countless imperfections

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www.countlessimperfections.com

Thanks

Marty

The gospel defined by Jeff Purswell, Dean of the Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors College, “The gospel is the good news of God’s saving activity in the person and work of Christ. This includes his incarnation in which he took to himself full (yet sinless) human nature; his sinless life which fulfilled the perfect law of God; his substitutionary death which paid the penalty for man’s sin and satisfied the righteous wrath of God; his resurrection demonstrating God’s satisfaction with his sacrifice; and his glorification and ascension to the right hand of the Father where he now reigns and intercedes for the church.”

His forever…

Marty

“How Sweet and Awful Is the Place” by Isaac Watts

How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?”

Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?

‘Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.

Here’s a simple confession…

Whenever I enter a bookstore I will always default to the section of the store that houses materials on Marriage and Family. Once I arrive at this section, I will scourer the books looking for publishers I recognize and go from there. I will generally buy from publishers I know but am willing to take a chance. This past week, while attending T4G was no different as I ended up walking away with 3 books on the topic.

One of the books I ended up purchasing was “Everyday Talk” by John A. Younts. What grabbed me was the subtitle, “Talking freely and naturally about God with your children.” As I have begun reading this book I have been overwhelmed by much of the truth proclaimed by Younts. As I continue working through it I wanted to share some brief highlights from each chapter. Here goes…

Chapter 1:

“The most powerful personal influence in your child’s life is everyday talk.”

“Your instruction of God’s word should be given as joyfully and carefully as if you were presenting your kids with the finest jewelery to wear…Don’t just throw God’s word at them. Present it with love and care.”

And finally…

“Someone will always be influencing your kids. Someone will always be using the powerful tool of everyday talk to encourage your kids either away from God or toward God.

His forever…

Marty

It’s Wednesday, this means several things including staff meetings and care groups. It also means it’s blog or website recommendation day on the big C.I.

My blog recommendation is…

Of First Importance:

This blog is run by good friends of mine and should be one of the first places you visit every morning after you first thank God for breath and give a kiss to the family (of course).

Taken from their site…

“Each day this blog will provide a thoughtful quote to help you remember what’s “of first importance”: The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For all of us Mac nerds there is also a widget available that is a nice feature.

His forever…

Marty

Last week while attending T4G, I had the honour of meeting with the majority of the men pictured here as we had a Sovereign Grace Pastors College Class of 2007 breakfast. It was so good to be with the guys laughing, crying, praying and good dose of mockery.

His forever…….
Marty

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’ s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

His forever…

Marty

Tooth and Nail Records changed the “Christian” music landscape forever! But Marty you may say, what a bold statement, I would then agree, it is bold. But in an era where all there was polluting the airwaves was Guardian, Petra, Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys or whatever the Nashville flavour of the month was hip, T&N were hitting the scene with bands like Wish For Eden, Starflyer 59, Blenderhead and the great Joe Christmas.

Recently, while surfing iTunes I came across both Joe Christmas releases, North To The Future and Upstairs Overlooking. What a find, in many ways like Christmas morn. Before indie rock became the rage, JC were blazing the trail for all that would follow. Thanks T&N, thanks for going against the grain and seeing beyond the norm.

His forever…

Marty

While attending T4G, I picked up a wonderful little book by Jonathan Edwards entitled “Resolutions”. I thought it would serve all those who read to post these resolutions for impact on the soul. Below is an editors brief thought on them…

For Edwards, resolutions were neither pious hopes, romantic dreams, nor legalistic rules. They were instructions for life, maxims to be followed in all respects. Edwards depended on the sustaining strength of his omnipotent Deity to enable him to live up to them. The Resolutions were Edwards’ guidelines for self-examination.

Edwards lays out the Resolutions in a matter-of-fact style, treating them much like scientific principles. Of the seventy resolutions, the first one dated, No. 35, was written on December 18, 1722, when the Diary begins. The last, No. 70, was composed on August 17, 1723.

Enjoy and be provoked.

His forever…

Marty

Wise counsel from one C.H. Spurgeon…

‘Give yourself to reading.’ … He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves that he has no brains of his own… You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible… the best way for you to spend your leisure is to be either reading or praying.”

His forever…

Marty