November 2009 Archives

As a confirmed INTJ (that's Myers-Briggs personality speak for introvert, intuitive, thinking, judgment), I've struggled at time with my personality. For example, my wife loves to entertain large groups of people at our home; I prefer to have one other... continue

Glad to see my friend, Ray Ortlund, senior pastor at Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee, is now blogging at the Gospel Coalition. Thankful for his passion for Christ and his Gospel and for revival in this generation.... continue

Calvin material continues to appear throughout this anniversary year (sounds like I'm starting a poem, but I'm not). This is a plug for the latest in Day One's series of 'Travel Guides' - Travel with John Calvin, written by Ken... continue

Okay, it's not as long as the summer, but it is a few days and don't you think books ought to trump parades and college football?  Put another way, nothing goes better with turkey than some good reads.   Let... continue

Further to recent blogs on the topic "How Can a loving God send People to Hell?" readers might like to watch a video clip (posted by Martin Downes) of Don Carson answering this question, here.... continue

  A couple of books that have come my way are outstanding: the first, by Tony Merida (Ok, he's in Mississippi, so I'm biased), called Faithful Preaching: Declaring Scripture with Responsibility, Passion, and Authenticity (B&H Publishing, 2009). Merida has... continue

As I've transitioned from teaching back to congregational ministry, I find myself reading widely in the "practical theology" field--whether pastoral theology, preaching, worship, or counseling. One of the better books that I've read recently is Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis... continue

Martin Downes draws my attention to a lecture on hell and annhilation given by J. I. Packer in Cardiff in 1991.  You can find an audio file here.... continue

As I've grown in my knowledge of the Reformed faith, I've come increasingly to appreciate the Heidelberg Catechism. In its exposition of the Ten Commandments, the Catechism wisely notes that the first commandment requires shunning "all idolatry" (Q94). When... continue

This is an amazing interview with Steven Curtis Chapman about his new album, Beauty Will Rise. Written as "personal psalms" in the aftermath of the tragic death of his five-year old daughter, Maria Sue, this album (to which I'm listening... continue