The Twin Towers of Faith!: April 2006

Saturday, April 29, 2006

For musicians who love Sovereign Grace stuff...

Here ya go, the moment you've all been waiting for (At least I have for about 6 months). Sovereign Grace Ministries has published, in book form, the songs from their various CDs...heres the link in case your interested:

http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=B3605-00-11

Here is a teaser:

Twenty-one years of songwriting. 258 songs. Nearly every song Sovereign Grace has published from 1984 to the Worship God Live CD (released in 2005), including favorites such as Mark Altrogge’s “I Stand in Awe” and “I’m Forever Grateful,” and Vikki Cook’s “Before the Throne of God Above.” All in this two-volume Worship Songbook.

This songbook set contains more than 100 songs not included in our earlier songbook. Each song is presented in a 2-staff piano arrangement (suitable for moderately accomplished keyboard players) that incorporates lyrics and chord symbols. “Slash” chord symbols are used where appropriate, facilitating use by guitarists and bass players. In addition, each song is keyed to at least one Scripture reference, and some to as many as half a dozen. Comprehensive dual indexes at the back of each book aid in locating songs by title, first line, or Scripture reference.

12:40 p.m. | Permalink |

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Effective, biblical evangelism training in T.O.!!

Be sure to check out this site :-)

Are you looking for a one day evangelistic mission trip for your church group, your youth group or just you and/or your family?
Are you looking for some hands-on, effective, biblical evangelism training?

Do you have a burden to see souls soundly saved in Christ?

Look no further !!!

http://log.on.ca/users/lockwood/share.html

Here is the mainpage for his site....How to Get A Burden For The Lost??

http://log.on.ca/users/lockwood/index.html

And for those who are not in Toronto, check out this site:

http://www.thegreatnews.com/contactleaders.html

AND

www.livingwaters.com

Go Serve your King!!!

11:58 a.m. | Permalink |

Friday, April 21, 2006

The most dangerous parish in the world...

The Times-UK

April 15, 2006

Faith makes for safety in Baghdad, the most dangerous parish in the world

Credo by Andrew White

MANY have said that my parish of Baghdad is the most dangerous in the world. I get there by military aircraft and helicopter. Since last Easter all of my lay leaders have been killed, a suicide bomber turned up in church, people have been killed at our church entrance, we have endured car bombs and been attacked and our church has been surrounded by concrete barricades. I will not even be allowed to take the services there this Easter, I will officiate instead in the Shia Muslim Prime Minister’s lecture theatre. Here is inter-religious relations at the cutting edge.

Yet there will be much rejoicing this Easter among Christians in Baghdad. They have not only one of the fastest-growing churches in the Anglican Communion but also a growing faith. Their resurrected Jesus is growing brighter as their surroundings become darker. For them, faith is all they have left, as everything else has disappeared.

I no longer consider this the most dangerous parish in the world. That portfolio probably belongs somewhere in British suburbia. Everything may be safe; there may be no risk of terrorist bombs or attacks on your church leaders. Yet, this Easter faith may also be bland and safe.

The first Easter did not take place in such environs. Jesus was taken, persecuted and slaughtered by the authorities. Yet the Easter story is one of triumph over death and destruction. On Easter Day we celebrate the destruction of death, as Jesus breaks its chains and shows us new life and new hope. This Easter in Baghdad we will celebrate the hope of this season that one day things will change because of their Easter experience.

The Anglican Church has faced many questions. Will the church divide or split? Is there really hope that the Church will grow? What will happen about the issue of homosexuality? In Baghdad these questions are irrelevant. My congregation will, too, have questions: Will their children return from school? Will there be food on the table tonight? Who will be the next to be killed or kidnapped? For the people in Baghdad there will be no questions about God, or faith or even the Church. The one thing that never changes will be their faith in the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth.

Here at 6am my other congregation will meet on the lawn of Saddam’s former palace in the international zone — or Green Zone — in Baghdad. They will put down their guns and body armour and worship a living God. They are not Iraqis but mainly American and British diplomats and soldiers. They also have questions, but the questions of the past now seem irrelevant, too. Their question is simple: will they survive today? In this environment Easter becomes real. It is not about rabbits, chicks and chocolate eggs; it is about a faith in a living God. For those of us in Baghdad, Easter is a time of rejoicing in the words of a Creed that many say every Sunday.

For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the scriptures, He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right of the Father.

Those of us in Iraq — whether Iraqi or Coalition members — are reliant on the grace of God and his resurrection power. Some may criticise us for bringing religion into a desperate situation but here on the ground there is no other choice or scenario. Our hope has become theological more than political. When we say the words of the Creed each Sunday and when at the Eucharist we say our acclamation of faith that Christ has died, Christ is risen and Christ will come again, we mean it. Here in Baghdad this Easter our faith will be our hope, our certainty and our future.

In the midst of darkness Jesus is our light and when we have lost everything we realise that the resurrected Jesus is, indeed, everything.

The Rev Canon Andrew White is an Anglican priest in Iraq and the chief executive of the Foundation for Reconciliation in the Middle East.

Let us continue to pray for such brothers who are persecuted and may God give us much courage to preach the good news!!

Go Serve your King!!

7:37 a.m. | Permalink |

Friday, April 14, 2006

Let me dwell on Golgotha....

Let me dwell on Golgotha,
Weep and love my life away!
While I see Him on the tree
Weep and bleed, and die for me!

That dear blood, for sinners spilt,
Shows my sin in all its guilt:
Ah, my soul, He bore thy load,
Thou hast slain the Lamb of God.

Hark! His dying words; “Forgive,
Father, let the sinner live;
Sinner, wipe thy tears away,
I thy ransom freely pay.”

While I hear this grace revealed,
And obtain a pardon sealed;
All my lost affections move,
Wakened by the force of love.

Farewell world, thy gold is dross,
Now I see the bleeding cross;
Jesus died to set me free
From the law, and sin, and thee!

He has dearly bought my soul
Lord, accept, and claim the whole!
To Thy will I all resign,
Now, no more my own, but Thine.
-John Newton

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Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - March 23
Morning Devotional

"His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." - Luke 22:44

The mental pressure arising from our Lord's struggle with temptation, so forced his frame to an unnatural excitement, that his pores sent forth great drops of blood which fell down to the ground. This proves how tremendous must have been the weight of sin when it was able to crush the Saviour so that he distilled great drops of blood! This demonstrates the mighty power of his love. It is a very pretty observation of old Isaac Ambrose that the gum which exudes from the tree without cutting is always the best. This precious camphire-tree yielded most sweet spices when it was wounded under the knotty whips, and when it was pierced by the nails on the cross; but see, it giveth forth its best spice when there is no whip, no nail, no wound. This sets forth the voluntariness of Christ's sufferings, since without a lance the blood flowed freely. No need to put on the leech, or apply the knife; it flows spontaneously. No need for the rulers to cry, "Spring up, O well;" of itself it flows in crimson torrents. If men suffer great pain of mind apparently the blood rushes to the heart. The cheeks are pale; a fainting fit comes on; the blood has gone inward as if to nourish the inner man while passing through its trial. But see our Saviour in his agony; he is so utterly oblivious of self, that instead of his agony driving his blood to the heart to nourish himself, it drives it outward to bedew the earth. The agony of Christ, inasmuch as it pours him out upon the ground, pictures the fulness of the offering which he made for men.

Do we not perceive how intense must have been the wrestling through which he passed, and will we not hear its voice to us? "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Behold the great Apostle and High Priest of our profession, and sweat even to blood rather than yield to the great tempter of your souls.

3:26 p.m. | Permalink |

Sunday, April 09, 2006

The O'Reilly Factor - Wednesday, April 12

Kirk will be on The O'Reilly Factor on Wednesday April 12th. Please be in prayer for him. You can watch The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News at 8pm, 11pm, and 4am Eastern, 5pm, 8pm and 1am Pacific.

4:44 a.m. | Permalink |

Friday, April 07, 2006

Unsearchable riches in Christ!!!

"A great divine said on his deathbed, "we are all of us only half awake". The best Christian among us knows but little of his glorious Saviour, even after he has learned to believe. We see throught a glass darkly. We do not realize the "unsearchable riches" there are in Him. When we awake after His likeness in another world, we shall be amazed that we knew Him so imperfectly, and loved Him so little. Let us seek to know Him better now, and live in closer communion with Him. So living, we shall feel no need of human priests and earthly confessionals. We shall feel "I have all and abound: I want nothing more, Christ dying for me on the cross, Christ ever interceding for me at God's right hand, Christ dwelling in my heart by faith, Christ soon coming again to gather me and all His people together to part no more, Christ is enough for me, Having Christ, I have 'unsearchable riches".
-J.C. Ryle, Holiness,pg 348, 1877.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36

There is no love like his, neither earth nor heaven can match it. To know Christ and to be found in him-oh! this is life, this is joy, this is marrow and fatness, wine on the lees well refined.

My Master does not treat his servants churlishly; he gives to them as a king giveth to a king; he gives them two heavens-a heaven below in serving him here, and a heaven above in delighting in him for ever.

His unsearchable riches will be best known in eternity. He will give you on the way to heaven all you need; your place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, your bread shall be given you, and your waters shall be sure; but it is there, THERE, where you shall hear the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast, and shall have a face-to-face view of the glorious and beloved One. The unsearchable riches of Christ! This is the tune for the minstrels of earth, and the song for the harpers of heaven. Lord, teach us more and more of Jesus, and we will tell out the good news to others.

-excerpt from Spurgeons' 'morning and evening', August, 22, evening devotional.

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The good I have is from His stores supplied,

The ill is only what He deems the best;

He for my friend, Im rich with nought beside,

And poor without Him, though of all possess'd;

Changes may come, I take or I resign,

Content while Im am His, and He is mine.

While here, alas! I know but half His love,

But half discern Him, and but half adore;

But when I meet Him in the realms above,

I hope to love Him better, praise Him more,

And feel, and tell, amid the choir divine,

How fully I am His and He is mine.

-Francis Quarles(1592-1644, "how long did I toil, and knew no earthly rest."

2:27 p.m. | Permalink |

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Emergent Weekend!!!

Pastor Paul Martin (from Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto) will be presenting a paper on the Emergent Church, which I cant wait to hear!

The following is an excerpt from his post found at:

http://preacherthoughts.blogspot.com/

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I finished the first draft of my paper on Emergent last night. It was good to get it done and now have some time to refine it and think through the issues more fully. Writing is an excellent exercise - it forces you to hatch thoughts that have been incubating for a while. Some of them aren't nearly as amazing on paper as they seem in your brain! You also make some surprising discoveries along the way.

I invited Brian McLaren to join us on Monday once it dawned on me that the date change for SGPF/FRPS would coincide with his trip here to Toronto. Sadly, his flight is leaving Sunday night, so he won't be able to make it. It helped in writing the paper to think that Brian might be at its reading - there is always a temptation to overstate a case and misrepresent an author (it is quite easy to do actually). I think writing with the knowledge that this author might be there helped to keep things honest. (And no, I am not going to go back and change things now that I know he is not coming!)

Please do note the date change:

Meeting is at 10AM on Monday, April 10, 2006. [There is NO meeting on April 17!]

Location: Thistletown Baptist Church, Kipling Avenue, Toronto, [@ 2534 Kipling Ave. (Just north of Finch Ave. and Kipling Ave.)

Cost: Quite free and all are welcome.

Here is a teaser from the paper:

One of the skills of an excellent physician is the ability to quickly and accurately diagnose the illness. If EC has one skill, it is certainly this (with several caveats). If EC is nothing else, it is a reaction to sham Christianity and false spirituality. The examples of this are numerous, especially in McLaren. So, he can easily draw attention to artificial and schmaltzy church music; inattentive hearers of the Word that leave their pews to go back to living like the world; inauthentic Christian communities that breed fake and even destructive relationships; the cocooning of Christians into non-evangelistic lumps of selfishness; the false assumption that “Christian” means white-collar, suburb-dwelling Republican; and a revolting contentedness with surface answers to life’s most genuine and difficult questions.
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This proves to be an interesting time together and I would encourage all who can make it to attend!!!

9:08 a.m. | Permalink |

Now They Are Afraid of the Students -- The Intellectual Anxiety of the Evolutionists

Now They Are Afraid of the Students -- The Intellectual Anxiety of the Evolutionists

Posted: Monday, April 03, 2006 at 3:18 am ET

Given the public bluster of the evolutionary establishment, one would think that these scientists and teachers of science would be up to any challenge to their cherished evolutionary orthodoxy. If they are so certain that their theory is correct and their worldview is superior, why are they so afraid to have the issues debated before the public?

Now, it appears that these teachers are even afraid of their students. The Los Angeles Times offers a report that, taken seriously, makes science teachers appear to be intimidated by a group of querulous adolescents.

From the article:

Two decades of political and legal maneuvering on evolution has spilled over into public schools, and biology teachers are struggling to respond. Loyal to the accounts they've learned in church, students are taking it upon themselves to wedge creationism into the classroom, sometimes with snide comments but also with sophisticated questions -- and a fervent faith. As sophomore Daniel Read put it: "I'm going to say as much about God as I can in school, even if the teachers can't." Such challenges have become so disruptive that some teachers dread the annual unit on evolution -- or skip it altogether. In response, the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science is distributing a 24-page guide to teaching the scientific principles behind evolution, starting in kindergarten. The group also has issued talking points for teachers flustered by demands to present "both sides."

Ah, yes. Those pesky teenagers just won't buy into the theory that they, and all their peers, are accidents produced by purely natural causes.

More:

About half of all Americans dismiss as preposterous the scientific consensus that life on Earth evolved from a common ancestor over millions of years. Some hold to a literal reading of Genesis: God created the universe about 6,000 years ago. Others accept an ancient cosmos but take the variety, complexity and beauty of Earth's creatures as proof that life was crafted by an intelligent designer. Religious accounts of life's origins have generally been kept out of the science classroom, sometimes by court order. But polls show a majority of Americans are unhappy with the evolution-only approach.

So?

"We're not going to roll over and take this," said Alan I. Leshner, the executive publisher of the journal Science. "These teachers are facing phenomenal pressure. They need help."

These evolutionists intend to ride to the defense of their compatriots. The circling of the wagons has begun.

-The above is taken from albertmohler.com and can be found at the following link:

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=589

5:19 a.m. | Permalink |

The Twin Towers of Faith!

We all need to look Christward and the writings of great men of faith can help us in this endeavor...