affections |əˈfek sh əns|

Armour

For the past week or so, I've been journaling through the book of Ephesians while at the same time reading Powlison's "Seeing With New Eyes". Today, as I reach the end of this wonderful book, I've come to the section on the armour of God.

Today I find this especially provoking, remembering a snippet of CNN I caught last night paying tribute to the four thousand and something US soldier to die in Iraq. Armour is necessary for war, the US is at war with someone (we'll leave that story for another day) and we are at war. We as Canadians? No we as believers.

Unlike the natural man, whose armour or protective gear can still fail equaling death or serious injury, the armour spoken of in Ephesians 6:10-19 will never fail. The helmet, the sword, the shield etc are battle proof, they cannot and will not ever fail. Imagine a soldier, gearing up on the plains of Iraq, knowing that as he enters the battle he will win, we have that assurance - How? The glorious gospel, the armour of God - What a hope!

His forever...

Marty

Forty

In my head I can hear the blissful tones of Adam's bass, the cracking of Larry's hi-hat and snare and Bono bellowing the familiar words of the Psalm "I waited patiently for the Lord..."

Perhaps this is all a little out of nowhere or my senses are heightened due to the fact I've been forty now for three whole days. As I contemplate the years ahead that the Sovereign Lord will grant me, and reflect on the forty He has already graciously, mercifully, undeservingly (unsure that's a word) granted me, how would the script unfold.

Here's a few dreams, desires, hopes I would have:

1. That I would grow deeper in love with my Saviour daily. That the glorious Gospel would penetrate and ruin every area of my life - Parenting, husband, pastor, son, sibling, employee.

2. That I would grown old, play the back 9 so to speak, with my gift from God - Amy.

3. That I would see my children come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. That they would live lives radically transformed by the Gospel.

4. That my friends, family and those I interact with daily at the Starbucks counter, the driving range, the Kinkos print center, etc. would be gripped by the message of the Gospel.

5. That I would heed one of my faveourite author's great counsel... "Be killing sin or it will be killing you." Thanks John Owen

A few selfish, unredemptive "hopes"...

The Oilers would win a string of Stanley Cups, The Smiths would reform, my Sienna would last 10 more years problem free, the Keg never raises it's prices and I beat the rest of the CCC pastoral team on one of our upcoming retreats.

His forever...
Marty

Likeness

Ephesians 4:17-24: "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Consequences

Every once and a while you come across a book that is worth reading over and over again. One such book for me is Randy Alcorn’s “The Purity Principle.” Here’s a helpful thought…

“Often we say we want purity, but then we make choices that sabotage purity. Choices have consequences. If we want different consequences we must make different choices.”

His forever...
Marty

Soon

Read anything lately on Heaven?

Heard a good song on the subject recently?

I was on a bit of a dry spell with this topic until I recently came across a wonderful new song “Soon” from the upcoming Hillsong United album “Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls.” Beautiful lyrics and melody and a prompter to live with that day in view.

His forever...
Marty

Cinema

Some time ago, Justin Taylor posted an excellent series of questions by John Frame regarding the topic of Films. I am finding this list helpful as I look for films to watch personally, as a family and as a pastor when ministry is involved. The questions are worth downloading.

His forever...
Marty

Surpasses

Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

His forever...
Marty

Defective

"If there were no trinity, there could be no incarnation, no objective redemption, and therefore no salvation; for there would then be no one capable of acting as Mediator between God and man. In his fallen condition man has neither the inclination nor the ability to redeem himself. All merely human works are defective and incapable of redeeming a single soul. ... The fact of the matter is that God is the way back to Himself, and that all of the hopes of our fallen race are centred in the truth of the Trinity." Loraine Boettner

Savvy

A word I have heard hundreds of times, probably used many times, but really couldn’t define it. I often find myself doing that. Anyway, I use it here because I recently picked up a copy of Dick Staub’s latest book “The Culturally Savvy Christian.” I don’t generally buy books from the religion section of Chapter’s because it usually takes my heart to a bad place, seeing Piper next to Deepak is not good for the soul. Although I won’t endorse the book at this point (I’m only 100 pages in), I’ll probably (an escape clause) be posting a tid bit here and there as I read on. Here’s a quick quote about our friend Oprah:

“Oprah has become a post-modern priestess, an icon of church-free spirituality”

His forever…

Marty

Treadmill

“Sexual purity is clearly something that only God can bring about in your life and mine. God’s standards of not even a hint quickly brings me to the end of my own ability and effort. It reminds me that God’s standard is so much higher than the standards I place for myself that only the victory of Christ’s death and resurrection can provide the right power and the right motive needed to change me. Willpower won’t work. Only the power of the Cross can break the power of sin that keeps us on its treadmill. Despair or pride that I can change won’t work either. Only the motive of grace, trust in the undeserved favor of God, can inspire us to pursue holiness free from fear and shame.” Joshua Harris