Christian Pen Pals

HOW TO FACE YOUR FUTURE SECTION 10 - JAMES 4:13-17 (James 4:13) Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; The bible doesn't condemn making a legitimate profit. The bible talks a lot about planning too. This man has planned everything. His purpose, the place, the progress. He's got all the bases covered. What's wrong here? James says the first common mistake we make is planning without God. There's not a single mention of God in this entire business plan. He knew what he wanted, he knew how to get there, but he didn't check it out with God first. Make no misunderstand the bible talks about planning. No man goes out and builds a house without first considering how much it's going to cost. And the book of Proverbs says over and over again that if I don't plan I'm a fool. It's wise to plan, he not talking about planning, he's talking about presumption ...

III. To the third general head proposed, viz., To speak of the sending of this word. Here it may be enquired, from whom, by whom, to whom it is sent; and for what purpose? 1. From whom is it sent? Why, it is a word of salvation sent from the God of salvation, to whom belong the issues from death; and it carries the impress of himself upon it. As the word is God's word, so it is of God's sending, "He sent his word and healed them," Psalm 107:20. 2. By whom is it sent? It is not sent by angels, but by men; "We are ambassadors for Christ," II Corinthians 5:20. It is true, God sent his word first by Christ, "He so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, might not perish, but have everlasting life," John 3:16. Then Christ sends it by men, that we may not be afraid at his appearance, as Is-rael were of old; "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," II Corinthians 4:7. 3. To whom is it that he sent...

II. The second head proposed was: To speak of the word of salvation, which I may do by answering these four questions. QUESTION 1: What is the word of salvation? ANSWER: Not the law, but the gospel; this is that which is the power of God to salvation, Romans 1:16. Whatever discovers Christ, and salvation through him, is the gospel. QUESTION 2: Why is it called the word of salvation? ANSWER: Because it discovers salvation; it describes salvation; it conveys salva-tion, as a charter does an estate, or as a testament does a legacy; it offers salvation; it establishes a connection betwixt faith and salvation to all sinners of mankind, for, "He that believeth shall be saved"; and because it is the organ or instrument by which the Spirit applies salvation. QUESTION 3: How does the word operate in the hand of the Spirit, when believed unto salvation? ANSWER: It operates as seed cast into the ground: it operates as rain and dew; "My doctrine shall drop as the dew, and distil ...

I. We shall speak a little of this salvation, and consider what it supposes, and what it implies. 1. What this salvation supposes, namely, misery. Our miserable state by nature is a state of alienation and estrangement from God. We are without God, and are alienated from the life of God; aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. It is a state of enmity; for, "The carnal mind is at enmity against God"; we are in actual rebellion against him. It is a state of darkness and ignorance; we are destroyed for lack of knowledge. A state of bondage to sin, Satan, and the world, and divers lusts; we are fettered and imprisoned, led captive. It is a state of impotence: we are, by nature, without strength; we cannot so much as ask deliverance: "We are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves." It is a destitute state, a pit wherein there is no water; a comfortless state, a bewildered state, a cursed and condemned state; for "He that believeth not, is con...

BE WISE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS Background Passages: Proverbs 12:16,18-19; 14:17,22,29; 15:1,18; 16:28,32; 17:9,14,17,19; 20:3; 19:11; 22:24-25,25:15; 26:21; 28:23 Lesson Passages: Proverbs 12:18; 28:23; 15:1; 25:15; 12:19; 16:28; 17:9; 14:17,29; 15:18; 20:3; 16:32; 19:11; 22:24-25; 12:16; 17:14,19; 26:21; 14:22; 17:17 BIBLICAL SETTING 1. Choose Your Words (Proverbs 12:18; 28:23; 15:1; 25:15; 12:19; 16:28; 17:9) 2. Control Your Temper (Proverbs 14:17,29; 15:18; 20:3; 16:32; 19:11) 3. Consider Consequences (Proverbs 22:24-25; 12:16; 17:14,19; 26:21; 14:22; 17:17) OUTLINE 1. Choose Your Words Carefully (Proverbs 12:18; 28:23; 15:1;25:15; 12:19; 16:28; 17:9) 2. Cultivate Patience (Proverbs 14:17,29; 15:18; 20:3; 16:32; 19:11) 3. Consider Consequences (Proverbs 22:24-25; 12:16; 17:14,19; 26:21; 14:22; 17:17) KEY VERSE: Proverbs 17:17 BIBLICAL TRUTH God expects His people to build and to maintain healthy relationships with one another. LIFE IMPACT To help you work wisely to build and maintain h...

Martyred 1555 Ridley and Latimer appeared together September 30, 1555 in Oxford before a panel of bishops to answer the charges of heresy that had been brought against them. Ridley was examined first. The Bishop of Lincoln began by urging Ridley to recant and submit himself to the Pope. "If you will renounce your errors, recant your heretical and seditious opinions, consent to yield yourself to the undoubted faith and truth of the gopel ... authority is given to us to receive you, to reconcile you, and upon due penance to join you into Christ's Church." The bishop stressed three points: • That the Pope was descended from Peter, who was the foundation of the Church. • That the early Church fathers confessed the Pope's supremacy in their writings. • That Ridley once believed this himself. Ridley replied to the three points. First, he said, it was not Peter who was the Church's foundation, but Peter's confession that Christ was the Son of God. This belief is the ...

A Message from Guest: 2 English Martyrs Hugh Latimer: Martyr Hugh Latimer was born about 1485, the son of a wealthy farmer with a good reputation. At the age of four, he was sent to school and trained in literature; at fourteen, he entered Cambridge University where he continued in ordinary studies, and then concentrated on studying theology, the kind the ignorance of that age allowed, and was a zealous observer of the Roman Catholic superstitions of the time. He was ordained a priest in 1510. Latimer was a bitter enemy of the Protestant reformers, but God was to intervene. It was surely God's grace that moved the Cambridge reformer, Thomas Bilney, who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1532, to go to Latimer's study and ask him to hear his confession. Latimer willingly agreed, thinking perhaps that Bilney might be returning to the Roman Catholic religion. But during the confession, Latimer was so affected by Bilney's faith in Christ that he began to question him about ...

WHAT ABOUT HEAVENLY REWARDS Background Passage: Luke 19:1-48 Lesson Passage: Luke 19:12-27 BIBLICAL SETTING 1. Salvation for Zaccaeus (Luke 19:1-10) 2. Parable for the Disciples (Luke 19:11-27) 3. Concern for Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-44) 4. Respect for the Temple (Luke 19:45-48) LESSON PASSAGE OUTLINE 1. Faithfulness is Expected (Luke 19:12-14) 2. Faithfulness is Rewarded (Luke 19:15-19) 3. Unfaithfulness is Displeasing (Luke 19:20-23) 4. Unfaithfulness is Costly (Luke 19:24-27) KEY BIBLE VERSE Luke 19:26 BIBLICAL TRUTH Believers have the assurance of heavenly rewards for faithful service. LIFE IMPACT To help you help you serve God faithfully. FAITHFULNESS IS EXPECTED (LUKE 19:12-14) (Luke 19:12) He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into afar country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. The "certain nobleman" represents the Lord Jesus Christ. He will receive the kingdom from his Father — not from us. He is not asking anyone to vote for Him the ne...

The Word of Salvation Sent to Sinners: Part One To you is the word of this salvation sent" (Acts 13:26) PAUL is here preaching Christ Jesus in this chapter: and in this verse he makes application of his sermon to his hearers, and that very close. More particularly in the words you may observe, 1. The nature of the gospel described, it is "the word of salvation." 2. The endorsement or direction, showing to whom it is directed or sent, "To you"; you men and brethren, you Jews or Gentiles, to whom it is preached. The doctrinal proposition, natively arising from these words, is the following. OBSERVATION. "That the gospel, as a word of salvation, is sent to every sinner that hears it." Before I proceed to speak of this doctrine, I would obviate an objection that may be made against it. OBJECTION. Is not the gospel-call here limited to them that fear God in the text? ANSWER. If by these that fear God is to be understood religious people, into whose hea...

2 English Martyrs "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Rev 17:6) Nicholas Ridley MARTYR Nicholas Ridley was among those martyred for the true gospel of Christ in Queen Mary's time. Born in Northumberland, Ridley learned his grammer as a child in Newcastle and attended Cambridge University, where he soon became well-known for his intelligence, and advanced rapidly, becoming a Doctor of Divinity and the head of Pembroke Hall. After that, he traveled to Paris, was made Henry VIII’s chaplain on his return, and appointed Bishop of Rochester by the king. In King Edward's days he served as the Bishop of London. People flocked to the church to listen to his sermons, swarming about him like bees to honey, coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome nectar of the doctrines of Christ that he not only preached but demonstrated by his life. He was a bright light to the blind, a heavenly trumpet to the deaf, and a holy...

GOD’S TESTIMONY CONCERNING MAN Horatius Bonar God knows us. He knows what we are; he knows also what he meant us to be; and upon the difference between these two states he founds his testimony concerning us. He is too loving to say anything needlessly severe; too true to say anything untrue; nor can he have any motive to misrepresent us; for he loves to tell of the good, not of the evil, that may be found in any of the works of his hands. He declares, them “good,” “very good,” at first; and if he does not do so now, it is not because he would not, but because he cannot; for “all flesh has corrupted its way upon the earth.” God’s testimony concerning man is, that he is a sinner. He bears witness against him, not for him, and testifies that “there is none righteous, no, not one;” that there is “none that doeth good;” none “that understandeth;” none that even seeketh after God, and still more none that loveth him. God speaks of man kindly, but severely; as one yearning over a lost child,...

A Few Tidbits for Parenting New parents face many problems and issues that they are expected to understand and deal with immediately. Unfortunately, newborns do not come with an instruction book so here are a few topics that you may need to know about. I. Bathing your baby: Until your baby’s umbilical cord falls off one to two weeks after their birth, only give her sponge baths. A cotton ball or cotton swab dampened with alcohol can help to dry the umbilical stump or follow your pediatrician’s directions. After the stump falls off, you can give him a bath in a sink or shallow tub. II. Caesarian delivery: A caesarian is usually performed to make delivery safer for you or your baby. C-sections can be done for many different reasons including stalled labor, complicated labor, problems with the baby that may make delivery difficult, or other problems. It does not matter if you deliver vaginally or by a caesarian section, you are still a mother with a beautiful new blessing. III. Circumcisi...

Learning About Cash Back Credit Cards: Good or Bad Idea? Getting a credit card that offers cash back always sounds like a good idea. What could be better than getting cash back on all the purchases that you make with your credit card? It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, there are cards that give you free cash, but it is usually only around 1% cash back. However, free money is free money, right? Well, sometimes. If you like to buy a lot of things in one month, this kind of credit card probably sounds great to you. However, you need to keep in mind that they are not going to give you cash back on every purchase that you make. Even if they claim to give you cash back on every purchase, they will only give you up to a certain amount per transaction. The company also has a strict limit on the amount that they will give back to their customers. If you read the little, bitty print on the form that you signed, you will see a paragraph with their limits in the terms and ag...

Hi Blogger! I just wanted to welcome you to this blog. This is all new to me, so bear with me as I become familiar with all these new technology. Let me tell you a little about myself, just to get the ball rolling. I am a stay at homeschool mom and do some internet marketing and publishing on the side. My youngest in a Sophmore and is beganning to think she is somewhat grown. We are big into the 4-H Youth Programs. It seems there is always a different club meeting each week to go to. Or we are working on a project. Our latest is the OIC.org project . You may not have heard about it yet. It is where you gather up school supplies and they are sent to the Iragi children. Its a great community and school program to adopt. Not only does it teach giving it also creates community unity. I publish three newsletters, two monthly and one every other month. MWCE : Magnolia Walker Company Ezine http://www.magnoliawalker.com GBC: Greenland Baptist Church Newsletter http://greenland.magnoliawalker....