DGNC 09 and John Calvin

It is often easy when looking at the impact a single man has on Christianity to forget the fact that this man was simply a sinner used by and gifted by the Almighty for His glory. It is true that Calvin was a man used mightily by God. It is true that Calvin and his writings have had a significant impact on all of Christianity. It is also true that John Calvin was only a man, a sinner, saved by grace. It is because of that grace that this man had the impact that he had. It is also important to remember that there are many other historical Christian men that have been used by God in a similar fashion, Luther, Edwards, Augustine, and Spurgeon, to name a few. I may be referred to as a Calvinist but it is important to remember that it is God that I aim to glorify and the gospel I am to proclaim. I believe that this is the desire of most that bear the title of Calvinist.

It was Sam Storms who mentioned a quote of Calvin that has very strongly been on my mind. It follows.

''As Calvin wrote, "we ought to learn to have one foot raised to take our departure when it shall please God." Let us diligently work at our jobs and honor our employers, but let us do it with one foot raised. Let's get married, have children, devote ourselves to our spouses, but do it with one foot raised. Educate your children, Mom and Dad, but do it with one foot raised. Weep at the grave site of a child that has died in infancy, but do it with one foot raised. Read a book, write a book with one foot raised. Cheer for your favorite football team with one foot raised. Plant a garden, plant a church, open a savings account, invest in a stock, but do it with the anxious expectation, the joy-filled hope, the anticipation of the heavenly life and the felicity of the life that will be ours.''

In everything we say and everything we do we are to live as though glory is just around the corner.. How different would our lives be if only we consistently live in such a way. How different would the Church be? This thought is helping me understand better what it is that Milton Vincent wrote in his book ''The Gospel Primer''. It is this thought that is helping me understand better what it means to live our lives with the gospel always in front of us. It is so wonderful to know that the gospel is something that we will be learning about for eternity. What a mighty God we serve!

Just a quick note. It is so important to to worship the God of heaven and not heaven itself! Yes heaven will be glorious, but as Shai Linne says, ''I don't want to go to heaven if God is not there!''

Thanks

This morning it hit me pretty hard that I need to be more thankful. I have so much to be thankful for! James 1:17 says that ''Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.'' I have to admit that I take so much for granted. Every gift is from the Most High God. I just took a breath, my heart is beating, I was able to get out of bed this morning, we have a great God who hears our prayers (and responds). This is a list that can go on and on. It is God that holds me together. Not just me but everything. EVERYTHING! I praise God for that. I know that my life would fall apart were it not for His great presence. God created everything we see in 6 days and I do not believe that this made God tired. God continues to hold all of this together, all of creation is held together with no effort. This is big stuff! God is a big God! I can not comprehend how big God is. This same big God chose to love me and He chose to love you. This same big God chose to know suffering and death by the hands of little people like me and you. He chose to know these things FOR little people like me and you. Praise God! Every good and every perfect gift comes from God. All these things we take for granted come from God. The Gospel came from God. Salvation came from God. That breath I just took came from God. What did I do to deserve all of this? Not a thing, nothing. I am not able to anything to earn these gifts. He gives them because he is Love. Grace. I am thankful for Gods grace. It is because of Gods grace that I can be saved. It is because of Gods grace that I can see, smell, hear, think, walk, breathe, cry, love.... Grace. It is God and God alone that has given these gifts. I need to be more thankful for these gifts.

Ps. 7:17
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Ps. 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Ps. 86:12
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Ps. 97:12
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Give thanks with me today to our great God!

''Christians'' in the News

It seems to me that more and more ''Christians'' are making the news. I just read an article this morning about a ''Pastor'' who is encouraging his congregation to pray with him for Obama's death.
"I'm gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That's what I'm gonna pray," he told his congregation. You can read the article here. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/31/phoenix-pastor-draws-protests-telling-church-prays-obamas-death/?test=latestnews
How ''Christian'' is that? Where in scripture do we see that we are to pray for anther's death? Where in scripture do we see that we should pray for another to go to hell? Where is the love we are taught about in scripture? I am glad that this is not the way that God feels. I am thankful that Christ died for sinners and provided a way for salvation. He died for all sinners, sinners like you and me. Yes we need to pray for Barack Obama! Pray for this man! Pray for his salvation. Pray for his family. Pray for this nation! My heart is full this morning. Pray for this ''Pastor'' and others like him. Our adversary is strong and very intelligent! Fight on your knees!