Category: Faith

November 22, 2010

Justified by Faith Alone by R.C. Sproul (audiobook)

Read by Sean Runnette. In Justified by Faith Alone, R. C. Sproul describes the differences between the Roman Catholic church’s doctrine of justification and that of the evangelical church. This debate was central to the Reformation and yet the author says that it is commonly misunderstood. After introducing the reader to the meaning of justification and explaining the importance of the debate, he proceeds to […]

November 11, 2010

Firestarter: Wonder

I mentioned a few days ago that a friend has loaned me a couple of Don Miller’s books and that I have found them enlightening. Here’s a quote that caught my attention: At the end of the day, when I am lying in bed and I know the chances of any of our theology being exactly right are a million to one, I need to […]

November 8, 2010

Firestarter: Do You Have a Team of Good Life Editors?

A friend of mine recently loaned me two books by Donald Miller. I am enjoying the first of them, Blue Like Jazz, immensely. That’s probably why Lindsey Nobles’ October 22 blog post, The Best Thing I’ve Read This Week, caught my attention. The “best thing” referenced in that title is a post by Donald Miller entitled, Do You Have a Team of Good Life Editors? […]

July 13, 2010

Psalm 16:7-11

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot […]

May 31, 2010

Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

What is Christianity? It is Christ – nothing more and nothing less. Unfortunately, the church has lost sight of this simple fact, say Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola in their new book, Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ. We focus on Christianity and not on the living Christ. We are meant to be living epistles – “Jesus Manifestos” – in our […]

May 15, 2010

Sabbatical

I haven’t made a big deal about this, but I’m taking a seven-week sabbatical from playing the piano for worship services at PBC. The second week of my sabbatical begins tomorrow. Last weekend I took my annual trip to Belfast, Maine, and for the next six weeks I will be visiting other local churches. My sabbatical is for rest, renewal, refreshment, and restoration, as well […]

May 4, 2010

Stop Dating the Church! by Joshua Harris

We are a generation of consumers, independent and critical. We attend church, but we don’t want to settle down and truly invest ourselves. We’re not into commitment — we only want to date the church. Is this what God wants for us? In Stop Dating the Church!: Fall in Love with the Family of God, bestselling author Joshua Harris says no, God’s purpose for Christians involves a deep […]

April 16, 2010

Taking a Break

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I spend my time. It seems that I find myself wasting a lot of time on Facebook or in front of the TV (or both simultaneously) or doing other things that drain me emotionally, physically, and spiritually. After reading and contemplating a blog post by Tony Steward, I’ve decided to follow the example of Michael Hyatt and […]

December 30, 2009

“Will We Have To Leave?”

I came across an interesting post on Internet Monk a few weeks ago and want to share it with you. It has led to interesting discussions among my family members and caused me to question my own reactions to certain behaviors. The post is entitled “Will We Have To Leave?” and relates to cohabitation and other sinful lifestyles and how the church responds to them. […]

October 27, 2009

Your Whole Self

Several years ago, Christian singer Dan Haseltine (of Jars of Clay) challenged readers of Relevant Magazine to bring our whole selves into our relationships. I must admit that when I first read his article, entitled Your Whole Self, certain aspects turned me off. However, on closer inspection the truths found within overpowered the negatives. There is a weight to the Gospel. There is a mass […]