The Disguises of Pride

Challies: There are many of your fellow Christians who look up to you and admire you. How do you handle praise from others? How does the Lord keep you humble?

Washer: If I were to answer this question the way it is now worded, it would be an indictment against me, for it presupposes either that I am humble or that I believe myself to be humble. Pride is a terrible and dangerous thing. It can take so many forms; it can even assume the appearance of humility. Pride can lead not only to self-exaltation, but also to self-abasement. It is a dangerous worm of many disguises. The key to battling pride is not found in struggling against thinking too highly of ourselves or in striving to think of ourselves as lowly. The key is found in simply not thinking about ourselves at all, but setting our minds on Christ and the needs of others.

Wow! So simple yet so profound.

Full interview: Tim Challies Interviews Paul Washer

Tim Challies Interviews Paul Washer part 2

Problems With Dating--Courtship & Marriage God's Way

Welcome to The Christian Club

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (Emphasis mine)

"What is bait and switch? Amercian evangelism." ~ Tony Miano

In the time mark from about 43:00-59:00, Tony Miano talks about the unbiblical tradition of relational evangelism. He compares much of our traditions to Rome.

"You are not the power of God in salvation! You are not the gospel, Jesus is the Gospel."

Listen HERE

Tweets on Church Trends From Chris Rosebrough

Just some cheeky humor...

"There is nothing authentically hip or trendy about middle aged church dude trying to look hip and trendy. Its actually childish & pathetic.

I think that the tighter a 'pastors' skinny jeans are the more difficult it is for them to preach sound doctrine.

For the Record - Being hip, trendy & young doesn't give a pastor license to entertain unbelievers rather than feed Christ's sheep.

A sign I think I can agree with. It reads, "GOD HATES FADS"."

Spurgeon: The Unequal Yoke

I recollect a young woman coming to ask my advice about marrying an unconverted man. I soon saw that she had made up her mind—as they mostly do in such cases,—what she was going to do. What is the use of asking advice when you have made up your mind as to your own course of action?

However, she said that, such was her influence over the young man in question, that she felt certain of bringing him to the Saviour. She has not done so, but he has been the means of our losing her from church-fellowship, and I do not know where she is now. I remember that I said to her, “Well, if you believe what you say to be true, I will tell you what to do; go home, and try this little experiment."

"When the young man comes to see you, climb on the top of the kitchen table, and try to pull him up, and tell him to see if he can pull you down. If you succeed in pulling him on to the top of the table in spite of all his exertions to drag you down, I think you may safely marry him.” Why, the result always is, and always must be, that the one who is down pulls the other down; at least, I have always found it so, and I have the painful knowledge of many such cases.

Do not you run such a risk, my young friend, or you will bitterly repent of it. Even when young women marry young men who are members of the church, it is not always that they make a happy match, for there are men who even become members of a Christian church for the very purpose of winning the heart and hand of another of the members.

It is a most grievous thing, and a shameful sin; and I am sorry to have to say that it has been done sometimes even here. Take care, young friends, and older ones, too, that you keep your eyes open; and if the man, who desires to be your lover, is not a lover of the Lord, do not give your heart to him; and, my brother, if that young woman, to whom you are being attracted, does not love the Lord, let her find somebody else who will be more suited to her present condition than you are.

I am sure that this warning ought to be laid to heart by all of you who are true Christians. If you are a hypocrite, you can get on very well with an unconverted partner in life; but if you are a genuine child of God, and you sin in this way, depend upon it that you will get a whipping from your Heavenly Father.

The best thing that can come of such unequal yoking together will be grievous to your own soul, and dishonouring to your Lord and Saviour.

Remember how the apostle warns us against all wrong association with the ungodly: “For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

The Unbiblical Watered Down "Nice Gospel"

Slow Mo Discombobulate

I'm a movie geek. Some people love to curl up to a good book, but for my lack of literacy (dyslexia) I prefer cinema. I'm very picky about the movies I watch, because I bore easily.

I can't say that for Sherlock Holmes the motion picture. It is rare that I really love a movie and when I do, I research, listen to the soundtrack, find out who was involved, and basically for a time obsess about it.

I especially love the second flick, "Sherlock Holmes; A Game of Shadows". It had a perfect blend of action, effects, humor, and a brilliant story line.

There were many cool slow motion action scenes (I know weird, action with slow mo) which made me explore the style of it, because I've never seen it before. I found out that those amazing scenes in the movie were done by Gavin Free.

Gavin Free is a young British twenty something who worked for a camera leasing company and was allowed to borrow state of the art equipment when it was not in use. He and his friend would do the craziest things in their backyards exploring, experimenting and sharing on YouTube which became a viral sensation.

I find this story so inspirational as a parent. One of the advantages teaching at home is I can encourage my kid's passions. Who knew of Gavin Free's fame just blowing stuff up and capturing it on slow motion film?

Here is a quick documentary of Gavin Free of the Slow Mo Guys.




 Because of Free's fame on YouTube just playing around with popcorn, balloons, and exploding paint cans (I can only imagine what his parents must of thought), his unique style was recognized by big time filmmakers. I never heard of this guy until I watched Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. This sequence of the Forest Scene just shows Gavin Free's brilliant work.

 

 Watch more videos from the Slow Mo Guys at there YouTube channel HERE

Why I No Longer Endorse AHA (Abolish Human Abortion)

"May everyone in the AHA organization take these criticisms to heart and live them out. This is a fantastic example of someone opening their Bible, understanding God’s priorities, and repenting IN SPITE OF THE FACT that they had been doing something which is outwardly a very good and godly moral activity. HUGE props to Justin who totally gets it. " ~ Comment from Frank Turk

Full essay HERE

Dealing with Rejection by Dr. Frank Gagliano

"We live in a world that chooses its favorites and rejects the leftovers."

This is excellent. Full sermon HERE

Part 2 HERE

American Evangelist Jailed During Wimbledon Championships for Engaging in ‘Homophobic Speech’

Tony Miano and his family are acquaintances of mine. Few people know that he counselled my sister, when he was a chaplain for the local sheriff department in my city, after her husband, who was a deputy sheriff, was murdered in the line of duty in 2002. He also goes to church with my extended family. I have the utmost respect for his, as he has said it, obedience to preach the Gospel to a lost and dying world. While preaching the Gospel in the open air, he was arrested last week in London.

"An American evangelist was arrested and jailed this week in London during the Wimbledon Championships while preaching about sexual immorality on the streets." Full article HERE

Related Post:

Video Sermon: Arrested - Tony Preaches at Woolwich Evangelical Church HERE

Blessed Justification - Paul Washer

This message was preached at the March 2011 reGENERATION! Conference in Sacramento, California.

 

The Law of Grace, and the Grace of Law

"Some call them “Nice Nazi’s.” These are those stormtroopers, some professing Christians, some not, who can be counted to race to the aid of the accused. That is, if I say, “It is wrong to do X” the “Nice Nazi” alarm will go off, sirens will blare, until they show up on the scene and excoriate me for my failure to be nice, or, in the church, for failing to be all about grace."

Full article HERE

Loneliness

Like Elijah, Jeremiah, Jesus, or Paul, you may be experiencing intense loneliness. A woman does not have to be single to be lonely. She can be married and living with her husband.  In fact, her loneliness may be exaggerated because of feeling trapped in a marriage with a man who is withdrawn and aloof. Elijah and Jeremiah were overwhelmed with their loneliness. Jesus and Paul were not. The difference is Elijah and Jeremiah felt sorry for themselves while Jesus and Paul sought refuge in God.  Martha Peace, The Excellent Wife