Timmy Brister considers the irony (?) of Paul Washer preaching at FBC Woodstock only a couple weeks after the John 3:16 Conference.

Calvinists are often considered to hold to their particular soteriology because of "rational reasons", Michael Patton challenges this with Calvinism is the Least Rational Option.

John Piper tells us how to approach God when feeling rotten.

Colin Adams gives us 10 Ways to Ruin a Day Off. I think I have broken most of those--I wonder if the list is different for those in vocational ministry?

You can download Mark Driscoll's book Porn-Again Christian for free.

How can a miscarriage be used by God to rip idolatry out of our hearts? Read here.

Bob Kauflin Encourages Spontaniety with our worship at church.

Registration is now open for the 2009 DG Pastor's Conference. (Not sure if I will get to attend or not--although I know that I want to). The topic this year is Evangelism.

CJ offers Confessions of a Busy Procrastinator.

Michael Patton asks, Can You Marry the Wrong Person?

Amidst all the accusations Michael McKinley offers a few reasons why Obama may not be the Antichrist.

Great quote, here, by Thomas Oden on the relevance of irrelevance.

Ancient Rome at Google Earth. (HT: JT)

Todd Burus gives a good summary of the recent John 3:16 Conference. Check out his other links as well.

John Hendryx (I think it's Hendryx) asks whether or not the Mosaic Covenant is Works or Grace?

Colin Adams peruses the RTS reading list for students to find 61 Essential Books.

Any idea what Ecclesiastical Myopia is? RC Sproul will tell you...and trust me...this really is a very insightful article.

Are they Unchurched or Unsaved? What does our language reveal about our beliefs? Trevin Wax posits an answer.

Device #5 and Remedies:

"To present God to the soul as one made up of all mercy."

This device is one that is fairly obvious to see in our current church climate (especially speaking of the Western world). "Go ahead and sin", says Satan, "God is a God of mercy." Satan tricks us into only seeing God's mercy and not his wrath. For remedies consider:

• That it is the sorest judgment in the world to be left to sin upon any pretence whatsoever.
• That God is as just as he is merciful.
• That sins against mercy will bring the greatest and sorest judgments upon men's heads and hearts.
• That though God's general mercy be over all his works, yet his special mercy is confined to those that are divinely qualified.
• That those that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven, did look upon the mercy of God as the most powerful argument to preserve them from sin, and to fence their souls against sin, and not as an encouragement to sin.

Quick Thoughts:

At first glance the first consideration may seem to not fit. However, when you really understand what Brooks is saying it becomes clear. If God does but "wink" at your sins it is a most horrible condition. This is a mark of not being a child of God and though he "winks" now he will come in wrath later. The rest of the devices are reminders that God is just towards sin and also that his mercy is to be used not to continue sinning but as a motivator to turn away from sin.

Extracted Elixir's

"A soul given up to sin is a soul ripe for hell, a soul posting to destruction." (50)

"When mercy is despised then justice takes the throne." (51)

"There is nothing in the world that renders a man more unlike to a saint, and more like to Satan, than to argue from mercy to sinful liberty; from divine goodness to licentiousness. This is the devil's logic, and in whomsoever you find it, you may write, 'This soul is lost.'"

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Phil Johnson sets the record straight on James White and Hyper-Calvinism.

Timmy Brister sums up the Anti-Calvinist John 3:16 Conference.

Bill Mounce discusses whether Philippians 1:6 can be used to give assurance to a believer.

I was unaware of this new blog by Timmy Brister called Sowing Grace. Check it out.

What if Starbucks marketed like a church:
(HT: Brent)

Device #4 and Remedies

"By presenting to the soul the best men's sins and by hiding from their soul their virtures; by showing the soul their sins, and by hiding from the soul their sorrows and repentance."

What Brooks means by this is that Satan will show us the sins of such great saints (such as David in his adultery, Noah in his drunkenness, Peter in his blasphemy, etc.) so that when we look at them we can say, "See there is a man that struggles just like I, and he turned out okay". However, what we fail to see is the pain of David losing his son, the shame of Noah, the bitter weeping of Peter. We see them in their restored state and forget the deep hurt that brought them to that precious condition. For remedies consider:

• That that the Spirit of the Lord has been as careful to note the saints' rising by repentance of sin, as he has to note their falling into sins.
• That these saints did not make a trade of sin. (They were not habitual sinners)
• That though God does not, nor never will, disinherit his people for their sins, yet he has severely punished his people for their sins.
• That there are but two main ends of God's recording of the falls of his saints. 1) To strenghten the weak by their example 2) To provide an example lest we also fall in the same manner.

Quick Thoughts:

Again with piercing insight Brooks uncovers one of the devices of Satan. How often may we be tempted to look at the fraility of this dear saints, acknowledget that they (and we) are but dust, and then sin accordingly. Our authors advice is also quite fitting. He reminds us of the Scripture's speaking of their repentance and also reminds us that these falls are not the usual behavior of these mighty men of God. His third point may sound foreign to our contemporary ears--yet we do see throughout Scripture that God will discipline his children.

What do you think about this remark by Brooks? "God is most angry when he shows no anger. God keep me from this mercy; this kind of mercy is worse than all other kind of misery."

It is also worth noting a story Brooks quotes from Clement concerning Peter. "Clement notes that Peter so repented, that all his life after, every night when he heard a [rooster] crow, he would fall upon his knees, and, weeping bitterly, would beg pardon of his sin."

Extracted Elixirs:

"Ah, souls, you can easily sin as the saints, but can you repent with the saints?" (46)

"The saints cannot sin with a whole will, but, as it were, with a half will, an unwillingness; not with a full consent, but with a dissenting consent." (47, ed. note)

"It is a mercy that our affliction is not execution, but a correction." (48)

Device #3 and Remedies

"By extenuating and lessining of sin"

Satan puts degrees upon sin and makes them seem not as bad as they really are. "Ah! saith Satan, it is but a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness, a little drunkenness, etc." (38) For remedies consider:

• That those sins which we are apt to account small, have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God.
• That the giving way to a less sin makes for a committing of a greater.
• That it is sad to stand with God for a trifle.
• That there is great danger, yea, many times most danger, in the smallest sins.
• That other saints have chosen to suffer the worst of torments, rather than they would commit the least sin.
• That the soul is never able to stand under the guilt and weight of the least sin, when God shall set it home upon the soul.
• That there is more evil in the least sin than the greatest affliction

Quick Thoughts:

Brooks' advice here is rather simple--that which you consider to be small is actually quite large. It may start small but will make room for the greater sins. If sin as an offense to God then a "small" sin is an offense just as a "great" one. The modern church, myself included, should hear this well. While we lambast such atrocities as homosexuality, pornography, abortion, gambling, etc. (and we should) let us not forget to also have fervor in rooting out of our midst pride, greed, slander, gluttony and all other forms of "respectable" sins.

Extracted Elixir's:

"Satan will first draw thee to sit with the drunkard, and then to sip with the drunkard, and then at last to be drunk with the drunkard." (39)

"The debates of the soul are quick, and soon ended, and that may be done in a moment that may undo a man for ever." (40)

"Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and undiscernibly in the soul, till they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul." (42)

"Oh! how should this make us tremble, as much at the least spark of lust as at hell itself; considering that God the Father would not spare his bosom Son, no, not for the least sin, but would make him drink the dregs of his wrath." (45)