Ambrose of Milan - AD 339-397

God has concluded all in unbelief, that He may have mercy on all, 
so that the Grace would not be of him that wills, or of him that runs,
but of God that shows mercy, that you should not justify yourself,
but attribute all to God who has called you. 

Sadly today it is "Americans" that don't know what Grace is or what Grace means.

They expect mercy for every one/every where/every time, as if it were required - something due to you, but that's not Grace at all that's the opposite of Free-Unmerited favor. That would be more like expecting a fair wage for a job well done. It completely misses the point all together.
 

Grace defined from Dictionary.com

Use in Theology

a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

b. the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.

c. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

d. Also called state of grace - the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.

Clement of Rome AD 30-101

By His majestic Word He established the universe, and by His Word He can bring it to an end. "Who shall say to Him, What have You done? Or who shall resist His mighty strength?" He will do everything when He wants to and as He wants to. And not one of the things He has decreed will fail."

Wise words that modern "American Christians" no longer believe. 

Famous Reformed Baptists #1

John Bunyan (28 November 1628 – 31 August 1688) was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on August 29. Read more at WIKI - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bunyan


The Pilgrim's Progress is arguably one of the most widely known allegories ever written, and has been extensively translated. Protestant missionaries commonly translated it as the first thing after the Bible.

I have a CD dramatization of Pilgrim Progress and if you can get past the language (kind of Old English style) it really is one of the best works of Christian Theology or fiction story telling - ever written!

Feel free to ask for a copy and I'll burn it and give them away!!!!

**My lawyer notified me that giving away free copies of PP is a copyright crime (Evangelism a crime!?)
So instead I will "loan" out my copy of PP book or CD format, if you will promise to travel to the grave of our friend John Bunyan and bury a $20 there. Thanks, I'm sure John will rest better knowing that while evangelism is being stifled - at least his estate is still getting paid.

Must Read -Church Fathers #2

The Second Church Father on the Must Read list is Martin Luther
His 2 best works are "Bondage of the Will" and his Commentary on the book of Galatians.
Here are a couple links for those:

http://www.covenanter.org/Luther/Bondage/bow_toc.htm
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/galatians.i.html

 Here are a few Choice Luther Quotes to get you through the day:

"Free will is a downright lie"-Martin Luther (BOTW-p.16)

"If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly." - Martin Luther

Since free will is plainly a divine term, and can be rightly applied only to God - himself; then those who would extend/ascribe that term unto men commit "the greatest of all sacrilege". (BOTW-p.59)


"It seems a small matter to mingle the Law and Gospel, faith and works, but it creates more mischief than man’s brain can conceive. To mix Law and Gospel not only clouds the knowledge of grace, it cuts out Christ altogether."-Martin Luther (COG-ch 1 vs 7)

"No man can say that we are seeking the favor and praise of men with our doctrine. We (Protestants/Lutherans/Reformers/Christians) teach that all men are naturally depraved. We condemn man’s free will, his strength, wisdom, and righteousness. We say that we obtain grace by the free mercy of God alone for Christ’s sake. This is no preaching to please men. This sort of preaching procures for us the hatred and disfavor of the world, persecutions, excommunications, murders, and curses."- Martin Luther (COG- ch 1 vs 10)

Best Football Team - I've ever seen.

Yes I know, Americans don't like/know/understand REAL football.
But here is the link for the best team I have ever seen
http://www.chelseafc.com/
I played for years as a kid and have watched a lot of teams
but this is one of the strongest reasons why I don't watch MLS
its because no team in the MLS is this good.
Chelsea - "old blue" is a part of Barclay's Premier League in England
Many teams have 1 or 2 star players but this team almost every player
is a star player:
Drogba, Torres, Cole, Malouda, Kalou, Terry
Check them out.

Must Read -Church Fathers #1

The first Church Father on the Must read list is Augustine of Hippo and his work titled: "On the Predestination of the Saints" @428 AD

(here is a link if you want the whole thing-)http://www.covenanter.org/Predestination/augustin_predestination.htmlHere is just a sample of Chapter headings -  EVEN THE BEGINNING OF FAITH IS OF GOD'S GIFTIT IS GOD'S GRACE WHICH SPECIALLY DISTINGUISHES ONE MAN FROM ANOTHER  THAT SOME MEN ARE ELECTED IS OF GOD'S MERCY   WHY THE APOSTLE SAID THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH AND NOT BY WORKS THE EFFECT OF DIVINE GRACEWHY THE GIFT OF FAITH IS NOT GIVEN TO ALLIT IS TO BE WONDERED AT THAT MEN SHOULD RATHER TRUST TO THEIR OWN WEAKNESS THAN TO GOD'S STRENGTH  GOD'S DEALING DOES NOT DEPEND UPON ANY CONTINGENT MERITS OF MEN THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS INSTANCE OF PREDESTINATION IS CHRIST JESUS  CHRIST PREDESTINATED TO BE THE SON OF GOD THE SPECIAL CALLING OF THE ELECT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BELIEVED, BUT IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE  WE WERE ELECTED AND PREDESTINATED, NOT BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO BE HOLY, BUT IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE SO This small treatise alone would have saved me from years wasted in false teaching, under false teachersMy sincerest prayer is that it has the same effect on you. BPH - Sola Deo Gloria (Latin-To God Alone be the Glory)

Hello

This is my first Blog!

Hope you all enjoy the rantings of a crazy person.
I know I do.
What you'll get to see here is ideas and photos of my life and family.
And short tidbits from Church History (photos-stories-bios-and brief articles)
Enjoy!