May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

(Yesterday on the blog: New and Notable Christian Books for April 2022)
No One Knows My Pain
Vaneetha Rendall Risner writes about a phenomenon common to those who suffer. “Rather than inviting others into my pain and grief, I’ve often pushed them away. I’ve felt a vague sense of self-righteousness, confident that no one could speak into my life except God himself. I’ve dismissed others’ experiences, even the comfort of friends, because they couldn’t fully relate to my suffering.”
In Praise of the Boring, Uncool Church
“Relevance is no substitute for reverence and indeed may compromise it. The Christian life shouldn’t be oriented around being liked; it should be oriented around loving God and loving others. Far less important than being fashionable is being faithful. Far more crucial than keeping up with the Joneses is staying rooted in God’s unchanging Word.”
Baylor University Charters LGBTQ Group
“The news that Baylor University has officially chartered Prism, an LGBT student organization on campus, marks an important moment in Christian higher education in the USA.” Carl Trueman tells why this is so significant.
The most revealing meeting at church
“Martin Buber said: ‘All real meaning in life is in meeting’. What’s the most revealing meeting at church?” This article suggests several possibilities and elevates one above the rest.
Christo et Ecclesiae 
Kristin reflects on the sheer goodness and necessity of the local church despite the pain it can sometimes cause us.
Friendship and Belonging in Middle Age
Alan Noble: “I’m skeptical anyone over age 35 has close friends. That’s an exaggeration, but I’m certainly convinced there’s a dead zone for friendship between ages 35 and 50. It’s difficult to have good friends in middle age. Far more difficult than it should be, especially for men.”
Flashback: Who Does My Body Belong To?
As Christians, we celebrate the beautiful fact that we were each handcrafted by God, we have been bought with a price, and we now have the joyful responsibility and privilege of glorifying God in our bodies.

Confessing that we are sinners in general will not enable us to make lasting headway against our sins in particular. —Sinclair Ferguson

Good morning, my friends. May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Westminster Books has the ESV Alpha Bible on sale along with some new resources for children.
Aged Care Ministry: 3 Challenges and 5 Responses
This is a remarkable article for a number of reasons. I highly recommend reading it. “I lost count over the past three years of how many Christians said to me: ‘Those old people must be very open to the gospel, as close to death as they are.’ It’s a plausible idea, but not at all true to my experience. I did not at all find nursing home residents more open to the gospel, but generally less so than those younger in years with more years of life ahead of them.”
Quiet Time and Evangelism: How Much Is Enough?
Kevin DeYoung considers the guilt so many Christians feel as they consider their quiet times and their efforts in evangelism. He says helpful things like this: “God never meant for evangelism to be the single defining characteristic of faithful Christianity.”
New to Reformed Theology? Start Here
This month, you can receive four Reformation ebooks by R.C. Sproul when you give a donation of any amount in support of Ligonier Ministries. Get to the heart of the gospel with Saved from What?, explore major doctrines of the Christian faith with Everyone’s a Theologian, relive church history with Luther and the Reformation, and go deep into God’s Word with Romans: An Expositional Commentary. (Sponsored Link)
Common Fallacies in an Age of Outrage
Steve Bateman: “In addition to developing biblical literacy, we can ask ourselves if we’re falling for fallacies. Here are seven that are common in our public discourse.”
Why Are People So Fascinated with ‘Lost’ Books of the Bible?
Michael Kruger considers a cultural phenomenon. “Our culture’s insatiable appetite for all things lost has not been missed by publishers. Books are more likely to sell if you can find a way to get some key words in the title: ‘lost,’ ‘forgotten,’ ‘secret,’ ‘hidden,’ etc. … So, what’s going on? Why are people so intrigued by the concept of ‘lost’ books of the Bible? Let me mention two main considerations.”
How to Mourn Over Your Sins
“Spiritual mourning is laden with blessing, and we are to go after it and get as much of it in our lives as we possibly can. The more you know of this mourning, the more joy you will experience in your life.” Here is some guidance.
Sermon Series Ideas for Advent
Pastors looking for some fresh ideas for an advent series may appreciate these suggestions.
Flashback: The Discipline of Watching
The first line of defense against temptation is watchfulness–to be aware of the sins that tempt us most often and with the greatest strength and to be proactive in our battle against them.

A surrendered mind is not one which is no longer in operation. It is, rather, a mind freed from rebellion and opposition. To be Christ’s captive is to be perfectly free. —Elisabeth Elliot

The Lord be with you and bless you today.

Westminster Books has a deal this week on a new edition of a true classic.
Today’s Kindle deals include a few interesting titles.
The Importance of Theological Pairs
This is a really interesting look at theological pairs in the Shorter Catechism.”Many disagreements in theological matters come from only holding to one of two complimentary theological truths. When we grasp both we’ll be able to refute theological error and minister more effectively to others with theological precision and care.”
Marxism’s Long Shadow
This is the second part of a two-part article on Marxism.
Love Is Not a Finite Resource?
“Linguistic tricks are often used to smuggle in destructive ideas.” Indeed. Here’s a new one.
Travel Photographer of the Year Ltd.
There are some lovely photographs on display in the Travel Photographer of the Year awards.
What Things?
“There are moments in scripture that are easy to miss, but they are deeply profound if we take the time to consider them. One of those moments happens on the road to Emmaus. Jesus speaks two words in light of the context that reveals a world of encouragement.”
Preachers Should Measure Twice and Cut Once
Erik Raymond: “Measure twice and cut once. For generations, the veteran builder has spoken these words over a sawhorse to their younger apprentice. Because as the saying goes, when you spend extra time being precise on your measurement, you won’t waste time (and wood) by repeating it over again. What’s true in the wood shop is also true in the study. The preacher must measure twice and cut once when preparing to make an argument.”
Flashback: Pornographic Detachment
Pornography makes sex about self—about personal pleasure and personal satisfaction that has no reference to the pleasure or satisfaction of another person.

Good hospitality is making your home a hospital. The idea is that friends and family and the wounded and weary people come to your home and leave helped and refreshed. —Kevin DeYoung