Remember rather than blame
Kim Shay:
It’s not uncommon for those who grew up in the church, and who have become disenchanted with it, to blame the church they grew up in. I’ve seen it and I’ve heard it from young people around me.
God’s Character and Your Circumstances.
Erik Raymond:
I don’t believe Abraham had an advanced copy of the plan. I don’t think he knew what was going to happen in detail. However, I do believe that he believed that God would fulfill his promise to him to make him a great nation, a father with countless descendants.
This is a perfect example of interpreting his circumstances in light of God’s character and promises. Everything that happens is processed through who God is and what he has said.
Too often we do this in reverse. We interpret God’s character and promises through the lenses of our circumstances.
Kindle deals for Christian readers
Here are a few new Kindle deals for you:
The Church: The Gospel Made Visible by Mark Dever—99¢
Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved by JD Greear—99¢
Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World by Andreas Köstenberger—$4.77
God on Sex: The Creator’s Ideas about Love, Intimacy, and Marriage by Daniel Akin—$2.99
For the City: Proclaiming and Living Out the Gospel by Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter—$3.99
The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World by Michael Horton—$2.75
Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard—99¢
Our Triune God: Living in the Love of the Three-in-One by Philip Ryken—$3.84
From Glory to Golgotha: Controversal Issues in the Life of Christ by Donald MacLeod—$3.00
Why libraries matter
HT: David Murray
The Happy Rant podcast
A while back, Stephen Altrogge and Barnabas Piper started a series of video conversations in which they cheerfully ranted about things that didn’t matter all that much. Now, by popular demand (if me, Bobby Giles and a few other dudes encouraging it is popular demand), they’ve ditched the Google Hangout videos and moved to podcasting and brought Ted Kluck along for the ride. Enjoy!
When We Get Small And God Gets Big
Jared Wilson:
Natalie comes walking in. “What are you doing in here? Go out there and meet people.”
Excuse me? Who does this lady think she is?
One of my best critics and greatest friends, actually. As I’ve thought over our friendship the last few weeks, it occurs to me that Natalie is the person from the church I talk with the most. Several times a week we exchange emails. We volunteer together at the local food shelf. When I have to meet with a woman alone at the church, Natalie is the one who will come and hang out in the room next door. Natalie is the one who, when she’s at the table, I know things will get done. When she says something is doable, dangit, it’s doable. Natalie went from my shrewdest challenger to my fiercest supporter and encourager.
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