Treasuring Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 20:24:00 +0000

My new blog is at www.gospelgrowth.net, please check there for more posts

Regeneration vs Decisionism: Paul Washer

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 08:39:00 +0000

Folk Theology

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 06:40:00 +0000

Folk Theology is a untested and many times tradition oriented believes that have no place in Christianity, because they cannot be supported Biblically.

Let me know if you agree with all of these Folk theologies that are mentioned in

"Folk Theology: Twenty Urban Legends in Theology"

Theological Systems Compared (CT, DT, PDT, NCT)

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 06:31:00 +0000

Good start to compare different theological systems. We all have them and they are necessary because has made us to organize our thoughts. Everyone is a theologian. Weill you be a good one or a bad one.
Check out these comparisons and tell me wich one you like better.

3 theological Systems Compared - CT, DT, NCT

4 Theological Systems Compared - DT, CT, NCT, PD

Trusting God But Using Means: Changing The Timing Of Our Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 06:23:00 +0000

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22

Contextualization is the principle behind Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 9:22 to “become all things to all men.” Contextualization is the idea that we need to be translating gospel truth into language, events, and structures that are understood our culture. Contextualization simply means translating the Gospel—in word, method, and deed—into understandable terms appropriate to the audience. I believe that we can to a better job of contextualizing the Gospel to the Baltimore Community.

One of the way Churches have tried to contextualized – becoming all things to all people – is by providing a variety of service times that allow for maximum discipleship and outreach of the people in the community. This Sunday evening, I am bringing a motion from the church counsel (with the approval of the deacons) to start our Community Groups at 9:00 AM and our Worship Service at 10:30 AM. Here are some of my thoughts about the benefits and reasons that we need to change our Sunday structure.

Reason #1: We need to start our service at an easily remembered timefor potential guests. Starting our Worship service at 10:30 AM will more naturally draw seekers and guests in our communities. The front door of the church is normally our Worship services.

Reason #2:Christians must be willing to change the structures (or methods) in order to make worship and maximum fellowship more accessible to the church, the community, and potential guests. I believe a 10:30 AM Worship Service will make it easier to invite people in our sphere of influence and communities to come.

Reason #3: This new structure will provide more flexibility for Community Groups with both department and group (class) time.

Reason:#4: We will be here for approximately the same amount of time.

Reason #5:By having our worship service later, people will fellowship after the service longer and invite guests to go to lunchwith them. It has been my experience that having the worship service last, provides a greater incentive to socialize with guests outside the church that day or during the week. Remember statistics say that if you can invite a guest into your home in the first 10 days, 90% will join our church.

Reason #6:This adjustment to our Sunday Morning schedule will also help us to better implement a visitation and follow-up system which I am working on.

My intent is to discuss this motion at the Member Meeting this Sunday evening, and refer this motion to a vote of the entire church on Sunday morning, August 11^th.

Deciding to contextualize ministry so that more would be reached effectively for Christ,

Pastor Glenn

Proof That God Exists

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:17:00 +0000

Proof That God Exists:

My Experience in the Hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:44:00 +0000

Howdy All,

During the past couple of weeks I have experience pain and sickness to such a degree that I was hospitalized twice. After returning from our Trip to Houston, Texas, I was experience abdominal pains and felt full all the time. I finally went to the doctor and found out that I had a stomach infection and was put on a regimen of antibiotics to take daily.

While trying to adjust my life, I found an inability to handle the medication, so I was hospitalized the first time on June 28th. After my release I felt I was getting better. Last Wednesday was a good day, but then there was Thursday Morning (July 4th). Oh, the pain! I have never experience so much pain in my life. Eventually i had to go to the Emergency room, the get treated. I stayed in the Hospital till July 7th. We found out there there was a complication to my stomach infection. This was my first adult experience of being in the hospital in my life. One I don't want to repeat anytime soon.

For 2 weeks all I had to eat was water, jello, and pudding. In fact I felt full after just consuming a little dish of jello on Sunday Morning (July 7th). On Sunday night I was finally able to eat a small amount of chicken, and boy did it taste good. I savored ever bit.

I believe that this experience has humbled me and made me more dependent on God for everything. God has planed this for my good and His Glory. I appreciate the wisdom of the doctors and nurses who help me. It is a great time to live when we have the medical knowledge and tools at our disposal.

My Scriptural promise during this time was 1 Corinthians 1:29-31:

²⁹…so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Dependence on the Lord is a basic need everyone has. We are finite, God is infinite. As Westerners. We like to be strong. We grow up thinking that things depend on us and our abilities. We import all of this into our Christianity; we believe we’re meant to follow Jesus on the basis of our own resources. In short, we settle for an independent life when we could be living a supernatural life.

My experiences over this past week showed me how dependent I am. I had not planned for this huge train of sickness. This experience has helped me realize more personally that I cannot live or minister alone in my own strength. I have always prided (and yes boasted in) myself, that I can continue to perform, work, play, live even when I get sick. Sometimes I have said, “I never get sick.” This last week (I pray) cured me of boasting in my own physical strength. Having never experienced an infection that was so painful that I couldn't perform, really caused me to think about how dependent on God I am for everything and every second of life. Having to go to the hospital emergency room was also made me realize that I am always in need of help. I am a weak man, who serves a powerful God.

This past July 4^th, as we celebrated our independence over tyranny, I relearned that to live an Independent life is to live a prideful life. When one lives life based on your own resources, sight, and strength, you declare that you don’t need God. To live a supernatural life is to live a humble, thrilling, and God-honoring life – boasting in the Lord. When one lives life based on God’s resources, sight, and strength, you declare that God is God and you’re banking everything on his ability to come through.

We were never meant to trust in our own five loaves and two fish. We are meant to live as though, at any moment, God can turn five loaves and two fish into something we never dreamed of.

My Independence Day became my Dependence Day, remembering that we as a people are never independent from God and from each other. Don’t settle for an independent life. Live a supernatural life. Read your Bible and see that that’s the only kind of life we’ve been called to live.

The prognosis is good, and I will be having surgery soon. I appreciate everyone's continued prayers for me at this time. Thanks for you impact in my life and your friendship

Learning to Depending on God through Christ,
Glenn

No Plan B - Odd Thomas

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Can You Surrender Your Worldview to "Prove" It???

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:22:00 +0000

"Can you prove that God (the God of the Bible) exists without using the Bible?"

by Arctic Pilgrim

Often, the person asking this question does not understand the implications of what he or she is asking. Taken in the context of the larger question this usually is a part of, whether or not the God of the Bible exists, he is begging the question, as he is presupposing the insufficiency of Scripture to prove the existence of the God of the Bible. In other words, he is taking for granted that the Bible is not true (by doubting its claims of sufficiency) from the outset rather than (as is often claimed) objectively seeking to learn and to discover whether or not it is true.

Asking a Christian this question is asking him to deny his faith. It's asking me to lay aside my worldview to "prove" that my worldview is correct.

???

The problem with this is that if I were to lay aside my worldview to "prove" its validity, I would be admitting that I did not believe that that my worldview is sufficient.

This would be a direct denial of the worldview and faith I claim to hold to.

It's as nonsensical as George Bush's bid to "save" the free market by "sacrificing free-market principles," only the stakes are much, much higher than a mere nation's economy. As soon as these words left his lips (and his actions were consistent with his words), he could no longer be said to believe in the free market in any meaningful way.

It would be like asking a rationalist to lay aside reason, or an empiricist to lay aside experience. That would be unthinkable, yet this exact thing is demanded of Christians all of the time.

To lay aside one's worldview in an attempt to "prove" it is to admit defeat from the beginning.

Christian, don't surrender (and therefore deny) your worldview to "prove" it.

To do so is to deny it... and nothing is more painful than hearing that rooster crow.

God Existence is Proven

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:57:00 +0000

You have likely heard that it is impossible to prove that God exists. You have heard wrong. Not only can the existence of God be proven, but denying the proof undermines rational thought.

In this powerful 3-part training series, Sye TenBruggencate equips average, everyday Christians to defend the Gospel with irrefutable proof that God exists in addition to what unbelievers already know - and may be suppressing.

Logic must be to the glory of God

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:15:00 +0000

If you ever wanted a comprehensive read on logic from a Christian worldview, here is the book for you

Book Description

For Christians looking to improve critical thinking skills, here is an accessible introduction to the study of logic as well as an in-depth treatment of the discipline from a professor with six academic degrees and over 30 years experience teaching. Questions for further reflection are included at the end of each chapter as well as helpful diagrams and charts for use in college and graduate-level classrooms.

--Vern Poythress has undertaken a radical recasting of the study of logic in this revolutionary work from a Christian worldview.

Read the first 53 pages by clicking here, or priview the entire book with some pages limited at Google Books.

One Reviewer writes: Most writers of logic books seem to go out of their way to make their writing and explanations as difficult as possible. I have always wondered how most writers of logic are so ill-logical in their sentence structure and descriptions. Poythress makes logic about as easy as one can be in writing logic. Because of the words "A God-Centered Approach" in the book's title, most non-religious universities are unlikely to widely adopt the book. That is a shame. Most of life is not difficult to understand; most people only make it sound that way for ill-logical reasons.

For a thorough review please read: Logic by Gabriel Fluhrer

HP#4: MP3s - Historic Premillennialism: A Biblical Alternative to "Left Behind" Eschatology

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:35:00 +0000

Here are some mp3s you can download and listen to in the car as you drive.

Historic Premillennialism: A Biblical Alternative to "Left Behind" Eschatology

This conference was graciously underwritten by a friend of the Seminary. It was April 23-25, 2009 on Denver Seminary's campus.

Recordings of the sessions are available in streaming and downloadble (mp3) format below. Just click the appropriate link to listen or download.

Sessions

Plenary Speech 1
Dr. Craig Blomberg
"Why We Don't Have to Wait for the Great Commission to Be Fulfilled Before Christ Returns: The Problems with Postmillennialism"
stream | download

Session 1
Dr. Sung Wook Chung
"Who are the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11: An Integration of Western and Asian Proposals"
stream | download

Session 2
Dr. Bruce Demarest
"What Did the Early Church Believe about the Tribulation?"
stream | download

Session 3
Dr. Rick Hess
"The Seventy Sevens of Daniel 9: A Timetable for the Future?"
stream | download

Session 4
Dr. Andrew Dearman
"Transformations of Jerusalem in the Bible"
stream | download

Plenary Speech 2
Dr. Craig Blomberg
"The Need for a Millennium Beyond This Present Age: The Anticlimax of Amillennialism"
stream | download

Plenary Speech 3
Gary Hoag for Dr. Craig Blomberg
"Inappropriately Privileging Israel: Why Historic Premillinnialism Trumps Dispensationalism"
stream | download

Resources

A Case for Historic Premillennialism: An Alternative to "Left Behind" Eschatology
By Craig Blomberg and Sung Wook Chung (Baker, 2009)

The Presence of the Future
G.E. Ladd (Eerdmans, 1974)

For the Supremacy of God, Gospel Growth, and the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ,
Glenn Leatherman

Pastor

Middle River Baptist Church

(443) 579-4751

http://www.facebook.com/middleriverbc

...to treasure God's glory in the growth of the Gospel by changing everyday people into a community of passionate Christ-Followers.

Be One, Bring One, Build One, Bless One

"Him [Christ] we proclaim warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me." (Colossians 1:28-29)

Dave McClellan on Preaching by Ear

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:55:00 +0000

"...A preacher can preach from notes or manuscripts, or they can draw upon something more internal that has been composed in the soul. I found that when I spoke about content that I had internalized and was very close to my heart, I felt more natural and comfortable and communicated better as well. But I also found that my literary homiletic background didn’t prepare me to “preach by ear.” I was taught to prepare sermons on paper and in private, and I didn’t realize there were any other options. Lately I’ve been exploring a more oral approach to preparation and delivery of sermons. This approach is more consistent with Jesus’ command not to “be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour” (Matt. 10:19). ..."

Read the entire artticle at Dave McClellan on Preaching by Ear:

The Essential and Prominent Place of Preaching in Worship on Vimeo

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:51:00 +0000

The Essential and Prominent Place of Preaching in Worship from Desiring God on Vimeo.

Irenic Complementarianism is how it should be

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:48:00 +0000

Whether you’re an egalitarian or a complementarian, I appreciate Darrin Patrick's irenic (peaceable) spirit that he has about this issue.

Beginning to Study the Whole Purpose of God A Christo-Presuppositional Approach to the Entire Scriptures

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:51:00 +0000

By Max StrangeBiblical Theological Study Center

1/19/2011

Beginning to Study the Whole Purpose of God A Christo-Presuppositional Approach to the Entire Scriptures

Guiding Principles:

Find the preliminary meaning of the text as it was understood by the original recipients.

Seek to understand the message as it was first delivered to
the people of God. (Kaiser)
This involves the structure of the text, immediate context,
author and audience relationship, the speech and the act that takes place.
We begin to take note of the themes, repetitions, allusions,
genre, and typology.
This involves exegesis and the historical-grammatico method
Immediate context is vital; however this is a starting point and not
an end.
From the immediate context begin to think of the wider
contextual range (Sentence, Paragraph, book, whole Bible).
At this time, resist the temptation to utilize subsequent passages
to validate the meaning or to move out from the immediate context.
Remembering that all exegesis must finally be a Christocentric exegesis.

Allow God’s message of the entire Bible to unfold Christologically.

Allow the Bible’s natural progress of redemption to flow forward and back again in a reciprocal relationship to understand the full significance from Old to New and from New to Old. (Gerhard Hasel pp 184).
Let the natural themes, motifs, “bi-directional” longitudinal conceptsthroughout the whole canon set the agenda in order to illuminate the variety of thematic perspectives and textual totality. (Gerhard Hasel pp 188)

Begin to use Biblical Theology to discover the full significance:

Biblical theology makes use of the results of exegesis (Vos)
Biblical Theology is essentially the examination of the individual
parts to see how they fit into the big picture (Goldsworthy 68).
Ultimate understanding of truth and reality is through Jesus and
His gospel who is the summation of all revelation and embedded in own Word (Goldsworthy 69).
The Old and New Testaments are intimately connected (Hasel 183)
Recognize the preliminary nature of the OT and the definitive word
that comes in the NT.
The New Testament interprets the Old Testament, while the Old Testament interprets the New Testament.
The ultimate boundaries of a text’s interpretation is the full
Biblical canon, not the text itself (Hasel 183)
Biblical theology deals with texts in the totality of their final form.
Our goal is to unearth the fullest claims of biblical revelation
within the context of Scripture. (Hasel 183, 194)
The OT and NT live in reciprocal and historical relationship
(Hasel 184; Goldsworthy 69)
The New Testament elucidates the Old Testament in a
refractory and reflective way (219).
The original text is loaded with meaning and that meaning will
be unpacked when it is opened to the full Biblical context. (Hasel 184)
Revelation is progressive.
Progressive revelation makes clearer the shadowy shapes
of the Old.
The immediate context is never the end of the Story.
Scripture interprets scripture, that is to say that God
determines and controls the meaning of his own words (Bresson)
The whole of the Old Testament scriptures are prophetic
and they find their fulfillment in the New Testament (Luke 24:44).
The New Testament’s use of the Old testament is a reflection of the progress of revelation in Jesus Christ (Darrell Bock 216)
Think like a Jew and then interpret like a Christian.

Utilize the Analogy of Faith (Scripture Interprets Scripture)

God’s Word interprets itself.
Jesus is the Word who was the compliant listener and perfect (Grand) interpreter of all His Father said (John 15:15; Goldsworthy 69)
Use antecedent theology to find the immediate context and then use subsequent theology to find its fullest expression in reciprocate fashion (Luke 24:27, 32, 44).
The wider biblical context remains an extrapolation on the
grammatico-historical plane, not a new projection onto the plane of allegory (Darrel Bock 214)
Look carefully for theological progression, allusions to prior and post events, types, shadows, realities, historical sequences, gradual unfolding, development, growing truth, direct or indirect quotations, and references to covenants in the text that assume a prior knowledge (Vos).
Look for Christ even if He isn’t there directly. It is better to see Christ
in a text even if He isn’t, than to miss Him where He is.
Jesus and the Apostles give us our Hermeneutical Norm and so we interpret the Old Testament the way Jesus and the Apostles did.
Read the Old Testament like a 1^st century Jewish Christian with a developed theology of messianic expectation realized in Christ
(paraphrase of Bock 217).
Fuller sense is not allegorical but derives its meaning from the Scriptures itself.

Principles of New Testaments use of the Old Testament

Typology is not some open theological sesame to allegory if done under the control of Biblical Theology (countering Kaiser Pp 135).
Old Testament passages are interpreted by the NT authors (and Jesus) in light of the Christ Event.
The New Testament uses of the O.T. as interpretive support for its various conclusions (Bresson).
The New Testament provides definitive interpretation of the Old Testament quotations (Bresson).
The New Testament’s use of the O.T. provides Christians an interpretive pattern (Bresson).
Often the OT quotation is a memory-marker for the larger Old Testament unit (Bresson).

--------------------------------------------

Kaiser, Walter, (1981), Theological Analysis: Chapter 6 in Towards an Exegetical Theology: Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and teaching: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House Co; pp 131-147.
Hasel, F. Gerhard. The Future of Biblical Theology: Chapter 14 pp. 179-194
Bock, L. Darrell, (1985) Evangelicals and the Use of the Old Testament Part 1. pp. Bibliotheca Sacra, 209-223.
Goldsworthy, Graeme, (2006), Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics; InterVarsity Press, pp. 68-69.
Vos, Geerhardus, (May 8, 1894), Inaugural Address; Anson D.F. Randolph & Co. New York.

Preach By Ear - Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:09:00 +0000

How my preaching of the Old Testament has changed

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Oh how I can resonate with the following quote:

When I first started preaching 14 years ago, most of my sermons showed a severe disregard for the Old Testament. And even when I crafted a message from one of those books, I was not trying to see the passage post-Easter. I handled the Old Testament as if Jesus hadn't come.
Don't read the Old Testament pretending Jesus didn't happen. After Jesus died and rose from the dead, his disciples saw the ancient promises differently. Those promises were no longer suspended in mid-air but became yes in Jesus. The types had found their antitype, the arrows their target, the shadows their Light.

Preach the Old Testament as if Jesus Is Risen – The Gospel Coalition Blog:

Amazon.com: The Truth of the Cross eBook: R C Sproul: Kindle Store

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:26:00 +0000

The Truth of the Cross

Reformation Trust is giving away the eBook edition of R.C. Sproul’s The Truth of the Cross. This book is a reminder that the atonement of Christ is an absolutely essential doctrine of the Christian faith, one that should be studied and understood by all believers.

“R.C. Sproul blows the fog away in this wonderfully clear, theologically profound, and pastorally rich work. Learn afresh or anew what God has accomplished in the cross, so that you will boast only in the cross of Jesus Christ.”

—Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner, Professor
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

All download options:

Good Article: Molinism 101

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:46:00 +0000

"In recent months and years, an old controversy about the nature of God’s knowledge has been re-ignited in certain Christian circles. The doctrine at the center of this controversy is called “middle knowledge” (also known as Molinism). In an effort to better understand the issues at stake, I found the following introduction to the subject by Dr. Paul Helm very helpful.

A faithful minister will always exalt Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

A faithful minister will always exalt Christ. We read that when John saw the state of mind in which his hearers were, he told them of a coming One far mightier than himself. He refused the honor which he saw the people ready to give him, and referred them to Him who had the “winnowing fork in his hand,”–the Lamb of God, the Messiah.

Conduct like this will always be the characteristic of a true “man of God.” He will never allow anything to be credited to him, or his office, which belongs to his divine Master. He will say like Paul, “we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Cor. 4:5.) To commend Christ dying, and rising again for the ungodly–to make known Christ’s love and power to save sinners, this will be the main object of his ministry. “He must increase but I must decrease,” will be a ruling principle in all his preaching. He will be content that his own name be forgotten, so long as Christ crucified is exalted.

Would we know whether a minister is sound in the faith, and deserving of our confidence as a teacher? We have only to ask a simple question, Where is Christ in his teaching? Would we know whether we ourselves are receiving benefit from the preaching we attend? Let us ask whether its effect is to magnify Christ in our esteem? A minister who is really doing us good will make us think more of Jesus every year we live.

--J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: St. Luke.

Ways to Change to reach Your Community

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Focus on what your church does well.
Add a worship service.
Plant a church.
Reinvent your Congregation.

Breakaway Ministries Sets Texas A&M on Fire for God - US - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:44:00 +0000

Breakaway Ministries Sets Texas A&M on Fire for God

Resurrection Books

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:19:00 +0000

Here are a couple of books on the Resurrection of Christ:

Who Moved the Stone?: A Skeptic Looks at the Death and Resurrection of Christ by Frank Morrison

The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today
By Josh McDowell

The Resurrection of the Son of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Vol. 3)
By N. T. Wright

Seeing Affliction in the Right Light

noreply@blogger.com (Glenn Leatherman) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:59:00 +0000

The Lord afflicts us at times; but it is always a thousand times less than we deserve, and much less than many of our fellow-creatures are suffering around us. Let us therefore pray for grace to be humble, thankful, and patient.
--John Newton

Affliction and suffering have been appointed by God as instruments He uses to make us more holy, to make us more like Jesus. They remind us that we are weak and we must rely not on ourselves, but on Jesus. They remind us that this world is not our home but that we are only passing through toward our real home in heaven with our Father, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
--Michael Beates, Tabletalk, p. 55, v. 28, n. 9, Ligonier Ministries.

Afflictions are light when compared with what we really deserve. They are light when compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us.
--A.W. Pink

The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light; when we see them in the hand of God, who dispenses them; when we know that it is our loving Father who abases and distresses us; our sufferings will lose their bitterness and become even a matter of consolation.
--Brother Lawrence

God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29).
--Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, NavPress, 1991, p. 139

Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.
--John Bunyan