A couple weeks ago, John Piper linked to Ray Ortlund’s blog and I have really benefitted from his posts. Tonight, he posted on how praise befits the upright. I really appreciate the tie analogy.

A frowning church is ugly. A praising church is beautiful. Think of a man wearing a great suit, with the perfect shirt for that suit, but then he puts on a killer tie that makes the whole thing pop. That’s what praising God does for a church. A spirit of praise beautifies everything.

Boom.

What if I never see 2011?

What if this was my last year on this planet?

If this was the case, how would I live in 2010?

I do not know what God has in store for me in this coming year, but I want to give everything I have to the gospel and to the glory of His name. This ambitious claim will probably not result in doing anything that will make the history books. It will not be the path of the well-known, but the path of unknown. It will not be the path of the popular, but the path of the unpopular. It will be the path of self-denial – which will not be comfortable, but it will be satisfying.

If I do not live to see 2011, I want to be able to say that 2010 was a year of repenting of sin, relying on the Holy Spirit, and rejoicing in Christ, for the glory of God.

“All designed to reignite the soul.” These were the words that closed a recent Cadillac commercial. As I watched the ad, I observed the standard highlights: professional cinematography, sharp lighting, classy new features in the vehicle, and all to the sound of a smooth narrator voice. But when the word “soul” came up, my attention was peaked.

I find it interesting that so many Christians will spend money and time on acquiring possessions and act as if those possessions have no relation to their soul before God. And yet a secular ad agency understands that our possessions have an effect on our souls. They will either disappoint causing our souls to be disenchanted by them. Or they will satisfy us for the time being, scratch the itch temporarily, thus “reigniting” our desire for more.

All things this world creates to reignite our souls is counterfeit of the original reignitor – God Himself. Only He can truly and most deeply satisfy the longing for happiness in our hearts.

Here are some ideas on how college students can demonstrate to their family that they love them from a distance.

1. Say “I love you” to your family members whenever you talk to them
2. Pray for your family
3. Send cards and gifts on their birthdays
4. Enjoy going home to see them
5. Include both parents in important decisions in your life

Do you have any other ideas?

This was humbling to read today while I was at seminary.

Today hardly one in a hundred considers how difficult and arduous it is faithfully to discharge the office of pastor. Hence many are led into it as something trivial and not serious; and afterwards experience teaches them, too late, how foolishly they aspired to the unknown. Others think themselves endowed with great skill and intelligence and promise themselves great things from their talent, learning, and judgment; but afterwards they experience too late how limited their equipment is, for their powers fail them at the outset. Others, while knowing there will be many serious battles, have no fear, as though they were born for contention, and put on an iron front. Still others who want to be ministers are mercenaries. We know indeed that all God’s servants are wretched in the eyes of the world and common sense, for they must make war on the passions of all and thus displease men in order to please God.

—William J. Bouwsma’s John Calvin: A Sixteenth Century Biography, p. 220

HT: My Mac Hero