One of the great questions of our age goes like this: “If God is good — and all-powerful — why does He allow evil and suffering?” Just yesterday I say down with a college student and discussed this. For a few years I’ve been able to read and grate first-year seminary students’ attempts to answer that question, in light of Scripture. The theological term for this discussion is theodicy, as in the justice of God. It is asking God to justify Himself for what we see. (Note the irony in the phrase: we should be on trial, not God, for being inconsistent and limited.) The...

I enjoy recommending the The Jesus Storybook Bible (by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Jago) because as the subtitle states, “every story whispers His name.” The point of the Bible is Jesus. While reading the stories of Scripture to our kids the connections to Christ become more vivid … aha! That’s why that was this way … Oh, now I see! (Parents and adults, you should read this book.) It’s a great read and we’ve given it as gifts to many. Helps us to enjoy the Bible so we can enjoy the One about whom it is written. Here’s a video version of the...

Here’s a book review Lost & Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them by Ed Stetzer, Richie Stanley and Jason Hayes (B&H, LifeWay Research, Nashville, 2009). (Originally wrote most of this as a response for a seminary course.) — This book is fascinating. It is a great mix of solid research (science and numbers) and cultural engagement (arts). I eat up the numbers side (as a left-brainer), yet appreciated greatly the wise commentary throughout. There were a number of characters whose stories were engaging, and although fictitious and fleshed out from homogeneous...

Here’s what I’m reading these days: A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, by Paul Miller The Relationship Principles of Jesus, by Tom Holladay (for our current Love & Relationships series at WCC, for group life; just finished) Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional, by Jim Belcher College Ministry 101: a guide to working with 18-25 year olds, by Chuck Bomar (recently finished) The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, by Lesslie Newbigin (just finished) Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them,...

“The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love … and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives...

Below are some of my thoughts after reading Your Jesus is Too Safe: Outgrowing a Drive-Thru, Feel-Good Savior. [Read the book interview with author Jared Wilson in the last post.] It’s a great book, and may now be in my top 10 favorites. Seriously, I read many dead guys, and am constantly dabbling in a few books at a time. This one made me put down all others and dive in. There are only a couple other authors who can do that to me (one is my gifted writer wife). What’s the purpose of this book? Wilson writes: “to remind us, for the glory of God and the hope of the world, of the...

A new book arrived a month or so ago: Your Jesus is Too Safe: Outgrowing a Drive-Thru, Feel-Good Savior by Jared C. Wilson (Kregel Publications). With an advance copy in hand, I was happy to participate in the Your Jesus is Too Safe Blog Tour. It’s a great book — read on! About the Author Jared Wilson is a faithful husband and devoted father, plus a pastor of Element in Nashville. He blogs at The Gospel-Driven Church, and is on Twitter, Facebook (become a fan of the book), and MySpace (why MySpace?). Anyway, he’s connected and has a bent for all things literary (more at The Thinklings,...

There are a number of "churchy" ways to try to change one’s self. Like church attendance, volunteering, etc. — but these are often not rooted in the one key thing: desiring to know God and serve Him as King. In general, there may be three Gospel-distorting approaches to change: Proving ourselves to God Proving ourselves to others Proving ourselves to ourselves These are not in keeping with our new identity in Jesus. I’ve been continually challenged to move past this nonsense as I slowly read How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp, as well as look forward...

Don’t have much time to invest writing these days, but do keep a journal and write thoughts (more often type them, or hand-write in my illegible lower case scratches that inevitably make it difficult for others to read; a short-hand of sorts). Along the same lines, I haven’t had much time to read in recent months. At least not at the book-a-week clip I enjoyed before. Always dabbling in a few books, and trying to keep up on a few blogs. Here’s what I’m reading right now: SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Happy tensions: a few of my reads (print + web)", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/04/03/happy-tensions-a-few-of-my-fav-reads/"...

Dutch likes to "sort" our books — meaning he enjoys moving them all around, on different shelves, under and on top of objects, and "reading" them from time to time in his spare time. Yesterday he put four books in my book bag, thinking I needed to meditate on the Gospel. He selected one paperback each from four great authors: Andrew Murray, H.A. Ironside, D.L. Moody, and J.I. Packer. Thanks son, your exhortation is heeded! (The yellow duct tape hold together my DIY laptop case.) SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "A few good books from a good son", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2008/10/28/a-few-good-books-from-a-good-son/"...