my burg

Continuing my arranging of notes by Dr. John Hannah, from our recent spiritual life conference.  [See previous post.]  Now his section on "vivification", or what God gives us and what we do related to the new life being manifested in us:  8. Vivification: How do you get good thoughts into your mind? How do I determine what is right to think about since the spiritual life is so connected to mental activity? This is vivification , doing those things that promote and help us to grow. A healthy spiritual life is the result of healthy thoughts. But, how do I get healthy thoughts in a God-opposing world? “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, what ever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) a)    Right thoughts require virtuous input : This is the place of the Bible .  If you desire to think correct thoughts, you must good idea

Haven't posted here on fountain pens in a while...   Here's a flea market find that I'm putting back in my rotation for daily use.  It's a Sheaffer Balance, with gold-filled Lifetime nib, fine.  It's a standard size pen, made in a marine green marbled celluloid, which is a pleasure to look at and to write with.  Uses a lever filling system (and internal bladder, which is relatively easy to replace).   This pen was manufactured in the U.S. in 1930-31.  I got it from a flea market for $3.  In my opinion American Sheaffers had excellent nibs, smoother generally than Parkers.  Read more about the history of the Sheaffer Balance here . 

Continuing to edit notes from John Hannah's teaching on spiritual life [see previous post]... 6.    What does God do to cause us to glorify Him more? a)    God graciously redeems us from sin’s condemning power and grants us the Holy Spirit . He provides the basis for spiritual growth (John 3:6). b)    God provides His children with protective mercies and preservation. c)    God chastises us to curb our dangerous tendencies and humble us. This is often expressed in the consequences of moral failure. For the child of God, this action is always remedial in nature, never punitive (Heb.12:5-6). d)    God brings disappointments into our lives to shape us spiritually in that the design is that through them we depend on the Lord more (John 9:1-3). e)    God uses the evil actions of others upon our lives to shape us to reflect His glory (Genesis 50:20). f)    God helps us to understand that this world is but a shadow of a world yet to come . This gives us perspective of the things

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"  "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.  (Romans 11:33-36 ESV) Some notes from the Spiritual Life Conference with John D. Hannah... 1.  There is a lot of confusion in the churches concerning the practical side of walking with the Lord. Some teachers paint an idealized picture that simply is fiction, yet such teachers can lead the serious listener to guiltiness and the naive to misplaced confidence. 2.  Walking with God must begin with the recognition four things: a)  We must become students of our God and ourselves (the mental).   b)  We must come to grips with divine sovereignty and splendor (the ever-first priority).   c)  We must realize the fact t

More information here . 

I enjoyed this word from C. H. Spurgeon, from Faith's Checkbook : "And I, if l be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me"   (John 12:32) Come, ye workers, be encouraged. You fear that you cannot draw a congregation. Try the preaching of a crucified, risen, and ascended Savior; for this is the greatest "draw" that was ever yet manifested among men. What drew you to Christ but Christ? What draws you to Him now but His own blessed self? If you have been drawn to religion by anything else, you will soon be drawn away from it; but Jesus has held you and will hold you even to the end. Why, then, doubt His power to draw other? Go with the name of Jesus to those who have hitherto been stubborn and see if it does not draw them. No sort of man is beyond this drawing power. Old and young, rich and poor, ignorant and leaned, depraved or amiable--all men shall feel the attractive force. Jesus is the one magnet. Let us not think of any other. Music will not dra