The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you, my friends.
Today’s Kindle deals include a recent release that offers comfort for those whose children aren’t following the Lord. There’s another to instruct parents on how to pray for their children. And more as well, of course.
Life Is a Vapour. Enjoy It.
“Enjoying life comes from seeing it for what it is, not trying to make it into something it isn’t. (Solomon) says life is a gift from the hand of God. Every day, every blessing, every moment in the sun is pure grace from a Creator who is everything we are not—eternal, solid, and unchanging.”
His Mercy Is More (Video)
This is a really nice new rendition of “His Mercy is More” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Turn Your Calling to Pray into a Habit with the PrayMore App
We’re called to lift each other up in prayer… the PrayMore app helps you turn that calling into a habit. Created by a pastor and a software company who love the Church, PrayMore helps you and your small group stay connected in prayer throughout the week. You’ll get a personal, digital prayer journal, easy sharing within your private group, customizable reminders, emergency prayer notifications, and even the option to add a Bible verse to each request. And the best part? It’s free for groups of up to 15 people, forever! Ready to start praying with more of your people? Get 50% off with code CHALLIESPRAYER. (Sponsored)
Jelly Roll, Billie Eilish and Jesus Christ
I appreciate Stephen McAlpine’s take on the recent Grammy Awards. “Jelly Roll does the exact opposite of the Grammy crowd and their expectations of those who stand before that very public podium. He stands up at an away game where all sorts of flags, of every colour and description (though not the Iranian flag) are flown and flies the Jesus flag. He waves that flag around unashamedly to those who, with a high level of self-declared expertise, plus an equally high level of undeclared inexperience, and declares the solution is not us. Or not him at least.”
Did God Need to Kill His Own Son?
This is a helpful article on the atonement. “Critics of penal substitutionary atonement prefer stark language because it is provocative. For example, the phrase ‘cosmic child abuse’ is designed to strike disgust, not to illuminate. We need to resist the emotional setup and think carefully. We need to be as precise as the Bible.” (See also the much longer What is Penal Substitution? A Just and Justifying Atonement by Michael Horton.)
Should We Forgive Apart From Repentance?
The question comes up often: Is forgiveness conditional or unconditional? Matt Ferguson answers thoroughly and compellingly in this article at DG. “Some of the passages do not mention repentance, suggesting to some that forgiveness may be unconditional. Other passages seem to make repentance a prerequisite for forgiveness. How are we to reconcile them?”
Worship as Spiritual Discipline
“We want fruit without cultivation, the crown without the cross, the outcome without obedience. Yet Scripture repeatedly reminds us that growth in godliness ordinarily comes through means—through practices that require time, attention, and perseverance.” One of those means is worship.
Flashback: Lots of Single Christians but Few Weddings
I have tried to understand this phenomenon, so have spoken to young adults, pastors, and parents about an impasse that, if not universal, does seem to be common. I have learned there are a few possible factors in play.
Pray when you feel like it. Pray when you don’t feel like it. Pray until you feel like it.
—H.B. Charles Jr
