Looking for a book? Try these.

Looking for some great Summer reads? Please allow me to make a few suggestions. My recommendations by category:


Daily Devotions- Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Male/Female Relationships- For Men Only & For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

Discipleship- Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
So, You Want to Be Like Christ? by Charles Swindoll
Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller

Prayer- Praying God's Word by Beth Moore

Pastors/Preaching- Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon


These should keep you busy for at least a part of the Summer. Please remember that Christian books are not to be a substitute for the Bible. They are to function as extended sermons and should not be a replacement for personal study of the scriptures. That being said, let us be thankful for faithful men and women who take pen in hand in order to instruct the people of God. If you read any of the above books, please let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you. Happy reading!

God and Gators

For those familiar with the world of sports, in particular college and professional football, you know that last evening marked the opening of the 2010 NFL draft. As many of you also know, or will come to know if you continue to frequent this blog, I am a Volunteer. As in Tennessee Volunteers. I bleed orange and white. It's been that way since the coaching days of Johnny Majors. That's my college allegiance. In the pro game, I am a die-hard Denver Broncos fan. It's been that way since the early days of the greatest QB ever, John Elway. During the first round of the draft, the Broncos picked Tim Tebow...of the Florida Gators! In case you don't know, Tennessee hates Florida. It's been that way since...well, I don't know. The only good gator should be seen as a ladies' purse or a nice pair of cowboy boots or at the local zoo. And yet I am praying that Tebow succeeds. Why? Because he is a Christian and shares the Gospel unashamedly. In Christ, we have unified purposes and minimized differences. Even to the point that Jesus can cause a Volunteer to love a Gator! Go Vols! Go Gators! Go Broncos! All for the glory of Jesus!

Excelling in...Giving?

"But as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you-see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love is also genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."

II Corinthians 8:7-9


What is this "act of grace" to which Paul is referring? Giving. Giving what? Money. Some may think it is shameful of Paul to incorporate the Gospel into a discussion of financial stewardship. Those same people would feel likewise about Jesus. The truth of the matter is this: scripture does marry the Gospel to the principles that drive our giving. Try as we might, they cannot be divorced! We will attempt to convince ourselves that our love of Jesus and the fulfillment of his kingdom work cannot or should not be related to our money, but we soon find that this effort to soothe our guilty conscience fails. Paul deliberately interjects the Gospel into his teaching on giving. All things for the believer, including giving, are to be shaped by the Gospel. Read II Corinthians 8-9. While doing so, ask yourself if what you are reading can be confirmed in the realities of your personal life, your family, and your church. Is your heart tender toward the biblical principles of giving? Let us pray for one another that this grace would excel both personally and corporately, at home and in our churches.

T4G Prayer Request

As the T4G (Together for the Gospel) conference begins tomorrow in Louisville, KY, please be in prayer for this event. May God be honored and his people blessed!

Switch to Decaf!

"Every church is filled with imperfect people like you who are led by imperfect leaders like me and governed by imperfect systems...The goal for yourself, your church, and its leaders must be faithfulness and not perfection, so it behooves you to start drinking decaf and to lighten up a bit in Jesus' name."

Pastor Mark Driscoll


This reminds me of the old line about the search for the perfect church; even if you find one, it won't be perfect after you join! May we be faithful to our Master, the One who knows our imperfections and yet loves us with a perfect love. And may we learn to labor with those, like ourselves, who are not perfect but love and worship Jesus.

Mayberry Monday

BARNEY FIFE: "Andy, I've got this one dead to rights! Otis was drunk. I even gave him a test. I drew a line on the sidewalk and told him to walk it. You know what he said? "

ANDY TAYLOR: "What?"

BARNEY FIFE: "He asked me what line. I got this one right Andy. Otis was drunk."

ANDY TAYLOR: "That right, Otis? Did you ask Deputy Fife what line?"

OTIS CAMBELL: "Yeah, but I didn't have my specs on and drunk or sober I can't see much without my specs."

ANDY TAYLOR: "Otis, three hours ago when Deputy Fife arrested you, were you drunk?"

OTIS CAMBELL: "I don't know. I wasn't wearing my glasses."

Easter Sunday...He is Risen!

"They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."

Luke 24:3


"May I ask you, directly, what is going to get you beyond death into your eternal home? The answer is Christ. Only Christ. It is He alone who holds the promise of resurrection and life eternal. He conquered death for you and me...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!"

Charles Swindoll

More Good Friday Thoughts...on Saturday

"It is the blood of Christ alone, whereby any sinner can be reconciled to God; there is no other propitiation for our sins, no other fountain for sin and uncleanness. Every believer in Christ is deeply convinced that there is no merit but in Him...Indeed, nothing in the Christian system is of greater consequence than the doctrine of the Atonement. It is properly the distinguishing point between Deism and Christianity."

John Wesley


"We may try to wash our hands of responsibility like Pilate, but our attempt will be futile, as futile as his. For there is blood on our hands."

John Stott

Good Friday

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Galatians 3:13


"The most terrible warning to impenitent men in all the world is the death of Christ. For if God spared not his own Son, on whom was laid imputed sin, will he spare sinners whose sins are their own?"

Charles Spurgeon


The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

There is a Fountain, William Cowper

Think About It!

"Most people spend their lives trying to make their heart's fondest dreams come true. Isn't that what life is all about, 'the pursuit of happiness'? We search endlessly for ways to acquire the things we desire, and we are willing to sacrifice much to achieve them. We never imagine that getting our heart's deepest desires might be the worst thing that can ever happen to us."

Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods