The Christian Quotation of the Day: 2007-05-06

CQOD: 05/18/07 -- Brother Lawrence: the sweetness of His presence

Christian Quotation of the Day

May 18, 2007Meditation:
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
-- Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Quotation:
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual walk with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive.
... Brother Lawrence (c.1605-1691)

Quiet time reflection:
Lord, send Your Spirit to me in my weakness.

See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
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CQOD Compilation Copyright 2007, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
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CQOD: 05/17/07 -- Edge: the ministry of the clergy

Christian Quotation of the Day

May 17, 2007

Ascension

Meditation:
Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God."
-- Acts 8:20,21 (NIV)

Quotation:
God has called the laity to be his basic ministers. He has called some to be “player-coaches” ... to equip the laity for the ministry they are to fulfill. This equipping ministry is of unique importance. One is appointed to this ministry by the Holy Spirit; therefore it must be undertaken with utmost seriousness. This is a radical departure from the traditional understanding of the roles of the laity and the clergy. The laity had the idea that they were already committed to a “full-time” vocation in the secular world, [and] thus they did not have time—at least, much time—to do God’s work. Therefore they contributed money to “free” the clergy to have the time needed to fulfill God’s ministry. This view is rank heresy. If we follow this pattern, we may continue to do God’s work until the Lord comes again and never fulfill God’s purpose as it ought to be done.
... Findley B. Edge (1916-2002), The Greening of the Church [1971]

Quiet time reflection:
Lord, purge me of vain presumptions.

See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
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CQOD Compilation Copyright 2007, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
CQOD Home Page: http://www.cqod.com/
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CQOD: 05/16/07 -- Schaeffer: relating to whom or what?

Christian Quotation of the Day

May 16, 2007

Commemoration of Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877

Meditation:
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
-- Psalm 32:8 (KJV)

Quotation:
In saying God is there, we are saying God exists, and not just talking about the word God, or the idea God. We are speaking of the proper relationship to the living God who exists. In order to understand the problems of our generation, we should be very alive to this distinction. Semantics (linguistic analysis) makes up the heart of modern philosophical study in the Anglo-Saxon world. Though the Christian cannot accept this study as a total philosophy, there is no reason why he should not be glad for the concept that words need to be defined before they can be used in communication. As Christians, we must understand that there is no word so meaningless as the word “god” until it is defined. No word has been used to reach absolutely opposite concepts as much as the word “god.” Consequently, let us not be confused. There is much “spirituality” about us today that would relate itself to the word god or to the idea god; but this is not what we are talking about. Biblical truth and spirituality is not a relationship to the word god, or to the idea god. It is a relationship to the one who is there, which is an entirely different concept.
... Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-1984), The God Who is There [1968]

Quiet time reflection:
Lord, teach me the way.

See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
http://www.cqod.com/cqoddtcb.html

CQOD Compilation Copyright 2007, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
CQOD Home Page: http://www.cqod.com/
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CQOD: 05/15/07 -- Williams: contrition

Christian Quotation of the Day

May 15, 2007

Commemoration of Charles Williams, Spiritual Writer, 1945

Meditation:
"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
-- Matthew 23:2-12 (NIV)

Quotation:
Every contrition for sin is apt to encourage a not quite charitable wish that other people should exhibit a similar contrition.
... Charles Williams (1886-1945)

Quiet time reflection:
Lord, fill me with Your Spirit; otherwise I am defeated by pride.

See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
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CQOD Compilation Copyright 2007, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
CQOD Home Page: http://www.cqod.com/
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CQOD: 05/14/07 -- Glover: the historicity of Jesus

Christian Quotation of the Day

May 14, 2007

Feast of Matthias the Apostle

Meditation:
But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
-- 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 (NIV)

Quotation:
If the ordinary canons of history, used in every other case, hold good in this case, Jesus is undoubtedly an historical person. If he is not an historical person, the only alternative is that there is no such thing as history at all—it is delirium, nothing else; and a rational being would be better employed in the collection of snuff-boxes. And if history is impossible, so is all other knowledge.
... T. R. Glover (1869-1943)

Quiet time reflection:
Lord, You have acted decisively in history.

See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
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CQOD Compilation Copyright 2007, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
CQOD Home Page: http://www.cqod.com/
Subscription info: http://www.cqod.com/cqodlist.htm
Comments and problems: email to curator@cqod.com