Edwards' Resolutions - week 5

My I intention, by God's grace, to post one of Jonathan Edward's 73 resolutions each Monday. As I read the list, it is convicting to me that I can only handle them in small doses, while Edwards reviewed the whole list each week The entire list of Edward's resolutions can be found here: the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards

To God Alone be the Glory

Preamble:

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Resolution 5:

Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

Spread the Sail

Once again Spurgeon has nailed it!  How often, in times of blessing, in times of God's favor do we (I) coast? Our studies become a little less rigorous. Our prayers become a little less fervent. Our service is done with a little less unction (look it up, its a great Puritan word!).  But Spurgeon nails it when he says "There are times when God seems especially to favour Zion... We ought then to be doubly prayerful, doubly earnest, wrestling more at the throne than we have been wont to do. Action should then be prompt and vigorous."

In his morning devotional for Jan 30, Spurgeon also writes:
"I can only spread the sail;

Thou! Thou! must breathe the auspicious gale.

Only be sure you have the sail up. Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it. Seek help of God, that you may be more earnest in duty when made more strong in faith; that you may be more constant in prayer when you have more liberty at the throne; that you may be more holy in your conversation whilst you live more closely with Christ."

Oh! to not get lost or complacent in the blessing and favor of Christ.  If we find our lives and our ministries running on all cylinders, let's heed Spurgeon's advice: let us hoist the sail and catch the Spirit's "auspicious gale"

To God Alone Be the Glory

The Radical Gospel

I read an excellent entry in The Gospel Coalition blog by Dane Ortlund. (Read it here)  Ortlund's main thesis is that our righteous living doesn't come from a new "Christianized" morality. Rather it comes from radical dependence on the grace of God.  Here are a couple of quotes:

"The gospel of grace is so radical, so free, so counterintuitive, so defiant of all the entrenched expectations of our law-marinated hearts, that it would be surprising indeed if our preaching of this gospel is not met with the objection anticipated by Paul—'are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?'"

"As for the first question (Paul being accused of antinomianism, surely the answer is the sheer gratuity—the puzzling, head-scratching, wonder-producing scandal—of free forgiveness won for us by another. Forgiveness not only of our rotten badness but also our rotten goodness. Forgiveness that confounds the inveterate semi-Pelagian simmering within every human heart since Genesis 3." 

"The other way (to holiness), which I believe is the right and biblical way, is so to startle this restraint-free culture with the gospel of free justification that the functional justifications of human approval, moral performance, sexual indulgence, or big bank accounts begin to lose their vice-like grip on human hearts and their emptiness is exposed in all its fraudulence. It sounds backward, but the path to holiness is through (not beyond) the grace of the gospel, because only undeserved grace can truly melt and transform the heart. The solution to restraint-free immorality is not morality. The solution to immorality is the free grace of God—grace so free that it will be (mis)heard by some as a license to sin with impunity. The route by which the New Testament exhorts radical obedience is not by tempering grace but by driving it home all the more deeply." 

 Father, thank you for giving us the grace to move from self-centered rebels to Christ-exalting children.

To God Alone be Glory

Matt 25 - Take a look

The time escapes me right now to comment on Mt 25, but my challenge at this point is to simply absorb what it says, both on always being prepared for Christ's return and how our lives as Christians will be reflected on our impact in "inconsequential" things.

More later (by God's grace)

To God Alone be the Glory

Tuesdays with Clyde Kilby

On Tuesdays I am sharing one of the 10 resolutions of Clyde Kilby that are referenced in The Pleasures of God by John Piper. They are profound. While I plan on sharing one per week, Kilby reflected on these 10 items each day! The entire list can be found here: 10-resolutions-for-mental-health

To God Alone be the Glory

Clyde Kilby's Resolutions for Mental Health:

4. I shall not turn my life into a thin, straight line which prefers abstractions to reality. I shall know what I am doing when I abstract, which of course I shall often have to do.

A Better Approach

I read a blog entry entitled: A Missional Way for the Pro-Life Passion by Jared Wilson. I believe it is well worth the read. At the begining, he makes this statement:

"What I'm proposing is that evangelicals take the harder route, adopt the harder cause, that we aim for Spiritual change of hearts more than we aim for legal stay of hands."

He then lists 6 things we, as evangelicals should pray and strive for:

1) Gospel-centered preaching
2) Reframing the abortion discussion
3) Creating cultures of adoption and rescue
4) Prophets not pundits
5) Technology, technology, technology
6) Love

Abortion is our generation's great challenge.  God alone can change hearts, but as always, He's looking for a few good men and women to humbly speak His Word.

To God Alone be the Glory

Edwards' Resolutions - week 4

My I intention, by God's grace, to post one of Jonathan Edward's 73 resolutions each Monday. As I read the list, it is convicting to me that I can only handle them in small doses, while Edwards reviewed the whole list each week The entire list of Edward's resolutions can be found here: the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards

To God Alone be the Glory

Preamble:

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Resolution 4:

Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.

The Thrill of Victory

This post will only see the light of the public eye if the "right team" wins. I will be the first to admit there is a proper amount of joy and excitement when teams we support win or do well.  But the ache in my heart is this: why don't we have a similar (or even greater joy) for the gospel? Where are the ecstatic cheers when we hear that Christ secured not just a temporal victory, but an eternal one? Where is our overflowing joy when we learn of one sinner who repents? My deep fear is not that we love football too much.  Rather it is that we love Christ too little.  Father revive our hearts today and give us the love that we have lost.

To God Alone be the Glory.

Football, Idolatry and Exorcising Personal Demons

One may question the sanity (or loyalty) of a football fan writing a blog during what what may be the biggest football match up of a generation.Yet here I am in front of a computer, in different part of the house from my family, with my ear buds in.  And I'm writing what I sense may be my most candid blog.

One thing I want to make clear before I share my heart, is that I am not anti-football or some super-spiritual saint. In fact I am exactly the opposite, an avid football fan that struggles to keeping things in the correct perspective. So, what follows is not a "football is evil" diatribe, but rather an expression of the grace and mercy I've received from Christ and an explanation of the reality that I must work out that grace and mercy by not watching a game that would trash it all.

The best place for me to start is in Mt 4.  Jesus' first temptation, after fasting 40 days, is to turn stones into bread. Nothing wrong with bread, no rules against creators doing whatever they want with what they've made. So, why is this an issue? Because Satan was made the bread making, bread craving reality a test of Christ's divinity. If you are the Son of God. Just like in the Garden. Did God really say?  And Jesus' response? In the ultimate temptation blocking parry, Christ emphatically, scripturally states that bread is not the issue, dependence on God is the issue. So whether we trust God for physical food or spiritual, in the end, we must trust Him, and not our own abilities.

The question, of course, is how does this tie to football? In my personal world a football game where one team is a "favorite" is my bread. Did God really say no football? Won't a little cheering show team and family spirit? Are you some kind of legalist? I could go on, but I think you see the pattern. The draw and the power and the sheer emotionalism of watching the game takes me from honoring Christ to honoring my self and leaves me, in the end, wondering what kind of witness I have been.

As I stand back, I think of passages like Isa 45:20 "They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save." Football, like anything, can become an idol. For me, when certain teams play it is just that. So, in order to honor Christ, and not the idol, I must stay away and do something that keeps my heart and mind on the One who lived and died for me and paid the price for the always near idolatry in my heart.

To God Alone be the Glory

Saying What You Believe

I highly encourage John Piper's blog entry here.

His first line is:

"We are Christians. Radical, full-blooded, Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting, God-centered, mission-advancing, soul-winning, church-loving, holiness-pursing, sovereignty-savoring, grace-besotted, broken-hearted, happy followers of the omnipotent, crucified Christ. At least that’s our imperfect commitment."

He goes on to list 5 core truths that we should not only believe, but say that we believe.

To God Alone be the Glory

The Acts 20 Reality

Acts 20 hits me hard every time I read it or hear it preached. I just want to list elements to prayerfully consider as they jump off the pages of Scripture

• Paul did not shrink from declaring anything that was profitable.  This included house to house (ie personal) ministry
• Paul's focus was on the gospel and on sanctification
• Paul's ministry was cross-cultural (ie Jews and Greeks)
• Paul did not stay in comfort nor in safety, but followed where God led him (ie Jerusalem then Rome)
• Paul had a God-centered view of his own gifts and abilities and knew their true value was in the proclamation of the gospel
• Paul did not hang on to personal attachments at the expense of the call of God
• Paul had confidence that he had done the ministry task God had asked him to do
• Paul knew that proclaiming God's Word was what changes hearts and minds
• Paul entrusted the care of the church to faithful men
• Paul realized the church had been purchased by the blood of Christ
• Paul saw danger lurking ahead for the church and that danger would come from the inside 
• Paul was serious about caring for the people of God and wanted those who came after him to be just as serious
• Paul was confident that God and His Word, and His grace would be able to protect and sanctify the church
• Paul sees that a the key of both personal and corporate ministry is that it is not just inward but inward leading outward

As I said, it hits me hard every time. There is probably a dozen sermons (or blogs) in there, but all in God's timetable.  I would ask for a reflective, prayerful review of this list,. or better yet, Acts 20. Maybe the Spirit will press one or more of these into your soul.

To God Alone be the Glory

Addicted to prayer?

I read this line from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening on 1/15.

"As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer."

That is an interesting choice of words.  To be addicted is to be:

"devoted or given up to a practice or habit or to something psychologically or physically habit-forming"

 Wow!  If only prayer could really be like that!  Here is a further excerpt from Spurgeon: (read the entire devotional here)

"Our thoughts go roving hither and thither, and we make little progress towards our desired end. Like quicksilver our mind will not hold together, but rolls off this way and that. How great an evil this is! It injures us, and what is worse, it insults our God. What should we think of a petitioner, if, while having an audience with a prince, he should be playing with a feather or catching a fly?

Continuance and perseverance are intended in the expression of our text. David did not cry once, and then relapse into silence; his holy clamour was continued till it brought down the blessing. Prayer must not be our chance work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation. As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer. We must be immersed in prayer as in our element, and so pray without ceasing."

To God Alone be the Glory

The Purpose of the Church

I ran across this quote by C.S. Lewis on the Gospel-Driven Church blog. Check it out here.

"The Church exists for no other purpose but to draw men into Christ. . . If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other reason."

-- C.S. Lewis

Tuesdays with Clyde Kilby

On Tuesdays I am sharing one of the 10 resolutions of Clyde Kilby that are referenced in The Pleasures of God by John Piper. They are profound. While I plan on sharing one per week, Kilby reflected on these 10 items each day! The entire list can be found here: 10-resolutions-for-mental-health

To God Alone be the Glory

Clyde Kilby's Resolutions for Mental Health:

3. I shall not fall into the falsehood that this day, or any day, is merely another ambiguous and plodding twenty-four hours, but rather a unique event, filled, if I so wish, with worthy potentialities. I shall not be fool enough to suppose that trouble and pain are wholly evil parentheses in my existence, but just as likely ladders to be climbed toward moral and spiritual manhood.

Edwards' Resolutions - week 3

My I intention, by God's grace, to post one of Jonathan Edward's 73 resolutions each Monday. As I read the list, it is convicting to me that I can only handle them in small doses, while Edwards reviewed the whole list each week The entire list of Edward's resolutions can be found here: the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards

To God Alone be the Glory

Preamble:

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Resolution 3:

Resolved, If ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

What is the Gospel?

A few months ago I had a couple of blog entries (find them here) related to a book I was reading by Greg Gilbert entitled What is the Gospel?  Today I found a link to a excerpt that I wanted to share. Find it here.

To God Alone be the Glory.

White Funeral

Thirteen years ago when I read today's (Jan 15) My Utmost for His Highest entry by Oswald Chambers, I was cut to the heart. (full devotional here) I had been a Christian for 7 years, had served in various capacities and had even been to a few Promise Keeper events. Yet the challenge and conviction of what Chambers wrote haunted me.

You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death.

Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, “Yes, it was then, at my ’white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God.”

So, by God's grace on Jan 15, 1998, I had my "white funeral". That was not the day of my conversion, but it was the day that through the Spirit I came to the end of my self. Is there effort involved in living the Christian life? Absolutely. But any effort I expend that further's the kingdom of Christ and brings glory to God is borne not by me but by the Holy Spirit.

Paul puts it in the form of a rhetorical question in Gal 3:3 "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" The implied answer is No!

Let end with two more quotes from Chambers:

No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a “white funeral”-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream.

Are you willing to experience that “white funeral” now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you. 

To God Alone be the Glory.

Pray or Serve

In Neh 4, Nehemiah writes: "We prayed to our God and set a guard". I know this passage and much of the book of Nehemiah have been well covered by people smarter than me, but each time I read this phrase I can't help but think how easy it is to separate these two actions.

Maybe its the limitations of my human mind, but I often think of praying then doing. Or maybe praying, then doing, then pausing and praying, then doing some more. But praying and doing?

But isn't that the heart of Phil 2:12-13 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."? And 1 Th 5:12-22 is a litany of things to do, but the midst of that "to do" list is the phrase "pray without ceasing".

Here's the bottom-line. We (or least I) need to get beyond a one dimensional, linear view of prayer and service. Prayer is not just bowing in the morning and / or evening and asking for help in certain areas or thanking for grace in other areas, although that is certainly a part of it. Prayer is also an intimate heart-level communication with the Creator, Sustainer, Savior and Lover of our souls. Prayer is a sweet dependence on the One who can do everything, but has asked us to do something for His glory. Prayer is acknowledging and submitting to the reality that this is God's deal and we are graciously privileged to be one very small part of what He is doing. And, it is so much more.

To God Alone be the Glory.

Both Riot and Revial

In For the Love of God v2 today DA comments on  Acts 13 "As on other occasions, Paul's preaching brings both a riot and a revolt."  You can read the whole devotional here.

As I read this statement, two thoughts popped into my mind.  1) Carson is right on. Paul's preaching often (always?) has this twin effect.  2) Shouldn't all true biblical preaching, teaching and / or Bible study bare the same  results?

This second though has intrigued me. Most preaching I encounter seems to fit somewhere near the mid point of this spectrum.  Don't press to hard so someone might be offended, but don't press too hard that many might be convicted. And then there's teaching, my own included.  How easy it is to stick to the facts, the Greek, the history, the context and not press the why questions.

But if I can stretch Carson's comment just a little, should all our Bible study and even times of prayer and mediation result in both riot and revival.  If I see the true picture of Christ, if I see the magitude of God's grace, if I grasp a little more of a the magnificent plan of redemption, should that spur revival in my heart and mind.  And if I get a better glimpse of Christ, I get a better look at myself. And there's the riot. I can either riot against the sin in my life or against the press of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Father help us not waste our preaching and our teaching and our study and our prayers. Bring us to the point of both riot and revival.  And use us to that end in the lives of others as well.

For the Glory of God Alone.

Tuesdays with Clyde Kilby

On Tuesdays I am sharing one of the 10 resolutions of Clyde Kilby that are referenced in The Pleasures of God by John Piper. They are profound. While I plan on sharing one per week, Kilby reflected on these 10 items each day! The entire list can be found here: 10-resolutions-for-mental-health

To God Alone be the Glory

Clyde Kilby's Resolutions for Mental Health:

2. Instead of the accustomed idea of a mindless and endless evolutionary change to which we can neither add nor subtract, I shall suppose the universe guided by an Intelligence which, as Aristotle said of Greek drama, requires a beginning, a middle, and an end. I think this will save me from the cynicism expressed by Bertrand Russell before his death when he said: "There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendor, no vastness anywhere, only triviality for a moment, and then nothing."

Edward's Resolutions - week 2

My I intention, by God's grace, to post one of Jonathan Edward's 73 resolutions each Monday. As I read the list, it is convicting to me that I can only handle them in small doses, while Edwards reviewed the whole list each week The entire list of Edward's resolutions can be found here: the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards

To God Alone be the Glory

Preamble:

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Resolution 2:

Resolved, To be continually endeavouring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned things.

The True Heart of our Devotion

It is easy, I think, to overly self-congratulate ourselves. Self-assessment, true self-assessment is not the strong suit of fallen people. Consider these provocative words from Spurgeon:

"The iniquities of our public worship, its hypocrisy, formality, lukewarmness, irreverence, wandering of heart and forgetfulness of God, what a full measure have we there! Our work for the Lord, its emulation, selfishness, carelessness, slackness, unbelief, what a mass of defilement is there! Our private devotions, their laxity, coldness, neglect, sleepiness, and vanity, what a mountain of dead earth is there! If we looked more carefully we should find this iniquity to be far greater than appears at first sight."

Spurgeon goes on to quote a contemporary pastor who states "My parish, as well as my heart, very much resembles the garden of the sluggard; and what is worse, I find that very many of my desires for the melioration of both, proceed either from pride or vanity or indolence."

The conclusion? Christ bore all of our sins. Not just the bad things we do and not just the good things we neglect to do. But he also paid for our half-hearted, self-centered devotion to Christ.  He simply covered it all so He can present us as His unblemished Bride!

Spurgeon's full devotional can be found here: morn-eve 0108

To God Alone be the Glory

Hit by a Verse

Ever been hit by verse of Scripture? Sometimes its convicting. Sometimes its God-glorifying and Christ-exalting. And sometimes its "Ahh, God's got me right where He wants me".

That was me today with Ezra 7:10: "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel."  As I was thinking and praying about this verse and how to capture the "ahh-ness" of it for me, I read the following devotional by D.A. Carson: genesis-7-matthew-7-ezra-7-acts-7. Let me share just a couple of his thoughts.

"Effectiveness in teaching the Bible is purchased at the price of much study, some of it lonely, all of it tiring. If you are not a student of the Word, you are not called to be a teacher of the Word."

"For some people, study is an end in itself, or perhaps a means to the end of teaching. The Bible is to be mastered like a textbook, but it does not call the people of God to tremble; its truths are to be cherished, but it does not mediate the presence of God. Ezra avoided all these traps and devoted himself to observing what Scripture says.he Bible is to be mastered like a textbook, but it does not call the people of God to tremble; its truths are to be cherished, but it does not mediate the presence of God. Ezra avoided all these traps and devoted himself to observing what Scripture says."

"Ezra devoted himself to the teaching of the Law. He was not a hermit-scholar; he was a pastor-scholar. What he learned in study and obedience he also learned how to pass on. Whether in large, solemn assemblies, in family or clan settings, or in one-on-one studies, Ezra committed himself to teaching the Word of God to the people of God. It is difficult to imagine a higher calling."

To God Alone be the Glory

Tuesdays with Clyde Kilby

Yesterday I heard a sermon that referenced 10 resolutions made by Clyde Kilby.  I remembered reading them in The Pleasures of God by John Piper a while back, so I looked them up. They are profound and I want to share them here each Tuesday. While I plan on one per week, Kilby reflected on these 10 items each day! The entire list can be found here: 10-resolutions-for-mental-health

To God Alone be the Glory

Clyde Kilby's Resolutions for Mental Health:

1. At least once every day I shall look steadily up at the sky and remember that I, a consciousness with a conscience, am on a planet traveling in space with wonderfully mysterious things above and about me.

Jonathan Edwards Resolutions for the New Year

A friend of ours shared an idea about reflecting on one of Jonathan Edward's 73 resolutions each week during the new year. This idea caught my attention so I intend, by God's grace, to post one resolution each Monday. As one reads the list, it is convicting to me that I can only handle them in small doses, while Edwards reviewed the whole list each week The entire list of Edward's resolutions can be found here: the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards

To God Alone be the Glory

Preamble:

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Resolution 1:

Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved,so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

Missing the Obvious

"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?" Mt 2:2. "And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine." Ac 2:12-13

Whether it was the birth of the Messiah or the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, many people missed the obvious. In this day of high-tech and many optioned churches and sermons on demand, we too are in danger of missing the obvious. Herod and the ruling elite missed what shepherds and foreign wisemen discovered. Some in the crowd at Pentecost heard the truth of the gospel while others dismissed it as drunken foolishness.

So, where are we? Do we miss the obvious that Jesus died to pay for our sins and appease the just and holy wrath of God? Do we miss the obvious by thinking we are good enough (however that is measured)? Do we miss the obvious by thinking somehow that we are saved by grace but sanctified by our behavior (or political party)? Do we miss the obvious by thinking that God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life, when the His Word says "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." (Mk 8:35) ?

Can we start 2011 by not just observing the obvious, but also by taking ownership of it. Let's look at God's Word not as a textbook or a rulebook or a history book (although it is each of these to some degree). Rather, let's look at God's Word as it is: God's self disclosure about who He is, about how much He loves His Son and the amazing effort they undertook to acquire our  ransom, redemption, rescue and restoration. And, let us see the clear call He has for us who claim (really claim) the name of Christ.

To God Alone be the Glory

A New Year - The Same Savior

A lot of blogs (too many?) are using these days to help us set (or reset) some of our priorities going into the new year. While this is not a bad exercise, its probably something we should be doing more than once a year. And, my concern personally is that it is easier to focus on what Bible reading plan or devotional book or prayer time we will have in the new year than it is to focus on the One all of those items point us toward. To that end, I would like to share an excerpt from the Jan 1 entry of My Utmost for His Highest.

"When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone."

The entire entry can be found here: let-us-keep-to-the-point

On an unrelated note, John Piper has returned from his sabbatical. His first blog can be found here: john-pipers-report-on-his-leave-of-absence Here is one quote I think is worth highlighting: "Eleven days after I return to ministry, I turn 65. One could look at this two ways: 1) it’s the age most people retire, or 2) it’s the age Winston Churchill became Prime Minister and led England and the Western World to victory over Hitler’s aggression. I find Churchill much more inspiring than retirement." Oh to have a heart like that!

To God Alone be the Glory!