May the God of love and peace be with you on this fine day.

(Yesterday on the blog: No Unfinished Sculptures)
The Gifts of This Age Point Us to the Age Still to Come
Jared Wilson: “What Jesus is saying is that marriage is meant for this age to point us to the reality of that age. How does it do that? There are so many broken marriages, and always have been since the fall, but it was originally like that. And even the best marriages, even the ones that last until death do them part, are often fraught with conflict or hurts or just disappointments.”
He Would Have Come With Me
I enjoyed this story of how God changed one man’s heart.
Navigating Cross-Cultural Relationships
Chopo Mwanza provides an interesting example of a cross-culture difference and offers some good counsel on navigating cross-cultural relationships.
Open Door
“Over the years. In various cultures. Conversations over tea build friendships. And open doors. And our exchange moves from common everyday themes to the topic most essential. And dearest to my heart. Jesus.”
We Agree, Right?
Holly Mackle: “I’ve noticed a curious trend lately: in conversations with acquaintances or strangers I realize my conversation partner presumes I believe the same way they do on a given topic. Sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, whether the topic is politics, pandemic, or Pandora stations—it just keeps happening.”
In John 3:16, Does “The World” Refer To The Elect Or To Fallen Humanity? (Video)
Sinclair Ferguson answers well in this short video.
On Divisions and the Kingdom
“Are you growing in righteousness, and peace, and joy? All the things which we are absorbing, all the debates we are throwing ourselves into, all of our stances, all of our focus and attention on the things which divide, all of our talking points….are these bringing about righteousness and peace and joy? Maybe, then, they aren’t the stuff the kingdom is made of.”
Flashback: One Very Good Reason to Read Your Bible
The benefit of knowledge of God and intimacy with God extends to your family, to your neighbors, to your church. If you can’t or won’t do devotions for your own sake, won’t you do it for the sake of others?

Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hands of the Lord. —A.W. Pink

May the Lord bless and keep you today.

This week at Westminster Books you’ll find a sale on “memorable stories, delightful characters, gospel help” for kids.
I Searched for the Key to Discipleship
“Discipleship isn’t nice, crisp books or carefully planned mission trips. It’s something altogether more intimate, more demanding, and more sacrificial. And once I realized that the people around me were showing me how discipleship works, I started to see it everywhere.”
What Does it Mean to Pray ‘Your Will Be Done’?
Colin Smith: “If you are confused about the will of God you are not alone. One reason for the confusion is that we speak of God’s will in three different ways. Distinguishing between them will help to clear the confusion and enable us to pray ‘Your will be done,’ with greater meaning and understanding.”
Things Revealed
In a somewhat similar vein: “A lot of us spend our time trying to read that book called ‘The Secret Things’ while all the time the book called ‘The Things Revealed’ is sitting right in front of us. God has given it to us and it belongs to us and to our children so we won’t just read it but also obey it.”
River Cliffs and Reformed Theology
I enjoyed reading this tale of river cliffs and Reformed theology. “The two of us walked, single file, through the coffee gardens. We were seventeen years old, barefoot, wearing swim trunks, and with inflated tire inner-tubes slung over our shoulders. The coffee cherries were ripening and we occasionally reached out, plucked one, and popped it in our mouths. The clear jelly between the red skin and the green coffee bean itself was deliciously sweet. Then the slippery bean itself could be pinched between forefinger and thumb, and launched at distant targets with surprising accuracy.”
5 Biblical Principles for Social Media
Rob Brockman: “Did you realize that you are responsible for your online behaviour as much as you are responsible for your in-person behaviour? There is no distinction between the character of your online avatar and your in-person character. If this is the case, then what can we glean from the scriptures on how we are to behave in the online public square?”
Missionaries, We Are Not Professionals
Dave Hare offers “three warning signs that a missionary might be falling into the trap of professionalism.”
How Changing Your View of Heaven Transforms the Way You Live Today
John Beeson asks, “What are the consequences of getting our view of heaven wrong? Especially when we can’t possibly know who is correct. But what if there are consequences to the way we perceive the afterlife? What would those be?”
Flashback: What’s the Purpose of … the Church?
The local church exists to glorify God through worshipping him, edifying his people, and evangelizing the world.

…the place where the Saviour sees meet to place me must ever be the best place for me. —Robert Murray M’Cheyne

I am sure you have heard by now that Tim Keller went to be with the Lord yesterday. The Keller family shared this on social media: “Timothy J. Keller, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, friend, pastor, and scholar died this morning at home. Dad waited until he was alone with Mom. She kissed him on the forehead and he breathed his last breath. We take comfort in some of his last words ‘There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.’ See you soon Dad.”

There are, of course, many tributes in his honor. Christianity Today’s headline is Died: Tim Keller, New York City Pastor Who Modeled Winsome Witness. The Gospel Coalition has an official notice and obituary and also a number of tributes from friends and colleagues, including this lovely one from D.A. Carson and this video full of reflections. Michael Kruger’s was helpful in addressing Keller’s famous winsomeness. The New York Times also ran an obituary.
(Yesterday on the blog: Lessons for a Life of Joyful Eagerness)
Taken So Suddenly, Missed So Greatly, But Safe with Jesus
Harry Reeder passed away a couple of days ago and I was thankful to read Al Mohler’s tribute to the man.
Giving Thanks for Harry Reeder (1948–2023)
I was also thankful to read Kevin DeYoung’s expression of gratitude for Reeder’s life, influence, and friendship.
Jesus can’t wait to see you either, Tim
Though this was written before Keller’s death, I appreciate its affirmation of a wondrous truth: that Jesus is more eager to see us than we are to see him.
We Travel to a World Unseen
“’These all died in faith, not having received the things promised,’ the writer admits. But notice their vision: ‘Having seen them and greeted them from afar,’ they ‘acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth’ (Hebrews 11:13). Their hearts smiled as they bowed into the grave because they saw promises coming. Promises more powerful than death.”
Since Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil, why are we still battling these enemies? (Video)
Sinclair Ferguson has a characteristically good answer to this question.
You Cannot Out-Sin the Cross
This is such a precious truth: you cannot out-sin the cross.
Flashback: You, Yes You, Are a Minister!
One of the great joys and responsibilities of the Christian life is to open your Bible with others and to show them what God says. There is way more ministering to be done in the church than can be done by paid pastors or even by elders

I believe that a woman who loses interest in her Bible has not been equipped to love it as she should. The God of the bible is too lovely to abandon for lesser pursuits. —Jen Wilkin