"We must be holy, because our present comfort depends much upon it.  We are sadly apt to forget that there is a close connection between... sin and sorrow, holiness and happiness, sanctification and consolation.  God has so wisely ordered it, that our well-being and our well-doing are linked together.  He has mercifully provided that even in this world, it shall be in man's best interest to be holy."

Holiness
J. C. Ryle

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Depression and Joy

Image
A number of years ago I came to terms with the fact that I had depression.  My wife had advised me to see a Christian counselor for some different issues, depression being one of them (side note, I am more and more convinced that everyone needs counseling; whether that is professional, pastoral, or from a friend).   I remember when I first went and talked to my doctor about depression, he recommended that I take medication.  I felt relieved but also unsure.  Questions raced through my head like: should a Christian have depression?  should a pastor have depression?  if I'm free from sin as a believer in Jesus Christ, why do I need medicine to treat this?  To be honest I don't know If I have all the answers to those questions yet.  Depression is a hard thing to describe.  It's in your head.  It's dark.  Lonely.  I often describe it to Adrianne as being stuck inside my head.  I'm naturally introverted and a thinker so...
Read more

Michael Phelps, Jesus, and a Watch

Image
Let me say first off, that I like the Olympics, I cheered for Michael Phelps, and I own a watch.  That being said, there was a commercial that aired recently that ticked me off and showed our culture's misunderstanding of Jesus. Omega watches did a commercial, you can watch it for reference below, with a number of athletes training and competing, interspersed with pictures of Rio and watches.  At about 8 seconds into the commercial Michael Phelps stands up with his hands outstretched with a picture of the Christ the Redeemer Statue behind him.  Making a visual reference to Michael Phelps being like Jesus as the song in the background sings "you can be the hero, you can get the gold." Here are my two issues: comparison and misunderstanding.  First, let's compare Michael Phelps and Jesus a little bit.  Michael Phelps can swim really fast; Jesus can walk on water.  Michael Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals; Jesus can control a storm, heal people of disea...
Read more
Image
"Self-indulgence has slain its thousands;  let us tremble lest we perish by the hands of that Delilah.  Let us have every passion and habit under due restraint: if we are not masters of ourselves we are not fit to be leaders in the church." Lectures to My Students -Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read more