The Web Site and Blog of Pastor Chris Brauns
John Piper:
Part of saving faith is the assurance that you will have faith tomorrow. Trusting Christ today includes trusting him to give you tomorrow’s trust when tomorrow comes. Often we feel today like our reservoir of strength is not going to last for another day. The fact is, it won’t. Today’s resources are for today, and part of those resources is the confidence that new resources will be given tomorrow. (In “Meditation on Matthew 6:34,” in A Godward Life, page 25.
Anselm was a brilliant medieval theologian (circa 1000 A.D.). Google him later this week to read about his ontological argument or his work on the atonement.
But, first, in preparing your heart for worship, read these words that are nearly one thousand years old. Surely, they are needed as much today as in Anselm’s time.
Now then, little man, for a short while fly from your business; hide yourself for a moment from your turbulent thoughts. Break off now your troublesome cares, and think less of your laborious occupations. Make a little time for God, and rest for a while in him. (Anselm of Canterbury, A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham, 70, from Anselm’s Proslogion).’"
Tony Reinke has posted links to a Neil Postman lecture available on You-tube.
The late Neil Postman was the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death. If you are interested in how technology is shaping our identity you will profit from this.
Click here.
Os Guinness:
But again, the one thing is clear: if we do not know the answers, it is better not to say . . .
It is Job’s friends with whom God is angry. Speaking piously when they were ignorant, they became self-righteous and cruel as well as quite wrong. False accounting for evil always ends in falsely accusing someone, whether someone else, ourselves, or God. When we are with anyone who is suffering, we should never give words without love, and we should never give answers without knowledge.
Silence itself is eloquent sympathy. (Unspeakable, 204, 205).
An article I wrote on forgiveness is available on Reformation 21 Magazine today.
I’ve been thinking recently about something television star Kelsey Grammer said. It’s not because I saw a rerun of Cheers. Unfortunately, the context is tragic. Grammer has me thinking about well intentioned people who end up “packing unforgiveness.” Where deep wounds are concerned, there are those who try and do what they believe faith requires. Yet, they end up hurting all the more.
Click here to read the whole thing.
Andy Naselli:
Non-Christians and Christians alike often give the same answer to difficult questions like these: Why did God allow sin in the first place? Why does God save some people and not others? Why does God send people to hell? Why can living like a Christian be so frustrating? The immediate solution often suggested is simple: “free will.” To many people, it’s a satisfying answer: “Oh, that makes sense. Yeah, God does x because he has to preserve my free will. Yeah, OK. Next question.” I’d like to suggest that we re-think this important issue.
The title of this short essay is a question: “Do We Have a Free Will?” That question may be jarring to you because it asks if something exists that most people assume exists. My short answer to that question is that it depends on what you mean by “free.” The longer answer is the rest of this essay.
We should study “free will” because it is theologically significant and because many people assume a particular definition of “free will” that is incorrect. Studying “free will” is challenging because it is not defined in Scripture. Further, it is complex because it connects to many other larger theological issues; it intersects with philosophy, historical theology, and systematic theology.
Read the whole thing here.
Mike Wittmer:
I don’t want to go to heaven. Not that I’m lobbying for the other place – - I want no part of everlasting fire and unbearable, unquenchable torment . . .
I’d love to go to heaven – - for a visit. It will be unspeakably exhilarating to stand in the presence of God and sing his praises – - but to do nothing except this forever and ever? That’s a lot of rounds of, “Shine, Jesus, Shine.” . . .
So the Christian hope is not merely that someday we and our loved ones will die and go to be with Jesus. Instead, the Christian hope is that our departure from this world is just the first leg of a journey that is round-trip.
Questions that encourage us to think about the richness of Scripture are worthwhile. This one qualifies.
Gunny’s question – -
"If R.C. [Sproul] only had one book in prison: The Bible. Only one chapter: Isaiah 6. Only one verse: Genesis 15:6. Only one book from the Bible: Hebrews."
Hmm. What about me? This was harder than I thought it would be, but …
If I was isolated somewhere (e.g., the joint), and was limited, I would want the following:Only One Book: Bible
Only One Chapter: Isaiah 53
Only One Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:21
Only One Book from the Bible: John
Click here to see my answer in the comments and to add your answer.
“Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai taught: There is a story about men who were sitting on a ship, one of them lifted up a borer and began boring a hole beneath his seat. His companions said to him: ‘What are you sitting and doing?’ He replied to them: ‘What concern is it of yours, I am drilling under my seat?’ They said to him: ‘But the water will come up and flood the ship for all of us.’” ~Lev. R. 4.6.
In Corporate Responsibility in the Hebrew Bible, by Joel Kaminsky
Read endorsements for Unpacking Forgiveness here.
Click here to order Unpacking Forgiveness.
“. . . Chris Brauns has done a magnificent job in helping us understand the true nature of biblical forgiveness. Every Christian will profit from reading and applying this book.” Jerry Bridges.
“ . . . Unpacking Forgiveness is an engaging, convicting but emphatically encouraging treatment of this hugely important (and sometimes mindbogglingly challenging) part of life. Dr. Brauns writes from the standpoint of a faithful, wise, experienced and caring pastor . . .” Ligon Duncan, First Pres, Jackson, MS
A Brick in the Valley
