HARMLESS THOUGHTS

This is a review for Christian Audio's version of Living in the Light: Money, Sex, and Power by John Piper.  Money, Sex, and Power is John Piper's newest book release. I just finished listening to Christian Audio's version of this book as read by Rick Souer. In this book John Piper asserts that Money, Sex, and Power have been given to us, as good gifts from God, for our enjoyment but also for His Glory. He also asserts that these three gifts are highly volatile and dangerous to our lives and our souls. In as much as they can bring God great glory, when ordered and orchestrated according to God's plan, they can also bring great ruin when they swing toward the center of our desires. Pastor John begins this book by defining the terms: money, sex, and power. He then goes on to describe the specific dangers that each of these good gifts can pose in our lives and what the destruction might look like, to varying degrees, as each person might succumb to worshiping any on...

Been having a tough week? Has it been difficult, challenging... hard? Could it be described as a "crap-shoot"? The best thing for you this weekend is not fishing, camping, or vacationing. You will not find what you need by partying, playing games, drinking, having sex, hanging out with friends, running that 5k, or even taking that extra nap. Many of these things are good, and can and should be enjoyed in the right context... but you will not find in any of these the thing you need the most after your difficult week. Instead, go to a church this weekend that will preach to you the good news of Jesus Christ: the truth that you can enjoy absolute rightness with God through the work of Jesus. Go to a church to hear the gospel preached... not because you don't know it, but because you are prone to forget it and need to hear it again and again. You will have no real joy in your life until you enjoy the righteousness of God through the k...

Here is my review of When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy by John Piper and read by David Cochran Heath. I have made no secret of the fact that the last few months of my life I have battled a certain melancholy spirit like I never have before. This hasn't been the most trial-fraught time of my life by any means, but this dark cloud has followed me at all times and has shadowed all I have done. I have clung to Jesus, but sometimes it has felt like: just barely. So, it was a very providential moment when I rediscovered that I already had the audio version of this book, and it was just waiting to be listened to. As many people know, John Piper's flagship book is Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. That is a fabulous book, but I have found that, like many others, I don't need convincing that I should desire God as the greatest good. Instead, I find in myself that as much as I know this is true, I don't always feel it. Is there something wron...