In the last month this blog had visitors from all 50 States and from 110 countries around the world. I hope all the international readers will forgive me then for wishing all those in the USA a very happy Thanksgiving Day.

This Thanksgiving I am especially thankful for life and health, and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

(1) This last Tuesday Dr. James White conducted a 2.5 hour online course in Christology for Christians: A Study of the History and Theology of the Person of Christ. It was outstanding. If you have not already listened in I would encourage you to Ligonier has some SUPER deals today in this week’s $5 Friday sale. The book by Sinclair Ferguson “Christ Alone” is especially recommended as is the CD series on the life of David by Dr. Sproul. The online sale starts at 8 a.m. EST and goes on for 24 hours or until items are sold out. remember that for any purchase at Ligonier, click on the green Ligonier Ministries image to the right and when placing an order, use the code “EGRACE10” and it will give you a 10% discount as a reader of this blog.

(3) I encourage you to check out the Reformation apparel by clicking on the Missionalwear logo to the right. There are some very cool items that have now become available for both men and women.

(4) Roman Catholic apologists (defenders of the Roman Catholic faith) have often claimed that there are no answers to their many questions. One such person, Steve Ray, asked 52 questions. Here are answers, for those who are interested.

“Much will be said… about this entrepreneurial genius. From a spiritual perspective, this much can be said with certainty: Steve Jobs, created in the image of God, was a remarkable example of God’s common grace in his aesthetics and creativity and productivity. And we can all hope that in his final days, this recipient of so much common grace found rest in God’s sovereign saving grace.” – Justin Taylor

“It’s not “man worship” to understand and appreciate the incredible contributions that one man can make to his society and the world. Steve Jobs changed our world at it’s fulcrum…communication.” – Michael Newnham

“This country is made great by those who personify the American Dream; Steve Jobs gave us new ways with which to dream.” Herman Cain

“Steve Jobs was an American original – courageous, determined, creative, willing to take on the establishment – he will be missed.” – Newt Gingrich

Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life’s setbacks – including death itself – at Stanford University’s 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.

Its a truly remarkable and inspiring speech.

Of course, as inspiring as the speech was, there is always going to be something missing if Christ and His Gospel are left out, as this article makes clear.

The article I posted here by Nathan Busenitz on Saturday (September 24) has now been updated. It used to contain 20 quotes; now there are 30, and very importantly, now it includes the source references. Many thanks to Nathan for making this excellent article even better.

(1) Please pray for a very good friend of mine, Pastor Graeme Adams, in Dundee, Scotland, who was recently rushed to hospital because of chest pains. The doctors have so far eliminated the idea of him having had a heart attack, but so far they have not determined the cause, though it could well be stress related. He is back home now but is very weak and tired. Please pray for Pastor Graeme and his wife Rhonda, their two sons, and for the precious Church he pastors.
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(1) Nothing short of Miraculous: Thank you to all who have been praying for my friend Jim. He was dead for a full 18 minutes last month after a heart attack (before being revived) and is due to leave the recovery care facility to come home in the next few days. We give thanks to God for prolonging Jim’s life (not many people have come back from such a condition) and yet we do covet your prayers for the remaining health issues to be resolved.

(2) India Outreach: I’ve been encouraged to repost this (below) to keep people aware of both the vision and the current need. I do so here as it is a very exciting project.

Romans 10: 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Its taken three weeks for my good friend, Indian Pastor Pappy Daniel to find the best possible deal, but as promised, here’s an update on the Gospel tract printing costs.

You may remember we provided 10,000 copies of the Gospel tract I wrote “The Thief on the Cross” in the Malayalam language which were handed out to people in the state of Kerala at Easter time. The response and feedback to this very clear gospel presentation has been so encouraging that we made a tentative inquiry to find out how much it would cost for 100,000 tracts to be printed.

Whereas the cost for 10,000 tracts was approximately $400 USA Dollars, the cost for 100,000 tracts will be $2,600.00. This is the full cost, which includes paper, printing, shipping and distribution handling costs. As you can see, there is a substantial savings (per tract) when there is a larger quantity being printed.

Perhaps this Gospel outreach is something you or your church might like to get behind and support. If so, just write to me and I will give you further details. I will keep this article updated to show the amount that has come in for this specific venture (below).

Goal: $2,600.00

Amount received (as of 7/29/11): $200.00

(3) Ligonier has some great deals today on some excellent material in this week’s $5 Friday sale starting at 8 am EST here. I especially recommend Dr. Sproul’s book “The Prayer of the Lord” in hardcover at the $5 price. Some might even think about ordering multiple copies to give away.

Remember, if you decide to purchase material, you can claim a further 10% discount on these and on ALL Ligonier products as a reader of this blog by using the coupon code: EGRACE10

(4) Reformed charismatic? After pointing people towards one of my articles, someone wrote, “Personally, I think “Reformed Charismatic” is an oxymoron, something akin to “Jumbo Shrimp” or “Virtual Reality.”

I responded, “If Romans 9-11 and 1 Cor 12-14 are anything to go by, the Apostle Paul, speaking anachronistically and using today’s lingo, would have been considered a reformed charismatic. He believed in God’s sovereignty and he believed in the gifts of the Spirit – right? You happen to believe 1 Cor 12-14 no longer applies as all the gifts ceased some time back (and I would disagree, of course) but its fair to say that at least in his lifetime, Paul certainly saw no conflict between the two concepts.”

Something to think about at least.

For more of a discussion of these issues, you might wish to check out the pneumatology section of the site here.

(5) Concerning Creeds and Statements of Faith:

Dr. John Stott died earlier today at the age of 90. His preaching, teaching and writing ministry was hugely influential. He has left us a lasting legacy.

Warren Wiersbe is reported to have said, “if John Stott wrote a grocery list, I would buy it.” That is something of the measure of Stott’s gifting. He wrote more than 50 books, three of which have had a great impact on me: “Basic Christianity” which he wrote at the age of 37 and which has sold over 2.5 million copies, “the Cross of Christ,” about which J. I. Packer says, “No other treatment of this supreme subject says so much, so truly and so well” and his remarkable book on preaching, “Between Two Worlds.”

Regarding preaching, here is one of his quotes, ““It requires much study, as we shall see later, not only of God’s Word but of man’s nature and of the world in which he lives. The expository preacher is a bridge builder, seeking to span the gulf between the Word of God and the mind of man. He must do his utmost to interpret the Scripture so accurately and plainly, and to apply it so forcefully, that the truth crosses the bridge” (The Preacher’s Portrait, 28).

Its fair to say that I do lament Stott’s view on eternal punishment, yet today, I pause to say “thank you, Lord, for the life and legacy of John R. W. Stott – man of God and bridge builder.”

Teepeeing: The act of throwing rolls upon rolls of toilet paper over/around/in trees, on cars, over the house, and on the lawn. This is often done by minors towards their friends, neighbors, or acquaintances.

Yep, just spent the last hour in the hot Arizona sun taking down reams of toilet paper from the trees, the car, and the house.

Who did the dirty deed?

We don’t know but my son suspects it was a local Arminian trying to stop me blogging.

Two big clues: (1) No one else in the neighborhood was hit. Only the reformed guy’s house. (2) To get toilet paper that high (20-25 feet) into the trees requires a whole lot of synergism.

Didn’t Jesus say something about this? Like, “whoever leaves home or country or gets teepeed for My sake, His reward is GREAT in the kingdom of God.” He said something like that, right???

Whoever did it left behind two thirds of a roll in one of the trees, so in spite of the ordeal, the Lord has provided. 🙂

(1) Update: Thank you so much for your prayers. My good friend Jim was released from hospital yesterday to start rehab at a care facility in Sun City, Arizona. It was great to see him in this new environment as it speaks volumes as to the amazing progress he has made. I took my children out there to visit him last night and they were so happy to see him too.

He is a miracle man – we’ve now been told he was dead for a full 18 minutes. I have spoken to a number of nurses/doctors and none of them know of anyone who has come back from that. PLEASE keep praying though for Jim’s heart, liver, kidneys, blood clot in the arm, recovery from skin graft surgery, etc. He is still not completely out of danger.

Apparently, his daughter Alisa is also currently experiencing some nightmares, having been present in the hospital when her father died. Please keep her in your prayers too.

(2) Quote from Dr. John Piper – The Supremacy of God in Preaching:
“People are starving for the greatness of God. But most of them would not give this diagnosis of their troubled lives. The majesty of God is an unknown cure. There are far more popular prescriptions on the market, but the benefit of any other remedy is brief and shallow. Preaching that does not have the aroma of God’s greatness may entertain for a season, but it will not touch the hidden cry of the soul: “Show me Your glory!”

The greatness and the glory of God are relevant. It does not matter if surveys turn up a list of perceived needs that does not include the supreme greatness of the sovereign God of grace. That is the deepest need. People are starving for God. People need to hear God-entranced preaching. They need someone, at least once a week, to lift up his voice and magnify the supremacy of God. They need to behold the whole panorama of His excelencies! It is not the job of the Christian preacher to give people moral or psychological pep talks about how to get along in the world; someone else can do that. What people need is for someone to tell them, week in and week out, about the supreme beauty and majesty of God.”

(3) A reminder about the importance of personal prayer from Alistair Begg:

“Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.” – Leviticus 6:13

Keep the altar of private prayer burning. This is the very life of all piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here; therefore let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer of vital and experimental [experiential] religion.

Burn here the fat of your sacrifices. Let your closet seasons be, if possible, regular, frequent, and undisturbed. Effectual prayer avails much. Have you nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the church, the ministry, your own soul, your children, your relations, your neighbors, your country, and the cause of God and truth throughout the world.

Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the family altar and lessen our influence both in the church and in the world.

The text will also apply to the altar of the heart. This is a golden altar indeed. God loves to see the hearts of His people glowing toward Himself. Let us give to God our hearts, all blazing with love, and seek His grace, that the fire may never be quenched, for it will not burn if the Lord does not keep it burning. Many foes will attempt to extinguish it; but if the unseen hand behind the wall pours on the sacred oil, it will blaze higher and higher. Let us use texts of Scripture as fuel for our heart’s fire; they are live coals. Let us attend to sermons, but above all, let us be much alone with Jesus.”

(4) Ligonier has some great deals today in this week’s $5 Friday sale here on the subject of Christianity v. Islam, defending the Christian faith and Steve Lawson’s book “The Pillars of Grace” in an e-book format. Remember, if you decide to purchase material, you can claim a further 10% discount on these and on ALL Ligonier products (as a reader of this blog) by using the coupon code EGRACE10.

Just arrived here in Brazil after a 30 hour treck from door to door. Looking forward to resting as I didn’t get much sleep on the flights. Brasil is a lot greener than I thought it would be, the people so friendly. Will post more when I feel half of what I write might make sense (the mind is tired). Thanks for all your prayers!