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This is an extremely long book that some would find tedious and repetitive, but it's too good not to read the whole thing. I've been reading since last year and might not finish it this year.

"This second petition is well summarized in The Westminster Shorter Catechism:
In the second petition. . . we pray, that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the Kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the Kingdom of glory may be hastened."

This is a good book on assurance in some respects.

Very smooth and methodical reasons for creation, why the Word became flesh, why there needed to be death, etc. Very well written. Exceeding my expectations.

I didn't read this for a few days while I was spending so much time reading about growing succulents. It's so great to be reading this again. Nothing compares to the Puritans, outside the Bible.

This isn't as easy of a read as I thought it would be, although that's not a problem. I was trying to decide whether to read this first or Goldsworthy. I think Goldsworthy might have been more basic to start with. Very rich book.

Starts out by telling the reader helpful tips on how to read a Christian book--pray before after and during, meditate, do what it says, apply it.

Then he writes about how affliction is from God, so that if we complain, we're complaining about something God has ordained.

Good expositions of the story of Joseph and the book of Job.

More on how not to comfort sufferers. How everyone responds differently and goes at a different pace. Writes about how when Elijah was totally spent, God gave him food and comfort and left the verbal admonishing for later. Also how Psalm 88 and (39?) are dark and don't end on an up note. Jesus experienced darkness also.

Getting into how to, and how not to deal with suffering.

The reformers may have been a little stoic.

Talks about Jobs friends. Also Daniel's friends in the fire.

How people handle suffering differently.

Various types of suffering as mentioned in the Bible.

How not to help people who are suffering.

We can glorify God even if it's only in front of the angels.

Good theology is so important in dealing with suffering.

Glorifying God, the real one true God, not the one we (falsely) expect him to be.

Very good material on the suffering of Christ, our sharing in his sufferings, the fact that he suffered even though he's sovereign. Some good quotes on how Jesus suffered.

Explained the 'noseeums' thing and the boomerang effect.

A 'defense' is better than a theodicy. Platinga agrees with this.

(I used this for speed reading practice.)

He's now getting into the philosophical 'problem of evil'. He explains theodicy of free will and its weakness.

(I used this for speed reading practice and also read another book.)

He's now getting into the philosophical 'problem of evil'. He explains theodicy of free will and its weakness.

(I used this for speed reading practice and also read another book.)

How atheism fails and Christianity offers comfort and most of all, resurrection.

More about how other societies and ours deal with suffering. We use experts to alleviate our suffering. Each expert thinks the cause, if they even think about that, or maybe just the solution, is within their field.

Then compares these with Christianity. We don't endure as punishment or penance, or try to minimize or not feel. We don't pin suffering on one thing. The joy we feel from being in God's favor can lessen

I'm using this book for exercises in the Rapid Reading book. This means I'll be reading some sections 3-4 times, and writing down some things about what I read for the purpose of comprehension and later retention.

Keller writes about other societies and how they deal with suffering, both on a philosophical/religious level and also in how to deal with it. Western society is definitely weak in this regard.