I was super-interested in James McPherson’s latest book, Tried By War which is set to be released October 7. I went up to the circulation desk at the Hutchinson Public Library and asked, “I noticed on Amazon that one of my favorite authors has a new book coming out. Is it something that you will be getting in here.” The helpful lady said, “Let me check.” She looked in their database and then on Amazon and said, “Why don’t we just go ahead and order it.” I was thinking, “Because you’re the library not a bookstore.” They ordered this book simply because I requested it and, as a result, I won’t have to buy it. Anyway, they called yesterday and my book is in and I just finished reading the preface. So this book, which is due out on Tuesday, might be read by then.

They’ve also been incredibly helpful with Interlibrary Loans. I was researching sermons today for October 12 and noticed that scholars have found the actual coin Jesus referred to in Mark 12:15-16. I requested a book that has a picture of this and, if God’s providence allows, will be able to look at the very coin that Jesus might have been referring to. Pretty awesome stuff that all these service took minimal effort and the scholarship of the world can come to me (even here in Hutchinson).

So thanks Hutchinson Library! You are a blessing.

At my local Starbucks today, I had the opportunity to enjoy a new drink…

A doppio (pronounced DOUGH-pee-oh) espresso long…

Here’s the concept: an espresso is pulled through longer so that more water comes through the pressed grounds.

It was nice and smooth. On Starbucks new espresso machines, the espresso drinks seem much richer. Americanos taste better. To get this doppio, just ask for a doppio long.

Might I suggest you look here. Notice the mission of this company. Here’s a YouTube Video, with explanation from one of their corporate heads about what they are about:

Also check out this.

(Thanks Brad & Jennifer.)

Audio, Video, Manuscript and Downloads are available for the 2008 Desiring God National Conference. The Conference theme was on Words and their powerful effect in our lives. There were 8 Main Sessions:

Sinclair Ferguson: The Tongue, The Bridle and The Blessing–An Exposition of James 3:1-12

Panel Q&A: with Piper, Driscoll and Ferguson

Bob Kauflin: Words of Wonder–What Happens When We Sing?

Mark Driscoll: How Sharp The Edge? Christ, Controversy and Cutting Words

Dan Taylor: The Life-Shaping Power of Story–God’s and Ours

Panel Q&A: with Piper, Tripp, Kauflin, Taylor

Paul Tripp: War of Words, Getting to the Heart for God’s Sake

John Piper: Is There Christian Eloquence? Clear Words and the Wonder of the Cross

I’ve worked my way through about half of these sessions and they have all been excellent, convicting, thought-provoking and encouraging. Enjoy!

C.J. Mahaney has written a couple of chapters in this book on worldliness. You might remember that I am preparing to do a short series on Sunday nights on this. I was really helped by this book in numerous ways: 1) It’s an easy read. Sometimes you read books and they are a bit tedious, but this reads really well. 2) It’s Gospel centered. Many books on worldliness seem to point to legalism and don’t do this or that. This holds out the beauty of what God’s Word says and then points us to the cross for all of our failures. 3) It’s very practical. With chapters related to dress, the media, music, how we are to “love the world”, and our hearts, there is much teeth to live by in this book. I would recommend it and we will be giving away a copy each Sunday night these next two months.

The other book worthy of attention is:
Stephen Altrogge has given us all such help in his book Game Day for the Glory of God: A Guide for Athletes Fans & Wannabes. Stephen blogs at The Blazing Center. This book is helpful for it’s ease of read, Gospel-centeredness and helpfulness as well. The book deals with so many things I’ve thought of but never seen fleshed out in print. Things like how God is the source of all talent, how sports provide joy, what is a way to glorify God on game day, what is the Christian response when we win or lose, and how I can parent my children properly in relation to sports. Since most of the people around me are active in sports, as I read I was thinking of how helpful this has been to me and would be to them. Therefore, I urge you to get a copy and all God to be glorified through your participation in sports. There are some videos available to watch with this as well. Here’s the page on Stephen’s website about the book.

Avail yourself to these two options and watch God affect your life through these things.

I have been posting about a post a week on Total Church. The first post was some highlights from the introduction and chapter 1. Then I posted on chapter 2, community. Today, I want to quote from chapter 3, evangelism.

The authors go to some length to remind us of how speaking the Gospel is central to evangelism. But the unique feature, in my opinion, is fusing that verbal witness with a gospel community. They say:

The gospel word and gospel community are closely connected. The word creates and nourishes the community, while the community proclaims and embodies the word. (p.55)

They go on and further speak of the centrality of the cross:

This cross-love is the primary, dynamic test of whether or not we have understood the gospel word and experienced its power. Not our doctrinal orthodoxy, as important as that is. Not our ingenious strategizing, as fascinating as that is. Not our commitment to preaching, as vital as that is. Not our innovative approach to planting, as radical as that may be. It is our cross-love for each other that proclaims the truth of the gospel to a watching and skeptical world. Our love for one another, to the extent that it imitates and conforms to the cross-love of Jesus for us, is evangelistic. (pp.56-57)

I also love this quote, because it is so true in exposing my heart…

People want a form of evangelism they can stick in their schedule, switch off, and leave behind when they go home. Jesus calls us to a lifestyle of love…Ideally evangelism is not something to be undertaken in isolation. Of course, if opportunity presents itself, the gospel word should be spoken clearly and sensitively in conscious dependence upon the Holy Spirit–whenever, wherever, and to whomever. But evangelism is best done out of the context of a gospel community whose corporate life demonstrates the reality of the word that gave her life. (pp.57-58)

What does all this mean? Well for me, it seems that what I’ve been wrestling with recently on our church’s centrality being in the Gospel seems to be taking shape in this. To the degree that we are centered in Christ in our community will be the degree to which our effectiveness in evangelism will be pursued. This are simply incredible thoughts to bring together. More next time on the 3 strands of evangelism: building relationships, sharing the gospel, and introducing people to community.

JT quotes from Sinclair Ferguson’s message at the DG National Conference on Words…

James 1:5 To ask God for wisdom to speak and with a single mind
James 1:9-10 To boast only in exaltation in Christ & humiliation in world
James 1:13 To set a watch over my mouth
James 1:19 To be constantly quick to hear, slow to speak
James 2:1-4 To learn the gospel way of speaking to poor and the rich
James 2:12 To speak always in the consciousness of the final judgment
James 2:16 To never stand on anyone’s face with my words
James 3:14 To never claim as reality something I do not experience
James 4:1 To resist quarrelsome words in order to mortify a quarrelsome heart
James 4:11 To never speak evil of another
James 4:13 To never boast in what I will accomplish
James 4:15 To always speak as one subject to the providences of God
James 5:9 To never grumble, knowing that the Judge is at the door
James 5:12 To never allow anything but total integrity in my speech
James 5:13 To speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer
James 5:14 To sing praises to God whenever I am cheerful
James 5:14 To ask for the prayers of others when I am sick
James 5:15 To confess it freely whenever I have failed
James 5:15 To pray with and for one another when I am together with others
James 5:19 To speak words of restoration when I see another wander

Powerful stuff!

Yesterday morning, we saw a glimpse of the absolute authority of Jesus as He exposed the religious leaders in Mark 11:27-33. Jesus’ authority truly comes from God and not man. In application of that truth, I offered this point of application at the end:

For those of us who are believers, we have submitted to and embraced the authority of Jesus. There is one word that expresses our allegiance to that authority and it is the word submission. As followers of Jesus, we are called to submit to Him. We are to submit to His control over all things and this is demonstrated in many relationships.

In the Home – Jesus has established leadership in the home through husbands who lovingly lead their wives and wives who respectfully submit to their husbands. In the home, Jesus’ authority is seen as children submit to their parents. Honor Christ in the home by submitting appropriately (Ephesians 5:22-6:4).

How are you doing, then, at submitting to Jesus’ authority in the exercise of your role in the home?

Another Brad Recommendation: Daniel Renstrom

I downloaded this yesterday from ITunes and have already listened to track 2 about 17 times. The song called “Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder” speaks of how “We delight in the Son, who gives us light and His light has now dawned on us.” One line in v.1 I can’t get over…”Let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise our Savior’s name, He has hushed the Law’s loud thunder, He has quenched Mt. Sinai’s flame, He has washed us with His blood, He has brought us nigh to God, let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise our Savior’s name.”

You will appreciate the doctrinal depth as well and thoughtful, engaging tone of this album. I encourage you to check it out.

C.J. Mahaney’s latest book, Worldliness, is now out. After reading the first chapter, I was (as I usually am with C.J.’s material) struck with conviction, as he pointed the reader to Scripture, and hope, as he directed our attention to the cross. This should be an excellent pastoral resource.

Furthermore, on Sunday nights in October and November, we are going to be looking at worldliness. Here’s the tentative preaching schedule:

October 5 — Worldliness (Intro)
October 19 — Desires of Flesh
November 2 — Desires of Eyes
November 16 — Pride in Possessions

For further info: Read 1 John 2:15-17.