Today’s Quote – Scripture (Galli)

Mark Galli, “Yawning at the Word:” Whenever the Bible is read, a hush should come over us. We should be inching toward the edge of our seats, leaning forward, turning our best ear toward the speaker, fearful we’ll miss a single word—the deeds and words and character of Almighty and Merciful God are being revealed! […]

Book Review: Disciplines of a Godly Man

Title: Disciplines of a Godly Man Author: R. Kent Hughes Publisher: Crossway Books, 2009; 304 pp. $15.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): There are a variety of reasons that people fail to live disciplined lives — laziness and apathy, fleeting awareness of the cost of feeble discipline, weakness and immaturity, lack of a role model, and sometimes, […]

Today’s Quote – Anxiety (Calvin)

John Calvin, quoted in John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology: For what can be more awfully tormenting than to be constantly racked with doubt and anxiety? And we will never be able to arrive at a calm state of mind until we are taught to repose with implicit confidence in the providence […]

Today’s Quote – Self-Examination (Alexander)

J. W. Alexander, Remember Him: The greatest care is necessary in an affair so important as the examination of your state before God. You will naturally be reluctant to come to an unfavourable conclusion about this and so self-love combined with self-ignorance will expose you to the danger of self-deception. Earnestly endeavour to exercise a […]

Book Review: Remember Him

Title: Remember Him Author: J. W. Alexander Publisher: Banner of Truth (reprint), 2000; 56 pp. $5.00 Recommendation (4-star scale): For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) Those words by the apostle Paul are familiar to believers, who likely […]

Today’s Quote – Marriage

Christianity Today editorial, “Just Married?”: In the context of this privatized understanding of marriage, in which the institution is valued for its tax value and its health-insurance implications, it is no wonder that gay activists are making their bid for its benefits. If marriage is merely the private choice of two individuals to enter into […]

Free Piper audio book

From Christian Audio Books today: Desiring God by John Piper is the free audiobook download for November; one of the best-selling and most popular titles ever published by christianaudio! Scripture reveals that the great business of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. In this paradigm-shattering classic, newly revised and expanded, John Piper […]

Book Review: Why We Love the Church

Title: Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion Authors: Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck Publisher: Moody Publishers, 2009; 234 pp. $14.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): Well-written books are becoming a trend for Kevin DeYoung. Just three years ago, he published his first book, and just 18 months ago he published […]

Germany trip wrap-up — the countries

Our ten-day trip to Germany also included a two-day trip to Poland. Prior to the second world war, the area of what is now northern Poland was part of Germany and it included an area where our ancestors had lived. Actually, the paternal side of our family began in Enns, Austria some 500 years ago. […]

Today’s Quote – Holiness (Calvin)

John Calvin, quoted in John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology: I call “piety” that reverence joined with love of God which the knowledge of his benefits induces. For until men recognize that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by his fatherly care, that he is the Author of their […]

Germany trip wrap-up — Wittenberg

When our trip to Germany was planned, we intentionally inserted an extra day at the beginning of the trip prior to beginning the teaching to give us a little more time to acclimate to the time change. When thinking about what to do on that day, Dad asked on one occasion, “Would you like […]

Today’s Quote – Majesty (Pascal)

Blaise Pascal, Pensees: Do little things as though they were great, because of the majesty of Jesus Christ who does them in us, and who lives our life: and do the greatest things as though they were little and easy, because of His omnipotence. (HT: CQOD)

Salvation by grace alone

How important is salvation by grace — grace alone? God rescued us from His just wrath against our sins because He is by nature gracious! This quality permeates the being of God and causes Him to delight in doing good to those who deserve instead His wrath, His anger, His fury. It was that quality—and […]

Germany trip wrap-up — teaching

Twenty-seven years ago I went on my first mission trip and preached my first sermon. It was an experience the Lord used in a profound way to shape the future and direction of my life. Two days ago I returned from another overseas trip to minister the Word of God in a cross-cultural setting. And […]

Additions coming next week

My schedule while preparing to teach and teaching has been quite full, allowing little blogging time. The teaching has now concluded, and we made it through the book of Matthew in four days! (And only went about five minutes over at the end, too!) I will have some reflections on the teaching and the impact […]