Spurgeon's Death and Legacy

Today marks the 114 anniversary of the Home-Going of Charles Spurgeon. The following excerpts come from W.Y. Fullerton's biography of Spurgeon in the chapter entitled: The Triumphant End.

"IN THE LAST HOUR of the last day of January, 1892, the spirit of Spurgeon sped home from his loved Mentone. After forty years of unexampled ministry, he entered into rest. Two or three days before the end he said to his secretary, "My work is done," and after that he had nothing to do but to wait the summons. There were no raptures, no heroics, nor were there any fears or hesitations. Shortly after ten o'clock Joseph Harrald was sure he saw a company of angels hovering over the Berceau; at five minutes past eleven only the body was justify on the bed; before twelve Mrs. Spurgeon led the little group in praise and prayer. It was so quiet, yet it was so triumphant. All the bugles were blown as he departed, and the trumpeters sounded for him on the other side. It was a right enough instinct which made the mourners choose as his text, "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith." When it was quoted at the funeral people asked when he said it. He never said it, he did it all the time.

Like John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Jeremy Taylor, George Whitefield and William Tyndale, Spurgeon was fifty-seven when he died, but he was not young, for he began early and he had laboured long, and departed full of days and of grace."

"Many years ago, in one of his sermons, published at the time, he attempted to picture the scene at his own funeral, and expressed his own desire concerning it.

"In a little while," he said, "there will be a concourse of persons in the streets. Methinks I hear some one inquiring—

"'What are all these people waiting for?'
"'Do you not know? He is to be buried today.'
"'And who is that?'
"'It is Spurgeon.'
"'What! the man that preached at the Tabernacle?'
"'Yes; he is to be buried today.'

"That will happen very soon. And when you see my coffin carried to the silent grave, I should like every one of you, whether converted or not, to be constrained to say, 'He did earnestly urge us, in plain and simple language, not to put off the consideration of eternal things; he did entreat us to look to Christ. Now he is gone, our blood is not at his door if we perish.'"

Far more abundantly than he dared to hope have his wishes been fulfilled, and only in the day when all things shall be revealed, shall it be known how many have been turned to the Lord by the death of the man who was so greatly honored to lead people to the feet of Jesus during his life."

In John Ploughman's Talk there is a sentence which runs,

Let the wind blow fresh and free over my grave, and if there must be a line about me, let it be—

Here lies the body of
JOHN PLOUGHMAN,
waiting for the appearing of his
Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.2

A few days before the end, at Mentone, he said, "Remember—a plain slab, with C. H. S. upon it: nothing more." But love denied the last request; and reverence substituted the name "Charles Haddon Spurgeon" for that of John Ploughman. Then on one side of the tomb is the verse of the hymn he was accustomed to write in albums, and the verse that follows it.

E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

The End of The Spear: The Film, The Falsehoods and the Failure to Act as Christians

The Christian blogosphere has been buzzing for weeks with the story of Chad Allen, outspoken homosexual activist and his dual roles in the movie "The End of the Spear." Accusations and rumours, as if often the case, have flown with sometimes little regard to the truth. Randy Alcorn has done the church a great service by allowing us to hear from the principals in the matter, as well as offering some much needed mature council on the controversy. Please take the time to read the following before you pass judgement or make a decision on the movie.

Full transcript of Mart Green and Steve Saint's conversation with Christianity Today Movies.

Randy Alcorn's article on the controversy and the Christian's responsibility to seek and speak the truth in love.

The Good Life or the Best Life? (A Sermon)

God doesn't want what is good for you...He wants what is best for you! This message from 2 Samuel 5:1-10, looks at the early years of David's reign as king and thinks about how easy it would have been for David to remain in Hebron rather than taking Jerusalem as his capital. Are you settling for the good life when God wants to move you forward to the best life?


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Sunday Spurgeon

How many of you look around on society to know what to do; you watch the general current, and then float upon it; you study the popular breeze and shift your sails to suit it. True men do not so. You ask—Is it fashionable? If it be fashionable, it must be done. Fashion is the law of multitudes, but it is nothing more than the common consent of fools. The world has its fashions in religion as well as in dress, and many of you feel the influence of it.

Where Were You 20 Years Ago?

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Challenger accident. I was a senior at Northwestern College and remember the sense of shock and grief that enveloped the campus. We were grateful for our faith community and found consolation in the words of President Reagan. It was perhaps as defining a moment for my generation as the Kennedy assassination was for my parents. Our illusion of scientific superiority and human achievement was shattered forever.

"Dick, Mike, Judy, El, Ron, Greg and Christa - your families and your country mourn your passing. We bid you goodbye. We will never forget you. For those who knew you well and loved you, the pain will be deep and enduring. A nation, too, will long feel the loss of her seven sons and daughters, her seven good friends. We can find consolation only in faith, for we know in our hearts that you who flew so high and so proud now make your home beyond the stars, safe in God's promise of eternal life." - Ronald Reagan

Sunday to Sunday (A Sermon)

Based on Psalm 84, this message is a call to reorient our lives according to God's time and rely upon Him for the resources we need to live from Sunday to Sunday.


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Book Review: God is the Gospel by John Piper

"The world needs nothing more than to see the worth of Christ in the work and words of his God-besotted people. This will come to pass when the church awakens to the truth that the saving love of God is the gift of himself, and that God himself is the gospel."


With these words, John Piper, noted author and pastor of The Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, ends his introduction to the book: God is the Gospel - Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself. Long a fan of Piper's writing it was with great anticipation that I began this brief (less than 200 pages), yet packed appeal to the believer to rediscover the true meaning of the Gospel. I was not disappointed.

While not long in length, is deep in theological truth so it is not a book to be read quickly. I read and re-read small sections at a time to get as much from it as possible.

Piper, as always is a theological jeweler, and no more so than here as he holds up the most precious gem of all the Gospel of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Piper first shows us the brilliance of this rarest of jewels and then focuses our attention upon each facet.

Soaked in Scripture, this book confronts the self-centered heart of modern believers and points them away from what the Gospel gives to them and points them once again to the Giver. Time and time again, Piper asks us do we love God for what He gives or because of who He is?

Not that Piper diminishes the tremendous blessings that are ours in Christ, but he reminds us that these must serve to bring us to God Himself or we have missed the gospel.

In successive chapters, Piper guides us through how each of the gifts of the gospel find there fullest expression in the Glory of Christ who is the image of the Father. Particularly good was the chapter on The Gift of God Himself Over and In all His Saving And Painful Gifts,
which contains a look at death (especially the section on John Owen) and suffering in light of God's ultimate purpose in revealing Himself to us.

In summing up his work Piper says this: "The point of this book is that the Christian Gospel is not merely that Jesus died and rose again; and not merely that these events appease God's wrath, forgive sin and justify sinners; and not merely that this redemption gets us out of hell and into heaven; but that they bring us to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ as our supreme. all-satisfying and everlasting treasure. 'Christ...suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God' (1 Peter 3:18).

I highly recommend this book as an antidote to the "What has God done for me lately?" sickness that afflicts many 21st century Christians.

Note: I received this book in my role as reviewer for Mind and Media. This in no way influenced my review.

The Golden (Idol) Awards

Over at WorldMagBlog I found this:

Brokeback Mountain, the short-story-turned-movie about a romance between gay cowboys, netted four Golden Globes and a fresh round of criticism from Christian activists this week. The critically-acclaimed film earned the Golden Globe for "Best Picture" in the drama category, despite grossing only $32,810,000 at the box office since its December 9 release date. By comparison, The Chronicles of Narnia--released the same day--has earned $264,587,877. "If America isn’t watching these films," asked Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America, "why are they winning the awards?”

The Puritan Thomas Manton has the answer:

"First we practice sin,
then defend it,
then boast of it."

Remembering MLK

"And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness. And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant."

The full text of Dr. King's message: "The Drum Major Instinct" is found here.

Paul Rosenberg has a great analysis of this sermon here.

Sunday Spurgeon

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrew 12:14)

"You will not gain holiness by standing still. Nobody ever grew holy without consenting, desiring and agonizing to be holy. Sin will grow without sowing, but holiness needs cultivation. Follow it; it will not run after you.""

Christian Carnival 104 - The Random Edition

I always admire the time and effort that most hosts of the carnival take in putting together the posts for the week into creative categories. Ah yes, I admire them, but emulate them? Nah! Since the whole reason behind this blog is to allow me to randomly respond to what strikes me, I have decide to let someone (something) else decide the way this week's Carnival is listed. So I went over to Random.org and entered the chronologically received posts into the random sequencer and voila Christian Carnival 104...


#13 John over at Verum Serum reminds us in Atheocracy Watch that while the unofficial rallying cry of the irreligious left is "Beware Theocracry!" They fail to acknowledge that the opposite of thoecracy is atheocracy which is perhaps even more deadly.

#10 Micah Girl had found her theme verses for the New Year in Simple Devotion and Integrity.

#14 Are Christians hypocrites? Find out from The Doctor is In in a post entitled Fishocrites.

#24 Technogypsy says that "ID is bad theology" in The God of the Gaps

#16 Nunc Pro Lunch makes some observations about Pat Robertson's latest excursion into the Divine Mind in this Pat Robertson Update.

#25 Northernburbsblog almost is finished with a series on what Scripture says about salvation by grace in this post.

#19 An email in response to a sermon leads to this discussion On Prayer at the Secret Life of Gary.

#7 Free Money Finance answers your Questions About Tithing.

#20 Diane at Crossroads asks is Church just for Christians or are we a Mixed Church?

#5 The Story in Your Eyes adresses the issue that while some people may think Pat Robertson has a thing about heads of state, there's enough myopia to go around over at Disciple's Journal.

#22 In "On Morals and Law," Pseudo-Polymath offers some thoughts on Hannah Arendt's book Eichman in Jersusalem.

#2 John Luke at Blogcorner Preacher presents Annoying piety

#9 With tongue in cheek, PhilThreeTen offers The Answer to Your Year-End Church Financial Problems.

#3 Early Riser examines the Intellectual Honesty of religious and non-religious folks when discussing divisive issues (evolution, prayer in public schools & abortion).

#18 Sun and Shield ponders "Three Questions: maybe this is a Meme."

#23 Equuschick at The Common Room presents Damaging Fiction

#11 Kenny Pearce examines the Holman Christian Standard Bible's rendering of three New Testament passages in which more traditional translations have problems in their rendering of the Greek.

#21 Louie at The Marshian Chronicles is tired of people crying "crisis" and he isn't going to take it anymore with this post "Stopping the Crisis money-Making Machine."

#28 Reb Chaim HaQoton at Reb Chaim HaQoton presents Relations of Humankind.

#1 Elena Johnston explores the shape of committed love in an untitled vignette on The Wuggy Chronicles.

#27 John Howell lets us know that the next post in the Back to Basics Series is up at Brain Cramps for God: Loving God With All Our Strength.

#26 The Bloke in the Outer considers The Problem With Dogmatism.

#17 In It's All About Love Rev Bill sends a quote from Thomas Merton that reminds us that love is what our life in Christ is all about.

#15 If we live long enough, we will all get old. But, has the church completely forgotten the elderly, in their quest for bigger and brighter things? That's the question in this post Old Age Is Coming To All Of Us from Tidbits And Treasures.

#8 "Almost every church in America has people sitting in the pews who would gladly lay down their lives for their country, but who wouldn't in a million years give up their lives for God."? Rev-ed discusses "Separating God and Country" at Attention Span.

#6 Xyba at Once More Into the Breach presents Governor vetoes abortion-pain bill.

#12 Light Along the Journey asks: When we pray, whose attention are we trying to get? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us whose attention we don't need to get and whose attention we do.

#4 With Ariel Sharon's life hanging in the balance, there is much talk about what will be happening in the Middle East. Is there any chance peace, not war, will come out of this? Here's Vegetable Soup's two-cents' worth to add to the conversation: .. Peace with a Price.

#29 Jeremy Pierce at Parableman presents Psalms Commentaries

If there are any mistakes please let me know and we will correct them asap. Otherwise enjoy...in any random order you wish!

The Baptism of the King (An Audio Sermon)

A sermon (from Matthew 3:13-17) on the baptism of Jesus with special attention paid to the voice from heaven which proclaimed: "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."


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Please Forward to Pat Robertson...

Justin over at Between Two Worlds provides this important message.

A few years ago some Reformed scholars drafted An Open Letter to Evangelicals and Other Interested Parties: The People of God, the Land of Israel, and the Impartiality of the Gospel. It was signed by folks like R.C. Sproul, Robert Reymond, O. Palmer Robertson, Michael Horton, Richard Gaffin, Bruce Waltke, and Michael Haykin.

David Wayne, at World Magazine's Theologica sub-blog, has reprinted the letter. It seems quite timely in view of Pat Robertson's recent remarks, and the assumption by many that a traditional dispensational view of the land is correct.

This is the message that the Church needs to be getting out regarding Israel and the End Times. Much speculation and misinformation is damaging the cause of Christ. As is the verbal sewage spilling from Pat Robertson.

Sunday Spurgeon

People in deep trouble like somebody to hear them all through: even little children are comforted by telling mother all about it. We are in such a hurry with poor troubled spirits that we hasten them on to the end of the sentence, and try to make them skip the dreary details. But to them this seems unkind, for their story is sacred; and, therefore, they go slowly on with it, till we are quite tired. I have often hurried on a poor despondent creature till I have seen the uselessness of it: it is always best to let them spin on. It does them good.

A Baby Jesus Burning Party?

What is wrong with young people today?

SAYREVILLE, N.J. -- Four teens stole 27 baby Jesus statues from nativity scenes outside churches and homes and planned to burn them, police said.

"They were looking for things to do," Detective Ken Kelly said. "They told us, 'We were going to have a baby Jesus burning party."'

One suspect told detectives, "We just wanted to see their heads burning," Kelly said.

Find the full story here.

They had better pray that Jesus doesn't share their idea of fun!

A Prayer for the Sago Mine Families

Most merciful God,
the consolation of the sorrowful
and the support of the weary,
who does not willingly grieve your children,
look down in tender love and pity,
we pray, on these your servants,
whose joy is turned into mourning.
According to the multitude of your mercies,
uphold, strengthen, and comfort them,
that they may not faint under this trial,
but find strength and a refuge in you.

Almighty God,
illumine us now through your Word,
so that hearing your promises,
we may be lifted out of darkness and distress
into the light and peace of your presence,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God's Leading In The New Year

Just like Israel, we stand on the threshold of a promised land - a new year. By considering how God led them by His presence over the Jordan (Joshua 3:1-17) we see how God's presence will go before us as we enter this New Year.


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New Thought For A New Year

"You have not passed this way heretofore." Joshua 3:4.

How solemn is the reflection that with a new cycle of time commences, with each traveler to Zion, a new and untrodden path! New events in his history will transpire- new scenes in the panorama of life will unfold- new phases of character will develop- new temptations will assail- new duties will devolve- new trials will be experienced- new sorrows will be felt- new friendships will be formed- and new mercies will be bestowed. How truly may it be said of the pilgrim journeying through the wilderness to his eternal home, as he stands upon the threshold of this untried period of his existence, pondering the unknown and uncertain future, "You have not passed this way heretofore!"

Reader! if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus, you will enter upon a new stage of your journey by a renewed surrender of yourself to the Lord. You will make the cross the starting-point of a fresh setting-out in the heavenly race. Oh, commence this year with a renewed application to the "blood of sprinkling." There is vitality in that blood; and its fresh sprinkling on your conscience will be as a new impartation of spiritual life to your soul. Oh, to begin the year with a broken heart for sin, beneath the cross of Immanuel! looking through that cross to the heart of a loving, forgiving Father. Do not be anxious about the future; all that future God has provided for. "All my times are in Your hands." "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." "Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you." Let it be a year of more spiritual advance. "Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward." Forward in the path of duty- forward in the path of suffering- forward in the path of conflict- forward in the path of labor- and forward in the path to eternal rest and glory. Soon will that rest be reached, and that glory appear. This new year may be the jubilant year of your soul- the year of your release. Oh spirit-stirring, ecstatic thought- this year I may be in heaven!

(From Morning Thoughts by Octavius Winslow)

New Year's Spurgeon

"A bushelful of resolutions
is of small value;
a single grain of practice,
is worth the
whole."