Good morning. May the Lord be with you and bless you today.
Yesterday on the blog, I shared some brief and random thoughts on preaching and being preached to.
Sales & Deals
Today’s Kindle deals include a variety of interesting books. Remember that the entire InterVarsity Press ebook catalog is on sale for a few more days. You’ll find tremendous savings on some tremendous books!
Recommended Reading
Some Christians Risk Persecution if They’re Honest in India’s Census. This is an interesting article from Christianity Today that explains how India’s census presents a challenge to Christians. “For the first time since India’s independence in 1947, the census will record caste along with religion. Intense political debate preceded this decision, and the change is expected to have wider implications for welfare delivery, public policy, and representation of various communities.” (Gift link)
The West’s Strange Genius. Michael Jensen considers the strange genius of the West. He argues “that the most distinct and important contribution of the West is the tradition of moral self-critique, which was deeply shaped by Christianity. The West is not defined by moral superiority, but by the capacity to recognise its own sins and reform.”
Ligonier 2027 National Conference. To enjoy God in endless wonder is the crowning gift of our salvation. Therefore, we have no higher calling than to know who He is. Join Ligonier Ministries for the 2027 National Conference in Orlando to hear biblical teaching on the Lord’s divine attributes. As you gather with thousands of Christians from around the world, you’ll be encouraged to serve God faithfully and pursue His glory in every sphere of life. Register and save 45% before the pre-registration rate ends on April 25, 2026. (Sponsored)
Hope in the Face of Death. J.V. Fesko explains why Christians can always have hope in the face of death. “Sadly, Mr. Smith was not a Christian. He did not, as far as I knew, trust in Christ for his salvation. People must have thought I was nuts, reading my Bible, witnessing, and praying for a man in a catatonic state, but such is the power of the gospel—even in the face of imminent death, we can cry out in hope and prayer that Christ will save those we love.”
Because of Jesus, Our Best Years Are Always Ahead of Us. Randy Alcorn has an encouraging article for those who may be a bit discouraged as they grow older. “The words “finish well“ mean more to me than they ever did, and I am more determined than ever to complete my race to the glory of God. Especially because I know that after the finish line, what awaits us is eternal goodness, glory, beauty, a restored earth, and a depth of relationship with God and each other beyond what we can imagine.”
Keep the Christian Calendar, but Keep It Under the Word. I have never been a big advocate of keeping the Christian calendar. But with that said, Jared Kennedy does a good job of explaining some of the benefits to holding to it. He also explains how not to hold to it. “Growing up as a Southern Baptist, I had little experience with the church calendar. My hometown church certainly celebrated the major holidays. We had candlelight services every Christmas Eve and a choir concert on Good Friday. But my pastors didn’t wear colorful stoles that changed with the seasons, and we never had special services on Ash Wednesday or Maundy Thursday. Those practices were for the Lutherans and Methodists, not for Baptists.”
The Grief I Did Not Know. Kirsten reflects on some of what she did not know about grief, but was forced to learn. “Grief and loss bring a very real sense of feeling disoriented for far longer than I understood. I knew this cognitively before walking this road, yet now I understand it deep in my bones. I did not understand that it’s a journey of fighting to press forward, but as I press forward, everything is different. I am different. The way I engage the world is different. The things I need are different.”
Book Reviews
I review lots of books, but so do many other writers. Here are a few reviews that may be of interest:
- Stephanie O’Donnell reviews The Pursuit of Holy Leisure by Cara Ray.
- Collin Garbarino reviews The Desecration of Man by Carl Trueman (as does Eddie LaRow).
- Harrison Perkins reviews The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.
- If you’re looking for trusted reviews of books for children, you should follow Redeemed Reader, where you’ll find several reviews per week.
Book Brief
Raising Gen Alpha by Dave Boden. There is one insight in Raising Gen Alpha that especially stood out to me: Gen Alpha is the future of the church. They are the future of the church, and they are never going to become completely like any of the generations that came before them. Hence, we need to get to know this generation, learn what makes them distinct from Gen Z, Millennials, and so on, and ensure we are doing our utmost to reach them with the gospel. Boden’s book is full of insights about Gen Alpha. He offers five generational distinctives, saying that this generation is anxious, influenced and influential, deeply impacted by the pandemic, hyperconnected, and shaped by AI.
Flashback
The Bible Never Offers a Drink from Shallow Waters. “There is not a problem you are called to face and not a duty you are called to do, there is not a cross you are compelled to carry and not a burden you are forced to bear but your strength for it all will be as the strength of ten—if you make a daily companion of your Bible.”
The saddest road to hell is the one that runs under the pulpit, past the Bible, and through the middle of warnings and invitations.
—J.C. Ryle
