What to do about KONY?

Joseph Kony was somewhat known ten days ago. Today he is one of the most well-known criminals in the world. Denny Burk has the amazing stats on this video gone viral.

If you don’t know who Kony is, you can read the articles above.

If you do know who he is and you are wondering how to respond to what you have seen or heard, you might want to first read this article that encourages you to BREATHE and this article which encourages to EXPLORE a bit more.

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Faith on trial by Lloyd-Jones: bargain alert

Reformation Heritage Books has arranged a special deal with Christian Focus on Lloyd-Jones’ Faith on Trial based on Psalm 73.

Here’s a description of the book and the offer from Kevin DeYoung.

Why do the godly suffer while the ungodly seem to prosper? This is a problem that has often perplexed and discouraged God’s people—from unfavorable doctor’s reports, employment troubles, to some of life’s most painful circumstances. Thankfully, the Bible does not leave us without an answer. This is the very question the Psalmist wrestles with in Psalm 73. This book, by one of the twentieth century’s most beloved pastors on one of the most beloved Psalms was a labor of love and true joy. Delivered on eleven successive Sunday mornings Lloyd-Jones opens this text, like a door of hope, and invites those whose feet are ‘almost gone’ and whose steps have ‘well nigh slipped’ to fall back again on the precious promises of God. Powerfully, biblically, pastorally, and experientially Lloyd-Jones shows how faith can triumph over the sorest trials. Reformation Heritage Books would like to offer this book at an all-time low cost of $5/copy. Click here to order the book.

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Facing your dark hour

I have been thinking a lot about Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer.  I appreciated what John Piper writes in Future Grace regarding some lessons we can glean from Jesus’ example there.

There were several tactics in Jesus’ strategic battle against despondency.

• First, he chose some close friends to be with him. “He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee” (Matthew 26:37).
• Second, he opened his soul to them. He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death” (verse 38).
• Third, he asked for their intercession and partnership in the battle. “Remain here and keep watch with me” (verse 39).
• Fourth, he poured out his heart to his Father in prayer. “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (verse 39).
• Fifth, he rested his soul in the sovereign wisdom of God. “Yet not as I will, but as thou wilt” (verse 39).
• Sixth, he fixed his eye on the glorious future grace that awaited him on the other side of the cross. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

When something drops into your life that seems to threaten your future, remember this: the first shockwaves of the bomb are not sin. The real danger is yielding to them. Giving in. Putting up no spiritual fight. And the root of that surrender is unbelief — a failure to fight for faith in future grace. A failure to cherish all that God promises to be for us in Jesus.

Jesus shows us another way. Not painless, and not passive. Follow him. Find your trusted spiritual friends. Open your soul to them. Ask them to watch with you and pray. Pour out your soul to the Father. Rest in the sovereign wisdom of God. And fix your eyes on the joy set before you in the precious and magnificent promises of God. (306f, formatting added)

HT: DG Blog

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