GENISM

EDDIE AKO!!!

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:13:00 +0000

Sino si Bro Eddie?

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:35:00 +0000

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:18:00 +0000

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK, HE SAYS

by Carla Gomez
Visayan Daily Star

Bro. Eddie Villanueva yesterday said he is determined to run for president in 2010, and “there is no turning back because the nation is deteriorating fast.”

Villanueva also said his Bangon Pilipinas party will field a vice presidential candidate and full senate slate, which will be revealed at the right time.

Villanueva and former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Perfecto Yasay, Bangon Pilipinas spokesman, were in Bacolod to meet with various youth groups, which they are tapping to boost their campaign.

He would not say if Yasay would run for vice president or senator. They have chosen a vice president, they will reveal their slate shortly before their filing of certificates of candidacy between Nov. 20 and Dec. 1, he said.

Asked if he would stand a chance against numerous presidential aspirants with big political parties behind them, Villanueva said “to me this is beneficial to the Filipino people, they will be given a wider choice.”

“The Filipino people will be able to see clearly the great difference between the reformist presidential candidate among the traditional presidential candidates,” Villanueva added.

“What is important is that we have clean, honest and credible elections,” he said.

Unlike in the 2004 presidential election when Bangon Pilipinas did not have enough time to prepare, Villanueva said this time they have a nationwide network down to the barangay level.

“We are assured of the support of right thinking Filipinos who have passionate love for the country, especially for the future, who will really vote for genuine change,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva met with youth groups at the University of St. La Salle , Mayfair Plaza , West Negros University , and the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos in Bacolod yesterday.

“The youth should be given a chance to craft the future of this country because the youth is the franchise holder of the future…this is the reason why we are fighting not for ourselves but for the future generations. We are non-politicians,” Villanueva said.

Yasay said they are going around the country to make sure they do not repeat the same mistake in 2004, when they did nothing to strengthen their party.

This time, he said, their party is confident to “launch a meaningful, credible and hopefully victorious campaign.”

“Victory is not our personal objective, our objective is the victory of the people,” he said.

Yasay said the problem that the country is beset with is systemic.

The first step in changing that system legally is in the process by which leaders are elected, he said.

“What we are trying to show the people is that the traditional parties have been part of the problem in choosing leaders,” he said.

While leaders are voted into office based on popularity, “we feel political parties have a meaningful participation in the pre-qualification of leaders; so when the people chose them even on the basis of popularity, the people are already assured the bets put up are qualified for the job, unfortunately this is not happening now,” he said.

This is the kind of pre-systemic change Bangon Pilipinas is making, Yasay said.

“We would like the people to understand and feel that the only way for them to win this election is to make sure they choose candidates on the basis of their qualifications and competence,” he added.

Villanueva said should he win the presidency, the choice of the members of his Cabinet will be done by a selection committee on the basis of merits and not political patronage.

They will be chosen on the basis of character, competence courage and compassion for the suffering Filipinos, Villanueva said, adding that even those who worked in previous administrations will be considered as long as they fit that criteria.*CPG

Revival!

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:46:00 +0000

"I want a revival that, like a summer shower, will purify the atmosphere of our churches everywhere, and which will awaken the dormant forces of our people young and old. I want something that will re-emphasize old-time moral and spiritual values. Something that will reform and regenerate down and out sinners and save respectable worldlings. Something that will bring in the youth and the little children. Something so attractive that it will break over into the circles of the pleasure-loving. Something that will set people on their back tracks to make restitution for wrongs committed. Something that will bring God to bear upon cultural problems like divorce, and racism. Something that will inject old-time honesty, veracity, and purity, and other-world-mindedness in our preachers and people. Something that will make the namby-pamby, soft-handed, compromising, cringing sort of Christianity as obsolete as Phariseeism was on the day of Pentecost. Something that reveals a minister's credentials by souls saved and established in Jesus Christ."

Chapman as quoted by London and Wiseman in a book Ptr Aldrin gave me to read.

We have nothing to lose and eveyrhing else to gain...

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:17:00 +0000

Below is an actual letter from a Bangon Volunteer...

Dear _________:

I am taking time out to put my thoughts in writing that I may share with you why I go on with this seemingly crazy if not lunatic fight that we are in. I am doing this because you keep on forwarding to me articles calling for support for Noynoy. I wish you would not feel it your duty to do so. But I understand. You already expressed your doubts about our whole cause before, because of the seeming impossibility of it. It is my prayer that my two cents’ worth will be of some light, if not encouragement, for you.

First, nobody likes to lose. When I fight, I fight to win. Lawyers do not accept clearly losing cases. It is bad for your practice. When I ran in 2001, 2004, and 2007, they were all designed to win. I won two by God’s grace, and lost one, closely, still by God’s grace. I share with you this because I don’t want you to think that there is a “death wish” in what I or we are all doing.

Let’s set aside Cindy Jacob’s prophecy first. My background as a Baptist and (Calvinist) Reformed Christian, who only some years ago learned to know the Holy Spirit and His ways from the Pentecostal brethren, has trained me to look at life from the perspective of the Scriptures. This is the authority over everything in my life.

I am not a religious fanatic. I know the theology of common grace which allows me to help even “non-Christian” candidates if they stand on principles espoused by Scriptures. My father campaigned for Claro M. Recto, who was not a “Christian” in the way we understand it. He campaigned for Diokno, Tanada, Ninoy, Roxas, ect., all the opposition stalwarts in Marcos’ time. I campaigned for Fred Lim for President during my time, and in 2004 I started out with Roco to end with ECV late inthe campaign. I was with the group of Ramos when I campaigned for his provincial team in 1992. I have campaigned for congressmen and mayors, many of whom won. I am telling you this to assure you that I can operate under “common grace”.

But right now, for the first time, I have seen a right candidate FROM THE SCRIPTURES’ point of view. I checked the Scriptures’ checklist (Deut. 31, Joshua 1, Daniel 6, Proverbs 31 vs. 1-8, etc.) and I cannot escape the conclusion that ECV complies with God’s requirements. His life experiences, his passion for the poor and oppressed (which I have not seen in others), his courage to confront evil (which I have not seen in others), and his passion for God and His Word, these are the things that, in a sense, put me in this “divine bind”. It is not about ECV. It is about God, what He says, what He wants, what He desires. It is only in Bangon and with ECV that I know these things are sought with a view to obey and follow. I cannot see this in NP, LP, NPC, Lakas.

Add to that are the millions of Christians who are praying for God to visit this land. I stand with them.

I am not against Noynoy. In fact, I have a fondness for him and his family. Ninoy was my hero. Watched all his tapes during Martial Law. Devoured copies of his speeches. I was a Provincial Coordinator of NAMFREL when Cory ran. My father’s old station wagon car with me in charge secured 11 ballot boxes against the police and the military in the snap polls. Noynoy is very humble and unassuming and does not even care for the state of his hair, just like me. His former girlfriend died during one of the coups against his mother. And except for his smoking, he is a very decent man. In fact, more than that, I believe that his political dna can enable him to rise to greatness and to his own brand of leadership. It is in his veins.

But it is a passion in a leader for God and His Word, His ways, His plans, His precepts that this country desperately needs. “Unfortunately”, I see that only in ECV, and he is so far behind in the ratings.

Now where does that leave you and me?

For one, we can all abandon ship and go to where the wind of popularity blows.

Or, we can stay on towards what outsiders see as certain disaster and defeat.

Or we can stay neutral and watch from the sidelines.

I choose to stay. I want to be with God’s cause and His people even when the night is long and the road is even much longer. He died for me through His Son. He has given me everything I have and more. Without Him and His Word and grace and Spirit, my life has no meaning. So I go with Him and His cause, there is no second-guessing it.

Now you ask, can Noynoy’s candidacy be from God? What if Cindy Jacobs is wrong?

I learned in Bible school and seminary and self-study that God’s will is four fold: He has a decretive will (root word: decree), directive will, permissive will (what He allows), and overruling will (the will that He asserts and enforces). All together they are His sovereign will. It is possible for God to have allowed Noynoy’s candidacy, and it is even possible for Him to allow Noynoy to win.

But as God’s child and servant, I have no business second-guessing God’s permissive will. My task is to seek His directive and decretive will. What did He direct? What did He decree? That nations be founded on His principles. That He alone be worshipped. That rulers must have a copy of the Book of the Law with them which they must read everyday, etc. And “unfortunately”, there is Eddie Villanueva who embraces or displays all this. It would have been much simpler if there was no Eddie Villanueva, or if Bro. Eddie had coffee with God at Starbucks and God tells him to fold up. Then, I go back to my quiet life here in Bacolod instead of running around the country like crazy. Or run for public office again. Or just enjoy life. This running around can be exhausting!

“Unfortunately”, Bro. Eddie is strong in his resolve, and my brothers, those redeemed by the blood, they weep in prayer for this country.

So whether it is through the lion’s den, or through the fire, or through deep waters, my lot is with God’s people, God’s army, my brothers and sisters.

But now, having said that, I also know that the God I serve is capable of the most dramatic of surprises. All his acts of redemption in history were all unprecedented at the time He did them. Abraham becoming a father at 100. Noah’s flood. David killing a giant. Daniel surviving a lion’s den. Gideon’s 300 destroying an army of thousands. So on and so forth.

So the only way to find out if God will do that for the country or for Bangon or for ECV is to stay on. Abraham stayed on. Noah stayed on till the first rain drops fell. David endured till he became king. Nehemiah endured till the walls were rebuilt. William Wilberforce fought on till slavery was outlawed in England. Lincoln endured five years of Civil War, resisted a truce that would not resolve slavery in America, but stayed the course till victory was on.

But what if God allows otherwise. Read Hebrews 11 again. Half received what was promised. Half did not. BUT ALL ACTED IN FAITH. And all received something better at the end.

To abandon ship and join the bandwagon is not of faith. It requires faith to stay. It requires no faith to leave. I stay. The just shall live by faith. (I love that because that was the cry of the Reformation. I hope they still teach church history in the churches today!)

Look at this. If Noynoy wins, he rules 6 years. After that, life goes on. If ECV wins, he rules 6 years, and life for this country is never the same again. If he loses, and somebody else wins, we lick our wounds, and look forward to eternity with heads unbowed.

I choose eternity. Not the euphoria and the melodrama of the moment.

Who knows, the God who loves to spring surprises may yet spring a horrendous upset. And I would love to be part of it. If not, I still would like to be part of the remnant that waited for it, even if it did not come. Remember Shedrach, Meschach, and Abednego. But today, as always, I want God and His cause to always win in my heart and life. Every other thing, I entrust to His sovereign will.

With this, I hope I enlightened you somewhat, and I hope, you would not forward to me all those articles exhorting one and all to join the bandwagon. I already know what they want to say, and while I respect them, I have heard enough and do not need any more of them. To quote an old preacher, I do not want to pollute the atmosphere with unbelief.

Thank you and God bless you more and more!

________

*Name of sender and recipient intentionally deleted.
=======================================================================================================================

Bro Eddie Announces 2010 Presidential Bid

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:59:00 +0000

This page requires a higher version browser
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

I'm sure it was a hard decision. One that was steeped in prayer and soaked in the tears of his family and of our worthy candidate. But finally, the declaration was made; the challenge was taken; and, history was given another chance.

Now, it is up to every Filipino individual, from the fisherman to the bureaucrat, from children to the grandparents, every Filipino counts and every Filipino can contribute to the turning of the tide. Arise Philippines! Bangon Pilipinas!

Nagsimula na ang laban para sa Bagong Pilipinas at Bagong Pilipino!

Sino ang solusyon?

Eddie ikaw! Eddie ako! Eddie tayo!
Bro Eddie! Bro Eddie! Bro Eddie!

JILBC ICARE Ministry Climb-a-thon Project

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:38:00 +0000

It's Monday now, a couple of days since the JILBC ICARE ministry headed by Bro Fred Pangan held its first Grouse Grind Climb-a-thon project. We held it on Saturday June 6 from around 9 AM till just about past noon time. My muscles are still somewhat sore although presently, I can manage walking around without the obvious limp.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was a perfect day to do the Grind. It was not too hot and there was just the right mix of summer breeze and mountain fog. The delegates, including yours truly, started out at the very edge of Parking Lot D. The first group, to which I belonged, began the trek at around 9:30 AM.

What struck me the most when I began the climb up the summit was how crowded the Grind was. And I began thinking why those people were there. I am sure that some were climbing the mountain to relieve the stress of the work week, some wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, some to achieve a personal goal. Whatever the motives of the other climbers on the mountain, it made me feel special to know that the reason why I was doing the Grind was to give glory to my God.

For those of you who supported the delegates and gave your pledges, I thank you from the bottom of my heart because you gave to a worthy cause. Of course, the money that the ICARE ministry collected will be going to go to needy schoolchildren in the Philippines.

It took me around 20 min to arrive at the 1/4 mark at which point I almost lost my mind. I could not believe that all the effort that I had exerted for 20 min only brought me a quarter of the way up, but I pressed on till the 1/2 mark and then the 3/4 mark. The last stretch of the hike was by far the hardest. It was literally the steepest part and I was practically climbing on rock. However, the last stretch was also the most rewarding knowing that just a few more steps and I would already be at the top.

As I neared the top of the summit, I could hear the cheers of those who had already gone before me and that gave me even more courage and strength to push through till the end. Finally after about 1 hour and 40 minutes, I reached the top. I cannot really explain the experience of having conquered the summit, but I must say that when I reached the top I let out a yell just to give thanks to the Lord that He brought me through to complete the challenge.

If you want to know the feeling of not just climbing the Grind, but doing it for the glory of God as well, then join us next year! For those of you who accomplished the Grind on Saturday, I congratulate you especially Bro Edwin Andaya of Van1, Bro Eric Mangao of Van1 and Bro Barry Burgos of Surrey Newton who were the first, second and third fastest to reach the top.

The Response to "The Chase"

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:32:00 +0000

God of love
Pursuer of my soul
You refused to let me go
In your presence I remain.

I am contingent
In your everlasting existence
A treasured breath
A cherished splice
A beloved instance
In the plane of history's timeline.

You have found me
And my heart is Yours!
Suspended between your marvel
And the height of your deep love,
With nowhere to escape
I am left surrendered to you.

You make me realize:
Everything behind me,
Before me, ahead of me
Are empty without You.

My soul melts
And the joints of my heart unhinges.
You have found me
And I am yours!

Puso ko'y sa'Yo
Buhay ko'y handog
Noon ko at ngayon
Bukas may alay ko
Sumusumpang ako'y Iyong Iyo.

The Chase

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:42:00 +0000

It is the thought of not having you
That haunts.
Not so much that I may capture better
smiles,
Nor that I may hold petals
More cherishable.
But
My chosen gem,
Having no comparison,
Your gentle shine
Unravels.

I am jealous.
So many strive
For your attention.
They sing their
Enticing melodies
While mine is kept hidden
Until the time of revelation.
They display their
Perishing strength
And their loud noise
While my voice is
Stern, soft and deafeningly still.

I descended from my loftiness
To pursue you.
I ran the crowded streets in search
Across infinite
Uncrossed chasms.
I walked the heart of the Holy City
Shamed and ridiculed
For they did not understand that
I was willing
To give up everything just to purchase you.
You are my glory-
The Father's promised treasure
Since before the world began.

For you I have died,
For you I live,
For you I will reign!

And one day,
My Father will present you
Before me blameless,
Clothed in white.
I will receive you
And you will be mine forever.

End of the Semester

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:00:00 +0000

two weeks have gone by...
two weeks of paper-writing until 4 or 5 AM in the morning
two weeks of losing a lot of weight because of stress
two weeks of more than 11,000 words typed

and now it's finally over, I'm free...for two weeks that is.

Thank you Lord for bringing me through this hectic semester.

It's officially the beginning of summer and I have lots of plans and goals.

I hope to improve myself.

Physically, Mentally, Emotionally and Spiritually.

Big Surprise! Joel Osteen's preaching blessed me

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:29:00 +0000

Okay, this is a first. Somehow I stumbled accross a Joel Osteen video on YouTube and yes, I have to admit that it blessed me. Why? Well, the title of the video was "God is in control." So, me being the good Calvinist and loving God's sovereignty happily clicked on the video. It didnt take long, around 2 seconds before I figured out it was a Joel Osteen video. But, when I analyzed this video, it was actually comforting to me. Why? Because I know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to his purpose and glory. And, I needed that message today.

Now, just to be clear, this is far from becoming and Osteenian (hehehe) since part 2 and part 3 of this video almost threw me into a theological frenzy. But hey, eat the meat and throw away the bones.

Book Review: Contending for Our All

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:33:00 +0000

Two weeks ago I read John Piper’s Contending for Our All . It was an historical outlook on the lives of three defenders of the faith and the challenges they faced. I study History and I thought Piper did an extraordinary job presenting his argument which was more or less academically seasoned with salt.

Athanasius was the bishop who was against the whole world. He lived in a time when the heresy of Arianism that taught that Christ was a lesser god that the Father much like present day Jehovah’s Witnesses. While everyone in his time seemed to be flocking towards the camp of Arianism, he defended the truth of that Christ was indeed God-incarnate of the same essence and substance as the Father. As a result, we have today the Nicene Creed.

John Owen was a Puritan preacher in England contending for the truth of holiness and God’s sovereignty against the resurgence of “free-willism” as a result of the Remonstrance. He was heavily involved in the political life although his personal life was continually ravaged by the consecutive deaths of his children.

John Gresham Machen was the founder of Westminster Seminary. He battled against the heresies of Liberalism in the 20th Century. There were those who denied the Virgin birth, the Resurrection and the miracles of the Bible.

Today, there are many in the church that would sacrifice doctrinal truth for the sake of unity. There are those who do not want to offend. But the lives of these three Contenders teach us that truth is such a precious jewel that we cannot simply kill it in the streets for the sake of unity. Here’s a few quotes from the book.

When you believe that soul-saving truth (our all) is at stake in a controversy, running away is not only cowardly but cruel. These men never ran. pg 20

For Owen, virtually every confrontation with error was for the sake of the contemplation of Christ...He held the view that such contemplation and communion were only possible by means of true views of Christ. Truth about Christ was necessary for communion with Christ. pg 21

Bibliography:
Piper, John. Contending for Our All. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2006.

my Classical Arminian friend

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:34:00 +0000

So....JIGSII is now a self-identified Classical Arminian...hehehehe check it out here: JIGS II Blog

Now, what is Arminianism? To quote Dr. C. Matthew MacMahon:

Arminianism is not something hidden under a stone, but lives in full view, and in direct opposition, to the Gospel. It is a deceiving doctrine of demons wrought up from the pit of hell, where, in the consummation of the age, it will be cast for all eternity with the devil that spawned it and the false teachers who propagated it.

Now, that's a bit exaggerated hehehehe. While I do disagree with Arminians on certain points in Soteriology, I do believe that they are indeed Christian and I think the quote above is lacking in brotherly love. No wonder Calvinists are always thought of as negative...tsk tsk tsk... Continuously check out my blog and JIGS II's blog as I'm sure many subsequent posts will revolve around our contention on the issue of the extent to which God is Sovereign over one's salvation.

Learning to Love God's Grace

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:08:00 +0000

Eze 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Eze 36:28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God
...
Eze 36:31 Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.

Like the hymn-writer said, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound/That saved a wretch like me!" Today, I lament the fact that the Gospel of God's grace has been watered down, washed down for the sake of not offending unbelievers. I only remember what the Apostle Paul said that the Gospel is FOOLISHNESS to the Gentile and a STUMBLING BLOCK to the Jews. But to those, like me, a wretch like me, who are being saved...IT IS THE POWER OF GOD! I will not be ashamed of the scandal of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Many will shout: hypocrite! judgmental! mean-spirited! But to those who will hear and listen, let them repent and be saved unto the glory of God.

Charlie bit me...LOL

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:34:00 +0000

if you havent watched this YouTube clip before, you need to.

Credo En Unum Deum

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:16:00 +0000

Below is the Nicene Creed in Latin. The song however was sung in a Catholic Mass.

In English:
We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Facebook is Evil! dun dun dun

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:52:00 +0000

I'm doing my paper on Byzantine women right now but I found this little video by Paul Washer and his commentary on Facebook. I don't know how to respond to it as most of my time on the internet is spent on email, facebook and youtube. Ouch! You have to understand Bro Paul though, he has the tendency to make simple points seem like boulders ready to crush you over the head, or like harpoons striking through your internal organs. Nevertheless, he makes a very good point.

Does God Sing?

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:28:00 +0000

I found this video on YouTube and I found it very interesting. I thought Bob Kauflin was just going to provide some conjecture that because we sing and we are made in God's image, therefore He must sing. That of course would be a fallacious argument. But, I was blown away by this.

Look at what Zephaniah 3:17 says:

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

Isn't that amazing? God sings! And, He sings in rejoicing over His people. That, makes heaven all the more glorious. Imagine, imagine...what would God's singing sound like? He must be better than all the Pavarottis in the world. His voice must be so sweet and yet so powerful. Wow! What a wonderful God!

Reformed Humour

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:18:00 +0000

I don't hide the fact that I believe and rejoice over the Doctrines of Grace (i.e. TULIP/Calvinism). I believe they are not only true, biblical and logical but they are humbling. So, I joined this group on Facebook that-by the title itself-it is more or less cheeky. It's called: "Calvinism: the Group that Chooses You."

Now, some may say that Calvinists are rather negative and hardcore serious. But the images below should expel those kind of ideas hehehehe. I think the best image is the first one. This basically outlines, although humorously, the teachings of the Doctrines of Grace. From the moment I was born-again to the moment I will be glorified, it is the grace of God that sustains me. He is the Alpha and the Omega of my salvation. Praise the Lord!

Book Review: A Tale of Two Sons

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:12:00 +0000

John MacArthur’s A Tale of Two Sons is provocative and somewhat soap-operatic. It is essentially an exegetical work on the Parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32 which MacArthur describes as “The Greatest Short Story. Ever” (3). At the onset of the book, he paints the picture of a parable that is not simply a good story or a good read but rather an intricate, complex and profound literary work.

MacArthur exposes the Parable in its context and as part of the greater Lucan narrative that pointed towards the eventual and climactic death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He also unravels the role of each of the character mentioned in the story, that is, the Prodigal son, the father and the elderly brother. He does this in such a way as to make the reader personalize the events that occurred in each of the character’s lives.

By reading the book, I was yet again reminded of my own sins and iniquities and the grace and mercy of Christ who took upon Himself my shame, my guilt and my sins on the Cross of Calvary. His death made me live again!

Furthermore, I was reassured of the true meaning of heaven’s joy in heaven. In Luke 15, Jesus was recorded telling three parables and in them the message was the same—that there is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. But, what I did not realize was that the rejoicing in heaven was not rejoicing over the repentance of the sinner, but rejoicing over the grace and mercy that God gives to Him that repents. God does not need to be merciful to anyone and as a matter of fact we all have sinned and deserve the full extent of God’s wrath. However, in God’s infinite wisdom, He provided a way by which his grace and mercy may be glorified through the sacrifice of His own Beloved Son. Indeed, as Fanny Crosby has said:

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done! 1

But, that was not the end of the story. MacArthur's real focus was to be the elderly brother. This often neglected portion of the story was actually the real intention for why the parable was even said in the first place. To find out more about how and why, go read the book!

Click here for more info.

I saw this video on YouTube. Hear it from the man himself.

Footnotes:
1. http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh098.sht and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CeBoSQsBR0

Bibliography
MacArthur, John. A Tale of Two Sons. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson), 2008.

"The Supremacy of Christ"

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:55:00 +0000

One of John Piper's best...

"How Deep" by Sovereign Grace Music

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:41:00 +0000

Words and music by Stephen Altrogge
As recorded on Valley of Vision

Lyrics

You were broken that I might be healed
You were cast off that I might draw near
You were thirsty that I might come drink
Cried out in anguish that I might sing

How deep is Your love
How high and how wide is Your mercy
How deep is Your grace
Our hearts overflow with praise
To You

You knew darkness that I might know light
Wept great tears that mine might be dried
Stripped of glory that I might be clothed
Crushed by Your Father to call me Your own

© 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Sovereign Grace Music offers free music sheets and mp3's at their website. Pls check them out.

Book Review: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:42:00 +0000

I just finished reading, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J.I. Packer. Packer is one of the Professors of Theology right in my own backyard, that is Regent College in Vancouver, BC. The book was originally published in 1961 in the hopes of clearing up a few hot topics of the time. The main contemporary issue however was the weakening and generally unhealthy nature of evangelism(Packer 119). The blame of course was placed upon the resurgence of the doctrine of God's sovereignty. Many supposed that the emphasis on the sovereignty of God would diminish evangelistic efforts because it would lead to the idea that "when God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid or mine." 1

Packer unfolds the Scriptures in order to show that there is an antinomy between God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, a seeming contradiction in the Bible but nevertheless two explicit truths Christians have to live by. Packer argues that Christians cannot pick and choose between these two truths but must live in continual balance proclaiming God as man's King, who is in control of his steps, and man's Judge, who holds responsible he that commits lawlessness (Packer 31). He further argues, by quoting Spurgeon, that the two truths are "friends" and friends do not need reconciling (Packer 43).

The most useful insight that I learned from this book is the idea of patience in evangelism. Because I believe that God is sovereign over all things, including man's salvation, I should not be impatient in evangelism. God has his own ways and his own timetable so that I should not be rushing to gather as much "decisions for Christ" as I can but that I should be rushing to proclaim the Gospel in the hopes that God might save some by it.

As Packer says,

The idea that a single evangelistic sermon, or a single serious conversation, ought to suffice for the conversion of anyone who is ever going to be converted is really silly. If [...] you meet a person who is not thus prepared, a person who as yet has no conviction of the truth of the gospel and perhaps no idea, or even a false idea, of what the gospel actually is, it is worse than useless to try and stampede him into a snap "decision." You may be able to bully him into a psychological crisis of some sort, but that will not be saving faith and will do him no good (Packer 130).

Please check out this page to purchase the copy of the book.

For more information on the topic, go here

Footnotes
1. Glimpses of Christian History Presents Stories behind Famous Quotes: William Carey. http://www.chinstitute.org/lives_events/quotes/quote008.shtml

Bibliography
Packer, J.I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2008.

How to Make False Converts

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Can we judge our evangelistic efforts? What fruit are we bearing? Are they hundreds of "decisions for Christ" that last for days and then wane away. And afterwards, we blame our discipleship efforts for not doing proper follow-up. See, it is actually hard--if not impossible--to disciple unregenerate people. Or, are we producing genuine repentance that lasts into eternity? Maybe, it is not our consolidation methods that we need to check. Maybe, just maybe it's our evangelistic efforts that need re-evaluation because the Bible says we need to be bearing fruit that will last.

Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

A Dream...

noreply@blogger.com (GENISM) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:37:00 +0000

The video above concerns a dream Joshua Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girls etc..., had. It speaks of the infinite wisdom of God's love and design for our redemption. Please watch and comment.