I'll Fear Not What Men Say....I'll Labor Night And Day....To Be A Pilgrim

               Personal opinion here....Charles Haddon Spurgeon....1834-1892....mostly in London....was the finest and most effective preacher of the gospel....since and including the Reformation. His sermons are read and listened to today....130 years after his death....a death brought on probably by his intense defense of the gospel in a day of easy-believism much like today. That is point number one.
               Spurgeon himself said that he had read John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress....100 times in his lifetime...which would be more than twice a year of his adult life. That is point number two.
               Pilgrim's Progress is not a children's book as popularly believed today....although it is also for children....and for years as we traveled about forty minutes to church on the Lord's Day....as our son was growing up.....we listened to Bunyan's book on cassette tape....and he has the book ready for his son.
               Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery....Monty....once again by his own testimony....carried two books with him throughout his military career.....God's Word of course....and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Margaret Thatcher choose Bunyan's words and hymn to be played at her funeral. This is a book that has been a mainstay and a bulwark for Christians since Part One was published in 1678. It has only today fallen into somewhat  oblivion....except as a children's book.
               R. C. Sproul's wonderful ministry at ligonier.org and refnet.fm....(Pittsburgher R. C. went to be with his Lord in December of 2017)....has consistently over the decades brought forth teachings on Pilgrim's Progress....mostly by Derek Thomas....whose cassette teachings were the ones mentioned above that we listened to over and over again for years. R. C.'s daily ministry program....Renewing Your Mind....is again this week highlighting some of those teachings. You can easily be blessed each day by simply going to renewingyourmind.org.

Here are the words sung....by request....at Margaret Thatcher's funeral in 2013"

He who would valiant be

'Gainst all disaster,

Let him in constancy

Follow the Master

There's no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent

To be a pilgrim

Who so beset him round

With dismal stories,

Do but themselves confound- -

His strength the more is

No foes shall stay his might

Though he with giants fight:

He will make good his right

To be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, thou dost defend

Us with thy Spirit,

We know we at the end

Shall life inherit.

Then fancies flee away!

I'll fear not what men say,

I'll labor night and day

To be a pilgrim.

Obviously personal opinion here again....the closest today in a national and international ministry....as was Spurgeon's ministry....is that of John Piper. His messages....whether they were sermons or lectures....bring Spurgeon to mind to me more than anyway else that I have encountered. See for yourself....decide for yourself....by visiting that ministry and listening to him....offerings that are offered new every day....along with plenteous archives. Today's message....Getting To The Bottom Of Your Joy....would be a good place to start. Another thought came to mind right now....a lecture that Piper once gave on Charles Spurgeon....that you might find very interesting....just Google....John Piper, Spurgeon, YouTube.....and it should take you there. With ministries such as renewingyourmind.org....and desiringgod.org.....you certainly would have no need for these paltry offerings of mine.

Afterthought: I love green plants around the house. Because of the Christmas tree and other decorations I had to move my favorite plant....and because of the lack of sunlight it started to whither. We all need the light of the Son....and these men can provide that light....so move if you would...into that Son's light.....and live.