Simple Joys

The Thanksgiving and Christmas season are times of fellowship and togetherness with dear family and friends.  These days are filled with one meal after another, seeing those we haven’t seen since this time last year, and reminiscing about times past and those to come.

Each family has their traditional gatherings and customs.  From trimming the tree, baking cookies together, and attending church together; our family and friends continue to make more memories as each year passes.  This year, may we be continually thankful to our Heavenly Father for allowing us celebrate another Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Let us be thankful that we will be apart of making more memories together.

To encourage thought in taking pleasure in the simple joys of this time of year I would ask you to share a small joy that you will be taking pleasure in this season.  Please write a small paragraph and post it in the comment section describing what you are thankful for, or a precious memory, or just a small joy.  I look forward to the responses.

Filed under: Christmas, Family, Friendship

Scripture and Friendship

In several articles on this blog I have examined the theme of friendship; namely, the friendship and bond that men share between one another. I am in the process of expanding my writing on this theme to include the uses of friendship in the Bible. The conclusion of this project will be the development of a mini-theology on the subject of friendship.

The Bible is not silent on the subject of friendship. It is replete with examples of descriptions of true friends and the sacrifice of friendship. The Bible uses the word ‘friend’ numerous times. For example: the KJV uses the word friend 53 times, the ESV uses it 51 times, and the NASB uses the word 63 times. From beginning to end the subject of friendship is an overarching theme in the relationship between humanity and humanity with their Creator.

Friendship has been a basic, yet unnecessary, love given to us by God. Below are just a few of the numerous verses found in Scripture that speak of friendship.

Filed under: Bible, Friendship

A Few Articles, Links, and Other Thoughts

Below are a few links, articles and few other interesting things for your Tuesday enjoyment.

- Dr. Mohler has a very good article on his site entitled, “Modernity, Madness, and Morals”.

- John Piper asks a very timely question, Why Doesn’t God Fully Explain Pain

- Hear Sinclair Ferguson preach through the book of James

- Charles Spurgeon helps us to Avoid Spiritual Dry Rot

- Sean Michael Lucas quotes from, L. Gregory Jones and Kevin R. Armstrong, Resurrecting Excellence: Shaping Faithful Christian Ministry (2006), 65 on Holy Friendships – A must read quotation!

- Tony Reinke asks the question, Was Jonathan Edwards Cross-Centered?

- Don’t forget my new photography site: Dustin Benge | Photography

I leave you today with a quote from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on evangelism. The following quote was taken from the new book by Iain Murray, Lloyd-Jones: Messenger of Grace.

“There is a group of people who accept the wrath of God in theory, but they deny it in practice. ‘Oh, yes’, they say, ‘ we believe int he wrath of God, but you have to be careful. You don’t put that first.’ So, in the interstes of evangelism, in the interests of attracting people, they deliberatly do not start, as Paul does with the wrath of God [Rom. 1:18]. The tragedy is that we do not believe in the power of the Holy Ghost as the Apostle Paul did. Paul did not stop to ask, ‘Will the Romans like this doctrine?’ He knew it all depended on the Holy Ghost.”

Filed under: Albert Mohler, Books, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Evangelism, Friendship, John Piper, Links, Sinclair Ferguson

Second Appeal to Define Friendship

Calling all readers of Pastor and People! Last week I appealed to all my readers for their thoughts on friendship. I have received no thoughts. I want to post again my original questions and ask for YOUR HELP! It is not necessary that you answer every point but one thought is better than none. Surely you have friends? If you have friends then you have an idea of what friendship is. Please drop me a line with your comments on the following thoughts:

1. Define Friendship

2. Give a Biblical definition of Friendship

3. What do you consider to be the greatest thing about being a friend and having a friend?

4. Tell me of a special friendship in your own life.

5. What do you consider to be the hardest thing about being a friend and having a friend?

6. How do you and your friends resolve conflict?

7. What character traits do you look for in a friend?

These are just a few of the many thoughts I have been contemplating in the area of friendship. Please let me hear your thoughts and in the mean time visit the links below to read past articles on friendship. I look forward to your response and will be publishing many of the responses in the days to come. Let’s have a conversation!

True Male Friendship

Revisiting Friendship

When Friends Fight

Filed under: Friendship

Your Thoughts on Friendship

Calling all readers of Pastor and People!  I have been asked several times to do more writing in the area of friendship.  In thinking on the subject of friendship I have decided to have an open call for your thoughts.  I would like you to drop me a line with your comments on the following thoughts:

1.  Define Friendship 

2.  Give a Biblical definition of Friendship

3.  What do you consider to be the greatest thing about being a friend and having a friend?

4.  Tell me of a special friendship in your own life.

5.  What do you consider to be the hardest thing about being a friend and having a friend?

6.  How do you and your friends resolve conflict?

7.  What character traits do you look for in a friend?

These are just a few of the many thoughts I have been contemplating in the area of friendship.  Please let me hear your thoughts and in the mean time visit the links below to read past articles on friendship.  I look forward to your response and will be publishing many of the responses in the days to come.  Let’s have a conversation!

True Male Friendship

Revisiting Friendship

When Friends Fight

Filed under: Friendship