Potentates, princes, priests and people

Jeremiah 1:17-18 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

God told Jeremiah to gird up his loins, or as we might say now "man up." Jeremiah earlier said that he couldn't speak because he was a child. By himself, he was right, he had no strength. God didn't plan on sending him out in his own strength.

Potentates, princes, priests and people stand against God's people, we are like a defensed city, iron pillar and brazen wall in Christ.

Jeremiah 1:19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

Yes, they will fight against you and they will not listen, but they did not send Jeremiah, did they?

God sent, God gave the message and God would be with Jeremiah in the fire. They fight against you Jeremiah, but I, Jehovah, am there to deliver you. Christ, the deliverer had promised. Christ the deliverer HAS promised. Trust Him.

The Day Lincoln Was Shot by Jim Bishop

The Day Lincoln Was Shot tells the hour by hour account of the day President Lincoln was assassinated. Each chapter covers each hour in the 24 hour period, and detailing what happened with all the major players during that time during the course of that infamous day. You follow Lincoln, Booth, Grant, Seward and many others throughout there day.

It was a heartbreaking book, but it was quite thought provoking. The author points out many instances where the plot could have been stopped, and details many small, seemingly insignificant circumstances, that made the assassination possible. What came to my mind was the workings of God's providence.

Without a doubt, the book is painstaking researched and the author did a great job putting the pieces of the puzzle together. How difficult it must have been to piece together history? Yet what is even more amazing that God ordains all things to come to pass. Our minds marvel at the events of a past event, while God has planned all things and ordains all things to come to pass, for every person, place and thing, in all the universe, for all eternity!

I recently read a sermon by D. James Kennedy giving an account of Mr. Lincoln's salvation. Lincoln was not a Christian for most of his life, but, according to his research, Lincoln had repentant faith in Christ alone for salvation.

(Job 14:5) Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.

Douglas Newell IV

Triumphantly into harbour!

Martyn Lloyd-Jones from His book Spiritual Depression.

"For so,' he says (2 Peter 1:11) 'an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.' He is not talking about salvation here because these people are already saved; he is talking about the ultimate entrance into glory ... 'if you do these things', says Peter, 'if you discipline your life, if you order your life and furnish out your faith in this way and with these various other qualities', he says, 'you will never fall' in the present, you will have great joy and happiness resulting from your assurance, and when the end comes you will go out of this life into the next with your sails filled with the glorious breezes of Heaven. There will be no hesitation about it, it will not be an entrance with torn sails; rather an 'abundant entrance' will be ministered unto you ... For it will not be a putting out into some unknown sea, but rather an ending of the storms of life and a triumphant entry into the haven of our eternal rest and glory in the presence of God.

If we are unhappy and depressed Christians it is more than likely that it is all due to that lack of discipline. Let us therefore be up and doing, and giving all diligence, let us supplement our faith and not be afraid. Let us get our ideas clear and then put them into practice, and supplement our faith with this strength and vigour, with this knowledge, with this temperance, with this patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Let us begin to enjoy our Christian life and to be useful and helpful to others. Let us grow in grace and knowledge and so be an attraction to all who know us to come and join with us in the like precious faith, and to experience the blessedness of these exceeding great and precious promises which never fail."

Rational, Logical Pro-Life Arguments

The following is a portion from an article written by By Scott Klusendorf of the Life Training Institute. His article How to Defend Your Pro-Life Views in 5 Minutes or Less was very good, but I particularlly liked this acronym SLED for discussing pro-life issues.

Size
Level of development
Environment
Degree of Dependency

Think of the acronym SLED as a helpful reminder of these non-essential differences:4

Size: True, embryos are smaller than newborns and adults, but why is that relevant? Do we really want to say that large people are more human than small ones? Men are generally larger than women, but that doesn’t mean that they deserve more rights. Size doesn’t equal value.

Level of development: True, embryos and fetuses are less developed than you and I. But again, why is this relevant? Four year-old girls are less developed than 14 year-old ones. Should older children have more rights than their younger siblings? Some people say that self-awareness makes one human. But if that is true, newborns do not qualify as valuable human beings. Six-week old infants lack the immediate capacity for performing human mental functions, as do the reversibly comatose, the sleeping, and those with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Environment: Where you are has no bearing on who you are. Does your value change when you cross the street or roll over in bed? If not, how can a journey of eight inches down the birth-canal suddenly change the essential nature of the unborn from non-human to human? If the unborn are not already human, merely changing their location can’t make them valuable.

Degree of Dependency: If viability makes us human, then all those who depend on insulin or kidney medication are not valuable and we may kill them. Conjoined twins who share blood type and bodily systems also have no right to life.

In short, it’s far more reasonable to argue that although humans differ immensely with respect to talents, accomplishments, and degrees of development, they are nonetheless equal because they share a common human nature.

3) Challenge your listeners to be intellectually honest. Ask the tough questions. When critics say that birth makes the unborn human, ask, “How does a mere change of location from inside the womb to outside the womb change the essential nature of the unborn?” If they say that brain development or higher consciousness makes us human, ask if they would agree with Joseph Fletcher that those with an IQ below 20 or perhaps 40 should be declared non-persons? If not, why not? True, some people will ignore the scientific and philosophic case you present for the pro-life view and argue for abortion based on self-interest. That is the lazy way out. Remind your critics that if we care about truth, we will courageously follow the facts wherever they lead, no matter what the cost to our own self-interests.

Pro-abortion advocates spend great time, carefully crafting soundbites and slogans that deter from the real issue. Case in point, "pro-choice" was adopted to take the issue from life to choice of the mother. Don't yield the language.


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Douglas Newell IV

Books, books, and more books

LIBRARY BOOK SALE! Happy day for a book lover, the Youngsville, NC book sale. The Friends of the Library and community members donate used books to the library, who in turn, sale the books at a ridiculously low price; hardback $1 and paperback $0.50. Great deals on some good books.

This is the second sale this year, and I made out pretty good, if I must say. The Christian books represent well this time around, but I did pretty good on the non-fiction books.

I got my boys several paperback classics like The Time Machine, Red Badge of Courage, Three Musketeers and Robin Hood.

I am excited about two books in particular that fall in the non-fiction category. The first is The Day Lincoln was Shot by Jim Bishop. It is an hour by hour account of that infamous day that, well, the day Lincoln was shot (I love the title, not fancy, not "clever" or deceptive. You know what your getting). The second book I look forward to is American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur by William Manchester. Sadly and to my shame, I don't know what I should about the World Wars. In all the years of public schooling, not once did any of my teachers talk about WWI or WWII. Sad. That is one reason (howbeit a small reason) my wife and I are homeschooling. How could you not teach about WWII?

One funny observation. I arrived at the sale at 8:45am. The sale started at 9:00am. The place was packed already. I stopped for a moment and looked around; it was like a swarm of ants. Every man, woman and child for themselves.

Manners? Politeness? Fairness? Come, these are books after all. I suppose when people see books for a $1 and then see you taking the book that they would have if they had gotten there first, it stirs our little sinful hearts up. Fortunately, no one was injured; well, seriously injured anyway. 8^)

Apples of Gold

"Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic,' in which situations purporting to be ironic are merely sad, random, or annoying (a traffic jam when you're late, a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break) perpetuates widespread misuse of the word and outrages irony prescriptivists. It is of course ironic that 'Ironic' is an unironic song about irony. Bonus irony: 'Ironic' is widely cited as an example of how Americans don't get irony, despite the fact that Alanis Morissette is Canadian."
Jon Winokur, The Big Book of Irony

Rationalism is never so weak as when it fancies itself strong. Hugh Martin

A sermon is an oral address to the popular mind, upon religious truth contained in the Scriptures, and elaborately treated with a view of persuasion. Phelps

Give to the poor those things which you cannot keep that you may receive those things which you cannot loose. Augustine

Douglas Newell IV

The victim happened to have banjo in hand and used it in self defense

Interesting story from Kansascity.com.


Overland Park man uses banjo in self defense

Attacked by a man wielding a frying pan and a knife, an Overland Park man swung his banjo.
Police say the banjo blow to the head stopped the assailant, who was treated for a cut and is now in jail awaiting charges.

The incident happened about 9 p.m. Monday at an apartment in the 7600 block of Shawnee Mission Parkway, police said.

The two 21-year-old men were drinking and arguing about a band when one of them grabbed the kitchen weapons and attacked, police said.

The victim happened to have banjo in hand and used it in self defense, they said.

The smell of alcohol was prevalent, police said.

The smell of alcohol was prevalent? Really? I never would have guessed. Also, do note that it was the BANJO play that used his instrument, not the mandolin or guitar player. Better to be hit by a frying pan than to break your mandolin.

Also, what band were they arguing about? And at what point in an argument to you reach for a knife AND a frying pan? Why the knife and the frying pan? Was the frying pan an offensive or defensive weapon?

I can't decide what I think about this story; funny, sad, embarrassing, a heroic tale of self-defense...at least it didn't happen in Kentucky.

9/11

Apples of Gold

Leading off, C.H. Spurgeon on false professors.

Too many professors pacify themselves the idea that they possess imputed righteousness, while they are indifferent to the sanctifying work of the Spirit. They refuse to put on the garment of obedience, they reject he white linen which is the righteousness of the saints. They thus reveal their self-will, their enmity to God, and their non-submission to His Son.”

Batting second, John Piper

"Many people are willing to be God centered, as long as they feel that God is man centered."

Batting third, from his book on Johah, Hugh Martin.

Ah! Beware of disobedience like these, stroke upon stroke. You may think you gain your end; but the Lord has you in His hand, and never more so than precisely when you think you have succeeded. You may resolve to disobey; you may rise up and flee; you may find you way to Joppa; you may find the ship ready there; you may find the mariners make no objection to your company, and are ready to receive the fare. You may crow all, and think the day is gained, when you go down into the ship. How successful has your scheme been?

Hitting cleanup, Robert Murray M'Cheyne describing the idol of the fear of man.

Fear of man, grim idol, bloody mouthed; many souls he has devoured and trampled down into hell. His eyes are full of hatred to Christ's disciples. Scoffs and jeers lurk i his eye. The laugh of the scorner growls in his throat. Cast down this idol... You that have felt God's love and Spirit, dash this idol to pieces. What art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die? Fear not, thou worm Jacob. What have I to do any ore with idols?

Douglas Newell IV

Jeremiah 17:9

Aroldis Chapman: The Cuban Missile

Exciting time to be a Reds fan!

Hallelujah, What a Designer!

This is amazing. I had never even considered how difficult it would be for a giraffe to breathe. With every creature, every animal a wonderful design.

Make sure that you watch the end; proves Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. It says the fool SAID, not believes. The fools says there is no God, but he doesn't really believe it, he is a liar. How do I know? God told us.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Virtues of faith in Hebrews 11 by B.H. Carroll

1. In two cases it has secured translation over the river of death, and will again, on a mightier scale at our Lord’s coming.


2. It always pleases God, and without it God cannot be pleased.


3. It brings salvation—sometimes temporal, always eternal.


4. It both conquers and condemns the world.


5. It sustains under a privation or torture.


6. It is a spiritual telescope, bringing the invisible and heavenly world into clear view, and the spiritual microscope discerning God’s providence in the fall of a sparrow.


7. It confers potency on impotency.


8. It staggers not in unbelief, though the dead must be raised to fulfill the promise.


9. It has the spirit of prophecy, foretelling future events.


10. It is the principle by which great decisions are made.


11. It divests of all fear except the fear of God.


12. It is the principle of obedience, progress, and sanctification.


13. It overcomes the insuperable and achieves the impossible. IT passes seas and rivers dry-shod, crumbles the walls of hostile cities, subdues kingdoms, obtains promises, stops the mouths of lions, quenches the power of fire, escapes the sword, waxes valiant in fight, accepts the spoliation of goods, wanders unawed in mountains, and sleeps undisturbed in dens and caves of the earth.


14. It understands origins, and destines, and the supernatural—all beyond the ken, and outside the realm of human science and philosophy.


15. It controls the life, being the eye and ear and hand of the soul.

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Douglas Newell IV

Is Mormonism Christian?

A great number of people are being about Mormonism. The following is a video response from James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries to a LDS video in which the Mormon "apostle" claims that he is Christian.

It is worth the time to watch the video, in my opinion. If not for your sake, the sake of others you may know who are falling into snare of Mormonism because Mormonism is not Christian. Conservatism and United States patriotism does not trump the gospel. Glenn Beck, out of deception or ignorance, is promoting his faith as Christian, and undiscerning Christians are joining with him. It is sad to see so many men and women put the gospel SECOND because our country must come first.

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.



2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: 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.
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Douglas Newell IV

The Word of God by James Smith

Continuing our theme on God's Word, here is a excerpt from a message preached by James Smith at New Park Street Church, London, 1849. You can read the sermon in its entirety at Gracegems.org.


The Bible is God's book, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from error; "Holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

It contains God's law, the church's history, and Christ's gospel. It reveals God, opens heaven, and directs man. It makes known God's thoughts, the world's doom, and the church's blessedness. It unfolds eternity to time, brings heaven to earth, and makes invisible realities known. It was written for sinners, has been preserved by a special providence, and is the godly man's treasure. Infidels scorn it, angels study it with wonder, and the saints delight in it. It is a token of God's love, a proof of his regard, and a display of his concern for our welfare.

This Word of God contains . . .
the Law—commanding, condemning, and cursing;
the Psalms—disclosing, elevating, and praising;
the Gospel—unfolding, inviting, and directing;
the Prophets—predicting, exhorting, and denouncing.

It contains a rich variety, a divine fullness, and is exactly adapted to meet the case and condition of sinners.

Its histories are true, instructive, and impartial.
Its precepts are just, holy, and good.
Its cautions are beneficial, wise, and useful.
Its exhortations are judicious, adapted, and profitable.
Its reproofs are kind, solemn, and suitable.
Its directions are merciful, practical, and plain.
Its instructions are deep, spiritual, and extensive.
Its corrections are loving, just, and judicious.
Its doctrines are divine, sublime, and glorious.
Its descriptions are vivid, correct, and impartial.
Its invitations are general, attractive, and gracious.
Its promises are great, numerous, and invaluable.
Its warnings are solemn, preventing, and tender.
Its threatenings are dreadful, alarming, and just.
Its parables are simple, instructive, and edifying.
Its types are significant, impressive, and suitable.
Its examples are bright, winning, and worthy.
It is in every part, and every way, worthy of a God!

We have this blessed book as God's free gift, procured for us by our adorable Redeemer, and bestowed upon us through the Holy Spirit. Its revelations were delivered, first orally, then written, then printed: first given to a few, then written for many, then printed for all: first freely bestowed, then hard to be obtained and now easily to be gotten. Given by God, opposed by the devil, blasphemed by many, rejected by more, unknown to thousands—but highly prized by a few. It is suited to youth, adapted to manhood—but peculiarly applicable to old age. It is the child's lesson book, the learner's class book, and the scholar's text book. Many study it, all Christians believe it—but none fully comprehend it.

Plenary, Verbal Inspiration

The Bible, over and again, declares itself to be the Words of God. There are 1,717 variants of ‘saith the Lord’.

Thus saith the Lord – 413 times in the Old Testament
Lord said/saith – 233 times
Saith the Lord God - 253 times
Saith the Lord -- 815
Word(s) of the Lord – 274 times
Word(s) of God - 54 times
Commandment(s) of God/the Lord – 65 times
176 verses in Psalm 119
Lord Spake – 144 times

Divine authorship of the Bible is not only declared, but God Himself had told us over 2,000 times that this is His Word. If you spread it out, that would be more than once on every page. The Bible is authoritative and sufficient because the Author testifies it to His people.
2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 John 2:20

The Bible also tells us how it was inspired, by plenary, verbal inspiration.
2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

J.R. Graves in The Work of Christ Consummated in Seven Dispensations said:

“It is urged by some who profess to be the friends of Christianity, that “since the Bible was not given to teach us Geology or Astronomy, Geography or History, that only those parts are inspired that teach religion, while there may be inaccuracies with respect to secular and scientific matters.” I cannot accept this proposed betrayal of the Word of God. I accept no compromise. It is all God’s Word, or none of it is God’s Word. Can all Scripture be indeed inspired of God and yet abound with manifest and manifold errors touching secular things? Is not God as regardful of His veracity in small things as well as in the greatest – concerning science, geography, and history as purely “religious matters?” When one falsehood can be undoubtedly fixed upon any part of the Sacred Book, then its claims upon my credence are forever forfeited. If one statement is found to be false, I know not which ones are true. There may be errors in the transcription of the ancient manuscripts; there may be errors in translation, and errors many in interpretation, but that the original Scriptures are the words of the living God, he most explicitly declares them to be. No true friend to Christianity can advocate a spotted inspiration, since it effectually wipes out the Bible as a reliable book from the face of the earth. God has placed his imprimatur upon “all Scripture” and therefore He avows Himself the Author of each and every utterance and allusion they contain. This is my position: All Scripture is inspired, and therefore no Scripture can be uninspired.”

For six thousand years, Satan and his children have tried to destroy God’s Word, limit God’s Word, Question God’s Word, discredit, criticize in textual criticism, replace it, water it down, mistranslate it, and yet this book still remains. God has told us thousands of times this is His Word, the Holy Spirit testifies to His people that the Bible is His Word.

The New Hampshire about 1833 states:

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

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Douglas Newell IV

Big Tent of Damnable Heresy

First, if you CAN watch this.

WARNING:if you have just finished eating, maybe come back in about 60 minutes. Not for the faint hearted (actually, it is intended for the faint-hearted, that is what makes him dangerous Romans 16:18)



Reminds me of what Spurgeon said in Lectures to my Students

Abhor the practice of some men, who will not bring out the letter "r," such a habit is "vewy wuinous and wediculous, vewy wetched and wepwehensible." Now and then a brother has the felicity to possess a most winning and delicious lisp. This is perhaps among the least of evils, where the brother himself is little and winning, but it would ruin any being who aimed at manliness and force. I can scarcely conceive of Elijah lisping to Ahab, or Paul prettily chipping his words on Mars' hill.

I digress.

If you reject the Bible, orthodoxy, truth, the inerrancy of scripture and hold to a squishy universalism, that is not Christianity. Take your big tent of damnable heresy somewhere else.

Clayton said on the website:

"As leaders it’s our task to help break the cycle of anger, of rejection leading to rejection, and to foster a radically different understanding of the heart of Christian faith.”

A radically different understanding of the heart of the Christian faith? What is the heart of the Christian faith? The Cross. The substitutionary atoning death of Jesus Christ the Lord and His resurrection for the justification of the elect. Christ alone, through faith alone. What, pray tell, is your radically different idea? What about your liberal theology are you going to give up to have this big tent? How about you abandon your universalism, repent and trust in Christ alone? See, when heretics like Brian McClaren and Clayton clamor and lisp about for unity, what that really means is abandon truth and unify with our heresy.

This conference is coming to my town. Perhaps the biggest group of heretics in the world, all coming together "e-merging" at one conference, if you will. Tony Jones, Peter Rollins, Keith Ward, Tripp Fuller, Tim Conder, Terence Fretheim, Greg Boyd and Jo-Ann Badley Philip Clayton, Brian McLaren.

It is interesting to wonder why they want to keep the name Christian at all? If you are opposed to the fundamental teachings of Christianity, then why do they insist on being Christians, other than to purposefully deceive and secretly bring in damnable heresies.
I read his bio where it says:

"Philip Clayton is a philosopher and theologian specializing in the entire range of issues that arise at the intersection between science and religion."

and this:

"Above all, Clayton’s books and articles address the cultural battle currently raging between science and religion. Rejecting the scientism of Dawkins and friends, he argues, does not open the door to fundamentalism."

and my PERSONAL favorite:

"As a public intellectual he seeks to address the burning ethical and political issues at the intersection of science, ethics, religion, and spirituality (e.g., the stem cell debate, euthanasia, the environmental crisis, interreligious warfare). As a philosopher he works to show the compatibility of science with religious belief across the fields where the two may be integrated (emergence theory, evolution and religion, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience and consciousness)."

Emphasis mine.
So, how does one become a public intellectual? I asked my wife from henceforth to call me by my new self appointed title "Doug Newell: public intellectual". I kind of expected her laughing at me; which is kind of my point. If you are a PUBLIC intellectual, do you really have to tell us that you are in your bio?

This also gives the answer to this "big tent" idea. See, Mr. Clayton seems to be more concerned with being accepted as a philosopher, scientist and a public intellectual than with Biblical truth. He wants everyone to know that he isn't an atheist like Richard Dawkins, but that doesn't mean he has to be one of those crazy people who believe in the authority and sufficiency of Divine Holy Writ.

Want to be a public intellectual, go be one, but stop calling it Christianity.

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Douglas Newell IV

The Religion of Pants on Fire

What was that? More clips from Wretched TV you say?

Where's that "wall of separation"?

Gossip, Jehu Style.

Some people treat their brothers and sisters, with their gossip, like Jehu treated Jezebel with his horse. Jehu had Jezebel thrown down out of the window and her blood splattered all over (2 Kings 9:31-33). But like Jehu, once the person has fallen high and landed hard, think they need to trample the body under foot for good measure. Once a man has fallen, there is no need to trample the brother down under foot with gossip.

Unbelievers who despise God's Holiness

I have been reading and commenting on a blog called Preaching Barefoot: Pastoral Ministry as a Human Being.

The original post was on how to deal with unbelievers rejection of God based upon God's judgment in the flood found in Genesis 6. The author said that his friends had said they couldn't believe in the God of the bible because of the violence of the flood. That their god was loving and merciful.

Here is the introductory statement of the author Zack Eswine from his blog.

Why do some of our neighbors doubt the God of the Bible and what responsibility do we have toward them in this doubt? In response to a thoughtful inquiry regarding my post on how we think about the violence of God, I tried to answer this question. How would you answer?

Here is the inquiry: I had said that the violence of God in Genesis 6 challenged me. “It challenged me because I know that two dear friends of mine reject the God of the Bible because of this very passage and others like it.”

The good question then came:
Do you think that they reject the God of the Bible because of passages like this or is it because God is holy? Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that had they lived in this time, they would have been judged too.

I am of the opinion that the unbeliever in that situation is not offended by the so-called violence of God but rather His holiness.

The entire point of Genesis 6 is to show God’s love and mercy, but the love and mercy of God is not seen without God’s holiness and wrath. God’s holiness is the jewel of His attributes. God’s wrath was kindled because of sin and God’s mercy was displayed in salvation from God’s justice.

Let me put it this way. YOU are Noah. You know that the flood is coming by God’s word. You know that the only way for your friends to live is to repent, believe, and be in the ark when the flood comes. So when you tell them about the flood, they laugh and don’t believe God would be so ‘violent’ as to send destruction on them, their god is loving. What do you do? After 100 years, no doubt the warning of God’s judgment was trite to the unbelieving neighbors but the reality of the situation was no less true. God’s love and mercy was that He provided a way of escape, salvation.

Our situation is really not any different than Noah’s, judgment is coming and there is salvation in the Ark. 2 Peter 2:5 says that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. Hebrews 11:7 said that in fear he built the ark and by this condemned the world. Noah’s message was one of holiness, righteousness and coming judgment. Noah’s message also showed that God had prepared a way of salvation for those who would believe. I can’t say that Noah “didn’t try” but Noah was faithful to present the reality of the situation. The answer may seem trite to the unbeliever and unless God works in their heart, as He did mine, it [the gospel message] will be extremely offensive.

It is not the violence; it is the judgment that bothers people, and rightly so. It is the fact that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory that disturbs them. The clear black and white of justice and law.

The unbeliever won't believe by tempering who God is in our message. We must preach lovingly and with mercy, but declare God's truth.

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Douglas Newell IV

The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins

We are currently going through Matthew on Wednesday night at church (transitioned from Sunday night to Wednesday night after the Sermon on the Mount). In chapters eight and nine, Matthew lays out proofs that Jesus is the Messiah. There are two overarching themes in these chapters, but let’s just take a look briefly and the eighth chapter.

1st: Faith.
The leper had faith that Jesus could make him clean.
The Centurion had faith that Jesus could heal his servant, merely by saying the words (he had GREAT faith).
Jesus healed the multitude that came to Peter's house, having faith that he could heal.
Jesus tells his disciples that they would have to forsake all and follow him, that is a life living by faith.
Jesus calmed the stormy sea and the disciples were said to have LITTLE faith.

2nd: Power.
Christ had power over sickness
Christ had divine power in His Word.
Jesus had power over the flesh.
Jesus had power over the elements.
Jesus had power over demons by casting out Legion.

We come, at the beginning of chapter nine, to the next point that Jesus has Divine power over; the power to forgive sins.

In chapter nine we have the account of the man with palsly who had come to Christ for healing and forgivness. The multitude had come and the paralyzed man (who was being helped by his friends) were unable to navigate through the crowds to get to the Lord. They went on top of the house, lifted the roofing and lowered their friend down to the Lord.

Jesus say their faith and said “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven.” The scribes that heard it thought that Jesus had commited blasphemy by saying He could do what only God could do; forgive sins.

Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Jesus has the power to forgive sins. The word is translated from the word ‘exousia’ which means a power and kingly authority. (“All ‘power’ is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth”). Jesus has the power to forgive sins and has the authority to forgive sins.

The authority to forgive is vastly important. Who do we offend when we sin? We offend God. Who alone has the authority to forgive? Do I have the authority to sign a prisoner’s pardon? Do I have the authority to forgive you enemy for you? NO! only the offended has the authority to forgive. Jesus, God the Son, has the authority as part of the Godhead to forgive sins

Next, as the ‘Son of Man’, the most common term Jesus addressed Himself, Jesus identifies with us as the Godman. Jesus as God has the authority to forgive sins and Jesus, the Son of Man, has the ability to die for sins. The Son of man with the Divine authority on Earth to forgive sins. Jesus plainly tells who He is and what He has come to do, forgive sins.

Jesus is able to forgive. He has the power (ability) to forgive sins and He has the authority to pronounce sins forgiven. Jesus has the means and ability to atone for sins and He has the power to confidently proclaim a man forgiven. He has the authority to command one to go away without fear, for sins are forgiven.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Jesus, in His great love and compassion saw the need of one who came to Him by faith. Trembling and afraid, this man came to Christ know that Jesus was able to forgive sins. It was by faith, not by works that this man was healed.

For all those who are unclean by the filth of sin and who are spiritually sick, who are of themselves, unable to move, as the man with palsy. He couldn’t walk to Jesus, he had to be brought by his friends; likewise we, of our own power and accord cannot walk to Christ, but must be brought by the friend and comforter of sinners, the Holy Spirit of God. We are unable to heal ourselves and unable to bring ourselves to the place of salvation. But by faith, we have access to God, and by God’s amazing grace, through faith, we too can arise and walk with the Lord, to come of the bed of death and Hell and walk in newness of life by the Spirit’s power.

My Last Days on Earth

Haven't had time to blog lately, been busy. Just to clean the cobwebs off the site, here is a little ditty from Mr. Bill Monroe.

Them he also glorified

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

“The absence of all evil will be another feature of the coming glory. Take the long catalog of ills we suffer here –the cares that corrode, the anxieties that agitate, the sorrows that depress, the bereavements that wound, the diseases that waste, the temptations that assail -- in a word, whatever pains a sensitive mind, or wounds a confiding spirit; the rudeness of some, the coldness of others, the unfaithfulness and heartlessness of yet more; and as you trace the sad list, think of glory as the pace where not one shall enter. All, all are entirely and eternally absent. “God shall wipe away al tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, more crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Octavius Winslow No Condemnation in Christ Jesus

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Douglas Newell IV

Book Review: Priscilla by Joseph Banvard

Priscilla Or Trials For The Truth: An Historic Tale Of The Puritans And The Baptists (1854) BY: Joseph Banvard

Priscilla is a historical novel that tells the story of a young girl, Priscilla Eaton, as she leaves Europe with her family due to religious persecution with the hope of freedom in the new world of the Americas. The Eaton's were puritans who narrowly escaped imprisonment from the European state church before fleeing to America. From the opening chapter, the Eaton's suffer one hardship after the other for their faith.

Without giving too much away, the puritan family in the American colonies are confronted with another type of persecution; this time the puritans are persecuting those who do not share their beliefs, the Baptist.

The book combines historical events of John Clark and Obadiah Holmes with the tale of Eaton's at the same time examining biblical truth about salvation and the church, especially that of baptism. In the style of historical novel, with footnotes of the accuracy of the events, the tale of Obadiah Holmes public whipping and imprisonment for his belief in Baptist, believers baptism is an a challenging chapter. We tend to think of the new world as the land of religious freedom and persecution ended on the other side of world; but religious freedom wasn't free and persecution was alive and well in the new colonies.

The chapters are really short, the story is intriguing and overall a good book. There are a few things I am in disagreement with, but as a whole, great book. We read the book as a family after dinner, and it was suspenseful enough to keep my young sons (6 and under) interested in the story and gave us ample opportunity to discuss spiritual truths.

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Douglas Newell IV

Conformed to the image of Christ

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Desire, child of God, to be conformed to the image of Christ. Pray for that end because you are predestined to that end. See God’s Providence in molding and shaping you to Divine conformity. The dark clouds of suffering and trails are ever working in us that which is necessary for our ultimate good. Child of God, whatever trouble you are now facing know that God has allowed it for your good, your training, your conformity to the image of His blessed Son.

Remember the promises of God, that He will not abandon you; EVER. Christ will always be there and He will never give you up. Jesus will never leave you, He is there and will be there in the midst of the most violent of storms to aid, comfort and protect.


Douglas Newell IV

James Smith, "Grace for the Humble" 1859

From Grace Gems daily devotional, an excerpt from James Smith sermon Grace for the Humble.

"All who will live godly in Christ Jesus--shall suffer persecution!" 2 Timothy 3:12

The enmity of the world against God is as great as ever. It may be concealed--but it is not destroyed.

The world will oppose the godly man.
If we were more godlike--it would . . .
hate us more,
oppose us more,
and persecute us more!

We have little persecution from the world, because there is so little in us to awaken persecution.

Our light is so dim.
Our salt has lost so much of its savor.
Our approximation to the world is so great.

If instead of being conformed to the world--we were transformed by the renewing of our minds; if instead of getting as near to it as we can--we were to stand afar off from its pleasures, amusements, fashions, and spirit; if our lives were a daily testimony against it, and against its works as evil--it would soon oppose us with a deadly hatred!

The Prayer of God's Children

An excerpt from No Condemnation in Christ Jesus by Octavius Winslow:

"The Eternal [God], whose ear bends to the softest whisper, and hearkens to the gentlest sigh of His child, a confession, or a request, which shall not be unheard, unheeded or forgotten."

How precious to think that the Loving Father delights in the prayers of His children (Proverbs 15:8). None of us pray as we ought. God doesn't require eloquence of prayer because who is eloquent compared to God? We are children, poor, in-firmed children weakly stammering before our God. But we have a loving Father who hears our prayers because He loves us and because we have a Glorious Saviour who mediates and intercedes for us that we me boldly come before the throne of grace and the blessed Spirit who helps our infirmities as we pray.

The Myth of Tolerance

Here is where a socialistic state leads. I do not understand why so many Americans want this.

Sweden bans home schooling because nothing is so dangerous as children not being told what to think by know it all, godless government officials.

Can they not see their own hypocrisy? Can the people not see that they they take away peoples right to conscience and THOUGHT and BELIEF in the name of free thought and tolerance?

Tolerance in the liberal mind goes something like this:

"You let me do what ever I want to do, no matter how vile, no matter how sinful, and no matter what the consequences are to the people around me and society as a whole; and YOU WILL LIKE IT. If you do not LIKE what I do and celebrate me for doing it, then you must hate me and must be punished."

They did not want anyone to FORCE their children to pray to God, but will FORCE the children to adopt the worldview of the state. Socialist are both wicked oppressors and cry-babies at the same time. It is quite a paradox. "Agree with me and my ideas of peace and tolerance, OR WE WILL BREAK YOU!" says the kind-hearted liberal socialistic state.

Antinomianism

Some Mandolin Goodness

Some fine mandolin pickin' for your listening pleasure.

Hail, Sovereign Love

Hail, sovereign love which first began,
The scheme to rescue fallen man!
Hail, matchless, free, eternal grace,
Which gave my soul a hiding place!

Against the God who rules the sky,
I fought with hand uplifted high!
Despised the notion of His grace,
Too proud to seek a hiding place!

Enwrapt in thick Egyptian night,
And fond of darkness more than light!
Madly I ran the sinful race,
Secure without a hiding place!

But thus the eternal counsel ran:
"Almighty love--arrest that man!"
I felt the arrows of distress,
And found I had no hiding place!

Indignant Justice stood in view;
To Sinai's fiery mount I flew!
But Justice cried, with frowning face,
"This mountain is no hiding place!"

E'er long, a heavenly voice I heard,
And Mercy's angel soon appeared;
He led me on with gentle pace,
To Jesus as my hiding place!

Should sevenfold storms of thunder roll,
And shake the earth from pole to pole;
No thunder bolt could daunt my face,
For Jesus is my hiding place!

On Him almighty vengeance fell,
That would have sunk a world to hell!
He bore it for the chosen race,
And thus became their hiding place!

A few more rolling suns at most,
Shall land me on fair Canaan's coast;
Where I shall sing the song of grace,
And see my glorious Hiding Place!

Book Review: Ruth By J. Vernon McGee

The book had some good insights into the lives of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz but I wouldn't recommend this book. McGee tells a fascinating story, but much of the storyline he tells is his imagination, not taken from the text. I appreciate a book that puts you into the narrative and could have overlooked the storyline he proposed had it not been for the doctrinal error. This book is very arminian and very universal invisible church in its teaching. I was a surprised how quickly the book turned arminian, especially when he dealt with God's providence in Ruth ending up in Bethlehem and when she "happened" to find Boaz's field. He showed how it was that Ruth and Boaz had to meet, had to be in Bethlehem because of the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is sovereign in Ruth finding Boaz's field, but not sovereign in salvation? If God is sovereign in Ruth coming to Boaz, how could He not also be sovereign in the sinner coming to Christ? Boaz was a kinsmen redeemer. He showed Ruth love before she loved Him. He bought her, stood in her stead, loved her, blessed her, protected her, provided for her as he was her near kinsmen. When the other family member would not (could not) redeem her, Boaz did because he wanted to, because he loved her.
Too much bad theology. Skip it.

Ruth - By J. Vernon McGee:

My Father (A Grace Gems devotional)

By:
James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings"

"My Father!" Jeremiah 3:4

This is a child's cry!
It is full of meaning.
It is full of love.
It is full of comfort.
It is a title which the Lord loves to hear us use!

Lord, give us the Spirit of adoption this morning,
and let us see and feel, that we are Your children!

Believer!
To whom will you repair in trouble?
To whom will you look in difficulty?
To whom will you cry in danger?
From whom will you ask when in need?
Surely I hear you say, "My Father!"

Who speaks to you in the Bible?
Who tries you by His providence?
Who chastens you with His rod?
Who purifies and cleanses you?
Who humbles and reproves you?
Again you will say, "My Father!"

Who supports the world?
Who controls the nations?
Who chains up Satan?
Who comforts the believer?
Who pardons the backslider?
Again you reply, "My Father!"

Then I exhort you to . . .
trust your Father's Word,
abide in your Father's house,
expect from your Father's hand,
and say in every trial:
"I will arise and go to my Father!"

Apples of Gold

The Infinite Merit of Christ by Craig Biehl

I am really enjoying The Infinite Merit of Christ by Craig Biehl. The subtitle is: The Glory of Christ's Obedience in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards. I usually do not enjoy reading a book that is roughly half quotes from another author[s] especially if hundreds of years separate the two writers. The vast difference in the use of languages are distracting to me. But Biehl has done a great job in writing that I do not find the frequent alternating paragraphs between him and Edwards distracting at all. I haven't read the book to recommend it, but I do love this quote from Biehl summarizing the first chapter.

"...Edwards defines the glory of God as the shining forth of His excellent perfections. Internally the glory of God is displayed and communicated among the persons of the Trinity in the Son reflecting the excellent perfections of the Father, in the Father viewing His own excellence in the perfections of the Son, and in the Father’s joy and love of those perfections by the Holy Spirit, the love between the persons of the Trinity. In the same manner, God accompli9shes His ultimate purpose to display and communicate His glory to His creatures in His glory displayed in the person and redeeming work of Christ, and in the giving of the Holy Spirit to believers by whom they love and rejoice in the excellence of the Son of the Father. Consequently, God’s ultimate purpose to glorify Himself is one and the same with His purpose to communicate His happiness to His creatures, the whole of which is accomplished in and through the person and redeeming work of Christ."

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Douglas Newell IV

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAY

Philippians 4:4
Arthur W. Pink

Why should I, who am by nature no different from the careless and godless throngs all around, have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world and now blest with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Him? Why was I, that once was an alien and a rebel, signaled out for such wondrous favors? Ah, that is something I cannot fathom. Such grace, such love, "passeth knowledge." But if my mind is unable to discern a reason, my heart can express its gratitude in praise and adoration. But not only should I be grateful to God for His grace toward me in the past, His present dealings will fill me with thanksgivings. What is the force of that word "Rejoice in the Lord alway" (Phil. 4:4)? Mark it is not "Rejoice in the Saviour", but we are to "Rejoice in the Lord", as "Lord", As THE MASTER OF EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. Need we remind the reader that when the apostle penned these words he was himself a prisoner in the hands of the Roman government. A long course of affliction and suffering lay behind him. Perils on land and perils on sea, hunger and thirst, scourging and stoning, had all been experienced. He had been persecuted by those within the church as well as by those without: the very ones who ought to have stood by him had forsaken him. And still he writes, "Rejoice in the Lord alway" What was the secret of his peace and happiness? Ah! had not this same apostle written, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28)? But how did he, and how do we, "know", that all things work together for good? The answer is, Because all things are under the control of and are being regulated by the Supreme Sovereign, and because He has naught but thoughts of love toward His own, then "all things are so ordered by Him that they are MADE TO MINISTER TO OUR ULTIMATE GOOD. It is for this cause we are to give "thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20). Yes, give thanks for "all things" for, as it has been well said "Our disappointments are but His appointments." To the one who delights in the sovereignty of God the clouds not only have a 'silver lining' but they are silver all through, the darkness only serving to offset the light!


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Douglas Newell IV

Beatlegras Rehearsing the Star Spangled Banner

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Douglas Newell IV

Noah, Daniel and Job

Ezekiel 14:1-23
The people of Israel where coming to the Lord in hypocrisy. They supposedly came before the Lord God; but they did so with idols in their heart and stumbling blocks of sin before their face. How could one truly seek the Lord God with a heart full of idols? God said that if any man in the house of Israel came before him with idols in his heart and sin before His face, God would answer him according the multitude of his idols in judgment because Israel were alienated from God because of their idols (thank God for our Mediator Jesus Christ, I shudder to imagine the number of idols in any man’s heart). God tells them to repent from their sins and idols and flee from their abominations; otherwise God would set His face against that man and cut them off.

Ezekiel continues the message of the Lord saying that if the land, the people continue their grievous sin God would send judgment upon the land. The hypocrites had within their heart the idea that because of who they were, and who dwelt among them, that God would spare the nation. Because there were holy prophets, because there were godly men, because they had been blessed in the past that God would somehow pass His judgment over their sins. They were wrong.

Not only would the righteous not prevent the judgment of God, but the combined righteousness of Noah, Daniel and Job would not spare them. Had Noah and Job came back from the dead and joined Daniel (Daniel was alive at the time, and still quite young, so it is a great testimony to him that this young man was mentioned among giants), they could not have averted judgment of the land.

Pray for our nation. We celebrate our independence, and we thank God for our freedom, but we are sorely mistaken that God will spare us despite our sins. Yes, God has blessed, but that is not promise that He will continue to do so. We are living in a fog, a daze, a dream like state where nothing is real, nothing is important, as if God will allow our nation to continue on its godless heathen, paganistic path forever. Learn the lesson here...if God would not spare Israel and the land of promise, because of their sin, how much worse for a Gentile nation?

The righteousness of others cannot save your soul. Your church cannot, your baptism cannot, your family cannot stand in between you and a holy God. Only Jesus Christ can reconcile you to God. Take the enemy of God, a sinner who relishes in breaking God’s laws and make that same enemy a friend and a son.

I hope that Americans have a good Independence Day, but most importantly, I hope that you have been delivered by Jesus Christ, that you have liberty in Him, by grace, through faith in His blood that was shed on Calvary.

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Douglas Newell IV

Family and Rest

Ruth 1:5-9 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Ruth and her sister-in-law Orpah were in a really terrible situation. Their husbands and father-in-law had just died and were left alone to fend for themselves. Of course it was much different for women in these days and there just were not a whole lot of options for widows to provide for themselves without father or husband. Naomi, a Jewish woman, was going back to the land of Israel and back to her home country.

Naomi wanted her precious daughter-in-laws to have rest and peace in their lives and knowing that they would not have much hope in Israel, being Moabite, gentiles, she urged them to go back to their families and find husbands and rest in a family.

In those days, and even today, there is rest in family. For Ruth and Orpah, a family would have been provision and shelter for them so they would not be forced live on the kindness of others; if they were fortunate.

Even today, the family is a place of rest and love and peace and beauty. Men and women hope to have husbands and wives, and for most, the ideal life would someday include a family to come home to and night, a spouse to love and a place of rest from the stresses and worries of life. Yet it is not a place of eternal rest of the soul. Some Christian families are turning the family into and idol. They find rest and comfort in the family MORE than they do with God.

Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

But is it not true that it is better to live in the house of an angry, brawling contentious woman that to be without Christ? Any measure of peace and rest that we might find in this world is tainted by sin and imperfect; yet in Christ Jesus our Lord there is perfect peace and rest for our souls.

Family is blessed and wonderful, and I love my family; but it cannot provide rest for my soul. Don’t make your family your god or an idol.

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Douglas Newell IV

Writing Tips from C.S. Lewis

For the original post...8 Writing Tips from C.S. Lewis

Posted by Donald L. Hughes in Craft of Writing on April 20, 2010

(HT Challies)

In 1959 an American schoolgirl wrote to C. S. Lewis asking him for advice on the craft of writing. He sent her a list of eight rules, and I add my own editorial comments to each of them.

1. Turn off the radio.

Today, writers also need to turn off the TV, the iPod or the music streaming over the Internet. I know that some writers claim that background sounds enhances their creativity, but I don’t believe it for a minute, and apparently Lewis didn’t either. Writing is a solitary activity, where words are formed in a special space of the brain, and anything that competes for that space will result in a decrease in writing quality. Good writers are able to be alone with their thoughts and don’t need filler or distractions.


2. Read good books and avoid most magazines.

If you’re interested in writing good books then you need to read good books. Feed your mind with quality material and you will be more likely to be able to reproduce it. It is very difficult to find good Christian writing today; top selling books like The Shack are inferior in literary quality, so writers end up being torn between producing something good or something that sells well. Ideally, you will want to write something of literary quality that will be popular, and a path to that goal is reading quality books. Style is important and it is best absorbed though books that have stood the test of time. The writings of C.S. Lewis are a good place to begin reading.


3. Write with the ear, not the eye. Make every sentence sound good.

This is Lewis’ most important rule in my view. There is a cadence to good writing and it is important that you discover it for yourself. This, of course, is another good reason for shutting off the radio, TV or music as you write. Experienced writers know that all sentences do not sound good in the beginning. It is best to get thoughts on paper first and then come back to the draft and tune each sentence.


4. Write only about things that interest you. If you have no interests, you won’t ever be a writer.

There is genius in these words. Too many Christian writers compose their literary work out of a sense of divine obligation, a quest for profit or a deadline–rather than pure godly passion. Obligation, profit or a deadline often debase passion, but of course it is nice when all three elements can be combined. Sacrifice them all if you must–except for your passion for those things which interest.


5. Be clear. Remember that readers can’t know your mind. Don’t forget to tell them exactly what they need to know to understand you.

In all my teaching and conference work, I emphasize clarity above all things to embryonic writers. There is a direct connection between clarity, elegance and quality in writing, so clarity is always the first goal.


6. Save odds and ends of writing attempts, because you may be able to use them later.

Everything is made out of something. That’s why it is so important for writers to keep a journal. It is easy to forget thoughts, story ideas, snippets of conversations, events and experiences, so a journal is essential. Most writers have writing fragments–false starts, incomplete manuscripts or unsuccessful submissions–and Lewis is reminding us to save all these things and to use them as resources for other writing projects. I have so many odds and ends of writing that I store them in large plastic bins from Wal-Mart. This article was written from a fragment I first put in my file in 1997.


7. You need a well-trained sense of word-rhythm, and the noise of a typewriter will interfere.

Lewis emphasizes the importance of the cadence of the words again here, and it is a point well taken. Of all his suggestions, however, this one is perhaps the most outdated. Computer keyboards are far quieter than the clickity-clack of old typewriters. I use many different methods to get my thoughts on paper, but when I want to do my best work I always revert to writing in longhand on yellow legal pads. I think C.S. Lewis probably smiles on those who connect the mind and the hand to the written word in such an elemental way. That’s the way he did it and he came up with some pretty good books.


8. Know the meaning of every word you use.

Make a hobby us learning new words and using them in your writing. The purpose is not to be circumlocutious, but to be able to communicate aptly. A wide vocabulary adds substance to your writing. Some writers use words with which they have only glancing familiarity. Be sure you completely understand the meaning of every word you use. A fat dictionary is a good thing for a writer to own, but for efficiency you may wish to type this into the Google search box– define: circumlocution — in just that format. You will get the definition for any word you input after the colon.


Writing is a craft. You start as a novice before you become an apprentice and then develop into a master like C.S. Lewis. Since writing is a craft, not a gift, virtually anyone can acquire the skill and become a master over time. Remember, however, that the time must be invested in actually writing (not thinking about writing) and in reading the work of those who have mastered the craft.

Survey of the Sin Malachi

Malachi prophesies to Israel concerning the sins that were prominent in their nation, and were quite deadly to them, for the survival of their nation and their separation as a people were at a very dangerous point in history.

The Lord states a fact -- then the people object to the fact asserted. Then the Lord proves the fact and disproves their objections, then illustrates the fact stated.

Sins of ignorance are just as dangerous to the child of God as open rebellion.

1) Doubted God’s love: wherein hast thou loved us? (Malachi 1:2)
2) Despised and disrespected God’s name: wherein have we despised thy name? (Malachi 1:6)
3) Deceitful in offerings: wherein have we polluted thee? (Malachi 1:7)
4) Divorce and delighting in evil: wherein have we wearied him? (Malachi 2:17)
5) Deceived and delusional in their self assessment: wherein shall we return? (Malachi 3:7)
6) Dishonest dealings: wherein have we robbed thee? (Malachi 3:8)
7) Denial of God’s fidelity: what have we spoken against thee? (Malachi 3:13)

There is no excuse for unknown sin and unknown sin is just as harmful to the believer. Doubting and skepticism breeds evil and when we forget God’s goodness, our world turns black and ugly.


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Douglas Newell IV

Grace Gems

I may be the last to figure this out, but if you do not get the daily devotional via e-mail from Grace Gems, then you need to sign up today. I have received mine for a week and WOW, they are theologically rich, full of depth of Sovereign Grace.

Sign up today.

Also, for all those who love free things, check out their book store. They their books available for free download. Good stuff!


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Douglas Newell IV

Alas and did my Saviour bleed?

Alas, and did my Saviour bleed?
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Was it for crimes that I have done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, the creature's sin.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away—
'Tis all that I can do!

Studying about the Godman Jesus Christ right now. How it fills the heart with wonderment that my Sovereign would give Himself for me. As I was reading J.R. Graves expounding upon the subject of the humanity and divinity of Christ he quoted the Issac Watts hymn quoted above, which gives the practical application for studying such a message: Jesus, God the Son died for sinners.

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Douglas Newell IV

Boys and Girls Playing in the Streets

Zechariah 8:1-5 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

As a parent, it is wonderful to sit outside in the summer time, in the cool of the evening and watch children happily playing. When the temperature is just right, the bugs are not pestering you, the children are all in a happy mood while hard at play; it is such a blessing from God.

Often though, we don’t have these scenes as much as we would want. Sometimes it’s too hot or too cold; other times it rains. Sometimes one of the children are in a bad mood and makes playing a chore rather than a joy. Sometimes one will fall and get hurt, other times the game becomes a fight. Young children want to explore past the watchful eye of mom and dad, but must be corral “back where I can see you!”
There is so much danger around us. Cars driving too fast and carelessly near the front of the home. In the back yard other dangers are lurking, whether be snakes, neighbor’s dogs that escaped and the like. Take the children to the park and see the strange man who is lurking about watching the children, or the terrible thought of what would happen if the kids wandered too far away and were taken by some deviant.

Oh the sinfulness of sin! That is why that a evening of joyful play can be a rarity. Sin has affected the weather, the earth, the animals and especially the human heart. Sin hurts and hampers even the simplest joy a family can participate in; it destroys the very act of children’s play. As time progresses, the dangers increase. Men wax worse and worse, life becomes worse and worse.

In our text, we have a concerning the millennial reign of Christ, when Jesus will rule this Earth for 1,000 years. He will rule all things, weather, animals and men. During Christ’s blessed reign, there will be no dangers in the woods, no dangers down the street, sin will not be allowed or tolerated. There will be no Satan to tempt and harm and all will be well.

The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. What a beautiful way of describing the joy of Christ’s kingdom and how it illustrates what we lost in the fall, and what we gain in Jesus Christ. The city streets will not be filled with gangs and violence, but with children and play.


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Douglas Newell IV

How could this idea be any worse?

Cemetery...uh, I mean seminaryFAIL.

John 14:6.
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Douglas Newell IV

More Zeal than Knowledge

From Charles Spurgeon's sermon #2673 Christ Crucified.

By the way, let me tell you a little story about Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. I am a great lover of John Bunyan, but I do not believe him Infallible. The other day I met with a story about him which I think a very good one. There was a young man in Edinburgh who wished to be a missionary. He was a wise young man. So he thought, “If I am to be a missionary, there is no need for me to transport myself far away from home. I may as well be a missionary in Edinburgh.” There’s a hint to some of you ladies who give away tracts in your district, but never give your servant Mary one. Well, this young man started and he was determined to speak to the first person he met. He met one of those old fishwives— those of us who have seen them can never forget them—they are extraordinary women, indeed! So, stepping up to her, he said, “Here you are, coming along with your burden on your back. Let me ask you if you have got another burden, a spiritual burden.” “What?” she asked. “Do you mean that burden in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress? Because if you do, young man, I got rid of that many years ago, probably before you were born.

“But I went a better way to work than the pilgrim did. The evangelist that John Bunyan talks about was one of your parsons that do not preach the Gospel, for he said, ‘Keep that light in your eye and run to the wicket-gate.’ Why, man alive! That was not the place for him to run to! He should have said, ‘Do you see that Cross? Run there at once!’ But, instead of that, he sent the poor pilgrim to the wicket-gate first—and much good he got by going there! He got tumbling into the slough and was like to have been killed by it.”

“But did not you,” the young man asked, “go through any Slough of Despond?” “Yes, I did. But I found it a great deal easier going through with my burden off than with it on my back.”

The old woman was quite right! John Bunyan put the getting rid of the burden too far off from the commencement of the pilgrimage. If he meant to show what usually happens, he was right, but if he meant to show what ought to have happened, he was wrong. We must not say to the sinner, “Now, Sinner, if you will be saved, go to the baptismal pool, go to the wicket-gate, go to the church—do this or that.” No, the Cross should be right in front of the wicket-gate and we should say to the sinner, “Throw yourself down there and you are safe. But you are not safe till you can cast off your burden and lie at the foot of the Cross and find peace
in Jesus.”

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Douglas Newell IV

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20
The great commission is a Kingly imperative issued to the assembly He imparted authority, to carry out the mission that He has left the organization He created, with no room for apathy, modification, improvisation or insubordination.


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Douglas Newell IV

Apples of Gold

John Piper, in his book Don't Waste Your Life says this concerning God supplying our needs and the trouble and afflictions that we have in this life.

"Affliction raised his sword to cut off the head of Paul’s faith. But instead the hand of faith snatched the arm of affliction and forced it to cut off part of Paul’s worldliness. Affliction is made the servant of godliness and humility and love. Satan meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. The enemy became Paul’s slave and worked for him and even greater weight of glory than he would have ever had without the fight. In that way Paul – and every follower of Christ is more than a conqueror."

I finished chapter 6 of Matthew last Sunday night preaching of the portion of the Sermon of the Mount that deals with worry and anxiety. Worry is a dreadful sin because it effects the body, soul and spirit. Anxiety can cripple us. Paul had much he COULD have been anxious about, but He trusted in God and glorified Him in all aspects of life. Oh that we could live with such faith!

The fact that we cannot change anything by worry, shows a lack of faith when we do, and wasted time for us. When we first seek the kingdom of God, our focus leaves the physical, and the temporary, and focus our eye (making it single) of the eternal Glory of Christ and whether we have much or nothing, health or sickness, we are more than conquerors in Christ, and even see the trouble as God’s mercy to us, because we don’t even deserve the blessings viz food, drink, clothes, health, that God mercifully has given us.

You, who have faith in Christ for your eternal soul’s salvation, at what cost do you have that salvation? The Father, sent the Son, into this wicked sin cursed world, to die for those who loved him not, who knew him not. The Spirit, quickens God’s chosen that they may repent and believe in Christ. All this was done for the children of God. Take that in consideration, and then consider that God will provide the food for birds, simple birds. Here’s the lesser to the greater. If God will provide for the birds, will he not provide for you? Are you not greater than the birds? Why then worry about it?
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Douglas Newell IV

Come, magnify the Lord with me

I preached this morning on Magnifying the Lord in our Hearts. I thought I would share this Isaac Watts hymn with you this Lord's Day.

PSALM 34 PART 1


God's care of the saints; or, Deliverance by prayer.
Lord, I will bless thee all my days,
Thy praise shall dwell upon my tongue
My soul shall glory in thy grace,

While saints rejoice to hear the song.
Come, magnify the Lord with me,
Come, let us all exalt his name;
I sought th' eternal God, and he

Has not exposed my hope to shame.
I told him all my secret grief,
My secret groaning reached his ears;
He gave my inward pains relief;

And calmed the tumult of my fears.
To him the poor lift up their eyes,
Their faces feel the heav'nly shine;
A beam of mercy from the skies

Fills them with light and joy divine.
His holy angels pitch their tents
Around the men that serve the Lord;
O fear and love him, all his saints,

Taste of his grace, and trust his word.
The wild young lions, pinched with pain
And hunger, roar through all the wood;
But none shall seek the Lord in vain,
Nor want supplies of real good.


Isaac Watts


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Douglas Newell IV

Shalom, shalom: Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

According to Brown, Driver's, Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Shalom means "completeness, soundness, welfare, peace." In our text, we have shalom shalom, perfect peace.

The person who will have his mind and affections on the Lord God will be kept in perfect peace because he trusts in the Lord. God is our strength, our rock. When our heart and soul is fixed upon Jesus and what He has done for us, what He is doing for us and what He has promised for us, God will keep us in perfect peace. Will all the problems go away? No, probably not. Fixing our mind on problems that we cannot solve and cannot go away, will that make the problems go away? DEFINITELY NOT!

When our soul is fixed upon Jesus and we trust in Him, and the Word of God, having faith that God is not only able to do what He has promised but WILL do what He has promised, then God will give us that perfect peace in our soul. Trust in the Lord, forever. Today, tomorrow; forever. In the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.


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Douglas Newell IV

The Will of God in Sending the Son

Over 20 times in the book of John, scripture refers to God the Father sending God the Son to the Earth.

(John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. John 5:23; John 5:24; John 5:30; John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.)

Why was Jesus sent? What was the purpose of sending the Son? What was the intention in sending His Son? God doesn't do things for no reason, so what was the reason? What was the Father’s will in sending the Son? Was the Father’s will accomplished as He desired? What was the Son’s will? Was the Son’s will accomplished? Was He successful in the goal?

Answer these questions Biblically and honestly and you too will believe in particular redemption.


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Douglas Newell IV

Six Honest Serving Men

Last weekend I preached at the Ancient Landmark Bible Conference in Lyons, GA. What a wonderful time in the Lord. Great fellowship and great preaching. We truly appreciate the hard work the people of Landmark Baptist Church put into this conference.

That being said, I was unable to post this week much and am now behind. I have had this for a while and I wanted to share it; today would be a great day for this poem. Perhaps if Christians applied this to their Bible study, and preachers to their sermons, there would be a lot less heresy.

I KEEP six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.

I let them rest from nine till five,
For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men.
But different folk have different views;
I know a person small—
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!

She sends'em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes—
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!

Rudyard Kipling





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Douglas Newell IV

Obadiah Part II

Last night, as I was preaching, a thought occurred to me about Obadiah, thus Obadiah, part two today.

Obadiah 3-4 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? (4) Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

Edom had carved themselves out a good fortress, a great hiding place in the rocks (think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). And looking at a military perspective, it seemed as safe and had proved itself so. They had become prideful in what THEY had done. Edom had carved the homes in the rock, and become very proud about their accomplishments, very proud about their hiding place.

Jacob's fortress was not Jerusalem, it was God. Over and again God shows Himself as Israel's protector, their sword and shield. God was Jacob's hiding place. In Zion their will be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions (verse 17).

Jacob was guilty, sinful and God justly sent Babylon in to punish Judah as he detailed in Habakkuk, there there was hope for Jacob in Christ. Edom was lifted up in pride in their own might, their own ability to carve a hiding place, their own deliverance, and God had brought them low. Jacob was brought low by their own pride, yet God is going to raise them up. Why? GRACE. It was Zion, it was not the works of Jacob but the love of God that will provide deliverance.



In our works, there is death and sin. In Christ there is deliverance and holiness; salvation and justification. It is not what we do for God, but what God does for us. It was not Jacob has been the best, but God said "Jacob have I loved."

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Douglas Newell IV