Archive for Resource Recommendations
What’s Best Next
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the things involved in blogging is reading other blogs. Usually, reading blogs and my writing on my own go hand-in-hand. So since I made a post yesterday, I checked out the posts of others.
One blog I hadn’t checked in on for quite some time is called ‘What’s Best Next.’ It’s by Matt Perman, whose description of his blog reads, “on integrating the big picture with everyday decisions so that we can do things better in life, work, business, and society.”
I used to check his posts out quite regularly and yesterday I was reminded why. His insights regarding organization and topics related are so sound. I don’t consider myself a very well organized person, but I am someone who values good organization and clearly sees my need for it. So I can’t help but recommend his blog and encourage anyone reading to check it out.
Have you ever realized how much trouble is caused by disorganization? And how much difficulty could be avoided if everyone were trustworthy with their commitments and orderly with their time? It’s worth thinking about and thus, striving to be better organized. It certainly would make for a better world.
Weight of Glory
Posted by: | CommentsI have said for quite some time now that I need to read more C.S. Lewis. My first step is reading through his collection of sermons and essays, compiled in a book entitled, Weight of Glory. After three chapters, I am convinced that we would all do well to read more of Lewis. The following quote is a bit long, but it is well worth typing out and reading. It’s from the very beginning of Lewis’ sermon, Weight of Glory. If you can find it online, let me know
If you asked twenty good men today what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you had asked almost any of the great Christians of old, he would have replied, Love. You see what has happened? A negative term has been substituted for a positive, and this is of more than philological importance. The negative idea of Unselfishness carries with it the suggestion not primarily of securing good things for others, but of going without them ourselves, as if our abstinence and not their happiness was the important point. I do not think this is the Christian virtue of Love.
The New Testament has lots to say about self-denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself. We are told to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses in order that we may follow Christ; and nearly every description of what we shall ultimately find if we do so contains an appeal to desire. If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own god and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith.
Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desire not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.
Reasons to Study the Sermon on the Mount
Posted by: | CommentsThe Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ most famous sermon. It is recorded in Matthew 5-7. I am in the process of studying it and memorizing it. It’s a great exercise I cannot commend enough.
Anyhow, Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives these four reasons to study the Sermon.
1) The Lord Jesus Christ died to enable us to live the Sermon on the Mount.
2) Nothing shows us our need for God to work in our hearts by His Spirit more than the Sermon on the Mount.
3) The more we live and try to practice the Sermon, the more we will experience blessing.
4) Living the Sermon in increased measure is the greatest means of witnessing to the truth and beauty of Jesus Christ.
In all seriousness, I believe every Christian, at some point in their lives, should study this, Jesus’ most famous sermon. In fact, I suppose it would be wise for every person, believing or unbelieving, to do so. For no matter what your beliefs may be, it is worth checking out. For I think it can be faithfully said that this is the most famous Sermon in the history of the world.
What’s Heaven Really Like?
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In my estimation, there are a few books out there today that should be required reading for every Christian, and maybe, for every human being on the globe. Sure, the last part might be a bit of a stretch, but at least it shows that what I have to recommend to you today is something I feel quite strongly about.
The book that came to mind this morning is one by a man named Randy Alcorn, entitled, rather simply, Heaven. You can see the cover off the left. What you can’t tell from the picture, however, is that it is a rather thick and thorough book. Yet at the same time, it is not a very difficult read. And also, as you can imagine, very good.
I remember the first time I read it. Erin and I were in Poland at the time and I would read at least a chapter each day (they’re usually rather short). After almost every chapter, I would say to Erin, “I love you very much, but I can’t wait to die.” I said it with a smile on my face, but I must say that there was a certain degree of seriousness to it. Rightfully so.
Yes, this life is a gift. There is no doubt about that. And we ought to be very diligent to make the most of it. But it is also very short, so we are wise to figure out what comes next and how we can make sure we end up where we really want to be.
Alcorn’s book helps you there, because it gives as good a vision of Heaven or the New Earth as there is out there. Most folks have a picture of Heaven as some sort of disembodied church service, a place where a bunch of people in heavenly-robes sing old-school hymns amidst chubby, childlike angels with harps. But that isn’t what we have to look forward to. And really, who would look forward to it if that really was it?
If we are thinking rightly, we will live with a longing for what is to come, provided we trust in Christ. There is simply no doubt about it. So it seems wise for us to invest a good amount of time into learning about all that Heaven truly is and will be. Alcorn’s book is a great place to start. Check it and let me know how it goes.
The Purpose of the Bible
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Here’s a good quote from one of my favorite preachers and authors, Tim Keller. I believe it is from his book, The Prodigal God, a book I cannot recommend highly enough for Christians or non-Christians.
The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome… religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey’. Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference.
(HT: First Importance)
