The bookstore 10ofThose is hosting a flash sale with quite a lot of great titles discounted 60% or even higher. Some good picks include Embracing Complementarianism, Fight Your Fears, Parenting with Hope, and Age of Opportunity.
Meanwhile, Westminster Books is offering a 40% off launch sale on Stephen Wellums’s new Systematic Theology which has gotten accolades from Michael Horton, Tom Schreiner, and others.
I was a bit late adding yesterday’s Kindle deals so check in if you missed them. Meanwhile, I’ll continue searching for more.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Sun Is Blotted from the Sky)

Kevin DeYoung offers four solid reasons why the Bible does not support transgenderism. “We will see that the Bible does not support transgenderism. Instead, God has created each of us as either male or female, and he desires that we live our lives—in appearance, in attitude, and in behavior—according to our biological sex.”

As a long-serving pastor/elder I can assure you that this is true: Your elders will fail you. “My hope from this article is that we, as a Christian community, may give and grow in grace. I’m not giving a pass to sloppy, neglectful, or even sinful shepherding. But, I am advocating that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep. Why? Because your elders will fail you.”

This is a pretty good collection of questions for young women to consider.

The events that unfold in the book of Job can seem to be unrealistic. Should we believe that it is meant to be historical? Douglas Sean O’Donnell answers here.

This is a noble aspiration. “I want to be the same person in every room. I want to be the same person, at the core of me, whether I’m dressed up in a suit or a tracksuit. I want to be the same person with children and adults. The same person when I’m with powerful and influential people as I am with weak, heartbroken, and desperate people.”

For those who are interested in doing some in-depth reading, there is a new issue of Credo magazine free for the taking. It features articles by, among others, Gavin Ortlund, Keith Mathison, and William Boekestein.

If you aren’t being extravagantly generous with the bit you have now, what makes you think that having more would suddenly make all the difference? 

The reprover should have a lion’s stout heart, or he will not be faithful, and a lady’s soft hand, or he is not like to be successful.
—George Swinnock

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Christian Focus Publications. They are giving away five copies of Angels: When Heaven Meets Earth by Tim Chester.

 Nearly eight in ten Americans believe in angels. Even among those who never attend church it’s four out of ten. In the United Kingdom one in three people believe they have a guardian angel. You may well be one of them. Every tenth person in your street or workplace thinks they may have seen or heard an angel in some way. Books telling the story of angelic encounters are best sellers. Despite the widespread rejection of Christianity in our culture, many people are still fascinated by angels.
But what we can know for sure about angels? Are we dependant on second–hand accounts? Are we left with conjecture and guess work? This book goes back to the most reliable source we have for information about angels – God Himself speaking through the Bible.
Tim Chester delves into the mysterious world of angels and shows us what the Bible says about what angels are, what they do, and where they lead us.
From their operations in the redemptive plan of God, to daily interaction in the lives of human beings, angels have held a fascination in the hearts and minds of believers throughout church history. However, over the past century, this captivation with the angelic world has grown cold. In this new primer, Tim Chester answers common questions and helps reawaken our interest in this vast multitude of God’s creation.
Dustin W. Benge, Provost and professor, Union School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales
People are fascinated by angels. Unfortunately, much popular Christian literature, not to mention non–Christian media, gives scant attention to the actual biblical data about angels. With brevity and faithfulness, Tim Chester guides us to a deeper understanding of these ‘ministering spirits who are sent to serve those who will inherit salvation’ (Heb. 1:14).
Robert L. Plummer, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
In this illuminating and enthralling book, Tim Chester ranges across scripture to explain this apparently mysterious spiritual realm with remarkable clarity and simplicity, and shows us how understanding the nature and role of angels will impact our worship, our emotions, our prayers and our devotion to the Lord Jesus and His gospel. A wonderful biblical overview which opens our eyes to profound truth.
Jonathan Lamb, Minister–at–large for Keswick Ministries, IFES Vice President, and former Director, Langham Preaching

Enter Here
Again, there are five sets to win. And all you need to do to enter the draw is to drop your name and email address in the form below, which will add you to Christian Focus’ mailing list.
Giveaway Rules: You may enter one time. Winners will be notified by email. The giveaway closes on August 31st 2022 at midnight.

.iIDDUy { background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 0.3125rem; max-width: 35.25rem; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 2.5rem 2.75rem; position: relative; }.dEVaGV { font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(93, 93, 101); display: block; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; }.iFTUZ { color: rgb(221, 54, 42); }.iMsgpL { appearance: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; border-radius: 0.1875rem; box-sizing: border-box; box-shadow: rgba(142, 154, 173, 0.1) 0px 2px 0px 0px inset, rgb(210, 215, 223) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px 0px; color: rgb(67, 77, 93); font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.5; min-height: 2.8125rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease 0s; width: 100%; }.iMsgpL:focus { box-shadow: transparent 0px 0px 0px 0px inset, rgb(80, 156, 246) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset, rgba(80, 156, 246, 0.25) 0px 0px 0px 2px; }.bMslyb { margin-bottom: 1.5rem; }.liOVdz { margin-bottom: 1rem; }.gDVPix { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 29.125rem; padding-bottom: 3.125rem; }.czlKUj { font-size: 3rem; text-align: center; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.17; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: 900; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); }.fyndJN { display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; max-height: 7.5rem; }.efTFaG { background-color: rgb(123, 177, 61); border: none; border-radius: 3px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline-block; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.1s ease-in 0s, box-shadow 0.1s ease-in 0s; }.efTFaG:hover { cursor: pointer; }.jVBYvJ { background-color: rgb(46, 180, 238); border: none; border-radius: 3px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline-block; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.1s ease-in 0s, box-shadow 0.1s ease-in 0s; }.jVBYvJ:hover { cursor: pointer; }a, abbr, address, article, aside, b, blockquote, body, caption, cite, code, dd, details, dialog, div, dl, dt, em, fieldset, figcaption, figure, footer, form, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, header, html, i, iframe, img, label, legend, li, main, menu, nav, object, ol, p, pre, section, small, span, strong, sub, summary, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, th, thead, time, tr, u, ul { border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; }*, ::after, ::before { box-sizing: inherit; }html { font-family: “Helvetica Neue”, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; }h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, html { color: rgb(67, 77, 93); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; }a { color: rgb(25, 169, 229); text-decoration: underline; }button, label, p { overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; }

One of Charles Spurgeon’s more interesting projects was to write a volume of illustrations, all of which were borrowed from the writings of Thomas Manton. Essentially, he would quote a short illustration from Manton, then expand it into a kind of devotional. The result was called Flowers from a Puritan’s Garden. Here is one of them, beginning with Manton’s original quote and then continuing with Spurgeon’s reflection on it.

“The ship holds on her course, and makes for the desired port, whether they on board sit, lie or walk, eat or sleep.”
Thus time is at all times bearing us onward to the land where time shall be no more. There is never a pause in our progress toward eternity, whether we trifle or are in earnest. Even while we read these lines the great ship is still speeding onward at the same rapid and unvarying rate. We shall soon see the shore of eternity; far sooner than we think! It becomes us to be ready for the landing, and for the weighty business which will then engage us, namely, judgment at the hands of Christ.
If we could lie becalmed a while and make no movement toward eternity we could afford to sport; but if we look over the ship’s stern we may see by her shining wake how she is cutting through the waves. Past time urges us to diligence, for it has reported us in heaven; and future time calls us to earnestness, for it must be short, and may end this very day. And then!