Letter to a Sorrowful, Suffering Saint

December 12, 2012

How do you encourage someone after a tragic loss? How do you minister to someone languishing in discouragement? There’s no simple answer, and certainly no one-size-fits-all solution. The most helpful initial responses are counterintuitive: presence, sympathy, listening, and hands-on help. Inexperienced counselors or fix-it friends often err by rushing to offer solutions and explain truth before the person has … More Letter to a Sorrowful, Suffering Saint

How Is the Fear of the Lord the Beginning of Wisdom?

December 10, 2012

The wisest man in history besides Jesus of Nazareth said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7a; 9:10a). Like many proverbs, this one is layered. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom in several ways: 1. Fearing God grounds wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning … More How Is the Fear of the Lord the Beginning of Wisdom?

Convictional Leadership: The Legacy of Albert Mohler

December 6, 2012

The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler (Bethany House, 2012) is his legacy in the form of principles. Mohler does not aim to join the conversation about leadership but to change it (15). He is calling not for adjustments in managerial technique but a paradigm shift in the way we think about leadership. I was … More Convictional Leadership: The Legacy of Albert Mohler

Biblical Theology Briefing (#2)

October 15, 2012

On November 6, Zondervan will release what looks like a helpful new compare-the-approaches book on biblical theology: Understanding Biblical Theology: A Comparison of Theory and Practice by Edward W. Klink III and Darian R. Lockett. Klink and Lockett both teach at Biola University in Los Angeles. PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION Understanding Biblical Theology examines the five major schools of … More Biblical Theology Briefing (#2)

The Sympathy of Christ and the Throne of Grace

September 13, 2012

Thrones are not where you go for grace. “The rulers of the Gentiles,” Jesus said, “lord it over them” (Mark 10:42). Sovereigns are not often known for their sympathy. So when we read that we have (a) a “great high priest” (b) “who has passed through the heavens” (c) as the very “Son of God” … More The Sympathy of Christ and the Throne of Grace

The Sight of Faith

June 14, 2012

I often cannot see the guiding hand of God over the days, weeks, and months, but over the years it is crystal clear. I often identify any cascade of consecutive trials as an erosion of his covenant promises, but the dusk of each season of life finds him faithful once again. “God doesn’t play games with … More The Sight of Faith

Why I Love My Wife (Help Her Win an iPad!)

June 9, 2012

My beautiful, godly wife is in 1st place out of 27,000+ competitors in an online competition for an iPad through Wycliffe Bible Translators. Here’s 2 minutes and 8 seconds of how my wife is amazing and why you should help her win. Competition ends midnight on Tuesday night, June 12! What now? 1. Click the link: http://www.wycliffewords.org/?pid=35455&source=LinkRecruit … More Why I Love My Wife (Help Her Win an iPad!)

Glad I’m Not Famous

June 8, 2012

I’m glad I’m not famous. I’ve never worried about the possibility, but now and then I eyeball the perks from afar. Something about status, influence, and attention attracts the human psyche. It’s easy to envy the dominant athlete, the stunning actress, the chart-topping artist, the powerful mogul, the soul-moving preacher. “Man, I’d really love to … More Glad I’m Not Famous

Review of Eckhard Schnabel’s 40 Questions about the End Times

June 6, 2012

Eschatology, the study of the end times, is one of the most difficult theological subjects to grasp. Full of complexity and often conjecture, contemporary discussions and debates about eschatology often discourage Christians rather than encouraging us. Eckhard Schnabel has helped bring clarity to the issues with his 40 Questions about the End Times. You can … More Review of Eckhard Schnabel’s 40 Questions about the End Times

Biblical Theology Briefing (#1)

June 4, 2012

The new “Biblical Theology Briefings” are an opportunity to share observations, arguments, outlines, books, articles, reviews, sermons, videos, diagrams — anything I’ve found that could foster a clearer understanding of the Bible’s parts as they relate to its whole. “Biblical Theology” is a specific discipline within biblical studies (it doesn’t mean “theology that’s biblical in … More Biblical Theology Briefing (#1)

Linsanity (or, Why We All Claimed Jeremy Lin): Ethnicity, Status, Religion, and the Search for Vindication

May 30, 2012

  Remember Jeremy Lin? This undrafted, unheralded, 6’3″ Asian-American put the sputtering New York Knicks on his rookie shoulders and took the NBA by storm back in February. Gushing headlines about the 23-year-old Harvard grad consumed one of the few industries where being a Harvard grad puts you behind, not ahead. His 38-point, 7-assist explosion (a) against … More Linsanity (or, Why We All Claimed Jeremy Lin): Ethnicity, Status, Religion, and the Search for Vindication