{As many of you know I helped to put out a small newsletter for several years. That was something I really enjoyed doing. I asked my Pastor {Jeff Arthur, Elizabeth Baptist Church} if he would mind if I started an online newsletter and he graciously consented. I will try to put out a short weekly article that will focus mainly on historic Christianity. My prayer is that you find these articles motivating and thought provoking-Bro. Shawn}

It’s Like a Dream

“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Psalm 126:1-3

This has been a very unusual year for me so far.

Last week I sat at my kitchen table with my father in law discussing church and the Bible. The amazing thing is he is 70 years old and a new convert! What a wonderful thing God has done. It is unbelievable. The man is in church somewhere almost every night. He told me he didn’t understand people who say they are Christians but don’t want to go to church. I told him I didn’t understand people like that too good myself! {sic}

“…We were like them that dream”

My oldest daughter, Sarah {16 years old June 20th} was baptized April 10^th and my youngest son Matthew {18} was saved April 13^th!  He was baptized at Capital City Baptist Church where he has been attending. Last night at a camp meeting at Capitol City Baptist Church he comes up from behind grabs me by the arm and we both went up to pray together! Then my whole family joined us

“…The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

“…If any persons have contributed a mite to their own salvation, it was more than we could do. If any were obedient and faithful to the first calls and impressions of his Spirit, it was not our case. If any were prepared to receive him beforehand, we know that we were in a state of alienation from him. We needed sovereign irresistible grace to save us, or we had been lost forever. If there are any who have a power of their own, we confess ourselves poorer than they are. We cannot watch, unless he watches with us; we cannot strive unless he strives with us; we cannot stand one moment unless he holds us up; And we believe we must perish after all unless his faithfulness is engaged to keep us. But this we trust he will do; not for our righteousness, but for his own name’s sake, and because having loved us with an everlasting love, he has been pleased in loving kindness to draw us to himself, and to be found of us, when we sought him not. – John Newton

The Doctrines of Election and Final Perseverance – Excerpts from a letter by John Newton