One Little Word Newsletter - April 25, 2022
Updates on The Land Center, conferences, a tribute to Chuck Colsen, and Spurgeon on unity.
So it’s been a busy week. We are six weeks away from moving from TN to TX, which is complicated with 6 people. Oh and I’m racing a May deadline for my book with Zondervan. I’ve got about a half chapter left.
I was at the final Together for the Gospel conference. Driving into downtown Louisville brought back a ton of memories. I had a great time, meeting up with old friends, hearing some great messages, and repping Texas Baptist College and SWBTS. A few favorites:
I had a lot of folks ask about the Land Center, where we had our own busy week. We announced the inaugural advisory board. We’re so honored to have these respected Christian leaders serve and support the work we are doing. We also launched our new website. Please check it out.
Also if you are interested in watching the conversation I had with Paul Miller on the War in Ukraine and about Just War, you can watch it here:
Here are a few things I’ve been working on:
My latest World column: Why it’s always a bad idea to make the pulpit partisan. The trigger for this was a clip of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer using Easter Sunday to compare the appointment of a Supreme Court justice with the rolling away of the stone. Yeah it was bad. The gospel is aways political, but never partisan.
I recorded a few podcasts: one meditating on some of my thoughts about Holy Saturday. And another, an interview with Kristin Wetherell about the joys and difficulties of motherhood based on her excellent new book, Humble Moms.
This weekend, my friend Erik Reed and I will be teaching at the Engaging Truth Conference April 29—April 30 about how we must remain steadfast in our biblical beliefs while living in a culture that is constantly redefining truth. If you’re around the Middle Tennessee area, come join us!
Also, my new book The Characters of Creation: The Men, Women, Creatures, and Serpent Present at the Beginning of the World will be released in June but is available for pre-order.
Here are a few things I found that are interesting:
I watched this difficult but important New York Times video on the way the Taliban, in violation of their empty promises, is hunting down anyone who helped the Allies in Afghanistan. It’s absolutely chilling. Rekindles the anger I have at the way we botched our withdrawal.
I loved this National Review article by Allen Guelzo on the recovering legacy of Ulysses S. Grant. I have a soft spot for Grant. I think in the last 100 years he’s been grossly misunderstood, but am thankful historians are helping rehabilitate his reputation. You should read the excellent bios by Chernow and White.
I loved this Jennifer Patterson wonderful tribute about Chuck Colsen’s legacy. Colsen is a hero of mine.
This was a great read by Alex DiPrima on Spurgeon’s heart for unity:
“He rejoiced in the unity he shared in the gospel with scores of other pastors with whom he otherwise maintained disagreements on secondary issues. Spurgeon was together for the gospel before Together for the Gospel.”
You don’t often hear that about Spurgeon, whom some have refashioned into a nonstop quarreler.
Carl Trueman has some really great insights on parenting in a confused culture.
Kara Bettis of Christianity Today profiled a wonderful gospel ministry in Scotland: 20 Schemes.
I’m excited for this project by The Gospel Coalition: The Good Faith Debates series where two Christians, unified in Christ, will debate some controversial topics while showing that disagreeing Christians can still engage in considerate conversations about important but not foundational beliefs.
My colleague Micah Carter had a great chapel sermon, emphasizing the one truth that all Christians must agree on:
Some books I’m reading:
I just finished George Yancey’s book Beyond Racial Divide: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism.
Nearly finished with Fateful Lightening: A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction by Alan Guelzo
In the middle of The New Reformation by Shai Linne
Hope you have a wonderful week!