Free from Max McClean

My favorite audio version of the Bible is read by Max McClean.

He has released a free MP3 recording called “Perfect Love.” It has biblical reflections on true love.

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Loving vs. laughing about God’s law

Contrast these two videos: one Christian pastor chuckling as someone talks about the inerrancy of Scripture and another one bringing the Scripture’s authority to bear on every question he is asked.

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That was random. . .but rich!

“The providence of God is like Hebrew words–it can only be read backwards.”–John Flavel

“What a man is in secret, in these private duties, that he is in the eyes of God and no more.”–John Owen

To fail to deal with issues of the heart is like leaving “a moth in a garment, to eat up and devour the stringed threads of it, so that though the whole hang loose together, it is easily torn to pieces.”–John Owen

“As words leave our mouths, they are like so many media people rushing to file their reports on the condition of our souls.”–Sinclair Ferguson

“Faith may dance because Christ sings; and we may come in the choir and lift our hoarse and rough voices, and chirp, and sing, and shout for joy with our Lord Jesus.”–Samuel Rutherford

“None have right to joy but we, for joy is sown for us, and an ill summer or harvest will not spill the crop.”–Samuel Rutherford

“I am not impressed with preachers who will never say anything tough.”–John Piper

On explaining why some people are drawn to false teaching:  “Heretics are always ‘nice’ people.”–John Piper

“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.” –John Wesley

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In the last days. . .apostasy

InterVarsity Press and its young adult missions gathering called Urbana have long since stopped being truly evangelical and fundamental. But who would have thought this is where they would end up?

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Two conferences for Christian women

We definitely are hoping to send some ladies from our church to this conference which is fairly close to us.

Women Helping Women Conference with Elyse Fitzpatrick

And this one looks to be like one for women to look forward to in the fall:

True Woman Conference

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Who we are in Christ: children of God

“I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God!” so goes a song that was written and popularized in my childhood years! I have been born of the Spirit, born from above, and born again by the living and abiding Word of God! By God’s grace I am evidencing [may I do so in increasing measure] the spiritual “birthmarks” of a Christian which identify me as God’s child (see 1 John). God has borne witness with my spirit that I am His child and I have the privilege of calling out to him “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:14-17). I am His son by adoption–the work of God whereby he gives each of His children the instant they are born from above. God treats me as a fully legitimate son. It is all of grace–not by one shred of  any good work.

As a child of God, I (along with every other child of God enjoy the following:

• A exceedingly great inheritance including the riches of His grace, mercy, glory, and goodness (Romans 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:4, 7, Philippians 4:19; Romans 2:4)
• Spiritual food (Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4; 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14)
• Fellowship with God and with others (1 John 1:3; Hebrews 10:25)
• A set of new spiritual clothes (Colossians 3:9-14; Isaiah 64:6)
• A great hope (1 Peter 1:4, John 14:1-6; 1 John 3:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Today let’s exult in our standing in Christ through whom we “have become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:4)

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What’s most important, dad?

When his son was just learning to write, a Paul Halpern gave him a small chalkboard so they could write notes to each other. One evening while Paul was in the living room, his son called out from the bedroom, “How do you spell ‘best’?”

A few minutes after Paul answered, his son yelled again: “How do you spell ‘kid’?” Paul responded.

And then, for a third time, his son asked, “How do you spell ‘ever’?”

When Paul went into the child’s room to view the board, he expected to see a note saying, “I am the best kid ever.” But he was totally surprised when his son presented him with a different message: “You are the best dad a kid can ever have.”

Paul told his son he would have to buy him another chalkboard. He wanted to save this one. Many years later, it still hangs on his wall.

Most people struggle hard for approval at work with the hope of getting acknowledgment, a raise or a promotion. These forms of recognition can give real pleasure. Yet if you could choose between winning your child’s “Best Dad a Kid Can Ever Have” award and being named the best employee, which would you choose?

The point is not to belittle the pursuit of recognition and success in your work life. It’s to remind you how much closer, more personally meaningful and easier it is to find an enduring sense of pride and pleasure in the earned appreciation of your own children.

© 2007 Josephson Institute of Ethics; reprinted with permission. Michael Josephson, one of the nation’s leading ethicists, is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the premier youth character education program, CHARACTER COUNTS!

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New blogger! Re-design! Returning blogger!

C. J. Mahaney is joining the blog revolution–at least for a week he says. Let’s encourage him by reading his blog every once in awhile. C. J. is best known for his calling the church to cross-centered life! And in keeping with this he shares this in his first blog

So here would be my hope for this blog, and for the handful of you that will join my family in reading it. If I can somehow draw your attention each week to the hill called Calvary and remind you of the Savior’s substitutionary sacrifice on the cross for our sins, if I can draw your attention away from yourself and direct your affections to him, then this blog will have served your soul and made some small difference for the glory of God. I pray it does.

James White at Alpha Omega Ministries has totally redesigned his blog! A trove of information!

And my daughter Camille (Aka Nella) is back to blogging again.

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Scientology exposed!

TIME Magazine is doing a story on the church of scientology that has been in the news a lot lately.

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For your enjoyment!

Here are a few things I found interesting,  unusual or just enjoying around the web today.

A cool view of the new Airbus cockpit. (you will need high speed internet) (HT: Chailles )
This dad had an interesting day [week] out with her daughter, getting her introduced into politics early (HT: World)

A new Chinese Reformed bookstore opens up!  (Pass this on to your Chinese friends).

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