I may not be going too far out on a limb when I suggest that you have probably not heard the name Anna Laetitia Barbauld. For various reasons she has been largely forgotten by history, and this despite achieving a significant level of fame in the eighteenth century. Though at one time she was a source of inspiration to well-known poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, they later scorned and besmirched her. By the end of her life, her fame had diminished and her reputation declined.
Still, she left behind some wonderful poems including this sweet celebration of friendship. I trust that as you read it you will have the name of a friend come to your mind—a friend of whom you can say, “How blest the sacred tie that binds / In union sweet according minds!”

How blest the sacred tie that bindsIn union sweet according minds!How swift the heavenly course they run,Whose hearts, whose faith, whose hopes are one!To each, the soul of each how dear,What jealous love, what holy fear!How doth the generous flame withinRefine from earth and cleanse from sin!Their streaming tears together flowFor human guilt and mortal woe;Their ardent prayers together rise,Like mingling flames in sacrifice.Together both they seek the placeWhere God reveals his awful face;How high, how strong, their raptures swell,There’s none but kindred souls can tell.Nor shall the glowing flame expireWhen nature droops her sickening fire;Then shall they meet in realms above,A heaven of joy—because of love.

May the God of love and peace be with you on this fine day.

Logos users, there are some good deals to be had this week, including Epic!
Today’s Kindle deals include quite an extensive list of titles.
(Yesterday on the blog: A Tribute to Those of Simple Faith)
From Meat to Meta: Facebook’s Disincarnate Dreamworld
“I find myself strangely grateful to the Zuck for giving me a new appreciation of the beauty of Christ’s enfleshment.” Here’s why one writer is strangely grateful for Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of a better world.
Night watch
“I remember when the two emails arrived. One after the other. To our inbox in Karachi. Same time. Same message. Traveling across the world. From opposite sides of the United States.”
Advice About Hard Bible Passages from the Bible
Here’s some help with hard passages. “One of the marvelous things about the Bible is that in it, God speaks to many of the challenges we face—including difficult passages in the Bible itself. We will look at one such section of Scripture in this article.”
A monument of gift
“There’s a principle in the Bible that’s foreign to our Protestant intuitions. When the people of Israel were dramatically saved by the Lord, they built a monument.” And that’s significant in its own way.
Giving thanks between two cultures
I enjoyed this little look at how different Christian cultures give thanks differently.
Should We Pursue Self-Love?
If you’re familiar with Randy Alcorn’s writing, his position on this matter won’t shock you. “I’ve often heard it said in evangelical messages, books, and articles that God’s Word teaches three kinds of love—love for God, love for others, and love for self.”
On Cigarettes, Vaping, and Nicotine
And if you’re familiar with John Piper’s writing, his position on this matter won’t shock you either. You may not fully agree, but he does lay out his position very clearly.
Five Words to Improve Every Sermon
Jason Allen: “Over the years, as I have monitored my own preaching and observed others, I have come to realize how intentionally using a few key words will strengthen most any sermon.” He offers five…
Flashback: Fears and Fleeting Faith
Our faith is shockingly shallow on the day of uncertainty. Our fears quickly overwhelm our fleeting faith.

Our everyday moments might be ordinary, but when we accomplish them while displaying the fruit of the Spirit, they reflect our extraordinary Savior. —Emily Jensen

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Don’t forget to check today’s Black Friday Deals for Christians roundup. I’ll be updating it through the day as I find new deals.
Your Spouse Is God’s Creation
I enjoyed Paul Tripp’s reflection on marriage and, even more, on his call to accept and embrace your spouse as he or she is. “God created every aspect of your spouse’s personhood. He administrated every choice of hardwiring, tone of voice, innate personality, natural gifts, and whether he or she is mechanical, analytical, or relational. Neither you nor your spouse chose any of these qualities.”
Two Powerful Skills You Already Have
Seth Lewis writes prose and poetry about two powerful skills you already have.
Visual Theology Advent Resources
Advent starts in just two days! Grab the annual countdown poster from Visual Theology in either full color or a version you can color each day. And new for this year is a complete coloring book! For 29 days, you’ll follow the Christmas story as told in four distinct aspects of the Gospel. Both for kids and adults, start your Advent countdown today! Subscribe to their newsletter, and you’ll get the first week of coloring pages for free. (Sponsored)
Operation Pedestal: Two Lessons for The Contemporary Spiritual Battle From The Relief of Malta in 1942
John Stevens: “Two things struck me from the account of this audacious and costly operation that are relevant to gospel ministry in our current context.”
‘I Will Grieve but not Grumble, Mourn but not Murmur, Weep but not Whine’
I’m grateful to Christianity Today for running this interview in the December issue of their magazine.
African Christianity Thrived, Long Before White Men Arrived
“Over 685 million people in Africa are associated with Christianity in some way. But amongst this broad acceptance, there’s a murmuring that this ‘religion of the Colonists’ shouldn’t have a place on the continent anymore; that Christianity isn’t African.” The reality, though, is that African Christianity existed and thrived long before that time.
God’s Wrath
Alistair Roberts was asked to review a book about God’s wrath in the Old Testament and I enjoyed reading his thoughts on the subject.
Flashback: Oh, How I Love the Law!
If we don’t love the law and don’t want to do the law, we don’t love the God who gave the law. Do we love the law of God like David did? Do we treasure it as he treasured it?

Discontent never made a rough path smoother, a heavy burden lighter, a bitter cup less bitter, a dark way brighter, a sorrow less sore. —J.R. Miller