It has been about 8 months since the release of my book Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God. And it has been an encouraging time. I wanted to share a few updates and pieces of information that may be of interest to you.

Perhaps the greatest encouragement has come from grieving families who have gotten in touch to share how the book has been meaningful to them. Subsequent to that has been people who have found comfort in the book as they have endured other losses than the loss of a child. To my surprise and delight, I have also heard some very credible accounts of people coming to faith while reading the book. A number of people have asked me whether it would be appropriate for non-Christians to read and it seems that, at least in some cases, the Lord is using it to draw people to himself.
FamilyLife Today Interview
Earlier this year Aileen and I flew down to Orlando to record a couple of episodes of FamilyLife Today with Dave and Ann Wilson. This was the first time since Nick’s funeral that Aileen has spoken publicly, and I think she did very well in providing a mother’s perspective on grief and loss. I’m really proud of her! Those episodes have just been released and you can listen to them at the FamilyLife site, on YouTube, or through your favorite podcast app (e.g. Apple Podcast, Spotify).

Awards
Seasons of Sorrow was nominated by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for a Christian Book Award in the biography & memoir category. (The ECPA is an organization that works with Christian publishers and booksellers to track sales, distribute awards, and so on.) It was a blessing and honor to learn that Seasons of Sorrow won. It had also previously been named the Counseling Book of the Year by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. This, too, was a blessing to me.
Spanish Edition
The Spanish edition, Estaciones de aflicción: El dolor de la pérdida y el consuelo de Dios, is due to be released on August 8. A bilingual friend has read both editions and assures me it is a good and faithful translation. I have had a number of people contact me about other languages and have directed them to the publisher in the hope that we will see further translated editions in the future.
Extra Resources
I wanted to remind you that there are a few extra resources available to go along with the book.

A Letter to Parents – This is a letter I have prepared addressed to parents who have lost a child. If you plan to give bereaved parents a copy of Seasons of Sorrow, you may like to print this and include it with the book.
Application Questions & Group Study Guide – This free guide is for people who are reading it individually and wish to consider application questions and for groups who are reading it together and looking for a reading plan as well as discussion questions.
Helpful Things To Say To Grieving Parents – If you are walking through the loss of a child with a friend or family member, this article will help you know how you can best serve them in their darkest hour.

Thanks to all who have purchased and/or read the book, and perhaps especially to those who have given it to a grieving friend in the hope that it would provide at least a little glimmer of light in their time of darkness. May God use it all for his glory.

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Three Sixteen Publishing.

Based in Southern California, Three Sixteen Publishing’s imprints include Steadfast Bibles, Green Egg Media, and Bella Paper. Each division shares the foundational goal to glorify Jesus Christ.  This week we are excited to be giving away 5 prize packages and 7 additional E-gift cards! Enter below for the chance to win one of these prizes!
Prizes!

1 Grand Prize winner will receive: A Legacy Standard Bible, Handy Size First Edition, Edge-lined Goatskin in Deep Brown, Bible Armor carrying case & the Heroes of Church History journal 2 pack (Valued at $295)

1 Runner Up Prize winner will receive: A Power Bible 10 Volume comic set & Adam Raccoon 8 Volume Set (Valued at $253)

The First Place Prize Package includes:A Legacy Standard Bible Limited edition 5 Solas Hardcover, LSB Tumbler & Mug Set, and LSB Hat. (Valued at $157)

The Second Place Prize winner will receive a Bella Paper Stationery Box that includes: A Cultivate Praise 2023 wall calendar, 2023 planners, journals, and greeting cards. (Valued at $119)

The Third Place Prize Package includes: 1  NASB ’95 Large Print Wide Margin hardcover edition and a Micron Pen 6 pack (Valued at $76)

7 additional winners will each receive a $25 E-Giftcards to 316publishing.com good towards any in-stock purchase on our website.

Not familiar with the LSB? Watch this informative video featuring John MacArthur and the translation team. Shop our website to see the full selection of Legacy Standard Bibles, all currently on sale! Get an additional 10% off all Bella Paper items with promo code CHALLIES, now through Sunday, 11/20/22! 

TO ENTER
Fill out the form below for your chance to win one of the 12 prizes. This will add you to Three Sixteen Publishing’s mailing list.
One entry per household. No purchase necessary. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. This giveaway ends November 20th, 2022, 11:59PM PST. Winners will be notified by email and have 30 days to claim their prize. To see all official rules, click HERE.

My gratitude goes to Harvest USA for sponsoring the blog this week to let you know about their free video courses for parents. Sponsors play a crucial role in keep this site going, so I am thankful for each and every one.

Darry Dash: “If you don’t think pastoral ministry will be hard, you’re wrong. Of course, it’s not the only hard vocation. Our congregations are filled with people who fill challenging roles. Pastoral ministry comes with many joys. My point, though, is this: it’s also filled with hazards and difficulties. If you suffer from idealism, pastoral ministry will beat it out of you.”

“Sometimes, to protect a passage of scripture from the abuses it receives from those who twist it, we add so many qualifications that we eliminate not only the false teaching but also the profound truth it communicates.” That’s a bad thing! Doug offers a common example here.

Kristin tells a story and describes what she learned from it. “I have thought about the dog and the man many times over the years. When I feel myself growing weary and frustrated with people who are repeatedly toying around with God and Scripture, claiming the label Christian while digging in their heels and living precisely as they please? I am learning to pause, pray, and walk away.”

“There are generally two basic forms in which this question is asked. First, most Christians have at some point asked themselves, ‘If I’m a true Christian, why do I keep sinning?’ Second, Christians and others have asked questions like, ‘How could Christians have committed such atrocities during the Crusades?’ The two questions are different, but they have essentially the same theological and biblical answer.”

Michael Kruger explains why in-person is generally best, but online is also necessary. “At RTS, here’s what we have learned. It’s the combination of both residential and online education that seems to work best. While we have intentionally placed the priority on residential, the online courses provide a wonderful supplement. In other words, the online program is not replacing our residential degree but enhancing it.”

“How is this exhortation still relevant to us today, in the West? The Bible must not be re-interpreted according to current cultural trends. However, part of accurately interpreting God’s Word is to recognize that it was written into a specific culture and context. And so it is important to recognize that a command to specifically ‘kiss’ one another may not translate seamlessly to American culture today.”

When we say, “In Jesus’ name,” we pray in the name of the one who has been exalted to the highest place, the one who has had bestowed upon him the name that is above every name…

God’s commands are not designed to rob you of life or to plunder your freedom, but to graciously protect you from harm.
—Paul Tripp