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Attempts to Fill Voids (HT: Christ is Deeper Still)
I’m really enjoying the quotes that keep being posted over at Christ is Deeper Still. It’s become an almost-daily read for me and this one is a good example of why: “All sins are attempts to fill voids. We might try to fill the voids we so deeply feel by doing bad things or by doing good things. When we salve the ache in our hearts, which only God himself can satisfy, by doing good things, we then feel proud and think God owes us and we get angry when he doesn’t fork over. When we salve the ache within by doing bad things, we feel shamed and think God…
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No trouble believing that this grace is for YOU …
Yesterday, I was blessed to spend time with a precious, real, friend. (“Real” in that, she is seeing more and more of the ugliness of my heart and life—and not pulling back, not rejecting me. Isn’t that a real friend?) As we closed our time together, I was struggling a bit with shame and embarrassment over some past sins that continue to haunt me. (When I think about them, I cringe. When I think about some of the ramifications, I lower my eyes and want to hide my face in shame.) And my friend comforted me with only a few words, as she reminded me of some of the struggles…
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Better than we dare to dream …
Just one more quote from Dr. Dan Doriani’s fantastic book, Putting the Truth to Work: The Theory and Practice of Biblical Application: “Pastors need integrity, but we never have enough integrity to merit the trust of our auditors. I think again of the four aspects of application—duty, character, goals, and vision—and rue our perversion of all four. Duties? We fail to discharge them, but when we do, we bloat with self-righteousness. Character? We fail to appropriate the new nature we have in Christ, but when we do, we puff with pride at our virtue. Goals? We dissipate our energies in the ephemeral and frivolous. Then, when we do find…
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Putting the Truth to Work (by Dan Doriani)
I’ve been greatly enjoying my re-read this week of Dr. Dan Doriani’s wonderful book, Putting the Truth to Work: The Theory and Practice of Biblical Application. If you’ve ever wondered about how to interpret and apply certain “difficult” passages of Scripture, I commend this scholarly-level, yet imminently readable book to you. It is fantastic (and I continue to be a Dr. Doriani junkie! totally makes me wish I could go to seminary one day …). I could quote the entire work to you, but let me tempt you with just two excerpts from Chapter 12 (“Christ-Centered Application”) and Chapter 11 (“Issues in Application of Ethical Texts” — this chapter is…
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Encourage One Another
Yesterday I received some, well, inconvenient news. So rather than indulging an incredibly-low-energy day, I had to work. Hard. And BOY was my heart grumpy about it—at least initially. But then, thankfully, the Lord helped me to repent. He reminded me of certain teachings from Pastor Bryce’s sermon. He reminded me of who I was and (even more importantly) Who He was. I began to thank Him for feeding me with the bread and the wine during the Lord’s Supper. And rather than grouse around, I began to look for ways to encourage. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,…
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Technology Break
We’re having a wonderful time with our dearest friends, the Lyndes, here in Townsend, Montana. No high speed internet connection in this (beautiful) little town of 1,500. So this will be the only time I’m online today. But I thought I’d share some photos of our time together and wish you all a blessed Friday! With joy, Tara B. PS TJ’s ebay sales really slow down in the summer, so if you’re interested in scooping up some gorgeous paintings for Christmas gifts or just for your own home at AMAZINGLY LOW prices, I encourage you to check out his current listings. (I’m actually posting this from his studio and I…
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Just Ordered Pastor Anyabwile’s New Book!
I am so excited that Pastor Anyabwile’s book will soon be released and is being offered now for a pre-publication (50% off!) discount: May We Meet in the Heavenly World: The Piety of Lemuel Haynes I hope that you will take advantage of this offer. I bet it will be among the best $5 you spend all year. (Can’t believe it’s only $5!) We’re off to the pool now— Blessings and joy, Tara B.
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Pastor and Mrs. Thabiti Anyabwile are watching “Living the Gospel in Relationships”
Well, this is just one of those things that makes me shake my head in wonder … One of my favorite churchmen, Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile, and his beloved wife are watching my video series (“Living the Gospel in Relationships”) and he is blogging about their discussions related to the series: The Gospel and Peacemaking Women Of course, one thing I know FOR SURE is that these two saints won’t possibly LEARN anything from the series—all I ever do is repeat back what people like them have taught me in the church over the years. But what an honor it is to benefit from their reflections and learn from them as…
