A W Pink

Just starting the book 'The Sovereignty of God' by fellow Notts-boy A.W.Pink. Although this is an extra read to Relay stoofs, I was struck by a sentence in the introduction about Pink's life, on the subject of the doctrine of Scripture (which was a large part of the beginning of my relay studies).

"However strongly he insists on the doctrines of Scripture, he never views correct doctrine as an end in itself, but rather as a means to a greater end - the glory of God in the salvation and sanctification of sinners"

BOOM. Feel the challenge.

iPray.

God doesn't have a Blackberry or an iPhone, but He is my favorite contact. He doesn't have Facebook, but He is my best friend. He doesn't have Twitter, but I follow Him, and He doesn't have internet, but I am connected to Him. And even if He has a great communication service, his customer service never puts me on hold. That's why iPray.

Your Kingdom Come, My Kingdom Go

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of — throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." : C.S.Lewis - Mere Christianity

"Before we say 'Your Kingdom Come', we have to say 'my kingdom go!'"
Peter Lewis, Cornerstone Church Nottingham

Keith + Kristyn Getty / Stuart Townend - By Faith

By faith we see the hand of God
In the light of creation's grand design
In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness
Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth
With the power of His promise in their hearts
Of a holy city built by God's own hand
A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day
When the longed-for Messiah would appear
With the power to break the chains of sin and death
And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go
In the power of the Spirit to the lost
To deliver captives and to preach good news
In every corner of the earth

By faith this mountain shall be moved
And the power of the gospel shall prevail
For we know in Christ all things are possible
For all who call upon His name.

Faith Mission Summer Camp Harby - Prayer Letter

Dear all, This time next week, the back field of the Faith Mission Centre Harby will either be a peaceful and quiet group of sleeping tents or a cacophany of giggling, sweet packets and shining torches held by excited (and hopefully not home-sick) 9-11year olds! Then a week of 12-14s and finally the 15+s. One things for certain, it'll be the start of another 3 weeks of camp! (25/7/10 - 13/8/10) Faith Mission Camp Harby, Leicestershire.

I'm sending this message to those I know of who are leading/attending camp this year, a few old-FM'ers and Christians I know on the blogosphere too, we'd love to share prayer requests with you all. I know many of you are doing other camps, mission trips, work etc. this year, but didn't want to exclude you! Really looking forward to seeing many of you over the next few weeks, and in the near future for others who aren't Harbying this year.

There's a leaders meeting the night before each week of camp, but I thought it would be great to start praying now and get you praying too. As you'll know, although it's a fantastic and gospel-filled time, it's also draining and challenging, and none of it is possible without our Amazing God. Our loving heavenly Father who so longs to see his people come back to him, that he sent his only Son, Jesus, as the way back to him. That through Christ's death we would have life. What a privilege and joy it is to have been shown that matchless, undeserved grace and mercy! And the privilege and joy it is to be able to share that with others, that they may know him too. And that we're not alone, but God leaves his Spirit to help us.

Let's be praying that God would be preparing the hearts of all of us. All the campers, parents, leaders and speakers. How amazing it would be to see the kingdom of God grow at camp this year, and beyond! Praise God for all the provision he gives, of all the good and perfect gifts; from facilities to food, bibles to beds, trained first aiders to tuck shop (where those not on duty can have a rest!).

Pray also for Dan and others who'll be doing the talks, that God would use them to speak what he wants to say to us and the campers, faithfully and engagingly to/by his word, the Bible. Also that campers ears and hearts would be attentive and retentive to God's word. Pray for us as leaders as we take morning and evening discussions/bible-studies that we'd have strength and wisdom serving the kids, and God would use us to bring them to Jesus, sowing seeds, gathering the harvest or encouraging them in their faith. Pray that their families may know him too. Many of them go back to difficult and sometimes unloving situations.

Let's be praying all these things in Jesus' name with confidence, relying and trusting in him alone, remembering what he's done and what he's promised he will do. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" - Hebrews 12:2

Do pass this on. God bless you all, have a great summer wherever you are.
Sunil :)

Gungor - White Man

Identity.

"Our essential identity as Christians is formed by Christ and the gospel, not by our own personalities, backgrounds or achievements. Through the death and resurrection of his Son, God has cleansed us from the guilt of sin and liberated us from its consequences and its control. He has set us in a right and faithful relation to himself, together with all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Drawing us into an exclusive relationship with himself in this way, he has made us his holy people, destined to serve him and please him for ever. Sanctification is about being possessed by God and expressing that distinctive and exclusive relationship by the way we live.

Although God calls upon us to express the fact that we have been sanctified by the way we live, our standing with him does not depend on the degree to which we live up to his expectations. It depends on his grace alone. Those who are bowed down by the pressure of temptation and an awareness of failure need to be reminded of the definitive, sanctifying work of God in Christ, by which he has established us as his holy people. On this basis, they should be urged to press on in hope and grasp again by faith the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice. Approaching the exalted Lord with boldness, we may always receive mercy and find ‘grace to help in time of need’ (Heb. 4:16)."

David Peterson - Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness (IVP, 1995)[pp. 47–48]

Ascribe Greatness (Deuteronomy 32:3-4)

Ascribe greatness to our God the Rock
His work is perfect and all His ways are just
Ascribe greatness to our God the Rock
His work is perfect and all His ways are just

A God of faithfulness and without injustice
Good and upright is He
A God of faithfulness and without injustice
Good and upright is He.

Our God Is A Great Big God.

There is a Redeemer.

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy one,

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us your Son,
And leaving your Spirit,
’til the work on earth is done.

Jesus my redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, for sinners slain.

When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve my King forever,
In that holy place.

The Gospel of John (Wordle!)

The Power of the Cross.

Oh to see the dawn of the darkest day
Christ on the road to calvary
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten then
Nailed to a cross of wood

THIS THE POWER OF THE CROSS
CHRIST BECAME SIN FOR US
TOOK THE BLAME, BORE THE WRATH
WE STAND FORGIVEN AT THE CROSS

Oh to see the pain written on Your face
Bearing the awesome weight of sin
Ev’ry bitter thought, ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow

Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath
Quakes as its maker bows his head
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life
‘FINISHED!’ the vict’ry cry.

Oh to see MY name written in the wound
For through Your suff'ring I am free
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live
Won through Your selfless love!

This the pow’r of the cross
Son of God slain for us
What a life, what a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Trip Lee - To Live Is Christ

Where is your God?

God Be In My Head.

God be in my head
And in my understanding
God be in my eyes
And in my looking
God be in my mouth
And in my speaking
God be in my heart
And in my thinking
God be at my end
And at my departing.

Walford Davies

Louie Giglio - Indescribable.

Ahead of the Passion London thang at Wembley this weekend...here's where I first saw Louie Giglio about a year and a half ago now. Well worth watching.

Psalm 19:1 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

An Athiest Professor of Philosophy

was speaking to his Class on the problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his new Christian students to stand.

* PROFESSOR : You are a Christian, aren't you, son?
* STUDENT : Yes, sir.
* PROFESSOR : So, you believe in GOD?
* STUDENT : Absolutely, sir.
* PROFESSOR : Is GOD good?
* STUDENT : Sure.
* PROFESSOR : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : My Brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
* (STUDENT was silent)
* PROFESSOR : You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is GOD Good?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : Is Satan good?
* STUDENT : No.
* PROFESSOR : Where does Satan come from?
* STUDENT : From...GOD...
* PROFESSOR : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : So who created evil?
* (STUDENT did not answer)
* PROFESSOR : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
* STUDENT : Yes, sir.
* PROFESSOR : So, who created them?
* (STUDENT had no answer)
* PROFESSOR : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe The World around you. Tell me, son...have you ever feen GOD?
* STUDENT : No, sir.
* PROFESSOR : Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
* STUDENT : No, sir.
* PROFESSOR : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
* STUDENT : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
* PROFESSOR : Yet you still believe in HIM?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
* STUDENT : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
* PROFESSOR : Yes, Faith. And that is the problem Science has.
* STUDENT : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
* PROFESSOR : Yes.
* STUDENT : And is there such a thing as Cold?
* PROFESSOR : Yes.
* STUDENT : No, sir. There isn't...
* (The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events)
* STUDENT : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that
* There is no such thing as Cold.
* Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
* We cannot Measure Cold.
* Heat is Energy.
* Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
* (There was pin-drop dilence in the Lecture Theatre)
* STUDENT : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
* PROFESSOR : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
* STUDENT : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something.
* You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light...
* But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn't it? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
* PROFESSOR : So what is the point you are making, young man?
* STUDENT : Sir, my point is, your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
* PROFESSOR : Flawed? Can you explain how?
* STUDENT : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
* Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
* To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life, just the Absence of it.
* Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from
* a Monkey?
* PROFESSOR : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
* STUDENT : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
* (The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)
* STUDENT : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor, Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
* (The Class was in uproar)
* STUDENT : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
* (The Class broke out into laughter)
* STUDENT : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?... No one appears to have done so.
* So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
* (The Room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)
* PROFESSOR : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
* STUDENT : That is it sir...Exactly!
* The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
* That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
* That student was ALBERT EINSTEIN.

In Christ Alone.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

(Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)

THAT'S MY KING!

The Heidelberg Catechism - Part 1.

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)