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45 Books DG Staff Are Reading Right Now

June 30, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations

Theology

1. Heaven Misplaced: Christ’s Kingdom on Earth
2. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
3. Jesus and the God of Israel
4. The Institutes of the Christian Religion
5. Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology
6. Introducing Theological Interpretation of Scripture
7. The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament
8. The Cross of Christ
9. Christ Is the Question
10. Signs of the Spirit: An Interpretation of Jonathan Edwards
11. Religious Affections
12. The Word Became Fresh
13. Christian Beliefs

Fiction

14. The Horse and His Boy
15. The Brothers K
16. Right Ho Jeeves
17. The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings
18. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
19. Don Quixote

Art

20. Reality Transformed: Film and Meaning and Technique
21. The Affections of the Heart in Art
22. It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God

Business

23. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
24. How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In
25. Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits
26. In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies

Prayer and Devotional Life

27. The Life of God in the Soul of Man
28. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World
29. The Secret Key to Heaven: The Vital Importance of Private Prayer
30. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
31. Valley of Vision
32. The Divine Conspiracy

Reading

33. Breakthrough Rapid Reading
34. How To Read A Book

Sociology

35. Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson & Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World
36. The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith
37. China Road

Missions and Evangelism

38. Jesus the Evangelist
39. The Changing Face of World Missions

Poetry

40. George Herbert: The Complete English Works

Philosophy

41. The Therapy of Desire: Theory and Practice in Hellenistic Ethics

Science

42. Particle or Wave: The Evolution of the Concept of Matter in Modern Physics

Biography

43. The Autobiography of Ben Franklin

Counseling

44. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
45. When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man


Why Shout When Preaching

June 27, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations

Tope Koleoso writes about why he shouts when he preaches. Here's an excerpt.

This means that during the sermon, any one of the mentioned emotions, (Anger, Joy or Love), spill out without warning or apology...

Therefore, I shout, I laugh, I cry, and I dance. Therefore, I use my voice, my hands, my legs and my eyes. Therefore, I will do it with utter conviction and passion for if I will not do it from the heart, I will not do it at all...

(via Adrian Warnock)

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Enter to Win Free Sunday School Curriculum

June 25, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Children Desiring God, Recommendations

Tony Kummer is giving away an "ABC's of God," Sunday school curriculum for 1st - 3rd graders from Children Desiring God.

This is about a $215 value and all you have to do to enter is comment.

Update: Sorry I was unclear. Please comment at his site to enter.


DG's China Trip in Pictures

June 23, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Ministry Updates, Recommendations

Visit the photoblog of Bill Walsh, our Director of International Outreach, to see some great shots from the DG team's trip to China.

Pictures from DG in China

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Abortion, Down Syndrome, and Francesca

June 10, 2009  |  By: Lukas Naugle
Category: Recommendations

At A Beautiful Work, my wife recounts a chilling personal story about her experience at a 4D Ultrasound.

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Noel Piper on the Radio

June 3, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations

Tomorrow, Noel Piper will be on the radio program "Knowing the Truth" to talk about Do You Want a Friend?

Listen live from 1:00-1:30 PM Eastern Time.


A Video Tribute to Ralph Winter

May 28, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations

Here is a 16-minute video from the U.S. Center for World Mission telling the story of Ralph Winter's life and ministry.

Along with the narration, there are memories from different people who knew him, including John Piper briefly a little before 12 minutes in.


Carson on Scholarly Pastoring

May 27, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: DG Resources, Recommendations

In case you haven't seen already, D. A. Carson's manuscript (PDF) from the "Pastor and Scholar" event a month ago is available along with the rest of the media from that event.


DWYL Concert - Minneapolis, May 30

May 23, 2009  |  By: Lukas Naugle
Category: Recommendations

The Don't Waste Your Life Tour is coming to Minneapolis at Club 3 Degrees on May 30th. If you are planning to attend, please order in advance as we are expecting a sell out crowd of over 1,200 people.

If do not live near Minneapolis, the tour is nationwide, so check out Reach Records for more information.


John Piper on a Call-in Show

May 22, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations

Tomorrow, John Piper will be on air with Tom Brock on the radio program, "The Pastor's Study Live."

Listen online from 11:30 to 12:30 Central Time. During some of the show they'll be taking listeners' calls: 651-289-4499.


Register Soon for Advance09

May 21, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Conferences, Recommendations

Check out a new trailer for Advance09:

(Watch the first trailer.)

There are still some seats left. Register soon and we'll see you in June!


Wisdom About Angels and Demons

May 20, 2009  |  By: John Piper
Category: Recommendations

The folks at Westminster Bookstore have helped set up a remarkable website with serious reflections on the kinds of scientific and religious questions raised by the Dan Brown blockbuster Angels and Demons.

It’s the kind of place you could send your unbelieving friends who have questions.


She's Dying

May 19, 2009  |  By: Jon Bloom
Category: Recommendations

Rachel Barkey is a 37 year-old wife and mother of two who is dying of cancer. She only has weeks to live.

On March 4, she addressed 600 women and in 55 minutes delivered one of the most God-centered, gospel-soaked, honest, moving, and beautiful messages I have heard. I don’t know that Rachel has read John’s article, Don’t Waste Your Cancer, but she is a beautiful example of every point John made.

Check out Rachel’s website where you can watch or download the video and audio. You will not regret the 55 minutes. Very little is more important than the things she says.


Senior Director at Desiring God Queries President Obama

May 18, 2009  |  By: John Piper
Category: Recommendations

I am profoundly grateful that God has brought to Desiring God a team of directors and senior directors who are radically devoted to the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. They are Christ-exalting, courageous, kind, and creative.

One of them is John Knight, Senior Director for Development. He read President Obama’s speech at Notre Dame and has a few questions for the President. John is concerned about abortion and speaks as a father of a deeply-loved son with significant disabilities.

I recommend his article, which he posted at Bethlehem Baptist Church's disabilities ministry site: “When do we get to talk about the other consequences of abortion, Mr. President?


Don't Waste Your Life: Sermon Jams

May 16, 2009  |  By: Lukas Naugle
Category: Recommendations

Over the past year we have been working with our friends from 10:31 Sermon Jams on a new album that is based on the themes of John Piper's book, Don't Waste Your Life. At their website you can now pre order "Don't Waste Your Life: Sermon Jams" and listen to the album's first single called "Treasuring Him."

For those who are unfamiliar with sermon jams, they are basically short bytes of preaching put to beats. This album is priced for outreach, and can be especially helpful in reaching young people who are not interested in reading or listening to preaching.


Lane Dennis Remembers Francis Schaeffer

May 15, 2009  |  By: John Piper
Category: Recommendations

Today is the 25th anniversary of Francis Schaeffer’s death. Lane Dennis, President of Crossway Books, has a moving and rich tribute at the Crossway Blog.


Keep Up with John Piper on the Road

May 11, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations

John Piper's assistant, David Mathis, has started Twittering the events they travel to. Right now he's keeping us up to date with the Basics Conference in Cleveland.


Arcing: John Piper on How He Studies the Bible

May 6, 2009  |  By: Tyler Kenney
Category: Commentary, Recommendations

Watch John Piper explain the Bible study method called "arcing" and why he uses it.

(Read a transcription of the video.)

To learn more about arcing, and even to start doing it yourself, check out Bible Arc. Andy, my friend who put the site together, has added a number of new improvements recently, including:

  • instant parsing of Greek words
  • a section for sharing and rating arcs
  • the ability to easily email your arc to others
  • the Hebrew OT
  • a Spanish translation

*                *                *

For more Q&A with John Piper, check out Ask Pastor John. New episodes are posted 3 times a week.


Recommended Reading for Parents and Children's Ministers

May 4, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations, Children Desiring God, Conferences

Here are 5 books that were recommended at CDG's conference.


A Book to Help You Teach Your Kids Theology

May 1, 2009  |  By: Abraham Piper
Category: Recommendations, Children Desiring God

As David Michael was welcoming folks to the CDG conference last night, he highly recommended Bruce Ware's brand new book Big Truths for Young Hearts.

The Glorious Unseen

April 30, 2009  |  By: Lukas Naugle
Category: Recommendations

In September 2008 we invited The Glorious Unseen to lead us in song at the TBI Seminar, Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning. For a limited time you can download their latest EP for free.

Wisdom Calls Aloud

April 28, 2009  |  By: Karen Hieb
Category: Children Desiring God, Recommendations

picture of new curriculum

Children Desiring God just released its fourth Vacation Bible School/Backyard Bible Club curriculum titled Wisdom Calls Aloud. This 5-lesson curriculum is an evangelistic study on wisdom and the fear of the Lord.

Free samples from the teacher's notebook and student project booklet are available (but they're secured PDFs, so you'll need Adobe Reader to open them).


Watch The Gospel Coalition Conference Live

April 21, 2009  |  By: Tyler Kenney
Category: Outside Events, Recommendations

The Gospel Coalition's 2009 National Conference begins today in Chicago. But if you didn't get a ticket, no worries. They have gone the extra mile (or miles and miles) to include all of us who can't be there in person.

  • All ten of the plenary sessions will be broadcast live on the web, including John Piper's message at 4pm* this afternoon titled "Feed the Flame of God’s Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel" (2 Timothy 1:1-12).
  • At their website you'll be able to download the audio and video for each session within a day after it's given. Yes, for free.
  • And if you want to see what conference attendees are paging through between sessions, the entire conference program (PDF) is downloadable as well. (Bonus: the program also lists the text for all of the conference hymns.)

(HT: JT)

*Correction made! The talk is at 4pm today, not 2 as initially written. My apologies for the mistake.


Thank You, Benjamin, for a Beautiful New Kitchen

April 15, 2009  |  By: John Piper
Category: Recommendations

This is an advertisement for Piper Construction Company, and a public celebration of God’s goodness to us as a family.

Our kitchen got a makeover with Benjamin Piper’s eye for craftsmanship and beauty. If you live in or near the Twin Cities and need any kind of remodeling—from decks to attics to basements to kitchens to bathrooms—I am sold on this fellow’s workmanship. A wise (and skillful) son makes a glad father.

Here is where he started:

Piper kitchen, before

Here is where he finished:

Piper kitchen, after

He’s more than a contractor to two grateful parents. God is kind to us.

John, Noel, and Benjamin Piper