I’m thankful for this lovely review of Seasons of Sorrow from Sola Network.

I added some Kindle deals yesterday and will keep an eye out for more today.
(Yesterday on the blog: A Family and Personal Update)
Friends Who Fell Away: When Apostasy Comes Close to Home
“The memories, on most days, seem better left forgotten. Never has remembering sweet Bible studies tasted so bitter. Flashbacks of late-night conversations and time spent in prayer press inconsiderately upon the wound. In that large group, I can still hear his profession of faith echo. I thought I heard angels sing at his surrender. So long we had prayed for his salvation. Now, he no longer walks with Jesus.”
Holiness Is Transgressive
Brett McCracken reflects on attempts to be shockingly transgressive. “Because ‘transgression’ in contemporary pop culture has become ubiquitous to the point of banality. Transgressing gender binaries in fashion, pushing the envelope of sex and nudity on TV, ratcheting up gore in horror movies, celebrating ‘completely filthy’ chart-topping singles—it’s all so pervasive by now that it’s tiresome, as ‘transgressive’ as the khaki section of Old Navy.”
How Unanswered Prayers Have Shaped My Faith
Ruth Davidar Paul considers an unanswered prayer and says, “thinking about that prayer, I realised that it has been integral in cementing my faith, as incongruous as that may seem.”
Where Can I Find a Biblical Reason NOT to Gamble?
Biblical Counseling Coalition has a series this week on gambling meant to explain why Christians should not gamble.
What to Do When You Think a Friend Is Considering Suicide
“Over the last four years, I’ve been invited to churches, schools, and conferences all over the world to speak. What do you think my number one requested talk has been? It’s not the problem of evil, homosexuality, biblical justice, or even the existence of God. It’s suicide. More than 30% of the time, my host wants to hear about suicide. Why? Why is this issue so much more popular than all the others?”
Do You Carry More Than You Should?
I appreciate this article about Jesus telling his disciples that he would be going away. “In the wait, Jesus helped them anchor themselves in the One trustworthy for each and every day. He strengthened their faith then for later. When the time did come for the disciples to bear Jesus’ death, weakness turned to power, grief to joy, and the whole world turned upside down.”
Flashback: Procrastination Is a Failure to Love
…this is exactly what makes procrastination such an ugly and offensive sin. It is inherently self-centered. It is a form of self-love.

There is one song that you will sing every hour your first ten years in heaven, and the refrain of that song will be: “I am so glad God did not let me have it my own way!” —DeWitt Talmage

Blessings to you today.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Freedom of Embracing My Weaknesses)
Thousands of Happy, Unwitting Plagiarists: The Shaping Legacy of Tim Keller
I really appreciated Jared Wilson’s tribute to Tim Keller. (See also Paul Tripp’s)
God’s Grace in Our Weakness
“The longer I walk with God, the smaller I recognize myself to be—small power, small thinking, small faith, small resistance to sin. I am not great. Surprisingly, this has not discouraged me.”
The Radius Conference
PLENARY TOPICS: Brooks Buser – Gospel Clarity For The Sake Of The Nations; Costi Hinn – The One True Gospel Throughout The World; Wayne Chen – The Gospel Across Cultures; Aubrey Sequeira—Emptying The Cross Of Its Power: Honor/Shame And The Gospel Of Christ; and John MacArthur – A Faithful Gospel vs. A Quick Gospel. (Sponsored Link)
Anything Worth Doing, Is Worth Doing Badly
“You’ve probably heard it said, ‘Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.’ Generally, I agree with that statement. If a thing is worth giving our time for, we should strive to do it with excellence.” However…
Donald Macleod (1940–2023): In Memoriam
This weekend the Scottish theologian Donald Macleod went to be with the Lord. This is a remembrance of him.
The Lord Has Comforted us…a Year Later
Kenneth Irungu tells how the Lord has comforted him and his wife as they have grieved the loss of their unborn child.
Working on the Inside, Not Only the Outside
“Jesus is calling people to a consistently godly life here, not one that only looks acceptable on the outside. It is easier to look godly than to actually be godly. We must work on the kinds of things that others do not see, things like resisting temptation, cultivating prayer, and deepening in our understanding of God’s word.”
Flashback: My Heart Longs for Justice (Kind of)
When I honestly assess myself, I have to admit that my longing for justice is not universal. I want justice for other people’s sins, but not for my own. I want their misdeeds to be met with justice but mine to be met with mercy. Is this not the very height of hypocrisy?

If you and I see ourselves merely as peddlers or purveyors of a spiritual “message”, we rapidly become salesmen for the gospel instead of true ministers of the gospel. —Harold Senkbeil

I’m grateful to Christian Focus for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about their new exposition of the London Baptist Confession. Please do make it a point to visit the sponsors since they play a key role in keeping this site going.

Westminster Books has a deal on a new book for kids. And don’t forget they’ve also got Paul Miller’s new A Praying Church discounted.
(Yesterday on the blog: A Divine Tapestry)
An Eton Mess: The Failure of English Bishops
Here is another article that reflects on the failure of the Anglican hierarchy to properly settle the issue of same-sex marriage. They have come up with a solution that will actually just make everyone unhappy!
Six Ways Pre-Born Babies Glorify God
Paul Tautges offers six ways that pre-born babies glorify God. “As pastors, we must be able to speak biblically about the value of human life. We must help our congregations mull over life in the womb, which is often a dangerous place for pre-born children.”
The Basis is Biology
”On Christmas Eve Melissa Courtney set a new women’s parkrun world record at Poole parkrun. Melissa is originally from Poole so all our local runners basked in the reflected glory as she ran a time of 15 minutes and 31 seconds. This was a truly world class performance.”
The Lies Writers Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free
This is a perceptive article that will speak to many writers. “The world is full of good advice for writers. Just ask Google, “How to start writing?” and you’ll get a host of interesting answers like become a reader, commit to a routine, use writing exercises, and find a community to support your efforts. We’d all agree that this advice makes sense and would help us grow. But what Google doesn’t say, is to figure out who you are in Christ first…”
More Than Jumper Cable Christianity
Jeff Medders wants to help you avoid what he calls “jumper cable Christianity.”
The Young Adults’s Guide to Social Media
Younger Christians may benefit from reading this guide to social media.
Flashback: When You’re at Your Best, Plan for Your Worst
It is when we are not being tempted, it is when we are standing strong in the Lord’s grace, that we ought to consider the times we will be weak and tempted and eager to sin. We need to assume such times will come and we need to use the moments of strength to put measures in place that will protect us when we are weak.

The basis of my marriage is this: God has called me with an irrevocable, inexcusable calling to lay down my life for one specific woman all the days of her life. And to serve her unconditionally, whether she deserves it or not. —Paul Washer