A Long Way Gone

I am trying to incorporate different types of books into my reading schedule. I usually just read theological, biblical books. I’m not saying that’s the way it should be; I’m just saying that’s how it is.

So, last week, while flying to NC to visit family, I read A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. What an incredible, eye-opening read. I was captivated by what I was reading and I, honestly, couldn’t wait to turn the page.

I encourage you to go out and buy it, or if you are in the Minneapolis area I may let you borrow my copy.

There you have it.

In the next few days I am going to blog brief reviews of the two John Piper books I have read in the last couple of weeks.

The Son is infinitely more glorious than the Sun

No created object makes a more wonderful or glorious display than the sun. For, besides illuminating the whole world with its brightness, how admirably does it foster and invigorate all animals by its heat, and fertilise the earth by its rays, warming the seeds of grain in its lap, and thereby calling forth the verdant blade! This it supports, increases, and strengthens with additional nurture, till it rises into the stalk; and still feeds it with perpetual moisture, till it comes into flower; and from flower to fruit, which it continues to ripen till it attains maturity. In like manner, by its warmth trees and vines bud, and put forth first their leaves, then their blossom, then their fruit.

And the Lord, that he might claim the entire glory of these things as his own, was pleased that light should exist, and that the earth should be replenished with all kinds of herbs and fruits before he made the sun.

John Calvin (Institutes, 1.16.2)

God: a mere spectator or Sovereign God over all creation?

The carnal mind, when once it has perceived the power of God in the creation, stops there, and, at the farthest, thinks and ponders on nothing else than the wisdom, power, and goodness, displayed by the Author of such a work (matters which rise spontaneously, and force themselves on the notice even of the unwilling), or on some general agency on which the power of motion depends, exercised in preserving and governing it. In short, it imagines that all things are sufficiently sustained by the energy divinely infused into them at first.

But faith must penetrate deeper. After learning that there is a Creator, it must forthwith infer that he is also a Governor and Preserver, and that, not by producing a kind of general motion in the machine of the globe as well as in each of its parts, but by a special Providence sustaining, cherishing, superintending, all the things which he has made, to the very minutest, even to a sparrow.

John Calvin (Institutes, 1.16.1)

The Broken Heart

A prayer from a book  that has helped me greatly in my walk with God, The Valley Of Vision:

O LORD,
No day of my life has passed
That has not proved me guilty in thy sight.
Prayers have been uttered from a prayerless heart;
Praise has often been praiseless sound;
My best services are filthy rags.
Blessed Jesus, let me find a covert in thy appeasing wounds.
Though my sins rise to heaven thy merits soar above them;
Though unrighteousness weighs me down to hell,
Thy righteousness exalts me to thy throne.
All things in me call for my rejection,
All things in thee plead for my acceptance.
I appeal from the throne of perfect justice
To thy throne of boundless grace,
Grant me to hear thy voice assuring me:
That by the stripes I am healed,
That thou was bruised for my iniquities,
That thou has been made sin for me
That I might be righteous in thee,
That my grievous sins, my manifold sins,
Are all forgiven,
Buried in the ocean of thy concealing blood.
I am guilty, but pardoned,
Lost, but saved,
Wandering, but found,
Sinning, but cleansed.
Give me perpetual broken-heartedness,
Keep me always clinging to thy cross,
Flood me every moment with descending grace,
Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,
Sparkling like crystal,
Flowing clear and unsullied,
Through my wilderness of life.

7 Potential Writing Projects

Yesterday, February 5 2009, John Piper began a two month writing leave. The elders at BBC feel this is part of his calling, so they give him this time to accomplish tasks that will benefit the Church at large—namely, writing books. I am excited to see what God will do through Pastor John during these next few weeks. Check out his post on the Desiring God website for more information on the potential writing projects

The Power of the Word of God

Read Demosthenes or Cicero, read Plato, Aristotle, or any other of that class: you will, I admit, feel wonderfully allured, pleased, moved, enchanted; but turn from them to the reading of the sacred volume, and whether you will or not, it will so affect you, so pierce your heart, so work its way into your very marrow, that in comparison of the impression so produced, that of orators and philosophers will almost disappear; making it manifest that in the sacred volume there is a truth divine, a something which makes it immeasurably superior to all the gifts and graces attainable by man.

John Calvin (Institutes, 1.8.1)

My Top 8 Books Of 2008

I love books.  I love to read.   I hope to echo John Piper someday;  he says, “Reading is more important to me than eating.”  We are turning another page in our lives as we enter a new year, so I figured one of my last posts in 2008 should be about the most influential books I have read in 2008.

These are not in any particular order.  They have all had, in different ways, a huge impact on me.

Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be) by Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck

This book is not an all out emergent church bashing, but it does make us aware of many dangers of the emergent church movement.  It is cleverly written by two Bible-saturated men, Kevin DeYoung (Pastor) and Ted Kluck (Author), and it is full of God-centered truths that we, as the body of Christ, must be aware of as new movements emerge (no pun intended) in our day.

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

Alex and Brett are the finest examples, in my opinion, of young people being truly on fire for God.  This book calls young people to “a teenage rebellion against low expectations.”  It is a culture-changing book for any teenager (it probably wouldn’t hurt for everyone to read it!) to read.  This past year Alex and Brett conducted a series of conferences called the Do Hard Things Tour.  They also manage a website for teens called The Rebelution.  Check it out and get this book for the teens in your sphere of influence.

Disciplines Of A Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes

Discipline is a trait that is greatly lacking in Christian men.  I don’t think it’s a recent development; It is a topic that needs to be addressed at all times.  Kent Hughes does a magnificent job, in this volume, showing us what a godly man looks like.  It is a very practical book, yet it is absolutely saturated in Scripture.  This is a must read for any man, young and old alike, with a desire to live in a godly, Christ-exalting manner.  He co-authors Disciplines of a Godly Family with his wife, Barbara, and she authors Disciplines of a Godly Woman.

When I Don’t Desire God (How To Fight For Joy) by John Piper

I read this book through, for the third time, with my small group at school.  I am a John Piper junkie.  Not as big a fan as my good friend, Bryan DeWire, who recently shared with me that he has read every one of John Piper’s books.  I have only read about 2/3 of his books.  This book is in the top 3 ever written by J.P., in my opinion.  He is my Pastor, my teacher, and my mentor.  He is a gift to the church of Christ.  In this book he lays out, in a God-centered, Bible-saturated way, twelve chapter’s full of godly counsel for the Christian that is fighting to take joy in God all the time.  We are told in psalm 16:11 that “in his presence there is fullness of joy,” and at his right hand there are “pleasures forevermore.” But we don’t always feel like this is true.  This book aids us in our daily fight for joy.

Death By Love (Letters From The Cross) by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

This book is brutally honest about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This book talks about sin, suffering, and real problems that real people are dealing with in a way most would not.  I was struck at the many reminders of all that Christ accomplished on the cross, in obedience to his Father, for the sake of the elect.  This book will drive you to your knees as you consider the preciousness of the cross and the beauty of Jesus.  You will be pointed to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Doctrine Of Repentance by Thomas Watson

Repentance is one of the least used words in your average church.  Why?  Because we don’t want to think about having to truly forsake sin, the big ones or the tiny ones we hide in the closet, and follow hard after God.  But the truth of the matter is that a right knowledge of what repentance is, and actually repenting is absolutely essential to the Christian life.  This little volume, by the English Reformer Thomas Watson (1620-1686), will humble you, challenge you, point you to the cross, and push you toward true repentance.

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By A Relentless God by Francis Chan

This book is a short read, but it had a lasting impact on my life.  It truly is crazy to think about our God—the Creator of EVERYTHING that is, or was, or will come—extending an invitation to me—a scumbag of a sinner—to enter into an eternal relationship with him. This  book will push you to leave your current level of mediocrity, and reach out to know God in the same way the Apostle Paul did (Philippians 3:7-8).

And last but definitely not least:

When Sinners Say I Do: Discovering The Power Of The Gospel For Marriage by Dave Harvey

My wife and I have been married for almost five months now, and this book has been a rock on which to stand.  We read this book during our engagement, and it has served as one of the most helpful things we did in preparation to spending our lives together.  There are so many marriage books on the shelves of every bookstore.  Most of them contain steps, formulas, and keys to a better marriage.  This is not what Dave Harvey does.  He points us to the Gospel.  He points us to the root of all problems in a marriage—our sin-filled nature.  We have problems because we are sinners.  We must look to the Gospel if we desire a Christ-centered marriage.

Well, there you have it.  My top 8 books of 2008.  I commend these books to you; May you be richly blessed and strengthened as I have been.  Now, on to many more books in 2009!

In Honor of J.C.

This coming year, 2009, is John Calvin’s 500th birthday.  We, as the body of Christ, owe much to this great Reformer’s work and ministry.  He wrote the Institutes with its first publication in Latin in 1536, and this volume has continued, through the years, to be of tremendous spiritual help to scholars, theologians, and laymen alike.

Reformation 21 will be blogging through the Institutes Of The Christian Religion in 2009.  I am going to be reading through it using this convenient reading plan.  Why read through The Institutes?  Mark Dever gives ten reasons for doing so.  I know this is a pretty hefty book, but I would encourage you to consider reading through it.

I am thoroughly looking forward to this challenge.

Christmas Giveaway

Jesus is our absolute example of humility and giving.  We celebrate these beautiful truths during the Christmas season.  In honor of our great example, Jesus Christ, I am going to give a gift that has potential to deepen your understanding of the Bible and supplement your daily, spiritual growth.

I am giving away a copy of The Reformation Study Bible (R.C. Sproul, General Editor).  This is a great Study Bible with study helps written to accompany the beautiful English Standard Version text.  All you have to do:

1. Subscribe to SPREAD by RSS or by e-mail.

2. Contact me letting me know you are a subscriber, old or new.

3. Wait until New Year’s Day when I will anounce the winner.

The Nature of True Repentance

Thomas Watson (1620-1686), an English Puritan, wrote a book called The Doctrine of Repentance.  I just finished reading it; I highly recommend to you.  It has served as a serious call on my life to true repentance.  He defines repentance as “the grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and outwardly reformed.”   In the book he lays out the nature of true repentance and several special ingredients which serves as a spiritual medicine of repentance:

1. Sight of sin

2. Sorrow for sin

3. Confession of sin

4. Shame for sin

5. Hatred for sin

6. Turning from sin.

One does not have to read the book to feel what Watson is getting at in laying out these 6 ingredients for us.  He is saying, essentially, that repentance is not contained in words, nor is it confined to regret or shame alone.  Repentance goes much deeper than outward conduct or behavior.  True Repentance alters all that a person does, inside and out.

So, my conclusion is that this book is a very valuable, worthwhile read.  It has potential to change your life.  I hope it continues to change mine.