Refusing Conformity

I Hereby (agree with this and) Proclaim
By Order of the President of the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863 "The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they

Giving Thanks to God
"...in everything give thanks (to God); for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess 5:18 NASB) I am thankful to God for many things; my family, my church, my friends, shelter, food, clean drinking water, freedom, and on the list should go. I want to come to the same place that the apostle Paul considered every “good” thing he had ever done or had to be “rubbish” when compared to

...Or They Perish (part 3 of 3)
(Part 1, Purpose of Parenting;            Part 2 Duty of Correction) My observations of the Duty of Parents to Children by John Bunyan~1674 John Bunyan concludes his short booklet on the Duty of Parents to Children by observing the following four sober cautions to parents, 1. [Be careful] that the misdeeds for which [you correct your] children [are not learned by you]. Many children learn that

...Or They Perish (part 2 of 3)
(part 1, November 24, 2009 from Christian Behavior, the Duty of Parents to Children by John Bunyan.). From purpose, John Bunyan moves to the duty of correction. I like that he uses the word correction, implying that this duty has a purpose. This purpose is to correct, and the work of correction is to show the child their need for a Savior. The end in sight for Bunyan here is salvation of the

...Or They Perish (part 1)
I just finished reading Christian Behavior by John Bunyan. Bunyan wrote these short chapters on Christian behavior in 1673 while in the Bradford prison. His refusal to stop preaching without a license has proved to be a great blessing to the church at large. This book seems to have originally been written as independent pamphlets then later published as a whole in 1674. I thought I would attempt