Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by John Piper. You can download the entire book for free as a pdf. It is also available, for a price, as an audiobook or hard copy. It is worth the read.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. I make this available as a free download (pdf). It is a lengthy letter but one that is worth reading to gain the perspective of this important individual in our nation’s history.

http://www.9marks.org/blog/resources-ministering-suffering

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor is probably my favorite, and most worn, book on the list.

What other resources for ministering to the suffering have you found?

I read this post in my blog reader early this a.m. It provides serious food for thought, especially the second paragraph. It comes on the heels of my studying Lamentations 3 and Jeremiah’s depression. Here’s the article copied in it’s entirety from Challies’ blog. I, too, have read this book and recommend it highly.

One of my favorite conference moments to date has been an interaction between John MacArthur and John Piper. The details are a bit hazy, but if memory serves me correct, they were participating in a panel discussion and the moderator asked them about depression. Piper described some of the darkest hours of his life and ministry, saying that for a long period of time—months or years—he wept every day. Then it was MacArthur’s turn to speak and he said, “I’ve never been depressed for a day in my life.” It was a practical statement, I think, devoid of any kind of judgment. It was simply the truth. I may not remember it perfectly, but it happened something like that. And it set in stark contrast how two men, both used mightily by the Lord, can have such different experiences and such different dispositions.

Christians get depressed too. This statement may seem a wee bit trite, but it’s an important message and one Christians need to hear. Too many people have been taught that Christians—true Christians, good Christians, real Christians—don’t get depressed or that depression is always the outworking of serious sin. This heaps guilt and anguish upon those who are already suffering mental or emotional pain. Is my depression a result of a sin I’ve committed against God? Is there a sin I need to confess to make it all go away? Am I even a Christian? With the anguish comes stigma so that those who suffer so often suffer in silence, afraid and ashamed to admit what they are going through. Many Christians sympathize with physical pain but roll their eyes at emotional pain.

The message at the heart of David Murray’s little book about depression is all in the title—Christians Get Depressed Too. This message is remarkably liberating. Immediately it clears away so many of the dangerous and unhelpful misconceptions. We wouldn’t want this to give license to wallow in depression, but we would want it to allow us to see and believe and understand that for many people depression is to the fallen mind what illness is to the fallen body. The book follows a simple six-chapter structure:

• The Crisis – A list of eight reasons that we ought to study this topic.
• The Complexity – The attitude and the spirit Christians should maintain when they study this topic. Here Murray asks Christians to avoid extremes and to pursue balance while also avoiding dogmatism and seeking humility.
• The Condition – In this chapter Murray defines depression and offers a list of ways in which it may work itself out in life.
• The Causes – In what may be the most important chapter in the book, Murray discusses the varying causes of depression.
• The Cures – There are many ways to cure depression. To answer the question everyone is asking, Murray recommends the careful and measured use of medication in some circumstances.
• The Caregivers – How friends and family members and pastors are to care for those who are depressed.

I believe this book’s greatest strength is its liberating message that depression does not need to be a source of shame and that it should not carry a taboo that causes those who suffer from it to hide away in shame. At the same time, it should not cause other people to respond with shock or scolding or judgment. Murray does a good job of aligning depression—mental or emotion suffering—with the physical suffering we all encounter in life. Though it may be caused by sin or aggravated by sin, we must not allow ourselves to assume that this is always the case.

Another strength is the book’s measured, pastoral tone. Too much writing on this subject falls prey to broad strokes and sweeping judgments. Murray makes it clear that he is no stranger to depression; he has faced it in his ministry and “among friends and some of those I love most in this world.” This leads him to speak carefully, to speak sensitively, and to use nuance where nuance is warranted. The person who is dealing with depression, with anxiety or with panic attacks will find sympathy and hope in the words of this book and in the gospel message it depends upon.

Weighing in at just 100 pages, Christians Get Depressed Too is short enough that it can be read by those who are suffering; where a 200 or 300 page book may be too much, this one is short and accessible and urgent. It is also a valuable read for those who are trying to help friends or family members who are dealing with depression. It’s just the kind of book that is the right size and the right price to purchase a few to keep on hand, ready to give away—and I pretty much guarantee the opportunity will present itself before long. It will prove a valuable resource for the pastor or counselor or pretty much everyone else. I highly recommend it.

Chance to Interact: What resources have you found that would benefit people experiencing depression?

We’d read papers published under the name of “Sword of the Lord” and read rants and sermons about communists, leftists, and those pesky democrats. We’d run buses all over the neighborhood and compete with some fella out of Hammond, IN for the record of converted bus children. Our evangelists would be sweaty, overweight and full of wind, but we still wanted them to sign our bibles. It was no wonder that the community around us thought we were odd, almost cultish. And please, I’m no seeker-sensitive pastor, but I am concerned about the way the Church presents herself to the community in which she lives. It’s as if we had missed grace somehow.

What kind of people does that Church produce? How does the community in which that Church resides view the people of the Church?

Today I read an article that I would like to share with you. It’s entitled, “The Danger of Defining Yourself by What Your Against“. Written by Byron Yawn over at the Cripplegate. I’ve reproduced the first paragraph or so, but you’ll have to click through to read the rest. I think he explains some of the concerns that the Church really needs to hear.

I spent a brief portion of my pastoral ministry under an “angry prophet.” You know… “that guy.” He’s the preacher-pastor who somehow finds his way to the kindling and accelerant in every sermon, or writing project. The “Battle Hymn of the Republic” is on a loop in the background of his life. I loved the gentlemen and still do. He loved Jesus Christ and still does. He was well intended. I learned an awful lot from his ministry and am grateful for almost all of it. But, some things I have had to unlearn. One such lesson was the danger of incessantly defining your ministry by what you are against. My fundamentalist background made the warning emphasis of his ministry especially appealing. I watched this man unnecessarily alienate himself from everyone around him and eventually implode. I took copious notes. I looked inward.

Read further for 10 points I think you’ll benefit from…

Truths We Confess by R.C. Sproul (hardcover; appears to never been opened) – $1.00

Let the Nations be Glad! by John Piper – 50 cents

Preaching with Passion by Alex Montoya – 50 cents

Emotions: Can We Trust Them? by James Dobson – 50 cents

Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching (contributors: Mohler, Boice, D.Thomas, J.R.Beeke, R.C.Sproul, J.Armstrong, S.Ferguson, D.Kistler, E.Alexander, J.Piper, J.MacArthur) – 5o cents

Heroes of the Reformation by Richard Newton – 50 cents

Enjoying the Presence of God by Martyn Lloyd-Jones – 50 cents

Jesus in European Protestant Thought, 1778-1860 by Colin Brown – 50 cents

For just under a grand total of $5.00 I received months worth of quality reading! I love it!!

We also need to delve into the depths of our pain in suffering so that we can be honest. There are times in our lives that we can barely make it out of bed in the morning and we have no energy to do anything. Our pain and grief is so great that we are unable to concentrate. We have no energy for prayer, let alone Bible reading. God feels distant and unloving. Questions about his goodness and purposes run through our minds without stopping.

Shramek has put concisely what I have long known. Chronic pain, distress of various types (1 Peter 1) and grief are huge distractions to our Christian walk. They occupy much of our mind, time, and space. What is troubling is that the Church, good intentioned people, don’t know how to minister to someone who is suffering – especially if it is not a visible manifestation of suffering.

Shramek continues after giving a personal illustration of loss:

Many people said things to us like, “Look to Jesus! Trust in his promises. He does care for you. You need to get into the Word and pray and fight for your joy. You need to talk to others about this and have them pray for you.” We knew that this is true and right; yet, when we were overwhelmed with grief, it felt hollow and unhelpful. We needed to know that they too had been changed by our pain; that, in some sense, it was also their pain.

We don’t love others in the midst of this kind of pain by pretending that it isn’t all that bad or by trying to quickly fix it with some pat theological answers. We love them by first weeping with them. It is when we enter into their pain and are ourselves changed by it that we can speak the truth in love. When their pain becomes our pain (as Paul said, “If one member suffers, all suffer together” [1 Corinthians 12:26]), we are able to give the encouragement of the Scriptures.

My friend, Dr.Bob Kellemen, puts it this way in his wonderful resource on suffering entitled, God’s Healing for Life’s Losses:

Caring Christians throughout church history have recognized the tendencies toward isolation, escape, and retreat. To combat them, they have practiced sustaining.

In sustaining, we refuse to allow one another to suffer alone. We have come alongside one another to grieve together. We understand that shared sorrow is endurable sorrow.

I picture sustaining with the rather macabre image of climbing in the casket. When friends despair of life and feel the sentence of death, we enter their casket experience with them.

Although I can’t be physically present with you now, and I don’t know the exact casket you’re currently enduring, I want you to know that you are not alone. And I want you to know that it’s normal to hurt and necessary to grieve. (emphases added)

What brings me hope is that I know that the Church has Hope. It is in the person of Jesus Christ. And while we are truly broken people, we will not remain broken forever. That is part of the beauty of the Gospel of grace in Jesus Christ. This suffering will eventually yield to a much brighter future. Until then, let us enter into one another’s pain so that we may be able to bear one another’s burdens well, and encourage one another with the Hope that does not disappoint.

Helpful Resources:

• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
• God’s Healing for Life’s Losses by Dr.Bob Kellemen
• Trusting God: Even When Life is Hard by Jerry Bridges
• Surprised by Suffering by RC Sproul
• It’s Not Fair! Finding Hope When Times are Tough by Wayne Mack w/ Deborah Howard
• Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray

Everything – everything – that Christ accomplished for us sinners he accomplished by suffering. Everything that we will ever enjoy will come to us because of suffering.

I read the statement above and sat back to mull it over. It comes from Suffering and the Sovereignty of God edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor. As I continued to read I began to appreciate an aspect of suffering that I had never considered before. Not only does suffering have a purpose, but my Savior knows what it is like to suffer. And, as one who suffers, as we all do, that is comforting to me. What exactly are the achievements of Christ by his suffering? I have reproduced them below:

Christ absorbed the wrath of God on our behalf – and he did it by suffering

The wrath of God that should have caused our eternal suffering fell on Christ. This is the glory of grace, and it could only come by suffering. Galatians 3:13

Christ bore our sins and purchased our forgiveness – and he did it by suffering

The sins that should have crushed us under the weight of guilt were transferred to Christ. This is the glory of grace, and it could only come by suffering. 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5

Christ provided a perfect righteousness for us that becomes ours in him – and he did it by suffering

The obedience of Christ by which many are counted righteous had to be an obedience unto death, even death on a cross. This is the glory of grace, and it would come only by suffering. Philippians 2:7-8; Romans 5:19

Christ defeated death – and he did it by suffering

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through the fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.~Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57. This is the glory of grace, and it would come only by suffering.

He disarmed Satan – and he did it by suffering

Satan has only one weapon that can damn us to hell – unforgiven sin. This weapon Christ stripped from Satan’s hand on the cross. This is the glory of grace, and it could only come by suffering. Colossians 2:14-15

Christ purchased perfect final healing for all his people – and he did it by suffering

The Lamb was slaughtered and the Lamb was raised from the dead, and the Lamb together with the Father will wipe every tear from our eyes. This is the glory of grace, and it could only come by suffering. Isaiah 53:5; Revelation 7:17

Christ will bring us finally to God – and he will do it by his suffering

The ultimate achievement of the cross is not freedom from sickness but fellowship with God. This is what we were made for: seeing and savoring and showing the glory of God. This is the glory of grace, and it could only come by suffering. 1 Peter 3:18

The� section of the book ends with this paragraph:

The ultimate purpose of the universe is to display the greatness of the glory of the grace of God. The highest, clearest, surest display of that glory is in the suffering of the best Person in the universe for millions of undeserving sinners. Therefore, the ultimate reason that suffering exists in the universe is so that Christ might display the greatness of the glory of the grace of G0d by suffering in himself to overcome our suffering and bring about the praise of the glory of the grace of God.

*much of this material was taken from Suffering & the Sovereignty of God which can be read as a pdf file, or online, here.

This powerful & short audiobook illustrates clear biblical doctrines of salvation, the gospel, faith, and hell, and is imperative for thinking rightly about the eternal purposes of God.

No doubt this work from Piper will combat some of the theological error put forth lately in such books as Rob Bell‘s latest, Love Wins.

If the evangelical church at large was ever too confrontational in its evangelism, those days are gone. In our shrinking, pluralistic world, the belief that Jesus is the only way of salvation is increasingly called arrogant and even hateful. In the face of this criticism, many shrink back from affirming the global necessity of knowing and believing in Jesus. In Jesus, the Only Way to God, John Piper offers a timely plea for the evangelical church to consider what is at stake in surrendering the unique, universal place of Jesus in salvation.

The free download is available through March 31:

Jesus: the Only Way to God download (link takes you to ChristianAudio’s site)

Logos Bible Software is partnering with Desiring God Ministries to provide Memoir and Remains of the Rev.Robert Murray McCheyne as a Logos ebook.  This is a limited offer lasting only two weeks.  I have a hardback copy of the Memoirs of McCheyne – Including His Letters and Messages, and can say that he is an inspirational read.  John Piper will be giving an address on the Scottish Presbyterian minister at this year’s Desiring God National Pastor’s Conference.

• RC Sproul – who was unable to attend in person but spoke via video
• Matt Chandler – spoke on preparing your church for suffering
• David Platt (breakout session)

I also enjoyed getting to see John Piper and John MacArthur, both of who I admire greatly, in person for the first time.

Chance to Interact: Did you attend T4G 2010?� If so, what were you’re favorite sessions?� Do you plan to attend T4G 2012?

I’ve made no secret about my personal struggle with pain.� I am in no way crippled by pain as some are, yet, pain is a daily part of my life.� It greets me in the morning, walks by my side throughout the day and tucks me in at night.� Sometimes it wakes me up in the middle of the night just to let me know it’s still there.� And, so it is with many people.� My goal in beginning this post is to introduce some of the things that I have learned over the past three years in my own struggle with chronic pain.� I’ll be pretty frank about my personal desires for complete relief, open to your own story and, prayerfully, encouraging throughout the entire process.

(Since I first started to work on this particular post, my health insurance has denied my next surgery.� These type of events are typical of the setbacks chronic pain sufferers face on a regular basis.� How does a Christian sufferer deal with these “bumps in the road” that are ordained from his sovereign Lord?� We’ll prayerfully deal with all these type of questions.)

I’ll suggest a a couple of resources to you, that have ministered well to me, right from the start:

• Pain: the Plight of Fallen Man: God’s Prescription for Persevering by James Halla, M.D.
  • Timeless Texts has this book for under $13 here
  • Amazon.com has this book for under $11 here
• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God – General Editors: John Piper and Justin Taylor
  • Download a pdf of this book from Desiring God here (free)
  • Download a pdf study guide of this book from Desiring God here (free)

Enter the conversation:
What resources could you recommend for someone suffering with chronic pain?

Below is a quote from the Piper as he discusses how he views “relevance”.� I would echo his thoughts:

As a preacher, I think a lot about relevance.� Why should anyone listen to what I have to say?� Why should anyone care?

I want to say things that are really significant for your life whether you know they are or not.� My way of doing that is to stay close as I can to what God says is important in his word, not what we think is important apart from God’s word.

My job as a pastor is to deal in what matters most, and to stay close to the revealed will of God in the bible (so you can see it for yourselves), and to pray that, by God’s grace, [all of us], will see and feel the magnitude of what God says is important.

Nothing is more important than the glory of Christ personally seen and savored in the kingdom of God with all the countless number who have believed in his name.

If you pick up no other book of John Piper‘s, this book would be the “must-read”.� In it he encapsulates much of his other teaching.� I encourage you to read this book and discuss it others.� (you can download this book for free from Desiring God’s website here.� There also is a sermon series from Piper that inspired the book)

Question: What are some practical ways that you think pastors can be “relevant” (preach sermons that make a significant difference in the lives of their congregations) and still hold to a “Gospel-centered” message?

• You were created for God’s glory – Isaiah 43:6-7
• Everything in your life is an opportunity to glorify God – 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Rather than glorifying God, you will have a sinful tendency to do what you think will make you happy, and you will end up sinning. – Romans 3:23
• When you choose happiness over God’s glory, enduring joy is impossible.� You wind up pursuing things besides the glory of God (e.g., life, friends, comfort, pleasure – ironically all gifts from God) rather than God himself.
• Your pleasure is found in God alone; as God is glorified, your joy is satisfied.

Additional Resources:

• Desiring God – John Piper

From the moment I opened the package from Multnomah this book has kept my attention.� I don’t think I’ve ever held a book with recommendations from such a varied group of individuals such as, Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz), John Piper (Desiring God Ministries), LeCrae (hip hop artist) to J.I. Packer (Knowing God).� It piqued my interest immediately.

Harris’ stated purpose of the book was to reveal how he “…first glimpsed the beauty of Christian theology.“� His journey would lead him to the “…realization that sound doctrine is at the center of loving Jesus with passion and authenticity.”� He desires to encourage the reader that “…orthodoxy isn’t just for old men but is for anyone who longs to behold a God who is bigger and more real and glorious than the human mind can imagine.”� He writes in “…the hope that [the reader will] catch a glimpse of how good and beautiful the old paths of orthodoxy are, how firm and trustworthy the solid rock of sound doctrine can be for [the reader's] life.”

Part of what seems to prompt this journey for Harris was the reading of the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Jesus’ tale of the wise & foolish house builders.� Josh wrestled with what Christ was teaching, and came to the conclusion that Jesus was, in part, explaining that “…being a Christian means being a person who labors to establish his beliefs, his dreams, his choices, his very view of the world on the truth of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished – a Christian who cares about truth, who cares about sound doctrine.”

This book would be a good book, to be read discerningly, for those young in the faith, questioning the faith or just desiring a “brush-up” of what Christian orthodoxy & doctrine is all about.� It is very easy to read, understand and yet Harris gives nuggets of truth for the reader to mull over and be challenged by.� He takes the reader through a time in his life when he questions what he believes and he explains what he found as a result of searching to answer those questions.� Every Christian goes through these times of questioning.� Harris goes a long way to direct those searching to the One who holds all the answers.

Below you will find a short synopsis of the doctrines Harris examines, in his own words:

• Theology Proper: “Near But Not in My Pocket” – chapter 3
  • The more you learn of who God truly is, the more incredible his invitation to know him becomes.� When you know him as the infinite, almighty, holy, eternal God of heaven, the announcement that he loves you takes on a whole new meaning.� It’s not expected.� It’s not commonplace.� It is cause for astonishment.
  • The high and lofty One offers to draw near to those who are humble.� He sent his Son to die so that the One of perfect holiness could dwell among us.� God is near.� But we don’t manage or contain him.� He’s not in our pockets.� The almighty One is holding us in his hands.

• Bibliology: “Ripping, Burning, Eating” – chapter 4
  • The Bible is much more wonderful and dangerous and radically life transforming than a mere book of instructions.
  • Getting the doctrine of Scripture right is essential for having a solid foundation as a Christian.
  • God saves.� God delivers.� It’s true for you and me.� God alone can save.� That is the central message of the Bible.� And it’s the key to understanding the Bible and learning to love it as God wants us to.� The Bible is the story of what God has done for us.

• Christology: “God with a Bellybutton” – chapter 5
  • When you glimpse the big-picture perspective of who Jesus is and what he has come to do, it takes your breath away.� His person and work are unlike any other.
  • Only Jesus can rescue.� Only Jesus offers the world outside help.� And that’s what our world needs.� We need God to come down to earth to save us.� Only Jesus claims this for himself.� Only Jesus died and rose again.� And only Jesus can and will unite all things in himself.

• Atonement: “A Way to be Good Again” – chapter 6
  • Do you see how essential the doctrine of atonement is to the Christian faith?� Apart from the Cross of Jesus Christ, our lives dead-end in hopelessness and terror.
  • We stand guilty before a God we can’t please.� We know our best efforts are inadequate.� And the gnawing guilt for our wrongs can’t be shaken.
  • Without the blood of Jesus Christ shed for sins, there is no atonement, no forgiveness, no reconciliation.� No hope.� Only the blood of the Lamb of God can cleanse us, cover us, and rescue us from judgment.

• Soteriology: “How God Saved Gregg Eugene Harris” – chapter 7
  • God chose us.
  • God called us.
  • God regenerated our hearts.
  • God justified us.
  • God adopted us.
  • God is sanctifying us day by day.
  • God will transform us one day and give us glorified bodies.
  • Salvation then will be complete.

• Sanctification: “Changed, Changing, to be Changed” – chapter 8
  • I know I’ll never obey God perfectly this side of heaven.� Even though I’ve been changed, I’m still changing.� I have a long way to go.� I’ll fail many times along the way.� I’ll need to repent and seek my Father’s gracious forgiveness countless times between today and the final day – the day when I’m ultimately and forever changed by the power of God.

• Pneumatology: “I Believe in the Holy Spirit” – chapter 9
  • The Holy Spirit isn’t interested in drawing attention to himself.� His role is to point away from himself and to Jesus.� [J.I. Packer] writes, “The Spirit’s message to us is never, ‘Look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me,’ but always, ‘Look at him, and see his glory; listen to him, and hear his word; go to him, and have life; get to know him, and taste his gift of joy and peace.’ “
  • You know the Spirit is working if you’re more amazed by Jesus, more desirous to serve and obey him, more ready to tell other people about him, more ready to serve the church he loves.

• Ecclesiology: “The Invisible Made Visible” – chapter 10
  • God chooses to include us.� With our flaws – with all our weaknesses, petty jealousies, blind spots, and ignorance – he lets us play a part in his story.
  • Why are we still here?� Why hasn’t he brought us home?� Why has he given us a mission that seems so hard?� so impossible?� Because he wants to give us stories to tell around the campfires of heaven.� Stories of how he orchestrated the crashing chaos of world history so people from every nation and tribe and tongue would be represented in his family on the final day.
  • Stories of how our ineffective churches still managed to put his glory on display.

The final chapter (11) is entitled, Humble Orthodoxy.� It is in this chapter that Harris explains that the “…message of Christian orthodoxy isn’t that I’m right and someone else is wrong.� It’s that I am wrong and yet God is filled with grace.� I am wrong, and yet God has made a way for me to be forgiven and accepted and loved for eternity.� I am wrong, and yet God gave his Son, Jesus, to die in my place and receive my punishment.� I am wrong, but through faith in Jesus, I can be made right before a holy God.� This is the gospel.� This is the truth that all Christian doctrine celebrates.� This is the truth that every follower of Jesus Christ is called to cherish and preserve.� Even die for.� It is the only truth on which we can build our lives and rest our eternal hope.”

Today’s reading provides one of “those” Psalms that really hit home.� It just seems to be very practical in nature and one that most Christians can identify with.� Below are my thoughts, aided by the Treasury of David (Spurgeon) on Psalm 12:

• “Help, Lord” – (v.1) – Sometimes the most efficient prayer for us as believers!� It just seems that we find ourselves in situations that seem unbearable, insurmountable and frustrating.� A cry for help to the One who can help proves necessary.� When faced with difficulties, trials and temptations, do not hesitate to cry out for HELP!
• Necessity for Spiritual Upkeep – (v.1) – There is a progression (downward) seen in verse one.� The godly cease to be and then the faithful disappear.� When godliness falters, right living fails.� There is no more motivation to adhere to that which is right (practice / actions) when the heart fails to embrace Truth (mind / heart).� Encourage your fellow saints by not only your practice (faithfulness) but your passion (godliness).
• Characteristics of those who lose godliness / faithfulness – (v.2) – speaking falsehood, flattering lips with a double heart.� The Christian is evidenced by speaking truth in love with his neighbor, by guarding the tongue and having speech that is singularly glorifying to God.� (for further reading: Ephesians 4:15-32; James 3)
• What moves God to action?� (v.5) We must keep close to heart this truth: that God sees our affliction and He hears our prayer.� While we may wish He would move more swiftly in the middle of our devastation, we must trust that He will move and in due time move us to safety.� Please remember that He inclines His ear to His children.� God hears our cries for help!
• God keeps and preserves His own.� (v.6)� How precious this truth is!� When we think we cannot go on further, when affliction and trouble press in on every side, it will be God who keeps us from evil and preserves us for His glory.� We do not have the power to live this life to which He has called us, and graciously, God accommodates our weakness with His preserving strength.

Additional Resources:

• A Quitter’s Confession, Josh Patterson, The Village Church – something worth reading.
• Hope in Disability, (A Young Man’s Testimony to Suffering & the Sovereignty of God), originally written by Joe Eaton, (spina bifida) – (ht: John Knight)

• Use five of my “roles” in life to influence my blogging.� This should keep me focused in these primary areas and allow me a creative outlet for suggestions and recommendations.� My five primary roles are these:
  • Pastor
    • Provide additional practical application to our church from sermons, studies and research.
    • Provide recommendations based upon my book reviews and other media resources to benefit our congregation primarily, as well as the readers of Grace Dependent.
  • Husband
    • Provide ideas and thoughts on marriage strengthening, renewing and preserving.
    • Provide practical tips and recommendations for marriage growth.
  • Father
    • Provide instruction and thoughts on various aspects of parenting.
    • Provide resources and recommendations, as well as studies for parents both in our congregation, as well as those readers of Grace Dependent.
  • Counselor
    • Provide biblical soul care suggestions and tips for various challenges in life.
    • Provide resources, recommendations and interaction on a variety of biblical soul care subjects.
  • Student
    • Provide insight into my ever-developing education, sharing thoughts, struggles and triumphs!
    • Provide an outlet for thinking through my ongoing theological training.

I appreciate the readers of Grace Dependent, whether they be people in my congregation or those who may just “surf” by to see what I blog.� Thank all of you for challenging me with your various comments, suggestions and thoughts to make this blog something that glorifies God!

TOP REFERRERS:

1. Discerning Reader – Discerning Reviews of Christian books and of books that are of interest to Christians.
2. Familyman Ministries – Reminding Dads of what’s most important
3. Ian Watson’s blog (kirkmuirhillrev.wordpress) – A Church of Scotland minister’s thoughts
4. CCEF – Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation; Restoring Christ to Counseling & Counseling to the Church.
5. Eskypades – Thoughts on life, Christianity, music, book & movie reviews and a dash of philosophical meanderings thrown in for good measure.
6. RPM Ministries – Changing Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth
7. My Christian Blogs – All the best Christian blogs in one place

TOP POSTS (Grace Dependent):

1. Together for the Gospel 2010 Registration
2. About the Author
3. Book Review: This Momentary Marriage by John Piper
4. Walk in the Word: James MacDonald – two weeks of free mp3 downloads
5. Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care – this turned into a series
6. Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
7. The Chief End of Man: Thomas Watson: A Body of Divinity

TOP ENGINE SEARCHES to reach Grace Dependent:

1. Together for the Gospel
2. John Piper Marriage
3. Perry Noble
4. Nouthetic Definition
5. Love has a Face Michelle Perry
6. James MacDonald
7. Idols of the Heart

TOP CLICK THROUGHS:

1. Together for the Gospel
2. Thomas Nelson book reviews
3. Monergism Books
4. Walk in the Word
5. Harvest Bible Fellowship blog
6. Crazy Love – Francis Chan’s book
7. A Little Leaven

1. Michael Patton, Parchment and Pen:

You know what it feels like: you are on fire; you are ready, willing and able; you don’t need any more sermons on Rom 12:1. You are a living sacrifice; you listened to Piper’s “Doing missions when dying is gain”; you are ready to die. You are ready to die for Christ, the Gospel and whatever other mission God puts you on.

Here I am Lord; I am ready.

Problem: there is no altar. Well, not like you thought. If it exists, it does not exist in the glory of your perceptions. You pray continually for God to show you his direction. There has to be a place for me in his army.

Here’s what you do:

2. Jared Totten, Christians in Context:

(I desire to do my own review of this book soon)

Jerry Bridges wrote one of the best books I’ve ever read on Christian sanctification in Pursuit of Holiness. But if Pursuit of Holiness is Sanctification 101, then Respectable Sins is Sanctification 301. While the former book focused on the broader subject of sanctification and dealt with the more common besetting sins, the latter focuses on the more subtle sins that often go unaddressed.

Before dealing with specific areas of sin, the opening chapters of Respectable Sins set the necessary foundation by addressing sin in general and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome it. In this way, the first few chapters read like a concise summary of Pursuit of Holiness. The remainder of the book addresses issues like anxiety, unthankfulness, selfishness, and judgmentalism. Each of these chapters follows a similar formula, defining and exposing the sin before giving the reader practical steps of action against it.

The reader must be careful to read this book without any…(more here)

3. Desiring God

I was encouraged to begin to think about profitable Christmas presents by DG’s Christmas Sale: Something for Everyone.  (and they mean just about everyone!)

4. Kevin DeYoung, DeYoung, Restless & Reformed:

(This post flat-out convicted me…thanks, Kevin)

Prayer is essential for the Christian, as much for what it says about us as for what it can do through God.  The simple act of getting on our knees (or faces or feet or whatever) for 5 or 50 minutes every day is the surest sign of our humility and dependence on our Father in heaven.  There may be many reasons for our prayerlessness—time management, busyness, lack of concentration—but most fundamentally, we ask not because we think we need not. or we think God can give not.   Deep down we feel secure when we have money in the bank, a healthy report from the doctor, and powerful people on our side.  We do not trust in God alone.  Prayerlessness is an expression of our meager confidence in God’s ability to provide and of our strong confidence in our ability to take care of ourselves without God’s help.

more here

5. Dr. Bob Kellemen, Changeless Truth for Changing Times:

If you or someone you care about is struggling with anxiety, what’s our goal?

You shout, “To get rid of the anxiety!”

Well, that’s a great desire. It certainly is an acceptable prayer. “Lord, if it be Thy will, remove all feelings and experiences of anxiety.”

The problem is, this side of heaven, not all feelings are “healed,” not all negative emotional experiences are “wiped away.” It’s on the other side of heaven that we have no more tears, sorrow, pain, or suffering.

There’s no guarantee that medication will eliminate anxiety. There’s no promise that talk therapy will remove all feelings of fear. There’s no pledge that biblical counseling or scriptural meditation will eliminate every negative emotion.

When anxiety is totally eliminated, that’s a special grace of God for which everyone gives thanks. But that’s not the everyday result nor should it be our ultimate goal.

Read more about the goal here…

Tonight there’s a definite chill in the air, high school football game going on across the street, a fire flickering in the fireplace and a warm easy chair for my aching back.  And this is just a bit of what I’ve been reading…I hope you enjoyed it as well.