There are a few new Kindle deals for you to check out, including a republished work by John Owen that might be good to add to your collection.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Sins Forbidden by the Ninth Commandment in a Social Media World)
Open or Closed Communion
Hershael York explains the difference between open, close, and closed communion. He also explains why, “In all candor, neither the Abstract of Principles nor any iteration of the Baptist Faith and Message (1925, 1963, 2000) allows for open communion,” even though so many churches practice it.
Dementia: A Biblical Approach for Care
“When you hear the word dementia, what first pops into your mind? Old age? Alzheimer’s? Nursing homes? The high cost of care? No one likes to talk about dementia. Nobody wants to have dementia. Still, biblical counselors need to know about it because chances are they will counsel a person with dementia or, more likely, family members who provide care.”
A Temple of the Holy Spirit
“Context matters. If we learn to read the Bible for what it is—and not as a collection of independently assembled proverbial sayings—we’ll discover that some of our most familiar passages don’t actually mean what we’ve always assumed.” That includes this one.
We’re Exiles, Not Expatriates
This is demonstrably true: “There is too much division in the Body of Christ here in America. Many of us have chosen to pledge allegiance to fighting for one political party over the other, while others idolize one or two social issues and go to war with other believers who take an opposing stance. James 3-4 seems all to real as tongues (via Twitter) are setting ablaze fires that are burning bridges among believers. Ungodly wisdom fills Facebook posts and selfish ambition and bitter jealousy keeps quarrels and fighting among us alive.”
The House That Killed Its Builder
I love stories of eccentrics: “For over thirty years a five story rickety wooden structure with long undulating staircases and haphazardly protruding balconies have been standing atop a hillock in the middle of Wapiti Valley, near the town of Cody, in the US state of Wyoming, not far from the Yellowstone National Park. The house was a labor of love, built single-handedly by an eccentric engineer named Francis Lee Smith.”
Justice: Between Certainty and Doubt
Kyle Borg reflects on what has been happening in American politics over the past few days. “Politically the stakes are high, and in an effort to be an equal offender, both sides showed themselves to be masters of circus acrobats that would almost be laughable if real people and families weren’t being destroyed. As a citizen I’m embarrassed, concerned, and pessimistic.”
Flashback: 2 Surefire Ways to Avoid Persecution
We are to be people who live in the world, but not of the world. We are to live among unbelieving people, but to live in a very different way. When we do this we are never far from some kind of persecution.
Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?
This week the blog was sponsored by Crossway; I am thankful to them and to every other sponsor for the role they play in keeping this site going.
You can’t cry guilt away. You need to give it away.
—Helen Thorne
