Twelve steps for book buyers

I received this from my friend Gary in response to yesterday’s post about books; I laughed and laughed when I read this. And apart from Step 12, I think his tongue was implanted in his cheek (at least a little bit). I think. (While standing) My name is Gary and I am a bookaholic! A […]

Would it be good to have everything you desire?

Is suffering inherently bad? Would it not be better to have every good thing we desire? Charles Spurgeon, who suffered from Bright’s Disease and depression, and yet was able to maintain an amazing amount of productivity and ministry, answers: Happily for us our happiness does not depend upon our understanding the providence of God: we […]

The love of books

The love of books (and the desire for the acquisition of more) is no new phenomenon among pastors. William Symington, a 19th century pastor wrote, The love of books is with me a perfect mania. When I see anything particularly advertised, I immediately conceive a wish to have it — I persuade myself that really […]

Reading Isaiah

Isaiah was written to the people of Judah in a time when they had again turned away from God. It was to serve as a warning to the people that if they would not repent they would have to suffer punishment. And while the punishment was immanent, they still were promised blessings in the future. […]

John Piper honored with a new book

At the Desiring God National Conference last weekend, John Piper was honored with a festschrift. The volume, appropriately entitled For the Fame of God’s Name, is edited by Justin Taylor and Sam Storms and includes articles by colleagues at his church and Desiring God, and long-time friends and co-laborers — men like D. A. Carson, […]

Temptation and gratitude

Paul says that after putting off sexual sin (Eph. 5:3-4a), the believer is also put on the contrasting righteous action of gratitude. When tempted to sin as an expression of his discontentment with God, the believer is to consciously cultivate gratitude in his heart. How might we express gratitude in our hearts and with our […]

Sunday Leftovers (10/3/10)

In Not Even a Hint, Josh Harris has a helpful section on the lies the world system offers about sexual temptation and the truth Scripture reveals about those lies. I turned his principles into a chart that I find helpful in seeing the difference in worldviews: Or, download it as a PDF.

Books and audio updated

I have to come up with an easier and less time-consuming way to update my “currently reading” and “recently on my iPod” pages. Haven’t figured it out yet, so they aren’t updated as often as they could/should be. But, today they have been updated. Hope to do it again in less than three months, unlike […]

Entertainment industry, the portrayal of sin, and discernment

From Josh Harris (Not Even a Hint): It doesn’t matter what something is rated, or how popular it is, or how seemingly innocent it appears. If it hardens your heart toward God, if it obscures your awareness of the ugliness of sin and the holiness of God, if it takes the edge off your spiritual […]

When to talk to your children about sex

In another helpful “Ask the Counselor” video clip from CCEF, the question “When should I talk to my children about sex?” is answered: Summary: Talk often, talk freely, and talk soon.

Reading Jeremiah

It is for good reason that Jeremiah is called “the weeping prophet.” Not only is he the author of the book of Lamentations, but his ministry is also one of continued rejection. And not only did the people reject his warnings from the Lord, but God Himself promised Jeremiah that they would reject these admonitions […]

Read 10 chapters of the Bible every day?

There are many different kinds of Bible reading plans — Old Testament only, New Testament only, a-chapter-a-day, four-chapters-a-day, the whole Bible in a year, chronological readings. But a couple of months ago I came across another unique plan — 10 chapters a day! The design of the plan by English Professor Grant Horner is to […]

Some overlooked Piper quotes

Part of the problem of the technological age in which we live is that some things which should be forgotten and disappear into the vapor of air as soon as they are said, is that they are instead recorded, processed, transcribed, printed and disseminated in a variety of media forms, most notably, the Internet. On […]

What love is…and isn’t

Yesterday I suggested a new definition of love: “Love is a commitment of my love and affections to your needs and best interests regardless of the cost to me and as an expression of my desire to please God.” It is easy to think of this definition (or any other definition) and misunderstand it by […]

A good place to read a book

Justin Taylor pointed out what must be a really wonderful place to read a book: And then, when you are tired of reading, you can move to your desk to do some work: