On Saturday I returned home from a lengthy overseas trip and thought I’d share a few notes about what I saw and experienced along the way. While the original and primary purpose of the visit was to get to northern Zambia to speak at a conference for pastors and church leaders, it turned into an opportunity to do quite a lot more.

After back-to-back overnight flights from Toronto to London and London to Johannesburg, I took advantage of a 25-hour layover to visit Onthatile Children’s Ministries. This is a ministry meant to help address the orphan crisis in South Africa (where it is estimated there may be as many as 3 million orphaned children). Because the government there is largely opposed to the institutional setting of traditional orphanages, this ministry focuses on fostering and adoption within families. To that end, Joel and Rachel Kirby, who hail from America, have established a home where they can raise their own children (some by birth and some by adoption) while also welcoming in six orphaned foster children—the maximum allowed by law. With their house full, they now plan to build several more on the property where other families can settle and follow the same pattern. Eventually they hope to have several houses there as well as a school and a special building to care for infants.

The next day I flew to Lusaka, Zambia, where I had been asked to speak at the graduation ceremony for African Christian University—a university founded by Conrad Mbewe (and now also associated with Voddie Baucham who serves as one of its deans). The ceremony had a few elements that made it distinct from a Canada equivalent, but it was familiar in almost every regard. In a nation that highly values education, the event was exciting and meaningful. It was held at Lusaka Baptist Church which has been a long-time fixture of the Baptist (and/or Reformed Baptist) church in Zambia and one directly or indirectly responsible for much of the church planting in that country. I had met its pastor, Ronald Kalifungwa in Mozambique last summer where he was a keynote speaker at the Fiel Conference in Nampula. A few friends were traveling through Africa on business and had decided to link itineraries for a few days, so it was a blessing to have them join me later in the day and to stick with me until Tuesday. The day concluded with a formal dinner hosted by the university’s chancellor.

 

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Happening right now! Tim Challies, renowned pastor, author and speaker, addresses the graduating class and the audience. #ACU #ScholarsProgramme #TimChallies #GraduationDay

A post shared by ACU (@african_christian_university) on Nov 30, 2019 at 5:33am PST

My Sunday began with preaching at Kabwata Baptist Church where Conrad Mbewe has pastored for many years. Though the congregation worships in English, they also sang a few songs in the local vernacular, Bemba. While I was not capable of singing along with these songs (either linguistically or stylistically) it was beautiful to hear their voices joined in praise to God in that distinctly African style. I preached on Revelation 4-5 and felt like it was received well.

After enjoying lunch with one of the professors and his family, we headed to Emmasdale Baptist Church so I could preach the evening service there (using the same sermon). Pastor Isaac Makashinyi was trained at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi before returning to Lusaka to pastor. Their church has recently sent out its first plant. Once again, the service was in English but some of the songs were in Bemba. By this point what had struck me was the ability of the Zambian pastors and elders to pray. Time and again I heard lengthy, powerful, meaty prayers that were delivered extemporaneously and served as a great encouragement to me and to those traveling with me.

 

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Mwape does yard work (like cutting grass as he is doing here) but aspires to be a mechanic when he can save enough to go to school.

A post shared by Tim Challies (@challies) on Dec 4, 2019 at 12:23pm PST

On Monday we were up early to get the 6:30 AM flight to the city of Ndola in northern Zambia, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Phil Hunt, whom I had met on my last trip to the area, was there to pick us up and to drive us to the nearby city of Kitwe which has become a key city in Zambia’s Copperbelt region. After spending forty minutes or so on good roads, we found ourselves driving across the roughest roads I have ever encountered—the kind people in Canada pay money to drive over in their off-road vehicles! Despite bottoming out a number of times and losing the spare tire, we eventually rolled into Faith Children’s Village, a ministry to orphans founded by one of the local Baptist churches.

 

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She wanted to have her picture taken, but got shy when I raised the camera. She told me her great joys in life are playing soccer and reading Boxcar Children.

A post shared by Tim Challies (@challies) on Dec 4, 2019 at 12:27pm PST

Faith Children’s Village, which I had visited the year prior during my EPIC round-the-world journey, is a special place. It currently houses nearly 70 orphans and is eager to take in more as funding becomes available. (Perhaps you could consider sponsoring.) In a village setting that approximates the culture around, children are loved, raised, educated, trained vocationally, and taught the gospel. It was a blessing to hear several of them testify to their commitment to Christ and their appreciation for the ministry that rescued many of them from poverty while giving them a place to belong and thrive. We saw the homes that shelter them, the school that teaches them, the fields that sustain them, and the church that nourishes them. In fact, the nearby church, which worships entirely in Bemba and focuses on expository preaching, has grown to such a degree that it has both planted a new congregation and pushed out its walls to allow for more seating. Pastor Edward is a man who loves the Lord and cares for his flock.

 

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Pastor Edward Mwanisa has faithfully pastored Faith Baptist Church Kakalo; the congregation is now planting new churches and pushing out the walls of their own to make room for more people.

A post shared by Tim Challies (@challies) on Dec 9, 2019 at 2:05am PST

By late afternoon we arrived at Central Africa Baptist College and Seminary which was hosting its annual leadership conference. Over 500 pastors and ministry leaders were registered to attend and I quickly met representatives from Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and, of course, Zambia. Word leaked out that this was my forty-third birthday, so I was pulled to the front of the room to suffer being the center of attention for a rendition of “Happy Birthday.” CABC was founded by Phil Hunt who, at the time, was a missionary pastor in Kitwe. Seeing the need, he founded the school to provide programs in education and theology. As of today it has 105 graduates, 104 of whom are involved in some kind of ministry work. Its faculty, administration, and leadership are a blend of locals and Americans, while its alumni include men and women from a long and growing list of African nations.

I carried a substantial teaching load at the conference, speaking a number of times while also participating in daily Q&A sessions and meeting with many of the attendees. The other speakers included Zambian pastors Conrad Mbewe, Chopo Mwanza, Henry Mukonda, Choolwe Mweetwa, and Simon Banda. From America, Justin Peters taught a number of lengthy sessions while Sam Horn taught an intensive course on 1 Peter for the preachers in attendance. The focus of the event was the dangers of false teaching—an issue that is extremely prominent in central Africa. While many of those false teachings migrate from the West, they tend to take on distinctly local flavors. In that way Justin and I were able to address the big picture while some of the pointed application needed to be handled by brothers more familiar with the culture. So, for example, Pastor Mbewe led a lengthy session on “The Nonsense of Spiritual Husbands and Wives.” I spoke on Christian character, how to identify false teachers, how to know and do the will of God, every Christian’s responsibility to minister the Word to one another, and so on. Also, at the request of the college, I led a session on “Why the Global Church Needs African Writers,” hoping to persuade some of the brothers and sisters there to take up the task of writing, whether for blogs or the college’s theological journal or something in between.

 

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Pia was placed in a Christian orphanage at age 8 and came to faith through the church in town. She has finished high school and now wants to study business at university.

A post shared by Tim Challies (@challies) on Dec 4, 2019 at 10:17pm PST

I finished up my obligations on Thursday evening and began my homeward journey early Friday morning. While on a layover in Johannesburg I met briefly with a young couple who is about to immigrate to Canada, attempting to answer some of their questions while getting them caught up with the Canadian context—like explaining that if you arrive in late January, you’re definitely going to need a really good winter coat waiting for you! I finally arrived back in Toronto on Saturday afternoon (having passed through Johannesburg and Frankfurt where I made an “impossible” connection by running for 20 minutes from terminal-to-terminal).

I returned home encouraged. If I may be so bold as to speak broadly, there are few nations whose people I’ve enjoyed as much as Zambians—this being my second time visiting the country. I’ve been blessed to experience their hospitality and, even more so, to see the depth and the breadth of the Reformed Baptist churches there. I hope to have reason to return before long. I was able to bring a cameraman with me on this journey and expect to share some videos with you in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I’m back at my desk and back to writing…

 

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Little Bernard with the big, bright eyes was taken in and given a chance at life by Faith Children’s Village.

A post shared by Tim Challies (@challies) on Dec 7, 2019 at 12:59am PST

Yesterday morning my father sent a quick email to ask if he could call me later that evening—he wanted to hear about my experiences in Africa, I’m sure. Yesterday afternoon my sister made a tearful phone call to say that she had found him unconscious and unresponsive. There was nothing she or the paramedics could do—he had very suddenly and unexpectedly gone to be with the Lord.

This has come as a terrible shock to the entire family—my mother, the five kids and their spouses, and the sixteen grandkids. There was no warning and no preparation—just the sudden, jarring news that he is gone.

We take comfort—the truest, deepest kind of comfort—in knowing that he is with the Savior he met so long ago and faithfully followed for so many years. We miss him already, but know the grief of parting will soon enough be replaced by the joy of reunion. I am on my way down to the Chattanooga area to spend time with my family and would, of course, appreciate your prayers in this time.

(For those who knew him, please stay tuned or get in touch with a family member to learn about funeral arrangements.)

Thanks to all who sent along condolences yesterday. Though I read each and everyone, there were far too many for me to reply to each one. But do know how blessed and encouraged we are by the outpouring of love.

Today’s Kindle deals include a bit of this and that.

(Yesterday on the blog: Trip Report: A Journey to Zambia)

10 Reasons Your Sermons Shouldn’t be Too Short or Too Long

As usual, there is peril on both sides. Jared Wilson says, “I agree with the dictum that the best sermons can’t be too long and the worst sermons can’t be too short. But all things being equal, I do think there’s such a thing as a sermon that’s too long and a sermon that’s too short. Here I answer five reasons for each error…”

Video Games and Online Chats Are ‘Hunting Grounds’ for Sexual Predators

Parents, be warned and be aware: “Sexual predators have found an easy access point into the lives of young people: They are meeting them online through multiplayer video games and chat apps, making virtual connections right in their victims’ homes.”

There Will Most Assuredly Come A Morning

“Through tears and a shaky voice, I offered the words God gave me as best I could. Moments later, I watched parents bury their earthly dreams for their boy. The dirt piled on. They said their goodbyes. But how does a parent bid goodbye to their three-year-old son? How do they go on, parenting their other two boys when the one missing pulls their heart underground with them?”

Can the Cosmic Crisp Apple Live up to Huge Expectations?

I love apples and have been looking forward to digging my teeth into one of these. This article makes them sound a little disappointing, but I would like to be the judge of that.

My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2019

Collin Hansen has put together his annual roundup of top theology stories.

Physical Interventions on the Bodies of Children to “Affirm” their “Gender Identity” Violate Sound Medical Ethics and Should be Prohibited

Ryan T. Anderson and Robert P. George have teamed up on an article. “Rather than teaching children to identify based on how well they fit prevailing cultural expectations on sex, we should be teaching them that the truth of their sexual identity is based on their bodies, and that sometimes cultural associations attached to the sexes are misguided or simply too narrow. There is a wonderfully rich array of ways of expressing one’s embodiment as male or female.”

Why Did God Allow Polygamy in the Bible? (Video)

Dr. Peter Gentry answers in Honest Answers from Southern Seminary.

Flashback: The Tragic Prevalence of Sexual Assault

Research has proven that the only social reactions related to better adjustment by victims are being believed and being listened to by others.

Flashback: Believing the Worst of Those Who Love Me Most

In a moment I can throw out all those years of love and sacrifice and assume that she is now opposed to me, looking out for her interests instead of mine, interested in harming me rather than helping me.

There is a God we want and a God who is, and the two are not the same. —Ligon Duncan

Today’s Kindle deals include at least a few books that are worth a peek.

The deals at Westminster Books this week are on theological works.

Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning

The latest issue of the 9Marks Journal is all about complementarianism. I’ve only read bits and pieces so far, but have already found it very interesting and informative.

Church Unearthed in Ethiopia Rewrites the History of Christianity in Africa

Smithsonian reports on an interesting find. “In the dusty highlands of northern Ethiopia, a team of archaeologists recently uncovered the oldest known Christian church in sub-Saharan Africa, a find that sheds new light on one of the Old World’s most enigmatic kingdoms—and its surprisingly early conversion to Christianity.”

Three Things to Remember When Giving Comfort to Grieving People

Randy Alcorn offers wisdom here. “Here are three things to remember when we’re called upon to comfort those who are grieving, especially during this holiday season…”

What Shattered My Mother’s Mind

I found this longform article fascinating. (Note: There is one bad word in dialog.) “The root of this conspiracy is a syndrome as old as medicine. It is a condition an alarming number of health providers, psychiatrists and others who can both inflict and treat it know too little about. That condition is called post-operative delirium, and it afflicts as many as half of elderly patients who undergo surgery…”

A New Way of Seeing Theological Triage

You may well be familiar with Al Mohler’s concept of “theological triage.” This article praises the model but also offers a slightly different way of picturing it.

The Complicated, Problematic Influence of TripAdvisor Restaurant Reviews

This article explains why TripAdvisor reviews should not be understood as definitive when it comes to finding the best restaurants.

Get on the Right Side of History or Die: An Open Challenge to Christian Higher Education

If you thought that sounds like an article by Dr. Mohler, you’d be exactly right. “A school that surrenders its commitment to historic biblical Christianity on the issues of sexual morality, gender, and identity, will eventually surrender the gospel and its very existence. Accepting the terms of the sexual revolution will lead to a slow death for any Christian institution.”

Flashback: 5 Most Ridiculous Books to Ever Become Christian Bestsellers

Just because it’s published by a Christian publisher, just because it’s sold in a Christian book store, that does not mean that it’s good or that it’s reliable or that it’s consistent with scripture.

Many of our problems happen not only because we do the wrong things, but also because we believe the wrong things. Behind many seemingly practical problems are theological problems. —David Murray

It seems to be a bit of a slow day for Kindle deals with only a couple added. I’ll continue to look and see what else I can find.

I know many friends of my family read this blog and are wondering about funeral arrangements for my father. The service will be held on Wednesday morning at Grace Presbyterian Church in Dalton, GA. If you need more information, feel free to get in touch with any of us.

(Anti)Virtue-Signaling

There’s lots to think about here for both pastors and writers. “When it comes to ethics, it is virtually impossible to commend something without sounding like you’re complementing yourself for your commendation.  For example, to praise a speech you’ve just heard as brilliant is to quietly proclaim your own smarts for so quickly recognizing its quality. We can even sound self-congratulatory in our condemnations.  In fact, it’s especially when we’re decrying something dishonorable that we sound like we’re ‘virtue-signaling.'”

How Are Men and Women Different?

Kevin DeYoung list five ways men and women are different according to God’s good design. It sounds so simple, yet this is an age of real confusion.

Chicken Sandwich Charity

“The Chick-fil-A Foundation’s announcement of its shift in giving priorities ruffled many feathers in the evangelical world, but a review of tax documents suggests the chicken restaurant still gives the vast majority of its charitable dollars to Christian ministries. ”

Jesus, Strong and Kind (Video)

I really like this new song from CityAlight. It’s suitable for both kids and adults.

Are We Meant to Enjoy Our Work?

Jim Hamilton: “The good life, then, entails hard work done to provide for others, dependents, whose growth and fruitfulness are evidence of God’s favor and blessing. Prosperity here includes godliness, responsibility, stewardship, and awareness of God, prompting fear and obedience and virtue.”

Do You Need Friends?

This is a good one. “At least make five close friends in your life. Right now you are in your 20s and 30s, but make at least five friends in ministry whom, 30 years from now, you can meet and say dispensing formalities, ‘Yo, how you doing?’, or whom you can shamelessly and honestly speak about ministry issues, or whom you can call for help in cases of emergency. If you do, you can live a life in ministry without loneliness.”

What Caused This Great Warship to Sink?

“The story of the Vasa’s quick sinking has gone down as one of the most colossal failures and greatest mysteries in naval architectural history. After a strong gust of wind, the ship leaned to the side and began to take on water through open cannon ports. It sank in full view of a crowd gathered to celebrate the ship’s first voyage, publicly cementing the Vasa as a national catastrophe. After the abrupt sinking, an inquest determined that the ship was unstable; the reasons behind the instability, though, are still being debated today. Some historians believe that the ship was designed incorrectly; others reason that the weight of the ship’s extensive firepower was improperly distributed.”

Flashback: When God Goes Big And I Go Small

God gives us his commands but also gives us wisdom to apply them in all the intricacies of life—especially life in a messy, sin-stained world.

Aimless, unproductive Christians contradict the creative, purposeful, powerful, merciful God we love. —John Piper

For the past couple of weeks my RSS feeder has been humming with list after list of the best books of 2019 (or, if not the best, the favorite books of 2019). It seems that just about every avid reader I follow is eager to share his or her picks for the year that was. I love these lists and decided I’d compile them to look for patterns and repeats. Here, then, are the collected best Christian books of 2019. Each one of these is from a blog or web site I read regularly.

We will begin with the titles that found their way onto at least 3 best-0f lists:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin (5 lists)
• Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson (4 lists)
• 7 Myths about Singleness by Sam Alberry (3 lists)
• His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God Edited by Kristie Anyabwile (3 lists)
• Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Carl Newport (3 lists)
• Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing by Robert Caro (3 lists)
• On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts by James K.A. Smith (3 lists)

This year there was little overlap with the best-of lists, so I thought I would also give mention to some books that ended up onto 2 best-of lists:

• Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith by Michael Reeves
• Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell

If you are looking for something to read or something to buy for a gift, you probably can’t go wrong with any of them!

And now here are each of lists of the best Christian books of 2019. You can visit the sites to read the rationales or to purchase the books. Alternatively, I’ve supplied links to Amazon. Please note that I am simply listing these books without endorsing them. In the majority of cases I have not read them!

Erik Raymond (read his reviews here)

• Budgeting for a Healthy Church by Jamie Dunlop
• Reformed Preaching by Joel Beeke
• 7 Myths about Singleness by Sam Alberry
• Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
• Cotton Mather: The First American Evangelical by Rick Kennedy
• Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope by Matthew McCullough
• The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice by Todd Henry
• Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith by Michael Reeves
• Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification by Sinclair Ferguson

Christianity Today (read their reviews here)

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin
• Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World by Paul M. Gould
• Christobiography: Memory, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels by Craig Keener
• Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes: Honor and Shame in Paul’s Message and Mission by Jackson W.
• Far From Home: A Story of Loss, Refuge, and Hope by Sarah Parker Rubio
• Jesus and the Lions’ Den: A True Story about How Daniel Points Us to Jesus by Alison Mitchell
• The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel Earley
• We Too: How the Church can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis by Mary DeMuth
• Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison
• The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart by Harold Senkbeil
• What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth About Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael Denhollander
• His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God Edited by Kristie Anyabwile
• Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality by Andrew Le Peau
• Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson

For The Church (read their reviews here)

• Reenchanting Humanity: A Theology of Mankind by Owen Strachan
• Gatsby’s Oxford: Scott, Zelda, and the Jazz Age Invasion of Britain: 1904-1929 by Christopher A. Snyder
• On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts by James K.A. Smith
• His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God Edited by Kristie Anyabwile
• Who Is an Evangelical?: The History of a Movement in Crisis by Thomas S. Kidd
• Hearers and Doers: A Pastor’s Guide to Making Disciples Through Scripture and Doctrine by Kevin Vanhoozer
• None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God by Matthew Barrett
• Theoretical and Practical Theology: Faith in the Triune God vol. 2 by Petrus Van Mastricht
• The Feasts of Repentance: From Luke-Acts to Systematic and Pastoral Theology by Michael J. Ovey

Growing in Grace (read his reviews here)

• The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
• Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
• Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
• Romans commentary (14 Volumes) by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter by Thomas R. Schreiner
• The Unsaved Christian by Dean Inserra
• Mere Calvinism by Jim Scott Orrick
• Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung

Gospel Relevance (read his reviews here)

• Why I Am Not an Arminian by Robert A. Peterson and Michael D. Williams
• Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons by Thabiti Anyabwile
• Don’t Just Send a Resume: How to Find the Right Job in a Local Church by Benjamin Vrbicek
•  New Bible Commentary edited by Gordon Wenham, D.A. Carson, and others
• 15 Things Seminary Couldn’t Teach Me edited by Collin Hansen and Jeff Robinson Sr.
• Help for the New Pastor: Practical Advice for Your First Year of Ministry by Charles Wingard
• On Pastoring: A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor by H. B. Charles Jr.
• Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller
• 21 Servants of Sovereign Joy  by John Piper
• The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians by D. A. Carson

The Good Book (read their reviews here)

• The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich
• Settle My Soul – 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus by Karen Ehman & Ruth Schwenk
• The Gospel Comes With a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
• Paul: A Biography by Tom Wright
• Get Her Off The Pitch! by Lynne Truss
• The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
• Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
• Joy In The Sorrow by Matt Chandler
• Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St John
• The Coddling of The American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff

Kevin DeYoung (read his reviews here)

• Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom by  Robert Louis Wilken
• Making Evangelical History: Faith, Scholarship and the Evangelical Past by Andrew Atherstone and David Ceri Jones
• The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race, and Identity by Douglas Murray
• Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Carl Newport
• Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing by Robert Caro
• A Big Gospel in Small Places: Why Ministry in Forgotten Communities Matter  by Stephen Witmer
• No Is a Beautiful Word: Hope and Help for the Overcommitted and (Occasionally) Exhausted by Kevin G. Harney
• Disestablishment and Religious Dissent: Church-State Relations in the New American States 1776-1833 by Carl H. Esbeck
• Systematic Theology by Robert Letham
• God’s Salesman: Norman Vincent Peale and the Power of Positive Thinking by Carol V. R. George

Jared Wilson (read his reviews here)

• Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O’Neill with Dan Piepenbring
• Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope by Matthew McCullough
• The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart by Harold L. Senkbeil
• Who is an Evangelical?: The History of a Movement in Crisis by Thomas S. Kidd
• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
• J.I. Packer: An Evangelical Life by Leland Ryken
• Virgil Wander by Leif Enger
• Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition: Recovering the Genius of Premodern Exegesis by Craig A. Carter
• Sketches of the Life and Character of Lemuel Haynes by Timothy Mather Cooley
• On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts by James K.A. Smith

Trevin Wax (read his reviews here)

• Pensees by Blaise Pascal
• Christianity for Modern Pagans by Peter Kreeft
• Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing by Robert Caro
• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin
• Victoria the Queen by Julia Baird
• Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility by George Yancey
• Pagans and Christians in the City by Steven D. Smith
• Merchants of Truth: The Business for News and the Fight for Facts by Jill Abramson
• Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
• Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell
• Dominion: How The Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland

Russell Moore (read his reviews here)

• What I Stand On: The Collected Essays of Wendell Berry, 1969-2017 by Wendell Berry
• Reading Buechner: Exploring the Work of a Master Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and Preacher by Jeffrey Munroe
• Balm in Gilead: A Theological Dialogue with Marilynne Robinson by Timothy Larsen and Keith L. Johnson, eds.
• Biloxi: A Novel by Mary Miller
• Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
• Fyodor Dostoevsky, Walker Percy, and the Age of Suicide by John F. Desmond
• Who Is An Evangelical?: The History of a Movement in Crisis by Thomas S. Kidd
• Can We Trust the Gospels? by Peter J. Williams
• The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley
• How to Disappear: Notes on Invisibility in a Time of Transparency by Akiko Busch
• Country Music: An Illustrated History by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
• Doomsday Clock by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank

The Gospel Coalition 2019 Book Awards (read their reviews here)

• Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America by Luke Goodrich
• The Cross Before Me: Reimagining the Way to the Good Life by Rankin Wilbourne and Brian Gregor
• ‘He Descended to the Dead’: An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday by Matthew Y. Emerson
• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin
• Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
• The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart by Harold Senkbeil
• A Big Gospel in Small Places: Why Ministry in Forgotten Communities Matter  by Stephen Witmer
• Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future by Gavin Ortlund
• Sophie and the Heidelberg Cat by Andrew Wilson and Helena Perez Garcia (illustrator)
• Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-of-Life Medical Care by Kathryn Butler
• Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson
• His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God Edited by Kristie Anyabwile

TGC Editorial Staff (read their reviews here)

• The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm by Lewis Dartnell
• The Ten Commandments: What They Mean, Why They Matter, and Why We Should Obey Them by Kevin DeYoung
• The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups by Leonard Sax
• Reforming Apologetics by J. V. Fesko
• Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible by Mark Ward
• The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities by Kate Bowler
• The Golden Tresses of the Dead: A Flavia DeLuce Novel by Alan Bradley
• A Fortunate Man by Henrik Pontoppidan
• Stalingrad by Vasily Grossman
• The Cross Before Me: Reimagining the Way to the Good Life by Rankin Wilbourne and Brian Gregor
• 7 Myths about Singleness by Sam Alberry
• The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
• ‘Fundamentalism’ and the Word of God  by J. I. Packer
• Reappearing Church: The Hope for Renewal in the Rise of Our Post-Christian Culture by Mark Sayers
• Love Thy Body: Answering  Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality by Nancy Pearcey
• A House for My Name by Peter Leithart
• Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing by Robert Caro
• The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
• The Streak: Lou Gehrig, Cal Ripken Jr., and Baseball’s Most Historic Record by John Eisenberg
• The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World by A. J. Blaime
• Evidence Not Seen: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose
• Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
• Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II by Robert Kursow
• Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America by Luke Goodrich
• The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves by Matt Ridley

Andrew Wilson (read his reviews here)

• The Road to Somewhere: The New Tribes Shaping British Politics by David Goodhart
• The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—And Why by Amanda Ripley
• The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
• 7 Myths about Singleness by Sam Alberry
• Matthew by Frederick Dale Bruner
• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin
• After Tamerlane: The Rise & Fall of Global Empires, 1400-2000 by John Darwin
• Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind by Tom Holland
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
• The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company by William Dalrymple

Darryl Dash (read his reviews here)

• On the Road with Saint Augustine by James Smith
• Surprised by Paradox by Jen Pollock Michel
• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin
• Change Maker by John Berardi
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
• Your Future Self Will Thank You by Drew Dyck
• The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley
• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
• Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell
• Space at the Table by Brad Harper
• The Personality Brokers by Merve Emre

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Heritage Books. They have 5 packages to give away, which means 5 winners will each receive the following titles:

Follow Me: Bible Stories for Young Children

Follow Me is an illustrated book of Bible stories for young children. These stories tell the eternal message of the Bible, highlighting the scarlet thread of God’s redemptive history. In the Old Testament, we are pointed to the Lord Jesus as we see how much we need Him and how God promised to save the world through Him. In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus came to earth and increasingly manifested His kingdom by His words and deeds—a kingdom that will never end.

“Precisely what many parents are looking for. This will become the favorite Bible storybook for many children and in many families.”

—Joel R. Beeke

Puritan: All of Life to the Glory of God (Deluxe Edition)

Joyless. Severe. Fanatical. “Haunted by the fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” That’s the Puritan reputation. But to what extent is that reputation deserved? Drawing on the latest research, and featuring interviews with some of the most celebrated scholars in the field, this beautiful and atmospheric new documentary takes us from the birth of Puritanism all the way through to its influence in the present day.

Feature documentary, thirty-five video lessons, an introductory book, a workbook, and much more.

“The Puritans, as a body, have done more to elevate the national character than any class of Englishmen that ever lived. Ardent lovers of civil liberty, and ready to die in its defense—mighty at the council board, and no less mighty in the battlefield—feared abroad throughout Europe, and invincible at home while united—great with their pens, and no less great with their swords—fearing God very much, and fearing men very little—they were a generation of men who have never received from their country the honor that they deserve.”
–J.C. Ryle (introduction to Thomas Manton’s Works, 2:xi)

“I do think the film would be great for a family to have in their library, but it’s a necessity for every church to have it in their library as well.”

—Josh Buice

Laughing at the Days to Come: Facing Present Trials and Future Uncertainties with Gospel Hope

In Laughing at the Days to Come, Tessa Thompson shares a poignant story of physical suffering and her journey to not only understand God’s hand at work in it but to face the future with laughter. This book is gospel centered and hope-filled. Page after page, the author directs our focus to Christ and his work for us. We all face suffering in this fallen world, but we are not without hope. In Laughing at the Days to Come, readers are equipped to face their own stories of suffering with joy because of our present and future hope in Christ.

Tessa Thompson was fifteen years old when she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease that took away her hearing and would eventually cause chronic pain and other health complications. Faced with a future of uncertainty, she encountered Proverbs: 31:25: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” The godly woman of Proverbs 31 had something Tessa lacked- a vision for life that allowed her to laugh at the future. Tessa recognized she needed this laughter in order to endure lifelong suffering in a way that honored God. In this warmly personal account, Tessa insightfully considers what she calls the Christian’s “peculiar perspective on suffering” and shows you how the hope of God’s Word will enable you to laugh at the days to come even in the midst of tears and suffering.

“A remarkable book by a remarkable woman with a remarkable God.”

—David Murray

The Christian’s True Identity: What it Means to Be in Christ

With its identity politics, numerous gender identity options, “selfies,” and “you-do-you” mentality, society emphasizes individualism, but it seems like people are having a harder time than ever figuring out who they are. The problem is, they are looking for their identity in the wrong places. Are you seeking your identity in relationships, a career, family, race, gender expression, or other circumstances—and feeling dissatisfied? Then this book is for you. Author Jonathan Landry Cruse offers a fresh, sometimes witty, truly radical, freeing answer to the important question of who you are and helps you understand what the Bible has to say about everything you need for a lasting, fulfilling identity that is found outside of you and in Christ.

“When you forget who you are in Christ, you quit seeking and celebrating what belongs to you in Christ. This book is a welcome cure for the identity amnesia that wreaks havoc on the lives of many Christians and weakens the mission of the church. Read it carefully and then go live its message with hope, courage, and joy.”

—Paul Tripp

B.B. Warfield (Christian Biographies for Young Readers

B. B. Warfield lived at a time when many people—even those who considered themselves Christians—were questioning the authority of God’s Word. For centuries most people in Europe and North America had taken for granted that the Bible was the word of God, but in Warfield’s lifetime, they were wondering whether it could still be trusted. Warfield was confident that the Bible could be trusted, and as a professor of theology at Princeton Seminary, he devoted his life to teaching and writing about its authority and other important issues of theology. In this biography, Simonetta Carr introduces children to one of America’s greatest Reformed theologians whose timeless writings address challenges to the truths of God’s Word today.

“Warfield was a champion of the faith whose legacy deserves to be kept alive. I am grateful that at last, thanks to Simonetta Carr, our children will become acquainted with him also!”

—Fred G. Zaspel

Enter Here

Again, there are five packages to win. And all you need to do to enter the draw is to drop your name and email address in the form below.

Giveaway Rules: You may enter one time. As soon as the winners have been chosen, all names and addresses will be immediately and permanently erased. Winners will be notified by email. The giveaway closes Saturday at noon. If you are viewing this through email, click to visit my site and enter there.

Today’s Kindle deals include two classics as well as one newer work that, though I’ve not read it, is said to be excellent.

Why Was Baby Jesus Laid in a Manger?

“This time of year, the words roll right off the tongue. And every child’s first question is: What is a manger? When the teacher explains that it is a feeding trough for animals, the astute youth then wonders: Why was the baby laid there?” The question is well worth asking.

Ten Ways Materialism Brings Us to Ruin

“Materialism begins with our beliefs. Not merely what we say we believe—not our doctrinal statement—but the philosophy of life by which we actually live. So even though true Christians would deny belief in the philosophical underpinnings of materialism (they couldn’t be Christians if they didn’t), they may nonetheless be preoccupied with material things. Materialism is first and foremost a matter of the heart.”

The Moral Universe of Timothy Keller

Here’s a long and interesting article on Tim Keller from The Atlantic.

Carving Out a Niche for Micro-Congregations

This just seems like such a bad idea. Isn’t the point of church that it draws together people who are different, thus proving the power of the gospel in giving unity?

What Facial Recognition Steals From Us (Video)

“There’s a massive bait-and-switch at the center of facial recognition technology.” There is, indeed. And we need to be awfully careful about what we’re wading into here.

An Embarrassment of Love

This is a beautiful tribute to the love of a husband for his wife.

A Global Look at Complementarianism

“Complementarianism is currently a hot issue in North American evangelicalism. North American culture is strongly egalitarian, and cultural pressure affects our theology whether we want to admit it or not. This cultural influence cuts both ways. Some of what passes for complementarian thinking owes more to American cultural conservatism than it does to the biblical theology of men and women. Similarly, some narrower expressions of complementarianism—as well as outright egalitarianism—may owe more to our secular culture’s current conversations. Be that as it may, complementarianism remains a significant feature of much of American evangelical life.”

What Are the Most Popular Bible Verses in 2019?

“In 2019, Bible readers were looking for reminders not to worry and comfort from traditional places.”

Flashback: Moroni From the Realms of Glory

You’ve got to be careful what you share online. What looks good at a glance may harbor some deep concerns.

A rightly oriented Christianity causes us to care not only about ourselves and our families but also about our communities, cities, and society generally. —Matt Perman

A recent book titled Piercing Heaven shares favorite prayers from the Puritans. Many of them are amazing prayers. As an example, here is Joseph Alleine praying for the salvation of the lost.

***

O Lord, how insufficient I am for this work. With what will I pierce the scales of Leviathan—or make my heart, hard as a millstone, feel what you desire it to feel?

Will I go and speak to the grave, and expect the dead to obey me and come forth?

Will I make a speech to the rocks, or lecture the mountains, and move them with arguments?

Will I make the blind see?

From the beginning of the world no one has ever heard of opening the eyes of a person born blind. But, Lord, you can pierce the heart of the sinner.

I can draw the bow at random, but you direct the arrow between the cracks of the armor.

I come in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.  I come forth, like David against Goliath, to wrestle, not with flesh and blood, but with rulers and cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil of this world.

This day let the Lord defeat the Philistines, take away the armor from the strong man, and give me the captives out of his hand.

Lord, choose my words. Choose my weapons for me. And when I put my hand into the bag, and take out a stone and sling it, and carry it to the mark, make it sink—not into the forehead, but into the heart of the unconverted sinner.

Take him to the ground like Saul of Tarsus.

Lord God, help! How can I leave them this way? If they will not hear me, still I pray that you will hear me. I pray that they might live in your sight! Lord, save them, or they will perish.

My heart would melt to see their houses on fire when they were fast asleep in their beds. So is my soul moved within me to see them endlessly lost?

Lord, have compassion, and save them out of the burning.  Put forth your divine power, and the work will be done.

Slay the sin, and save the soul of the sinner. Amen.

Today’s Kindle deals include, among other things, a long list of issues of Matthias Media’s excellent The Briefing magazine.

Logos users will probably want to check out the annual 12 Days of Logos and other Christmas deals.

(Yesterday on the blog: God Alone Can Save: A Prayer)

Every Pastor Needs a Lula Mae Pryor: A Eulogy

What a sweet eulogy! “Lula Mae was one of the few people I’ve known who never seemed like she wished she had a life other than the one she had. She spent decades as the staff person who cleaned the church. She loved it! That is not an embellished assertion. She actually loved it and felt honored to do it. For thirty-one years it was her ministry.”

He Made Them Male and Female

“Although the modern West has lost its boundaries and celebrates a plethora of so-called gender options, how should Christians understand and critique today’s concepts of gender in light of Scripture? We begin with understanding, and not conflating, four categories: sex, gender, norms, and callings.” Christopher Yuan is always worth reading.

Double Giveaway: Puritan Paperbacks & Martyn Lloyd-Jones Romans Set (SPONSORED LINK)

Description: AccelerateBooks is hosting another giveaway. This time they’re giving away both the Puritan Paperbacks and Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ Romans set to one winner. It ends Jan. 1st, so don’t miss this!

You’re Not a Healthy Church Unless You Care About Titus 2

“If you don’t care about equipping women to teach other women you’re not a healthy church. Many recent conversations about women in the local church focus on matters of representation or the need for more prominent female voices in the church’s life. Those are important matters. But the main reason your church should care about women discipling women is because God cares about it: it’s in the Bible.”

Where Christmas Trees Come From

Where do all those Christmas trees come from? “Before the 1930s, Christmas trees typically were cut down on an individual’s property or out in the wild. Now, tree farms in all 50 states (yes, Hawaii too) are where most Christmas trees come from, accounting for 98 percent of live Christmas trees brought into homes.”

4 Reasons Christians Should Support Banning Pornography

Joe Carter: “While we may express concern about the nefarious effect of porn our actions reveal what we truly believe. Here are four reasons we Christians should once again seek to rid our country from the poison of pornography.”

1 Simple Step to Encouragement

“I was thinking of writing the next how to book for church.  I know there is a useful little course out called six steps to encouragement, though the fact we need a course on this suggests to me that there is something wrong with our discipling and our church culture that we have to teach this and its not simply absorbed through the church culture, but I have a better idea.  It’s much simpler, much more streamlined, but I’m not sure you can call it a course, or turn it into a course – it’s called one step to encouragement.”

Flashback: The Visionary Worrywart

Worriers live in the future, and they see that future in minute, gory detail. I cannot say it better than Welch: “Worriers are visionaries minus the optimism.”

I maintain that people—truly born-again, genuinely Christian people—often do not pray simply because they do not feel like it. And the reason they don’t feel like praying is that when they do pray, they tend to say the same old things about the same old things. —Donald Whitney

Faith Children’s Village in Kitwe, Zambia, exists to lead children into a relationship with Jesus Christ and disciple them to be Christ-like in actions and attitudes and to equip each child with life skills that will allow them to become productive Christian citizens. I have visited this amazing little ministry a couple of times and, most recently, prepared a video to show what it is all about. You can learn more about Faith Children’s Village by visiting faithinzambia.com.

(Can’t see the video? Watch it here.)

The little country of Zambia, nestled in the heart of Africa has one of the highest number of orphaned children of any country in the world. It is estimated that 27% of all children in Zambia have lost their mother, father or both parents. It is estimated by some that in the urban areas three-quarters of families are already caring for at least one orphaned child. The number of orphaned children who live on the streets in Zambia has increased 250% in the past ten years. The crisis, brought on by HIV/AIDS, exists in a country that is not capable of addressing the problem. In 2002 God provided 13 acres of land in a rural farm setting just 18 miles outside of Kitwe, Zambia. Property was cleared, roads graded and housing plots marked out. In May 2003 construction began and in September of 2004 Faith Children’s Village was officially opened. Learn more at faithinzambia.com.

I spent a long time looking for Kindle deals and came up with just a handful of them.

You may be interested in knowing that Amazon has family board games on sale today. Clue is one of our family favorites.

(Yesterday on the blog: Faith Children’s Village: A Ministry You Should Know)

How Do I Battle Subtle Temptations to Lust?

John Piper offers some really helpful and honest advice here. “I’d like to point to five passages of Scripture. Each of them addresses, I think, an aspect of the battle for purity, even in regard to a wife’s women’s magazines. I know exactly what he’s talking about. I could name them. I dumped three of them in the garbage yesterday.”

Who are the 144,000 in Revelation? (Video)

Tom Schreiner takes on a tough question we’ve all asked at one time or another.

Some Common Evangelical Problems about the Bible

Writing for TGC Canada, George Sinclair brings clarity to some common problems.

Think You Know the Christmas Story? Here are Five Common Misconceptions

Michael Kruger: “It might be useful, then, to reflect on a few common misconceptions about the Christmas story. The best way to validate the Christmas story to the Ebeneezer Scrooge’s out there is to make sure we’ve got it right ourselves. Here are five of them.”

Did King Saul Really Talk to the Spirit of Samuel, Or Was it a Demonic Impersonation?

“King Saul’s meeting with the witch of En-dor was absolutely forbidden by God. But what exactly took place there? From one of our Ask R.C. events, R.C. Sproul explores what we can and cannot know from the account in 1 Samuel 28.”

2020 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens is Here!

If you’re trying to get your kids interested in reading more, you may want to look into this reading challenge.

What Makes Delhi’s Air So Deadly

I’ve been in Delhi during the extra-smoggy time of the year. It was not pleasant! Here’s why it gets so bad.

Flashback: George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, You, and Me

At some point you may well be faced with the opportunity to go rooting through another person’s emails after they have been hacked and made public. So let me ask: Will you read those emails?

If nothing else will do to sever me from my sins, Lord, send me such sore and trying calamities as shall awake me from earthly slumbers. It must always be best to be alive to Thee, whatever be the quickening instrument. —Robert Murray McCheyne

Today’s Kindle deals include just a couple of books.

Interrelated Revelation

Here’s a good explanation of how special revelation and natural revelation relate to one another.

Occupation Growth and Decline

This chart shows which occupations have grown and which have declined over the decades.

Double Giveaway: Puritan Paperbacks & Martyn Lloyd-Jones Romans Set (SPONSORED LINK)

Description: AccelerateBooks is hosting another giveaway. This time they’re giving away both the Puritan Paperbacks and Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ Romans set to one winner. It ends Jan. 1st, so don’t miss this!

Documents reveal Health Canada’s plan — and failure — to give Jack and Jill STIs on social media

What fascinates (and frustrates) me here is how many bureaucrats it takes to put together one ridiculous, immoral poem, and how they can still get it so wrong. This explains why our taxes are the way they are.

That Might Preach, But…

It might preach, but you shouldn’t preach it! “I once preached a sermon on the Magi where I dazzled the congregation. I walked them through the Magi’s gifts and explained their deeper meaning. Gold, of course, represented Jesus’ royalty. Incense his deity; and myrrh the looming spectre of his coming death.”

The Houston Astros Cheating Scandal, Explained (Video)

You’ve probably heard something about the scandal around the Houston Astros. Here’s a pretty good look at it all.

Favorite Science Photos of 2019

“An underwater glimpse of spawning salmon. A moon flying through Saturn’s rings. An artificial lung printed in a lab. These were some of our favorite Science images of 2019, curated from the thousands of photos that graced our website and magazine this year. Here are the pictures that captivated us the most.”

Whose Sermons Are Least Likely to Mention a Book of the Bible?

Here’s an interesting bit of analysis about who is preaching what.

Flashback: Please Don’t Give Them Porn for Christmas

This Christmas a lot of children will receive porn from under the tree. It’s not what they wanted, and not what their parents intended for them to have. But they will get it anyway.

It is our response to temptation that leads us down the path of righteousness or into the dead end of disobedience. —Alistair Begg

Not many of us get to die the way we wished. But my dad did. A man of the earth, he had a great passion for plants, a love for flowers and trees and all manner of flora. He saw the beauty in each of them, the unique promise every one held to make this world just a little brighter, a little more beautiful. He committed the best part of his life to gardening, and though he was gifted at design—at analyzing what a space was and imagining what it could be—he especially loved the work itself. “Dad, you’re 70,” we would tell him. “You’ve got to stop working so hard.” But work was what he knew and work was what he loved. He told us he would be content to die if only he could die with dirt on his hands.

In the hours after his death, my sister sent me a photo of his hands—his Working Man Hands. And, sure enough, they were stained with dark, Georgia mud. He had spent the better part of the day laying floors in the apartment he and my mother were about to move into—a bright little walk-out in the basement of my sister’s house. And then, before he headed home for the day, he paused to plant some tulip bulbs in her front yard. He had envisioned the spot where a splash of color would brighten the garden when winter at last gave way to spring. And it was there, and it was then, that it happened. He died by a garden. He died with dirt on his hands.

I rushed down to be with my family—a flight from Toronto to Atlanta, and a drive from Atlanta to Dalton. When I finally arrived I was asked if I would like to go to the hospital to view his body, to see him one last time. I opted not to. I opted not to because I don’t care to have my final memory of my father to be there and to be that. I’ve got another memory I want to hold on to.

A few months before dad died, he reached his seventieth birthday, and my sisters threw him a party. Many of his favorite people were waiting to surprise him and to celebrate the occasion. But I wasn’t one of them. Not yet. Flight schedules and Atlanta traffic meant that I would be late. But when I did arrive—this is my memory: He spotted me from across the yard, his face lit up, and he gasped my name in surprise and delight. Now, I realized, his surprise was complete. Now his party was complete. He was a father delighted to see his son. And I’m happy to hold on to that memory, at least until the time we can get back to making new memories together.

I believe—I believe today more than ever—that there is life beyond death. I believe that my father has not ceased to be. Rather, his soul has simply left his body for a time. As the Sage once said, “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Though his body is now empty and decaying, his soul is being carefully kept by God himself—the God who gave him life and then, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, gave him new life.

That gospel, that good news, promises a day will come when all will be renewed and all will be made right. Souls will be reunited with bodies and relationships separated by death will be restored. There will be a new heaven and a new earth—a new earth that, like this one, will need to be cared for. And though I don’t know exactly how things will work there, I’m pretty sure I know just where I’ll be able to track down my dad. I expect I’ll find him in a garden somewhere, surrounded by flowers, sleeves rolled up, and, sure enough, dirt on his hands.

***

John Beaumont Challies was born on June 3, 1949 in Montreal, Quebec, the son of The Honorable George S. Challies and Ethel Beaumont. He earned a B.A. in philosophy at Bishop’s University. During his final year there he came to faith in Christ through his good friend, Don Lewis. He then earned two further degrees—a B.Ed from Queen’s University and an M.Div from The Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches.

Despite his degrees, John’s greatest love was working in the soil. “Subduing the earth” was his delight. Although he spent much of his life creating beautiful gardens, his interests were many and varied. His favorite pastimes were cooking, ethnography, reading widely, and recreational gardening. He loved wordplay and had a great sense of humor.

We—his wife, children, and grandchildren—will miss him greatly. He taught and led us well in the ways of Christ.

We are now separated, but only for a time.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Mom, dad, and the 5 kids

I’m running a little late today and haven’t yet had time to dig for Kindle deals. I’ll do that now and see if I can find anything interesting.

Logos users: My recommended NT commentary bundle is 50% off right now—a great deal! That will get you some rock-solid commentaries to begin or extend any collection.

(Yesterday on the blog: Dad Died with Dirt on His Hands)

My Son Did Not Live One Day More or Less Than God Planned

It is good to read of such confidence even in the midst of such sorrow. “My son did not live one more day than God planned; and he did not live one day less either. This truth is one I keep returning to each day as my family and I grieve the death of my son, Kaleb. He was 15 years old. Trials and afflictions marked his life.”

The Logistics of the US Election (Video)

This video explains some of the logistics behind the US election.

A Weary Mom Rejoices

“What are young girls supposed to think when their stores are selling underwear with twenty dollar bills printed across the crotch? How should we, as Christian parents, combat this pornified culture where girls are constantly being sent the message that all that matters is who wants their bodies?” A weary mom answers.

The Day The Phone Rang Out

It’s a simple anecdote that makes an important point.

Remember Your Chains

Denny Burk: “We often don’t think about shame as having a positive role in our lives. In fact, we are often told that feelings of shame undermine emotional health and well-being. And yet here we have the Lord saying that after these sinners have been forgiven, they must remember their former sins and be ashamed of them.”

What is Biblical Theology?

If you’ve only ever heard the term but haven’t ever defined it, here’s your opportunity to learn a little about biblical theology.

The Mythology of the Populist Left (and Perhaps Also the Church)

This is good stuff. “A social researcher and former Labour employee has recently described the three myths of the populist Left. Chris Clarke’s Warring Fictions: Left Populism and its Defining Myths is summarised by David Aaronovitch in today’s Times, and it makes for fascinating reading—not just because it explains the recent landslide, but because the three myths are prevalent in other contexts as well, including the church.”

Flashback: A Church with Great Music

I am convinced that the best measure of a church’s music is not what takes place on the stage, but what takes place in the pews. It is not so much the sounds and sights of a band leading, but the sounds and sights of a congregation worshipping.

Grace is the pleasure of God to magnify the worth of God by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God without obscuring the glory of God. —John Piper

The Kindle deals seem to be slowing down a little pre-Christmas, but I did track down a few that you may want to look at.

Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Were Not Refugees

While there may be some similarities, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were not refugees as we understand the term today. “There is a thought-provoking image circulating the internet that depicts a nativity scene unlike most we’re familiar with. It’s a picture of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, each in separate cages. This image is powerful, especially in light of the current political climate. But is it truthful?”

Gaining Victory Over Temptation

“How can Christians experience victory over temptations to sin? Here are ten dynamic steps you can take to gain victory over temptation…”

The Amazing Math Inside the Rubik’s Cube

“Next year marks 40 years of the Rubik’s Cube first hitting toy shelves. Ever since its release, it’s taunted almost a half billion tinkerers who think they can crack the confounding cube, only to be stymied by its maddening secrets. As we approach the Rubik’s Cube’s ruby anniversary (for real!) it’s time to unpack the puzzle once and for all—with deep math…”

Double Giveaway: Puritan Paperbacks & Martyn Lloyd-Jones Romans Set (SPONSORED LINK)

Description: AccelerateBooks is hosting another giveaway. This time they’re giving away both the Puritan Paperbacks and Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ Romans set to one winner. It ends Jan. 1st, so don’t miss this!

Video: Pastoral Response to #WakeUpOlive (Bethel’s Dead-Raising Charade)

“After an immense amount of feedback poured in regarding Bethel Church’s attempt at raising a two-year old little girl from the dead, it became clear that a pastoral response would help provide clarity for many confused people.”

6 Exciting Biblical Archaeology Discoveries in 2019

Here’s a year-end round-up of interesting and important discoveries in 2019.

Is Luke’s genealogy through Mary?

What’s with the two different genealogies of Jesus in the gospels? We don’t know 100%, but this is a good look at the options.

John Calvin Wouldn’t Wear a Necktie

That’s just one more thing to respect about him, isn’t it?

Flashback: A Christmas Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Nativity Story?

How well do you know the nativity story? This short quiz is designed to help you find out!

Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will. —Jonathan Edwards

Even late in the year, we continue to see some excellent new books come our way. And, one way or another, most of them make their way to boxes on my front doorstep. I sort through all those books and try to distill them down to some of the most notable. Here are the ones that stood out to me this time around.

Systematic Theology by Robert Letham. “This comprehensive systematic theology by a respected theologian covers the whole field of Reformed Christian doctrine from biblical, historical, and theological angles. It seeks to provide a clear and concise articulation of the Reformed faith rooted in the historic creeds while addressing current issues such as feminism, charismatic gifts, sexual ethics, environmentalism, other religions, the nature of truth, and civil liberties. Intended to be used as a textbook, this single-volume systematic theology is well-suited for our world today, interacting not only with the biblical text but also with the history of Christian doctrine, current cultural challenges to the Bible’s teaching, and the daily experiences of regular Christians. ” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship by Robert Letham. “Robert Letham’s award winning The Holy Trinity receives a well-considered update in a revised and expanded new edition. Letham examines the doctrine of the Trinity’s biblical foundations and traces its historical development before engaging critical issues. This new edition addresses developments in Augustine studies, teaching on the Trinity and election in Barth studies, East-West relations, and evangelical disputes on the relation of the Son to the Father. ” (Buy it at Amazon)

Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans by Robert Elmer. “For the Puritans, prayer was neither casual nor dull. Their prayers were passionate affairs, from earnestly pleading for mercy to joyful praise. These rich expressions of deep Christian faith are a shining example of holy living.The Puritan combination of warm piety and careful intellect have fueled a renaissance of interest in their movement. This combination is on display in Piercing Heaven, a collection of carefully selected prayers from leading Puritans. The language in these prayers has been slightly updated for a modern audience while still retaining the elevated tone of the Puritans. With prayers from Richard Baxter, Thomas Brooks, John Owen, and many more, each prayer reminds us that heartfelt prayer is central to the Christian life.” (Buy it at Amazon) 

The Wonderful Works of God by Herman Bavinck. “110 years after its original publication, The Wonderful Works of God remains one of the finest single-volume systematic theologies ever written. Adapting the magisterial systematic theology found in his four-volume Reformed Dogmatics, this is perhaps Bavinck s most eminently practical work a single, accessible volume for the college classroom and the family bookshelf. Previously published in America as Our Reasonable Faith, this book has had a deep and lasting influence on the growth and development of Reformed theology. It is the publisher s hope that in its new form, this book continues to astonish readers with the wonderful works of God, and provide a deeper knowledge of their triune God.” (Buy it at Amazon) 

Becoming C. S. Lewis (1898–1918) by Harry Lee Poe.  “The writings of C. S. Lewis cannot be fully understood apart from a grasp of his formative adolescent years. Unfortunately, many biographies speed over this important season of Lewis’s life. Slowing down to focus on his younger years, this detailed portrait of “Jack” Lewis helps us discover seeds of what would inform his later writings―such as his delight in literature, his key relationships, his suffering and struggles, and his intense pursuit of joy. The chapters unfold the habits and tastes he developed while at boarding school, in college, and in the army, revealing where we see these themes appear in his works―bringing to life the man readers have come to know as C. S. Lewis. Volume 1 in a trilogy offering a comprehensive view of the life of C. S. Lewis.”  (Buy it at Amazon)

Psalms 42-72 (Reformed Expository Commentary) by Richard D. Phillips. “In the inspired poems of the Psalms, we find the full range of human emotions laid bare before the heart of God—and in settings familiar to our experience. The Psalms are songs that God himself teaches us to sing: songs of joy, songs of pain, songs of fear, and songs of faith. Pastor-theologian Richard D. Phillips provides thoughtful, devotional commentary on the psalms of Book 2 (Psalms 42—-72), which is distinctive for its variety of authors. He shows that in the spiritual walk of faith, these psalmists take believers by the hand and guide us in our communion with God, pointing always to Christ. As are all Reformed Expository Commentaries, this book is accessible to both pastors and lay readers. Each volume in the series gives careful attention to the biblical text, is doctrinally Reformed, focuses on Christ through the lens of redemptive history, and applies the Bible to our contemporary setting.” (Buy it at Amazon) 

Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism by Elijah Hixson. “Since the unexpected popularity of Bart Ehrman’s bestselling Misquoting Jesus, textual criticism has become a staple of Christian apologetics. Ehrman’s skepticism about recovering the original text of the New Testament does deserve a response. However, this renewed apologetic interest in textual criticism has created fresh problems for evangelicals. An unfortunate proliferation of myths, mistakes, and misinformation has arisen about this technical area of biblical studies. In this volume Elijah Hixson and Peter Gurry, along with a team of New Testament textual critics, offer up-to-date, accurate information on the history and current state of the New Testament text that will serve apologists and Christian students even as it offers a self-corrective to evangelical excesses.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Today’s Kindle deals include several books, among them John Stott’s excellent “commentary-devotionals” on Romans.

(Yesterday on the blog: 7 New and Notable Books for December)

2019: A Christian Music Review

Every year Jeremy Howard writes up a list of the best Christian music of the past 12 months. Every year I link to it (even though I disagree with a fair bit of it).

Twelve Million Phones, One Dataset, Zero Privacy

The NY Times did some investigative reporting, and what they found is startling.

Does the Bible Forbid My Nativity Set?

John Piper answers the question. While I appreciate many of his points about images of God in worship and in cathedrals, I’d have appreciated a little more on the issues as they pertain to baby Jesus. Still, here’s his view on nativity sets.

Don’t Ban The First Temptation of Christ, Just Don’t Watch It

Here’s the case for not calling for bans of offensive material, but instead reacting privately according to conscience.

I Will Pray, But Have You Actually Shared the Gospel With Them?

Don’t miss the evangelistic opportunities that may come over the holiday season! “Christmas is an incredible time of the year. People give more, they grieve more, they sing more, they eat more and spend more time with family. And I have found that Christians in particular become more evangelistic. I know this because I get more prayer requests and get asked for advice more around the holidays.”

Chairchallenge Highlights Male/Female Divide

In its own way, a silly viral challenge is showing that men and women are different.

Plants and Pillars, Sun and Moon, Sons and Daughters, One Glory and Another

This is wonderful stuff from Abigail Dodds. “To raise humble, confident, steely-spined, God-fearing, Christ-adoring, Word-loving daughters is impossible—except that it’s absolutely not. It’s exactly the sort of thing God is known for and we should anticipate from him by faith.”

Flashback: 6 Practical Ways to Honor Your Parents

God calls every child of every age to show honor to our parents, to refuse to dishonor our parents. He calls us to honor them as the outflow of honoring him…In what ways is God calling you to show honor to your parents?

Prayer crowns God with the honor and glory due to His name, and God crowns prayer with assurance and comfort. The most praying souls are the most assured souls. —Thomas Brooks

This sponsored post was provided by ReformedPreacher.com.

What was the star and how did the wise men know to follow it?

These are questions people are curious to have answered, especially this time of year. During the Christmas season, many who are hostile to anything Biblical, won’t object to hearing about the “Christmas Story”. Often, they welcome it with curiosity! When would be a better opportunity for some undercover evangelizing than when gathering with our friends and family during Christmas week?

Imagine yourself at a home, announcing you recently read something interesting about the first Christmas. You explain how you always wondered about the star of Bethlehem and about those “wise men”. Why were they “wise” and why were they interested in following a star—let alone able to follow it.

What you learned was mind-blowing and you would like everyone to gather around for a few moments while you share what you discovered! Not many will reject your offer during Christmas time. I have had family and friends, who usually don’t want to hear anything about the Bible, sit down attentively and participate while I take them down the road to Bethlehem with the wise men.

My prayer is this Christmas the Lord will bless you and yours by giving you the privilege of sharing the greatest story ever told! I want to provide you with this free interactive study I have used frequently. It also includes interactive discussion questions, suitable for believers and unbelievers alike, to keep everyone attentive and unglued from their smartphones.

I highly recommend leading people through this text, as it keeps things interactive and is a dynamic way to spend time with your loved ones. A YouTube video is provided as well for those with stage fright, but please use it as a last resort. I trust the Lord will bless you and those around you as you lead people through this text and the discussion questions.

Read the interactive study.

I am really enjoying Piercing Heaven, a wonderful collection of Puritan prayers. Here is one that seems especially suitable for a Sunday evening.

Holy and eternal Lord, I confess those many weaknesses and imperfections which I have been guilty of today. I call on you for the pardon and forgiveness of my sins.

I have heard your word, but with such deadness and distraction, that I have been a very unprofitable and forgetful hearer. I have done your work, but negligently.

But you are rich in mercy and redemption. Do not count against me what I have done wrong. Pardon my transgressions, negligence, and ignorance.

Cover my imperfections with the perfect and absolute obedience of your dear Son. Accept those sacrifices which I have offered to you today in and for that sacrifice Christ Jesus offered upon the cross.

Ease me of the burden of all my sins, and give me grace to arise from the slumber of sin to newness of life. Help me walk according to your holy word, until I attain the end of my faith, the salvation of my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.