I’ve launched a new website, happytensions.com to capture explorations of God’s mysteries, which make us supremely happy. Readers here on this site may be familiar with the fact that “happy tensions” are one of my favorite themes about which to muse. Here’s a new-old thought on a key one. Promises Made, Promises Kept We wait in the middle, between when God’s promises were made, and when they will be fulfilled, kept to their fullness. On this, John Calvin writes: “Let us also remember that we are all in the same condition as Abraham. Our circumstances are all...

Merry Christmas, all! Not Only Christmas Day Lord, this is my prayer Not only on Christmas Day But until I see You face to face May I live my life this way: Just like the baby Jesus I ever hope to be, Resting in Your loving arms Trusting in Your sovereignty. And like the growing Christ child In wisdom daily learning, May I ever seek to know You With my mind and spirit yearning. Like the Son so faithful Let me follow in Your light, Meek and bold, humble and strong Not afraid to face the night. Nor cowardly to suffer And stand for truth alone, Knowing that Your kingdom Awaits my going home. Not...

This is how a pastor can shepherd his people into the goodness of God even in the midst of difficult circumstances and personal illness. Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor of The Village Church near Dallas gives his church family some perspective as he faces chemo treatments after the New Year. On Thanksgiving morning he had a seizure, then doctors found a brain tumor, did surgery, and it turns out the tumor is malignant. Brain cancer. Last week he tweeted, “Why not me? Why not you?” Indeed. When I found out, I cried. Then prayed for Matt, Lauren and their three kids together with my lead pastor....

The Gospel is powerful, deep and completely life-altering (Romans 1:16-17). “All of our personal & church problems come because we don’t come continually back to the gospel to work it in and live it out.” — Tim Keller, The Centrality of the Gospel (We work out what God has first worked in — Philippians 2:12-13) “Most necessary it is therefore that we should know the gospel well, teach it unto others, & beat it into their heads continually.” — Martin Luther (Let’s beat it into our own heads first — Ephesians 3:14-21; Romans 12:1-2) SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:...

Yesterday I fielded questions from a group of about 15 sixth and seventh grade girls, middle schoolers attending our church. We had just finished a teaching on Matthew 5:27-32. We discussed lust and adultery, marriage and divorce. (In an age-appropriate way for 11-14 year olds.) We talked much through the awful complexities (against God’s design) of divorce, and the wake of collateral damage that comes with it. A number of the kids are experiencing the fallout of a broken home: divorced, estranged or separated parents. John, one of our leaders shared how 40 years ago his parents divorced,...

Download an e-book (PDF) version of Fight Clubs: Gospel-Centered Discipleship by pastor Jonathan Dodson. I’ve mentioned it before, and am eager to dig in myself. (Note: this isn’t a book built for just one person. You won’t be able to “fight” alone. So, send the link to a friend, read it together and fight for one another, together, through the Gospel.) Here’s the table of contents of Fight Clubs: Introduction 1. Why Fight?: The Call to Fight 2. Fighting for the Church: The Failure of Accountability 3. How to Fight: Motivations for Discipleship 4. Fighting with...

Last weekend I preached on David’s pre-king life — before he was famous or had done anything “great” for God. He had started to do “small” things for God, when no one was looking. As a young man he received a promise from God, that he would become King in Israel. Yet, it took more than a decade before he would sit as King over the nation. When we consider the madness, disobedience and bad character of the current king, Saul, we sense David is clearly the better man. Why the delay? God was done with Saul, but didn’t install David for another decade. David not...

No one is humble by nature. In fact, the person who appears naturally humble is usually too lazy to be ambitious or too fearful to take risks. If a person is not tempted to control, especially in a crisis, this is often a symptom of despair and fatalism. Humility comes from humiliation, not from the choice to be self-effacing or a strong urge to give others credit. Humility that has not come from suffering due to one’s own arrogance is either a pragmatic strategy to get along with others or a natural predilection that seems to befit only a few rare individuals. For most leaders, humility...

I’m very excited to soon see a finalized e-book version of Fight Club: Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson. Jonathan is Lead Pastor of Austin City Life in Austin, Texas. His gospel-centered emphases are water for my soul, always pointing past himself to the One who is our only Hope. A couple years ago I ran across his writings/articles on Boundless and was hooked. Fight Club looks to be a synthesis of both seeing our true enemies, and Gospel-motivated tactics. There are three simple rules for the fight clubs: Know your sin Fight your sin (together) Trust the Savior The church...

From the DWYL podcast: SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Wow. Don’t Waste Your Life.", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/07/05/wow-dont-waste-your-life/" });