Happy Friday! May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

(Yesterday on the blog: Books To Read As You Prepare for Easter)
When Evil Is Called Good
Carl Trueman analyzes three recent news stories. “Taken together, these three news stories point to the comprehensive destabilizing of society at which the revolution aims. The family must be dismantled; biology must fall to gender ideology; dissenters must be discredited and vilified.”
Fearing Fear Itself
“This past month, as the world has watched and prayed while the Russian army has invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine, images of young mothers and children having to flee to safety, or hunker down in bomb shelters have flooded our media, imaginations, and our hearts. The courage and tenacity of the Ukrainian people have been inspiring. But fear is a powerful and all-consuming weapon. Not just overseas and in far away lands, but even in our own first-world lives of comfort and affluence we can be easily overwhelmed by fear and worry.”
Preaching Series: Six Strengths
Peter Mead: “Some churches always preach sermons in a series. Some churches never do. Here are six strengths of well-planned series…”
Pain From the Church Heals in the Church
“This is the beauty of the body of Christ: we do not have to pretend we are put-together people. Believers endure the trials of this life together, which means we also have a front-row seat to spiritual growth gifted through them.”
Progressive Christians Love THIS Fallacy
I expect you’ve heard someone rely on this fallacy before.
Died: Gary North, Who Saw Austrian Economics in the Bible and Disaster on the Horizon
Christianity Today has an interesting obituary for Gary North who recently died. “Gary North, a leading Christian Reconstructionist who argued for the biblical basis of free market economics and urged people to prepare for societal collapse, has died at 80.”
Flashback: Four Good Reasons to Read Good Books
Reading is a pleasure worth learning to love and pursue, even if it requires some effort at first. However, whether it is pleasure or pain, commit yourself to read to know, read to grow, read to lead and read to love.

Christian friendships are among the sweetest gifts God gives his people. —Sam Emadi

I made it home safe and sound and, of course, moderately jet-lagged, from my trip to Poland. I’m thankful for traveling mercies (perhaps especially after being in a country with a speed limit of 140 km/h).

There are a few new Kindle deals for the collectors.
Kate Forbes: Would a Christian be permitted to lead Scotland?
“With a Hindu as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and a Muslim as the mayor of London, it would seem that the UK is at last fulfilling the promise of a multi-cultural society. Yet events in Scotland suggest that there is one group who are in effect banned from meaningful political leadership – Christians who actually believe what Jesus says!”
The Devil Is Real
“Recently, the devil visited the Grammys. From the amount of press coverage, it seems he won an award. If you haven’t seen Sam Smith and Kim Petras’s controversial live performance of the song ‘Unholy,’ don’t bother. It’s not worth your time. However, the celebration of this performance does bring up two points that are worth our attention.” Jonathan Noyes explains what they are.
The Respiration of Internet Culture
Chris Martin has an interesting look at the history of the internet here.
Unguarded Advice
“Have you ever considered advice to be a dangerous gift?” Tolkien did, and perhaps we should as well.
What Does Faith Do? It Depends
“Theology is much like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. There are all these different pieces. They do fit, but we don’t always right away realize how. The key is to pay attention to the clues. These are given to us in Scripture.”
I’ll See You in Heaven
We have such hope through the gospel…
Flashback: Homesick
My eyes strain to see it, my ears to hear it, my hands to grasp it. Home, sweet home. Home where my God is. Home where my heart is. Home where my father is. Home where my son is. Simply, wonderfully, eternally home.

The fear of God is a profound respect for His holiness, which includes a fear of the consequences of disobeying Him. —Randy Alcorn

May the God of love and peace be with you today.

There’s a new Bible for young children on sale this week at Westminster Books. There are some other kids’ books discounted as well.
(Yesterday on the blog: The House Seems Large Today)
‘Christian Nation’ Puts the Bible on Trial
Joe Carter writes about that “member of Finland’s parliament [who] faces a second ‘hate speech’ trial over a Twitter post quoting the Bible.”
The Need for Precision When Quoting Scripture
I agree with David Kaywood about the need for precision when quoting Scripture (especially in the context of more scholarly works).
God’s Good Design of the Local Church
“My heart breaks for those who can’t see the beauty of the local church, or the ones who only focus on her flaws. Look at anyone long enough and you will find problems, especially if that’s your goal. No masterpiece is flawless, even God’s church bears the effects of sin . . . for now.”
Prayer Leaves An Eternal Legacy
Mothers and grandmothers may be especially encouraged by this article from Sylvia.
Tota Scriptura
This is an oldie but a goodie from R.C. Sproul. “The issue that we face in our day is not merely the question of sola Scriptura but also the question of tota Scriptura, which has to do with embracing the whole counsel of God as it is revealed in the entirety of sacred Scripture.”
Should we reject weaponized words?
Aaron writes of the importance of keeping words that have become weaponized (e.g. inerrancy).
Flashback: What Can God Do With Broken Hearts?
Where the world looks to those who are whole and strong, God looks to those who are weak and broken, for his specialty is bringing much from little, beauty from ashes, strength from weakness.

Our grip is that of a two-year-old amid the stormy waves of life. His sure grasp never falters. —Dane Ortlund