When Mr. M’Laren of Edinburgh was dying, Mr. Gustart, his associate pastor, paid him a visit, and inquired of him, “What are you now doing, my brother?” The strong and earnest response of the dying minister was, “I’ll tell you what I am doing, brother; I am gathering together all my prayers, all my sermons, all my good deeds, all my ill deeds; and I am going to throw them all overboard, and swim to glory on the single plank of free grace.”
— from “Death-bed Scenes: Or, Dying With and Without Religion, Designed to Illustrate the Truth and Power of Christianity”, Edited by Davis Wasgatt Clark, 1851.
I found this interesting story HERE AT THE SACRED SANDWICH. When you get a chance, take a look at more of the site. “Food for thought” is there.
Unless you have been living a monastic existence (and maybe even then), you know that politics are in the air. This sermon was given almost five years ago. In it, Alistair Begg says this:
“…a combination of both politics and theology in order to silence Jesus Christ. In order to make sure that this story of someone dying for the sins of mankind is finally silenced once and for all.” (Just after the 6 minute mark)
I don’t think Pastor Begg is saying that all politics and theology are bad, only that they are good platforms whereby man can attempt to silence truth.
Pastor Begg’s message is partly about how Jesus answered those who continually pestered Him. Jesus asked,”Why put me to the test?”
At the end, important subjects are put in perspective.
I would like to thank Octavian Curpas for letting me know this was on Pastor Ciprian Barsan’s blog Din inima pentru tine found HERE.
Both Octavian and Pastor Barsan write for blogs that give God the glory. They are both Christians of Romanian heritage and they are very active in the American/Romanian community spreading the truth of the Gospel message.
I have known Octavian for some time now and I appreciate his writing and his ability to find stories that I have not heard of. Octavian works in real estate around the Phoenix area in Arizona.
May God bless both of these men of God as they continue to allow God to work in their lives.
Enjoy this wonderful version (particularly the words) of a great Christian classic.
“The people that do know their God shall be strong.” Da 11:32
Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to “have an unction from the Holy One”, and it is the Spirit’s peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. Knowledge also strengthens hope. How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the “knowledge” of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) ————————————————–
The video about Derek Redmond was one of the first videos I ever put on this blog. I think it is fitting for two reasons: 1) Our world faces great challenges and 2) the 2016 Summer Olympics begin today. We must look to a source higher than ourselves for our answers. This message is clear in both the video and the devotion written by Charles Spurgeon.
I published this devotion just before the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in 2012. There were many reactions to the Opening Ceremonies in London. Since those games, articles have been written about the meaning of the four hour long event that most Americans never saw in full.
Only a few hours remain until the 2016 Opening Ceremonies take place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Once again, millions of people will be connected worldwide by an Opening Ceremony in a “Summer” Olympics. Four years ago, many had questions about so many odd and unexplained items in the Opening in London. Since then, I’ve read several articles about the meaning behind many of the things in the London opening. They are a real mix of opinions, some connected with official and some with unofficial sources. None of the sources I could find seem to be specifically explanatory of many things in the London Opening Ceremonies in 2012. If anyone can find a script (which I have looked for) that helps one to understand the intent of the entire Opening in 2012, I would love to see it. There should be a very good explanation somewhere as the money spent on the opening would warrant one I should think.
Once very interested in Olympic games for the games themselves, I have become more interested because of the different cultures involved. I do appreciate the talent of the athletes but this has become less of a draw to me the older I’ve become. I will join millions to watch the opening this year. I’m curious to see if the Opening ceremonies are as odd as those in London in 2012. I wish the best to all in Rio. I hope that each athlete comes to understand from where his/her talent comes. It is a humbling and wonderful thing.
Pastor Mark Cain Village Bible Church Hot Springs Village Arkansas
February 25th, 2026 I see that someone has looked at this post and it is very unfortunate that the VBC website has either taken down all of Pastor Mark’s sermons or redone their site so that so many wonderful messages of Pastor Mark seem no longer available. If anyone has any idea of where I can find any of his sermons, which were at one time posted online, please let me know. Please ignore the link below. I am only keeping it up so that I can check it occasionally for Pastor Mark’s sermons.
The link above will take you to another good message by Pastor Mark Cain of Village Bible Church. Pastor Mark is a teacher/pastor and I am privileged to be able to get to hear him fairly often.
The topic of Freemasonry is mentioned in so many places today, including many videos on YouTube where it is often connected with Satanism. Walter Martin connects freemason sources with occultist symbols and fallacious beliefs in this interview with a former freemason.
Walter Martin died in June of 1989. He is still well known for his understanding of Christian theology.
In this discussion, Walter Martin talks with a former Christian freemason who admits that he did not know of certain freemason doctrines. Walter Martin did not think that Christians should be freemasons. The former freemason in this interview is very honest as Walter asks questions. Even though this interview is a bit old, I think it gives a good view of some Masonic views.
This interview is one good source to help show Christians that masonry should be avoided. Christians should not join themselves to freemasonry.
“…and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’” – Romans 11:26
So why is a large part of Israel not Christian at the posting of this brief article?
The answer is written in the verse that precedes the verse above. Romans 11:25 states:
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”
Darrell Mansfield tells the Jews that “Your King is this Man from Galilee” in this song.
I enjoyed Darrell’s walk through the streets of Jerusalem in this 30 year old music video.
Darrell Mansfield was once a young man in search of meaning in life. His search ended at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ after some difficult times in his youth. This early music video was Filmed on location in Jerusalem, September 1986.
I agree with Dr. J. Vernon McGee that these verses are talking about literal Jews (Israelites). I also agree on his commentary involving these verses:
I am watching the tiny little country of Israel become more isolated from the rest of the world. Many former friends have and are leaving them. I will always be a friend to the nation of Israel because of an everlasting covenant that God make with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I believe that the Bible teaches that God will eventually intervene on their behalf. How He does that remains to be seen. One thing I am not concerned about is the destruction of the Israelites. It will not happen.
Most would agree that the two definitions listed here fit the general idea of the term:
1) forced out of its natural or proper shape; crumpled. synonyms: perverted, warped, deviant, depraved, corrupt, abnormal, unhealthy, aberrant, distorted, corrupted, debauched, debased, disturbed
2) (of a personality or a way of thinking) unpleasantly or unhealthily abnormal; warped.
A somewhat “twisted” catalog arrived in the mail today. It wasn’t a catalog making available a number of twisted things that are popular in our secular world today.
It was a 60+ page catalog filled with popular books available at reasonable prices. “Why was it twisted?” you might ask. Sadly, it was twisted because it had the term “Christian” at the top of it.
Looking through the catalog, one finds popular names in the “Christian” world. Some names are well known because of television appearances, others because their teachings are followed by many. A “Christian” catalog that is filled with writings by authors that teach unchristian ideas is…twisted.
This is a three hour documentary. The recommendation is to watch the first few minutes. If you are curious about how Biblical Christians understand the truth, you may want to watch more. The points made throughout this documentary contrast Christian beliefs with “new ideas” (really not that new) that the “church” is evolving. Many who believe in this “evolution” call themselves “emerging” or “emergent”.
The catalog received in the mail includes for sale books by more than one teacher with “new” ideas. Books like these can be found in almost every Christian bookstore.
The purpose of this post is to educate Christians who may not be aware of false teachers who are active and numerous in our day. Those who take the name “emerging” or “emergent” usually see something wrong with historical Christianity and do not preach the simple gospel message found in the Bible.
Our world is full of twisted things. To some, good is seen as evil and to some evil is seen as good.
This blog has recently been focused on an organization that twists words to suit its cruel purposes.
This blog has also had a theme about the results of turning away from Godly principles.
This question has been asked more than one time here: “How can God bless a nation that has turned its back on Him?”
Recently, this blog has broadened this question to ask, “How can God bless a world that has turned its back on Him?
These are questions that every person should consider.
Some of the emergents make good points about the lack of sincerity in certain “brands” of Christianity. Some of the questions they have are good, but they don’t seem to have good answers. These “teachers” only create more questions than answers.
The true church of Jesus Christ faces many challenges in today’s world. This is no surprise to the Christian as there are many verses in the Bible that “speak” about difficulties Christians will confront at times.
If you are not a Christian, but you like words and the meanings of words and you enjoy learning about different philosophies, this documentary may interest you.
If you are a Christian, you should be familiar with this subject as it or many things like it are popping up in the strangest places. One example is the catalog that many Christians receive on a regular basis. It is a catalog featuring many books with twisted ideas.
“13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that [s]he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
-James 5
I want to thank Maria Bowen for putting this message up on a website devoted to a church we both attended years ago. Alistair Begg rightly divides God’s Word in this focus on prayer.
Born Again
Beth is a born again Christian who lives in Canada. She believes that Jesus is the the way, the truth, and the life and she also believes that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. She blogs on a variety of topics.
Elizabeth Burke's Blog
Elizabeth is a writer of Evangelical Christian books based in Ireland. Her books are currently published under “Ready Writer Publications.” Her blog is a testimony to her Christian faith and always an enjoyable read.
excatholic4christ
Tom has a loving heart for Catholics and his blog is an attempt to help those in Catholic churches understand that we are saved by grace alone. He blogs on a variety of topics.
Heavenly Raindrops
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Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. Luke 11:35
Mrs. Acuna's Blog
If you have a teenager or anyone close to being one, this is a must read
REASONED CASES FOR CHRIST
Bruce Cooper’s excellent Christian Apologetic Resources For Laypersons is a place that I’ve been visiting more often as time goes by. You should too!
The Domain for Truth
Slimjim’s “about” states: “(Jim Lee) is a pastor. He is a faithful servant of the church and his Saviour. Although young in age he is trying to be an apologist for the faith. “
The Hope Blog
Former Christian Talk Show Host, Ingrid Schlueter’s blog
The Narrowing Path
A blog to help Christians in Australia connect the dots…(it’s helped me here in the “good” ole U.S.A.)
The Realist Juggernaut
John is a fellow truth-seeker and his blog mission is to navigate the intricate maze of reality, bringing you unfiltered insights and thought-provoking discussions. John efficiently balances news and faith in our challenging times.
Posted by Chris 
Wings of the Wind 
The Single Plank
August 18, 2016When Mr. M’Laren of Edinburgh was dying, Mr. Gustart, his associate pastor, paid him a visit, and inquired of him, “What are you now doing, my brother?” The strong and earnest response of the dying minister was, “I’ll tell you what I am doing, brother; I am gathering together all my prayers, all my sermons, all my good deeds, all my ill deeds; and I am going to throw them all overboard, and swim to glory on the single plank of free grace.”
— from “Death-bed Scenes: Or, Dying With and Without Religion, Designed to Illustrate the Truth and Power of Christianity”, Edited by Davis Wasgatt Clark, 1851.
I found this interesting story HERE AT THE SACRED SANDWICH. When you get a chance, take a look at more of the site. “Food for thought” is there.
cr
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