I would pay good money to watch a debate between John Owen and Joel Osteen. Wouldn’t you? I have read John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation many times now, and have benefited with every reading. It just never gets old and it just never stops sounding so counter-cultural, countering both the wider culture and even…
True Things In a True Way – I appreciate what Darryl says here: “I’ve noticed a trend. In many of our settings, we tend to say things that are true as far as they go, but the way we say them contradicts what’s being said.” The Case for Face-to-Face Meetings – There’s much more that…
This series on productivity is beginning to reach its end. But before it winds down, I have just a couple more topics to cover, and one of them is the all-important weekly review. I have written at length about the value of a system. Systems are wonderful and powerful, but require some maintenance in order…
Man, Woman, and the Mystery of Christ – Here’s the (PDF) text of Russell Moore’s address at the Vatican earlier this week. Interpretive Dance – WORLD magazine covers BioLogos. “The BioLogos Foundation is making a major, well-funded push to change the way Christians read Genesis and think about Adam and Eve.” Daily Devotionals – I’m…
As a pastor, I regularly meet with people who are intent on overcoming a serious sin in their lives. Yet, as you well know, those serious sins rarely yield easily. Far more often than not they demand a long and intense battle. To help in this battle I have put together what I call Battle…
200 Calories – I’m kind of jealous that Americans get to celebrate Thanksgiving soon, so I thought I’d ruin it by sharing what 200 calories of many different foods looks like. Count to Three in Hebrew – Was Jesus in the tomb for 3 days, or for 1 and half? Technology and the Glory of…
In a time when most people were ignorant of the Bible, William Tyndale resolved that if God would spare his life, even the boy plowing the fields would know the Scriptures better than the typical priest of his day. He also fervently promoted the teachings of the Reformation such as justification by faith in Christ…
Like so many other people, I have a love-hate relationship with money. I love what money can do and accomplish, and I hate how money is so fleeting. It seems like every dollar is hard-earned and easily-spent. Every dollar can be used in a million different ways and so much of life’s anxiety comes from…
12 Struggles Singles Face – David outlines some of the struggles singles may face. He also defines singleness wider than you may be accustomed to. Distinguishing the Spirit and the Serpent – “How do we distinguish the promptings of the Spirit of grace in His guiding and governing of our lives from the delusions of…
I recently came across this powerful prayer–I can’t even remember where I found it. I wanted to share it with you as a great example of a prayer of true and deep repentance. My God, I feel it is heaven to please Thee, and to be what Thou wouldst have me be. O that I…
I am in Norco, California for the day, speaking to college students here about a variety of topics—productivity, technology, and pornography. By tomorrow afternoon I’ll be back on home turf and back to much better weather–cold and snowy! If you ever enjoyed Garth Brooks’ music, you might enjoy this attempt to understand his appeal and…
This week’s Free Stuff is sponsored by our good friends Christian Focus. They are offering 5 prize packages this week. Each of the 5 winners will receive all of the following books: Pleased to Dwell- A Biblical Introduction to the Incarnation by Peter Mead. At the centre of heaven is Christ, lovingly adored as the…
4 Dangers for Complementarians – Gavin Ortlund outlines 4 dangers complementarians need to face. “I don’t think it’s a sign of compromise to listen to some of their critiques. After all, some of the problems they are reacting against are real.” Christmas Is for Sharing – It may be only a commercial, but it’s a…
It’s a battle we all must fight. It’s a battle we all must fight from this moment until the moment we die. It’s a battle fraught with discouragement and setbacks, yet a battle we all can and must win. It’s the battle against sin. All throughout the New Testament we are told to put our…
Over-Pastoring, Under-Pastoring – “There are two common dangers in pastoral ministry and Paul is alert to both of them. They are what we might call over-pastoring and under-pastoring.” Little Things Matter – Kim Shay directs some encouragement at young stay-at-home moms. Divine Revision – Slate has an interesting article on why the Mormonism will eventually…
Today I am continuing this series on Christians and productivity. I have said that productivity is effectively stewarding your gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God, and to this point I have suggested many different ways of doing that (You can see a series round-up at…
A Soldier’s Diary – What was it really like to fight in the Second World War? These diary excerpts give us some glimpses. Hide or Seek – You may want to check out this book deal from Westminster Books. When a book is recommended by Tim Keller, Ed Welch, Scotty Smith, and Philip Ryken, it…
What is a man’s greatest challenge? Of all the virtues described in the Bible, which is the one that causes men the most pronounced struggle as they seek to exemplify it? Many will be tempted to look straight to sexual purity and the allure of sexual sin, but in his book A Man’s Greatest Challenge…
The Missing Ingredient – “Guys can be exegetically sound, communicate with clarity, illustrate with profundity, and then at the end of the sermon it tastes like grandma’s meatloaf: somewhat filling but not so memorable.” A Word About Men and Marriage – Jason Garwood sounds a little mad here, but I understand what he is saying.…
Keeping up with your Bible study, let alone keeping it rich and exciting, is a daily struggle for many people. Whether you’re a pastor tired from late-night sermon prep, a seminary student buried under tedious tasks, an academic lacking the resources to make new discoveries, or a layperson wanting to be more confident in your…