This and That ~ Favorite Quotes of the Week

BOOKS AND OTHER GREAT RESOURCES:

• WATCH FOR FREE ONLINE! Pilgrims in Progress: 2015 Regional Conference Video Available. You can now watch or listen to the messages from the Ligonier Ministries 2015 Regional Conference Pilgrims in Progress in the San Francisco Bay area. Drs. W. Robert Godfrey, Steven J. Lawson, R.C. Sproul Jr., and Derek Thomas joined us to talk about what our heavenly citizenship means for our earthly pilgrimage, our pursuit of truth, and our future hope, among other topics
• A FREE Ligonier Connect Course with John Piper. Ligonier Ministries is offering John Piper’s “When I Don’t Desire God” course free via their Ligonier Connect program. http://www.ligonier.org/blog/free-ligonier-connect-course-john-piper/
• R.C. Sproul Answers Questions Via Twitter. You can follow the conversation here.
• 2015 Gospel Coalition Conference. The conference is sold-out. Sign up to watch the livestream.
• Inerrancy Summit: Breakout Seminars. Nathan Busenitz shares links to the audio of the breakout seminar sessions from the recent Inerrancy Summit, one of which is from Steven Lawson.  
• 5 FREE Classes on Ethics. Andy Naselli shares five free thought-provoking courses that he listened to in preparing to teach his own course, including one from David Jones at Covenant Seminary. I attended Dan Doriani’s ethics course at Covenant Seminary, a challenging and excellent course
• FREE Online Course Lectures from Covenant Seminary. Covenant Seminary offers the lectures of several courses online and free, including many courses that I completed.
• Interview with Nancy Pearcy. Nancy Pearcey is a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University, and she has recently released a new book, Finding Truth: 5 Principles for Unmasking Atheism, Secularism, and Other God Substitutes. She joined Trevin Wax on the blog for a conversation about evangelism, apologetics, and worldview training. Also, see Tim Challies’ recent review of Finding Truth here.
• Amy Carmichael vs. Aimee Semple McPherson. Aimee Byrd looks at the excellent new book on Amy Carmichael from Iain Murray. See our review here
• 10 Recommended World War III Books for Christian Readers. Our friend (even though he is a Cubs fan) Kevin Halloran offers a helpful list of books related to World War II. I’ve read numbers 1, 3 and 4 on his list, with Unbroken and Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer being two of my all-time favorite books.
• On My Shelf: Life and Books with Darrin Patrick. Darrin Patrick is the lead pastor at The Journey in St. Louis. Find out what his favorite books are and what he is reading now.
• The Matheny Manifesto. Here’s a short video that gives an overview of St. Louis Cardinal’s manager Mike Matheny’s philosophy on youth sports. You can read more about that in his new book The Matheny Manifesto: A Young Manager’s Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life. Read the Manifesto here.

MUSIC:

• For the Church: Singing Come, O Lamb of God. Randall Van Meggelen, Chief Musician at Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida writes “Come, O Lamb of God,” from Dr. R.C. Sproul’s Glory to the Holy One sacred music project, is a hymn of triumph in Christ.” Check out the lyrics and listen to the recording.
• Awesome Music, Awesome Words. David Murray reviews Glory to the Holy One, the excellent new sacred hymns project from R. C. Sproul and Jeff Lippencott. You can find our review of the album at our album reviews page
• In commenting on Jonah’s prayer, Paul Tripp writes “The story of Jonah reveals that we all need a greater Jonah, a man who would not run from his call, but willingly submit his life to God’s plan.”
• Four New Videos from The New Basement Tapes. Produced by T Bone Burnette, lyrics by Bob Dylan and the band includes Marcus Mumford and Elvis Costello.

IN THE NEWS:  

• LifeWay Pulls ‘Heaven Visitation Resources’. LifeWay Christian Resources has stopped selling all “experiential testimonies about heaven” following consideration of a 2014 Southern Baptist Convention resolution on “the sufficiency of Scripture regarding the afterlife.”
• Know Your Southern Baptists – Ted Cruz. Trevin Wax continues his series.
• A Progressive Liberal ‘Comes Out’ as Christian. Nick Eicher writes about the “coming out” of liberal writer Ana Marie Cox as a Christian.
• Millennials and Latinos will Change Abortion Conversation. Charles C. Camosy writes “These two demographics, Millennials and Latinos, are the future of the USA. They are already more skeptical of abortion than those who currently hold power. If one considers that they will become more skeptical of abortion as they get older, this difference becomes even more pronounced.”
• What You Should Know about Religious Freedom Restoration Acts. Joe Carter writes that last week “Governor Mike Pence of Indiana signed into law the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The action has drawn sharp criticism by people and politicians who directly oppose religious freedoms and by those who are simply unaware of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the federal model for Indiana’s new law.” He shares what we should know about these types of religious freedom legislation.
• A Tale of Two Ecumenisms. Carl Trueman, who I was able take a wonderful class on B.B. Warfield at Covenant Seminary, reflects on the twentieth anniversary of Evangelical and Catholics Together (ECT).
• Three Muslim Misconceptions about Christianity – Part 1. J.D. Greear writes, ”there is a set of misconceptions that most Muslims have about Christians that keep them from even considering the gospel.”
• Three Christian Misconceptions about Christianity – Part 2. J.D. Greear shares some of the most common misconceptions that Westerners have about Muslims.
• Kara Tippetts Home with Jesus. Kara Tippetts went home to Jesus on March 22, 2015, after a long battle with breast cancer.
• Every Dollar. Dave Ramsey has released a new budgeting tool. Check it out.
• PGA Golfer Makes the Craziest Birdie in Golf History.  Aaron Baddeley‘s tee shot on the par-4 17th Thursday at the Valero Texas Open would have been the second hole-in-one on a par 4 in PGA Tour history had he only taken a mulligan.
• Pie Golf. Did you see Bubba Watson, January Jones and Jimmy Fallon play Pie Golf recently on The Tonight Show?
• Next Season will be Last for Downton Abbey. It had been rumored but was confirmed last week.

CHRISTIAN LIVING:

• Think of Yourself Less. Jason Meyer writes “Pride is our greatest enemy because it makes God our enemy — an almighty opponent.”
• You are Dust, Not Divine. Tim Challies writes “Each of us comes to church feeling the weight and the difficulty of this life. God has something he wants us to do in these situations. There is something he calls us to—something beautifully surprising and uncomfortable.”
• Is Theology Your Idolatry? Marshall Segal of Desiring God asks “Has your theology turned into idolatry? Has your knowledge of God ironically and tragically drawn you away from him, not nearer to him?” He then offers nine questions that “might help you diagnose theology idolatry in your own heart and mind.
• Albert Mohler on Keeping the Southern Baptist Faith. See this interview from World Magazine with the President of Southern Seminary.
• Ten Effects of Romans 9 on My Life. Watch this short video, or read the text from John Piper.
• The Complicated Life of Lazy Boys. Paul Maxwell writes “There are (at least) five vicious cycles that perpetuate male inactivity. Each highlights a different logic behind our tendency toward laziness and complacency.”
• Not that Bright. Kevin DeYoung writes “You don’t have to bear the burdens of the planet, just bear witness to the one who can. You don’t have die for the sins of the world, just introduce people to the one who has. You are not the light.”
• We Complain Because We Forget. Steven Lee writes “The antidote to spiritual amnesia is making every effort to recall and remember God’s gracious deliverance. The fact that you — a sinner who was an enemy of God — are now a beloved child is a miracle. Don’t let that wonder ever fade. Remember.”

PRAYER AND DEVOTIONS:

• Prayer for Hours, Days, or Weeks When Temptation is Raging. In this wonderful prayer from Scotty Smith, he thanks the Lord for His …”promise, that with every temptation we face in life—every one of them, you will always provide a way out and grace to endure.”
• John Calvin’s 4 Rules of Prayer. Joel Beeke writes “For John Calvin, prayer cannot be accomplished without discipline. He writes, “Unless we fix certain hours in the day for prayer, it easily slips from our memory.” He goes on to prescribe several rules to guide believers in offering effectual, fervent prayer.”
• 4 Reasons to Write Prayer Requests. Mike Leake shares four benefits to writing down prayer requests.
• Fighting Fatigue in Your Daily Devotions. David Burnette offers “a few practical steps to jump-start your devotions, that is, to get your heart and your mind ready to hear from God’s Word.”

SUFFERING:

• Rejoice in the Midst of Suffering? Jason Helopoulos writes “The Lord calls us to approach suffering in a unique and wholly uncommon way. As Christians, we are exhorted to rejoice in the midst of our suffering! Paul says in Romans 5:3, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings…” He says in Colossians 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake…”

• 5 Reasons to Rejoice in Suffering. Tim Challies writes “In your suffering you really can rejoice. As you are being persecuted, you can be glad. Why? Because God is testing you to prove and strengthen your faith, because you share the sufferings of Christ, because God is near to you, because God is being glorified, and because justice is not far off.”

Favorite Quotes of the Week ~ 3.29.2015

• Paul reminds us that in the Gospel we are both brought lower and raised higher than we can imagine. Tim Keller

• You cannot be in Christ and be indifferent to the sin in your life. Kevin DeYoung

• I believe that the time to start thinking about your legacy is not at the end but at the beginning, because as I said, that’s when you’re able to do something about it. Mike Matheny

• Christian, beware of thinking lightly of sin. Take heed in case you fall little by little. Charles Spurgeon

• The more you believe in others, the more they’ll do to prove you right. Dr. Alan Zimmerman

• As our covenantal head, Christ fulfilled all righteousness in our place and bore God’s wrath in our place on the cross. Michael Horton

• Jesus warns people far more often about greed than about sex, yet almost no one thinks they are guilty of it. Tim Keller

• Character is forged not on the mountaintop but in the valley. Mike Matheny

• The glory of the gospel is that when the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. Martyn Lloyd Jones

• When Scripture speaks for itself, it claims to be no less than God’s own word, and the claim is pervasive and unavoidable. John Frame

• Good leaders are willing to change their mind when proven wrong. Todd Henry

• If God does not have our highest allegiance, we will use prayer to try to get things that have that designation. Tim Keller

• Unreached peoples are unreached for a reason. They’re hard, difficult, and dangerous to reach. All the easy ones are taken. David Platt

• You can pay people to perform. You can’t pay them to excel. Dr. Alan Zimmerman

• The purpose of prayer and of God’s call in your life isn’t to make you number one in the world’s eyes but to make Him number one in your life. Ravi Zacharias

• It is superstitious to equate our feelings and inclinations with the leading of the Holy Spirit. R.C. Sproul

• Grace is free, but it’s not cheap. Kevin DeYoung
• I sometimes think that the very essence of the whole Christian position and the secret of a successful spiritual life is just to realize two things… I must have complete, absolute confidence in God and no confidence in myself.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones

• No condemnation for our sin, no separation from God’s love, no end to Christ’s grace… Father, thank you for so great a salvation. Scotty Smith

• We don’t believe in the power of prayer, we believe in the power of God, which is precisely why we pray. Burk Parsons

• The bad news that we are all guilty is met with the best news that God loves and forgives guilty people. Tullian Tchividjian

• Setting your heart on anything above Christ turns it into dung–whether sex, job, wife, child, or church. (Philippians 3:8). John Piper
• You must either give up your sins or give up all hope of heaven. Charles Spurgeon

• Grace is God’s refusal to allow us to define ourselves or to have the last word. God gets the last word, and he shows mercy. Michael Horton

• There’s one reason why you should walk away from whatever temptation you’re facing right now: God is better. Francis Chan

• Nothing worth doing right is easy.  Mike Matheny

• The true test of our worldview is what we find entertaining. Albert Mohler

• Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable. John Wooden

• Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours. Yogi Berra

• Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree. Abraham Lincoln

• Judas’ blindness was not because he was a helpless pawn in the hands of Satan, but that he joined Satan in hating the light. John Piper

• Here’s good news: God is even more committed to your change, your growth, and your transformation than you are. Kevin DeYoung
• A proud person is so busy looking down on others they cannot humble themselves to look up at God. Lecrae
•  Faith is the means by which the righteousness of Christ is given to us. R.C. Sproul
• Racial reconciliation must begin with us seeing each other made in the image of God.  Thabiti Anyabwile

• You will trust God to the degree you know you are loved by Him. Brennan Manning

• The highest form of Christian leadership occurs when you come to understand that it’s not all about you, but about the people you lead and the Lord who leads you! Dave Kraft

• The Bible says that our real problem is that every one of us is building our identity on something besides Jesus. Tim Keller

• Nothing makes me want to obey more than knowing that God unconditionally loves me and forgives me even when I disobey. Tullian Tchividjian

• Time isn’t just a fleeting thing. It never moves forward without engraving its mark upon the heart. Ravi Zacharias

• You can’t preach the gospel without words. That’s a lie. Preach the gospel and always use words. John MacArthur

• If we would know whether our faith is genuine, we do well to ask ourselves how we are living. J.C. Ryle

• How do I know that I am in Christ? Because of my trusting, costly obedience to the Word. Alistair Begg

• Fear-based repentance makes us hate ourselves. Joy-based repentance makes us hate the sin. Tim Keller

• We need to be more concerned about who we are before God than our reputation before people. Francis Chan

• We live not toward victory, but from the victory that Christ has already accomplished for us. Sin cannot reign over us because Christ is King! Michael Horton

• If your repentance has not changed your life, you need to repent of your repentance. Steven Lawson

• Dear doubting believer: Believe God loves you more than you believe your emotions. Your proof is Christ lifted up not yourself feeling down. Burk Parsons

• Life is special when you reach out beyond yourself to be a true servant leader for others. Ken Blanchard

• Leadership DON’T: expecting something different from your team vs what’s expected of you. Different standards for the team creates us vs me. Brad Lomenick

• To acknowledge that I am yet a sinner is not to deny that I am a saint but to acknowledge how I became one, by grace. R.C. Sproul Jr.

• When men talk of a little hell it’s because they think they have only a little sin and believe in a little Savior. Charles Spurgeon

• Gay marriage within mainline denominations is gaining traction. Skewed pastors and even the government can’t trump the Bible on this issue. Pastors: stand! Steve Camp

• The highest form of leadership is one in which a leader raises up other leaders – not as an accident, but as a result of conscious effort. Mark Miller