“The full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans reversed a federal judge and its own three-person panel in a 9-5 opinion that supported the constitutionality of Texas’ prohibition of what is known as dismemberment abortion.” - BPNews

“Apparently for Daniel, to give up control of his diet was to go against his conscience and compromise on his identity as a follower of the one true God, in a way that the name change did not.” - Alistair Begg

“I’ve seen posts that claim that Army chaplains cannot pray in Jesus’ name when they conduct their worship services. Some people claim that chaplains are forced to conduct services for other religions. Hopefully this post will help clear up some of these common myths related to military chaplaincy.” - Tim McKnight

“I have pretty much stuck with those same tools and with that same system, save for a few minor tweaks here and there… In the past year, though, I have discovered a few new tools that have swiftly made a big difference to my life.” - Challies

“In an earlier post I introduced the work of Wardenclyffe Academy…. Their latest project is a four-part summary of an essay by Patrick Lee and Robert P. George: “What Is Wrong with Abortion,” … The videos are below, followed by my brief summary to get you oriented.” - TGC

“The third New Testament example of applying an Old Testament YHWH citation to Jesus appears more than once … It appears at the very beginning of this proclamation, in Peter’s sermon at Pentecost.” - Olinger

This past Sunday, I spoke in a small church in northeast Wisconsin. Knowing of the love that many in that congregation have for Bible prophecy, I shared that Dr. Jimmy DeYoung had been announced as the featured speaker for this fall’s IFCA Wisconsin Regional meetings in October.

I did not realize until that evening that—by the time I gave that announcement—Dr. DeYoung was already experiencing that which the Apostle Paul described in Phil. 1:21:

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.¹

And, as Paul also wrote in 2 Cor. 5:8:

“…according to a new Barna Research study in conjunction with Alpha USA….More than half of Gen Z Christians, 53 percent, have a very positive view of letting the way they live be the primary witness of their faith to non-Christians, compared to 40 percent who have a very positive view of sharing their faith by testimony” - BPNews

“Sixteen authors contribute essays dealing with specific topics through four major periods of church history, including the editors, Duesing and Finn. As mentioned, Duesing provides the introduction and Finn adds a conclusion to complete the work.” - Don Johnson

“The internet has amplified these debates and fostered new questions about tone and tenor in recent years. Here’s a look at how adults in the United States see these and related issues, based on Pew Research Center surveys.” - Pew

“If there are to be tradeoffs, isn’t it morally better, at least from Luther’s neighbor-centered ethic, for you to die than for you to cause someone else to die? The worldview I am hearing, even from Christians, seems more libertarian–Ayn Rand, who has a big following among secularist conservatives, scorned the obligation to do things for others rather than for yourself–than Christian.” - Gene Veith

“One of the best ways you can prepare to pastor is by joining a healthy church and devoting yourself to being a faithful member. Whether or not a church offers you any formal training, a healthy church will incubate an aspiring pastor far better than an unhealthy one.” - 9 Marks

The Abolition of Man “has proved very effective at alerting several generations of readers to the very idea that there is a substantive case to suggest that 1) humans don’t somehow create morality and 2) the human mind itself bears the imprint of a universal natural morality that doesn’t change.” - Samuel Gregg

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:17–20, NASB 1995)

“US forces are withdrawing after 20 years, but the story of Christian aid work goes far beyond military conflict.” - CToday

“As we itemize the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, imagine a workplace that is filled with these characteristics: ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.’” - IFWE

“Confidence that the pandemic was getting better plummeted in July, as more Americans now say the situation is getting worse (45%) than better (40%), according to Gallup.” - Lifeway

“…as we live with opened eyes, we will see that we are most truly never without beauty, if only we will accept its fleeting nature, if only we will cease lamenting the past and look to the present.” - Challies

“An interesting explainer above on how Pfizer and Moderna are part of a new age of vaccine technology, in which we can send our own bodies the instructions on how to protect themselves” - Justin Taylor

On “devoting the same thought and preparation to leading in prayer as they do to preparing sermons or leading music. Here are four principles to guide this pursuit.” - TGC

“This is relevant to us even in our circles, because many GARBC pastors and church leaders were deeply enamored with Driscoll during the peak of his popularity. With the accessibility of YouTube sermons and MP3s back in the day, the invention of podcasts, and the availability of conferences, scores of pastors within our own circles had become loyal listeners of Driscoll.” - Mike Hess

HT: Proclaim & Defend

“…lest there be any doubt about the reference, Isaiah later exclaims, “Mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts!” (Is 6.5). And John, the inspired Evangelist, says that it’s Jesus.” - Olinger

“Pastoring just a short flight away in the United Arab Emirates, I’ve had the opportunity to build partnerships with these men over the last decade. One house church leader sent me a picture of the small room he was hiding in with his family.” - 9 Marks

“The U.S. incarceration rate fell in 2019 to its lowest level since 1995, according to recently published data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the statistical arm of the Department of Justice.” - Pew

“Despite all the chaos and struggles over the past year, the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic gave many parents the first-hand experience of working from home. And they like it.” - IFS

Reposted from Rooted Thinking.

You feel like you’ve done your duty, but something is missing. The intimacy you once experienced with God has fled. You feel spiritually dry. What’s wrong with your spiritual life?

“Why are these people so slow?” I fumed as I weaved my way between shoppers at Walmart. I had just returned to the U.S. from urban Asia where the throttle of the pace of life is always wide open. Go! Go! Go! My to-do list burned a hole in my pocket. There was no time to waste. No time to sit still. No time to be quiet.

“In a letter published Wednesday, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters asserted that ‘genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse, subject to all rules and procedures pertaining to child abuse.’” - C.Post

Related: Texas’ Sex Change Surgery Decision Is a Small Win for Nine-Year-Old James Younger

“Megachurches and the men who lead them can be superrich. So why don’t the IRS and local authorities see a cent in taxes?” - RNS

“What you say and what people hear can be two different things…” - Phil Cooke

“How could God allow such evil? How could he permit suffering to ravage people who love their families and dream of happiness and hope for something better, as we all do?” - TGC