• Headed out to a church-wide prayer meeting-should be very encouraging and edifying. #
• Great prayer time-well attended-focused-fervent. Very encouraged. Now for a little admin before sermon prep. #
• Sermon Outline prep on Rom 15:7-13 #
• Lunch break-left over pasta with Kel and Brie. #
• Off to get a haircut! #
• Back in the study-more sermon prep. #
• Finished sermon notes (1st draft), and have been prepping for other meetings tomorrow-Finance and Sunday School. now to catch up on e-mail. #
• RT: @edstetzer: Paul Harvey has died (http://tinyurl.com/dcccyg). A good man who now really knows “the rest of the story.” Thanks, Paul. #
• Just finished an enjoyable dinner along with a rambunctious play time with Brie. I haven’t done somersaults in a VERY LONG TIME. #
• Time to finish some admin and review the sermon. #
• Prayer and final prep for the day. Looking forward to a good, intense, long day. #
• Off to gather with God’s people. #
• quick lunch, quick nap, quick prep then back to the office for premarital counseling session, finance meeting, then evening worship #
• Finishing up a long day-headed home. Good day of serving and worshiping. #
• Eating a delicious salad and about to watch the Meet The Press Netcast http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/ #
• Prepping music for the next few weeks. #
• Many phone calls this afternoon-just now putting the phone down. Whew! #
• Made it for a great dinner and fun play time with Brie-what a joy to come home. #
• Ever seen this? Wow!! http://tr.im/cwlw #
• About to take in the word and breathe out prayer. Doing some planning and ministry project work this morning. #
• going to play in the park with Kel and Brie. #
• Just hearing from the foster family that had Liz’s little brother-their court date was today-same results as a month ago-pray for them. #
• Headed out to pick up two interns and make our way to the Shepherds’ Conference. #
• MacArthur is preaching on why every self-respecting Christian must be a six day creationist: http://twitpic.com/1uel9 #
• Humann poverty is a result of our failure to subdue the earth-MacArthur. The green folks are geting a whipping here. #
• Walk on the grass, kill a deer, drill for oil. MacArthur. #
• Long day at the conference-had trouble getting my Twitter to work, will try and be more faithful to Tweet more tomorrow. #
• just skyped my beloved-loved seeing her! Miss her and our little sweetheart. #
• The thing about conferences is that I never can seem to get to sleep at a decent hour and I always have to get up early… #
• I could not get Twitter or Facebook to connect while at GCC all afternoon and evening-will try to remedy that today. #
• John and Lisa Martin leading us in song this morning http://twitpic.com/1v3e4 #
• John & Lisa Martin with Christian Ebner just sang “There Is a Fountain”-profound worship. #
• When the screen goes up at GCC it is MUCH quieter than at FBCSJ. Maybe it has something to do with the difference in the size of the room. #
• Rick Holland preaching out of 2 Cor 11. #
• Paul’s Calvinism never got in the way of his care for people. Rick Holland. #
• It easy to use the Bible when we preach; it us hard to use it when we shepherd. R. Holland. #
• The soul is ravashed when it first beholds the beauty of Christ and then it never becomes weary of him. J. Edwards #
• How better were it not to be than to be without thee (Jesus). John Owen. #
• Phenomenal sermon from R. Holland-much to meditate on. #
• J.MacArthur reflecting on 50 years of preaching and 40 years in one church. http://twitpic.com/1v6tb #
• Just sang “It Is Well” acapella with 3000+ men-amazing! #
• The Gospel of Mark is the newspaper edition of the gospel. He only plans to preach through it in about 80 messages. J. MacArthur. #
• The goal of preaching is the holiness of the people God gave me. J. MacArthur. #
• 21 out if 40 years I’ve preached in one if the Gospels. J.Mac #
• In my preaching I must pay attention to the sanctification of my people for the sake of unbelievers. JMac. #
• The power of preaching is the implication of the text-not in my ability to apply it to everyone. Application is the work of the Holy Spirit. #
• If there is any place you should exposit the Scripture it should be to children and youth. #
• Erick eating the weed of Satan: http://twitpic.com/1vc75 #
• In a seminar with Chad and Dan learning how to create conflict in the church. Oh, and resolve it. #
• TMC chorale singing. I’m sitting with two former chorale members and the spouse of a former member. #
• Just returned from a dessert meeting with @albertmohler and Southern Seminary. Enjoyed the Q/A and the chat with @dandumas. #
• Last day of the conference-we have had such a great time. #
• Missing Dan and @chadmartin at the conference-sure wish we could have been closer to the front. I’m getting used to the back wall. #
• Phil Johnson on the pornification of the pulpit. He’s about to stir it up-Mark Driscoll was mentioned less than 5 min in-here we go. #
• Uh oh-Phil is setting the cultural context of Titus-it turns out that Crete was actuall worse than Seattle-let the spanking begin. #
• Your doctrine is not really pure if your speech does not reflect dignity and reverence. P.Johnson #
• P.Johnson’s message is a must listen. This has needed to be said emphatically-Phil has done it. #
• Listening to Alex Montoya on preaching and passion-classic Montoya. #
• If you live passionately you will preach passionately. Montoya. #
• Stacy asked: is that C.J. Mahaney & his gardner? I said no, just Justin & Gabe. Justin was cleaning out his ears #
• Steve Lawson is bringing it-protecting the gospel. #
• Lawson just shredded the gospelless ambiguity of Joel Osteen-this place just erupted. #
• Just about to begin the final service-umm this is a mad house. Looking forward to the evening-I hear JMac going to sing &preach-dance too? #
• Had a great meal with @johnwmartin, @chadmartin, Dan Martin, pastor James, Gabe, Justin, Erick. #
• Johnny Mac singing ‘Amen’ with the choir-he’s got the whole place singing. http://twitpic.com/1w7mz #
• WOW!! Some of the most powerful congregational singing I’ve ever been a part of. Rich worship through song. #
• J.Mac up for our final SC message-plumbing the depths of why evil exists. #
• We are not leaving till we get our churro. #
• Ok we gave up the churro -@KaraPeters promised us all a box. #

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Professor Dennis Swanson, of The Master’s Seminary, points us to a number of articles he is writing in response to Dr. Sam Waldron’s critique of Barry Horner’s book, Future Israel. TMS Alumni

O.K., so Abraham Piper over at the desiringGod.org blog encouraged bloggers to write about which Piper books they recommended in light of tomorrow and Thursday’s big sale. What, you didn’t read about it in the “Short Caps” section? You need to pay more attention.

So, here’s my list:

Essential Piper

Actually, my first Piper book was The Supremacy of God in Preaching. I try to read this once every year. I list it first because, whether pastor or pew sitter, this book is a short but strong punch for lighting your heart on fire for the glory of God..

Desiring God, without question is the essential book among all of them at desiringGod.org. All Piper books appear to be an application of this foundational one. This was the second Piper book I read. I have read it three or four times since. The last chapter of suffering is magisterial.

Let the Nations Be Glad. What does missions exist? Because worship doesn’t. Enough said, GET THIS BOOK.

Future Grace was actually my fourth Piper book. I am currently reading through it with a men’s group every other Thursday evening. How does Desiring God apply to daily living and overcoming sin – this one is essential.

Don’t Waste Your Life. What a book, if for nothing more than the “shells” quote, this book will cause you to wonder why you are sitting where you are reading silly blogs like this rather than pouring your life out on the mission field. My wife and I invested in a few cases of these to hand out to our Sunday School class, family members and friends who came to stay with us.

Poetic Piper

I’m not sure that this one will be on sale, because it includes an audio CD. If not, buy it anyhoo: The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God. I’m not really into poetry. But Kelly and I have listened to this so many times, I’m not sure it will play any longer in our player. This should be under Essential Piper, but it is poetic and is such a different take than most of what he writes. There are other poems he has published in book form, but don’t buy any of the others until you have this one and have cherished it first for awhile.

Historical Piper

One group of books that I am extremely grateful for that John Piper has written is “The Swans Are Not Silent” series. Each one has three or four biographies of significant historical Christian leaders. Piper does an excellent joy of not merely retelling the essential details, but culling the ripest fruit from these magnificent lives and distilling it down to fulfilling applications we should draw from their lives.

The Legacy of Sovereign Joy – Augustine, Luther, Calvin

The Hidden Smile of God – Bunyan, Cowper, Brainard

The Roots of Endurance – Newton, Simeon, Wilberforce

Contending for Our All – Athanasius, Owen, Machen

In addition to the “Swans” series, I would also highlight two others in the historical category:

A God Entranced Vision of All Things, which is a compilation of essays originally delivered at the Jonathan Edwards conference.

The other is God’s Passion for His Glory. After a lengthy introduction, Piper reprints Jonathan Edwards’ “The End For Which God Created the World.” This is not an easy read, but I think it is one of the most important books you could read. Kel, have you finished this one yet (what, five years you’ve been soaking this one in?).

Expanding Piper

The Pleasures of God is the theological treatise that backs up the book Desiring God.

God is the Gospel is a must read, but read the Essential Piper stuff first. This one can be a difficult read also, but worth a careful, slow and prayerful examination. It is the heart of the gospel.

A Hunger for God. How does Desiring God apply to the discipline of fasting. This is one of the better books on the subject I have read.

When I Don’t Desire God. The title says it all, especially if you have read Desiring God. This is a very practical book. Kelly and I handed these out to our Sunday School class also. We keep a few copies around to give away.

Exegetical Piper

The Justification of God is Piper’s study of Romans 9. Better be read to dig a deep well with this one. It sits right beside me right now as I am preaching through Romans.
Counted Righteous in Christ. This is one for a careful review of the doctrine of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. You need to know some background on this topic first.

Pastoral Piper

If you are a pastor or planning to be one, do not be go one more Sunday without owning and reading, Brothers We Are Not Professionals.

Let me just recommend The Supremacy of God in Preaching one more time while I’m at it.

Evangelistic Piper

Our church has actually invested in multiple cases of these books to use at evangelistic meetings we have held.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ.

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. One year we handed these out at a Good Friday service. The next, we sent multiple cases of these to an Army Chaplain who used them to minister to men around Good Friday and Easter while in Iraq.

Haven’t Read Yet

Here’s what’s on my reading list that I haven’t got around to yet:

Sex and the Supremacy of Christ – essays from the same named conference.

What Jesus Demands from the World – my wife is reading it right now. Our church highlighted this book at one of our Quarterly Members Meetings. It is on my agenda to read during my quiet times.

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God – essays from the same named conference.

There are others that I have or haven’t read that I am sure could be recommended. This is my list, however. I personally don’t invest in the the smaller books that merely repackage other chapters from his other books. I’ve read most of the devotional books by Piper also, but think I would prefer those mentioned above.

But honestly, get them all. They’re $5. I don’t think there is a Piper book I wouldn’t recommend reading.

If I counted correctly – I’ve just made desiringGod $120.00 if you buy all that I’ve linked.  But, you really need to buy not only for yourself but to give away to people who need to have their hearts challenged, encouraged – or even regenerated.  Good gift and evangelism tools here.

In Kelly Kapic’s and Justin Taylor’s edition of three select writings from John Owen, the second book included is entitled, Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It. I began this second book recently in my quiet time reading. Here are a few excerpts from today’s reading:

The Special Nature of Temptation

. . . temptation in its special nature, as it denotes any evil, is considered either actively, as it leads to evil, or passively, as it has an evil and suffering in it (152).

. . . actively considered, it either denotes in the tempter a design for the bringing about of the special end of temtatin, namely, a leading into evil; so it is said that “God tempts no man” (James 1:13), with a design for sin as such – or the general nature and end of temptation, which is trial; so “God tempted Arham” (Gen 22:1). And he proves or tempts by false prophets (Deut 13:3).

The End for Which God Tempts:

He does it to hw unto man what is in him: as to his grace or corruption (153).

God does it to show himself unto man and that -

in a way of preventing grace

in a way of renewing grace

We shall never know what strength there is in grace if we know not what strength there is in temptation (154).

The Way God Tempts

He puts men on great duties, such as they cannot apprehend that they have any strength for, nor indeed have.

By putting them upon great sufferings.

By his providential disposing of things so that occasions unto sin will be administered unto men.

The Way Satan Tempts (155).

Satan tempts sometimes singly by himself, without taking advantage from the world, the things or persons of it, or ourselves.

Sometimes he makes use of the world, and joins forces against us, without any helps from within.

Sometimes he takes in assistance from ourselves also.

Temptation, then, in general, is any thing, state, way, or condition that, upon any account whatsoever, has a force or efficacy to seduce, to draw the mind and heart of a man from its obedience, which God requires of him, into any sin, in any degree of it whatsoever (156).

What Owen dealt with in the 17^th century is nothing less than the same questions I hear and personally consider on a weekly basis. Here Owen answers hypothetical questions brought up about his directive to make sure we do not speak peace to our hearts too quickly, but wait for God to do it.

How shall we know when we go alone ourselves, and when the Spirit also does accompany us?

he will not let you always err (123).

When God speaks there is not only truth in his words, that may answer the conviction of our understandings, but also they do good; they bring that which is sweet, and good, and desirable to the will and affections; by them the “soul returns unto its rest” (Ps 116:7) (124).

We speak peace to ourselves when we do it slightly.

Whoever speaks peace to himself upon any one account, and at the same time has another evil of no less importance lying upon is spirit, about which he has had no dealing with God, that man cries ‘Peace’ when there is none (125).

When men of themselves speak peace to their consciences, it is seldom that God speak humiliation to their souls.

When may we take the comfort of a promise as our own in relation to some peculiar wound, for the quieting the heart?

When God speaks it, be it when it will, sooner or later (126).

When God speaks it, we must receive it, that is true; but how shall we know when he speaks?

There is, if I may so say, a secret instinct in faith, whereby it knows the voice of Christ when he speaks indeed (126).

If the word of the Lord does good to your souls, he speaks it; if it humble, if it cleanse, and be useful to those ends for which promises are given – namely, to endear, to cleanse, to melt and bind to obedience, to self-emptiness, etc (127).

Back to Kapic and Taylor’s edition of John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

Chapter 13

Owen’s ninth directive in mortifying sin: Do not speak peace to yourself before God speaks it, but hearken to what God says to your soul.

[God] yet reserves this privilege
to himself to speak peace to whom he pleases, and in what degree he pleases, even among them on whom he has bestowed grace (119).

    As God creates it for whom he pleases, so it is the prerogative of Christ to speak it home to the conscience.

Men certainly speak peace to themselves when their so doing is not attended with the greatest detestation imaginable of that sin in reference whereunto they do speak peace to themselves, abhorrency of themselves for it.

When men measure out peace to themselves upon the conclusions that their convictions and rational principles will carry them out unto, this is a false peace and will not abide (122).

Tracing one’s time is a tool I often suggest to people when they are making the first steps in getting a hold on the use of their time. I regularly suggest that one begin with keeping a record of how they have spent their time during a week in thirty-minute increments. Go HERE for the Excel file I normally use for this purpose. So, when I am wanting to reflect and examine my own time habits, I usually do a running “tick-tock” of how I spend my time. This go-round, I actually published it to the web rather than merely kept the list on a piece of paper.

What I Think Went Well: In essence, the majority of what I planned to accomplish I was able to accomplish. I did not find myself forwarding many of my tasks to the next day, I was actually accomplishing them. I was able to meet with twelve people for discipleship purposes, our pastoral team in several significant meetings, the majority of my Sunday School class for a fellowship and one of our shut-ins. According to my e-mail statistics I received 63 legitimate e-mails (not spam) to my church account and sent 25 e-mails from that same account. I made or received 31 phone calls on my cell phone, and 60 text messages were sent & received. Through various means, I did a lot of talking. I was able to have significant times of Bible intake and prayer during my devotional time and consistently read from John Owen’s book, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers. I finished Augustine’s Confessions and made progress on a few more books. I was able to study fairly consistently and early in the week for my sermon. I took care of all of the filing that needed to be done and was able to plan my week well. I enjoyed good time with Kelly and Brie and even took some time to rest. I also took some time to blog most days of the week.

What I Think Could Be Done Better: I always wish that I had spent more time in concentrated prayer. I did not work well on Scripture memory, which I want to do much better. I did not contact members of my extended family as I had planned and wished and need to do better. I wanted to take a bit more time to cultivate a gospel centered relationship with our neighbors. I also felt I need much more time for my sermon preparation. The four hours I took with our Sunday School class was normally time I am in study. The fellowship was great, it simply made for a hectic push to the end in finishing my sermon, and affected my delivery of it Sunday evening (in my estimation). I did no work on my DMin project, which cannot happen again next week. Also, I want to do more varied reading. My plans for reading were pushed around too much and I want to move more consistently and steadily through my reading list.

I’ve tried to plan for many of these adjustments and this week has begun quite well. However, looking at my task lists, I’ve probably scheduled far more than I can possible accomplish each day. I have also made a number of small adjustments in my schedule for this week that I hope will prove helpful. So, I’m in the midst of another average week, trying to be a good and faithful average pastor.

Chapter 11 [Kapic and Taylor edition] of John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

Third Direction: Load your conscience with the guilt of [sin] (103).

Begin with generals and so descend to particulars:

Charge your conscience with that guilt which appears in it from the rectitude and holiness of the law.

Bring your lust to the gospel – not for relief, but for further conviction of its guilt. . .

Descend to Particulars

Consider the infinite patience and forbearance of God toward you in particular (105).

All God’s gracious dealings with you, in providential dispensations, deliverances, afflictions, mercies, enjoyments, all ought here to take place (106).

While the conscience has any means to alleviate the guilt of sin, the soul will never vigorously attempt its mortification.

Fourth: being thus affected with your sin, in the next place get a constant longing, breathing after deliverance from the power of it (106).

Fifth: Consider whether the distemper with which you are perplexed be not rooted in your nature, and cherished, fomented, and heightened from your constitution
(107).

This is not in the least an extenuation of the guilt of your sin.

That you have to fix upon this account, in reference to your walking with God, is, that so great an advantage is given to sin, as also to Satan, by this your temper and disposition, that without extraordinary watchfulness, care, and diligence, they will assuredly prevail against your soul.

For the mortification of any distemper so rooted in the nature of a man, unto all other ways and means already named or further to be insisted on, there is one expedient peculiarly suited; this is that of the apostle, ‘I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection’ (1 Corinthians 9:27) (108).

The outward weakening and impairing of the body should not be looked upon as a thing good in itself.

The means whereby this is done – namely, by fasting and watching, and the like – should be looked on as things that in themselves, and by virtue of their own power, can produce true mortification of any sin . . .

Sixth: Consider what occasions, what advantages your distemper has taken to exert and put forth itself, and watch against them all (109).

Consider what ways, what companies, what opportunities, what studies, what businesses, what conditions, have at any time given or do usually give, advantages to your distempers, and set yourself heedfully against them all.

Know that he that dares to dally with occasions of sin will dare to sin. He that will venture upon temptations unto wickedness will venture upon wickedness.

Seventh: Rise mightily against the first actings of your distemper, its first conceptions; suffer it not to get the least ground. Do not say, ‘Thus far it shall go, and no further.’ If it have allowance for one step it will take another (109-110).

From Chapter 10 in John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

Owen’s second direction on overcoming sin:

Get a clear and abiding sense upon your mind and conscience of the guilt, danger, and evil of that sin wherewith you are perplexed (97).

Of the guilt of it (97).

Though the power of sin be weakened by inherent grace in them that have it, [so] that sin shall not have dominion over them as it has over others, yet the guilt of sin that does yet abide and remain is aggravated and heightened by it (98).

Consider the danger of it:

of being hardened by the deceitfulness

Can a sadder thing befall you? Is it not enough to make any heart to tremble, to think of being brought into that estate wherein he should have slight thoughts of sin? Slight thoughts of grace of mercy, of the blood of Christ, of the law, heaven, and hell, come all in at the same season. Take heed, this is that [which] your lust is working toward – the hardening of the heart, searing of the conscience, blinding of the mind, stupefying of the affections, and deceiving of the whole soul (99).

loss of peace and strength all a man’s days (99)

the danger of eternal destruction

Consider the evils of it (101).

It grieves the holy and blessed Spirit

The Lord Jesus is wounded afresh by it (102)

It will take away a man’s usefulness in his generation

. . . many men harbor spirit-devouring lusts in their bosoms, that lie as worms at the root of their obedience, and corrode and weaken it day by day.

Keep alive upon your heart these or the like considerations of its guilt, danger and evil; be much in the meditation of these things; cause your heart to dwell and abide upon them; engage your thoughts into these considerations; let them not go off nor wander from them until they begin to have a powerful influence upon your soul – until they make it to tremble (103).

Chapter 9 in Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

Continued from his first point on how to mortify sin – Consider what dangerous symptoms your lust has attending or accompanying it:

By applying grace and mercy to an unmortified sin (92).

To apply mercy, then, to a sin not vigorously mortified is to fulfill the end of the flesh upon the gospel.

Frequency of success in sin’s seduction, in obtaining the prevailing consent of the will unto it.

This is that I mean: When the sin spoken of gets the consent of the will with some delight, though it be not actually outwardly perpetrated, yet it has success. (92).

When a man rights against his sin only with arguments from the issue or the punishment due unto it, this is a sign that sin has taken great possession of the will, and that in the heart there is a superfluity of naughtiness (93).

. . . if a man be so under the power of his lust that he has nothing but law to oppose it with, if he cannot fight against it with gospel weapons, but deals with it altogether with hell and judgment, which are the proper arms of the law, it is most evident that sin has possessed itself of his will and affections to a very great prevalency and conquest (93-94).

If your lust has driven you from stronger forts, it will speedily prevail against this also (94).

When it is probable that there is, or may be, somewhat of judiciary hardness, or at least of chastening punishment, in your lust as disquieting – this is another dangerous symptom (94).

When your lust has already withstood particular dealings from God against it (95).

Wheras I say the things and evils above-mentioned may befall true believers, let not any that finds the same things in himself thence or from thence conclude that he is a true believer. These are the evils that believers may fall into and be ensnared with, not the things that constitute a believer (96).