Interesting poll. HT: Tony Reinke
WHO DOESN’T READ BOOKS IN AMERICA?
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Monthly Archives: March 2017
WHO OR WHAT IS TRUMP LIKE?
Among other things, I read this fascinating piece on the flight home yesterday. Well worth your time!
JOHN NEWTON ON POLITICS
I’ve just finished a terrific book on John Newton by Tony Reinke. Several years back, I read Jonathan Aitken’s wonderful biography of Newton. Tony’s book (interview with the author this fall) focuses more on themes that emerge from the letters of Newton.
https://www.amazon.com/John-Newton-Disgrace-Amazing-Grace/dp/1433541815
https://www.amazon.com/Newton-Christian-Life-Live-Christ/dp/1433539713/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
The section on politics has much food for thought. If you know about Newton’s life, you know he was not anti-political. His encouragement for his friend, William Wilberforce, to go into the political sphere, is one example. However, Newton did understand better than most that getting consumed with politics has many traps. Here are a few quotes from Newton:
“There is a peace passing understanding, of which the politicians cannot deprive us.”
At the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 Newton wrote, “The whole compass of my politics lies in Psalm 76:10”:
Surely the wrath of God shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
“A nation’s safety lies more in the prayers of its people than in the fleets of its navy.”
A CLARION VOICE AMIDST CONFUSION
Just two minutes, but very much worth your time! HT: Francis Beckwith
THREE RELATIONSHIPS
The apostle Paul said many provocative things. These things were not simply provocative. More importantly, there were true. For example, Paul said that we ought to “follow Christ as he did” and in Philippians Paul writes, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
We know Paul valued relationships. From his earliest days as a Christian Paul benefited greatly from mentors like Ananias and Barnabas, later peer relationships like Silas were a huge blessing, and then Paul built into the lives of many people like Timothy, his “true son in the faith.”
Paul says if we do what he did the “God of peace will be with us.” What a promise!
How should these relationships inform our own convictions?
GIVE ME A REAL GOD!
Wow! HT: TONY REINKE
RESURRECTION OF JESUS…THE ULTIMATE APOLOGETIC
A few years back I was pondering the practical implications of something in the gospels, so I wrote New Testament scholar, Scot McKnight. Here’s my question to Scot:
Is there a possible clue from Matt 12:39ff that our “apologetic argument” ought to focus more on the history of Jesus resurrection rather than more speculative or philosophical lines of evidence? Not exclusively for there are others passages which showcase other evidence but as an emphasis of sorts?
Scot’s answer was: 100%!!!!