Lewis on not loving

C.S. Lewis: "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable." [as quoted in Darrin Patrick's "Church Planter", 175-176]

Kill or be killed

One of the most significant quotes ever penned, regarding the battle against sin.

"Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you."
     - John Owen, Mortification, 9

Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Colossians 3:5 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you

1 Corinthians 9:27 - But I discipline my body and keep it under control [Gk: I pummel my body and make it a slave], lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

John 15:2 - Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Sin and Temptation

This classic work by John Owen was my favorite read at the PC. I recently started working through it again.

Owen's thesis is this:

"The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin." [mortify = kill]

His key text being:

Rm. 8:13b - if by the Spirit you put to death [mortify] the deeds of the body, you will live

Chapter 1 is then a brief exposition of this text.

•  if - It is a conditional sentence ("if you ____, then ____ will happen"... "if you mortify the flesh, you will live")

• by the Spirit - If it is not done by the Spirit, then it will not be done at all.  

 "Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world." [p. 6]

• you - Though mortification is carried out by the Spirit, yet we have a responsibility to see this work carried out in ourselves.

• put to death - Mortify.  

"To kill a man, or any other living thing, is to take away the principle of all his strength, vigour, and power, so that he cannot act or exert, or put forth any proper actings of his own; so it is in this case. Indwelling sin is compared to a person, a living person, called “the old man,” with his faculties and properties, his wisdom, craft, subtlety, strength; this, says the apostle, must be killed, put to death, mortified – that is, have its power, life, vigour, and strength, to produce its effects, takes away by the Spirit." [p. 7]

• the deeds of the body - This is what we're to be killing. Body is our flesh; the seat of our corruption and depravity. -It is where our indwelling sin lies; from which our corrupted lust arise. 

• you will live - If we perform our duty, of mortifying the flesh by the power of the Spirit, then this is the end gained. If you live according to the flesh, you will die (Rm. 8:13a), yet if you put that flesh to death, you will gain life. This being the spiritual life we have in Christ. Life gained for eternity, but its essence being enjoyed now.

Gal. 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 

"The vigour, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh."

Monkey man sighted...

The Great Pumpkin(s)

A little late, but without further ado...

Jace's commute

Taken via phone camera.

Long Story Short

A small release party that New Growth Press put on for Marty Machowski (a pastor at CFC), celebrating his new book Long Story Short. New Growth was gracious enough to invite the pastoral team and to give us advance copies of the book!

Long Story Short is a family devotional designed to explain Gods plan of salvation through the Old Testament. 10 minutes devotions for five days a week. Simple and sweet.

What others are saying about Marty's book:

This is simply an outstanding book, and Christian families need it right now. I have never seen a devotional book that is so well suited to family devotions and to children, even as it is faithful in relating biblical truth. This book will help any Christian parent lead family devotions that will be memorable, faithful, and practical for Christian living. I'll admit this too parents will find that they love the stories, illustrations, and learning suggestions along with their children. Marty Machowski has written a wonderful book.
--R. Albert Mohler, Jr. President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 

Long Story Short is the best material for family devotions I've ever seen. If you re looking for something careful, creative, and Christ-centered without being corny, confusing, or condescending look no further. Pastors would be wise to buy this book by the boxful and get a copy into the hands of each family in their church.
--Justin Taylor Blogger (Between Two Worlds); managing editor of the ESV Study Bible