I want to express my gratitude to Burke Care for sponsoring the blog this week. Burke Care is a great option if you’re considering counseling via the internet.

Today’s Kindle deals include a little selection of books.
As a Christian, I Went Down the AI Rabbit Hole. Here Are 12 Things I Discovered
If you read anything at all about AI, this would be a very good candidate. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve taken a deep dive down the AI rabbit hole, listening to podcasts, reading books, taking courses, and testing it myself. And let me say, it’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions, from dread at how this AI might eventually take our jobs and possibly even our freedom, to optimism about what AI could do for us.”
Different Uses for Different Questions
“When we observe a text, we collect all the raw materials for interpretation. And that which drives interpretation forward is the asking of questions. To interpret well, we must be intensely curious and investigate our observations as fully as possible. But the asking of questions ought not be a complete free-for-all. Different kinds of questions have different uses. Let’s take advantage of those differences.”
To the Mom Who Feels Invisible, There is a God Who Sees
Cara Ray speaks to moms and says, “When you feel invisible and alone, be encouraged that not one detail of your life, or one molecule in the universe, goes unnoticed by the God who sees.”
The Funny Thing about Hope
This is a sweet reminder of the power and beauty of hope.
“He Knows All about It”: C. S. Lewis and Psalm 103
This article reminds us that temptation is a form of suffering we must all endure.
How do you get your people to serve evangelistically?
“I am sometimes asked how our little church manages to do as much as it does. Speaking honestly, I do think we punch well above our weight in the evangelistic output stakes. But the question usually concerns how such a little church can manage to do (what is perceived to be) quite so much? Here are some things that we do – that might well be replicable – that may help you as you seek to encourage your church into service.”
Flashback: The Path to Glory
The road is narrow and perilous, often rough underfoot and steeply inclined. But if we are in Christ, we have the assurance that none of the struggles along the way are meaningless, that none of the trials are wasted and none of them unseen by God.

We want Christ’s power to be made perfect through us weak moms. So we will boast all the more gladly of our weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon us. —Gloria Furman

The Lord be with you and bless you today.

How a Firebombed Pregnancy Center Is Changing the Post-Roe Landscape
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra reports from Buffalo, New York.
Age with Joy
“Aging is beautiful. On the one hand, aging is difficult, it carries with it its own sufferings: our aging body that seems to slowly betray us, forgetfulness, pain, illness, and the harsh reality that we are mortal. But on the other, for Christians, aging carries a promise.”
Who Called David’s Census—God or Satan?
Here’s a question many people like to ask and answer!
I Could Always Get My Dad
This is a nice little illustration of an even better reality.
Should Joining a Church Be Difficult?
Here is a historically-grounded look at whether joining a church should be easy or difficult.
“Nearer My God to Thee”: A Serious Song of Hope for Sufferers
“The songs we sing do not always provide realistic expectations of the Christian life. Consider the line from a well-loved hymn which states that it was at the cross by faith, ‘I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.’ The first phrase is true. The second is strictly unbiblical.”
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.

Never doubt in the darkness what God has told you in the light. —Victor Raymond Edman

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include a huge Reformation Day event from Zondervan. You will probably want to consider some of their systematic theologies (e.g., Horton, Grudem, Reymond) and some of their church history material (e.g., Church History in Plain Language, which is widely regarded as the best single-volume church history). You’ll also find my own Seasons of Sorrow at the lowest price I’ve seen it; the same is true of Pilgrim Prayers, though the discount isn’t quite as steep because it’s so new.

(Yesterday on the blog: A Father’s Prayer for His Son)

Randy Alcorn offers lots for married couples to think about together as they consider how to steward their money. “Were you to survey married couples about their money-management goals, most answers would focus on some form of financial success. Most people strive to accumulate better houses, nicer cars, more toys, and bigger retirement accounts. But when it comes to the dream of financial prosperity and security, we should ask, ‘Whose dream is it?’”

Lauren Whitman writes about regrets in parenting and our fear of bothering Jesus.

Thirty years ago, R.C. Sproul began Renewing Your Mind, a daily teaching broadcast to help Christians grow in their knowledge of God’s Word. Now, the podcast is available on YouTube, featuring daily teaching from Dr. Sproul and other theologians. As we approach the anniversary of the Reformation this week, subscribe to the Renewing Your Mind YouTube channel and hear Dr. Sproul teach from the book of Romans. (Sponsored)

“I think we see this in our culture consistently.  In so many ways, our world thinks that it knows better than previous generations. It clearly displays what CS Lewis called ‘chronological snobbery’.  However, there is rarely any awareness of lostness. There is little recognition in our culture of where we have come from, where we are, or where we are going.  There is a refusal to admit that we might be lost.  There are millions of people in our city blind to their lostness.”

John Beeson: “I think some of us similarly treat sin as we treat violence [in movies]. We are drawn to the dopamine hit of getting near sin, but not (hopefully) entering in. We want to test ourselves and prove our mettle, and so we intentionally step into temptation’s path. We want the rush of escape. Temptation is tempting.”

Cheryl considers the way she thinks about her singleness. “I’m afraid I’ve talked about my singleness as something I’m trying to survive way too often. Even though it doesn’t always feel like it, the Bible is clear that singleness is a gift from the Lord as it allows for more time to focus on the Lord.”

Earlier I linked to Randy Alcorn’s article for married couples. This one from Wayne Grudem applies to married and non-married people alike. He looks at the biblical concept of the tithe and then offers lots of common sense tips and pointers for today.

The main purpose in our family has been simple: to gather the family together with God. 

The gospel frees me to be honest about the ways I fall short instead of being crushed by them, because it reminds me that Jesus was crushed for me.
—Adam Ramsey