"Making Disciples, the True Purpose of the Church" By Shane C. Montgomery

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.              Matt 28:18-20 (KJV)

 When reading the Great Commission we are confronted with a responsibility.  Fairly straight forward, "Go", "Teach" and "Baptize."   and verse 20 follows up with this... "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you....." and ends with a reminder that Christ will be with us all the way if we are faithful.  "...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."   Better words of comfort have never been spoken, I can assure you friends.

Be Sure

“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied  in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”  —Matthew 7:21-23

WHAT a terrible awakening it will be for those who are going on in this life thinking all is well with them, and then in that day as they stand before the Lord of Glory hear these words, “I never knew you.”

"The Wrath of God" By A.W. Pink

IT IS SAD INDEED TO FIND SO MANY PROFESSING Christians who appear to regard the wrath of

God as something for which they need to make an apology, or who at least wish there were no such thing.
While some who would not go so far as to openly admit that they consider it a blemish on the Divine character, yet they are far from regarding it with delight; they like not to think about it, and they rarely hear it mentioned without a secret resentment rising up in their hearts  against it. Even with those who are more sober in their judgment, not a few seem to imagine that there is a severity about the Divine wrath that makes it too terrifying to form a theme for profitable contemplation. Others harbor the delusion that God's wrath is not consistent with his goodness, and so seek to banish it from their thoughts.

Yes, many there are who turn away from a vision of God's wrath as though they were called to look  upon some blotch in the Divine character or some blot upon the Divine government. But what saith the  Scriptures? As we turn to them we find that God has made no attempt to conceal the facts concerning His  wrath. He is not ashamed to make it known that vengeance and fury belong unto Him. His own challenge is:

From the Early Church Fathers

"To Search the sacred Scripture is very good and most profitable for the soul.  For "like a tree planted near the running waters," so does the soul watered by the sacred Scripture also grow hearty and bear fruit in due season.  This is the orthodox faith.  It is adorned with its evergreen leaves, with actions pleasing to God."

John of Damascus from- "Orthodox Faith"

"Advice On Reading" by Richard Baxter (1615-1691)

"Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the holy scriptures ever have the pre-eminence, and, next to them, those solid, lively, heavenly treatises which best expound and apply the scriptures, and next, credible histories, especially of the Church . . . but take heed of false teachers who would corrupt your understandings."

1. As there is a more excellent appearance of the Spirit of God in the holy scripture, than in any other book whatever, so it has more power and fitness to convey the Spirit, and make us spiritual, by imprinting itself upon our hearts. As there is more of God in it, so it will acquaint us more with God, and bring us nearer Him, and make the reader more reverent, serious and divine. Let scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it. The endeavours of the devil and papists to keep it from you, doth shew that it is most necessary and desirable to you.

Quotations from Thomas Brooks

Let those be thy choicest companions who have made Christ their chief companion.

The lives of ministers oftentimes convince more strongly than their words; their tongues may persuade, but their lives command.

Christ choosing solitude for private prayer, doth not only hint to us the danger of distraction and deviation of thoughts in prayer, but how necessary it is for us to choose the most convenient places we can for private prayer. Our own fickleness and Satan's restlessness call upon us to get into such places where we may freely pour out our soul into the bosom of God [Mark 1.35].

Suffering times are sealing times. The primitive Christians found them so, and the suffering saints in Mary's days found them so. When the furnace is seven times hotter than ordinary, the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals up a man's pardon in his bosom, his peace with God, and his title to heaven. Blessed Bradford looked upon his sufferings as an evidence to him that he was on the right way to heaven.

"Christ A Refuge From The Tempest" By Edward Griffin

This prediction, which was uttered in the days of Ahaz, is thought to have had primary reference to Hezekiah, and to the relief from wicked magistrates which would be experienced in his reign. But in the opinion of the best commentators it had ultimate reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the person of our Redeemer, who is very man as well as God, it is fulfilled that "a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."

In a serene day when no wind is up, when no rain is falling, a man may see by the way-side a shelving rock and may pass by it without emotion.

"Our Conscience Reveals God" By John Chrysostom

"One way of knowing God is through the universal nature of things, but there is another way that is no less important- the way that is provided by conscience.
.....The understanding of good and evil is rooted in us, and our inner conscience makes it all clear to us.  Thus there are two teachers who have been given to us from the beginning, creation and conscience, which have taught the human race without ever uttering a word."
(Sermons on Hannah 1-3)




John Chrysostom (c. 349–407, Greek:   Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. After his death (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek surname chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed", rendered in English as Chrysostom

"The Call of Christ" from Gleanings in the Godhead by A. W. Pink

"Come Unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"
Matthew 11:28-30

---

Familiar as the sound of those words are to professing Christians, there is a pressing need for their careful examination. Few portions of God’s Word have received such superficial treatment. That these verses call for prayerful meditation some will admit, but few realize that such a "simple passage" demands protracted study. Many take it for granted they already understand its meaning, hence they make no diligent inquiry into the significance of its terms. The mere fact a verse is so frequently quoted is no proof that we really see its import; yet, such familiarity has precluded careful examination and renders it far more likely we do not rightly grasp its truth.

Currently Reading!

"The Problem With Hardened Hearts!" By Shane C. Montgomery

  When Jesus walked on the sea it was a sign of His divinity, but more important than that and not to contradict your Sunday school teacher, His walking on the sea was a message to His future ministers.

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with these verses from Mark and see if you see this, I underlined the key verse for you,..........


"And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."                                             Mark 6:45-52 (KJV)

 Jesus, always the Teacher, always training His twelve ministers, those men who would go into the world and preach the Gospel.  He gives them a crash course in just how strong He is and just how weak we ministers are.  Of course I do not compare myself with His original apostles, that would mean I was called forth by the living lips of Christ while He was walking this world during His ministry 2,000 years ago, and no, I am not that old!  There is no such animal as an "Apostle" or a "Prophet" for that matter, anymore.

"God's Way Of Holiness" By Horatius Bonar

The way of peace and the way of holiness lie side by side, or
rather, they are one. That which bestows the one imparts the
other; and he who takes the one takes the other also. The
Spirit of peace is the Spirit of holiness. The God of peace is
the God of holiness. If at any time these paths seem to go asunder, there must be something wrong•wrong in the  teaching that makes them seem to part company, or wrong in the state of the man in whose life they have done so. They start together, or at least so nearly together that no eye, save the divine, can mark a  difference. Yet, properly speaking, the peace goes before the holiness, and is its parent.  This is what divines call "priority in nature, though not in time," which means substantially this, that the difference in such almost identical beginnings is too small in point of time to be perceived  by us, yet it is not on that account the less distinct and real.

Luther's Reply to the Diet of Worms

 "Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns or teeth. Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason (I do not believe in the authority of either popes or councils by themselves, for it is plain that they have often erred and contradicted each other) in those Scriptures that I have presented, for my conscience is captive to the Word of God, I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen." 
— Martin Luther

"Christ's Holy Sufferings" by Martin Luther (1483-1546)

How to Contemplate Christ's Holy Sufferings

THE TRUE AND THE FALSE VIEWS OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS
A Sermon on Matt 21:1-9

SECTION I. THE FALSE VIEWS OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS.
1. In the first place, some reflect upon the sufferings of Christ in a way that they become angry at the Jews, sing and lament about poor Judas, and are then satisfied; just like by habit they complain of other persons, and condemn

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THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER, VOL. II, PAGE 184
and spend their time with their enemies. Such an exercise may truly be called a meditation not on the sufferings of Christ, but on the wickedness of Judas and the Jews.

"Charity, Or A Christian Spirit, Willing To Undergo All Sufferings In The Way Of Duty" By Jonathan Edwards

1 Corinthians 13:7. . . 

beareth all things.

HAVING in the previous verses declared those fruits of charity that consist in doing, the apostle now proceeds to speak of those that have reference to suffering; and here he declares that charity, or the spirit of Christian love, tends to dispose men, and make them willing, to undergo all sufferings for Christ's sake, and in the way of duty. This I suppose to be the meaning of the expression, "beareth all things." Some, I know, would understand these words as referring only to the meek bearing of injuries from our fellowmen. But it seems to me that they are rather to be understood in the sense here given, of suffering in the cause of Christ and religion; and that for the following reasons:

A modern English version of the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten from the Father, God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God, begotten, not made, of the same substance as the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father (and the Son).

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

(Note that, while this version is in the plural, the original Greek is in the first-person singular. )

"The Mystery of Sanctification" by William S. Plumer

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

There is a great mystery in sanctification. It is a mystery for the love it displays, for the power it manifests, for the method it employs, and for the work it accomplishes. When Moses looked upon that bright effulgence in the mount, he gradually caught some of the same glory, so that his face shone. When we behold the image of the invisible God, as it is presented in the person and character of Christ, we too are made like it, not indeed by a mere natural effect, but "by the Spirit of the Lord." Likeness to God alone is holiness. Growth in this likeness is growth in grace. It is all by Jesus Christ.

"Five Facts Friday"

 1)  Pilgrims ate popcorn at the first Thanksgiving dinner.


2)  Percentage of Americans who say that God has spoken to them: 36%


3)  Percentage of Americans who regularly attend religious services: 43%


4)  City with highest per capita viewership of TV evangelists: Washington DC 


5)  Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better.

"Keeping The Heart" By John Flavel

        Chapter Five of "Keeping The Heart"

The fifth season, requiring diligence in keeping the heart, is the time of outward wants. Although at such times we should complain to God, not of God, (the throne of grace being erected for a "time of need,") yet when the waters of relief run low, and want begins to press, how prone are the best hearts to distrust the fountain! When the meal in the barrel and the oil in the cruse are almost spent, our faith and patience too are almost spent. It is now difficult to keep the proud and unbelieving heart in a holy quietude and sweet submission at the foot of God. It is an easy thing to talk of trusting God for daily bread, while we have a full barn or purse; but to say as the prophet, "Though the fig-tree should not blossom, neither fruit be in the vine, &c. yet will I rejoice in the Lord:" surely this is not easy. Would you know then how a Christian may keep his heart from distrusting God, or repining against him, when outward wants are either felt or feared?—The case deserves to be seriously considered, especially now, since it seems to be the design of Providence to empty the people of God of their creature fullness, and acquaint them with those difficulties to which hitherto they have been altogether strangers. To secure the heart from the dangers attending this condition, these considerations may, through the blessing of the Spirit, prove effectual:

" The True Church" by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)

The following Sermon was preached in England, in August, 1858.


"On this rock I will build my church, 
and the gates of hell will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18)  

We live in a world in which all things are passing away.  Kingdoms,  empires, cities, institutions, families, all are liable to change and corruption.  One universal law seems to prevail everywhere.  In all created things there is a tendency to decay.

"Great New Tract"

I want to take a moment to tell you about a brand new Gospel tract that is available now from our friends at Custom Tract Source.com, http://www.customtractsource.com/Post-It-Note-What-If_p_391.html

This looks to be a great tract and a great idea, in a sticky note, post it form, this is ingenious!  Let's hope many Christians put this great new tract to use in their witnessing.  Having a tract like this that you can simply "Stick" to a wall, shelf, display, etc. will help get the Word of God to a lost world.

There is no better place for good tracts then CTS.
Be Holy!
Shane

What 

"A Word About The Word"

“Whatever resistance we see today offered by almost all the world to the progress of the truth, we must not doubt that our Lord will come at last to break through all the undertakings of men and make a passage for His Word.  Let us hope boldly, then, more than we can understand; He will still surpass our opinion and our hope.”


                           John Calvin

"THE ORIGINS OF PURITANISM"

             ENGLISH PURITANS

BY
JOHN BROWN, D.D.

PURITANISM, as a recognised descriptive term, came into use, Thomas Fuller tells us, about the year 1564. But as there were reformers before the Reformation, so there were puritans before that which has come to be regarded as in a special sense the puritan period. For puritanism was not so much an organised system as a religious temper and a moral force, and being such it could enter into combinations and alliances of varied kind. It may fairly be applied to Wycliffe and the Lollards as well as to the later protestant reformers; to Hooper and Latimer in the days of Edward VI as well as to Cartwright and Travers in those of Elizabeth; to some who remained within the pale of the English Church and to others who separated from it. The name was not confined to presbyterians and congregationalists, for there were bishops who may be described as distinctly puritan; nor was it to be identified with the Calvinistic system of doctrine, for Archbishop Whitgift, who was the most resolute opponent of the puritans, was, as his Lambeth Articles shew, a believer in predestination in its extremest form. The term came also to have a political as well as an ecclesiastical significance. While in the sixteenth century it was descriptive of the men bent on carrying on the protestant Reformation to a further point, in the seventeenth century it became the recognised name of that party in the State which contended for the constitutional rights and liberties of the people as against the encroachments of the Crown.

"Witnessing A Loveless People" By Shane C. Montgomery

My stomach is not what is use to be, I seem to get sick to my stomach more and more, the smallest things set it off, not sure what is going on with it, pray it is nothing serious.  This sickness is not caused by any illness, no food  sets it off and I do not believe it is any chemical or odor that sneaks into my airway and makes this upset rumbling sound, soon followed by a strong queezy feeling.  None of the usual suspects are guilty in this case.  As I grow older and closer to God, I have noticed the lack of love that exists in our country.  I am not ignorant to the truth, I know love has never been high on the list of attributes that would describe our nation, we have always had bigotry, hate, racism and many, many other social woes plaguing a nation that never seemed to live up to it's potential.  Now, before you start in on me, I never lived up to my potential either, so I have little room to talk, I understand, but to see what could have been to what the truth reveals, well....it makes me uneasy to say the least.

"Introductory Essay" by J. I. Packer

Introductory Essay to John Owen's
"The Death of Death in the Death of Christ"
(Banner of Truth: London, 1983)

---

I.The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is a polemical work, designed to show among other things, that the doctrine of universal redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. There are many, therefore, to whom it is not likely to be of interest. Those who see no need for doctrinal exactness and have no time for theological debates which show up divisions between so-called Evangelicals may well regret its reappearance. Some may find the very sound of Owen's thesis so shocking that they will refuse to read his book at all; so passionate a thing is prejudice, and so proud are we of our theological shibboleths. But it is hoped that this reprint will find itself readers of a different spirit. There are signs today of a new upsurge of interest in the theology of the Bible: a new readiness to test traditions, to search the Scriptures and to think through the faith. It is to those who share this readiness that Owen's treatise is offered, in the belief that it will help us in one of the most urgent tasks facing Evangelical Christendom today--the recovery of the gospel.

"Saved by Christ, Tempted by Hell" By Shane C. Montgomery

I see Christ everywhere, in all places, in all things. The  love of Him who bled for me is more than you can see. Yet it be there, I promise thee. His majesty in the presence of my ugliness. His royal glory, my sinful mess.  He lives so I can live!   He bled for my sins, was buried for my evil, rose again for my soul and His Father's glory.  Satan lost one of his own, he is not pleased and desires the return of me. Christ knows me better than I might be, even in this, He still accepts me!  I hide my sins, past and present, from my heart and from my mind, still I deny, these things that should die. The true state of my soul, a Savior still I need.  I suppress evil thoughts, "Take leave of me!"  I scream, in hopes they flee, but they flee only as far as I let them be.  There I bury them, in graves so shallow, yet they do bother me still. If I run the world to and fro, sea to sea, corner to corner, free from sin, I shall never be, for my heart goes with me, the root of mine evil, it yet be.

""Effective Prayer" by C.H. Spurgeon

"Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat! I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments." - Job 23:3,4

In Job's uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father's face. His first prayer is not, "Oh that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!" nor even, "Oh that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!" but the first and uttermost cry is "Oh that I knew where I might find Him-- who is my God! that I might come even to His seat!"

"The Word of God: Its two parts — the Law and the Gospel"- Theodore Beza (1519-1605)

That which we call The Word of God: Its two parts — the Law and the Gospel

ON this subject we call the "Word of God" (for we know well that the Eternal Son of God is also so named) the caonical books of the Old and New Testament; for they proceed from the mouth of God Himself.

We divide this Word into two principal parts or kinds: the one is called the "Law", the other the "Gospel". For, all the rest can be gathered under the one or the other of these two headings.

What we call Law (when it is distinguished from Gospel and is taken for one of the two parts of the Word) is a doctrine whose seed is written by nature in our hearts. However, so that we may have a more exact knowledge, it was written by God on two Tables and is briefly comprehended in ten commandments. In these He sets out for us the obedience and perfect righteousness which we owe to His majesty and our neighbours. This on contrasting terms: either perpetual life, if we perfectly keep the Law without omitting a single point, or eternal death, if we do not completely fulfil the contents of each commandment (Deut. 30:15-20; James 2:10).

Massive Storm Approaches!

The forecast for the Cincinnati area calls for freezing rain overnight.  We do not fair well when ever we get ice storms so I hope we do not have any power outages.  The last two ice storms disrupted normal life here dramatically, the first a few years back knocked out power, phone and water for eight days.  We do not need a repeat of that, rough going that was.  If you see no new posts for a few days, more than likely the ice knocked us off line and we are under a ton of blankets!

Lord Willing, this storm that is suppose to hit the Midwest will not be so bad and everyones power and heat will remain intact.  If not, we will be reading by candlelight for awhile.
Be Holy
Shane C. Montgomery

"2011 Christianity Today Book Awards"

Our judging began with 427 titles submitted by 62 publishers. Christianity Today's editors selected finalists in each category, and our judges determined the books that best offer insights into the people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission.

Apologetics/Evangelism | Spirituality | Theology/Ethics | Biblical Studies |Christian Living | Christianity and Culture | Missions/Global Affairs | The Church/Pastoral Leadership | Fiction | History/Biography |

Apologetics / Evangelism

The Passionate Intellect Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind Alister Mcgrath (Intervarsity)

"McGrath illustrates how theology transforms our thinking and behavior, and how true apologetics engages not only the mind but also the heart and imagination. His critique of the New Atheism is brilliant."

" SLEEPY SAINTS" By A.W. Pink Oct. 1948 Studies in the Scriptures

Went forth to meet the bridegroom” (Mat 25:1) denotes a craving for fellowship with and a definite seeking after Him, and where they be absent, it is vain to think we are among those who “love his appearing” (2Ti 4:8). Those words refer to the exercise of the believer’s graces, so that he can say, “My soul  followeth hard after thee” (Psa 63:8).  Of faith, acted upon its Object, viewing Him as His person and perfections are portrayed in the Word. Of hope, expecting to meet with Him, for Him to manifest Himself unto us (Joh 14:21), as well as being for ever with Him. Of love, which desires its Beloved and cannot be content away from Him.

"Authentic Religion" by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)

"Rejected silver" (Jeremiah 6:30)

 "Nothing but leaves" (Mark 11:13)

  "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" 
(1 John 3:18).

"You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Revelation 3:1)

If we profess to have any religion at all, let us be careful that it is 
authentic.  I say it emphatically, and I repeat the saying: Let us be careful that our religion is authentic.

"HINDRANCES TO AVOID" By Horatius Bonar

Many things can hinder growth and fruit-bearing. Mark the following:
Unbelief
'So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief' (Heb 3:19). This poisons the tree at its very root. Christ can do no mighty works in us, or for us, because of unbelief (Matt 13:58). 'Only believe' (Mark 5:36). 'Have faith in God' (Mark 11:22). 'He that believeth' (Mark 9:23). 'He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water' (John 7:38).


Want of love

Five Facts Friday!

Liberal Christians are faced with a serious problem. They consider themselves to be Christians, yet are unwilling to affirm the authority of Scripture. While it is not necessary to view the Bible as inerrant to be a Christian, at the very least, the Bible must be a basically reliable and trustworthy historical document. Without this basis, to claim to be a Christian would be suspect if not irrational, since everything we know about Christianity comes from the Bible.


Here are Five Facts!

"Atheism, New Age Mysticism, vs. Biblical Christianity" By Brian Schwertley

    

God

Every system of thought, every worldview has a concept of God.1 Three predominant views of God in America are: monism (everything is God), atheism (God does not exist) and Christian theism (there is a personal, infinite God who is totally separate from the created universe). Secular humanists are atheists. They reject any concept of a transcendent Creator in favor of materialistic evolution. They believe that the universe is a closed system. There is nothing above and beyond the universe. Therefore man, as the highest form of evolution, is responsible to: create his own law and morality; save himself and the world through science and social planning; unite mankind into a one-world order; and redirect the course of evolution. Humanity is the secular humanists’ god.

"A Message To Non-Believers" By Shane C. Montgomery

I would like to take a moment and speak to those readers who have not given their lives to the Lord, to those of you who have not come out from the world and chosen the good path, and followed Jesus Christ.

First, I need to tell you that I am not judging you one bit, it is not my intention to call you out as a wretched sinner or a Hell bound soul. This is a subject I do not wish to engage at this time. Why not? Because, like you, I am a sinner also. So is every single man, woman and child who are true believers of Christ. We all are nothing more than sinners, sinners who have recognized their guilt and lot in life and have been found and delivered by Christ Jesus.

"CROSS-BEARING" By A.W. Pink

“When said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me”    Matthew 16:24

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will”—the word “will” here means “desire to” just as in that verse, “If any will live godly.” It signifies “determine to.” “If any man will or desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross (not a cross, but his cross) and follow me.” Then in Luke 14:27 Christ declared, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.” So it is not optional. The Christian life is far more than subscribing to a system of truth or adopting a code of conduct, or of submitting to religious ordinances. Preeminently the Christian life is a person; experience of fellowship with the Lord Jesus, and just in proportion as your life is lived in communion with Christ, to that extent are you living the Christian life, and to that extent only.

"I Have A Dream" By Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

"The Benefits of Preaching Lectio Continua" By Shane C. Montgomery

    I have preached for the past 29 weeks in a row on Paul's epistle to the Romans.  Beginning on Chapter One and Verse One, Verse Two, Verse Three and so on.  This morning was over Romans 9:14-18.  This is not the first book we have went through "Lectio Continua," prior to Romans we went through Ephesians and prior to that it was Galatians.  I have to say this is a very lengthy process and it demands a great majority of the ministers time in study, research and preparation.  More than this, a commitment of diligence is required along with a congregation who desires this type of continuous sermons.  The benefits of this style of preaching far outway the drawbacks, at least in my point of view.

"THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION OPENED AND APPLIED" By Walter Marshall

  

  Yesterday was the last chapter posting (14) for the book "Gospel Mystery of Sanctification" by Walter Marshall.  I said earlier there would be 15 postings, meaning of course the 14 chapters of the book, which I hope you found helpful, and this last posting that may or may not tie in with the book but I still wish to post it.  If you have read all 14 of these, thanks and be Holy!
Shane

Suggested Blog Post- "Prophet anonymous' Prophecies for 2011 part one"

http://themonkeyhousejournal.blogspot.com/2011/01/prophet-anonymous-prophecies-for-2011.html

"Will Your Foundation Pass Examination?" By Shane C. Montgomery

I imagine you might well be growing tired of me and my pleadings for you dear Christian, that you continue to strive and desire holiness in your life.  If you are a regular reader of this blog first of all, thank you!  and second, you have noticed I preach a lot on Sanctification.  This dear Christian,  I confess, I appear "hung up" on this subject because I truly am.  I plead and beg daily on this blog that you my friend will earnestly and vehemently seek out holiness in your life.  It is not my intention to bore you, to tire you or to run you off to another blog, my desire is that you stick around, return often, read till you get your fill and are edified with what you read and just maybe grow a little in personal holiness.  Not that I know more than others, I am more feeble minded than most in fact, but even the feeblest of us can still bear witness and testimony to the Glory of God.  

"THE GOSPEL MYSTERY OF SANCTIFICATION" By Walter Marshall

Chapter Fourteen

That you may seek holiness and righteousness only by believing in Christ and walking in Him by faith, according to the former directions, take encouragement from the great advantages of this way and the excellent properties of it.

This direction may serve as an epilogue or conclusion by stirring us up unto a lively and cheerful embracing those gospel rules forementioned by several weighty motives. Many are kept from seeking godliness because they know not the way to it; or the way that they think of seems uncouth, unpleasant, disadvantageous and full of discouragement, like the way through the wilderness to Canaan, which wearied the Israelites and occasioned their many murmurings (Num. 21:4).

Five Facts Friday!

1)  Many pastors and evangelists continue to report a 100% salvation rate for all who come to the altar, but they know better. Charles E. Hackett, national director of the Assemblies of God home missions said, "we realize approximately 95 out of every hundred will not become integrated into the church." Church Growth magazine reported a 6% retention rate for 18,000 decisions. American Horizon magazine reported a major U.S. denomination in 1991 retained only 5% of their "converts." In 1995, a leading U.S. denomination reported 384,057 decisions. Only 6% were retained. Peter Wagner admitted only 3% to 16% of those who make a decision at crusades end up responsible members of a church. Ted Haggard wasn't as optimistic. "Only three to six percent of those who respond in a crusade end up in a local church." 

Church Attendance By State

Rank	State	Percent
	National average	42%
1	Alabama	58%
1	Louisiana	58%
1	South Carolina	58%
4	Mississippi	57%
5	Arkansas	55%
5	Utah	55%
7	Nebraska	53%
7	North Carolina	53%
9	Georgia	52%
9	Tennessee	52%
11	Oklahoma	50%
12	Texas	49%
13	Kentucky	48%
14	Kansas	47%
15	Indiana	46%
15	Iowa	46%
15	Missouri	46%
15	West Virginia	46%
19	South Dakota	45%
20	Minnesota	44%
20	Virginia	44%
22	Delaware	43%
22	Idaho	43%
22	North Dakota	43%
22	Ohio	43%
22	Pennsylvania	43%
22	Wisconsin	43%
28	Illinois	42%
28	Michigan	42%
30	Maryland	41%
30	New Mexico	41%
32	Florida	39%
33	Connecticut	37%
34	Wyoming	36%
35	Arizona	35%
35	Colorado	35%
37	Montana	34%
37	New Jersey	34%
39	District of Columbia	33%
39	New York	33%
41	California	32%
41	Oregon	32%
41	Washington	32%
44	Maine	31%
44	Massachusetts	31%
46	Rhode Island	28%
47	Nevada	27%
48	New Hampshire	24%
48	Vermont	24%

Source: "Religious Composition of the U.S.". U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. 2007. http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-09.