George Harrison - If Not For You

George sang this Bob Dylan song at a tribute concert for Dylan in 1992 in Madison Square Garden.This is a great song from Dylan's 1970 album "New Morning". Phil Keaggy covered this song on his Acoustic Cafe CD.

Imputation: The Sinners Only Hope

J. I. Packer calls justification by faith the “storm center of the Reformation.”[1] Justification was at the heart of the gospel of God’s grace that the Reformers rediscovered and began to proclaim. Those 16th century Protestants recognized the importance of this teaching and saw what was at stake in having it firmly established in the church’s confession. Luther’s oft-quoted dictum declares justification to be that article by which the church stands or falls. If you are wrong on this doctrine, it does not matter how much you may have right. Luther went on to call it “the master and prince, the lord, the ruler, and the judge over all kinds of doctrines; it preserves and governs all church doctrine and raises up our conscience before God. Without this article the world is utter death and darkness.”[2] His fellow reformer, John Calvin, in his reply to Sadoleto, said, “Wherever the knowledge of it [justification] is taken away, the glory of Christ is extinguished, religion abolished, the Church destroyed, and the hope of salvation utterly overthrown.”[3] Three hundred years later Charles Spurgeon went so far as to say: “Any church which puts in the place of justification by faith in Christ another method of salvation is a harlot church.”[4] If for no other reason than out of respect for those fathers in the faith who have gone before us, we ought to think very clearly about and care very deeply for the Protestant doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
By Thomas K. Ascol, To read the whole article CLICK HERE

The Futility Of Being A Detroit Lions Fan

"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 1:1
These are the words of a Lions fan. The teacher went on to say, "generations come and generations go" how did he know about the Detroit Lions? "What has been will be again, what has been done will be again." Its like this every Sunday, what has been done, bad play, bad coaching, bad ownership, will be again. The next Sunday it happens all over again, "there is nothing new" absolutely true! "It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time". What hope can young fans have? I started attending lions games in the 50's when they were still winning championships but they have only won 1 playoff game in over 50 years. All I can say is thank God for the Red Wings and the Pistons!

Transcendence

I am going over my message for tomorrow morning. I'm teaching from Psalm 63 on man's need for transcendence. The dictionary says transcendence means beyond the limits of possible experience. In theology it means God exists apart from the material universe and is uniquely other than everything in creation. The founding fathers said that we are endowed by our creator with certain "inalienable rights." But how can "inalienable rights" be established? Why have the most brilliant philosophical attempts to do so always failed? The answer is simply, "The sense of the world must lie outside the world". There is a thirst in man's heart for transcendence. Only by believing in a God who is other than everything in creation, and is far above and greater than all creation, who made all creation and rules over it, can you experience transcendence.

"So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life" Psalm 63:2-3.

Five Long Years - Eric Clapton

This is great guitar playing. If you love great guitar solos you will love this. This song was recorded by Clapton on his CD From The Cradle.

The Believers Influence In The World: Light - Part 4

The Three Fold Application of Light

Light’s position — The light is placed on top of a hill or on a lampstand for all to see. The primary duty of the light was to be seen. The world has to know who we are, what we are, and where we are. A city on a hill can’t be hid. If we are really Christians, we cannot stay hidden because there is no such thing as secret discipleship. Your Christianity should be visible to all. It must be seen in the factory, in the office, in school, in the kitchen, at restaurants, in our language, in our behavior, in our relationships.

You don’t light a candle and put it under a bushel, because this renders it useless. Uselessness invites disaster. Let me ask you, "are you deliberately concealing your light?" The light of many Christians is visible only in the church. Jesus didn’t say “you are the light of the church”, He said, “you are the light of the world”. Don’t hide your light under a bushel, the bushel can be fear, compromise, unconcern, or rebellion. The devil will always push you to hide your light under a bushel.

Light’s nature — A light is a guide, it makes the way clear.
Light always dispels darkness, “Then God said, let there be light and there was light and God saw the light that is was good and God divided the light from the darkness” (Gen.1:4-5). But darkness can never, never dispel light. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John1:5). Light exposes, it reveals the way things really are. “This is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (John3:19). Only light can explain the darkness, the darkness can never explain the light. Light is pure and life giving while darkness represents oppression and death.

We have a responsibility to let the light of love, healing and freedom penetrate the darkness. Christians must make the way clear to others by sending out a clear strong beam of light.
Sometimes a light can be used as a warning light that tells of danger ahead. Sometimes it’s our responsibility to warn others of the danger's ahead.

Phil Keaggy - Here Comes The Sun

I recently bought a CD by Phil called "Acoustic Cafe". Phil covers This song by George Harrison, a couple of John Lennon songs, a couple of Bob Dylan songs, God only Knows by Brian Wilson and more. This is a really enjoyable CD that I reccomend.

D.A. Carson On Assurance

For non-reformed theologies..."at the end of the day, the security of the believer finally rests with the believer. For those in the opposite camp [Reformed], the security of the believer finally rests with God -- and that, I suggest, rightly taught, draws the believer back to God himself, to trust in God, to a renewed faith that is of a piece with trusting him in the first place."
D.A. Carson

Spurgeon On Assurance

If our religion be of our own getting or making, it will perish; and the sooner it goes, the better; but if our religion is a matter of God's giving, we know that He shall never take back what He gives, and that, if He has commenced to work in us by His grace, He will never leave it unfinished.
C.H. Spurgeon

The Five-Word Antidote To Grumbling

BY Tony Payne

This story has been passed onto me second- or third- or possibly fifth-hand. Who knows how accurate the details are, or whether the words were spoken exactly in this way? But from my knowledge of the man in question, it is entirely believable. In fact, if it isn't true, it's the kind of story that would almost be necessary to invent.

An eminent and well-known English preacher was approached by a congregation member who complained about some aspect of church life. It may have been that he didn't feel welcomed, or that he was finding it hard to make friends and fit in; it could have been that he was finding the service dissatisfying or the preaching too long; it could have been that the music was not to his taste or that his family was not being catered for to his satisfaction. The details of the complaint have been lost in the telling and re-telling of the story.

The preacher listened to the complaint, paused, and then replied with five words that cut straight to the heart of not only the man's problem, but the problem with all grumbling and complaining in church. He simply said, “It's not about you, stupid!” and walked off.

It was a stunningly rude response—the kind that this preacher seemed uniquely capable of getting away with in his very English way. But doesn't it exactly express what is wrong with grumbling and complaining in church?

It really is the height of idiocy to think that church is about me and my needs and my family and my satisfaction. It completely overturns the teaching of the Bible—that church is about God and Christ and loving other people. In fact, if we wanted to summarize Paul's rebuke to the dysfunctional Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 11-14, a pretty reasonable slogan would be “It's not about you, stupid!”.

So the next time you're feeling grumpy about church, and are complaining that this or that aspect leaves you cold, remind yourself of the five-word answer to grumbling. And if you're really game, when someone starts grumbling to you about how they don't like the music or how they're sick of the preacher's jokes, just give them a slightly incredulous look, shake your head, and say, “It's not about you, stupid!”.

From The Sola Panel

The Believers Influence In The World: Light - Part 3

Light’s Influence: “The World”

The whole world is in darkness and wickedness. “We know we’re God’s children and the whole world is in the power of the evil one” (1John5:19 Beck). It's a dark world in spite of the fact it claims to be “enlightened”. Intellectual darkness pervades our educational systems, the entertainment industry, the wealthy intellectual elite because God is not in their thinking. “Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God. Nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise they became fools” (Rom.1:21-22).

The “light” man thinks he has, is darkness. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, they whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, they whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt.6:22-23). Darkness and decay go together. Because there is political darkness -“we will not have this man rule over us”- the government is in decay. Because of spiritual darkness there are many cults and false religions, even churches are decaying. Because of moral darkness, the quality of human life has decayed.

The world is in darkness and no one but Christians can give any real knowledge or insight, the Apostle Paul said,"Do everything without grumbling and without arguing, and then no one will be able to question your morals or your sincerity, and you will be faultless children of God, although you live in an age in which life is twisted and perverted. Even in an age like that you must shine like stars in the world" Philippians 2:14-16 Barclay's. This bold statement upsets intellectuals and the religious. We cannot retreat from a dark world and go into spiritual isolation. Light’s influence is three fold:
1. It shines in the world and is seen by all.
2. It shines in the city on a hill and is seen by the surrounding area.
3. It shines like a lamp on a lampstand and is seen by the family. Your influence must start at home to be effective in the city and then the world.

Eric Clapton - I'm Tore Down

This song was written by Freddy King a great blues guitar player who inspired many guitar player's to play the blues. Clapton recorded the song for his CD "From The Cradle". For more Freddy King get the CD "Hide Away The Best Of Freddy King" on Rhino Records.

Spugeon On Christ Alone

Remember, sinner, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee–it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee–it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that is the instrument–it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not to thy hope, but to Christ, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Christ, the author and finisher of thy faith; and if thou doest that, ten thousand devils cannot throw thee down…There is one thing which we all of us too much becloud in our preaching, though I believe we do it very unintentionally–namely, the great truth that it is not prayer, it is not faith, it is not our doings, it is not our feelings upon which we must rest, but upon Christ, and on Christ alone. We are apt to think that we are not in a right state, that we do not feel enough, instead of remembering that our business is not with self, but Christ. Let me beseech thee, look only to Christ; never expect delieverance from self, from ministers, or from any means of any kind apart from Christ; keep thine eye simply on Him; let his death, His agonies, His groans, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look for Him; when thou liest down at night look for Him. (The Forgotten Spugeon, Iain Murray, 42.)

The Believers Influence In The World: Light - Part 2

The Fact: “You are”, literally “You only are the light”

God is light. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all”. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth” (1John1:5-6).
Jesus is the light of the world, and the giver of light. “I am the light of the world, He said. To follow me is to walk not in the dark but to be in possession of the light of life” (John8:12 Barclay).

At salvation, darkness becomes light, we were transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and placed into the kingdom of light. A Christian is now a light in a dark world. “For at one time you were darkness itself but now in union with the Lord you are light itself. You must live like children of light” (Ephesians 5:8 Williams). Jesus is like the sun and the moon is a picture of the church. The moon shines but not by its own light, it reflects the light of the sun.

The question you have to answer is, "Are you reflecting Christ like a full moon or a quarter moon?". “God who first ordered the light to shine in the darkness has flooded our hearts with His light. We can now enlighten men only because we can give them knowledge of the glory of God as we have seen it in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor.4:6). God sheds His light on the world through those who have received His light through Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian you are the light of the world. This is not something you become it's something you are! Are you letting your light shine?

Sinner's Prayer - Eric Clapton

Legalism Defined

Legalism: Any attempt to rely on self-effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God "After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Gal.3:3. A Definition of Legalism: 1. Using the Mosaic covenant as though it is the covenant between you and God. 2. Attempting to be justified by one's own works. 3. Attempting to be sanctified by one's own works. 4. Suggesting that our worth or worthlessness, our self-esteem and self-satisfaction or lack thereof, rest on our own works. 5. Any attempt to please God judicially, or any supposition that our sin as believers has resulted in his judicial displeasure. [Any post-salvation attempt to maintain our judicial standing before God through good works, covenant faithfulness, merit etc..] 6. Teaching that we conform ourselves to our judicial standing in Christ (righteous and perfect) by our own works. 7. Attempting to attain godliness by a systematic change of behavior. 8. Obedience that does not spring from a renewed heart (a.) As of an unbeliever who has no renewed heart (b.) As of a believer who has a renewed heart but whose righteous behavior does not spring therefrom. 9. Any supposition that externally righteous acts have any value on their own, even as conduct that prepares the way for either (a.) A renewed heart (preparationism as regards justification), (b.) The softening or further renewing of an already renewed heart (preparationism as regards sanctification. Note Romans 12:2-Transformation occurs through the renewing of the mind), or (c.) Any other work of the Spirit. 10. Suggesting that faith is irrelevant in the accomplishment of some (or all) good works. 11. Trying to be justified by works that are created and inspired by the Holy Spirit. 12. Attempting to gain assurance of salvation solely or primarily on the basis of the sign of outward works. Bill Baldwin

Luther On The Absurdity Of Destroying The Object That Is Abused

"Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object that is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we prohibit and abolish women? The sun, moon, and stars have been worshiped. Shall we pluck them out of the sky?"
Martin Luther

The Believers Influence In The World: Light - Part 1

These teachings on salt and light deal with the believer’s influence in the world in which he lives.
"You are the world's light - it is impossible to hide a town built on the top of a hill. Men do not light a lamp and put it under a bucket. They put it on a lamp-stand and it gives light for everybody in the house". (Matthew 5:14 Phillips)

Salt acts secretly. It’s effect not being noticed immediately while light is something that is seen right away and makes immediate changes. Salt is more of the indirect influence of the Gospel while light is the direct influence. You must live as salt to be effective as light. Life comes before lip. Many who talk the Gospel are not doing it when it comes to their lives. Jesus always emphasized what a man is before what he does. Salt is character but light is conduct. Conduct without character is hypocrisy, and character without conduct is disobedience.

Salt counteracts corruption in the earth, while Light shines truth into a darkened world of ignorance and lies. The purpose of Salt is to stop the rotting of the world, while Light's purpose is to reveal the falseness of the world. Darkness breeds confusion because nothing looks right in the dark. You can see shapes but not sizes and appearances. Everything is distorted. “He who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35).

Ambition

Probably Not the Best Marketing Campaign

Spotted on a post by Phil Johnson.

Cream Reunion - Crossroads - Eric Clapton

This song was written by Robert Johnson. "Legend has it that the crossroads that Johnson spoke of may be found outside of Clarksdale, where both Highway 61 and Highway 49...cross paths. Tourists can have their picture taken under the oversized guitar suspended at the spot. Johnson's own "crossroads" likely had no such place in mind. The song evokes a much more remote location, more back roads than major highway. ...Johnson is at a crossroads to be sure. But he appeals to God, "Asked the Lord above have mercy: save poor Bob if you please", his plea to God is met with deadly silence. This leave Johnson by the end of the song, lamenting, "I believe I'm sinking down".
From the book "Getting The Blues" by Stephen J. Nichols

The Believers Influence In The World - Salt - Part 5

The Jews had a maxim, “The world cannot survive without salt”. Salt preserved food from rotting. Jesus call to be “salt” is a challenge for His disciples to be a preserving influence in a decaying world. Wherever we are and whatever we do Jesus is calling us to have a preserving influence. Our presence regardless of our many failures is to have a healing, preserving influence on our society and the world. We are to bring flavor to life, we are to make the world thirsty for Him. We are to have a salty conversation — “Walk in wisdom toward (our conduct) those who are outside, redeeming the time (buying up every opportunity). Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” — “Always talk pleasantly, season your talk with salt so you will know how you should answer everyone” (Col.4:5-6 Beck).

Jesus always spoke with grace on His lips. “And all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22). In the same way our speech is to “impart grace to the hearers” (Eph.4:29). Don’t dump the contents of the whole salt shaker. Our walk and our talk must be in harmony with each other, you are the salt of the world.

Jimmy Smith - Eight Counts For Rita

Election - Anthony Hoekema

Union with Christ begins with God's pretemporal decision to save his people in and through Jesus Christ. This union, further, is based on the redemptive work for his people which Christ did in history. Finally, this union is actually established with God's people after they have been born, continues throughout their lives, and has as its goal their eternal glorification in the life to come. We go on, then, to see union with Christ as having its roots in divine election, its basis in the redemptive work of Christ, and its actual establishment with God's people in time.
- Anthony Hoekema

The Believers Influence In The World - Salt - Part 4

Living as Salt

“For everyone will be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.” (Mark 9:49-50)

According to Jewish law, every sacrifice must be salted with salt before it was offered to God on the altar (Lev.2:13). It was the addition of the salt that made the sacrifice acceptable to God. The sacrificial salt was called the salt of the covenant (Numbers 18:19).
This means that before a Christian life becomes acceptable to God, it must be treated with fire just as every sacrifice is treated with salt. Every follower of Christ is to be a willing sacrifice.
This is for two reasons:
First fire purifies— The life acceptable to God is one that has been cleansed and purified by obedience and discipline. Second fire destroys— The life acceptable to God has gone through tests, trials, persecution of life and come through to victory. “Dear friends, don’t be surprised that you’re being tested by a fiery trial as though something strange were happening to you” (1Pet.4:12 Beck).
The life that is purified by obedience and discipline and has faced the danger of persecution, and because of its loyalty is the sacrifice acceptable to God. Bonhoeffer put it this way:
“Suffering then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his master. This is why Luther reckoned suffering among the marks of the true church. Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering of Christ and it is not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer. In fact it is a joy and a token of His grace” (The Cost of Discipleship, pp.100-101).
Everyone must be salted somehow, either with the fire of hell or the fire of the Holy Spirit.

“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? (V.50).

The world needs the flavor and purity of the Christians life. If Christians lose the thrill of God’s life, and don’t desire purity where else will the world get its flavor? If we take for granted this miracle of God’s grace it will lead to spiritual decay.
Beware of salt-less salt — the profession that is not real. “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another”. It’s useless to try and exert influence for good with others, unless by the grace of God you have been transformed into a true disciple of Christ. Keep the seasoning, preserving, purifying fire stirring in you. Be purified from self and you will have peace with others. Only a life cleansed of self and filled with Jesus can live in real fellowship and peace with others.