The Redemption Blog

Top 8 of 2008...

Provided I finish about 30 pages in my final book today, I will have read 40 books in 2008! Last week I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, so I'm glad I got it finished. Some were large and some were small. Some were great and some not so great. Many made me think and a few made me mad, all in all I think it was a well read year for me and the year to come will be no different.

All that being said, here are my top 8 books of 2008:

8. Twilight

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Subject: Vampires :-)

Purchase Book

7. Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God

Author: C.J. Mahaney

Subject: Marriage and Sex

Purchase Book

6. When Sinners Say "I Do"

Author: Dave Harvey

Subject: Marriage

Purchase Book

5. Christ-Centered Preaching

Author: Bryan Chapell

Subject: Preaching

Purchase Book

4. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

Author: Mark Dever

Subject: Ecclesiology

Purchase Book

3. The Reason for God

Author: Timothy Keller

Subject: Apologetics

Purchase Book

2. Chosen By God

Author: R.C. Sproul

Subject: Soteriology

Purchase Book

1. Vintage Jesus

Author: Mark Driscoll

Subject: Christology

Purchase Book

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Under the Weather

All the Huguley's have a cold!! Pray for us!

Books, Books, Books...

Those of you who know me, know I love to read. One of the things I resolved to do in 2008 was read 40+ books which as of tomorrow I believe I will have completed! I have been coming across lots of posts about reading and books, so this week all my posting will be centering around books. Here's what I want to cover this week:

Tomorrow - My top reads of 2008
Thursday - My 20 for 2009
Friday - Reading links

Check back tomorrow for my favorite books of 2008, as well as my favorite place to purchase books...

What did you read this year?

Rockin' the flock

This Christmas Eve I find myself sitting in the green room at Willow Creek McHenry. I'm playing guitar for all four services and it's been a blast so far...one down and four to go...

Warren on CNN...

I don't know if you have been paying attention to this, but I think Warren has done a great job of speaking the TRUTH with courage concerning God's plan for marriage. Here is a debate that took place on CNN concerning this discussion and I think it is ridiculous that Warren is being called a bigot by the gay community simply because he has spoken out against gay marriage. He has not spoken out against gay people, but has simply defended the Bible's teaching concerning God's plan for marriage. There is a huge difference between speaking out against a lifestyle and speaking out against a community of people. The lady in the interview compares it to when the church condoned slavery which is totally different. No one is saying that gay couples should have no rights as human beings, they are simply defending the sanctity of marriage as being between one man and one woman.Warren has an incredible voice of influence and we should pray for him as he walks through challenging time.

Humility...

"Humility is so shy. If you begin talking about it, it leaves"

-Tim Keller

Links...

Here's what I've been reading this week!

• C.J. Mahaney on Procrastination

• Mark Driscoll on Silence

• Tim Keller on the Gospel

• Rick Warren Questions

• The Art of Manliness: Balancing Work and Family

More on Acts 29...

I'm not sure if I have posted this before, but this is Mark Driscoll talking about what Acts 29 is looking for in their church planters. This is what I'll be assessed on so pray for me...

 

MacDonald on Reaching Men...

At Redemption we hold a "Complementarian" doctrinal position when it comes to both marriage and ministry. Yesterday I came across a short, but great summary of what this means and the impact that it has on the church...

Agenda...

Tami and I went to Harvest Bible Chapel in Crystal Lake yesterday for church and Pastor James MacDonald spoke out of 1 John 5. Something he said really stuck with me so I thought I'd throw it up here...

1 John 5:1 says, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him."  This is one of those verses that trumps that "I love God, I just can't stand God's people" attitude. I held this opinion for a long time before the Holy Spirit convicted me through verses like this one.  It's pretty strait forward that if we truly love God we will love God's people. So, if I'm struggling to love God's people it may be revealing a bigger issue in my relationship with God.

Than Pastor James said something that spoke to me. He said when it comes to living in gospel-centered relationships "the most loving thing I can do is push God's agenda in your life." Sometimes loving will mean encouraging, but sometimes loving will mean confronting and speaking truth in love. I have no problem standing in front of a group of people talking about sin and confronting issues, but when I get one on one with someone it gets much harder for me to speak truth into individual lives. I have been asking God to give me the courage and clarity of thought to grow in this area and this was a great challenge for me.

The most loving thing I can do is push God's agenda in your life...