Author: Brian

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

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

The best laid plans….  I had every intention of blogging daily using the schedule I mentioned a few weeks ago, but it has been a busy week.  We’ll see how next week goes.  In the meantime, here are some good posts from around the web:

Glorifying God

Kevin DeYoung considers how being part of a local church glorifies God.

Jeff Brewer suggests 15 ways that college freshmen can seek to glorify God.  With slight re-application this list would be useful for all of us!

Passion for Christ

A great excerpt from J. C. Ryle on what loving Jesus looks like.  Challenging!

Justin Taylor quotes John Piper and Ryle considering how our love for Christ should intersect with our desire for heaven.

God’s Blessings

Mark Altrogge reminds us of our incredible blessings in Christ.

Mark then shares a great story from Spurgeon’s life of God’s daily care for us. 

Church

Finally, as you prepare to gather with your local church tomorrow, consider these helpful ideas for getting the most out of the sermon from Nancy Leigh DeMoss. 

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day feeding on God’s Word!

 

Family Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

The Christian is supposed to love his neighbor,
and since his wife is his nearest neighbor,
she should be his deepest love.
– Martin Luther

Let the measure of God’s grace to you in the cross of Christ
be the measure of your grace to your spouse.
– John Piper

Which of you by being angry can add a single hour to his span of life?
Or any affection to your marriage?
– John Piper

God often disapproves of his children’s behavior.
But he never treats us with contempt.
Imitate him in your disapproving.
– John Piper

Happy is that family where the worship of God
is constantly and conscientiously maintained.
– John Newton

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory1 Comment

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

Ministry Moments

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Last week I mentioned that Friday posts would focus on church and ministry.  Today begins the first of a new monthly feature called Ministry Moments.  Essentially, these are recommended readings from around the web on the topic of ministry.  While, the focus is primarily on full-time ministry, I suspect many of the posts could be read profitably by anyone serving in the local church.

Worship
10 Questions To Ask of Sunday Worship – Trevin Wax

Prayer
An Impulse You Should Never Ignore – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Preaching
A Preacher’s Decalogue – Sinclair Ferguson
Killing Moralism – Joe Thorn

Personal Shepherding
How Do You Care For A 90 Year Old Man About To Become A Widower – Brian Croft
What Lessons Have I Learned From Shepherding a 106 Year Old Widow In My Church – Brian Croft

Pastor’s Life
Pastoral Ministry Is War – Paul Tripp
Ministry: Whose Kingdom – Paul Tripp
The Problem of Shifting Treasure – Paul Tripp
We’re Pastors and We’re Anxious – Paul Tripp
Give Thanks For Your Church – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Depression and the Ministry: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five – Gospel Coalition

Walking With God

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

I’ve started reading Gary Thomas’ challenging book, Holy Available.  Here are a few quotes so far that have caught my eye:

The grand point is not to wear the garb, nor use the brogue of religion, but to possess the life of God within, and feel and think as Jesus would have done because of that inner life.  Small is the value of external religion unless it is the outcome of a life within.
-Charles Spurgeon

Christianity is not merely a philosophical theory or a moral code, but involves a direct sharing in divine life and glory, a transforming union with God “face to face.”
– Kallistos Ware

If we don’t think about God, pray to God, listen for God’s voice, and consciously serve God, by definition we live an ungodly life.  We usually think of “ungodly” as being against God, but ungodly can also be a life that simply ignores God or – out of busyness, indifference, religiosity, or apathy – simply doesn’t tap into God.”
– Gary Thomas

So are we just going through the outward motions, or are we really walking with God?

Even the Waves Obey Him

On By BrianIn God & His Glory

Last night I read with my children how Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat (see Mark 4:35-41).  Jesus was sleeping as a gigantic storm came up.  The wind began to blow.  The waves began to rise.  The boat began to fill.  The disciples began to panic.  And Jesus was still sleeping.  The terrified fisherman woke Jesus.  Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, “Peace! Be still!”  The wind became still.  The sea became still.  And the fisherman were still terrified – but now for a different reason.  “Who is this who commands the wind and waves?”

I recently wrote about how Lake Superior gives me a glimpse of God’s power.  As I see the powerful waves, I am reminded of God’s greater power.  And yet this story from Jesus’ life reminds me that the powerful waves of Lake Superior are no match for God’s power.  The waves of Lake Superior at their greatest are nothing compared to God.  With just a word, Jesus could instantly calm the waves of Lake Superior.  With just a word, God could calm the wind and waves and water of the hurricane that just soaked the east coast.  Peace!  Be still!  This is real power.  No wonder the disciples were afraid.  No wonder we are told to fear God.  We would be fools not to fear.

Amazingly, this great power comes along side of us.  When we are weak and hurting, God’s great power that calms the wind and waves rests upon us, calming our hearts and giving us strength to endure (II Corinthians 12:9-10).  And that great power that terrified the disciples long ago is now transforming his disciples today, powerfully changing our hearts (Ephesians 1:19).  With such great power at work in our lives, anything is possible.

Prayer Quotes To Ponder

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Prayer humbles us as needy and exalts God as wealthy.
– John Piper

 Whatever be the ground of one’s distress,
it should drive him to, not from, God.
– John Flavel

 When you stop trying to control your life and instead allow your anxieties and problems to bring you to God in prayer, you shift from worrying to watching.  You watch God weave his patterns in the story of your life.  Instead of trying to be out front, designing your life, you realize you are inside God’s drama.  As you wait, you begin to see him work, and your life begins to sparkle with wonder.  You are learning to trust again.
– Paul Miller

 Because God is the living God, He can hear;
because He is a loving God, He will hear; because
He is our covenant God, He has bound Himself to hear.
– Charles Spurgeon

 I put my prayers into Christ’s hands;
and what may I not expect from them,
when I have such an Advocate?
Oh, be sure not to ask a little from God!
– Thomas Adam

 The habit of spreading before God our soul’s needs
is an evidence that we have the spirit of adoption.
– J. C. Ryle

 If we do not delight on God’s presence and nearness here on earth, why would we want to go to heaven where he is the centerpiece of everything?
– Jim Cymbala

Glimpses of God’s Power

On By BrianIn God & His Glory

Every summer my family goes camping along Lake Superior.  I love this lake.  It reminds me of God.

It reminds me of God’s power.  There are days when the waves come crashing in ready to knock you over if you choose to wade out into them.  I see the power of the waves, and I think of God’s power.  I think of his power which made those waves, the lake, the earth, the entire universe.  I think of his power of which these waves give only a small glimpse.

I need that glimpse of God’s power.  In my weakness, I need to see his strength.  In my weariness, I need to see his great power that can renew my strength. 

As I see people hurting from great tragedies, I need to see God’s power which is sufficient in our weakness and is greater than anything that can come against us. 

As I see people wounded from their past, I need to see God’s power that can bring healing.

As I see people on the brink of despair, I need to see God’s power that can bring hope.

As I see people in turmoil, I need to see God’s power that can bring peace.

As I see people wrestling with depression, I need to see God’s power that can bring joy.

As I see people caught in the strong bonds of sin, I need to see God’s greater power which can break those bonds and bring freedom.

As I see people morning the loss of a brother or sister in Christ, I need see God’s power that will one day raise the dead. 

I need to see God’s power.  And I get a glimpse in the waves.

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory

As a new feature on this blog, I am planning to post a picture of God’s creation that “declares the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).  This one reminds me of God’s beauty and power.  It is a picture of Chapel Rock at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula, MI.

“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

New Look, New Features

On By BrianIn Uncategorized1 Comment

“Am I on the right blog?”

You might be asking that question if you have been on this blog before.  The answer is yes. 

As you can see I have changed the look.  This is something I have wanted to do for awhile.  The new look is directly related to choosing a new WordPress format which has a lot more features and I think is easier to read as well.  One feature I especially wanted was the ability to create drop down menus along the top bar.  Look for new pages along the top soon.

I have also added some new widgets.  You will now see Recent Posts on the side bar to give you a quick snap shot of, well, recent posts.  I have also added Recent Comments to the side bar to highlight your contributions.  At the bottom you will find Post Archives by month.

I have also been thinking about what I write.  As a result, I am starting some new weekly features.  Every Tuesday we’ll have Quotes To Ponder.  Fridays will be church/ministry related.  I am going to try to have more personal reflections on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Thursdays will be a catch-all day.  And of course we’ll continue to have Passion Points highlighting the best of the blogosphere on Saturdays. 

Finally, I am starting a new weekly post called “Declaring the Glory.”  Coming from Psalm 19:1, this post will feature a picture of God’s amazing creation to remind us of his glory.

I appreciate all of you who frequent this blog.   Drop me a note and tell me what you think of the new and hopefully improved blog.