Excellent blogs:
http://www.albertmohler.com/
http://www.challies.com/
http://www.therebelution.com/
http://www.wayofthemasterradio.com/
http://teampyro.blogspot.com
Must listen:
Paul Washer's message for American Christians
Community:
http://www.kimjacob.com/
Lord help me keep them.
Brothers and sisters, help me keep them.
Inspired by Jonathan Edwards' "Resolutions"
My convictions:
.5) To read, ponder, reflect, and remind myself of my convictions.
1)
Not to use any Christian platitudes or cliches that are not based in
Scripture; better still, not to say anything concerning the Christian
life unless it is from Scripture, rather claiming ignorance than to
lead someone astray. In matters of personal opinion, to be clear that a
thought is only my opinion and nothing more. Relatedly, to test and
make more sure that my own thinking and expressions are backed by
Scripture and not adopted from other peoples' Christianity, or
"popular'' Christianity, unless proven to me from Scripture.(4/4/05)
2)
To ask less for the things which God has already promised to be true,
but rather to ask for the grace and faith and strength to believe and
trust and grow in those promises whether in prayer, praise, or
speech--with all thankfulness. (4/5/05)
3)
To be focused, yet not short-sighted, never thinking that whatever I am
doing at the moment as God's servant is all that God is doing in this
world. But rather to be heavenly-minded, asking that God's will be done
(His whole will) on earth (the whole earth) as it is in Heaven. (4/6/05)
4)
To constantly remind myself that though the past God has fashioned for
me is what makes me who I am today, the future is where my perfection
lies; therefore, to be always eager and expectant for the next day no
matter my present circumstance, having abundant reason to look forward
to each rising of the sun. (4/7/05)
5)
To be reminded daily of my poverty in spirit in order to be humble
before men and before my Lord, never seeking the approval of men, but
constantly having before me the day when I will stand before the Judge
accountable for this life I have been given. (4/7/05)
6)
To be an example of and to teach young men in the ways of godliness,
and on account of such a conviction to be able to say to the brothers
at all times, imitate me as I imitate Christ. (4/8/05)
7)
Never to think that I know everything or have at last "arrived", either
in my understanding of God or my experience of the world, realizing
that I am humbled most in my knowledge and understanding when I believe
I have at last fully considered a matter. (4/9/05 )
8) To accept criticism as I would praise since the acknowledgment of either will humble me. (4/28/05)
9)
To constantly examine myself in order to search out any sinful
attitudes lest they subtly inhabit my thoughts and behaviors just as a
parasite may cling to (and drain the life from) its victim totally
unbeknownst to its host. (4/28/05)
10) To say nothing that I will be ashamed later of having said. (5/10/05)
11) Not to hang my life upon the loose frame of a few verses but desire to build upon the whole body of God's Word. (5/05)
12)
Never to let any fear but the fear of the Lord drive my attitudes and
decisions, cultivating a habit of finding my strength in Christ and not
myself. (6/1/05)
13) To wage
constant battle against sin--unabashedly, relentlessly, and with the
conviction that God has promised to not only forgive my sin, but
cleanse me from it. Similarly, to fight for joy in God at all times and
in all circumstances, though the reality of sin and living in this
world strive against it. (8/15/05)
14) In lieu of
our Lord's disapproval, disdain, and distrust of the Pharisees--to see
hypocrisy as a villainous and ruinous path that I must make all efforts
to avoid. In similar vein, to never be so comfortable in my company
that I would be accused of only blessing those who bless me. (8/15/05)
15) Seeing that
God is Light, to count myself as always in the luminescence of God's
holiness, whether He use it to light my path, comfort my hurt, or
expose my sin. Additionally, in obedience to the command that we be
light in this world, to be leery of any shadow that should hinder my
radiance and seek its source in order that it may be removed. (8/20/05)
16) When I am with others, to remember my convictions. (8/20/05)
17) To develop a
reflex and instinct, when met with struggle, pain, long nights, long
days, temptation, fear, anger, unsettling thoughts, or any other
difficult time, for immediate prayer and clinging to God's Word.
(9/2/05)
18) Should I start something, to see it through to
completion, not judging its worth solely by the success or outcome, but
rather by how God has used it to complete the work He has begun in me.
(9/03/05)
19) To desire and
accomplish this goal: that in all my relationships, to bring that
person into a fuller knowledge of our Lord--whether by word, action, or
service. Consequently, to bring myself deeper and closer to my Lord;
for how can I lead where I do not want go? (10/12/05)
20) To make no excuses for why I do not do the things I ought to do. (10/12/05)
21) To do something pro-actively--anything, most of all pray--when
confronted with the sins of others, the reality of sin in the world, or
my own sin, letting my conscience provoke me into the worship and
glorification of the God who has and will conquer them all. (10/12/05)
22) Be daily
willing to be wrong, always seeking to reject the lie and submit to the
truth by acknowledging that God is the arbiter of reality--not my
perceptions, experience, or worldly knowledge. (10/13/05)
23) Never to ascribe to God a quality that is not from God's Word. (10/13/05)
24) To ascribe to
God all qualities, glories, honors and accolades due His name based
upon His Word, and to build a better vocabulary and understanding
of those things. (10/17/05)
25) To remember
that the man God desires to use is not the one who has much to offer,
but the one who has invested in godly character. (11/1/05)
26) When
considering my own worth, to never let a false image (whether pleasing
to the eye or the mask of a demon) stand for my true identity. Rather
than make a comparison to others, or let the opinions of others sway my
own self-image (whether for better or worse)--to remember that God sees
my worth perfectly and had saved me before I had ever done a thing,
even at the foundation of the world; yet even so, at the cost of His
own Son, even to make payment for my own spiritual poverty, being dead
in my trespasses. Therefore, always to be grateful; always to be humbling myself;
always to be following good examples; always to be approaching God's
throne with boldness, as His own dear child, remembering that who
I am is wrapped up in who He is. (11/14/05)
27) In my words
and actions towards others to be considered a pleaser-of-people only in
the sense that I count showing my love to others (people-pleasing) as a
joy and privilege, not a burden. In so doing, to be a man who does not
seek to please others for their sakes', but his own; because the joy of
extending Christ's love does not make one self-conscience, but
God-conscience to the delight of his soul. (12/11/05)
28) Seeing that
my personal relationship and experience of God is the goal for all my
efforts, pursuits, dreams, and visions--my service to God not being the
substance or basis on which faith is predicated, but the fruit of
my efforts, pursuits, dreams, and visions being exercised towards the
deepening of my understanding of God--to serve others, not from the
empty plate of my own meager supply, but from the bountiful and
overflowing table God has prepared for me through the true
knowledge of Him; thereby satisfying the needs of others and loving
them with the overflow of God's provision to me, rather than with my
spiritual bankruptcy. (12/14/05)
29) To consider a
day good and well spent not because of any service to someone I have
done, or any new thing I have learned, or a lack of willful sinning, or
working some deed for God--but to count a day "good" when I have
remembered His cross and His gospel and my need for them. (1/8/06)
30) To be a manly man, God's man, and a man of God. (1/19/06)
31) When I am
unwilling to do something that should be done, yet choose to do it, not
to give myself credit and count it a special favor, but consider
how I might next time be both willing and able to do all things which,
big or small, bring joy to myself and give God glory; so then, never to
complain, never to grumble, never to count someone as in my debt, never
to account my accomplishments as a righteousness of my own apart
from God's grace--because it is Him who is at work in me both to
will and to work according to His good pleasure. (1/29/06)
32) Whether in
joy or distress to always bear in mind that here is not my
home. During times of joy to consider an experience
pleasurable, but only as a shadow of the surpassing glory of
being in the presence of Jesus at journey's end; and so to let every
joyful moment point me to the expectation of an eternity with Christ,
and inspire a longing to be with Him. During times of distress to
consider an experience bearable, for it is only a shadow of the eternal
damnation which would have been my portion for endless ages unless
Jesus had rescued me from it; and so to let every trial point me to the
cross on which Christ died, and the tomb which stands
empty--the assurances that no evil which befalls me now will
conquer me. (4/03/06)
33) Never to be
ashamed to preach the gospel to my heart, though I find myself far from
God, or struggling with sin. If I should make an excuse as to why
I cannot bear the gospel in my soul based on the degree to
which I have grieved the Holy Spirit or offended
another, to recall that I can do nothing
to merit God's good grace, nor be considered any worse
or more a sinner than when God first chose me at the
foundation of the world. (4/12/06)
34) To humbly make any amends, apologies, or rectifications towards the offenses which lead me to #33. (4/12/06)
35) Acknowledging
that revival does not abound save by the work of the Holy Spirit, and
that the Holy Spirit does not blow where it will without the impetus of
the preaching of the Gospel, the center of which is Christ
crucified--to give no fialty to man-devised formulas or
cleverly-fashioned presentation as hope for revival within or without.
Rather--as I am enabled by a spirit of power, love, and discipline--to
proclaim the sufficiency of Christ by presenting the plain teaching of
Scripture. (5/24/06)
36) To consider
that there is no situation where prayer is not an appropriate response,
reflex, reply, or respite, since no area of life is outside of its
effective boundaries, and no prayer given in faith is less likely to be
heard, whatever the circumstance may be. (10/17/06)
37) To remember
that my words are an extension of my testimony of belief, at all times
and to all people. The unbelieving world especially hears and listens
carefully; resolved, then, at all times, to use my tongue to exhibit
Christ-likeness, to exhibit gospel and grace, whether I am directly
addressing an unbeliever, or they be mere audience to my conversation
amongst the brethren. (10/17/06)
38) If I am found to be a pleasant person, or winsome to others, or thought well of by friends, to improve the opportunity to be pleasing to Christ, to win others with the Gospel, and to edify well those who are near. If I am contrary and grumbling, maligning towards those within and without the body of Christ, selfish and unmoved by those in need, to repent and humble myself with fear and trembling before the Great Shepherd. If I am considered a stumbling block, a messenger of woe and judgment, a burden and shame to those about me, that it might be my commitment to Christ, the proclamation of righteousness, and the offer of grace which offends and deters, not myself. Resolved, to be more pleasant and offensive, to be more winsome and burdensome, to be a friend and challenger for the glory of God. (11/3/07)
39) To rejoice as if it were my own good when God displays His goodness and kind providence to others, since all providence is God's providence. Therefore, resolved: never to be covetous, never to consider my own providence as any humbler than others, but to remind and show others how God has been their chief good. (??/07)
40)
Chatboard (0)