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

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

Sparking Substantive Conversations with your Spouse

Simple, very practical and profound counsel from David Powlison. Read it here.

~Donovan

Letter to a Grieving Friend

Pastor James MacDonald wrote this letter to a woman in his congregation who had just lost her mother. It is a wonderful example of godly, loving encouragement given in a time of pain, and is well worth emulating. I’m confident the rich biblical perspective will bless you. Read it here.

~Donovan

HT: Tim Challies

Paul Tripp Audio

Paul Tripp is an author who focuses on aspects of biblical counseling. His books include “Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens“, ”Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change“, and about half a dozen other books. I’ve benefited from his writing so much that I’d like to read everything he puts out over the years…

I just found out about these 70 audio messages from Paul Tripp on-line, and they’re completly free! Click here.

~Donovan