Good morning. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you today.
Sales & Deals
Today’s Kindle deals include a useful pre-marriage book, a book to help those who are recovering from addictions, and another about the Christian’s identity.
Recommended Reading
Are Christians in Nigeria Facing Genocide? I have heard different explanations of the anti-Christian violence in Nigeria, so I was interested in this report from WORLD. Some have said the violence is related primarily to religion, while others have said it is related to other conflicts between clans or people groups. Here’s what this writer found: “The violence in Nigeria is real. The terrorism is real. But the majority of people I encountered across vast territory, both urban and rural, were not caught up in the language of a religious war.”
Wisdom and Tough Choices. J.V. Fesko: “As I have grown older, and hopefully more mature, I have concluded that some younger ministers see everything in black and white. On the other hand, older, mature, seasoned ministers see things in black, white, and grey. Newly minted ministers learn about wonderful truths and amazing doctrines, and they want to ensure that they and others around them unswervingly adhere to the hard line of orthodoxy. It’s disconcerting to me to watch a timid and humble lamb of a ministerial candidate who hopes and prays for leniency in his own ordination exam turn into a ferocious sharply-fanged lion of a minister who expects pinpoint accuracy as he sits in judgment over someone else’s ordination exam.”
A Bestiary of Sin. T. M. Suffield helps us see how any sin is, in a sense, a breaking of every commandment. He does this not as an intellectual exercise, but as a means of showing us the evil of sin and, in that light, to better appreciate Christ’s work on the cross.
Better Than Me. I think many people will be able to identify with Grace Thomas’ confession of comparison. “What is my greatest weakness? A few weeks go by and I know the answer. As I sit on the couch and scroll through my phone I notice an icky feeling bubble to the surface. Social media used to provide inspiration, but it now breeds comparison. I compare myself to others and my past self, able to do more—and do it faster, better, and stronger. I used to fit into smaller clothes, do more jumping jacks, or stay up later. Despite my accomplishments, there’s always someone who performs better.”
Faith Comes by Hearing: On the Word of God, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and Public Worship. This article from Mere Orthodoxy explains why your church should take its sound system seriously. It also explains how your church may be inadvertently breaking the law. “What happens to our ears goes down deep into our hearts. And the Church yearns for this humble reception of her Lord. This is her very Life. That’s why it’s so important to fix your sound problems. It might seem like just another task, yet another regulation to check off, but this is where the action happens: at the feet of Jesus giving us His precious Word.”
You Still Have to Eat on Vacation. It’s obvious that you still have to eat when you’re on vacation. So why are you (possibly) so free to let go of other good and necessary habits? “For this upcoming vacation, I’m trying to pack lighter than I normally would, so I’ve found myself mentally weighing every item and reconsidering whether its essential. The fourteen library books that became available at the same time? I probably shouldn’t try to stack those in a suitcase. And my Bible? It’s heavy when added to a small backpack. Will I really have time to read it?”
Headlines
Here are a few interesting headlines from Christian news outlets.
AI > Pastors. Christian Today reports on young people turning to AI ahead of pastors for their deep questions. Though this may not be particularly surprising, it could be concerning. The article outlines why young people consider AI a better source of knowledge than even their own pastors.
Christian Ministries in India. Meanwhile, The Christian Post explains how a bill before India’s Parliament threatens Christian ministries there. “A bill advancing through India’s Parliament would tighten restrictions on foreign funding for faith-based organizations, including media outlets, food ministries, schools, clinics, hospitals and churches serving Christian communities. Religious freedom advocates are pressing lawmakers to reject it.”
Megachurch vs Smaller Churches. Christianity Today says that megachurches continue to get more mega while smaller churches continue to be pressured out of existence. “A new survey from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows megachurches have bounced back stronger than ever after the attendance dips of the COVID-19 pandemic. Smaller churches, however, have not fully recovered.”
Flashback
How To Respond to Social Media Enemies. Jesus tells you how to relate to people who harm you or who want to harm you, and his instructions provide crucial guidance as you relate to online enemies…Their verbs are hate, curse, and abuse; yours are love, do, bless, pray.
Jesus calls us to his rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.
—A.W. Tozer
