Given its significance, I am very grateful that Denny Burk has pointed to an online version of The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis. C.S. Lewis wrote some wonderful fiction, such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy. Lewis is perhaps less well known for his shorter writings, many of which are loaded with outstanding insights expressed with lucidity and incision. The Weight of Glory is one such work. This nine-page essay (originally given as a sermon) has been influential in the lives of many, including John Piper, who quotes from it several times in his first major book, … [Read more...] about C.S. Lewis – The Weight of Glory
Theology
Desiring God Essay – Response to Peter Masters
I previously mentioned the assignment we were given to write a response to Peter Masters' concerns with the book Desiring God by John Piper. I plan to post my paper soon. I have turned it in to Pastor Piper, and I've also sent it to Dr. Masters to make sure that I am representing him fairly. I would be most grateful for any feedback from anyone once I post it. … [Read more...] about Desiring God Essay – Response to Peter Masters
Two Very Busy Months
Dear Readers, I want to apologize for the extremely light blogging of late. These last two months have been unusually busy. Over the month of November, I was asked to preach at a local church in the Minneapolis area that recently found themselves without a pastor. This was a stretching experience for me, as I had not done much preaching before (just a handful of painful Wednesday nights at Grace Community Church in Gardnerville, NV). The invitation was particularly timely in that I am taking a course in Preaching from Pastor John Piper over this Fall 2006 - Spring 2007 timeframe. I gave … [Read more...] about Two Very Busy Months
Primer to Desiring God
I'm finishing up a paper on Desiring God by John Piper. Our assignment is to respond to this critique published by Rev. Peter Masters in 2002. I learned that the audience for my essay is one who has already read Desiring God, such that I am not supposed to spend a great deal of time explaining the book's thesis. Since I had to pull that material from my paper, I thought I'd post it here for the benefit of any who may not have yet read Desiring God. Here it is. … [Read more...] about Primer to Desiring God
Justification by faith alone
“Disaster will surely result from denying or obscuring faith as the alone instrument of justification, both present and future.” - Richard Gaffin, By Faith, Not by Sight (Waynesboro, Georgia: Paternoster Press, 2006), page 105. John Piper recently gave this strong sermon, and published this incisive essay on matters pertaining to justification, faith, and Christian obedience. To both of which I say a hearty Amen! … [Read more...] about Justification by faith alone
Amazing Grace – The William Wilberforce Story
Kathleen Parker of The Washington Post Writers Group pens an essay about the role of Christians, particularly William Wilberforce, in ending the slave trade of Africans. Wilberforce is to be the subject of a major motion picture entitled: Amazing Grace: The William Wilberforce Story. The movie's release is being timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of slavery (February 2007). In 2002, John Piper delivered this biographical sketch of William Wilberforce. Parker mentions another forthcoming film, an independent documentary Let My People Go, which deals with … [Read more...] about Amazing Grace – The William Wilberforce Story