There isn’t a whole lot to report for Kindle deals today, except for a nice little bio of Martin Luther.
Westminster Books has some okay deals on a few excellent books.
(Yesterday on the blog: Sacred Feathers)
God’s Presence Is the Essence of Heaven
Randy Alcorn: “Numerous people claim to have gone to Heaven and seen loved ones and also Jesus, yet almost never do they react as the ‘beloved disciple,’ the apostle John, did: ‘When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead’ (Revelation 1:17). Surely no one who had actually been in Heaven would neglect to mention what Scripture shows is its main focus. If you had spent an evening dining with a king, you wouldn’t just talk about the place settings! When John was shown Heaven and wrote about it, he recorded the details—but first and foremost, from beginning to end, he kept talking about Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, with infinite gravitas and beauty.”
The Rise of the Reformed Baptist Movement in Zambia
This is a helpful and encouraging look at the surging Reformed Baptist movement in Zambia. “People who are Calvinistic in their doctrine of salvation are often accused of being un-evangelistic and lacking a passion for missions. However, the Reformed movement in Zambia has been characterized by a zeal for church planting that has seen them plant churches in all the 10 provinces in Zambia, and they have planted or have partnered in planting in at least 5 African countries. This passion for church planting has contributed to the growth of the movement in Zambia as more people have come to salvation through the preaching of the gospel.”
Inside the Binge Factory
Netflix is investing billions in trying to monopolize your time. Here’s how. “Netflix is hiring everybody in and out of Hollywood to make more TV shows than any network ever has, and it already knows which ones you’ll like.”
Is There Such a Thing as a Nominal Catholic?
“The thing that struck me most was that neither the Catholic or Orthodox speakers accepted the term ‘nominal Christian’. People from a Catholic or Orthodox background do not think about people in this category; it is a very Protestant way of thinking. Because of their sacramental theology, when you are baptized as a Catholic you are Christian from that point on, no matter what. You can be a naughty Catholic or a lapsed Catholic but you are still truly Catholic.” That’s good to know…
‘Holding Fast’: A Free Album Curated for TGCW18
TGC: “In conjunction with our 2018 Women’s Conference (TGCW18) this week, The Gospel Coalition is thrilled to release Holding Fast: Songs of Grace for Rebel Hearts, an album featuring songs from Shai Linne, Sandra McCracken, Citizens, Bethany Barnard, Jackie Hill Perry, Austin Stone, Liz Vice, and many more.” You can download it free at their site.
We Are Not Meant To Be Awesome
“Have you ever wondered where the insatiable ache comes from? You know, the one that longs to have our name remembered on a building, or in a history book, or on a donor list, or on a book or album cover, or by an industry, or by our descendants? Have you ever wondered where the drive to accomplish something comes from, or the desire to leave a legacy?”
How Do I Overcome Crippling Self-Consciousness?
Here’s a good question that John Piper answers: “Pastor John, in episode 49, you commented on how self-consciousness is the preacher’s curse. What steps would you suggest I take, or which truths would you suggest I meditate on, in order to overcome the curse of self-consciousness in the pulpit?”
Flashback: The Peril of Success
The words we should long to hear are not, “Well done, good and successful servant,” but “Well done, good and faithful servant.” At the final accounting, our achievements will count for far less than our faithfulness.
He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day.
—John Bunyan
