Today, a foggy Sunday morning, is a good reading day. It reminds me of another good reading day a couple of years ago. Two books, besides my Bible, were on my docket: a novel, Anna Karenina by Tolstoy (my third or fourth read through), and What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper. Below are … More Love Idols that Destroy Love
No doubt, this confession comes as a shock to many of my readers, friends, and family members. Unfortunately, it is both true and embarrassing. But there is no going forward without a confession and owning up to the fact that my addiction is limiting my effectiveness and my experience of the love of God, and … More Confession: I am an Addict
I’m boxing up my books for yet another geographical move. And, as a book addict, I can’t help rereading them as I do. I have wept over old journals, been encouraged by old books, decided to give away over 200, and trashed about 100. That sounds like a lot, until I tell you that I … More A Lesson in Savoring Jesus
Today was a good reading day. Two books, besides my Bible were on my docket, a novel, Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper. Below are two passages, one from each that I think illumine one another. The first one is from Tolstoy. It comes from part two, … More Destroying Our Own Lives
If you are reading through the psalms in a month or seeking to pray through them as I do, the 11th day of the month takes you (in my pattern) from Psalm 11, to 41, to 71, to 101 and finally to Psalm 131. All of these psalms are ascribed to David save one, the … More A Postcard from God
Sunday is not the end but the beginning of the week. So, here’s some encouragement to start your week well. God’s best to all of you this week as you fight the good fight of faith. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.” #BicycleBeast “Great … More Great Quotes to Start Your Week
What Does Love for Jesus Really Look Like? There are probably a number of really good answers to that question. Short form answers include things like “an obedient life”, “a sacrificial life”, “a life lived in passionate pursuit of others”, “a gospel-centered life”, “a holy life”. No doubt all of these are valuable and revealing … More Hear the Story of an 8 year-old Boy Satisfied in Jesus.
The paragraphs below are the opening lines of John Piper’s mini-biography on Charles H. Spurgeon. From nearly 40 years of pastoral ministry, from the work I do with pastors since I left full-time pastoral ministry, I am convinced that these descriptions and observations are spot on. At the end of this post I want to … More Haunting Words for Pastors and the Rest of Us
It is an overstatement of course, but it is a question that is only asked by Christians. No one else is in the culture is interested in walking with God. They are interested in making a living, getting ahead, rooting for their favorite teams, having sex, drinking beer, collecting hobbies, piddling around in their gardens … More What Does it Mean to Walk with God?
I have been powerfully exercised this evening by the preaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones mediated to me through the short bio on Lloyd-Jones life by John Piper. I think I will be meditating (and praying on) these quotations for months. Those people who say that [baptism with the Holy Spirit] happens to everybody at regeneration seem … More What We Need to Understand About Revival
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