Christian Journaling or Psychic Channeling? dramatically unmasks many Christian-sounding ideas set forth in Jesus Calling by comparing them to what Scripture really says and means in context. [This] work is an excellent, biblical resource for Christians who might otherwise be deceived by the lure of Jesus Calling, or those who have known something was amiss but struggled... Continue Reading

As you get deeper into addiction, you get better and better at covering your tracks and deceiving other people. You believe your own lie that, “Things aren’t that bad.” You learn to hide your actions from family and healthy friends. You avoid God and the thought of God in every way you can. Honesty may... Continue Reading

The story of these sincere Anabaptist-type progressives has confirmed me, a Presbyterian, in my commitment to an Augustinian anthropology and belief in the importance of Scripture as normative for doctrine and life. Calvin once declared that doctrine without zeal is like a sword in the hand of a lunatic. One of the many lessons of... Continue Reading

First published in 1678, John Flavel’s The Mystery of Providence is based on the words “God that performeth all things for me” (Psalm 57:2). It shows us how providence works for us in every stage and experience of our lives. The Mystery of Providence is richly illustrated from the lives of believers and from the... Continue Reading

Barba-Kay admits digital technology has improved and will continue to improve our lives in particular ways. However, he doesn’t leave us guessing about his basic evaluation: “I regard the digital revolution as a basically dehumanizing force”.   Our digital devices are history’s first “natural” technology. The printing press and the telephone, for example, each changed... Continue Reading

Butterfield titles one her chapters “God Never Gets the Address Wrong.” Your neighbors are not a coincidence. They do not live by you merely due to an accident of the housing market. God placed you next to them and he did it for a reason. I’ll admit, this is a scary proposition. We don’t get... Continue Reading

The discipline of our bodies, according to Paul, is for no other reason than to ensure that we will not be rejected by Christ on the last day. Of course, Jesus’s standard isn’t the body-mass index or how many pushups we can do. That is ridiculous. Paul’s point is that the physical discipline he endures... Continue Reading

You have to actually eat a good, healthy meal. And that’s what doctrine is. It’s that good, healthy meal that helps us grow. And it shows us more of God. The adage is true that we become what we behold. And at its best, doctrine is always doxological   Doctrine Is Practical Sometimes we can... Continue Reading

After attending a wonderful seminary later in life and reflecting back on my early years as a believer, here are twelve books I wish I had read as a new Christian (some of the below books were available at the time and some have been published more recently).   There are a lot of books... Continue Reading

In his book ‘None Greater’, Matthew Barret tells us that God is not a mere instance of divinity. He does not measure up to some standard of divinity that exists apart from him. This is not so for us humans and our human-ness. There is a category of being called human, and you and I... Continue Reading