The Innkeeper by John Piper

Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclimation

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans,  mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony wherof I have herunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

A. Lincoln

Desiring God 2012 National Conference Slide Show

Andres Alonso our conference photographer does a great job of capturing the emotion of the attendees and volunteers at the Desiring God National Conference.  Take a few minutes and view in pictures what happened at the 2012 National Conference.

General George Washington

Paul Vickery's work entitled Washington part of The Generals Series, follows Washington from his first military command to becoming Commander in Chief of Continental Army.  Vickery writes, "He learned to become the father of our country by first being the father of our military."
This work is part of a series Thomas Nelson Publishing is producing with Stephen Mansfield as series editor.




General Patton
General Pershing
General Lee

John Piper Talks About 2012 National Conference

Join us September 28-30, 2012, for Act the Miracle: God's Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification.
Desiring God 2012 National Conference
Register

You are Not Special by David McCullough Jr.

Here is some of the best advice you could receive on graduation day.  This address was given by Wellesley High English teacher David McCullough Jr.

Justin Taylor Interviews Piper and Meyer on Succession

Read Collin Hansen's blog post at TGC.

Desiring God 2012 Disability Conference

November 8, 2012, in Minneapolis, MN, Desiring God will be hosting this important conference.  Speakers are Nancy Guthrie, Greg Lucas, Mark Talbot and John Piper.  Check out the schedule and join us for this one day event.  REGISTER

Love Your Enemies - New Release by John Piper

Crossway Books press on the content of this work:

"This is one of the few statements Jesus made that is readily accepted by believers and skeptics alike. Its authenticity is not seriously questioned and yet it is a revolutionary command.

Giving attention to various critical theories, John Piper presents evidence that the early church earnestly advocated for non-retaliatory love, extending it to those who practiced evil in the world. Such love was key to the church’s own ethical tradition or paraenesis.

Piper illuminates the Synoptics and passages in Romans, as well as 1 Thessalonians and 1 Peter, with non-canonical evidence, investigating the theological significance of Jesus’s love command.

Originally published as #38 in the Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, this is John Piper’s doctoral dissertation from the University of Munich. It is a serious work of Christian scholarship by a long-time respected author and pastor, this repackaged edition features a new, extensive introduction and will be of interest to scholars, students, and lay people who have training in New Testament studies."

If you would like to get a peek at the book it was originally published in 1979 by Cambridge University Press and is available on google books. 

Desiring God 2012 National Conference

	Act the Miracle: God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification
	September 28 – 30, 2012
	Minneapolis Convention Center
	Minneapolis, MN
	Pleanary Speakers: Kevin DeYoung, Russell  Moore, Ed Welch, Jarvis Williams, and John Piper
	Seminar Speakers: Kevin DeYoung, Elyse Fitzpatrick, R W Glenn, Sally Lloyd-Jones, David Mathis, Carolyn McCulley, and Fernando Ortega
	Early Bird Registration received by July 27 - $150 per person (save $40) Registration received by August 31 - $ 175 per person (save $15) Registration received by September 21 - $190 per person FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 10:00 AM  Check-In/Registration/Bookstore & Exhibits Open Seminars are in two tracks Track One: Sanctification in the Seasons of Life* 1:00 – 1:45 PM   Carolyn McCulley - Singleness 2:00 – 2:45 PM   Sally Lloyd-Jones – Parenting through Storytelling 3:00 – 3:45 PM   Elyse Fitzpatrick - Grandparenting    Track Two: Forgotten Factors in Sanctification* 1:00 – 1:45 PM   David Mathis – Mission and Disciple-making 2:00 – 2:45 PM   Kevin DeYoung – Bread and Wine 3:00 – 3:45 PM   R W Glenn – Work and Rest 4:00 – 4:45 PM   Fernando Ortega – Corporate Worship  * You may pick and choose between each track. 7:00 - 8:30 PM   John Piper Prelude to Acting the Miracle: Putting Sanctification in  Its Place 9:00 - 10:00 PM  Evening of Worship with Fernando Ortega 11:00 PM Bookstore & Exhibits Close SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 7:30 AM Bookstore & Exhibits Open 8:30 - 10:00 AM   Kevin DeYoung Energy for Acting the Miracle: Fear, Rewards,  and the Multiplicity of Biblical Motivations 10:00 - 10:30 AM  Break 10:30 - 11:30 AM  Ed Welch Sinners Learning to Act the Miracle: Restoring Broken Vessels and the Limits of Life in the Body 11:30 AM - 1:45 PM   Lunch Break 1:45 - 2:45 PM   Jarvis Williams Acting the Miracle in the Everyday: Word of God, Means of Grace, and the Pursuit of Practical Maturity 2:45 - 3:15 PM   Break 3:15 - 4:15 PM   Q& A – DeYoung, Moore, Piper, Welch, and Williams 4:15 – 7:00 PM Dinner Break 7:00 - 8:30 PM   Russell Moore Acting the Miracle Together: Corporate Dynamics in Christian Sanctification 10:30 PM Bookstore & Exhibits Close SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 7:30 AM Bookstore & Exhibits Open 8:00 - 9:00 AM Morning Devotional with R W Glenn  9:30 - 11:00 AM   John Piper Remember the Gospel, Act the Miracle: Future Grace,  the Word of the Cross, and the Purifying Power of God’s Promises 12:00 PM Bookstore & Exhibits Close

Rev. Daniel R. Pershing Grave Stone Found

Rev. Daniel R. Pershing is my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather.  The video finding his grave stone adds to my search of the family history.  Near the end of this walk through the cemetery you will see the grave stone of Daniel Pershing and James Pershing. There is a part one of the video that gives the lay of the land near New Florance, PA.
 

   Rev. Daniel R. Pershing was born a month or two after his parents arrival at Coventry.  He was one of the first children born in the territory of the New Purchase, which was known as Westmoreland County.  He was taught by his parents because there were no schools.  After he had learned the three "R's" he began his university that was in every cabin.  The text book of cabin university was the Bible, universally read and one of the few books that was obtainable.  He was an avid reader and became recognized in the frontier as a man of accomplishment.   He married Christina Milliron on January 26, 1796.  She was born in Westmoreland County, of parents who settled in the vicinity of Milliron's Church, west of Greensburg, in the early days of the county.
    Daniel lived at Coventry until 1801.  The last son to leave home, the care of his mother fell to him after Fredrick's death.  He attended Zion Church, and records of October 23, 1796 find that he worshiped there with his family, thus establishing his with the Lutheran Church at an early date.
    On April 15, 1801, he purchased a farm of about 180 acres in Derry Township, about one mile north of the village of Brandenville.  He made the purchase from Samuel Eaton, who inherited the property from his father, James Eaton, who had settled in 1769, and it became the headquarters of the so-called St. Clair branch of the Pershing family.  The title to the land remained in the family until about 1888.
    Although Daniel had been raised a Lutheran he joined the Methodist Church and became a follower of Wesley in 1799.  In August, 1816, he was licensed as a local preacher and entered the ministry.  He was re-licensed in March, 1818, and again in the Spring of 1819.
    On September 7, 1819, he was ordained a deacon by Bishop R.B. Roberts at an annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which met at Baltimore.  From the year of his ordination to the time of his death he was a circuit rider and ministered to those of his own and other faiths throughout Westmoreland and the surrounding counties.  He established missions, built churches and occupied himself faithfully in the service of the Methodist Church.  He preached in both German and English as occasion required and was successful in the ministry as he had been in his farming.
    His first year's salary as a circuit rider was $30, and never exceeded $250 per year.  His circuit at times required him to travel north across the Allegheny River to the extremity of the settlements; east to the summit of the mountains; south to Uniontown and into Virginia, and west to the settlements of Ohio.  His parish was thus spread over, and even extended beyond, the territory of the New Purchase.  His ministry kept him away from home for many months at a time.  He carried his saddle bags with food for his journey and books which he sold to his parishioners, as was customary in his day.  In making his trips to the northern settlements he was obliged to carry his rifle, as the Indians still frequented that district.

The family tree from my grandmother Gladys Pershing back. Always looking for stories about these family members.

Related Pershing Blogs:

Famous Generals - General John J. Pershing

Memorial Day

Chuck Colson Remembered - 1931-2012

Back in the late 80's I worked with Colson on a book signing tour for a chain of stores in Minneapolis. It was a highlight of my bookstore career.  My son who was a 9 year old at the time was able to be a part of this tour.  Not only did he meet someone who changed the political landscape of the time but a man who had been changed by the power of the living Son of God, Jesus Christ.

John Knox by Lloyd Jones and Murray

John Knox and the Reformation

A little book with a big punch much like Knox himself. Lloyd-Jones has two chapters that came out of a conference in Scotland. In one he makes the argument that Knox was the founder of the puritans. In true Lloyd-Jones he holds nothing back.

He says that Knox's influence in some ways responsible for the the American revolution. "Consider the case of the Pilgrim Fathers. Knox is behind their whole attitude towards the State and the rulers; and so he is, as Thomas Carlyle claims, the founder of American Puritanism in exactly same way. Indeed, I would argue that he is in many ways the father of the American War of Independence which came to a triumphant conclusion from the standpoint of the colonists in 1776. He was the one who opened the door to all this."

The last chapter is by Iain Murray who brings forth a biographical sketch of Knox. Well done an a good read.

Shane and Shane - The One You Need

For all those men who have daughters this is a great song or prayer that should remind us to tell them about Jesus as the only one they need. Shane and Shane really have a heart for ministry and it is reflected in their music that leads us into the presence of "One We Need." Listen to the story of how this song came together.

Keith Green At 11 Years Old

I went to a Keith Green concert in Minneapolis at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in the late 70's.  He was a fantastic song writer for the Lord who wanted to see the Church be the Church and stop playing at it.

"I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy or to sell out more completely to Jesus!" — Keith Green

This post is for a friend of mine at work who loves vinyl and Keith. 

Phil Keaggy at Wheaton College

Keaggy plays one of my favorites, Salvation Army Band which is from a great album True Believers.  If you don't own this you are missing out. I became acquainted with Phil back in 1976 when he and Ted Sandquist played in a student chapel service at Northwestern College in Roseville, MN.  A song form that chapel that Phil and Ted played was titled, All That I Can Do.  It is found on the 30th Anniversary CD, The Courts of the King.  I still think that the vinyl edition is better.

Keaggy is known as one of the top guitar players in the world.  Just browse the MP3 section at Amazon and play a few samples.  I think you will be enjoy his God given talent as much as I have over all these years.

I.O.U.S. Acronym by John Piper

Incline My Heart

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish, gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in your ways. Psalm 119-36-37

Open My Eyes

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18

Unite My Heart

Teach me your way, O Lord that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalm 86:11

Satisfy Me

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

This acronym is found with a full explanation in Piper's book "When I Don't Desire God" on page 150-153.  Piper says "This acronym has served me well for years.  This is frontline warfare for me."

Recommended: 

John Piper Transition One Step Closer

Last night the Elders at Bethlehem Baptist Church announced by way of a unanimous vote that Jason Meyer would become the candidate for Associate Pastor of Preaching and Vision.  Leading up to this vote has been a long process by the Succession and Transition Team and then by the Search Committee.
Some of the process details can be found at BBC website.

Jason Meyer, is currently professor of New Testament at Bethlehem College and Seminary.

Read the blog announcements from:
Desiring God
Between Two Worlds - Justin Taylor
Bethlehem Baptist Church
Bethlehem College and Seminary

A Father's Prayer

During WWII General Douglas MacArthur wrote this prayer for his son Arthur.  It is an encouragement to me to do the same for my own children.  

A Father’s Prayer - By General Douglas MacArthur

Build me a son, 0 Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds: a son will know Thee—and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm: here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will he high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.

Recommended reading:

C. H. Spurgeon

Charles Haddon Spurgeon is renown as the "Prince of Preachers." In his lifetime it is estimated that he preached to 10,000,000 souls.   The documentary gives a good overview of who this man was and how God used him to preach the gospel to the English speaking world during his lifetime.   Click here the to see works by Spurgeon.

Dr. Dallimore, has written Spurgeon: A New Biography and has produced a concise narrative of Spurgeon's life. He sets out 'to understand and present something of the inner man- Spurgeon in his praying, his sufferings and depressions, his weaknesses and strengths; in his triumphs, humour, joys, and incredible accomplishments'. It is no easy task to depict 'so tremendous a personality' as that of Spurgeon in a brief volume, but in 250 pages it is here accomplished, and with a large measure of success. Click on  Spurgeon: A New Biography to review the title by Dallimore.

Vern is Really Don

Vern is really Don and he is a fantastic guy.  He sings and plays keyboard in our churches worship services.  He is truely this happy because he loves Jesus Christ.  Great work Don as the Cenex Singer!

National Prayer Breakfast Washington, DC

Eric Metaxas, author of the New York Times #1  bestseller, Bonhoeffer,  addressed the National Prayer Breakfast with humor and some serious words about protecting the unborn.  It is plain to see that he had an awakening when a man shared Christ with him while at Yale.  Eric also is the author of a biography on Wilberforce the great English Statesman who spent a lifetime to abolish the slave trade in England. 

Helpful Links:

Denny Burk

Eric Metaxas

I Am The Lord

Isaiah 45:5-12, 18-24
English Standard Version (ESV)


5 I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
8 “Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout;
I the LORD have created it.
9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
a pot among earthen pots!
Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
or ‘Your work has no handles’?
10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’
or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”
11 Thus says the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:
“Ask me of things to come;
will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
12 I made the earth
and created man on it;
it was my hand that stretched out the heavens,
and I commanded all their host.

¹⁸For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
   (he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
   (he established it;
he did not create it empty,
   he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the LORD, and there is no other.
¹⁹ I did not speak in secret,
   in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
   ‘Seek me in vain.’
I the LORD speak the truth;
   I declare what is right.

 ²⁰ “Assemble yourselves and come;
   draw near together,
   you survivors of the nations!
They have no knowledge
   who carry about their wooden idols,
and keep on praying to a god
   that cannot save.
²¹ Declare and present your case;
   let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
   Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the LORD?
   And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
   there is none besides me.

 ²² “Turn to me and be saved,
   all the ends of the earth!
   For I am God, and there is no other.
²³ By myself I have sworn;
   from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
   a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
   every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

 ²⁴ “Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me,
   are righteousness and strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed
   all who were incensed against him.

Traveling Wilburys

"Handle with Care" is the first track from the Traveling Wilburys 1988 album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. Writing credits are shared by all five band members, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan.
What a line up of great musicians. 
Hearing this group made me think back to a John Piper blog post on Dylan with the song "Got To Serve Somebody" from the album Slow Train Coming one of my favorites albums.