The God of love and peace be with you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include The Unfinished Reformation, Seeing the Unseen, and other excellent choices.

(Yesterday on the blog: What Makes Heaven Happy)

“In the social media era, too many people view themselves as de facto journalists, where even friendships and memberships are little more than ‘sources’ we can leverage for our own personal brand. I’ve seen too many people become distrustful too quickly of friends and teachers that have a proven track record of faithfulness. Why? Because the digital ecosystem is constantly pressing on them.” I appreciate what Samuel says here about tribalism in the modern world.

What does the Bible say about women pastors? Guy Waters gives an overview.

This is a sweet article by a mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law. That can be such a precious relationship (though it can also be such a tough one)!

“Every day that we wake up, there are two paths before us. These two paths go by various names. We could call them the paths of wisdom and folly. Or the paths of blessing and curse. Or the paths of good and evil. Or the paths of God-exaltation and self-exaltation.” This is what the Bible refers to as life and death.

For those who came to Christ early in life, it can be difficult to feel like they were ever an enemy of God. John Piper addresses this issue and does so well. “The basic issue we face is this: Are we going to learn our true condition before Christ and outside Christ from our memory and our experience, or are we going to learn it from the word of God? Are we going to feel it because it’s in the word of God and the Spirit applies it to us? Or are we going to try to dredge up some memory that may not exist at all and try to feel that? I don’t think that’s going to work — and even if it did work, it would be inadequate.”

“In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it can become easy to lose sight of why we do the things we do. I think that, in order to regain a proper Biblical perspective in the midst of the mundane, we must first narrow our focus before broadening it again. That is, before setting our sights to the plethora of issues abroad, let us take stock of our own hearts, homes, families, and church community. There is a real sense in which our pursuit of ‘God and country’ must begin at ‘hearth and home.’”

God’s plan all along has been to use ordinary leaders to accomplish extraordinary things. His plan has been to use people of average ability to accomplish matters of eternal significance.

Legalism is simply separating the law of God from the person of God.
—Sinclair Ferguson

This week the blog is Sponsored by Strider, a Christian-owned online marketing agency. Ryan Freeman has been helping to grow local businesses and non-profits for over 30 years. Book a free consultation with Ryan to learn if Strider is a fit for your goals.

In the 90s, clients wondered if a website was really necessary. Business email? You must be crazy! Ten years later, e-commerce was lunacy and social media was just going to be a fad. You can imagine (or maybe you remember!) the introduction of mobile phones, texting, and then smartphones!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the new shiny object, and once again I’m seeing a very natural hesitation when it comes to change. Many people feel AI is too complicated to be of use, or they fear that AI might produce generic, low-quality, or inauthentic content. However, when implemented thoughtfully, AI can help to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance creative work without compromising authenticity. Here’s how you can harness AI to boost your business’s efficiency while maintaining genuine engagement.

Dos and Don’ts: Maximizing AI’s Potential

1. Crafting Effective Prompts

Don’t: Use vague prompts like “Write me an article about widgets.” This will give you generic content that fails to resonate with your audience and sounds like a robot wrote it..

Do: Provide detailed instructions to your AI tools. For example:

Audience: Specify who you’re addressing (e.g., small business owners).

Tone: Define the desired tone (e.g., authoritative yet friendly). Bonus: Point to previous articles you’ve written so that the AI can learn your style.

Purpose: Clarify the objective of the content (e.g., to inform, persuade, or entertain).

This approach ensures the AI generates content that aligns with your business’s voice and goals.

Here’s an example of a quick but useful starter prompt for a blog post.

You are a marketing copywriter with deep experience in the dental medical care industry.

Help me to write a blog post promoting the importance of regular dental checkups for children. The audience is parents with children under 16 years old. Use a friendly tone and authoritative tone to show you have knowledge and experience while being relatable and empathetic. Use headings and bullet points so it’s easy to read.

Give citations for any data or facts that you use.

Suggest some ideas for graphics.

2. Managing Online Reviews

Don’t: Ignore customer reviews or respond with generic, copy-pasted replies. That’s a great way to broadcast that you don’t care about your customers.

Do: Utilize AI to draft personalized responses to each review. AI can analyze the review’s sentiment and content, assisting you in crafting thoughtful replies that address specific customer feedback. Edit the draft to add your final touches before you publish. This personalized approach demonstrates that you value customer input and are committed to continuous improvement.

3. Creating Unique Visual Content

Don’t: Rely solely on common stock images that other businesses also use. This can make your brand appear generic and uninspired.

Do: Leverage AI to generate custom photos, illustrations, and graphics. AI-driven design tools can create visuals tailored to your brand’s identity, setting you apart from competitors and enhancing your visual storytelling.

Here’s the first prompt I used to create the featured image for this post. Because of the conversational nature of ChatGPT, I was able to guide it through many revisions.

4. Enhancing Social Media Engagement

Don’t: Post sporadically or wait for free moments to come up with content, leading to an inconsistent and less engaging social media presence.

Do: Use AI to assist in crafting engaging posts, generating unique images, and scheduling content for consistency. This proactive approach keeps your social media channels vibrant and relevant.

5. Improving Customer Service

Don’t: Implement live chat features on your website without proper monitoring and staffing, resulting in delayed replies or missed messages.

Do: Add an AI website agent trained on your specific business information to handle customer inquiries in real-time. AI-powered chatbots can conversationally answer frequently asked questions, provide product information, and capture lead details efficiently. Additionally, consider using an AI receptionist to manage overflow calls, ensuring no customer query goes unattended.

We Can Help

Integrating AI into your business doesn’t mean sacrificing authenticity. With the right strategies, AI can enhance efficiency, personalize customer interactions, and drive growth. If you’re thinking about trying AI and online marketing to attract and convert more customers, contact me for a chat. The Strider team is here to help you navigate the evolving digital landscape and achieve sustainable profitability – whether you’re a one-person entrepreneur or a growing team of 40+

PS: To write this article, I created a bulletpoint outline, gave ChatGPT a prompt about the purpose and audience for the post, and then edited the text. 

If you spend any time on social media or any time socializing at a Christian conference, if you refresh your feed on YouTube or listen while people chat after church on a Sunday morning, you may soon learn what makes people happy. People love to talk about other people! And more often than not, they love to talk negatively about other people—discussing their foibles and failures, their quirks and shortcomings.

It is for this reason that the Bible so often warns us against idleness, gossip, being busybodies, getting involved in affairs that are not our own, and so on. It is curses that more naturally spill from our lips than blessings and tittle-tattle that more naturally comes out of our mouths than encouragement. So often, a bad report of another person delights our ears more than a good report and a tale of failure than a tale of success. Many of us, most of us, or perhaps all of us need to wage a lifelong battle to simply display even moderately good character in this area, to have the inner strength to resist gossiping and the outer conviction to stop others when they begin to gossip to us.

What makes Christians happy? Sadly, it’s often gossip, uninformed opinions, unfounded rumors, and bad reports.

But what makes heaven happy? We can be certain that there are no gossips in heaven, no people who dash around the city to share news of another man’s downfall or another woman’s demise. We can be certain there is no one there who would feel joy if they received reports of another person’s sin or satisfaction if they heard of another person’s fall.

We can be certain that there are no gossips in heaven, no people who dash around the city to share news of another man’s downfall or another woman’s demise.Share

Yet heaven is abuzz with news of other people! What makes heaven happy and happiest of all is the news of another soul saved. As Jesus said, “There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). In the day you put your faith in Christ, the angels broke out in song! When you shared the gospel with a friend and she believed, heaven rejoiced! Any time a sinner looks away from himself and looks instead to Jesus, heaven celebrates.

Shouldn’t we imitate heaven? Shouldn’t we behave now like we will behave then, to refuse to find the least satisfaction in sin and instead rejoice in God’s great work of salvation (and, of course, its sibling, sanctification)? Surely the church would be purified and our faith would be strengthened if only we would determine to find joy in what makes heaven joyful.

So if we talk about other people, let’s talk about their virtues. If we discuss the accomplishments of other people, let’s discuss what they’ve done for Christ. If we gossip about other people, let’s “gossip grace.” Let’s be as happy as heaven.

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include a list of books on sanctification. You’ll find titles by MacArthur, Piper, DeYoung, and Ortlund. Also be sure to scroll down to March 1 to see what’s new from over the weekend.

Logos users, March Matchups is here! Be sure to cast your votes as we all work toward some great discounts. You can already save on previous winners (ZECNT, NICOT, WCB). You should also check out this month’s free book.

“Where Protestant apologetics is more focused on winning the secular world to Christ, Roman Catholic apologetics often has a different audience in mind: their ‘separated brethren.’ Targeting Protestants is explicitly encouraged.”

“The Apostle Peter plays a central role in the Gospel books and Acts until Acts 12. From that point on, Peter takes a backseat role in the story of the New Testament. So what happened to Peter at the end of his story?” Wyatt explains a bit about Peter’s later life.

“There’s a lie we all want to believe — even against all available evidence. It trades on our God-given capacity for hope. It tempts even those with impeccable theology. It lures us in and then leaves us in the lurch. It goes like this: ‘Life will get easier if I just make it past this current challenge.’”

“Time magazine once featured an article delivering a stunning conclusion. In an extensive cover piece on the nature of the mind, researchers acknowledged that consciousness was an enigmatic, elusive thing that resisted materialistic classification. Nevertheless, though they couldn’t determine what consciousness was, they were certain about what consciousness was not.” Greg Koukl has a long article on the human soul.

Paul Tripp: “Somehow, someway, at some point, suffering will come knocking on your door. It may start as a quiet, even gentle, knock that gets louder over time, and you know that you will eventually have to open the door. Other times, it may kick the door down suddenly and violently. Perhaps Mr. Hardship will enter like the unwelcome he is but only stay for a little while before leaving. Other times, Mr. Hardship might barge in and take residence in every room of your life indefinitely.”

M. R. Conrad writes about the inevitability of broken heroes.

I recently read (and highly recommend!) J.R. Miller’s short work A Gentle Heart, and in that book I came across this convicting passage which reminds us of the source and model of our gentleness.

It wasn’t enough for Jesus to experience death; he had to defeat it so that it couldn’t come for us. If Jesus hadn’t defeated it, Satan would still be threatening us with never-ending death.
—Jeff Dodge

One of the most poignant of Jesus’s parables tells the story of a persistent widow. Having faced injustice at the hand of an adversary, this woman appealed to the local judge. She asked him to use his power and authority to right the wrong that had been done to her. But to her sorrow, she learned this was an unjust judge who did not care to help her. Still, she returned to him again and again, she made appeal after appeal, until she wore him out. Eventually, if only to preserve his own sanity, the judge relented and responded to her pleas.

Jesus wanted his hearers to make a comparison from the lesser to the greater. If even an unjust and uncaring judge will eventually grant the pleas of someone he dislikes, how much more will a just and caring Father grant the pleas of the child he loves? Luke explains the moral of the story: We “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).

It is for this reason that J.C. Ryle once said, “We must wrestle earnestly in prayer, like men contending with a deadly enemy for life.” Yet though we wrestle as if we are contending with a deadly enemy, still we have the tremendous blessing of knowing we are actually making our petitions to a loving God.

I’m grateful to The Good Book Company for sponsoring the blog this week. They wanted to tell you about a new book that is meant to help you disagree with others while maintaining your friendship with them—rather an important and timely subject.

I don’t have many Kindle deals to share with you yet, but I’m certain there will be plenty in the morning once I’ve scoured the monthly deals.

I had never heard of romantasy until the other day when someone mentioned the Empyrean novels to me. Kathryn Butler explains what you may need to know about the genre.

Jacob calls on young people to own their faith. “If God has gifted you with a healthy church and parents that love Christ, be so thankful! See your own faith as connected to theirs, but not dependent. They labored hard so that you would leave and be a beacon for Christ on your own. They desire to see you making godly choices. They want you to make the decision to wake up early and seek God’s face. The time for hand-holding is over. Your parents won’t stand before the judgement seat of Christ for you.”

John Piper offers some tips for reading Romans, drawing upon his decades of experience in doing so.

“Isn’t that how temptation is? The more you give in, the more temptation grows. Scratch the itch; the itch intensifies. Watch porn; the desire to watch porn grows. Lie about something; the more you find yourself caught in lies. Once you give into rage, the harder it is to turn away from it. This is how it is for any temptation.”

Here is some brief instruction on properly confessing our sins.

“As a general rule, I try not to yell at my children. But there are rare circumstances when I find myself with no other option…”

One of the great strengths of Tolkien’s work is its grounding in history. One of the great weaknesses of the contemporary church is its detachment from its own history. Few of today’s Christians have a clear sense of how the church came to be. 

Evil is not a principle in creation itself but is the willful distortion of good gifts into an arsenal deployed against God’s reign.
—Michael Horton

Somewhere deep inside, each one of us longs for more. We want more money, more authority, more followers, more of whatever it is that we find especially desirable or especially validating. “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,” says the Sage, “and never satisfied are the eyes of man” (Proverbs 27:20). We live within a vicious…

February is typically a solid month for book releases, and this February was no exception. As the month drew to its close, I sorted through the many (many!) books that came my way this month and arrived at this list of new and notables. In each case, I’ve provided the editorial description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there’s something here that’s of interest to you!

The Steadfast Love of the Lord: Experiencing the Life-Changing Power of God’s Unchanging Affection by Sam Storms. “Many believers know that ‘God is love.’ But whether through cultural lies, false beliefs, or years of mulling over the tragedies of the world, it may be difficult to see the true, steadfast, and unchanging love of the Father. Thankfully the Bible offers a clear picture of what God’s love looks like and how, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, believers experience his affection for themselves. Taking an accessible approach to biblical theology, author Sam Storms explores Scripture to address what God’s love is and what it isn’t. Drawing insights from the Psalms and the life of Jesus, Storms covers God’s sovereignty and the saving power, longevity, and sin-killing nature of his love. The Steadfast Love of the Lord breaks down obstacles that prevent believers from accepting biblical truths and challenges the cultural lies that hinder them from accepting God’s vast and unfathomable love.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Lest We Drift: Five Departure Dangers from the One True Gospel by Jared C. Wilson. “How do we keep from drifting away from what makes us who we are? How do we even know we’re drifting? In this provocative new book, Jared C. Wilson discusses the potentials and problems with evangelical departures from gospel-centrality. In a variety of ways, on both “the left” and “the right,” Wilson outlines these threats from angles sometimes imperceptible at first glance. As you read Lest We Drift, you will recognize the signs of drift in the faith and teaching, and learn to navigate the five particular dangers prevalent in the church today: persecution complex, spiritual dryness, superficial faith, attractional pragmatism, cultural legalism. With biblical wisdom and cultural insight, this book will help you identify these potential hazards in your own Christian life and church; becoming better alert to the need to’”pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it’ (Heb. 2:1).” (Buy it at Amazon)

Morning and Evening: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional by Charles Spurgeon, edited by Alistair Begg. Alistair Begg’s modernization of Morning and Evening has been around for a while, but has just gotten a nice new cover treatment. “For over 100 hundred years, Christians have started and ended each day with Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening as a companion. Featuring two brief daily readings throughout the year, this classic devotional emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ and consistently meditating on God’s word. The richness of Spurgeon’s biblical understanding offers a look into the heart of one of England’s foremost pastors and enduring Christian authors. In this edition, his lasting message is made even more accessible by pastor Alistair Begg’s careful modernizing of Spurgeon’s English. Begg, who has a deep love for Spurgeon’s preaching and especially for this work, has maintained Morning and Evening’s clear passion and commitment to Christ. Along with updated language, this edition uses the English Standard Version as the scriptural text, providing an accurate, understandable foundation for each reading.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Pain of a Particular Kind by Peter Barnes. “There are few things which any parent dreads more than the thought of outliving his or her child, or grandchild. The deaths of parents, friends, relatives and even one’s spouse are terrible indeed, but the death of one’s child possesses a peculiar kind of horror. In four brief chapters, Peter Barnes draws on his own experience to offer help to those who have suffered such a loss. As he says in the Introduction, ‘This is not a work of apologetics, but a brief attempt to understand and work through grief, for myself, my family, and for any other readers. It has only heightened the sense of my own need to receive comfort myself. Such comfort can only come from the God who is our creator and our redeemer. The hope remains that God will use this book to minister to and bless any of his people who have suffered the agony of losing a child.’” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Art of Disagreeing: How to Keep Calm and Stay Friends in Hard Conversations by Gavin Ortlund. “In this positive and practical book, Gavin Ortlund looks to the Scriptures to discover a way in which to disagree with others that leads to greater understanding, peace, and love—and that shows a watching world something of Jesus. This is a much-needed message in a society that is losing the ability to disagree well. Whether over politics, religion, or culture, or the more everyday issues of normal life, points of view tend to be held with a polarizing intensity. Too often we view disagreements as must-win contests or simply do our best to avoid them altogether. Looking to Jesus’ example of courage and kindness, readers will be given a framework for engaging in intense disagreements with a love that furthers instead of hinders relationships. So, whether you tend to fight or flee, learn how to keep calm and stay friends—even when you disagree.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Understanding Trauma: A Biblical Introduction for Church Care by Steve Midgley. “Many of us long to serve and be there for those who are suffering from trauma, but we don’t know how to do so in a way that is caring and helpful. This book enables Christians, and especially pastors, elders, and ministry leaders, to understand what trauma is and how it affects people, including their experience of church, so that we can lovingly support those who are suffering from it. Author Steve Midgley trained as a psychiatrist before being ordained, served as Vicar of Christ Church Cambridge for 18 years and is now the Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK. He writes with wisdom and compassion to summarize current understanding in this area, gives a biblical perspective, and makes lots of practical suggestions about how churches can be sensitive to, and be there for, those who have experienced trauma. This book will help whole church communities to help and care for those who are struggling with trauma.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Final Triumph of God: Jesus, the Eyewitnesses, and the Resurrection of the Body in 1 Corinthians 15 by James P. Ware. “A groundbreaking exposition of the resurrection hope in 1 Corinthians 15 Making a compelling case based on new evidence and fresh exposition, James Ware affirms the church’s historic reading of 1 Corinthians 15. He shows that the apostolic formula in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 proclaims, in continuity with the Gospels, the resurrection of Jesus’s crucified body from the tomb, and that the hope of the resurrection described in 1 Corinthians 15:12-58 involves the miraculous revivification of our present bodies of flesh and bones and their transformation to imperishability. Ware’s monumental study is unmatched for its comprehensive examination of the historical setting, literary structure, syntax, and vocabulary of 1 Corinthians 15. This in-depth verse-by-verse commentary provides new insights into the text, original solutions to hitherto seemingly irresolvable difficulties, and a convincing reading of the chapter unfolding its rich theology of the resurrection as the consummation of union with Christ.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Understanding God’s Word: An Introduction to Interpreting the Bible by Jon Nielson. “A faithful believer will spend their lifetime interpreting God’s word. But when confused by ancient and complex texts or led astray by small-group discussion, readers are at risk of making faulty conclusions and unbiblical applications. How can Christians correctly interpret and faithfully apply Scripture to their lives the way God intends? This helpful guide presents 6 hermeneutical tools and demonstrates how to use them effectively in personal or small-group Bible studies. These tools are designed to help Christians read carefully and in context, identify core themes and main points, discover Christ in each passage, and respond faithfully within their own lives. Part of the Theology Basics series, this guide by author and pastor Jon Nielson makes biblical interpretation clear, meaningful, and practical for those looking for a highly accessible guide to studying God’s word.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Grateful: 30 Days of Growing in Thankfulness by Allison Brost. “Become more and more grateful each day with the help of this 30-day devotional. Uproot the weeds of discontent and begin to plant daily seeds of thanksgiving that bloom into joy and fulfillment. When life feels mundane or trials come our way, thanking God for his blessings doesn’t always come naturally. This devotional shows how offering a sacrifice of praise can transform our own outlook on life and remind us of Jesus’ goodness and generosity. Each devotion begins with a verse on thankfulness and ends with a practical thing to do or pray in response to God’s word. As readers grow in gratitude, they will experience a deeper sense of peace, contentment, and joy.” (Buy it at Amazon)

But Now I See: Eye-Opening Light from the Gospel of John by Gerald M. Bilkes. “The Gospel of John witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet it is apparent from John’s account that not everyone who perceived Jesus with their physical eyes saw Him for who He truly is. In But Now I See, Gerald M. Bilkes walks us through a study of this gospel, sharing the same intent as the apostolic author, ‘that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name’ (John 20:31). As you read about how Jesus is the light; the Lamb of God; the way, the truth, the life; the resurrection; the Vine; and so much more, may you also come to say, ‘We beheld his glory’ (John 1:14).” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Afternoon of Life: Finding Purpose and Joy in Midlife, Second Edition by Elyse Fitzpatrick. “With humor, transparency, and biblical wisdom, Elyse Fitzpatrick shows that God uses the challenges of middle age—often the most difficult time in a woman’s life—to glorify himself and sanctify us. Drawing on Scripture and the stories of friends, she shows that when we cling to him as the source of our joy, peace, and blessing, we can laugh at the days to come.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

This week’s deal at Westminster Books is Kevin DeYoung’s Daily Doctrine, a book I’m sure you’ll benefit from. I’ve been reading it with Aileen at one chapter per day after dinner and enjoying it.

As usual, you’ll find a variety of Kindle deals to browse through.

“Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, creators of Good Mythical Morning, were recent guests on Rainn Wilson’s ‘Soul Boom’ podcast where they briefly discussed details surrounding their respective deconstructions from the evangelical Christian faith.” Blake discusses some of what they talked about.

Chloe Ann discusses “the three essential elements of a good romance novel that have gradually been vanishing from mainstream romance tales, and why these three elements are necessary for a good story.”

It’s always a big day when CityAlight releases a new EP. Be sure to give a listen to “Hear the Hallelujahs Roar.”

You may not have noticed that Tim Keller was the king of endnotes. Trevin noticed and compiled some of his favorites.

“Prior to ministry, you imagine that the inertia of pastoral life will drive you joyfully into deep communion with Jesus. But it doesn’t take long to realize how wrong that idealism is.” Luke Simmons offers some counsel that may prove especially helpful to pastors.

I appreciate the perspective Lois offers here and the distinctions between grief, missing, and remembering. Her concern is that we do not allow ourselves to remain permanently in a state of grief.

They work to dwarf themselves, to resist the impulse to grow their knowledge and stretch their faith. They restrain the Spirit who would so readily help them to grow. They give themselves a bonsai faith.

The love of Jesus has never waned. He has promised that he will be with you in your misery, and your tested faith will shine gloriously when you see him face-to-face.
—Ed Welch

May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include several titles meant to help prepare you for Easter. There’s quite a substantial list of other titles as well.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Quest for More)

Anyone who has experienced deep grief, or anyone who wants to be equipped to walk with others through such a time, will be helped by this article. The writer expresses “10 things that are different than what I expected as I consider the road of loss and grief.”

“For a Christian, one of the most effective uses of our time is an activity that looks to most people—and maybe quite often to ourselves—like one of the most inefficient. And yet, if we really believe what we say we believe, and if we really trust our Saviour to guide us, then it is indispensable: Prayer.”

Join The Master’s Academy International and over 40 missions leaders for a one-of-a-kind international symposium designed to teach missions-minded believers how to support overseas church planting and raise up leaders for international mission endeavors. You’ll have the opportunity to explore cross-cultural practices, practical applications, and network and fellowship with believers from around the world. Each attendee receives TMAI’s inaugural Biblical Missions 1,000-page textbook and workbook—featuring 100 voices from 60 nations—as a complimentary gift. Tuesday, March 4, 9 AM–5:30 PM,
Grace Baptist Church, Santa Clarita. (Sponsored)

Stephen discusses the surprising return of the dumb phone and the need to return to “dumb church.”

Wanjiru Ng’ang’a considers whether Christians should plead the blood of Jesus.

Casey McCall isn’t into following celebrities and their relationships, but has made one exception. He tells us about it here.

Yes, whatever did happen to acts of God? It seems today we prefer to put the blame for natural disasters on people instead of ascribing them to the sovereignty and power of God.

If people will give account for even the careless words they speak, how much more the deliberate? …If even the words count that we speak off the record, how much more the ones that we speak on the record?

Do what the Lord bids you, where he bids you, as he bids you, as long as he bids you, and do it at once.
—C.H. Spurgeon