Showing posts with label Miller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miller. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Ted Kluck on Cynicism and Sin

"Cynicism is described accurately by Paul Miller in A Praying Life: 'Shattered optimism sets us up for the fall into defeated weariness and, eventually, cynicism. You'd think it would just leave us less optimistic, but as humans we don't do neutral well. We go from seeing the bright side of everything to seeing the dark side of everything. We feel betrayed by life.'

"And when we feel betrayed by life--and God--sin usually follows. We sin because we fundamentally distrust that God's plan will be enough to bring us the happiness (or esteem or comfort) that we crave the most. So we look to the world to provide those things. And many times, from Christians, we're just implored to 'sin less.' We buy the forty-ninth Internet filter for our computers, or take on our fifth accountability partner. Those things, mind you, are good and helpful. But like John Piper asserts in Future Grace, we must replace the sin with something greater."

Ted Kluck
Finding God in the Dark

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Desiring God Pastors' Conference Audio

One of the great blessings of living in the 21st century is the vast array of wonderful biblical teachers alive today. Another one of the great blessings is the fact that with the advent of the internet, much of this great teaching is readily available to us at any given time.

This week, Desiring God Ministries held their annual pastors' conference, and while I was not able to attend, I am able to listen to each one of the messages, as DG has made them available online.  I've already commented briefly on Francis Chan's message which I took in Tuesday.  The Speaker Panel Q&A was good throughout, with moments of brutal honesty and profound brilliance.  I look forward to hearing the rest of the messages.  Here are the links to them all:
Session One: Joel Beeke, "Cultivating Private Prayer as a Pastor"
Session Two: Paul Miller, "Helping Your People Discover the Praying Life"
Session Three: Francis Chan, "Prayer as a Way of Walking in Love: A Personal Journey"
Session Four: John Piper, "Robert Murray M'Cheyne"
Session Five: Joel Beeke, "Leading Family Worship"
Session Six: Jerry Rankin, "Unreached Peoples and the Power of Prayer"
Session Seven: Speaker Panel Q and A