Bonar died in 1892 and life has gotten no less distracting.

“One of the gravest perils which besets the ministry is a restless scattering of energies over an amazing multiplicity of interests which leaves no margin of time and of strength for receptive and absorbing communion with God.”
- Andrew Bonar

via: Gospel Reminders

If you use Microsoft Word for your sermon or Bible study preparation it’s likely you know the frustration of trying to spell-check and having all those Bible names pop up as misspelled. traviscarden.com has Bible language spell-check dictionaries available to solve that problem. (from Tim Challies)

“The safest way to hear God speak is to read your Bible. And beware of every other notion about how you are going to hear from God.”

Allister Begg, Why Bother With the Bible - Part One B

A dose of Spurgeon this Sunday…

He will be the best Christian who has Christ for his Master and truly follows him. Some are disciples of the church, others are disciples of the minister, and a third sort are disciples of their own thoughts; he is the wise man who sits at Jesus’ feet and learns of him with the resolve to follow his teaching and imitate his example. He who tries to learn of Jesus himself, taking the very words from the Lord’s own lips, binding himself to believe whatsoever the Lord hath taught and to do whatsoever he hath commanded-he I say, is the stable Christian. Follow Jesus my brethren and not the church, for our Lord has never said to his disciples, “Follow your brethren,” but he has said “Follow me.” He has not said, “Abide by the denominational confession,” but he has said, “Abide in me.”

From: The Hold Fast by C. H. Spurgeon

“All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists.”

D. A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers, pg. 29

From Power Through Prayer by Edward M. Bounds, chapter 4, Tendencies to be Avoided.

It is impossible for the preacher to keep his spirit in harmony with the divine nature of his high calling without much prayer. That the preacher by dint of duty and laborious fidelity to the work and routine of the ministry can keep himself in trim and fitness is a serious mistake. Even sermon-making, incessant and taxing as an art, as a duty, as a work, or as a pleasure, will engross and harden, will estrange the heart, by neglect of prayer, from God. The scientist loses God in nature. The preacher may lose God in his sermon.