John Piper

Even in the days when people commonly stayed married “’til death do us part,” there has never been a generation whose view of marriage was high enough, says Pastor John Piper. That is all the more true in our casual times. Though personal selfishness and cultural bondage obstruct the wonder of God’s purpose, it is found in God’s Word, where his design can awaken a glorious vision capable of freeing every person from small, Christ-ignoring, romance-intoxicated views. As Piper explains in reflecting on forty years of matrimony: “Most foundationally, marriage is the doing of God. And ultimately, marriage is the display of God. It displays the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his people to the world in a way that no other event or institution does. Marriage, therefore, is not mainly about being in love. It’s mainly about telling the truth with our lives. And staying married is not about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant and putting the glory of Christ’s covenant-keeping love on display.” This Momentary Marriage unpacks the biblical vision, its unexpected contours, and its weighty implications for married, single, divorced, and remarried alike.

SOFT AS VELVET Commanded to marry a Saxon heiress in order to secure her lands for his king, Norman knight Royce, Sword of William, did not expect to find the lovely creature who stood before him. Her flaxen hair billowed behind her, windswept from a recent ride. Her defiant eyes the color of cornflowers on a summer day revealed the intelligence and gentleness her awesome beauty could not hide. For once, Royce was struck speechless--and he knew that he would be the one to spark the fire that would set this maid aflame with desire. HARD AS STEEL He was the largest, most intense man she had ever encountered. His well-muscled chest rippled with every movement; his thick black hair fell in waves like the softest silk. But it was his gaze that both unnerved her and touched her soul. His golden eyes glanced over her body and heated her to the very core of her being. For though he was the Sword of William=-a knight so passionate and powerful on the battlefield, legends told his tale--Lynette saw the pain behind his handsome visage, and knew that she would be the one to heal the wounds of his tormented past.

We have heard the story of Job. His riches destroyed, his family taken, and his own body afflicted. We can only imagine the depth of his loss and pain. Yet as we ponder Job's misery, do we see the threads of God's mercy throughout it? We will all face suffering at some point in our lives; it is inescapable. But what makes calamity endurable is not that God shares our shock, but that through every flame of pain and flood of fear His sovereign goodness sustains us. John Piper's interpretive poem and the stunning photography of Ric Ergrenbright remind your heart of the unshakable fact that God governs all things for His good purposes. Allow your eyes to see life--to see God--in new and powerful ways. And let your spirit rest, knowing that the Lord is not only sovereign, but sweet. - Publisher.

THE SUPREMACY OF GOD IN ALL OF LIFE What shall we feed our spirits? Like the manna provided daily by God to the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness, food for the soul comes in bite- sized, daily portions of Scriptural truth. Skillfully presented by pastor John Piper, Book Two in his series of contemporary meditations on biblical reality will satisfy your spiritual hunger pangs, whetting your appetite for more of God Himself. Read on and fortify your soul for the pilgrimage Piper characterizes as A Godward Life. Nourishment for the soul. This volume is a treasure of true doctrine applied to life. In the tradition of Augustine's Confessions, A Godward Life will encourage Christians to commit all of life to the glory of God. R. ALBERT MOHLER JR. - President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

For 25 years, pastor John Piper has been provoking Christians with the simple but paradigm-shattering truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Satisfaction. Happiness. Joy. The pursuit of pleasure in God is not only permissible; it’s essential. Building his message on hundreds of Scriptures, especially from the Psalms, the apostle Paul, and Jesus himself—and echoing the likes of Blaise Pascal, Jonathan Edwards, and C.S. Lewis—Piper beckons us to approach God with the hedonist’s abandon. Finally, we are freed to enjoy Jesus not only as our Lord and Savior, but also our all-surpassing, soul-satisfying Treasure. As important today as ever, Desiring God may turn your Christian world upside down. And that will be a good thing, for the glory of God, and for your deepest joy. First Edition 1986; Revised Edition 2011 Multnomah Books (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

John Piper has had a profound impact on countless men and women over his nearly thirty years of ministry. From his online ministry with Desiring God to his preaching ministry at Bethlehem Baptist to his writing ministry in over thirty books, his faithful service has encouraged and challenged many with God's Word. Piper's influence does not stem from his own abilities and accomplishments, but finds its source in his consistent and humble leading of others to Scripture, where the breathtaking glory of God is displayed in all its wonder. We rejoice and are changed as we encounter glorious truths about God in Piper's ministry. It is in this spirit that friends and colleagues of Piper, including Wayne Grudem, D. A. Carson, Randy Alcorn, and others, honor him by presenting essays covering topics central to his ministry: prayer, the sovereignty of God, justification, Jonathan Edwards, Christian Hedonism, and more. Pastors, scholars, and lay leaders will benefit from this tribute to a man who has labored so faithfully for the fame of God's name. - Publisher.