final court of appeal on all matters of faith and practice.<br /><br />Additionally, a Calvinist believes that fallen humans can be forgiven of sin and receive a just standing before a holy God, only through faith alone in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, alone. This saving faith comes as a gift of God's grace (Eph. 2:8-9). The Calvinist believes that since fallen humans are dead in their trespasses and sins, they will never have God's life in them unless he takes the initiative and quickens these spiritually dead persons. When God does sovereignly quicken (regenerate) an individual, he will respond to the gospel in repentance and faith and be saved (Eph. 2:1-10). A Calvinist realizes that the only thing he contributes to his salvation is his sin. Salvation is of the Lord from first to last.<br /><br />These events all take place in time and space. But preceding them all is what God determined in eternity past. Ephesians 1:4 tells us that God chose (elected) certain ones in Christ before the foundation of the world.<br /><br />The Calvinist believes that God's election is unconditional. That means that almighty God did not base his election upon any good thing (such as faith, good works, etc.) that he foresaw in those he chose. His election could never be based upon anything inherently attractive or good in fallen man. Every last person that the omniscient God foresaw had inherited Adam's guilt and corruption, was totally depraved, and was choosing to sin. Hence, every last one of them justly deserved God's holy wrath.<br /><br />God's election is based solely upon his own grace, love, and good pleasure (Eph. 1:4-5; Matt. 11:21-27). If God chooses to show mercy to some members of the human race, all of whom justly deserve his judgment, that is grace, and that is his prerogative (Rom. 9:10-23)! Because it depends completely on God, the number of God's elect is certain, definite, and cannot be increased or decreased.<br /><br />The elect are the Father's gift to Christ. Jesus himself vows that of all the Father gives to him, he will not lose any (John 6:39). Since the elect are sinners both by nature and by choice, and since God is a holy God who will not tolerate sin, but must judge it, a substitutionary atonement needed to be made in order to reconcile God to his elect. And so, the Calvinist does not believe that Jesus Christ died for all men indiscriminately, but that he laid down his life for the elect, his sheep, his church (John 10:11; 14-16; Eph. 5:25).<br /><br />This explains why the Holy Spirit must do his regenerating work in a person before he is able to repent and believe in Christ. In his natural, fallen mind, man is hostile toward God (Rom. 8:7). Until the Holy Spirit sovereignly replaces a sinner's heart of stone with a heart of flesh, he will continue to be spiritually impervious to the gospel (Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:1; Ezek. 36:24-27). The Calvinist believes that every last one of those who were chosen in Christ before time will by the end of time be brought to saving faith and a vital relationship with God through the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!<br /><br />Does Calvinism Nullify Evangelism?<br />At this point, the non-Calvinist infers that the impetus and urgency to proclaim the gospel is gone, or diminished at best. After all, if God knows who is going to be saved, and if he will save his elect no matter what, why waste our time evangelizing?<br /><br />But it is important to recognize that the God of the Bible ordains not only the end (salvation) but also the means to the end (the proclamation of the gospel).<br /><br />Jesus is the Good Shepherd. And through evangelism, he is calling his sheep to himself. He calls his own sheep by name, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:3-4). They know his voice because, at God's appointed time, the Holy Spirit gives the elect ears to hear and hearts to understand (Matt. 13:23).<br /><br />The ordinary means by which God gathers his people is through their hearing and believing the gospel message. In Romans 1:16, Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. In Romans 10:13, he states that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Then he adds, "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!' " (Rom. 10:14-15 nasb).<br /><br />Paul saw that it is the task of the church to proclaim the gospel. The exhortation Paul gives in Romans 10 is sandwiched between chapters 8-9 and 11. Take some time and reread those chapters. Note especially all they have to say about God's sovereign purposes in election.<br /><br />Why am I, a Calvinist, so passionate about evangelism? Several reasons immediately spring to mind. First, my Lord Jesus Christ commands me to do so (Mark 16:15). Second, given that my chief duty (and delight) is to glorify God, I am moved by the fact that the Father is honored whenever the Son is honored. The supreme means of honoring the Father is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 5:22-23)! Third, I know that when the nonelect reject the gospel, as they are wont to do, preaching leaves them all the more without excuse when they receive the condemnation they justly deserve. And last, I know that God brings his elect to himself through the preaching of the gospel.<br /><br />The apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:10, "Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." It is only when we recognize God's absolute sovereignty that we can be assured of results. God blesses the faithful dissemination of his word. He promises that his word will never return to him void or empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which he sent it (Isa. 55:11).<br /><br />Does Calvinism take the wind out of the sails of evangelism? Properly understood and sincerely believed, it does exactly the opposite. Believing that God has a sovereign plan to bring all his elect to himself actually encourages evangelism. It gives confidence to us, God's people, to fulfill our God-given responsibility to spread his gospel. We know that our labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Cor. 15:58)!Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-6287957699548612422010-09-01T15:36:00.000-05:002010-09-01T15:37:59.177-05:00Spurgeon on open-air preaching“I proposed to them, on one occasion, that I should preach on Sunday evening by the riverside, and the remark was made by one of them “Ah! I do not like it, it is imitating the Methodists.” To him, as a sound Calvinist, it was a dreadful thing to do anything which Methodists were guilty of; to me, however, that was rather a recommendation than otherwise, and I was happy to run the risk of being Methodistical. <br /><br />All over England, in our cities, towns, villages, and hamlets, there are tens of thousands who will never hear the gospel while open air preaching is neglected. I rejoice that God allows us to preach in churches and chapels, but I do not pretend that we have any apostolical precedent for it, certainly none for confining our ministry to such places. <br /><br />I believe that we are permitted, if it promotes order and edification, to set apart buildings for our worship; but there is no warrant for calling these places sanctuaries and houses of God, for all places are alike holy where holy men assemble. <br /><br />It is altogether a mischievous thing that we should confine our preaching within walls. <br /><br />Our Lord, it is true, preached in the synagogues, but he often spake the mountainside, or from a boat, or in the court of a house, or in the public thoroughfares. To him, an audience was the only necessity. He was a fisher of sits souls of the true sort, and not like those who sit still in their houses, and expect the fish to come to them to be caught. <br /><br />Did our Lord intend a minister to go on preaching from his pulpit to empty pews, when, by standing on a chair or a table outside the meeting house, he might be heard by hundreds? I believe not, and I held the same opinion that the very beginning of my ministry, so I preached by the river side, even though my good deacon thought that, by so doing, I was imitating the Methodist.” <br /><br />(Vol 1, page 256, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES H. SPURGEON, American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia) <br /><br />HT - <a href="http://gostandspeak.com">Go Stand and Speak</a>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-42001981582863455232010-08-23T11:54:00.001-05:002010-08-23T11:57:22.992-05:00Five Big Myths About Calvinism - by John SamsonI speak for many when I say that I have not always embraced the doctrines of grace or what is commonly called Calvinism. Its actually unfortunate that a man's name is associated with the doctrines that came out of the Protestant Reformation. Calvin was not the first to articulate these truths, but merely was the chief <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">systematizer</span> of such doctrines. There was actually nothing in Calvin that was not first seen in Luther, and much of Luther was first found in Augustine. Luther was an Augustinian monk, of course. We would also naturally affirm that there was nothing in any of these men that was not first found in Paul and Peter and John in the New Testament.<br /><br />Even now, I have no desire to be a Calvinist in the Corinthian sense of the word - a follower of John Calvin, per say. Though I believe Calvin was a tremendous expositor of the Scriptures and had many great insights, I am not someone who believes he was in any way infallible. I am with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Spurgeon</span> who declared, "There is no soul living who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answer - I wish to be called nothing but a Christian; but if you ask me, do I hold the doctrinal views which were held by John Calvin, I reply, I do in the main hold them, and rejoice to avow it." (C. H. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Spurgeon</span>, a Defense of Calvinism)<br /><br />In coming to understand these doctrines that are now so precious to me, I now realize that there were fortresses built in my mind to defend against the idea of God being Sovereign in the matter of salvation. Such was my total depravity! These fortresses were not made of stone and brick but of man made ideas – concepts that I believed Scripture taught with clarity. These fortresses did not come down easily. In fact, I believe it is a work of Divine grace in the heart not only to regenerate His people, but also to open hearts and minds, even of His own people, to the truth of His Sovereignty in election.<br /><br />There are many false concepts about Calvinism. Here are five that are very common:<br /><br /><strong>1. CALVINISM DESTROYS EVANGELISM</strong><br /><br />I think some Calvinists do have an aversion for evangelism, and this is something that needs to be addressed whenever this tendency is seen, yet both historically and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">biblically</span>, nothing could be further from the truth. It is quite easy to prove that the whole missions movement was started by Calvinists who believed Christ had His elect sheep in every tribe, tongue, people and nation. Romans 8 and 9 teaches election clearly, and Romans 10 tells us of the necessity of preaching the Gospel. How shall they (the elect) hear without a preacher? Romans 10 is in no way a contradiction to Romans 8 and 9.<br /><br />Divine election is the only hope of evangelism. No one we speak to about Christ is beyond hope, for God may well have ordained from all eternity that our conversation or preaching is to be the very means by which He would achieve His ends - the gathering of one of His elect sheep into the fold! What a privilege to be used by God in this way.<br /><br />Divine election should never undermine evangelism. In fact, the truth about election should cause us to continue to proclaim Christ, even when results may not come immediately. The concept of election should actually fuel our evangelism when mere human emotion wanes. We should remember that God has His elect sheep who will hear His voice and will follow Him when we preach the Gospel of Christ. So then faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).<br /><br />Election is not a hindrance to evangelism. It simply explains to us why some believe the Gospel and why some do not. Jesus said to one group hearing Him “you do not believe because you are not My sheep” (John 10:26) and Luke explained the evangelistic results of the early church by declaring, “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)<br /><br /><strong>2. CALVINISM APPEALS TO THE PRIDE OF MAN<br /></strong><br />Sadly, some Calvinists do reek of pride and give off an air of being better than those around them, but such is a total betrayal of biblical Calvinism. If we recognize our total depravity or radical corruption, we understand that there was absolutely nothing in us that caused God to look down upon us to show us such favor. The only thing we can say in response to His electing grace is “Lord, why me?”<br /><br />Romans 9:11-16 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad- in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call- 12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.<br /><br />"God intentionally designed salvation so that no man can boast of it. He didn't merely arrange it so that boasting would be discouraged or kept to a minimum - He planned it so that boasting would be absolutely excluded. Election does precisely that." - Mark Webb<br /><br /><strong>3. CALVINISM STUNTS HOLINESS<br /></strong><br />I have heard this mentioned a few times recently and just scratch my head in wonder about it. One great example are the Puritans, who were strong Calvinists and yet were driven by a desire for holiness. But some see this as a contradiction in terms. Where they get this, I do not know.<br /><br />God <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sovereignly</span> elects some people to salvation but this in no way diminishes our responsibility to make sure that we who profess faith in Christ, actually possess the faith that saves. If you and I do have the real thing and not some fraudulent kind of substitute for the genuine faith that saves.. if we really have the real thing.. there will be evidence to show it. The Scripture, and true Calvinism, teaches us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. I find this to be the biblical mandate rather than simply recalling a time when we raised a hand or walked an aisle, which is what most Christians have been taught. The call to holiness is a call all true Christians will heed for without it, no one will see the Lord. (Heb. 12:14)<br /><br /><strong>4. CALVINISM TEACHES THAT MEN ARE MERELY ROBOTS</strong><br /><br />Calvinists believes in man’s will. Man always chooses what he most desires at the moment of choice. You are choosing now to read this sentence when there are literally billions of other sentences out there waiting to be read.<br /><br />Why do you read this sentence right now?<br /><br />The answer is because at this very moment, this is your strongest desire. It is impossible for you to be reading something else – right now anyway. And this will be the case until a stronger desire for something else (like answering the phone or taking a shower, or going for a walk) rises up in your heart. The heart and the will are inseparably connected.<br /><br />What we need is not “free will” but wills made free. This is because by nature our hearts only want independence from Christ. We love darkness rather than light. Jesus said, “No man CAN come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). Calvinists take these words seriously as well as Christ’s words in John 3 which tells that unless a man is first born again (or born from above) he cannot enter or even see the kingdom of God.<br /><br />"If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learnt Jesus Christ aright." - Martin Luther<br /><br />George Whitefield, perhaps the greatest Evangelist in church history once declared, “I hope we shall catch fire from each other, and that there will be a holy emulation amongst us, who shall most debase man and exalt the Lord Jesus. Nothing but the doctrines of the Reformation can do this. All others leave free-will in man and make him, in part at least, a Saviour to himself. My soul, come not thou near the secret of those who teach such things . . . I know Christ is all in all. Man is nothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">worketh</span> in him to do of His good pleasure.” - Works, pp. 89-90<br /><br />"If the final decision for the salvation of fallen sinners were left in the hands of fallen sinners, we would despair all hope that anyone would be saved." – R. C. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sproul</span><br /><br />“I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, "You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself." My hope arises from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">freeness</span> of grace, and not from the freedom of the will. Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven.” - Charles <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Haddon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Spurgeon</span><br /><br /><strong>5. CALVINISM DIMINISHES THE GOD OF LOVE</strong><br /><br />I think for many, this is the big one. They have a concept concerning the love of God that while very popular, is not particularly biblical. They believe (as I once did) that if God is love, he loves all people in just the same way. I believe God does love everyone in some sense, but He has a love for His Son which is greater than His love for demons, and a love for His sheep which is greater than His love for the goats. Husbands are told to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. Christ gave Himself for the church in a way He did not for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Walmart</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">McDonalds</span>. No one would ever say about a husband “wow, look at the way this man loves his wife, and the great thing about his love for her is that he loves everyone else’s wife in just the same way.”<br /><br />This is a truth that needs to be taught with great care because so many have false concepts stemming from being raised on inaccurate teaching about the love of God. We must be patient with such people when pointing them to the biblical texts. Some people think John 3:16 destroys divine election, but of course it does not. Yet a false concept brought to the Scripture text often confirms people in their opposition to what the Bible actually teaches.<br /><br />However we interpret the words, “Jacob I loved but Esau I hated” I think if we believe the Bible, we all have to admit that in some sense, God had a greater love for Jacob than He did for Esau, or else words mean nothing.<br /><br />John 17:23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.<br /><br />God, moved by love for His name and for us, sent His Son into the world to actually save elect sinners, not to merely try to do so. He went all the way in His love for us and did all the work in raising us from spiritual death by a work of supreme, matchless, measureless grace. Because salvation is of the Lord, all the glory for our salvation - absolutely all of it, goes to God alone. Calvinism affirms this.<br /><br />The doctrines of original sin, election, effectual calling, final perseverance, and all those great truths which are called Calvinism—though Calvin was not the author of them, but simply an able writer and preacher upon the subject—are, I believe, the essential doctrines of the Gospel that is in Jesus Christ. Now, I do not ask you whether you believe all this—it is possible you may not; but I believe you will before you enter heaven. I am persuaded, that as God may have washed your hearts, he will wash your brains before you enter heaven. - C. H. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Spurgeon</span><br /><br />Taken from <a href="http://www.reformationtheology.com/2009/04/five_big_myths_about_calvinism.php"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Monergism</span></span></a>Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-37993535477822939452010-08-20T17:25:00.000-05:002010-08-20T17:26:09.531-05:00Don't miss the opportunityThis is the greatest moment in history to be a Christian. Do not miss the opportunity to live your life for something worth dying for.<br /><br />Paul WasherDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.com0