Weekend A La Carte (June 16)

Today’s Kindle deals include something old and something new.

Logos users, click here to get a free copy of Schaeffer’s Escape from Reason.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Controversy Behind the Revoice Conference)

Psalms for Men Who Are Struggling

This was helpful to me yesterday. “The Psalms made no sense to me when I was in college because they sounded so bleak. Here were these compositions that were supposed to be so worshipful, but the Psalmists just spent too much time complaining about how hard life was. Now that I’m in my 40’s, the Psalms resonate with me because in my frustration with the difficulties of life I’ve said many of the things they say.”

Reflections on the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention

I regard Tom Ascol as a trusted voice so very much appreciated his assessment of and reflections on the recent SBC Convention. (On a related note, here is a list of the resolutions that were passed).

A Prayer for Fathers (Video)

Here is a short video including scripture and a prayer for fathers.

Youth Group or Frat House?

This is worth reflecting on. It’s good for kids to have fun at youth group, but that fun can go way over the top. “Christians talk often about the church being a hospital for the sick and safe haven for the weary. But this mentality hasn’t taken root in some youth ministries across the country. As mature adults, we are responsible for creating an environment that shows students that the church can be a place where you can both have fun and be comfortable talking about your insecurities. The church is a body that offers comfort.”

What Is Discernment?

Sinclair Ferguson: “Most of us doubtless want to distance ourselves from what might be regarded as “the lunatic fringe” of contemporary Christianity. We are on our guard against being led astray by false teachers. But there is more to discernment than this. True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.”

Religiously Unaffiliated ‘Nones’ are Pursuing Spirituality, but not Community

Everyone needs to believe something, right? “Millennial nones are not abandoning organized religion to become secular, science-loving humanists. Rather, they are turning toward more individual forms of spiritualism, including yoga, meditation, healing stones, Wiccan spell casting and astrology.” (Also see this commentary from Gene Veith.)

Trinity Western Loses Law School Appeal at Supreme Court

“A five-judge majority of the Supreme Court agreed that provincial law societies were right to deny accreditation to Trinity Western University’s proposed law school.” This is a pretty significant (though not wholly surprising) story here in Canada.

Flashback: Setting Up My Kids for Salvation

I trust God with my soul, but for some reason have a much tougher time trusting him with the souls of my kids. I wonder if you can identify with the struggle.