Drinking Deeply

Last year I memorized these verses From Psalm 74:

  Whom have I in heaven but you?
  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
  My flesh and my heart may fail,
  but God is the strength of my heart
  and my portion forever.

Oh how I long for these verses to be as firmly planted and deeply rooted in my heart as they are in my mind.  This is the lens through which I want to view everything,  whether it be my pain or my pleasures, my joys or my struggles, my gains or my losses.  There is nothing that I posses that is not ash in my hands nor any desire that is not ultimately and completely satisfied in Him.

 ²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.
       I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
       I will tell of all your deeds.

A Little Confused

I received an email  from an active Jehovah's Witness who frequently comments on my videos that made me laugh. I think he's having trouble deciding whether he likes me or hates me:

     "Hi Brian,

I hope you are doing well, and at the same time I hope your computer crashes(;}-) "

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Feel Condemned?

The testimony from a former member of the Jehovah's Witnesses and how he felt condemned as an active member of the organization.

  

Just Passing Through

From  J.C. Ryle

“A holy man will follow after spiritual mindedness. He will endeavor to set his affections entirely on the things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. He will not neglect the business of this life now; but the first place in his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to come. He will aim to live like one whose treasure is in heaven, and to pass through this world like a stranger and pilgrim traveling to his home.

A Quote that Bugs Me

Over the last couple of weeks a quote from St. Francis of Assisi has come up time and time again:

"Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words."

Putting aside the fact that there is no real evidence that St. Francis ever actually spoke these words that were attributed to him by others long after his death, and putting aside the fact that he was a constantly preaching, and putting aside the fact that he was not shy when it came to speaking of sin, the need for repentance and faith I ask this question:  Is this advice biblical, or does it merely tickle the narcissistic ear?



Romans 10:14 tell us of our need to speak to the lost::   "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

Are we to believe that the answer to this rhetorical question from Paul would be:   "Well Paul, people are going to observe my goodness,  and when they do they will repent and trust Jesus because they observed my goodness.  Did I mention that people saw my goodness?"

So many of us struggle finding the courage to open our mouths with the lost about their desperate need for a Savior, but are we really helped by this quote?  Are we encouraged to be bold witnesses for Christ by this quote? Or is it possible that the use of this quote could actually undermine a verse like Romans 10:14 by giving the impression that "speaking" about the things of God is of secondary importance. To borrow a line from Ray Comfort we would never say "feed the starving, and when necessary use food.’
Should people see Christ in us? Absolutely!  But that in no way relieves us of our obligation to open our mouths saying,  "if Christ can save a pitiful worm like me, He can save you too."

All I can say is OUCH...

My Daughters Baptism

Praising God today for the blessing of participating in my twelve year old daughter Katie's baptism. I praise God for the countless Christians in our lives, in her school, and in our church who have been so faithful to God and His word in teaching her, praying for her, challenging her and loving her.  May God bless you all.