The God of peace be with you on this fine day.
The daily list of Kindle deals tends to be finalized at around 6:30 AM, so it’s usually a good idea to check in after then.
Westminster Books has a deal on the newly-published set The Practical Works of Richard Baxter. Plus they’ve still got all ESVs at 50% off.
(Yesterday on the blog: As the Outer Is Peeled Away)
My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2023
Every December Collin Hansen puts together a roundup of his top 10 theology stories of the year. It’s always interesting to read his picks and to decide whether you agree or disagree.
Just a Stay-at-Home Mom
Lara d’Entremont: “Whenever I’m around professionals, I feel shame prickle my neck and cheeks. As they tell me about their journey from college to working their way to this position they’re currently in, I cringe when the silence comes—because we all know the next question. ‘What do you do?’ they ask nonchalantly. I look down at my feet and rub my neck. “Um, uh… I’m just a stay-at-home mom.’”
Think You Know the Christmas Story?
Michael Kruger addresses five common misconceptions about the Christmas story—stars, inns, mangers, wise men, and so on.
Pastoral Oversight and the Musical Ministry of the Church
“Songs are shepherding tools. We think of the word preached as a tool of the shepherd, and it is. We think of prayer as a shepherding tool, and it is. We think of baptism and the Lord’s Supper as shepherding tools, and they are. But do we think of the songs as shepherding tools?” Jacob says we should and explains his reasoning.
The Greatest Joy Is Jesus
It’s not often you find a Dutch Reformed pastor writing about dancing, but I’m glad Wes did here. “The return of Christ is when we’ll dance for joy. I mean that quite literally. That’s because the return of Christ brings about the resurrection of the dead. Our bodies will be raised imperishable. In that final state, we’ll have corporeal bodies with which to dance for joy.”
The Weary World Rejoices
Cheryl explains how encouraging it was to listen carefully to the familiar Christmas songs. “I began to listen more closely to versions of traditional carols played during the Christmas season, paying attention to the words rather than just humming along with the familiar melodies.”
Flashback: Do Not Be Surprised if the World Hates You
Your goodness unmasks the badness of the unbelievers around you. Your light illumines their darkness…And all of this is true even though you are so far from perfect, even though so much of the old man remains.
Faith is quenching the soul’s thirst at the fountain of God.
—John Piper
