Sincere and pure devotion

Ray Ortlund talks about his recent visit to The Cove in Asheville – at the Billy Graham Training Center.

The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, Asheville (via)

"I wish you could have been there with us in the green room, as we gathered before each service. I saw no ego at all. They were relaxed friends, enjoying one another. But there was more. I saw a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For example, as they were discussing the music, now and then Cliff would spontaneously break out in song, and everyone would join in, right there in the planning session. I saw no distinction between planning the worship and worshiping. It was beautiful. It was heartfelt. It was real. I saw Cliff, with zero affectation, speak about his Lord with emotion breaking his voice. I saw the members of the team speak to and about one another with tears in their eyes. I saw biblical Christianity – a sincere and pure devotion to Christ flowing and overflowing."

Read the rest....

Forgiven People Forgive

Riley Cooper

"Until last week, Cooper’s was a name known only to die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fans; now it’s a household word. Last week, a video surfaced of a drunk Cooper (who is white) using a racial slur (the racial slur) while claiming he wanted to fight all of the African-Americans at a Kenny Chesney concert.

In a statement following the video’s appearance on the internet, Cooper said, “I am so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I want to apologize. I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, to [Eagles owner] Jeffrey Lurie, to [General Manager] Howie Roseman and to my teammates. I owe an apology to the fans and to this community. I am so ashamed, but there are no excuses. What I did was wrong and I will accept the consequences.”

To most observers, Cooper seems sincere and legitimately contrite. Only God knows, of course. But it’s not the quality of Cooper’s apology that interests me, it’s the reaction of Cooper’s teammates to the apology."

Read the rest of what happened.

The author concludes:

"To the extent that we ignore (or run from) our own sinfulness, we will be unable to care for other sinners. We will be unable to extend forgiveness to others until we are honest about the extent to which we are forgiven. The most forgiving people are those who are coming to daily, deeper terms with their own need for forgiveness. Ungracious people are those who haven’t come to grips with their own dire, daily need for grace."

(HT: Tullian)

Possibly related posts from the past:



1. The Insanity of Luther by R C Sproul
2. Everything you are in the world is of no value.....

Thank God we finally got our doctrine right!

An old cartoon by Saji George

(HT: 22 Words)

Possibly related posts from the past:

1. Three random but possibly related quotes I have read together in the past week.....

Annadurai the Autodriver

For those who missed this on my brother Prem's Facebook page:

Here is the story of a surprisingly enterprising auto-driver in Chennai, Annadurai, who seems to invest much of what he gets, into trying to give his passengers a good experience.

You could pass the time (while using his autorickshaw to make the 30 minute commute between Thiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur) using the free wi-fi connection to surf the internet, using his tablet if you have not brought your own, watching TV, reading the various magazines he subscribes to and enrolling in the various contests he conducts. If you're lucky, you might even make the ride free!

I'd like to meet this guy!

Annadurai in his autorickshaw

Some of the deals available in Annadurai's auto

Read more.....

The Insanity of Luther by R C Sproul

Here is a priceless little lecture that I found yesterday on one of the blogs I follow.

It is the story of Martin Luther, told by a terrific story teller, R C Sproul. Actually this is the first time I have ever watched Dr Sproul speak, and I am glad to have finally found him.

In this lecture, he discusses the possibility that Martin Luther was, in fact, insane, and concludes, "Ladies and Gentlemen, If (Luther was) crazy, I pray that God would send an army of insane people like that into this world..."

Do take the time to watch this. It is certainly worth 30 minutes of your time!

(HT: Tullian Tchividjian)

 Possibly Related Posts from the past

1. Everything you are in the world is of no value.....

Apple iPhones for sale

The Truth, they say, is stranger than fiction!

Witness the story of the young lady who recently tried to buy two Apple phones
for $1200.....

Vivaldi like you've never heard before

This 14 year old plays a part of Vivaldi's "Summer" in a totally 'cool' manner



(HT: 22Words)

Possibly related posts from the past

What makes you beautiful

A beautiful collage of national anthems

After the rains...

Ray Eicher's simple and powerful gesture of expressing empathy with the people of Uttaranchal

A Reflection from Dr Philip Alexander

A reflection from a surgical giant in the Mission Hospital at Manali.

"Viewed from the legal and academic perspective, my reach had extended beyond my lawful jurisdiction. I had taken a risk, and included the patient in that gamble. In this instance, it paid off. An unanswered question is what if the outcome was bad? Would a remote practitioner still be justified and validated in his altruistic attempt? How many risks will we take, and how far will our reach exceed our grasp?"

Possibly related posts from the past:

What is a Mission Hospital?

Christian Hospital, Bissamcuttack

A Shout out to India's Generalists

Tithing and Giving

Here are a couple of links that I'm sure you will find interesting and thought provoking. These concern the questions of tithing and giving....

1. 10 principles to guide your giving

2. Pastors and Tithing

I seem to agree with the author that the 'tithe' (a compulsory 10 percent giving to God) was basically an Old Testament principle, that was replaced in the New Testament  with the understanding that All (100 percent) that we are and own belongs to God and we are only stewards of what he has given us. Jesus came to fulfil the Law and help us understand what it was meant to signify. (just like 'Do not murder' became 'Do not become angry', 'Do not commit adultery' became 'Do not lust in your heart', and 'Do not bear false witness' became 'Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' no')

This understanding actually changes the way we live and give. We would probably end up giving MORE, and definitely more strategically for the building of God's Kingdom.

What do you think?

Possibly related posts from the past:

Giving With a Difference!