Mortification of Sin

Several weeks ago, I shared with a group of men that I desired to get at the heart of my sin, more than I desired to just "stop" sinning in any particular category. To be sure, I desire to stop sinning, but ultimately, my sin comes up and out of my own heart. It seemed that a few didn't understand me, thinking perhaps I was not serious about sin. In fact, I'm deadly serious about it, since Jesus Christ my Lord DIED because of it.

Yesterday, as I was reading in Overcoming Sin & Temptation by John Owen, I read this quote. It is puritan-ese, so re-re-reread it as necessary. It is profoundly powerful.

"A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; while the root abides in strength and vigor, the beating down of the present fruit will not hinder it from bringing forth more. This is the folly of some men; they set themselves with all earnestness and diligence against the appearing eruption of (sinful behavior), but, leaving the principle and root untouched, perhaps unsearched out, they make little or no progress in this work of mortification." [1]

[1] Overcoming Sin & Temptation, John Owen, Crossway Books, 2006, p75-76.

Desiring God - The Holiness of God

I had the privilege of going to the 2007 Desiring God Pastor's Conference last week. Here are all the sessions audio, video, and print from the conference.

First Response

On Monday morning (2-4am?), I had another difficult attack of my ulcerative colitis. It got so bad I passed out quite loudly in our one functional bathroom. My three little boys sleep at that end of the house, so they heard me go down, moaning, and then become quiet. They said later they thought I had died. Bless their hearts. My wife came running and calling to me, with no response.

The thing I wanted to relate about this isn't my pain, but the thing that happened while I was out cold. Those three boys, ages 11, 9, & 7, huddled together and prayed!

If you have little ones, or even medium or large ones, you can imagine how very touching and moving that is, to have your young children seeking the Lord immediately, without prompting, and without adult involvement.

C. J. Mahaney - Blessings

For the last month, I have had the privilege of meeting as part of a group of men at our church for Elder training. Our Pastor is taking us through a year of study and examination to explore the possibility of our becoming Elders, following the Biblical model of church polity. 1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet 5:1-4.

Not quite two weeks ago, as part of the training, we were listening to a message by C. J. Mahaney, called Watch Your Life and Doctrine. I got to hear it live at the Together for the Gospel conference last year, but it's one of those messages that needs to be listened to over and over again.

Anyway, one of the guys in our group knows someone who works at Sovereign Grace Ministries, and so as we listened to C. J., he emailed his friend and said how good it was, and how much it was ministering to us. The next day(?) he got a reply that C. J. had heard about our little group and wanted our names.

Well, he sent us all autographed copies of his books "Living the Cross Centered Life", "Humility", and a book on what every Christian Husband needs to know!!

What a blessing! And what an amazing thing, that this man could and would take the time to bless our little group of men in snowy Michigan. Having heard him preach, and listened to him interact with his friends Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, and Al Mohler at TFG, I think he really models humility and Christ-like love that is inspiring.

Thanks C. J.!