At the recent Ligonier Ministries National Conference I was asked to speak on “The Next Story.” Instead of speaking about my book or offering up a summary of it, I took a look at 3 vignettes, 3 little stories that help us understand what’s going on here in the digital world. It’s just a short presentation but one I thought you might enjoy. Here it is:

A week ago I introduced you to a series of short films that focus on Christ's appearances in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord. Every Wednesday for 10 weeks I will be posting a new episode right here at the blog. This will allow you to view the series in its entirety. Do note, though, that each episode will be available for only one week.

After the week is up you will need to purchase the series. Here’s how you can do that. The DVD and Study Guide (sample here) are available for pre-order, and will be launched at The Gospel Coalition Conference Preaching Christ from the Old Testament on April 12. However, you can buy the digital download of the whole series here for $5. Or visit Ligonier's online store for the download or to pre-order the DVD and Study Guide.

Here is the second episode of the series. It is titled “Spiritual Heartburn.”

David Murray is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was a pastor in Scotland for 12 years before coming to Grand Rapids in 2007 with his wife Shona and their four children. He blogs regularly at Head Heart Hand.

I’m one day late posting this, but I trust the wait is worth it. Here is this month’s selection of desktop wallpaper calendars, all free for the download. There are wallpapers here for your computer, your iPhone, your iPad or just about any other device you might like to dress us. Enjoy!

A few notes: 320 x 480 is for your iPhone; 1024 x 1024 is for your iPad; your desktop or laptop may take any of the other sizes depending on your monitor size and a host of other considerations. If you’re not sure of the size, just find one that looks like it would be pretty much the same size as your screen. Generally you set one of these are your wallpaper by clicking on the link to the image, then right-clicking on the image (once it’s open) and selecting “Set as Background,” “Set as Desktop Background,” or something similar.

In Glorious Day

Created by Eric Novak from Chicago, IL.

• without calendar: 1280x800, 1280x900, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Risen Indeed

Created by Jeff Nine, Denver, CO. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

• without calendar: 320x480, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1900x1200, 2560x1440

• with calendar: 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1900x1200, 2560x1440

Bursting Forth

Created by Harold Sikkema, Hamilton, Canada. In April, I’m grateful for new life, for modern hymnwriters, and for my mother’s decade-spanning button collection.

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• with calendar: 320x480, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1900x1200, 2560x1440

This afternoon, and for quite a few Wednesday afternoons to follow, I’ve got something I think you’ll enjoy. It’s a series of short films created by David Murray that focus on Christ’s appearances in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord. This week’s episode is titled “Bonus Gospel.”

The DVD and Study Guide (sample here) are available for pre-order, and will be launched at The Gospel Coalition Conference Preaching Christ from the Old Testament on April 12.

However, you can buy the digital download of the whole series here for $5. Or visit Ligonier’s online store in the next few days for the download and also to pre-order the DVD and Study Guide.

Every Wednesday for the next ten weeks, check in here at the blog for a time-limited streaming version of each episode. And now, to get you started, here is the first episode:

David Murray is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was a pastor in Scotland for 12 years before coming to Grand Rapids in 2007 with his wife Shona and their four children. He blogs regularly at Head Heart Hand.

A couple of months ago Crossway released Don’t Call it a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day. I contributed a chapter to that book titled “Jesus Christ: The Only Way and Our Only Hope.” This chapter deals with religious pluralism, inclusivism and exlusivism, all words and terms that have become hot topics because of Rob Bell’s book Love Wins (my review). Crossway has excerpted that chapter and made it available to you as a free PDF.

You can download it here: Jesus Christ: The Only Way and Our Only Hope.

Alternatively, if you would like to read it in your browser using Issuu, click here.

Here is how the chapter begins…

We live within a pluralistic culture of many faiths. Most often, the faiths coexist peacefully. This is good. Living in multicultural Toronto, a city in which over 50 percent of the population was born in another country, I have seen this religious diversity firsthand. As people immigrate to Toronto, they bring with them their religion. My son's best friend at school is Muslim, the neighbor across the road from us is Buddhist, and just down the way is a Hindu from South Africa. Atheists, Roman Catholics, universalists, Mormons--all of them are within a stone's throw of my front door. Look closely and you can even find the occasional evangelical. Within just our small neighborhood is a virtual pantheon.

While we regret the necessity of this pluralism, wishing that all men would be saved and come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are grateful for laws that allow us freedom to worship our Savior. We may not agree with the tenets of other faiths, but if every religion has freedom, we will too. This religious pluralism allows us to worship Jesus Christ in freedom and peace, without fear of interference or persecution. It is a profound blessing.

Last month, on February 1, I offered up a list of desktop wallpapers that were free for you to download and use on your computer, iPhone, iPad or other device. That turned out to be a hit, so here we are on March 1 with another list of wallpapers. Each of these has been designed by a Christian graphic designer or artist and each of them is free for you to download—just click the appropriate link and save the image.

A few notes: 320 x 480 is for your iPhone; 1024 x 1024 is for your iPad; your desktop or laptop may take any of the other sizes depending on your monitor size and a host of other considerations. If you’re not sure of the size, just find one that looks like it would be pretty much the same size as your screen. Generally you set one of these are your wallpaper by clicking on the link to the image, then right-clicking on the image (once it’s open) and selecting “Set as Background,” “Set as Desktop Background,” or something similar.

I’d like to get a bit of buzz going about this post, so I’ll keep an eye on anyone who tweets it or links to it on a blog; I’ll give away a few Westminster Books gift certificates to those kind enough to do so.

March

Created by Shannon Brown, Rockford, IL.

• with calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1600

New Every Morning

Created by Zack Kirby, Raleigh, NC.

• with calendar: 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1900x1200, 2560x1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1900x1200, 2560x1440

Gregory Wilbur says “One of my favorite missions hymns is ‘How Sweet and Awesome’ mostly because it marries good theology and evangelistic fervor so beautifully. This text by Joseph Cottle does the same thing. God's sovereignty and Lordship is strongly proclaimed while entreating the spread of the Gospel for His glory's sake.  It seemed most appropriate to set these lyrics to a strong and majestic melody.  Having this song sung by men's chorus is a great reminder of the necessity of vigorous music in the life of the Church.”

You can buy the song or album at iTunes and Amazon.

Mighty Lord, extend Your kingdom, Be the truth with triumph crowned;
Let the lands that sit in darkness Hear the glorious Gospel sound,
From our borders, From our borders, To the world's remotest bound.

By Your arm, eternal Father, Scatter far the shades of night;
Let the great Immanuel's kingdom Open like the morning light;
Let all barriers,  Let all barriers, Yield before Your heavenly might.

Come in all Your Spirit's power; Come, Your reign on earth restore;
In Your strength ride forth and conquer, Still advancing more and more,
Till all people, Till all people, Shall Your holy Name adore.

Every Friday Ligonier Ministries has a $5 Friday special where they put a selection of their products on sale for the ridiculously low price of $5. This week they want to allow you to choose one of these items. I’ve got a list of 5 items here and one of them will be available this Friday at Ligonier’s store for just $5.

So leave a comment and let me know which one you’d like to see for $5. And then on Friday if you’ve got a few dollars you’d like to spend, you’ll be able to order it from them.

Sound good? Here’s the list (along with links to product information):

• What Is Reformed Theology? (CD)
• The Holiness of God (CD or DVD)
• The Prince’s Poison Cup
• R.C. Sproul’s commentary on John
• Surprised by Suffering

This may be the strangest memory of my entire childhood: at some point I acted in a class play in which I played the role of February. Yes, February. I was a whiny little month, complaining that I was the shortest month and also the one that no one likes because the weather always stinks. I don’t remember how the play ended. Actually, I don’t remember if I had the audience eating out of my hand or if I stank it up. I probably stank it up.

The fact is that February just isn’t the best month—it’s that one between the start of a new year and the start of Spring. But you know what will help brighten it a little bit? Some amazing desktop wallpaper. And so I asked a whole lot of graphic designers if they would like to come up with wallpaper that is appropriate for the month. And now it’s free for you to download.

So go ahead—brighten up your month and download some great wallpaper.

A few notes: 320 x 480 is for your iPhone; 1024 x 1024 is for your iPad; your desktop or laptop may take any of the other sizes depending on your monitor size and a host of other considerations. You may need to ask your computer-whiz nephew to help you figure out the one that’s best.

See the Love

Created by Daniel Spencer.

• with calendar: without calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440
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Those Who Have Faith

Created by Chelms Varthoumlien.

• with calendar: 1024x768, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Love Never Fails

Designed by Eric Novak.

• with calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Some time ago I was asked by Kevin DeYoung if I would be interested in contributing a chapter to a book that came to be called Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day. Here’s what the book is all about: “Recent cultural interest in evangelicalism has led to considerable confusion about what the term actually means. Many young Christians are tempted to discard the label altogether. But evangelicalism is not merely a political movement in decline or a sociological phenomenon on the rise, as it has sometimes been portrayed. It is, in fact, a helpful theological profile that manifests itself in beliefs, ethics, and church life. DeYoung and other key twenty- and thirty-something evangelical Christian leaders present Don't Call It a Comeback: The Same Evangelical Faith for a New Day to assert the stability, relevance, and necessity of Christian orthodoxy today. This book introduces young, new, and under-discipled Christians to the most essential and basic issues of faith in general and of evangelicalism in particular.”

I contributed a chapter on how Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.

The book has just released and is now available at Amazon and Westminster Books (and everywhere else, I suppose).

If you’re interested, here is some more information about the book, including the Table of Contents (along with the authors) and a few endorsements: