Category Archives: Uncategorized

by

The Conference

The Ligonier 2011 National Conference started today in Orlando, FL. Thanks to a dear friend, I am able to attend. R.C. isn’t feeling too well but the conference has been great so far and the bookstore is AWESOME! I’ll post some pictures over the weekend. Looking forward to hearing Piper.

I heard (and saw) Tim -the blogging legend- Challies speak today. Tim is an interesting fellow. He has an i-phone implant and a super computer with a wireless server for a brain. Ok, obviously he does not have an i-phone implant.

by

The Image of The Invisible God; intro

What We’re Doing:

The Image of the Invisible God is a series of posts that I am currently working on. It will consist of 4 to 6 posts that will principally deal with the image of God in the person of Christ. Most, if not all of the quotes I will be using will be by John Owen. The inspiration for this series of posts comes from chapter 5, volume 1 of The Works of John Owen (Banner of Truth edition). Basically, I am taking what Owen said, spreading it out, and thinking through it here.  

Here’s a Little Owen:

God, in his own essence, being, and existence, is absolutely incomprehensible. His nature being immense, and all his holy properties essentially infinite, no creature can directly or perfectly comprehend them, or any of them. He must be infinite that can perfectly comprehend that which is infinite; wherefore God is perfectly known unto himself only—but as for us, how little a portion is heard of him! Hence he is called “The invisible God,” and said to dwell in ” light inaccessible” The subsistence of his most single and simple nature in three distinct persons, though it raises and ennobles faith in its revelation, yet it amazeth reason which would trust to itself in the contemplation of it—whence men grow giddy who will own no other guide, and are carried out of the way of truth.” No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him:” John i. 18; 1 Tim. vi. 16.

Verses To Whet Our Appetites:

Gen 1:26  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

Exo 20:4  ”You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

2Co 4:4  whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Col 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Heb 1:3  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Heb 10:1  For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Till Part 1:

I hope you enjoy these posts as we work through them. Thank you in advance for your patience and any feedback you may have to offer.

by

The Gift on Top

This year for Christmas, my brother made, by hand I might add, probably the most unique and amazing gift I have ever received…

Since I have five siblings, we draw names for Christmas in order to keep the cost from becoming too extravagant. This year, I was pleasantly surprised to receive the last five volumes of John Owen’s 16 volume set but was even more surprised to get what came last. Below are a few pictures of the hand made leather journal/sketch book that my little brother made. He sewed all of the pages in with a leather twine and the button on the cover, used to tie the book closed, is made from a coconut. This thing feels very nice in the hands. The leather is 6 oz. tanned cow hide, so it is very thick and would probably last at least a few lifetimes. I am going to do some research to see how I may use this type of leather on a blank bible (interleaved bible) project for the cover or possibly recover a bible I have. Anyway, this present was a tremendous surprise. I love it! It’s so nice, I’m almost afraid to use it…….almost.



 

by

Hearts on Fire

God has made us to be passionate people. Not to be people who are carried about with passions, but passionate about God. We were made for His glory, pleasure, and purpose. We see ourselves going against the grain of this everyday of our lives. Oh, if we could keep the focus of our passion on Christ and the heavenly Father who sent Him, we would have one foot in heaven while here on earth. John Piper speaks of Christian Hedonism as what should be the lifestyle of Christians. We should enjoy living for Christ. We should embrace every opportunity for the stirring of our souls. We should not dread suffering, because we know that through suffering we are brought closer to God. Sadly, we get so bogged down and distracted with the temporal. We lose heart at what we did not expect. There….. there lies the problem. We expect. We have placed expectations on this life, beyond that we are going to be saved. If we would but lay down, at the foot of the cross, every desire, every expectation, that is not Christ or of Christ, we would not be disappointed. If we would seek to enjoy that which lives forever, we would not despair by losing that which perishes. We should flee complacency but embrace the affliction that comes to us. Is not God in control, even of our circumstances? Nothing in this life can bring us hope, only He who is the Life. Our hearts should burn for the Lord. He is a consuming fire and we ought to be consumed by Him.