Apples of Gold (Proverbs 25:11)

A second peacemaking edition of Quote of the Week, which will henceforth be refered to as apples of Gold. Proverbs 25:11. Everyone wants peace, but few there be that find it. Here on this last day of the year, know there is no peace without Christ. You cannot make peace with God. You can HAVE peace with God through Christ. May the Lord bless.



“These easy-going, peace at any price people are often lacking in a sense of justice and righteousness; they do not stand where they should stand; they are flabby. They appear to be nice; but if the whole world were run on such principles and by such people it would be even worse than it is today. So I would add that your true peacemaker is not an “appeaser”, as we say today. You can postpone war by appeasement; but it generally means that you are doing something that is unjust and unrighteous in order to avoid war. The mere avoidance of war does not make peace; it does not solve the problem.” (Lloyd-Jones)


“The person who is not willing to disrupt and disturb in God’s name cannot be a peacemaker. To come to terms on anything less than God’s truth and righteousness is to settle for a true—which confirms sinners in their sin and may leave them even further from the kingdom. Those who in the name of Love or kindness of compassion try to witness by appeasement and compromise of God’s Word will find that their witness leads away from Him, not to Him. God’s peacemakers will not let a sleeping dog lie if it is opposed to God’s truth; they will not protect the status quo if it is ungodly and unrighteous. They are not willing to make peace at any price. God’; peace comes only in God’ way. Being a peace maker is essentially the result of a holy life and the call to others to embrace the gospel of holiness.” (MacArthur)



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Douglas Newell IV

Energy of a child

I am reading "Spiritual Depression" by D.M. Lloyd-Jones, which I am finding very helpful. He gave an example that I confess, I really had not thought about before. I'll paraphrase. He saw a young child bounding out of the house, jumping and skipping down the drive as children do, and there, followed Mother, walking out the door. He noted most would say that the child had more energy, but in fact, the mother does.

I confess, as the father of four young boys, I objected immediately. As I read the words, my boys were running through the house wrestling and fighting with their Nerf swords. But I thought about it, and perhaps he is right. My children are full speed ahead, throttle wide open from the time they wake up, until NAP TIME, then the same until their 8 pm bedtime. They cannot keep up the wide open pace. However, their mother and I work all day, while they nap and while they are asleep for the night. The have youthful enthusiasm for life, not more energy.

Think about it.

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Douglas Newell IV

What happens when you push the emergency button at the gas pump?

Dumb Woman Pushes Fire Button - Watch more Funny Videos


HT Phil Johnson

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Douglas Newell IV

Quote of the Week

Happy Monday,

Welcome to the puritan edition of the quote of the week.


"Evil Ministers are such as have no bowels to the souls of their people. They do not pity them or pray for them. They seek not them but theirs. They preach not for love but lucre. Their care is more for tithes than souls. How can they be called spiritual fathers, who are without bowels? These are mercenaries, not ministers." Thomas Watson, Beatitudes



"For a close, remember this, that your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure, therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and Heaven shall make amend for all." Thomas Brooks Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices




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Douglas Newell IV

A Child of the King

My former pastor, Joe Wilson, who has since gone home, used to sing this song, and it brings back fond memories of Bro. Joe, my childhood and the Calvary Baptist Church, but most of all the truth of the song. God Bless.

A Child of the King

One day a prince was riding through the forest near the castle were he lived. In the distance he heard the sound of a wood-chopper, busily engaged in the task of chopping wood. Farther down he hear the sound of singing, he rode and listed to see if he could tell what was being sung. As he listened, this is what he heard.
My Father is rich in houses and lands, he holdeth the wealth of the world in his hands! Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold, His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

I’m a child of the King, a child of the King, with Jesus my Saviour, I’m a child of the King.

The prince rode on through the forest and came to the clearing where the wood-chopper was working. He stopped, dismounted and said to the wood-chopper "I do no see how you can claim to be the child of a king. To be a child of the King you must be born into the family of the King, such as myself. You, well you are the son of a poor wood-chopper, just like yourself. How then can you claim to be the child of the King" To this, the wood-chopper made the following reply.
I once was an outcast stranger on Earth, A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth; But I’ve been adopted my name’s written down, An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

I’m a child of the King, a child of the King, with Jesus my Saviour, I’m a child of the King.

The prince the said to the wood-chopper "I still do not see how you can claim to be the child of the King. Children of Kings live in palaces, like in the one such as I live, and you live in a little cottage in a clearing in the woods. With a wood-chopper for a father, a cottage for a home, How can you pretend to be a child of the King?" To this , the wood-chopper made the following reply.
A tent or a cottage why should I care, they’re building a palace for me over there; Tho’ exiled from home, yet still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King

I’m a child of the King, a child of the King, with Jesus my Saviour, I’m a child of the King.




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Douglas Newell IV

ABORTION KILLS BABIES

This is my son Ethan in his mother's womb. Abortion kills babies.





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Douglas Newell IV

You Will Pay for Abortion

Is this True Love?

Imagine two people about to be wed, going out to dinner. As the man looks into his future brides eyes he says "I love you with all of my heart". She is overwhelmed thinking about it.

Then the waitress comes to the table, and he says to her "I love you with all my heart". A little taken back, "Who was that?" she asks. "Oh, I don’t know, but I love her." Then they leave and go to a gas station, he pays for the gas and says to the attendant "I love you with all my heart". "Who was that?" she wondered. "I don’t know" he replies again. He stops at a red light, rolls down his window to the stranger next to him and says "I love you with all my heart".
"I guess you don’t know her either?" He turns and looks deep in her eyes and says "I sure don’t, but I love her, just as I love you."
Is this a perfect love? Will Jesus say I love you, then say I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity?
This is true love!

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

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Douglas Newell IV

The Word of God

O Word of God incarnate!
O Wisdom from on high!
O Truth unchanged, unchanging;
O LIght of our dark sky!

We praise Thee for the radiance,
That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps,
Shines on from age to age." --W. How


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Douglas Newell IV

Quotes of the Week

A weekly feature.


"Doubting of principles is the next way to the denying of principles." Thomas Watson


"I maintain that that man I is void of judgment and conscience who hath not a fact and practice which correspond therewith."
John Clarke to the infant baptizers who had jailed for conscience, then turned the charge from conscience to the act of 're' baptizing.


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Douglas Newell IV

What Do You Know?

1. Name one citizen from the Land of Oz.
2. Name one citizen from the Land of Uz.
3. List the character names of the children from “The Brady Bunch”.
4. List the names of the children of Israel.
5. Put these shows in order based upon date of airing.

a. Gunsmoke
b. Seinfeld
c. NCIS
d. Cheers

6. Put these books in order based upon their appearing.

a. Zephaniah
b. Habakkuk
c. Amos
d. Hosea

7. Who was the 1st President of the United States?
8. Who was the 1st King of Israel?
9. Name the two major political parties.
10. Name the two divided kingdoms.
11. What is your favorite movie, and how many times have you seen it?
12. What is your favorite book of the bible, and how many times have you read it?
13. Who won the Super Bowl last year?
14. What did your pastor preach on last Sunday?
15. List 10 current TV shows.
16. List 10 Commandments.

Fill in the blank.
17. John and Kate plus _________.
18. I Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, _______souls were saved by water.
19. What does CSI stand for?
20. What does T.U.L.I.P stand for?

Is 100% a good score? Is 50% a good score? Did you get more odd numbered questions than even?
Something to think about; what is it we think about?


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Douglas Newell IV

Adopted for Life by Russell D. Moore

Adoption should play a major part in every Christian’s life one way or another because if you are a Christian, you have been adopted. In adopted for Life, Russell Moore weaves the story of the adoption of his two sons from Russian with the biblical truths of adoption, and practical advice and biblical principles for Christian’s in the adoption of children.

First, the purpose of the book was not to be a theological discourse; and perhaps keeping the book from being an academic study and too scholarly, it seemed to me to be a little loose on the doctrine by paraphrasing a little haphazardly biblical doctrine. I believe partly because he was speaking to a wide audience on the subject of adoption, both to Calvinistic and Arminian readers, the lines were not defined as clearly as they could have been in my opinion.

HOWEVER, the practical aspect of the book is excellent. I was blessed, saddened and convicted during the reading of the book. Moore confronted me of my lack of service in the biblical mandate of caring for the fatherless. I was caused to stop and pause at whether we can be more Republican or more Democrat than Christian. It is not the job of the state to take care of the fatherless, but the children of God. Moore compares to the plight of the orphan to our own plight being adopted by God. The tragedy of the orphan, the hurt, the love of the adopter, the legal ramifications of adoption (joint-heirs), the new family, and being raised in new family, the new identity all are illustrated for the believer in the lives of orphans.

Moore also offers sage advice from someone who has traveled the road. He admits that adoption was not his first choice; in fact he didn’t want to adopt. He wanted his “own” children. Moore addresses problems in infertility and the science involved. I was informed with the ethical issues Moore laid out with many of the infertility procedures, including the price; but handles with compassion the heartache of couples that cannot have children letting readers in on the struggle and heartache Moore and his wife had with their infertility.

The book also tackles problems that adopting families WILL face rude and stupid questions, insecurities and the like. It is not a step by step “how to adopt” book, but if you are planning or even thinking about adoption, this book will answer some questions you might have, or even cause you to ask questions you might not have thought of (like health issues, family rejection and disciplining the adoptive child)
I know that I learned much about myself as a child of God when God gave me children; and I am thankful to read this book about adoption from one who has experienced it, both spiritually and with his own family. Christians, in some way, whether adopting themselves, or active in helping others adopt, need to consider this biblical imperative. If we are pro-life, then we must be pro-adoption.

I would put this book on the Second Shelf
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Douglas Newell IV

Coulter, O'reilly, and the Manhattan Declaration

This illustrates my point on the Manhattan Declaration. Here you have a non-denominational Republican and a Roman Catholic coming together in the basis of “Christianity”, deriding anyone who does not “come together” to sign this document (starting at the 3:00 mark). Then it comes back to political action at 4:30.

I have and will fight and stand out against abortion. It is murder, plain and simple. I believe we also must reach out to young women and try to help those considering abortion, to give their children up for adoption, even adopting ourselves. I cannot unite, in the name of Christ, with those who lie about my Lord, and spread a false gospel that leads others to eternal damnation. The document unites all that sign in a unity of faith, thus giving our OK to the faith of the signers, which I cannot do.


Here is a transcript (from Media matters of all places) with a segment from a few years ago featuring Manhattan signer Al Mohler and Catholic supporter of the Manhattan Declaration, Bill O'reilly.


MOHLER: Well, I say first of all that Franklin Graham and Pat Robertson in this case spoke the truth as Christian believers and as Christian truth-tellers, and that's their responsibility. And both of them are men of compassion. And in this case, I've criticized Pat Robertson for some of the things he's said. But on this one, Bill, I have to say I think he's just on target.

O'REILLY: So you think Islam is a demonic religion?

MOHLER: Well, I would have to say as a Christian that I believe any belief system, any world view, whether it's Zen Buddhism or Hinduism or dialectical materialism for that matter, Marxism, that keeps persons captive and keeps them from coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, yes, is a demonstration of satanic power.

O'REILLY: So you're going to go to peace-loving Hindus and look at them and say your religion is demonic, doctor? That's what you're going to do?

MOHLER: Well, you know, that's an historic Christian position. Just understanding like the apostle Paul, that the spirit of this age is blinding persons from understanding the Gospel.

O'REILLY: Can you point to me in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, one time when Jesus looked at a Jew and said, "You're in a demonic religion"?

MOHLER: Well, he certainly never called Judaism -- he was himself a Jew -- a demonic religion. He did speak of persons, however, being under demonic possession and speaking on behalf of the devil, rather than on behalf of his father.

O'REILLY: I didn't hear him say the Romans were demonic. And they, of course, were polytheists, you know, worshipping whatever god.

MOHLER: You're making a good point. You're making a good point. I don't think either one of these men was saying that these people are demonic but, rather, that the belief system is.

O'REILLY: But you can't do that and expect moderate Muslims who respect their religion, all right, to help you, and you can't win the war on terror unless moderate Muslims help us.

So carrying it to its extreme, the Reverend Robertson and Dr. Franklin -- Dr. Graham, I should say -- are putting the country in danger by these kinds of statements that are going to be twisted and delivered to the Arab world as the condemnation of Muslims. And don't think Billy Graham [father of Franklin Graham] would ever say that anyway, do you?

MOHLER: Well, I know Dr. Graham, and I chaired one of his crusades. I do know that both doctors Graham would believe that the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.

O'REILLY: Yeah, but can say that in different ways, doctor. With all due respect, do you think Billy Graham would get out there and say, "Yeah, you go live in Saudi Arabia?" I just don't think they would do it. See, I don't mind -- I know what you're saying. I don't mind you spreading your belief system, but I don't think you should be condemning the beliefs of others, particularly in the war on terror.

MOHLER: Well, there's a point to be made there about how we should learn to speak in a way that follows some kind of etiquette. But at the bottom line, etiquette has to give way to truth. And in the case of the two statements from which you pulled there -- from Dr. Graham and from Pat Robertson, they were speaking a deeply Christian truth there that Christians have believed for 2,000 years. And by the way, not with Muslims, because of course now we have only 14 centuries of dealing with the challenge of Islam, but any belief system that keeps persons from coming to Christ we would see as a manifestation of a demonic power.

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Douglas Newell

Quotes of the Week

"I am more deadly than the screaming shell from the howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt men. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip."
From the MacArthur Commentary on James, quoting Morgan Blake.


"A man who does not forgiver another does not know forgiveness himself"
D.M. Lloyd-Jones from The Sermon on the Mount.



"It is thought to be unloving and unkind to hold people responsible for their sins. But that is a cheap grace that is not just and is not merciful, that offers neither punishment nor pardon for sin. And because it merely overlooks sin, it leaves sin; and the one who relies on that sort of mercy is left in his sin. To cancel justice is to cancel mercy. To ignore sin is to deny the truth; and mercy and truth are inseparable, that are "met together" (Ps. 85:10). In every true act of mercy, someone pays the price. God did, the Good Samaritan did, and so do we."
John MacArthur, Commentary on Matthew

"Some people are so busy being clever that they don't have time enough to be wise." Thomas Sowell

Douglas Newell