Absence makes the heart grow fonder

However, absence from writing new blogs makes the readership dwindle. When I was blogging on a regular basis I'm sure there were four, maybe five, readers out there who checked out the blog consistently (that would include my wife and my mother). Now, there are probably none. But I asked for it.

Just a few random things to share with the cyber-world.

First, I've been listening to the Psalms read by Max McClean. Reading the Psalms is wonderful, of course, but hearing them read adds another dimension altogether.

My former church history professor at Westminster, Carl Trueman, has written an inspirational piece here on being in the ministry and losing one's hair (not that the former causes the latter, though it very well could). Even if neither apply to you, I recommend reading it. He has some good insights into our obsession in the church with the youth culture.

Finally, a thought-provoking quote from a book I've been reading, Priorities for the Church by Donald Macleod. Macleod writes about Christian growth:

"God wants [his people] emotionally stable, content whatever their circumstances (whether abundance or destitution, as Paul put it in Philippians 4:12). We should be growing in knowledge of our Bibles, in our grasp of the great doctrines and in our ability to apply truth in our personal lives. God wants us better and better witnesses, patient sufferers, stronger and stronger in the face of temptation. He wants us to grow in grace, developing, symmetrically, in gentleness and firmness, in meekness and courage, until we have something resembling that true godliness which simultaneously intimidates and attracts."

I thought that neatly captured the the contrasting and complimentary qualities of a godly character - "gentleness and firmness...meekness and courage...simultaneously intimidates and attracts."