The Ruler of the Waves

(J.C. Ryle, "The Ruler of the Waves" 1879)



"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” John 16:33


Following Christ will not prevent our having earthly sorrows and troubles.



Perhaps the disciples had expected that Christ's service would at any rate lift them above the reach of earthly trials. Perhaps they thought that He, who could raise the dead and heal the sick and feed multitudes with a few loaves, and cast out devils with a word--would never allow His servants to be sufferers upon earth. Perhaps they had supposed He would always grant them . . .

smooth journeys,

fine weather,

an easy course, and

freedom from trouble and care.

If they thought so--they were much mistaken! The Lord Jesus taught that a man may be one of His chosen servants--and yet have to go through many a trouble, and endure many a pain!
It is good to understand this clearly. It is good to understand that Christ's service never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is heir to--and never will. If you are a believer, you must reckon on having your share . . .

of sickness and pain,

of sorrow and tears,

of losses and crosses,

of deaths and bereavements,

of partings and separations,

of vexations and disappointments

--so long as you are in the body. Christ never promises that you shall get to Heaven without these. He has promised that all who come to Him shall have all things pertaining to life and godliness; but He has never promised that He will make them prosperous, or rich, or healthy, and that death and sorrow shall never come to their family.

The Lord's Portion' by JC Ryle ( and a bit added by myself)

"The Lord's portion is His people." Deuteronomy 32:9


How are they His portion?

First, by His own sovereign election. He chose them, and set His love upon them. He chose them altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time, or any goodness which He foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom He would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life. Therefore, are they His by His unconstrained election.

They are not only His by choice--but by purchase. He has bought and paid for them to the utmost farthing--hence there can be no dispute about His title to them. The Lord's portion has been fully redeemed, not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold--but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! See the blood-mark upon all the elect, invisible to human eye--but known to Christ, for "the Lord knows those who are His!" He forgets none of those whom He has redeemed! He counts the sheep for whom He laid down His life, and well remembers the people for whom He gave Himself.

They are also His by conquest. What a battle He had in us--before we would be won! How long He laid siege to our hearts! How often He sent us terms of surrender! But we barred our gates, and fortified our walls against Him. Do we not remember that glorious hour--when He conquered our hearts? When He placed His cross against the wall, and scaled our ramparts, planting the blood-red flag of His omnipotent mercy on our strongholds? Yes, we are, indeed--the conquered captives of His omnipotent love!

I find this piece by Ryle very comforting, very humbling and very, very precious. To think God would condescend to save me, , personally. That God would chose me, rather than someone more influential, scusscesfull, I am left with the question, why me? there was a time I took much for granted, but I cannot do so anymore. Christ loved me, as he loves you dear reader, yet there will come a time of Judgement,  But, O praise be to God for this dispensation of Grace!  Even while the world is in turmoil, as much of everyday life is...there is an eternal hope held out for all who would come to the fount of living waters.
Would you also nto this day forsake all other affections and set your love on Christ? Tase and see that the Lord is Good!

Some thoughts on Calvinism

When a person says he is a “Calvinist” or “reformed” or confesses to believe in the “doctrines of grace”, he is merely concisely stating his theological position. As for me, I have not read  that much of  John Calvin to date,  I am hardly a “follower of Calvin”. I am a follower of Jesus and I look to a Sovereign God who can save me from my own sinful selfish ways. But I do find his systematic theology helpful in understanding the scriptures


I am one who upholds the Sovereignty of God in all things, most certainly in the salvation of the souls of men. As Ephesians 1:3-14 clearly reveals, the redemption of man is for the glory of God alone to the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 I have found many who malign and misrepresent the doctines of grace and the writings of Calvin for no reaon other than they disagree with him  on certain things. It is quite OK I think that people can disagree on the side issues of theology but I find some of these so called contenders downright rude.
 In fact I found many of them downright self centred and not gospel driven they inf fact oppose the gospel with a righteouesness of their own making. A severe mistake in my estimation..

I for my part am a long way of from grasp all that the Sovereingity of God in all of life entails. But I do know this. According to 1 John the sure marks of a christian is that you Love God above all else, and Love  those He has redeemed with His precious blood.

May you be blessed as you grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Utterly quotable J.C Ryle

(J.C. Ryle, "Growth in Grace" 1879)


Another mark of growth in grace, is increased spirituality of taste and mind. The man whose soul is growing, takes more interest in spiritual things every year.
He does not neglect his duty in the world. He discharges faithfully, diligently and conscientiously--every relation of life, whether at home or abroad. But the things he loves best, are spiritual things.
The amusements and recreations of the world, have a continually decreasing place in his heart. He does not condemn them as downright sinful--he only feels that they have a constantly diminishing hold on his own affections--and gradually seem smaller and more trifling in his eyes. Spiritual companions, spiritual occupations, spiritual conversation--are of ever-increasing value to him. Would anyone know if he is growing in grace? Then let him look within for increasing spirituality of taste.

Luther Quote....

Jeremiah Burroughs explains the gospel in this way,.......

 Puritan ,Pastor and Author, Jeremiah Burroughs explains the gospel in this way,


“As all mankind was lost in Adam and became the children of wrath, put under

the sentence of death, God, though He left His fallen angels and has reserved them in the

chains of eternal darkness, yet He has thought upon the children of men and has provided

a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himself again... Namely, the second person of

the Trinity takes man's nature upon Himself, and becomes the Head of a second

covenant, standing charged with sin. He answers for it by suffering what the law and

divine justice required, and by making satisfaction by keeping the law perfectly, which

satisfaction and righteousness He tenders up to the Father as a sweet savor of rest for the

souls that are given to Him...And now this mediation of Christ is, by the appointment of

the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nation or rank, freely offering

this atonement unto sinners for atonement, requiring them to believe in Him and, upon

believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sins, but that they shall not

enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness shall ever hinder the

peace of God with them, but that they shall through Him be received into the number of

those who shall have the image of God again to be renewed unto them, and they shall be

kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. - Jeremiah Burroughs”

Paradox of our Time in History

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space.

We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; these are the days when Lukewarm is king, when shallow is in, shall we be part of it, or shall we part with it, this world and its things.....My Favourite puritan Thomas Brookes , once said,  "The devils sweets are tasty at first, but you will find the sweetness hides a poison that will damn the soul.this is also still the message from
1 John....2:15 Do Not Love the World,Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world---the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions---is not from the Father but is from the world.

A Bit of Philosophical musings....

On occasion, I sit here in my cubicle and contemplate the rather complex bunch of people that surround me. I would be amiss if I did not include myself in that definition, since much of everyday life is a puzzle. It is not as many would hope, in fact if you have not discovered this for yourself. Everyday work can be absolutely soul destroying in its reaching for objects that produce nothing but futility, from the very things we posses, we wish to posses even at times our very blessings, Holy writ ascribes it this verdict, “Vanity Vanity, all is vanity, there is nothing as worthless as worly pursuits. The Hebrew here translates more accurately, “void of meaning” This is the state of our world we are born into, it was subject to this futility that the Creator subjected it too.


Not wanting to sound morbid, I find comfort in this rather morose reality, for that is what is, is, real reality, If I was a true Nihilist, which I am not, even close to being, my formula would look something like this. Nothing plus nothing equals nothing. Pessimism is the only true conclusion the mind without its Creator in focus can come too. There is no optimism in illusion, things are the way they are, because they are like the rest of Creation subject to futility.

The problem is then how did we get that way, and why was creation subject to such a sentence ? There is no answer to this in extentialism, atheism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Budhism or even Humanism. This is the great leveler, because there is no earthly sense in it. There is no amount of human reason that can explain suffering or other human ills.

Much of our philosophy is wrapped up in the word itself “ philo” meaning “Friendship and “Sophia” meaning Human wisdom” Something like “the wisdom that comes from human interaction and sharing ideas.

But we need more than that. Far more than that. We need spiritual light for our eyes. Light that only our Creator can give. Such is the state of things as they are, and need amount of positive thinking has yet made any eternal changes in a man.

ANIMISM, ANCESTORS and current South African Goverment

ANIMISM, ANCESTORS and ANC The centenary celebrations of the ANC and their determination to dedicate the country to the ancestral spirits sparked nation wide controversy. How are we as Christians to respond? What does the Bible say concerning the spirits of our ancestors? To whom should South Africa be dedicated? Are there examples in history of other nations that have invoked the spirits of their ancestors? What were the results in those cases? CelebrationsThe African National Congress started off the year by throwing itself a lavish birthday party in Bloemfontein. To celebrate its journey from anti-apartheid movement to ruling party, they scheduled a golf outing, champagne toasts, and an inter-faith service which involved slaughtering a bull and invoking the ancestral spirits. Ritual SlaughterWith drums pounding and chants filling the air, the ANC president, Jacob Zuma, initiated the traditional cleansing ceremony by ritually sacrificing a bull, killing it with a spear, while it was tied to a tree. ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, explained: "traditionally the act of slaughtering has different meanings. All nations have a way of celebration through slaughter... it is the same but in different circumstances." The inter-faith service included messages and blessings from representatives of all major religions, including Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Rastafarian, and traditional Animist witchdoctors. Despite the ANC, chaplain general's assertion that "all nations have a way of celebration through slaughter" journalists could not think of how the Queen of England, for example, marks national events by ritual slaughter of a helpless animal. Opposition PrayerDr. Kenneth Meshoe, opposition leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, turned down his invitation to attend the festivities, declaring that invoking the spirits of dead leaders will have devastating consequences for the country. Instead Rev. Meshoe joined other Christians outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria for a prayer and worship ceremony to dedicate South Africa to the Living God, Jesus Christ. IntoleranceIn response, the ANC chaplain general, Vukile Mehana, criticized Dr. Meshoe for his "fundamentalist Christian beliefs" declaring that he was "practising religious intolerance". Vukile Mehana condemned Kenneth Meshoe's position as "totally unacceptable and a direct contravention of our constitution as well as the fundamental values and principles of Christianity." Venerating the AncestorsMehana declared that it was "mischievous and misleading" to suggest that the ANC favoured any one particular faith over others. He insisted that the centenary celebrations did not involve the worshipping of ancestors, but the venerating of the spirits of those who were part of its history. The distinction between ancestor worship and "venerating the spirits" would seem to be a fine line. Confusion and DistortionThe position of the ANC chaplain general seemed confused and self-contradictory. On the one hand, he condemned Dr. Meshoe's "fundamentalist Christian beliefs", and on the other hand maintained that Meshoe's position was in direct contravention of "the fundamental values and principles of Christianity"! It was not clear how Dr. Meshoe's position was a violation of the Constitution. One would have thought that freedom of religion, freedom of opinion, freedom of speech and freedom of association were guaranteed by the Constitution. Love for CountryDr. Meshoe declared: "Because I love my country I cannot associate with dedicating it to dead people." He urged all who love South Africa to join him in prayer "to do what is right, because what the ANC is doing is wrong."


A Cursed NationAn example of a country which has been dedicated to ancestral spirits is Haiti. As the Wall Street Journal noted in its article: "Haiti and the Voodoo Curse: The Cultural Roots of the Country's Endless Misery", that despite Haiti having received billions of dollars in foreign aid over the last 50 years, it remains the least developed country in the Western hemisphere. Haiti has defied all development predictions. Operation World reports that Haiti is the poorest state in the Western hemisphere with over 75% of the population living on less than $2 a day. Effective unemployment is around 70%. 98% of the island is deforested. Haiti has some of the worst pollution, drought, famine, rapid rise of drug abuse and spread of AIDS in the Western hemisphere. An estimated 75% of the population are actively involved in voodoo. Haiti is at the top of the corruption index. A full 25% of the police are in the pay of drug lords and gangs. The massive earthquake in 2010 was one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the Western hemisphere, with over 300,000 dead. At its inception in 1803, Haiti was dedicated to satan. In 2003, voodoo was declared a national religion of Haiti. Obstacle to ProgressThe Wall Street Journal quotes Cameroonian development expert, Daniel Etounga-Manguelle as observing that voodooism is "one of the principal obstacles to progress in Africa." Daniel Etounga-Manguelle observes that "Haiti's culture is powerfully influenced by its religion, voodoo. Voodoo is one of numerous spirit-based religions common to Africa. It is without ethical content. Its followers believe that their destinies are controlled by hundreds of capricious spirits who must be propitiated through voodoo ceremonies." Animism is a "progress-resistant force". The Wall Street Journal observed: "A Haitian child is made to understand that everything that happens is due to the spirits. He is raised to externalize evil and to understand he is in continuous danger. Haitians are afraid of each other. You will find a high degree of paranoia in Haiti."

Understanding AnimismAnimism is spirit worship. It involves necrolatry - the worship of the souls of the dead. The witchdoctors or shamans are regarded as expert mediators who know the proper incantations and sacrifices to placate the spirits. Animism is a religion that sees a spiritual force behind every event and many objects in the physical world have some spiritual significance. Animism seems obsessed with invoking good luck and avoiding bad luck. Each community is seen as having its own sets of gods and spirits. These are territorial. Pervasive FearFear plays a major role in the life of Animists. They see the world as full of spirits, omens, spells and forces. Through magic, divination and sacred rituals, they seek protection to appease the gods, the spirits and the ancestors. They observe numerous taboos and prohibitions and observe sacred places. For example, in Haiti there is a sacred tree where a pact with the devil was signed over two centuries ago by witchdoctors. Animists see a whole host of objects as sacred things with sacred power. They recognize sacred persons and observe sacred actions. One of these is the circumcision rituals on young men in the Xhosa tribe. Many hundreds of men have died from these dangerous circumcision rituals. The Sangoma and the SnakeDuring the World Cup 2010, much publicity was given to a Burmese rock python, owned by a sangoma (witch doctor), in Nyanga. It was alleged that this python was able to communicate to the sangoma which team would win each match. Gamblers paid the sangoma for predictions. The SPCA found the snake to be underweight, suffering from dehydration, mouth rot and pneumonia and confiscated the python to give it medical care. The sangoma, 25 year old Siyabonga Mthethwa, said that the SPCA did not understand sangomas: "Everything I said does not make sense to them." Ritual MurderThe High Court in Pietermaritzburg found 28 year old Smangaliso Ngubane guilty of murder for having slaughtered his 17 month old baby daughter in a ritual killing. Amini Xaba was stabbed by her father six times in what state witnesses described as "an offering to his ancestors". Ngubane testified that he had heard voices that had told him to do this. Satanic SacrificesTwo teenage girls in Johannesburg were doused with petrol and set alight in a satanic ritual. The provincial police spokesman reported that the girls were tied up by their friends and burned in what appeared to be a satanic ritual. The Star quoted from Izabella Little, of the Teenage Advice Forum, Life Talk, that: "Satanism is not spoken about very often". She mentioned an incident in Cape Town where a mother reported her teenage daughter kidnapped and taken to some satanic church where another teenager was murdered. She managed to escape but was very traumatized. Police investigated the incident, but it was never mentioned in the media. "We always hear rumours about Satanism, but it is not something people are talking about. We would like them to come forward so that this can come into the open."

Child SacrificeIn Uganda the government is setting up posters in playgrounds and on roadsides warning of the danger of abduction by witchdoctors for child sacrifice. Police have investigated hundreds of cases of child sacrifice in Uganda. The mutilated bodies of children have been discovered at roadsides. The Anti-Human Sacrifice Task Force reports that there is a growing belief that when you sacrifice a child, you get wealth. There are people willing to buy these children to be sacrificed for the prosperity of their business. Powerful SpellThe UK based charity, Jubilee Campaign, reports that they know of over 900 cases of human sacrifice in the country. Churches are singing a song: "Heal our land, end child sacrifice." A BBC undercover reporter filmed a local witch doctor who explained how the sacrifice of a child is "the most powerful spell". The witch doctor was recorded saying: "there are two ways of doing this, we can bury the child alive on your construction site, or we can cut him in different places and put the blood in the bottle of spiritual medicine." Haunted RoadsSindephi Spogter-KaMcina of the National Executive Committee of the Traditional Healers Association claimed that the roads of South Africa are haunted because whites have not fetched the spirits of their dead from roadside accident scenes. He explained that the growing Christian tradition of putting up roadside memorial crosses and placing flowers at the scene of an accidental death, stops the soul of the deceased from departing. He claimed that roadside memorials cause accidents because the white people did not appease their loved ones' spirit. He explained that in African traditions the spirit of the dead is brought back home from the scene of the death. Some use a branch from a young tree to seep up the spirit and take it to the body, which must be buried in the ancestral area. Animism is SeriousThese and many other examples remind us that Animism is real and the consequences of dedicating a nation to ancestral spirits are very serious. The Scriptures are clear: "You shall not... practise divination or soothsaying... give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them; I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:26, 31 What the Bible Says"When you come into the land which the Lord your God has given you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you." Deuteronomy 18:9-14 Communicating with the DeadThe Scriptures are clear that we are not able to communicate with the spirits of departed ancestors. It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the Judgment (Hebrews 9:27). There is a great gulf set between the living and the dead and communication between them is impossible (Luke 16:26). However, many people who think that they are communicating with ancestral spirits are actually communicating with deceptive demons, unclean spirits (Matthew 10:1), evil spirits (Acts 19:12), fallen angels who rebelled and are now in darkness bound for Judgment (Jude 6). Their power is limited (2 Peter 2:4). They serve the devil, the prince of darkness, the prince of this world (Matthew 12:24; John 12:31). OccultismOccult practices honour satan rather than God. Occultism makes the enemies of God the guiding forces and the source of knowledge. Those who are "giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" actually "depart from the faith..." 1 Timothy 4:1. We are commanded "Do not learn the ways of the heathen..." Jeremiah 10:2 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 Dedicating South AfricaJesus Christ is the King of the nations. He is the Creator, the Eternal Judge, the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). There is no other Name given under Heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The only one to whom South Africa should be dedicated is our Creator God, the only Redeemer and Saviour,as was done when the Afrikaners established the Day of the Covenant."Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7 Dr Peter Hammond

Give me Love Like this, by Amy Carmichael

Many crowd the Savior's Kingdom,


Few receive His Cross,

Many seek His consolation,

Few will suffer loss

For the dear sake of the Master,

Counting all but dross.

Many sit at Jesus' table,

Few will fast with Him

When the sorrow-cup of anguish

Trembles to the brim.

Few watch with Him in the garden

Who have sung the hymn.

Many will confess His wisdom.

Few embrace his shame,

Many, should He smile upon them,

Will His praise proclaim;

Then, if for a while He leave them,

They desert his Name.

But the souls who love Him truly

In woe or in sweet bliss,

These will count their truest heart's blood

Not their own, but His;

Savior, Thou Who thus hast loved me,

Give me love like this.

Life is hard, but God is True to His Word which does not fail

Life is hard”, so it has been noted been prominent psychologists and psychotherapists over the years. Yet in this postmodern era that worships at the shrine of relativism life becomes even harder. I understand the pain of uncertainty and the confusion in both the sphere of religion and current trends in society that offer no anchor to the soul and no certainty to the destiny of the individual human. Certainly there is an anchor for the soul of the individual human who gives their reason to a legitimate authority that governs both faith and life. Now while there are many other voices out there the only legitimate resource available to us that speaks with divine authority is the Holy Bible. The God who inspired the Bible gave us in its pages the only legitimate divine revelation that we need for faith and life. As I said there are many other voices but the Bible is the only voice that speaks for God as He is revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ.


There are five fundamentals of the faith which are essential for True faith, and upon which we al need to agree

 The inerrancy of the scriptures themselves (Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20).

 The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-9).

 The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27).

 The Blood Atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14).

 The Bodily Resurrection (Luke 24:36-46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:14-15).



Foundational is the Inerrancy and infallibility of Scriptures. Denying the scriptures their proper place as God’s Word. And not the god of the new age but the One True God, Creator of heaven and earth. There is to much confusion around who and what the Person and Character of God is , the Bible is the only legitimate revelation of God and His Character. Anything else is sheer speculation regardless of whether the speculation is mystical or pagan in origin.

*The Bible is inerrant The Bible has no mistakes in it. Since the Bible is God's Word, it must partake of his true and holy character. To understand that Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17) is to commit ourselves, in advance, to the proposition that Scripture is errorless.God does not make mistakes; he does not lie; he does not err, and he does not deceive people by misrepresenting himself or his Word. We simply cannot believe that God would lend his name to something erroneous and deceptive. Would he really lend his name to that which was tainted and flawed? Would he give it the grand title "Word of God?" Never!

But more than that, notice how God speaks of his Word:

 "The words of Jehovah are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, purified seven times" (Psa. 12:6). (KJV)

 "Which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures" (Rom. 1:2).

 "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth" (Psa. 119:142).

 "The sum of thy word is truth" (Psa. 119:160).

 "Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).

 "And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth" (2 Sam. 7:28).

If the Scriptures are God's Word, can he say those words are truth if they contain error? Can they be holy if they contain that which is common and unclean? Can they be called sacred if they are like human, fallible writing? Paul told Timothy, "And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15).

If sacred Scripture is God's Word, and he uses such words as "pure," and "truth" to describe it, it is infallible and absolutely free from error. How could God's Word be truth and still contain error?

Paul called God's Word, "the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:2). In that God claims to be the source of every word.

Too. notice what John said. "I have not written to you because ye do not know the truth, but because ye know it, and no lie is of the truth" (1 John 2:21). Paul called it "the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). Scripture is called the "word of God" (Mark 7:23).

So, what is the attitude of Scripture toward itself? Does it claim infallibility? If it did not, surely that would take some of the shine off our notion that it is inerrant. But it establishes our notion. It is called the "word of God," a title with serious implications. The words are said to be "pure," "holy," "sacred," and always "truth." How could all that be said if Scripture was full of error, lies, and deceits? No, the Scripture is utterly inerrant. To believe otherwise is to shun Holy Scripture and to *

Most people who write about the inspiration of the Bible focus on one scripture -- 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The King James Version reads:

 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

 Literally, the first part of v.16 reads something more like:

 "All writings God-breathed and/even/also profitable to/towards teaching, to/toward ...." Like verse 17 (see above) the whole of 2 Timothy 3 is referring to finding the knowledge required for living a moral life, using the "God-breathed writings," inspired Scriptures, as the guide.

The concept of the INFALLIBILITY of the Bible is foundational to understanding God’s truth we must believe that God’s Word is reliable and trustworthy searching for God's truth. As a source of truth, the Bible is also claimed to be INDEFECTABLE: it can not fall away or defect from truth. Consequently it will never fail or deceive anyone who trusts it in matters of developing a personal knowledge of God and in matters of salvation.

Another credible source for the Bible source is in fact the determination of history that determined in documents like the Westminister Confession of Faith. Of 1646 and I quote “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture, is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it may be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.

Scripture is sufficient by itself. Because of its Inerrancy and Infallibility, it needs no interpreter, it speaks plainly for itself. And the claim it makes is quite plain it is the only consistent and reliable Word of God. That can be trusted without fear of its words not coming to pass.

Dr Steve Lawson from USA to Speak in Joburg SA, Free Invite

American Rev Jesse Jackson attends Pagan Interfaith ceremony in Africa

This just in from Johannesburg. Apparently America's Jesses Jackson has no discernment when fraternizing with communists and pagan ancestor worshippers ( i.e - South Africa's current goverment) Rev Jackson attended a pagan cow slaughtering ceremony at the ANC's 100th year celebration bash. Now either the good Reverend lacks discernment or he does not care about assciating with cow slaghtering pagans. Being an white african myself, and a christian by profession I find this lack of insight puzzling. Apart from else the ANC was in 1989 still ranked as a world terorist organization along with the infamous Irish Republican Army.
Here is an excerpt from an online article....
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson says apartheid isn't over.
The Chicago civil rights leader was among the tens of thousands attendees of the 100th anniversary celebration Sunday of the African National Congress, Africa's oldest liberation movement.
He spoke after a church ceremony Sunday. He says there's still "the agricultural apartheid, the manufacturing apartheid, the banking apartheid" and "the shipping apartheid." Jackson says those are the challenges for the next century.
Many South Africans say the party hasn't delivered on its promises since taking power in 1994.
African leaders and former heads of state along with African kings and chieftains attended a midnight ceremony where President Jacob Zuma lit a flame.

I do not normally blog, post or even bother with things of a political nature, but times are changing, I say, stand up and be counted. For all the love I have for country, South Africa, its President is a ancestor worshipping communist, does this mean one disobeys the goverment, by no means. But then one would  also expect someone of the Rev Jackson's influence and stature to be carefull of his associations. Attending a pagan call to the ancestors" and invoking the spirts of Shamanism is not a place a christian minister should be.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Jesse-Jackson-attends-ANC-s-100th-anniversary-2449288.php#ixzz1iy43IQS5

A christians best day

Death puts an end to all changes

(Thomas Brooks, "A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day")

"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better

by far!" Philippians 1:23

A believer's last day is his best day! Death puts an

end to all changes. What is the whole life of a man

--but a life of changes?

Here on earth, you often change . . .

your joy for sorrow,

your health for sickness,

your strength for weakness,

your honor for dishonor,

your plenty for poverty,

your beauty for deformity,

your friends for foes,

your gold for copper.

All temporal things are transitory. Man himself--

what is he--but a mere nothing--the dream of

a dream, a shadow, a bubble, a flash, a puff!

Now the comforts of a man are smiling

--but the next hour they are dying.
Now the Lord smiles upon the soul--and
at another time He frowns upon the soul.
Now God gives assistance to conquer sin--but
before long the man is carried captive by his sin.
Now he is strengthened against the temptation,
in a short while he falls before the temptation, etc.


But death puts an end to all changes. Now the
soul shall be tempted no more, sin no more, be
foiled no more. Now you may judge by this,
that a Christian's dying-day is his best day.

"And so we will be with the Lord forever!"

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Another name for Trouble- Quote by J C Ryle

He was a wise man who said that "Money" was only another name for "Trouble," and that the same English letters which spelled "acres" would also spell "cares."

Are you poor? Are you tempted to imagine that if you had the rich man's place--that you would be quite happy? Resist the temptation, and cast it behind you. Do not envy your wealthy neighbors--be content with such things as you have. Happiness does not depend on houses or lands! Silks and satins cannot shut out sorrow from the heart! Castles cannot prevent anxiety and care coming in at their doors. There is as much misery riding and driving about in splendid carriages--as there is walking about on foot! There is as much unhappiness in large mansions--as in poor cottages!

A Slice of Spurgeon - A Sermon for the Christian

Ask, and it shall be given you. (Matthew 7:7)


We know of a place in England still existing, where a dole of bread is served to every passerby who chooses to ask for it.

Whoever the traveller may be, he has but to knock at the door of St. Cross Hospital, and there is the dole of bread for him. Jesus Christ so loveth sinners that he has built a St. Cross Hospital, so that whenever a sinner is hungry, he has but to knock and have his wants supplied.
Nay, he has done better; he has attached to this Hospital of the Cross a bath; and whenever a soul is black and filthy, it has but to go there and be washed.

The fountain is always full, always efficacious. No sinner ever went into it and found that it could not wash away his stains. Sins which were scarlet and crimson have all disappeared, and the sinner has been whiter than snow.
As if this were not enough, there is attached to this Hospital of the Cross a wardrobe, and a sinner making application simply as a sinner, may be clothed from head to foot; and if he wishes to be a soldier, he may not merely have a garment for ordinary wear, but armour which shall cover him from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
If he asks for a sword, he shall have that given to him, and a shield too. Nothing that is good for him shall be denied him. He shall have spending-money so long as he lives, and he shall have an eternal heritage of glorious treasure when he enters into the joy of his Lord.
If all these things are to be had by merely knocking at mercy’s door, O my soul, knock hard this morning, and ask large things of thy generous Lord.
Leave not the throne of grace till all thy wants have been spread before the Lord, and until by faith thou hast a comfortable prospect that they shall be all supplied.
No bashfulness need retard when Jesus invites. No unbelief should hinder when Jesus promises. No cold-heartedness should restrain when such blessings are to be obtained.

Charles Spurgeon

Life lessons from technology.

Life Lesson from technology.

If you dont charge it, your gadget goes blank, a little bit like not going to your Bible everyday, you go flat, your heart goes cold, and sin becomes allruring. So plug yourself in and stay Connected, ate least with your God.

Be carefull you do not overrate your technology, a little virus will kill it just like sin will kill you if you do not stifle it in the bud. Puritan Jown Owen put it this way " Be killing sin or it will be killing you.

Keep the end in mind. A mobile device or a computer is not you, you are not your Facebook Profile, do not lose yourself in virtual reality and forget ulitmate reality,...this was a hard one to learn....

Technology might help you build a bigger fish tank, but it really has no soul. One of the most googled words on the internet was " I am lonely" Technology will enhance your life, but there ain't no soul in it brother.

Tecnhnology could give you a job, but it will not make you industrious, more productive or make you a person of integrity, Watching youtbe at work is not being productive. It honors the Lord when we do the tasks he Has give us to do,

Googling your name can be depressing, you find so many with the same name doing so much better, under my namesakes are politicians, TV Presenters and CEO's of companies ( have a rather common name) But you know,  have to ask mysself do any of them know Jesus, has God revealed himself to them as He has done for me.  It is a great thing to be led by the Spirit of Christ, to the Heaven of God. Much better than earthly wealth or fame.

I have learened that technology has put sin virtually in the grasp of your hand, your mobile phone, or your Internet connection. When I was younger you had to leave home to go and find a place to indulge my sinful nature now you can indulge your sinful in the comfort of your own home. Sad, and so much more reason to  watch , what you allow yourself to read or look at, many a road to damnation starts with indulging "small sins" In the words of  a puritan of old " Flee sin" Sin is worse than death. Sin is worse than ilness for it can seperate you from your God forever.

Technology might be helpfull but it is not your friend, by all means dowload security software to keep you from those sites that will ruin you soul, And there are many. Just a click away.

And remember to go and enjoy God's sunshine every now and then, the computer however great as a tool for gathering imformation and networking with like minded people, does not compare with real life. A real meal with a friend is after all more pleasing than watching Jamie Oliver on the cooking Channel.

Saints in Wrong Places

The sins committed by ancient Israel were recorded "for our admonition" (1Co_10:6, 1Co_10:11) that we might not make the same mistakes. Many great men have failed God because they were found in the wrong places. In the form of a question, we introduce several of the "wrong places" where some great servants of God failed.
Are you on the slippery path of DISHONESTY, as was Abraham when he went down to Egypt (see Gen_12:10-20)? Since his wife, Sarah, was such a beautiful woman, Abraham feared that the Egyptians might kill him in order to have her. To prevent this, Abraham deceived them by telling them she was his sister. It was only a "half-truth" for Sarah was Abraham's half-sister (Gen_20:12). We have a modern name for what Abraham did: "situation ethics," the philosophy which says that one's ethics are determined by the situation in which he finds himself. According to this concept, there is no absolute standard of morality, no objective basis for conduct. Thus, one may lie, cheat, commit immorality, etc., if the situation "calls for it." However, God has always abhorred the practice of dishonesty (Deu_25:13-16), no matter who was involved. Christians are to "provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Rom_12:17).
Are you giving way to IMPURITY as did David when he walked upon the housetop (2 Sam. 11, 12)? David yielded to his lower and baser instincts when he saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing. The immorality led to further sin-murder! It all began when David was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The Christian, whose mind should be on things above (Col_3:2), would do well to avoid people, places and literature which tempt him to yield to unholy passions.
Are you sitting under the juniper tree of DISCOURAGEMENT as did Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-18)? Elijah's great victory at Mt. Carmel was followed by despondency when he learned that Jezebel was out to kill him. He sat down under a juniper tree and prayed that God would let him die. Despondency frequently comes after a mountain-top experience, doesn't it? When it happens we want to crawl under our "juniper tree" and let the rest of the world pass us by. Remember, God is still on His throne and rules the world (cf. Psa_42:5).
Are you sailing on the ship of DISOBEDIENCE as did Jonah when he fled to Tarshish (Jonah 1:1-17)? Jonah's prejudice prompted him to disobey God when he was told to preach in Nineveh. Is it possible that you are "on the way to Tarshish" when you should be "on the way to Nineveh?" Did you obey the Lord in becoming a Christian, but you have now boarded the ship of disobedience and are fleeing away from your Redeemer?
Saints in the wrong places! Maybe we can learn something from them and avoid their mistakes.