Westminster Books has a deal on the “most beautiful commentary ever written.”

If you didn’t check yesterday’s Kindle deals be sure to do so as there is a huge list (that includes my own Seasons of Sorrow). There are some new ones for today as well.
(Yesterday on the blog: Things for Christian Men To Think About)
The Worshipper
Be sure to stick with this one to the end. “He is a worshipper. His life revolves around his worship. Nothing stops him. There is no doubt about his worship. Everyone knows the object of his worship, because he cannot stop talking about it. Even the way he dresses and behaves declares his commitment to his cause. On a Monday morning he is full of the activity of the previous day, recounting everything that took place in the recent worship.”
Check Your Heart
Chris Thomas offers “six ways we can dig down into what Calvin called a perpetual forge of idols…”
The Halloween Night That Changed My Life
Garrett Kell explains about the Halloween night that forever changed his life.
“Christian Nationalism” Misrepresents Jesus, So We Should Reject It
Jonathan Leeman: “Best I can tell, folks these days use the phrase ‘Christian nationalism’ and ‘Christian nation’ in one of two ways. Some mean that Christianity should influence the nation and its laws. Others mean that the nation and its government should actually identify as Christian. The problem is, many people, Christian and non-Christians, advocates and critics, don’t recognize the difference, which is one reason I believe we should drop the label altogether.”
Learning to pray alert to harvest
Here’s one about prison ministry and about praying alert to the harvest.
Planted
“A northern sun shines through my windshield, late rising over harvested fields as I head for home. Winter’s breath mercifully withdrew as we stood around Pam’s grave the day before, a small group of witnesses to her quiet life. ‘Dust to dust’, the pastor said before we parted ways, her ashes left in the dark embrace of the dirt behind us.”
Flashback: 6 Marks of a Faithful Ministry
God gives us pastors because we need pastoring. But what is this ministry? How does a pastor minister to his people in a way that expresses due care and concern for them?

Nothing is a better test of character and disposition than the way one meets defeat or bears injury. —J.R. Miller

I have had a few opportunities in the past few weeks to interact with Christian men. Along the way I’ve jotted down a few thoughts that arose from those conversations. I thought I’d share them today.

❖
Pause for a few moments to consider the fact that God is a Father and you are his child. Now think about how many times God has obviously chastised or disciplined you for your sin versus how many times he has extended mercy and grace and given you time to correct your sinful behavior. How often in life has God clearly afflicted you with some kind of negative consequence for your sin? How often have you been certain that he has providentially intervened with some kind of pain in order to change your bad behavior? My guess is your answer would be something like, “Not all that often, considering how sinful I am.” Having pondered that, contemplate the way you parent your children and whether you reflect a good measure of God’s patience and long-suffering. Is your fatherhood modeled on God’s?
❖
The society around you wants you to believe that men cannot have friendships with other men that are significant and meaningful and emotionally intimate—but that do not involve sex or any desire for it. Society casts doubt on Jonathan and David and on Frodo and Sam and on everyone between, as if love between men cannot be utterly true and also utterly pure. Don’t buy the lie. Friendships with other men are precious and good and bring glory to God. You will be a better man for baring your heart before a friend and allowing him to really know you as you are. You will be a better husband and father and church member. So pursue friendships and relational intimacy with other men. You’ll be glad you did.
❖
And on the topic of friendship, why not make it your goal in friendship to make your friends better? There are lots of relationships that can leave us the same or even make us worse. But the most precious relationships are the ones that make us better by providing an example of godliness, by speaking truth to us, and by challenging or even rebuking us when necessary. Be the kind of friend who is committed to leveling up your friends—and your wife and your children and the other people around you. You’ll probably find they do the same to you. And be aware that the way to do this is first and foremost for you to grow in godliness, because you cannot expect of them what you are not willing to do yourself. Make people around you better by being better yourself.
❖
Much of the pain men bring upon themselves is a result of their sense of entitlement when it comes to sexual satisfaction. For that reason, one of the best and godliest things you can do is determine you will not experience illicit sexual pleasure as an expression of that sense of entitlement. In other words, you will not masturbate. If you make that commitment and work backward from there, you may just find that your desire to look at pornography is diminished. You may find you are more careful with what you watch on Netflix or what your eyes alight on when you are round and about. You might find you put better measures in place to guard what you see and experience. After all, why get all worked up when you have committed not to satisfy yourself? Determine that if God has provided you a wife (or until such time as God has provided you a wife), you will experience no sexual pleasure apart from her and that 100 percent of your sexual desire and “energy” will be directed to her and her alone. Holding to that commitment will be one of the best things you ever do (even if it’s also one of the most difficult).
❖
Most churches need more leaders, not fewer. Most churches have too few elders to provide the level of spiritual care they would like to. And, generally speaking, all that separates an elder from a non-elder is character and calling. Elders are men who have dedicated themselves to pursuing godly character and who have the desire to serve in that capacity. So what is keeping you from being at least qualified to be an elder? If it is character, you ought to repent and commit yourself to spiritual growth, for elders have no different character requirements than any Christian—they are merely the ones who exemplify what the Bible calls us all to be. If it is desire, then why don’t you make it a matter of prayer and see if God will give you that desire? Because almost every church is eager for more men, not fewer.
❖
No relationship in the world is as precious and pure as the relationship between a father and his daughter. So treat your daughter as the precious princess she is. Be kind to her and patient with her and so very gentle. Yes, you will need to address her sin and you will need to chastise or discipline her at times—that is bound up in your fatherhood, and she will ultimately respect you for it. But that must always be done with great love and tenderness. Instead of trying to force her allegiance, woo her to yourself and win her heart. Nothing will win her heart more than patiently listening to her and consistently drawing her out. Picture yourself dancing with her at her wedding, picture the way she looks at you in that moment, and then consider: What will it take to be that father to that daughter? What will it take to have your daughter regard you in that way? Work backward from there.
❖
There may come a time in your life when you experience a great loss or great tragedy that impacts one of the spheres in which you are called to be a leader—your family, your church, your business. In that moment you need to ponder this fact: It is often when you are most broken that you are most needed. It is in the midst of your deepest tragedy that your leadership will be most necessary and, ultimately, most important. In that moment, you will need to cry out for God’s wisdom and strength and then lead—lead through the dark valley, lead through the broken heart, lead through terrible uncertainty. Don’t allow yourself to drop out of the race, to become useless to those who need you and rely upon you. The God who called you to lead is the God who will equip and enable you. You can do this!
❖
Your wife is God’s daughter. And in much the same way you may someday entrust your daughter to a man, God has entrusted his daughter to you—to your love, your care, your protection. This should evoke gratitude in your heart, for God has provided you with a gift that is extremely precious to him. This should also provoke serious self-examination to consider if you are treating your wife in the way God would wish for his daughter to be treated. Does she know that you love her, like her, and accept her? Does she know that you truly treasure her? Does she know that you will protect her, even (and perhaps especially) from your own sin? Do you thank God for providing so precious a gift?
❖
It is a great tribute to a man when his family knows him for his commitment to the Bible, to prayer, and to the local church. Gifts and vacations and inheritances are all well and good, but there is no better legacy you can leave to your children than being a man who truly loves the Lord and has lived for his glory. This legacy is inextricably bound to a long dedication to Scripture, to prayer, and to consistent commitment to the local church. Be known for these.
❖
Learn to embrace the complementarity between men and women as a feature rather than a bug of our humanity—even when that complementarity seems difficult or annoying. There is a sense inside each of us that our wives would be easier to love and would bring us more joy if they were just a bit more like us. This sense can be prominent when it comes to any number of differences—in how we experience joys and griefs, in how we process emotions, in how often we express sexual interest and the ways in which we may express it, and so on. Yet the differences between the sexes is a feature of our humanity and God has made no errors in creating us as he did. Submit yourself to his purpose and know that if your wife was changed in the ways you wish she would, it would be to your detriment more than your benefit.

Grace and peace to you on this Reformation Day.

There is a very substantial list of Kindle deals today (in honor of Reformation Day).
(Yesterday on the blog: How We Worshipped on One Sunday in October)
Toxic
I appreciate this look at the use and over-use of the word “toxic.” “It’s a word that has invaded Christian speech, but could I suggest a moratorium on this adjective, please?”
Strategies for Preaching to the Polarized
This article provides some pointers on preaching at a time of great polarization, even in churches. There are some good suggestions here.
Free eBook: The Legacy of Luther
Today marks 505 years since Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses, effectively sparking the Protestant Reformation. How did an obscure Augustinian monk become the man God would use to set the world ablaze? Today, Ligonier Ministries is offering a free download of the ebook The Legacy of Luther, edited by R.C. Sproul and Stephen Nichols. Read this volume to explore Luther’s life, teaching, and enduring influence. (Sponsored Link)
Clear your desk!
Meanwhile, I think it would be useful for church leaders to read this article and see whether they see themselves described in it, perhaps especially in the description of “armchair elders.”
Reconciled to the Remainders
“I went into ministry and church planting thinking that every problem I encountered would yield a neat solution. Whether through diligent application of scriptural principles, prayer, divine intervention, my Irish charm, or persevering efforts—there would be no remainders to haunt me…”
Something in the Darkness: A Horror Story
Doug has a short story meant to provoke some meditation.
Anthropomorphism?
This article considers the ways we speak about God and whether they are truly anthropomorphic. “Let us never go beyond what is written, but with child-like faith, take God at His Word. When God tells us he is displeased, pleased, angry, reconciled, and so on, He is speaking truth.”
Flashback: When Calvin and Wesley Shake Hands
It’s Reformation Day today, and the occasion got me thinking about some words I had run across earlier this year when reading the works of De Witt Talmage and Theodore Cuyler.

All of God’s mighty men and women have been mighty in prayer. —Theodore Cuyler

From time to time I like to share one of our worship services from Grace Fellowship Church. In that vein, here is how we worshiped on one October Sunday morning. This week’s cast of characters included Paul as the service leader and preacher, Allie as the lead worshiper, and Patrick as the elder who prayed and read the sermon text. The band was comprised of piano, bass, guitar, and a cajone along with a second vocalist.

Welcome and Call to Worship (Paul)
Paul began the service with these words: “‘Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!’ This call to praise God comes from Psalm 113—a Psalm that glories in the fact there is no god like our God—the Creator, Saviour and King over all. So, let’s do what the Psalmist calls us to do and praise our God together!”
Singing (Allie)

“Come Praise and Glorify”

Confession and Word of Assurance (Paul)
“Isaiah 59 says, ‘Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.’ The God who saved you, knows your weakness and your failings. Maybe you got sinfully angry at your kids this week, or had really evil thoughts toward your spouse? Perhaps you secretly lusted after a co-worker or denied the Lord rather than speak up for His Name? Has He hidden His face from you? Then take hold of the promise that He will forgive all those who genuinely ask for it. Spend a few moments in silent prayer confessing your sins, and asking for His forgiveness.”
Then, after a few moments of silence: “Listen to the Word of the Lord to all those who have repented and hidden themselves afresh in Christ. ‘I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.’”
Singing (Allie)

“I Know that My Redeemer Lives”
“My Jesus I Love Thee”

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Noel)
Noel, a member of the band, led a brief prayer of thanksgiving.
Singing (Allie)

“Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat”

Pastoral Prayer (Patrick)
Patrick led the pastoral prayer and prayed for a number of matters pertaining to the life of the church.
Scripture Reading (Patrick)
Patrick read the two texts for the sermon—Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 2:14-41. He prefaced his reading by saying, “This is what holy Scripture says” and ended it by saying, “This is the word of the Lord” to which the church responded with “Amen.”
Singing (Allie)

“Come Lowly Souls (Baptism Hymn)”

Sermon (Paul)
Paul preached a sermon titled “Baptism,” the second in a series on being a healthy church. The outline was as follows:

Baptism is an initiation rite.
Baptism is an initiation rite that follows conversion.
Baptism is an invitation rite that follows conversion and leads to membership in the church.

Singing (Allie)

“It Is Well with My Soul”

Commission & Benediction
Patrick called the church to live out the truths we had encountered in the service, then said, “Receive this blessing of the Lord from His Word: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’” Then he said, “Please take just a moment of silence now to pray and ask God to seal these things to your life.”

I’m very thankful to Ligonier Ministries for sponsoring the blog this week. Be sure to stream their free Luther documentary and also to consider their 90-day devotional on the 5 solas (for a gift of any amount).

Today’s Kindle deals include some classics (and at least one newer work).
(Yesterday on the blog: 10 New and Notable Christian Books for October)
The Body Is Bigger Than You Think
I very much agree with Trevin here. “One of the best things that could happen to the rank-and-file churchgoing Christian is to get a better sense of the bigness of the Body of Christ. The Church is bigger than your church. The kingdom is bigger than your denomination. God’s people are all over the world, united by a shared love for Jesus and confession of his lordship.”
A Bruised Reed
I appreciate Aubrynn’s reflections on living as a Christian with OCD and scrupulosity. “The only thing the Lord requires is faith. He doesn’t quantify this faith; he doesn’t say ‘this much’ or ‘this strong.’ He just says faith. And faith is expressed even in the questions, in the struggle, in the wrestling. God does not treat us differently depending on our degree of faith. His eyes are not only on the raging fires, but on the faintly burning wicks. And he promises he will never quench them.”
Four ways to help your children love the church more
Many children who are raised in the church eventually drift away. Stephen considers how parents can help their kids love the church before that happens.
From Burden to Image Bearer: How God Changed My View of Children
At a time when so many young people seem uninterested in having children, articles like this become even more important.
Heart Matters
Kristin: “The condition of our heart matters. God is observing those chambers where motives are born, swell, and give way to actions. A healthy heart will be soft, tender, and malleable, eager to submit to the Lord, while a hardened heart is cold, rebellious, and bitter. It rages against God and becomes incensed when faced with truth.”
The Ministry of Public Bible Reading
I so appreciate this call to emphasize the public reading of Scripture. “It’s this devotion to ‘the public reading of Scripture’ that I want us to reflect on in this article. Where does the reading of Scripture rank in your church’s ‘lifeboat’ priorities? Is it seen as vitally important, or would it be thrown out of the boat before the music ministry or maybe the sermon?”
Flashback: Why Are You Friends with Your Friends?
Are you friends with your friends for the sake of your friends? Or are you friends with your friends for the sake of yourself? I suspect you don’t really know while you derive some clear benefit from the relationship.

Before we can stand before Satan, we must bow before God. Peter resisted the Lord and ended up submitting to Satan! —Warren Wiersbe

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Ligonier Ministries, who also sponsored the blog this week. 

The Protestant Reformers boldly declared that salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. Together, these “alone” statements are called the five solas of the Reformation. Ligonier Ministries is offering a free new ebook from Gabe Fluhrer: The Beauty of Divine Grace. This introduction to the five solas is available for all Challies readers to download for free, and ten Free Friday winners will receive the hardcover edition.
Learn more about the book here.

TO ENTER
Fill out the form below for your chance to win one of 10 free hardcover editions of The Beauty of Divine Grace. This will add you to Ligonier Ministries’ mailing list.

One entry per household. Open to residents of U.S. and Canada only. Giveaway ends November 4th, 2022. Winners will be notified by email.

October has been quite a month when it comes to releases of Christian books. I sorted through the huge stacks that came my way to arrive at this list of 10 new and especially noteworthy picks. In each case I have provided the editorial description so you can have a bit of information about it. I hope there’s something here that catches your eye!

The Existence and Attributes of God (Volumes 1 & 2) Updated and Unabridged by Stephen Charnock, edited by Mark Jones. “This two-volume set, edited by Mark Jones, contains an updated and unabridged edition of Charnock’s classic work, Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God, written to instruct and encourage Christian pastors, theologians, and laypeople. Jones precedes each discourse with an introductory summary that explains Charnock’s general approach. In this clear, modernized presentation of this classic work, readers will experience his skillful exegesis, his influential way with words, his insight into human nature, his concern with the practical implications of who God is, and his Christ-focused approach to theology.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Embracing Complementarianism: Turning Biblical Convictions into Positive Church Culture by Jane Tooher & Graham Beynon. “It can be tempting to shy away from addressing the issue of gender roles in church because it’s often controversial. But this can result in churches either being increasingly influenced by secular culture or simply sticking with the status quo when it comes to what men and women do in church. Building on the belief that complementarianism is both biblical and positive, this book focuses on what these convictions look like in practice. Moving beyond the familiar discussions around ‘gender roles,’ and leaving room for variety in how readers implement these ideas, it will encourage a church culture where men and women truly partner together—embracing their privileges and responsibilities, and maximizing their gifts, in joyful service of God’s kingdom.” (Buy it from Amazon)
Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church (Prayers of the Church) by Elmer, Robert (editor). “The hearts of the first Christians beat with praise for Christ. The strength of their devotion is remarkable, considering the times of uncertainty and persecution in which they lived. Despite all of this, the early church flourished, sustained by the God to whom they prayed. Christians today have a lot to learn from the devotional life of the early church. In Fount of Heaven, a collection of carefully selected prayers from the first six centuries of the church, we can pray with our spiritual forefathers. Prayers from luminaries such as Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, and Augustine are arranged by theme to reveal the right prayer for the moment. The prayers have been slightly updated to read more easily, but they retain their joy and mystery. As we turn to the prayers of the first Christians, we can return to the foundations of our own faith.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God by Reagan Rose. “What image forms in your mind when you think of productivity? An assembly line? Spreadsheets? Business suits or workplace uniforms? In the ancient world, productivity didn’t conjure images like these. Instead, it referred to crop yield and fruit bearing. This agrarian imagery helps us understand productivity through a biblical lens. Jesus taught, By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit (John 15:8). Who doesn’t want to have a truly productive life—to bear much fruit? But how does this happen in the places we hold dear—the home, workplace, and in our communities? We often feel overworked and overrun, defeated and discouraged. The world says be productive so that you can get all you can out of this life. The Bible says be productive so you can gain more of the next life. In Redeeming Productivity, author Reagan Rose explores how God’s glory is the purpose for which He planted us. And he shows how productivity must be firmly rooted in the gospel. Only through our connection to Christ—the True Vine—are we empowered to produce good fruit. This book shows how we can maintain the vitality of that connection through simple, life-giving disciplines. Readers will discover manageable applications like giving God the first fruits of our days. Additionally, Reagan discusses how our perspective on suffering is transformed as we see trials as God’s pruning for greater productivity.” (Buy it from Amazon)
God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church by Daniel Hames and Michael Reeves. “Evangelism and missions are parts of the Christian life often accompanied by fears, insecurities, and cultural pressures. In this addition to the Union series, Daniel Hames and Michael Reeves argue that an individual’s relationship with God influences their evangelism and missions more than anything else. To illustrate how knowledge of God influences evangelism and missions, Hames and Reeves address biblical themes such as the glory of God, Christ’s sacrifice, the fallenness of man, and the church’s future hope. There is hope for those who find these topics intimidating—when believers focus on the glory of the lamb of God, the gospel will shine through them.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Words from the Cross by Ian Hamilton. “Paul’s words in Galatians 6:14, ‘Far be it for me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,’ highlight how central and personally significant the cross of Christ is to Christians. Jesus himself saw the cross as his divinely appointed destiny. As he began to experience the unimaginable agony that lay before him, he said, ‘Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? But for this purpose I have come to this hour’ (John 12:27). In Words from the Cross Ian Hamilton places Jesus’ seven expiring words of grace and hope in their wider biblical context and explores their theological, pastoral, and evangelistic significance. The short chapters encourage us to reflect and meditate on the love of God which is ‘the fountainhead of the gospel’ (John Owen) and bring us to devote all we are to the Saviour who gave his all for us.” (Buy it from Banner of Truth)
The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith by Trevin Wax. “Every generation faces the temptation to wander from orthodoxy–to seek out the jolt that comes with false teaching, and to drift with cultural currents. And so every generation must be awakened again to the thrill of orthodoxy, and experience the astonishment that comes from stumbling afresh upon the electrifying paradoxes at the heart of the Christian faith. In The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Trevin Wax turns the tables on those who believe Christian teaching is narrow and outdated. Returning to the church’s creeds, he explains what orthodoxy is and why we can have proper confidence in it, and lays out common ways we can stray from it. By showing how heresies are always actually narrower than orthodoxy–taking one aspect of the truth and wielding it as a weapon against others–Wax beckons us away from the broad road that ultimately proves bland and boring, and toward the straight and narrow path, where true adventure can be found.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed by Alisa Childers. “Are you tired of feeling like you have to check social media to find out what you’re supposed to think? Are you weary of the latest self-help books that promise to set you free but only imprison you with laundry lists of studies to consider, positive affirmations to recite, and Facebook groups to join? We’ve all seen the memes that populate the internet: live your truth, follow your heart, you only have one life to live. They sound nice and positive. But what if these slogans are actually lies that unhinge us from reality and leave us anxious and exhausted? Another Gospel? author Alisa Childers invites you to examine modern lies that are disguised as truths in today’s culture. Everyday messages of peace, fulfillment, and empowerment swirl around social media. On the surface, they seem like sentiments of freedom and hope, but in reality they are deeply deceptive.” (Buy it from Amazon)
The Excellencies of God: Exploring and Enjoying His Attributes by Terry Johnson. “God’s attributes is the most practical of subjects, inspiring and shaping the entire Christian life. Contemplating who God is and what He has promised to do can bring great comfort to the most despairing soul. Moreover, it brings immense delight to all those who recognize their chief end as the glory and enjoyment of God. In The Excellencies of God, Terry L. Johnson explores several aspects of the divine character and shows how they play a crucial role in our Christian experience. May God’s mercy and grace, His patience and wisdom, His truth and faithfulness, His spirituality and blessedness prove to be a blessing to all who peruse these pages.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Reactivity: How the Gospel Transforms Our Actions and Reactions by Paul David Tripp. “Digital media and technology are altering the way people act—and react—toward each other. Criticism, outrage, and controversy dominate social engagement and unfortunately many Christians have joined in the chaos. Award-winning author Paul David Tripp instructs believers to view digital media and technology through the lens of the gospel and points them toward a biblical framework for communication. Explaining how God wants the church to engage with culture and each other, Tripp encourages Christians to think wisely about their interactions and be a beacon of light in an age of toxicity.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)

Before the month comes to a close, I want to remind you that Logos 10 has recently launched and you can get 30% off upgrades and 15% off a first-time purchase at this link. Also, you’d be downright silly to neglect to get your free Proverbs commentary. There are lots of other deals to be had here.

There are a couple of new Kindle deals today.
$5 Friday (and More) Sale: Reformation Collection
Today, Ligonier Ministries is celebrating Reformation Week with a special $5 Friday (and More) sale. More than 100 books, teaching series, study Bibles, and more are significantly discounted, with many resources available for $5. Shop and save today while supplies last. (Sponsored Link)
Died: Gordon Fee, Who Taught Evangelicals to Read the Bible ‘For All Its Worth’
“Gordon Fee once told his students on the first day of a New Testament class at Wheaton College that they would—someday—come across a headline saying ‘Gordon Fee Is Dead.’ ‘Do not believe it!’ he said, standing atop a desk. ‘He is singing with his Lord and his king.’ Then, instead of handing out the syllabus like a normal professor, he led the class in Charles Wesley’s hymn, ‘O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.’”
Gay vs. Queer
Carl Trueman has another interesting article on the effects of critical theory. “The winners and losers may change, but the game is always the same: to dethrone whatever today’s dominant categories might be, whether of heterosexuality, whiteness, or the gender binary. It is categorical stability, not the categories themselves, that is the real enemy. If C. S. Lewis warned eighty years ago of the abolition of man, we today are witnessing the abolition not just of ‘man’ but of meaning as a whole.”
9 Things You Should Know About Chinese President Xi Jinping
Joe Carter: “On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping increased his control over China by breaking with tradition and having himself named as head of the Communist Party for a record third term. The move consolidates Xi’s status as ‘ruler for life’ and makes him the most powerful Chinese leader in modern history. Here are nine things you should know about the authoritarian leader of the world’s most populous nation”
Four Lessons from Medieval Illustrated Bibles
Looking back to the illuminated Bibles of medieval times can offer some interesting lessons.
Why There Are No Insignificant Christians
“The person sitting in the other pew at church is more glorious than you realize. It is easy for us to look at some of the other people in our church and think, ‘I am glad they are part of this church, but they are not that significant.’ If we feel like that, it exposes a biblical blindness on our part that we need to correct as soon as possible.”
Flashback: Why Your Church Should Sing New Songs (Not Only Old Songs)
We faithfully steward our music when we sing the best of the old and find the best of the new. And we can do that only if we will sing!

A man cannot live unless he takes his breath, nor can the soul, unless it breathes forth its desires to God. —Thomas Watson

Grace and peace to you today.

(Yesterday on the blog: Which Man Was More Free?)
A Reflection on Barna’s Open Generation Report
Youth Pastor Theologian offers some thoughts on a concerning new report from Barna. “This past summer, The Barna Group conducted a global survey that included over 24,000 teenagers from 26 different countries. These teenagers were asked about how they view Jesus, the Bible, and justice.”
Grateful for the Baby We Never Knew
Those who have experienced a miscarriage may find some comfort in this article from Sylvia.
What is the difference between men and women? (Video)
Kevin DeYoung takes on a question that has become controversial in these days.
How Not To Become a Celebrity Pastor
“We’ve been taught that the way you make an organization successful is by finding an exceptional person to lead it—a franchise player—who can put it on the map. Whether it’s Lebron James or Jeff Bezos, all organizations need a superstar. Unfortunately, the church has sometimes adopted this same approach to leadership. If our churches are going to ‘succeed,’ we figure we need our own franchise player to lead us—someone who is strong, dynamic, and inspiring.”
Too Old to Covet?
Andy thought he was was a bit too old to still struggle with a particular sin, but learned that was not the case.
Why the Church?
H.B. Charles Jr: “Christ is the head of the church. And he does not have out-of-body experiences. To submit to the authority of Jesus Christ over your life is to live in fellowship with the church. Here are nine reasons why you should have a high view of the church…”
Flashback: Forest Fires & Apple Orchards
The meek person remembers that he came to God with empty hands; he remembers that he stands before God with a broken heart; and so he has a quiet spirit.

The exercise of love is to be in strict conformity to the revealed will of God. —A.W. Pink

It is a question an author once asked, a question that intrigued me. Which man was more free: was it the emperor or was it the missionary? Was it Nero or was it Paul?

Was it Nero in his palace surrounded by attendants, his table overflowing with delicacies, his eyes overwhelmed with visual delights? Or was it Paul in his prison cell surrounded by soldiers, bound by chains, dependent upon the charity of others? Was it the man who was free to come and go as he pleased or the man who was held captive?
It is always an exercise in encouragement to read the book of Philippians, but the encouragement flows all the more when we consider the context in which Paul wrote it. Scholars agree that Paul wrote this letter from prison and most likely the prison in Rome in which he was confined around 62 AD. He writes to the citizens of a Roman colony in Philippi to remind them how to live as citizens of a heavenly kingdom here on earth. He writes to encourage them and to rejoice in all God has done and is doing. He writes as a man who, though bound, is free as free can be.
It was not when he was freely treading the road between Athens and Corinth but when he was a prisoner of the Imperial Guard that he said, “rejoice in the Lord.”
It was not when he was standing before great crowds of eager listeners but when he was able to speak to only one or two at a time that he wrote with humility, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”
It was not when he was receiving acclaim and affirmation but when he himself was in the darkest of circumstances and facing the possibility of death that he commanded, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”
It was while he was within the stark walls of a prison that he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” It was when his mind may have been overwhelmed with anxieties that he commended the value of constraining our minds to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. It was when he was indefinitely confined and uncertain of his future that he said, “I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”
What could have been the epistle of fear is instead the epistle of faith. What could have been the epistle of grumbling is instead the epistle of cheer. What could have been the epistle of doubting God’s goodness is instead the epistle of hope, joy, and spiritual encouragement.
Nero may have been nominally free, but was more rightly bound—bound by sin, bound by paranoia, bound by dissipation despite his high circumstances. His life would end in an ignoble death that was either by his own hand or by the hand of a friend. His reputation is one of abnormal cruelty and he has gone down in history as the man who serenely played music while Rome burned around him, possibly at his command.
Paul may have been nominally bound, but was more rightly free—free to love, free to serve, free to worship despite his low circumstances. His life would end in the glory of martyrdom and he would gladly face the executioners to receive the crown of glory. His reputation is one of unsurpassed devotion to God and he has gone down in history as the foremost theologian of the Christian faith.
So which man was more free: was it the emperor or was it the missionary? Was it Nero or was it Paul? The answer is plain as day. And the answer challenges us that we are most truly never bound, for nothing can imprison our hearts and keep us from rejoicing. Nothing can bind our mouths and keep us from professing Christ. Nothing can bind our abilities and keep us from serving others. Nothing can keep us from glorifying God and serving out the purpose he has assigned to us, whether in a palace or a prison. We are always free to love, free to serve, free to worship the God who has saved us and will someday receive us to his side.