Some Thoughts, Recommendations, and Links

So glad to have my wife home...er at least back in the states. We shall return to reality in about a week.

Hit Pei Wei if you ever have a chance. Quick Chinese food that tastes good.

It was such a joy to preach at the Crossing a few times this month, and I'm thankful to Adam and Dave for sharing the pulpit.

Looking forward to fondue tonight. Something I have not yet done...

Trying to decide which book to study next. I've spent a lot of time in Hebrews and am thinking and praying about whether to go to an Old Testament prophet like taking on the Behemoth Ezekiel or going for a gospel. Speaking of biblical study tools, if you are ever in Pasadena, do not pass up the plethora of Christian books at Archives.

I highly recommend Greg Beale's sermons on Revelation, which I think I've mentioned before. I have finally listened to many of them due to the many long drives this summer. He interprets Revelation symbolically, which he believes is the literal interpretive key for the whole book. If you're ready for some light summer reading pick up his 1200 page commentary.

I thought this video was very mean and quite funny; probably not the best way to lead your wife in a joyful day or very beneficial to your relationship:

CJ Mahaney's Main Thing

CJ Mahaney has begun a blog. You should read it. It will prove to be good for your soul.

Why? Because CJ is a cross-centered man and speaks and writes with some of the greatest passion on the planet about the greatest event. His second post, not surprisingly, is on the cross and the books that he recommends as the best on the subject. I encourage you if you have not listened to or read CJ Mahaney before you should. I really believed you will be blessed.

I don't doubt that he will keep the main thing the main thing on this blog and constantly integrate the cross into many aspects of life--the main and the mundane.

Two Recommendations: Inexpensive Magazines

Well, this is just a heads up, in case you didn't know for only 15 dollars you can subscribe to National Geographic for a year. I commend it to you. It may not seem as important as the next recommendation, and it isn't, but I think despite its evolutionary/atheistic bent it reveals the glory of God and can be quite an edifying and important resource for the Christian.

This is not really a magazine, but The Journal for Biblical Counseling is a great resource for Biblical Counseling, and really for sanctification in general. In other words, this is not just for the counselor but for the Christian. It is Gospel-centered, convicting, and practical. They are going through some changes as they think about improving this resource:

"...we are exploring alternative formats for JBC such as electronic format only, or a combination of electronic and print formats. Such a move would enable immediate, worldwide access. We would deliver content more quickly and more frequently, perhaps monthly, instead of quarterly. Readers could make immediate use of an article for ministry purposes. They could interact about an issue or article through an online discussion board. The curious could sample an article of interest before committing to a full subscription period. Finally, a move to electronic format would fit the information access habits of the coming generation of leaders and practitioners in the biblical counseling field."

Here is a peak at titles from the past issue: "The Therapeutic Gospel", "The Poison of Self-Pity", "Basics about Bipolar", etc. If your curious you can listen to one of the leaders, David Powlison, here and here. The first is at a conference at the church John Piper is a pastor of and David does three talks on "God, Psychology, and Christian Care of the Soul" and he is involved in a Q&A panel; the second is "Making all things new: restoring joy to the Sexually Broken" as well as another Q&A panel, and, yes, again a conference put on by Desiring God. Dr. Powlison is articulate, psychologically/psychiactrically informed, and pastorally sensitive. From what I have read the rest of the CCEF guys are too.