This from Obadiah Sedgwick (1600-1658):

Joseph Stowell wrote an excellent article for the Summer edition of Heartcry! journal entitled Why Tell the Truth?

In it he asks how can we fortify ourselves against the temptation to misjudge and pass along false information about others in a spirit of beguilement that reaches false conclusions about others and even shares false assumptions about them with others.

He offers five safeguards to this sin:

• A patient spirit that suspends judgment until sufficient facts are verified (Gal. 5:22).
• A love that believes the best until facts prove otherwise (1 Cor. 13:6-7).
• A faith that prays the situation into the courts of heaven, where an all-knowing God promises to judge all men righteously (1 Pet. 1:17).
• A willingness to protect others by encouraging those who are sharing false accusations to reserve judgment until sufficient facts are gathered (1 Cor. 13:4).
• A boldness to go directly (if necessary) to those involved to clarify the facts (Matt. 18:15).

He concludes: The alternative is to become spiritual jackrabbits who jump to all the wrong conclusions, leaving in our trails broken lives and relationships that we could have protected and healed.

May we be our brother’s and sister’s keepers and no spiritual jackrabbits. This is a good word from a good man for a good church for Conciliation Anniversary Sunday.

Don’t know much about the 17th century Puritans. Here is a blog that can help.

President Obama’s much debated address to school children slated for this morning can now be accessed in its entirety on line. Read it for yourself here.

Check out Dr. Albert Mohler’s balanced assessment here.

Two more reasons among a couple of hundred! Happy anniversary to you both!

Ed Welch writes in his book Addictions: Banquet in the Grave:

The story of the Bible is entitled, “Whom Will You Worship?” The story of our lives has the same title. And ultimately the idols we worship are shaped by our own desires (p. 127).

Whom will you worship today? May it be said of all of us, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

Here is the text I am praying for the families of our fellowship by name this week – Phil. 1:9-11:

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

What passage of Scripture has God put on your heart to use as a basis of prayer for your brothers and sisters in Christ at OGC this week?

This from William Gurnall today:

Just as the Gospel lays the axe to strife and digs it up by its bitter roots, so it fills the hearts of men who embrace it with principles leading to peace and unity. Some of these tenets are self-denial, long-suffering, and gentleness. Self-denial prefers that another be honored before himself. Long-suffering prefers that which makes one not easily provoked. And if gentleness is pushed by a wrong, it holds the door open for peace to come in again.

May Gospel graces abound at OGC as we approach the 7th anniversary of Conciliation Sunday this coming Lord’s Day. Praise God for the corporate peace and unity He has granted us these last several years.

ONE OF TWO HUNDRED SOME REASONS!