I've been reading a bit about John MacArthur's recent Strange Fire conference (also the title of his new book), and of all the strange things I've read, this was the strangest: R.C. Sproul prayed in tongues. No, not at the conference, but earlier in his life. Here's the opening of his article: MANY PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED, AND SOME ARE shocked, when they hear of my involvement in the charismatic movement years ago. It began in 1965, shortly after I returned from graduate study in Holland to teach philosophy and theology at my alma mater. Some of my senior students who were preparing for … [Read more...] about R.C. Sproul Prayed in Tongues
Theology
Tim Keller – Walking with God through Pain and Suffering
I've only just received this book and started flipping through it, but I would not be surprised if Tim Keller's latest book Walking with God through Pain and Suffering receives as wide a readership as The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. The publisher writes, "Walking with God through Pain and Suffering is the definitive Christian book on why bad things happen and how we should respond to them." And Keller writes "at the heart of why people disbelieve and believe in God, of why people decline and grow in character, of how God becomes less real and more real to us--is … [Read more...] about Tim Keller – Walking with God through Pain and Suffering
Matt Chandler: To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
This looks really good. The publisher's description: Using Paul's radical letter to the Philippians as his road map, Matt Chandler forsakes the trendy to invite readers into authentic Christian maturity. The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. In this disruptively inspiring book, Chandler offers tangible ways to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and … [Read more...] about Matt Chandler: To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
R.C. Sproul Jr. on His Suffering and God’s Sovereignty
Within the space of less than one year, R.C. Sproul Jr. lost his wife Denise to a protracted battle with cancer and his daughter Shannon to a rare illness. This is an outstanding personal interview on the sovereignty of God and suffering. His new teaching series on suffering is now available. HT: Justin Taylor … [Read more...] about R.C. Sproul Jr. on His Suffering and God’s Sovereignty
Jesus on Every Page
Professor of Old Testament & Practical Theology and pastor David Murray is out with a new book, and it looks fantastic: Jesus on Every Page: 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament. Having just finished reading 2 Samuel to my family over the summer, I could really use some help finding Jesus (although my kids just want to see Joab kill Absalom in the tree). David's book has been endorsed by Sinclair Ferguson, Vern Poythress, Iain Murray, Derek Thomas, Nancy Guthrie, Fred Zaspel, and many others. In the video below, David spells out seven benefits of reading his new … [Read more...] about Jesus on Every Page
Keller and Piper on C.S. Lewis (and George MacDonald)
I grew up reading lots of C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald, so I appreciated this five minute video with Tim Keller and John Piper discussing these matters. I think Keller nails it on MacDonald--lots of common grace. He was a beautifully gifted writer, but he got the core issues (sin, atonement, penal substitution) wrong. I don't know why. … [Read more...] about Keller and Piper on C.S. Lewis (and George MacDonald)