Category Archives: Uncategorized

Making Grace Irresistible to the World

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Don’t let the seeming exclusivity in the title hold you back—this is the first of hopefully many books to be published by the World Reformed Fellowship, after all. For that matter, don’t let my past kvetchings about that other term … Continue reading →

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How, How, How… No. Really. HOW?

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Let’s start with the positive here: If you’re looking for materials that will help you develop a Christian worldview, this book can help. Unfortunately, it’s this book’s appendices that will help more in that matter than the actual text. Douglas … Continue reading →

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Glory, Not Growth

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Tullian Tchividjian has a message we may not want to hear: When God puts us through the crucible of suffering—no matter how large or small that suffering may actually be—His primary desire is not our personal growth. And it certainly … Continue reading →

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An Improvisation on Mercy

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Carl Simmons

As promised, this post is inspired by Robert Gelinas’ most recent book The Mercy Prayer—although admittedly much of its structure owes more to Finding the Groove. I’ve needed, in my own life, to see what God provides each day as mercy rather … Continue reading →

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Mercy Is a Three-Way Street

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Robert Gelinas’ first book, Finding the Groove, was a paradigm-shifter for me. Not only did its “jazz theology” help unlock my faith in a new way, but its sense of creativity was a heavy influence especially on my own Growing Others. And … Continue reading →

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Do, Because You Are

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Consider this a kinder, gentler version of past ruminations on this subject…. as well as (in the case of the next paragraph) a leveraging of one small reworking within Lay It Down: the book (in hopeful anticipation of official publication … Continue reading →

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Making Sunday School Work Anywhere, Anyway, Anyhow

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Assembling what could well be considered a Baptist all-star team here — including Thom Rainer, Elmer Towns, and my boy Josh Hunt — Steve Parr presents a variety of success stories in the world of Sunday School, and in Christian … Continue reading →

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What Are Your Re-Reads (revisited)?

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Since I’m in waiting mode right now — both in terms of “hopefully impending good news” and in terms of “books I need to review” — thought I’d revisit a fun topic I’d first done a couple years ago…. Some of … Continue reading →

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Getting from the Pastoral to the Personal

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Yep kids, it’s time for another layman’s review of the scholarly…. That said, the book does a fine job of addressing the content, as well as some of the lesser-known exegetical points, of the apostle Paul’s letters in one pretty … Continue reading →

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Feelings Are Not Faithfulness

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Just a brief word today, but God gave it to me a month ago and I’ve found it really helpful, so I’m passing it on. I’m not sure how it may play out in your life specifically, but I suspect … Continue reading →

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