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The Gospel According to Galatians, Pt. 7 by C. R. Biggs
"Christ will do all for you, or nothing for you.â€
–J. Gresham Machen (Gal. 2:21)
In our last study we celebrated the 489th anniversary of the Reformation by considering exegetically and biblically the Apostle Paul's doctrine of justification by faith alone in Galatians chapter 2.
Today's study is the second part of a study on justification by faith alone, and why it is vitally and eternally important for us to understand this important doctrine, just because this is the truth of the gospel (Gal. 2:5, 14). As a reminder, twice in Galatians, the Apostle Paul calls the doctrine of justification by faith alone "the truth of the gospelâ€:
ESV Galatians 2:5 …[To the false brothers] we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
ESV Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel…
Throughout Church history there has been a tendency to recover by God's grace a focus on Christ alone and his righteousness received by faith alone, only to find that within a few years we lose our focus, and the same old problem of false teaching and error with regard to the gospel arises again from within Christ's Church to turn our attention from Christ and what he has done, to turn to a righteousness found in Christ and man's cooperation.
Remember as we learned in our first study on Galatians 1, the Galatian Churches were "quickly†turning from the truth of the gospel which was "grace alone in Christ alone†to "another gospel†which was "grace plus Christ,†that was no gospel at all.
The preserving and proclamation of the truth of this doctrine of justification by faith alone is a constant battle in the Church- -this too is part of the "fighting the good fight†as we are commanded to do! Paul writes to sober us all up, especially teachers and preachers in Christ's Church by writing:
ESV Galatians 1:6-8: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
ESV 2 Timothy 4:1-5: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
It is imperative for Christians today, when learning the biblical teaching of justification by faith alone in Christ alone, that we are reminded of "beating this doctrine into our heads daily†(Luther's language from his Commentary on Galatians) and fixing our eyes of faith upon Jesus Christ and his righteousness alone. Jesus is the only Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-3).
We must learn again in our time to turn from what man is doing with God, or for God, or in cooperation with God's grace, and back to Christ alone again! There is no righteousness found within us according to the Apostle Paul in Galatians, and this is the clear teaching of Scripture (Rom. 3:1-4:25).
The only righteousness that God has revealed is in Christ alone
(Romans 1:16-17)!
God's verdict of "guilty†or condemnation abides upon all mankind outside of Christ- -apart from faith. God's vindication-justification or pronouncement of "not guilty†is found only in Christ alone- -and not in us. Even as we obey God by faith as a Christian, none of our works are meritorious in any way; rather, the works we perform by loving obedience (Gal. 5:6: "faith working through loveâ€) are evidence of the fact that God has justified us and declared us "not guilty†by faith in Christ alone.
"Christ will do all for you, or nothing for you.â€
–J. Gresham Machen
As Dr. Machen put it so bluntly and eloquently: "Christ will do all for you, or nothing for you.†Is Christ your righteousness alone? Or, have you attempted or tried to add some of your own cooperative works to Christ's works? How are you individually made "right†or "righteous†before a holy God? Justification by faith alone in Christ alone is your only hope! But do you know and understand the meaning of the biblical teaching of justification by faith alone?
Do you allow Christ do all for you with regard to your right standing before God, or do you nullify or make void the gospel by trying to add to it? Remember the words of Paul in Galatians 2:19-21:
ESV Galatians 2:19-21: For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
In Galatians 2:19-21, Paul outlines for us two mutually exclusive ways of salvation. You either live to the law, or you live to God. You trust in Christ's righteousness alone, or you trust in Christ's righteousness plus your own. If you live to law, or live to cooperate with God's grace and Christ's righteousness, you nullify, or make void the work and death of Christ for sinners.
Justification by faith alone is a immensely practical and comforting doctrine for the Christian! As we live the Christian life, we constantly sin and fall short of the glory of God, although we make some progress in sanctification by His grace. Yet the Christian's comfort of assurance of right standing before God, and of who we are in Christ is not found in what we are doing for him (or what we have done for him, piling up all our good works), but what Christ has already done for us in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
Now—beat that into your head one more time!
Dr. Francis Turretin, Italian Reformer (1623-1687) writes concerning the importance of knowing the doctrine of justification as Christ's people:
"[Justification] is called by Luther, the article of a standing and falling church; by other Christians it is termed the characteristic and basis of Christianity not without reason, the principle rampart [bulwark] of the Christian religion, and, it being adulterated or subverted, it is impossible to retain purity of doctrine in other places. Whence Satan in every way has endeavored to corrupt this doctrine in all ages; as has been done especially in the Papacy: for which reason it is deservedly placed among the primary causes of our Secession from the Roman Church and of the Reformation.â€
"Watch Your Life and Doctrine Closely†(KJV)
Sadly today, many evangelicals have all but forgotten the importance of the Reformation, and particularly the doctrine of Justification by faith alone which was the article upon which the Church stands are falls (Luther's Latin phrase for this was: Articulus stantis et cadentis Ecclesiae). Now why would I pick on evangelical Christians particularly?
We must remember that evangelical Christians are those who still confess that the Bible is God's Word and believe it to be true. Evangelical Christians desire to make Christ and his gospel known to the world. Evangelical Christians trace their origins to the Reformation of the 16th century, and to the recovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
The doctrine of justification by faith alone is the doctrine upon which the Church in any age is judged as to whether it is standing faithfully, or falling from grace. How are most evangelical churches doing according to this measurement today?
Unfortunately, many evangelicals today are not even aware of the Reformation, and some if they are aware, are not particularly interested. "Doctrine divides†they say, and so let us just join together and talk about the things we do agree upon. "There is no need for controversy or discussion, let's just choose to agree to disagree on certain things, this is an in house debate anyway.â€
These are the same comments made by liberals in the early 20th century who also had forgotten their Reformation roots, and doctrine had become something that was to them an unnecessary evil. What truly mattered was unity, even if this meant denying the doctrines that were recovered in the Reformation (Read Machen's 'Christianity and Liberalism').
We must lovingly, patiently, carefully, yet boldly call evangelical Christians back to the truth of the gospel. Evangelicals today are greatly interested in getting the gospel out (and that is commendable), but they are not as interested in 'getting the gospel right' (and that is dangerous!).
We must get the gospel right by understanding the doctrine of justification by faith alone, so that by God's grace, we can get the gospel right for ourselves and our children- -and then get the gospel out to a world perishing! Remember the sobering words of the Apostle Paul to his son Timothy (and these words apply for every generation of teacher-pastor, or parent!):
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.
Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.†-1 Timothy 4:16.
Paul commands us to watch our life and our teaching. We are to do this so as to know salvation as individuals before God, and for those we teach to know the truth, and this includes the people of God if we are pastor-teachers and our children if we are parents. The fact that Paul says "persist in this†is to underline the tendency for us all so quickly to forget the sound teachings and doctrines of Holy Scripture! I think a lack of persistence in life and doctrine, specifically with regard to the gospel of justification by faith alone, is precisely what has happened broadly in the majority of evangelical churches.
Dr. Michael Horton wrote concerning the problem with evangelical Christians who desire to be evangelistic, but who have all but lost and misunderstood the gospel, recovered by God's grace in the Reformation:
"The evangelistic energy of evangelical Protestants has added to the tendency to bury concern over the actual content of the evangel ("good newsâ€). One might say that in all of the activity, evangelism is too busy to be troubled with the evangel.
In his broadly representative crusades, the Reverend Billy Graham was simply following in the footsteps of an earlier generation of evangelicals whose missionary and evangelistic zeal encouraged them to play down doctrinal issues when founding the World Council of Churches. Reverend Graham recently reasserted his view of Roman Catholicism:
'I have found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics'.â€- Quoted in 'Faith Alone' by R. C. Sproul, pg. 11 (Graham quote from magazine 'Berean Call', Sept. 1994).
Now please understand that I have no pleasure in unnecessarily criticizing evangelical Christians in general, and Billy Graham in particular. However, criticism of certain people within the Church, especially those who teach the Bible, with the purpose of making the gospel clear has biblical precedence in the Apostle Paul (in Galatians against the Judaizers, 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul writes against several teachers who are corrupting the truth).
Many evangelicals are merely ignorant of the truth of the gospel, which is justification by faith alone, but we should seek "productive conflict†over harmony, in order to make known, as well as preserve the gospel of truth at all costs! My question then is: How can Billy Graham (I am using him as a sort of spokesperson for evangelicalism, especially his quote from the 1990s), and other evangelicals today seek to join with Roman Catholics who still today deny the gospel of grace?
My question is aimed at getting at how evangelical Christians could not perceive theologically that there is a big difference between them and Rome? Let us take a look at the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on the doctrine of justification that was articulated in the Reformation.
The Roman Catholic Doctrine of Justification by Faith
What does the Roman Catholic Church teach concerning Justification? Let Rome speak for herself. Let us first consider the Roman Catholic Council of Trent (1545-1564) and how it opposed vehemently the doctrine of justification by faith alone recovered by the Church in the 16th century.
CANON IX. (Note: Canons are ecclesiastical laws or decrees according to Roman Catholic theology pronounced by the Magisterium that must govern all individual parishes and churches of the RCC).
"If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.â€
This is obvious Semi-Pelagianism of the worst sort, and this is what the Apostle Paul was confronting in the Epistle to the Galatians!
CANON XI.- "If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them (remains in them); or even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favour (good will) of God; let him be anathema.â€
This is a confusion of justification as forensic as we learned in our last study, and sanctification which is transformative, where grace is infused.
Roman Catholicism still confuses justification and sanctification by calling God's anathema, curse, or wrath on those who would say that justification is forensic, and an imputation of Christ's righteousness, not a righteousness that is created through faith and works in the believer! In other words, to use the terms we learned in our previous studies, Rome is NOT Pelagian, but Rome is Semi-Pelagian, which was the doctrinal error the Apostle Paul was condemning at the Churches of Galatia (See previous studies on 'The Gospel According to Galatians'). It is vitally important to notice that Rome can articulate clearly the doctrine of justification by faith alone through imputation, but articulates it clearly in order to condemn it!
And do not kid yourself. No one is free to disagree with Rome's declaration against justification by faith alone. There simply is no compromise between Rome and the Reformation!
CANON XXXIII: "If anyone says that the Catholic doctrine of justification as set forth by the Holy Council and the present decree, derogates in some respect from the glory of God or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ,…let him be anathema.â€
You must understand, according to official Roman Catholic doctrine pronounced as canon law at the Council of Trent, what I am articulating in this study, and what I believe the Apostle Paul is teaching in Galatians 1-2 is under the curse-anathema of God according to Rome.
How could evangelicals and Roman Catholics then agree essentially in their beliefs? It is not merely Billy Graham who has articulated this, but other important people in the Evangelical Movement have affirmed it officially, or unofficially made it their practice to unite with Roman Catholics without considering the official doctrinal Distinctives.
[Note: To be fair, I am aware that in the official "ECT: Evangelicals and Catholics Togetherâ€, the evangelicals who signed the document affirm the doctrine of justification by faith alone ("sola fideâ€), but do they believe the doctrine is worth fighting for and preserving? How could we have a "common mission†culturally and for evangelism when the evangel or "good news†is justification by faith alone, and signers of the document will not "sheep steal†from Rome (meaning they will not try to convert a Roman Catholic to the Reformed faith), or biblically argue over the doctrinal differences and real distinctives! I just cannot imagine Martin Luther and John Calvin signing such a document as this, because even though the evangelicals may articulate that they are joining Roman Catholics for a cultural mission, they are implicitly undermining the Great Commission. Can you imagine the Apostle Paul compromising and signing a joint document with the Judaizers? For more criticism on the dangers theologically of ECT, read 'Faith Alone' by R. C. Sproul, 'Ashamed of the Gospel' and 'Reckless Faith' by John MacArthur, 'Roman Catholicism: Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divides and Unites Us', ed. John Armstrong, and read 'Modern Reformation' magazine. There are also excellent resources for better understanding this at www.monergism.com].
Evangelicals and Catholics are joining together and unifying in our time officially and unofficially as if the Protestant Reformation never happened. Why? Perhaps it is because they are (1) Ignorant of the differences (perhaps the majority); (2) Careless of the differences; they do not think the differences amount to that much at all; Or perhaps (3) They are both Semi-Pelagian in their belief systems and are closer to one another than one would like to imagine!
I believe the third point is well worth noting! Roman Catholics are not Pelagian; they have condemned any kind of "works salvation†which is Pelagianism. Roman Catholics uphold the decisions of the Synod of Carthage (418) that condemned Pelagianism (works righteousness), the Council of Orange (529) that condemned Semi-Pelagianism, and the Council of Trent upheld these condemnations.
Rome may have condemned any salvation by works alone, but they teach, affirm and continue to uphold that salvation is by grace and works. Officially, the Roman Catholic Church is still opposed to the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone- -and we need to be aware of this reality!
The Catholic Encyclopedia defines justification in this way: "Primarily and simply justification is the possession of sanctifying grace….We are justified by Christ…and by good works,….â€
The most recent and officially authorized Roman Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church defines justification this way (Article 2: Justification and Grace, section 1992, pg. 482, Linguori Publications):
"Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men…â€
So far, so good (except that last part that denies the biblical doctrine of definite atonement)…but so far, so good with regard to justification and an agreement that we have with Rome.
However, it continues…
"…Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life†(Council of Trent, 1547: DS 1529).
This is blatant and deadly error. Imputation to us rather than infusion in us was one of the most important points of the Reformation doctrinally. We are justified by the imputation of Christ's righteousness outside of us, not through an inherent righteousness through the sacramental infusion of grace.
Pastor John MacArthur reminds us: "All claims that salvation is through belief in Jesus Christ plus something else are blasphemous, satanic lies. There can be no effective or acceptable human addition to Christ's work.†-John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Moody Press, 1987, page 57.
Rome's doctrine articulated is clearly and unashamedly grace plus works, and it makes justification transformative through infusion, whereby the person actually becomes righteous and then they're justified. In other words, according to Rome's official teaching, when one is justified, they are already righteous. The righteousness is inherent in them according to Rome through sacramental grace and the work of the Holy Spirit.
In contrast to this error, the biblical teaching is that we are not made righteous, but that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us while we are yet sinners and ungodly.
This is why Martin Luther taught in the Reformation that we are "simultaneously righteous and sinful†(Latin: simul Justus et peccator) in opposition to this erroneous teaching of Rome!
"How Can a Person be Righteous Before God?â€: What is the Hope of Our Justification?
Italian Reformer, Francis Turretin (1623-1687) articulated justification by faith alone against Roman Catholic error in this way: "The gospel teaches that what could not be found in us and was to be sought in another, could be found nowhere else than in Christ, the God-man ( theanthropos, Gk.); who taking upon himself the office of surety most fully satisfied the justice of God by his perfect obedience and thus brought to us an everlasting righteousness by which alone we can be justified before God; in order that covered and clothed with that garment as though it were of our first-born (like Jacob), we may obtain under it the eternal blessing of our heavenly Father." -Francis Turretin, 'Institutes of Elenctic Theology'
Heidelberg Catechism Question 60: On Justification, asks the catechetical question: How are thou righteous before God?
Answer. "Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding…
…God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me, the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.â€
If that will not make your day, I do not know what will! Justification by faith, cooperating with God's grace is not good news! Justification by faith alone in Christ alone- -is very good news! "Beat into your head†the last part of the Heidelberg Catechism, Question 60 again:
"…God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me, the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.â€
In all of these definitions of the gospel truth of justification by faith alone, the word "imputation†is used in contrast with the Roman Catholic doctrine of "infusionâ€. Let's consider these two words at this point in our study. The one word "imputation†is very important to know for yourself, and pass along to others you teach!
Imputation vs. Infusion: A Confusion of Justification and Sanctification?
Let us learn two important theological terms that Christians should know with regard to justification by faith alone. The two terms are imputed and infused.
Definition: What is Imputation? - Simply put: "A declaration, or reckoning of righteousnessâ€.
Imputation is the biblical truth that God clothes the ungodly, spiritually dead, sinful person with the righteousness of Christ, by faith alone.
We are in a right standing before God based on Christ's works for us. Paul says Abraham was reckoned/declared/considered (logizomai- Greek), justified based on faith alone. Paul uses the term "logizomai†12 times in this passage in Romans 4 to make the point crystal clear.
As believers, we are clothed in Christ's righteousness, and we are reckoned/declared/considered righteous as was Abraham. We receive an "alien righteousness†from God, the righteousness that was earned by Jesus Christ and is imputed to us.
Justification by faith alone is a monergistic work of grace (meaning "no cooperation†between God and sinners), where God clothes us in Christ's righteousness and this is received by faith alone! Monergism (from two words in Greek: mono- one, and ergo- work) simply means "one workingâ€, and the only one who works in our salvation is God alone! Monergism is the opposite of synergism (from two words in Greek: syn- more than one and ergo- work), which simply means two or more working, as in a cooperation with God's grace in order to achieve salvation.
Definition: What is Infusion? - Simply put: "To become righteousâ€. Infusion is the opposite of imputation. This is a synergistic work, or cooperation between God and sinful man! What the first century Israelite, the Medieval, as well as the modern Roman Catholic, and many today claim is that we become righteous- - then we are justified. And this truly makes the eternal difference between heaven and hell.
It is true that once a person is united to Jesus Christ by faith alone in their justification, then that person does become righteous or Christ-like; this is called "sanctificationâ€. But we must make sure that justification by faith alone because of God's grace alone must precede our sanctification.
In our doctrinal understanding, this is why it is so important to make a distinction (but never separation!) between justification and sanctification. Justification and sanctification are both the benefits we receive in Christ alone, and you cannot have one without the other (cf. Rom. 8:28-31). Justification and sanctification are both grounded in the grace of God alone.
However, in justification a sinner is declared righteous before God because Christ's righteousness is imputed to him by faith alone apart from works. Justification is an act of God alone and is therefore monergistic.
In distinction, sanctification is a work of God's grace where the sinner gradually becomes righteous by God's grace. Sanctification is the work of God, but the sinner saved by grace cooperates with God's grace (albeit imperfectly), and is therefore synergistic. The right standing before God is based on the justification by faith alone in Christ alone!
Notice how carefully the Westminster Divines articulate the two important distinctions between justification and sanctification in the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
WSC 33 What is justification? A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins,(1) and accepteth us as righteous in his sight,(2) only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us,(3) and received by faith alone.(4) (1)Rom. 3:24,25; Rom. 4:6-8 (2)2 Cor. 5:19,21 (3)Rom. 5:17-19
(4)Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9
WSC 35 What is sanctification? A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,(1) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,(2) and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.(3)
(1)2 Thess. 2:13 (2)Eph. 4:23,24 (3)Rom. 6:4,6; Rom. 8:
God justifies the ungodly sinner by faith alone. He does not justify or declare righteous those who are already righteous by virtue of having "tried hard†to be good, or those who merely have gone through the motions in the visible church, going to church, listening to the Word, and participating in the sacraments, or those who have tried to work hard in any way cooperating with God's grace in order to be justified!
Those who have worked hard have not worked hard enough (and never will!)- -in fact they are condemned before God's Holy Tribunal! Why? Because they fall short of God's glory and can never match the perfect and complete work of Jesus Christ!
Only in Christ are we justified! When we believe and rest in Christ's righteous work for us, God imputes to us the righteous works achieved by Christ!
The Reformed Pastor John Calvin in his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans wrote concerning the good news of justification by faith alone:
"When…we come to Christ, we first find in Him the exact righteousness of the law, and this also becomes ours by imputation.â€
"Therefore, we explain justification simply as the acceptance with which God receives us into his favor as righteous men. And we say that it consists in the remission of sins and the imputation of Christ's righteousness.â€- Institutes in the Christian Religion, Calvin, 3.11.2.
Professor John Murray wrote concerning justification by faith alone (he focuses on Jesus' active and passive obedience for us!):
"It is our Lord's whole work of obedience in every phase and period that is described as active and passive, and we must avoid the mistake of thinking that the active obedience applies to the obedience of his life and the passive to the obedience of his final sufferings and death. The real use and purpose of the formula is to emphasize the two distinct aspects of our Lord's vicarious obedience. The truth expressed rests upon the recognition that the law of God has both penal sanctions and positive demands….Christ's obedience was vicarious in the bearing of full judgment of God upon sin, and it was vicarious in the full discharge of the demands of righteousness. [Christ's] obedience becomes the ground of the remission of sin and of actual justification.â€- Redemption Accomplished and Applied, pgs. 21-22.
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 11: "Those whom, God effectually calls he also freely justifies, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them as their righteousness, but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God" – WCF Ch 11
Notice how the Westminster Divines define justification with the rejection of the infusing of righteousness against Roman Catholic doctrine, then articulate the biblical doctrine of the imputation of Christ's righteousness by faith "receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith…â€
"Is Christ a minister of sin?†Does Paul's doctrine of free grace in Justification by faith alone encourage sin and sinful behavior? (Gal. 1:17)
When the doctrine of justification by faith alone is rightly taught, many fear that it will produce Christians with no fruit in the Christian life ("Antinomiansâ€). In fact, this was one reason why Rome officially denounced the doctrine of justification by faith alone because they thought that it would lead to ungodly living where God's Law was disregarded (For this good intention, we can commend Rome for their legitimate concern- -but legalism is no better than antinomianism).
When the truth of the gospel is declared and proclaimed in all its sweetness and greatness, some will naturally (sinfully!?) say: "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?!†Meaning, if this grace is so good and abounds where my sin is, then what is preventing me from living like hell- -although I have been saved for heaven?
Paul in Romans 6:1-16 responds to this by saying: "God forbid!†"May it never be that we think like this!†Why? Because in our justification by faith alone Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us and we have died to sin. We now live in Christ. We are united to Jesus Christ by faith and share in all of the benefits that he is heir to as the Son of God!
You see, the legitimate concern of those who think justification by faith alone will encourage sin and sinful behavior is exactly what the Judaizers were suggesting would happen with Christians in opposition to the Apostle Paul's pure gospel in Galatians. The Judaizers were trying to undermine Paul's gospel by saying it would make Christ a "minister of sinâ€. Some today are also concerned with a doctrine that teaches that salvation is all of grace and rejects man's contribution or works.
If you have ever been accused and criticized of preaching 'antinomianism' or if you have been accused and criticized of the sinful conclusions some are reaching because you are preaching grace alone in Christ alone, then you're in good company- -it happened to the Apostle Paul as well.
Man by nature hates a gospel that is all of grace and all of God's doing, but that is the gospel, and nothing else can be good news apart from what God has revealed and provided in Christ alone!
Union with Christ: Considering Justification and Sanctification "in Christâ€
However, the problem is not with justification by faith alone. The problem is when some would separated justification from sanctification, as if one can be justified or declared righteous before God and not become righteous or bear fruit that will last in sanctification. The answer to this problem is the solution that the Apostle Paul teaches in Galatians 1:19-21: Union with Christ.
Union with Christ is Paul's focus. We are justified by faith alone and we receive all of the benefits of Christ's redemption "in Him†by being united to him: "God forbid†that Christ is a servant of sin! In our union with Jesus Christ, we receive our justification before God, and God begins the good work of making us like Christ in our sanctification.
Paul says enthusiastically:
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.†–Galatians 1:20-21
Paul says: "I have been crucified with Christ.†He wants the believer to know that it is all of grace that one is saved in union with Jesus Christ. "We were there being crucified with Christ†when Christ was crucified just as truly as the two other thieves crucified "with Christ†on the hill of Golgotha. In Romans 6, the Apostle Paul states the same reality and truth:
ESV Romans 6:5-11: For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul wants the believer to know that in their union with Christ, they have died to sin. They live not unto law, but unto God by faith. As Jesus says similarly in John 15: "I am the Vine, you are the branches…you will bear fruit, fruit that will last.â€
Roman Catholicism confuses justification and sanctification by placing sanctification and becoming righteous before our justification- -and this is a great error. But there is another perhaps more subtle error and this is a separation of justification and sanctification. This is the error where one thinks he can be declared righteous before God and in right standing, and never bears any fruit.
Paul and James on Justification by Faith Alone
To summarize briefly a long exegetical controversy in the history of the Church, the Apostle Paul was focusing our attention of justification by faith alone in Christ alone, and desired for Christians to know both justification and sanctification are part of the benefits of our union with Jesus Christ. James in chapter 2 of his letter however, wants the focus to be on a faith that works.
Paul and James both agree in their doctrine of union with Christ, and so you might say for Paul, his main emphasis is:
"Justification is by faith alone in Christ alone…â€
While James' main emphasis is:
"Justification is by faith alone in Christ alone….but not a faith that is alone.â€
Both Paul and James teach that our faith is alone in receiving Christ's righteousness; faith is a gift of God, but it is a working faith. As Paul says, it is faith working through love (Gal. 5:6). When James speaks in chapter two of his epistle of faith not being alone, he is not saying "faith alone†in justification; he is saying faith is not alone in sanctification; or faith is accompanied by works in our sanctification (but never in our justification!). This is the reason why we must never separate justification from sanctification.
The Westminster Larger Catechism summarizes the benefits of believers in our union with Jesus Christ:
WLC 69 What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ? A. The communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their justification,(1) adoption,(2) sanctification, and whatever else, in this life, manifests their union with him.(3) (1)Rom. 8:30 (2)Eph. 1:5 (3)1 Cor. 1:30
"By Faith Aloneâ€
We now want to consider why it is so important to be justified "By faithâ€, and not on "account of faith!†Big difference! Some will look at Galatians 2, and notice there is no word "alone†there. So why do the Reformers want the faith to be "aloneâ€? Why can we not just be happy with merely "justification by faithâ€? Let's read Galatians 2:15-21:
Galatians 2:15-21: We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
The "alone†is implicit and extremely important in Galatians 2. As we have learned in previous studies, Paul is laying out two ways of salvation: (1) Judaizers: "justification by faith in Christ (and works of the law)†or (2) Paul: "justification by faith alone in Christ (apart from works of the law)â€.
To summarize our brief discussion of Paul and James:
"We are saved by faith alone, but not a faith that is alone; it is a working faith.â€
The word "alone†is vitally important because both ways of salvation that is laid out in the Epistle to the Galatians has faith as an instrument whereby a person becomes righteous before God. In the Judaizing way of salvation faith is coupled with our cooperation with God's grace, or our works of the law. In Paul's way of salvation, faith is alone.
Faith is the instrument whereby we receive the righteousness of God in Christ. Faith is alone in that it is a gift of God, and it is how we receive the righteousness of God in Christ. Faith is not something that cooperates with God's grace in order to be justified.
Martin Luther wrote about faith: "Wherefore Christ apprehended by faith, and dwelling in the heart, it the true Christian righteousness, for the which God counts us righteous and gives us eternal life.†(Commentary on Galatians, pg. 135).
"What Faith is…What Faith is NOT!â€
Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Q: 21. What is true faith? A: True faith is not only a certain knowledge whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word; but also a hearty trust, which the Holy Spirit works in me by the Gospel, that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits (Heidelberg Catechism).
Faith is NOT a work, or any kind of cooperation with God that achieves merit! This separates the "men from the boys theologicallyâ€- - not only that, this makes the difference of heaven and hell, so it is not theological nit-picking!
Faith is a fruit of regeneration- - a gift as Ephesians 2 teaches.
Faith is an "empty hand†humbly held out to receive what God has provided for us in a right relational standing before God, found only in the righteousness of Christ that is revealed in the gospel!
Paul believes in faith "working through love†as Galatians 5:6 teaches:
ESV Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
"Faith entails constant motion…â€: Professor Mark Seifrid writes: "By virtue of its inseparability from hope and love, faith entails constant motion, a 'forgetting what lies behind, and reaching forward to what lies ahead' (Phil. 3:13-14). It is this 'certitude' of hope and not a present 'security' which belongs to the believer, according to Paul [because of our union with Jesus Christ] (emphasis mine). Christ, Our Righteousness: Paul's Theology of Justification, pg. 150.
The one word "alone†in the phrase "saved by grace alone†(Eph. 2:8-10) separates us not only from our Roman Catholic friends today, but any other person who believes in a "cooperative†or "synergistic" way of God and man working together to achieve salvation.
The Reformed teaching that needs to be continually emphasized in our day and handed down to the next generation, is that we are justified or saved by faith alone in Christ alone through the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us received by faith alone.
Justification is a monergistic work of God.
This means that we not only confess, but truly believe that God alone works in us to achieve our salvation and we are saved not by cooperating with God (even with our faith!), but by believing that God has fully accomplished in the Person and Work of Christ our salvation- - and this is believed by faith alone - -which is not our work, but a gift of God!
Faith receives God's grace held out in Christ, but faith is not a work in any way that is meritorious before God!
Professor J. Gresham Machen wrote of men who believe that their faith is something they add to God's grace in order to cooperate: "…If a man has faith in Jesus to help the works of the law out, he can be justified by the works of the law after all; it would mean that, while a man is not justified by works alone, he is justified by works and faith together. Thus faith would become merely the means by which a man's works become effective for salvation.†(emphasis mine, pg. 147).
Faith is a gift- -not a work, lest faith itself becomes a 'work of the law'.
Faith as a "small work†or something we contribute to our salvation by cooperating with God's grace was rejected in the Reformation and later formally condemned at the Synod of Dort (1618-1619) that convened to confirm or condemn the teachings of the followers of Jacob Arminius (later known as "Arminiansâ€).
Canons of Dort (1619). Rejection of Errors Second Head: Paragraph 4. [We reject those:] Who teach: That the new covenant of grace, which God the Father, through the mediation of the death of Christ, made with man, does not herein consist that we by faith, in as much as it accepts the merits of Christ, are justified before God and saved, but in the fact that God, having revoked the demand of perfect obedience of faith, regards faith itself and the obedience of faith, although imperfect, as the perfect obedience of the law, and does esteem it worthy of the reward of eternal life through grace. For these contradict the Scriptures, being: "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood (Rom 3:24-25)." And these proclaim, as did the wicked Socinus, a new and strange justification of man before God, against the consensus of the whole Church.
In this passage from the Canons of the Synod of Dort, the pastor-theologians are emphasizing that although justification is by faith alone, faith is not in any way meritorious, or something we cooperate with God in order to achieve our salvation. This theological articulation is against anyone who would say that "I am saved because I cooperated with God's grace by faith.†This is the error of works of the law that Paul condemns in Galatians 1-2.
You see, this is the Apostle Paul's point in Ephesians 2:1-10: Dead men, separated from God and following the prince of the power of the air will not and cannot have faith or believe, unless God in his mercy makes us alive and gives us the gift of faith. That is why Paul contrasts the gift of faith with our works! He says:
Ephesians 2:1-10: And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
One teacher reminds us of what Ephesians 2 is teaching about faith and being saved by grace: "Where boasting is present, faith is absentâ€- Mark A. Seifrid, Christ, Our Righteousness: Paul's Theology of Justification, pg. 133.
In the Westminster Confession of Faith, the principal acts of saving faith are: accepting, receiving and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life…†Saving faith is in no way meritorious of our salvation!
WCF 14.2 By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein;(1) and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands,(2) trembling at the threatenings,(3) and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.(4) But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.(5) (1)John 4:42; 1 Thess. 2:13; John 5:10; Acts 24:14. (2)Rom. 16:26. (3)Isa. 66:2.
(4)Heb. 11:13; 1 Tim. 4:8. (5)John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:20; Acts 15:11.
Quotations and Theological Reflections on Scripture from other faithful teachers in Church History concerning "by Faith Aloneâ€
Robert Traill on "by faithâ€: "Faith in Jesus Christ...in the office of justification, is neither condition nor qualification...but in its very act a renouncing of all such pretences."
The very act of faith by which we receive Christ is an act of utter renunciation of all our own works and righteousness as a condition or ground of salvation.
Horatius Bonar profoundly remarks: "Faith is not work, nor merit, nor effort; but the cessation from all these, and the acceptance in place of them of what another has done—done completely, and forever."
John Girardeau notes, "Faith is emptiness filled with Christ's fulness; impotency lying down upon Christ's strength."
B. B. Warfield appropriately summarizes Christ saving us through faith:
"It is from its object [Jesus Christ] that faith derives its value.... The saving power of faith resides thus not in itself, but in the Almighty Savior on whom it rests....It is not faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ....It is not strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ that saves through faith.â€
"Strictly speaking, the true Christian church does not teach justification by faith. It teaches justification by Christ. Where does the faith come in? It is simply the uniting with, becoming one with, the Lord Jesus Christ. Being married to Christ, all that is His becomes His bride's, the believer's…that is the meaning of the word 'reckons' or imputes or credits. The justified one 'does not work, but trusts God who justifies the wicked'(Rom. 4:5)."- John Gerstner, 'Justification by Faith Alone'
Calvin concludes his sermon on Galatians 2:15-16 with these words: "Let us, therefore, understand that there is no salvation whatsoever outside of Jesus Christ, for he is the beginning and the end of faith, and he is all in all. Let us continue in humility, knowing that we can only bring condemnation upon ourselves; therefore, we need to find all that pertains to salvation in the pure and free mercy of God. We must be able to say that we are saved through faith. God the Father has appointed his Son the Lord Jesus Christ that he might be both the author and finisher of our salvation. We are to deny ourselves and give ourselves to him wholly and completely, that all the praise might belong to him.
Now let us fall before the majesty of our great God, acknowledging our sins, and asking that he would make us increasingly aware of them, that we may hate them more and more, and grow in repentance (a grace that we need to exercise all our lives). May we learn so to magnify his grace, as it is shown to us in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we might be completely taken up with it; and may we not only do so with our lips, but place our entire trust in him. May we grow in that trust until we are gathered up into our eternal home, where we shall receive faith's reward. May he not only grant this grace to us, but to all peoples, etc.â€
Justification by Faith Alone is a Comforting and Assuring Doctrine
If we are all honest with ourselves before God's holy law, we constantly fall short of God's righteousness. We constantly blow it by sinning against God in word, thought, and deed (although by God's grace we make some progress in our sanctification). Even our best works for God are tainted by our sin.
When you fall short of God's standards and sin against him, where do you gain your forgiveness and hope? In the Lord Jesus Christ alone, or in something you do to regain your right standing?
As we live the Christian life, understanding justification by faith alone in Christ alone, we also want the Reformation teaching to take deep root in our hearts.
We want to understand that all of our right standing before God, all of our hope, all of our confidence today and on judgment day, all of our forgiveness, in short, all of our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption is found in Christ alone (1 Cor. 1:30). This is the gospel and why it is such great news for sinners! Justification by faith alone is an abundantly comforting and extremely practical doctrine to give us assurance when we considers ourselves as sinful and at the same time justified. Let us consider how comforting this doctrine can be.
Oh! How comforting this doctrine is. So greatly comforting for our assurance of God's love, that Puritan preacher the Rev. Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) wrote:
First, let all believers know for their comfort that in this imputed righteousness of Christ there is enough to satisfy the justice of God to the uttermost farthing and to take off all His judicial anger and fury. The mediatory righteousness of Christ is so perfect, so full, so exact, so complete, and so fully satisfactory to the justice of God that divine justice cries out, "I have enough, and I require no more! I have found a ransom, and I am fully pacified towards you!" (Eze. 16:61-63; Hebrews. 10:10-12, 14; Isaiah 53:4-6)….
…. When a believer casts his eyes upon his many thousand sinful commissions and omissions, no wonder that he fears and trembles. But then, when he looks upon Christ's satisfaction, he may see himself acquitted and rejoice. For if there be no charge, no accusation against the Lord Jesus, there can be none against the believer (Romans. 8:33-37). Christ's expiatory sacrifice hath fully satisfied divine justice.
And upon that very ground every believer hath cause to triumph in Christ Jesus, and in that righteousness of His by which he stands justified before the throne of God (2 Cor. 2:14; Revelation 14:4, 5).â€- Thomas Brooks, Nine Strong Consolations on the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness (emphasis mine).
Dr. Michael Horton reminds us all of our hope that we have in the teaching of justification by faith alone:
"…It is good to know--especially when facing the next world--that for every time we have failed to conform to God's will in thought, word, and deed, by actively sinning or failing to conform to his revealed will, his Son has fulfilled the obedience that we owe. By never once giving in to the lust, pride, sloth, greed, selfishness, and malice that are so often allowed space in our overcrowded hearts, Jesus Christ becomes our Savior not only in his atoning death but throughout his life. In this way, every day of his life was as necessary for our salvation as that dark afternoon on Golgotha.
Jesus was the only "fully surrendered, victorious, sold-out," Christian who ever lived! Our surrender is halfhearted and partial; our victories seem always to be sullied by pride. Even if we could live the "higher life," could God not smell our smugness? Wouldn't our best works be sabotaged by our own depravity?
These good works would be corrupt enough to condemn us on the last day, so what we require is the obedience of someone else to stand in for us. It is not only Christ's atoning death, but his saving life during the thirty-three years of his conformity to the Father's will that shelters us from God's just sentence.
"This is why," wrote Charles Hodge, "the believer, when arrayed in this righteousness, need fear neither death nor hell. This is the reason why Paul challenges the universe to lay anything to the charge of God's elect."- Michael Horton, 'A Dying Man's Consolation', Modern Reformation, 1996.
Let us remind ourselves as the people of God how the Heidelberg Catechism in the first question teaches us concerning our hope in Jesus alone! This devotional catechism is excellent for memorization!
Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death? Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
In conclusion, because I believe this teaching of justification by faith alone is greatly misunderstood by modern, evangelical Christians, I am going to do something that I normally do not do (Don't try this at home in other words!).
I do not much care for the use of acrostics for summing up Biblical truth. I believe that acrostics can overly simplify and trivialize the Biblical message many times, and I remember the wise words of Marshall McLuan: "The medium is the messageâ€. This aphorism means that how we communicate something in form can undermine or trivialize the content (For example, watch how the television-form undermines the worship of God when you watch it on TV!).
So, I am going against my better judgment and even the advice of Marshall McLuan (and Neil Postman!), but I think it is good in this case to make an exception IF it will aid Christians in more precisely understanding the important Biblical teaching of justification by faith alone. So, here is my acrostic taken from Romans 3-4 and Galatians 2, offered by faith to you, with hopes that it will help you to know more precisely this teaching and that it will be a reality in your own life!
It is the acrostic C-H-R-I-S-T:
C- Christ Alone in His active and passive obedience, in his life and death, is sinful man's only hope (Romans 3:23-26; Galatians 2:16-21).
H- Humility is our only response as Christians! We were saved by grace plus nothing we did for God (Romans 3:27; 4:1-2; Galatians 2:21).
R- Real Righteousness is given to us, not a "legal fictionâ€, but the real righteousness that was earned by Christ for us, this alien righteous, was given to us and received by faith alone! (Romans 4:3).
I- Imputation is when God imputes, reckons, considers, declares us righteous by giving to ungodly sinners the righteousness of Jesus (Romans 4:5-8).
S- Saved by Christ through Faith. To summarize what the great B. B. Warfield once said: "It is not so much that we are saved by faith. Rather, we are saved by Christ through faith.†The emphasis is not on our faith, but on Christ who saves through faith! (Romans 4:16-17)
T- Total Confidence on Judgment Day! We stand NOW, and we will stand THEN in Christ alone! We will be justified-vindicated before God's Throne because of Christ's justification-vindication! (Romans 4:21-25)
Sermons available at www.sermonaudio.com/kcpc
To read the entire Gospel According to Galatians' series, click here. You can print them out if you would like.
© 2006-2007 A Place for Truth.
Bibliography for Further Reading
Bruce, F. F. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free.
_________. The Epistle to the Galatians (New International Greek Testament Commentary)
Calvin, John. The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, trans. T. H. L. Parker.
Fung, Ronald Y. K. The Epistle to the Galatians (New International Commentary on the New Testament-New Edition).
Gaffin, Richard B., Jr. By Faith, Not by Sight: Paul and the Order of Salvation.
Hendriksen, William. Galatians and Ephesians (Baker New Testament Commentary).
Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of St. Paul's Epistles to the Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians.
Lightfoot, J. B. The Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians (A Zondervan Commentary)
Luther, Martin. A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians.
Machen, J. Gresham. Notes on Galatians (Edited by John Skilton).
Morris, Leon. Galatians: Paul's Charter of Christian Freedom.
Ridderbos, H. N. The Epistle of Paul to the Churches of Galatia. (New International Commentary on the New Testament).
________. Paul: An Outline of His Theology.
Seifrid, Mark A. Christ, our Righteousness: Paul's Theology of Justification. (NSBT: New Studies in Biblical Theology).
Stott, John R. W. The Message of Galatians (The Bible Speaks Today)
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 20: On Christian Liberty.
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Volume VIII: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians (edited by Mark J. Edwards).


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5 Tips to Grizzly Bear Photography
Photographing wild animals is one of life's greatest opportunities and the Grizzly Bear is on top of many peoples list of the greatest animals on the earth. What can you do to make that moment even more special when you find yourselfready to capture a image of one of these great animals?
Here are 5 things to keep in mind to improve your wildlife photography in general, in this case specifically Grizzly Bears.
1. Be Safe.
This applies to all wildlife, It is easy to loose yourself in the eyepiece of your camera and forget about the rest of your surroundings. One must constantly be checking your surroundings and be aware of the environment at all times. This can also help with better images as you may see something unfolding that you wouldn't if you are buried into the eye piece firing off 12 frames per second.
2 Anticipate the Moment.
Often the difference between a 5 star shot and no shot at all is a fraction of a second, take for example the shot featured above in under a second it turned into this:
So making sure your ready for the moment is crucial, that is where practice and observation come into play. Practice so you know your camera settings in side and out and can adept at a moments notice. Observation gives you the skills to help understand wildlife behaviour better.
3. Get Low
Drop that tripod down from standing up at eye level. Don't be afraid to get dirty and close to the ground In this picture I have my tripod about 6 inches from the ground and i am lying on my stomach. I was already at a hight disadvantage because I was up on a river bank looking down a little bit.
This achieves to crucial things. First it allows me to get a much more powerful connection with the eyes, and almost as important it allows me to drastically change my background. This can help get rid of busy backgrounds or unwanted objects.- more on that in a bit.
4. Experiment
My general approach to wildlife photography is first to get incredibly excited when I see something, then I go for the safe shot that gives me something useable and then pretty quickly after that I start going for something special by changing the framing, using a wide angle lens looking for interesting reflections ect ect get creative. General "portraits" are nice to have but the get boring quickly and you want your work to stand out from everyone else.
5. Location and Time
I have clumped these two together because they often play hand in hand.
Your main geographic location will obviously be a safe area that allows for humane and complete safety of the bears from you, there are many great locations that cater to photographers and research is part of the fun of wildlife photography. What I refer to is really a location within your location how is and what are your background options? If your using larger teleaphoto lenses changing your camera position will have potentially dramatic effects on your background. What about foreground ? are there opportunities to use a unique foreground element in your shot? this goes back to the earlier point about getting creative.
With timing I am generally talking about quality if light. A wet backlit bear near white river rocks during mid day sun is not going to yield the most appealing lighting conditions, but use this opportunity to observe and try something new. until lighting condition improve.
Camera Settings for feature Image:
Nikon D4 with Nikkor 500MM f4 Lens Really Right Stuff Tripod TVC 33 and BH 55 Ball head
Manual Mode, ISO 2500, Shutter 1/250 , Aperture F5

subset: commoncrawl


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More About FRIDA11
Visit My SparkPage Send Me SparkMail
Recipes I've Shared:
I have chosen 9 different kinds of fish + fish Soup
- so this is 9 meals of 126.5 calories in average
Either let the oats and the oat bran stay in Water over night or Cook it at very low heat and stir once and a while until the consistens is OK then pour it into a bowl and add the liseeds
The photo is actually from near Betlehem in Palestine, that I visited. Here is lack of water so I fixed the tap from dripping.
Tastes wonderful
I changed the sesame seeds from ½ cup till 1/4 cup so now it is OK!
A nice and healthy breakfast
An easy fishplate
A fast lunch
Mackarel on ray bread with yhogurt and an apple
Recipes I've Rated:
Recipe Collections I've Shared:
|Fridas cookbook
I have a goal of eating more fish and more vegetables and more fruit. And to eat less - If I can inspire others this will also inspire me. As a new thing I make make overs to make some spark people recipees more healthy with less sugar, less fat or more whole grain flours.
|Yummi meals I will try from Sparks
These are good recipies I have found and that I will transfer to Frida´s cookbook when they are used
|Recipies for a slow cooker - stegeso - Rømertopf - Crock pot
As I am a ceramist and make my own and decorated cookers I collect these recipies.
Right in this period there is a battle against bread... I make bread with both whole grains and fiber - That is good for the stomach and good for a diet
|Fridas Lunch
soup is good as the beginning of a meal as you eat less
|Parties drinks and desserts and cakes
For parties and fernisages
Only for the breakfast I use - In order to be able to track my food easier
|Nice salads
|Low FOD MAP food ...
I just found out about the Low FODMAP diet against Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS So this folder is devoted to that kind of recipees


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Steve Stonsy's book and online course Soar Above simplifies our social behavior to two very simple polarities: a reactive, Toddler Brain, and a responsive, Adult Brain.
Stonsy's approach is very similar to a Cognitive Behavioral model much more widely known in the Francophone world called the Neuro-Cognitive Behavioral Approach (NCBA). In this model, behavioral characteristics are assigned to four primary areas of our brain, each having appeared along an evolutionary timeline from the oldest and simplest to the newest and most complex.
The oldest of these four brain regions, obviously, is our survival brain which is called our limbic or reptilian brain. This is the area of the brain that is responsible for detecting threats and reacting instinctively to them, either by fleeing, freezing or fighting. In this mode we don't have or even need time to think or reflect. Naturally, this reactionary center is the Toddler Brain's emotional throne and we could be over-relying on it in our dealings with others, potentially creating a lot of unnecessary drama.
We know we're being "limbic," when we are constantly reacting to the world, when we have a feeling that people and events are happening to us. It's a somewhat anxious state to be in, or at the best of times, a pleasure-seeking state that doesn't think much about future consequences.
Circling back to Stonsy, Toddlers, he explains in his book, react identically to perceived and actual threats. And I've noticed that they also have a tendency to throw tantrums when events in the external world fail to meet their expectations. There's something inherently egocentric about toddlerhood. Nothing wrong with that if you are a toddler, but it could be potentially ruinous if we don't recognize the pattern in our adult selves!
We retain those early patterns of expectation-formation and reaction to disappointment well into adulthood, except now they're disguised under swathes of logical reasoning that works in overdrive to reassure us that "we're right, and they deserved it!" If we're not aware of the basis for our emotional reactions, we could be going through the world making decisions and taking actions based on ways of being we learned and internalized when we were toddlers.
The Adult Brain, Stonsy says, processes difficult situations (and emotions) within parts of the human brain that evolved much later. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain behind our forehead, is that part we engage when we are in a proactive process of adapting, responding and innovating a solution to a problem or challenge.
Toddlers also use this part of their brain. When a toddler is learning something new, or rising to the challenge of figuring out where the square peg goes, they're using their Adult Brain, except their Adult Brain is still in its early formations.
Rather than reacting to a situation, which is the domain of the limbic system (RUN! FIGHT! HIDE!), the Adult Brain takes on the explorative effort to innovate a solution (Hmm, what are my options here? Why is this happening? How can I resolve this situation?).
As we age, we can develop mastery over ourselves. It's ok to react emotionally and instantly to something, the reaction is instinctive and will likely happen before we can do anything about it. What we can do, however, is gradually develop the skill to shift our cognitive activities from the limbic region to the complex reasoning of the prefrontal cortex. This is how people learn to develop good characteristics and bring an end to undesirable ones.
The 8th century Buddhist teacher Shantideva gave golden advice in the 8th century about stemming the tide of the reactive mind through discipline, when he said:
When the urge arises in the mind
To feelings of desire or wrathful hate
Do not act! Be silent, do not speak
And like a log of wood be sure to stay.
Cumulatively, over time, one decision not to give in to your reactive mind after another, you will end up with quite a different set of outcomes and results for your life than you would have, had you kept doing what you learned to do as a 3 year-old.


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Posted By Jessica Taylor
Victory Weekend was present at the annual World of Outlaws Dirt Track world finals weekend event in Charlotte on November 7th and 8th. The #79 Show Car participated in the parade creating fantastic exposure for Victory Weekend as it was well covered by the local TV and radio stations. The crowds at the event swelled to around 20,000 turning this appearance only event into a super effective time of letting racing fans see Victory Weekend in front of them once again.


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If you are a smart recruiter, then finding the right candidate for your organisation is not hard to find. Hiring right talent - even in a competitive job market – becomes easy with well-thought out strategies. Top recruiters spend time formulating sound recruitment tactics which are both efficient and effective in procuring the best and the brightest employees. Here are some tips for hiring best candidates in 2018.
Use Of Technology
Technology plays a key role in improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the hiring process. Recruiters often use technology to select appropriate candidates, reach out to them easily and most importantly, fish the best out of the lot.
Cross Industry Hiring
Organisations are now looking for talent who can apply specialist knowledge in a generic industry. People who can use their experience to make a better tomorrow will be in demand and hence, cross industry hiring will receive a lot of fillip.
Power Of Review
Employer review platforms - such as JobBuzz - offer an unbiased and clear picture to job seekers about their dream companies. The new generation of job-seekers extensively research prospective employers before they make a career move. Hence recruiters should pay attention to their employer brand and concerns surrounding it.
Use Of Analytics
Today, recruiters are flooded with data pertaining to a variety of topics. This includes talent catchment, candidate preferences, performance of candidates on board, reasons why candidates refuse offers, and so on. Analytic support is becoming extremely crucial to decide which candidates to go after and how to keep them engaged.
Going Social
While job portals are the most preferred hiring medium for nearly 55% organisations, social media hiring is also gaining importance, revealed a recent study by Times Jobs. With significant penetration of SMAC technologies - both in business and employees' personal and professional lives - social networking is becoming a key source to tap diverse talent pool.
The Mobile Revolution
More companies will develop apps that help schedule and record time and attendance, aid employee engagement, create digital to-do lists, productivity trackers and complete a range of other tasks. These apps will have the ability to access data stored in the cloud and be accessible from multiple devices. A smart recruiter must make use of these apps to save on time and resources.
Catch Them Young
On the campus hiring front there has been a steady increase in the number of Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs). Year 2018 may see offers being rolled out to students who intern or do projects even in their second year of college. Hence keep a watch on the campus relevant to you.
Morpheus Human Consulting Pvt. Ltd. is the leading recruitment consultancy in India. With more than 18 branches and around 150+ consultants empanelled in our recruiting team in India and the Middle East, we cover close to all industry sectors. Morpheus is focused on hiring the right people for your organization. Our satisfied customers include leading MNCs and large Indian firms across industries.


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Not News: IPCC Economist's Statement That 'Climate Change' Is Really About Wealth Redistribution
I owe Ottmar Edenhofer thanks for two things.
First, I am grateful that Edenhofer, a German economist who is "co-chair of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Working Group III on Mitigation of Climate Change," has a last name on which searching is easy. I quickly determined that his name last name doesn't currently come up in searches at the Associated Press's main web site, the New York Times, the Washington Post, or the Los Angeles Times.
That's because he hasn't said or done anything newsworthy, right? Wrong. What's newsworthy is my second reason for thanking him. First covered at NewsBusters yesterday by Noel Sheppard, and described this evening in an Investors Business Daily editorial, Mr. Edenhofer has proffered the principal motivation behind the "climate change movement" — redistribution of wealth (bolds are mine):
The Climate Cash Cow
A high-ranking member of the U.N.'s Panel on Climate Change admits the group's primary goal is the redistribution of wealth and not environmental protection or saving the Earth.
Money, they say, is the root of all evil. It's also the motivating force behind what is left of the climate change movement after the devastating Climategate and IPCC scandals that saw the deliberate manipulation of scientific data to spur the world into taking draconian regulatory action.
Left for dead, global warm-mongers are busy planning their next move, which should occur at a climate conference in relatively balmy Cancun at month's end. Certainly it should provide a more appropriate venue for discussing global warming than the site of the last failed climate conference — chilly Copenhagen.
Ottmar Edenhofer … told the Neue Zurcher Zeitung last week: "The climate summit in Cancun at the end of the month is not a climate conference, but one of the largest economic conferences since the Second World War." After all, redistributing global wealth is no small matter.
Edenhofer let the environmental cat out of the bag when he said "climate policy is redistributing the world's wealth" and that "it's a big mistake to discuss climate policy separately from the major themes of globalization."
… Edenhofer claims "developed countries have basically expropriated the atmosphere of the world community" and so they must have their wealth expropriated and redistributed to the victims of their alleged crimes, the postage stamp countries of the world. He admits this "has almost nothing to do with environmental policy anymore, with problems such as deforestation or the ozone hole."
It has everything to do with a different kind of green.
… Given this administration's willingness to compromise American sovereignty, we could soon see Americans taxed to fund a global scam — the ultimate form of taxation without representation.
So science has been abused as a vehicle for justifying worldwide wealth redistribution. Gosh, that's what many of us have been saying for years. That's what the Climategate e-mails clearly demonstrated. It's nice to see that Mr. Edenhofer from his position of influence at the IPCC agrees, and I thank him for his frankness.
Those who wish to brush up on their German can go to the original NZZ interview here. Google's English translation of the article is here. The money quote, as translated, is "But one must say clearly that we distribute by climate policy de facto the world's wealth."
Regardless of whether they do anything with the story, it must not be easy being green at the news outlets mentioned in the second paragraph of this post, or anywhere else in the establishment press where they've been swallowing the human-caused global warning propaganda all these years. It shouldn't be easy being a green collaborator either; someone should ask GE's Jeff Inmelt what he makes of Edenhofer's remark. In the pre-New Media days, all of these folks could have gotten away with ignoring mistakes like Edenhofer's. Now they all just look like fools, as they watch their credibility continue to sink into the not-rising ocean.
Cross-posted at NewsBusters.org.


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I'm a advocate for the XML, Open Standards, The Commons and Data Portability.
I live in Manchester, UK.
I'm employed by the BBC and ran the BBC Backstage Project, encouraging you to use our stuff to make your stuff*.
I helped bring BarCamp to the UK via BarCampLondon and setup BarCampLondon2 and BarCampLondon3. I'm also known for London Geekdinners and being involved in the data portability group.
I regularly blog, can be found microblogging on Twitter, microblogging on Mastodon.. I tend to upload media to Flickr, You Tube, Soundcloud and Slideshare. I generate metadata on Trakt TV and Diigo. Network professionally at Linkedin and dabble more socially on Facebook.


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tipsehatcantik.com All men are good men and women must have hair at birth but grow hair types are of course not everything is the same. Everyone has a different type of hair whether it is straight, wavy, curly, even branched. Basically human newborns have straight hair but due to the hormones that are affected on the environment or heredity could be just the straight hair last will grow into a curly hair. Curly hair this is that not everyone liked it because it might have a curly hair or wavy it may lack confidence and interfere with his performance especially if she is a woman of course hair is a Crown that should be noted.
How to naturally Straighten Curly and wavy Hair
Even though hair is a Crown for a woman but not a little man who had haarpflege wanted her hair to be straight. Numerous attempts to straighten hair may have many good treatments of the salon that is ribonding, even catok smoting. But keep in mind that hair care as it can damage the health of the hair in the future. It's originally a hair after ribonding, this catok could even smoting straight in a short time, but damage to the hair will be bad in the future.
Causes of hair Curly and wavy
-Position The Head While Sleeping
-The environment is dirty and Polluting
-Frequent Ribonding, Smoting and Catok
-Often Wear A Headscarf As A Hat
-Less hair care and more.
For those of you who want to have a straight hair in healthy but there are instantly natural ways that we can use without having to go the kesalon will spend our money. Of course the natural way is better for the health of the hair and more secure on the head. The following materials and ways that you can use to straighten hair naturally cara mengecilkan pipi.


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Summer time and the living's easy. There is something about sitting on a porch sipping on a cold adult beverage while the sun sets that just makes your day. Shoot your week if it's been a particularly challenging one. When the ladies of the DIY Housewives decided to curate a picnic recipes and diy's round up I admit this idea flashed into my head. Every year I long for the days when it gets dark at 9pm or later. It won't be long and I can finally teach our oldest how to catch fire flies. Seriously one of the best things to ever happen as a kiddo!
If you are looking for some great new recipes and diy's you are in the right place! Enjoy, scroll, click!


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Read more
Stephen Rucker participating in Cycle for Miracles to help hospital that saved his daughters
If You Go
* What: UnitedHealth-care Kid's Race.
* When: 3 p.m. Monday; register by noon Monday.
* Where: Miller Park, corner of 10th Avenue and Market Street.
* Admission: Free.
* Information: 770-631-1216.
Riders as young as 3 will be able to race like the pros on Monday.
As part of the Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships, UnitedHealthcare is sponsoring a Kid's Race for young riders in three age groups -- 3-6, 7-9 and 10-12.
The number of racers per group is limited to 30, so pre-registration is encouraged.
The race itself will take place at the same start/finish line the pros will be using on Market Street near Miller Plaza.
"It's a fun way to get the family out to the event, and it's fun for the kids who get to ride the same course and cross the same finish line as the pros. It also promotes wellness in the community," says Emily Sanders, manager of corporate partnerships at Medalists Sports, which is producing the event.
There are a few rules for the youngsters. Each rider must wear a helmet, but Mom and/or Dad is welcome on the course to assist the riders.
There is no charge to ride, and each racer will be awarded a water bottle, T-shirt and a medal.
The Strip
Previous Article


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"Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" is a song from the 2013 Disney animated film Frozen. It is sung by Anna in 3 different ages; 5, 9, and 15.
5-Year-Old Anna: (giggles/speaking) Elsa? (knocks)
(singing) Do you want to build a snowman?
Come on, let's go and play!
I never see you anymore
Come out the door,
It's like you've gone away!
We used to be best buddies,
And now we're not
I wish you would tell me why!
Do you want to build a snowman?
It doesn't have to be a snowman...
8-Year-Old Elsa: (speaking) Go away, Anna.
5-Year-Old Anna: (singing) Okay, bye.
8-Year-Old Elsa: (gasps)
King: (speaking) The gloves will help. See? Conceal it.
8-Year-Old Elsa: Don't feel it.
Both: Don't let it show.
9-Year-Old Anna: (laughs, knocks)
(singing) Do you want to build a snowman?
Or ride our bike around the halls?
I think some company is overdue,
I've started talking to the pictures on the walls!
(Hang in there, Joan.)
It gets a little lonely,
All these empty rooms,
Just watching the hours tick by...
(tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock)
12-Year-Old Elsa: (speaking) I'm scared. It's getting stronger!
King: Getting upset only makes it worse. Calm down.
12-Year-Old Elsa: No! Don't touch me! Please, I don't want to hurt you.
15-Year-Old Anna: (speaking) See you in two weeks!
18-Year-Old Elsa: (speaking) Do you have to go?
King: You'll be fine, Elsa.
15-Year-Old Anna: (knocks/speaking) Elsa?
(singing) Please, I know you're in there
People are asking where you've been
They say, "have courage" and I'm trying to
I'm right out here for you,
Just let me in
We only have each other,
It's just you and me
What are we gonna do?
Do you want to build a snowman? (Sighs)
- Before the Final script, there were minor differences.
- Instead of "Just let me in," it was "Please let me in." Also, instead of "Just you and me," it was "It's just you and me."
- The line "Hang in there, Joan" has been suggested to be anything but a distraction in terms of subtext: Anna is in a sense really saying, "Hang in there, Elsa." Ballad writer Leonard Cohen described Joan of Arc as "a cold and lonesome heroine", much like Elsa. Both were accused of sorcery, and both would find fire to be their nemesis. (This is due to elemental affiliation in Elsa's case, much like the aquatic creatures who were also threatened in The Little Mermaid).
- While beautifully-rendered, the painting of Joan of Arc is historically inaccurate. Joan never used a shield in battle, and instead should have been carrying her standard: a large white banner depicting the Risen Jesus Christ flanked by angels with the words "JESUS MARIA". The standard may have been omitted to avoid any overt religious imagery.
- Elsa provides a tacit answer to this song during her own number, "Let It Go", as one of the very first things she does is build a snowman.
- As a child, Anna is voiced by two of the film crew's daughters: first, she is voiced by Katie Lopez, daughter of songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and then, she is voiced by Agatha Lee Monn, daughter of director Jennifer Lee.
- Despite the song's cheerful title and tone in the beginning, the song is quite sad and tragic, as many sad events took place during this song, the deteriorating friendship of Elsa and Anna, their growing loneliness due to being isolated from society and each other and the death of their parents, which left them both orphaned, sad and alone.
- All the speaking lines (with the exception of "Go away, Anna.") are cut in the soundtrack version of the song.
- At the end of the film, you can hear the instrumental reprise of the song along with For the First Time in Forever (known as Epilogue) while everyone in Arendelle is skating and in the credits. It can also be heard on the DVD's main menu with a sort of "mash-up" between "For the First Time in Forever." The Do You Wanna Build a Snowman instrumental reprise could be a reference to how at the end the sister were finally reconecting.
- There has been many internet parodies of "Do you want to build a snowman?" focusing on an alternative response from Elsa in song. For example, "Of course I want to build a snowman", or "Yes, I want to build a snowman". There are several non-Frozen parodies of the song as well, such as one called "Do you Want to Be My Boyfriend?", and a Power Rangers-themed one sung by Alpha 5 called "I Want to Fight Like You Guys".
- When Anna was asking Elsa "Do you wanna build a snowman?" she was actually asking to reconnect with her and be best friends again.


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Ed-"ZOO"-cation at Capron Park Zoo
Capron Park Zoo offers a variety of self-led, on-site and outreach programs for schools.
The Zoo also offers fun and exciting on-site programs for children during vacation weeks and the summer. Click below for more information.
On-Site Zoo Classes
Capron Park Zoo offers a variety of onsite programs for many different ages, Each onsite program includes a self-led tour of the zoo and class session with Zoo staff. Most programs are 45 minutes long and can accomodate up to 30 children unless otherwise noted.See our ONSITE PROGRAMS
Outreach Programs
Outreach/Zoomobile programs are designed for individual classes of up to 30 childen, allowing for a more hands-on learning experience. The use of live animals and biofacts make these programs enagaing and dynamic. Each program is approximately 1-hour long.See our OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Self-guided Trips
Self-guided trips are a great option for facilities that are small or have a wide variety of age groups to accomodate. Capron Park Zoo offers a group discount to public schools and non-profit facilities.


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There's more to LGBT equality than gay marriage, even though it's a bit hard to see that through all the news coverage surrounding the impending Supreme Court decision on that issue.
But the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) has set its sights on those other issues in its new, five-year local government advocacy agenda. The agenda, which looks at everything from anti-bullying policies in schools to affordable housing for LGBT seniors, sets the stage for TEP's lobbying efforts in local governments throughout the state through 2019.
This is the LGBT advocacy organization's second agenda since its founding in 2004. The first agenda was focused on getting LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances passed in cities and counties throughout the state, and TEP has been largely successful in those efforts, including in Memphis and Shelby County.
"This agenda is different from TEP's first agenda because we had to focus on ourselves in the first agenda. Now, because some local governments are banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, we're freer to work in coalition with them," said TEP Executive Director Chris Sanders.
Here's a rundown of what's on the new local government agenda:
1) Domestic partner registries — These will only be needed if the Supreme Court doesn't rule in favor of same-sex marriage next month. But if that happens, TEP will begin pushing for cities and counties to establish registries, which are often accepted by private employers as proof of a relationship for the company's own domestic partner benefit programs.
2) Safe schools — Shelby County already has an anti-bullying policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity, but TEP will push for other school systems across the state to adopt similar policies.
3) Gender transition health care for city/county employees — TEP will push for cities and counties to include gender-related health care, such as hormones for transgender people, in insurance programs for their employees.
"One thing that gets lost in policy discussions about LGBT issues, with marriage at center stage, is the work that needs to be done to make sure transgender individuals are able to live healthy and safe lives," said Jonathan Cole, chair and president of TEP.
4) Building relationships with law enforcement and district attorneys to address hate crimes and domestic violence.
5) Funding for youth transitional housing — Nationally, about 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBT. And sometimes, privately run shelters, specifically those run by religious groups, can be discriminatory to LGBT kids. TEP is hoping to secure more funding for housing for all homeless youth, with the hopes that more LGBT kids would be helped in the process. Cole said this issue is among TEP's top priorities in Memphis since the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center is looking to expand services for homeless youth.
6) LGBT-friendly affordable housing for seniors — Sanders said TEP will be working with local housing authorities to ensure they're applying existing Housing and Urban Development policies, which require LGBT inclusivity.
"A lot of seniors are going back into the closet when they go into subsidized housing or a senior facility," Sanders said. "They're afraid in those situations because they're at the mercy of others."
7) LGBT-competent staff at health facilities — TEP will work with local governments to makes sure county-funded health clinics are treating LGBT patients with dignity and respect.
8) Dignity/Inclusion/Nondiscrimination resolutions for small governments — This one wouldn't apply to Memphis and Shelby County since there's already such an ordinance in place. But TEP will push smaller governments to pass resolutions.


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Restaurant Review: Honey and Mackie's
Fries and ice cream don't sound like a delicious combination, but at Honey and Mackie's they make it one. Opened in 2013, this ice cream and fry shop is known for their delicious fries and creative and rotating ice cream flavors that are not limited to: cinnamon sugar pecan, key lime pie, blueberry cheesecake, cayenne candied bacon, oatmeal cookie dough, frozen hot chocolate, and butter brickle. These insane flavors can bring a smile to anyone's face and make their day.
The atmosphere of this unique venue is modern with a touch of retro. The colors are a little more relaxed with black and white floor tile and blue on the walls. Vintage signs cover the walls around them the tables and chairs.
Honey and Mackie's serves three main things, ice cream, French fries, and hotdogs. While the fries and ice cream are delicious, the hotdogs are just average. They're not bad, but they're not amazing. Other than the hot dogs, the fries and ice cream are great. The fries have a perfect amount of salt and pepper on them and come straight out of the fryer. The two ice cream flavors I tried (Butterbeer and Candy Cane) were really good and stood out from other ice cream flavors I had tried before. Both had a unique flavor profile and left me wanting more.
This great ice cream parlor has brought countless smiles to peoples' faces for three years running. Even though I've been to Honey and Mackie's only once, it's now one of my favorite ice cream parlors. If you're in the Plymouth area and have time to kill, I'd highly suggest you stop by.


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As my journey continues on how to shoot video with a DSLR, I feel I'm at the crossroads of stepping it up to the next level. Many of the videos that I create on a weekly basis are usually just a montage of video clips put to music. While that has been a great way for me to get proficient at using all aspects of my camera, I want to step up my story telling.
About a year ago I contacted 3 local Boulder Colorado photographers and asking them if I could create a video about them and their photography, a "documentary promotional video" but more about what photography means to them. Something when done, they would be proud enough to use as a marketing tool for their web site.
I was looking for someone that was not only comfortable with the idea but excited to do it. After meeting with the photographers I picked Julie Afflerbaugh (her site not yet updated with video), not only is she a good photographer, I thought she had a good story to tell.
Watch the video, and after it's done I will explain why I did it for free what inspired me to create it.
Total Creative Control
When I sent out the email (see below) I told them I would do it for free. Why free? Because that way I would get total creative control. I have done corporate videos before and while they would start off with some amazing ideas that would be very exciting but by the time you were done you ended up with a very safe video that didn't tell a story that needed to be told in a way I think to create sales, and a CEO reading off a script.
So if I do it for free what is the point, how do I make money? First off it is to show future clients what type of videos you are capable of making, so if you show only the work that you want to do, you will get that kind of work. Secondly I make some money from my tutorials so I told them that I would do it for free if they gave me the rights to make it in to a tutorial.
Finding the Story
We meet for a couple hours figuring out her story and the visuals to support them. I started by shooting some b roll of some of her photography shoots before we did the actual interview.
I ran across Anton Lorimer's promo videos he has done for Jasmine Star and was blown away. He created them in such as way were it was not a sale pitch but more of a story about the photographer, a "documentary promo piece" as Jasmine calls it.
I have hired photographers before and didn't know them before the shoot, in that case you can feel vulnerable in front of the lens, so I thought it would be nice to have a photographer be somewhat venerable on the other side of the lens, that way when client books a session after seeing the promo video they would feel comfortable with the photographer as they might be after 30 minutes with them.
Julie had never really been on camera before so we actually did a practice interview. I thought in the practice interview I would get some awesome stuff that would pull her story together, but I felt a bit panicked afterwards because it was not coming together like Anton's videos.
I went back to one of Anton's videos and transcribed it, once I had it on paper I could clearly see how the story was put together. So then I took the best parts of the practice video and then I dug in to my notes and some of the material she had sent me and I created the story for her in the same format as Anton's transcription.
The next day for the actual interview I presented her with the script of the story I wanted her to tell. Even though I wrote it, it was basically all her words she had used from all the meetings and notes I had taken. I was kind of expecting her to freak out and say I don't want to use a script someone else has written, but to my surprise she seems so relived that is was all done for her.
After I finished my piece with Julie I sent it over to Anton to see what he thought of it (I made no mention to story telling), and I was so happy when he wrote back and he talked about the storytelling:
Just watched the promo, it was awesome! Julie was great, the cinematography was creative and thought provoking but the storytelling was the best part.
2:44 seconds can feel like a life time when watching a promo but yours seem to fly by and I attribute that to storytelling. I forgot I was watching your video and I was engaged in what Julie was saying (which is the whole point).
Good job man. And if I played a tiny roll in inspiration somewhere then I'm happy about that 🙂
That was cool that he liked the story telling and meant a lot coming from him.
What I Learned
I learned that shooting at f2.8 handheld was exactly the feel that I wanted for the b camera angled camera but what I screwed up on was having the far eye in focus and not the closest one, I fixed that mistake later on in the interview.
I should have done the close up with my APS-C camera and the wide shot with the 5D Mark III.
How Much Would I Charge for a Promo Like This?
Great question. The person to ask is Anton since he does a lot of them. I know it wouldn't be cheap because I went to many shoots to get the b roll and that took a lot of time. Also crafting the story took some time as well.
So what course should I make after creating this video? My thought is it would be more of an editing course (using Premiere Pro or even Davinci Resolve) of how I cut together a piece like this. Would that be something you guys would be interested in?
Email I Sent
I am looking to tell a story about a local photographer and I found your website and thought you might be a good person for my project.
Basically what I would like to create is a 3 minute video that is kind of a promotional, but also tells a good story.
I run a website on DSLR video, and this project which I would do for free would provide good material for my site. My site gets over 100k visits a month and my videos are watched 300k a month so you would get some good exposure.
I'm looking for someone that doesn't mind being vulnerable, and is good in front of a camera. Basically I want to find someone that can tell me what photography means to them and how it makes them feel.
I am offering this to a few others and will pick one that I feel can tell the best story. If this is something not only you would be comfortable with but excited about doing, please let me know and we can meet to see if there is a good match.
If you want to know more about me:
And the type of video that I would like to achieve is similar to this one:
Dave Dugdale
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Products Used In This Video – Find Prices
Help me make more of these types of videos by purchasing gear from the links posted on my site. It costs you nothing extra, and helps support me to make more videos.