Brian G. Hedges's Blog, page 13
October 29, 2012
Something Better than Control
One day several years ago, I was wasting too much time on Facebook and took one of those silly psychological profile tests called “Which Cartoon Character Are You?” Cartoon characters are evidently great stereotypes for the different kinds of temperaments and personalities. So, I took the test.
I wish I hadn’t.
Because guess which cartoon character I am? Not the lovable Mickey Mouse. Not
I wish I hadn’t.
Because guess which cartoon character I am? Not the lovable Mickey Mouse. Not
September 25, 2012
Preachers and Their Critics
You'll build a great church, pastor, if you ever learn how to communicate.
Listening to that sermon was like drinking from a fire hydrant.
I'm so disappointed! I wanted you to give God all the glory. And you missed it!
Your preaching is too intellectual.
Your preaching is too practical.
You don't talk enough about social justice.
You talk about social justice too much.
Your
Listening to that sermon was like drinking from a fire hydrant.
I'm so disappointed! I wanted you to give God all the glory. And you missed it!
Your preaching is too intellectual.
Your preaching is too practical.
You don't talk enough about social justice.
You talk about social justice too much.
Your
September 11, 2012
Exterminating the Pests in Your Life
I recently had to call the exterminator. My father-in-law was visiting and thought he spotted termites. I tried not to panic, hoped insurance would cover the costs, and had someone come inspect the house. Thankfully, no termites. That was the good news. The bad news is that we do have carpenter ants. And, based on this fella's look in our crawl space, a few mice to boot. When I got home that
September 9, 2012
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles
September 7, 2012
Justification: The Best News in the World!
The doctrine of justification is the best news in the world. Justification is not intended for debate, but to fuel the fires of worship and joy that burn deep within our hearts. Sure, sometimes debate is necessary. Paul wrote Galatians to defend the truth that we are justified by faith in Christ alone and not by works of the law. But polemics are not the end; they are a means to the end. The
August 29, 2012
Great Forgiveness for Great Sin
by Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” —Ephesians 1:7
Sinner, if you trust in Christ, He will forgive you the blackest sin into which you have ever fallen. If—God grant that it may not be true!—the crime of murder should be on your conscience, if adultery and fornication should have
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” —Ephesians 1:7
Sinner, if you trust in Christ, He will forgive you the blackest sin into which you have ever fallen. If—God grant that it may not be true!—the crime of murder should be on your conscience, if adultery and fornication should have
August 2, 2012
Are You Thirsty?
Human beings are thirsty, but not for water. The thirst we long to quench is deeper, arising from the parched places of the soul, the cracked earth of our barren hearts. We feel disoriented and dissatisfied with life. Lost and confused, we crave something more, though we know not what.
These feelings come in a variety of ways, along many different paths. Sometimes it's relational: the ache of
These feelings come in a variety of ways, along many different paths. Sometimes it's relational: the ache of
June 25, 2012
Rescue Your Prayer Life
What does the doctrine of the Trinity have to do with the practice of prayer? Well, the Trinity is something that all Christians believe, but often find difficult to understand, much less explain. And prayer is something that all Christians do, but rarely practice with the consistency and delight they know they should. In the realms of Christian doctrine, the Trinity ranks among the most
June 20, 2012
A Double Grace: John Calvin on Justification and Sanctification
John Calvin, the sixteenth-century Reformer of Geneva, is probably talked about more often than he is read. This is unfortunate. Christian readers who are willing to risk his Institutes of the Christian Religion will discover a treasury of Christ-centered theology that is precise in exegesis and lyrical in expression.
Calvin may be at his most helpful in Book III of the Institutes, on “The Way
Calvin may be at his most helpful in Book III of the Institutes, on “The Way
April 26, 2012
Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything by Steve DeWitt (Book Review)
[This review was written for The Gospel Coalition.]
Over sixteen centuries ago a North African pastor, reflecting on his conversion from the idolatry of created things to worshiping the Living God himself, confessed:
Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new,
late have I loved you!
Lo, you were within,
but I outside, seeking there for you,
and upon the shapely things you have made
Over sixteen centuries ago a North African pastor, reflecting on his conversion from the idolatry of created things to worshiping the Living God himself, confessed:
Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new,
late have I loved you!
Lo, you were within,
but I outside, seeking there for you,
and upon the shapely things you have made
