Get yourself a Bible for reading. What I mean is that most Bible publishers do everything they can to make it hard to read the Bible. They print it in two columns. They put cross references in there. They put notes at the bottom of the page. They print in different colors, and add pictures... Continue Reading

What is our response? Do we love the earthly kingdom more than the heavenly reign? Are we indifferent to our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we jealous over the truth? Do we live according to the reality of the kingdom of heaven? Now there is a leveling question. It is asked by Thomas Shepard... Continue Reading

In summary, most of the Puritans taught that the law, as a covenant of works, demands perfect obedience, condemns, and shows sin, but does not save, convey grace and strength, or give life.  They also taught that the gospel in the covenant of grace does not demand perfect obedience nor does it condemn.  Rather, it... Continue Reading

One of the best ways to grow, both as a person and as a Christian, is to learn from the lives of other men and women. What follows is a list of some of the best biographies out there. Some of the biographies are about Christians, others are not. God’s common grace sparkles throughout the... Continue Reading

The NASB Note-Taker’s Bible is a pretty basic Bible.  I own the hardcover edition which is bound quite well; it is a solid and sturdy Bible.  The font is smaller than I like (8.5 point?) and I’m not wild about the words of Christ in red.  It is also worth mentioning that there are no... Continue Reading

A true Christian not only recognizes his own sin and openly confesses it to God, but also mourns over his sin because it is offensive to God and his law.  While we shouldn’t judge a person’s repentance by the amount of tears he sheds, we can safely say that a true Christian will feel godly... Continue Reading

“A Christmas Tree” was published in 1850 at a time when the Christmas tree tradition was strong in Germany, but not yet the fad that it has become in the 21st century. Dickens was showing some English readers a first look at this Christmas tradition.   For fun Christmas reading this season, I highly recommend... Continue Reading

When I say “best” I have several questions in mind: Was this book well written and enjoyable to read? Did I find it personally challenging, illuminating, edifying, or entertaining? Is it a book I am likely to reread or consult often? Do I see myself frequently recommending this book to others?   This list is... Continue Reading

“Although I love to read, I’ve always found the ordinary book clubs unattractive, mainly because I didn’t want to read their books (I know this sounds horribly postmodern, but bear with me). It’s not that their books were bad (albeit a bit predictable), but as a busy mom of three I wanted my precious reading... Continue Reading

If Jesus was not conceived by the Holy Spirit, then he had a human father. Without the virgin birth, there is no explanation for the incarnation. If Jesus had a merely human father, there is no authentic connection to the incarnational theology of Paul and John in the New Testament. All that remains is some... Continue Reading