Eckhart Tolle a Christian?

James A. Beverly at Christianity today asks,

Popular spiritual author and Oprah favorite Eckhart Tolle quotes Jesus a lot. Is he a Christian?

Read more.

What Is Baptism, and How Important Is It?

John Piper continues his sermon series on baptism and church membership with a look at Bethlehem Baptist’s Elder Affirmation of Faith on baptism:

We believe that baptism is an ordinance of the Lord by which those who have repented and come to faith express their union with Christ in His death and resurrection, by being immersed in water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is a sign of belonging to the new people of God, the true Israel, and an emblem of burial and cleansing, signifying death to the old life of unbelief, and purification from the pollution of sin.

Read more, listen, or watch at Desiring God

Jonathan Edwards’ Desk

Tony Reinke is renaming his blog, and in the process shares an interesting tidbit about Jonathan Edwards’ study habits:

If you’ve ever seen Jonathan Edwards’s octagonal desk, you know he used a number of notebooks and resources in his personal study. But each of his notebooks were strategic. He used his blank bible, his collection of miscellanies, and his other notebooks as places to collect his thoughts. Later, he developed these thoughts into sermons and books.

Read more, and see a diagram of Edwards’ workspace at the newly named Miscellanies.

About the Book – Atheism Remix

Al Mohler has a new book coming out. This one is on “the new atheism.” From the book’s website:

Something has changed in our culture. Atheism—for centuries a little-regarded belief system—has gained a large hearing through the writings of new atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. Indeed, atheism is now more culturally acceptable than ever and its proponents are more fervent.

Providing the Christian response to the new challenge to theism, Dr. Albert Mohler equips Christians to respond with Atheism Remix. Here he explores the environment that has bred the New Atheism while also introducing readers to the movement’s four leading thinkers and their arguments. With keen insight, Mohler pinpoints eight major distinctives that make the New Atheism new and helps Christians understand, challenge, and counter it.

Read more About the Book – Atheism Remix.

Amazing Mercy

Tom Ascol tells an amazing story of God’s mercy on his blog. Be in prayer for him. Timmy Brister has more info as well.

John Piper, Frank Turk, and Baptism

John Piper begins a 3-part sermon series on baptism and church membership with the question, How Important is Church Membership? Shannon and I watched this sermon last night, and it has given me a lot to think about, not only on the subjects of baptism and church membership, but also on leadership and shepherding the flock of God.

Bonus: Frank Turk responds to Piper’s sermon with a very astute and biblical observation of the type of thing Piper is talking about.

Interview with “Lost” People

Tony Kummer has linked to an interesting video on his blog where three unbelievers are interviewed about “being lost,” prayer, and their thoughts on born-again Christians.