Coram Deo ~

Looking at contemporary culture from a Christian worldview


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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes


  • The God Over Geopolitics. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper answers the question “I think I used to understand God’s relationships to the rulers of superpowers of the world as predictive. He was sovereign in that he foreknew what global rulers would freely do. Then I encountered Revelation 17:17. This verse stopped me in my tracks. Everything has changed for me. Can you explain the meaning of this text, whether it generally explains how things work today? If so, what role is God playing in geopolitics right now?”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • Is Living Together Before Marriage Really a Sin? Daniel Darling writes “Is living together a healthy trial run for marriage? Is it a good way for two people to see if they’re compatible enough to make a lifelong commitment? If not, why?”
  • 12 Fresh Ways to Read Your Bible in 2025. Tim Challies writes “A new year offers a new opportunity—an opportunity to rethink and refresh the way you read your Bible. While some have found a pattern or habit they love and will never deviate from, others like to look for new ways to read, digest, and apply the Word. For those who may be interested in trying something new, here are a few ideas that may be worth considering.”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

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Living Out Our Faith at Work, Part 2

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to a wonderful group at Truth in Love Counseling on living out our faith at work. This is part 2 of a five-part series inspired by that talk.
The workplace changed significantly from the time I first joined it, primarily due to technology. There was no email or smartphones, and there were standard beginning and endings to the workday when I began my career at State Farm. In the building I worked at they had chimes to start and end the workday and for lunch breaks. But today, workers are always connected. And many believers use Sunday to catch up on work that has built up from the previous week.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that the Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting from unnecessary labors. The concept of rest, in our always connected world, is a subject that would also be a good one for us to teach about in our families and churches.  My longtime pastor, Bob Smart, tells us that until we learn to deeply rest and separate ourselves from our work, we won’t work effectively. If you want to know more about intentionally setting Sunday apart for God and His work, see my article, “Ceasing and Feasting”. Continue reading


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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • What is Christian Nationalism? Albert Mohler addresses this question on his Ask Anything Tour.
  • Reflections on Faith and Politics. Tim Keller, in writing after the 2004 presidential election, states “There has been an explosion of interest and debate about the relationship of religion to politics. Here are some things I believe Christians should keep in mind as they listen to and participate in this debate during the coming year(s).”
  • Where Abortion Policies Stand Now. Joe Carter writes “Voters in 10 states were asked to decide whether legalized abortion would be protected in their state constitutions. Here’s how they voted—and what it portends for the pro-life cause.”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • God Brings Us Bad to Give Us Best. Joni Eareckson Tada writes “When God lobs a hand grenade into life and rattles our faith to the core, we wonder how he’ll work the pieces of shrapnel together for our good. What does good mean, anyway?”
  • What if I Feel Deserted by God? What encouragement would you give to a Christian who feels deserted by God? In this video, Sinclair Ferguson points to a prescription, a remedy, and a great prognosis for Christians.

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BOOK REVIEWS and NEWS

BOOK REVIEW:
Amazing Grace: The Life of John Newton and the Surprising Story Behind His Song by Bruce Hindmarsh and Craig Borlase. Thomas Nelson. 234 pages. 2023
***

This book was written on the 250th anniversary of the hymn “Amazing Grace” by John Newton. The book reads like a novel, though the authors tell us it is a dramatized biography with the feel of a film or live play.
Newton’s father was a ship captain and his mother died when John was young. Newton’s father would remarry within two years of his wife’s death.
John met Polly (Mary) when she was just fourteen. He longed to marry her, and although her parents were against it, they eventually did marry. Mary and John adored children, and though they had never had any of their own, they did raise two nieces – Eliza and Betsy.
We read about the young John being snatched from the streets of London and taken on board the Harwich to serve as a common sailor in the Navy. Although earlier he had professed faith, he was soon mocking Christianity, and made it his business to pour scorn now on anyone who took the Bible at all seriously.

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BOOK REVIEWS ~ More of this review…
BOOK NEWS ~ Links to Interesting Articles
BOOK CLUB ~ Truths We Confess by  R.C. Sproul
I’M CURRENTLY READING…. Continue reading


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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

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