Blessings to you today.

Christianbook.com is having a Mid-Winter Sale and has lots of good products discounted (e.g. Paul Tripp’s New Morning Mercies; Tim Keller’s The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness and new biography; John Piper’s Come, Lord Jesus; Lutzer’s We Will Not Be Silenced and We Will Not Hide; CSB Study Bible; etc.
And yes, there are a few new Kindle deals.
(Yesterday on the blog: Why Modern Dating Is So Difficult)
3 Surprising Agreements Pastors Must Make
This is such a good article from Jared Wilson. “Beginning pastors aren’t often prepared for these unspoken agreements. Veteran pastors still struggle with them. But there are a number of ‘job hazards’ that come with the pastoral territory for which every minister should be aware and to which every minister should adjust. Here are just three…”
How would you explain the doctrine of limited atonement to an Arminian?
Stephen Nichols does a good job of explaining the Calvinistic “L” here.
Join John MacArthur, Costi Hinn, Brooks Buser, Ian Hamilton, Aubrey Sequeira, and Others at The Radius Conference
June 28-29, 2023 @ Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA.  TRC is for pastors, aspiring missionaries, and anyone interested in biblical missiology. (Sponsored Link)
Where Did Baptists Come From?
“The question of the origins of the Christian tradition called Baptist has been, and to some extent still is, a much-debated issue.” Michael Haykin offers some clarity.
Having All Things In Common
“We shouldn’t see this as some early form of communism. This wasn’t the church taking charge of the wealth of the many, but rather this was voluntary, temporary and was limited in its scope. As we continue through Acts and the letters of Paul we see that the need of the church went beyond these early meetings and would be filled by other churches as they were planted and grew.”
“Now we’re on the gospel!”
I love this: “I wish I had been there to see this one. Here’s the scene: An elderly Christian woman is speaking with college girls at a campout. Conversation is going, then the subject turns to Christ. She lights up, pumps her fist, and says, ‘Now we’re on the gospel!’ She loved that they were going to talk about Jesus.”
Flashback: The Music of Heaven
There is a  sense in which our worship extends far beyond the four walls of our little building and reaches to the very gates of heaven.

Any hurried goodbye may be for years, and perhaps final; surely then it should be loving. —J.R. Miller

In my way of thinking, there are two approaches to daily Bible-reading: reading for intimacy or reading for familiarity. Intimacy with the Bible comes by slow, meditative reading that focuses on small portions—deep study of books, chapters, and verses. Familiarity with the Bible comes through faster reading of larger portions—the entire sweep of the biblical narrative. Both are perfectly good approaches to the Bible and Christians thrive on a healthy mixture of the two. There is great benefit in knowing the Bible as a whole (familiarity) and in knowing the most important parts in detail (intimacy). (For more on this, see my article “Intimacy or Familiarity.”)

My favorite daily Bible-reading plan is the 5 Day Bible Reading Program. I have successfully used it for many years and intend to use it again in 2023. I gladly commend it to you.
It has several features I especially appreciate:

It is a familiarity plan that covers the entire text of the Bible over the course of the year. Those who follow it will read every word of the Bible in the year ahead.
It is a pseudo-chronological plan that covers the text of the Bible in the order the events happened (with the exception of Job which comes at the end). Thus, for example, the Psalms come at appropriate moments in the life of David, the books of Kings and Chronicles are read in harmony, and so on. This helps set the events in their historical context. Yet even though it’s chronological, it’s only pseudo-chronological. There are Old Testament and New Testament readings each day and the gospels are interspersed through the year. I find this an ideal compromise over a strictly chronological program in which you read the entire OT before touching the NT.
It is a 5-day plan. A benefit of a 5-day plan (as opposed to a 7-day plan) is that there is less chance of falling far behind. At 5 days per week it is far more doable than at 7 days—there is always a chance to catch up. Also, it allows a day or two of reading something different for those who, for example, like to read and ponder the sermon text on a Sunday morning or for those who don’t do personal devotions on Sunday.
It is a free plan. It’s free for the taking! They’ve got a nice little print-out you can download, print, fold in half, and put inside your Bible. It’s got boxes to tick as you complete each day and each week. Or you can use the ReadingPlan app to organize the plan even while reading through Logos, the ESV app, or a printed Bible. Though it is free, they have launched a Patreon account for those who would like early access, access to more features, or who would just like to offer a bit of support.
(Note: Though it comes with an optional “Reader’s Companion,” I do not recommend that component.)

The 5 Day Bible Reading Program is a free download and will be available on December 26 (with Patrons able to get it before then). I echo their hope for the program: “God’s blessings rest with those who will read, understand, and live by His Word. May this guide help you to that noble end. ‘Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path’ (Psalms 119:105).”
(Parenthetical Note: If you prefer an “intimacy” plan, I recommend the Reading the Bible with John Stott guides and/or the God’s Word for You series. Both are excellent.)

The God of love and peace be with you today.
I added some interesting Kindle deals yesterday and tracked down some more today.
(Yesterday on the blog: When Goodbye Is Forever)

Amy Medina describes an example of courage in the life of a friend.

I really appreciate what Michael Kruger says here about an important ministry skill that no one talks about (but everyone appreciates when they benefit from it).

“Despite the rate at which it has grown, Mormonism contains fatal doctrinal problems. Though it has attracted many, it cannot be said that adherence to it will lead one to heaven. This is no minor issue. Eternity is at stake. If we love people; truly love the soul and well-being of a person, we will be concerned about their life through eternity. If there is a truck barreling down the road at you and I don’t get you out of the way, I fail to love you. Here are a few reasons why Mormon doctrine cannot save…”

Reuben Bredenhof writes about questions a pastor doesn’t want to ask, but really should. “Reflecting on my ministry, I recall instances when I should have listened to that shepherd sense to press harder, go deeper, and fear the awkward silence less. My love of comfort and ease kept me from pursuing what should’ve been pursued. It might have been months later, or even a couple of years, but eventually it came out.”

You’re not alone if you don’t enjoy reading the Old Testament. You’re not alone, but you also shouldn’t let yourself stay where you are. Jason DeRouchie offers some assistance in this article.

“The Bible calls us to greet each other very differently than this by exhorting us to practice public displays of holy Christian affection to mark our fellowship with mutual, all-inclusive welcome and love.”

I am increasingly convinced that Christians should avoid watching movies with scenes of nudity and sexuality. There are many reasons for this, but today I will constrain myself to just one—one that I have found particularly compelling and convicting.

Perhaps the sins we do not know are more numerous than the sins we are conscious of.
—Charles Spurgeon