John Owen

I was reading from John Owen's book "Overcoming Sin and Temptation," and there was a line right in the beginning of the second chapter that stood out to me in light of doing battle against our own flesh. He said,

"Be killing sin, or it will be killing you."

Internal Civil War: 1 Peter 2:11

I'm convinced that in battling sin the most difficult combat takes place within us. We can live within some sort of compound that creates a bubble from the world, and we can set up accountability after accountability, which in some way hinders Satan, but we can never get away from our flesh. Our flesh is with us 24/7…relentless. Peter begins this challenge by first addressing the believers of that day with a key word… “Beloved.” It is an endearing term, but filled with meaning. It is a term that describes those who are objects of God’s love and therefore will obey Him. “Beloved, I urge and encourage you.” Those who do not have the father do not love Him and are not loved by Him either (1 John 2:15), and therefore will not be willing to obey.

Peter then gives two more descriptions of the believer. They are marked as aliens and strangers. This was a reminder to them that “they are in this world, but not of this world.” While in this world, they will also be marked as weird, strange, backward, and any other term that goes along with being different…set apart to God. Peter understood this and tells them that even though you are viewed this way, abstain/withhold from our fleshly desires. With the help of the Holy Spirit and a conscious decision, we have the ability to withhold from fleshly lusts. Though we are believers, it doesn’t mean we aren’t rid of the flesh that is attached to us. As believers we now have another longing and this is toward God…being holy (1:17) and glorifying Him (2:9). Therefore we have a conflict within us, and we do battle against it.

Here is where we find the internal, civil war. Our fallen condition is prone to sin, and it wages battle against us every single day. It is a relentless, malicious aggression to cause us to fall and disobey God. “Wage battle” means to hold a long-term military campaign against. In other words, “buckle up.” Don’t give up; fight it! What better way to win the battles then to have the instrument that can help you win every time. Kind of like having Excalibur in your hands. As long as you have this sword, you will never lose. We have the Two Edged Sword. But if you don’t use it, then what good does it do you? Every morning you get up make a conscious onslaught against this enemy that lies within. Take an offensive and win the battle by getting into His word daily. Only this way can we defeat our fleshly lusts. By the way fleshly lusts don’t just refer to sexual immorality. It is more than that. Read Galatians 5:19-21 and find a list what these fleshly lusts are.

Claire and I

one of my spring break activities was going to watch claire during her ballet practice. no, i didn't try any of the ballet moves that she performed. i think i would hurt myself if i tried. claire did a fantastic job! that evening i also watch geoffrey practice lacross! i think i could handle playing that game.

Corner Stone - I Peter 1:23 - 2:6

Christ is the corner stone! He is the foundation that is living, enduring, and imperishable. All of us are to be stones leading off of the corner stone. So many times we read the metaphor of being founded in the Word of God or even the metaphor of Christ being our foundation. Well, here we read yet another metaphor dealing with Christ as the corner stone within the foundation. We are to take our measure from Him, draw a line from this square and perfect stone. We are to make sure we are square coming off of Him. We so often hear the saying, “point others to Christ.” Though we may be dull, rough stones, we are living stone in the wall, and we should be leading other’s eyes toward the choice and precious stone, Christ. And with every rough talent we have, we are to point everyone to Christ.

He is truly precious and choice (vs. 4). We have tasted the kindness of the Lord (vs. 3) and the truths from God’s living, enduring Word, which has hewn us from this world (vs.25) and set us on this wall (1:23). Therefore put aside all of those things in verse one and be the living stone that points to the Christ!

So tomorrow how can you be the living stone that will point others to Christ? What in your life may lead others to believe you are a living stone placed in the foundation next to The Corner Stone?

I Peter 5:12

Let me tell you a story about a sixteen year old Jewish girl that lived almost two thousand year ago. Her name is Denisa. Her family had left the land of Palestine during her grandfathers time and were now living in a Roman province. The Roman empire was thriving. It was during this time, though, that she had heard the great and changing truth of Jesus Christ. Her entire family was flourishing with excitement because of this truth. He, Jesus, had only died a few years back during her grandfather’s time. Grandfather had even told her about this Messiah. But this Messiah wasn’t dead, He was alive. He was the only one to defeat death, and because of this she too could experience eternal life. This was a truth to cling to! A truth to fight and die for! She had just heard this from someone. Maybe it was in one of those evening meetings her family went to regularly.

Well, soon a commotion arose in the city Rome about a group of people setting fire to a large portion of their city of. Those accused were people like herself who believed in Jesus the Messiah. It was rumored that Nero, the emperor of the day, was taking those who believed in Christ and killing them in the cruelest ways. The search for these Christians spread throughout Galatia, Capadocia, and even more distant lands. Denisa didn’t believe it until the Praetorian Guard showed up at their home one evening. The Praetorian's question was piercing. “Are you a so called Christian?” The reply of her father was something she had heard before. “I stand firm in the grace of God! Christ is my Savior!” Immediately the whole family, including Denisa, were taken away. They were all placed in a darken cell within the Praetorian fortification. Fear gripped Denisa’s young heart, but her father’s words echoed through her mind. “I stand firm in the grace of God! Christ is my Savior!”

That evening Denisa’s father and brother were taken away…there was only one reason why they would be taken way. Morning came and her mother was hauled off too. Finally Denisa sat down by herself in the dark cell. She realized she would never see her family again. The only thing she had left on this earth was the grace of God. Again those words echoed through her mind. “Stand firm in the grace of God.” Then she remembered where she had heard them for the first time. It was from that letter from Peter. Oh, the truth that came to her mind from that letter! A smile broke out on her face, and she began to hum a tune. The guard soon heard it and walked by to see where this soothing sound came from. The sound was a starch contrasted from the screaming and yelling from above. Soon he found the source of it, and asked her. “Why do you smile? Why do you hum?” The reply came without blinking. “I stand firm in the grace of God!”

Denisa’s mind raced to those sentences written by Peter. Oh the truth of standing firm in the grace of God. As she thought about it she realized that only because she had trusted in His saving grace did it bring so much to her: the peace, the hope, the inheritance! The only thing she could think of doing was singing one of those songs about the Messiah.

The guard listened to Denisa for a long while as she explained to him how she wasn’t afraid. How she had hope from hell and death and hope in heaven. How she would see her Messiah. How she couldn’t wait till He returned. Soon Denisa was taken out of her cell. She was marched through dark hallway. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light. The noise grew louder and louder. Then the guard thrust her into a small opening, and only a small stream of light could be seen from ahead. The whole time Denisa’s mind raced to the passages regarding the grace of God. Her body stood upright as the words from Peter’s letter gave here comfort. “Stand firm in the grace of God.” Without warning the doors swung open and light poured in with the sounds of the crowd…

Will you stand firm in the grace of God, come what may?! If you read the letter of First Peter you will see what Denisa saw, you will take comfort in all that she took comfort. I Peter 5:12 "Stand firm in the grace of God."

O Great God

This is a song based on the classic book of Puritan prayers, The Valley of Vision.

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resist Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven's joys
Then Your Spirit Gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That's dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

cheeze please

cheeze was the one to break through last night. we had two tunnels going, and i wanted to be the one digging when we broke through. cheeze had the honors. we could hear each other digging at one point. it was so funny doing this. chan was making everyone laugh. nate could barely fit through the tunnels. weston headed up the mission. even dorm sups and student body presidents should up, oh and even a few girls came.

Narcotics

what a sweet kid. he dug like a mad man. exhausted from work, he takes a break.

the igloo

well, last night after the soccer games, we went out to dig in the snow. there were huge mounds of snow built up by the plows. about 15 to 20 guys stayed out last night working on the biggest igloo ever created by mankind. we worked core and getting this thing done. more than thirty feet long. inside it would reach to to four feet height and maybe 10 feet wide. we all took turns digging and taking out snow. what a blast. who says there is nothing to do up at n-land. so we got campused. well, you figure out what to do next.

snow and more snow!

who needs a refrigerator when you have weather like this. we got a good foot and half of snow this week. it made for some fun times.