You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2008.
Hope you are having a wonderful summer. Here are the dates and information that I gave yesterday. One I had to correct due to a schedule conflict and one I had to get the appropriate date for.
Saturday, July 12th Mini golf at the Germantown Soccerplex at 6:30pm. Bring money for mini golf that night. For more information, http://www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/enterprise/park_facilities/south_germantown/splashplayground_minigolf.shtm
Saturday, July 26th Do Hard Things Conference from 9am to 5pm at Covenant Life. For those have signed up we will be meeting at Covenant Life. For more details about the conference, http://www.therebelution.com/conference/baltimore_08.htm
Saturday, August 2nd Church Yard Sale, come to help in anyway you can and bring your items to sell the day before.
Sunday, August 3rd Frederick Keys Faith Night, 4pm-9pm
What: Faith Night 2008. It’ll be a great night with a talented musician leading worship, VeggieTales, fellowship, baseball, and fireworks following the game.
How Much: $15 a ticket
Tuesday, August 12th Video Game Day at the church come at 11am, bring money for pizza and drinks.
August 22nd-24th Summit Lake Camp, For Grades 6-12. We will be leaving on Friday and returning Sunday morning. The cost for camp is $110. Registration forms and deadline to sign up is August 10, We will require a $20 non refundable deposit to sign up which will go towards your cost for camp. For more information about the campground, http://www.summitlake.org/Intro.html
For all these events. Please email me to let me know which ones you are interested in attending. I need to hear from you to make sure I have an accurate head count.
Looking forward to spending time with you all this summer before we get into the new school year.
Came across a great suggested reading list according to grade level for students.
At the Banner Conference, I picked up the new release of the 4 set series of Pocket Puritans. These are in a similar mold to the Loveliness of Christ by Samuel Rutherford. They are tiny books you can carry around in any bag or pocket filled with great doctrine and application. Ward’s book is divided into four sections: The Life of Faith, The Folly of Neglecting Faith, Faith Gives Abundant Life and Final Encouragement to the exercise of Faith.
A couple quotes to share from Section 1, “Faith is the doorway to the power of God, first to save us, and then to strengthen us. By faith we lay hold of the tree of life that heals us from our sin. ‘Blessed is the man whose sin is covered’ (Psalm 32)…By faith we have a life of joy and comfort, cheering the soul in the midst of trials and tribulations” (Ward 9).
“Consider how wonderful it is that your debts have been cancelled and that the wrath of God has been satisfied. Consider how happy and safe a condition you are in by being a son of God, and how pleasant a state not to fear death and hell. Consider how stately a thing it is to be an heir of glory. Mingle these thoughts with your prayers for grace and aid. Do not leave the mountain until your heart has been cheerfully warmed and revived in strength for the next day” (Ward 19).
A quote from Section 2, “Can you be sad when you have all possible treasures laid up in heavenly places, where moth and rust and thieves may not come?” (Ward 27).
From Section 3, “Faith tackles great obstacles. Small boats do well in calm conditions, ordinary men can stand up to a light breeze, but when a heavey tempest blows and wave after wave crashes in, nature yields, spirits faint, hearts fail. To stand up against such storms and to live and reign is the work of faith, which has the Word as its compass and Christ at the helm” (Ward 43).
From Section 4, Ward gives a challenge to his readers, “How long today, yesterday, last week or the month spend the day? Have you spent an hour or 15 mins a day strengthening your faith? Have you been troubled about many things? Have you wasted a day, a week or month and starved your soul for refreshment? He goes on if you are a scholar or a preacher isn’t your life a life of faith?” (paraphrased 53 and 54). He gives this final charge after explaining his point further, “Determine and resolve in your heart not to let one day pass (God helping you by His Spirit) to set aside a quarter of an hour one or two times a day to withdraw from all company and seek the strengthening of your faith. By prayer, reading, meditation put strength and life into your faith, till you have cheered, revived and warmed your soul” (Ward 61).
A World of Love Heaven by Jonathan Edwards
He starts by sharing that Heaven is the chamber that holds the High and Holy One, whose name is Love. Where the Trinity dwells forever, “this eternal Three in One is set open without any obstacle to hinder access to it, as it flows forever. There this glorious God is manifested and shines forth, in full glory, in beams of love. And there this glorious fountain forever flows forth in streams, yea, in rivers of love and delight, and these rivers swell, as it were to an ocean of love, in which the souls of the ransomed may bathe with the sweetest enjoyment and their hearts as it were, be deluged with love” (Edwards 17).
He goes on to state who will be in heaven. Only lovely objects in heaven. He details later in the section, “In heaven there shall be no remaining enmity or distaste, or coldness or deadness of heart towards God and Christ” (Edwards 35).
He continues strongly with his Scripture proofs that distinguish the characteristics of those who will dwell in heaven and those who will not be able to partake. Also, describing the atmosphere of heaven, all glory given to God for all eternity from Scripture.
Then, later in the book he contrasts Heaven and Hell and what will not be spoken of in Hell. “No love to God will ever be felt in hell; but everyone perfectly hates him and will continue to hate him without any restraint” (Edwards 91).
Edwards closes with his charge to his hearers as well, “Let not your heart go after the things of this world, as your chief good…Turn your thoughts and affections toward the world of love (heaven) and towards the God of love who dwells there…Be content to pass through all difficulties in the way to heaven…Let your eyes be fixed on Jesus and finally…Life a life of love to God and to men” (Edwards 104-109).
As Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Here are some reasons I recommend these books: They are small enough to read in one sitting. You can use them alongside your daily devotions. They can be a great evangelism tool to share with others and those who may not have read any of the Puritan literature. The lessons are challenging and applicable to your Christian life. Also, it is important to meditate upon the truths of the Word. I highly recommend them.
