Today’s Kindle deals include the Gospel for Life series of short books. Over at Westminster Books you’ll find deals on some Counseling 101 material (in print format).
There are lots of games and puzzles for sale on Amazon today in case you’re doing some early Christmas shopping.
(Yesterday on the blog: This is the Church in China)
The 99-Year-Old Who Asked for a New Heart
“It doesn’t matter how old you are. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve shared the Gospel with your family member. As long as they have breath in their lungs they can still receive a new heart. Because the Gospel doesn’t depend on the works of a person but is an instantaneous miracle of God upon the heart of a sinner, we know that anyone can be saved at any time.” We know that, of course, but here’s a story to back it up.
What Is Hypostatic Union?
Here’s a brief written and video introduction to a key doctrine. “If you put an apple and an orange into a blender and mix them together, you can’t say that the end result is still ‘fully apple’ and ‘fully orange.’ It’s a new substance—a combination of the two. Jesus’ divine and human natures exist together in such a way that they are united in one person, but ‘unblended.’ They each retain all of their qualities without interfering with the other.”
Hope Begins Here
Aileen found this one deeply moving. “Five years ago December, I walked into an ultrasound room to find out if my baby were a girl or boy. In a few life-altering moments, my husband and I learned that we were having a girl, but something was wrong. Two days later, after endless tests and appointments, I asked our doctor, ‘Is there any hope?’”
What is the Best Counsel I Have Received About Pastoral Ministry?
There is some useful wisdom in this video.
Cultural Winsomeness Will Not be Enough for Christians
This absolutely addresses the current context, and it’s so important for Christians to believe it. “No amount of cultural sophistication or intelligence will absolve the Christian from being seen as a backward-thinking bigot. I say this because there’s an evangelical temptation that believes that if we can just communicate orthodox beliefs in the right way, if we can appear as nuanced as possible, then those on the other side of the aisle will see us as goodwill, reasonable actors. We’re tempted to think that finding the right aesthetic or tone will resolve the underlying tensions that exist when Christianity confronts the world with an ethic that the world does not want to hear.”
Revoice, or God’s Voice?
Harry Reeder writes a long and insightful review of the recent Revoice conference. “While unable in this venue to address all of the issues which lead to this verdict, I will highlight five essential issues with necessary foundational thoughts as to why the plenary sessions were at best inconsistent and in many cases contradictory to God’s voice which is revealed in His Word.”
Delighting in God and Trusting in Him through Cancer
In January 2018, Nanci Alcorn was diagnosed with cancer, and has since undergone months of treatment. Here Desiring God interviews Randy on the joys and pains he and Nanci have experienced. It’s an encouraging interview.
Flashback: The State of Evangelicalism in America and all that Blah Blah Blah
What’s the state of Evangelicalism in the United States of America? Imperfect, of course, but concerned, involved, generous, and kind.
There may be some sins of which a man cannot speak, but there is no sin which the blood of Christ cannot wash away.
—Charles Spurgeon
