Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" --Jeremiah 6:16

 

9 July, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   Cheap Religion Through an Easy Profession   William Gurnall Genuine readiness to suffer thins out the number of true Christians from the ranks of professing believers; it eliminates those whose walk goes no further than a cheap profession. A person who looks into the crowded sanctuaries of Christendom today and finds multitudes who flock after the Word might wonder why ministers say that this company of Christians is such a small one, and he might think that they who say such things cannot see the forest through the trees. This situation made one of the disciples question Christ: "Lord, are there few that shall be saved?" ... [Read More!] 17 May, 2007   Wonderful Plan?   Christians have 10 Days to Convert to Islam in Pakistan    Link James White's Aomin blog is reporting that Christians in a town in Pakistan have been warned that if they do not convert to Islam within ten days they will face "dire consequences and bomb explosions". Anyone want to take the American "God has a wonderful plan for your life" message over there and let everyone know of the unique purpose God has for them? I didn't think so. Maybe we should pray for our brothers and sisters there instead, as today is the cut-off day for them. But as Emperor Charlemagne showed us, if the way to determine whether a church growth strategy is good or not - is based entirely on the resulting 'numbers', then violence can not be ruled-out, so long as violence "works" (makes a church grow), right? ... [Read Link] 1 May, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   Today's Synergized 'Wonderful Plan' Evangelism The salvation page on one church website is similar to so much of today's evangelism when it says: "Choosing Jesus is the most important decision an individual could ever make. It is also one of the few choices in life that is win/win. You are guaranteed victory in this life when you become a believer in Jesus Christ, and you receive the promise of spending eternity in heaven when you die. God thought you were important enough to provide you with an opportunity to be a conqueror in this life and throughout eternity. God has a wonderful plan for you". ... [Read More!] 6 April, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   Martyrs Dreaded Heresy More Than Death   William Gurnall Since it is more dangerous to part with God's truth than with our own lives, heretics and seducers are more to be feared than persecutors. It is far worse to have our souls damned by God than to have our bodies killed by man. If the martyrs had dreaded death more than heresy they could never have walked willingly into persecutors' flames. ... [Read More!] 24 March, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   Tyndale Willing to Suffer and Die For The Truth   John Piper They took away all of William Tyndale's belongings and he was imprisoned for 18 months until he was put to death. "The charge was heresy, with not agreeing with the holy Roman Emperor - in a nutshell, being Lutheran". A four-man Catholic commission was authorized to prove that Tyndale was a heretic. One of them named Latomus filled three books with his interactions with Tyndale and said that Tyndale himself wrote a 'book' in prison to defend his chief doctrinal standard: Faith Alone Justifies Before God. This was the key issue in the end. The evil of translating the Bible came down to this: are we justified by faith alone? These months in prison were not easy. They were a long dying leading to death. We get one glimpse into the prison to see Tyndale's condition and his passion. ... [Read More!] 23 March, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 9 - Conclusion After spending a month at Grenoble France, we started for Geneva, and arrived there in four days, in February, 1688. I was received with marvelous kindness, many persons coming to comfort me in my afflictions, and cheer my heart with their love. May the Lord reward them!  I shall pray for them all my life, that God may preserve them and enrich them with his favor and blessing until He takes them to their heavenly home.   In the month of May I arose from my bed, and with the help of a crutch I walked to the church of St. Gervais. The pastor, Monsieur Turretin, whom I look upon as a true ambassador of God, preached from a text so suitable to my state that it seemed as though he had chosen it expressly for my consolation. ... [Read More!] 9 March, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 7 Shortly after this, orders were given to prepare ourselves, as we were to be transported to America in three days. Someone said to us: "When you get a little distance from shore, you will be made to pass along a narrow plank, off which you will be thrown into the sea, so that the whole race of Huguenots may be extirpated". I answered "What difference does it make whether my body be consumed by fishes or by worms? For the day will come when the sea will deliver up it's dead". ... [Read More!] 9 March, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 8 - Deliverance! In 1687, on the 23rd of the same month, a priest came in and sat himself down at the head of my bed, asking me to what religion I belonged. When I told him that I was of the Reformed religion, he immediately entered into discussion with me, and we argued for an hour or two. He attacked me about the supremacy of Peter, quoting the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "Thou are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church", then on the real presence. I was enabled by the help of God, to answer him in a way which drew forth more commendation than I deserved. Most of our conversation passed very quietly, but towards the end of it he asked me whether I thought the king was damned. ... [Read More!] 28 February, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 6 On the 29th or 30th of May 1687, La Rapine stationed himself at the door of the chapel as usual, with a stick in his hand. As the Huguenots passed in slowly and unwillingly, he said to one of them, "Dog! I will make you go faster than that!" and he gave him a blow with his stick which knocked him down. La Rapine decried: "These dogs would rather go to execution than to church. But it is commanded that all inmates of the hospital shall attend daily mass. I must follow those orders and I have stationed myself here to see that they sprinkle themselves with holy water and make the sign of the cross. If they dare omit this, I will put them on the rack." We were persecuted in every imaginable way but our greatest sorrow was being compelled to go twice a day to the idolatrous temple. ... [Read More!] 16 February, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 5 On the twenty-third of May 1687, we entered the hospital at Valence, presided over by La Rapine. After the soldiers had delivered us into his custody, they placed in his hands a packet of letters from the parliament of Grenoble. When he had read them, he made us all stand before him in a row, and said, "Here are the letters ordering the liberation of 22 prisoners who were sent to me not long ago. They have done their duty, and if you do the same you will soon get out." Then he loaded us with promises and threats, but seeing that they had no effect, he sent one of us to the dungeon, saying "You shall have 100 blows, you beggar". ... [Read More!] 9 February, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 4 In the month of March 1687 a list was made of all of those who had not recanted, and one evening the guard said to a good many of our sisters, "Hold yourselves in readiness to leave tomorrow". From that time I redoubled my prayers and vows to God, asking for an increase in strength. Above all, I prayed fervently that, if it was in accordance with his holy will, I might not fall into the hands of the most cruel and bitter prosecutor - La Rapine, the agent of the bishop of Valence. ... [Read More!] 29 January, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 3 In May 1686, while we were in the French prison of Grenoble, a commissioner was appointed to interrogate us. He went through the same questions that I had answered before. When he asked, "To what religion do you belong?" I replied "To the religion". "To which religion, there are several in the world?" "To the Reformed religion". "What do you mean by calling it reformed?" "I mean that it has been purged from the errors and abuses brought into it by the wickedness of men". "Where were you going when you were arrested?" "I was going to find some work. As the soldiers have consumed all our provisions, and we have been obliged to leave our home, we had to try with the help of God, to earn our bread in some honest way". "Have you ever renounced your religion?" "No, thank God". ... [Read More!] 19 January, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 2 In September 1685, guards returned after an absence and were stationed at the gates to our town to take note of all who went in or out. I urged my father and mother to escape while there was yet time, for we heard that very many had yielded. But my mother was anxious to sell some of her furniture and make arrangements for the house. I said to her "Mother, those who put their hand to the plow and look back are not fit for the kingdom". But she was unwilling to leave at that time; so I went alone to a little farm in the country which belonged to us, and left her to finish her business. At the farmhouse I spent the nights in tears and prayers to God beseeching Him to have mercy upon us and give us his grace to stay steadfast. ... [Read More!] 10 January, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 1 In February 1683, the persecutions began in Dauphiny France. The town of St. Paul, where we lived, was the first to suffer. The Catholic bishop sent for six companies of soldiers of the regiment of Vendome, and billeted them in the homes of those of the Reformed religion. The most cruel among the troops were chosen out, and sent first to our pastor, Monsieur Piffard, and afterwards to my father's house. I must say I have never seen worse men. They committed a thousand ravages by day, and kept up a continual revelry all night - frying large gammons of bacon on the fire, and drinking in proportion. One person was kept constantly busy supplying them with drink. The soldiers used to say, "You may easily free yourselves from all this expense. If you will recant, money will be given you, and we shall be taken away". ... [Read More!] Page: [ 1 2 3 ] Prev | Next Page of 3. Prev | Next        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism