A recent NPR article surveys the rapid spread of Christianity in China. It concludes: China’s Christians are pushing back the boundaries, and the authorities don’t seem to know how to respond. Recent reports say some leaders of larger unofficial churches…
“Have a theology of suffering before it befalls you, so that when it hits you land on solid ground”
See also, D.A. Carson – – How can God allow suffering and evil in the world? and Piper, “When you hug those who are suffering, you need a place to stand.” Matt Chandler is a young pastor with a brain…
Your first business every day
Psalms are a wonderful place to get your soul into a “happy state.” This summer, I have been memorizing Psalm 65. The Psalm shows us how we can experience joy when we meditate on how both the power of God…
Frozen Grand Central Station
Should Christians be cremated?
Justin Taylor points to a helpful article considering the ethics of cremation. David Jones, professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has an excellent article in the latest issue of JETS on the topic of cremation, which I’ve…
Nothing will help you more than Scripture memory
I know of nothing that will help you grow as a believer more than Scripture memory. John Piper speaks below about how to retain verses you have memorized. See this post for help in memorizing. Several other posts on Scripture…
Thoughts on pride from Unpacking
Mike Law, a pastor in Arlington, Virginia, has posted an excerpt on pride from Unpacking Forgiveness. I mentioned earlier that I’ve recently been reading Chris Brauns’ bookUnpacking Forgiveness. There are several reasons that I’d recommend this book, but if nothing…
Do you want your rights to be contingent upon the whim of those in power?
Wendell Berry: The difference between rights granted by a government and rights given by “our Creator” is critical, for it is the difference between rights that are absolute and rights that are contingent upon the whim of those in power.
Before it’s too late
I think one of the most haunting concepts in the Bible is that there comes a time when it is too late. God gives us chances, but there is such a thing as decisions from which we cannot recover. Think…
“Making paper money and spending it”
Charles Dickens’ description of France in A Tale of Two Cities might be easily adapted to the 21st century U.S.A. Dickens: France, less favored on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident, rolled…