Category: Affliction / Suffering

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted – Trinity Psalter Hymnal 342

This post contains one hymn sung by Brian Cochran. It was copied and uploaded from his YouTube site. I have been experimenting with singing as part of my personal worship for the past year, off and on. I find that my heart is warmer and more prepared for reading God’s word if I have sung a few hymns beforehand. This hymn is one of my favorites because it reminds me of Jesus’ atoning work, His suffering… for me. I am moved to consider my priorities and clearly see that the things of self are still way too important…. I’m in my 70’s and need to seek God’s help to rectify this while it is possible.

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Finnish Christian MP to appear before Supreme Court over ‘hate crime’ Bible tweet

This post contains a brief article by The Christian Institute about a Finnish politican’s 5-year battle against charges of hate speech. If you’re a Christian or just a person who is sick of the woke culture and its attempts to silence those who do not comply with its demands, then you will find reason to be encouraged by the stance Dr Räsänen has taken for the Bible and free speech.

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God’s Refining Process Part 2 of 2

The 4-minute video of this post explains “How God Tests Us.” In the initial two minutes the metal refining process is explained; then that information is applied to the Christian by explaining the manner and purpose of God’s “testing” process.  Highlight points are below the video. A few relevant scriptures are used in closing, to show that God’s testing process is like that used in refining metal.

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God’s Refining Process – Part 1 of 2

This post contains the lyrics of John Newton’s hymn, I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow, to emphasize two things: 1- that his perspective is on the level of human experience; and, 2- he wrongly views God’s work in seeing it as something to be escaped (this hymn is so relevant because that is how humans typically view affliction, testing from God’s hand). Afterwards, scripture verses are used to convey God’s purposes in the work of refining. Then two versions of the song are provided, the first is a Country / pop version; the second, traditional hymnal version.

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John Newton Hymn – I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow – biblical critique by Vince Wright

This post contains a biblical critique on the John Newton hymn, I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow. The critique was copied and pasted from, The Berean Test (Vince Wright), which I discovered today as I was looking for lyrics to this hymn, set to music. I’d been listening to the hymn a lot lately and pondering its significance in light of spiritual growth, and was pleased to find a biblical critique of the hymn. Also, in this post is a link to the many contemporary songs Vince Wright has critiqued.

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Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…. Commentaries of Barnes and Calvin

This post contains comments from Albert Barnes and John Calvin on Philippians 3:10 – “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” It opens with that verse from 5 different Bible translations, as it is good to look to different translations when one is seeking understanding of a given verse; those readers who did not know that see the benefit of doing so.

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Faith Is Like a Muscle and Needs to Be Exercised – Pastor Colin Smith

I am preparing a post on backsliding that mentions ‘exercising faith’ and thought I would post this article beforehand. Pastor Colin Smith explains that it is not enough to just possess faith, as those who are born again possess. One must learn to exercise it. He explains what that means. Extremely valuable information to all Christians that may not have looked into the matter; as exercising it is necessary in the Christian fight of faith.

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