Trusting and Trying

Kevin DeYoung has a great piece on what it means to engage in growing in grace. He ends it with these words:

When it comes to growth in godliness, trusting does not put an end to trying.

(There are follow-up articles here and here. Sounds like DeYoung's book will be one to look out for.)

HT: Justin Taylor

Paper or Digital?

For me, that's one of those questions on which I to-and-fro. If you're like me, you might find this article of interest.

Right, where's my phone? I need to set a reminder to buy myself a new moleskine notebook....

OTR: The Laugh of Recognition

The Sermon On The Mount

(The Best Books - no.8)

The published sermons on Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones are so plentiful, it seems fairly random to select this from amongst the many volumes. But I'm choosing to highlight it partly for nostalgic reasons: it was bought for me for my 21st birthday by a local church housegroup I was attending at the time. I had read very little Christian material, had only been a Christian for just over a year, which might make a tome like this seem unwieldy and unwise as a gift. But, ah, those dear people, they knew that if I began to read it, I'd be drawn in. And I was.

Is it the best book on Jesus' most famous sermon? Probably not. Is it the best model for today's preachers to seek to emulate? Not in detail, no. But it's just so seriously God-centred; earthed and exalted at the same time, it won't sell you short in any way.

Please don't ask!

Anna and a clothes-prop, in the vicinity of the bathroom window, late on a Saturday evening. There's really no rational explanation.....

Themelios Archive

Looks like the Gospel Coalition has now made available the whole archive of Themelios issues, dating back to 1975.

Which is when I were a lad and ABBA were riding high in the charts.

Alan & Harold, swapping their trombones

Lucinda Williams: Blessed

Like your singers to sound world-weary but still sluggin' it out? Open-hearted and honest? And, in unexpected ways, uplifting and affirming? Then Lucinda Williams' album, Blessed, might be of interest to you.

Spotify or Grooveshark will oblige.

the history of the world: without a Father

The history of the world is a story of war, deeply marked with the hoofprints of the apocalyptic horsemen. It is the story of humanity without a Father - so it seems.

Helmut Thielicke, The Prayer That Spans The World, p.21

HT: Christopher Ash

don't wilt

Commenting on Joshua 9 and the failure of Israel's leaders to ask YHWH about the Gibeonites, contrasted with seeking guidance for very mundane things, Ralph Davis notes that,

"The Scriptures do not require wilting in the everlasting arms, only leaning on them. But we must beware of that subtle unbelief that assumes 'I have this under control'...We need not only the power of God to overwhelm our obvious enemies but also the wisdom of God to detect our subtle enemies.".

Dale Ralph Davis, No Falling Words, p.78

Over The Rhine: The Long Surrender

Well, what d'ya know, a new long-playing record from Linford and Karin?

Go here and click the record player to give it a listen.

Crying In The Wilderness

(The Best Books - no.7)

Subtitled Evangelism and Mission in Today's Culture, David Smith's collection of essays is short in length but long on profound and disturbing insight. It could be the most insightful 80 pages you'll ever read. Written at the end of the 20th century, it has lost none of its significance.

Getting creative things done...like sermons

I'm indebted to the guys at 99% again for some stimulating thinking on getting creative things done. In particular I found the advice about focussing on one or two creative projects per week helpful, thinking in my mind 'Aha, Sunday's sermons!'. Blocking-out dedicated, uninterrupted time for such work seems eminently sensible. And focussing on process, not goals sounds helpful, too.

You might want to think of combining this advice with other reflections (previously mentioned here), such as "After focusing intently on a project or problem, the brain needs to fully disengage and relax in order for a “Eureka!” moment to arise."

Obedience: Possible, Prescribed & Precious

Kevin DeYoung's article on obedience is being linked-to all around the blogosphere - and rightly so. It highlights the fallacy of thinking every act of Christian obedience is still 'a filthy rag' to God. Theologically satisfying and pastorally wise. Go read it!

So: what are you, saint or sinner?

A very helpful, pastoral ask by Michael Bird:

I often set my students this essay question: "What better describes the state of Christians: (a) Sinners saved by grace; or (b) Saints who sometimes sin?" You could say that both are true, but there are slightly different nuances to them. Is it our pre-gospel state that defines our identity and behavior, or our post-gospel state that defines our identity and behavior. I favor the latter. I am no longer who I was nor will I ever be that person again. He is dead, crucified, buried, and raised to new life. Yes, the old me steeped in sin tries to resurrect itself, and when it does I try my hardest to put it to death, for I know it pleases my Lord to do so.

preaching when you're dry

In a piece on Preaching Living Water When Your Well Has Run Dry (Part 2), Mark D. Roberts concludes with this:

Thus, ironically, we may be more effective channels of living water when we are spiritually dry than when we are spiritually hydrated. Admitting our thirst, we are ready for God's refreshment. Confessing our neediness, we are open to God's help. When we're dry, our illustrations may not be as polished, our prose not as poetic. But in our dependence upon the living water of the Spirit, we may actually be better able to offer this water to those who are thirsty.

Billy Graham chatting to Woody Allen

From some years back, clearly. But worth watching.

HT: Out Of Ur

on being creative (brian eno)

The difficulty of always feeling that you ought to be doing something is that you tend to undervalue the times when you’re apparently doing nothing, and those are very important times. It’s the equivalent of the dream time, in your daily life, times when things get sorted out and reshuffled. If you’re constantly awake work-wise you don’t allow that to happen. One of the reasons I have to take distinct breaks when I work is to allow the momentum of a particular direction to run down, so that another one can establish itself.

Brian Eno (via 99%)

On Time Management

Some helpful thoughts from Doug Wilson. Worth a gander and a ponder.

HT: Justin Taylor

It's really not about you