Friday, January 29, 2010

Wise Words


"Do Nothing Rashly"

J. R. Miller, 1902


"You ought to be quiet—and to do nothing rashly!" Acts 19:36

The town clerk was wise when he urged the people of Ephesus to do nothing rashly. He told them they might do injustice to the men concerning whom the disturbance had arisen. He said there was a right way to proceed; if the men had done anything wrong, the courts were open, and it would be easy to have them tried and convicted. Rashness, he assured them, might bring upon themselves serious trouble!

This was good advice that day—and it is good for us all today. Most of us are inclined, at times at least—to act rashly. We are readily carried off by excitement or by feeling, and we do things then, which cost us no end of trouble before we are through with them.

There are many rash words spoken. People get angry, and in anger the tongue is too often like a runaway horse. The driver has lost control; and the horse rushes along the street, perhaps trampling down children, perhaps dashing the vehicle to pieces, and injuring the unfortunate driver himself. A runaway tongue may do even more serious harm—than a runaway horse. It may speak words which will hurt lives irreparably, and it may do incalculable injury to the speaker himself. Rash words hurt tender hearts. They alienate friends. They start suspicion concerning good people, and blast reputations. What cruel things are rash words! "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise!" Proverbs 10:19. "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18. "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered." Proverbs 17:27. "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19

How much better it would be if we all learned never to speak hastily! It were good to be slow of speech in a way; for then we would not talk rashly—we would take time to think before speaking. We were never sorry for not saying the hot word that flew to our lips, when we were excited. It would have been bitter, unloving and ungentle! It could have done no good. It would have wrought only pain and harm. It would have dishonored our Master, for it would have been an exhibition of un-Christlikeness.

Jesus never spoke a hasty word. He kept silent under insult, pain, reproach, and sorest injury—not sullen silence—but silence sweet with patient, peaceful love. We are never sorry for following this perfect example, and restraining the cutting words. But we are sorry always, when we have spoken hastily. If we had taken a little time to think—we would not have made the sharp retort which has done so much harm!

There are other rash words besides those spoken in hot temper. There are people who never wait to hear all of a story—before they express an opinion. Their judgments are only half-formed, for they wait for but half the information they need to form a fair opinion. They jump to a conclusion, when they have only a part of the facts before them. As a consequence, they are often wrong, and not infrequently do serious injustice to others whom they condemn on only one-sided evidence. We have no right to form an opinion in which the character or interest of another is concerned, until we have gone patiently and conscientiously over all the facts—so as to be able to judge fairly. Hastily formed judgments of others—are most likely to be unjust judgments.

There are those also who make rash decisions, and enter into rash engagements. They are carried off by their emotions, and in their excitement give promises which afterward they find themselves unable to keep. Failures in business and losses of money—result ofttimes from rash investing; men are deceived by illusory prospects, and rush into schemes which prove unprofitable. Many people make like mistakes in choosing friends. Young men are charmed by a pretty face or a pleasant manner, and fall in love only to find by and by what silly fools they were! A great many broken engagements and many unhappy marriages would have been averted—if there had been more deliberation at the beginning!

Many people have a reputation for not regarding their promises. Those who know them, put but little dependence upon their word, for it is broken as frequently as it is kept. Sometimes the trouble lies in a lack of conscience on the subject—men seem to think that it is not wrong to break a promise, to fail in an engagement, or to disregard a pledge. Sometimes, however, it is because they make promises rashly, not considering whether they can keep them or not. A truly honorable man never breaks his lightest word—but he never gives his word without having first thought through the matter carefully.

Even in religion, Jesus teaches that men should count the cost before they make their decision—not that there can be any doubt regarding their duty—but because great harm results from beginning to follow Christ, and then giving up and turning back. It is better not to vow—than to vow and not pay. It is better not to profess to follow Christ—than, having made the profession, to fail in keeping it, and to go back again into the world!

Thus in many different departments of life, mischiefs are wrought by rashness. People do not take time to think; and then they do foolish and reckless things, which bring them into trouble, and do incalculable harm to others. We should train ourselves to greater deliberateness in speech and act. We should get such mastery over ourselves, that our tongue shall never betray us by any unadvised word, and that neither appetite nor passion shall ever lead us to do anything we shall be sorry afterward for doing.

It is a safe rule to do nothing in excitement. If one speaks sharply or bitterly to us, we would better not give any rejoinder for some hours, until there has been time for the bitterness to pass away. If we receive a letter which contains something that hurts us, we would better lay it aside, not answering it at once. Then, after we have written our reply, it would be well if we laid that away at least over night, and read it again before sending it. When young people begin to imagine that they are in love—they had better place a firm hand on their feelings, and put a bridle on their tongue, waiting a reasonable time before they make any declaration or confession. Nothing will suffer by delay, and perhaps there will be one less folly committed—if time is taken to think over the matter before saying anything.

If some new project is proposed, with its glowing visions of success and wealth, and young men are tempted to embark at once in the splendid enterprise, perhaps putting all their money into it—they had better wait. They had better be sure that it is not a mere bubble which will burst tomorrow. "Nothing ventured, nothing won." May be a wise enough maxim in some lines; but often it is very foolish motto. At least, before the venture is made, it should be known, of a reasonable certainty, that the project is not a mere visionary one, nor a fraudulent scheme to get the money from credulous investors.

We may well write town clerks' bit of sage counsel down among our maxims for self-government, "You ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly." We shall never be sorry afterward for thinking twice—before we speak, for counting the cost—before entering upon any new course, for sleeping over stings and injuries—before saying or doing anything in answer, or for carefully considering any business scheme presented to us—before putting money into it. It will save us from much regret, loss, and sorrow, always to remember to do nothing rashly. "You ought to be quiet—and to do nothing rashly!"

Monday, January 25, 2010

SPURGEON HAD THE GIFT OF PROPHECY?


I came across this article by Sam Storms on his Enjoying God website. I have also seen it on other blogs as well. It is very interesting to see that although Spurgeon may have not believed in the continuation of the gifts of the Spirit, it seems he practiced the gift of prophecy(in the NT sense) although he may not have acknowledged the continuation of such gifts. I suspect that happens today to some who believe in the cessation of the gifts. This is just a portion of the article at Sam Storms site.


The ministry of Charles Spurgeon is a case in point. Read carefully the following account taken from his autobiography:


“While preaching in the hall, on one occasion, I deliberately pointed to a man in the midst of the crowd, and said, ‘There is a man sitting there, who is a shoemaker; he keeps his shop open on Sundays, it was open last Sabbath morning, he took ninepence, and there was fourpence profit out of it; his soul is sold to Satan for fourpence!’ A city missionary, when going his rounds, met with this man, and seeing that he was reading one of my sermons, he asked the question, ‘Do you know Mr. Spurgeon?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the man, ‘I have every reason to know him, I have been to hear him; and, under his preaching, by God’s grace I have become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Shall I tell you how it happened? I went to the Music Hall, and took my seat in the middle of the place; Mr. Spurgeon looked at me as if he knew me, and in his sermon he pointed to me, and told the congregation that I was a shoemaker, and that I kept my shop open on Sundays; and I did, sir. I should not have minded that; but he also said that I took ninepence the Sunday before, and that there was fourpence profit out of it. I did take ninepence that day, and fourpence was just the profit; but how he should know that, I could not tell. Then it struck me that it was God who had spoken to my soul though him, so I shut up my shop the next Sunday. At first, I was afraid to go again to hear him, lest he should tell the people more about me; but afterwards I went, and the Lord met with me, and saved my soul.’”


Spurgeon then adds this comment:


“I could tell as many as a dozen similar cases in which I pointed at somebody in the hall without having the slightest knowledge of the person, or any idea that what I said was right, except that I believed I was moved by the Spirit to say it; and so striking has been my description, that the persons have gone away, and said to their friends, ‘Come, see a man that told me all things that ever I did; beyond a doubt, he must have been sent of God to my soul, or else he could not have described me so exactly.’ And not only so, but I have known many instances in which the thoughts of men have been revealed from the pulpit. I have sometimes seen persons nudge their neighbours with their elbow, because they had got a smart hit, and they have been heard to say, when they were going out, ‘The preacher told us just what we said to one another when we went in at the door’” (The Autobiography of Charles H. Spurgeon, [Curts & Jennings, 1899], Vol. II, pp. 226-227).


Nolan

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Spurgeon on the Gospel


I came across this on Steve Camps blog and wanted to share:


Spurgeon Quotes on The Gospel


"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." -Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"The hearing of the gospel involves the hearer in responsibility. It is a great privilege to hear the gospel. You may smile and think there is nothing very great in it. The damned in hell know. Oh, what would they give if they could hear the gospel now? If they could come back and entertain but the shadow of a hope that they might escape from the wrath to come? The saved in heaven estimate this privilege at a high rate, for, having obtained salvation through the preaching of this gospel, they can never cease to bless their God for calling them by his word of truth. O that you knew it! On your dying beds the listening to a gospel sermon will seem another thing than it seems now." -C.H. Spurgeon

"Do you know, my dear unsaved hearer, what God’s estimate of the gospel is? Do you not know that it has been the chief subject of his thoughts and acts from all eternity? He looks on it as the grandest of all his works. You cannot imagine that he has sent his gospel into the world to be a football for you to play with–that you may give it a kick, as Felix did when he said to Paul, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (Acts 24:25). You surely cannot believe that God sent his gospel into the world for you to make a toy of it, and to say, as Agrippa said to Paul, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28), and then put away all thought of it out of your souls. You cannot even speak of it irreverently without committing a great sin." -C.H. Spurgeon

"Avoid a sugared gospel as you would shun sugar of lead. Seek the gospel which rips up and tears and cuts and wounds and hacks and even kills, for that is the gospel that makes alive again. And when you have found it, give good heed to it. Let it enter into your inmost being. As the rain soaks into the ground, so pray the Lord to let his gospel soak into your soul." -C.H. Spurgeon

"Jesus is the Truth. We believe in Him, —not merely in His words. He Himself is Doctor and Doctrine, Revealer and Revelation, the Illuminator and the Light of Men. He is exalted in every word of truth, because He is its sum and substance. He sits above the gospel, like a prince on His own throne. Doctrine is most precious when we see it distilling from His lips and embodied in His person. Sermons [and songs] are valuable in proportion as they speak of Him and point to Him. A Christ-less gospel is no gospel and a Christ-less discourse is the cause of merriment to devils." -C.H. Spurgeon

"Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Do not believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted." -C.H. Spurgeon

"I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, 'You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself.' My hope arises from the freeness of [sovereign] grace, and not from the freedom of the will." -C.H. Spurgeon

"Let this be to you the mark of true gospel preaching - where Christ is everything, and the creature is nothing; where it is salvation all of grace, through the work of the Holy Spirit applying to the soul the precious blood of Jesus." -C.H. Spurgeon

"On Christ, and what he has done, my soul hangs for time and eternity. And if your soul also hangs there, it will be saved as surely as mine shall be. And if you are lost trusting in Christ, I will be lost with you and will go to hell with you. I must do so, for I have nothing else to rely upon but the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived, died, was buried, rose again, went to heaven, and still lives and pleads for sinners at the right hand of God." -C.H. Spurgeon

"We have an unchanging gospel, which is not today green grass and tomorrow dry hay; but always the abiding truth of the immutable Jehovah." -C.H. Spurgeon

"The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ." -C.H. Spurgeon

"When we preach Christ crucified, we have no reason to stammer, or stutter, or hesitate, or apologize; there is nothing in the gospel of which we have any cause to be ashamed." -C.H. Spurgeon

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Saturday, January 16, 2010

" God Given, Sanctified Common Sense"


The phrase I used in the title of this post was picked up from I don't know who. I heard someone use it on a christian talk radio program sometime back and has stuck with me ever since. As I cruise around several different christian blogs and websites, reading and listening to different christian talk radio shows as of late, this phrase "god given sanctified common sense" just keeps running through my mind like an old reel to reel tape recorder. Now a lot can be said for all the really intelligent folks out there in the evangelical landscape, whether it be blogs or radio shows, but at times I am amazed at how often the seemingly endless brain power they posses on certain doctrinal and theological issues seems to be devoid of common sense. I also find myself lumped into this category way too often. Not the category of "the seemingly endless brain power". More like the category of lacking "God given sanctified common sense". As I study different issues such as the gifts, repentance and such, I read commentaries and articles on various theological issues and subjects, I often find two things happening.
(1)Some will dig so deep into a passage, in an attempt to push their pet doctrines into certain texts because of an emotional attachment, that it taints the meaning or interpretation. Kinda like someone try to plant pansies in the the garden in the front yard with a caterpillar driven diesel front end loader. Just a little too much effort that can cause a mess, and really damage the entire front lawn.
(2) Often some do not dig into a text or issue at all. They avoid using commentaries, advice and the writings of more gifted individuals than themselves. They fall into the ditch of not taking advantage of God's gifting of certain men with the ability to teach. They may be afraid because, what they thought they knew, they really didn't know. They are happy and satisfied just going with the flow of what others in their "group" believe. They are like somebody trying to dig a swimming pool in the back yard with a small screw driver.
Sometimes an issue is like a "scratch and sniff". You know the "dealy bob" on a piece of paper that you scratch with your finger and you can smell some type of fragrance. Wow, I just realized I may have hijacked one of Todd Friels phrases, victim of too much Wretched I guess.
You see, effort needs to be applied, but sometimes not too much. We just need to use "God given sanctified common sense." The meaning may lie just under the surface or maybe, right on the surface. Maybe, just maybe, a lil scratch will sometimes do.

One of these "common sense" issues is this Manhattan Declaration that came out a few weeks or months back. I know I am late to this little shin dig of conversation. I have seen it all over the blog world, heard it all over christian talk radio land. Honestly I really never took much interest in it one way or the other. But, as of late, conversations have come my way about would I sign and what do I think about those who did sign? I really had not formed an opinion on the subject. So, I took time to read the responses from people on both sides of the issue, as well as taking the time and reading the paper itself. Last night I listened to a response from Ligon Duncan on the Knowing The Truth radio program hosted by pastor Kevin Boling, on the reasons he signed it.
He had some valid reasons as to his motivation for signing the thing. He argues the fact that the general public was not privy to any of the behind the scene discussions of what it took to come up with this document. He states that those who were evangelical signers never agreed with the Roman Catholic view of what exactly is the gospel. I say so what! You signed it anyway. If you look at the Declaration itself and count and read each sentence that includes we,our and us, those words link agreement to everyone who signed that document to every sentence that includes such words. It says that you (those who sign and or signed)are in agreement on the gospel. This document does not need anyone to come along and whip out a caterpillar diesel front end loader to exegete the wording. This is a "scratch and sniff" issue, if you will. The social issues discussed are valid, and need to be addressed. But, we can't afford the social issues to be imported in at the expense of the meaning of the gospel. The fact that men like Al Mohler, Ligon Duncan, and Wayne Grudem have signed this thing is probably the main reason why someone of Reformed or Calvinistic theology would even consider signing. To be honest their signing will most likely not bring any difference to our world socially.
How much brain power does one need when you are approached by Chuck Colson to sign a document he has been involved in drafting? After all, he was behind the E.C.T. I would be scared as an employee of his to even sign a pay check he issued to me.
The only reason I can think of for someone signing this document is they, at the time of signing, lacked discernment or "God given sanctified common sense."

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Tuesday, January 12, 2010


I have been brought to a place of examining what I believe to be true thanks to a conversation with a man on another post at this blog.
http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2009/11/al-mohler-signs-manhattan-declaration.html
I believe the word of God to be true...truth...the only truth. I blew off the controversy surrounding the signing of the Manhattan Declaration. I read it, listened to things that were said about the concerns of signing and when it was delivered into my inbox I deleted it without signing. When the names came out of those who DID sign I admit that I was shocked. There were names on there that I just didn't think would be there. OK, I was shocked, I listened to what was said about what they did and then put it away. I read very few articles on why so and so signed and why so and so didn't sign. I just knew that I couldn't and that was good enough for me. NOW, I am confronted with this: the brethren that signed the document went against scripture (2cor 6:14 ) they were admonished by men such as John MacArthur http://www.shepherdsfellowship.org/pulpit/Posts.aspx?ID=4444...they didn't repent so they are still in disobedience...do we fellowship with these men? And what does that fellowship look like? The real question was about men (who didn't sign and did admonish) attending a conference with these men that signed. Can I just say that I don't have to worry about it because I am not attending with them and the choice is up to the men in question?
I can only say right now that I am looking to the fact that these men do not offer a false gospel. They do not teach a false gospel and I have found no reason to cut them off because of their sin. Again, I cannot break fellowship that I do not have to begin with. But would one go so far as to say that I couldn't listen to the teachings of these people? Or that I would have to disassociate from men that associate with these men? Where am I left in the fallout of this signing? I was trying to ignore it and not be affected. I do not know the heart of these people. I have read very little of why they felt it was OK to do what they did. I do not believe any of them came out and said they agree with Catholic doctrine and have made it very clear that they in fact were signing in spite of the differences. Did they make a mistake. Yes, they did. I have made many mistakes that the Lord has forgiven me for. Some of those mistakes have permanent consequences. Names cannot be unsigned.....I just have to say that I have been forgiven MUCH. I have to forgive MUCH. I have to let the Lord lead me in this situation. I cant just read arguments and pick a side. I have to be in prayer. I am grieved even thinking about it.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Speaking In Tongues, Is It For Today?

There is a differance between a "clear thinking Charismatic" and what we see in the modern perversion of spiritual gifts in most Pentecostal circles. I don't know much about Tim Conway and his ministry, but how he deals with the verses in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 is something I can agree with.

Nolan

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Have certain Spiritual gifts ended?


Have certain spiritual gifts ceased? If so when? What are the arguments for both sides? These are some questions that have been raised as my wife and I have studied this subject with some friends. I entered this study as a staunch cessationist. Why was I a cessationist? Well, it was what I was taught, by very capable men who belong to the same denomination to which we belong. That should be good enough, right? I wanted to know for myself if the gifts were for today and not rely on just what someone else says and be glad with that. The fact is maybe, just maybe in the past I was too lazy to study what obviously is a complex subject. I kept going back to when I thought that the doctrines of grace were heretical. I was told by our old pastor that Calvinistic doctrine was of the devil. So, as I began to pray and study for myself to see if this was true. I was amazed at what the Holy Spirit had revealed to me as I studied his Word. My pastor at that time was wrong. The doctrines of grace are all over scripture. I now know it to be the Truth of Scripture.
Could my view of certain gifts ending with the apostles be similar to the view of Calvinistic theology I used to hold to? The fact that these more learned men know way more than me, and that should be good enough, right? I have seen the cessationist arguments of the likes of John MacArthur and others. I have also seen the arguments of continuationist of Wayne Grudem and others. So, where am I now, hmmm. I find myself drifting away from, all though "very cautiously" at this point, from my cessationist position. One thing jumps out to me in MacArthurs arguments against tongues. On page 285 of his book Charismatic Chaos he notes a Scottish Presbyterian by the name of Edward Irving. At this point in the book he is arguing his case that tongues have ceased using the history of the church and its abuse of this non existent gift as an example. What strikes me here is that he is using Edward Irving. Now, if he is going to use the abuse through history as a measuring stick for proof or evidence, shouldn't he use that same criteria to judge an issue that is much more important, such as dispensational theology as opposed to covenental theology. Edward Irving may have held to a dispensational framework before J.N. Darby. Darby is credited with developing dispensationalism and the pretrib rapture view. But it can be argued that Darby got it from some type of relationship with Irving. More interesting is the fact that no one for 1,900 years held this pretrib rapture view before Irving and Darby made it mainstream. I just wanted to show that MacArthurs own use of history, since that is one of the guides he uses to judge truth from error can be used to refute a far more greater issue than tongues. I am not saying that I disagree with MacArthur. It just struck me as I read his book Charismatic Chaos.

Keeping in mind; 2 Timothy 3:16

So, has certain gifts ceased to exist? Which ones?

A.W. Tozer
In view of much of today's dispensational teaching about Bible interpretation, the apostles, miracles of God and the fullness of the Spirit, I must remind you that the Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. That allows me to tell you something blessed and heartening that I have found to be true and that I will stand by till the end of time.
This is my finding: There is nothing that Jesus has ever done for any of His disciples that he will not do for any other of His disciples.
Where did the "dividers-of -the-Word - of Truth"get their teaching that all the gifts of the Spirit ended when the last apostle died? They have never furnished chapter and verse for that. When some men beat the cover off their Bible to demonstrate how they stand by the Word of God, they should be reminded that they are only standing by their own interpretation of the Word.

I do not agree with all of what Tozer writes or says, but this quote, I thought was important. I am not sure where I will wind up on this issue. But it has been really enjoyable so far

To God be The Glory,
Nolan

Monday, January 4, 2010

"Gain"


Today was another eventful day in the life of our family. It has been a season of changes in our lives as of late but today was a new chapter. Our daughter Devan was married to Kyle Brown today. To be honest I was torn between hoping it would fall through, that she would get cold feet, to me putting a stop to this perceived mistake. So many thoughts have ran through my mind: Is this man good enough for my daughter? Will he be a good provider for her and my future grandchildren. After all, he really seems a little immature for being twenty-one, not to mention the perceived immaturity of my daughter, Devan. I guess I hoped for some reason that this day marked on the calendar would go away on its own, kinda like at times when I knew a cavity was forming yet I hoped that it would miraculously heal itself if ignored long enough.
All the talks have taken place between Kyle and myself; Kyle, Devan, Mom and me; and just me and Devan. Oh how these talks would have been so much better if they were believers. God has not chosen , as of now, to open their eyes to the truth of the gospel. They were to be married a few days earlier but there was a waiting period they weren't aware of. I thought for sure, here it is, the sign that this was going to fall through. Fast forward a few days and here we are. They're married. I thank God for giving us a few more days with both of them before they were married, which afforded us a few more talks. How thankful my wife and I were for these days.
Devan has been living with us and Kyle has been staying in our home this past week awaiting this day. As everyone was getting ready for the ceremony today the bride to be had the crowd of family and friends assisting her while upstairs Kyle was dressing alone. My wife made the very wise observation that Kyle was alone and maybe he could use some help. I took the advice of such a wise woman and went upstairs to check. When I knocked on the door and he let me in, I saw a very nervous young man who definitely needed some company. All the ill thoughts I had of Kyle flooded in on me. I was convicted and ashamed of myself. I saw a young man who was created in the image of God, so nervous that he couldn't finish buttoning his dress blues, the very buttons that he bragged about being able to button in two minutes with one hand. He had such a struggle that it was impossible to do because he was shaking and afraid. You see, as all of us were downstairs with the bride to be, the groom was all alone. He had no friends or family to share his fears and uncertainty with. He had traveled thousands of miles from his ship to wed the love of his life, my daughter, Devan. So from this moment in time that will be forever etched in my memory. I found myself unworthy of buttoning this mans buttons. I found myself a little taken aback in this moment. I was not buttoning the buttons of someone who was taking my daughter, I was helping the future son that I was gaining. No, not a loss today, but a gain.
We have gained a new son.
They had no big wedding. Neither we nor they could afford one. They were married in a simple ceremony in the local county courthouse. No, it wasn't a shotgun wedding. At times I felt myself embarrassed when speaking with other people and telling them they were getting hitched at the courthouse thinking, "are they wondering if she is pregnant?" How wicked of me to think someone was thinking such things and how wicked if they were. I would have loved to have given my daughter a huge, expensive wedding. I often thought they should they wait until we could give them a "proper" wedding. They would have none of it. A big wedding was not at all important to them. As I ponder that issue I think maybe they are right. Why spend money you do not have or go into debt to finance a "proper" wedding? After all, the money spent on some weddings could finance the national debt of a small country.
Well, Kyle will be heading back to the west coast to board his ship to head off to Hawaii without his new bride. She will remain here and eagerly wait for his return. I cant help but think about the parallels to the gospel and the symbolism used to refer to Christ and His bride, the church, as I have found in a day like today. How could I have doubted the sovereign plan of our heavenly Father? You see, ultimately this day was ordained, yes, Kyle and Devan were meant to be together. It was Gods plan. It was meant for my wife and I to gain a son today. I don't know what the future holds for these two. Oh, how I hope and pray for their salvation. May we continue to shine light into their lives with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To God be the Glory!
Nolan

Friday, January 1, 2010


"He chose you to be trophies of His grace!

(Charles Spurgeon)

'You yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.' 1 Peter 2:5

God builds a palace for Himself in heaven, made of 'living stones'. Where did He get them? Has He brought forth the richest and the purest marble from the fine quarries of Paris? No! Christians, look to 'the hole of the pit where you were dug out of, and to the rock where you were cut from!' You were full of sin. Far from being stones that were white with purity--you were black with defilement, seemingly utterly unfit to be stones in the spiritual temple, which would be the dwelling-place of the Most High God. And yet, He chose you to be trophies of His grace!

Goldsmiths make exquisite jewelry from precious materials; they fashion the bracelet and the ring from gold. But God makes His jewels out of base materials. From the black pebbles of the defiling brooks--He has taken up stones, which He has set in the golden ring of His immutable love, to make them gems to sparkle on His finger forever. He has not selected the best--but apparently the worst of men--to be the monuments of His grace!"