Passion Points – Easter Weekend

Interestingly (at least to me), my most popular post right now was written a year ago that features links to a timeline and map of the last week of Christ. If you haven’t seen it, you can find it here.

As we prepare for Passion Week, perhaps it would be worth noting some other past posts:

Passion Week Reflections – Daily reflections I wrote a few years back for Palm Sunday through Easter.

Passion Week with Children – A link to daily crafts and activities to help children stay focused on what this time of year is all about.

And then some quotes:

His Love For You – C.J. Mahaney

For Us – J. C. Ryle

Our Sins Drove The Nails – J. C. Ryle

Book Look: Unwavering Resolve

On February 25, 2012March 21, 2015 By BrianIn Book Look

A few years ago I read Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions – 70 resolutions he made that he wanted to live by. Many I found to be helpful. But I also noticed that he seemed to repeat himself, or perhaps better put – there was no organization. He simply recorded them as he thought of them. I like organization! Enter Steven J. Lawson’s book, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards. Lawson organizes the resolutions into several categories. For each category, he considers the related resolutions, as well as looking at Edwards’ other writings to flesh them out further. The result is a challenging book calling us to:

The Priority of God’s Glory
The Putting Away of Sin
The Precipice of Eternity
The Passion of Discipline
The Practice of Love
The Posture of Self-Examination

All of these categories are set in the context of the first two chapters looking at Edwards’ life and the prerequisite of faith. If you are looking for a helpful book to examine your life and challenge you to live for the Lord, this is a great choice.

Book Look: Jonathan Edwards Bios

On February 15, 2012 By BrianIn Book Look

I have been reading about Jonathan Edwards off and on for the last few years. From his part in the Great Awakening to his extensive writings, he is well worth learning more about. Here are some brief thoughts on four biographies:

Jonathan Edwards
by George Marsden

At over 600 pages, this is the definitive biography.
If you want to learn a lot about Edwards’ life and thought,
this is the place to go. Scholarly, yet very accessible.

A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards
by George Marsden

As the title suggests this is a shorter biography
(about 150 pages) by the same author for the
person who wants a quicker summation of Edwards’ life.

Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography
by Iain H. Murray

At around 500 pages, this biography gives a full and clear
look at Edwards’ life and thought. Spiritually challenging.
This was the first bio of Edwards I read.

Jonathan Edwards and the Ministry of the Word
by Douglas A. Sweeney

At around 200 pages, this is a good introduction to Edwards’ life and thought. Well written and easy to read. As the last bio of Edwards I read, I found it to be a good summary and reminder of Edwards’ life.

Top Books from 2011

On January 10, 2012 By BrianIn Book Look

I love to read. Here are the top five books I read in 2011 that I’d recommend to you:

Redemption by Mike Wilkerson
The subtitle sums it up well: “Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry.” Using the book of Exodus, Wilkerson shows us how we can be redeemed from our idols and wounds. Biblical, challenging, and applicable. Highly recommended.

Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden
I have been reading biographies on Jonathan Edwards. This one is 640 pages. If you want to learn about Edwards, this is the place to go.

Fresh Encounters by Daniel Henderson
This book transformed my view of corporate prayer and gave me a burden to see more prayer in the church. Prayer meetings don’t have to be boring laundry lists. Prayer meetings should be fresh encounters with God. Read this book, and then pass it on.

Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave by Edward T. Welch
I read this book for a sermon series I was doing. It is filled with good gospel-powered teaching. If you are struggling with an addiction, get a friend and work through this book together. If you are not struggling with an addiction, read this book to help others, and to help immunize yourself.

Redeeming Singleness by Barry Danylak
I read this book for another sermon series. Danylak traces singleness throughout the Bible. It is a fascinating Biblical study. Recommended for anyone who is single or knows someone who is single. You may never look at singleness in the same way again.

Questions for the New Year

On December 28, 2011December 28, 2011 By BrianIn Holidays1 Comment

Donald Whitney has 31 helpful questions for us to ask as we look at the coming year. Below are the first ten. You can follow the link to read the rest.

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

Habits for Growth in 2012

On December 28, 2011 By BrianIn Habit Miscellaneous, Holidays

In response to God’s grace and by His grace:

Which habits are you already practicing that you will continue?

Which habit are you already doing that you will seek to enhance? How?

Which habit will you seek to begin this year?

Some Habits

Daily time with God in His Word and prayer
Read through the New Testament
Read through the Bible
Regular Scripture memory
Join a Sunday School class or small group Bible study
Greater commitment to prayer
Regularly attend Prayer Meetings
Closer fellowship with other believers
Join a Bible-believing, gospel-preaching church
Actively seek ways to encourage others
Serve in some church ministry
Better stewardship of time
Better stewardship of money
Tithe
Personal evangelism
Get involved in church outreaches

Passion Points – Christmas

On December 24, 2011 By BrianIn Holidays, PASSION Points

Here is your Christmas edition of Passion Points, and it includes some really interesting reflections for Christmas. An excerpt from each post is included.

Calvin & Claus – Every Christmas, poor Calvin is a tortured soul, torn between his desire to be “good” so that Santa will bring him lots of presents – and the (at least for a little boy) overwhelming temptation to smack the little girl next door with a perfectly formed snowball.

Scrooge, Overjoyed – Writing in A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens tells us that Cratchit’s wife initially refused to participate in a toast to Scrooge on Christmas. We’re tempted to follow her example. We let bitterness, anger, and discontentment dim the light of Christ’s birth from shining brighter in our lives.

The Best Christmas Songs Tell The Truth – Sins, sorrows, curse, Satan, alienation, death. Doesn’t sound much like holiday cheer, does it? But this is the context of the comfort and joy of the Christmas announcement. Bethlehem’s star is only visible against the black sky of sin and death.

All Oppression Will Cease, Even in North Korea – Dictators and despots will continue to learn from their predecessors and build bureaucratic machines of terror and oppression. But only for a time. The fact remains that a day is coming when in Jesus’ name, “all oppression will cease.” Even the oppression of totalitarians in North Korea.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day/Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior who changes everything!

O Savior of our Fallen Race

On December 23, 2011April 15, 2017 By BrianIn Holidays, Songs of Passion

I have been enjoying Keith and Kristyn Getty’s new Christmas album – Joy. With a strong Irish/Celtic flavor, it includes wonderful renditions of traditional carols like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Carol of the Bells. The album also includes a number of worthwhile new songs. Below is one of my favorite songs on the album – O Savior of our Fallen Race -with great lyrics and haunting music.