Attributes of God Project.

Do you know God? Do you really know Him? Can you list for me all of His attributes as they are laid out in scripture? I mean...He is God, right? The most important being ever. The one worthy of our everything.

Sadly, most of us (myself included) don't know God like we should. We confess Him, and say we put Him first, but in reality a lot of us couldn't even go through our bibles and show another who God really is. I believe a lot of us have manufactured a 'god' to our own liking by cutting and pasting verses and random philosophies together until we are comfortable with the result. But in reality, the scriptures paint a very different picture of God than most churches preach every Sunday. Some of the things the bible says about God are downright uncomfortable, but they are all true and, ultimately glorious and should bring us to our knees in worship. We are all without excuse for not esteeming God like we should.

Over the next 17 weeks (yup, 4 months) I am going to be posting chapters from A.W. Pink's 'The Attributes of God'. This small work from Pink profoundly affected me last year and my view of God. My hopes for doing this is that you will take time out from your busy schedule and study God with me. We all need this - it's foundational. It should be written on our hearts.

But I don't want you to just read and mediate on the chapter - I want you to worship. And I want you to share your worship with me and everyone else in the form of photographs (or illustrations). After I post each chapter, and you've meditated on it for a while - go out and take some photos that remind you of the specific attribute during that week. Upload them to flickr or photobucket, or just email them to me and I'll post everyone's work the following Monday, right before I put the next chapter up. Don't worry about the quality, or being compared to other people's art - this is for God, who accepts the smallest of our meager sacrifices as beautiful. You could also include some commentary with the image if you'd like, about why it reminds you of the specific attribute, or what God taught you through the chapter. At the end of the project I will select five random submitters to receive copies of Pink's book.

Sound good? It does to me! Let us learn about our creator and worship him together! I'll put the first chapter up on Monday.

A correct vision of God will transform every aspect of your life. We desperately need this.

~Graeme

Consider Helping Josh's Mom.

Josh is the author of the very edifying blog, Truth Matters, and is a member of the notable Reformata blog ring whose network includes Symphony of Scripture, Christian Research Network, Slice of Laodicea, Reformed Voices, and Lane Chaplin, amongst others. Josh seems to be a faithful brother and member of the online Christian community.

For three years his mother, Carol, has been battling cancer, both prayerfully and medically, and has come to the end of their financial rope. Insurance refuses to offer further assistance. I encourage you to pray for them, and to consider lending to the Lord, by giving to them. If you do not have the monetary means yourself, perhaps your prayers will be God's means for providing?

I am not affiliated with Josh or his mother, but have appreciated the evidences of faith and good works demonstrated on his site. If you would like to learn more or make a contribution, visit this page.

This is the testimony of another brother who knows Josh and his family,

"Your mom and dad helped me many years ago by paying my rent and buying me groceries at a time me and my family were struggling. They also gave my family a set of Bible commentaries. This was back in the 80's.

I contacted your dad and asked him to level with me because he was reluctant to talk about his finances. He told me that there has been some wonderful brothers and sisters who have given due to your posting about this situation and that the Lord will provide. After pressing him about this he finally told me that he has spent his entire retirement monies on medical bills and was concerned that you not only sold your "dream" car but you are also working two jobs to help them. He said he does not want to over burden you and your family. It saddens my heart that he has also mortgaged his house to pay for past surgeries and all that goes with chemo infusions and all the medications Carol is now taking.

I finally asked him how he and his wife handle something like this and not be angry with God. He did not like this question to say the least. He looked me straight in the eyes and said that even if God does not heal Carol from this cancer that God is good and He is precious.

Josh, I said all this because your visitor's on your blog would never here all this from you and I know your dad would never say this in a public way. He made it very clear to me that the Lord doesn't need any help and He will do whats best no matter what the outcome! He also re-emphasized that there have been some wonderful people who visit your blog who have sacrificially given and he said this with tears in his eyes."

And what does the Apostle Paul say to those who have means?

2 Cor 8:13-15, "I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, 'Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.'"

Coldplay - Life In Technicolor ii

This made me laugh so hard I cried. Even in a place where nobody knows
them or cares that much about who they are, and are more confused than impressed, Coldplay is still Coldplay...The Largest Band on Earth!
Hope it makes you smile.

January.1.2

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And Miles to go before I sleep."

Verses on my Heart Tonight.

May they bring blessings and repentance.


Matthew 25:26,29-30

But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ...For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'



1st Timothy 4: 13-16

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.



Matthew 5:29

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.



2nd Corinthians 8:13-15

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."



Luke 12: 13-21

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him,'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."



Matthew 16:21-35

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."



1 John 3:4-10

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

January.1.1

"There are children of God who need this text, ‘Behold, I make all things new,’ whose sigh is that they so soon grow dull and weary in the ways of God, and therefore they need daily renewing. After a few months a vigorous young Christian will begin to cool down; and those who have been long in the ways of God find that final perseverance must be a miracle if ever it is to be accomplished, for naturally they tire and faint.

Well, now, dear friends, why do you and I ever get stale and flat? Why, it is because we get away from him who says, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ The straight way to a perpetual newness and freshness of holy youth is to go to Christ again, just as we did at the first. A better thing still is never to leave him, but to stand for ever at the cross-foot delighting yourself in his all-sufficient sacrifice.

They that are full of the joy of the Lord never find life grow weary. Getting near to Christ, you will partake in his joy, and that joy shall be your strength, your freshness, the newness of your life. God grant us to drink of the eternal founts, that we may for ever overflow.”

- Charles Spurgeon, “Sermon for New Year’s Day”

You Must Suffer. I Must Suffer.

2009 'To Read' List.

Why not? Everyone else has their year mapped out already...



The plan this year is to read less books and spend more of my time in the Scriptures, Prayer, and diligently studying my Greek. Although primarily theological, I put my extra-biblical reading above all three of those (more important) items this year, and I don't want to fall into that trap again this year. Feel free to keep me accountable on that goal. Seriously. Luckily 2009 looks to be a much leaner year, fiscally, so new books won't be coming in at such a speed as they have been.

So here's my restrained list for 2009. The plan is, if another book comes along that I want to read, I have to swap it out with one of the below to stay on track. Ya'll are allowed to give me one suggestion for the coming year, as well. I've left space. Thanks!

2009:

:: Berry, Wendall - Memory of Old Jack
:: Bridges, Jerry - Stand: A Call For the Perseverance of the saints
:: Carpenter, Humphrey - Tolkien
:: Cash, Johnny - Cash
:: Chesterton, G.K. - The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond [COMPLETED]
:: Chesterton, G.K. - The Complete Father Brown
:: Dickens, Charles - David Copperfield
:: Dostoevsky, Fydor - Notes From the Underground
:: Dostoevsky, Fydor - The Possessed
:: Harris, Josh - Stop Dating the Church
:: Hemingway, Ernest - The Sun Also Rises
:: Johnson, Gary - Reforming or Conforming?
:: Kidner, Derek - Proverbs
:: Kierkegaard, Soren - Edifying Discourses
:: Lewis, C. S. - The Great Divorce
:: Lloyd-Jones, Martyn - Growing in the Spirit [COMPLETED]
:: Luther, Martin - Table Talk
:: Luther, Martin - Bondage of the Will
:: Luther, Martin - Sermons Vol. 1
:: MacArthur, John - Faith Works: The Gospel According to the Apostles
:: McCullough, David - John Adams
:: McLaren, Brian - A New Kind of Christian
:: Miller, Calvin - Into the Depths of God
:: Nee, Watchman - Spiritual Authority
:: O'Conner, Flannery - Everything That Rises Must Converge
:: Owen, John - Communion With God
:: Packer, J.I - Knowing God
:: Pasternak, Boris - Doctor Zhivago
:: Pink, A. W. - Eternal Security
:: Piper, John - Let the Nations Be Glad!
:: Piper, John - Brothers, We Are Not Professionals
:: Schaeffer, Francis - The Great Evangelical Disaster
:: Sproul, R.C. - The Holiness of God
:: Spurgeon, C.H. - Autobiography (2 Volumes)
:: Spurgeon, C.H. - John Ploughman's Talk
:: Spurgeon, C.H. - Sermons Vol. 1
:: Stott, John - The Cross of Christ
:: Stott, John - Basic Christianity
:: Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Two Towers
:: Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Return of the King
:: Tolstoy, Leo - Six Short Masterpieces
:: Tozer, A. W. - Man, The Dwelling Place of God
:: Turner, Jack - Spice: A History of a Temptation
:: Vonnegut, Kurt - Player Piano
:: Watson, Thomas - A Body of Divinity
:: Wodehouse, P.G. - The Return of Jeeves
:: Yancey, Phillip - What's So Amazing About Grace?