Affliction was Necessary to Me

I want to share the following, written by my friend Denny Hartford, the director of a terrific organization I highly recommend, Vital Signs Ministries (FYI, that's not Denny in the picture, it's Martin Luther). Denny works in the ministry with his wonderful wife Claire.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

I spoke this weekend at the Peacemaker Conference in Charlotte, NC. Peacemakers works to resolve conflicts within churches, Christian ministries and between brothers and sisters who wish to obey God’s command not to bring before civil authorities conflicts between Christians (1 Corinthians 6).

Charles Spurgeon Praising the Divine Architect

Charles Spurgeon preached to something like ten million people in his lifetime, sometimes speaking ten times a week at various locations. His sermons were transcribed as he spoke. In those days of telegraph, his messages became available across the Atlantic, in America, within days, and around the world within a week. Besides his amazing quantity of sermons, he wrote an autobiography, the massive The Treasury of David, 3 Volumes  on the psalms, books on prayer, the classic devotional Morning and Evening, and produced a magazine, The Sword and the Trowel. Some argue that no author in history has more material in print than Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Counting the Cost of Sexual Immorality

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has joined a long line of leaders, both secular and Christian, who have committed adultery.

Someone suggested, in light of this, that I post about fleeing and resisting sexual temptation. First, consider this from God's Word:

Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet ...

Does the Word “Evangelical” Mean Anything Anymore?

I’m writing this while returning from ICRS, the annual Christian book convention. I’m sitting in the Atlanta airport, reflecting on some of my conversations the past four days. I did many interviews about recent and forthcoming books, and talked with lots of evangelical booksellers, publishers, and authors.

Encouraging responses to Randy’s book If God is Good

by Kathy Norquist, Randy Alcorn’s assistant

I never realized how difficult and time-consuming it is to write a book until I started working for Randy many years ago. Observing the numerous stages of a book before it goes to print has given me a new appreciation for the work of an author. And what fun for Randy when he receives the first copy of his latest book in the mail—before it ever hits the bookshelves. It’s somewhat like the anticipation of the birth of a child and the day finally arrives!

Randy loves the fact that he ...

ESV Study Bible

 If you're looking for something to read, go to the only book of which these promises are made:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish ...

The Evidence Doesn’t Lie: The Unborn are Children (this post includes a special note to pastors and church leaders)

Last year I did a phone interview for a film called The Life Project, produced by Verite Studios. Our office recently got an email from Timothy Eaton, the director, in which he wrote:

Pastors know that roughly one out of five women in their congregations have had an abortion.  Many pastors have had abortions in their families.  Many pastors may not have counseled unwed pregnant women strongly enough against aborting their babies.  It is a subject fraught with pain for any congregation.

The Leader's Character; Leadership is a privilege, not an entitlement

The following are my answers to some questions on leadership I gave to Crawford Loritts for his new book called Leadership as an Identity: The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting Influence. The book includes contributions from various Christian leaders, including Bill Bright, D. A. Carson, Clyde Cook, Steve Douglass, Robert Lewis, Bill McCartney, Robertson McQuilken, Gary Rosberg and Joseph Stowell.

A number of my answers are in Crawford's book, some are abridged, but I thought I'd share my full original answers with you here.

More on Depression in the Christian Life and Ministry (with citations from Charles Spurgeon)

I’ve received private notes and sympathetic phone calls from people regarding the depression I wrote about on June 30. I appreciate people’s genuine concern, as well as their statements that they’ve been encouraged as they go through their own struggles, many of which are tougher than mine.