John Piper offers a helpful, necessary correction for C.S. Lewis' mistakenly truncated and distorted theology of hell. It is noteworthy that Lewis may have been heavily influenced in this regard by George MacDonald, an outstanding writer who penned gripping novels with stunningly authentic, righteousness-seeking lead characters, but who was sadly a universalist. An excerpt from Piper:The misery of hell will be so great that no one will want to be there. They will be weeping and gnashing their teeth (Matthew 8:12). Between their sobs, they will not speak the words, “I want this.” They will not … [Read more...] about The Reality That God Casts Some Into Eternal Hell
What Christopher Hitchens Has Learned From Christians
Interesting piece by atheist intellectual Christopher Hitchens in Slate in which he discusses his many conversations and debates with Christians over the last few years. An encouraging observation:I haven't yet run into an argument that has made me want to change my mind. After all, a believing religious person, however brilliant or however good in debate, is compelled to stick fairly closely to a "script" that is known in advance, and known to me, too. However, I have discovered that the so-called Christian right is much less monolithic, and very much more polite and hospitable, than I would … [Read more...] about What Christopher Hitchens Has Learned From Christians
God is Sovereign, Wise, and Good
Justin Buzzard, a young adult pastor in the Bay Area of northern CA (who I enjoyed having lunch with a year ago when we were living in Berkeley), is back to blogging, with a solid post on God's sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness: Forget your past. Forget how you used to operate, how you used to be a prisoner to your circumstances and feelings. Build your life on the truth. Preach more gospel to yourself. Tell yourself every hour that God is sovereign, wise, and good. The truth will set you free. Your emotions will begin to come in line with the truth. Doubt your old doubts and saturate … [Read more...] about God is Sovereign, Wise, and Good
Good Sermon On Work – Tim Keller
Keller makes an excellent contrast between our society's view of work and the biblical model. We work not for money or for status or for ourselves (personal fulfillment). We work for God's sake, for people's sake, and for the work's sake. The irony is that losing ourselves (working for God's sake, not ours) is the path to true fulfillment (quietness, and true rest). Keller also explains how working to please God is very different from working to appease God. We don't do things for God (i.e., to get things from him), but simply because we want to live in a way that is pleasing to Him (in … [Read more...] about Good Sermon On Work – Tim Keller
A.J. Hamilton’s Story
A great story on how God can redeem terrible circumstances: HT: Josh Harris … [Read more...] about A.J. Hamilton’s Story
Dr. Mohler To Speak At Missions/Suffering Conference
To Every Tribe has announced that Dr. Albert Mohler will speak at the October 31, 9 AM session of their upcoming missions conference entitled The Privilege of Suffering: Jesus is Worth It. The conference will be held October 29-31 in the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center in Dalton, Georgia. Registration is free. … [Read more...] about Dr. Mohler To Speak At Missions/Suffering Conference