The Perfect Father's Day Gift - Note to Self - And a Giveaway!

If your husband is a reader - this is the perfect gift for him! If your husband is not a reader - this is the perfect gift for him!  And when he's done reading it - you should read it too!!!  I'll tell you why in just a second but first let me back up 18 years!

18 years ago, I was a nervous freshman from Ohio, at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  Being the social butterfly that I am, I quickly made friends with a girl named Jen from Germany (who later became my roommate) and a group of guys from our "brother" floor - whose ring leader was named Joe Thorn (the author of the book I'm about to share with you).  Now stick with me here - cause I'm trying to give you 4 years of history in 15 seconds! 

Joe is to the left of Jen in the green.  I'm on the far right. 

This group of guys was intriguing - all they wanted to do was debate theology  - or - laugh (2 of my favorite things to do)!  We went from very serious deep conversations to laughter about the most light hearted things in 2 seconds flat.  While my classes at Moody taught me many new things - it was my talks with Joe and his friends that introduced me to Martin Luther, John Calvin and Puritan Paperbacks.  Over lunch and dinner in the school cafeteria, they taught me how to handle God's word correctly as they challenged all of my preconceived notions of scripture. 

Let me put it bluntly - Joe Thorn made me squirm...he made me run to my dorm room and flip through my Bible trying to prove him wrong.  He made me read books by RC Sproul, listen to radio programs by Michael Horton and James Boice and go to my commentaries and concordances trying understand these deeper concepts of God that he spoke about. 

So to make a long story short, my roommate Jen fell in love with Joe and here I am in their wedding!

And it is no surprise to me that now Joe Thorn sits across the table from people like John Piper

Joe is on the far left - John Piper is on the far right.

Or Justin Taylor

Joe Thorn Interview V. 1 from Crossway on Vimeo.

Joe is now a church planter in Chicago where his wife homeschools their four children.  His newly published book is a must read!  And I'm giving one away today!

Note to Self is a rich theological and practical guide to life.  While we need our pastors to preach to us on Sunday mornings - we need to be preaching to ourselves on Mondays through Saturdays!  In one hundred and thirty seven pages (this is short and an easy read for readers and non-readers!) and 48 short chapters, he takes us through all facets of life and applies the gospel.

Joe has a unique ability to pack a powerful punch with just a few words.  Let me give you a few examples:

"Let's be honest, the reason you do not experience the joy you read about in Scripture is because your heart is divided, and your interests are spread thin."

"You should see everything in your life as grace that accompanies your salvation.  For such things do not come from a Judge, but your Dad."

"Take note - your view of Jesus tends to shrink over time...This is probably why the church is shrinking in North America - because small Jesus does not inspire awe, command respect, lead to worship, or compel us to talk of him (much less suffer for him)."

"The more robust, the more detailed your theology, the more humble you should become. Why? Because you did not figure God out; he revealed himself to you."

"Sin, your sin in particular, should make you recoil.  Yet, because you are so familiar and comfortable with your sin, you hardly even blush at most of it.  Revulsion will only come when you see the holy, just, and good character of God in contrast to yourself."

"It's as if amassing feelings of guilt becomes a perverted kind of penance in which you pay for your transgression by making yourself feel bad - as if your guilt is a means of getting clean."

"This is grace that God has given us a clear and understandable word."

Joe Thorn's book Note To Self, which is priced at around $10, would make the perfect Father's Day gift!  It has a verse for mediation that starts each chapter that makes it a perfect daily devotional.  It's a quick life-changing read that I hope you have the joy to experience!

And I have the opportunity to give one away here!!! 

To enter to win simply leave a comment below!  For extra entries Facebook or tweet the link to this giveaway!!!  This giveaway will run through Saturday, June 11th at 9pm.

Walk with the King!