Updated Bookshelf

I've updated and recategorized my "bookshelf", which is found yonder on the sidebar on the right side of your screen (or here). If you've got time to check it out, these are titles that receive my whole-hearted approval, which is an honor every author sets out to achieve prior to touching ink to parchment. =)

These works have helped mold and teach me as I journey to 'study to show myself a workman, unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.' I would encourage all of you to read and learn as much doctrine (greek for 'teaching') and theology (greek for 'a word from God') as possible. We study and master so many intricate things - some things for our careers, others more trivial, but we often offer excuses why we don't seek to learn and study hard the things of infinite value under the guise of 'it being to difficult' or 'I'm just not a theologian.' Remember that the Holy Spirit is what ultimately illuminates your mind to Scripture and the things of God, so trust in Him to help you understand his truth as you set out to learn. Always do it with a humble and trembling attitude, realizing your deficiency and you'll do well! (Isaiah 66:2) And remember that God will give us wisdom liberally, all we have to do is ask! (James 1)

#5 John Piper - Sovereign Joy in the Life and Thought of St. Augustine

(A series of 48 sermons that have angered, broken, impacted, molded,
and changed me.)

#5 “Sovereign Joy in the Life and Thought of St. Augustine” – John Piper

Piper’s passion is so addicting! I never really got Piper’s “Christian hedonism.” It seemed too man centered, until explained through the lens of Augustine’s definition of grace – God’s giving to us a sovereign joy in God that triumphs over the joy of sin.

We need to discover purity/chastity in God more desirable than lust. We need to find our Joy in Him over everything else.

What trifles am I keeping instead of God?

“Not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not in quarrels and rivalries, rather arm yourselves with the lord Jesus Christ. Spend no more thought on nature and nature’s appetites.” Romans 13:13

D.A. Carson Interview

Free Audio Book - Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan

My friend Michael Spotts recently posted this gem on his blog, and I thought it too good not to share with all of you!

He writes:

"Second to the bible, do you know what the most widely read book of all time is? John Bunyan's classic allegory, Pilgrim's Progress, which happens to be this month's free audio book at ChristianAudio.com. Now you can join Christian on his perilous journey to the celestial city (all ten amazing .mp3 hours of it!) while saving your pennies for some other tome.

Use the coupon code JUN2008 to redeem this month's free audiobook download from christianaudio.com.

You'll have to join first, but joining is free and takes just a minute. Add the book to your cart and when it prompts you for the coupon code, enter it - the price will drop to $0. I've been a member for the last year and have received several top-quality books from them for free. Act fast, Bunyan's book is only free for this month."

Description: "John Bunyan was a simple maker and mender of pots and kettles who received very little education. In spite of that, he penned the most successful allegory ever written. He lost his first wife and was imprisoned for twelve years for his compelling—but unlicensed—preaching. Nevertheless, his preaching about the gravity of sin, salvation by grace, the cost of discipleship, perseverance, and the glory of eternal life lives on in the signs and symbols of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Embark on a perilous journey with Christian, the lead character, from the City of Destruction to the luminous safe haven of the Celestial City. The journey will encourage you to “set your hope fully on the grace to be given you” amidst the obstacles of life."

A Matthew Henry Moment

"And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch."
~Genesis VI, 13-14


"Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he."
~Genesis VI, 22


Noah's care and diligence in building the ark may be considered, 1. As an effect of his faith in the word of God. God had told him he would shortly drown the world; he believed it, feared the threatened deluge, and, in that fear, prepared the ark. Note, We ought to mix faith with the revelation God has made of his wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men; the threatenings of the word are not false alarms. Much might have been objected against the credibility of this warning given to Noah. "Who could believe that the wise God, who made the world, should so soon unmake it again, that he who had drawn the waters off the dry land (ch. i. 9, 10) should cause them to cover it again? How would this be reconciled with the mercy of God, which is over all his works, especially that the innocent creatures should die for man's sin? Whence could water be had sufficient to deluge the world? And, if it must be so, why should notice be given of it to Noah only?" But Noah's faith triumphed over all these corrupt reasonings. 2. As an act of obedience to the command of God. Had he consulted with flesh and blood, many objections would have been raised against it. To rear a building, such a one as he never saw, so large, and of such exact dimensions, would put him upon a great deal of care, and labour, and expense. It would be a work of time; the vision was for a great while to come. His neighbours would ridicule him for his credulity, and he would be the song of the drunkards; his building would be called Noah's folly. If the worst came to the worst, as we say, each would fare as well as his neighbours. But these, and a thousand such objections, Noah by faith got over. His obedience was ready and resolute: Thus did Noah, willingly and cheerfully, without murmuring and disputing. God says, Do this, and he does it. It was also punctual and persevering: he did all exactly according to the instructions given him, and, having begun to build, did not leave off till he had finished it; so did he, and so must we do. 3. As an instance of wisdom for himself, thus to provide for his own safety. He feared the deluge, and therefore prepared the ark. Note, When God gives warning of approaching judgments, it is our wisdom and duty to provide accordingly. See Exod. ix. 20, 21; Ezek. iii. 18. We must prepare to meet the Lord in his judgments on earth, flee to his name as a strong tower (Prov. xviii. 10), enter into our chambers (Isa. xxvi. 20, 21), especially prepare to meet him at death and in the judgment of the great day, build upon Christ the Rock (Matt. vii. 24), go into Christ the Ark. 4. As intended for warning to a careless world; and it was fair warning of the deluge coming. Every blow of his axes and hammers was a call to repentance, a call to them to prepare arks too. But, since by it he could not convince the world, by it he condemned the world, Heb. xi. 7.

Praise God for the Beauty and Reality of His Sanctification!

I'm not here yet, but I'm thankful that He is breaking me, and making me His own.

////

Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.

Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost.

Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.

Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.

Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.

Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the vale.

////


A.B. Simpson (1843-1919) was a Canadian preacher, theologian, and author, and founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), an evangelical protestant denomination with an emphasis on global evangelism.

An Amazing (and Exausting) Weekend!

One of my best friends, Riley, got married Saturday, and I was honored to have been a member of his wedding party. Friends came in from all over the country and it was a blessed several days where we were able to fellowship together again as a group. I kidnapped Riley on Wednesday to begin the weekend festivities, and brought him out to Backbone State Park, for his very last bachelor trip. We spent the entire day in the woods, playing chess, reading and writing, and in prayer. It was perfect. (View the rest of the photos here) Thursday and Friday found us all in many times of prayer, laughter, and Mario Kart. I think I got an average of 4 hours of sleep every night that weekend. The wedding itself was beautiful - it's the first time I'm teared up at one. The vows were sacred.

All the guys also contributed VERY generously to Riley's wedding gift, and we were able to buy him some really great books! Thank you all for all your help getting everything organized last weekend!! I miss you all. Come back and visit again soon. Please?



Per Request of several people I've decided to post the speech I gave at Riley's Reception. Though I'm hesitant to do so for a number of reasons. Pride being the first one. It's hard to keep a clear head when a dozen or so people talk about how great something was that you did. I attribute any insight or eloquence the address may have had unto God and his grace upon me and the things HE has taught me in the past couple years. Second, the speech was meant for there and then, that specific moment to that specific person and his bride. So there is a difficulty for me in almost "resurrecting" something, or at least, taking it out of it's element. It also seems kind of pretentious - though I hope it doesn't come across that way - posting something that has already has been done. I hope this doesn't come across as looking for more praise for myself. I'm only posting it because of the insistence of those who have asked me for it, and I hope it brings edification and challenge to everyone who reads it. Thanks!

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March 3rd, 2008

Riley,

We’ve sojourned together these past five years as fellow heirs in this grace of life; from the first time we met all the way through early morning singing, late night heart-bearing, MY BAPTISM, countless trips and countless prayers. And even through times of pain and battle - I count it as nothing but JOY to have had you as my friend. You’ve never ceased giving to me – physically, emotionally, spiritually. Thank you.

G.K. Chesterton once called St. Francis of Assisi a “living poem” and I can’t help but echo his sentiments today in regards to you. You ARE a poem Riley. The meter of your life is an eclectic one - ever changing but always guided by the hand of God. And the words that make and come out of your mouth bear such a cadence that only a fool could miss their beauty. And your content...impacts people. It changes them. This room full of people - especially this girl by your side is a testament to that. Your life is so radiant because you strive, and I know you strive hard, after reflecting that perfect Poem. That perfect man and that fully God combined in that mystical union. And although your poem sometimes contains a faulty rhyme or a dissident note, it still outshines ANY I have ever encountered. And now your poem is changing again - and it must for you have found a ‘very good thing’.

I have a charge for the both of you.

We believe in a sovereign God. A God of order and a God of detail. A God who doesn’t allow anything to happen that is beyond his control. ‘For we know that God causes ALL things to work together for GOOD to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.’ If you can just believe that as a FACT - not just a vague doctrine that we give a mental assent to - but if you can hold it as a REALITY, it will prosper your marriage more than anything I have encountered. Jacquie is going to be a wonderful wife to you - a helper who can listen to you and empathize with you and give you joys upon joys as you grow in life together…but she has her weaknesses as well. Just as you, Riley, have SUCH strengths that will help empower Jacquie – your weaknesses will still be there, and, in fact, as I have discovered, your weaknesses will only become magnified in a marriage. But when, Riley, you come to the realization that your wife’s weaknesses have been divinely orchestrated for a purpose...and a good purpose at that - it lifts you from despair into worship. HER weaknesses and YOURS too Riley - for you certainly have your fair share of those - are there to do the same thing as everything else in this world to those whom God loves…to conform you to the image of Christ. When we think of the great qualities of our Lord that we glory in most and want to emulate we see that they are usually threefold - we praise in His mercy, His grace, and His unconditional love. YOU BOTH DO NOT MEET ALL OF EACH OTHERS CONDITIONS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT LOVE SOMEONE UNCONDITIONALLY WHO DOES. I’m sure there are things in you Riley, left over from your old nature that Jacquie would give anything to change in you, but those things are there for a reason - to teach you how to love each other fully and to conform you to Christ’s image while being used as tools in God’s perfect plan to sanctify each other. Grasp this, and hold it to your heart and you’ll do well. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger and you’ll do well. Fulfill your new biblical roles…not as a burden, but as a privilege and you’ll do well. Serve one another.

Thank you both for your friendship. I truly feel lucky beyond dessert to be in your company. I love you.