“The Way Up Is Down”  “There are many ‘separated from the world’ Christians who are not ‘separated from themselves’ Christians.” WE are in the last section in the chapter dealing with “Self” in our studies in Principles of Spiritual Growth.  I can recall a moment many years ago when I

WE come now to the 11th chapter in Principles of Spiritual Growth, (Complete Green Letters, Part 1) titled Self-Denial.  I’m a little hesitant to enter into this and the next chapter because I don’t completely share all of what is being said here.  There is truth here to be sure,

WE are in the 11th chapter of our little book in Principles of Spiritual Growth, titled Self-Denial.  As I said last week, I’m a little hesitant with this chapter, not completely sharing all of what is being said here, as our author is somewhat critical against different aspects of instruction

WE continue on in our our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth – Self-Denial.  As I have previously mentioned, there are some vital truths here, but we need to walk through this particular topic carefully.   Let me explain, if I can. THE author opened this chapter saying,When a believer begins

I CLOSED my comments in the previous post warning against taking a certain teaching to a place it was never intended.  One thing I learned long ago was the importance of balance, striving to ensure that all the aspects necessary for “a thing” were properly present, in place, with one

WE come now to the 12th chapter in Principles of Spiritual Growth, titled The Cross.  When I last reviewed this chapter, I made a note to the effect that I had found it interesting how much this topic was being discussed at that time from my church pulpit both by

OUR author opened his comments in our previous study regarding The Cross saying, “Studying these truths is hard work. Right? Although spiritual hunger and need are prime requisites for light and understanding, the Holy Spirit does not release the treasures of the Word quickly nor easily.”  AS we think on

WE are the 12th chapter in Principles of Spiritual Growth, titled The Cross.  We have looked at the first four paragraphs. In my precious comment, I made a lengthy observation based on our authors words: “Studying these truths is hard work. Right? Although spiritual hunger and need are prime requisites

Returning to our study of Principles of Spiritual Growth, 12th chapter titled The Cross, before I pick where we left off at – Part 2, I’d like to take another divergent path.   WHEN last here, I wrote a somewhat lengthy introduction, ending it with the question, why are these

LAST week we took a detour from our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth to look at a related piece from Mark Hamby on The Emptied Self.  I might ask you at this point to go back and reread Mark’s comments.  But if you recall, at the center of his

WE’VE been in Principles of Spiritual Growth – Chapter 12, The Cross.  This is such a vital topic I’m going to take another meditative pause and side trip to go a little further in and up in our consideration.  -Selah Question: Are you growing in Christ? THEREFORE we do not

WE’VE been in Principles of Spiritual Growth – The Cross.  This is such a vital topic I’m going to take another meditative pause and side trip to go a little further in and up in our consideration.  Selah Are you growing in Christ – Part 2 THIS blog is actually

WE took a little side trip in the last two comments, looking at two critically important WLC questions dealing with sanctification (Q’s 78 & 75) in conjunction with considering the Christian imperative for continuous growth.  This provides a good context for the closing of this chapter in Principles of Spiritual

We now open the next chapter of our book The Complete Green Letters, Part One: Principles of Spiritual Growth, Chapter 13 titled Discipleship. Usually when we turn a page to a new chapter I look back to see what we’ve previously studied.  Today I’d like to look forward instead.  AFTER

FROM my last posting: THERE is an axiom that says, that which does not expand contracts, or what does not grow dies.  We may not like to hear this, but the fact is, merely maintaining a status quo takes little effort, and in the dynamics of life and changing circumstances

WE are into the second week of looking at this chapter titled Discipleship in Principles of Spiritual Growth. All that we have reviewed so far has brought us to this point, yet it is interesting to consider that from a scriptural standpoint, discipleship is a fundamental first principle.  Given that

I ENDED my opening comments last week with the question, do you enjoy be discomfited?  The answer to that is “probably not, not really.”  But if we have learned anything in life it is that nothing comes by ease and without effort, especially the truly valuable things.  As Mattie Ross

AS promised, we are returning to our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth, taking up the next in Chapter 14, The Process of Discipleship.  As I muse on this I’m thinking we’ve been at this a long time and touched many topics and aspects of a complex matter. Solomon wrote

WE are in Chapter 14 of Principles of Spiritual Growth, The Process of Discipleship.  I ended last time commenting that I often tell my students at CCA “Gardens just don’t happen.”  It is a comment that surfaces during Character Trait training, explaining how even God after the initial days of

There is a further stripping, right down to the germ of life, right on down until there is nothing left but Christ, who is our life.    THAT is how our author ended our last consideration.  Quite frankly, to the modern mind bent towards a gospel of prosperity, that is not