I'm currently reading Jonathan Edwards : A Life by George M. Marsden. I'm rarely interested in biographies, but if you're like me, then you should make this one exception and read this book! The book begins by describing New England in the 1700's -- an era after the puritans but before the United States were established. The book is full of details but its far from boring. Marsden's writing is engaging. For example, he writes "George Whitefield is coming to Northampton!" and I wonder who is Geor... continue reading...

I highly recommend listening to John Piper's recent sermon on imprecatory psalms titled "Pour Out Your Indignation Upon Them." (audio) (video) According to John Piper's sermon text imprecatory psalms: include imprecations, that is curses, judgments against God's enemies. These psalms are usually considered problems for Christians because Jesus taught us, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" Piper primarily focuses on Psalm 69... continue reading...

I was excited to listen to D.A. Carson's podcasts about his latest book "Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament." This reference book consults every old testament verse quoted by the new testament and explains the context used by the NT. Unfortunately, I recommend the podcasts over the book if you plan to spend less than a few hours on this topic. Carson addresses James and 1-3 John but the rest of the NT are commissioned to other scholars. I'm believe Carson approves all the o... continue reading...

I'm reading the Apostolic Literature by Polycarp, Clement, Papias, Tertullian, and also some pseudepigrapha such as the Epistle of Barnabas. The Apostolic Fathers are the disciples of the New Testament writers that didn't receive the divine revelation bestowed on the 12 and the 70. Sadly, few people read the myriad of writings left behind by the Apostolic Fathers or any of the Early Church Fathers because few have even read the entire bible straight-though. I don't recommend reading any of these... continue reading...

Karl Barth (pronounced "bart") is infamous for his "Church Dogmatics." The Dogmatics is six million words, thirteen volumes and also unfinished! (He died before completing the final volume on eschatology.) I couldn't find any of the Dogmatics in the Seattle library system, and it costs $720 on amazon!; so I am reading Barth's "The Epistle to the Romans" commentary instead.In Francis Schaeffer's Trilogy (containing the "God Who Is There"), he criticized Karl Barth and alleges that Barth followed ... continue reading...

John Calvin's, the "Institutes of the Christian Religion" is basically a bible doctrine reference book that is very similar to Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology." Systematic Theology books are great for learning what the bible teaches about the Millennial Kingdom, Infant Baptism, and specific topics. Rather than buy Calvin's 22 volumes of bible commentaries, you can buy one book as a reference. I'd recommend Grudem's book as a must own, and Calvin's Institutes as a great second opinion. John C... continue reading...

Nine passages in the bible mention the "New Song." King David was the first to mention it in Psalm 33, and wrote that it is played skillfully on a ten-stringed harp and lyre and is accompanied by "shouts of joy." David is known for being skilled at the lyre (a ten-stringed harp) but this New Song is more than a hymn of joy that he penned one sunny afternoon. It's not immediately clear that this "New Song" is special but notice that David immediately says that "by the word of the Lord the heavens... continue reading...

I've had a renewed interest in ancient Roman and Greek coins because they come up in the bible all the time. Do a search for denarius in the bible and you'll find many verses. I've heard "render to Caesar what is Caesar's" many times, but its much more interesting to go to a museum and see the very coin that Jesus picked out of a fish's mouth to pay the tax. As I learn more about Israel's history, the museums become much more interesting to me. I have a love hate relationship with wikipedia, but... continue reading...

Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church has an excellent podcast called "Who is this Jesus?"; and I highly recommend you listen to it for its five reasons for god. There was a man in Palestine, 2000 years ago who claimed to be God, who claimed to be bringing the Kingdom of God from Heaven to EarthThe people who heard Jesus speak saw him do apparent miracles, including the feeding of 5,000 people, walk on water, heal people and raise people from the dead. (Whether he actual did it, people beli... continue reading...

A myriad of verses say that using foul, silly worldly, unwholesome talk is bad, discourages believers, spreads worldliness like gangrene and grieves the Holy Spirit: (ie. 2 Timothy 2:15-18; Ephesians 4:29-30; 5:4). It's easy to be legalistic but if a Christian intentionally talks and acts just like unbeliever and teach others to do likewise then 2 Corinthians 6:15-17 makes me wonder if that person is really converted because they look nothing like Jesus. Some Christians defend and encourage curs... continue reading...

I'm now interested in Biblical Calligraphy after meeting someone at my church who is hand copying the epistle of Romans from the ESV translation into a handmade book. Before the Gutenberg printing press, all bibles were hand copied by scribes and many were filled with beautiful artwork. I found this cool webpage at Dallas Theological Seminary that has pictures many old bibles. Most of them are written in Greek, Latin, and English. A long time ago, I read a great book called "In the beginning..."... continue reading...