For as long as there has been truth, there has been division over the truth—over what is consistent with God’s revelation and what is aberrant, over what pleases him and what grieves his heart. Richard Baxter was no stranger to this reality and, aware of his own sinfulness, penned a prayer meant to plead God’s help in times of controversy.

Lord God, when controversies occasion division among your people, may I look first to the interest of the common good and to the exercise of charity.
May I not become a passionate contender for any party or censure the peaceable.
May I not overreach my understanding or try to win esteem for my orthodoxy or zeal.
May I suspect my own unripe evaluation and silence my opinions until I am clear and certain.
May I join the moderates and the peacemakers rather than the contenders and dividers.
For division leads to the ruin of the church, the hindrance of the gospel and injury to the interests of true religion.
Keep me, I pray, from being misguided; from being carried away by passion or discontent; from worldly interests; from thinking too highly of my own opinion.
May my zeal be more for faith, charity and unity than for my opinions.

(Drawn from Into His Presence)

My gratitude goes to Boyce College for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you (and the young folk in your home) about their upcoming D3 Winter Conference.

Westminster Books has launched a new season of their interview series and they interviewed me on Seasons of Sorrow.
There are, indeed, some new Kindle deals today.
(Yesterday on the blog: Into the Light)
Do Affections Provide Assurance?
Erik Raymond: “Where do you look for assurance of salvation? Or, to put it another way, what causes you to question your assurance?”
Surviving the Winter of Suffering
Lara writes transparently here: “During a blizzard of suffering, I drew the blinds down in my heart. I pulled inward so I could survive. I eked out a small corner for myself and gave the bare minimum to the world. I didn’t know any other way forward. I met the needs of my family, I checked off the homekeeping list, and then I crawled back into the darkness.”
What was God doing before creation? (Video)
Michael Reeves answers here, though if you’ve read Delighting in the Trinity you already know the answer.
Be of Good Cheer, Your Seasons Are In God’s Hands
“More than ever before, I’m recognizing how the external, visible things we present to the world have their own hidden life cycles. When we see the perfectly executed cheer routine, the long-awaited novel hit the shelves, or the new business launched, that’s harvest day. It’s that moment we’ve dreamed of and longed for, but it’s only a fraction of the process. It took months of planting, watering, and tending to make harvest day possible.”
Productive Christians: Worth Imitating
“Last week in Romania a 2000 year old, fully intact, Roman road was discovered. It was well-built and intact. Many Roman era roads are still used today. This road was built in 106AD. For generations, Roman road engineering was passed down from one builder to another. Imitation provided longevity in the passing down of this skill.”
Why should I Forgive?
Guy Richard is beginning a series on forgiveness. The first entry is already helpful.
Flashback: The Only Tears In Heaven
What greater promise do we have than this, that in a moment God will comfort all sorrow, that his tender hand will wipe away not just some tears, but every tear?

Our rejection of God left our world in chaos. Because God alone possesses infinite glory and goodness, our lives only work with him at the center. —J.D. Greear

Parents of teens are always on the lookout for discipleship material. Today, you are invited to enter the Boyce College/D3 Giveaway to win those resources for free! That includes free tuition for a Boyce College dual credit course valued at over $1,200! 

Whether you are a pastor or a parent of teens, you are always on the lookout for ways to grow your student’s faith. Enter to win resources to help accomplish your goals through the Boyce College/D3 Winter Conference Giveaway.  Here are some of the items Boyce College and D3 are making available to our contest winners:

Student Discipleship Resource Bundle*
Boyce College dual credit course (3 credit hours) online or on-campus ($,1200 value) plus these books:

God and the Transgender Debate, by Andrew Walker
Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations, by Jimmy Scroggins and Steve Wright
How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison
This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years, by Jaquelle Crowe
NASB Grace & Truth Study Bible

Pastor Resource Bundle*:
D3 swag includes a personalized ¼ zip pullover, plus these titles:

God and the Transgender Debate, by Andrew Walker
Praying the Bible, by Donald Whitney
Deep Discipleship, by J.T. English
50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith, by Gregg Allison
NASB Grace & Truth Study Bible

*Winners will be drawn randomly and notified by email from Boyce College
ENTER TO WIN

It was a long time ago now that I wrote a book on pornography. And in a way it was a very different time. Back then the problem was just as pervasive as it is today, but that pervasiveness was still quite new and poorly understood. There were relatively few resources meant to help those who had fallen into troubling or even addictive patterns. Porn was still assumed to be solely a temptation for guys.

Today, though, no one can dispute the nearly universal reach of pornography—a reach so great that few young adults can truly claim they have been untouched by it. Today we know that while men may still be more likely to turn to porn casually or compulsively, many women do as well. And today we have a host of great tools meant to help people who are caught up in it and who long to be free.
Shortly after I wrote my book on the topic I realized that I had created a bit of a media mismatch. Where most people encounter porn in video format, books are in print. And where porn can be delivered freely, privately, and discreetly, books have to be purchased and carried around. In response I began to map out a video project that would address porn through a series of videos that could be accessed as early and discreetly as the smut it was meant to combat. Unfortunately I was unable to afford to create this myself and unable to secure funding, so the project fell by the wayside.
But if I had been able to make that series, it might have been similar to a new “teaching documentary” titled Into the Light which is now available to watch free online. The documentary had its genesis with two young men who made four simple observations: “There are pervasive sins that affect every Christian in the local church (like pornography); Books can equip Christians to fight sin and care for each other; However, not everyone is a reader; Therefore we need video resources to equip and inspire Christians.” Fair enough! So they set out to create that video resource, and I’m pleased to say they succeeded well.
The format of Into the Light is simple and effective. It is framed around six teaching sessions from six different teachers, all of whom have some expertise on the topic: Jeremy Pierre, Jenny Solomon, Heath Lambert, Deepak Reju, Ellen Dykas, and Garrett Kell. Pierre begins by discussing the nature of sexual sin and its consequences and Solomon follows by explaining God’s good design for our sexuality. Heath Lambert tells of the heart and how it is corrupted by pornography while Reju describes the necessity of taking radical measures to battle it. Ellen Dykas’ assignment is to tell how to run with endurance. Garrett Kell speaks last and enters a passionate plea to pursue freedom from this sin within the context of the local church. Woven throughout is the story of one young couple (a composite of many others) who tell of the history they brought into their marriage and the means through which God confronted, forgave, and healed them. At the end pastor Daniel Shin brings a final challenge and call to action.
I have been aware of Into the Light for some time now and had been slated to appear in it until we encountered some scheduling conflicts. I know the young men behind it as students at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and recipients of the Nick Challies Memorial Scholarship. They have made a professional-quality documentary that I think can and will prove helpful to those who are engaged in the battle against porn. It is a gift to the church and one I’d encourage you to make use of.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

ONE Audio books has a free audiobook for you to download—Piper’s The Romantic Rationalist.
There is once again quite an extensive list of Kindle deals for you to take a look at.
The Light Gets Through
This is a sweet one from Melissa. “Their names are Jack and Wanda, and they’ve been married for 70 years. This week I saw a photograph of them that drew me in to a brief moment of their long life together, a photograph that told a story.”
Identity Politics at the King’s Coronation
Carl Trueman: “My old country is now a foreign country to the one in which I grew up. This became strikingly clear to me last week, when it was announced that the king’s coronation celebrations in May would feature an LGBTQ+ choir. To be clear, it is not the make-up of the choir that makes the most striking statement about how Britain has changed from the country I knew.”
The Hidden Super-Stars of Missions
Who are the hidden superstars of missions? This article will tell you—and explain how you can be one.
Words That Lead
“It used to make me feel funny, intuiting this belief that folks have regarding writers, which goes something like this: It must be nice to have so much free time to write articles, posts, and books, rather than working like the rest of humanity.” Kristin carries on with an enjoyable reflection on the task and calling of writing.
Feeding our Longing
“Have you ever felt like there was more to life than this? Known some sense of longing for the future?” Haven’t we all?
Is It Too Difficult For God?
“I raised my head toward heaven and closed my eyes. I expected the red sea to part, Moses with the face of Charlton Heston, complete with flowing robe and raised staff. I prayed for the waters to stand high and for Charity to walk with strong legs on dry ground. I anticipated drama. I had faith to move mountains. I trusted. But, like every day since the illness began, when I opened my eyes, Charity lay in unbearable eerie stillness.”
Flashback: A Few Practical Pointers on Sexual Intimacy
A successful sexual relationship depends upon communication. And yet sex is one of the most difficult things to talk about—at least to talk about productively. A husband and wife need to learn to communicate, to speak often and well, about intimacy.

Walk with God and you will never take the wrong road, even by mistake. You have His infallible wisdom to direct you, His immutable love to comfort you, and His eternal power to defend you. —Charles Spurgeon

The God of love and peace be with you today.

Logos users, you will want to take a look at this month’s free and nearly free books.
Today’s Kindle deals include quite a nice collection of titles.
(Yesterday on the blog: What the Father Gives, We Must Receive)
Four Tips for Communicating the Gospel to Roman Catholics
Leonardo De Chirico has plenty of authority here. “Here are four tips which could be of some help in engaging Roman Catholics with the gospel. They are neither a four-step process nor a recipe for success. They are rather lessons that I have learned over the years in sharing the gospel with Roman Catholics.”
Generous Patience
“For humans to become what God made us to be requires one of the greatest generosities of all: the generosity of patience. What is patience but pure generosity?”
John Witherspoon and Slavery
Kevin De Young has a long and interesting look at the life and legacy of John Witherspoon. In particular, he looks at his view on slavery.
They Gave Us New Names
I love how this article comes all together at the end. “Many missionaries experience the honor of being renamed by those in their host culture. This is often a kind act of respect and acceptance on the part of the locals. And, depending on the name itself, it can be a gift the missionary holds onto for years to come.”
Say “Father”
“When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven….’ Familiar words.  You can probably quote the prayer.  Maybe you have noticed how it starts with one address, asks two things regarding the Father, and then three things regarding the family.  Let’s ponder the ‘address’ some more. ‘Our Father in heaven.’”
Striving for Warm Complementarianism in a Cold, Mostly Egalitarian World
Benjamin explains what he means when he advocates a warm complementarianism.
Flashback: Our Hearts and Minds Turned Outward
There is no time in human history in which it has been easy to display humility and no time in which it has been difficult to display pride. The challenge of social media is new only in the speed through which we can display such folly and only in the extent of the damage we can do through it.

We should all want our churches to be moving forward, growing and changing, conforming more with the image of Christ. But we shouldn’t let that image get in the way of loving our church where it is. —Jared C. Wilson

At different times in their lives, the children of a particular family were summoned to their father’s office. He called them in and sat them down and told them that he was going to give them something precious. What he gave them might be different from what he had given their siblings, but it would be no less valuable to him, no less cherished. He would give them something and ask them to care for it, to treasure it, and to faithfully steward it. He explained that he would give them something specially suited to each of them as individuals, for as their father he knew them well—he knew their abilities, he knew their capacities, he knew their every strength and weakness, their every love and hate, their every dream and desire.

And so on the appointed day, each of them emerged from their father’s office with a new possession. One emerged with the title to a large piece of land, another with the deed to a large building, another with the position as head of one of the father’s businesses. Each emerged with a unique possession but with the same instruction: Make something of this. Make something of this on behalf of the father who loves you and for the good of our family.
The children took what they had been given and, to their surprise, found that they were sometimes attended with great difficulties. The one who received land found that, though it was fertile, it was unbroken and needed extensive care before it would be ready to bear crops. The one who received a building found that, though it was large, it was in poor condition and needed many repairs before it could be leased and generate an income. The one who received a business found that there was fierce competition and diminishing demand for its products. Yet each trusted their father so treasured what he had given and did their utmost to prove faithful to all he had called them to do.
And much like this, God grants to each of us something valuable that we are to receive and to treasure and to steward. He grants to each of us something that is meaningful to him and something for which he says “Make something of this.” And, like the father in our story, he may grant something that involves great potential but also great struggles, great possibilities but also great pain.
He may assign to one a painful and unrelenting illness. This is a difficult circumstance that comes with gritted teeth and sleepless nights and an uncertain future. Yet it also comes with many opportunities to practice dependence upon God, to devote sleepless nights to prayer, to display joy even through unremitting pain. This is a difficult thing to receive, yet one that is precious to God, for he values weakness and dependence and loves those who endure it in such a way as to shine his light in the darkness. Surely he assigns it carefully and purposefully and with great tenderness.
He may call one to parent a child who is profoundly disabled. This is no easy assignment, no easy calling, yet it is one through which the parent can serve as a clear display of God’s love for his people, of his commitment to us despite our inability, our helplessness, our utter dependence. Surely this is an assignment God bestows upon those he trusts and treasures in a special way since he calls these ones to care for his most special little lambs.
He may call one to pass through a sore bereavement, to have to say farewell so soon to ones they had loved, ones upon whom they depended, ones with whom they had planned a bright future. This assignment is given along with a broken heart and shattered dreams and days and nights of deep sorrow. And yet these ones are able to display trust in God despite griefs, to display faith that will endure such difficult circumstances, to proclaim to church and world alike that they will be true to the Lord when he gives as well as when he takes away.
The father of our story and the Father of our hearts bestow assignments upon each of us as they see fit. They do not bestow them thoughtlessly or arbitrarily, but with great care, great consideration, great deliberateness. Each gives what he does out of knowledge, not ignorance, with an awareness not only of who we are but of who we will become. Each gives what he does out of love and according to a good plan and purpose.
What the Father gives, it falls to us to receive, and to receive with faith—faith that God means for us to receive it and faith that God has a purpose in it, even if that purpose is not now clearly visible to our eye. It falls to us to receive willingly and steward faithfully in honor of the one who has so consistently and so extravagantly proven his love for us.

As we venture into a new month it’s a good time to remember that right now, at this very moment, God is reigning from his throne.

Westminster Books has a deal on a helpful new resource book.
Ministry Is Tough: When Self-Care Becomes Self-Absorption
Interesting… “I wonder if in some cases the cultural shift toward self-care has led to a new set of wrong assumptions among those just entering ministry. If the generation before me assumed the need for overworking to the point that people had to insist on self-care and say ‘Stop and take care of yourself before you burn out,’ I wonder if the generation behind me will assume the opposite. We’ll assume the need for self-care to the point that others may need to insist on hard and strenuous labor, even when it hurts.”
Answering the Challenge of Back-Alley Abortions
“Now that abortion-choice advocates sense abortion rights are slipping away, there is a growing fear that women who can’t obtain abortions will resort to desperate measures to end their pregnancies. As a result, we’re seeing an uptick in classic pro-choice rhetoric—specifically, the challenge that women will pursue dangerous, back-alley abortions.” Here’s how to answer that challenge.
Who Killed the Prayer Meeting?
This is so true: “The American church is functionally prayerless when it comes to corporate prayer. Of course, a remnant does the hidden work of prayer, but in most churches corporate prayer doesn’t function in any meaningful way.”
Blogging Is Never Going Away
I agree with Chris on this: “A lot of us in the Christian space have, over the years, wondered, ‘Is blogging dead?’ Some have wondered if podcasting, especially, would kill the blog. Though I am biased, because I am a writer and a words guy in general, I have long said that the blog will always have a place in online content. I’ve said, often with skeptical responses, that blogging is never going away.”
Following God When You Feel Forsaken
“Sometimes it feels like God has forsaken us. We don’t hear his voice. We don’t feel his presence. We struggle even to see his hand at work in the world. We cry with the psalmist, ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’.”
Secular Liturgies Leave Me Longing for More
Darryl recently experienced a kind of secular liturgy and writes: “I left the meeting aware of the ways that we’re being formed without knowing it. I felt sad that the gospel of self-fulfillment and self-empowerment is so commonplace and unsatisfying. I long for more: for a higher purpose than my own satisfaction, a truer compass than my own feelings and intuitions, a better way to deal with what’s wrong with my soul.”
Flashback: One Of The Ugliest Sights In The World
Yet as we address God as Father, we must not behave like children who are peevish or petulant. We must not make demands, we must not level accusations or provide ultimatums. We must always pray that God’s will will be done, that God’s wisdom will be showcased, that God’s glory will be displayed.

Our family in Christ will more than make up for any family lost when we pursue Jesus and the gospel. —Jen Oshman

January has been quite a good month for Christian book releases. I sorted through the many options and arrived at this list of new and notables. In each case I’ve provided the editorial description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there’s something here that’s of interest to you!

A Praying Church: Becoming a People of Hope in a Discouraging World by Paul Miller. “In our current culture, the church and prayer are often dismissed as irrelevant. But when believers gather and pray together, powerful things happen: the Spirit equips the saints for ministry, the helpless are met with help, and believers experience the joy of being led by the Spirit of Jesus. In this book, Paul E. Miller, bestselling author of A Praying Life, casts a vision for a return to the simple yet life-changing practice of praying together. Through personal stories and biblical examples, Miller teaches the why, what, and how of praying together. Readers will learn how praying with other Christians can transform their communities into beacons of hope and be given practical strategies–such as finding a prayer partner and prioritizing a structured prayer time–to implement these changes in their own church.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, edited by Rob Ventura. “For centuries, Baptists have published confessions of faith as formal statements of their beliefs. Chief among these is the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. This doctrinal statement is a spiritual treasure trove worthy of our fresh attention. In this new study, more than twenty contributors unpack its timeless biblical truths, ‘things which are most surely believed among us’ (Luke 1:1). Our prayer is that the Lord will use this volume to richly edify and sanctify His people worldwide, and to assist the churches in pursuing biblical holiness and doctrinal purity. May these labors send God’s people back again and again to the Bible, which is–as the confession states–the ‘only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience’ (1.1).” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Beginning of the Gospel: A Theology of Mark (New Testament Theology) by Peter Orr. “The book of Mark–the first and shortest Gospel written–serves as both a historical and theological account, connecting Jesus to the whole storyline of the Bible. Mark writes against the backdrop of the Old Testament and draws from other New Testament writers, specifically Peter and Paul, to articulate many themes that are found in the rest of the New Testament. In this addition to the New Testament Theology series, scholar Peter Orr offers an accessible summary of the theology of Mark, examining its relationship to both the Old and New Testaments. Each chapter focuses on a key theological theme–the identity of Christ, the announcement of the kingdom, the call to follow, and more–and explains how it is relevant for the church today.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Story of Abortion: A Street-Level History 1652–2022 by Marvin Olasky and Leah Savas. “
Fifty years ago, the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion-on-demand sparked nationwide tensions that continue to this day. In the decades since that ruling, abortion opponents and proponents have descended on the Capitol each year for marches and protests. But this story didn’t begin with the Supreme Court in the 1970s; arguments about abortion have been a part of American history since the 17th century. So how did we get here? The Story of Abortion in America traces the long cultural history of this pressing issue from 1652 to today, focusing on the street-level activities of those drawn into the battles willingly or unwillingly. Authors Marvin Olasky and Leah Savas show complex lives on both sides: Some sacrificed much to help the poor and others sacrificed the helpless to empower themselves. The Story of Abortion in America argues that whatever happens legally won’t end the debate, but it will affect lives.” (Buy it at Amazon)
ESV Church History Study Bible. “The ESV Church History Study Bible is designed to help believers in all seasons of life understand the Bible with notes from over 300 of church history’s most prominent figures. Edited by Stephen J. Nichols, Gerald Bray, and Keith A. Mathison, this Bible features 20,000+ study notes from historical figures including Athanasius of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Spurgeon. This study Bible also includes articles by trusted scholars on major aspects of church history, a glossary of historical figures, and ‘This Passage in History’ callouts. Created for serious readers, students, and teachers of God’s Word, the ESV Church History Study Bible highlights voices from the past offering wisdom for the present.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
This Is the Word of the Lord: Becoming Confident in the Scriptures by Daniel R. Hyde. “Are you confident in the Word of God? Are you certain that God speaks to you in and through the pages of the Bible? Daniel R. Hyde exhorts readers to grow in their certainty that the Bible is the Word of God, to know with their hearts as well as their heads that God has spoken, and continues to speak, through his Scriptures. When troubles come, it is crucial that your confidence in what God has said is strong. Hyde hopes that by having a good grounding in what the Bible says about itself, Christians will be well equipped to stand firm.” (Buy it at Amazon)
The Retreat : A Lighthearted and Humorous Story About a Soul-Searching Pastor by Kees Postma. “You’ll laugh, you’ll be challenged, and most of all you’ll be encouraged to find rest in the Lord, and strength to keep going. Case Parker, a worn-out pastor, is shocked by all the good, bad and ugly he has found in ministry so far. Having reached a point of utter exhaustion he decides to go to Ireland for a three day retreat. Case, and the other Dutch shepherds that join him, end up in all kind of interesting, dangerous and hilarious situations. This story will have you in stitches, will make you feel convicted and hopefully has you changed by the time the story ends. In his first translated book, Postma offers heartfelt, laugh-out-loud observations on the absurd ways shepherds and sheep alike, try to make themselves look better than they actually are. The Dutch version of the book became a bestseller interweaving humour and spiritual reflection.” (Buy it from Amazon)
52 Weeks in the Word: A Companion for Reading through the Bible in a Year by Trillia Newbell. “Have you ever been disappointed or frustrated with your inability for consistent Bible study? Reading through the Bible in a year can feel daunting. It can be hard to know how—or where—to start. Perhaps you just need a friend who follows Jesus to help. Trillia Newbell is a trusted Bible teacher and lover of the Scriptures. She describes herself as a ‘forever student.’ And she’d like nothing more than for you to join her in the grand and thrilling adventure of growing in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ! Rather than jumping around the Bible, you can jump into this book that will take you through the entirety of the Scriptures in one year!” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Second Coming of Christ by John Piper. “Many people are curious about the second coming of Christ—what it will be like, when it will happen, and what signs will come first. In his latest book, Come, Lord Jesus, John Piper addresses all these issues, but stresses that those who love the second coming of Christ will receive a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6–8). Piper examines key biblical texts around the second coming while encouraging readers toward a Spirit-awakened affection for Jesus’s return. He also explores important questions such as, Could Jesus come at any moment, or must certain events happen first?; What does it mean to “Watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour”?; and What should we be doing when he comes? With a special focus on the teachings of Jesus, Paul, and Peter, Come, Lord Jesus portrays not only the glory of the revealed Savior, but also the glorification of the resurrected saints.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Blessings to you today.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Decay of the World and the Love of God)
Against Autonomy
“The modern story is one of autonomy: the path to human flourishing will be found in being most myself. I will achieve actualisation if I am my most authentic self, whoever that proves to be. At its very simplest it boils down to the Disney princess mantra, we follow our hearts.” This leads into what is quite an interesting article.
Why We Reread the Bible
“The Bible is not like other books. When we finish a novel or biography, we put it down and pick up something new. But many Christians complete a Bible reading and start right in again. For those new to the faith, this may seem strange.” Strange, indeed.
Leaders Who See the Lowly
This is so important: “Leaders who see the lowly and unimpressive are the kind of leaders worth following – and the kind of leaders we should want to become. This is because how we treat the lowly is truly a window into our character.”
Two Pillars for Starting Psalms
This interesting article explains the importance of Psalms 1 and 2 at the beginning of the psalter.
Forgetful
“Are you forgetful? I am. Reading through old journals and letters never fails to delight. Surprise. And confound. Highlighting my forgetfulness about experiences and facts from our personal history.”
FBC Jax Speaks the Truth in Love about Sexuality
You might have heard of how FBC Jacksonville found itself in the news recently. They responded by hosting a community Q&A.
Flashback: My Favorite Family Memory
I have no sweeter memory than the family gathered before the Lord, the family gathered to hear from him and speak to him together. I have no sweeter memory than of our family devotions.

Friend, never be comforted by how much worse of a sinner you could be. No sin is safe, no matter how small you perceive it. —Garrett Kell