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. Grace and peace to you.

Today there are new Kindle deals on books from Kevin DeYoung, Ray Ortlund, and others.
Meanwhile, Westminster Books has pre-order deals on some of the books due to be published in the weeks ahead.
(Yesterday on the blog: You Just Can’t Have It All)
Job and the Deadly Spiritual Equation
Pierce Taylor Hibbs: “Job is one of my favorite books of the Bible. That usually catches people by surprise. Why would a book about a holy man falling prey to Satanic torment be something you want to read? Despite the initial fear the book induces, it’s extremely comforting and relevant for our understanding of trauma and suffering. Job shows that the worst still leads to the best. And of the many ways in which the book is still relevant, there’s one that stands out to me because of how prevalent it is in our times. It’s what I call ‘the deadly spiritual equation.’”
Did Jesus die for the sins of every person or only for the elect?
Here, courtesy of Ligonier Ministries, is a solid series of answers to a common question.
Humility Is the Main Ingredient of Prayer, Repentance, and Thanksgiving
Thomas Schreiner: “C.S. Lewis famously said, ‘If you don’t think you are conceited, you are very conceited indeed.’ Certainly that applies to humility: if you think you are humble, you are probably suffused with pride. In this article, we will consider briefly how prayer, repentance, and thanksgiving are related to humility.”
While You Were Sleeping
In this article, Madelyn Canada reminds us that God’s plans carry on, even when we can’t clearly see them.
Glue Sticks and Bible Songs
I enjoyed this little celebration of children and their teachers. “In his wisdom and grace, God gives us people, situations, and experiences that we often don’t recognize as priceless gifts at the time. Some of those gifts were given to me 20 years ago, and it’s only recently that I’ve begun to truly appreciate those busy days of teaching, corralling, discipling, and loving the lively and earnest little children that were entrusted to my care every Sunday morning.”
By Steps and Degrees
“Certain doctrines of Reformed theology, and their associated sub-doctrines, are brought into the limelight more than others. For example, there is a rich endowment of Protestant works on the doctrine of justification. One cannot say the same, however, of the sub-doctrine of ‘preparatory grace,’ which has not historically garnered much public attention within Protestant soteriology.” Here’s a short introduction to it.
Flashback: How to Make Accountability Work
Here are seven principles for effective accountability; each is further explained by showing what effective accountability is and is not.

Living like Christ without ever teaching our children about Christlike living is similar to lifestyle evangelism without ever sharing our faith. —Bob Kellemen

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I added a few Kindle deals on Sunday night and will look for more on Monday morning.
(Yesterday on the blog: When Blooming Youth Is Snatched Away)
Should I Look for a Better Job?
“How do you know when to take another job? I’ve been at my current workplace for two years. Everything is fine here, but I think I could push myself harder and learn more at another employer. Is it time to move on?” This is a solid answer to a common question.
Christian Practice In The Face Of Corrupt Police
“The police. They have often been ranked as the most corrupt sector of many African governments. These should-be law and justice enforcers are often seen acting as decided obstructionists. It’s hard to argue that police corruption in the form of bribery and extortion is not endemic in our continent. This is especially true in Sub-Saharan Africa.” I appreciated Daniel Gachuki’s take on police corruption.
We Believe: Confessions
There is a new issue of Credo Magazine to read. It’s available for free!
Biblical Justice vs. Mob Justice
Denny Burk looks at some differences between biblical justice and mob justice. “A large part of the drama of A Tale of Two Cities is the depiction of mob justice. What happens when the social order disintegrates, and due process and the rule of law are lost? What happens is that the rights of the accused get trampled under foot.”
The Church as a Radical Welcoming Community
“If all of the people we talk to and share meals with at church are like us, we are not being the community we should be. The church should be a place where everyone is welcome and feels welcome. At church gatherings, we should see older people speaking to teenagers, men speaking to women, singles speaking to marrieds, and those with children speaking to those who do not.”
An Earnest Love
Blake Long: “We are always bickering over something. Maybe it’s high time to express earnest love for those of whom we disagree? Perhaps it’s time to lay down our preferences, lay down our desires, lay down our egos and love each other—even in our disagreements. There has been far too much earnest condescension and not enough earnest love.”
The Gentleness of God
This is a sweet look at our gentle God. “He is indeed great and terrible, to be feared above all other gods; but this only serves to accentuate the wonder of his gentleness and deepen our loving reverence for him. More than this, it provides a vital perspective on his dealings with us – especially when we find ourselves in the midst of seemingly harsh providences.”
Flashback: Hand in Hand, Heart Linked to Heart
My sister shared these words with me–words written by Susannah Spurgeon after the death of her husband Charles. She reflects on life together and the Lord who gives and takes away. They are sweet and precious words.

Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing. —George Müller