November 2007 Archive
Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! (11/30/07 - 4 Comments)
There are a couple of things I wanted to post before we head into the weekend… Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! FoxNews is reporting that “Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and knives, rallied Friday in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear ‘Muhammad.’” In response to the riots and the obvious danger, authorities was moved...
The Reformed [Baptist] Renewal (11/30/07 - 34 Comments)
Over at “Cowboyology,” Clint Humphreys has posted an interesting take on the Baptist wing of the Reformed Renewal we’re experiencing today. A former Professor of New Testament at Toronto Baptist Seminary, Clint now pastors Calvary Grace Church in Calgary, Alberta. Looking at the landscape of Reformed Baptists, he identifies five streams and suggests that most contemporary Reformed Baptists will fit into one of them. They are: The Neo-Evangelical Stream. Leading Example: John Piper Characteristics: Calvinistic...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 3) (11/29/07 - 32 Comments)
Today we continue reading the classics together by turning to the second chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. The opening portion of the book, which we will complete next week, is based upon an exposition of Romans 8:13: “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you...
Tears at Thanksgiving (11/28/07 - 35 Comments)
My mother maintains a blog—a private blog that she uses to keep the family up-to-date with the latest family news. Because her five children (and four children-in-law and seven grandchildren) are scattered from Ontario to New York, from Georgia to Tennessee, she makes her blog a central repository for news and information we need to know. Yesterday, based on conversations she had around Thanksgiving, she posted some thoughts on divorce and its awful ramifications on...
Book Review - Election and Free Will (11/27/07 - 14 Comments)
Election and Free Will: God’s Gracious Choice and Our Responsibility is what I believe to be the first volume in a series called “Explorations in Biblical Theology” (at least I could find no mention of previously published volumes). This book is written by Robert A. Peterson who is also serving as the Series Editor. The series is to include two types of books: some will treat biblical themes while others will deal with the theology...
"Buy My Book and Win" Winners (11/27/07 - 5 Comments)
Last Monday I announced that anyone who pre-ordered my book over the next week would be eligible to win a $100 gift certificate to Westminster Books or, as a consolation prize, a copy of the Literary Study Bible. Thanks to all of you who took the opportunity to buy the book. I ran the numbers and randomly selected the winners. And here they are. The first place prize goes to Ryan Higginbottom and the Bible...
Apostasy and Heresy (11/26/07 - 14 Comments)
The Banner of Truth web site features a host of useful articles (1302 at last count). One that I’ve found worth reading and bookmarking is entitled simply “Apostasy.” In the article the author, David Samuel, makes a distinction between two terms that many people mistakenly use synonymously – apostasy and heresy. Apostasy he defines as a rejection of truth that a person once believed. Hence I would be apostate if I were to suddenly reject...
King for a Week - Stand to Reason (11/25/07 - 3 Comments)
King for a Week is an honor I bestow on blogs that I feel are making a valuable contribution to my faith and the faith of other believers…or sometimes just because I really like them. It is a way of introducing my readers to blogs that they may also find interesting and edifying. Every two weeks (or so. That is theoretical. Practically, I don’t get around to updating as often as I should and we’ve...
"Escape" by Carolyn Jessop (11/24/07 - 6 Comments)
Escape is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre memoirs you are ever likely to read. It is small wonder that it quickly made its mark on the New York Times list of bestsellers. Written by Carolyn Jessop, a woman who was born into the Fundamentalist Lattery Day Saints (FLDS), the book describes what it is like to live as part of this cult which is distinctive primarily for its beliefs about polygamy. The FLDS, which...
Christmas Music Favorites (11/23/07 - 33 Comments)
Every now and again I get concerned that people are going to think this blog is getting too commercialized—that I keep trying to sell you things. I’m not into blogging for that. But sometimes it’s fun to talk about things like this, so bear with me. Today I’m going to talk about Christmas music and offer up some suggestions. A few of my favorite blogs have been offering Christmas music suggestions. I don’t think lists...
Looking For Deals Online (11/23/07 - 6 Comments)
I am not usually a big bargain hunter, but since we’re going to be down in Georgia for Christmas this year, I’ve been keeping an eye out for good deals at American-based e-commerce stores. After all, if we’ll be in the U.S. for Christmas, it means I can buy things online, have them shipped to my parents, and enjoy the deals that can be found online (deals that quickly become anything but when having to...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 2) (11/22/07 - 25 Comments)
“Be killing sin or it will be killing you…” This week we continue reading the classics together by turning to the second chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. Last week we read the first chapter which was an exposition of Romans 8:13: “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if...
Rebellion, Kindle, Amazing Grace and Other Miscellania (11/21/07 - 12 Comments)
I’m off to a late start today. We had a regularly scheduled parent-teacher kind of conference for my daughter (who is in Kindergarten/Preschool) and my wife had to first observe her in her class for an hour and then to speak with the teacher for a few minutes. Turns out our girl is near the top of her class in everything. So we’re pleased! But, because I had to keep an eye on the baby...
Slandering Jesus (11/20/07 - 4 Comments)
Though many people use the name of Jesus in our day, it often seems that one Jesus bears very little resemblance to another. While almost everyone claims to love Jesus, few seem to know the real Jesus. It is to this problem that Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, addresses his new book Slandering Jesus. The format is a simple. An opening chapter introduces the problem and the author’s rationale for addressing it....
Buy My Book and Win! (11/19/07 - 8 Comments)
Buy my book and win $100. Just like that… It has been a few weeks now since my book became available for pre-order. I offer my thanks to the hundreds of you who have been kind enough to order a copy (and special thanks to Aileen who volunteered to take on the task of organizing all of the orders—putting them into a spreadsheet and printing up address labels. She spoils me.). I’m looking forward to...
Ruined For Anything Else (11/19/07 - 16 Comments)
Aileen and I were once members of a church that, after a few years of existence, began to de-emphasize doctrine. Some of the pastors seemed to reach the conclusion that “doctrine divides” and that the church really just needed to focus on evangelism and on “action.” They seemed to determine that a sound theological foundation held in common was unattainable and unrealistic. Therefore, doctrine should be laid aside and the church should rally around the...
Making Progress by Writing (11/18/07 - 5 Comments)
A question I am asked quite often goes something like this: “Do you ever have a day where you just do not want to write anything?” Are there ever days when the absolute last thing I want to do is to sit down and write? I can answer, quite honestly I think, that this happens only very rarely. There are definitely times where I don’t feel like I have much to say (and some would...
2007 Book Guide (11/17/07 - 3 Comments)
Last year around this time I began what I suppose is about to become a tradition—I made up a book guide to help people choose books to buy others for Christmas (or, of course, just to buy for themselves). As you know, I read and review a lot of books, usually around 100 per year. I have been pleased to find that others are able to benefit from my love of reading through these reviews....
A Gift From Max McLean (11/16/07 - 4 Comments)
The November giveaway has just wrapped up and the winners have been announced via an email I sent just a few moments ago (see here for more information about the giveaway. At the close of the giveaway Fellowship of the Performing Arts, the sponsor of the giveaway, has generously extended a special offer to readers of this site (or to anyone else who cares to take advantage of it!). If you visit http://www.listenersbible.com/landing/tc.php you can...
Still Not Over It (11/16/07 - 15 Comments)
One of the unexpected blessings of writing this blog is that it sets in stone (so to speak—it’s actually more like pixels) things that I’ve believed and things that I’ve felt. I use the blog, in some ways, as a record of spiritual development. I return quite often to articles I’ve written in the past to challenge myself anew or to recount God’s grace in my life. A couple of years ago, a friend of...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 1) (11/15/07 - 55 Comments)
“Put to death the deeds of the body…” Today is the first day of the second round of Reading the Classics Together. Having enjoyed J.C. Ryle’s Holiness over a period of eight weeks, we are ready to move on to the next book. Between comments, email, and face-to-face interaction, I think I can safely say that at least several hundred people have indicated an interest in joining in this effort as we read John Owen’s...
Modern Parables: Living in the Kingdom of God (DVD) (11/14/07 - 17 Comments)
Modern Parables: Living in the Kingdom of God is an original Bible study curriculum designed for people who like movies and is just the first in a planned series of film-driven studies on the parables of Jesus. The films are geared towards use for youth groups, small groups, evangelism or even home schooling curriculum. Volume 1 features six of Jesus' parables, told anew through film and set in a contemporary context. The 12-lesson study combines...
Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the Rest of God (11/13/07 - 9 Comments)
I do not generally consider myself a worrier. I am more the easy-going type--the kind who is generally carefree and and does not succumb to fear. Or so I like to think. But even then I have to admit that I can be fearful--I can give in to the temptation to worry. Even if I worry about the things I consider "big," I prove to myself that I am still a worrier at heart. And...
It Was My Sin that Held Him There (11/12/07 - 21 Comments)
As seems to be the case with most children, my friends and I went through a stage where we found great joy in tying people to things. In second or third grade we would take turns being the guys who would grab the skipping ropes and twist endless knots, fastening one of our friends to a tree or fence or flag pole. And, of course, we would take turns being the unfortunate one who was...
Day of All the Week the Best (11/11/07 - 2 Comments)
Today is the day of rest - the day God has graciously given us that we might rest in Him. Today, while digging around in my files, I came across a favorite hymn—“Safely through another week,” penned by John Newton. It seemed a good hymn to ponder on a Sunday afternoon (even though it is clearly intended for Saturday evening reflection). It speaks of God’s grace in granting health and safety through the week gone...
Riddle Me This, Owen (11/10/07 - 10 Comments)
I've been wondering...why is it that I am much more bothered by a sin someone committed against me, than the fact that I committed that I went ahead and blundered into the same sin? How is it that, when the person sinned against me, I did not learn a lesson and allow this to persuade me from sinning in the same way? I should have known better, but I went ahead and did it anyways....
Manna in the Morning (11/09/07 - 12 Comments)
Have you ever stopped to ponder what it might have been like for the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness, knowing that each day they would completely exhaust their food supply? Have you thought what it would be like knowing that they would go to bed with no food, but that the next day their supplies would be fully and miraculously replenished? It is an interesting, thought, really, and one that is worth considering....
Environmentalism - A New Religion (11/08/07 - 52 Comments)
Yesterday we received notice that the town of Oakville is changing the trash collection strategy. Currently we have our trash picked up every week and have "blue boxes" or recycling bins picked up every other week. Beginning in April, we've recently learned, we'll have garbage pickup every other week and recycling pickup every week. We'll all be given a "GreenCart" into which we can toss all manner of wet and compostable garbage. Though the layout...
Excessive Reading (11/07/07 - 15 Comments)
Of all the questions that find their way into my inbox, I don't know that any topic receives more attention than reading. I get a lot of questions from people asking if I've read or can recommend certain titles, but also a lot of questions just about reading--how to do it and how to do it more. A couple of days ago, a friend and long-time reader of this site (one of this site's very...
A Great November Giveaway (11/06/07 - 12 Comments)
Great Resources From Fellowship for the Performing Arts... These giveaways have been very successful. In the past two months I've coordinated with sponsors to give out over fifty books to readers of this site. This month you've got another chance to some great prizes. The Sponsor First, a word about sponsors. Each of these giveaways is sponsored by a different ministry or a Christian company. I’d ask that you express your gratitude to these sponsors...
John Piper's "The Future of Justification" (11/06/07 - 10 Comments)
Mark Tubbs, who writes reviews for Discerning Reader, has just posted his review of John Piper's newest book, The Future of Justification. Here are a few quotes: A certain friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) attended a certain pastoral training institute (which shall remain nameless) where he was once advised by a certain staff member (who shall remain nameless) of said pastoral training institute that Dr. John Piper (D. Theol. From the University of...
The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism (11/06/07 - 3 Comments)
The doctrines that together form what we call “Calvinism” have always been controversial. Since the time of the Reformation, they have brought out both the best and the worst in Christians. Critiques of Calvinistic theology tends to focus upon certain areas, certain questions that continue to confuse and continue to cause people to insist that Calvinism cannot be biblical. In The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism, a short book published by Ligonier Ministries, author Craig R....
Imitate Their Faith (11/05/07 - 5 Comments)
It was near the end of the book of Hebrews that I found some verses that have been bouncing around in my head for some time now. With the epistle drawing to a close, the pastor who authored this letter exhorts the believers to remember the men who had once led the church, to consider how these men lived, and to imitate their faith. “Remember your leaders,” he says, “those who spoke to you the...
Two Conferences (11/05/07 - 2 Comments)
I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of conferences that, though they do not take place until 2008, are coming up rather quickly now. Nashville Conference on the Church & Theology (February 8-10) The Nashville Conference on the Church & Theology is hosted by Community Bible Church. This is how they introduce this conference: “After fifty years of ‘church growth’ methodology, the Church’s landscape is littered with countless relics of the latest and...
Lifted Up (11/04/07 - 6 Comments)
I wanted to begin today by sharing a few words of wisdom from my daughter who just turned five: “In heaven you can’t die, so you can eat popcorn and hot dogs at the same time and not have to worry about choking.” I just thought you’d all like to have one more thing to look forward to in eternity. Of course one could well ask, “If there are hot dogs in heaven, could it...
Saturday Miscellania (11/03/07 - 13 Comments)
It has been a busy weekend...and it's only Saturday afternoon. Yesterday evening I took my son and one of our young neighbors to a hobby show where an old friend was working. We had fun watching the planes, trains and automobiles on display. We got home late and then spent the morning preparing for my daughter's birthday party. We've just returned from building a craft and celebrating her birthday at a nearby store. Now the...
Blood on the Book (11/02/07 - 27 Comments)
All Scripture is breathed out by God… In my personal devotions I’ve recently begun a study of Esther. Since it is a short book and one that is entirely narrative, I do not anticipate being in the book for long—probably just about one day per chapter. Esther is probably best known among Christians as being a book of the Bible that never mentions God, either explicitly or even implicitly. But though His name is never...
Reading The Next Classic Together (11/01/07 - 173 Comments)
A couple of months ago some of the readers of this site began to read some Christian classics together. We spent eight weeks reading through J.C. Ryle's Holiness, covering one chapter per week and posting some thoughts about the book on Thursday mornings. I'm not quite sure how many people took the opportunity to read along with us, but believe it was in excess of one hundred. Holiness was a worthwhile read and we learned...
