Tommy Emmanuel, Australian Guitarist

The title of the track is Evangelina.

The Christian Gospel

Most religions have a commonality. They tell you what you must do to gain salvation. In contrast, the Christian Gospel declares what we do is not the answer, but the problem.

(Source: Reeder III, Harry L. “The Gospel-Driven Life.” Tabletalk, January, 2008, 71.)

The Puritan Practice of Meditation

At one time, the Christian church was deeply engaged in biblical meditation, which involved detachment from sin and attachment to God and one’s neighbor. In the Puritan age, numerous ministers preached and wrote on how to meditate. In this chapter, we will look at the Puritan art of meditation, considering the nature, duty, manner, subjects, benefits, obstacles, and self-examination of meditation. With the Puritans as mentors, perhaps we can recover the biblical practice of meditation for our time.

Go to the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation Web site where you can read the entire article in a PDF file.

Interview with Dr. Ed Blum, General Editor for the HCSB

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The HCSB is a new translation from the original text. For example, the standard Hebrew lexicon that we used is the most recent one.
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Read the entire interview.

Fifteen Refusals (and Affirmations) for 2008

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2. I refuse to accept the anti-intellectualism (and even misology) of American evangelicalism. Instead I will teach, preach, and write in ways that demand concentration; I will write what ignites the intellect; I will preach as deeply as I can and dare you to come with me.
3. I refuse to dumb down anything, anywhere, any time. Instead I will inspire people to rise to the occasion intellectually.
4. I refuse to join those Christians who seldom read or reflect on the Bible. Instead I will read it, reread it, study it, memorize it, recite it, and meditate on it. I will try to incorporate it increasingly into my thoughts and words.

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By Douglas Groothuis

Read the entire article.

Living in the Gospel in an Age of Self-Help

Look around — we are the most medicated, treated, psychoanalyzed, self-helped generation of human history and the fruit is slavery to all kinds of desires. Marriages are no stronger, people are no more “together”, and one does not get the impression of society overflowing with peace and well-being. Self-help is a secular version of self-salvation. Take the word “God” out and you have the same thing. Follow these rules, keep these rituals, do these disciplines, make these sacrifices — and you will be free. So, any accommodation of the Gospel to self-help is a denial of the Gospel. The Gospel is humbling because it treats us as helpless and no one likes that (“What do you think I am, an invalid? I can handle it without your help.”)

By Mark Lauterbach

Read the entire article.

The Secret to a Better Prayer Life

I am convinced that one of the best things to help your prayer life is systematic theology. I know sys theo fell out of vogue, even in many of our evangelical seminaries, over the past few decades, but apart from systematic theology your prayer life will be weak, short, and frustrating. The brief explanation is that unless you know God and his works praise will be limited, confession will be shallow, thanksgiving will be narrow and supplication will be chained to uncertainty. I’ll go into more detail using that old ACTS model of prayer.

By Joe Thorn

The complete article is here.

How The Puritans Interpreted Scripture

To the Puritans, no discipline was so exacting, and no labor so rewarding as the interpretation of the scriptures. The soundness of their method is unquestionable; we shall do well to follow in their footsteps. That will mean asking six questions of each passage or text that we seek to expound:

1. What do these words actually mean?
2. What light do other scriptures throw on this text? Where and how does it fit into the total biblical revelation?
3. What truths does it teach about God, and man in relation to God?
4. How are these truths related to the saving work of Christ, and what light does the gospel of Christ throw upon them?
5. What experiences do these truths delineate, or explain, or seek to create or cure? For what principal purpose do they stand in scripture?
6. How do they apply to myself or others in our actual situation? To what present human condition do they speak, and what are they telling us to believe and do?

By J.I. Packer

(Source: Packer, J.I. A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1994. ISBN 0891078193. From OldTruth.com)

43 Most Insightful Friendship Quotes

Friends: People who know you well, but like you anyway. (Unknown)

More here.

What is Revival?

Revival is not a special period of extraordinary religious excitement. Rather, it is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit which restores the people of God to normal spiritual life after a period of coldness and decline.

(Source)