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When a war breaks out, we want to know that the action was justified. So, when is it justified to use military force? In other words, when is war morally permissible?  “Just War Theory” was primarily established by Augustine in the 5th century, and further developed by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. It is the Christian understanding of when war is morally justified, and how a morally justified war should be undertaken.

On a recent episode of The Briefing, Albert Mohler shared seven criteria that have to be met for a war to be just and justly fought. He stated:

Just Cause. There must be just cause. You can’t just declare war certainly aggressively on another nation because you want its territory. You have to have just cause. There has to be some defensive, basic defensive move that is made necessary in terms of the use of violence. Repelling an invader is legitimate. Invading another country because you want their goods is not legitimate.Legitimate Authority. Military action must be undertaken by legitimate authority. This means in the case of the United States, legitimate authority according to the legal precepts of the United States, the Constitution of the United States. Of course, that gets a little complicated.Right Intention. There must be right intention. This seems somewhat subjective. The intention in undertaking military action, the use of lethal force, it has to be driven by something that is righteous. Now remember, Just War Theory is about when war is just when it is justified, when it meets the demands of justice. When you’re looking at right intention, this means right as in righteous. It must be a righteous intention such as self-defense or protecting the innocent.Last Resort. It must be the last resort. Other things have to be tried. Negotiation has to be tried. Diplomacy has to be tried. Some nonviolent, let’s say, settlement of these differences ought to be tried. Now, the fact is, however, in a fallen world, sometimes not only is such a thing impossible, it’s made impossible by something like a surprise attack. This is what happened in the case, of course, of Japan against the United States in 1941. There really, at that point, was no question that military action was a last resort.Reasonable Hope for Success. There must be a reasonable hope for success. So that is to say, you don’t just throw armies into a certain death. You do not waste human life if there’s not a reasonable hope of success.Proportionality. There must be proportionality when it comes to military operations. That’s to say if one side shoots arrows, the other side doesn’t have the right to drop an atomic bomb. That’s an extreme example, but you get the point. There has to be proportionality.Establishment of a Just Peace. There must be the establishment of a just peace on the other side. The war must be fought by just means with the goal of achieving a just peace.

In his teaching series “The Just War”, R.C. Sproul taught that while war is a result of evil, it is sometimes necessary to stop an aggressor and protect the innocent. He taught that Scripture permits war only when fought for right reasons by legitimate authority, acting as a “necessary force” to restrain evil.

In an article titled “When to War”, Ligonier Ministries stated that Just War Theory is based on two major elements:

All war is the result of evil. Before the fall, there was no strife between human beings. Yet the hostility evident immediately after Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3:12–13) has only multiplied as the human population has increased. Today, coveting power or resources produces most armed conflicts. Even the divinely instituted conflict against Canaan resulted from sin, for had the Canaanites not sinned, God would not have needed to judge their wickedness.Fighting in a war is not necessarily evil. Scripture gives us the right of self-defense (Ex. 22:2–3), and war can be self-defense on a grand scale. As Romans 13: 1-7 teaches, God gives the government, not private citizens, the authority to administer punitive justice. Wars can be declared only by governments, and thus, believers can join the army and defend their country against illegal assaults. This does not forbid preemptive strikes in the case of a clear and present danger, but preemption must be used very cautiously.

Other caveats do apply. A nation should go to war only after all other attempts to resolve the conflict peacefully have failed (Deut. 20:10–15). There also is to be proportionality; the just party must endeavor not to harm non-combatants and must only respond to an attack in kind. For example, a nation should not use atomic weaponry against a poorly armed militia (v. 14).

The above is intended only as an introduction to Just War Theory. Until Jesus returns, there will always be wars. Christians want to know that those wars are just.

All I Have is Christ: The Hymns of Jordan Kauflin
****

Jordan Kauflin is a worship pastor, and writes songs for churches to sing, primarily with Getty Music and Sovereign Grace Music. This album of ten songs, each of which Kauflin wrote, or co-write, was recorded at the 2025 Sing! Getty Worship Conference in Nashville, and was produced by Nathan Nockels. The album includes a number of special guests, including Laura Story, CityAlight, Kristyn Getty, Bob Kauflin, and Bryan Fowler. The album includes four new hymns and six favorites that are sung by churches around the world.
In my reviews I usually list my favorite songs on the album. I’m not going to do that this time as all of the songs are excellent – well written and performed.
Below are a few comments about each of the ten songs:

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

More of this review and a review of Live from the Ryman by Wilder WoodsMusic NewsSong of the Week Lyrics ~ “Say So” by Jordan Kauflin and Bryan Fowler

Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) – This song was written by Jordan Kauflin. It is a praise song to the Lamb who was slain.
Key lyric:
Name above all other names
King above all other kings
All of heaven cries,
“The Lord Almighty reigns forevermore!”

If God is For Us – This song, based on Romans 8, was written by Jordan Kauflin, Bryan Fowler, Matt Merker and Laura Story and features Laura Story. It features a triumphant chorus.
Key lyric:
What shall we say, but “Hallelujah!”
For none can take us from His love
He won’t forsake the ones He died to save
Yes, our God is for us

All I Have is Christ – This song was written by Jordan Kauflin, and features Keith and Kristyn Getty. He once was lost and if Christ had not loved him first, he would refuse Him still. The song features a powerful chorus.
Key lyric:
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Oh Church, Come Lift Your Eyes – This song was written by Jordan Kauflin, Rich Thompson and Jonny Robinson, and features CityAlight. The song is an encouragement for those in the church to lift up our eyes to see the risen, reigning Christ, to look beyond our passing trials, to the Source of lasting life.
Key lyric:
His eternal kingdom cannot fail 
And the gates of hell will not prevail 
He will build His church until we rise 

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death – This song was written by Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Merker and Matt Papa. The song, which is one of my all-time favorites, and hope to have sung at my funeral, features a triumphant chorus.
Key lyric:
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

Say So – This song was written by Jordan Kauflin and Bryan Fowler and features Bryan Fowler. It’s a song for the church to lift up voices and praise the Lord.
Key lyric:
If you’ve been redeemed, if you’ve been restored
Lift up your voice now and praise the Lord!
All nations and tongues, all over the world
Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so!

Come Unto Jesus – This song was written by Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker and Laura Story. The song features Bob Kauflin, McKenzie Fuller and Megan Haughery. We are to bring our wounded hearts, broken and needy to Jesus, who is mighty to heal.
Key lyric:
Come unto Jesus.
Lay down your burdens, He is enough;
Come unto Jesus, rest in His love.

I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130) – This song, based on Psalm 130, was written by Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matt Merker, and Stuart Townend.
Key lyric:
I will wait for You
Through the storm and through the night
I will wait for You
Surely wait for You
For Your love is my delight

Come, O Sinner – This powerful song was written by Jordan Kauflin. The song, which features a cello, tells us that we can rejoice that through the death of Christ death is destroyed.
Key lyric:
Come, O sinner, come and mourn
For He bears the curse for all you’ve done

Come to Jesus (Rest in Him) – This song, based on Matthew 11:28-30, was written by Jordan Kauflin and Matt Merker.
Key lyric:
Are you weary, heavy laden?
Come and lay your burdens down
Jesus calls you, Jesus draws you,
Rest in Him

Live from the Ryman – Wilder Woods
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Wilder Woods is NEEDTOBREATHE’s leader Bear Rhinehart’s band. The name Wilder Woods comes from Rinehart’s two oldest sons, Wilder and Woods.

This album is from a March 29, 2005 concert, the last show on his tour, at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry. The album contains 17 songs, 8 of which are from Wilder Woods’ latest album Curioso, one of my favorites from 2025.

Rhinehart is an excellent live performer. I’ve seen NEEDTOBREATHE in concert, and the band has released several live projects. He delivers high energy and passionate performances of these songs. Maggie Rose joins Rhinehart on the song “Wild Fire”.

For Your Glory. Here is Trip Lee and his new collective BRAG Worship performing “For Your Glory”.Highlands. Enjoy “Highlands” from NEEDTOBREATHE’s new album The Long Surrender. Left It In The River. Watch the Worship Together session of “Left It In The River” with Jamie McDonald.Walking Through Walls. Here is a new song from Sandra McCracken inspired by the moment the disciples were hiding behind locked doors when Christ came and stood among them.

“Say So” by Jordan Kauflin and Bryan Fowler

This week’s song of the week is “Say So”, written and performed by Jordan Kauflin and Bryan Fowler. The song is from the new album All I Have is Christ: The Hymns of Jordan Kauflin, recorded live at the 2025 Sing! Getty Music Conference in Nashville. Watch the performance of the song here.

Verse 1
We gather to remember 
What the Lord our God has done
The kindness He has shown us
When we wandered from His love
He has led us back with arms of grace
He has turned our cries to shouts of praise  

Chorus
If you’ve been redeemed, if you’ve been restored
Lift up your voice now and praise the Lord! 
All nations and tongues, all over the world 
Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so!
Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so! 

Verse 2
What comfort to remember
How the Lord has ransomed us
In darkness, we were captives
‘Til He burst our bonds apart 
He has triumphed over death and grave
He has turned our cries to shouts of praise 

Repeat Chorus

Bridge
Earth and heaven
Join together 
Come testify, say so!
Rise in worship
Raise the chorus 
Come testify, say so!

Repeat Bridge

Chorus x2

Tag

Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so! 

Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so!

The Shepherd Leader at Home: Knowing, Leading, Protecting, and Providing for Your Family by Timothy Witmer. Crossway. 167 pages. 2012
*** ½   

Timothy Witmer follows up his excellent book The Shepherd Leader, which was focused on the church, with a volume for the shepherd leader at home. He tells us that the purpose of the book is to help families by helping husbands and dads become loving shepherds of their families. The strategy is to apply the biblical shepherding categories of knowing, leading, providing, and protecting to leadership in the home. These shepherding functions represent four of the most fundamental human needs that God meets through those who lead families. Each of the four parts begins with an introduction showing its biblical rationale.
The focus is on all men who are called to lead their families at home. Throughout the book, the author shares many examples to illustrate the points he makes. The book is intentionally practical, personal, and heart-to-heart.

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BOOK REVIEWS ~ More of this review…
BOOK NEWS ~ Links to Interesting Articles
BOOK CLUB ~ Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Matt Smethurst
I’M CURRENTLY READING….

Each chapter includes reflection questions that can be used either in individual study or in the “iron sharpening iron” context of men’s discipleship groups. The book includes an appendix containing resources for family devotions.

Among the many topics addressed in the book are marriage, communication, parenting, knowing your wife and children, practice of participation, leadership, commitment, submission, contentment, temptation, lust, discipline, and leading your family spiritually. I found the chapter on protecting your marriage to be particularly important for men today.

This is a well-written and helpful book on leading your family as a shepherd leader.

Here are a few helpful quotes from the book:

Knowing your wife in the comprehensive biblical sense includes a relational union that implies physical, spiritual, and emotional oneness.God’s design for your marriage is that you leverage your mutual and complementary gifts and strengths in his service.The number-one problem in marriage is communication.Perhaps the most significant way of growing in mutual knowledge as husband and wife is to develop a regular time of prayer together.Knowing your children is foundational to all the other shepherding functions as you seek to raise and nurture them in the Lord.When you show your children that they are a priority, you are setting a good example for them when they have families of their own.Shepherds of households will be held accountable for the care of their flocks at home.Your leadership must be motivated by a desire to see your wife grow in holiness and to assist her in fulfilling her God-given roles of wife and mother.The goal toward which we lead our children is that they come to know the Lord and follow him.As shepherd leader, you must take the lead in nourishing your family spiritually.We are all just one generation away from unbelief. It is our responsibility to pass the truth along to our children.Protecting your children is a major responsibility you have as a shepherd leader at home. The other shepherding functions lay the foundation for protecting your children.Our goal as we lead our families is to glorify God and to help them understand what it means to glorify the Lord in their lives. We do this by instructing them in the paths of righteousness.

My Book Reviews. Enjoy more than 570 of my book reviews on Goodreads.Study, Savor and Share Scripture: Becoming What We Behold. My wife Tammy has published a book about HOW to study the Bible. The book is available on Amazon in both a Kindle and paperback edition. She writes “Maybe you have read the Bible but want to dig deeper and know God and know yourself better. Throughout the book I use the analogy of making a quilt to show how the Bible is telling one big story about what God is doing in the world through Christ. Quilting takes much patience and precision, just like studying the Bible, but the end result is well worth it.”

Won’t you read along with us?

Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Matt Smethurst

Pastor and author Timothy Keller (1950–2023) built a lasting legacy in Christian ministry, planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church and cofounding the Gospel Coalition. With sharp biblical insight that has shaped countless church leaders, along with counsel on the Christian life that has stirred and strengthened audiences worldwide, Keller’s teaching promises to influence generations to come.

Synthesizing Keller’s work topic by topic, each chapter of this book highlights a key aspect of the Christian life—covering his views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, intimacy with God, and more. Written by pastor Matt Smethurst, Tim Keller on the Christian Life draws from Keller’s nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books to share practical theological insight that will galvanize leaders and laypeople alike.

As we complete our reading of this book, we finish up by looking at Chapter 8: The Painful Gift How Suffering Drives Us into God’s Heart and the Conclusion. Here are a few quotes from these sections that I found helpful:

When the subject matter is darkest, Keller’s teaching shines brightest.Suffering isn’t natural. It’s normal, but it’s not natural. It’s not the way things were originally designed to be.Even when we cannot fathom any good reasons for our pain, we rest in the arms of the only Savior who has scars. For us.The book of Psalms is an unparalleled resource for worshiping God through pain, for pressing divine truths deep into the heart “until they catch fire there.”Of all the things sufferers need, nothing is more essential than hope.Keller’s most eloquent testimony to God’s all-sufficient grace in suffering wasn’t a sermon or an essay, a seminar or a book. It was his death. He faced it with bravery and hope, and it was the most powerful message he ever delivered.Tim Keller was far from perfect. But he loved nothing more than pointing people to the Savior who is, and to the gospel that can transform your life.

I’ve enjoyed reading Dave Kraft’s blog Leadership from the Heart for several years, as well as his three previous books. The latest book from the 84-year-old author,  with fifty-five years of vocational Christian leadership experience, is Finish Line Leadership: Setting the Pace in Following Jesus. Recently, I read the chapter in the book on lifelong learning. I was amazed at just how much Kraft and I agree on this important subject.

Kraft tells us first that leaders are learners, and that when you stop learning, you stop leading. In the organization I worked at my entire career, we often spoke of lifelong learning, or that “school was never out at State Farm”. There was a significant emphasis on, and support of, continuing education, be it insurance designations, master degrees, IT industry certifications, etc. No matter what area of the organization you were in, you were encouraged to improve yourself and your value to the organization through continuing education.

Kraft mentions that his mother was an avid reader. My parents were avid readers as well. They always had a book nearby that they were reading. I think I got my love of reading from them, though neither my brother or sister are enthusiastic readers.

Kraft indicates that he has a goal of reading two books a month. My goal is two or three books a month. He reads almost no fiction, and focuses primarily on books dealing with leadership and church issues, areas I enjoy, along with professional development, theology, biography and sports.

Kraft writes that in the books he reads, he is on the hunt for leadership ideas and principles that he can apply to his own life and work, and share with other leaders and church leadership teams. I would agree with that, as well as writing book reviews to share with others what I learned by reading each book.

In addition to reading, he also mentions learning by listening to podcasts and attending conferences, two ways of learning that I enjoy as well. I like to listen to podcasts while walking our dog or just on my regular afternoon walk. My wife and I enjoy learning at conferences, and are regular attendees at the Ligonier National Conference, The Gospel Coalition National Conference and the Sing! The Getty Music Worship Conference.

Another area where Kraft and I agree is the importance of leaders being teachable. Kraft tells us that truly teachable leaders will not only allow, but also welcome others speaking into their lives—exhorting them, rebuking them, reproving them.

I can’t stress enough the importance of being a lifelong learner. I’ve been retired eight years as of this writing, and am still excited about learning.

What would you add about being a lifelong learner?

 

Dan Hurley is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Connecticut. He won back-to-back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024. He tells his story and shares his leadership philosophies in his new book Never Stop: Life, Leadership, and What It Takes to Be Great, written with Ian O’Connor. Read my review of the book here.

Here are 20 of Hurley’s leadership lessons from the book:

Teaching them to be disciplined, to grow their minds as students while also growing their games, to build great relationships and be passionate about life. That’s me caring about them.I wanted to teach as much as I could, as quickly as I could, mature them and get them ready for the big, bad world.It was always also about giving them the mental toughness they need to be successful.I try to be a role model for my players—in every way. I walk it before I ever talk it. That’s a big reason why I get the buy-in.

You can’t appreciate your success until you realize it’s built on a foundation of failure.I started a book club for my players years ago.I wouldn’t be half the coach I want to be if I didn’t speak freely and frequently about my own struggles with mental health. Vulnerability shows strength.I don’t treat everybody the same. I coach my best players harder, hold them more accountable, watch them more closely than anybody else. If there’s a better leadership strategy than that, I’m not sure what it is.When a coach, or a program, prioritizes selflessness, as we do, it almost always has a catalyzing effect—it laces the whole group together tight.Yes, I’m demanding. What parent would want to send their kid to a coach who isn’t demanding?We will not ever lower our expectations, not for any recruit, not for any generation.Body language is so important when you’re the point guard or the quarterback. It’s also important when you’re leading an organization.I must have been a gladiator in another life. Because I coach every practice like it’s the last one I’ll ever coach. I show up for every game like I’ve never won a game in my life. Like I’ve never won anything.When I think back on the darkest times of my life, they’re united by one common theme: Either I didn’t have clearly defined standards for myself, or else I wasn’t living up to my own standards. Either way, those dark times taught me that standards are everything. And at UConn, it all starts with our standards.I don’t believe in compromising on standards, but I’ve had to learn to compromise on other things. Softer things, intangible things. Temperament, personality, that kind of stuff. I had to realize that compromising over personality isn’t compromising over morals or precepts or core values. That was a huge leadership lesson for me.Sometimes leadership means having the courage to change, and sometimes it means having the courage to resist change.I always think that part of being a leader is knowing exactly how hard you’re being on your people.Pushing players to the max should be the norm. And it used to be. But these days we’ve allowed people to grow soft. Which is ironic because life is only getting harder.Coaches should be demanding, and they should make their players tougher—give them the physical and emotional armor they’re going to need to survive and thrive in this world.I was no longer compulsively drawn to pure athletic talent alone. I looked deeper, thought harder, about the kinds of people I wanted around me, in the building. Coaches can overlook character issues for the sake of talent. And we weren’t about to do that.

In 42 seasons as head men’s basketball coach at Duke, Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, a Naismith Hall of Fame coach, was a five-time national champion and NCAA record 13-time Final Four participant. No coach in Division I men’s basketball history won more games than Coach K’s 1,202. Coach K served as head coach at both Duke and Army West Point, finishing his amazing career with a 1,202-368 record, including a 1,129-309 mark at Duke.

Coach K also contributed significantly to USA Basketball. Beginning in 1979 he was a member of 21 USA coaching staffs, and teams with Coach K on the coaching staff compiled a 139-7 overall mark for an amazing 95.2 winning percentage. In the 15 international competitions he has been involved in as a USA head or assistant coach, those teams have captured 11 gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals.

What can leaders learn from Coach K? Fortunately, we can learn from the books he has written and from books others have written about him. I have read his books Leading with the Heart: Coach K’s Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life, Beyond Basketball: Coach K’s Keywords for Success, and The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team. I’ve also read Ian O’Connor’s biography Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski. From these books here are 20 helpful leadership quotes from Coach K:

The only way you can possibly lead people is to understand people. And the best way to understand them is to get to know them better.Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do in the best possible manner at the time you are supposed to do it.Goals are important in leadership. They should be realistic, they should be attainable, and they should be shared among all members of the team.In leadership, no word is more important than trust.A leader has to have the courage to make a key decision in a split second. And then he has to have the courage to live with it afterward—whether it succeeds or fails. Because if he doesn’t, he’ll be afraid to make the next key decision.When a leader makes a mistake and doesn’t admit it, he is seen as arrogant or untrustworthy. And “untrustworthy” is the last thing a leader wants to be.A leader must be committed to helping people grow.My hunger is not for success; it is for excellence. Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.The main job of a leader is to inspire.Integrity is nothing more than doing the right thing no matter who’s watching you.You have a choice. You can either change with the environment or you will eventually fail. A leader has to find a way to win.Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication.Dependability is the ability to be relied upon. To always be there trying to do your best.Progress is impossible if you only attempt to do the things that you have always done.Pride means ensuring that anything that you do, anything that has your name on it, is done right.Ambition alone is not enough. That ambition must be coupled with hard work for success to be achieved.Work is a necessity if you want to improve. It is the road you have to follow to become better.In developing teams, I don’t believe in rules. I believe in standards. Rules don’t promote teamwork, standards do.Leaders should remember that not all the good ideas have to come from the top, and they should be secure enough to change plans based on the input of the team.Self-assessment is not a thing that you do once in a while; it is something that should be taking place all the time.

Spiritual Formation and the Reformation: Comer, Willard, Calvin. Is spiritual formation that moves beyond the practices of the Reformation what we need to help with our disillusionment with evangelicalism? Michael Horton discusses the contemporary spiritual formation movement most notably associated with John Mark Comer and heavily influenced by the late Dallas Willard, and compares its emphases to the hallmarks of Reformation piety.How to Let Scripture Interpret Scripture. Benjamin Gladd and Nancy Guthrie outline principles for making sound biblical connections, tracing themes in the text, and avoiding common pitfalls of biblical interpretation.FOREVERGREEN. Enjoy the Academy Award nominated animated short film with a gospel message. The thirteen-minute film was directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears. Read Brett McCracken’s interview with Engelhardt and Spears about the making of Forevergreen, how Christian artists tell stories, and what they think of AI’s disruption in the arts.

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More interesting article linksFavorite Quotes of the Week

Five Escapes From Dry Devotions. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “My question comes out of APJ 1713: ‘John Piper’s Ministry in One Bible Text.’ In that episode you mentioned habits of ‘observation and analysis and text querying’ that were extremely fruitful and irreplaceable for you when you studied in Germany. You said they formed a ‘habit of mind’ that made you impatient with the gamesmanship that stayed at the grammatical-logical-historical level but never pushed beyond the words to the realities behind them. My question centers on those habits. What are they, specifically? Do they differ from standard seminary classroom hermeneutics? And what do you mean by pushing beyond the grammatical-logical-historical level? As an aspiring pastor, I have been taught the grammatical-historical method. Is this method insufficient?”Your Main Calling in the End Times. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the questions “In our Matthew 24:3–14 reading today, Jesus describes signs of the end times, such as wars, famines, earthquakes, and false prophets. As you see events in the news, natural disasters, political unrest, or the spread of fake news and deception online, do you think of this passage and its warning? How does this text shape your understanding of world events? Jesus calls these ‘the beginning of the birth pains,’ reminding us that such troubles are part of the world’s history before his return. When you encounter these signs in the media, do they deepen your sense of urgency to live faithfully and share the gospel?”What Bible Translation Should I Use? Thomas Keene answers this question on this episode of Wisdom Wednesday.Everything Happens for a Reason. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “Pastor John, how does Paul’s promise in Romans 8:28that ‘all things work together for good’ reframe our understanding of suffering, inviting us to trust God’s providence even during pain and hardship? When facing difficult circumstances, how does embracing God’s comprehensive sovereignty foster patience and hope rather than despair? I’m just beginning to make these connections and would love to hear your thoughts.”How Has Your Study of the Holy Spirit Influenced Your Ministry? Sinclair Ferguson explains how his study has affected his own life and ministry.Your Only Roadblock to Heaven. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “In Romans 10:12–13, one of our readings today, Paul clearly affirms that salvation is available to all, regardless of background or ethnicity: ‘For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”’ That’s the NASB translation. So, does this mean that anyone can get saved?”Stop Waiting for a Sign. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to a question that reads in part “Should I really be planning to pack my bags for overseas missions unless I get some supernatural stop sign from God? Or is there a more balanced way to discern whether God is actually calling me to missions work specifically?”How Can The Heavens Declare God’s Righteousness? What does Scripture mean when it says that “the heavens declare the glory of God”? Robert Godfrey reflects on this phrase from the Psalms and considers how creation testifies to God’s glory and righteousness.Made Lonely By Holiness. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “When I look at my peers, young Christians, I see such nominal faith. From Scripture, shouldn’t we see believers pursuing personal holiness? And yet I rarely see this. I feel this loneliness in my life when it comes to entertainment. I’m often the only one offended by vulgar pop lyrics or crude video clips, while diversions consume too much of many Christians’ lives anyway. When I see what my supposed brothers and sisters find meaningful, I think, ‘There is nothing for me here.’ How do I handle the isolation I feel when my convictions seem so different from other believers, and when I feel increasingly isolated from friends over this?”

How Does Reformed Theology View the Future of Israel Compared to Dispensationalism? How does Reformed theology understand the future of Israel? And how does this view compare to the theology of dispensationalism? From one of Ligonier’s live events, Derek Thomas and Stephen Nichols discuss God’s great plan of salvation.Dying to Live. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “In Romans 12 to 15, Paul offers practical guidance for Christians living in response to God’s mercy. He begins by urging believers to offer their bodies ‘as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,’ in Romans 12:1, which seems like a rather obscure and radical calling. What does this mean to live as ‘a living sacrifice’ in our daily lives? Paul also calls us to ‘not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind’ in Romans 12:2. How does this transformation manifest in a Christian’s thoughts, decisions, and actions, especially when we face fierce social pressures to conform to anything but Christ?”

The Last Reformed Blogger. Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra offers this profile of Tim Challies, a blogger I have read every day for several years.What About the Children? The Disaster & Consequences of Obergefell — A Conversation with Katy Faust. On this episode of Thinking in Public, Albert Mohler speaks with founder and president of Them Before Us, Katy Faust. Mrs. Faust also spearheads the Greater Than Campaign, a coalition dedicated to overturning Obergefell and defending the rights of children in the law and society at large. The Greater Than Campaign and its related issues are the topic of this conversation.Welcome Back Church Planting. Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra writes “In 2021, signs of a new church-planting party began to appear.”

A believer, at death, will be the happiest loser and the happiest gainer. He will lose his sins; he will gain glory. Thomas Watson Pray when you feel like it. Pray when you don’t feel like it. Pray until you feel like it. H.B. Charles Jr. Beware of both undevotional theology and untheological devotion. Michael ReevesOur culture tells us that the problem is outside us and the solution is inside us. The gospel tells us that the problem is inside us and the solution is outside us. Dane Ortlund No one has ever lived above the need for God’s rescuing, forgiving, accepting, transforming, empowering and delivering grace. No one. Paul Tripp Be merciful to yourselves. Seek the Lord early, and so you will be spared many a bitter tear. J.C. Ryle His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners after great lengths of time and then gives great favors and great privileges and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God. Charles Spurgeon Faithful preaching is the essential mark of the true church, because if a church faithfully preaches the Word and allows its life to be shaped by it, everything will eventually fall into its proper place. H.B. Charles Jr.When God begins a fresh work, He sets His people to praying. Matthew Henry

Faith and Work News ~ Links to Interesting Articles

Finding a Job That Fits. Are you in the right job? On this episode of Renewing Your Mind, R.C. Sproul gives practical guidance to help us seek a vocation where our gifts align with the motivation necessary to succeed.The Multitasking Myth. Reagan Rose writes “What I’ve found is that disciplining myself to finish one task before moving to the next isn’t just more effective. It’s actually more fulfilling.”Christlike Work in a Burnout Society. Kyle Tucker writes “In the malaise of modern work, God offers us a hopeful alternative. First Thessalonians 4:9–12presents a theology of work rooted in divine love, quiet ambition, and missional living.Three Myths About Aging In the Third Third of Life. Amy Hanson writes “I have found that the third third of life tends to be viewed the most negatively in culture. We are conditioned at a young age to see aging as a bad thing and something to avoid.”

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

More links to interesting articlesThe Top 10 Faith and Work Quotes of the WeekWork and Leadership Book Review ~ The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team by Mike Krzyzewski with Jamie K. SpatolaQuotes from the book Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work by Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels

Serving Others Through Our Work. Russ Gehrlein appeared as a guest on the Embrace Our Callingpodcast, hosted by Marcus Mok, on Sunday, January 25. Russ and Marcus discussed several faith and work concepts found in Russ’s book, Immanuel Labor: God’s Presence In Our Profession, and life lessons Russ has learned throughout his career. Below is a partial transcript of their conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity. Read part one of this conversation or listen to the full conversation.Called to Lead. My book Called to Lead: Living and Leading for Jesus in the Workplace is available in both a paperback and Kindle edition. Read a free sample (Introduction through Chapter 2).How Are We Supposed to Rest on Sunday? Megan Hill shares several ways to rest with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s Day.Ground Rules for Gospel Greatness. Dave Harvey writes “What are the ground rules for gospel greatness? If we don’t answer that, we’ll keep swinging between two familiar ditches—despair and denial.”Building Relationship Through Storytelling: A Conversation with Jennifer Ware. What does real connection look and feel like in our closest relationships? On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Dan talks with counselor Jennifer Ware about Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), how patterns of connection and disconnection shape marriages and families, and simple practices couples can use to deepen their bond. Jennifer also shares about STL Storytell, a St. Louis-based live storytelling event that helps people process and share their stories in community. Dan and Jenn discuss what it means to be a good listener and how storytelling can help us break out of loneliness.A Leader Worth Following. My new book A Leader Work Following: 40 Key Leadership Attributes and Applications to Masteris available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. Read a sample of the book (found under the book cover in the above link).How Do I Know If I’m Idolizing Work? Kaitlin Febles responds to the question “I work in finance. Besides having the gifts, opportunity, and desire to do this work, I also feel this is an area God has called me to work in. I really want to be excellent in it. But sometimes—OK, often—it’s hard to lay it down to focus on other priorities, like my family, my church, or my health. How do I know the difference between being diligent at work and making work an idol?”Why AI May Lead to More Work, Not Less. Jacqueline Isaacs writes “Christians ought not live in fear but should rather be at the forefront of utilizing new technologies to expand the possibilities of work in ways that allow more people to use their God-given gifts in service to others.”

Top 10 Faith and Work Quotes of the Week

Work of all kinds, whether with the hands or the mind, evidences our dignity as human beings—because it reflects the image of God the Creator in us. Tim KellerSuccess comes from building upon your strengths and making the most of them, not from bringing your weaknesses up to par John Maxwell A leader is first of all a repenter-in-chief. If I am not honest before God and others, I cannot lead anyone anywhere worth going. Jack MillerNo one has ever been called to do something he or she wasn’t suited for. Calling always matches who you are. John Maxwell Greatness is displayed in serving, not in being served. Alistair BeggIf the ultimate example of a leader is our Savior, who forsook his lofty place, suffered willingly and laid down his life for his own, then wherever we are called to lead, we should be known for humble, tender service, not for our power and control. Paul TrippGod has so much to say in the Bible about working, serving, and employment that it is a wonder how Christians made this major chunk of our lives seem so unimportant and “secular” in the sight and presence of God throughout the week. Bob Smart   Serving others is the only valid motivation for leadership. Patrick LencioniIf we take our meaning in life from our family, our work, a cause, or some achievement other than God, they enslave us. Tim Keller

WORK AND LEADERSHIP BOOK REVIEW:

The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team by Mike Krzyzewski with Jamie K. Spatola. Business Plus. 274 pages. 2009
*** ½

This book is part diary of Duke basketball coach Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski’s time as the coach of USA Basketball, culminating with the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and part leadership lessons. He writes that he is often asked how he builds a team. This book is his response to that question.
This book is divided into “times” and “moments”, with each chapter devoted to a particular quality of time he feels is vital to team building. Within each chapter, he includes some of the moments that defined that time for the USA Basketball Men’s National Team.
The USA had once dominated international basketball, but by 2004, when they lost the semifinal game in the Athens Olympics to Argentina, that was no longer the case. The USA had lost its competitive edge in international basketball.
A new approach was needed. When approached to be the first head coach under the new National Team concept by Jerry Colangelo, Coach K readily accepted the commitment. This was a three-year plan leading up to the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.
I enjoyed this book, the story about how he built his team, the three-year commitment he, his assistant coaches and players like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Jason Kidd made, and the drive to the Olympic gold medal in Beijing.
Here are twenty helpful leadership quotes from the book:

You do not select a team; you select a group of people and then work together to develop into a team.Your team-building plan must be personalized and specific to your personnel, your competition, your goal, and your leadership style.Leadership can be lonely. But I believe you can fight that loneliness by finding kindred spirits and surrounding yourself with those people who will bring out the best in you.When building a team, the members of that team need to be explicitly told what the parameters of their commitment are going to be, what is expected of them.In team building, you want this foundation to be one of trust and forthright communication. There shouldn’t be any surprises.Remember that choosing your people is the first decision you will make as a leader. Take the time to make it a good one.Take the time to gain perspective. Let that perspective operate along with your understanding of context. Context should serve as your guide in what you do on the court, or on the playing field, or in the boardroom. It brings about the feeling that what you are doing is of great consequence.To be a world-class champion, you have to have both context and perspective. You have to understand how big and how small you are, and be able to internalize both. When you have that combination, you can approach your undertaking at a new level, one that allows your emotions to bring out your best.The single most important factor in bringing a team together is the formation of relationships.The relationships that a leader wants to see develop among his or her team are based on communication.In developing teams, I don’t believe in rules. I believe in standards. Rules don’t promote teamwork, standards do.Leaders should remember that not all the good ideas have to come from the top, and they should be secure enough to change plans based on the input of the team.Great teams have multiple leaders, multiple voices. A major part of building a team is discovering who those voices will be and cultivating them, making sure that their leadership is established within your group.Take the time to cultivate leadership. Recognize that yours is not the only voice that your team wants or needs to hear, and be unselfish with your leadership.In the formation of teams, every single person must adapt. And for those who have met with much individual success, adaptability can be a challenge.A lesson that any team leader can learn is that it is important to give everyone some autonomy.I’ve always believed that failure can be an integral part of success. When you attempt something in which failure is possible, you test your limits. Failure requires you to reevaluate.Internal leadership is good for a lot of things, but the team leader is the one who needs to step up when it’s time for confrontation.Self-assessment is not a thing that you do once in a while; it is something that should be taking place all the time.I believe that a common mistake that leaders make is not motivating their best people.

Faith and Work Book Club – Won’t you read along with us?

Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work by Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels 
Please join us in reading this book on faith and work.

From the Amazon description:
“In a world where workplaces are becoming increasingly diverse, Working for Better by Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels offers a timely guide for Christians navigating the modern faith-at-work landscape. Drawing from over twenty years of research and personal insights, Working for Better presents a groundbreaking exploration of how to express Christian faith in professional settings without compromising beliefs or alienating others.
Through detailed studies involving focus groups, surveys of more than 15,000 workers, and interviews with over 300 individuals, Ecklund and Daniels identify five key tensions in the faith-at-work movement. With compelling stories and practical applications, Working for Better addresses the need for Christian workers and leaders to adapt to cultural shifts, offering guidance for a more redemptive presence at work. Each chapter concludes with thought-provoking questions for individual reflection or group discussion, making this book an essential resource for anyone seeking to integrate faith with their professional life. Whether you’re a Christian worker, workplace leader, or pastor guiding others, Working for Better invites you to consider how to flourish in a rapidly changing world.
As workplaces continue to evolve, the ability to maintain one’s spiritual values while contributing positively to the organizational culture becomes ever more crucial. Working for Better not only equips readers with the wisdom and tools needed to face such challenges but also inspires them to become agents of change, promoting a more inclusive and harmonious work environment.”

This week, we look at the Preface: Why This Book? Here are a few helpful quotes from the chapter:

One of the best ways we can live out our calling as Christians in the workplace is to radically embrace those who are different from ourselves.That is what you will find in this book: a research-based examination of how religion and spirituality enter the workplace, how American workers see the connections between faith and work, and how organizational leaders can understand and lead religiously diverse, faith-friendly workplaces.At the end of each chapter, we have provided some reflection questions. These questions will be useful to individuals or groups.In most chapters we also include questions that are designated for faith communities.

In the organization that I worked at, there were three “Obligations of Leadership” for all of our leaders. They were: drive results, build a high performing work environment and develop people. I believe that’s a good summation of what the obligations of each leader should be. However, the achievement of each of these obligations was not rewarded equally. What I tended to see was that those who drove results were rewarded and recognized at a higher level than those who built a high performing work environment or those who excelled at developing others. And as important as those latter things are, organizations pay leaders to drive results and move their organizations forward. In our series on leadership attributes, we now look at the importance of leaders driving results. A leader who is results driven excels in many leadership attributes and competencies. Briefly, here are 10 of them:

Focus. A leader has to deal with many important issues. Those who are successful at driving results are able to focus on what is most important, and create a sense of urgency while successfully managing multiple priorities.

Accountability. Leaders who drive results have a high degree of accountability and build a sense of accountability into their team members.

Decision Making. Leaders who drive results excel at effective decision making, making decisions that are in line with the vision of the organization.

Asking the Right Questions. John Maxwell wrote an entire book about good leaders asking great questions. Asking the right question is often how problems are solved, which aids in driving results.

Servant Leadership. Ken Blanchard has written that the only way to create great relationships and results is through servant leadership. The role of the servant leader is to help their team members and their organization be successful.

Communication. A leader who drives results needs to be able to clearly communicate to their team members and organization what is needed to achieve results.

Vision. A leader who drives results needs to develop and clearly communicate a vision of where the organization is going.

Inspire and Motivate. A leader who drives results must be able to inspire and motivate their team members to buy into their vision.

High Integrity and Trust. A leader who drives results demonstrates integrity and builds trust with their followers.

Humility. In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins stated that Level 5 leaders display a powerful mixture of personal humility and indomitable will. Randy Conley writes that authentic leaders display humility, admit what they don’t know, walk their talk, own up to their mistakes, and do what they say they will do.

Self-Discipline. A leader who drives results must demonstrate self-discipline. John Maxwell has written that without exception, great leaders always have self-discipline.

These are just 10 competencies or attributes of leaders who drive results. There are many more. Which of these would you say is most important? What would you add to the list?

This is an Adapted Excerpt From My Book “A LEADER WORTH FOLLOWING:
40 Key Leadership Attributes and Applications to Master”.

Our Father in Heaven,

As Christians around the world celebrate Resurrection Sunday, we thank you for the sacrifice that your Son made on our behalf, a sacrifice we don’t consider, meditate on, or give thanks for often enough. Sadly, for many, it’s only during this time of the year that much thought is given to Jesus’ resurrection.
In perfect unity with you and the Holy Spirit, Jesus willingly came to earth as a human, as one of us, enduring suffering and temptation just as we do, but without sin. From the beginning, Jesus knew that His earthly mission would end up on a cruel Roman cross. He prayed in the garden that His cup would pass, but He was always in complete submission to Your will.
In the “Great Exchange” on the cross, Jesus took on himself the sins of all Christians – past, present and future. In exchange, He gave us His righteousness. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

But Jesus didn’t stay in the grave. On the third day He arose! Death is swallowed up in victory. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! And because He has risen, we know that we too will rise and reign with him forever.     

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross

(“This is Amazing Grace” Phil Wickham)

Father, Kevin DeYoung tells us that the resurrection means the death of Jesus was enough – enough to atone for sin, enough to reconcile us to You, Father, enough to present us holy in Your presence. Christ won; sin, death, and the devil lost – that’s the good news of the empty tomb.

Because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are guaranteed that in heaven there will be no more sadness, suffering, departing of loved ones. For:

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  (Revelation 21:4)

Father, we thank you for the perfect, obedient life of Jesus. We thank you for His sacrificial death on a cross. And, we thank you for His resurrection, which offers hope, to a world that has lost hope.

We pray this in Jesus’ precious name,  Amen