Monday, December 28, 2009

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Wow! This Really Is the End

They (Dems) are now openly embracing using public taxpayers' money to bribe other politicians to vote a certain way. The US is now (officially) a corrupt, third world government. How quickly we have fallen. Read it here.

If you have no ethics, you can't be accused of violating your standards!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Friday, December 4, 2009

Some Christian Classics

A former student of mine recently wrote to me, wanting some suggestions for Christian classics she should read. Here's the list I wrote back:

1. J.I. Packer, _Knowing God_. This is a modern classic. Fantastic. It's not just about God; rather, it is about spirituality and Christian living.

2. Brother Lawrence, _Practicing the Presence of God_. This is a devotional classic by a Catholic brother. He writes about how he learned to live in a constant awareness of God's presence.

3. Thomas a Kempis, _The Imitation of Christ_. Another catholic brother; and another devotional classic. Kempis embraces some Catholic theology here and there, but by and large, it is an extended meditation on pursuing Christilikeness in everyday life.

4. C.S. Lewis, _The Screwtape Letters_. I've read this about 4 times; some of these letters have deeply influenced the way I think about all of life. It is humorous, serious, relevant, entertaining, readable. A Christian classic without question.

5. G.K. Chesterton, _Orthodoxy_. This one is a bit more "heady" and intellectual, but also funny and practical at the same time. Not a long book, but one has to read it slowly to appreciate it. It is one of Chesterton's defenses of the Christian faith.

6. John Bunyan, _Pilgrim's Progress_. Perhaps THE Christian classic of all time. I've read this countless times, and it always inspires. Bunyan's allegory of the Christian life: memorable, convicting, comforting, inspiring.

7. Daniel Defoe, _Robinson Crusoe_. You probably know the story, but few have actually read the book. When I did, I was surprised at how many quotations there are from Scripture. Crusoe tries to come to grips with life from a Christian perspective.

8. Hannah Hurnard, _Hind's Feet on High Places_. Another devotional classic. An extended allegory with lots of symbolism; very readable, emotional, inspiring.

9. Wayne Grudem, _Systematic Theology_. Get the unabridged version. It is LONG, but this book is not just another systematic theology. Dr. Grudem was one of my teachers in seminary. This book is a wonderful example of allowing Scripture to be our authority. It is not only educating but very nourishing to the soul. Both my wife and I have read it from cover to cover. Each chapter has memory verses and a hymn on that particular topic. Give yourself a year or so to finish it. I read a few pages every night before bed. My wife read it during morning devotions. Worth every page.

10. F.F. Bruce, _Paul's Letter to the Romans_ (Tyndale New Testament Commentary). This would not make many other people's list of classics; it was the textbook when I had Mr. Bedell for Romans class, and it changed my life. Bruce is a scholar, and writes like one, but his explanation of the gospel as taught by Paul in the book of Romans really did change my life.