A couple of nights ago I received the second endorsement for The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. As I mentioned the first time an endorsement came in, I will continue to share these because, in many ways, I feel that this book was a community effort as readers of the site prayed for me, encouraged me, proofread the book (in a few cases), and generally made it all possible. This second endorsement was courtesy of Dr. Donald Whitney (who, as you know, is Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, president of the Center for Biblical Spirituality and the author of several books you really need to read).
The path to most biblical graces is bordered with hazards on both sides of the way. With love, for example, one must avoid the temptation toward indulgence on one side and varying degrees of apathy on the other. With the subject of this book—discernment—one can fall into the ditch of careless naivete on the left or wander into the dark woods of a critical spirit on the right. Tim Challies carefully guides his reader between these dangers and on toward Christlike discernment. I’ve simply never read a more thorough, practical, and biblically sound treatment of this subject. Anyone wanting to study biblical discernment should not miss this book.
Needless to say, I’m grateful to Dr. Whitney for reading the review and providing this blurb and am much encouraged by it.
Comments (9) »
1. Jeri
July 7, 2007
3:38 PM
Way to go, Tim! Congratulations…I have appreciated Dr. Whitney’s web presence, and I really need to get his book on family worship. Those are good words he said about your book.
2. thebluefish
July 7, 2007
4:13 PM
I just hope we’ll be able to get this book in the UK.
dave
3. Alex S. Leung
July 7, 2007
4:54 PM
Wow, that’s a splendid endorsement! More evidences of God’s grace in your work on TDoSD :)
I can’t wait til August; I’m taking the Personal Spiritual Disciplines course with Dr. Whitney at Southern!
4. Leslie
July 7, 2007
5:38 PM
Sounding better and better with each endorsement!
5. Jabbok
July 7, 2007
7:40 PM
You may have mentioned this before and I didn’t see it but, just because I’m curious, did you suggest who you would like to review the book or did the publisher?
I’ve never heard of Donald Whitney but it sounds like he is in a good field to be a valuable reviewer of your book. Who knows, it might become a standard college textbook on the subject one day.
I can’t wait to read it.
What’s brewing in your head for the next one?
6. Tim Challies
July 7, 2007
7:46 PM
“You may have mentioned this before and I didn’t see it but, just because I’m curious, did you suggest who you would like to review the book or did the publisher?”
I did, mostly. The publisher offered a bit of advice but it has been up to me to choose some people and ask them if they’d consider endorsing it.
“What’s brewing in your head for the next one?”
All sorts of things, but nothing worth talking about yet. I’m in no huge hurry!
7. Andrew Lindsey
July 7, 2007
10:32 PM
Have you contacted Dr. Mohler for an endorsement yet? Because I can’t imagine that he would respond he doesn’t have time to read the book, as he is known for reading virtually EVERY book.
8. Susanna
July 7, 2007
11:32 PM
Right on! Thanks for keeping us up to date with these endorsements so we can share the excitement with you!
9. Dr. Bob LaForce
July 8, 2007
7:56 PM
Congratulations, Tim. I pray God’s richest blessings on this new avenue of ministry for you. I’m sure there is much more to come! I know that our Lord has many folks who will be deeply blessed through the reading and guidance they will receive from this book. The Lord bless you and your family!