Today’s Quote – Suffering (Mahaney)

C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness: Those who know true joy in the midst of suffering are those who recognize that, in this life, our suffering is never as great or as serious as our sins. As Jonathan Edwards wrote, “How far less [are] the greatest afflictions that we meet with in this world…than we […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/7/09)

After a sweet morning of worship in the renovated sanctuary, two ideas continue to roll around in my mind — the cruciality of entrusting the gospel to others (discipleship) and the means of suffering to accomplish discipleship. As was said Sunday, too often we tend to think of discipleship as the responsibility of someone else, […]

Grab bag

This morning I caught up on some blog reading (I only check them sporadically these days). Here are a variety of links that I found interesting and beneficial: Al Mohler, “The Delay of Marriage and the Decline of Church Attendance” Al Mohler, “The Real Population Threat” “How to Pray for Joni Eareckson Tada” (and many […]

Is prosperity a gift?

Yesterday morning I read the following statement from John Piper in a recent sermon: …contrary to what the Prosperity Gospel teaches, wealth is not usually a blessing. It is usually a curse. Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter […]

When life is bitter….

…trust promises, not providences. This week I’ve had multiple conversations with people who have family or friends who are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And the shadow is dark and foreboding, filled with more questions and uncertainties than just the matter of death. One writer says that when the bitter experiences […]

Sunday Leftovers (10/21/07)

Some leftover quotations after thinking about God’s purposeful (read: sovereign) intention to use all circumstances to make worshippers out of unbelievers: “Our trials reveal the measure of our affection for this earth — both its good things and bad things. Our troubles expose our latent idolatry.” [John Piper, Life as a Vapor.] “In order to […]

God, sin and sovereignty

One of the repeated questions people (both those who believe in Christ and those who do not) have about God is the relationship between sin and suffering, and God who is sovereign over all things. How can those seemingly contradictory statements co-exist and God still be God? In his most recent sermon, John Piper addresses […]

Things worth reading and praying when a bridge collapses

How do you respond when a bridge collapses (or a tower falls)? What are you to think? What do you tell your children or young believers (or unbelievers) about God in such a situation? Three writers (one “old,” and two contemporary), help us answer these questions in a biblical framework: Oswald Chambers Al Mohler John […]

A few more thoughts on the tragedy at Virginia Tech

This week we have learned the importance and reality of Rom 12:15 — Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. You could not read the headlines, watch the news or hear the reports of what happened at Virginia Tech and not be moved to compassion. Amidst all the “analysis,” however, there […]

What to say about Virginia Tech

The events today at Virginia Tech are tragic. Several years ago, after the shootings at Columbine, John Piper compiled 21 ways to love and comfort the hurting. He later revised the list after the 9-11 tragedy. His words are just as appropriate for today. A condensed version of his essay may be found here.