tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97580572011-09-01T12:29:50.876-03:00"We live by the Grace of God, before the face of God, for the Glory of God."Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1162913588960959982006-11-07T11:31:00.000-04:002006-11-07T11:33:08.976-04:00

Sarah Dawn Slotegraaf and I are engaged!

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1155520299790025972006-08-13T22:40:00.000-03:002006-08-14T17:43:22.323-03:00

"...Bonhoeffer was transferred from one prison to another, the Gestapo prisons in Berlin, Buchenwald, Schonberg, and finally Flossenburh, and all contacts with the outside world we severed. His last weeks were spent with men and women of many nationalities, Russians, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Italians, and German. One of these, an English officer wrote:"Bonhoeffer always seemed to me to spread an

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1149371964131063982006-06-03T18:52:00.000-03:002006-06-03T19:00:32.926-03:00

I have been so richly blessed as to be able to afford to purchase this great little car: It is a 98 Honda Accord, 4dr, 5sp, ac, cruise, cd player.Finally, after all those years of bumming rides and being a burden, I can give rides and lend it to drivers- who have passed a stringent testing system- including written and road tests-, who have paid the rental fee of upwards of $50 per use, and who

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1149177482692175682006-06-01T12:56:00.000-03:002006-06-01T12:58:02.733-03:00

O Lord, I do not know what to ask of You. You alone know what are my true needs.You love me more than I myself know how to love. Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me. I do not dare to ask either for a cross or for consolation. I can only wait on You. My heart is open to You.Visit and help me, for the sake of Your great mercy. Strike me and heal me; cast me down and raise me up

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1148227480580179422006-05-21T13:03:00.000-03:002006-05-21T13:05:08.226-03:00

James 3: 13-18"13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1148227278442151702006-05-21T12:49:00.000-03:002006-05-21T13:01:18.456-03:00

Guilty and in Need of Repentance'The church confesses that it has not proclaimed often and clearly enough its message of the one God who has revealed himself for all times in Jesus Christ and who suffers no other gods beside himself. It confesses its timidity, its evasiveness, its dangerous concessions. It has often been untrue to its office of guardianship and to its office of comfort. And

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1147040516032789182006-05-07T19:12:00.000-03:002006-05-07T19:21:56.033-03:00

Cheap grace means grace as bargain basement goods, cut-rate forgiveness, cut-rate comfort, cut-rate sacrament; grace as the church's inexhaustible pantry, from which it is poured out without hesitation or limit. It is grace without price, without costs....Cheap grace means grace as doctrine, as principle, as system. It means forgiveness of sins as a general truth; it means God's love as merely a

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1146508746522547972006-05-01T15:35:00.000-03:002006-05-02T20:25:02.090-03:00

Let there be feasting and rejoicing, for another 'lost' person has been found and has joined the blogging community- the amazing woman of God, who just so happens to be my girlfriend- Sarah Slotegraaf. Her link is on the side, check her out, she'll likely blog alot more than I will this summer, plus she's a very insightful and gifted writer.

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1145660993563858502006-04-21T19:51:00.000-03:002006-04-21T21:28:06.046-03:00

I fear that the analogy of the 'the straight and narrow' path which we, as Christians, are called to traverse, has been all too often misconstrued. I fear that we have deeply erred in our supposition that the path is so narrow as to force a 'single-file faith,' or a journey of the self. If we suppose that we walk alone, we will lose sight of the deeply essential 'communality' of our faith, for

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1145659898889964692006-04-21T19:50:00.000-03:002006-04-21T19:51:38.903-03:00

"We live by the Grace of God, For the Glory of God."

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1127335265386175532005-09-21T17:25:00.001-03:002005-09-21T17:41:05.393-03:00

Hello,well, sadly due to an intensive workload, simultaneously combined with R.A.ing, facilitating Pre-Sem group, being an Academic Senate member, on a comittee or two, I will not be doing much blogging. So, please lower you expectations of this blog site, in regards to a lot of new material this fall. I hope you guys still love me.peace.

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1124636603186320682005-08-21T11:28:00.000-03:002005-08-21T12:03:23.193-03:00

"Reading ought to be an act of hommage to the God of all truth. We open our hearts to the words that reflect the reality He has created or the great Reality which he is. It is also an act of humilty and reverence towards other men who are the instruments by which God communicated His truth to us. Reading gives God more glory when we get more out of it, when it is a more deeply vital act not

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1124400970761894222005-08-18T18:19:00.000-03:002005-08-18T18:36:10.766-03:00

"But more than that, I am at this very moment contemplating a new festoon. Tell me if you think it is a vain sublety. I am beginning to feel that we need a preliminary act of submission not only towards future afflictions but also towards future blessings. I know it sounds fantastic; but think it over. It seems to me that we often, almost sulkily, reject the good that God offers us because,

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1122756956496589372005-07-30T17:33:00.000-03:002005-07-30T17:55:56.503-03:00

Thy will be done. My festoons on this have been added gradually. At first I took it exclusively as an act of submission, attempting to do what our Lord did in Gethesemane. I thought of God's will purely as something that would come upon me, something of which I should be the patient. And I also thought of it as a will which would be embodied in pains and disappointments. Not, to be sure,

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1122069415821305922005-07-22T18:27:00.000-03:002005-07-22T18:56:55.826-03:00

Well, just incase any of you have not heard from me in a while, and are a bit curious of what I have been up to, let me give you a succint update.I am currently in one of the rooms at New City Christian Reformed Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. It is an innner city church and can therefore be categorized under the broad ministerial sector, urban ministry. My connection with this church and

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1119915138510465322005-06-27T20:23:00.000-03:002005-06-27T20:32:18.513-03:00

"I have read Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and beautiful; but I never read in either of them: "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give thee rest." - St. AugustineWhy is the Atheist's main target always Jesus of Nazareth, and never Buddha, Confucius, or Mohammed? Why is the aspiring athlete's target always the true champion and never the also-rans? -

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1118001605946340072005-06-05T16:52:00.000-03:002005-06-05T17:14:13.020-03:00

In my ever-increasing love of books,( I'll get to the reading later) I am always interested in knowing what are must-reads. I would like to get some feed back from whoever reads this post, on two books that they have really been great sources of delightful enjoyment, insightful information, considerably conviction, life-changing elucidation, etc... I would like for you to share with me and

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1117992918447029442005-06-05T14:34:00.000-03:002005-06-05T16:52:32.996-03:00

Well, it is I... here, 'celebrating' a month gone by with not one blog posted during the duration of may 5- june 5th. I do apologize to any and all who have come to the site with hope of seeing a new post or any update of any sort, but have clicked away feeling a bit disappointed. I have more or less, just lacked the impelling impetus to blog. Maybe because, I have invested my time and

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1115423779260922722005-05-06T20:31:00.000-03:002005-05-06T20:56:19.293-03:00

Here are the rules: I pick 5 occupations out of the list below and post my answers. Then I tag 3 other people to post their answers on their blog.The list: If I could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1115399565266286052005-05-06T14:02:00.000-03:002005-05-06T14:12:45.316-03:00

In his book, 'Lifesigns' Henri Nouwen writes,""My own experience is limited to universities. One of the saddest aspects of the lives of many students is that they always feel pressured. The irony is that those who have the luxury of spending time reading the great books of our culture and exploring the intricate beauty of creation find themselves always fighting deadlines. Students complain

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1114828927611471692005-04-29T22:21:00.000-03:002005-04-30T00:58:29.886-03:00

In this blog, I am purporting to provide an exegesis of Philippians 1:9-11. Although I am sure it will fall short of many academic standards and may even leave the reader yearning for a more complete analysis and interpretation, nonetheless, after a bit of musing and contemplation, I have decided to try my hand on these verses. The verses read as such, "And this is my prayer: that your love may

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1112236172202312992005-03-30T21:29:00.000-04:002005-03-30T22:29:32.203-04:00

Tonight, I read an excellent article-"Don't All Religions Lead to God?" written by Amy Orr-Ewing. The whole article was interesting and insightful, yet I would like to highlight only one section of it.In our current cultural milieu, a large number of people have developed an aversion to Christianity and its claims. This can come as a result of various reasons, factors, experiences, etc... but

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1110267030247509442005-03-07T20:34:00.000-04:002005-03-08T03:30:30.250-04:00

Scholars For Christ- As I have been giving this phrase increasingly more and more thought lately, it has become that much more evident to me that this should be annexed to our our current scholastic appellation as students. Let my try to explicate this topic a bit.At R.U.C. as well as in academia worldwide, we, as students engage in scholarly work/activity in all its various shapes and forms.

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1110140426721103242005-03-06T15:59:00.000-04:002005-03-06T16:23:05.250-04:00

"The conception of man as entertained by modern thought in general cannot be assumed to be the same as that set forth in Scripture. It is therefore imperative that the Christian apologist be alert to the fact that the average person to whom he must present the Christian religion for acceptance is a quite different sort of being than he himself thinks he is. A good doctor will not prescribe

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1109571505927776442005-02-28T01:33:00.000-04:002005-02-28T02:18:25.930-04:00

I, along with many other Redeemer students, and folk from the broader community, were fortunate enough to take part in the Church, Worldview, and Worship conference this Saturday, with speakers such as David Naugle, Mike Goheen and Al Wolters. (For the lengthier synopsis see http://dumbsheep.blogspot.com). Listening to their speeches or presentations or whatever was more than worth it in and of

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1109184137295176052005-02-23T13:37:00.000-04:002005-02-23T14:42:17.296-04:00

Let me jump right into this. I know that for myself at least, that I have become far too desensitized to the Gospel, and that desensitization has had inimical outworkings. I have been brought up in the church, namely the CRC church, and have been so gracely blessed in this nuturing. I have been gone through catechism, although at a time when I could fully appreciate it, and have heard

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1107726520557591232005-02-06T14:45:00.000-04:002005-02-06T17:48:40.556-04:00

Hello, any and all people who have come to this blog site. I must first apologize for my laziness in blogging and also, in leaving comments on anyone else's sites. I will strive to be more active in blogging and also in participating in other people's sites too. But on to today's blog. I would like to share with you one of many challenges that I have received through the Theology of Mission

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1106538024021182792005-01-23T23:05:00.000-04:002005-01-23T23:40:24.020-04:00

Good evening folks! It indeed has been a while since my last blog, but now I am back. I am here to share something that I have, more or less, been shown. Something within my life, something that I hope will help you as much as it has helped me. I would like to bring forth an issue, especially dominant in my life, which was touched upon in one of my previous blogs - "Pride and I" - namely,

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1105673668012599962005-01-13T22:06:00.000-04:002005-01-14T03:06:00.036-04:00

Just coasting- the phrase brings to mind many images, but the one that I would appeal to would be that of cottage setting. As we are gazing out from our veranda we see a small boat, perhaps a canoe, coasting along in the lake. The canoe is moving, but at a slow, relaxed pace; no effort is being exerted by the people in the boat. They are instead riding the current. The speed of the current is

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1105332885848033782005-01-10T01:37:00.000-04:002005-01-10T00:54:45.850-04:00

Folks, I've been trying, I swear, I have. I've started to type many a blog, with a pretty good idea or insight in mind, but then as soon as I start to type- poof! It disappears. Very frustrating and also kinda confusing to me! The idea is in there in my mind, but when I try to lay it out it leaves. I do not understand it, but what can I do. I will definitely continue to give it my all and

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1105039085786528812005-01-06T15:09:00.000-04:002005-01-06T15:18:05.786-04:00

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1104687235397914652005-01-02T13:56:00.000-04:002005-01-08T16:26:29.796-04:00

This beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon blog is brought to you by the letter "i." I, know that I, along with almost all other males and some females, struggle with the issue of pride. Pride has always been a problem for me and I can say that it will probably always be. I believe that it probably began to surface in early childhood and has continued in its growth since then. Nature and

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1104454221815111112004-12-30T19:20:00.000-04:002004-12-30T20:50:21.816-04:00

Today, I want to share something that has been in my mind and on my heart. Two parts of the topic that I have been thinking about and dealing with, will be laid out in this blog. One side is Christian joy and I- the other being an analogy that came to mind on the flight home this Christmas. First is joy. The verse that comes to find mind first and lays it out directly says, "Be joyful

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1104181543702894252004-12-27T17:01:00.000-04:002004-12-27T17:05:43.703-04:00

I just want to share something that I have found quite useful. I would encourage any Christian to check out a certain website: Sacredspace.ie I was shown this site by a friend, and I have really enjoyed it. It is a prayer site. It is meant to be a place where someone can come to by means of computer. In essense, it guides our meditations and prayers. It provides structure to our prayers.

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1104123139502418562004-12-26T23:53:00.000-04:002004-12-27T16:59:20.473-04:00

"Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, if you lead me, I will hold your people in my heart." This is a song most of us know. I think it of course means many different things to many different people; I would say that it speaks to each one of us in a unique way. But also on the note, I would also venture to say that it has a general message or

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1103905767290215262004-12-24T13:21:00.000-04:002004-12-27T16:58:56.360-04:00

Before I jump into this blog I want to first lay the foreground. I must first say that I am a member of the CRC church, and I love it. I have nothing at all against the CRC denomination. In fact, I love the CRC and what it stands for. I love Reformational theology, and I believe that it is scripturally sound and is severly practical. Secondly, I have nothing against Dutch people. In fact

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1103855717985279602004-12-23T22:18:00.000-04:002004-12-27T16:58:39.730-04:00

It has become more and more apparent to me of how we set the context for our conversations. I know you probably already know this, but the the extent to which we do, I have seen more lately and been more conscious about. Take me for instance. I often find myself in conversations that I wish sometimes could be more meaningful. Quite often the conversation is just surfacy and we only talk

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1103831769758909512004-12-23T15:31:00.000-04:002004-12-27T16:58:12.440-04:00

As of late, I have been thinking about a bunch of things. THe problem of good is one of them. Often, we hear of the problem of evil. This has been viewed as an objection to the existance of God- or atleast a loving one. Evil in its 'anti-normative' nature does not make sense. It is not at all normative nor does it fit into God's good world. It also raises questions alot of questions-

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9758057.post-1103830170923892462004-12-23T15:21:00.000-04:002004-12-23T15:29:30.923-04:00

Hello, I said to myself that I would never do this but here I am. I have been arguing with myself as to whether I should start one of these blog sites or not, but I determined that maybe I'll give it a try. My main objection to starting one of these was the fact that everyone else was doing it. I've always strived to be unique and different or atleast tried to be and reasoned that blogging was

Josiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109955066894335700noreply@blogger.com0