Today’s Quote (9/11/08)

David Hegg, in Reforming Pastoral Ministry: Those who take pride in their independence and self-sufficiency will not come to prize a fellowship of interdependence until the myth of their independence is reformed according to the truth of Christ. The fruit of true fellowship demonstrated through mutual dependence among believers, comes only as we acknowledge our […]

Today’s Quote (9/10/08)

David Hegg, in Reforming Pastoral Ministry: Fellowship among believers is the fruit of fellowship with Christ. To produce the first, you must fertilize the second. What elevates true fellowship far above what the world would call friendship and belonging is simply this: Our relationship with fellow believers is a demonstration of our union with Christ, […]

Today’s Quote (9/9/09)

David Hegg, in Reforming Pastoral Ministry: Fellowship is a mutual participation in a common life that gives rise to shared enjoyment and responsibility.…The relationship that exists between believers is one of shared life, not merely the sharing of the things that fill our lives. To be sure, this relationship of interdependence, of interlocking lives, necessarily […]

Packer and Owen on mortification

Having written several blogs on the topic of mortification, and one specific review of John Owen’s masterpiece, On the Mortification of Sin, I was intrigued to read a short piece today by J. I. Packer on the influence of Owen on his own life. Packer has written several introductions to various Puritan works, along with […]

Today’s Quote (9/8/08)

“The Cambridge Declaration:” Scripture must take us beyond our perceived needs to our real needs and liberate us from seeing ourselves through the seductive images, cliches, promises and priorities of mass culture. It is only in the light of God’s truth that we understand ourselves aright and see God’s provision for our need. The Bible, […]

Sunday Leftovers (9/7/08)

Psalm 139 begins with David’s delight in God’s omniscience: God knows David’s past (v. 1) God knows David’s every present activity (vv. 2-3) God knows David’s every future word (and thoughts, v. 4) God knows David as if to surround him perpetually (v. 5) God’s knowledge of David is a delight to David (v. 6) […]

Today’s Quote (9/7/08)

Howard Hendricks, Living by the Book: The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much you understand [of Scripture], but how much you use. In the spiritual realm, the opposite of ignorance is not knowledge but obedience.

Fellowship – broken and reconciled

A number of years ago, one of my former seminary professors was preaching at a public event for men and exhorted us to expand our relationships by saying (and here I paraphrase): Every man needs three relationships: you need a Paul — someone walking ahead of you who will build into you, a Barnabas — […]

A woman in the White House but not in the pulpit?

Apparently, the selection of Sarah Palin by John McCain has triggered a number of questions and accusations against evangelicals. The debate is essentially over this question: “Evangelicals are willing to have a woman serve in the White House, but not as the pastor of a church? Isn’t that just a little inconsistent?” In light of […]

Today’s Quote (9/6/08)

John Piper, God is the Gospel: Gratitude that is pleasing to God is not first a delight in the benefits God gives (though that will be part of it). True gratitude must be rooted in something else that comes first — namely, a delight int he beauty and excellency of God’s character. If this is […]

Too much to read?

Do you ever feel like your “to read” book stack is out of control — that you will never get caught up on your reading? Sometimes the problem is not just a question about the amount of time needed to read, but knowing what to read. That’s where a group like Christian Book Summaries is […]

Today’s Quote (9/5/08)

Thomas Watson, The Godly Man’s Picture: What shall we do to be thankful? Answer 1: If you wish to be thankful, get a heart deeply humbled with the sense of your own vileness. A broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth God’s praise.…Answer 2: Strive for sound evidences of God’s love to you. […]

Today’s Quote (9/4/08)

Thomas Watson, The Godly Man’s Picture: A gracious soul is thankful and rejoices that he is drawn nearer to God, though it may be by the cords of affliction.…When God has a rod in his hand, a godly man will have a psalm in his mouth.

The marriage gene?

I unfolded the front section of my newspaper yesterday to find this headline: “Men’s genes may be the key to good fit.” It seems that researchers in Sweden concluded that men with the presence of a particular gene variant (approximately 40% have an extra copy of allele, a variant of a gene that influences brain […]

Today’s Quote (9/3/08)

Thomas Watson, The Godly Man’s Picture: Let me tell you, it is a sin not to rejoice. You disparage your Husband, Christ. When a wife is always sighing and weeping, what will others say? ‘This woman has a bad husband.’ Is this the fruit of Christ’s love to you, to reflect dishonour upon Him? A […]