Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Westminster Books has deals on a collection of new and notable fall releases.
Today’s Kindle deals include a collection of books from Crossway.
(Yesterday on the blog: When Calvin and Wesley Shake Hands)
The Gospel is in the Detail
Rhys Laverty uses the occasion of Reformation Day to say “it’s vital to remember that an insistence on detail is, in many ways, at the root of Protestantism. And the boldness to point out such details is vital.”
Don’t Just Read Your Bible: 12 Ways to Go Deeper
“When we talk about spending time in God’s Word, we usually say ‘read your Bible!’ But that doesn’t mean you always just pick up the Bible and read a chapter – here are a few other creative ways to soak in Scripture.”
A Strange and Holy Calm
David Mathis: “In a day when outbursts of emotion are not only accepted, but respected, and encouraged, it can be more difficult to raise men who learn to righteously ‘hold their peace.’ It’s a curious phrase at key junctures in the history of God’s people. Some outburst of rage, or rash expression of anger or retaliation, is expected, yet a man of God, we’re told, ‘held his peace.’”
Is This the Right Way?
I enjoyed this article about going the right way.
Memories: A Tribute to My Mentor
It’s always a joy to read tributes to ordinary people who have been faithful.
Staying Power
“It’s one of those myths that just won’t die. For decades, we’ve heard the factoid that half of all marriages in America end in divorce. We’ve heard it so long, it must be true. Right?”
The Cautionary Tale of Francis Collins
“On June 8, 2019, Francis Collins finger-picked his guitar and sang Andy Grammer’s song ‘Don’t Give Up On Me’ at the memorial service for a young man who had died after a four-year battle with a rare kidney cancer. The man had enjoyed the song, and Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, cared dearly for him. He concluded his performance with an emotional benediction, promising that he would see the young man again and that he and his staff would not give up searching for a cure. This is the kind of man Francis Collins is. One month earlier, Collins’s NIH had approved a research grant requested by University of Pittsburgh scientists who desired to graft the scalps of aborted fetuses onto rats and mice.” This is also the kind of man he is…
Flashback: 6 Marks of a Faithful Ministry
The pastor is to serve humbly, to serve just like Jesus served. An arrogant ministry is the most destructive kind of ministry.

Broken health is naturally discouraging, but if God is in it, we need not be disheartened: he is able to make more of us with our shattered health than we could have made of ourselves with athletic robustness. —J.R. Miller

May the Lord bless you and keep you today.

Logos users, you’ll want to grab the free R.C. Sproul commentary that’s on offer this month (as well as some of the other discounted resources). I’m sure you’ll also want to have your say in this year’s March Matchups.
There are some “odds and ends” Kindle deals today.
A Word on Gender and Sex
Jonathan Master: “It was once commonly understood that ‘gender’ was a socially constructed extension of the deeper and more stable reality of biological sex. Nowadays, ‘gender’ is treated as something independent of biological sex, and indeed something more fundamental and important than biological sex.”
Putin, the West, and the Myth of Progress
Trevin Wax: “In the befuddled responses to the invasion of Ukraine as well as the soaring rhetoric of Western leaders who believe freedom will prevail, we see on display the eschatology of the Enlightenment: the idea that the world, since the Age of Reason, has been moving along an upward trajectory of human development, both technological and moral, with better and freer days ahead.” (See also: 10 Seminaries from Post-Soviet States Issue a Joint Statement.)
Why People Don’t Leave Social Media
“To leave social media is not akin to uninstalling a game from your phone you find yourself wasting a lot of time on. It is closer to moving out of town and not visiting that set of friends anymore. It feels like loss, especially when the friends probably aren’t the problem, it’s the location you meet them in. Even imposing limits sounds like cutting off your nose to spite your face—it feels like becoming a social pariah for nebulous abstract goods (like hope, and sleep).”
Brighter Days Await God’s People
In times of sorrow and warfare we need to be reminded that brighter days are ahead.
How to Disagree with Your Best Friend
Lara d’Entremont tells about a precious friendship.
Are You Having a Good Day?
“I’ll bet you’ve been asked this question or a question like it in the past week. Have you ever wondered how to answer? It seems a bit superficial for a believer to base their evaluation of a day just on how circumstances have worked out so far, right?”
Flashback: What Tolkien Did So Well, What We Do So Poorly
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.

Not one of us has any trouble in accepting this doctrine of God’s sovereignty as long as things go to our liking. We are perfectly satisfied to let God have His way as long as He does not cross us. —Theodore Cuyler

Every month I put together a roundup of new and notable books for grownup readers. But I also receive a lot of books for kids and like to put together the occasional roundup of these books as well. So today I bring you a whole big batch of new books for kids.

Little Me, Big God: Stories about Jesus: Eight True Stories from the Bible by Steph Williams. “How many people did Jesus feed with one boy’s lunch? Why did a dad run down a road? What happened when Jesus’s disciples stopped some children who wanted to talk to him? And why did Jesus die on a cross? Enjoy reading eight Gospel stories, retold in a faithful and fun way for 2-4-year-olds. Toddlers and preschoolers will love the colorful, exciting illustrations, and older ones can get to grips with the “extra bits” that go deeper into each story. This hardback collection of eight stories from the ‘Little Me, Big God’ series is a great addition to any young child’s bookshelf or children’s ministry range and makes an ideal gift. Can also be used in children’s ministry.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

It’s Good to Be a Girl: A Celebration of All That God Made You to Be by Jen & Zoe Oshman. “This beautifully illustrated book celebrates that God made girls in his image and explores all the wonderful things he designed them to be and to do. Girls aged 3-7 will learn that they are good and necessary, how God calls different women to do different things, and how trusting in Jesus is the key to help us love and serve others wherever we are. Follow along as a little girl learns from her mother all about real women from the Bible and later history. Together they imagine lots of different ways in which we can reflect God’s character and help those around us today, whether that’s through being a mom or a missionary, a truck driver or a teacher!” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Your Amazing Hands: A Training Young Hearts Rhyming Book by Abbey Wedgeworth. “This charming rhyming book celebrates God’s good design for our hands, motivating children aged 3+ to use their hands to glorify God. Children will be inspired by all the creative and interesting things their hands can do―they can even use them to bring comfort and joy to others! They’ll discover that Jesus had hands just like ours and that he always used his hands in the most amazing ways, including to save us. Not only that: the way that Jesus used his hands means that we can be forgiven when we use our hands in the wrong way. Children are invited to pray for forgiveness when they make mistakes, and for help to use their hands in the ways God intends. The book’s fun rhyming style and colorful illustrations make it easy to engage with this life-altering message of repentance, forgiveness, and grace-fueled obedience.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

The Man in the Tree and the Brand New Start: A True Story about Zacchaeus and the Difference Knowing Jesus Makes by Carl Laferton. “Teach children that genuine faith in Jesus leads to a transformed life. Zacchaeus was very short, very rich, and not very happy, but his encounter with Jesus changed everything. In response to the grace Jesus showed him, Zacchaeus was transformed from the inside out. He repented, treasured Jesus above everything else, and showed kindness and generosity to others like never before. Use this story to teach children that only following Jesus will make them truly happy and fulfilled, and that genuine repentance and faith is demonstrated by loving others.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Jesus, Strong and Kind by Sinclair Ferguson. “Respected pastor and author, Sinclair Ferguson, uses the words of the popular children’s song to help kids understand that they can always run to Jesus in this beautifully illustrated book. Using the words from the popular children’s song by CityAlight and Colin Buchanan, and stories from the Bible, Sinclair Ferguson shows children how they can turn to Jesus when they feel afraid, lost, thirsty or weak. He shows that God is powerful and merciful, good and faithful. The beautiful colour illustrations by Angelo Ruta bring this hardback to life. An essential addition to any family’s library.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Abigail and the Big Start Over by Bethany McIlrath. “Like many kids, adventurous and creative 9-year-old Abigail experiences lots of ups and downs when it comes to school life, making friends, and getting along with parents and siblings. Through both the humorous and serious challenges that arise, Abigail finds herself in one new mess after another. But as she learns all about how Jesus forgave Peter when he messed up again and again, she sees how Jesus can forgive her too. Readers will explore the Bible alongside Abigail and learn that God’s love for us and his grace to us never run out. So we can start over again and again! This fun, exciting novel for kids aged 7+ features short chapters with illustrations that really bring the story to life. It explains grace in a kid-friendly way that is relevant to their lives, and it provides a great way for kids to engage with the Bible.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Jesus’ Stories: A Family Parable Devotional by Carine MacKenzie. “Beloved children’s author Carine Mackenzie unfolds the parables of Jesus for families to enjoy together. Carine Mackenzie, whose children’s books have sold millions of copies worldwide, takes the stories that Jesus used to teach his listeners about God’s way, and unpacks them in a way that the whole family can enjoy together. The short stories teach about things like prayer, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God, and Carine’s knowledge of how to help children understand the meaning behind the story shines through. With beautiful colour illustrations, this book will be a great addition to your family’s library.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer Family Bible Devotional by Katy Morgan. “This devotional is a chance to take your family on a journey through the story of prayer in the Bible. It is based on the popular storybook by Laura Wifler, co-founder of Risen Motherhood, which explores prayer: from the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve talked with God face to face, through Old Testament examples and the teaching of Jesus, all the way to the promise of the new creation, where we’ll dwell with God forever. These 10-minute devotions are designed to be easy to lead and fun to do. They will help your family to learn to pray with confidence, anytime, anyplace. They are ideal for kids aged 5-11.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Cassie & Caleb Discover God’s Wonderful Design by Susan & Richie Hunt. “Boys and girls, from 5 to 8 years of age, will love the fun world of Cassie and Caleb, two energetic and inquisitive children discovering the beauty of God’s wonderful design. Through twenty beautifully illustrated short stories, followed by an interactive time between parent and child, your children will learn: The creational principle that ‘God created man in his own image . . . male and female he created them’ is extraordinary; That Jesus is in all of Scripture; that God’s Word is our authority and His Glory is our purpose; That when we belong to Jesus we belong to His covenant family, the Church; A Biblical framework for living and thinking. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

God’s Go-Togethers: A Celebration of God’s Design for People by Sam Allberry. “What special pairs are part of God’s good plan? Join siblings Lila and Ethan at the beach as they discover that God not only made the sand and sea to go together, but He made men and women to go together too. In fact, they’re the pinnacle of His good creation! In this colorful picture book–a follow-up to the book God’s Signpost–author Sam Allberry offers a thoughtful look at the biblical design for people. God’s Go-Togethers is a helpful foundation for explaining why God made men and women as a special pair to complement each other in marriage and beyond.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Dinner with the King: How King David’s Invitation Shows Us God’s Love by Paul Tautges. “A scary invitation turns out to be very good news in this playfully illustrated, deeply biblical book for kids ages 5-9. Discover how David’s grace to Mephibosheth points to our gospel hope.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)