Vacation Reading 2010
“Every summer on vacation, I try to read a variety of things. Here is a thumbnail on each of the books from this past week in South Carolina…
Peter O’Brien’s Consumed by Passion (1993) where he carefully and convincingly argues from 1 Cor 10:33-11:1 and elsewhere against David Bosch and others who maintain that Paul did NOT expect other Christians to evangelize. Paul did, O’Brien argues. Good book on the gospel and evangelism. Careful treatment of key passages. Anything by O’Brien is worth reading.”
– Mark Dever shares thoughts on just some of the books he’s been reading during the northern Summer vacation.
The Archer and the Arrow
“If you are a pastor and haven’t yet read The Trellis and the Vine, you will want to do so. And then you will want to read the follow-up as well. The books are a powerful one-two punch looking first to the big picture of ministry and then focussing in on that one area of utmost importance…”
– Tim Challies reviews The Archer and the Arrow by Phillip Jensen and Paul Grimmond.
Soldiers are not like Macadamia Nuts!
“I have often thought that the typical Aussie bloke is a bit like a Macadamia. You know there is a soft kernel somewhere inside, but the shell is so hard that is seems impossible to crack. So too with soldiers. No doubt there is a spiritual side to them, but the shell is like reinforced concrete. Or so I thought…”
– Ridley College graduate Chaplain Andrew Grills writes about the spiritual openness he has discovered among those to whom he ministers. On the Defence Anglicans website.
And what advice are military chaplains giving Defence Force members looking for churches? It’s a challenge to see if our churches measure up.
(Defence Force Chaplains are always on the lookout for faithful and innovative clergy.)
The Gospel Song — an Animation
At Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin shares an animated video by Chris Powers – based on Sovereign Grace’s ‘The Gospel Song’, and some words from John Piper.
(The song is also available on that page as a free download.)
The Gospel for those broken by the Church
This talk by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt (known to many through The White Horse Inn broadcast) on the topic ‘The Gospel for those broken by the Church’ is well worth your time.
It runs for 50 minutes and is available from New Reformation Press (direct link to 36MB mp3 file).
“For all of you who have been given morality lessons instead of the Gospel, hear how Dr. Rod Rosenbladt succinctly presents Christianity as first and foremost a genuine truth claim about Christ as our righteous substitute, instead of a never ending list of popular religious recipes for personal success.”
(Photo: Bryan Johnson.)
Idea for your church: Garage Sale Giveaway
Some Canadian churches are running garage sales with an difference:
“The only way to explain that God’s love is free in a tangible way … is to say every item here is free.”
Read about it here. (h/t Anglican Essentials Canada blog.)
30 days of prayer
Now that Ramadan has begun (August 11 – September 9 2010), it’s a great time to love Muslim people through prayer.
30-days.net has much helpful information, including PDF resources and a 2.2MB downloadable prayer guide. Worth passing on.
Federal Election resources
While not supporting any party, the Centre for Public Christianity has assembled a range of material to help Christians to make an informed choice in the coming Australian Federal Election.
As well, the Australian Christian Lobby has just posted a new interview with Julia Gillard, in addition to its earlier material.