The topic of negotiation is a thorny one for everyone, perhaps especially for many Christians. We rightly feel the weight of the royal law which bids us to love our neighbor as ourselves (James 2:8). Against the grain of our natural selfishness, we must strive to see that others have interests, just like we do. We must appropriately regard their legitimacy, and seek to create solutions that bless others, even as we invariably pursue our own interests (Phil. 2:3-4). Boundless just published a short article I wrote on this subject. Here's the opening: It killed me to finally sell our … [Read more...] about Closing The Deal – Christians and Negotiation
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SBTS Profiles Matt Perman of Desiring God
Southern Seminary's Towers magazine recently profiled Matt Perman, Senior Director of Strategy at Desiring God and a man I am privileged to know. He went through The Bethlehem Institute before me, then went to Southern Seminary, after which he rejoined Desiring God full-time. Matt is responsible for the look-and-feel of the Desiring God website (which features easy access to all of John Piper's sermons in audio and video format, going back to 1980 when Piper became the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church). He maintains a blog that deals with "integrating the big picture with everyday … [Read more...] about SBTS Profiles Matt Perman of Desiring God
Economic “Stimulus” Tug-Of-War
I've been trying to understand why Congress is rushing to (once again) spend an incredible amount of money when the public support for such an approach is diminishing day-by-day. Scott Rasmussen, whose Rasmussen Reports is one of the most accurate poling outfits, sums it up: "it's basically a tug-of-war between a president with high job approval ratings and a public’s generic skepticism about government spending."So while 48% of the nation’s voters say more government spending is generally bad for the economy, and 57% of voters see tax cuts as good for the economy, and 45% of voters would … [Read more...] about Economic “Stimulus” Tug-Of-War
Worliness – C.J. Mahaney
This sounds like an excellent book for addressing how the gospel is to permeate our lives--from our entertainment choices to our clothing styles. Too often these discussions are viewed with suspicions of underlying legalism, whereas the opposite error (selfish, immature, worldliness) is at least as common in our day. John Piper writes in the foreword: "C.J. Mahaney and his gang, as always, are in the business of applying the gospel. What does it look like when the blood of Christ governs the television and the Internet and the IPod and the checkbook and the neckline? Most people have never … [Read more...] about Worliness – C.J. Mahaney
Michael Phelps’s Bong
On the occasion of superstar swimmer Michael Phelp's recent marijuana bong photograph, C.J. Mahaney offers a timely reflection on the emptiness of worldly success and accolades. Once again we are reminded that athletic gifting, championship trophies, gold medals, and million dollar endorsement deals cannot satisfy the soul. Last year, in the wake of his third Super Bowl championship, disillusioned Patriots quarterback Tom Brady admitted on 60 Minutes, Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, “Hey … [Read more...] about Michael Phelps’s Bong
Doctor Loses License In Live Birth Abortion Case
Even CNN has picked up this story, so it must be real, though it is unimaginably barbaric: A woman scheduled to have an abortion gives birth to a live child because the abortionist was running late. So the clinic gathers up the baby, with the placenta and afterbirth, into a biohazard bag and throws it in a trash can. The baby dies. The mother sues the clinic for murder. On Tuesday, January 27, 2009, the Thomas More Society in Miami filed a lawsuit on behalf of Shanice Denise Osbourne, an infant girl who was allegedly murdered in July, 2006. A teenage woman (Sycloria Williams) was pregnant … [Read more...] about Doctor Loses License In Live Birth Abortion Case