I’ve been sitting on this one a while, waiting to finally have it photographed properly (by the brilliant Gabe Hopkins), and that day hath arrived. One of my favorite musicians Denison Witmer hit me up about doing his wedding invitations. He and his wife Jennie were both great to work with and I tried to incorporate elements of both of them into the design (she enjoys knitting, and he is obviously into music).

They wanted a design that could all be mailed as one piece, and since the postcards have to be 4×6 and the whole thing folded-in has to be under a certain size for postage, there was really only so many ways it could go mathematically.

I’m very pleased with the results. Click through for hi-res shots at my flickr page.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:9-10

Doing good to and for others is something we should never tire of. Forget all the usual nonsense about how works is somehow bad. We’re not talking about doing good works in order to receive some kind of blessing, reward, or even salvation. We are talking about doing good works BECAUSE we have received blessing, reward, and salvation. The great sacrifice that Jesus made for us should make us tireless in our efforts.

The AP is reporting that there has been an explosion at a school Sunday in Virginia.Police say eight workers have been injured in the explosion at a middle school in southeastern Virginia.

Newport News Police spokesman Lou Thurston says the workers suffered varying injuries in Sunday morning’s blast at Crittenden Middle School.

They were employees of T.R. Driscoll Inc. of Lumberton, N.C., a contracting company that had been doing repair work at the school for about five weeks.

The cause of the blast is being investigated. Thurston says workers were using propane to heat the tar but no cause has been determined.

Five workers were taken to nearby trauma centers, and three to emergency rooms.

Thurston says the explosion sparked a fire and caused a large wall to collapse in the school’s shop area. Monday classes were canceled.

The proposed design is to allow the natural light filtered into the Museum, creating different ambience into the Museum. The introducing of natural light into the interior was to let the art pieces to project their very natural true form. The whole experience in the Museum was to be generated only by the Light Filtration concept, in space planning and circulation. From the top with the brightest lighting to the darkest ambience at the bottom, the light filtration entitles every art piece to have a chance to be placed at different level for different lighting. With the squared concrete and etched glass panel running as the slab, every art piece can have their very own area define by the square. The skin of the building was made opaque with little opening puncture at areas that needed more light. The floor of the panel began to shift vertically to allow the permeability of light to hit on areas that needed more light despite the defined filtering of every level. From the outside, the Museum was made solemn from the others while internally; the experience was made transparent with spaces that are made open and visually connected.

Coincidence can be a form of translation. Pick up Sticks is a game where sticks are hold and let go freely onto the ground and player are to pick a stick without disturbing the remaining sticks. This purpose act of releasing the sticks creates an accidental when sticks are lying on the ground. Internal and External voids were formed through the guiding of the sticks, which are always different in every game.

These Internal and External voids gradually change its density as the whole act of eliminating sticks is taking place. From a mass composition to just a few simple lineal expressions, the density of the Internal and External void decreases and transform through a series of constant diminution effect. As the void decreases, it periphery opens up to a slowly increasing open area at the back of this longitudinal diminution body.

The rendition of external and internal void unfolding an open area always encircled around the idea of duality, where external is the opposite of internal, and the open area inversing with the external and internal void. Using the methodology of the finding from the pick up stick, adopting it to be the reading of the site.

This paradoxical finding portrays the truth of the Clementi Site, where even after the track was being abandoned, new programs like pottery and planting starts to surface around, overtaking what was supposed to be a official train track zone. The track was being targeted as it being the main actor of this contradicting act. Following the trace of the track, lead me to the old abandoned bridge linking from one coast to the other. This bridge hangs mystically above the new canal park lead me to wonder it being the old above the new, yet again this contradicted act.  Not wanting to disrupt the nature of the bridge, the idea of encasing the bridge as a museum piece, allowing it to continue to age, yet still able to experience and intercede the new elements, vandalizing, rustiness, plant and human trespassing that surface on the bridge after it being abandoned. By allowing the bridge to be a museum piece, this new museum must be self-structured, wrapping around the bridge as a museum walkway connecting the 2 coasts.

Translating the finding of the game onto the bridge, the experiencing of the museum bridge stretched from being External and Internal, and to the open space that intercede with the new elements. Looking back to the elements surfacing on the bridge, vandalizing and rusting, being inscribed on bridge is bought within the Eternal and Internal zone while the plant and human trespassing intervening to the bridge, are bought to the open space.

The whole of Internal zone along the bridge are being concealed, yet exposing at different part of the zone to manifest the look of the bridge in different specific areas. The Internal zone becomes a Painting Exhibit, where the whole interactions in the Internal zone are of visual communication. External zone were unconcealed and transparent, have more interaction with the bridge. The sense of touch comes in, as one can get very closed up with the bridge. The external zone consist of a more interactive play, Art Embodiments and Sculptures begins to fill the space, leading to the birth of Art Gallery. The intervention of Sky Garden takes place at the open space, with contribution of Café, Assembly Ground and Open Function Terrace, represent the elements of plants and human trespassing.

The Art Sky Museum has a longitude rectangular body that tapers within in relation to the External and Internal zone, which opens up to the open area, resulting in the experiencing of the bridge in 3 different layers. Guided and Interconnected spaces bring about the effect of the diminution body as a whole, where evident of the bridge diminished slowly to a point of disappearance as the open area surface at the end of the museum.

Playscape provides a taste of playfulness that allows youth to able freely demarcate their own chilling groups, bringing people into a surrealistic and playground environment, where each and every part of the installment are bound to be made experiential. Its about the beauty of the design that attracts people, and not the functionality.

Reshaping how garden is perceive by people, Motion De Garden spread people into many dimension of space and experience differently at different levels, the Top being more distance isolated, The Middle with where the human traffic is, while the Bottom being the dispersing of the people from the Middle and the gathering of performance ground at the middle. Motion De Garden comes from the experiment of the amity of Water and Stone, with water represent the idea of unbound and free form while Stone represent Raffles Place as its strong identity.

Police in Aberdeen say they are winning the fight against crime in the city centre after focusing on weekend drinkers…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: la city. The blog is also related to: pacific city.

My another placemat….

I am exited to explore in depth the doctrine of Charity, which is the pure love of Christ or the way Christ loves us.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Verses 1-3 tell me how important Charity (Love) is. If we spoke with the tongue of angels or had the gift of prophecy or understood all mysteries, if we don’t have charity then we are as nothing. We need to have charity more than all knowledge or all faith. We can give away everything we have to feed the poor or sacrifice our bodies to be burned but if we don’t live with charity then it is for nothing. If we have all kinds of great gifts bestowed upon us or do any number of great things we are “nothing without charity”. We can’t base our salvation on just one or two things we have to include Charity or it is all in vain.

What is charity? Charity in verse four is broken down in specific attributes so that we may fully understand what charity is.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Verses 8-13 further illustrate how important Charity is in our lives by comparing it to other important aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 10:46-47

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail — 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.This additional Christian Scripture passage adds to the importance of charity and teaches us more about Charity. All things must fail but Charity will never fail. This would indicate to me that we should invest much effort and prayer into obtaining the gift of charity so that it fills our sould and heart to overflowing. Verse 47 tells us that we must pray with all the energy of hear to be filled with this love.

This passage also teaches us that Charity is the pure love of Christ and when He comes again the second time if we are filled with Charity we shall be like Him. Charity is a purifying force as well.

So what exactly is Charity that it is so important? Charity is the “Pure Love Of Christ”. So when you read the word “Charity” substitute the phrase “pure love of Christ”.

Suffereth Long
The “pure love of Christ” suffereth long.

What does “Suffereth long” mean? In short “suffereth long” means patience. Consider the verse 1 Peter 3:20 In part that verse says “when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah…” We also know that mankind was extraordinarily wicked in the days of Noah. God was very patient having Noah call them to repentance before the destruction of the flood. One of the online dictionaries defines “long-suffering” as: “patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship”. There again is the word “patience”. Part of the pure love of Christ (Charity) is patience.

This means that we need to have patience. Patience toward who? We are told to have Charity like Christ does and Christ is patient towards all mankind so that implies that we should also have patience towards all mankind and especially those close to us in our own life like our spouse and children and those people we interact with on a daily basis but not to exclude all others.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord exerts all the patience He can toward us so that we may have as much time possible to repent and turn to Him.

Is Kind

“The pure love of Christ” is kind.

The one of the online dictionaries suggest that “Kind” means: Affectionate, loving. Of a sympathetic or helpful nature. Of a forbearing nature. Gentle. Arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance (a kind act). To give pleasure or relief.

A good or benevolent nature or disposition. A loving person. Having, showing or proceeding from benevolence. Considerate, helpful, humane, mild, gentle, loving or affectionate.

Forbearance means “To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.” An abstaining from the enforcement of a right. “A creditor’s giving of indulgence after the day originally fixed for payment.” This descriptions of the word “Kind” certainly sound Christ-like. This kind of kindess is what we should be striving for, even praying for.

Envieth Not

“The pure love of Christ” envieth not.

Envy means a painful or resentful awareness of something enjoyed by someone else as well as a desire to possess the same thing the other person has. So if Charity Envieth not then we should not be resentful toward others but rather we should be happy for the things others possess and share their joy. We cannot envy someone if we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts. We need to have joy in others successes and achievements. If everyone “envieth not” think of the drop in the crime rates.

Vaunteth Not Itself

“The pure love of Christ” vaunteth not itself.

“Vaunt” means to brag or to make a vain display of one self? We should not draw undue attention to ourselves. When we brag about ourselves we are setting ourselves up to appear to be better than others. God loves us all the same. He doesn’t love whatever sin or misdeed we may be involved in but He loves us all the same. We should not seek to make ourselves appear to be better than each other.

Is Not Puffed Up

“The pure love of Christ” is not puffed up.

Puffed up means to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner. We should just be ourselves or we should be the person we are trying to be as we seek for Charity in our lives. We need to be humble (teachable) and sincere. If we are locked into Charity as a way of life then we would have no insecurities and have no need to be conceited.

Doth Not Behave Itself Unseemly

“The pure love of Christ” doth not behave itself unseemly.

Unseemly means not according with established standards of good form or taste. In other words we should be vulgar or crude.

Seeketh Not Her Own

“The pure love of Christ” seeketh not her own.
To “seek not her own” means being selfish. Anyone who has Charity or seeking Charity is not selfish. We should repent for any selfish behavior and strive to not be selfish.

Is Not Easily Provoked

“The pure love of Christ” is not easily provoked.

Is not easily made mad or one who is slow to anger. Not resentful. If we considered the life of Christ he was very slow to wrath. The only time he showed wrath was when the money changers we disrespecting the Temple. Even when Christ was be unjustly tried for made up crimes he was not provoked. When He hung from the cross, rather than be mad he ask Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who were torturing Him.

Thinketh No Evil

“The pure love of Christ” thinketh no evil.

Evil is the opposite of righteousness. Charity does not think of things contrary to righteousness. Ask yourself what is evil and think the opposite. Think of virtuous thoughts. Ask yourself what would Jesus think about and think likewise.

Rejoiceth Not In Iniquity But Rejoiceth In The Truth

“The pure love of Christ” rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth.

Iniquity is both sin and behavior directly in opposition to righteousness. Charity finds happiness in the truth or rejoices in the truth. Thinketh no evil and Rejoiceth Not in iniquity go hand in hand or are companion virtues. Don’t think evil thoughts and do not rejoice in inquity. Do we watch movies or read books where we find ourselves rooting for the bad guy? Is that Charity?

Beareth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” beareth all things.

What does it mean to “Bear”? Looking up the word “bear” on several online dictionaries came to the following conclusions:

To make one’s way steadily especially against resistance. Continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

To put up with something trying or painful.

The terms Suffereth (Suffer) and Beareth (Bear) are synonyms in parts of their meanings but they also have some differences in their definitions. From what I can ascertain The phrase “Suffereth Long” is more to do with patience. The phrase “Beareth All Things” deals mainly with faithfully overcoming trials and adversity.

Believeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” believeth all things

This phrase “believeth all things” has to do with faith. Charity, the pure love of Christ wouldn’t teach to believe all things regardless. For instance. Do we believe the God created the earth or do we believe in junk science that the earth was created from a big bang?

Do we believe God created Man in His own image or than man evolved from apes? We don’t believe all things spiritual and worldly but rather “believeth all things” is to have firm religious faith. To accept the gospel as true, genuine or real. Furthermore it means to have assurance or faith in righteousness. Trust in God. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something. If that thing doesn’t have goodness of efficacy then it is evil and not to be trifled with.

Other definitions of “Believeth all things”: To have confidence in the truth,

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Hopeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” hopeth all things.

To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. For instance, to look to Christ for ones salvation. To place trust in or rely in. We need to trust in Christ that He will do what He says he will do. To look to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with confidence.

Endureth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” endureth all things. Here is what some online dictionaries defined Endure as.

To undergo a hardship without giving in. To suffer or endure a great pain. To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding. To bear without resistance or with patience.

To support adverse force or influence of any kind; suffer without yielding; suffer patiently. The life of Christ is a perfect example of enduring all things.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Are you friends with the writers of enduring works? Then you have accepted that your friends are dead and that you will never have the chance to meet them.

An installation at the Tunnel leading from CityLink to Esplanade that portray the different part of the body at different angle on to the installation mirror.

Canvas Bar operate as a boutique in the day and brings in new bar at night that could be enjoy together with the variance colors of canvases. Changing the whole lot of experience of buying a canvas box rather than the old method of altering, bringing canvas into a much higher values. Canvas, being seen as only a product in trading, has become the main feature in the entire Canvas Bar. Repackaging, rebranding into individual box, Canvas Box is ready for sales. With each sale, Canvas Boxes descend, changing the façade design every day, every moment. Canvas Bar gets people physically in touch and mentally attach.

How do we distinguish one who professes to be a good Christian? Not everyone who states that they are a Christian. Not everyone who professes to be a pastor is really a pastor. The test is how such a person lives their life according to God’s Word. A person’s life, in its entirety, has to truly reflect the life of Christ. How does this measure up to all of the existing heresies and false teachings that exist today? In the book of Timothy, the people of the church were subject to many within and outside of the church that practiced ungodly lifestyles and false teaching. Paul warned Timothy of these issues, but also told him that those who claimed to be a Christian should be measured by their behavior and not just their words. They also must submit themselves to the power of the living God and God’s Word. It is a change that will be evident to the individual and to others when you submit yourself to God.

What does a good minister or Christian look like? The Word reveals who you really are (Matthew 7:15, 12:30). The message of Christ is what empowers us. Those who dismiss it as foolishness make it evident in their lifestyle that is outside of God’s will. Their actions will clearly not match their words when they declare that they follow Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18, 4:19-20). A true follower of Christ will reflect and demonstrate His power and wisdom in his or her actions. “For the kingdom of God is not in talk but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20).”

A good minister or Christian points out truths of the faith. They are not ashamed of the gospel and freely speak of the things of God without fear of repercussions. “If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed (1 Timothy 4:6). “Brothers, if someone is caught in wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted also (Galatians 6:1).” We are to remind others what is to be Christian according to Scripture. Some people need to be nurtured through this process with reminders and the proper consistent training, for they may not know of the teaching nor do they understand the importance of how Scripture is to be applied to their lives (Hebrews 5:11-13). The mature person, on the other hand, relies upon God’s Word for consistent training and direction to live a godly life throughout the week. “But solid food is for the mature–for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).” God’s Word helps to train us and build us up, and is valuable in helping both the novice Christian and the mature believer to grow and live in the faith. In our pointing out the truths of the faith (1 Timothy 4:6), we show that we believe these things by following God’s advice. “…you then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach, ‘You must not steal’–do you steal? You who say, ‘You must not commit adultery’–do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? (Romans 2:21-22)”

We are to train ourselves to be godly (1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 9:27). “But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).” There is a benefit to this godly training (1 Timothy 4:8). It is profitable for you in this life (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3) and in the next life (1 Corinthians 3:14, 5:10). How we live our life reveals our true hope in God and that we have a Savior and a Deliverer that we rely upon to help us because we believe in Him. We can trust in Christ and in His Word (1 Timothy 4:9-10, 18). His Word is an encouragement to us when we train ourselves to live a godly life. These are the testimonies that proclaim the love of Christ to others. It is not to be kept as a secret. Your life in ministry and as a Christian should be evident to others. Paul, in 1 Timothy 4, ties all of this together for Timothy in his summation: “Command and teach these things. No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; be committed to them, so that progress may be evident to all. Be conscientious about yourself and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Timothy 4:11-16).”

An account in using contrasting method, between the soft and rigid, where the introducing of the soft PVC and Glass curves to the rigid visage of the existing concrete structure of this architectural building. Undoing the image of infrastructure builds as the softness curves is being implied. On the other hand, it still respects the current structure of the home as while as the characteristic of the client’s initial model.

I’ve received a number of questions recently from friends about the handmade papers I use and decided to add a page to my blog specifically about paper.  I’ve included notes and photos of my favorite papers there.  Please feel free to add your own observations or to post questions about both handmade and mass-produced papers.  While I’m most enthusiastic about handmade varieties of paper, I have a large collection of paper in pads and blocks too and would enjoy any discussion on these types as well.  I hope the information I’ve posted there is useful to you.  And since it seemed odd to write so much about paper and not about pastels, I added another page that focuses entirely on the pastels I use.  Both pages can be accessed using the links at the top of my blog.

Pastel on Larroque handmade paper (gray tone, 5″ x 7″ each) November 2009 .

A more expansive version of my recent compositions, this time in three small panels.  I’ve provided larger images of each of the pastels below.  Here I worked at a more restrained value range (light to dark) than the previous versions of this composition, striving for a more subtle range of neutral colors and middle values.  Depending on the lighting and how closely you look at these drawings, they very easily dissolve into a dusty fog and sometimes seem to be just barely there.    

II Peter 1:1-11

Introduction

The first chapter of II Peter divides itself into two parts: Verses 1-11 contain the exhortation of Peter to those to whom he writes; Verses 12-21 contain certain resolutions put forth by the Apostle and the foundation upon which they are based. For our time together we will examine only the first part—the exhortation of Peter to glean the important facts contained therein.

This great passage is pregnant with divine truth. As Timothy asserts, “All Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God might be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”[1] These verses are an exhortation to duty, connected to a description of the people to whom the passage is written, and a statement as to the motives behind it by which it is enforced. So, in order to understand the purpose of this passage we will take them up individually and seek to gain the author’s purpose for this epistle. In order to do that we want to ask the following questions: To whom is the epistle written? What are they called to do? How are they required to do it? And why are they required to do it?

To the first question of “who” we find the answer very readily in the early part of the text. They are the ones who have “obtained like precious faith” with the apostles; possessors of “grace and peace,” but who need to have these “increased and multiplied;” people who have been “called” by God; people who have been “elected” or chosen by God. These are the intended recipients of the original letter and by extension those intended to gain the most from this letter in our own day as well.

As to the “what” our passage answers by asserting that these people are to “make their calling and election sure;” they are to make it evident to themselves and others that they have been called and chosen. By life and lip their lives are to give proof as to their salvation. Instead of examining the fruits of others, self inspection, always looking for the signs of grace and election in their own lives and conduct should be their over arching goal.

Our passage also illuminates the “how” as well. They are commanded to “add to their faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.”  These are the marks by which others may know a person is truly a child of God. Through the outward manifestation of the above traits one is able to show forth the love of Christ.

The final question addresses the “why” these things should be true. The truth is that abundant provision had been made for them so that they can perform these commanded duties in the prescribed way. God has “given to them all things that pertain to life and godliness;” He has given them “certain great and precious promises; by which they may become partakers of a divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world.” He warns of the very bad consequences that will result from failure. They will be barren, idle, and “unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;” they will become “blind, incapable of seeing afar off,” and forget they have been “purged from their old sins;” they will be apt to fall, and though saved, will be saved with difficulty. But finally he elucidates the manifold blessings of those who do perform these duties. They will be active and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, they will be clear sighted and be able to see afar off; they will “never fall,” and an “entrance will be ministered unto them abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

So, in conclusion, what signs of the grace of God do you see in your own life that you are indeed among the elect of God? How can someone as big as God come into your life without some change? Have we allowed ourselves to become so busy inspecting the fruits of others to determine how good a Christian they are that we are not able to inspect our own fruit? What of your efforts to add to your spiritual lives? If you have no spiritual hunger for the things of God, for advancing the frontiers of grace in your own heart, then you either have never known the grace and salvation of Christ, or you have forgotten that Christ died for you and while you may be saved, you will be saved by difficulty. When traveling days are done you will go into the presence of God without one trophy to lay at his feet. Can you make a list right now of the tokens of grace in your life which speak of a real relationship—not religion, not church membership, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School—but a hunger for relationship with the Christ of Calvary? And if those tokens are there, are you working to build on them by increasing the fruits of salvation so that others will apprehend the aroma of Christ when you are around them? The citizens of Antioch first called the believers “Christians”[2] because they said—“Every time I am in your presence, my mind goes back to Christ.” Every word that came from their lips, every thought and deed, every step, the places they went, the way they treated their neighbors and fellow Christians, their lack of gossip and backbiting, all pointed to the fruits that they were the elect of God. May that be said of us as well.

(To be continued….)

[2] Acts 11:26.

Two sketches, both for radio.

‘Sex line’ is just a simple idea about a lonely, creepy man with a weird perversion sharing his twisted fantasies with some poor a telephone sex line worker.

‘The View From Here’ is a pastiche of a BBC Radio 4 highbrow discussion programme. Think Melvyn Bragg and ‘In Our Time’ or Andrew Marr with ‘Start The Week’.

I have been working on my resume recently. I have revised an older one I was using and produced several variations of it, since I am one of the most indecisive people you would know.

resume_variations

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Now playing: Massive Attack – Butterfly Caught
via FoxyTunes