We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

So deeply planted are the roots of human corruption, that even after we are born again, renewed, “washed, sanctified, justified,” and made living members of Christ, these roots remain alive in the bottom of our hearts, and, like the leprosy in the walls of the house, we never get rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved. Sin, no doubt, in the believer’s heart, has no longer dominion. It is checked, controlled, mortified, and crucified by the expulsive power of the new principle of grace. The life of a believer is a life of victory, and not of failure. But the very struggles which go on within his bosom, the fight that he finds it needful to fight daily, the watchful jealousy which he is obliged to exercise over his inner man, the contest between the flesh and the spirit, the inward “groanings” which no one knows but he who has experienced them - all, all testify to the same great truth, all show the enormous power and vitality of sin. Mighty indeed must that foe be who even when crucified is still alive!

J.C. Ryle

Why is discipline necessary? 1. To maintain (as far as possible) the purity of the church (1 Cor. 3:17; Eph. 5:25-27). 2. Because Scripture requires it (Mt. 18; 1 Cor. 5; etc.). 3. In order to maintain a proper witness to the world; the church corporately, as with the elder individually, is 'to have a good reputation with those outside the church' (1 Tim. 3:7). 4. To facilitate growth and to preserve unity in the body (Eph. 4:1-16). 5. To expose unbelievers (1 John 2:19). 6. To restore the erring brother/sister to obedience and fellowship (1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Cor. 2:6,7,10; Gal. 6:1; 2 Thes. 3:14-15). 7. To deter others (1 Tim. 5:20). 8. To avert corporate discipline (Rev. 2:14-25). 9. Because sin is rarely if ever an individual issue: it almost always has corporate ramifications (2 Cor. 2:5); the whole of the body (or at least a large segment of it) is adversely affected by the misdeeds of one member. 10. Evidently Paul believed that the willingness to embrace the task of discipline was a mark of maturity in a church's corporate life (2 Cor. 2:9).

Sam Storms

We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Strawberry-kiwi Smoothie

January 29, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Dairy		Mr. food, Mrfood3	1	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1/2	c	Milk
1	pt	Fresh strawberries, washed
		and hulled
1		Kiwi, peeled
2	t	Sugar
1	qt	Vanilla ice cream

INSTRUCTIONS

In a blender, blend all the ingredients except the ice cream until the
fruit is pureed. Add the ice cream and blend until smooth and thick.
Serve immediately. NOTE: Add more or less of the sugar depending on
the sweetness of the strawberries. For a lighter version, use nonfat
frozen yogurt and skim milk.  Converted by MC_Buster.  NOTES : 4
servings  Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

A Message from our Provider:

“God will ultimately have HIS way, not yours!”

Nutrition (calculated from recipe ingredients) ---------------------------------------------- Calories: 1420 Calories From Fat: 528 Total Fat: 59g Cholesterol: 224.5mg Sodium: 458.7mg Potassium: 2673.7mg Carbohydrates: 205.4g Fiber: 22.5g Sugar: 166.2g Protein: 27.6g