If We’ve Only Got One Life…

Ben’s Summer Reading List (So Far)

What I’ve read so far (in approximate order):

1. Preaching & Preachers by Martyn Lloyd-Jones - I started reading this over winter break, read a handful of chapters over the course of last semester, and finally finished it this summer.  It talks a lot about the life of a preacher, how preaching should work, and why preaching should be done.  Very helpful.
2. The Reason For God by Tim Keller - I only read the second half of it.  It is an apologetics book, meant for nonchristians and Christians who talk to nonchristians about Jesus.  Quite interesting and helpful.  The first half I intend to use as a reference.
3. When I Don’t Desire God by John Piper - Tremendously helpful, practical book.  It’s essentially a sequel to Desiring God, and talks about how to pursue joy in God through truth, the Bible, prayer, meditation, etc.
4. Memoirs Of An Ordinary Pastor by D. A. Carson - Carson wrote a biography of his dad’s life and ministry.  His dad was a church planter in Canada with a modest sized congregation and a very interesting story.  The wannabe church planter in me found it very interesting.
5. Counted Righteous In Christ by John Piper - Piper gives an exegetical defense of imputed righteousness as a component of justification.  A short book, but a hard one.  If you want to see how closely reasoned exegesis looks, I recommend this to you.  Difficult, but worth it.

What I’m working on:

1. Future Grace by John Piper - A 31-chapter book (one per day for a month) elaborating on the concept of living by faith in future grace (hoping in future blessings of Jesus instead of simply banking our hope on past blessing (which is still important)).  If you decide you want to read this, let me know.
2. Instruments In The Redeemers Hands by Paul Tripp - an amazingly God-centered book on Christian counseling.  I dare say that Piper could not have written a more glory-centered, sovereignty-centered beginning to the book.  Immensely practical and helpful, I recommend this to everyone who doesn’t feel called to be a hermit.  It will help you help others and be helped by others, with God at the center, for God’s glory and your joy.
3. Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem - An enormous theology textbook (basically).  My goal is to finish it by the end of the summer.  It is very well written, very pastoral (as opposed to inapplicably dry), and covers a comprehensive set of subjects about God, his work, and his people.
4. Changes That Heal by Henry Cloud - I started this and I’m not sure if I’ll finish it.  Our Cru staff gave it to me.  I think/hope that Instruments In The Redeemers Hands will sufficiently cover the same material (but I may be wrong - I’ll probably read a bit more of it just to make sure).

What I’m planning to read:

1. Tell The Truth by Will Metzger - A book on evangelism with a stunning list of endorsments - Piper, MacArther, Ryken, Packer, and others.
2. Teaching To Change Lives by Howard Hendricks - John Sullivan recommended this.  I’ve read another book by this guy, and found it quite helpful.
3. Whiter Than Snow by Paul Tripp - After reading him in Instruments and reading snippets on JT’s blog, I think I’m sold.
4. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper

There are probably a lot of others that I intend on reading, but I forget what they are right now.  When I’m done with Systematic Theology, I’ll probably move on to Calvin’s Institutes.

Yes, there’s a lot of Piper in there, but 1. he’s good and 2. I work for the guy and get his books for free, so I might as well.

-Ben

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Kill The Facebook Ads

Stop looking at those sketchy ads on Facebook.  They’re not going to help you find a wife (or a husband).  They are going to tempt you.

Flee from sexual immorality. - 1 Cor 6:18

How?  Block them all.

0. You need Firefox.  Get it here.

1. Go here and install Greasemonkey by clicking the green “Add To Firefox” button.  It will let you install tiny little scripts to modify webpages.  Restart Firefox.

2. Go here and click the black “Install This Script” box on the top right.

EDIT: That script adds an annoying “+” to all your pictures.  Use my version of it here.

EDIT 2:  Kill Xanga ads too: Here’s a script that should work reasonably well.

Should take you less than 3 minutes.

-Ben

Posted in Web Applications | 6 Comments »

God’s Sovereignty Over Evangelism, and How To Pray For A Few People

Every Tuesday night, people from church go out into downtown Minneapolis to do contact evangelism.  Daniel and I have been going with them for the last month.

Tonight, God’s hand and God’s plan were clear.

The car we were in was rather delayed… leaving church, for a few reasons, about 15 minutes behind the others, and then it took us forever to find a parking spot.  All the while, I was repenting of impatience and trying to trust and hope that God knew what he was doing…  Of course, He was putting us in exactly the right places at exactly the right times.

Really early on, Daniel and I met a girl looking for a bus home.  We asked her if she knew the Gospel, she said “yes”, and walked us through redemptive history, quoting verses along the way.  We followed that up with the “million dollar question”: do you believe the Gospel.  “No.”

She believes in God, and Jesus, and knows the facts of the Gospel.  But she knows the cost of actual faith - that Jesus would have to take over her life - and that wasn’t a choice she was will to make just then.  Her current state is acknowledging truth in her head and wanting to acknowledge it in her heart.  But she’s not there yet.

We talked with her for about 30 minutes, trying to help her find her bus.  We found out that she’s pregnant and that if she doesn’t leave her boyfriend he’ll make her get an abortion.  So she’s pretty torn up internally and going through some crazy stuff.  We got to talk about how Christianity is about joy - a joy that is deep and true and pervasive, that doesn’t contradict sorrow and suffering but pushes on through it.

We left her with a New Testament, a Quest For Joy tract, and the Quest For Joy CD.  Pray that she would meet Jesus in a compelling way tonight.  She wants to believe.

Our next conversation was with a girl who was already a Christian, was from around here, and was churchless.  We had a good chat with her, talking through the Gospel, talking about Desiring God and what we do there, and inviting her to church with us.  We pointed her to Bethlehem’s website - pray that she gets plugged in.

The last encounter I had was really remarkable.  Bill, one of the guys we were with, and I were walking down the sidewalk and Bill suddenly stops, turns around, and says to this woman, “Can we pray for you?  I feel like I’m supposed to ask you if we can pray for you.”  Her response: “how’d you know?  My mom is about to die of cancer and my toddler is having brain surgery in two weeks.”  Wow!  We prayed for her, her mom, and her kid (who was with her in a stroller, and the happiest-looking kid I’ve ever seen.  He wouldn’t stop smiling!).  We invited her to church on Sunday - she said she’s been looking for a church and everyone she’s asked has been unhelpful.  Pray for her son, her mom, and that she’d come to church next weekend and meet Jesus!

I went into the night hopeful but afraid - it’s hard for me to start and sustain conversations with people.  I was praying that God would give me joy, and help me approach evangelism Christian Hedonistically - doing it for my joy and for God’s glory.  God answers prayer in ways we can never dream, working things out in His perfect wisdom to give us joy in Him and call people to Himself!

-Ben

Posted in Misc. | 2 Comments »

Your Reward Will Be Great

See the Christian Hedonistic appeal here?

”If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” - Luke 6:32-35

We love and serve not out of disinterested obedience.  Jesus certainly never suggested we do that.  We love and serve for our benefit - our joy - both now and in heaven.

-Ben

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The smoke from her goes up forever and ever

Right now, we praise God for who He is and what He has done, saving us for eternal life with Him and saving us from eternal torment in Hell.

In heaven, we will praise God for who He is and what He has done, having seen Him in His glory and Him in His judgment of evil.  Wrath and Love are for our joy because they are for God’s glory.

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

-Rev. 19:1-3

-Ben

Posted in Theology | 1 Comment »

Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands

I started reading Paul Tripp’s book Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands yesterday.  Its subtitle is, “people in need of chnage helping people in need of change” - basically an attempt to explain to the layperson how to counsel people, and why they should.

The sticker on the back puts it in the “Psychology” category.  This is not your average Christian Psychology book.  Some quotes (bolding mine):

The sad fact is that many of us are simply not biblical in the way we use the Bible!  Being biblical does not mean merely quoting words from within its pages.  Being truly biblical means that my counsel reflects what the entire Bible is about. The Bible is a narrative, a story of redemption, and its chief character is Jesus Christ.  He is the main theme of the narrative, and he is revealed in every passage in the book.  This story reveals how God harnessed nature and controlled history to send his Son to rescue rebelious, foolish, and self-focused men and women.  He freed them from bondage to themselves, enabled them to live for his glory and gifted them with an eternity in his presence, far from the harsh realities of the Fall. - page 27

It is because our sin problem is so pervasive and so deeply ingrained that we need more from Scripture than insight, principles, understanding, or direction.  An encyclopedic, problem-solving approach to Scripture is totally inadequate for the true depth of our need.  We need something that will change us from the inside out - we need Christ!  Only his person and work can free us from our slavery to self and our tendency to deify the creation. - page 27

From the rise and fall of governments to tomorrow’s weather to the exact location of every human being, the universe is under God’s control.  He has the power and authority to do exactly what pleases him, andwherey he chooses to do it.  God’s sovereignty is not only about power and position, but also about a plan.  Scripture clearly teaches that God has a plan for his world and the people in it.  God is calling a people to himself, forming them into his likeness, and preparing them for an eternity with him.  This is his overarching plan of the ages, revealed in history, present in current events and in the lives of everyone who has ever lived.  At any moment in time, the right answer to the question, “What is God doing?” is, “Accomplishing his plan.” - page 29

But the story of Scripture is the story of the Lord’s glory.  It calls me to an agenda that is bigger than myself.  It offers me something truly worth living for.  The Redeemer has come so that glory thieves would joyfully live for the glory of Another.  There is no deeper personal joy and satisfaction than to live committed to his glory.  It is what we truly need. - page 35

-Ben

Posted in Book Reviews | 2 Comments »

Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor

I just finished reading D. A. Carson’s biography of his father, Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor.  It’s very good.  If you are or think you might become a pastor, church planter, missionary, or husband, you should read it.

Tom Carson planted churches in French-speaking Canada, a Roman Catholic stronghold.  His son documents his life, his work, and his struggles.  Struggles through discouragement and controversy and disapproval and loss - and that are meant to be met with utmost assurance that God is in control and knows what he’s doing.  Read and watch Tom do that.

A lot stuck out to me, but I’ll simply give you one journal entry from two weeks after his wife died that gives a glimpse into his theology and priorities and values and view of God:

Monday, Jan. 15, 1990
On my knees I am often crushed.  David said, “My sin is ever before me.”  And mine are ever before me…. My wife was a magnificent woman: she rested utterly in the absolute assurance that God had fully forgiven all her sins: “What need I fear when thou art near / And thinkest, Lord, of me?”  And I found rest in meditating on Psalm 51.

I guess that isn’t how I usually see people described as “magnificent”: “she rested utterly in the absolute assurance that God had fully forgiven all her sins.”

When you’re describing someone as “magnificent” or “awesome” or “amazing”, what do you mean?  What should you mean?

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Lecrae at MHC

Mars Hill Church recently hosted a 116 Clique concert.  Lecrae and Red Letter (a MHC band) wrote and performed a new version of “Send Me.”  Download it here.

(Check out the album version and lyrics here.)

-Ben

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ESV Study Bible, Ben-Has-A-Sample Edition

(see my first post on the ESV Study Bible here)

I got my copy of the ESV Study Bible Gospel of Luke today.  Crossway sent a bunch over to DG, so we all got copies.  BBC Bookstore also has a handful out on display.

This thing is really pretty amazing.  I now understand why Driscoll couldn’t wait to talk about it once he got his hands on it.  And why BBC has brochures for it EVERYWHERE.  And churches all over the place are selling preorders.

Once you see it, you’ll want one.

There are very low-tech ways to do the Bible - just present the text, the verse numbers, the headings, and maybe some translational footnotes and/or crossreferences.  Those have their place - they allow you to study the text on your own without footnotes forcing their interpretation on you.

And there are varying levels of non-low-tech Bibles, with different types of notes, maps, charts, etc.  I’ve owned an NIV Life Application Study Bible, an NIV Study Bible, and the ESV Literary Study Bible… This blows them out of the water.

This is the Google of Bibles. (Can I say that?)

People did search before Google… then Google came and changed the way you thought of search.  People did webmail before Google… then Gmail came and changed the way you thought of webmail.  This will change the way you think of study Bibles.

The intros are long, helpful, and meaningful - you’ll want to read them.  The diagrams are BEAUTIFUL - the inside of my sample copy has rendering of “Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus”, with markers detailing and explaining where all sorts of important features/locations are.  There are supposedly over 200 little full-color maps inline with the footnotes - how often do you actually flip to the back of your Bible to look at the maps there?  I never have.  Hopefully this will teach me the importance of location location location.  The footnotes are also full of charts with titles such as “Parallels in the Ministries of Jesus, Peter, and Paul in Luke-Acts”, “Predictions, Reminders, and Proofs of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke”, and “Jesus and Prayer in the Gospel of Luke.”

Crossway has the book’s introduction online here.  You can check out one of the diagrams here.  Learn about lots more features at the ESV Study Bible website.

Why is this all important and worth getting excited over?

God tells us about Himself in His Word by telling us Truth.  Ultimately, what we want is more of God - seeing Him and knowing Him (not just knowing about Him) more clearly and more fully and more deeply.  This will help that, I believe, for many people, as the notes and the articles and the maps and the diagrams explain things of God through the Word and the Holy Spirit opens eyes to understand and marvel at who God is and what He has done.

All the cool new features that this Bible has are worthless if they don’t teach you more about Jesus and cause you to treasure Him more.  Treasure the Giver and be thankful for the gift that helps us treasure the Giver more!

-Ben

Posted in Book Reviews | 2 Comments »

Does Author’s Intent or Reader’s Perception Matter More?

Everybody wants to be understood.  When you’re misunderstood, whose fault is it?

Could be you.  Could be your listener.  Right?

Posted in Questions | 6 Comments »