Good short list of texts for evangelism (from Tim Challies)
A highlight: “I know this from my own experience. I get two to three times as much writing accomplished when I focus without interruption for a designated period of time and then take a real break, away from my desk. The best way for an organization to fuel higher productivity and more innovative thinking is to strongly encourage finite periods of absorbed focus, as well as shorter periods of real renewal.”
I think this reflects God’s design in making us creatures who both work and rest.
Good reminder about true humility
From the blog: “Jared Wilson says it well: ‘Pride can look like arrogant self-confidence, or it can look like timid self-pity. Real humility is courageous un-self-consciousness.’”
Read the whole thing here: http://www.challies.com/christian-living/the-humblest-words?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+challies%2FXhEt+%28Challies+Dot+Com%29
My prayer for today
From Trevin Wax’s blog (and ultimately from Pusey). I especially love the line, “Win through thy love others for thy love.” Jesus, make that true of all I come into contact with today: my roommates, my students, those I meet with, the person coming to observe my class today, those I communicate with. May they see your love in my love. This is impossible apart from you, Jesus, so I plead for your help.
Good Jesus, Fountain of Love,
Fill us with thy love.
Absorb us into thy love;
Compass us with thy love,
That we may see all things in the light of thy love,
Receive all things as the token of thy love,
Speak of all things in words breathing of thy love,
Win through thy love others for thy love,
Be kindled day by day with a new glow of thy love,
Until we be fitted to enter into thine everlasting love,
To adore thy love and love to adore thee, our God and all.
Even so come, O Lord Jesus.
- E.B. Pusey, 1800-1882
Yet the sad reality is that we who bear God’s image oscillate between fearing abandonment by God, and wanting to escape from his presence. The same David who wrote this psalm [Ps. 31] was not particularly eager to delight in the presence of God when he was lusting after Bathsheba and plotting to murder her husband. Too often we would like God to look the other way when we hanker to thumb our noses at him and insist on following our own paths, and we would like God to demonstrate his presence and his glory to us, and certainly get us out of trouble, when we find ourselves in desperate straits.
What an incalculable blessing that God is better than our fears….
"— good stuff from D. A. Carson’s For the Love of God
Good stuff…
Wise reminders from Phil Ryken!
Great discussion between Wayne Grudem (continuation of prophecy) and Ian Hamiltion (cessation of prophecy). One of the few examples of a debate which was really helpful and useful.
If you would like an MP3 of the video, let me know. I already converted it for convenient listening on the go.
