(By David Giarrizzo)

Lately I have been working on preparations for two back-to-back weekend conferences and have had little time to think about blogging. So for this week, I’m going to pull a Tim Challies and share some miscellaneous links.

Please be in prayer for these two conferences hosted by my home church, Grace Covenant. This coming weekend, July 30-August 1, many from our church family will be heading to the cool(er) Oak Creek Canyon just outside of Sedona for our annual Family Camp. Pastor Robert Cole will be preaching God’s Word to us.  The following weekend, August 6-9, over 100 Reformed Baptist young adults from across the country will be assembling in Prescott, Arizona, for the third-annual Building Tomorrow’s Church conference. Please be in prayer for Pastors Raymond Perron and Don Donell as they focus our thoughts on what the Bible says about missions.

The Local Church and Evangelism – Speaking about gospel missions, I appreciate that the brothers over at Reformed Baptist Fellowship posted this wonderful article by Erroll Hulse. The topic is a timely one, especially for those of us who will be attending BTC’10.

Jason Helopoulos on Good Reasons for Moving On – Over at Kevin DeYoung’s Gospel Coalition blog, Heloploupos shares some helpful thoughts for both church members and elders on the topic of “Good,” “Possible,” and “Insufficient” reasons for leaving a church and moving on.

Andy Naselli on Confrontation – DeYoung also had Andy Naselli guest post for him recently. Naselli uses a hypothetical example of two men, “Mr. Confronter” and “Mr. Blogger,” and illustrates with biblical principles how to receive criticism from a brother.

28 years ago today Keith Green died. – Although he went to be with the Lord about a year before I was born, I grew up listening to singing along with Keith Green cassette tapes. As the author of this article states, “Keith certainly didn’t get everything right. He didn’t have great things to say about Reformed theology, although some of his song lyrics show that he was more reformed than he may have realized (see “You Put This Love in My Heart”).” I think Green’s life and his ministry through music serve as another important reminder to us that God uses various men with various theological views in various ways to bless the Church for His glory and praise.

And finally, in case you haven’t heard, the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith & the 1695 Baptist Catechism (Leather-Bound Hardcover Edition) is now available. Get yours today from Solid Ground Christian Books!

And finally, just one year ago this month, 6 men (who have come to be known as the “Ardent Cries Guys”) got their act together and started this blog. Happy One Year, brothers!

(By David Giarrizzo)

One hundred years is a long time to live. One hundred miles is a long way to run. One hundred yards is a football field. One hundred percent is an A+. One hundred days is an important time for a President. One hundred degrees Fahrenheit is a mildly warm day in Arizona. One hundred dollars was good money fifty years ago. One hundred books is a good start. And one hundred blog posts is a small milestone for Ardent Cries.

I recognize that 100 entries isn’t anything too extraordinary for a weblog these days, but here we are. It has now been 153 days since Ardent Cries’ first blog post appeared on July 2^nd. As far as milestones go, this one is minuscule. However, it is a milestone nonetheless and an opportunity to thank God.

So, on this relatively insignificant anniversary, I am reminded to be thankful for…

• A God Who is worthy of all our attention and worship and praise and blogging;
• God’s powerful Word which is life-giving and life-encompassing;
• An understanding wife who bears with me as I spend time writing weekly posts;
• A confession of faith which clearly articulates the doctrines that I hold dear;
• A large body of quality books by godly authors from which I can glean wisdom and inspiration;
• Dear brothers in Christ and fellow contenders in the faith whom I am privileged to know and with who I am able to contribute;
• Modern technology which is used as a means of advancing the Gospel and encouraging one another through God’s Word.

As the “About the Blog” section states,

Ardent Cries is designed with a desire to glorify God through regular blog posts that are encouraging, challenging, informative, and Christ-centered. We do not simply seek to blog for the sake of blogging or gaining an audience, but rather to make known and rejoice in the supremacy of Christ, and to exhort our readers to abide in Him for His glory and our joy.

Our aim is simple: to glorify God by pointing to Christ. The very name of this website, Ardent Cries, reflects the contributors’ desire to live lives of prayer and praise to God for His abundant blessings and to share with others our love for the One Who loved us first.

As we contemplate

Your awesome grace

And wonder at your fame,

Our ardent cries

Are lifted high

To glorify Your name.

May 100% of the efforts of this site be used to bring glory to Christ and edification to his people for at least another 100 posts!


Feel free to email any of the Ardent Cries guys here with any thoughts, questions, or possible blog topics: arbcanauts[at]gmail[dot]com.

(By David Giarrizzo)

When I was ten years old,
I remember thinkin’ how cool it would be,
When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive,
If I could just watch T.V.

And I’d have given anything
To have my own PacMan game at home.
I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade;
Now I’ve got it on my phone.

…So go the words of a silly song by Brad Paisely about the changes in technology over the past couple of decades. It is true that so much has changed about the way humans communicate in modern times just over the past one or two generations. As if a cordless telephone with PacMan on it wasn’t enough of an ingenious invention, it is almost mind-blowing to think about the infinitude of the World Wide Web.

Of course, as is often noted within the Christian community—and rightfully so, — with such a vast storage of information as the internet is, there are also many dangers. The sins of lust and adultery are commonly mentioned when discussing the dangers of the internet, and again, rightfully so. Additionally, the dangers that online communication and social networking pose to modern day believers have also been well documented. I agree with many of these identified problems that virtual communication presents. But while I understand that the use of modern technology presents potential concerns for Christians, I likewise believe that technology offers many wonderful opportunities. So I want to take a different approach in this post and briefly examine a few blessings that technology—especially communication technology such as cell phones, email, and the internet—provides for Christians today.

Consider for a moment the positive attributes of the internet with all of its wonderful means of communication and social networking: e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs (like Ardent Cries), church and ministry websites, audio and video-recorded sermons, Christian book and music dealers, conference advertising, etc., etc. If you are reading this blog, you probably surf the web everyday and you already understand its many good uses. But allow me to illustrate a few simple examples of how communication technology can benefit believers.

• Formal and informal online education – Hundreds of thousands of people are now getting perfectly valid college educations via accredited online universities every year; in fact, more and more theological seminaries are beginning to look in the direction of the internet as a means reaching more people and increasing their student counts. The possibility for a lay-elder or church member to better his understanding of theology or the Bible languages is a wonderful prospect that our generation can hope to see more of through the increase in formal seminary classes offered via the web. Already we can observe the hunger of many Christians for the truths of Scripture as seen through the success and popularity of websites such as SermonAudio.com, Spurgeon.org, and the thousands of theological websites that comprise the Christian blogosphere.  So for those who are serious about gaining a better understanding of theology or nouthetic counseling skills or Greek and Hebrew, may more seminaries offer this form of distance learning via internet courses as they remain firmly planted on the truths of God’s Word.
• Email and Blackberries – Just today I was reminded of one of the blessings of technology when I received an email to my Blackberry. The email was from our church elders asking for prayer on behalf of some church members with urgent needs. I don’t get these kinds of emails often because, thankfully, medical emergencies of this kind aren’t common. But when I received this email today on my phone, I was able to stop what I was doing and lift up my brothers and sisters in prayer. Sure, our elders could have called everyone in the church to update them; but because of the technology of email, and in my case, the technology of email direct to my Blackberry phone, the elders were able to alert the congregation of these urgent prayer needs more efficiently. As silly as it may sound, I thank God for blessing me with the luxury (as opposed to necessity) of a cell phone with internet and email capabilities that allows me to pray specifically for the brethren on a moment’s notice.
• Facebook and Twitter – Every time I attend a conference I inevitably make new friends. Thanks to Facebook, I have been able to stay in contact with those brothers and sisters months and years after those conferences are over. Facebook was designed for the purpose of social networking. For the Christian, however, social networking includes more than making new friends; it is fellowship, mutual encouragement, and a visible representation of the unity of the saints. Christians are more than friends; they are family members in the household of God. This is one of the reasons I appreciate Facebook: while I sit here in Mesa, Arizona, I can stay in touch with brothers and sisters in Ontario, California or Bremen, Indiana or Jackson, Georgia or even in Toronto, Canada! Twitter, like Facebook, allows me similar opportunities. But even more so, as John Piper pointed out, these networking devices can actually be a means of evangelism, not narcissism. May we use Facebook, Twitter, and similar sites wisely, making the most of every opportunity to point others to Christ.
• Everything else – I am an avid news junkie. I was speaking to my grandpa about two weeks ago about the news. He asked me, “Do you get the newspaper at home?” to which I replied, “Yes. But we get it on the internet, not our front porch.” Just like my grandfather who reads his morning newspaper with a cup of coffee and toast and fruit, I check out the Drudge Report and my Christian blog lineup in Google Reader almost every morning with my cup of Joe. Again, this attachment to the outside world isn’t a need, it’s a blessing. Through the internet I can stay connected to far-away friends, register for an upcoming conference, watch James White contend for the Faith on YouTube, order Calvin’s complete commentary set, read Al Mohler’s insightful weekly postings, and stay in touch with current events on the other side of the world. These are some of the blessings God has given believers living in the 21^st century. May we seek to glorify Him as we utilize the gifts and tools with which He has graciously supplied us.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Cor. 10:31

(By David Giarrizzo)

As Reformed Baptist believers, we love doctrine. We understand doctrine’s important place in our hearts, homes, and churches. There can be no separating deep intimacy with God and the knowledge of His Word and Truth. The tri-unity, eternality, and sovereignty of God; the complete depravity of man; God’s predestinating, irresistible grace; Christ’s limited, blood atonement on the cross; justification by faith alone in Christ alone; the inerrancy of God’s Word—These doctrines of Scripture bring deep conviction, grant sweet comfort, and instill great courage for the beloved of God.

We find a great example of solid, doctrinal truth explained clearly in the first half of Paul’s letters to the Romans. Paul lays out all of the tenets of the gospel in Romans 1-11:

• Man is utterly sinful and under God’s condemnation (1:18, 3:12).
• God is the only holy and righteous Judge who judges men’s hearts (2:1-2).
• God sovereignly chooses to save some (9:18).
• God grants both the Jew and the Gentile salvation by grace alone (3:22-24).
• Justification is by faith alone in Christ alone (3:24-26, 5:8-9).

A similar explanation of God’s wonderful, mysterious plan of salvation is laid out in the first half of Ephesians. And in both books, after spending considerable time developing deep doctrine, Paul bursts forth in doxology, or praise, in Romans 11 and Ephesians 3. 

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen
Romans 11:33-36 

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

Here we see doxology following doctrine as an automatic response to the thoughts of God and His deeds. The Psalms, too, are full of similar praises:

“Oh sing to the LORD  a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
Psalm 98:1

Peter Jeffery says it well: “Don’t let anyone tell you that doctrine is cold, academic stuff that dampens Christian enthusiasm. Doctrine is the truth about God and his gospel, and to contemplate such things…must lead you to want to pray, to thank and praise God for such amazing love.”

Christians should be the most joyful people on the planet. Our lives should be evidenced by thanksgiving and praise. And the more a believer learns of the wonders of God and His love for sinners, the more joyful that believer should become. Out of our doctrines about God, there should spring doxology to God! This concept is similar to James’ point in James 2 about believing in God and living out our faith through our deeds. So too, if we claim to hold fast to the great doctrines of Scripture, we should live our lives worthy of Him Who has called us—with hearts full of joy and praise to God. Like a physical reflex—a knee-jerk reaction of sorts—our minds, when filled with the thought of God, should cause our hearts to pour forth praise.

I have seen this excitement demonstrated in the life of a “baby” Christian who hungers for the Word and lives his life in gratitude, like a man just saved from the clutches of death. Because that is what he is, what we all are. So should we all live with such humility and gratitude before a great God Who saves sinners. From our waking moments as born-again believers to our dying days, we should remain excited about doctrine and therefore live lives evidenced by doxology (Psalm 71:17).

I pray that the theme of this website—and the theme of each of our lives—be one of doxology to God rooted in a biblical understanding of Him and His many works.

As we contemplate
Your awesome grace
And wonder at your fame,
Our ardent cries
Are lifted high
To glorify Your name.