Free Will

This video sums up the frustration that is the free will/ hell argument using paying taxes as an example. It reminds me quite a bit of the whole "Way of the Master" approach to evangelism that I actually thought was pretty effective at one time.

Of course there are others who don't believe in free will. That creates a whole other set of problems, mostly with the character of God. The Calvinistic approach paints God in a very shadowy way, a way in which one can never fully trust him. 

The Infamous Slippery Slope

Today I found a message floating

In the sea from you to me

You wrote that when you could see it

You cried with fear, the point was near

Was it you that said

"How long to the point of know return?"

Point of Know Return-Kansas

Before leaving the church we last attended I was having lunch with a friend of mine who I enjoys theological discussions as much as I do. When the topic of Mormonism was introduced I asked,

"What of Joseph Smith? I saw a documentary about it one time and apparently his mom was one denomination and his dad another, he was desperately trying to find the truth, the One True Religion. An angel told him that neither of his parent's faiths nor anyone else's for that matter were right and that he would be shown the correct one. I always felt so sad for him. He was seeking with all his heart and God allowed him to be deceived? Doesn't Jesus tell us to seek and we'll find?"

"Oh, I think he was just wackadoo." she said dismissively.

source

Wackadoo!?

At that something inside me switched and I began to wonder. Who knows who the wackadoo ones are? Sure Mormonism is pretty strange to those of us who have nothing to lose by picking it apart, but what about our respective flavors of Christendom? When I was a Catholic I had to (though never really did) believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin and was somehow born without the stain of original sin. As a dispensationalist, I accepted a system that said God put a huge gap in prophecy in order to make the prophecies that were never fulfilled look as thought they still may happen. As a Calvinist I had to try to come to terms with the fact that God chose not to save some people (and by default send them to hell forever) just because (the "U" in TULIP).  As a Universalist I did other types of scripture selecting to get around some uncomfortable parts that seemed to say that some people are lost. Finally, when warming up to preterism I found a whole new world of theories, one in which there was no physical second coming of Jesus expected at all...it's all spiritual now.



I sat there in her living room thinking...I can't do this anymore, it's making me crazy.




I honestly wished I could be one that could go to a nice women's Bible study, learn some selective (Titus 2 or Proverbs 31 perhaps) scripture on how to be a better wife and mother and then go home and sing  "Jesus Loves Me" and feel good and not think about the details.




But I just couldn't.




I had to be intellectually honest. I had to find a way to deal with all my doubts about the Bible and the faith if I was going to keep trying to hang on. Trying to fit everything into varying and hodge-podged systematic theologies just wasn't working anymore. I had to make the whole entire Bible make sense to me if I was going to keep believing any of it.  I considered the possibility for the first time, that maybe, just maybe, the Bible wasn't without error.






I didn't know where to go from there.



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I'm a Calvinist

In my lonely feeling

From my darkest dreams,

I go on through days

as I wonder,

Always changing

Forever dreaming

Am I the master of my soul?

In My Lonely Feeling- Journey

I wrote at near the beginning of this series how after leaving the Catholic church and staying out of any church for a time, we went and found one that suited our new right dividing ways. Before starting to attend, I had become interested and perhaps obsessed in all aspects of theology. My husband was more interested in the hows of salvation than I was, but he got me thinking. Being much more social online than ever before and loved the debating and information that I found on a couple of Christian forums.


I needed a way to get around the unsettling passages of the scriptures that seemed to indicate that not only could one lose their salvation, they could do things that would make it impossible to get back into God's good graces:

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age  and who have fallen[a] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Hebrews 6:4-6

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. I John 3:9

If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. John 20:23 (This is a Catholic church proof that we need the official absolution from a priest to be forgiven major sins)

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 1 John 5:16

If I were to love and really love God out of love and not fear of going to hell, I needed to know that I was secure in His love. During my regular Bible reading, whenever these verses would show up, it would make me almost physically ill. My mind would race and scramble to come up with the way these things didn't say what it looked like they were saying. So it was off to check out some opinions online about it. One thing led to another and to another and before too long, Sovereign Grace theology stood out as the most reasonable way in my mind to deal with it. I'll never forget when I read and really read the passages in Romans 9. God loves whom he wants, preserves whom he wishes, and chose certain from before he created the earth. Yes! I couldn't be cast out. I definitely went through a major cage stage.

It all made so much sense now, it was all over the Bible. Of course one could easily make the case for free will. I either had to go one way and explain all the opposing verses away or embrace the "it's both" idea. I have no tolerance at all for non answers and paradoxes (which I do well understand was much my undoing in all this). For those of us who were of those chosen is was a beautiful and romantic thing, in a way. The dark side of Calvinism loomed not far from the forefront of my mind though. Those not chosen were born into this world, live sometimes dreadful lives, die, perhaps become believers for a time and then are let go of because they were never His to begin with. I decided to me that was more preferable than giving me the autonomous free will to screw it all up so I found varying ways of making it more comfortable.



One of these ways was to read and listen to Calvinistic sermons, talks, and blogs and podcasts. Confirmation bias kept me sane. One of my very very favorites was James White's The Dividing Line podcast. I loved the way he explained God's Sovereignty. Without His grace no one would ever be saved. God is holy, majestic, and you don't mess with Him or ask questions. Check it:

 Start at the 8 minute mark or so to get the point.....



WOW! That used to give me chills. What a wonderful God to have saved me. I followed many a Calvinistic blog and discussion. What I did find was that most of the conversations were focused on what depraved worms we were and  how gracious it was of God to step in and save us from burning in hell forever, which is what we all deserved. I knew I had done plenty of unmistakably sinful things, but I always wondered about unsaved people who hadn't. Was God really going to torment them forever because He didn't choose them?  I had to push it to the back burner, though and try to rejoice that he had chosen me. I knew it.  My husband I don't think ever bought into it totally, but he did believe in total depravity.




I tried to feel out at our church what the deal was on free will/ sovereign grace, but didn't want to rock the boat. I think after speaking with certain ones that there were those of Calvinist persuasion there, but it wasn't official. That was fine, though, I had my brothers and sisters online to chat with about the finer details of all of it. There it was, God was on the throne and there was nothing anyone could do about it. As much comfort as this sometimes gave me, the dark side of it started to overshadow my joy and the cognitive dissonance began to become more and more uncomfortable.


Here are a couple of  posts from back in those days:

Romans Study XVIII - Sovereignty 101

The Sovereignty of God




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Israelology and Plank of Woodism With Pastor Jim

Jim McClarty has just started a new Wednesday night series in which he is going through Romans to see what the book actually says about the church and Israel. I am really enjoying it so far and highly recommend it to anyone with questions about this issue.

This week was part two Heir of the World.
He challenges a very famous pastor's exegesis (if you want to know who is is, you'll have to listen :) ) of Romans any explains why we as members of the Body of Christ are not spiritual Jews. 

If I were near the Smyrna, Tennessee area I would be there Wednesday nights with bells on, but since it's really not within reasonable driving distance, I will have to settle for the audio teachings online of which I am extremely grateful.

Follow along out there if you're interested in this sort of thing. I will probably come back to this and highlight particularly interesting parts in the coming weeks and months.

Here Jim briefly explains his own hermeneutic system so you know where he's coming from:

Is the Church Spiritual Israel?

 Since I'm right in the midst of this now, I thought I'd go ahead and post what Jim McClarty had to say in a recent audio Q&A. I appreciated the exegesis on the go-to passages for a replacement model. It's well worth the listen:

Calling the Church Spiritual Israel

On the Calvinism/Arminianism Issue

Chris White has a wonderful ministry focusing on New Age deception and debunking the bible debunkers. I saw this video on his site today. I enjoy the way he makes the main thing the main thing.

Even though I am comfortable and sufficiently convinced of my own position, Chris has a good point. Infighting between the body will divide, but I do believe once things start to get really ugly, these side issues will quickly fade.

I will note, though, that the issue Chris focuses on is predestination vs. free will. He doesn't at all hit the five points in detail or anything. I heard a really good couple of sermons and teachings lately on the dreaded ***fourth point. I may highlight them here soon.


***Update: I don't mean the fourth point, but the third. I confused point 4 with 4-pointers. Elizabeth pointed this out in the comments section..Thanks Elizabeth:)

Sermon Sunday- Saying What Is Right About God

Job and his friends

I always enjoy Jim McClarty's messages. He has just been back in the pulpit after some medical issues, and he was really missed.

This sermon is an introduction to a study on 1Timothy, but I don't think he ever got there. What I love about Pastor Jim is that he can get up and say what is on his mind and whether edifying or convicting, you always come away with something.

An issue that has been on his mind lately has been the frustration he has with  hermeneutic systems and eschataological and Church/Israel issues in the reformed community. He certainly gives us some thought-provoking points in this sermon.

Saying What Is Right About God

Have a blessed Sunday!

The Millennium, The Gospel, The Kingdom, Where are We?

My good friend Shamar has posted this great resource in the comments section several weeks ago:

http://examiningamillenialism.blogspot.com/

Reformed Voices is an excellent site and I have used it quite a bit since coming over to Reformed theology. It is so refreshing to see reformed thinkers being more literal with eschatological passages.


I was never amillennial, meaning that the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth spoken of in Revelation 20 is to be interpreted figuratively. I was always excited about a literal earthly kingdom, bring it on! When I was first saved I dove head first into eschatology, it just fascinated me. It has only been in the last couple of years, though, that the doctrines of God's holiness and absolute sovereign grace have been shown to me as well. I love it when these two worlds can collide.

I would urge anyone with questions or an interest in this to check out the Reformed Voices link above. In the meantime, here is a short clip that they have put together introducing one of the aspects of amillennialism:  the scripture in Revelation 20 that says that Satan will be locked in the abyss for one thousand years during the Messianic Kingdom. Pastor Jim McClarty argues for a more face-value reading of this passage.

MARANATHA!

Romans Study XVIII - Sovereignty 101

Romans 9

Calvinistic Cartoons

Here is the super duper sovereignty chapter. I remember the first time I read, and I mean really read through these passages.

 ¹I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

 ²That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

 ³For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

 ⁴Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

 ⁵Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 

 Paul here, as unbelievable as it sounds wishes himself to be cursed if only the nation of Israel could be brought to faith.

  ⁶Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

He does add that, though not all of the nation were believing, the fact that someone was an Israelite was not an automatic ticket into the promised land, so to speak.

 ⁷Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

In addition, not all of Abraham's seed will be saved, since God narrowed the seed (Christ) down through Isaac and not through Ismael. 

 ⁸That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

This is scripture truth, but not terribly popular. The child of promise, Isaac, is considered to be Abraham's son, and not Ishmael. When God tells Abraham to bring his ONLY son (and we know that he had two) we see that God had considered Ishmael not to be a son.

 ⁹For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

 ¹⁰And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

 ¹¹(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

 ¹²It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

 God also narrows down the seed further when choosing between twins in the womb of Rebecca. These children did not grow up and one chose to follow God and one not, and THEN God chose Jacob. Although Esau did despise his birthright. Was this something that God foreknew, or something that he decreed?

That pottage looks delish!

 ¹³As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

It is often pointed out that Paul quotes the above passage from Malachi 1:2-3, so God hated Esau for what he did and loved Jacob for what he did.  While that may very well be true, the way that Paul is using it here and verses following indicates a predestination. He presupposed the reader's question:

 ¹⁴What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

 ¹⁵For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

 ¹⁶So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

It is not of him that wants, or to him that works, but of God that shows mercy on whomever He wishes.

 ¹⁷For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

He raised up Pharaoh for the purpose of displaying His power in the earth.  Was Pharaoh just a pawn in God's hand? Did he have no choice in the matter? No, God gave Pharaoh his power and then let him hang himself in his pride and arrogance. It does say in places that Pharaoh hardened his heart and also that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Proverbs 21 says:

 ¹The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

 ¹⁸Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Paul again brings up the objection that you are thinking...

 ¹⁹Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

How can God blame anyone for the things they do, when in reality, everyone does His will? Isaiah 45 states:

⁷I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

 ²⁰Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Paul's answer is this. God is God and we are not. We are the clay, He is the Potter. 

 ²¹Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

 ²²What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

 ²³And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

 ²⁴Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

If you are a vessel unto honor, remember that you could have been otherwise, and give Him praise!

Judas and Peter and David

There was an interesting post and comments on Pyromaniacs yesterday. Dan Phillips writes about a man who is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of two teenage girls and attack of a jogger.


From the post:

But note what Gardner says: he is an animal, he is the sort who should remain in prison for life, if released he would kill again, and he hopes he is himself killed during his term. That or he may kill himself.  (read more here)

This man apparently knows his depravity and that he needs to be locked up. It would sound like he is remorseful, but I don't know if it is the repentant kind. I didn't look much into the story, so I really can't say. I have always felt a particular sympathy for these people who commit these horrible things. I know, that sounds weird, but whatever punishment they are getting in this brief vapor of an existence, it is nothing compared to what awaits. Of course no matter how heinous the crime, there is forgiveness for the asking. But I have always wondered, wasn't Judas repentant?

Matthew  27:3-5         Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that].And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

I guess one could argue that Judas didn't ask God directly for forgiveness, but I don't know that it really mattered. God looks on the heart and if one is truly sorry with Godly sorrow, I believe that there is no formula that one must go through in order to be forgiven. But Judas was a murderer and a betrayer, some will say, his sins are too big and too bad. What about David, who by treachery had the husband of Bathsheba killed so that his sin in committing adultery with her wouldn't be found out by him? This wasn't a "crime of passion", it was a calculated, premeditated act.

2Sa 12:13     And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

What wonderful words! The LORD has put away his sin. But why? Why David and not Judas? David was called a man after God's own heart. We will probably never understand what that means in this life because we can't see David's heart like God could.  God even says in other places that David had kept all of His commands.

1Ki 11:34           Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

Well he certainly did not by our reckoning.  But, this must be what is meant by our sins being as far as east is from the west. I have always found great comfort in the David story, because it shows that God can forgive anyone of anything.


So back to Judas. There must be much more behind the scenes that we aren't aware of. Some would say that Judas could have been forgiven if he had asked. Could he?

Mar 14:21     The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Jhn 17:12     While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

This is a foreknowledge/decree issue for sure. Did God know Judas would betray him or was it ordained?




Then what about Peter? We know that Peter denied Jesus three times and ran away when His Lord was in his time of suffering. I know I wouldn't have done any better. Did Peter repent? Jesus restored him, after his resurrection.  As a matter of fact, at the tomb an angel told the women:

Mar 16:7           But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

The messenger makes a distinction between the disciples and Peter..at the time.

I don't know what to make of all of it, except that it would seem that God chooses and calls, God decides who will be granted repentance and who will not.

Jesus was the one to restore Peter three times, just the way Peter denied Jesus three times. I find that to be very comforting. He cannot deny His own no matter what it is that we do.

But that's not fair many will say. Well, I personally don't want God to be fair to me.  I am glad He has chosen me to be His, that He stopped me in my tracks and interrupted my life, that I am now His and not my own. I was marching happily into Hell just like everyone else, but He saved me.

I really don't know what to make of it all. It is certainly too wonderful for me to know. Let us pray for those, though, that are still in this side of eternity that they may be granted repentance into life.

Election Day

1Thessalonians 1:1-4~ Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and [in] the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

1) the act of picking out, choosing

a) of the act of God's free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons

b) the decree made from choice by which he determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone

2) a thing or person chosen

a) of persons: God's elect

blueletterbible.com

And when was this election?

Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

This is the only election I am concerned about...but seriously, I am planning on voting today. I have mixed feelings about it, but like I mentioned before, the Mr. wants us to participate, so I will. This is one of those areas in which God is in complete control (Proverbs 21:1) but He uses all things by His means and for His purposes.

So whether you're a righty, a lefty, an independent, or are sitting this one out, God is on his throne!

Sermon Sunday - I Was Blind, But Now I See

After The Storm

Another great sermon from Joe Galuszek of Sovereign Grace Chapel.

http://www.sgchapel.com/ChapelMP3AudioFiles/IWasBlindNowISee-08152010.mp3


What comes first in salvation? Do we show faith and then are unblinded, or are we given our sight and then we can have faith?

The story of the man born blind is a great example of how we cannot do anything until He opens our eyes.

The Parable of the Farmer and Romans One

In this video James White plays a clip from a lecture by Norman Geisler where he gives a "parable" of the nature of man and sin and the errors of God's sovereign grace in salvation (aka "extreme Calvinism"). Afterward, Dr. White revises the parable using more biblical terminology about man's depravity.  Jump to 7:30 to get right to the start of the argument.

Happy Labor Day!

Let us rest from our works and enter into His grace.

Unbelievable Radio Program - Hell Debate

I recently listened to this discussion about the nature of Hell on the Unbelievable Radio Program.

James White is upholding the eternal punishment view while talking with Roger and Faith Forester of Ichthus Christian Fellowship who take a conditional immortality/annihilation view.

Although I still think scripture points more to the view that I currently hold, Roger and Faith really make the other view sound quite reasonable and attractive. Maybe when it is all said and done, there will not be eternal punishment...I could go for that.

A very interesting discussion no matter which side one is on.

You can download the show here:
http://media.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/d150564b-b91d-4c94-9a96-e932b3515af3.mp3

You Might Be A Dispensationalist If...

Just to show that I can poke fun at my own theologies, I saw this over at Dan Phillips Biblical Christianity blog and put a humorous two minute clip from the introduction to the message below:

Yes, this book is in our house ;)

All kidding aside, Michael Vlach does a good job in giving an overview of what dispensationalism is and is not. If anyone is curious about knowing what this strange and oft ridiculed system is all about, I would suggest listening to the entire message:

http://www.shepherdsfellowship.org/media/details/?mediaID=5200

Also from the Biblical Christianity blog there is this humorous and apologetic post:

Twenty-five stupid reasons for dissing dispensationalism

I love this one:

14. I think Hal Lindsey is stupid, and I like to make fun of him. Really? I think Harold Camping is stupid and, well, he is pretty easy to parody. Is this helpful?

 Being that I embrace the five points (mostly, still working on that 4th one) and also embrace much of dispensational thinking, I find his site to be good encouragement to know there are a few of us out there...Semper Reformanda!

Sermon Sunday - God's Sovereignty vs. Man's Accountability

This is actually part of James White's church history series, but it wanders into sermonizing territory shortly into the lesson.  He starts out by talking briefly about the counter-reformation and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).  He then gets sidetracked, it seems, when talking about the fundamental difference between the doctrines of grace and the counter-reformation's desire to de-emphasize the absolute Sovereignty of God.

How can a God who is absolutely sovereign hold us accountable for our actions? That is a very good question which is beautifully explained here.

The Sovereignty of God

Isaiah 45:5-7, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; 6That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, 7The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these."

About a year ago I was introduced by a friend (cleverly I might add in the guise of eschatology, God knows what he is doing) to the issues of God's sovereign grace. I generally accepted it with an open mind because it was so much like what I had experienced in my own salvation.

In talking to the Mr. about it, he was clearly rattled and I believe even got a little angry with me a couple of times, so I just let it go. After all, I know that God IS sovereign and that if He wanted my hubby to get there, he would. I offered him some mp3s that said friend above had referred me to. He came home a couple of times after listening to them a bit contentious about the issue and I am afraid for awhile he thought I was getting pulled into some kind of cult.

I just kept pretty much silent about it. He eventually came around to seeing what I was seeing that in light of what Scripture says, there really isn't any other way to see it. So now what? Well, in the coming weeks, Lord willing, I plan to post some things I learned along the way, some teaching and some particular scriptures that cannot be wiggled out of.

Knowing that God is absolutely sovereign in all things, even salvation, has been very liberating. I can see more thoroughly how awesome His power, how great His mercy, how terrible His wrath, and how absolutely in control He is of every single thing in His universe.

So is God sovereign in salvation or do we choose? Is it both?

I know for many this is going to create many more questions than it answers. And I won't claim for a second that I have it all figured out. There are scriptures to which one can point to argue for the free will of man.  These are for the most part taken out of context, but more on that later.

Here is a short clip from a debate that James White did. Don't let the "C" term turn you off...I'm not set on any ists or isms but I think he has some good points here:

Facets of Grace

While looking around at the net a bit this morning, I ran into this site.

Facets of Grace

It has some great quotes set to artwork. There's some really cool stuff here. I have posted a couple of his pictures at the bottom of the ol' blog here.


My husband and I were just talking about this last night:


http://eddieeddings.blogspot.com/2008/12/profound-verse-of-scripture.html

Sermon Sunday

In what I hope to be a regular feature, I will be posting some great sermons that I have recently listened to here. I absolutely love my cheap little mp3 player and it is so nice to be able to feed on the Word, either by the Scriptures on mp3 or listening to great teaching and sermons whilst doing my housework.

This week I would like to share this sermon by Joe Galuszek of Sovereign Grace Chapel called Fear of The Lord.

Toward the last half of the sermon, he gets into when the Lord called him, and it was very similar to my own experience. He talks about how God had him backed up against a wall with no way out. Been there! If He calls you, you'll come to Him.