Only One Call to Worship

"There can only be one call to worship, and this comes at conversion, when in complete repentance we admit to worshiping falsely, trapped by the inversion and enslaved to false gods before whom we have been dying sacrifices. This call to true worship comes but once, not every Sunday, in spite of the repeated calls to worship that begin most liturgies and orders of worship. These should not be labeled calls to worship but calls to continuation of worship. We do not go to church to worship, but, already at worship, we join our brothers and sisters in continuing those actions that should have been going on – privately, familially, or even corporately – all week long." -- Harold Best

Worship That Ends Up in the Right Place

"Worship is one of the ultimate themes of this life, but it is never a question of whether worship will or won't occur in the heart of a human being. It's more a case of whether that worship will travel in the proper direction and end up in the right place.

"It's guaranteed that everyone on this planet will be an extravagant worshiper of some kind, sacrificially spending themselves in a life of desire and devotion. But it's by no means guaranteed that their worship will travel along the right paths. People will find a way to worship anything and everything.

"But all the time, God is calling back to himself, back to being the God reflectors and image bearers we were meant to be He is the only One worthy of our worship.

"As. C. S. Lewis reminded us, idols inevitably break the hearts of their worshipers. But not so when we worship Jesus -- of course the complete opposite occurs, and we find ourselves in a place of fulfillment and satisfaction."

-- Matt Redman in his foreword to the new book by Bob Kauflin -- "True Worshipers"

Christ loved the church; we should do the same

“The church is not perfect, but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections. Christ loved his church, and let us do the same. I have no doubt that the Lord can see more fault in his church than I can; and I have equal confidence that he sees no fault at all. Because he covers her faults with his own love—that love which covers a multitude of sins; and he removes all her defilement with that precious blood which washes away all the transgressions of his people.”

-- Charles Spurgeon

Our War Against Reality

"...First, we need to remember—we must always remember—that the war against sexual purity and the family is a war against God. And that means it is a war against reality. Wars against reality cannot truly succeed...."  Very insightful cultural analysis from Dr. Brian Matson in this article.

"Saying and Meaning 'I Love You'"

"...Love is the willful and joyful sacrifice of ourselves in the service of others so that they might be blessed...."  A helpful article on the true meaning of love.

Since There Really Is a Heaven...

“Now suppose both death and hell were utterly defeated. Suppose the fight was fixed. Suppose God took you on a crystal ball trip into your future and you saw with indubitable certainty that despite everything — your sin, your smallness, your stupidity — you could have free for the asking your whole crazy heart’s deepest desire: heaven, eternal joy. Would you not return fearless and singing? What can earth do to you, if you are guaranteed heaven? To fear the worst earthly loss would be like a millionaire fearing the loss of a penny — less, a scratch on a penny.” --  Peter Kreeft

Without Jesus, What Would Be Left?

 "Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of Western culture for almost twenty centuries. If it were possible, with some super magnet, to pull up out of that history every scrap of metal bearing at least a trace of his name, how much would be left?" -- Jaroslav Pelikan

"Tears of the Saints"

A very moving, convicting video about the ongoing crucial needs in missions:  "Tears of the Saints"

"Hide it under a bushel? No!....."

"Being public about your faith simply means not hiding the wellspring of your life, not hiding who you truly are." -- Tim Keller

How long?....

How long wilt Thou forget me,
O Lord, Thou God of grace?
How long shall fears beset me
While darkness hides Thy face?
How long shall griefs distress me
And turn my day to night?
How long shall foes oppress me
And triumph in their might?

O Lord my God, behold me
And hear mine earnest cries;
Lest sleep of death enfold me,
Enlighten Thou mine eyes;
Lest now my foe insulting
Should boast of his success,
And enemies exulting
Rejoice in my distress.

But I with expectation
Have on Thy grace relied;
My heart in Thy salvation
Shall still with joy confide;
And I with voice of singing
Will praise the Lord above,
Who, richest bounties bringing,
Has dealt with me in love.

--The Psalter 1912

Reverence for Scripture

"Our Heavenly Father, revealing his majesty [in the gospel], lifts reverence for Scripture beyond the realm of controversy." -- John Calvin

Glorifying and Enjoying God

"How can He whose glory is His perfections be glorified if He be not also enjoyed?"

-- BB Warfield on "The First Question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism")

Q.  What is the chief end of man?
A.  Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

One cunning, cherished sin...

Lord, with what care hast thou begirt us round!
     Parents first season us; then schoolmasters
     Deliver us to laws; they send us bound
To rules of reason, holy messengers,
Pulpits and Sundays, sorrow-dogging sin,
     Afflictions sorted, anguish of all sizes,
     Fine nets and stratagems to catch us in,
Bibles laid open, millions of surprises,
Blessings beforehand, ties of gratefulness,
     The sound of glory ringing in our ears,
     Without, our shame, within, our consciences,
Angels and grace, eternal hopes and fears.
     Yet all these fences and their whole array
     One cunning bosom-sin blows quite away.

     -- George Herbert, "Sin"

Faith Links Us to God

"Faith is the link between  ourselves and a God of transforming love." -- J.I. Packer

Heaven Or Hell

“If we insist on keeping Hell, we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven, we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.” -- C.S. Lewis, "The Great Divorce"