I've been reading this outstanding book by Paul Miller, A Praying Life: Connecting With God in a Distracting World. Miller is perceptive of the many hindrances to regular prayer and he writes winsomely. Here is an insightful section where he traces the movement from God-grounded optimism in life to naive optimism to cynicism (which hinders prayer): No culture is more optimistic than ours. America's can-do spirit comes from the Judeo-Christian confidence in the goodness of God acting on our behalf. Knowing that the Good Shepherd is watching and protecting me gives me courage to go through the … [Read more...] about A Praying Life – Paul Miller
Theology
The Gospel: Spread It or Lose It
John Piper, in reflecting on the legacy of Ralph Winter, notes that valuing missions (the continual spreading of the gospel in other cultures) has a vital role in preserving the gospel within one's own denomination or church (or even at the individual level). One of the most helpful treatments I've read in this regard is a chapter in Let the Nations Be Glad! entitled "The Supremacy of Christ as the Conscious Focus of All Saving Faith." It rigorously argues that people need to consciously place faith in Christ in order to experience salvation. That belief undergirds and motivates missions. … [Read more...] about The Gospel: Spread It or Lose It
Lyrical Theology and Doxology
What he says in the first 2 minutes would have taken me 30 minutes and I would have needed a manuscript! HT: Brian Borgman … [Read more...] about Lyrical Theology and Doxology
Review of Feelings and Faith
JJ Sherwood, Pastor of Student Ministries at Five Points Community Church, writes a helpful and thorough review of Feelings and Faith: Cultivating Godly Emotions in the Christian Life by Brian Borgman. An excerpt: The second half of the book looks at mortifying ungodly emotions (Part 3) and cultivating godly emotions (Part 4). The first half of the book was well worth the price of the book, and the second half was just as excellent, if not more so. In fact, I believe Borgman wrote the first half of the book so well, that the second half just fell into place and was easy to read, meditate … [Read more...] about Review of Feelings and Faith
Top Commentaries For Every Book Of The Bible
Though not a substitute for Bible intake, good commentaries on books of the Bible are very helpful resources for grappling with the text, particularly its more difficult sections. Dr. Keith Mathison, author of several books including From Age to Age: The Unfolding of Biblical Eschatology has compiled a list of what he considers to be the top 5 commentaries of every book of the Bible. There are 66 books in the Bible, so that would be 330 commentaries. [If the average length of one of these commentaries is 250 pages, that would be 82,500 pages of commentary material. Wow.] But don't be … [Read more...] about Top Commentaries For Every Book Of The Bible
Why Doug Wilson at Desiring God National Conference?
HT: Desiring God I had the privilege of editing a book a few years ago in which Doug Wilson contributed a chapter. Doug has a sharp and witty mind, not to mention a great ability to engage with words. … [Read more...] about Why Doug Wilson at Desiring God National Conference?