Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

Here are several quotes that revolve around the question:
What do you desire?

You tend to become like what you admire. Admiration breeds imitation.
– John Piper

The goal of life is to forget me and be thrilled with him.
– John Piper

When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of Him the more insatiable
and my thirst after holiness more unquenchable.
– David Brainerd

We care for one thing: Does the Jesus Christ, the Lord
of heaven and earth, approve of what I am saying and doing?
– John Piper

When the day comes that only righteousness pleases you,
on that day you may do as you please – with no regrets.
– John Piper

Perseverance Lessons

On By BrianIn Biography/History, Church Life

Last week I attended a pastor’s conference entitled “Don’t Lose Heart” at West Cannon Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, MI.  What an encouraging two days.  One of the speakers, Joel Beeke, shared several keys to perseverance from the lives of John Calvin and John Bunyan.  Here are some of the “keys” I found particularly helpful:

Love your people.

Remember that God has ways to bless us
even when the doors we would have chosen are closed.

Learn from one another.

God can use a God-fearing wife to help us persevere.

Don’t ignore the reality that we have physical limitations.

Have a pilgrim’s mindset.

Remember your hope of glory.

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory

Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

The week started with a wonderful pastors conference that I hope to blog about next week.  The rest of this week was catch-up.  One of these weeks I’ll get back to blogging daily.  In the meantime, here are some posts for your weekend reading:

Faith

Mark Altrogge (well, actually his wife) asks the important question: “What are you believing about God right now?”

Erik Thoennes discusses the differences between absolute beliefs, convictions, opinions, and questions.

Tim Challies quotes Michael McKinley on ways you can know that you are not of the faith.

Prayer

Trevin Wax shares two helpful prayers:

Have a great Lord’s Day exalting our great God!

Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

Here are some great quotes addressing the issue of sin:

God’s wounds cure, sin’s kisses kill.
– William Gurnall

Sin doesn’t strike all at once. It kills slowly and persistently.
– Stephen Altrogge

What fools are they who, for a drop of pleasure, drink a sea of wrath.
– Thomas Watson

I have never heard of a sin being committed without knowing full well
that I had the seed of it within myself.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Beware of no man more than of yourself;
we carry our worst enemies within us.
– C.H. Spurgeon

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory1 Comment

Chapel Rock, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20

Passion Points – Habits

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

This week, I want to share some good posts about what I call Passion Habits.  Passion habits are those things we do because of our passion for God and compassion for people.  These are habits ideally motivated by Christ’s passion for us.  Passion habits are traditionally called spiritual disciplines.  They might be habits we do individually or corporately or both.  So here are some good thoughts about some of these habits:

Scripture – J. C. Ryle points to the necessity of being often in the Word.

Prayer – Trevin Wax shares what the Romanian church has taught him about corporate prayer.  We can learn much from their example.

Worship – Kevin DeYoung shares why his church worships the way they do.

Service – Jon Bloom encourages us to serve in the shadow God places you.

Evangelism – Mark Altrogge considers ways to influence people toward Christ.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshipping the Lord with your local church.

 

 

Oliver Twist

On By BrianIn Identity

In Dicken’s tale, Oliver Twist, Oliver’s mother dies far from home while giving birth to him.  Not knowing whose family he belongs to, he is raised in poverty in a work house.  His troubles and the shame of his poverty define him.  Eventually he runs away only to get caught up in a gang of thieves.  He is caught trying to steal something, and now society defines him as a thief – he is defined by his sin and guilt.  But the one he tried to rob turns out, as the story continues, to be his grandfather.  He is more than the sum of his troubles, his shame, his sin, and his guilt.  He is part of a wealthy family.

What is it that defines you?  Maybe it is your troubles.  Your trials are huge, and you have let them define your life.  Maybe it is shame for some past hurt done to you.  Maybe it is guilt for some past sin you committed.  Maybe it a sin that you wrestle with today.  But the one you sin against, it turns out, is your Father.  You are more than your troubles, your shame, your sin, and your guilt.  You are part of God’s family.

You are the beloved child of your Heavenly Father.  As his child you have a new identity.  You no longer have to be defined by your troubles, shame, sin, or guilt.  Your identity is now found in Christ.  Jesus suffered so suffering wouldn’t define you.  He bore your shame, so you wouldn’t have to bear it anymore. He bore your guilt on the cross so you could be called righteous.  And he defeated sin as he rose again so you could overcome it in your life.  God loves you.  You are his child.  Find your identity here.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” – I John 3:1a

 

 

Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.
– Flannery O’Connor

A snake bites Paul, so they think he’s a criminal.
He doesn’t fall dead, so they think he’s a god.
Beware of human polls.
– John Piper

‎A man can no more possess a private religion
than he can possess a private sun and moon.
– G.K. Chesterton

Our greatest fear should not be of failure
but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.
– Francis Chan

It is a cheap zeal that reserves its passions
to combat only the sins and temptations of others.  
– D.A. Carson

Waiting isn’t just about what you are hoping for at the end of the wait,
but also about what you will become as you wait.
– Paul Tripp

It ill becomes you to make much of dress and show,
when you are so soon to see the face that was crowned with thorns.
– Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory

Chapel Falls, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Upper Peninsula, MI

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20