Resources by Topic: Christians, Past and Present

Like countless others, I was greatly saddened by the murder of 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, the founder and president of Turning Point USA, a few days ago. My prayers have been with his family and friends and church. Many of us have wept for their pain and suffering, and wept for our country as well.

Back in 2009, I was asked to be on a panel on Heaven and Hell at a book conference. When I asked who else would be on the panel, they mentioned J. I. Packer, and my response was, “I will do it as long as I can sit next to Dr. Packer.” (The organizers kindly accommodated my request!)

I came across this photo last week and was reminded of the great time Nanci and I had back in 2007 at the Desiring God National Conference in Minneapolis. With John MacArthur’s recent passing, most of the people in this picture are now in Christ’s presence.

This may be to many readers one of the most surprising blogs I’ve ever written. And if you follow the links at the end to what I and others have said on this subject, you may be doubly surprised!

At the Christian Book Expo 2009, Randy Alcorn, Sam Storms, Don Piper and J.I. Packer had a panel discussion on Heaven and Hell. In this clip J.I. Packer reads from Randy's book "Heaven".

Charles Spurgeon closed his 1854 sermon entitled "The Birth of Christ" with the following, in a Christian context that was often critical of Christmas celebration because some people embraced sin and not the Savior. May his words for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day apply to the days ahead of us.

My daughter Angela and I were able to attend a Steven Curtis Chapman concert with some friends last month. Steven had asked to meet with me before the show to talk about how the Heaven book and Safely Home ministered to their family after their daughter Maria’s tragic death 16 years ago.

The following story was first told in my book The Grace and Truth Paradox, and touches on Eric Liddell’s life after he won Olympic gold. I asked Stephanie Anderson, who works on EPM’s staff and helps with my blogs, to do some research and fill in the blanks to share more of what life was like for the children in the prison camp.

This summer is the 100th anniversary of Eric Liddell winning the gold medal in the men’s 400m. Today’s blog is the repost of one I first shared about Eric in 2018, with the addition of a few paragraphs and some tweaks here and there. Even if you read this before, I hope you’ll be touched once again by his story.

Samuel James writes, “It is a remarkable providence that John F. Kennedy and C.S. Lewis died on the same day. It is likewise remarkable that while Kennedy obtained the most powerful office in the world, it is the professor, the letter writer, and the storyteller Lewis whose prophetic voice rings out most audibly and most wisely from the grave.”

At the Tuskegee Institute, George Washington Carver’s tombstone reads: “A Life that stood out as a gospel of Self-Forgetful Service. He could have added Fortune to Fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.”

I found out recently that Stanley Tam went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, April 16. At age 107! I will never forget talking with him at length on the phone when he was a mere 102.

Last Friday, May 19, author and retired pastor Tim Keller entered into the presence of His Lord and Savior. I have always appreciated his thoughtful, biblical,  and Christ-centered insights, and have often recommended his books, messages, and online videos.

My dear friend George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization (OM) and advocate for worldwide missions, is with Jesus. I have never known anyone like George; he is—I speak in the present tense because he is fully alive—one of a kind. His love for lost souls, his devotion to Jesus, and his passion for the Gospel marked me and countless others.