Husbands love your wives - thank you Francis.

With horror and sadness over the past week we have witnessed the sinking of the mighty Costa Concordia. While it would be easy to focus on the cowardice of the captain who somehow "fell" into a life boat another man caught my eye and is worthy of praise, 71 year old Francis Servel. While he and his wife prepared to jump he gave his lifejacket to his wife. She survived and he was drowned. She said no doubt with tears, "I owe my life to him." I don't know of the late Francis knew anything of Ephesians 5 but he certainly lived it. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. I guess most of us husbands would like to think that we would do likewise for our darling wives even if we knew that death awaited.

How amazing to think then of the love of Jesus Christ for His bride. His bride wasn't very lovely, very undeserving, but so willingly He gave His life knowing that he would face not the horrors of the salty water but the horrific drowning in the waves of the Holy wrath of God. And He did it because He loved us.

The words hardly seem adequate, I owe my life to Him.

Counterfeit gods Tim Keller

This is another cracker little hard back book from the preaching and teaching of Tim Keller. It has the apt sub title, When the empty promises of love, money and power let you down. Anyone interested in preaching in a 21st century relevant style should read Keller's stuff. This is super stuff for fueling apologetic preaching with a bite. In this volume Keller covers: love, money, success, power and a most challenging chapter on hidden idols. What makes this book so helpful is that he not only uncovers the idol factory of our hearts but shows the remedy - devotion for Jesus Christ. Not sure if this is available in paperback yet - but if it is - then why not order five and give away to some thinking non Christian friends. It will stimulate some cracking conversation.