L'Abri Ideas Library -- Free Resources

The L'Abri Ideas Library has made available the mp3 files of the lectures and teaching of Dr. Francis Schaeffer.

Dr. Schaeffer was a Christian theologian and philosopher who, together with his wife Edith, founded the first L'Abri community in Switzerland in 1955. From the 1960’s, until his death in 1984, Dr Schaeffer’s lectures and discussions were recorded as a resource for future students.

Dr. Schaeffer Collection

3 Questions to Ask Before Committing Idolatry

Here is a very good article by Dustin Neely, 3 Questions to Ask Before Committing Idolatry as it relates to gadget purchases, specifically the new iPad.

"Do I get an iPad or not?" That is the question many are asking these days.

With the pending release of Apple's newest "magical and revolutionary device," April 3 has become the new December 25 for many. Adults everywhere, techies or not, are salivating for this new gadget like Ralphie for his Red Ryder BB gun.

In the process of determining whether or not I should take the plunge myself, I have begun asking some questions that might also help you in your process of prayerful evaluation. In fact, my hope is that they serve you well beyond this particular purchase but for others as well.

1. Is this a tool or a toy?

Is this an acute want or an actual need?

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The Sinkhole Syndrome by Donald Whitney, Tabletalk -- March 2010

Here is an excellent article which appeared in the March Tabletalk.

The Sinkhole Syndrome

by Donald Whitney

You know the story. A man has been a believer in Christ for decades. To all outward appearances he’s a man of Christian faithfulness and integrity. He has maintained a reputation as a fine example of public and private faithfulness to the things of God for decades. Then, without warning, it all collapses into a sinkhole of sin. Everyone wonders how it could have happened so quickly. In most cases, it soon becomes known that — like most sinkholes — the problem didn’t develop overnight.

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Five Consequences for a Nation that Rejects God

Here is an excellent post outlining from Romans chapter one the five consequences of a society (nation) that reject the God of the Bible.

The Roman Road to Wrath

Five Consequences for a Nation that Rejects God

By Brannon Howse

Ideas-and the actions they produce-have consequences, and the Bible is very specific about what a nation will reap when it rejects God. America is already experiencing the results of the ideological path it has been wandering. Lawlessness and disorder have their roots in our continually snubbing the God of the Bible.

Chapter 1 of Romans delineates five specific national consequences for denying God. To be sure, there are others outlined in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and elsewhere in the Old Testament, but in this article I will focus just on Paul's warnings because they are so explicit and frighteningly relevant to what is happening in America today.

1. The nation that continually rejects God becomes a nation of fools.

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CSM Article: Calvinism Is Back

Here is an interesting article appearing in the Christian Science Monitor, (Christian faith: Calvinism is back) about the growth of Calvinistic churches in the U.S. and a profile of the church Mark Dever leads in Washington D.C., Capitol Hill Baptist Church. One quote I find encouraging is, "In the Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest Protestant body, at least 10 percent of its pastors identify as Calvinist, while more than one-third of recent seminary graduates do".

What Is Salvation? by Paul Washer

Here's a short yet awesome presentation of "what is salvation" preached by Paul Washer.

What is Salvation? (In 2 Minutes) - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

We Begin At the Lowest Grade, excellent Grace Gem for 3/9/2010

We begin at the lowest grade

by J.R. Miller, "Devotional Hours with the Bible"

"Learn from Me--for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29

All of Christian life is a school. "Learn from Me," said the Master. We are only beginners when we first become Christians, and enter Christ's school. We begin at the lowest grade. We do not have to wait until we know a great deal before we begin to attend school. School is not for finished scholars--but for the most ignorant. We may come to Christ when we know almost nothing. He is the teacher--and all believers are learners.

"Learn from Me--for I am gentle." Gentleness is a lesson which we are to learn. It will probably take us a good long while to learn this lesson--but we must learn it because it is in Christ's curriculum for all His students.

Contentment is another lesson which we must learn. When he was well along in life, Paul said, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." It was a long and difficult lesson for him to learn.

Patience is a lesson that has to be learned. An impatient person is not a complete Christian.

Thoughtfulness is a necessary lesson. There are a great many thoughtless Christians. They are always blundering in their interactions with others. They say the wrong word, they do the wrong thing. They are always hurting other people's feelings, giving pain to gentle hearts. Yet it is all from thoughtlessness. "I didn't mean to offend him. I didn't mean to be unkind. I just never thought!" There are few lessons in Christian life that more people need to learn, than this of thoughtfulness.

We have to learn to trust. Worry is a sin. It is probably as great a sin as dishonesty or profanity or bad temper. Yet a good many Christian people worry--and one of the most important lessons in Christ's school, is to learn not to worry.

Kindness is a lesson we must learn. It takes many years to learn the one little lesson of kindness.

Joy is a lesson to be learned.

Peace is another.

Humility is another necessary lesson.

Praise is a great lesson.

All of life is a school, and it is in learning these lessons--that Jesus says we shall find rest for your souls. Christ Himself is our teacher, and with Him we should never fail to learn, though it be only slowly. Then as we learn our lessons, our lives will grow continually more and more into quietness, peace and Christlikeness.