Westminster Books has a collection of “Springs’s Best New Kids Books” discounted this week. I was thankful to see my graphic novel Eric’s Greatest Race at the top of the list. It’s coming very soon, so this is a great time to pre-order it!
Today’s Kindle deals include the usual collection of 6 or 8 good books.
When Puppies Replace People
What happens when puppies begin to replace people? This article looks at a comment by a Christian antagonist that was very revealing in what it says about modern culture. “Kids are the new boats. Pets are the new kids. Plants are the new pets.”
Learning to Disagree as Christians
byFaith has been offering some reflections on the church five years after COVID. In that vein, Jake Meador offers some helpful thoughts on learning to disagree as Christians. “If our hope for Christian unity is found in agreeing on an extensive, exhaustive list of political and public health questions not directly addressed by Scripture, then we have no grounds for hope.”
What Does the Bible Teach About Demons and Spiritual Warfare?
Writing with younger believers in mind, Mike summarizes some of what the Bible says about demons and spiritual warfare. “I haven’t done this, but I suspect that polling our youth groups about whether or not the devil and demons are real would have troubling results. Perhaps a poll among youth pastors would fare similarly. It’s simply something we don’t talk about.”
Persevere in Prayer: Because No, It’s Not Easy
“If we think prayer is easy, like a tasty treat to indulge in before or after a long day, we’ll likely drift from the practice when it doesn’t seem enjoyable. We miss the deeper truth that prayer is more like strapping a sword to our side, readying ourselves for spiritual war. We don’t know what role our prayers play in the ongoing spiritual battle around us, but we believe—even when we can’t see—that prayer changes things, that more is happening in us and around us than we can imagine.”
What the Bible Says About LARPing Your Job
Stephen Kneale: “Gen Z may be the generation who force the question more directly: is there more to life than work? Their answer is a hard yes and, to be frank, I agree. We would be much happier if we did more for the life side of the equation.” But this doesn’t give license for employees to do their jobs badly or to the bare minimum.
How Much of Christianity Remains a Secret?
Here’s John Piper on how much of Christianity remains a secret. “Our knowledge of God now in this life is limited, true, enough, and glorious. And our knowledge of God in the age to come will be immediate, eternally inexhaustible, ever-increasing, glorious, and all-satisfying. So, let me try to show from the Bible why I describe our knowledge this way.”
Flashback: Driving Back Down the Road
I’m convinced that part of the joy and the awe of heaven will be journeying back down the road of our lives and the road of human history. But this time we will travel the road in the opposite direction.
It is not primarily the absence of bad things that is going to make the new heavens and new earth so wonderful—it is the presence of Christ. In eternity, he will be at the centre and being with him will be our ultimate joy.
—Helen Thorne
