“…the New Testament authors apparently don’t think the once-for-all forgiveness (justification) conflicts with the need for ongoing forgiveness (sanctification). This can be seen not only in the Lord’s Prayer, but also in 1 John 1:9: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’” - TGC

“The article is simply intended to alert American believers of the shuttering of places of worship in Canada that seems more stringent than similar closures in the United States…. many American evangelicals have limited or no knowledge of churches to our north who are facing similar or more rigorous restrictions from various parts of the Canadian government. This is their story.” - P&D

“As revolting as the practice of anti-Semitism is, it’s a problem that lies hidden right in the midst of America—and it’s more widespread than we like to admit.” - Heritage

Worldometer “monitors statistics on health, the global population, the use of resources and deaths in real-time, over 40 million abortions are performed worldwide annually. The website tabulates statistics on abortion made available from the World Health Organization.” - CPost

“Organizers of the Jericho March, slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, have called on ‘patriots, people of faith and all those who want to take back America’ to travel to Washington on those days for a pair of marches to overturn the recent presidential election.” - CToday

Video: “Today, we have many medical advances that enable us to prolong our lives. Are Christians responsible to take advantage of these technologies? Is it ever permissible to refuse them? From one of our live events, R.C. Sproul reflects on these difficult questions.” - Ligonier

“…there is a huge reason for not going into a litany of our pastoring mistakes: God works even in our mistakes and can make good emerge from them. As a result, even though we look back and see the times we dropped the ball, we give thanks for what He accomplished through it all.” - C.Leaders

“Unless he recuses himself and hands the job over the Senate president pro tempore – as Vice President Hubert Humphrey did in January 1969 – Pence will have the ceremonial but politically consequential role of presiding over a contested certification.” - The Conversation

Are there seven problems with pretrib? Some prewrath folk recently came together and contributed to a documentary highlighting problems with pretrib. My first thought was, “Only seven?” Of course I’m being sarcastic.

Incidentally, one of the gents involved produced a video ominously asserting that the pretrib rapture is dead! Apparently they’re still trying to kill it.

“Seven things Christians can look forward to this year after a very challenging 2020: space, virtual learning, challenges for Christians, ministry, and more.” - AiG

“The church was fined for allegedly violating restrictions on in-person worship services and mask mandates implemented by the New Mexico Department of Health. The restrictions, which went into effect on Dec. 15, require churches located in “red-level” counties to cap attendance at 25% of capacity.” - CPost

“Discussing the effects of sin in believers, Owen makes three observations about the scandalous sins of Christians recorded in Scripture. And in a year when evangelicalism has had our share of Christian leaders embroiled in scandalous sins, it would be helpful to take Owen’s remarks to heart.” - TGC

“CRT is a means by which to open up important discussions that have not been sufficiently taking place. I also believe these brothers are committed to the authority and sufficiency of the Bible. But the question remains: is this a good idea? My answer is no.” - SBC Voices

“Here is the annual set of Bible reading schedules that you have become accustomed to seeing here….This year, the schedules start on 1/3 (or 1/4 for Monday-Friday plans) at the beginning of the first full week of the year. This way, you have a few days to catch up on last year’s reading, or get ahead on this year’s reading.” - Matt Postiff

“O. Carter Snead’s What It Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics is a momentous achievement, an agenda-setting work offering a philosophically rich argument moving between important moral concepts and applied issues in bioethics. It is also a rare book from an academic press that is accessible to a general audience as well as to specialists in the field.” - Public Discourse

“…the Saturday call between Trump and Raffensperger provides the best window into the intense pressure that the Secretary of State—a lifelong Republican who voted for and donated to Trump—has been under. Trump’s voice was raised for much of the call, but he sounded increasingly desperate as it became clear that his appeals to Raffensperger’s Republican ‘loyalty’ weren’t going anywhere.” - The Dispatch

I feel like I’m way out of sync. For me, 2020 was a year of unexpected blessing. Though some of what follows is probably in the category of self-indulgent (and boring) oversharing, I mostly mean it as an expression of thankfulness for undeserved mercies.

Work & Tech

In 2020, my work conditions improved a lot, as did the commute (home office!). At the same time, my work relationships—my connectedness to my peers—also improved, the reverse of what’s supposed to happen in a work-from-home dynamic.

“Třanovský knew something about suffering. He lived during the devastating Thirty-Year War, was imprisoned once, exiled twice, and forced to move several times. Three of his children died, and both he and the people under his care suffered the consequences of wars, pillaging, and pestilence. He was bedridden and in pain for eight months before going to meet his Savior.” - Ref21

A random collection of “top xx” items of 2020…

“1. Creativity and work. God the Creator tasked human beings with labor even in the Garden of Eden. This work allows us to refine, purify, and fructify His handiwork. While this does not make human beings co-creators – for only God created all things ex nihilo – it gives us a canvas on which to display the creativity God implanted inside all His children.” - Acton