Westminster Books has a deal this week on Joel Beeke’s new magnum opus. (Wait, wasn’t A Puritan Theology his magnum opus? I guess you can’t go wrong either way!)
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On Graying Toward Glory
This is such a good and encouraging article. “There is, though, a sweetness to the truth of what is happening in my body and the bodies of my peers: we know, even without looking in the mirror, we are wasting away and with that comes a strange renewal in our inward man. We know our days are numbered, and with them comes an urgency, unlike the urgency we felt in our teens and twenties.” (From another author, see Aging and Finishing Well.)
The Absolute Best Hike in Every State
I’d like to do each one of these!
Could Jesus Have Sinned? (Video)
Jesus was tempted, but could he have sinned? Dr. Blair Smith of RTS takes on the question in this short video.
No Private Matter
Yup. “The raging disputes over finer points of theology, over the social expression of justice in a conflicted world, and a whole host of other significant and insignificant issues could be much better worked through in the channels of private communication, through the colloquy of local churches and denomination, and in face-to-face dialogues where nuance can be embodied, and even strong disagreement can be privately worked through.”
Why Is It Inappropriate (and Dangerous) to Alert an Alleged Offender of Abuse Before Calling CPS and/or the Police?
Brad Hambrick explains the distinction between acts that are immoral and acts that are illegal. “For ministry leaders it can often feel inappropriate to contact Child Protective Services (CPS) or law enforcement without first questioning an alleged perpetrator of abuse, especially if this person is a church member under our shepherding care.”
Salvation by Propitiation
Kevin DeYoung explains a precious point of Christian doctrine. “Propitiation is used in the New Testament to describe the pacifying, placating, or appeasing of God’s wrath. The easiest way to remember the term is that in propitiation God is made pro-us. Unlike expiation, propitiation has a relational component to it. Christ’s death not only removed the moral stain of sin; it also removed the personal offense of sin.”
How to Fall in Ministry
“Each time it happens, we get less adept at incredulity, less inclined to outrage and distress. We’re not happy about it, of course, but we are, sadly, getting used to it. Then the backward troubleshooting begins, the diagnosing of sicknesses long after the deaths. Ministry post-mortems tell us so much, but it would be great if we could see the falls coming. But can’t we?”
Flashback: Christians, Mentors, and Mentoring
You hear a lot about the value and wisdom of seeking out older mentors to walk beside you on your Christian journey. Here are some thoughts and ideas about who should seek a mentor and who should be a mentor to the younger generations.
Death breaks the union between the body and the soul, but perfects the union between Christ and the soul. —Thomas Watson