Book Reviews, Culture, Identity
John Beeson
Who Am I? Contrasting the Modern and Biblical ...

Our culture is certain that its worldview bestows ultimate dignity upon the individual. After all, what could grant more dignity than one choosing one’s own identity? What more could we ask for than to declare who we are and be affirmed for that choice?

Meanwhile, our culture would have us believe that what the Bible says about who we are ought to cause us to blush.

But we need to shrink back. The Bible’s explanation of who we are grants us far more dignity than the autonomous vision of the West.

Who Am I? Contrasting the Modern and Biblical Visions of the Self
Recommendations, Forgiveness, Faith, Family, Identity, Nature, Parenting, Wisdom
John Beeson
This Week's Recommendations

  1. When fear dresses up like help: Loads of parenting wisdom packed into this post from Stacy MacLaren, “He was not only trying to become his own person. He was also trying to do that without hurting me. And at some point, I think he realized that in order to do the next right thing, he was going to hurt me no matter what.”

  2. Stop keeping score: Andrew Noble says, “Envy is at the root of modern comparison games. When someone does a good moral act toward us, such as paying our bill, driving our kids, or folding our laundry, we should receive and enjoy their good gifts.

This Week's Recommendations
Church, Faith, Religion
John Beeson
Why We Don't Trust Pastors

Americans have spoken. We don’t trust pastors. A recent Gallup survey found that only 27% of Americans ranked pastors as “high” or “very high” regarding their honesty and ethical standards. We are outpaced by accountants, bankers, and mechanics with those in the military or medical professions more than doubling our score. Twenty years ago, pastors were ranked among the very highest.  Why the shift?

Over the past two decades, there has been a steady flow of news that has exposed leaders and institutions for sexual scandals and power abuses.  Thus, this shift as disheartening as it is, is not very surprising.

Why We Don't Trust Pastors
Apologetics, Biblical Studies, Faith, Hell
John Beeson
Workers of Lawlessness

Have you ever struggled wondering if your salvation is secure? Has anyone ever come to you wrestling with whether or not they are saved? How secure should we be in our salvation? It depends.

One of the most disturbing passages in all of Scripture comes at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus warns,

 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name….”

Workers of Lawlessness
Recommendations, Christian Living, Consumerism, Faith, Spiritual Growth
John Beeson
This Week's Recommendations

  1. Why so many Christians never grow up: Christopher Cook says, “Sound doctrine without obedience leads to intellectual pride. Obedience without truth leads to misguided zeal. Community without truth becomes sentimentality. Truth without love becomes harshness. But when truth, obedience, and love converge under the authority of Christ, something remarkable begins to happen: believers begin to grow up.”

  2. Spaghetti again: Andrea Sanborn reflects on the faithful life in the mundane. S

This Week's Recommendations

Book reviews

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Who Am I? Contrasting the Modern and Biblical Visions of the Self

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Who Am I? Contrasting the Modern and Biblical Visions of the Self

Our culture is certain that its worldview bestows ultimate dignity upon the individual. After all, what could grant more dignity than one choosing one’s own identity? What more could we ask for than to declare who we are and be affirmed for that choice?

Meanwhile, our culture would have us believe that what the Bible says about who we are ought to cause us to blush.

But we need to shrink back. The Bible’s explanation of who we are grants us far more dignity than the autonomous vision of the West.

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What I Read in 2023 (and perhaps some books you might want to read in 2024)

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What I Read in 2023 (and perhaps some books you might want to read in 2024)

This year, Angel and I celebrated the release of our first book, Trading Faces. Any author knows how much of their heart they pour into writing and the blessing it is to have people interact with what you’ve crafted on the page. We’ve been so encouraged by those who have written us to share ways the book has impacted them. Laboring over the art of writing has made me a more charitable reader. I know how easy it is for my writing to become aimless, for ideas in my mind to become muddled on the page.

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Spring Reads

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Spring Reads

Have you read any good books this year? I’ve read a number of excellent books so far this year: from novels to books on Christian living.

With the hustle and bustle of Easter behind us, perhaps you might be looking to pick up a good book.

Here are a few of my recommendations that I’ve recently read:

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