Recently, I've been so blessed by ChristianAudio and as I've been listening to their free giveaways (and purchasing their excellent products) I've come under conviction to help out some brothers and sisters in Christ.

What with it being Calvin's 500th birthday soon and with the excellent specials Christian Audio is running on Calvin's books, it is time to give away some audiobooks.

No, I'm not doing this to promote my blog, doug's blog, jordan's blog, or 1reformedrebellion.ning.com, I'm doing this because I honestly believe that God should be both made known and glorified.

—

This is a very simple contest, you don't have to post anything about my blog or tweet or post on facebook, if you want to publicize what is happening here please feel free to do so.

In fact, I really do need bloggers, tweeters, and facebookers to help me get the word out about this contest/giveaway as my blog is, to put it bluntly, not very widely-read.

I hope that this will encourage a spirit of giving among us "calvinists" towards those who are just beginning to see this great gospel for which we live in and for.

—

Contest Specifics:

Do you know someone, perhaps he's a young guy or an older man, a young gal or an elderly lady, perhaps he's a father of five, mother of three. This person has recently understood the doctrines of grace and has become overjoyed to learn about them. He or she has become insatiable for the gospel, they aren't perfect but they've found the gospel which Christ died for and millions have been matyred for. In particular, he or she knows very little about the doctrines of grace, sovereign grace theology, reformation theology, or calvinism. But they want to learn so they can better live their lives by soli deo gloria.

• Please send me an email me sermonfire@gmail.com

• Please put in the subject line "Calvin Contest"

• Please explain to me why this particular person (include their email) should receive a ChristianAudio account with the following audiobooks already available for download

• Please include a link to your profile (blog, twitter, etc) online so I know who I'm talking to and if possible a link to their online profile (blog, twitter, etc)

• Please be truthful and please do not nominate yourself or your imaginary friend

Remember, you're nominating a person who's:

1. Recently understood the doctrines of grace
2. Insatiable for the gospel
3. Knows little to nothing about sovereign grace theology

Deadline to send me an email: July 11th

The giveaway is one account with four audiobooks, which are below:

In this concise introduction to Calvin's life and thought, Elwood offers an insightful and accessible overview of Calvin's key teachings within his historical context. The trials and travails Calvin encountered as he ministered and taught in Geneva are given with special attention to theological controversies associated with the Trinity and predestination. Elwood indicates the ways that Calvinism developed and its influence in today's world. Illustrations are interspersed throughout the text and humorously illuminate key points providing an engaging introduction to this important theologian. Christopher Elwood is Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is the author of The Body Broken: The Calvinist Doctrine of the Eucharist and the Symbolization of Power in Sixteenth-Century France.

"Let the first rule of right prayer then be, to have our heart and mind framed as becomes those who are entering into converse with God." So begins John Calvin and his treatise on prayer. These seminal writings are from his Magnus Opus The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Prayer as Calvin describes it is not giddy, and he goes on to give Scriptural definitions of proper thought, engagement, and attitude. What do the roles of patience and self-denial play in the role of the Christian life and what does Christian piety look like? What should our views be of the present life and the future life? John Calvin is one of the giants of Christian history. These two sections of The Institutes guide us ever so thoughtfully and gracefully into his theology and practice of Christian living. Wonderfully narrated by James Adams, these are sure to both challenge and encourage one to a fuller devotion to Christ.

John Piper fires readers’ passion for the centrality and supremacy of God by unfolding Calvin’s exemplary zeal for the glory of God. God rests all too lightly on the church’s mind in our time. Consequently, the self-saturation of his people has made God and his glory auxiliary, and his majesty has all but disappeared from the modern evangelical world. John Calvin saw a similar thing in his day, and it was at the root of his quarrel with Rome. Nothing mattered more to Calvin than the centrality, supremacy, and majesty of the glory of God. His aim, he wrote, was to "set before [man], as the prime motive of his existence, zeal to illustrate the glory of God”—a fitting banner over all of the great Reformer’s life and work. “The essential meaning of Calvin’s life and preaching," writes John Piper, “is that he recovered and embodied a passion for the absolute reality and majesty of God. Such is the aim and burden of this book as well.” As Piper concisely unfolds this predominant theme in Calvin’s life, he seeks to fire every Christian’s passion for the centrality and supremacy of God, so that God’s self-identification in Exodus 3 as “I am who I am” becomes the sun in our solar system too.

The God of the universe is crazy about you! His love is the most powerful thing in the world and He wants to give it to you, so you can live for Him. If you have made a commitment to follow Christ, then listen to Crazy Love to be reminded and challenged in your walk. Sharing from his own life struggles and sacrifices, author Francis Chan issues a call for selfless, Christ-like living. Let the love you have received from God impact your life like never before. Foreword by Chris Tomlin.

—

soli deo gloria,
Logan Paschke

Posted via email from The Reformed Rebel Alliance

(We at the Reformed Rebellion are still working out all the details of how to setup the network so have patience, we are still recruiting, if you are interested, send or Doug an email)

I've found that more and more I really am different than the world. And hopefully you are different from the world too. Not by your own actions, but by Christ alone.

By Him, His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, His glory.

Because of His actions we are not content to live in an apathetic, complacent stupor.

What is happening, specifically in young, reformed Christians (and in a general sense to my generation of Christians), is that we are refusing to be like everyone else.

I stumbled across a video by Lecrae, a young reformed rapper who's message is clear.

Consider this for a minute, this video is only three minutes long, but the depth, quantity, and quality of the theological content is frankly reminiscent of old puritan hymns.

A sanctified troublemaker but He never sinned – "For we have as high priest, not one who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in all respects like ourselves, but without sin" (Hebrews 4:15)

you leave evaporated like you missing a gas cap -"For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appearth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)

all glory to the King on the throne (Jesus) – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

you either love Him or leave Him alone but you cant do both -  “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49)

Cause you refuse to conform, won't eat the kings meat – "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank." (Daniel 1:8)

I could easily go on, but I don't think I need to. Hopefully you understand the point I'm making, we are the reformed rebellion and our lives are contrary to the world's.

Two books can help you understand this reformed rebellion, I have read one of them and can't wait to order the other.

From what I've read about both these books, they fill in each other's gaps.

Do Hard Things focuses on the rebellion of young Christians against the cultural grain and conformity to this generation.

Young, Restless, and Reformed focuses on the surge of New Reformation among young people across the world.

The idea of Rebellion quickly brought me to the iconic science fiction saga of our generation. Star Wars. In particular there is one phrase that echoes throughout all the books, the comics, the games, and even makes it appearance a few times in the movies.

Rebel Scum

This really hits home on both points, though we have indwelling sin, we still have been elected, have been called, have been regenerated, are being sanctified, and will be perfected.

In all of this, I started considering how exactly we could make a banner, a flag of some sort, for this rebellion. Stay tuned for the last and final part…

Posted via email from The Reformed Rebel Alliance

So, you'd figure after reading my previous message from the Holy Ghost Toking Sailor that he wouldn't message me again.

Well, he did. A week later. (my words in bold, his are not, I do place emphasis on certain scriptures later on in this post)

yeah i said some mean s***, i apoligize, i wish yu ddn't go to hell,

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks dear friend.

if anything i should of just told you, you know yes you can get dunk in the spirit yes yo can have adioe voices from god,

So, you're now claiming to have the same divine revelations as revealed to the apostles and the writers of scripture?

but you know, i dont know what to say man, i just you make it to heaven and i know t isn't nice to wish for people to go to hell,

No, it's not really very Christ-like. Neither was your excessive foul language or your total disregard for the words of Christ. Judge not lest ye be judged.

please forgive me im not prefect,

Neither am I, but I am forgiven. It's obvious that the old man still rules in your life, I will pray that Christ draws you to salvation and you will be willing/wanting to put to death sin in your life. Rather than waiting for your conscience to catch up with you an entire week after you sent me the original message.

but theres nothing wrong with toking the ghost,

It is another gospel. It is not the gospel. That's the problem.

and i figure you know people are always going to be credics about soemthing,

I have no problem destroying false gospels that are promoted under the label of Christianity. Do you think I like getting called a b**** by Tokers (like yourself) and Atheists? Ironically, though you would claim opposite worldviews, your fruits are nothing more than thorns. Atheists are nicer to me online than you because they are only single sons of Hell not double sons of Hell. Indeed, they are prodigal sons in the pigsty and you follow traditions. Though I hear you scream "Kill Religion! Kill Religion" in your comments, you are simply making your own traditions and worshipping them.

23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

This passage shows that pharisees are alive and well.

you know but whatever these people are doing get drunk on god gettig high on god, using god instead of drugs,

Ugh.

they are arn't going to be leading anybody to hell,

You're going to Hell right now, so I'd be inclined to believe they are..

because guess what they preach about the good new of jesus chri nd thas thatyou know,

They preach a false gospel of a jesus that is not real.

and jesus say's just let them be and go there way,

Really? Chapter and verse where Jesus says not to defend the faith, not to correct false doctrine, and not to judge all things accordingly.

anyways man, yada yada yada i hope tha someday we will toke the ghost together or get drunk on god together,

No. I refuse to get off the rock of Christ and onto your rock of blasphemy towards Him.

and another thing how i know this is real,

How? By your feelings? By your emotions? Both can be affected by things as little as a cruncy taco, you really are going to bet your eternity on your limited, finite "gut" feeling?

i know its real man, because there where times i was completely sober, for along tme, and i go to chruch and get under the anionting,

Biblically, what are you talking about? What annointing is this?

then all of asudden i feel like i am triping balls

Wow. Amazing.

and i am tripping balls off of god,

You do know that you're going to Hell right? How can you possibly say that phrase and not be a total blasphemor?

so yeah man you can get spirit inibreation,

You'll notice these specific phrases used repeatedly, "Annointing", "Toking", "Drunk", etc. These are not phrases from the Bible, but phrases from their leaders.

so i'm sorry for condeming you, and i hope someday you feel the spirit of go,

You've condemned yourself with your words.

and it is intoxicating and hope you get to feel the pleasureof tat,

It's intoxicating, emphasis on the toxic, like toxic poison.

 take it easy brutha, and pease for give me out of the kidness of your heart, peace
I can forgive you because Christ has forgiven me and I hope that Christ will convict you of your wickedess and bring you into salvation.

It is by His grace that we live, not by snorting baby lambs.

*** apologies for how long it took to post this, up to my neck in Biblical Greek, Doug and I are working on making the Reformed Rebellion a better place with more young reformed guys so we do more things for soli deo gloria ***

If you would like to see just what lengths these "ministers" go to justify their theology, take a look at John Crowder's FAQ page.

Posted via email from The Reformed Rebel Alliance

Now, feel free to watch these videos or you don't have to, it's no big deal. Basically I explained to them why their "scriptural support" was nothing more than Eisegesis (reading their own particular interpretations into the text, making it seem like it supports their theology when it does no such thing).

It wasn't so many days ago when I was considering deleting my videos criticizing the Holy Ghost Toker's ministry, their lack of reverence towards God, and their laughable theology…

Then I received these two comments on said videos along with a message, followed by another message a week later (today).

What I say will be in bold, his words will not be.

—
your lucky i couldn't post my how comment your mouther f*****, but the dude your positcuting went to bible college for 4 years and got his degree from bible college, f*** you dude he's read his bible

(that was his comment, he then tries to post another comment, but fails)

your lucky i couldn't post my how comment your mouther f*****, but the dude your positcuting went to bible college for 4 years and got his degree from bible college, f*** you dude he's read his bible

(after that he sends me this message)

message: hey guess what dude, your a f***** loser, fuck you,

That's a very biblical way to send a message to another Christian. It will surely convince him or her of their theological error so they may return to sound doctrine.

you are the reason why i don't calm christianity

I assume he means "claim christianity". What does Jesus say about those who aren't willing to be associated with Him? I think you know. Hint: Read the Gospels.

because of prosicuting f*** like you,

Prosicuting likely means persecuting.

guess what, you lame, dull, and boring, no one gives a s**** about what you say you know,

Straight to personal insults.

 you want f***** inciting, you like,,….. DUH, f****** stupid, your preaching sucks,!!!!

Apparently when a person talks to the camera that is boring. What? Does he want me to snort baby lambs like his friends? Would that be more exciting…or just more stupid?

you don't even seem like you enjoy what you are talking about,

How would you know? Do quiet professors enjoy what they're talking about more than loud professors? Logic fail.

and i seen these guys's videos of ther ministires and there ministries are going to go alot father than yours

Yes, they will send people farther along into deception and sin.

"dude" i hope that blows your mind, not only that red letter minsitres read from many videos,

There are points when I simply have no idea what he's talking about. Like ths one.

they got like 110 videos and all they do is preach the good news, the good new of the gospel, the good news of jesus christ,

That's wonderful, it's always great to know that there are Christians who have good fru-

you come one, your the one whos f***** blind, f*** you, i hope you burn in heal,

…umm, never mind.

preach whatever you want to me, judge not jduge,

You know, ironically this does apply to you if you're a Christian. Which you're not.

i doin't give ahit i'm f***** human and i am going to use my human sidew to tell you the fuk off,

You can call it your "human side" but it's sin.

your a b****, you like a b****, fuck your ministry, i'd rather get drunk on god, then to listen to your sstupid bullshit,

And I'd rather you find a spellchecker.

your a f***** pharisee, i rebuke you b****, fuck you satisfaction, how many followers do you have?

Notice how he mentions followers? This is his indication of whether or not someone is "truly" doing the Lord's work. Very sad.

do you go out oin the streets saving, poor, and drunkards,

I've done years of street and internet evangelism.

do you do fulll time minstry to go house to house,

Someday hopefully.

i hope your f***** reading this, i know some of these guys, and they do nothing but dedecate every moment oif there lives to god,

Really? What's your definition of God? The Holy Ghost Toker's definition of God is not the Bible's. You guys preach another gospel that belongs to another god.

i give you the middel finger b****, who gives a f*** what you got to say, your not humble at all mother f*****!

And you're not a blatant hypocrite.

and f*** what you have to say you for eyed mother f*****, the truth is clear, you are a b****,

I'll be honest the last time someone called me four-eyes was…never. I don't think I've ever known anyone that immature.

not only that i met that dude who tokes the ghost,

And you (being of such good Christian character) will surely be able to discern whether or not he's a cult leader, right?

 he has a 26 bible translation in one,

No, he doesn't. Go read the Amazon product description, already heard this argument and it is a lie.

he reads that every day,

Wonderful.

not only thaT HE READS LIKE 10 MORE OTHER BIBLES, HE WENT TO BIBLE COLLEGE FOR 4 YEARS!!!

WHAT?!? CHRISTIANS GO TO BIBLE COLLEGE?!?! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!?! PARADIGM…SHIFTING…!!!

you ever go to bible college? huh? have you been to bible college you little b****?

I'm going to Bible College right now and I'm not losing my faith to extreme emotionalism (and an absence of sola scriptura) like your friend did.

not only that every movie they have is about the bible,

I can't help but laugh at this. Where is that in the Bible? To be a true minister of God, every movie one has must be about the Bible. I lol'd.

eey cd this guy has is a sermun or about god or jesus,

*stunned* Wow. Amazing.

he has a LIBARY of BOOKS about GOD , A LIBARY OF CD's A LIBARY Of movies, and guess what they RE ALL ABOUT GOD, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORLD!

I'll take a wild stab and guess that the vast majority of books, cds, sermons, and movies are by Pentecostals or Charismatics.

and all is see you with is one bible, maybe reading a "couple of scriptures,

Of course, that's not sufficient. Gee, what did Paul have then? He didn't even have a Bible. All he had was the only gospel and the only Jesus. Neither of those is what you and your friends have.

they have videos with tons of bibles, reading tons of bibles, and they have more videos on reading scriptures, and identafing them,

This comment particularly kills me because if you want to pick one group (besides emergents) who focus on their Bibles less, you'd have to pick these guys. Good luck finding a Holy Ghost Toking video that has scripture in it. If there is scripture it will be muddled as they sway back and forth in a stupor brought on by their own deluded fantasy.

they sound more smarter and eduated then you try to make yourself out to be,

Great. Wonderful. So what?

you little b****, WATCH they go some where, and you go nowhere!!!

So, they do videos of "outreach" consisting of them toking the ghost at peace protests and that is why they are better than me? I wonder what you think about disabled Christians who can only make videos from their bedroom because they can't leave, they must REALLY be worthless to you.

they have videos going to tons of chruchs, they only videos i seen are out of your house,

That's where my camera is, genius. So what, they go to churches that toke like them and what "share the spirit"? Give Satan a break, send Holy Ghost Tokers to churches!

you don't even seem intouch with god, you don't even say praise god, praise jesus glory to the holy spirit! F*** you i reast my case!!!!:

p.s. your a b****

(Well, readers, I have my own thoughts discerned from scripture and experience speaking the truth but what do you think?)

(Discern well because he sent me another message just today, I will post it tomorrow or the next day and you can see how sharp your discernment is)

In the meantime, I know him only as the Holy Ghost Toking Swearing Sailor.

Posted via email from The Reformed Rebel Alliance

Most people in America don't understand that it the official American flag that we've had since 1960 has gone through 28 changes.

Most people in America really don't get that there were various themes and inspirations behind the flag of the good ol' USA.

Here's a picture of the various flags that helped build first American flag.

I thought that I would write out the themes and inspirations behind the creation of the Reformed Rebellion's flag.

There are going to be quite a few pictures that I will show you, separated by the themes of the Reformed Rebellion, you can view them all here.

Reformed

Let's face it, the last two-three generations of Christianity have been focused on the dumbing-down of Christianity via easy-believism through the sinner's prayer, the neglect of the great doctrines of the reformation, and overall the loss of viewing church history as something to learn from.

More than that, we have in our generation two big movements:

the shift of modern to post-modern
the new liberalism in the church called the Emergent movement.

The church has obsessed over politics too much and preached on Jesus too little. So many times we view the Republican and Democratic parties as an extension of Christianity when it is nothing more than a man's political machine. Moreover, by doing this we deny the true method of cultural changing the world through Christ and the gospel manifested in the local church.

It has gotten so bad that even in Evangelical churches, there is a difference in sermons that are preached to church members compared to those preached to non-Christians. The difference is that the non-Christians get a little watered-down fast-food "Jesus" and the Christians get pep rallies to go out and change the world through their own works, not through the gospel.

It in this context, that the New Reformation has begun. It has not begun in the academic corners of Christianity, not under the brand of evangelicalism, but through the words of men long thought irrelevant has this movement come. The bestsellers of Christianity has been for decades the latest contemporary writers (Osteen, Warren, Hybels) and until Evangelicalism breathes its last breath this will continue.

But the times they are a changing.

It was this post that prompted my thoughts on what the symbol for this radical new reformation is.

It is not Driscoll, It is not Piper, It is not Calvin, It is not Owen, It is not Spurgeon, it is indeed the Word of God. Period.

Without the Bible, we truly have nothing, we have no hope, but with it, we have everything it promises to us.

I could go on and on with what the Bible gives to us, but hopefully you already know that the Bible's center is the Biblical Jesus.

What will you find in every popular new reformed person who has written books? Scripture. An abundant amount of scripture.

What will you find in every popular old reformed person who has written books? Scripture. An abundant amount of scripture.

John 1:5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

That's ultimately what this reformed rebellion about, the recovery of the Biblical Jesus and Biblical theology.

It's the same goal that the old, dead guys had and it's the same goal we have. We want Jesus and what we read in the Bible about Jesus in the Bible is pointing us to what people would call the "Calvinistic or Reformed system of theology and gospel". We would call it the truth. There is no other gospel. There is no other system that is Biblical. There is no other Jesus.

And we will you hug you and love you and say these words and these scriptures until you see the Jesus we see.

And then we will keep on keeping on.

next part on the theme of Rebellion

Posted via email from The Reformed Rebel Alliance

You might be saying, Logan, how could I (a humble, young, brash neo-calvinist) join such a large network comprising of two other bloggers?

I know, I know, seems impossible doesn't it?

Not so, young rapscallion!

We at the Reformed Rebellion (all two of us) are seeking more bloggers to join our rebellion.

How simple is it to join you ask?

Easy.

How simple is it for us to kick you out?

Even easier.

Why join the Reformed Rebellion?

1. When you are part of the Reformed Rebellion, you can write articles and post them to all the blogs that are part of the network.
2. You also retain full and exclusive rights to whatever goes up on your blog.
3. This means that if you don't want to post an article you've written to the whole network you are under no pressure to do so.
4. Perhaps you're just passing along a contest, sermon, news, etc and you don't want to pass it along to all the other bloggers on the network, no problem. 
5. Likewise, these rights applies to all others in the network. Period.

What are the requirements?

1. Christian
2. Young ( Teenager to under thirty )
3. Reformed ( 5-point preferred )
4. Have enough experience with blogging ( basically we will going over your ministry online and making sure we don't give a key to our home to a pyscho )

So, if you're interested (and meet the requirements) please apply and if you're not (but know someone who might be) do us a favor and forward him this post.

soli deo gloria,
sermonfire
]]> http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/recruiting-for-the-reformed-rebellion-2/feed/ 0 sermonfire 2736896196_05e8188308.jpg?v=0 http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/recruiting-for-the-reformed-rebellion/ http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/recruiting-for-the-reformed-rebellion/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:51:54 +0000 sermonfire http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/recruiting-for-the-reformed-rebellion/ ]]> Hello there friends, as you might know I co-blog with the Reformed Rebellion. A network that has increased 200% in size over the last year.

You might be saying, Logan, how could I (a humble, young, brash neo-calvinist) join such a large network comprising of two other bloggers?

I know, I know, seems impossible doesn't it?

Not so, young rapscallion!

We at the Reformed Rebellion (all two of us) are seeking more bloggers to join our rebellion.

How simple is it to join you ask?

Easy.

How simple is it for us to kick you out?

Even easier.

Why join the Reformed Rebellion?

1. When you are part of the Reformed Rebellion, you can write articles and post them to all the blogs that are part of the network.
2. You also retain full and exclusive rights to whatever goes up on your blog.
3. This means that if you don't want to post an article you've written to the whole network you are under no pressure to do so.
4. Perhaps you're just passing along a contest, sermon, news, etc and you don't want to pass it along to all the other bloggers on the network, no problem. 
5. Likewise, these rights applies to all others in the network. Period.

What are the requirements?

1. Christian
2. Young ( Teenager to under thirty )
3. Reformed ( 5-point preferred )
4. Have enough experience with blogging ( basically we will going over your ministry online and making sure we don't give a key to our home to a pyscho )

So, if you're interested (and meet the requirements) please apply and if you're not (but know someone who might be) do us a favor and forward him this post.

soli deo gloria,
sermonfire
]]> http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/recruiting-for-the-reformed-rebellion/feed/ 0 sermonfire 2736896196_05e8188308.jpg?v=0 http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/the-great-shock/ http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/the-great-shock/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:03:33 +0000 sermonfire http://reformedrebelscum.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/the-great-shock/ ]]> I choose to write when I am inspired. This usually means at least a week between posts. On my latest trip I was inspired to write something when I was people watching.

Yes, I'm a people watcher. I can't help but consider the immensity and individuality of the human race and people watching certainly makes that reality manifest.

Moreover, when I people watch, I think about just how many life stories are being written, erased, or published by the chance happenings in an airport.

Two women were walking briskly from the west down the hallway. One was elderly and the other was an airport employee. They were coming my way and soon they reached the gate that I was waiting at. The elderly lady, immediately as she turned the corner and looked out the window, she threw her hands up on her hand and shouted…

Rip Van Winkle before a nice shave.

Now, even more interesting than this was that the airport lady did not react at all. It was all part of the routine. She had likely gone through this very same scenario countless times as an employee of the airport.

My guess is that she knew this woman's plane was already gone (a simple check on the computers would suffice) and now had to go to the gate to give her a new ticket. When I was watching all of this, two comics kept running through my mind over and over as real life met future reality.

The shock an elderly lady has at a missing airplane will pale in comparison to seeing her spiritual leader condemned to an eternity in Hell alongside her.

Trust in Christ or your shock will be of equal or greater value and the consequence will be just as real.

Today, repent and believe the gospel, for tomorrow your plane could be missing.

Logan

Hello all, it's been a little while since we last talked, I just got back from a good Christian brother's wedding in Texas and I wanted to share some pictures with you.

No, let me be straight up and say that I'm not one to cry, but, yeah I cried.

I've known Ben Jackson for a long time (at least when compared to how long I've been alive) and when I heard he was getting married I was pysched. Just for context's sake, his family had some troubles and there's no need to say what. Shortly after this, Ben went to Moody Bible Institute and met Julie Smith (a great Christian gal from Texas) and after around two years Ben proposed. I was so glad to hear that the family troubles had been covered by the grace of our great Lord Jesus Christ working in their lives. It was hearing this (I had been in the dark about the specifics and hearing how Jesus was mightily working in the situation gave me great exuberant joy) coupled with seeing both my Christian brother entering into marriage God's way and the theological parallel of Christ and His Bride.

At the wedding, Julie's father, Randy, gave her away to Ben. Ben started weeping tears of pure joy. I've always wondered what it will look like when God the Father gives His Son Jesus Christ the prepared Bride, the Church. I know I saw a shadow of that glorious event soon to come when I saw this picture. At the end of this photo collection is an article I enjoyed that summed up the essence of what was going through my mind during the wedding.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and give himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 5:25-27 In this passage the apostle, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is teaching wives and husbands their duties to each other. To the wives he enjoins submission–a loving yielding to their husbands in all lawful things; to the husbands, love; and he puts before them the highest of all patterns–Christ and his Church. Christ's Love to His Church 1. The Object of his love. The Church–all who are chosen, awakened, believing, justified, sanctified, glorified–all who are finally saved–all who shall stand with the Lamb–the hundred and forty and four thousand redeemed ones–all looked on as the bright company; the Church–all who are awakened and brought to Christ–all who shall sit down at the marriage supper. I believe Jesus had compassion for the whole world. He is not willing that any should perish. He willeth all men to be saved. He shed tears over those who will finally perish. Still, the peculiar object of his love was the Church. He loved the Church. On them his eye rested with peculiar tenderness before the world was. He would often say: These shall yet sit with men on my throne; or, as he read over their names in his book of life, he would say: These shall yet walk with me in white. When they lived in sin, his eye was upon them. He would not let them die, and drop into hell: "I have much people in this city." I have no doubt, brethren, Christ is marking some of you that are now Christless, for his own. When they came to Christ, he let out his love toward them on the land where they dwelt–a delight some land. His eye rests on the houses of this town, where his jewels live. Christ loves some streets far better than others–some spots of earth are far dearer to him than others. Christ loved his Church. Just as a husband at sea loves the spot where his dear wife dwells, so does the Lord Jesus: "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" (Isa.49:16). He loves some in one house far more than others. There are some apartments dear to Christ–where he is often present– where his hands are often on the door: "Open to me, my love." 2. The state of the Church when first loved. (1) They were all under the curse of God–under condemnation–exposed to the just wrath of God– deserving nothing but wrath; for "he gave himself for it." The Church had no dowry to attract the love of Jesus, except her wrath and curse. (2) Impure. For he had to "sanctify and cleanse it"; unholy within–opposed to God–no beauty in the eye of Jesus: I am black, spotted, and wrinkled. (3) Nothing to draw the love of Christ. Nothing that he could admire in them. He admires whatever is like his Father. He had eternally gazed upon his Father, and was ravished with that beauty; but he saw none of this–not a feature–no beauty at all. Men love where they see something to draw esteem–Christ saw none. (4) Everything to repel his love: "Polluted in thine own blood" –cast out–loathsome (Ezek. 16:6); yet that was the time of his love. Black–uncomely: "Thou hast loved me out of the pit of corruption." (5) Not from ignorance. Men often love where they do not know the ure character, and repent after. But not so Christ. He knew the weight of the sins–the depths of their wicked heart. Nothing is more wonderful than the love of Christ. Learn the freeness of the love of Christ. It is unbought love. "If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned" (Song 8:7). He drew all his reasons form himself: "I knew that thou wast obstinate." You have no cause to boast. He loved you, because he loved you–for nothing in you. O what a black soul wast thou, when Christ set his love upon thee! 3. The greatness of that love: "He gave himself." This is unparalleled love. Love is know by the sacrifice it will make. In a fit of love, Herod would have given away half of his kingdom. If you will sacrifice nothing, you love not. Hereby we know that men love not Christ–they will sacrifice nothing for him. They will not leave a lust–a game–a companion, for Christ. "Greater love than this hath no man." But Christ gave himself. Consider what a self. If he had created ten thousand millions of worlds, and given them away, it had been great love–had he given a million of angels; but he gave the Lord of angels–the Creator of world. "Lo, I come." He gave the pearl of heaven. O what a self!–Jesus!–all loveliness! 4. What he gave himself to. He gave himself to put in their place–to bear their wrath and curse, and to obey for them. We shall never know the greatness of this gift. He gave himself to bear the guilt of the Church. There cannot be a more fearful burden to bear than guilt, even if there be no wrath. To the holy soul of Jesus, this was an awful burden. He was made sin: "Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up" (Psa. 40:12). "Mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me" (Psa. 38:4). He endured the cross, despising the shame. He laid his soul under their guilt–shame and spitting; silent like a lamb. To bear their warmth. A happy soul shrinks from suffering. Ask one that has always been in the love of God, what would he give to cast himself out of that love–bear as much wrath as he is bearing love–to receive the lightning instead of the sunshine? Not for ten millions of worlds. Yet this did Jesus. He became a curse for us: See how he shrank back from it in the garden. Ye he drank it. "God commendeth his love to us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Pray to know the love of Christ. It is a great ocean, without bottom or shore. In the broken bread you will see it set forth so that a child may understand: "This is my body, broken for you"–"This is my blood, shed for many." His Purpose in Time (v.26) Christ’s work is not done with a soul when he has brought it to pardon–when he has washed it in his own blood. Oh, no! the better half of salvation remains–his great work of sanctification remains. 1. Who is the author? He that gave himself for the Church–the Lamb that was slain. God having raised his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning every one of you away from your iniquities. He is exalted by the right hand of God, and, having obtained the promise of the Father, sheds him down. There is no hand that can new-create the soul, but the hand that was pierced. Many look to a wrong quarter for sanctification. They take pardon from Christ, then lean on themselves–their promises–for holiness. Ah, no! you must take hold of the hand that was pierced–lean on the arm that was racked–lean on the Beloved coming up from the wilderness. you might as well hold up the sun on its journey, as sanctify yourself. It needs divine power. There are three concerned in it. The Father–for this is his will; the Son–he is the Shepherd of all he saved; the Holy Ghost. 2. The means: "The Word." I believe he could sanctify without the Word, as he created angels and Adam holy, and as he sanctifies infants whose ear was never opened; but I believe in grown men he never will, but through the Word. When Jesus makes holy, it is by writing the Word in the heart: "Sanctify them through thy truth." When a mother nurses her child, she not only bears it in her arms, but holds it to her breast, and feeds it with the milk of her own breast; so does the Lord. He not only holds the soul, but feeds it with the mild of the Word. The words of the Bible are just the breathings of God’s heart. He fills the heart with these, to make us like God. When you go much with a companion, and hear his words, you are gradually changed by them into his likeness; so when you go with Christ, and hear his words, you are sanctified. Oh, there are some whom I could tell to be Christ’s, by their breathing the same sweet breath! Those of you that do not read your Bible cannot turn like God–you cannot be saved. You are unsaveable; you may turn like the devil, but you will never turn like God. Oh, believers, prize the Word! 3. The certainty of it. Some are afraid they will never be holy: "I shall fall under my sin." You shall be made holy. It was for this Christ died. This was the grand object he had in view. This was what was in his eye–to build a holy Church out of a world of lost sinners–to pluck brands out of the fire, and make them trees of righteousness–to choose poor, black souls, and make them fair brothers and sisters round his throne. Christ will not lose this object. Look up, then–be not afraid. He redeemed you to make you holy. Though you had a million of worlds opposing you, he will do it: "He is faithful, who also will do it." His Purpose in Eternity – twofold 1. Its perfection: "A glorious Church." At present believers are sadly imperfect. The have on the perfect righteousness that will be no brighter above; but they are not perfectly holy; they mourn over a body of sin–spots and wrinkles. Neither are they perfectly happy. They are often crushed; waves of trouble go over them. But they shall be perfectly glorious. Perfect in righteousness–White robes, washed in the blood of the Lamb. Perfect in holiness–Filled with the Holy Spirit. Perfect in happiness–This shall be. It is all in the covenant. 2. He will present it to himself. –He will be both Father and Bridegroom. He has bought the redeemed–he will give them away to himself. The believer will have great nearness–he shall see the King in his beauty. Great intimacy–walk with him–speak with him. He shall have oneness with him–"All that I have is thine."

Face it – it would depend who you ask. And I think it's a shame. Didn't seem like that in Acts 2. Take your Bibles and turn with me to the second chapter of Acts.

In Acts 2:1-4, we find the Apostles obeying the command of Jesus to wait for the promise of the Father to be fulfilled (Acts 1:4-5). In verses 3-13, we see the powerful manifestation of this promise of the Father. Let as is, this would have no doubt left those who saw – Jews probably visiting Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost – a little confused and unknown as to what this meant – if it truly meant anything to them at that point.

Note what happens in verses 14 through 41, paying attention to the emphasised sections:

Act 2:14-41  But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.  (15)  For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.  (16)  But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:  (17)  "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;  (18)  even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.  (19)  And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;  (20)  the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.  (21)  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'  (22)  "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know–  (23)  this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  (24)  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.  (25)  For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;  (26)  therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.  (27)  For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.  (28)  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'  (29)  "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  (30)  Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,  (31)  he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.  (32)  This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.  (33)  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.  (34)  For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,  (35)  until I make your enemies your footstool.'  (36)  Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."  (37)  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  (38)  And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39)  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."  (40)  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."  (41)  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Catch my point yet? Scripture was CENTRAL to the work of God on the day of Pentecost but look today at some of the revivals we parade as true moves of God. Filled with emotionalism and hype, shallow (if any) use of the Scriptures, built around personalities – compare them to both Nehemiah 8 and Acts 2 and they pale in comparison. I see all of that to say this: the next time you are tempted to run for the nearest revival, check the Biblicality of it all. Test the spirits (1 John 4:1-3), be a Berean and don't get bullied into accepting everything and with that, I'm through, but I will return…
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