(Continued from yesterday) There were others that missed that first Christmas. They were two groups of people that should have known Christ — but still chose to ignore Christ. There were the religious leaders. They knew where Christ was to be born (Micah 5:2), but showed no interest in Him when the wise men showed […]
Read More They missed Christmas, Pt. 2They missed Christmas. Oh, they were there. They saw the baby. They heard the cries of joy from the shepherds. They might have heard the testimonies of Anna and Simeon. They heard the story of angelic visits from Joseph and Mary. But they missed Christmas. Take, for instance, the innkeeper. When a teenage couple in […]
Read More They missed ChristmasIn my office, literally within arms reach of my desk I have 18-20 English Bibles. That doesn’t count my Bibles at home or in my car, the many versions on my computer, or the hundreds of commentaries on my shelves that also contain English translations of the Scripture. I affirm that having Scripture so readily […]
Read More The uncommon WordTomorrow in our Bible reading plan we begin reading the final book of the Bible — Revelation. This book, often read, widely speculated about, and frequently puzzled over, is one of the most confusing to more than a few readers. A good guide will help you through this book. And Robert Thomas is just such […]
Read More An Overview of RevelationAdolphe Monod observes, as D. L. Moody did in a previous generation, that it is unknown just what might be accomplished through the life of an individual wholly committed to God: We have no idea of what we would be able to do if we were completely lost in such total harmony with God; if […]
Read More What could you do…?As a child, I was taught what you might call “formula prayers” for bedtime and meals — a prayer that was repeated at each meal and another at each nightfall. The same words were given with the same intonation at the same time each day. It was many years before I felt liberated to pray […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (12/13/09)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 […]
Read More The wonder of the crossWere 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 […]
Read More What is sin?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 […]
Read More Questions to diagnose the heart of your childJohn 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.”
Read More John Piper is thankful (and so am I)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 […]
Read More Thanksgiving is for everydayIgnatius: 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 […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Humility (Ignatius)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 […]
Read More Thanksgiving is over…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 […]
Read More Book Review: Counterfeit GodsG. 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 […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Thanksgiving (Chesterton)
