A Review of Brian McLaren's Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices

Well respected church historian Dr. Michael Haykin (Ph.D. University of Toronto) reviews Brian McLaren's new book Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices here.

Functional Saviors: Idolatry in Everyday Life

In his new book, On Who is God? (A book you'll actually read), Mark Driscoll writes the following:

The temptation of idolatry is that it proposes a functional savior. What I mean is this. All people have a concept in their mind of what their hell is. They also have a concept in their mind of what their heaven would be. To get out of their proverbial hell and into their desired heaven, they worship a functional savior. While this all sounds very religious and spiritual, in practice it rarely is.

For example, if a young woman sees being single as her hell and dating a cute boy as her heaven, then some guy becomes her functional savior. In dating him she will be taken from her singles' hell into her couples' heaven. The only problem is that she must make sacrifices to worship the boy as a god, such as sleeping with him or putting up with his abuse.

Furthermore, if a man sees chastity before marriage and fidelity in marriage as his hell and naked women as his heaven, then perversion (e.g. porn, fornication, and adultery) becomes his functional savior. The only problem is that he must make sacrifices to worship his false god - blowing massive amounts of time and energy online or at strip clubs and buying cheap drinks for even cheaper women (pg 69).

Read the book to see the solution to this problem. For more info on these little books go here.

Simeon Trust Preaching Workshop Toronto Audio

I really enjoyed this workshop last year by the Simeon Trust and I highly encourage you to take advantage of them. Here is their website and here is some audio from this past year (bios below the audio):

Instruction 1
Why Exposition? [mp3, 73mb]
William Taylor

Instruction 2
Traveling Instructions [mp3, 75mb]
Steve Bickley

Instruction 3
Bone and Marrow [mp3, 51mb]
Steve Bickley

Instruction 4
Melodic Line [mp3, 61mb]
Steve Bickley

Instruction 5
Text and Framework [mp3, 59mb]
William Taylor

Model Exposition 1
Philippians 1.27-2.4 [mp3, 64mb]
William Taylor

Model Exposition 2
Philippians 2.5-11 [mp3, 53mb]
William Taylor

William Taylor studied at Cambridge University and served in the British Army as an officer in the Royal Green Jackets. He then studied theology at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and was ordained in 1991. He was then appointed curate at Christ Church, Bromley, in London. He joined St Helen’s, Bishopsgate under Dick Lucas in 1995 and succeeded Dick as Rector in 1998. He authored Partnership (Christian Focus Publishers), a book on teaching the themes of Philippians as well as John’s Gospel: Read, Mark, Learn.
Stephen Bickley is pastor of Help and Hope/Basics Pastor's Conference at Parkside Church near Cleveland. Prior to joining Parkside in 2001, he pastored in Minnesota and in England. He also organized pastor's workshops for the Proclamation Trust while in London. He attended Taylor University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

The Danger of Worshiping Spiritual Leaders

Carl Trueman writes a very insightful post on this subtle form of idolatry here. May we take heed.

HT: Justin Taylor

What's the Matter with Canada?

Chuck Colson tells us what is wrong here. This is very sobering reading.

The Devotional Life of Dr. Charles Feinberg

Dr. Charles Feinberg's, the late professor of Old Testament at Talbot Theological Seminary and professor of John MacArthur, devotional life is described here by Pastor Brouwer (may we learn from his sincere and pure devotion to Christ):

“One day while visiting, I noticed the two Bibles on his nightstand. The first one I picked up was unlike any I had seen. It had a red cover and contained the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament. The only English inside was the publisher’s information. We sometimes read together from the Hebrew portion. Yet it was the other Bible that made an indelible impression on me. In the back of that Bible Dr. Feinberg kept his own private reading record.
The top of the record was titled: “Read the Bible through.” Underneath this and for the next two pages followed the final third of an amazing log:
105th time: Mar. 31, 1978 (Mt. Zion, Jerusalem, Israel)
106th time: June 29, 1978 (Anchorage, Alaska)
107th time: Sept. 30, 1978 (Whittier, California)
The record continued until the last entry:
154th time: Aug. 15, 1990 (Walnut Creek, California)
“Here was a simple record of a man who spent a lifetime in devotion to God and His Word. It didn’t take a math expert to figure out that Dr. Feinberg’s lifetime practice was to read through the entire Bible four times a year. Apparently he had been doing so since 1952! I was awestruck, humbled, challenged and inspired—all at the same time. I began to bring younger missionaries with me just to meet Dr. Feinberg and to show them the back of that Bible. The reaction was always the same: amazement, admiration, inspiration and a sense of holy challenge.”

HT: Pastor Brouwer

The ESV Study Bible: Endorsements

“The ESV Study Bible overcomes one of the greatest handicaps of other study Bibles, namely notes and comments that intrigue but are inchoate, due to lack of space. But this publication will set a new standard for comprehensive helps in interpreting more of Scripture in delightful detail—a handsomely illustrated commentary with copious notes on each page, as well as a profusion of maps, definitions, and explanations in addition to the ESV Bible itself—and all in one volume. Who could ask for more? The ESV Study Bible will be my first biblical resource henceforth.”

Paul L. Maier
Russell H. Seibert Professor of Ancient History
Western Michigan University

“This ambitious project has a fine lineup of contributors, and I am also particularly impressed with the excellent visual features, including color maps and illustrations.”

–Larry Hurtado

Head of the School of Divinity Professor of New Testament Language, Literature & Theology

New College, University of Edinburgh

“This is surely the most comprehensive Study Bible yet! Serious students of the Bible will find this an invaluable aid to understanding the text, the background, and some key theological issues of the Bible. In addition to the reliable ESV text with notes, it has resources that no teacher or preacher should be without. Beautifully produced and accessible, it will also make a great gift for new Christians.”

–Graeme Goldsworthy, author, and formerly lecturer at Moore Theological College.

“The contributors to the ESV Study Bible represent the best of conservative biblical scholarship and solid and balanced theological positions. These scholars hold to a very high view of the authority of Scripture and are faithful interpreters. I cannot think of a better group of contributing scholars for such a project! The introductions, overviews, and study notes for each biblical book are immensely helpful to understanding the contents of these books. The charts, pictures, and maps help visualize what happened where and when. In addition, the special introductory essays are outstanding and will help readers to understand such difficult topics as the formation of the Old and New Testament canon, the reliability of the Old and New Testament manuscripts, how to interpret the Bible, how to apply biblical truth, and many more important topics related to Christian faith. The ESV Study Bible is an almost bottomless treasure from which readers will find many gems. I enthusiastically recommend it to students, pastors, and any Christians who want to understand their Bibles better!”

—G. K. Beale

Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies, Professor of New Testament

Graduate Biblical and Theological Studies

Wheaton College

"The past quarter century has witnessed a plethora of study Bibles based on a corresponding array of new versions and translations. As excellent as many of them are, the ESV Study Bible is certain to take its place as the premiere work of its kind. Produced by a galaxy of evangelical scholars representing a broad geographical and ecclesiastical horizon, this tour de force of its genre is replete not only with clear and cogent notes on the biblical text but it provides in addition scores of articles on topics such as theology of the Old Testament, introduction to the Pentateuch, reading the Gospels and Acts, and reading the Epistles. The icing on the cake is the inclusion of dozens of beautifully colored maps, photos, and graphs and charts, all placed at strategically located places throughout. Crossway has raised high the bar by publishing a study Bible that is likely to become the standard for generations to come."

Eugene H. Merrill, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Studies
Dallas Theological Seminary

Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Interpretation
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky

Enough said; you should pick one up for yourself and a friend here.

Purpose Driven Death Missions Conference

Here is the description of the conference (it looks amazing):

To Every Tribe Ministries is pleased to announce that
Dr. John Piper will be the featured speaker along with our own David Sitton, founder of TETM and another speaker soon to be determined.

The Purpose Driven Death Mission Conference aims:

1. To make much of Christ for the Romans 15:20 regions of the world
2. To challenge believers to pursue the privilege of radical mission to
unreached peoples
3. To pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out harvesters

Online registration is now open - www.toeverytribe.com

Plan to join us for this national conference and please pray for TETM as we
continue to take our strategic place in taking the gospel to the unreached.

May the Lord move quickly to save sheep and establish churches in the
hard to get to, least reached places!

Missionary suffering, even martyrdom itself, is part of the strategy that God
intentionally employs to advance the gospel. The Lord sometimes uses the death
of his disciples for the swifter extension of the Kingdom of God into hostile regions.

Risking our lives for the gospel is where we experience the joy of knowing Christ in
the fellowship of his sufferings. A death for the gospel is a Purpose-Driven Death.

David Sitton, President
To Every Tribe Ministries

Advice for Young Christian Leaders: An Interview with Wayne Grudem by Mark Driscoll

Here is a snipet from the interview:

I asked him which doctrines he would encourage young Christian leaders to devote themselves to studying as they prepare for what potentially lies ahead theologically. He said that for such a weighty question he would prefer to thoughtfully craft an answer, but did give two recommendations in the moment:

1. Scripture — He said that every issue ultimately hinges on one’s view of the inerrancy, authority, and truthfulness of Scripture in every way. He encourages all young Christian leaders to make sure that deep within them is a love for and trust in every word of Scripture as God’s perfect revelation to us.

2. Authority — He said that he sees authority as a pervasive problem in our culture. As we talked, it became clear that what he meant is that people profess to be Christians yet refuse to submit to God’s authority, including Scripture, and people God has ordained to be in loving authority, such as godly parents and pastors.

He summarized his points by saying that he aspires for Christians to believe whatever God says and obey whatever God commands.

For the complete interview go here.

HT: Justin Taylor

Facebook in Reality

A real reality check!

Jesus, Be the Center by Michael Frye

May you alone be what we live for Jesus, not self; by your grace and for your glory, Amen.

Jesus be the center
Be my source be my light Jesus
Jesus be the center
Be my song Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live

Jesus Jesus
Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide Jesus

When It's All Been Said and Done by Robin Mark

God, may this be true of my life and everyone who reads this. In Jesus name, Amen.

When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I have done
For love's rewards
Will stand the test of time

Lord, your mercy is so great
That you look beyond our weakness
That you found purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints

I will always sing your praise
Here on earth and in heaven after
For you've joined me at my true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone.

Review of N.T. Wright's Surprised by Hope by Professor Thomas Schreiner

See his very helpful 9 Marks review here.

HT: Kerux Noemata

12 Sins We Blame on Others

Desiring God has this insightful post here.

HT: Julian Freeman

Faithful Anglican Protests During Gene Robinson's Sermon

Openly gay US bishop Gene Robinson was forced to halt a sermon at a west London church after being called on to repent. You can watch the video here.

May God give more young people courage like this young man to stand up for truth and for the gospel. I am thankful for this young man: for his faithfulness, his boldness, his love for Christ, his love for the church, and his love for the truth.

HT: Challies

God is Not Dead Yet

William Lane Craig writes an article in Christianity Today on how current philosophers argue for God's existence here.

HT: Justin Taylor

Recommended Reading by William Lane Craig on the Existence of God

Christianity Today posts his list here.

HT: Justin Taylor

Tim Keller on the Importance of Hell

See the article here.

HT: Tullian Tchividjian

Quote of the Day: The Power of God's Word

Martin Luther said:

I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word: otherwise I did nothing. And when, while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip and my Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a Prince or Emperor inflicted such damage upon it. The Word did it all.

R. Kent Hughes, "Preaching: God's Word to the World Today" in The Coming Evangelical Crisis (Chicago: Moody, 1996), 96.

May we live, think, walk, pray, meditate, teach, preach, on this Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) the rest of our lives. Amen!

Fighting Covetousness by Looking to Others?

In his latest Taste and See, John Piper has a helpful meditation on this topic here.