Need something to read? Check out the 2008 Christianity Today Book Awards
I’m not as old as J. I. Packer, but I concur with his reflections on God’s surprises:
The high spots of my life present themselves in retrospect as a series of surprises —happy surprises, from the hand of a very gracious God. Is that unusual? I doubt it. But I also doubt that we dwell on the happy surprises as often and as thoughtfully as we should. There is great wisdom in the elderly children’s chorus, “Count your blessings—name them one by one—and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Continued here.
Persecution of believers in Israel is not new, but it’s not often that it’s covered by the Jerusalem Post.
If you’ve wondered why Easter was so early this year (a month earlier than Passover), here’s the answer. As a matter of fact, Easter won’t be this early again until 2160.
Though I’ve spent this year studying at DTS, I’ve probably learned more from a professor at TEDS than any professor here. That’s largely because most of my study has been in the Gospels and D. A. Carson has excellent commentaries on Matthew and John. I always find myself interesting in knowing more about people who have an impact on me. Thus I was pleased to learn about this biographical sketch about his life (pdf).
Want to impress someone? Or maybe you can make some money off this one. Make a bet with a friend that you can memorize a chapter of the Bible in 2 hours that 1) you have never memorized before (and probably never even fully read) and 2) is longer than 80 verses. Make the bet (bigger is better). Then get to work on Numbers 7.
Here’s a funny cartoon. (UPDATE: I don’t think that link works as I wanted: here’s the right one).
Crossway just published the memoirs of Carson’s father.
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson
Are you memorizing Numbers 7? I tried memorizing Deuteronomy 8 in the 30 minutes I was sitting in the Wilderness of Paran, and almost did it. I was trying to really meditate on what it meant too. Isn’t Scripture amazing? The more I memorize, the more I want to. Thank you for your encouragement last spring with Ephesians. Bill also is a huge encouragement as he had us memorize portions of Scripture on every field trip last semester and on every Regional hike this semester. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned at IBEX is actually memorizing and mediatating on, and appreciating more the very Word of God. Thanks, Todd.
The cartoon is funny – anything to be elected. The sad thing is that Dems don’t seem to care about her fudgery (is that a neologism?).