The wonder of the cross

Yesterday I was going through a stack of articles that I’d tagged to be filed and came across one in which the author was reflecting on the nature of the cross and the atonement — he had been meditating on the “practical outworking” of the atonement, and had come up with three insights (which he […]

What is sin?

Were we able to daily understand the reality of sin and its consequences, it would have far less attraction to us. Two statements from two different writers have helped me in comprehending what sin really is. I have heard John MacArthur say on numerous occasions, “Sin is what we do when we are disappointed with […]

Questions to diagnose the heart of your child

The trouble of arriving at adequate solutions to complex problems is the difficulty of diagnosis. Make a mistake in evaluation and you are almost certain to make an inadequate response. That’s true for a mechanic and a car engine, a student and a math equation, a plumber and a clogged drain, an accountant and a […]

John Piper is thankful (and so am I)

John Piper has written much about thanksgiving and Desiring God has put together some of his thoughts. If you need more stimulants to gratitude, you might try “Some Thanksgiving Reading.” A number of thoughts on gratitude from this blog can be found at “Gratitude.”

Thanksgiving is for everyday

The leftovers sit in the refrigerator, the football feast is over, and maybe even some of the Christmas shopping is ended. But thanksgiving isn’t over. Thanksgiving isn’t for a day; it’s for everyday. Yesterday morning I read Habakkuk again — and was reminded why gratitude is important. Though the fig tree should not blossom And […]

Today’s Quote – Humility (Ignatius)

Ignatius: Allow (the pagans) to learn a lesson at least from your works. Be meek when they break out in anger, be humble against their arrogant words, set your prayers against their blasphemies; do not try to copy them in requital. Let us show ourselves their brethren by our forbearance and let us be zealous […]

Thanksgiving is over…

Linus sat at the table, pen in hand, writing. His first attempt ended up crumpled on the floor. And so did his second. And third. And fourth. Finally, in frustration, he muttered, “Rats! It’s hard to write a thank you note for a Christmas toy that’s already broken.” You know the feeling, don’t you? I […]

Book Review: Counterfeit Gods

Title: Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters Author: Timothy Keller Publisher: Dutton, 2009; 210 pp. $19.95 Recommendation (4-star scale): I first started thinking of idolatry as something more than a metal or wood structure made with hands ten or twelve years ago when reading […]

Today’s Quote – Thanksgiving (Chesterton)

G. K. Chesterton, A Short History of England: I do not, in my personal capacity, believe that a baby gets his best physical food by sucking his thumb; nor that a man gets his best moral food by sucking his soul, and denying its dependence on God or other good things. I would maintain that […]

Can an atheist give thanks tomorrow?

Thanksgiving is a deeply theological act, rightly understood. As a matter of fact, thankfulness is a theology in microcosm — a key to understanding what we really believe about God, ourselves, and the world we experience. A haunting question is this: How do atheists observe Thanksgiving? I can easily understand that an atheist or agnostic […]

Today’s Quote – Idolatry (Keller)

Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods: Many, if not most, of these counterfeit gods can remain in our lives once we have “demoted” them below God. Then they won’t control us and bedevil us with anxiety, pride, anger, and drivenness. Nevertheless, we must not make the mistake of thinking that this story means all we have to […]

In everything give thanks

A young boy was asked by his father to say grace at dinner. While the rest of the family waited, he slowly looked over every dish of food on the table. After his examination, he bowed his head and honestly prayed, “Lord, I don’t like the looks of it, but I thank you for it, […]

Today’s Quote – Christ’s Love (Bunyan)

John Bunyan, All Loves Excelling: …that a person so great, so high, so glorious, as this Jesus Christ was, should have love for us, that passes knowledge. It is common for equals to love, and for superiors to be beloved; but for the King of princes, for the Son of God, for Jesus Christ to […]

The reluctant evangelist

Are you reluctant to evangelize? You’re not alone. And Mark Dever’s book, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, has been written to help you. He talks about the book to The Briefing.

Today’s Quote – Weariness (Warfield)

B. B. Warfield, “The Religious Life of Theological Students:” Other men, oppressed by the hard conditions of life, sunk in the daily struggle for bread perhaps, distracted at any rate by the dreadful drag of the world upon them and the awful rush of the world’s work, find it hard to get time and opportunity […]