Once again I would like to take an opportunity to answer a question from a reader, and in this case, a question that deals with the frequency with which a husband and wife ought to engage in sexual relations with one another. Here’s the question, followed by my response. In a recent book review you…
The Absent Minded Husband – I’m posting this one at the top in the hope that my wife will read it and develop a whole new sympathy for…wait, what was I talking about again? Making Sense of Inconsitency – Tim Keller has penned an article “considering the larger issue of inconsistency regarding things mentioned in…
When you come across the word encourage in Scripture, the sense is make strong, usually in regards to strengthening a person’s resolve so that he will press on in following the Lord. When you understand that meaning, you see that every Christian needs continual encouragement as he lives this Christian life. It is helpful to…
If there is something you do that consumes a lot of your waking hours, it makes good sense to read at least the occasional book that will challenge you to do that thing better. A preacher will read books on preaching, a hobbyist will read books about how to grow in skill at his hobby,…
Proven Weapons – John Piper: “Having promises at hand that suit the temptation of the hour is one key to successful warfare against sin. But there are times when we don’t have a perfectly suited word from God in our minds. And there is no time to look through the Bible for a tailor-made promise.…
There are a few hymns–just a few–that have been written to be sung as a petition to God immediately before the minister opens God’s Word. A favorite of mine is John Newton’s “Prayer for the Ministry of the Word.” It can be sung to any number of tunes including “Amazing Grace.” The best lines come…
God Is Merciful – This is a fantastic article from Jon Bloom. He explains why God is merciful not to tell us everything. “God is merciful not to tell us everything. He tells us enough to sustain us if we trust him. But often it does not feel like enough. We really think we would…
This week’s Free Stuff Fridays is sponsored by Christian Statements, a first-time sponsor here (though their sister company, Missional Wear, has sponsored in the past). They are offering 5 prizes, each of which is a $50 gift certificate to their store. Christian Statements offers removable decorative wall vinyl featuring scripture verses, inspirational phrases and quotes…
Tabletalk in Canada – Here’s some good news for Canadians: Ligonier’s Tabletalk magazine is now available in Canada for the same price as in the U.S. You’ll now get 12 issues for just $23. You know what to do… First Book Syndrome – Andy writes about a common issue with first-time authors: “The problem is…
I am in the unique and enjoyable position of receiving copies of most of the latest and greatest Christian books and I like to provide regular roundups of some of the best and brightest of the bunch. Here are some of the notable books that I’ve received in the past week or two. Emancipating the…
Those of us who have been reading David McIntyre’s classic work The Hidden Life of Prayer have now come to the end of the book, and before I leave off, I want to share just a couple of reflections on this week’s reading. This week we read a chapter titled “The Hidden Riches of the…
4 Reasons Men Like Porn – “One of the tasks of a good friend or accountability partner to someone who is entrenched in pornography is to help them understand their own heart. Why do they run to porn again and again?” Here is a helpful look at reasons men may be drawn to pornography. Norway…
For eight months now I have been following Professor Horner’s Bible-Reading Plan. At ten chapters a day, it moves quickly. Since January I’ve been through the entire New Testament a couple of times, have just about made it through the Pentateuch, and am also making my way through the minor prophets. Certain themes are apparent…
Twinterview – Jeremy Walker recently did what he calls a “twinterview” with David Murray and me. It is an interview between two people. “As usual, neither interviewee saw the other’s answers until both sets of responses were in, and there was no collaboration or collusion.” Complementarianism for Dummies – Mary Kassian has a very helpful…
I’ve been at this blogging thing for quite a long time now—it’s coming up on ten years. I’ve been at the daily blogging thing for almost as long. This means that I’ve got an extensive backlist of articles from years gone by. I thought it might be fun to pull out some of the articles…
A reader of this site recently asked me to explain how I determine whether a book is good and worthy of recommendation or whether it is not. That is a fair question and I was surprised to find that I had not addressed it in the past. I will take on that challenge today. It…
Sexting Rates – This is one to read if you’ve got a teenaged kid (or will soon have a teenaged kid). “Nearly 30% of U.S. teenagers are sexting, sending nude photos via email or text, according to a study that shows the behavior is more common than previously thought.” Grow Up? – Much has been…
Summer has officially begun here in Canada. School let out last week and then yesterday, July 1, we celebrated Canada Day. Between these two events and the heat wave we’re experiencing, it’s clear that summer is upon us. It won’t be long before my family is traveling and, actually, I have to make a brief…
When Fire Forces You From Home – Focus on the Family: “If you had only a few minutes to gather up a few select treasures of your life before fleeing a raging inferno, what would you take – and what would you leave behind? Families in Colorado Springs were faced with this very question this…
Alex Montoya’s Preaching With Passion is a defense of preaching and a practical how-to. One of Montoya’s concerns is that the preacher preach with authority. Here is a short quote in which he writes about the importance of serving as an ambassador of the Lord. Listen to what Lloyd-Jones says, and dare never to be…