Some of you may have noticed that I have a link on the far sidebar to Desiring God, the ministry of John Piper. There is a reason for that. Few modern Christian authors and preachers have influenced and helped me more than Piper. His reflections on the glory of God and the importance of hope and joy in the Christian life have been both soul-stirring and life changing for me. The Pleasures of God, Desiring God, and Future Grace are three of my favorite Christian books. Piper is among the Christian writers that I would most strongly commend you to read. I think that you would greatly benefit from his work.

One of the most significant ideas in Piper’s work is what he calls “Christian Hedonism.” This may sound like a bizarre oxymoron, but Piper believes that it is a thoroughly biblical idea. As he puts, “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him.” Thus happiness is something that is to be pursued with zeal. You can get a taste of Piper’s wonderful God- centered thought as he explains Christian Hedonism here. See what you think.