Dr Paul Allen

English: An image of Psalm 23 (King James' Version), frontispiece to the 1880 omnibus printing of The Sunday at Home. Scanned at 800 dpi. Français : Illustration du Psaume 23 (version autorisée par le roi Jacques), en frontispice de l'édition omnibus du Sunday at home. Version numérisée à 800 dpi. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Joy is the emotion of salvation. We rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory ( 1 Peter 1:8). If you’re a Christian, the Spirit gives you soaring delight in Christ . His beauty and greatness thrill your soul. But quite a few believers struggle to experience joy. Why is that? Some people by nature tend to be sad, and joy is an ongoing challenge. When I read Martyn Lloyd-Jones ’s classic, Spiritual Depression , I was surprised that he mentions temperament or personality as “the first and foremost cause.” He may be right. But there are other reasons. Young moms are often surprised at how tired they are — sleepless and exhausted — and th...

English: "John Wesley," by the English artist George Romney, oil on canvas. 29 1/2 in. x 24 3/4 in. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) John Wesley (1703–1791) is best known in church history as the founder of Methodism. His commitment to the biblical gospel, passion for evangelistic preaching, and skill at organizing the budding Methodist movement are all notable traits. And God used those qualities to help spark the Evangelical Revival in England in the mid-18th century (a revival that paralleled the Great Awakening in North America ). In that respect, there are many helpful things that we can learn from Wesley’s example. His marriage, however, left a different kind of legacy; one which is also noteworthy, but not for good reasons. As Methodist author John Singleton explains: The saga of John Wesley’s marriage is a cautionary tale from the roots of Methodism that ought to resonate today with any couple so involved in chur...