We are going around the world in A La Carte today! What a blessing that so many writers from so many nations choose to bless us with their wisdom.

Westminster Books is offering deals on their summer reading picks.
The Intermediate State of the Dead in Christ
From the Philippines, here’s Noel Espinosa on the intermediate state. “A recent death in our Church generated much lament. The brother was so young, and so actively useful in our ministries. What is more, he had no known precondition. This event drove me to refresh the subject of the intermediate state of the righteous.”
The Benefit of Ancient Creeds for the Contemporary Church
Next we go to India where Christopher Poshin David writes about Christian creeds. “I recall standing with an outstretched arm in the morning assembly at school reciting the Indian national pledge on Republic Day and Independence Day. The national pledge is an oath of allegiance. It also reminds us of our identity as part of a national community bigger than our individual selves. The church of Jesus Christ similarly has pledges that remind us of our corporate identity as the people of God. These pledges are called the creeds of the church.”
Join Me (and Many Others from Many Nations) At the 2022 SING! Conference
Build lifelong patterns of worship that ground your family and your congregation in Gospel-centered truths! This September 5-7, join thousands of believers from around the world for three days of deep theology, timeless artistry, and congregational singing led by speakers and artists like Keith & Kristyn Getty, Tim Challies, John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Mark Dever, Paul David Tripp, D. A. Carson, Andrew Peterson, Shai Linne, Matt Merker, and dozens more. EXCLUSIVE: Visit singconference.com and use code ‘CHALLIES35’ to save 35% before General Registration closes June 17. (Sponsored Link)
7 Critical Supplements To Evangelistic Fervour
In Uganda Eddie Ssemakula is concerned about evangelistic techniques. “It is my humble opinion, and suggestion of this post, that we need to rethink our evangelistic efforts in Africa. Something isn’t quite right. How can Africa have one of the fastest growing Christian populations, yet at the same time rank as one of the most corrupt continents in the world? Preaching that proclaims Christ can be heard in the streets, for sure. But are we seeing his lordship and kingdom expand?”
Are Cuss Words Sinful?
In Kenya, the writers of the Kuza site/app consider how and why cuss words are sinful. “You hear them in movies, television series, and in actual conversations. To some, these words sound cool, and they have made them part of their lives. Yet when you learn their meaning, cuss words will make you cringe.”
Grace as the Heart’s Desire
Italy is next, and here Leonardo De Chirico is writing about Roman Catholicism and saying “If one wants to come to terms with Roman Catholic theology, sooner than later one needs to address the ‘nature-grace interdependence.’”
Nothing To Be Ashamed Of: Penal Substitutionary Atonement In Honor-Shame Cultures
We will end in the United Arab Emirates with an article on why penal substitutionary cannot be downplayed or ignored even in honor-shame cultures. “We, the authors, were born, raised, born again, and currently live and serve in what may be appropriately labeled as honor-shame cultures. The prevailing view among many theologians and missiologists concerning our cultural context is that presenting Christ’s atonement in terms of penal substitution is ineffective at best, and is a distortion of the gospel at worst.”
Flashback: But God Makes No Mistakes
There is no condition in which it’s impossible to be a true Christian and to exemplify all the wonderful virtues of Christianity.

One supreme duty which the prevalence of sickness places on us is that of living always prepared to meet God. —J.C. Ryle

There are some interesting deals to look at in Logos’ monthly free and nearly-free collection.

Today’s Kindle deals include a number that are worth a look.
(Yesterday on the blog: 4 Guidelines for Dating Without Regrets)
Lessons From Mainline Decline
Kevin DeYoung shares some observations from the decline of mainstream churches.
Let Nature Do Its Job
I appreciate this call to get outside this summer to ensure we’re letting nature do its job.
Help! I’m terrified of evangelism!
“Many Christians are terrified of evangelism. It is the kind of thing we know we should be doing but we don’t get around to, like flossing or exercise. It is easy to come up with all kinds of excuses not to tell other people about Jesus.” Here are simple tips meant to help you get going.
4 Questions about the Lord’s Supper
What’s the Lord’s Supper all about? This article is a refresher of sorts.
How I Would Explain a Christian View of Transgenderism to a Non-Christian
Samuel James explains how he’d attempt to explain a Christian view of transgenderism to someone who is not a Christian.
Dress-Up Servants
This is a neat illustration and reminder that Jesus truly came and dwelt among us.
Flashback: On Caring for the Property of Others
Sin obscures the truth, it blinds us to our own flaws, it persuades us that vice is virtue and virtue vice.

Set not your heart upon the world, since God hath not made it your portion. —Samuel Rutherford

Somewhere between my generation and the current one, dating became difficult—far more difficult than it had once been. I am sure the so-called “purity movement” bears at least some of the responsibility as does the modern-day hookup culture. So, too, do the ubiquity of pornography and the rise of social media and dating apps. What was once relatively straightforward seems to have become strangely complicated.

In his book Pure, Dean Inserra commends an approach that he calls “no regrets dating.” He suggests four simple and common-sense guidelines that can help couples date in a way that will leave them without shame and without regret, whether they go on to marry or to break up. I thought I’d share them with you.
Stop acting like you’re married when you’re not. We tend to see exclusive dating relationships as quasi-marriages in which couples quickly become strongly entangled emotionally, romantically, and even physically. But “for the Christian, if the only thing that changes when you get married is that you start having sex, something is wrong.” When Christians attach too much significance to mere dating relationships, they can actually signal that these are not too different from non-Christian relationships: “they mirror the world’s idea of casually-committed relationships, declaring a pretend marriage that God does not recognize.” This may be especially true when the boyfriend attempts to exercise spiritual authority in the relationship as if a boyfriend has the authority and responsibility of a husband. “The practice instead should be two individuals who treat each other as siblings in Christ, because this is the category Scripture places them under as unmarried men and women. So, to sum it up, pump the brakes and chill out.” Make sure there is a clear distinction between the relationship of a boyfriend and girlfriend and that of a husband and wife—a distinction that is greater than just whether or not you sleep together.
Make intentions known when dating. 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. “I would like to take you on a date this weekend” is clear; “Let’s hang out some time” is not. This kind of intentional clarity defines the relationship to ensure both people have the same understanding and expectation, but also doesn’t load it immediately with the weight of future marriage. Then, as the relationship continues, it promotes further clarity about the steps that lead closer to marriage.
Foreplay is not in play. Though this one should be obvious and, in fact, is obvious, it is still very often violated. But just as we must refrain from sex before marriage, we must refrain from all lesser or introductory forms of sexuality before marriage. “Sex, foreplay, nakedness, etc. are not for dating people, in-love people, or mature people, but for married people. One does not have to kiss dating goodbye to understand this. In the world’s idea of dating, sex is expected. Taking that off the table immediately in a dating relationship sets a man and woman up to have no regrets if a breakup eventually happens, because they treated each other first as brother and sister in Christ.” And to take sex off the table immediately requires taking all forms of sexuality off the table as well.
Realize that you are not really committed. Finally, couples need to understand that dating—even dating exclusively—does not demand a lifelong commitment. You are free to end a dating relationship and, in fact, often should! It is marriage that is meant to be permanent and inviolable, not dating. “What does it really mean to be committed in dating, anyways? It means that you are committed until one of you decides you aren’t anymore.” Or, of course, until you decide to get married. It is marriage, not dating, that establishes permanence. This puts a responsibility not only on the couple, but on everyone else as well. “Married Christians should keep this in mind when walking through life with other believers who are dating or engaged. Dating is a time to evaluate the character of another person, and godly community should be part of that, but we shouldn’t treat our dating friends like they are married or make them feel guilty about getting out of a dating relationship that isn’t headed towards marriage. What a shame if church community is the reason someone feels like he or she can’t rightfully end a dating relationship.” Hence all of us need to treat dating relationships with the kind of casualness that will allow people to easily and unashamedly end them if they are simply not meant to be.
I am going to add one more and it’s this: have fun. It has been my observation that too many Christian couples get far too serious far too fast. This then adds a heavy weight during a phase of the relationship that should be light. Why not spend the first few dates—the first few weeks or months—just having fun and seeing if you can enjoy life together. Make expectations clear at the very beginning (e.g. we are going on a date, not just hanging out), but then set aside talk of engagement and marriage and children for a bit and see if you just enjoy one another. As you enjoy one another the deeper conversations will begin to arise naturally and at just the right time.
In a context in which dating has become too complicated, simple guidelines like these can offer a lot of help and a lot of clarity. They can help couples date confidently and, best of all, date without regrets.

Good morning my friends. As we begin a new month, it may be good to once again remind ourselves of this: Right now, on this very day and at this very moment, God is reigning from his throne.

(Yesterday on the blog: Summer Reading Suggestions for Students)
Is My Marriage Over?
“This is a question we rarely vocalize aloud, let alone within Christian circles. Yet it likely haunts some of you in struggling marriages, especially if you grew up in a home with broken love. Before you make any life-altering decisions, take a moment to breathe and ask yourself a few questions.”
The Unloved Wife: Responding Biblically
Meanwhile, also on the subject of marriage: “Every wife longs to be loved by her husband. This longing is a Biblical one. … But what happens when a husband doesn’t love his wife? How should the wife respond?”
Join Tim Challies at The SING! Conference
Build lifelong patterns of worship that ground your family and your congregation in Gospel-centered truths! This September 5-7, join thousands of believers from around the world for three days of deep theology, timeless artistry, and congregational singing led by speakers and artists like Keith & Kristyn Getty, Tim Challies, John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Mark Dever, Paul David Tripp, D. A. Carson, Andrew Peterson, Shai Linne, Matt Merker, and dozens more. EXCLUSIVE: Visit singconference.com and use code ‘CHALLIES35’ to save 35% before General Registration closes June 17. (Sponsored Link)
Congratulations Your Majesty
I enjoyed this little appreciation of Queen Elizabeth as she comes up to an incredible milestone.
9 Things You Should Know About Muhammad
Here are a few things it would be good for you to know about Muhammad. They come courtesy of Ayman Ibrahim who has just written a book titled A Concise Guide to the Life of Muhammad.
God Matures Us through Suffering, Not Miracles
“Can it be that seeking regular miracles in our lives isn’t what God intends for us?” What if there is another way through which God intends to grow our spiritual maturity…
Should Christians Condemn Bitcoin, or Embrace It?
My perspective on Bitcoin swings back and forth about as wildly as Bitcoin’s price does. Though I generally regard it negatively, I do appreciate the perspective Nelson Hsieh offers here as he considers how it can be extremely helpful for people who don’t enjoy Western financial privileges.
Flashback: Ordinary Christian Work
We please God—we thrill God—when we live as ordinary people in ordinary lives who use our ordinary circumstances to proclaim and live out an extraordinary gospel.

We see our good things magnified; and our blemishes in a light which makes them seem almost virtues. —J.R. Miller

With summer already upon a good number of students, and summer in the not-too-distant future for others, I thought it might be helpful to put together a list of books that would make for worthy summer reading. I chose to focus on books that have been released in the past year or so and which are aimed at the Christian market. Whether you are a student or not, I hope there’s something here that will catch your eye and bless you through the summer.

If you have an interest in apologetics…
The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glen Scrivener. “Is Christianity history? Or is Christian history the deepest explanation of the modern world. Today in the west, many consider the church to be dead or dying. Christianity is seen as outdated, bigoted and responsible for many of society’s problems. This leaves many believers embarrassed about their faith and many outsiders wary of religion. But what if the Christian message is not the enemy of our modern Western values, but the very thing that makes sense of them. In this fascinating book, Glen Scrivener takes readers on a journey to discover how the teachings of Jesus not only turned the ancient world upside down, but continue to underpin the way we think of life, worth, and meaning. Far from being a relic from the past, the distinctive ideas of Christianity, such as freedom, kindness, progress and equality, are a crucial part of the air that we breathe. As author Glen Scrivener says in his introduction: ‘The extraordinary impact of Christianity is seen in the fact that we don’t notice it’.”
If you have an interest in culture…
Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman. “How did the world arrive at its current, disorienting state of identity politics, and how should the church respond? Historian Carl R. Trueman discusses how influences ranging from traditional institutions to technology and pornography moved modern culture toward an era of ‘expressive individualism.’ Investigating philosophies from the Romantics, Nietzsche, Marx, Wilde, Freud, and the New Left, he outlines the history of Western thought to the distinctly sexual direction of present-day identity politics and explains the modern implications of these ideas on religion, free speech, and personal identity.”
If you have an interest in worldview…
Lies We Are Told, the Truth We Must Hold: Worldviews and Their Consequences by Sharon James. “We are surrounded by lies. They are incorporated into the worldview of our culture. We daily absorb them, and these lies can have deadly effects on individuals, societies and whole civilisations. Sharon James investigates the origins of some of these lies and looks at how we have got to the point where ‘my truth’ is as valid as ‘your truth’, and absolute truth is an outdated way of thinking. In examining the evidence of history, she highlights the consequences of applying dangerous untruths. She also looks at how Christians often respond to the culture’s lies – in silence, acquiescence or celebration of them – and why these responses can be as harmful as the lies themselves. This book aims to equip Christians to navigate the minefield of current claims. To understand our inherent human significance, to know genuine freedom, and to work for real justice, we need to know the truth.”
If you have an interest in our times…
Brave by Faith: God-Sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World by Alistair Begg. “What does it look like to live with joy in a society that does not like what Christians believe, say or do? It’s tempting to grow angry, keep our heads down, retreat or just give up altogether. But this isn’t the first time that God’s people have had to learn how to live in a pagan world that opposes God’s rule. In this realistic yet positive book, renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg examines the first seven chapters of Daniel to show us how to live bravely, confidently and obediently in an increasingly secular society. Readers will see that God is powerful and God is sovereign, and even in the face of circumstances that appear to be prevailing against his people, we may trust him entirely. We can be as brave as Daniel if we have faith in Daniel’s God!”
If you have any interest in social justice…
Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus Williams. “God does not suggest, he commands that we do justice. Social justice is not optional for the Christian. All injustice affects others, so talking about justice that isn’t social is like talking about water that isn’t wet or a square with no right angles. But the Bible’s call to seek justice is not a call to superficial, kneejerk activism. We are not merely commanded to execute justice, but to ‘truly execute justice.’ The God who commands us to seek justice is the same God who commands us to ‘test everything’ and ‘hold fast to what is good.’ Drawing from a diverse range of theologians, sociologists, artists, and activists, Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth, by Thaddeus Williams, makes the case that we must be discerning if we are to ‘truly execute justice’ as Scripture commands. Not everything called ‘social justice’ today is compatible with a biblical vision of a better world. The Bible offers hopeful and distinctive answers to deep questions of worship, community, salvation, and knowledge that ought to mark a uniquely Christian pursuit of justice.”
If you have an interest in relationships…
Pure: Why the Bible’s Plan for Sexuality Isn’t Outdated, Irrelevant, or Oppressive by Dean Inserra. “Few things bring more immediate scrutiny and impassioned angst among young adult Christians today than hearing the words ‘purity culture.’ Serious flaws from purity culture deserve to be scrutinized, especially given its lasting negative effects on some raised in the movement. Many Christians today reject the movement—and all that it stood for—wholesale. However, we can’t ignore the clear sexual ethics of the Bible. Pure dives into the big picture of God’s design for men and women regarding sexuality, and seeks to reclaim one of the clearest teaching in the scriptures: the call to sexual purity. While purity culture gets the truth right, the approach and gospel elements it espouses are often wrong. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water, but rather celebrate God’s great design for marriage and the loving boundaries he has put in place for our joy, protection, and flourishing.”
If you have an interest in masculinity…
The Men We Need: God’s Purpose for the Manly Man, the Avid Indoorsman, or Any Man Willing to Show Up by Brant Hansen. “The world needs real men, real bad. And there are all sorts of conflicting ideas and messages about what a ‘real man’ is (and is not). Is a real man one who hunts, loves sports, grills meat, fixes cars, and climbs mountains? Sure, sometimes. But that’s not really the point of being a man and it’s not the purpose for which men were made. Into our cultural confusion, Brant Hansen paints a refreshingly specific, compelling picture of what men are made to be: ‘Keepers of the Garden.’ Protectors and defenders. He calls for men of all interests and backgrounds (including ‘avid indoorsmen’ like himself) to be ambitious about the right things and to see themselves as defenders of the vulnerable, with whatever resources they have. Using short chapters loaded with must-have wisdom and Brant’s signature humor, The Men We Need explains the essence of masculinity in a fresh, thoughtful, and entertaining way that will inspire any man who dares to read it.”
If you have an interest in technology…
Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media by Chris Martin. “Do we use social media, or are we being used by it? Social media is brilliant and obscene. It sharpens the mind and dulls it. It brings nations together and tears them apart. It perpetuates, reveals, and repairs injustice. It is an untamed beast upon which we can only hope to ride, but never quite corral. What is it doing to us? In Terms of Service, Chris Martin brings readers his years of expertise and experience from building online brands, coaching authors and speakers about social media use, and thinking theologically about the effects of social media. As you read this book, you will Learn how social media has come to dominate the role the internet plays in your life; Learn how the ‘social internet’ affects you in ways you may not realize; Be equipped to push back against the hold the internet has on your mind and your heart.”
If you have an interest in Christian living…
You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News by Kelly Kapic. “Work. Family. Church. Exercise. Sleep. The list of demands on our time seems to be never ending. It can leave you feeling a little guilty–like you should always be doing one more thing. Rather than sharing better time-management tips to squeeze more hours out of the day, Kelly Kapic takes a different approach in You’re Only Human. He offers a better way to make peace with the fact that God didn’t create us to do it all. Kapic explores the theology behind seeing our human limitations as a gift rather than a deficiency. He lays out a path to holistic living with healthy self-understanding, life-giving relationships, and meaningful contributions to the world. He frees us from confusing our limitations with sin and instead invites us to rest in the joy and relief of knowing that God can use our limitations to foster freedom, joy, growth, and community. Readers will emerge better equipped to cultivate a life that fosters gratitude, rest, and faithful service to God.”
If you have an interest in decision-making…
Demystifying Decision-Making: A Practical Guide by Aimee Joseph. “On an average day, people makes countless decisions: Should I get out of bed or hit the snooze button? What should I have for breakfast? Where should we go for this year’s vacation? While some decisions are easy to make, others can leave individuals paralyzed and full of anxiety. As Christians living in an increasingly individualistic society, what’s the best strategy for making decisions that honor God while becoming more like him in the process? Writing from her own experience and pointing to biblical examples, Aimee Joseph offers a biblical and theological framework for decision-making. She explains God’s design for humans as decision-makers, the biblical model for making choices, common wrong approaches, practical tips, and what to do when you’ve made a poor decision. With the philosophy that ‘as we shape our decisions, our decisions shape us,’ Joseph teaches readers how to worship and draw closer to Christ through their daily decisions.”
If you have an interest in ethics…
50 Ethical Questions: Biblical Wisdom for Confusing Times by J. Alan Branch. “Christians cannot escape difficult questions. What we need is guidance to think well. In 50 Ethical Questions, J. Alan Branch addresses questions about ethics, sexuality, marriage and divorce, bioethics, and Christian living. Readers will find biblical and reasonable guidance on their questions, including: What are the differences between individual and systemic racism? I’ve been invited to a same-sex wedding. Should I attend? Should Christians use vaccines from cell lines derived from aborted babies? I’m a Christian in an abusive marriage. What should I do? Is it morally permissible for a Christian to conceal-carry a firearm? With Branch’s help, you can navigate ethical challenges with care and conviction.”
If you have an interest in sexual purity…
The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility by Ray Ortlund. “Pornography may seem inescapable, but God can free us from its destructive power. The gospel replaces the dehumanizing lies of pornography with this surprising truth: God created us as royalty. How then can we reclaim our God-given identity to take a stand against—and ultimately starve—the predatory porn industry? In The Death of Porn, Ray Ortlund writes six personal letters, as from a father to his son. Ideal for individuals and small groups, it will give hope to men who have been misled by porn into devaluing themselves and others. Through Scripture and personal stories, Ortlund assures readers that God loves them the most tenderly in their moments of deepest shame. The Death of Porn inspires men to come together in new ways to fight the injustice of porn and build a world of nobility for every man and woman—for the sake of future generations.”
If you have an interest in classic literature…
Read and Reflect with the Classics by Karen Swallow Prior. “Jane Eyre. Frankenstein. Tess of the d’Urbervilles. You’re familiar with these pillars of classic literature. You have seen plenty of Frankenstein costumes, watched the film adaptations, and may even be able to rattle off a few quotes, but do you really know how to read these books? Do you know anything about the authors who wrote them, and what the authors were trying to teach readers through their stories? Do you know how to read them as a Christian? Taking into account your old worldview, as well as that of the author? In these beautiful cloth-over-board editions bestselling author, literature professor, and avid reader Karen Swallow Prior will guide you through” a number of classic works of literature including Sense and Sensibility, Heart of Darkness, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and The Scarlet Letter.
If you have an interest in the local church…
The Loveliest Place: The Beauty and Glory of the Church by Dustin Benge. “Dear. Precious. Lovely. The Bible describes the church in extraordinary ways, even using beautiful poetry and metaphors. How does this compare to how Christians today describe the church? Unfortunately, many believers focus more on its mission, structure, or specific programs than on its inherent beauty. It’s time to spark a renewed affection for the church. In The Loveliest Place, Dustin Benge urges Christians to see the holy assembly of God’s redeemed people in all its eternal beauty. He explains what makes the church lovely, including the Trinitarian relationship, worship, service, and gospel proclamation. For those who have never learned to view the church as God sees it, or have become disillusioned by its flaws, this book is a reminder that the corporate gathering of believers is a reflection of God’s indescribable beauty.”

May the God of love and peace be with you today.

(Yesterday on the blog: Another Week in a Difficult and Hostile World)
Grief Is Not the Enemy
“Like love or joy or hope, grief is not less than an emotion, but it is also much more. And certainly, love and joy are tightly connected with grief. We cannot truly grieve something or someone unless we love them first and take joy in them. It would be natural to think of grief as the opposite of joy, or the absence of love, but that’s not quite right.”
How to Think Wisely About Becoming a Social Media Celebrity
“Most of us are still trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up. There’s got to be that perfect job out there somewhere, where I can make a ton of money, impact the world for good, be respected and adored, be myself, and do what I love.” For a growing number of younger people, that’s being a social media influencer.
How Will I Find My Ministry Calling?
Whatever vocation you’re pursuing, here’s some counsel from John Piper on finding it—though it’s especially related to ministry.
Join Tim Challies At The SING! Conference
Build lifelong patterns of worship that ground your family and your congregation in Gospel-centered truths! This September 5-7, join thousands of believers from around the world for three days of deep theology, timeless artistry, and congregational singing led by speakers and artists like Keith & Kristyn Getty, Tim Challies, John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Mark Dever, Paul David Tripp, D. A. Carson, Andrew Peterson, Shai Linne, Matt Merker, and dozens more.
EXCLUSIVE: Visit singconference.com and use code ‘CHALLIES35’ to save 35% before General Registration closes June 17. (Sponsored Link)
The Churches of Antarctica
I enjoyed this little roundup of the churches of Antarctica. It’s a continent so thinly-populated that it’s possible to show photos of almost all of them.
We Rest to Work
Guy Richards continues his series on rest: “Rest in a post-Fall world should be directed to the end of enabling us to fulfill our mandate to work. This sets boundaries on how much we rest and what that rest looks like. It tells us that we should, generally speaking, rest only as much as we need to in order to work.”
With Us Now and til the End
“Do you believe Jesus is with you? Or is he standing off in the heavens, waiting to join the glorified you at the end of the age?” Do you believe he’s with you when you suffer? When you sin?
Flashback: Whatever Is False, Whatever Is Immoral, Whatever Is Prejudiced…
We must deliberately discipline ourselves to consider only what honors God, only what is pleasing to him, only what results in his sweet peace.

You are not to rest partly on Christ, -partly on doing all you can, -partly on keeping your Church, -partly on receiving the sacrament. In the matter of your justification Christ is to be all. —J.C. Ryle

Bounded by a lake on its southern side, the city of Toronto and the suburbs that surround it are being steadily pushed to the east, west, and south. In these regions, developers are buying great stretches of farmland and converting them into dense neighborhoods. With hundreds of thousands of people arriving in Canada each year through immigration, and with hundreds of thousands more being born here, the demand for housing is insatiable and the city is expanding outward like a slow-moving tsunami.

Yet if you push outside the bounds of the city and drive past the new suburbs, it still does not take long to come to farmland. And at this time of year the farmers have just finished sowing their seeds. Some of the early crops went into the ground in the opening days of the month, but it’s in the later weeks of May—weeks when it becomes less likely that nighttimes will bring frost—that most crops can be safely sown.
If you were to trace the life cycle of a single plant, you would see that it is planted in May, that it pushes above the ground in the warming days of spring, and that it reaches maturity in the summer. When the farmer determines that it is fully ripe, he harvests it and ships it to a nearby grocery story or farmer’s market where it is sold as fresh local produce.
At that market a shopper—perhaps a clerk at a clothing store downtown—, adds it to her cart, takes it home, and serves it for dinner. Her husband, who works at the nearby automotive plant eats that same meal, as do their school-aged children. The meal feeds and sustains them for another day, providing the nourishment and strength they need to carry out their tasks. And thus, in a roundabout way, the farmer plays a quiet but key role in that clothing store, in that car plant, and in that school.
Pastors are often compared to farmers and for good reason. For in much the same way, the pastor plays a quiet but key role in the lives of the people of his church. He labors in his office throughout the week, prayerfully studying the Bible, carefully planning a worship service, and diligently preparing a sermon. Then, when Sunday finally arrives, the church gathers to sing and to pray together, to read the Scriptures and to celebrate the ordinances. The pinnacle of the service is the preaching of the Word in which the pastor exposits a passage and applies it to the daily lives of the people. The congregation listens carefully, searching the Bible to ensure all of these things are true, and considering how they can take those truths and live them out day by day. By the time they hear the final “amen” and shake the final hand on the way out the door, they are equipped and energized for another week of life in a difficult and hostile world.
In this way the pastor, like the farmer, is in the business of feeding people as they go about their lives and fulfill their vocations. 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. It is his privilege to fill them up and send them out full and satisfied.
And so the calling upon pastors is to feed their people. What will truly energize them for another week in this world is not entertainment and not platitudes, not feel-good phrases and not motivational speeches. What will truly meet their spiritual hunger is the spiritual food of the Word. They need to be fed from the Word and this is the pastor’s responsibility, the pastor’s task, the pastor’s privilege.
And church members, the calling upon you is to be fed, to diligently attend the services and to attentively listen so you can receive the good food the pastor has prepared for you. Then, having been filled with such nourishment, you can go beyond the walls of the church to carry out your God-given tasks—the sacred tasks of fulfilling your vocation, loving the people around you, and telling the world about Jesus. You can go full, fed, satisfied, and energized to do all God has called you to do.

To my American friends and family, I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day today. I’ve been saying that for years now and still don’t know what a proper Memorial Day greeting is or if there even is one…

Crossway has got us covered with a nice little list of Kindle deals.
(Yesterday on the blog: Death and its Twin)
Help Your Neighbor, Heal the Nation
“Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX (and potential new owner of Twitter), set the Twitterverse ablaze recently by tweeting [a cartoon], which describes how he believes the U.S. political landscape has shifted.” This begins a discussion of how Christians can and should relate to our neighbors.
Morality over Doctrine?
“It’s fascinating how much you can learn about secular culture when it’s not trying to express its beliefs. This comes out in films, TV series, and popular fiction, among other places. I guess that’s another piece of support for the argument that we’re most ourselves when no one’s looking.”
Why You Should Read More Biographies
Here are some good reasons to read more biographies. “As a kid, I hated reading. I thought it was one of the most boring things a person can do. Then I became a Christian and discovered the rich and worshipful world of theology. I’ve been a voracious reader ever since.”
Is Christ present in the Lord’s Supper? If so, in what way is He present?
This is such an interesting and disputed question. I wish they had had a Baptist on the panel to provide his perspective as well.
A Reluctant Culture Warrior
This one may be especially interesting to non-Americans who are trying to sort out how to deal with culture wars that flow from the US into their churches.
Cords Have Memory
If you’ve ever coiled a cord wrong, you have probably come to learn that cords have memories (which is why the worship leader at your church really wants you to put them away properly). But that’s not really what this article is about.

The infidel hurls the chief force of his caricature and vulgarity at the first book of the Bible. He feels that if he can capture that gate he can iconoclast the whole temple. —De Witt Talmage

I had quite a number of opportunities this week to think and speak about death. And as I did so, I found myself drawn to these precious and poetic words from F.B. Meyer in which he reflects on the abolishment of death in the death of Christ. What hope we have in the gospel!

Death is abolished! The wasp struck its sting into the cross of the dying Lord, and lost it there, and is now stingless forever. The poison fang of the viper has been extracted, Goliath beheaded by his own sword. The teeth of the lion have been drawn. And for this reason the apostles always speak of a believer’s death as being but a sleep.
Death is not to be more dreaded than sleep, its twin. In all likelihood we shall be quite surprised when we have passed through the dark portal, that was so slight and easy an experience. We dread it now, because we do not really believe that Christ’s death has made it all so different. If we believed this, it would give us great confidence. But whether we believed or not, we shall find it so.
A step; a moment; a passage across the Bridge of Sighs; a transition from darkness to light; a birth — that is all. Absent from the body, present with the Lord. No moment of unconsciousness or oblivion! The veil rent, the shell broken, the iron gateway passed whilst the light and air of the eternal morning break on the emancipated spirit!

I hope and trust you’ll all enjoy your weekend!

If you’re into Kindle deals, you’ll find a few good ones today.
I’d like to remind you that my forthcoming book Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God is now available for pre-order. You can reserve your copy at Amazon, Westminster Books, and so on.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Bible’s Plan for Sexuality Isn’t Outdated, Irrelevant, or Oppressive)
Our Hope in the Ascension
“Of all the aspects of Christ’s work in his state of exaltation, the Ascension is one of the most overlooked.” Kevin DeYoung explains why this should not be the case.
The Sugar-Coating
This is a good article about an ugly habit. “I have some authority to say that self-pity doesn’t get you anywhere. Trust me, I’ve tried it. Even on those occasions when people who really ought to know better don’t recognise the sheer weight of the scars you bear, and you feel like you must delve into the pools of pity to shake them out of their repose—it still isn’t worth it.”
How to Spot a Wolf
“The Bible commands Christians, ‘Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account’. But God’s Word also tells of times when we shouldn’t trust and submit to leaders. What are the circumstances when honoring God means disobeying, fleeing, or even calling out those who minister in his name?”
When Violence Touches a Child’s Life
Here are some tips on helping children deal with violence and the fear of violence. “Rather than react out of fear, we must help our kids by demonstrating an appropriate level of sobriety and sorrow by such events, while exhibiting that our hope is in Christ. The challenge is to find the right balance—teaching young people awareness and caution while equally encouraging trust in a sovereign God.”
Enjoying the Church I Get to Pastor Right Now
I appreciate Darryl’s commitment to set aside thoughts of what could be or of what he might like to be so he can instead focus on what really is.
Loving With A Limp
This is a short article about Jacob and about you and me.
Flashback: It’s Submission, Not Subjection
We rebel in the way we lead just as we rebel in the way we are led. What a mess we are! And what a joy when we lead and are led in the ways God commands.

I would sooner walk in the dark and hold on to a promise of God, than trust in the light of the brightest day. —C.H. Spurgeon