Upcoming Presentation on Islam

Hey everyone,

Chris Neiswonger from apologetics.com and I will be doing a presentation on Islam for the next few weeks. We will be focusing on Islam's origins, basic beliefs, and radical Islam and the implications for international law and public policy. We will first be doing the presentation at First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. We will also be presenting it at Branch of Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Torrance CA, and the First Southern Baptist Church of Downey CA. We will then be doing the Apologetics.com radio show on the same topic. I will be sure to give you the link when we have it.

Please keep us in prayer as we prepare, and pray for those who will be attending.

Doug

Casting Crowns

The Power of the Gospel

Yes! There are some here who are laughing at salvation, who can scoff at Christ and mock at the gospel; but I tell you some of you shall come yet. "What!" you say, "can God make me become a Christian?" I tell you yes, for herein rests the power of the gospel. It does not ask your consent; but it gets it. It does not say, Will you have it? But it makes you willing in the day of God's power. Not against your will, but it makes you willing. It shows you its value, and then you fall in love with it; and straightway you run after it and have it. Many people have said, "we will not have anything to do with religion." yet they have been converted.

-Charles Spurgeon-

Backslidings Healed!

Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Jer 3:22

I will comfort you under the grief you are in for your backslidings, deliver you out of the troubles you have brought yourselves into by your backslidings, and cure you of your refractoriness and tendency to backslide." God will heal our backslidings by his pardoning mercy, his quieting peace, and his renewing grace.

-Matthew Henry-

Anchored to the Distant Shore

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Mic 7:18-19

Even as Christians, the greatest storm we face is the sin that rages in us. It crouches at our door, its desire is for us, and its only fruit is destruction. It threatens to sear our consciences, hinder our prayers, and even cause our love for Christ to grow cold. But even when we fail, and some of these things start to be seen in our lives, let us never forget that our God will have compassion on His children. He delights in mercy, He will turn again to us to subdue our iniquities, and cast’s our sins to the depths of the sea.

Do you see dear believer what hope is found in this Scripture? God is not looking to help you because you have been perfect and you deserve to be helped. He desires to pardon your iniquity. He knows you have sinned and need to be delivered. He has placed the wrath that your sins deserve on Christ your substitution. And though your sinful heart still threatens to toss you where it will, like a lost vessel on an angry sea, our God anchors you with a strong and secure hope.

Grab hold of Christ who is that hope. Like an anchor securing a ship on a stormy sea has plunged beneath the veil of the water and cannot be seen, so Christ has entered within the veil; where he has gone as a forerunner on your behalf (Heb. 6:17). And though we cannot see Him at this moment, the hope he has given us is like a secure chain anchored to the throne of God, which is pulling us home through the tumultuous sea.

As the storms grow stronger, by His grace He strengthens our hold upon this hope, as we learn that nothing else can save us. The tighter we hold to our hope, the more taught the link between us and our true home becomes, until we can feel it pulling us homeward.

Though the storms of sin surround, take heart that your sins have been removed, and you are anchored to the distant shore through Christ. Fear not, for no surer hope has ever been tested, and as your love for this world slowly weakens, you will notice the chain between you and your true home has become that much shorter. When you see this, you will know He has turned to you, and is having compassion upon you, because this is work that only He can do.

Let us end with a short verse by Charles Spurgeon, who inspired most of the content of this devotion.

Let the winds blow, and billows roll,
Hope is the anchor of my soul.
But can I by so slight a tie,
And unseen hope, on God rely?
Steadfast and sure, it cannot fail,
It enters deep within the veil,
It fastens on a land unknown,
And moors me to my Father’s throne.

-Doug Eaton-

The Center of Christianity - John Piper

Justification by faith alone!

The Restless Foe

Though the restless foe accuses
Sins recounting like a flood,
Every charge our God refuses,
Christ has answered with His blood.

-unknown-

Yes It Is Myspace

Hey everyone,

It is true... I have a myspace account... If you have one too, stop by and say hi.

My Myspace Page

Doug

Intimate Knowledge of God

…How few, even among believers, appreciate the privilege of access to the great Author of the universe through His word! Poor and rich, high and low, ignorant and learned, young and old, all alike are welcomed to the audience-chamber of the King of kings. The most intimate knowledge of God is possible on one condition—that we search His Holy Scriptures, prayerfully and habitually, and translate what we there find, into obedience. Of him who thus meditates on God’s law day and night, who look and continues looking into this perfect law of liberty, the promise is unique, and found in both Testaments: “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”; “that man shall be blessed in his deed.” (Comp. Ps.1:3; Josh. 1:8; James 1:25.)

A.T. Pierson, George Muller: All Things are Possible.