Quotables from John Stott’s “The Cross of Christ”: Concerning (1) the value of God’s cross-love, (2) the forgiveness of sins exclusive to Christianity, (3) Christian sacrifices, (4) Pride, (5) the Cross and Discipleship, (6) the Cross and Mission, (7) the Cross and Change through Suffering, and (8) the God who identifies with us in our Suffering

1.  On the cross and the value of God’s love: The value of a love-gift is assessed both by what it costs the giver and by the degree to which the recipient may be held to deserve it.  A young man who is in love, for example, will give his beloved expensive presents, often beyond [...]

Divine Revelation Fundamental to Suffering Well: Insights for Contemporary Counseling from the Book of Job

From the introduction (paper posted under “Other Writings” tab above): “The thesis of this paper is that divine revelation is fundamental to that true transformation of the individual, the appeasement of that troubled soul when it gazes upon the sovereign wisdom and power of God displayed therein.  If the righteous sufferer is to be comforted [...]

Notes on the Book of Job (With an Eye to Biblical Counseling)

The opening paragraph to my notes (just placed in “Other Writings” tab above): “What follows are the notes that I took as I read through the book of Job.  As it was with the purpose of gaining insights for biblical counseling from the book of Job, the notes are slanted that way.  I hope that [...]

Praying Imprecatory Psalms: Weeping and Rejoicing Over the Same Event

It has often been wondered in our soft American culture if and how Christians should pray imprecatory prayers in light of Christ’s command to love our enemies.  In this blog post, John Piper answers “yes.”  I agree!

Suffering in God’s Economy Not Arbitrary: The Counsel of Elihu

This is another sermon, technically entitled “Job: Rebuked in Suffering”, from John Piper in 1985.  In it, he does at least two things, I think – he shows that suffering is not arbitrary, not retributive or punitive, but rather, purposeful, sanctifying, and, ultimately, curative or healing.  That is all one thing!  Secondly, there is a [...]

Q and A with the Puritan Thomas Watson (1620-1686) on Patience in Suffering

Question: How shall I get my heart tuned to a patient mood? Answer: Get faith; all our impatience proceeds from unbelief.  Faith is the breeder of patience.  When a storm of passion begins to arise, faith says to the heart, as Christ did to the sea, ‘Peace, be still’, and there is at once a [...]