Monday, September 22, 2008

Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints


Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints, ed. John Piper & Justin Taylor
(Crossway, 2008), pb., 157 pp.

I just received my copy of this book and thumbed through it reading various portions. I had not intended really to read anything just yet, but I found myself captivated. “Perseverance” is a word I talk about often with my boys. They call it “our word,” because I stress it so often. I do so because it is such a lacking theme in the culture around us (including the church) and it is so important. So, I was very interested in this book.

There is much wise reflection here from people who have endured. The exhortations from Jerry Bridges, John MacArthur and John Piper are solid and piercing as always. The personal story of Randy Alcorn particularly grabbed me. I knew Alcorn only by some of his books, but I had no idea of his own setting or experiences. His account of enduring persecution, particularly as his children watched, suffered and endured with him, was especially moving and challenging. This is material I will share with my family today.

May we glorify God with faithful perseverance.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I was at about half of the conference from which this book springs; I had to leave to speak at a church. But I recall vividly my experience listening to John MacArthur's message. I was busily taking notes, pages of notes. I didn't consider the message particularly brilliant or anything. But when I reviewed the notes, I was stunned at the amazing breadth and depth of the Scriptures cited and points made. Truly it was a feast of the word of God. I look forward to the book. Thanks.