WaterBrook Multnomah books is offering the first chapter of the book Radical by David Platt. It talks about how the seeker sensitive movement is not Biblical and how different Jesus was when on earth compared to those churches that try to soft peddle the Gospel. I think David Pratt explains these things extremely well and will be a real eye opener for some. He later talks about what our response to the Gospel should be and how we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). He also talks about the cost of not being a disciple.

You can read the first chapter online (PDF file). There is a web site devoted to the book here:
www.radicalthebook.com

You can also request a free companion booklet called The Radical Question here.

Excerpt:

Consider Mark 10, another time a potential follower showed up. Here was a guy who was young, rich, intelligent, and influential. He was a prime prospect, to say the least. Not only that, but he was eager and ready to go. He came running up to Jesus, bowed at his feet, and said, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

If we were in Jesus’ shoes, we probably would be thinking this
is our chance. A simple “Pray this prayer, sign this card, bow your
head, and repeat after me,” and this guy is in. Then think about
what a guy like this with all his influence and prestige can do. We
can get him on the circuit. He can start sharing his testimony,
signing books, raising money for the cause. This one is a nobrainer—we have to get him in.

Unfortunately, Jesus didn’t have the personal evangelism
books we have today that tell us how to draw the net and close the sale. Instead Jesus told him one thing: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

What was he thinking? Jesus had committed the classic blunder of letting the big fish get away. The cost was too high.

Yet the kind of abandonment Jesus asked of the rich young man is at the core of Jesus’ invitation throughout the Gospels.

There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence.

–John Calvin, via Puritan Quotes on Twitter

Many people think Calvin de-emphasized the Holy Spirit which isn’t true.

1 Corinthians 3:18 HCSB
No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 HCSB
Don’t stifle the Spirit.

Today’s free photos are black and white which hopefully will be useful for someone. The black and white daisy has been done countless times but I wanted to do one myself. The other is a tulip which is flat at the time the picture was taken. Click on them for a larger one.

These images are under the Free Photo category.

These images may be used for the web for non-profit use. If you use an image directly to sell a product, it would be nice to be compensated in a small way. If so, contact me using the address listed in the sidebar to the right. If you have banner ads on your blog or affiliate programs, that doesn’t matter. If in doubt, don’t worry about it.

Also see Scripture in Pictures for a lot more free pictures.

God gives me no task except that which requires my dependence on Him to do it. Therefore, there is nothing I should regard as automatic. No conversation should be on auto-pilot—I need to ask His guidance, ask His wisdom and empowerment that I will say words pleasing to Him, not careless words I will have to give account for in the Day of Judgment. Matt. 12:36

–Randy Alcorn via Facebook

I think some might say, “Yes but I’m a Christian so even though I want to please God it’s not like I’m in trouble on judgment day.” We aren’t in trouble but I firmly believe we will be rewarded according to what we’ve done and this reward is praise from God which is something many of us don’t highly value but I believe we very much will at that time.

Ephesians 4:29-30 HCSB
No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit, who sealed you for the day of redemption.

I need to be more dependent on God in my conversation whether speaking or writing which means I need to be more aware of God more of the time which is a good thing.

With chronic suffering, pain is always there. This is an opportunity to rely on God more and think about Him more. This is something I always striven for and still do. I never thought this would be one of the ways that would come about. Just set your watch to beep every hour and say a prayer. It’s much easier.

Also see:
“Signs of Living to Please God” by Richard Baxter

This ABC News clip about Bruce Waltke is proof of how “fair and balanced” our media are. We are told the debate is between “Creationism” and “Evolution.” Why not the more accurate and balanced “Evolutionism”?

–Dave Black, Dave Black Online

Here is a good blog post on the ridiculousness of Christianity becoming a cult if we don’t believe in macro evolution:
Life on the Cultic Fringe

Genesis 1:12 HCSB
The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:21 HCSB So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. [He also created] every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:24 HCSB
Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

Can the enemies material in Psalms be relevant or applied to us personally? How can we benefit from that? I’m sure we can, I’m just wondering how.

Psalm 37:23
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.

Louis used this picture in a post and I was so honored for what he used it for.

A year later with a renewed interest in photography and improving it, I can see it has a reddish cast and it doesn’t have enough contrast so here is an improved version.

Also, any of the previous pictures posted on this blog are under the ‘free’ rules under the picture. I’d like to post many more in the future. At some point I’m going to get a few Bibles and do a photo session with them so that they’re not all flowers and scenics (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Click it for a bigger one.

In the Categories area on the right sidebar you will see Free Photos. This category will only be used for free photos so that you can click on that to see them all.

These images may be used for the web for non-profit use. If you use an image directly to sell a product, it would be nice to be compensated in a small way. If so, contact me using the address listed in the sidebar to the right. If you have banner ads on your blog or affiliate programs, that doesn’t matter. If in doubt, don’t worry about it.

Also see Scripture in Pictures for a lot more free pictures.

Because I’m a Christian and don’t believe in macro evolution I’m a ‘stupidly ignorant fundamentalist cult member who’s jeopardizing the faith’ according to many Bible bloggers. This is very frustrating. It makes me want to quit blogging altogether. There have always been people like this out there, but now I know about it and know how prevalent it is. Whenever I write about Genesis I wonder about all the people who will put labels on me that are false.

If there was ‘scientific proof’ that Jesus wasn’t really raised from the dead would they believe it?

This labeling stuff has gone way too far. If I ever act like this please do something to me that hurts a lot.

Puffed up knowledge without love. Lord, show me when I participate in this, which I know I will.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always!
Pray constantly.
Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I was reviewing this verse the other day and I think it’s so popular that I overlook it. These are commands and the first one sets the tone. This is God’s will which is good, that causes us joy, whatever its form in whatever circumstances we’re in, if we remember to pray and thank God in the midst of everything.

I pray that we can do these things continually this week, especially when those who enjoy spring and live in a climate that has it see its signs.

Taken yesterday. This is about the reddest red that God made and the spikes are purple. Be sure to click for a larger one.

TGC Reviews

2 Samuel 14:14
All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

Spoken by a wise woman from Tekoa.

I wanted to give you spring lovers a photo of something in our yard but nothing is blooming at the moment so I offer you a picture of a white flower in a bouquet I took a week ago.

2 Corinthians 13:4
He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God’s power.

John 17:3
This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent–Jesus Christ.

1 John. 4:13
This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given to us from His Spirit.

Also see Easter Image from a couple of days ago.

This image is under the Free Photo category.

These images may be used for the web for non-profit use. If you use an image directly to sell a product, it would be nice to be compensated in a small way. If so, contact me using the address listed in the sidebar to the right. If you have banner ads on your blog or affiliate programs, that doesn’t matter. If in doubt, don’t worry about it.

Also see Scripture in Pictures for a lot more free pictures.

Here is an Easter image from one of my contacts on Flickr.