One of the courses in The Bethlehem Institute is called Practical Theology: The Pursuit of God in All of Life. It consists of a series of seminars by Pastor John Piper on the following topics: Future Grace; Why We Believe the Bible; TULIP; Sexual Complementarity; Biblical Eldership; Desiring God; Corporate Worship; Prayer, Meditation and Fasting; and Suffering. On some of these topics, Piper has written full-length books for a mainstream audience. On others, he has only written shorter booklets available at Bethlehem Baptist Church via Desiring God ministries.For each of these seminars, … [Read more...] about Response to Peter Masters’ Critique of Desiring God
Nancy Pelosi and the “Marble Ceiling”
Carol Platt Liebau reflects on Speaker Pelosi's accomplishment, while putting the matter in perspective. The irony of Pelosi's … [Read more...] about Nancy Pelosi and the “Marble Ceiling”
The Folly of Evil
This year I am listening to and reading the Bible with The One Year ESV Bible. This morning I was struck with the description of the fruit of the wicked in Psalm 7:14-16: "Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends." Surely he did not intend to fall in the hole that he made, but the pursuit of pleasure in sin always reaps far more pain than originally anticipated. From a short-term … [Read more...] about The Folly of Evil
The World is Flat – Thomas Friedman
Tim Challies reviews The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman. I've previously blogged about this significant book. … [Read more...] about The World is Flat – Thomas Friedman
Pray for Dr. Mohler
You've likely heard that he was found to be suffering from pulmonary emboli in both lungs. Now, praise God, he appears to be responding well to the treatment. But he still needs our prayers. … [Read more...] about Pray for Dr. Mohler
When The Darkness Will Not Lift – John Piper
John Piper recently published a 79-page book entitled When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God -- and Joy. The book began as the final chapter of a 272-page book, When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy. The Introduction talks about the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and how it relates to our fight for joy. Chaper 1 then discusses various physical causes of spiritual darkness and depression, and to what extent the use of medication might be appropriate. Chapter 2 is about waiting in a time of darkness for what can seem an unbearable amount … [Read more...] about When The Darkness Will Not Lift – John Piper