Moving to TheGospelForOC.com

The blog is now being hosted at www.TheGospelForOC.com.

Go the the new site and update your feeds. Thanks for the reader support.

UPDATE: Changes Coming Soon

A couple weeks ago, I noticed that this blog is getting a consistent readership from random pockets across the nation and in a few other countries. Since then, I have been carefully and prayerfully considering why this blog exists and what I should use it for.

That said, look forward to some minorly major changes coming soon…

Stay tuned. It won’t be long.

Desiring God: FREE Audiobook

“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” -Psalm 63:3

Six years ago (when I was still cool and a fairly new Christian) a friend gave me a copy of John Piper’s Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Just a few pages in, and the book became an instant favorite. It is a must-read book on living for and delighting in our greatest treasure:

GOD.

Sucker-punching your heart with timeless truths from Scripture, Dr. John Piper unpacks the theme statement that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” and boldly dares you to seek your maximum joy—in God.

THIS MONTH ONLY, you can download the entire audiobook for free at Christianaudio.com

Yup… FREE.

Christianaudio.com, you have done it again.

Of First Importance…

“If there’s anything in life that we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate about thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be.”

–C. J. Mahaney, from The Cross-Centered Life

Top-Down Theology

Pastor Mark Driscoll on maintaining a “Top-Down theology”…

Click On These [10/28]

I haven’t done one of these in a while. Here are a few clickable items that I’ve found recently on the blogosphere. They are worth your time.

Mark Dodd On Cheapening Grace vs. Celebrating It
Romans 8:28 states that “God works all things for the good of those who love Him.” This widely known verse has the tendency to be misused time and time again. My good friend Mark Dodd considers its biblical context. Read it.

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“Here I Stand” – Martin Luther Is Downloadable
April 18, 1521, was a huge turning point in Christian history, to say the very least. On this day, Martin Luther the great reformer of the Christian faith, stood before Roman officials and appealed in defense of the biblical gospel of grace that was under attack by the “Church” of his day. The famous speech he delivered, Here I Stand, marked the beginning of the Reformation… when the gospel of grace through Christ alone was rekindled by God throughout the land. You can download an audio re-enactment FREE until November 1st. Read my Luther mini-bio here.

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John Piper on God’s Sovereignty, Our Responsibility, and Studying Scripture
Both a sobering defense of a God who is sovereign and an encouragement to faithfully exercise our human responsibility– and all because He is a faithful God who completes every good work he began in his children. You will be humbled to trust and encouraged to act.

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ESV Study Bible Preview
I don’t know how long this website has been live; I’ve only been aware of it for a day. Lately, some people have asked me if I recommend a particular study bible (including one friend who’s a curious atheist… how rad is that?) Well, this is it :) Click on the link above to preview some of the rad features of the ESV Study Bible, along with publisher Crossway’s goal and vision for it. Highly recommended–hands down.

A Pastor and an Atheist Collide

FINALLY.

Tomorrow marks the release of Collision – the long-awaited documentary/debate between Reformed evangelical Pastor Doug Wilson and well-known atheist/author Christopher Hitchens.

Hitchens, who prefers the label “anti-theist” is known for his strong assertions that religion and Christianity are “bad for the world.” He, along with fellow atheists Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett have often been referred to as “The Four Horsemen”. He is the best-selling author of the book “God Is Not Great.”

Wilson is the pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, editor of Credenda/Agenda magazine, and a faculty member at New Saint Andrew’s College. A prolific writer and editor, he has also authored a few books himself, including Letter from a Christian Citizen, Reforming Marriage and Heaven Misplaced: Christ’s Kingdom on Earth.

(from the website…)

COLLISION carves a new path in documentary film-making as it pits leading atheist, political journalist and bestselling author Christopher Hitchens against fellow author, satirist and evangelical theologian Douglas Wilson, as they go on the road to exchange blows over the question: “Is Christianity Good for the World?”. The two contrarians laugh, confide and argue, in public and in private, as they journey through three cities. And the film captures it all. The result is a magnetic conflict, a character-driven narrative that sparkles cinematically with a perfect match of arresting personalities and intellectual rivalry. COLLISION is directed by prolific independent filmmaker Darren Doane.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER… looks good.

Global Warming Protest

bahahahahahahahaha

HT:  @challies (Tim Challies)

For L(OC)als Only… PHIL WICKHAM tonight!

Phil Wickham is playing tonight in San Juan Capistrano, promoting the upcoming release of his new album, Heaven & Earth (out November 17).

Perhaps I’ll see some of you there…

A couple videos to whet the appetite:

True Love (from the 2007 album Cannons):

Heaven (from the upcoming album Heaven & Earth):

Your Highest Treasure

“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8)

Watch this: