This much-anticipated book is available now. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it. From the publisher: "Spiritual discernment is good for more than just making monumental decisions according to God’s will. It is an essential, day-to-day activity that allows thoughtful Christians to separate the truth of God from error and to distinguish right from wrong in all kinds of settings and situations. It is also a skill—something that any person can develop and improve, especially with the guidance in this book."The blurbs: "Tim Challies is one of the finest young evangelical thinkers of … [Read more...] about The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment
A Biblical Perspective on Recreation
Yours truly gave it his best shot in his latest boundless essay. Here are the opening lines: My wife and I recently had one of those free two-week subscriptions to Netflix. They offered to extend it for another two weeks, but we cancelled. The lady on the phone wanted to know why, but our reason wasn't on her list. She asked, "Have you enjoyed it?" We said yes, and thanked her. "Are you finding the movies you want?" Affirmative. "Are you able to find the time to watch the movies?" Again, yes. "So, why are you canceling?" she asked incredulously. The worldview in our culture is … [Read more...] about A Biblical Perspective on Recreation
Joe Carter on Being a Campaign Staffer for Huckabee
Joe Carter shares what he learned in his 30-days as a staffer for Governor Huckabee. Whatever you think of Huckabee, Carter is an outstanding blogger whose posts are always worthy of serious consideration. … [Read more...] about Joe Carter on Being a Campaign Staffer for Huckabee
Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions
Worth pondering, particularly as we enter the New Year. A few of my favorites: 5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. 6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live. 7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. 15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings. 25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces … [Read more...] about Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions
ReThink – An Engaging Reflection on Student Ministry
Over Christmas I was able to finish reading reThink by Steve Wright (with Chris Graves). Wright has served as a student pastor for more than twenty years. In the introduction, Wright explains: "This book was born out of deciding to rethink student ministry. We started by asking some tough questions, searching the Bible for its framework for ministry, looking at the latest research and being honest about the problems of student ministry." Though the book is written primarily for other student pastors, I found the book helpful as a young father, a college professor and an involved church … [Read more...] about ReThink – An Engaging Reflection on Student Ministry
Tapping into God’s Mercy
I was blessed this morning by a good word from Life as a Vapor: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith. The object of our faith is primary, not the size. Piper notes: "In Luke 17:5, the apostles pleaded with the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' And the Lord said, 'If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you' (v. 6). In other words, the issue in your Christian life and ministry is not the strength or quantity of your faith, because that is not what uproots trees. God does. Therefore, the smallest … [Read more...] about Tapping into God’s Mercy