Not to all men, not to any man always does God give
complete abundance. To all men sometimes, to some men in long
stretches of their lives, come the abasement times,--times of
poverty, times of ignorance, times of friendlessness, times of
distrust and doubt; but God does not mean that these times
should be like great barren stretches and blanks in our lives
only to be travelled over for the sake of what lies beyond. To
him who, like Paul, knows how to be abased, they have their own
rich value. They do for him their own good work. To have our
desire set on nothing absolutely except character, to be glad
that God should lead us into any land where there is character
to win,--this is the only real explanation of life. He that has
it may be more than reconciled to living. He may do more than
triumph over his abasements. He may make close friendships with
them, so that he shall part from them with sorrow when he is
called to go to the right hand of God where there is no more
abasement, nothing but fulness forevermore.- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), The Light of the World, and Other Sermons, New York: E. P. Dutton, 1904, p. 175

There is only one thing for a man to do who is married to a woman who enjoys spending money, and that is enjoy earning it. - Ogden Nash, 1902 - 1971

Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers, 1879 - 1935

Jesus’ preaching about hell is part of His gracious ministry to a lost world. It is His way of showing unbelievers their need of Him. They, in turn, inevitably make one of two responses. Some display ingratitude for His warnings and reject Him. Others, however, gratefully own Him as the One who alone can rescue them. Instead of experiencing the wrath their sins deserve, they will taste the sweet victory won by His death and resurrection.- Robert A. Peterson, Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment, P&R Publishers, 1995, p.50.

What is meant by calling the writings of Moses and the
Prophets [the] "Old Testament"? Do they not set forth the
covenant of grace? The doctrine of justification by faith: does
not Paul in his Epistle to the Romans prove it from Genesis
(case of Abraham) and from the Psalms (case of David, Ps. 32)?
Where is the doctrine of substitution and the vicarious
sufferings of the messiah set forth more clearly than in
Leviticus and in the 53rd of Isaiah? The term "Old Testament"
leads people to fancy it is an antiquated book; whereas, in
many respects, it is newer than the New Testament, referring
more fully to the age of glory and blessedness on the earth
which is still before us.-Adolph Saphir (1831-1891), Christ and Israel, London: Morgan and Scott, 1911, p. 140

Christianity is a battle--not a dream.- Phillips (1811-1884), speech, April, 1869, Wendell Phillips: the agitator, William Carlos Martyn, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1890, p. 368

Sin and departure from God, are the true reasons why people are everywhere laboring and heavy-laden. Sin is the universal disease which infects the whole earth. Sin brought in thorns and thistles at the beginning, and obliged man to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Sin is the reason why the "whole creation groans and travails in pain," and the "foundations of the earth are out of course." (Rom. 8:22; Psalm 82:5.) Sin is the cause of all the burdens which now press down mankind. Most people know it not, and weary themselves in vain to explain the state of things around them. But sin is the great root and foundation of all sorrow, whatever proud man may think. How much people ought to hate sin!~ J.C. Ryle, Tract: Christ's Invitation

What are [most] rationalizations based on? One lie. The most pernicious, heinous, Satanic lie of all. They are based on the lie that God really isn’t good after all; that God is neither able nor willing to do for our souls or bodies what they so desperately need done; that therefore God can’t be trusted with our fears and doubts and hopes and hurts. Since God doesn’t care and can’t be trusted, we’ll find satisfaction somewhere else. And so often, we do.- Sam Storms, Sexual Morality, November 6, 2006,www.enjoyinggodministries.com.

It is one of the greatest dangers of the Church in a
democratic country--and one of the greatest temptations for
churches which for their support are dependent on the good will
of their congregations--to present the gospel message in a way
agreeable and inoffensive to those who are to hear it.-Emil Brunner (1889-1966), The Scandal of Christianity, London: SCM Press, 1951, reprint, John Knox Press,
1965, p. 113

All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher.- Ambrose Bierce.

Speak when you are angry, and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.- Ambrose Bierce

If God has given His Son to die for us, let us beware of doubting His kindness and love in any painful providence of our daily life. Let us never suppose that He can give us anything that is not really for our good. Let us remember the words of Paul, "He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all—how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things." (Rom. 8:32.) Let us see in every sorrow and trouble of our earthly pilgrimage, the hand of Him who gave Christ to die for our sins. That hand can never smite us except in love. He who gave us His only begotten Son, will never withhold anything from us that is really for our good. Let us lean back on this thought and be content. Let us say to ourselves in the darkest hour of trial, "This also is ordered by Him who gave Christ to die for my sins. It cannot be wrong. It is done in love. It must be well."~ J.C. RyleTract: Faith!

Trials, we must distinctly understand, are a part of the diet which all true Christians must expect. It is one of the means by which their grace is proved, and by which they find out what there is in themselves. Winter as well as summer--cold as well as heat--clouds as well as sunshine--are all necessary to bring the fruit of the Spirit to ripeness and maturity. We do not naturally like this. We would rather cross the lake with calm weather and favorable winds, with Christ always by our side, and the sun shining down on our faces. But it may not be. It is not in this way that God's children are made "partakers of His holiness." (Heb. 12:10). Abraham, and Jacob, and Moses, and David, and Job were all men of many trials. Let us be content to walk in their footsteps, and to drink of their cup. In our darkest hours we may seem to be left--but we are never really alone.~ J.C. RyleExpository Thoughts on the Gospels: John, volume 1, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1987], 338,339. {John 6:15-21}

If there were no gratified hearers of ill reports, there would be an end of the trade of spreading them.- C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Psalm 15.

Often, if there is no risk of loss or painful consequences, one will never know if one has integrity. One will never know if what motivates you is moral conviction or moral convenience until you are forced to suffer loss for standing your ground or keeping your word.- Sam Storms, Integrity, November 6, 2006,www.enjoyinggodministries.com.

Be prepared for the hostility of the gates of hell. Put on the whole armor of God. The weapons of our warfare have been tried by millions of poor sinners like ourselves, and have never been found to fail. Be patient under the bitterness of the gates of hell. It is all working together for your good. It tends to sanctify. It keeps you awake. It makes you humble. It drives you nearer to the Lord Jesus Christ. It weans you from the world. It helps to make you pray more. Above all, it makes you long for heaven, and say with heart as well as lips, "Come, Lord Jesus."~ J.C. Ryle Tract: The True Church

The greatest good and the most profitable gain come when we are up against a blank wall. Then we learn to pray in plain language.- Arthur Lynip

"Resurrection" is the word that, of all words in the Bible,

wants to tell us in the strongest and most unambiguous way: God

is not a thought, God is not a word, God is not a feeling. God

is the Great One, the True One, the Real and Living One, who

waits to meet us precisely at that point where our thoughts

about him end.- Karl Barth (1886-1968), from "He Himself" in Come Holy Spirit: Sermons, New York: Round Table Press, 1933,reprint, Mowbrays, 1978, p. 162

Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one.- Indira Gandhi, 1917 - 1984

India wants to avoid a war at all costs but it is not a one-sided affair, you cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.- Indira Gandhi, 1917 - 1984

Regarding the debate about faith and works: It's like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most important.- C. S. Lewis, 1898 - 1963

It is useless to preach the Kingdom when we do not carry

into the centre of life the control of a King. The first duty

of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master. And

the first charge of every Church is to offer, nay to mediate,

Him.- P. T. Forsyth (1848-1921), Positive Preaching and Modern Mind, New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son, 1907, p.42