the blog of Jerry Bolton
Posts tagged Tim Keller
…gospel coalition national conference 2009
0Current Tunage: Tunnel Rats – Line Finish
1 Corinthians 9:23-27 ESV
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? so run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Please pray for myself, Noah, Todd, Ben, and Alex as we drive down to Chicago today for the Gospel Coalition National Conference 2009. Over the next three days we will be hearing from the likes of John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, CJ Mahaney, Josh Harris, DA Carson, and others. It promises to be a time of challenge, of exhortation, and of great fellowship. Pray for safety as we make the 10+ hour drive, for God to move in our hearts as we hear from His Word and His people, and for a renewed passion to bring His gospel to the world. All of us are at that in-between stage of “figuring out what’s next” and so I think it’s safe to say we’re all looking for God to do some amazing things in and among us as we gather with folks from around the world for teaching, prayer, and fellowship.
…will soon be swallowed by the sea
0Current Tunage: Thrice – Lost Continent
I’ve been rekindling my love for Water in the wake of Air & Earth. Thrice ftw.
Happy Canada Is Awesome Day.
Too much going on to speak of, both because the content is massive and because some of it is classified. There’s a lot in store for the next four weeks – weddings to attend (2? 3?), cottaging to relaxify to, swimming to be done, and whatnot. It’s going to be packed … it already is packed. I’ll try to drop in from time to time to drop my thoughts.
I recently finished Timothy Keller’s The Reason for God and it is one of the best books I have ever read, and I don’t say that lightly. I would recommend it to any adult reader, with almost no reservations. In many ways its like Mere Christianity for the 21st Century – a beautiful and nuanced apoligetics textbook for the coming millenium. The first half deals with the most common objections to assertions of God’s existence, and the second half is a simple yet complex case for not only the existence of God, but for the spiritual superiority, soteriological exclusivity, intellectual primacy, and explanatory excellence of the Christian worldview via the Bible. My short review is that Keller develops many of the classic arguments in some extremely challenging and, if it were possible, convincing ways – and that this book is a skeptic’s worst nightmare (even skeptics like me!). So, with my highest recommendation I say: check it.
…show us the way
0Current Tunage: Beat Rabbi & Deepspace5 – Deepspace5oul
I <3 DS5.
Month and a half left. Sanity compromised.
Tomorrow I enter my “deep late early twenties”. I hardly noticed it coming… too preoccupied.
I’m just chillin’. Rockin’ some DS5 (its beautiful).
I recently finished up Mark Driscoll’s “Vintage Jesus” and was very happy with it. It was refreshing, and full of reminders I needed to hear.
Next up: Francis Collins’ “The Language of God”, which three chapters in is quite promising. After that, Timothy Keller’s “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism” – a “done third year” gift from Steph. Very much looking forward to it.
Otherwise, it’s been work, Starcraft (lol), and fighting. Fighting for survival, for us, for life, for redemption… fighting against as much as fighting for? It’s all I can do not to lose my mind right now.
…let me tell you about God’s grace
2Current Tunage: Pedro the Lion – Rejoice
A melancholy note on which to end this school year’s writing. Perhaps fitting? Regardless, it’s time to party…
I was reading Christianity Today’s review of Tim Keller’s “The Reason for God” this morning, after FINISHING MY FINAL PAPER and, though I haven’t read the book yet, I have been feeling thankful for writers like Keller. I’ve enjoyed his stuff before, but I’m thankful that the best-selling wave of New Athiesm that washes over our bookstores and cultural subconscious has not gone unanswered. I’m thankful that it has been answered strongly, and well.
Having had some very telling, very good, very challenging conversations with friends who really don’t believe in Jesus at all this week, I find myself looking forward to… well… now. I’m looking forward to using the next few months, among much wedding planning and working, to hone some serious weaknesses in my ability and preparation to “give a defense to anyone who asks me for a reason for the hope that is in me”.
And on that note:
FREEDOM!!!