The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you today.
(Yesterday on the blog: A Whole Batch of New Books for Kids)

This is quite a helpful article on finding your voice—which is to say, on becoming a writer. It is framed around three practical steps: “Collect dots, connect dots, and communicate the connection.”

I am accustomed to hearing that ethnic-specific churches are an unwise choice for Christians. I benefited from reading this alternate perspective. “Our decision raised a series of questions and even some accusations from others. As we interacted with those who questioned our decision, we identified a number of false notions that are often held about the ethnic-specific church. Here, I will seek to clarify some misunderstandings and correct some misconceptions about the ethnic-specfic church.”

Chap Bettis lists and describes them.

“I have learned over the years to temper my expectations about what can actually be accomplished in a single day. I’m not proud of this—I would be far happier if I could tell you that after consistently exceeding my own expectations of productivity I’ve had to adjust them in the other direction. The days are quick, though…”

Writing for TGC Africa, John Koning warns against hyper-spiritualizing Christian counseling. “Here’s the thing. When Christians really struggle—and all of us will, at different times—it seems that it’s automatically assumed the fundamental problem is a spiritual one. We conclude that something must be wrong in our relationship with God.”

As he battles stage 4 cancer, Tim Shorey is often asked which Scripture text is his favorite. “So this is, in fact, a wonderful question—and yet, hard! It is wonderful because it lets me reflect on God’s wonderful Word and how it has ministered to my soul, and it is hard because choosing a favorite text of Scripture is more difficult than choosing between a thousand different ice cream flavors.”

In his hand will be the lantern of all the precious promises he has made, and this will be the lamp to your feet and the light to your path. He will lead you through the dark night and into the brightest day.

The only man who gambles successfully is the man who loses so fearfully at the start that he is disgusted and quits. Let him win at the start, and win again, and it means farewell to home and heaven.
—De Witt Talmage

Grace and peace to you today.
This morning’s Kindle deals include a couple of excellent books on marriage, one on masculinity, one on Calvinism, and more besides.
Westminster Books has a great deal on a great new book by Kevin DeYoung—Daily Doctrine. Be sure to give it a look. I have been reading it and highly recommend it.

“Sadly, when we insist on comparing our mothering, ministry, appearance, or career choices with other women, we come up short every single time because we are holding ourselves to an unrealistic standard. Our imaginations create a situation in which it feels impossible to be content because we are continually striving to measure up on every front with the imaginary ‘perfect’ mother on Instagram. Social media hands women a broken yardstick for measuring our performance and our worth.”

It’s Pastor Appreciation Month! Celebrate with Midwestern Seminary by entering your pastor to win a $10,000 Pastor Appreciation Package, dedicated to a family vacation and a church need. Everyone who enters also receives an exclusive eBook by Charles Spurgeon from one of his lesser known works for FREE! Enter your pastor today! (Sponsored)

You’ve heard things like this, I’m certain: “We don’t go to church, we are the church. I have a relationship with God; I don’t need an institution or a building. Going to church is a man-made, American, modern invention.” So what does the Bible have to say about going to church?

“When I was in college, I thought my testimony was boring. I never shared it. I could accurately explain Jesus, the atonement, and the doctrine of saved-by-grace-through-faith, but when the concreteness of my rebellion against God pressed upon me, I questioned everything. Does he save? And who is Jesus?“

Robert Cara has a short but helpful piece on the authorship of Scripture.

I think we all wonder at times why God says no to the good things we ask of him. Blake Glosson provides a good answer.

Jacob writes about all the loneliness people are experiencing today and the solution the church can offer.

We need a word of virtue that fits in the space between busy and lazy. We need to use it, and we need to live it.

Spiritual authority depends more on care given than on power wielded.
—Daniel Doriani

The Lord be with you and bless you today.

There are some new Kindle deals that are worth a peek.
Being the Moon
“He hasn’t made us powerless; just as the moon’s gravitational pull is the primary cause of earth’s high and low tides, we hold sway in the world. But our role is never to be the world’s savior – only to point to the actual Savior.” We need to be reminded of this from time to time.
A little test of character
“There is little more repulsive than people looking past you, through you, or over your shoulder looking for somebody more important or significant to speak with.” We always know when people aren’t really interested in us, don’t we?
What really counts?
“I recall a few years back having a quiet conversation with a shocked, disappointed, chastened, and influential fellow-pastor. Following the tragic demise of a famous Christian leader, his serious, solemn, words struck an unforgettable note: ‘Never again,’ said added, ‘will I preach to a church and assume everyone is saved!’” And neither should he or any of us!
How Did Jesus Become What God Hates?
How did Jesus become what God hates? That’s an intriguing question, isn’t it?
Why Pro-Choicers Insist Pro-Life Arguments Are Religious
“When I make my case, I don’t cite the Bible. I don’t invoke God. I’m not making a religious argument. My case against abortion brings in legal, moral, scientific, and philosophical reasoning. Abortion-choice advocates, however, bring up religion for a reason: It’s an effective tactic. Whether they realize it or not, it’s a clever way to gain the upper hand for two reasons.” Yet he’s still written off for his religion. Why is that?
The Weapons of Our Warfare
Doug Eaton: “When Jesus walked among us, he did not take arms against his enemies. He did not hire a political strategist or form a coup. His weapons of war were much different, and as believers, so are ours.”
Flashback: With Purity and Dignity
A man who is dedicating himself to pornography, who is objectifying women for his own gratification, cannot treat younger—or older—women with purity and dignity. His lust destroys his ability to love.

The more you submit to Christ in humility, the more you can stand for Christ with boldness. —H.B. Charles Jr.