Just for fun: videos you may or may not have seen

A Guilty Dog

A Scary Nose

(HT: Challies)

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Pleading with unbelieving people

This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

Those of you that are yet strangers to Christ, what can I say to excite you to come and walk with God?  If you love honor, pleasure, and a crown of glory, come and seek it where it alone can be found.  Come, put on the Lord Jesus.  Come, haste away and walk with God, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.  Stop, stop, O sinner!  Turn, for the end of that way you are now walking in, however right it may seem in your blinded eyes, will be eternal destruction of body and soul.  Make no tarrying… step not one step further on in your present walk.  For how do you know the next step you take will not be into hell?  Death may seize you, judgment may find you, and then the great gulf will be fixed between you and endless glory forever and ever.  Lay these things to heart.  In the strength of Jesus say, “Farewell lust of the flesh, I will no more walk with thee!  Farewell lust of the eye, and pride of life!  Farewell carnal acquaintance and enemies of the cross, I will no more walk and be intimate with you!  Welcome Jesus, welcome thy word, welcome thy ordinances, welcome thy Spirit, welcome thy people, I will henceforth walk with you.”  O that there may be in you such a mind!  God will seal it with the broad seal of heaven, even the signet of his Holy Spirit.  Yes, he will, though you have been following after the desires of your desperately wicked hearts ever since you have been born.  The precious blood of Jesus Christ, if you come to the Father in and through him, shall cleanse you from all sin.

–Randall J. Pederson (ed.), George Whitefield, Daily Readings, March 16.

(HT: Thabiti)

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Your kids, Bible reading, and God

I would encourage all parents to read the following articles:

Erik asks, “Is Mandated Bible Reading for Healthy for Children?”

Joe started a series this week on “Five Things I Want My Children to Know about. . . .” His first one is “Five Things I Want My Children to Know about God.”

 

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Wrestling with demons

This looks like an excellent new book from Crossway: Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ by Russell Moore of Southern Seminary.

Tony Reinke points us to his favorite excerpt from the book. It’s worth reading slowly.

TGC also published an excerpt.

Josh Harris recently wrote:

Some people are incredible writers but have little to say. Others have great substance but are boring as all get out to read. Russell Moore is that rare author whose skills as a writer are matched by his theological and biblical substance. He both engages your imagination and stretches you intellectually. This man knows the Bible and he teaches it in a way that pierces the heart. Russell will not only make you think, he will make you think more biblically—an activity that is more dangerous and subversive than you would imagine. If you’re struggling with sin in some form, you might assume that reading a book called  Tempted and Tried would be a depressing reminder of all your failings. But that is not what this book is. It is realistic and honest about sin and evil, but more than anything it gloriously sets forth Jesus as the devil-smashing Victor that he is. It will give you hope. It will give you courage to press on. It will stir your heart to keep battling temptation in the confidence of Christ’s victory. I highly recommend it.

You can read the table of contents and first chapter online for free.

 

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Ask the counselor: Help for the depressed

David Murray, who has written a book dealing biblically with the issue of depression, suggests five questions we should ask those who are struggling with this issue.  Here’s a summary:

1. Do you accept you have a problem?
2. Are you will ing to explore the possible dimensions of this problem?
3. Do you want to be made whole?
4. Are you willing to do what you can to contribute to the healing process?
5. Do you trust me when I tell you that you have good hope for recovery?

In another article, David recommends six “R’s” to practice to live a balanced lifestyle in our very stressful Western culture. Doing so will help you fight depression. Here they are:

• Routine
• Relaxation
• Re-creation
• Rest
• Re-prioritize
• Repentance

Finally, Dan Phillips has a good post on battling depression. His article begins:

Many folks never know a moment’s real depression. The very notion is a strange one to them. If someone spoke of being depressed for years, their response might be an honestly incredulous “—years?” I knew a pastor of this temperament once, a really good guy, who simply was unable to tell a depressing story in the first-person. Every time he tried, his stories wound up with happy endings.

This post is not addressed to such happy souls. You have my envy and good wishes. You may just want to sit out the meta to this post, though it’s possible that reading it could be instructive.

I speak to folks who hear about years-long depression, wince in empathy, and find nothing whatever hard to believe in the thought. In fact, you could add your own story. Perhaps your episodes aren’t so protracted or free-floating. A disappointment (small or massive) can send you into a depression

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Get your free book and songs

Christian Audio is making available for free (until March 31) the audio download for John Piper’s little book, Jesus: The Only Way to God: Must You Hear the Gospel to be Saved? You can read some of the book online for free as well. Helpful reading in light of the current trends of inclusivism and universalism that continue to grow more popular.

The Gettys are currently offering three of their songs for free as a download!  What a blessing!

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