From "Na" to "NEXT"

The Young Adult Ministry of Sovereign Grace Ministries has changed its name from "New Attitude" to "NEXT." Likewise they have launched a new website - and with this a monthly "Webzine" this issue figuring Dr. Sinclair Ferguson as well as articles ofor "Guys" and "Gals" as well as an article about listening to music for the glory of God. Click here for the website as well as to register for this year's conference. http://www.thisisnext.org/

What Makes Abortion Plausible? What Makes Abortion Unthinkable - Articles By Dr. Albert Mohler

In the world of the Bible, reverence for life is natural, and automatic – the only reflex, and the only instinct. As Dr. Albert Mohler writes in these 3 blog entries, respect for life is not based upon the fact that we worship life, but is instead based on the fact that we know and worship the Creator of life, the Sovereign of life. Needless to say these are outstanding articles:

What Makes Abortion Plausible? Article One

What Makes Abortion Plausible? Article Two

What Makes Abortion Plausible? Article Three

The Sanctity Of Life - Scriptures To Both Pray & Act Upon

As our nation begins a process of transition in leadership, one great concern on the hearts and minds of many Christians are the possible transitions that will take place in the issues of "abortion rights." As we seek to both pray and respond, I wanted to post here a list of passages to help and direct our hearts in both the will and the grace of God concerning the sanctity of human life. I pray this will serve to both inform your prayer life as you pray these passages, but also to help aid those who are recovering from the pains of abortion to know, find and experience the grace of God.

God is the Creator of Life
Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Job 33:4 - The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
God creates and fashions life within the womb
Job 31:15 - Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
The unborn are treated as persons in the Bible
Psalm 139:13-16 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's
womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in
the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my
unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of
them came to be.
Conception is a gift from God
Exodus 23:25-26 - Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and
water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in
your land. I will give you a full life-span.
Children are a gift from the Lord
Psalm 127:3-5 - Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like
arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose
quiver is full of them.
God forbids the taking of human life
Genesis 9:6 - Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the
image of God has God made man.
Exodus 20:13 - You shall not murder.
Exodus 21:22-25 - If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth
prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the
woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to
take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn,
wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
We are to defend and protect life
Psalm 10:17-18 - You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and
you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order that man, who is
of the earth, may terrify no more.
Psalm 41:1 - Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of
trouble.
Proverbs 31:8-9 - Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all
who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Rape, incest, and birth defects do not justify taking the life of the child
Deuteronomy 24:16 - Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put
to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
Isaiah 45:9-10 - Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd
among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, "What are you
making?" Does your work say, "He has no hands?" Woe to him who says to his father,
"What have you begotten?" or to his mother, "What have you brought to birth?"
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you
are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God forgives the sin of abortion – There is GRACE, HOPE & FORGIVENESS!
Roman 5:20-21 - The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin
increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace
might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.

Our Calling As Men

There is oftentimes much confusion as to what does it mean to be and walk as a man. We live in a day where many young men (as well as many older men) are confused as to what they are to be doing with their lives. We have a generation of young men who are stuck in what many sociologists would be called, a "delayed adolescence." I think this is directly tied to a foggy and unbiblical understand of what it means to be a man as Scripture defines this for us. In the attached link to Southern Seminary's magazine Dr. Albert Mohler take us to God's word to help focus our attention on God's purpose for our lives as men. God in His kindness as our Father has shown us what our roles are to be - may we not be confused, but instead rejoicing in our calling to walk as biblically faithful men of God. Take care & enjoy this issue! http://www.sbts.edu/pdf/tie/2005Winter.pdf

"For You" by Octavius Winslow

Folks sorry so long for a post...let this wonderful quote stir your LOVE FOR CHRIST! -Take care, Matthew

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FOR YOU! by Octavius Winslow

Is Jesus precious to your heart? Is He the object of your supreme admiration and delight? Does He have your warmest affection? Do you love Jesus? You must light your torch of affection for Christ, at the altar of Calvary. You must go there, and learn and believe what the love of Jesus is to you—the vastness of that love; the self sacrifice of that love; how that love of Christ labored and wept, bled, suffered, and died for you! Can you stand before this love; this love so precious, so great, so enduring, so self-consuming, so changeless; and know that for you was this offering—for you this cross—for you this agony—for you this scorn and insult—for you this death; and feel no sensibility, no emotion, no love to Jesus? Impossible!

Do not be cast down, then, in vain regrets that your love to Christ is so frigid, so fickle, so dubious. Go and muse upon the reality and the greatness of the Savior's love to you, and if love can inspire love, while you muse, the fire will burn, and your soul shall be all in flame with love to God!

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.