The God Who Gives Strength as Needed

Terry Stauffer is a pastor whose 14 year old daughter was murdered in September 2008.

In an interview with Tim Challies, Terry said, “We’re learning that God gives strength as we need it. When people say, “I could never be as strong as you,” I always think – and sometimes say – “I couldn’t either.” There’s no way either Juanita or I could have been prepared for the loss of Emily, or for the attention that we have received since her murder. God gives grace and strength step-by-step as it’s needed.”

To read the rest of this very moving, God-centered interview, click here.

~Donovan

Another smorgasboard from around the web

There are a number of posts I’d link to link to, so here’s another “Smorgasboard” post. Once again, I found most of this stuff thanks to Tim Challies and Justin Taylor!

• Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck wrote the widely appreciated Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be, and they’ve just released Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion. The duo were also recently given an opportunity to wrote a column for the Washington Post entitled, Church: Love It, Don’t Leave It.
• The Youth Small Groups have been going through Crazy Love by Francis Chan. During the month of July, this excellent book is available as a free audio book from ChristianAudio.com (download it here). Other resources associated with this book include free introductory videos to each chapter (available here), and a DVD of videos that are helpful for encouraging group discussion based on each chapter (available here).
• Ligonier Ministries Blog: “Over the course of several months, Keith Mathison put together a list of his top 5 commentaries for each book of the Bible.” For links to Mathison’s recommended commentaries on each book of the Bible, click here. (Another great resource on good commentaries can be found here).
• On a personal note: In my opinion, rugby is the greatest sport on earth! : ) The South African national team, the Springboks, is currently playing a series against the British and Irish Lions (the very best of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) – a team that is only put together once every 4 years. Well, South Africa have won the first 2 matches! There is 1 more game this Saturday…  For an awesome piece of play, click here and start watching from about 45 seconds into the video…

Blessings…

~Donovan

The Nature of Doubt in James 1:6-8

As a preacher, few things bring me greater joy than when people come to chat and probe the truth of the passage preached on!  After yesterday’s message, several people were interested talking more about the kind of doubt James is referring to in chapter 1:6-8. I thought I’d provide some written words to supplement yesterday’s message explaining how I understand the passage.  Blessings!

~ Jeff

The Justification Debate Clarified

One of the biggest theological debates over the last few years has been on the doctrine of justification. NT Wright (in particular) has been presenting a “new perspective”, and John Piper (in particular) has been arguing for the traditional view. Trevin Wax has a brief and readable article in the latest Christianity Today that serves as an accessible primer on the debate. Read it here.

~Donovan

HT: Tim Challies

A smorgasboard from around the web

It’s been a busy week, and I haven’t had a chance to post anything. I have come across several good posts on-line though, and since I don’t know which to link to, here’s a smorgasboard of good stuff from around the web (as usual, I found most of this stuff thanks to Tim Challies and Justin Taylor!):

• John Piper wrote a thought-provoking post entitled, “Why I Don’t Have a Television and Rarely Go to Movies” . This post also includes a wonderful example of humbly confessing sin. 
• Keith and Kristen Getty have released a new album of modern, celtic-style hymns. Their lyrics are saturated with Scripture and their music is beautiful! You can listen to samples and/or order the CD here.
• Sovereign Grace Music has released another children’s album entitled, To Be Like Jesus. Read about it here.
• Tim Challies asked John Bell, pastor of New City Baptist Church in Toronto, to share about his experience sharing the gospel with the gay community in his city. It is well worth reading - to help us think biblically about homosexuality, and to help us in God-honoring evangelism and church life. There is also some very interesting discussion in the comments, especially involving a number of men who struggle with homosexuality but turn from it because of their commitment to Christ. Read this post here. 
• If you’re compiling a summer reading list, you might find these 2 posts from David Powlison to be of interest. Powlison is a bilical counselor, professor, and author, and he spent some time this week discussing some of his favorite literature with CJ Mahaney. You can read part 1 here, and part 2 here.  
• What does Kurt Warner, a Christian who plays quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, like most about being a professional football player? His very encouraging answer is here.   

Blessings…

~Donovan

Purposeful parenting over the summer…

Al Mohler:

“A teenager I happen to know quite well (seeing that he lives in my house) announced last week that summer is time off for his brain. Well, nothing fires up the parental learning plans like a teenager who announces his plans to learn as little as possible over the summer. Suffice it to say that the young man has a wonderfully enriching summer on his way. And — I promise you this — he will enjoy it. Like I say, I know the kid.”

This article is full of good ideas for maximizing parenting over the summer. The principles presented are excellent and apply year round… Read it here.

~Donovan

HT: Tim Challies 

What to do with your Christian Heroes?

These 2 blog posts are well worth reading:

Read John Piper’s post,  Hero Worship and Holy Emulation, here.

Read Kevin DeYoung’s follow-up post, Thoughts on Evangelical Superstardom, here.

~Donovan

Free Live Stream for Resolved Conference this weekend!

This year’s Resolved Conference will be streamed live for free!

Here’s the schedule:

Friday, June 12 
8pm – Session 1, Rick Holland

Saturday, June 13
11am – Session 2, Steve Lawson
5pm – Session 3, C.J. Mahaney
7pm – Session 4, Enfield Concert

Sunday, June 14
11am – Session 5, Steve Lawson
5pm – Session 6, John MacArthur
7pm – Session 7, John Piper

Monday, June 15
9am – Session 8, Rick Holland
11am – Session 9, John MacArthur
5pm – Session 10, C.J. Mahaney
7pm – Session 11, John Piper

For more about the speakers click here.

To access the live stream click here.

In case you haven’t seen this year’s promotional video, here it is again:

To see previous year’s trailers, click here.

~Donovan

We live in a “Broken Down House”

Paul Tripp’s newest book is called “Broken Down House“. This blurb is from the Shepherd’s Press website:

“Sin has ravaged the house that God created. It sits slumped, disheveled and in pain, groaning for the restoration that can only be accomplished by the hands of him who built it in the first place. The good news is that the divine Builder will not relent until everything about his house is made new again. The bad news is that you and I are living right in the middle of the restoration process. We live each day in a house that is terribly broken, where nothing works exactly as intended. But Emmanuel lives here as well, and he is at work returning his house to its former beauty.”

Here’s a video introduction:

~Donovan

Christian DVD lending library

Tim Challies: “Puritan Picks is a brand new service that is probably best described as a Christian Netflix. They offer lots of fantastic DVDs (movies, kids programs, conference sets, documentaries, etc, etc).”

This library includes some excellent titles! For example, they have teaching series such as Tedd Tripp’s “Shepherding a Child’s Heart“, conference sets like the Desiring God conference on “Suffering and the Sovereignty of God“, and movies like Luther, Amazing Grace, and Chariots of Fire.

~Donovan

HT: Rod Gomez