Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to say to us, ‘I am here because of you.  It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.’  Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross.  All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary.  It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size. (John R. W. Stott, The Message of Galatians. HT: Ray Ortlund)

by Stephen Rodgers

I don’t have a ton of links for you this week; mostly I’m just clearing out a few things that I’ve been saving, and highlighting a couple of things you shouldn’t miss.  So without further ado…

• If you recall, I mentioned last time that John Piper was going to preach/read through his classic book Desiring God.  Well, the introduction to chapters 1 and 2 is up, along with Piper’s actual message. And if that weren’t enough, here comes Curtis Allen with the Desiring God rap song. (AUDIO/VIDEO)
• By now most of us have probably heard of Amy Chua and the “tiger mother” book. Al Mohler has an article addressing the brouhaha as well as bringing a much-needed Christian perspective to the whole thing. (WEB)
• As a warning against pride and a reminder of the power of sin, RC Sproul has an article (excerpted from Pleasing God) on the heresy of perfectionism. (WEB)
• I had an opportunity to talk to Pastor Patrick this week about the perception that many in the Christian community have of Calvinism and Calvinists.  So this article from Elliot Grudem (son of Wayne Grudem) on the subject was timely indeed.  And I’m not just saying that because it contains the phrase “John Frame is the Chuck Norris of Systematic Theology” (even though I would offer a hearty “amen!” in response). (WEB)

That’s it for this week.  See you Sunday!

Pro Rege