Archive for November 2008

A pigs ear

That about sums up how I feel with regards to my effort @ Christian discipleship.

So I am going to take some time out and take stock and hopefully be back in the new year, God willing.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Gospel of Luke 8:11-18  ESV

A transaction took place

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 6:18-20 ESV

You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 7:23-24 ESV

Notice the tone of familiarity of speech.  Can you relate?

I can.  I know I was bought at a price.

And it’s all to do with Grace.  The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

The very Reverened Mr John Wesley.

How on earth can people be so against a man who preached Christ and Him crucified and propounded nothing but God’s love to sinners and warned against sin.

Yet many protestants do.

Why?

How can anyone say what is Truth in the light of Romans 11:33

Can anyone fully understand?  No.

And the fact that a dog goes back to it’s own vomit and a sow that has been washed goes back to it’s wallowing in the mud.

Can a born again person end up not saved?  I don’t know.

I don’t even believe the discussion of such should be a part of the Christian gospel.

I say, fear God who has authority to cast into gehenna.

So I have to side with Mr Wesley.

It’s a difficult topic, that’s for sure. And I still consider myself a 5 pointer.  ( still working on it actually, interesting though )

Remove the fear of God and you have nothing but sin.

For the sake of the elect

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Paul’s second letter to Timothy  2:4-10 ESV

Oh Paul and Peter  where are you?  We need you today.

Free registry cleaner

C Cleaner is a free Windows tool to remove the junk that clutters your system from web browsing, installing and removing programs etc.

C Cleaner

It’s very good, it’s quite amazing how much rubbish it removes every time you run it.

Carrot Award – awaiting moderation

This one goes to the owner of a Calvinist blog that obviously thought my comments were unsuitable for his post.

I came across this post on a puritan message board and thought I would take a look.

Click on the images for a bigger view.

So naturally I moseyed on over to see the article and debate and with all the pro Calvinist replies I thought I would say something and offer my testimony.

As you can see my reply was awaiting moderation, I wisely thought I would take a screenshot.

Well the number 12 slot has been and gone and there have been other replies after mine and all very pro Calvinism.  But I waited patiently to see if it might appear after a while, nope, and still more replies are being posted.

I guess  the blogger just did not like my post, and not even a courtesy email to say why?

( apparently it was off topic )

I don’t see anything Scriptually unsound with what I said.  I guess it was just not what he wanted to hear and flew in the face of what he was trying to effect.

This is the very thing that winds me up me with reformed calvinistic types, they are so blinkered and closed minded; it’s calvinism, calvinism, calvinism, all the way.  Mention the word whosoever and you get pages upon pages of stuff thrown at you.  It’s as if they don’t want anyone to hear the Gospel, they just want people to hear about Calvinism.

It is frightening to start to see subject titles like Christianity verses Calvinism don’t you think!

Anyway, Mr blogger, enjoy your carrot.

Forgetting the Love and Grace given

Forgetfulness of God’s Grace can happen to anyone of us, it happens today and it has happened in the past.

It offends obviously.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Second letter of Peter  1:3-11 ESV

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation of John 2:5 ESV

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Revelation of John 3:3  ESV

You do not hear much preaching on parts of Scripture like that do you!

I remember You Lord Jesus.  May I never forget Your Love and Grace to me.

It’s you alone Lord Jesus who can cause the coldest heart to find Your Love and everlasting peace.

Paul Wilbur tune.

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