May the Lord be with you and bless you as you begin a new day and a new month.

(Yesterday on the blog: To Surprise Us At the Last Day)
A Word to Gen Z Graduates
Aaron Menikoff has a message to Gen Z graduates that may encourage and challenge them in useful ways.
What Is Prudence?
“As a protective Father, God calls us to prudence, to think before we act. This may sound simple, but even prudence has its imposters. We may think we are being prudent while we are still playing the fool. How so?” Emily Van Dixhoorn explains.
Let’s Turn Pride Month into Prayer Month
Cindy Matson has a great idea here. She includes prayer prompts for every day of the month.
The Sound Witness of An Ordinary Life
“In Paul’s view here in Titus, the lifeblood of an effective Gospel witness is far more ordinary and unimpressive than we’d like to admit. It’s comprised of character and behavior we readily assume ourselves to have, but closer self-examination reveals why Paul instructs us to continually remind ourselves of these things.”
The Ordinary Means of Grace
For the Church’s “Theology in the Everyday” series of brief introductions to theological matters continues with an explanation of the ordinary means of grace. As is true for each entry, there’s also an explanation meant for children.
Expect God to Work in the Lives of People Around You
“I find the Lord’s activity in the lives of the Babylonian kings’ when the Israelites were in captivity fascinating. I cannot help but think that it was because of the presence of the people of God that the Lord worked miracles in the lives of these pagan monarchs.”
Flashback: 4 Guidelines for Dating Without Regrets
Couples should make their intentions known when they begin dating—but this is not the same as declaring an intention to get married! Rather, to be intentional is to be clear on what the initial expectations are.

The way to conquer sin is not by working hard to change our deeds, but by trusting Jesus to change our desires. —David Platt

The world was still new, the earth was still young, humanity was still barely east of Eden. And deep in virgin forests, unseen by human eye, untrod by human foot, a gentle fern was summoned forth from the soil. Its fronds were perfectly symmetrical, its leaves were vibrant green, it was uniquely patterned with the most delicate of veins.

When the sun broke through the trees above, it illumined the fern with beams of gold. When the dews fell in the quiet of night, they topped it with crowns of silver. When the winds blew upon it, it fluttered and danced with joy. It was but a little fern, but it was the delight of its Maker.
But a day came when the thunders rolled and the rocks split. A day came when the earth quaked and the mountains heaved. A day came when the skies above and the deeps beneath broke open in mighty torrents and floods. That little fern succumbed to the waves and was buried and compressed, encased in clay. Like all humans and like all animals, it perished.
Yet the clay that encased that fern also protected it. As the clay dried and hardened, it preserved the shape, the lines, and even the gentle traces of the veins. A living work of art gave way to a petrified one.
And then it rested. It rested through the centuries as nations rose and fell. It rested through the millennia as kingdoms waxed and waned. It rested in hardened rock.
But then, at last, a day came when a young man drew near—a young man who was searching for secrets hidden in nature. Deep in a fissure he gently withdrew a single stone and carried it up into the bright light of the sun. And as he gazed at that stone he marveled to see, as if drawn with the finest of pencils, the tracings of stems and leaves, of fibers and veins. He rejoiced in the fossil that told of the existence of that fern, that bore its memory, that testified that it had never been forgotten by its Maker.
And as I ponder that petrified fern—hidden through the ages to be revealed at last, forgotten through the ages to be a source of wonder at last—I find myself considering that perhaps God has kept secret from our eyes the salvation of some of his people.
Perhaps he called them to himself after we lost track of them—we assumed their hardened rebellion against Christ continued indefinitely, while only God knows it eventually gave way to the sweetest submission. Perhaps he allowed some to commit terrible deeds toward the end—we were certain they had turned away, but God never loosened his grip on them. Perhaps he called them to himself at their final gasp—we were certain they had gone to judgment, but in the very last moment God brought them safely to glory.
And so I wonder. As I consider that petrified fern I wonder what marvelous secrets God has stored away, what wonderful surprises he has kept hidden from our eyes, what beautiful blessings he has left undisclosed in our day so he can reveal them in that last and wonderful day—so he can reveal them to the delight of our hearts and the praise of his name.

(Inspired by a poem I discovered in an old anthology.)

Today is your final chance to grab this month’s free and nearly-free books from Logos. The options aren’t tremendously exciting, but they are still worth a look. You may also want to look at their Memorial Day sale and May deals which also wrap up today.

Over at Westminster Books you’ll find a great new edition of Christianity & Liberalism on sale.
There are some good Kindle deals available today as well.
Is Being Salt And Light Really Worth It?
Unati Manyela: “When I was young, missionaries came to my hometown in Willowvale (KuGatyane) in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and built a school, planted a church and spent years evangelizing our hearts with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They did that in a very practical way, teaching and practising the gospel of love, charity and by modelling true works of grace and compassion. They were young themselves, worked so hard, sacrificed a lot and often had little fruit to show for it.”
Known But to God
“The changing of the guard wouldn’t begin for another fifteen minutes. While waiting, I found myself arrested by a mixture of overwhelming grief and pride for the dignity bestowed in this place. I stared at the large rectangular memorial in front of me and pored over the words etched into its face: ‘Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.’” Brianna reflects on the idea of being “known but to God.”
Let’s Pray Real Quick
It’s okay to pray real quick at times, but Andrea reminds us that it shouldn’t be our default posture.
The Bible and Wallpaper
One of the struggles we can encounter in our times of devotion is the familiarity of it all. Jacob offers some tips on preventing a casual relationship with the Bible.
Treading The Path Toward Death
Chris considers that in all of life we are treading the path toward death.
Uprooted
Rebecca VanDoodewaard writes for those who have been uprooted. “If you, like so many around this world, have been uprooted from your home and community, you may be facing temptations to discouragement, self-pity, or frustration as you are forced to let go of the known and put out roots into the unknown. Here are some biblical truths that can help homesick hearts.”
Flashback: Whatever Is False, Whatever Is Immoral, Whatever Is Prejudiced…
If divine peace flows toward those who discipline their minds to fixate on all that is lovely and pleasing to God, divine peace flows away from those who allow their minds to fixate on all that is unlovely and on all that is displeasing to God.

A prayer breathed from a sincere heart, it is heaven’s delight. —William Gurnall

Good morning!

If you didn’t check in yesterday, you’ll want to take a quick look at the updated list of Kindle deals for both yesterday and today.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Calm Will Be the Better)
7 Reasons Why Your Church Should Engage in Door-to-Door Evangelism
“Door-to-door evangelism tends to get a bad rap, and many Christians question its effectiveness. But in our experience, the people in our community have responded positively. At about half of the homes we visit, someone answers the door and a positive conversation ensues.” It’s hard to argue with that!
On Not Giving Up
Joe explains how pastoral ministry “seems to have changed from golf to hockey. Golf is hard, but it’s a game of technique. Improving your technique is the answer to most of your frustrations on the course. In hockey, you’ve got all the technique development challenges that go along with golf, but you also have to account for the reality that someone is trying to punch you in the face or check you into a wall at full speed.”
What is the difference between the Dutch Reformed view and the Lutheran view of baptism? (Video)
I don’t agree with either of these positions on baptism but do appreciate the way Dr. Godfrey distinguishes between them. Also, for Baptists like myself, this is a brief but helpful explanation of infant baptism: “Baptism comes to everyone baptized with the strong promise of God that God will save everyone who receives the promises of baptism in faith.”
Offerings at the Door of Eden?
Okay, so this may be conjecture, but it’s interesting to consider.
How to Pray at a Military Grave
“When we recently moved to Washington, DC, there was one tourist attraction on the top of my list to visit: Arlington National Cemetery. Eighteen years ago when I went for the first time, it was an interesting historic place. But as I prepared for my second visit nearly two decades later, it was different. Now I have friends buried there.” This leads to a helpful reflection on how (and how not) to pray at a military grave—or any other grave.
Reconstructing My Faith
“Ten years ago, I fled the only life I had ever known and escaped the abuse and control of the church where I grew up. For more than 25 years, my entire world revolved around church and what the leader told us to believe and how to live. Although we identified as an independent, fundamental, spirit-filled Baptist church, we had all the hallmarks of a cult. I never imagined that I would end up questioning everything and leaving it all behind.”
Flashback: Another Week in a Difficult and Hostile World
The people come to church each week weary and hungry, eager to be fed. And it is the task of the pastor to meet their need for spiritual sustenance, to equip them for their God-given duties, to feed them good food.

Why should the frail creature doubt the wisdom and the goodness of the strong Creator? Why should the child distrust the love and wisdom of the Father? —J.R. Miller

Today’s post is sponsored by P&R Publishing and written by P&R’s editorial director, Amanda Martin.

I learned a new word last year, as I often do when talking to my dad. Diatessaron. Five syllables of majestic-sounding Greek. He said it with relish, which is exactly how such a word ought to be said.
It was a word I immediately wanted to use, but my opportunities to do so are limited. This is because a diatessaron is a single-narrative arrangement of the four canonical gospels. There aren’t many of those lying around! And yet they have a long history: the first diatessaron was created in the late 100s.
My dad, a Presbyterian pastor, was telling me about diatessarons because I was working on one—although at the time I hadn’t realized it had such a delightful name. I was editing a new edition of theologian Loraine Boettner’s Harmony of the Gospels (now titled The Gospel of Jesus) and learning so much as I saw the work of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John come together in a chronological narrative. Not only had I gotten a clearer sense of just how much Jesus traveled during his earthly ministry (he traveled a lot), but I was especially enjoying Mark’s eye for the dramatic detail.
How does a diatessaron work?
I’ll write about the one I know well. Boettner wove the material from the four gospels into one continuous account, including everything but repeating nothing, and added section headings, dates, and locations (where possible). He was a Bible teacher in Kentucky and wanted to create a useful Bible study aid for his class.
The genius of Boettner’s diatessaron is that it includes all Scripture references so that readers can remain mindful of the original text and its context. Any detail that is inserted from another gospel account appears with a reference on the margin of the page. Thus, when you’re reading the story of Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness, you know it’s Mark who dropped in the detail about the wild animals (Mark 1:13). When Jesus is transfigured before his disciples, you know it’s Mark who considered a launderer’s struggle to whiten clothes (Mark 9:3). When Jesus is besting the Pharisees in debate, you know it’s Mark who mentioned that the “large crowd was listening to him with delight” (Mark 12:37 CSB).
The same is true for each gospel writer. No one gets lost. As you read one coherent story, you see how the four gospels harmonize—even in tricky places such as the resurrection accounts.
Please take a moment to say diatessaron out loud. Di-a-tes-sa-ron. It’s a great word, right? Maybe it’s time to bring it back.
And if you’re curious and want to experience a diatessaron for yourself, check out The Gospel of Jesus, edited by Loraine Boettner—it’s reader-friendly, attractively bound, and developed to serve students of the Bible.

There was no silence like the silence that descended over the trenches of Western Europe on the morning of November 11, 1918. At exactly 11 AM, an armistice came into effect that brought a halt to all fighting on land, sea, and air. Never had silence been better appreciated than when that silence marked the end of the four brutal years we now call the First World War. In its own way, the silence was a song that told of the cessation of hostilities and the dawning of peace.

Matt Boswell and Matt Papa once wrote a hymn about the beauty of stillness, of calmness, of peace. “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor” is meant to comfort Christians in times of trial and suffering. Its lyrics tell about the fury of life’s storms when winds of doubt are blowing and sinking hopes are few. They tell about the tempests of temptation, the floods of unbelief, and the waves of death. Through it all they promise Christ as the sure and steady anchor and proclaim, that with God’s help, “I will hold fast to the anchor; / It shall never be removed.”
The hymn culminates in a stanza that speaks of the Christian’s confidence as he faces the inevitability of death, for each of these different forms of suffering and sorrow is in its own way pointing us to the final suffering, the final sorrow, and to all that lies beyond. “When these trials give way to glory, / As we draw our final breath; / We will cross that great horizon, / Clouds behind and life secure…” And then this:

And the calm will be the betterFor the storms that we endure.

The silence that followed the Armistice at the end of the First World War was especially sweet to the soldiers because of the long and brutal clamor that preceded it. And in just that way, the calm of heaven will be especially sweet to the Christian because of the suffering and sorrow that we have endured before it.
I have often heard those who have endured hurricanes tell that they had never appreciated silence as much as they did in the moments that followed the storm. I have often heard those who have endured illnesses tell that they had never appreciated health as much as they did in the moments that followed their recovery. And in much the same way, the peace of heaven will be especially delightful because of the warfare we have experienced here. The health of heaven will be especially precious because of the sickness we have experienced here. The safety of heaven will be especially meaningful because of the danger we have experienced here.
And so, Christian, when you have to pass through times of difficulties, times of trial, times of pain, you can gaze toward that distant horizon believing and knowing that the struggles you are enduring now are not only deepening your longing for heaven but also seasoning heaven to make it even better, even sweeter, even more precious. For as the songwriters say, the calm will be the better for the storms that we endure.

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include a good selection related to women’s ministry.
(Yesterday on the blog: Worship Round the World: An Update)
Definitive, Positional, and Progressive Sanctification
Nick Batzig explains an often-overlooked aspect of sanctification. “Many tend to think of sanctification as something entirely progressive, and, therefore, miss out on understanding one of the richest and most spiritually impacting Gospel truths.”
Why Did God Send Bears to Attack a Group of Boys?
We have all wondered this at some point, I’m sure!
What’s Expected of a Church Member?
“In our membership process, we make 4 basic commitments to each other.” This is a helpful reminder of what’s bound up in church membership.
The Plumb Line
“Who is the person you compare yourself to most often? Perhaps it is a family member, friend, or co-worker; perhaps it is even a celebrity. We humans are comparison machines. We’re constantly evaluating the stimuli around us.”
You Are With Me
Justin reflects on simple but meaningful words from Psalm 23: “you are with me.”
Enduring Death to Taste Resurrection
“What does it mean to live out the resurrection of Jesus every day?” Amy asks and answers the question through some of her life experiences.
Flashback: It’s Submission, Not Subjection
Subjection describes actions taken by the one with authority where submission describes actions taken by the one under authority. When it comes to marriage, church, and our shared life with other believers, we are instructed to submit, not to subject.

Every test and trial, every storm in life is another opportunity for you to see the glory of Jesus Christ and discover his power in your life. —Sinclair Ferguson

It seems like a very long time ago that Tim Keesee and I announced a new project called Worship Round the World. In fact, in some ways, it was a very long time ago since it happened before any of us had ever heard of COVID and before any of us imagined that world travel could one day just slam shut. It happened before my family experienced our great loss and before the other Tim was diagnosed with cancer. Back in the waning days of 2019, we fundraised for the project, we planned our first journeys, we prepared to set out … and then we were forced to postpone it all.

But I’m glad to say that our journey has now not only begun but has gotten well underway. We hope to wrap filming by late 2023 or very early 2024. We recently journeyed to Asia and the South Pacific to record a pair of episodes. Having done that, we paused to record a brief update, which you can see below.
First, though, I wanted to mention that we are continuing to raise funds for this project because, while our original budget was set four years ago, costs for international travel have increased significantly since then. Funds can be given through Frontline Missions International, a non-profit mission organization supporting biblical ministries in restricted-access countries. Contributions to this ministry are tax-deductible. Thank you for considering this.
And now, as promised, can watch the video update right here.
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