Yesterday I argued from the principles in 1 Corinthians 7:39-40 that our own happiness is a legitimate consideration in making major life decisions. This is how Paul sees the choice to marry, and it seems that the same principle carries through to other areas of freedom, such as what job to choose. Today I wanted […]
Archives for June 2011
Spiritual Leadership in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is all about leadership, though it is often overlooked as a leadership passage in the NT. I’ve copied the passage below and inserted some comments in italics as I go. For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been […]
Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty
Here’s a book I’m looking forward to reading more of: Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty. I don’t know if I will agree with everything — or even most — of what I read here. In general, the main way I assess a book is to see whether it […]
Earthen Vessels: Why Our Bodies Matter to Our Faith
Matthew Anderson’s book Earthen Vessels: Why Our Bodies Matter to Our Faith has recently been released, and it is well worth picking up. I haven’t finished it yet, but I have really enjoyed what I have read so far, and am looking forward to the whole thing. The body is a much neglected subject in […]
Does it Matter Where You Live? Part 2
Richard Florida again, in Who’s Your City?: How the Creative Economy Is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life: Finding a place that makes us happy has a powerful effect on our “activation.” Such places encourage people to do more than they otherwise would, such as engage in more creative activities, […]
Does it Matter Where You Live?
Yes. The ability to work from anywhere can make it seem that it doesn’t matter where you live, since you can connect with anyone and work with anyone wherever you are through technology. But this would actually be a mistaken inference because of what Richard Florida calls “the clustering force.” Here’s what he says in […]
What the Sermon on the Mount Does Not Mean
Lloyd-Jones, in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount: What, then, are the characteristics of the true Christian? Put positively, it is that he “does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Our Lord says: “Not every one that says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that […]
Holiness is a Promise — Not a Threat
Mike Horton, in Christ the Lord: As Christ is the answer to our guilt and condemnation (through justification), so he is the answer to our bondage and corruption (sanctification). He takes away not only the verdict, but also the slavery. To justify us in the heavenly court without giving us the gifts that, by virtue […]
The Objective Nature of the Work of Christ
I love this quote from Mike Horton’s The Gospel-Driven Life: On Good Friday, at about noon, all of those whom God had chosen from every tribe and nation across the millennia of human history became legal beneficiaries of heaven, coheirs with Christ.
The Counterintuitive Nature of the Gospel
CJ Mahaney, in The Cross Centered Life: Do you see any traces of [a sense of] condemnation in your life? Don’t be surprised if you do. But don’t keep carrying the burden! Because of the gospel’s power you can be completely free of all condemnation. Not mostly free; completely free. Don’t buy the lie that […]