I’m reading Fathers and Sons, Volume 1: Stand Fast in the Way of Truth by Douglas Bond. I read a little at a time. It’s a 325 page books for fathers and sons to read together.

Chapter 14 is called, “Self-Control Outside In.” It’s about music and how music affects you. Bond, the author, says music is not neutral. He claims he has debunked neutrality, but I don’t think he has.

I’ll share his reasons and respond to each one. Read on…

At younger and younger ages children are being lured and enticed into delinquent behavior. Ultimately this is an expression of their depraved heart. However, the company young people keep also influences and shapes them. Christian parents, striving to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, must take measures to curb and restrain the competing nurture and influence of those who would lead their children astray. Often these “competitors” come in the form of friends chosen by the children themselves.

Parents must teach their children to choose their friends wisely. “If you do not help your children select, and help them learn to select for themselves, the right kind of companions, the wrong kind of companions will inevitably select them. The responsibility of teaching children how to choose their friends wisely is therefore a fundamental element of successful biblical parenting” (John MacArthur, Successful Christian Parenting, p. 88).

How should Christian parents approach this task? Here is a general philosophy and approach to the task of teaching our children to choose their friends wisely. Read on…

At Together for the Gospel, we received as a gift the book, The Truth of the Cross, by R.C. Sproul. At the conference, Sproul delivered a sobering presentation of the curse motif in the Gospel. Several of Sproul’s illustrations and points can be found in The Truth of the Cross.

In this review, I’ll provide a short summary and what I think are strengths and weaknesses of the book. Click here to read on.

One joy of reading through the whole Bible is that I come across insights that I may otherwise skip. In my current through-the-Bible reading plan, D.A. Carson’s For the Love of God has been my devotional companion last year (Volume One) and this year (Volume Two). I’ve had occasion to share what Carson noted from Song of Solomon chapter 3 in the reading for April 28. Since it proved helpful, I thought I’d share it here as well. It’s about cultivating sexual intimacy in marriage. Want some encouragement? Read on.

What difference does Spirit-baptism make?

Unfortunately, many Christians have a distorted understanding of Spirit-baptism because their understanding of Spirit-baptism has been shaped more by their own experiences and the supposed experiences of others than by the Scriptures. While other Christians don’t have a distorted understanding of Spirit-baptism, they simply don’t have any understanding of Spirit-baptism.

The Apostle Paul - if he were alive today - would be grieved by the misunderstanding and lack of understanding of Spirit-baptism by so many Christians today.

So, what is Spirit-baptism and what difference does it make? Let’s take a look.

In Alexander Strauch’s excellent book “The New Testament Deacon” he takes the position that the women mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:11 are simply the wives of those who serve the church as deacons. Others have concluded that these were just female “deacon assistants.” A third view asserts that there were actually women who were recognized as model servants in the church (i.e., “deaconnesses”). This is admittedly a difficult passage, and each of the views has problems or questions from the text that work against it.

I was forced to think through this sticky issue during an expository series through the book, as well as during a topical study of office of deacon last year. I would like to share the fruit of my study for your edification.

Click here to read my conclusions and explanation .