There are some solid Kindle deals for newer books as well as classics. You may also want to take a look at Amazon’s general market monthly deals.
Logos has a commentary that is free for the taking, and a few others that are substantially discounted.
(Yesterday on the blog: COVID-19 and the Future of the Christian Conference)
A Prayer for Mercy
Kevin DeYoung’s prayer for mercy is urgent and timely.
Safetyism Isn’t the Problem
It’s early in the month so you should have some free New York Times articles, right? This one is good, and while it’s directed at the pandemic, much of it is more widely applicable. “If politicians would reject the tribalism of partisanship and do the hard job of listening — with open-mindedness and curiosity — to those with whom they disagree, we’d stand a much better chance of protecting both lives and livelihoods from not only the effects of the pandemic, but the effects of our responses to it.”
Peter Jackson’s LOTR Was an Improbable Miracle, and We’re Lucky to Have It
Can you believe it has been almost 20 years since the first of the Lord of the Rings films was released? “As you tally up the factors that were working against Jackson and LOTR at the time, it becomes clear that the eventual faithfulness and smashing success, both critical and commercial, of this trilogy were nothing short of miraculous. Peter Jackson pulled off something nearly impossible, something that would probably never happen today for a bevy of reasons. We should acknowledge just how lucky we are that he made these films exactly when he did.” (Note: A couple of bad words.)
The Unsettled Legacy of John Paul II One Hundred Years since His Birth
Leonardo De Chirico writes about the legacy of John Paul II one hundred years after his birth and focuses on some of the Protestant appreciations of his life and legacy.
The Unknown Martyrs Who Became Catacomb Saints
Speaking of Catholicism, it is inexorably connected to the veneration of relics. This article explores how so many relics of martyrs came to rest in European cities and why they ended up bedecked with jewels.
Reviving the Lost Art of Letter Writing
There’s no doubt that letters accomplish something text messages don’t and can’t. “A simple letter has the power to inspire hope, instill confidence, and initiate action. A letter communicates devoted love and lifts the human spirit. A letter unshackles the hands and feet, inspires hearts and minds, and communicates love and support to the people we care about.”
Losing Freedoms and Finding Renewal
John Starke writes about what we may find in the loss of certain freedoms. “In our COVID-19 world, here is a shortened version of the story of modernity: we were told what we can do (freedom), which turned into what we should do (burden), and now what we can’t do (anxiety). It’s a tragedy but with loads of potential for spiritual renewal.” (See also: When the Props Are Removed.)
The preacher of God’s word must remember that at the end of the day it is not creativity or excellence or winsomeness that wins hearts to Christ but the sufficient and powerful word of God.
—Jared Wilson
