#D.A. Carson

[pastorhogg]

Sent Among Wolves

A Day in the Life of Jesus In Matthew 10:16–23, Jesus offers His disciples not comfort, but clarity. He does not sugarcoat the road ahead. Instead, He paints a stark picture: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” It’s an arresting metaphor—one that perfectly captures the vulnerability, tension, and danger that will accompany a life lived boldly for the kingdom of God. And yet, within…

[gospelborn]

The Best Arguments for Cessationism (Pt. 2)

This is part two of The Best Cessationist Arguments (See The Best Arguments for Continuationism) (More) Biblical Arguments First, when considering whether or not we should expect miracles, healings, and exorcisms to be performed today in the same way it was performed in the time of Jesus and the apostles, we should realize (1) how rare these kinds of miracles are in Scripture and (2) what…

[marvel-wlw-ah]

Perfection (Casey Novak x Alex Cabot)

A/N: Another day, another Calex fic :p But I am thinking of writing more than just Calex; what do you guys think?🤔 I have an idea for an Alex x reader fic that I want to make beautifully devastating and angsty, but it will probably be a bit lengthy, so stay tuned!

Warnings: 18+/ NSFW content ahead! Also brief-ish depictions of a fictional SVU case.

Word Count: 2.7k

Summary: Alex has always prided herself on maintaining her image of polished perfection, but with Casey, can she feel free to be herself?

Alex and Casey have been together for slightly over two months. And Alex is whipped.

Alex adores everything Casey does and still can’t quite get over how lucky she feels. Every day is a dream, and she never wants to wake up. Alexandra Cabot never imagined herself to be one to gush over anyone like a schoolgirl, but with Casey, all preconceived notions of what she wanted or what she deemed as reasonable behavior were thrown out the window.

Since they made things official, the couple has spent nearly every day (and many intimate nights) together. However, because both ADAs are swamped with complex, onerous cases, the pair have gone an entire week without being with one another for a meaningful amount of time. The most time that they’d share would be crossing paths in the D.A.’s office or quick, shared lunches.

The time apart was driving Alex mad.

She wondered how someone could become such a large, integral part of her life in such a short time. Alex had been trained to be pragmatic, strategic, and direct all her life. However, managing these feelings for the redheaded ADA is everything Alex has virtually zero experience with; as Alex soon realized, romantic attraction is practically the antithesis of pragmatic, strategic, and direct. She wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of such visceral, intense, unconditional infatuation.

Sure, Alex had been hit on and chased after in the past, but such advances only made her uncomfortable and caused her to scoff internally in disgust. Yet, strangely enough, with Casey, she felt content with allowing herself to open up and slowly began to embrace being loved.

It was a Friday night, and Alex was alone in her home office reviewing her closing speech for court tomorrow. Alex has been incessantly trying to perfect the delivery and impact of her argument.

Alex cared about this case the slightest bit more than previous ones. A schizophrenic man assaulted his girlfriend after being off his medication. The victim, Carrie, was in an immense state of denial and wanted to protect her boyfriend, Carson.

Carrie’s response was a mixture of fear of Carson and partial belief that Carson hadn’t done anything wrong. After assuring her that the days of coverture were long gone, Carrie started cooperating with the detectives.

Alex was very impassioned by this case. She wanted to ensure Carrie got justice while also handling the nuances of Carson’s mental health issues delicately. She was so determined to handle this situation as perfectly as possible because this case reminded her of Casey’s relationship with her schizophrenic ex-boyfriend, Charlie.

Alex was the one to be there for Casey when things with Charlie reached their climax a few years ago. Alex was the shoulder for Casey to cry on. Alex helped Casey heal.

It broke Alex’s heart to see the strong-witted, stubborn, sharp ADA reduced to an uncharacteristically insecure, shaken, and vulnerable mess.

At the time, Alex told herself that feeling so invested in Casey’s love life was normal and platonic.

She thought it was perfectly appropriate to feel so profoundly empathetic about her friend’s relationship to the point that Alex would spend several nights embracing Casey so tightly while the redhead slept that Alex could hear her breathing. She thought it was analogously appropriate to feel a slight bloom of warmth within herself whenever Casey would give Alex a slight squeeze in her sleep.

Of course, in hindsight, Alex knows her feelings for Casey were never truly platonic, but she never allowed herself to acknowledge that to prevent herself from getting hurt. It wasn’t until Casey kissed her during a movie night in Alex’s brownstone that she could even consider the possibility that Casey was attracted to her.

Just as Alex was fondly thinking about their first kiss, a sharp knock snapped her back to reality.

After the mild shock from the noise wore off, confusion took its place. No one ever comes to visit Alex. Well, no one besides-

“Allleeex, it’s me!” A cheerful, familiar voice called from the other side of the door.

With great haste, Alex got up and opened the door to reveal the redhead that was just occupying her mind.

“Hey, you,” Alex said, with a smile gracing her face. “What’re you doing here? I thought you needed to prep for court,” she asked as she ushered her lover inside.

“I decided I needed a break. I'm in desperate need of an ‘Alex-fix’ ,” Casey answered cheekily as she turned to face the blonde and leaned into her. She wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck, idly playing with the loose hairs that had gradually escaped Alex’s once-tight ponytail.

“And by the looks of it,” Casey started while turning her head to face the direction of Alex’s office, “you could use one too,” she said as she turned to face her lover once more, pressing a kiss to her lips.

Alex melted into the embrace and realized just how much she missed being around Casey.

Casey deepened the kiss and dipped her hands to rest at Alex’s waist. Alex sighed into the kiss before pulling away. “Casey, I really need to finish preparing for tomorrow.”

In response, Casey groaned hyperbolically before leaning forward once more to fling her arms around Alex’s shoulders, embracing Alex in a hug. She then quickly transferred her weight to push into Alex, essentially going limp around her lover’s shoulders.

Alex smiled at Casey’s dramatics and adjusted to support her weight. Alex then led them both to her couch. As soon as the blonde sat, Casey climbed on top of her, knees pressing into the cushions on either side of Alex's thighs, and draped herself over her like a warm, petulant blanket.

"Casey," Alex sighed, exasperated but not really annoyed. She tried to shift, but Casey's arms hung limply around her shoulders, a deliberate, heavy weight that kept her pinned in place.

"You put too much pressure on yourself, baby," Casey hummed. Though it’s not the first time Casey has called her that pet name, it still sent Alex reeling. “Plus, I have seriously been missing my Alex time."

Though she knew how much she’d been missing Casey as well, Alex really needed to practice more in order to feel confident in court.

Alex huffed, her hands hovering awkwardly in the air as she debated whether to push Casey off or give in to her antics. "Casey, you know I have court in the morning," she reminded her, voice firm but lacking real bite.

"And I have a girlfriend who's been neglecting me," Casey countered, pressing a quick, teasing kiss to Alex's jaw. "Guess which one of those feels more urgent right now?"

Alex sighed again, but this time, her hands settled on Casey's waist. "You're impossible," she muttered, though her fingers betrayed her, tracing small, absentminded circles against Casey's back.

Casey proceeded to plant kisses down Alex’s neck until she decided on returning to Alex’s lips. Casey kissed Alex with such fervor that made the blonde’s head spin. Casey slipped her tongue into Alex’s mouth, making her let out a mixture of a grunt and a moan.

Once again, Alex pulled away, contemplation written all over her face. Reading her mind, Casey said, “Alex, you need a break, and I guarantee you already have that entire speech memorized.”

It’s true; Alex already knew what she wanted to say and precisely how she wanted to say it. Most ADAs would’ve stopped and called it a night. But Alex, sometimes to a fault, was not like most ADAs; she needed to be perfect. She couldn’t let Carrie down, she couldn’t jeopardize the opportunity to get Carson help appropriately, she couldn’t-

“Please, baby,” Casey muttered against the skin of Alex’s neck, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Just let me take care of you.” And with that, Alex surrendered. How could she say no to a request like that?

Alex gave Casey a slight nod of her head, which prompted the enthusiastic redhead to gently tug Alex’s top off. Casey was met with a simple black bra that deliciously hugged the perfect peaks of Alex’s chest. The sight made Casey salivate.

She reached behind Alex to unclip the garment then proceeded to gently cup her breasts, admiring how the weight of them felt in her hands. Casey then rubbed her thumbs against her pebbling nipples; she loved watching Alex’s body react to her touch.

In an instant, Casey’s lips were on Alex’s skin once more, hastily kissing and sucking every inch of exposed flesh. Casey was touching and kissing Alex as though she was trying to perfectly map out every dip and curve of her lover.

“Lie down for me, baby,” Casey said as she climbed off of Alex. Alex complied by lying down with her head aligned with the couch’s armrest, shakily breathing with anticipation. No matter how many times the pair makes love, Alex will always feel a spur of excitement when she sees that hungry look in Casey’s eyes.

Casey lowers herself and reaches for the waistband of Alex’s pants. Then suddenly-

It hit her.

Alex remembered she hadn’t shaved.

Alex is always sure to be perfect for Casey and is entirely shaved anytime she anticipates sex with her. An old boyfriend of Alex’s told her how gross he thought it was whenever she wasn’t entirely clean-shaven, and ever since, it has been drilled into Alex to stay shaved for Casey in fear she would also think her hair is gross.

However, since they’d both been so busy and Alex wasn’t expecting to see Casey, she hadn’t prepared.

“Wait!” Alex stated a little louder than she intended to. Casey immediately pulled back and looked up at Alex with concern and fear lacing her face.

“Baby, what’s the matter?” Casey said hurriedly. Alex couldn’t decide what would be more embarrassing: letting Casey see her when she was indecent or practically shouting at Casey to stop.

Alex looked down, ashamed, and Casey, growing more worried by the second, asked again, “Alex? Are you okay? Did I do something?”

“No! No, God, no- I just,” Alex began to explain, “I just… haven’t shaved in a while.” Alex mumbled the last part of her sentence so quietly that Casey could hardly make out what she said despite no other noise being present.

“What, baby?” Casey asked with a gentle curiosity.

“I haven’t shaved, Casey. You know… down there,” Alex responded while gesturing towards her groin.

Casey lightly chuckled at the confession. Embarrassment and fear simultaneously ran through Alex’s body. Was she laughing at her?

Alex began to hastily cover herself with her discarded shirt from the ground and get up, but before she could push Casey off, the redhead stopped her with a firm grip on her legs. “Hey! Hey! Baby, hold on,” Casey said with mirth still evident in her voice. “Honey, I’m not laughing at you, I promise,” Casey said, more seriously but still maintaining a reassuring smile.

“I was laughing because it’s funny that you think there’s a problem with you not being shaved.” Casey calmly and earnestly said. Alex looked at Casey as though she had two heads. “Alex, I think you and everything associated with you is perfect. Body hair isn’t going to change that perception, silly.”

Still slightly red with embarrassment from the entire exchange, Alex finally made eye contact with Casey. The redhead’s smile widened at her lover’s gaze finally reaching her eyes. “Look, if you are uncomfortable and do not want me to touch you right now, of course I won’t. But if you don’t want me to touch you because you think I have a problem with your hair, please let me assure you, that is not the case.” Casey said with the utmost conviction.

“No, no I- trust me, I definitely want you; I want this,” Alex said while still feeling slightly insecure but more assured than before.

“Yeah?” Casey asked with a cheeky smile and a cheerful tilt to her voice, making it apparent that she was hoping Alex would say that.

“Yeah,” Alex responded, matching Casey’s smile.

With that, Casey propped herself up, planted both hands on either side of Alex’s head, and leaned in to capture her lips in a kiss. Casey then grabbed Alex’s shirt, allowing the garment to retake its place on the ground. It was as though Casey was trying to kiss away any doubt Alex had, and if that was her intention, it was working.

Casey worked her kisses down Alex’s body, and her hands came to rest on Alex’s waistband once again. After receiving a nod from the blonde, Casey gingerly pulled her pants and underwear down her legs and off her body to join Alex’s other clothes on the ground.

Casey was now face to face with Alex’s sex, which was lightly covered in cute, light brown pubic hair. Casey traced the natural flow of her hair in adoration and uttered, “You are absolutely perfect, Alexandra Cabot,” and proceeded to place a kiss on the hair present on her pubis mound. Alex flushed in a combination of fleeting yet ever-present shame, the feeling of being so vulnerable, and mere bashfulness at the compliment.

With her right thumb, Casey spread Alex’s slightly glistening folds, gathered the arousal from her entrance, and began to rub at Alex’s nub of pleasure. Alex let out a quiet whine from the stimulation. “That feel good, baby,” the redhead asked while lowering herself to suckle loving kisses into the flesh of Alex’s inner thigh.

“Yes, Casey,” Alex practically breathed out, the embarrassment from the past ordeal practically nonexistent; how could she be concerned with anything when she had her tantalizingly sexy girlfriend between her legs and touching her in all the right ways?

Casey lowered her right pointer and middle finger to Alex’s entrance, slowly inching their way inside of her. Casey was studying Alex’s face to search for any sign of discomfort to which so found none, in fact, quite the opposite. Alex’s chest bloomed at the thought that Casey was so careful with her and so attentive to ensure she was okay. Her girlfriend’s consideration only turned Alex on more.

Casey then stuck her left thumb up and moved it toward Alex. Getting the hint, Alex opened her mouth to allow Casey to collect her saliva on her digit. With that same thumb, she then started to draw quick, tight circles around Alex’s clit while still pumping mercilessly into her with her right hand.

“I love how you feel wrapped around me, baby,” Casey said adoringly, “This perfect little pussy wrapped around my fingers…” Casey muttered slightly absentmindedly, entirely absorbed in her lover. Alex flushed at the vulgar choice of words and felt the heat within her rise even further.

“Come on, baby- come for me,” Casey said, and that was all Alex needed to come undone around her fingers. With a high-pitched, girlish cry, Alex climaxed and swore she saw stars. Casey gently let her ride out her high before removing her fingers and leaning forward to kiss her girlfriend. Alex started to reach for the hem of Casey’s top so she could begin to undress her very-much-so-still-clothed body. But Casey reached for Alex’s hands, stopping her.

Alex pulled away from the kiss, looking puzzled. She was met with a kind smile from her lover. “Tonight is about me taking care of you, okay?” And before Alex could protest, Casey continued, “Let me run us a bath, order some food, and maybe we can watch a movie, yeah?”

God, what did I do to get so lucky, Alex wonders.

“Yeah, Case, that sounds perfect,” but as Casey stood to make her way toward the bathroom, Alex said, “Thank you, Casey. For everything.”

Casey sat back down next to Alex on the couch and planted a chaste kiss on her lips. “You never have to thank me for loving you.”

With that, she gave another peck to her lover’s lips and started to walk away.

Alex was used to being rigid and careful and calculated. But with Casey, she doesn't have to be the hard-ass, bitchy ADA Cabot. She knows it's more than okay just to be Alex. And knowing that brings more comfort than she’ll ever let the redhead know.

A/N: With every fic, my word count nearly much triples 😬 at this rate I will be writing 6 million words by my 10th fanfiction!!!!! (I think… I dont know- I’m a social science major, not a math major😓) Also this is not really proofread, sorry!

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

“Sometimes God blesses us by making us whole in the midst of abominable circumstances, instead of transforming circumstances." – D.A. Carson

[yieldfruit]

[Repentance] is not a merely intellectual change of mind or mere grief, still less doing penance, but a radical transformation of the entire person, a fundamental turnaround involving mind and action and including overtones of grief, which result in (spiritual) fruit.

D.A. Carson

[creativewaygrace]

D.A. Carson-The price of diluting God's wrath is diminishing God's Holiness.

[christophe76460]

EN REPONSE A LA QUESTION DU MINISTERE PASTORALE DES FEMMES.....

🎯 John Piper "Le ministère pastoral est un appel qui, selon les Écritures, est réservé aux hommes. Cela ne signifie pas que les femmes n'ont pas de rôle important, mais leur rôle est différent."

🎯 D.A. Carson "Le ministère pastoral implique un leadership qui, selon les Écritures, est réservé aux hommes. Le fait que les femmes puissent servir l'Église de nombreuses façons ne signifie pas qu'elles puissent exercer ce rôle spécifique."

🎯 Kevin DeYoung "Le ministère pastoral est un rôle qui exige une autorité particulière, et la Bible enseigne que cette autorité est réservée aux hommes. Cela ne signifie pas que les femmes ne peuvent pas être des leaders, mais leur leadership doit être exercé dans des domaines différents."

🎯 John MacArthur "La Bible est claire sur le fait que le rôle de pasteur est réservé aux hommes. Paul dit dans 1 Timothée 2.12 qu'il ne permet pas à une femme d'enseigner ou d'exercer une autorité sur un homme."

🎯 Wayne Grudem "Le ministère pastoral est un rôle d'autorité, et la Bible enseigne que les femmes ne doivent pas exercer cette autorité sur les hommes dans l'Église."

🎯 Albert Mohler "La question du ministère pastoral féminin ne peut pas être séparée de la question de l'autorité dans l'Église. Les Écritures sont claires sur le fait que les hommes sont appelés à diriger."

🎯 R.C. Sproul "La soumission des femmes dans l'Église est un principe fondamental qui ne doit pas être ignoré. Le ministère pastoral est un domaine où cette soumission doit être respectée."

🎯 J.I. Packer "La théologie féministe qui promeut le ministère pastoral des femmes déforme la compréhension de la Bible et de la nature de Dieu."

🎯 James Dobson "L'Église a toujours été dirigée par des hommes, et il n'y a aucune raison de changer cela. Le rôle de la femme est de soutenir l'homme et de l'aider dans son leadership."

🎯 Charles Spurgeon "Je crois fermement que la Bible interdit aux femmes d'occuper le poste de pasteur."

🎯 Andreas Köstenberger "L'interprétation littérale des Écritures nous montre clairement que le ministère pastoral est réservé aux hommes. La théologie féministe cherche à réinterpréter la Bible pour justifier ses positions, mais cela est dangereux et conduit à une distorsion du message biblique."

🎯 Al Mohler "Le ministère pastoral implique une autorité qui est incompatible avec le rôle de la femme tel que défini dans les Écritures. Les femmes ont un rôle précieux dans l'Église, mais ce rôle n'est pas celui de pasteur."

🎯 Ligon Duncan "L'ordre créationnel et l'autorité de la Parole de Dieu nous obligent à reconnaître que le ministère pastoral est un rôle réservé aux hommes."

🎯 John Piper "La Bible nous enseigne que les femmes ne doivent pas enseigner aux hommes ni exercer une autorité sur eux. Cela s'applique également au ministère pastoral."

🎯 Mark Driscoll "Le ministère pastoral est un rôle qui exige un leadership masculin. L'Église a toujours été dirigée par des hommes, et il n'y a aucune raison de changer cela."

[quoteoftheweekblog]

28/10/24 - OTHER READING OCTOBER

PHEW ...

THIS MONTH I ALSO READ

…

HALLOWE’EN PARTY

KENNETH BRANAGH’S 3rd POIROT A HAUNTING IN VENICE WAS INSPIRED BY THIS BUT IS NOTHING LIKE

THIS MONTH OUR MEMBERS ALSO READ OR ARE STILL READING …

TOP READER

…

THE GATHERING STORM

… the final Morland Dynasty book by Cynthia Harrod Eagles (so now I am in mourning for a series I loved!)

…

THE HOUSE KEEPERS

… strange but enjoyable.

…

DEATH IN THE LAST CARRIAGE

Very enjoyable.

…

CONCLAVE

Again. Love this book.

…

AT THE TABLE

Strange, ok, but wouldn’t say ‘you must read’!

…

THE SEVENTH SON

Really good.

…

THE STONE CIRCLE

… now re-reading.

📚📚📚📚📚

OTHER READERS

…

HUMAN TRACES

Very long and complicated, starts in the 1870s, two young medical students meet and pursue their early interest in psychiatry and treatment of patients in Asylums. It's very complicated and hard work to read.

…

JAMAICA INN

I've also read 'Jamaica Inn' by Daphne Du Maurer, much more violent than I remember it from long ago!

📚📚📚📚📚

…

MY NAME IS NATHAN LUCIUS

I’ve reread ‘My Name is Nathan Lucius’ by Mark Winkler which I think was a past book group read. I thoroughly enjoyed it again – a good insight into the mind of a killer.

…

NIGHTRUNNERS OF BENGAL

I’ve also started to re-read John Masters’ stories set in India which fit nicely with the book I read about the East India Company. (‘Nightrunners of Bengal’ first).  I do find him so easy to read with very wry observations on the English colonial society there.

📚📚📚📚📚

…

THE SONG OF ACHILLES

… a rollocking good read, if gory!

…

LOST FOR WORDS

Have we read it in book group?

THE OTHER HALF

…

FUNERAL IN BERLIN

… its an old book but a good read. A spy thriller.

📚📚📚📚📚

…

BASICS FOR BELIEVERS

I quite like reading books I would never choose for myself, maybe to get a perspective I'd never think of looking for.

This month my Evangelical friend lent me a book: ‘Basics for Believers’ by D.A. Carson. He is a co founder of ‘The Gospel Coalition’.

Of course it is full of all the forceful views you might expect.

Don't like it much, but do respect some of the ideas, and the ways they're expressed are interesting.

Will persevere as I want to say something vaguely sensible when my friend asks!

📚📚📚📚📚

OUR READER LEADER

…

JANE AND PRUDENCE

I have read ‘Jane and Prudence’ by Barbara Pym. This is a story about two close friends, although there is a considerable gap in age between them. Jane is married to a country vicar, while Prudence is still unmarried and lives and works in London.

Jane’s life is taken up by the events of village life, and Prudence’s by her various relationships. Barbara Pym’s novels are full of gentle humour, and she has the gift of making low key events seem full of interest and drama.

…

THE EDITOR’S WIFE

I am now reading ‘The Editor’s Wife’ by Clare Chambers. The narrator is a man, which I thought unusual for a woman author, but perhaps it is not so unusual. It is very readable and convincing, and I have no idea how it will end.

…

DEMON COPPERHEAD

I have read bit more of 'Demon Copperhead', but have had to put it aside again to read ‘The Secret Life of Bees’.

...

THE MEANING IN THE MIRACLES

I’m also still reading ‘The Meaning of the Miracles’ by Jeffrey John, but I only read a couple of chapters a month, as I discuss it with a friend in our monthly meetings.

📚📚📚📚📚

[fabioperes]

Carson sobre pastorado e ensino feminino | Pastor Rodrigo Mocellin D.A Carson e Tim Keller falam sobre pastorado feminino e pregacao feminina. -- Nosso canal abrange uma variedade de tópicos, desde análises políticas e sociais até reflexões sobre ética e moral à luz da tradição cristã. Acreditamos no poder da educação e do entendimento mútuo, buscando construir pontes entre diferentes perspectivas, sempre mantendo um compromisso com a verdade. -- • Redes Sociais Instagram: https://ift.tt/6YfS2ew Facebook: https://ift.tt/OaWlr94 -- • Minha livraria: https://shre.ink/ryR1 -- • Viagem para Israel Fale com a Fernanda: (11) 94397-3295 -- • CURSOS S£XUALIDADE CRISTÃ: https://shre.ink/ryRc Adquira e mude a história de sua família! A CULPA É DO MEU CORPO: https://ift.tt/yG197p4 CRIAÇÃO DOS FILHOS: https://ift.tt/fG4bseW Adquira e mude a história de sua família! HOMESCHOOLING AO ALCANCE DE TODOS: LINK: https://ift.tt/oIyAp2X Adquira e mude a história de sua família! • Telefone de contato para suporte dos cursos: 12 99243-0684 -- • Spotify e Youtube (Segunda e Sexta às 08h) -- • Contribua com a Igreja Resgatar CPNJ: 05.802.183/0001-82 Conta corrente: BRADESCO Agência: 415 C/c 78-7 CNPJ: 05.802.183/0001-82 Resgatar Igreja Evangélica de Guaratinguetá -- • Igreja Resgatar em Guaratinguetá Cultos: Domingo 9:30h e 19:30h e Quinta às 19:30 End: Av. Zacarias Jorge Boueri, 116 - Chácaras Selles, Guaratinguetá - SP via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkvWkL2jhyg

[biblebloodhound]

Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility (2 Samuel 8:1-18)

"God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility; it empowers us to live out God's purposes." D.A. Carson

In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him…

[pastorhogg]

Ordinary Callings, Extraordinary Missions

A Day in the Life of Jesus What kind of person does Jesus choose to carry His message? That question echoes in Matthew 10:1–15, where we encounter one of the earliest missionary movements in Scripture. Jesus, after calling the twelve by name, sends them out with power and purpose—but not as celebrities or scholars. He sends fishermen, tax collectors, political radicals, and everyday folks. The…

[doctodd]

The God of Wild Places

My mentor preached at my ordination service. He was the third preacher to preach in the service. When he stood to preach he said,

“I am the preacher who preaches after the preacher who preached after the preacher who has already preached.”

Knowing Rick, he made that observation during the service and thought it might be a moment of levity. It was.

I am the interviewer who interviewed after the interviewers who have already interviewed. But, I may have read the book before the interviewers who have already interviewed.

Last year Jason called and said, “Hey, would you want to make a trip to the Boundary Waters, BWCA, with Tony Jones?” “Sure.”

One of the prerequisites before arriving in Minneapolis was to read the pre-publication manuscript of The God of Wile Places. We would have conversations around the book over evening campfires or as we took turns paddling with Tony, our guide.

We cobbled together a group and last September we undertook a trip for which I thought I was prepared but was not. If you have never portaged a canoe over at least one portage trail of over 1000 feet of rock and mud, uphill then downhill, while carrying a 60lb pack, then you would not have been ready either. I had never portaged anything before.

And, I have never written a book and wondered how it would turn out. Friends liken it to birthing a baby though I would expect a mother or two would object. But, like birthing a baby, there is the working and waiting to see how your nurtured child fares as he or she grows.

I half apologized to Tony for the late arrival to the podcast marketing team.

“We are in month two.”

“Crickets,” he said.

The delay of this interview is not strategic. If Tony is counting on my little part of the Interwebs to rocket sales in month two, he will likely be sorely disappointed.

But you, dear reader and listener will not be.

Tony gives me about an hour to talk around his book. Yes, around and of course about. What I mean is that I want you to both listen to the interview, buy the book, and purchase the audiobook. I don’t want to give the book away to you in the interview.

If there is a teaser, this is it: If you must choose a format, go with the audio. There is nothing like hearing a person’s story in their voice. I don’t know which format produces more for the author, but you will thank me after listening.

Why? Like Tony, all of us have been pigeonholed for one decision or another, for one rumor or another, for one doctrinal position or another. Often without a conversation. For example, when D.A. Carson published the book, Becoming Conversant with Emergent but refused to have a conversation with those he condemned.

Take a listen.

For those still unsure, even demotivated by my little intro, let me give you this one: Tony may have headed into the woods but he has not left Jesus behind.

Check out this episode!

[talittleton]

The God of Wild Places

My mentor preached at my ordination service. He was the third preacher to preach in the service. When he stood to preach he said,

“I am the preacher who preaches after the preacher who preached after the preacher who has already preached.”

Knowing Rick, he made that observation during the service and thought it might be a moment of levity. It was.

I am the interviewer who interviewed after the interviewers who have already interviewed. But, I may have read the book before the interviewers who have already interviewed.

Last year Jason called and said, “Hey, would you want to make a trip to the Boundary Waters, BWCA, with Tony Jones?” “Sure.”

One of the prerequisites before arriving in Minneapolis was to read the pre-publication manuscript of The God of Wile Places. We would have conversations around the book over evening campfires or as we took turns paddling with Tony, our guide.

We cobbled together a group and last September we undertook a trip for which I thought I was prepared but was not. If you have never portaged a canoe over at least one portage trail of over 1000 feet of rock and mud, uphill then downhill, while carrying a 60lb pack, then you would not have been ready either. I had never portaged anything before.

And, I have never written a book and wondered how it would turn out. Friends liken it to birthing a baby though I would expect a mother or two would object. But, like birthing a baby, there is the working and waiting to see how your nurtured child fares as he or she grows.

I half apologized to Tony for the late arrival to the podcast marketing team.

“We are in month two.”

“Crickets,” he said.

The delay of this interview is not strategic. If Tony is counting on my little part of the Interwebs to rocket sales in month two, he will likely be sorely disappointed.

But you, dear reader and listener will not be.

Tony gives me about an hour to talk around his book. Yes, around and of course about. What I mean is that I want you to both listen to the interview, buy the book, and purchase the audiobook. I don’t want to give the book away to you in the interview.

If there is a teaser, this is it: If you must choose a format, go with the audio. There is nothing like hearing a person’s story in their voice. I don’t know which format produces more for the author, but you will thank me after listening.

Why? Like Tony, all of us have been pigeonholed for one decision or another, for one rumor or another, for one doctrinal position or another. Often without a conversation. For example, when D.A. Carson published the book, Becoming Conversant with Emergent but refused to have a conversation with those he condemned.

Take a listen.

For those still unsure, even demotivated by my little intro, let me give you this one: Tony may have headed into the woods but he has not left Jesus behind.

Check out this episode!

[mstexalicious1961]

Quote of the Day

The person who prays more in public than in private reveals that he is less interested in God’s approval than in human praise. Not piety but a reputation for piety is his concern.

Author: D.A. Carson

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

"On the one hand, [we] are called to abandon bitterness, to be forbearing, to have a forgiving stance even where the repentance of the offending party is conspicuous by its absence; on the other hand, their God-centered passion for justice, their concerns for God’s glory, ensure that the awful odium of sin is not glossed over." – D.A. Carson

[livingleft]

We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.

D.A. Carson, For the Love of God