May the Lord grant you his richest blessings as you serve and worship him this weekend.

Today’s Kindle deals include a number of good options.
(Yesterday on the blog: Strange New World)
Does Predestination Mean God Is the Author of Sin?
Michael Horton begins his answer to the question by drawing an important distinction. “This question is a struggle for so many. It’s important to keep in mind that there is a distinction—a very important distinction—between God’s active decree and his permissive decree.”
Decision Time
Acknowledging all the turmoil in recent days and months, Matthew Hosier–very wisely, I believe–counsels pastors and church members to stay put until at least the summer. “There are times when it is right to move congregation, to change occupation, to adjust our theology – but I’m not sure now is that time. Hold fast. Love and serve Jesus by loving and serving the church. Plant and heal and build. It’s that time.”
Is It ‘Christian’ for Europe to Welcome Refugees from Ukraine but Not Syria?
As refugees stream out of Ukraine, it has been interesting to compare their reception with that of Syrian refugees. This article from Christianity Today covers that issue very well. “Since the invasion, about 4 million of Ukraine’s population of 43 million have become refugees. Another 6.5 million are internally displaced. Yet 11 years since its civil war, most of Syria’s 6.8 million refugees—out of a population of 20 million—still live in limbo. Europe largely shut its doors, certainly in comparison to its warm welcome of those fleeing Russian aggression.”
Let the Global Church Give You Perspective
I really appreciate Trevin Wax’s counsel here. “One of the best ways to maintain sound doctrine and gain perspective on some of our society’s most heated debates is to stay in close contact with Christians in other parts of the world. Cultural quirks and theological distinctions will help you discern what’s essential and where Christians can ‘agree to disagree.’”
Your Job is to Make Words Clear
Pastors, as you prepare to preach this weekend, make sure you remember: Your job is to make words clear. “Preaching goes way beyond clarification of the meaning of a string of words. But preaching won’t go anywhere good if it bypasses this critical element of the task.”
God Sees The Whole Picture
This article from Sylvia Schroeder reminds us that God, and God alone, sees the whole picture.
Flashback: Get to Know Yourself
To know myself, I need to look outside of myself. My best assessment of self does not come from within but from without. It does not originate with me but with God.

Down then into the dust; there you are in the fittest place and posture for delightful converse with God. —John Howe

Whatever else is true of the modern, Western world, this much is beyond dispute: It is not what it used to be. We have entered into a new world that is very different from the one that came before, a new world that in many ways feels so very strange. Many of us feel like immigrants who have inadvertently found ourselves in a new world and are learning to adapt to its new rules, its new norms, its new mores. Many of us are struggling to do so.

Carl Trueman has made a deep study of the origins of these changes and has shared his findings in Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution. “For many people, the Western world in which we now live has a profoundly confusing, and often disturbing, quality to it,” he says. “Things once regarded as obvious and unassailable virtues have in recent years been subject to vigorous criticism and even in some cases come to be seen by many as more akin to vices. Indeed, it can seem as if things that almost everybody believed as unquestioned orthodoxy the day before yesterday—that marriage is to be between one man and one woman, for example—are now regarded as heresies advocated only by the dangerous, lunatic fringe.”
If the problems were only “out there” it would be bad enough, but many are finding the problems are also impacting work, church, family, and every other part of life. “Welcome to this strange new world,” says Trueman. “You may not like it. But it is where you live, and therefore it is important that you try to understand it.” And that is what his book is all about—trying to understand the world as it is by understanding how it came to be this way.
To that end, Trueman considers the thinkers and leaders who led the way from the former world into the current one. Before he can do that, though, he must introduce some key concepts such as self, a term that has taken on new and inordinate meaning in the past few decades so that “the modern self assumes the authority of inner feelings and sees authenticity as defined by the ability to give social expression to the same. The modern self also assumes that society at large will recognize and affirm this behavior.”
This understanding of self is defined by what is called expressive individualism, a term meant to describe the notion that “each person has a unique core of feeling and intuition that should unfold or be expressed if individuality is to be realized.” This leads to a world in which authenticity is achieved when a person’s inward feelings are fully acted out publicly while receiving the unanimous praise and affirmation of society. This is seen in many ways, but particularly in the area of sexuality where a person’s identity is most fully defined by sexual desires and most fully considered authentic when they are acted out with the full affirmation of the public.
How did society get here? To answer that question, Trueman looks to thinkers such as Decartes and Rousseau who began to ground identity in the inner life rather than in external factors such as family, faith, or culture, and then to the Romantic poets who fostered this idea in popular ways. He looks to Marx and Nietzsche, to Freud and Reich, each of whom contributed ideas that are central to the Western mind’s self-understanding. He looks to the sexual revolution and to changing notions of personhood. He looks at the rise and dominance of the LGBTQ movement and, in its wake, the rise of transgenderism as perhaps the most complete and significant evidence of the seismic changes that have swept through society.
Many who consider this book will want to know how it differs from Trueman’s previous work The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self which was released less than two years ago. He answers the question in the preface where he says that “this short book is not a precise précis [summary or abridgement] of my larger work … [it] covers the same ground in a briefer and (hopefully) more accessible format.” The arguments are essentially the same, but the information significantly reduced. Strange New World also addresses some of the constructive critiques of the first work, including its relatively brief handling of the “now what?” factor, while also addressing some of the changes that have taken place even in just the past couple of years. Speaking personally, I studied The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self very closely and took thousands of words of notes. Yet I still benefited from Strange New World and am glad I read it. In that sense, I’d recommend it to those who have read the first work as well as those who have not.
As I have traveled the world, I have often hired tour guides to lead me through unfamiliar locations. Their expertise has always proven helpful in explaining what I am seeing and experiencing. And in much the same way, Strange New World is essentially a guided tour to modern times. Trueman acts as a wise and trusted guide to a culture that has become increasingly uncomfortable and unfamiliar. I highly recommend you take the tour.

Buy from Amazon

The Lord be with you and bless you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include some good deals from Crossway.
(Yesterday on the blog: New and Notable Christian Books for Children)
Am I Sinning? 6 Questions for Moral Gray Areas
“Many Christians would label at least some of these issues as ‘gray areas’—a category we might define as actions that Scripture doesn’t clearly identify as ‘sinful’ or ‘non-sinful’ for all people in all places at all times. To say it another way, a gray area (biblically speaking) is any matter that is not clearly commanded, prohibited, or permitted in Scripture.”
The Spiritual Discipline of Shutting Up
Craig Thompson: “One discipline that is conspicuously absent from most lists, but which I find to be incredibly beneficial in my sanctification and in my relationships with others is the spiritual discipline of shutting my mouth. You may practice silence and solitude, but that isn’t the same thing as the discipline of shutting up.”
Dive Deeper Into Worship With Keith & Kristyn Getty
Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 12:14 that “the body does not consist of one member but of many.” The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts to employ in his service—skills that we hone when we are gathered together! This September, join thousands of believers from around the world for three days of congregational singing, deep theology, and 50+ practical breakout sessions led by the Gettys, Joni Eareckson Tada, John MacArthur, D. A. Carson, Paul David Tripp, Sandra McCracken Shai & Blair Linne, and more at the Sing! Worship Conference in Nashville, TN! EXCLUSIVE: Use code ‘CHALLIES’ to save 20% on registration before April 1. (Sponsored Link)
The Real Deal: The Exclusivity of Jesus
I appreciated this article from Equip Indian Churches: “Today, in the marketplace of ideas, the word ‘truth’ has lost its meaning, purpose and relevance. Much of this is due to the rise of philosophical relativism and postmodernism. On the altar of postmodernism, all the transcendental and objective truths, slowly but surely, are being marginalized. ‘Truth’ has now been personalised. There seems to be no definitive meaning of the word ‘meaning’ and no definitive purpose to the word ‘purpose’. For many, life seems to be a meaningless accident in a universe that is lonely, cold and dark.”
Every Technology Has Its Own Agenda
“What is the chief purpose of the bed? To provide a good night’s sleep. What is the chief purpose of the coffee pot? To provide energetic fluid for the day and prevent mass murder. What is the chief purpose of our phones? Ah, now we get a bit more confused. What is the chief purpose of social media?” That’s a question we need to be asking.
Grief and Good Advice
Donna shares a bit of good and helpful advice (that was given to her and then proved its value).
The Lord’s Prayer – New Musical Setting
Jamie Brown has shared a video of a new musical setting for the Lord’s Prayer.
Flashback: The Hidden Strength of a Weak Mother (Christian Men and Their Godly Moms)
“My dear mother, besides the rains she took with me, often commended me with many prayers and tears to God; and I doubt not but I reap the fruits of these prayers to this hour.”

You may not be outwardly bad, and yet not inwardly good. —Thomas Watson

Over the past few weeks I’ve received several boxes of books for kids. Because the publishers take the time to send them, I like to take the time to look them over. Having done so, I thought I’d provide a bit of a roundup for parents or grandparents or others who are looking for some good material for kids. Coincidentally, Westminster Books has many of these titles significantly discounted right now as part of their Kids’ Week Sale, so it’s a good time to purchase a few. I’ve divided them into books for younger kids and books for older kids.

Books for Younger Kids

Books for Older Kids

Logos users can now gain access to all of the March Matchups sales. That includes 60% off the new Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, 57% off the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Collection, and other great deals.

(Yesterday on the blog: A Christian Father’s Last Will and Testament)
What Book of the Bible Should a New Believer Read First?
I was asked this question just the other day. “Great question. There are so many to choose from! I’m going to suggest two options. Before I make my case, I want to give you some general encouragement. Then, I will explain why I think you may want to begin your Bible reading adventure either in Genesis or John.”
Despairing Over the Culture? There’s Still a Reason to Get Out of Bed Tomorrow
Carl Trueman answers some pressing questions. “One of the questions that Christians ask repeatedly at the moment is whether there is any hope or should we simply despair? Is the world so intent on dismantling what it means to be a human being that society is doomed to collapse, or at least committed to shunting Christians and Christianity to its far margins?”
Excellent Parenting is Remarkably Ordinary
Brad Hambrick: “In this article, I want to offer you three ‘ordinary’ encouragements that will allow you to be an excellent parent.”
If Putin Deploys a Tactical Nuke, How Should the U.S. Respond?
Bruce Ashford offers a very interesting answer to how the US could or should respond if the war in Ukraine goes nuclear. (Speaking of Ukraine, this site offers very urgent and helpful updates from a Ukrainian pastor.)
Why Christians Resist Transgender Speech-Codes
Denny Burk: “I write this post to explain briefly why Christians are resisting the totalitarian speech codes of transgender propagandists.” (And, on that topic, this is another one from Denny, Do you know what a woman is? Ketanji Brown Jackson Doesn’t.)
3 Philosophies of Sermon Application
“I want to give you three philosophies of sermon application that I have seen and heard from different faithful preachers.” This is a helpful breakdown.
Flashback: Why Do We Add To Our Trouble?
We are so often drawn to bad news more than good, to evidences of depravity more than evidences of grace. Why then should we be surprised that our feet grow heavy, that our pace begins to falter?

Western theology tends to ask why God allows suffering more than how he uses it. —Elliot Clark

In the name of God, I, being of sound mind and body, bequeath to my children the small store of wealth and the few possessions I have been able to accumulate over a lifetime of labor. I divide these equally among my children and ask them to accept it all with my blessings—to keep it or to give it away as they see fit.

Of infinitely greater value, I bequeath to them all the fervent prayers I have made for their salvation and their sanctification—prayers I began to pray before they were born and prayers I continued to pray until the day of my death.
I bequeath to them the Christian religion that has encouraged and sustained me for so many decades. This is the faith that has given me so much joy and comfort since Christ became my Lord and Savior, the faith they heard from my lips and the faith they learned by my example. I trust that it will bless them every bit as richly as it has me.
I bequeath to them the love of a father who, though imperfect, loved them truly and purely—who loved them in a pale but purposeful imitation of the perfect love of the perfect Father.
I bequeath to them the hope that they may imitate whatever in me was true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. And equally I bequeath to them the hope that they may eschew any errors I made, that they may avoid the sins they saw in me, that they may be holier and godlier than their father ever was.
I bequeath to them the sure confidence of a glorious family reunion when their pilgrimage, like mine, comes to its end and when together we shall meet again to inherit riches innumerable and eternal.
And finally I bequeath to them the one possession that symbolizes all of this—the Bible we read from through so many years of family worship. May it remind them of the days we gathered as a family to read and to pray, and may it continue to be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path that illumines the way to heaven.
In the name of the God who created me, the Savior who redeemed me, and the Spirit who sanctifies me—the triune God whom I call as witness—I make this a Christian father’s last will and testament.

Inspired by The Wedding Ring by De Witt Talmage

May the Lord bless and keep you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include Steve Lawson’s excellent Philippians For You and a systematic theology from John MacArthur.
Westminster Books has loads of kids’ books on sale, headlined by Kevin DeYoung’s new The Biggest Story Bible Storybook.
The Manly Virtue of Magnanimity
Kevin DeYoung: “The title of this article calls magnanimity a ‘manly virtue.’ By that, I don’t mean that magnanimity is unique to men or that women are not also called to this trait. After all, Witherspoon calls it a Christian virtue. But I do think magnanimity is a virtue particularly befitting to manhood, and that manhood bereft of magnanimity is especially lamentable.”
The Unique Wonder of the Sunday Gathering
“What sweet kindness we enjoy when we gather with the saints on Sunday. God’s people assembled together is a meeting unlike anything else in this world. The unity, the likemindedness, the focus on Christ, the heartfelt singing, and the study of the Word of God lifts the believer’s heart, informs the Christian’s mind, and increases the saint’s love for God. How unique and blessed are these assemblies!”
Dive Deeper Into Worship With Keith & Kristyn Getty
Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 12:14 that “the body does not consist of one member but of many.” The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts to employ in his service—skills that we hone when we are gathered together! This September, join thousands of believers from around the world for three days of congregational singing, deep theology, and 50+ practical breakout sessions led by the Gettys, Joni Eareckson Tada, John MacArthur, D. A. Carson, Paul David Tripp, Sandra McCracken Shai & Blair Linne, and more at the Sing! Worship Conference in Nashville, TN! EXCLUSIVE: Use code ‘CHALLIES’ to save 20% on registration before April 1. (Sponsored Link)
Unhelpful Advice in ‘Turning Red’
Brett McCracken shares some of the strengths of the latest Pixar movie but says, “It’s a pity, then, that many of Turning Red’s ideas and messages are so unhelpful. For all of its merits, the film ultimately advocates a wrongheaded central message under the guise of empowerment: embrace who you are, even your reckless vices and dangerous impulses, and don’t let anyone stop you.”
Sex Toy Story
And, while on the subject of Pixar, Stephen McAlpine looks to another of their films that will release in the near future. “We all grow out of our toys don’t we? And then we move on to sex. At least that’s how the story goes. Or at least that’s how the Disney story goes. Or at least that’s how the Disney story used to go, all things being equal. But things are not equal. Not in this Sexular Age. Now, for Disney, toys and sex must now go together.”
Prayer Requests for a Critical Heart
“I promise I’m not critical. I just happen to know how to do things the right way, and I want to use my gift of correct-ness to help others. Is that so bad? Actually, it is. And, actually, I am critical.” Cindy goes on to share some prayer requests for those of us with critical hearts.
The Social Media Ministry
This article from Peter Muturi Kimotho considers some of the drawbacks of social media. “When I first started sharing a lot on social media I thought I had learned something the world needed to hear. I was for the first time coming face to face with the true Gospel as the Bible taught it. It was just not something I could keep to myself. But a few years later I came to realize maybe Facebook shouldn’t have been my first go-to audience.”
Flashback: How the World Worshipped on One of the Most Unusual Sundays in Church History
Would it be an exaggeration to say that Sunday, March 22, 2020 was one of the most unusual Sundays in the history of Christianity? I don’t think it would be, because on this day the majority of Christians across the world were either not permitted to gather to worship or considered it inadvisable to do so.

…the mark of a fool is not intellectual deficiency but aggressive ungodliness. —Dale Ralph Davis

The God of love and peace be with you on this fine day.

There’s quite an extensive list of Kindle deals to check out today.
Logos users have one more chance to vote for a winner in March Matchups.
(Yesterday on the blog: When “All Things” Don’t Feel So Good)
To Ben on World Down Syndrome Day
I loved Andrea’s tribute to Ben on World Down Syndrome Day. “You stay the same, but you are constantly changing others. Your positive influence on people cannot be overstated. You, in your weakness, have had a greater impact on your world than many of us with advanced degrees and strong skill sets.”
Every Story needs Tension
Every good story needs some tension to be interesting and fulfilling. But as Peter Muturi asks, “Why is it then that we like our stories to be flat? To get all our prayers answered the way we want, when we want and how we want them. To move from point A to Z on a straight line.”
Expressive Individualism in the Church
The new issue of the 9Marks Journal is all about expressive individualism. There are lots of good articles and reviews to read!
Please Waste Some of Your Prayers
George Sinclair encourages you to regularly “waste” your prayers on those you deem unlikely to repent and believe.
That Bible Book You Don’t Like and What to Do About It
“Here’s a question you may not be asked very often: what’s your least favorite book of the Bible? Which book do you avoid reading, or skim over lightly when it shows up in your Bible reading plan? Which book confuses you, frustrates you, or (let’s be honest) bores you?” This article tells you what to do about it.
Do blogs still matter?
Aaron Armstrong: “But blogs… they don’t matter anymore. Or at least we don’t think they do. They’re slow; unlike social media, they take you out of the moment. You can’t have an instant reaction on a blog. They take a lot of work. They require a kind of thoughtfulness, at least in theory, the kind that plays against all the algorithms.”
Flashback: 8 Ways God Turns Temptations to Blessings
The more furiously Satan tempts, the more fervently the saint prays. A running deer sprints as soon as it discerns the presence of the hunter and, in the same way, the soul that comes under fire from Satan’s darts runs faster to the throne of grace.

Wise is that Christian parent who begins every morning with the word of God and fervent prayer. —Theodore Cuyler

No one who has ever listened to Beethoven’s 9th symphony has thought to himself, “I think each of these musicians is just making it up as they go.” No one who has ever listened to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has thought to herself, “I am pretty sure no one is leading this orchestra.” No one who has ever listened to Handel’s Messiah and heard the swells and strains of the Hallelujah chorus has thought “I detect no sign of a composer or a conductor.” No, where we glimpse such order, where we hear such unified orchestration, we know there is someone who has created it and we know there is someone who is directing it. We know that each of the people in the orchestra is following some kind of a score and responding to the lead of some kind of a director.

In the Bible we read of a God who is sovereign—a God who created this world, a God who is unfolding a plan for this world, a God who is directing all the events of this world toward a great and glorious purpose. The Apostle Paul expresses it in this way: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” As all the instruments in an orchestra work together, so too all the circumstances in our lives. The instruments combine to express the artist’s composition and the circumstances to express the Maker’s providence.
God’s sovereignty is a wonderful doctrine to discuss in a classroom or conference, but a very difficult one to believe in a hospital bed or funeral home. We love God’s providence when it is perfectly aligned with our desires, but struggle with it when it opposes them. We find it easy to believe “all things work for good” when we experience times of joy and brightness, but difficult in times of trouble and confusion.
Yet “all things work together for good” necessarily assumes that some things won’t feel good, that some things won’t look good, that some things won’t strike us as immediately and obviously good. It assumes that we will sometimes wonder how a particular circumstance could possibly prove anything other than evil.
This promise, after all, comes neither in the Garden of Eden nor in the New Jerusalem. God had little need to give this promise to Adam and Eve when they were still unblemished in the Garden. The promise would have meant little to them when they enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God and with one another, when all of creation was arrayed toward them in sweet submission. Of course all things work for good because all things are good! Likewise, God will have little need to reiterate it when we are standing on streets of gold and all pain, evil, and sorrow has been vanquished.
It was only when Adam and Eve were pushed through the gates and into the stark wilderness beyond that such promises became important, for it was only then that they began to experience circumstances that seemed to all the world to be bad and only bad. It’s in a world like this one—a world of suffering and sorrow, of grief and loss, of pain and confusion—that they (and we) need the precious assurance that all things are working together for good. And that’s true even when they don’t feel the least bit good, even when we can’t see even the slightest glimmer of light.
“All things for good” is a promise God’s people must take by faith and cling to with tenacity in times of great difficulty. We need to believe that God has the ability to work all things for good and to trust that he actually is working all things for good. We need to have confidence that he is doing what’s right and best according to his inscrutable wisdom, that he is doing what most conforms his people to the image of his Son and what most honors and glorifies his holy name. We need to depend upon it, bank all we’ve got on it, go all-in on it. We need to set aside our feelings and, by faith, submit them to truth of God’s promises.
Through every circumstance, this promise calls us to believe that a day will come when we will affirm his every decision and marvel at his wisdom in our every trial. It calls us to trust that our sovereign God is the good composer and skilled conductor who is orchestrating all events so they lead ultimately to his glory and our good.

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

(Yesterday on the blog: Immediate Gain, Great Gain, Everlasting Gain)
Back to the Hospital: A Story of God’s Faithfulness
What a neat account of how one believer used a difficult situation to serve the Lord! “Hello, everyone! You might have noticed I took some time off the blog after my January post about mental health. That’s because I was hospitalized in February for thirteen days after my schizoaffective disorder got worse.”
Levirate Marriage: Why Tamar is More Righteous than Judah in Genesis 38
Here’s an interesting account of how Tamar was more righteous than Judah (even though she was the one who acted like a prostitute).
Dive Deeper Into Worship With Keith & Kristyn Getty
Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 12:14 that “the body does not consist of one member but of many.” The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts to employ in his service—skills that we hone when we are gathered together! This September, join thousands of believers from around the world for three days of congregational singing, deep theology, and 50+ practical breakout sessions led by the Gettys, Joni Eareckson Tada, John MacArthur, D. A. Carson, Paul David Tripp, Sandra McCracken Shai & Blair Linne, and more at the Sing! Worship Conference in Nashville, TN! EXCLUSIVE: Use code ‘CHALLIES’ to save 20% on registration before April 1. (Sponsored Link)
Rescuing Ukrainians with Disabilities—It’s Now or Never
Joni Eareckson Tada reminds us that the horrors of the war in Ukraine extends to those who are disabled. “Galyna just led a fourth caravan—57 people total, including people with disabilities and their caregivers—to safety across the Polish border. Last week, a caravan rescued 47 people from Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kryvyj Rig, and Volyn.”
The Manna is Always There
Glenna Marshall: “I don’t know for sure why God withholds healing when He could easily dispense it. He must have something for me in suffering. Anything that keeps us on our faces before the Lord day and night must be something He is using for our good.”
99% of Productivity is Prioritizing
“Most people think productivity means doing lots of things. As if busyness and productivity were synonyms. But that is entirely untrue.” Reagan Rose explains.
Consider the Small Churches
Here’s a good reason to prioritize small churches over larger ones. “Not that there aren’t big churches with godly leadership. There are. I know some. There are also tons of small churches with proud pastors. I know some (I often am one!). But the problem is this: if you can’t get close enough to the pastor to see that, you will never know if they are humble or arrogant.”
Flashback: Are You Godly Enough to Watch Smut?
Today it is considered a sign of spiritual maturity to watch scenes of nudity and sexuality and a sign of spiritual weakness to refrain. It is considered virtuous to feel no pangs of conscience as we watch other people disrobe and do their utmost to convince us they are having sex.

When the world slew Jesus Christ, it showed what it would do with the eternal God, if it could get its hands on him. —De Witt Talmage