day no. 13,522: 181,882 days ago this very day

Happy Reformation Day!


498 years ago today Martin Luther nailed 95 theses beginning with...

1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. ~ Martin Luther

He changed the way we think about repenting which is fitting since the word repent means change your mind, agree with God NOT do penance.


Feast your eyes upon this article published today by R.C. Sproul.

Here's the closing remark:

In the final analysis, the Roman Catholic Church affirmed at Trent and continues to affirm now that the basis by which God will declare a person just or unjust is found in one’s “inherent righteousness.” If righteousness does not inhere in the person, that person at worst goes to hell and at best (if any impurities remain in his life) goes to purgatory for a time that may extend to millions of years. In bold contrast to that, the biblical and Protestant view of justification is that the sole grounds of our justification is the righteousness of Christ, which righteousness is imputed to the believer, so that the moment a person has authentic faith in Christ, all that is necessary for salvation becomes theirs by virtue of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. The fundamental issue is this: is the basis by which I am justified a righteousness that is my own? Or is it a righteousness that is, as Luther said, “an alien righteousness,” a righteousness that is extra nos, apart from us—the righteousness of another, namely, the righteousness of Christ? From the sixteenth century to the present, Rome has always taught that justification is based upon faith, on Christ, and on grace. The difference, however, is that Rome continues to deny that justification is based on Christ alone, received by faith alone, and given by grace alone. The difference between these two positions is the difference between salvation and its opposite. There is no greater issue facing a person who is alienated from a righteous God.

At the moment the Roman Catholic Church condemned the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone, she denied the gospel and ceased to be a legitimate church, regardless of all the rest of her affirmations of Christian orthodoxy. To embrace her as an authentic church while she continues to repudiate the biblical doctrine of salvation is a fatal attribution. We’re living in a time where theological conflict is considered politically incorrect, but to declare peace when there is no peace is to betray the heart and soul of the gospel.

day no. 13,520: riches to rags

James 5:1-3

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.

You will have what you treasure.

The treasure of this world will eat you alive, forever.

The treasure of Christ will keep you alive, forever.

day no. 13,519: 9 years ago today

It was 9 years ago today that I faked a birthday party for myself in order to propose to the lady I call wife.

day no. 13,518: the love of a father

This thought is far from exhausted, but I wanted to capture some of it even if its only a snapshot of thoughts in process.

I don't love a lot of people. I like most people, but I don't love many.

I think God is using my family and the growing number of children who call me, "Daddy," to increase the number of people I adore in this world both in quantity and in diversity.

Each child is so different in personality, features, voice, character, etc... and I love them all fiercely. God is growing me in capacity to love and commit myself to more by giving me an ever growing flock of littles for whom my heart leans in without exception.

Praise God for using the dreams and aspiration He placed on my heart to better me and expand my ability and willingness to love and spend myself to more.

day no. 13,517: to dads of daughters

Mark Driscoll sent this out in an email today with specific respect to his 12 year old daughter. I hope and pray and aspire to be this kind of dad to my daughters Penelope and Laurelai and any other girls that may be granted us to raise.

1. The world is a dangerous place, and a daddy is commissioned to protect his daughter from harm.
2. By providing for her practical and emotional needs, a daddy creates an environment in which his daughter can flourish.
3. A daddy provides appropriate male affection that helps safeguard a girl from seeking it elsewhere.
4. In loving her mom, a dad sets a pattern of what a healthy relationship should look like.
5. Since they are both called “father”, a daddy can help a girl understand the love of her heavenly Father.
6. In a world filled with confusion and manipulation, a daddy can help a girl understand her true identity and value. 
7. By having fun with his daughter, a daddy nurtures a relationship in which she wants to spend time with him.
8. By being a teacher to his girl, a daddy can help her navigate the practical issues of life.
9. As her first pastor, a daddy introduces his daughter to Jesus, the Bible, prayer, and church.
10. By knowing and encouraging his daughter, a daddy can help her be secure in who God made her to be. 
11. By acknowledging his own faults, flaws, and failures, a daddy helps his daughter learn how to be honest about her own struggles. 
12. In accepting his daughter as a gift from the Lord, a daddy sees her as a treasure and helps her to also see herself as a treasure. 

day no. 13,513: oh, freedom!

Those who refuse to be under authority do not find freedom, but actually inspire increased restriction being enforced against them (i.e time out, prison and eventually hell itself) while those who submit themselves under the authorities God has placed in their lives find freedom and the increased opportunity to do as they desire. 

"Love God and do as you please." ~ St. Augustine

John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

What we want in rebellion against authority, we find in submission to authority: freedom.

day no. 13,509: being right and being righteous

it is possible in pride to be right without being righteous and it is possible in Christ to be righteous without always being right.