grace & peace

Quote: Owen

mike — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:05:38 +0000

It is by beholding the glory of Christ by faith that we are spiritually edified and built up in this world, for as we behold his glory, the life and power of faith grow stronger and stronger. It is by faith that we grow to love Christ. So if we desire strong faith and powerful love, which give us rest, peace and satisfaction, we must seek them diligently beholding the glory of Christ by faith. In this duty I desire to live and to die.

On Christ’s glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of the glory of Christ, the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes and I will be more and more crucified to this world. It will become to me like something dead and putrid, impossible for me to enjoy.

- John Owen

-Grace and Peace

Quote: M’Cheyne

mike — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:00:13 +0000

I ought to go to Christ for the forgiveness of each sin. In washing my body, I go over every spot, and wash it out. Should I be less careful in washing my soul?

I ought to see the stripe that was made on the back of Jesus by each of my sins. I ought to see the infinite pang thrill through the soul of Jesus equal to an eternity of my hell for my sins, and for all of them.

I ought to see that in Christ’s bloodshedding there is an infinite over-payment for all my sins. Although Christ did not suffer more than infinite justice demanded, yet He could not suffer at all without laying down an infinite ransom.

—Robert Murray M’Cheyne

-Grace and Peace

Photo: Bow

mike — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:09:22 +0000

Back to life, back to reality…

-Grace and Peace

Photo: America

mike — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:31:31 +0000

Happy 4th!

-Grace and Peace

Quote: Piper

mike — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:52:54 +0000

Guns and Martyrdom

June 29, 2008 | By: John Piper

What do the supreme court ruling on guns and the martyrdom of missionaries have to do with each other?

Noël and I watched Beyond Gates of Splendor, the documentary version of End of the Spear, the story of the martyrdom of Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, and Nate Saint in Ecuador in 1956. That same day we heard that the Supreme Court decided in favor of the right of Americans to keep firearms at home for self-defense.

Here’s the connection. The missionaries had guns when they were speared to death. One of them shot the gun into the air, it appears, as he was killed, rather than shooting the natives. They had agreed to do this. The reason was simple and staggeringly Christlike:

The natives are not ready for heaven. We are.

I suspect the same could be said for almost anyone who breaks into my house. There are other reasons why I have never owned a firearm and do not have one in my house. But that reason moves me deeply. I hope you don’t use your economic stimulus check to buy a gun. Better to find some missionaries like this and support them. -John Piper

-Grace and Peace

Quote: Lane & Tripp

mike — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:15:10 +0000

The Christian life is built upon the foundation of (1) facing who you really are and (2) trusting who Christ truly is. Everything you do will be shaped by the degree to which you act on the blessings that are yours in Christ.

If you only look at yourself and carry around a load of guilt, you will hide, excuse, blame, rationalize, and cover up your shame rather than enjoy the freedom of confession and the joy of forgiveness. You will not enjoy the lasting fruit that comes from following the wisdom that is already yours in Christ! Instead, you will reduce the Christian life to a simplistic list of rules and behaviors that never touch the real problems, and you will be blind to the gaps in your relationship to Christ.

- Timothy S. Lane & Paul David Tripp

-Grace and Peace

My Wife = Awesome

mike — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:16:19 +0000

Catherine is starting a new job next week, and this is what her days look like as she prepares for the move. She’s an incredible woman who works hard, and excels at anything she tries. I love her so much.

-Grace and Peace

Photo: Nice Shot

mike — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:50:30 +0000

-Grace and Peace

Quote: Temple

mike — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:02:52 +0000

All is of God; the only thing of my very own which I contribute to my redemption is the sin from which I need to be redeemed.

- William Temple

-Grace and Peace

Quote: Warfield

mike — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:23:27 +0000

It is not faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ… It is not, strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ that saves through faith. The saving power resides exclusively, not in the act of faith or the attitude of faith or in the nature of faith, but in the object of faith.

- B. B. Warfield

-Grace and Peace