Oct 31 - What a Great Day in Christian History

This is a post today from Dr. John Thweatt, a friend and pastor of First Baptist Church, Pell City.

What comes to mind when you think about October 31? If the first thing that comes to your mind is Halloween…I am afraid we have not done a good job teaching you Christian History.
492 years ago today, was a day that changed the course of the church for all time. On that day Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg Chapel. His desire was to begin a debate about abuses that he saw by the Papacy and the church. He had no intention on beginning a new church or even a movement. He simply wanted to see the church “reformed” that is re-formed by God’s word and in the image of Christ.

Out of the Reformation came five “battle” cries. These expressed the basics of the Gospel for their day. They have not changed over the past 491 years . . . indeed over the past 2000 years . . . though we sometimes forget them or we let other things push them aside. The
five battle cries of the Church then are the same battle cries for the Church today:
Sola Scripture — By Scripture Alone
Solo Christo — By Christ Alone
Sola Gratia — By Grace Alone
Sola Fide — By Faith Alone
Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone belongs the Glory

I’ll close with a clip from a movie on the life of Luther and by saying along with Luther in regard to the five battle cries–”Here I stand.”

Popout

Preaching Sunday, Nov 1 in Atlanta

I am looking forward to preaching Sunday (Nov. 1) at Truth Tabernacle of Praise in Stone Mountain, GA at 10:30 a.m. (Eastern). This is the church my friend, Bobby Atkins, pastored before moving to Highland Terrance Baptist Church, Greenville, TX.

Why You Need the Old Songs too

There is no one who loves the new songs and the old, like me. I have always said that I'm not giving up on the hymns and I want me children to know the hymns. But I also like the "old songs" - some that I heard my Dad sing years ago. Now let's be truthful, not all the "old songs" are biblical. So we don't keep anything just because it's "old."

The other day I was singing one of choruses of one of them but couldn't remember the verses. I wondered if I could even find it, but the first hymnal I picked up had it. And when I begin singing it, there was an immediate "Spirit gush." Here are the words:

"There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work's in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again."

WELL GLORY!

Another message about the Poor

WOW - you saw my post about the poor on October 22. Well, today I am checking Tweeter and see Josh Harris, Pastor, Covenant Life Church, preached Sunday a message on the poor. Read his notes here. Is God telling me something? us something?

Notes from Sunday October 25, 2009

Here are the notes from the message yesterday from Daniel 5 "The Last Generation in a Society." Read here.

"I've Never Lost My Praise"

When it comes to music, there are three things that I love more than anything: a strong, anointed female voice, black gospel music (with that B3 Hammond organ) and jazz (come on, I did live in New Orleans). Well, when you put two of those things together, you get this video of "I've Never Lost My Praise." This song I first heard by my favorite choir - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. You can see a homemade video of them singing it here or you can listen to their song here.

But if you want to see a good video and equally good musically, then listen to this lady sing it from Chicago. And watch it all the way to the end when the Pastor responds.

Proverb of the Day