Cutis "Voice" Allen

Rapper Curtis "Voice" Allen recently preformed at Bethlehem Baptist Church. It's awesome to see such diversity within the Body of Christ (as there should be). Click here for the video.

Mortify Sin

Mortify sin.
This is the command of God’s word that has been on my heart so heavily lately. The importance of mortification has been echoed in the lives of two close friends who feel the same conviction regarding the subject.
It all started at the Desiring God Pastor’s Conference in February. R.C. Sproul listed several books that have had a great impact on his life. One of the titles interested me. The Mortification of Sin by John Owen was highly recommended by Dr. Sproul. The bookstore at the conference had the book in stock so I picked it up after the session. I also picked up a copy of the January edition of Table Talk (Dr. Sproul’s monthly publication). The topic for that month was, unbeknownst to be, The Mortification of Sin. It’s funny to see how God uses little things to pound ideas into my little head.
This morning I listened to a lecture by Dr. John Piper on John Owen from a conference in 1994. All this to stay that God has been moving me to the important command that Owen, Sproul, Piper, and many other Christ exalting theologians consider so important. This command is found clearly Colossians 3:5-6:

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”

In an article entitled The Practice of Mortification Sinclair B. Ferguson points out that we need to

“learn to admit sin for what it really is. Call a spade a spade- call it ‘sexual immorality,’ not ‘I’m being tempted a little’; call it ‘impurity’ not ‘I’m struggling with my thought life’; call it ‘evil desire, which is idolatry,’ not ‘I think I need to order my priorities a bit better.’”

All too often we voice our sin as less violating than it actually is. How are we to mortify it if we are denial of its severity? Paul meant what he said in verse 6: On account of these the wrath of God is coming. We are new men in Christ (Col.3:9). We should seek to destroy the deceitful pleasures of our flesh! A constant killing of sin and the flesh provides an entry way for the true joy that is found in obedience to Christ! Why should we dance around the truth of our sin in order to save face and keep our pride intact? Why shouldn’t we run to the promises of Christ and put of our old self for the joys of the new? It is my hope and prayer that Christians everywhere will seek to master this concept as the move upward in the process of sanctification.

PS- Reading ANYTHING by John Owen is stinking hard!!

Seeking to Mortify,
Kevin

The Blood

Enjoying the artistic side of life, I have just decided to start a musical project. Such discussion is rare on this blog but I'm just that kind of guy... edgy (I don't know what that means).

Anyways, God has been really driving home the central truth of substitutionary atonement. The project will consist of a series of songs addressing different aspects of Christ's death on the cross. I'm not sure that it will be anything worth listening to but I can say that I look forward to spending time in deep thought, prayer, and worship during this project.

Also, I am looking forward to reading a brand new book on the subject entitled Pierced for Our Transgressions. Check it out.

Pierced for Our Transgression

More Info on the Subject...
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Read a Book

Lately, God has been showing me the importance of growing in knowledge. I have met so many people in ministry who don't read because it's a "waste of time." They think they sound holy when the say, "the only book I read is the GOOD book." I agree that the Bible is the most important book and the inherent Word of God. But there are some amazing books out there that will point readers directly to God's word. Here are a few that changed my life...

1. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
2. Desiring God by John Piper
3. Confessions of St. Augustine (Reading it right now)
4. A Legacy of Sovereign Joy by John Piper (About joy in the lives of Calvin, Luther, and Augustine)
5. The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
6. Reason to Believe by R.C. Sproul
7. I am Not but I Know I Am by Louie Giglio
8. The Unquenchable Worshipper by Matt Redman
9. The Westminster Confession of Faith
10. The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
11. Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
12. Spurgeon's Sermons


I don't read so I can look, act, or seem smart. I read because Christ has given me a very specific command to make disciples. If we are to be disciples and disciple makers we should long to excersise our minds for the glory of Christ.

For all 4 of you who are reading this, go read a book.

All For His Glory
Kevin