Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 160

A Plea to Christian Men

One of my favorite bloggers is Tim Challies. Tim offers great insights and links to many interesting and free resources, and often recommends great books.

Recently, in the wake of yet another Christian leader found to have committed immorality, Tim posted a response, actually a plea to Christian men, written by his wife Aileen. I found it both concise and powerful. I believe it’s something all of us men, Christian leaders in particular, need to hear and heed—for the glory of Jesus and the good of our families and churches.

My Wife's Plea to Christian Men

Over the weekend I could see that Aileen had something on her mind. We spoke and she told me about reading the news, about seeing more Christian men fall into scandal, and, in the face of it all, her confusion, her despair, the crumbling of her hope. I asked if she would write about it. Here is what she said. —Tim Challies

How long ago was it now? Was it ten years? Twelve? How long has it been since I faced it for the first time? It was a whispered rumor here, a shaded suggestion there. Then it was the devastated wife weeping in my basement as I tried desperately to draw on some wisdom, some biblical truth, that would help her. Little did I know, all those years ago, that this was simply the tip of the iceberg. But I had hope.

Six years ago, Tim wrote Sexual Detox, and I followed up with False Messages. The number of letters we received shocked us—heart-breaking, soul-crushing emails from guilty men and women married to unfaithful husbands. I wrestled and fought to understand it all from a biblical perspective. Why do so many men, and even so many Christian men, have such weakness when it comes to sexual sin? But even then I still had hope, hope in the truth of the gospel, hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the years since, I have listened to more stories of more Christian men falling, wept with more women, and prayed a whole lot. I have tried to explain to women how their husbands think about sex: Your husband doesn’t just want it, he wantsyou. I’ve tried to tell them that sex is a good gift that God gives as a means of grace in marriage, a means of bonding a husband and wife together. I have counseled single young women to pursue purity. I have been teaching all the right stuff. And I have believed it all. I had hope.

Then came Ashley Madison and the suggestion that hundreds of pastors would have to resign after being caught with accounts on this website that glorifies adultery. And it’s not just pastors—hundreds of other Christian men, both single and married, have been caught up in the scandal. Now there are more broken homes, more devastated churches, more weeping wives, more mocking of God. And I have to tell you, this week, today, I am struggling to find hope.

I have fought to understand the struggle men face. I have fought to have compassion. I have encouraged wives to extend forgiveness, to willingly and joyfully give themselves to their husbands. But you know what? I just don’t know how I can keep doing it. Not when so many husbands are deceptively defiling the marriage bed. Not when so many young, single men are recklessly defiling the future marriage bed. Not when so many men seem just plain unwilling to change.

Men, you are supposed to be modeling holiness before the world (Titus 2:6-8). You are supposed to be cherishing your wives as Christ cherishes his church (Ephesians 5:25). You are supposed to be abstaining from all sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3). You are supposed to be fleeing youthful passions (2 Timothy 2:22). Why are so many of you failing at these basic tasks? Is it really that difficult? You would almost think that this one sin is beyond the power of the Holy Spirit.

You who keep choosing to sin, you who keep visiting those websites, you who have secret lives you keep hidden from your friends and your wives: Why won’t you stop? You know that God loves to give victory over every sin. You know that God calls you to pursue sanctification. You know that the Holy Spirit equips you to succeed. God has given you everything you need in the gospel. So why do you keep failing? The only conclusion I can come to is that you are so consumed with self-gratification that you are not willing to fight, and I mean really willing to fight, this sin. If it’s not that you can’t, it must be that you won’t.

I plead with you. I plead with you on behalf of your wives, on behalf of your future wives, on behalf of Christian women everywhere: Stop. Just stop.

Stop believing that this is a special sin that women just can’t understand—we do understand sin. This isn’t a special sin, it is just sin: God-belittling, Christ-mocking, Spirit-despising sin. Stop pretending like there are no future consequences to your actions. Stop putting your selfish desires first. Stop engaging in activities that bring shame on the gospel. Stop doing things that leave us picking up the pieces of your devastated wife. Stop indulging in your sin, and start thinking and acting like a God-honoring, Christ-praising, Spirit-glorifying man. For the love of God and his church, stop.

Note from EPM: for resources on this subject, see Randy's book The Purity Principle and booklet Sexual Temptation: Establishing Guardrails and Winning the Battle

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How Do I Talk to My Kids about Abortion?

Yesterday the ninth video exposé on Planned Parenthood from The Center for Medical Progress was released. You can watch it and read more on Justin Taylor’s blog .

As the video exposés about Planned Parenthood continue, those with children may be wondering how they can talk to them in age-appropriate ways about the value of life and the reality of abortion.

Someone recently wrote our ministry to ask:

I have four children, ages eight to almost two. At what age is it appropriate to talk to my young children about what's going on at Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics? Do you have any tips on how to talk to them about this issue?

EPM staff member Karen Coleman provided this great answer:

In Appendix 2 of Why ProLife? Randy gives a list of “Biblical Passages Relevant to Life Issues.” Those would be good passages to talk to your children about, to help them see God’s heart on the issue in a very general but Biblical way.

No one is born pro-abortion, and you can help them grow up knowing how much God is pro-life in every sense of the word. From that list, I would concentrate on the verses in section 5, “God has a special love for children.”

Since the oldest is only eight, you would not want to go into any great detail.  You could say, “There are people who don’t know God and don’t know how much He loves all children. We need to pray for them to come to know Jesus so that they understand His love for even little babies—even babies who aren’t born yet.”  

Your older children may remember when your wife was pregnant with the younger ones. You could use that as a general example, reminding them of the time before your youngest was born. Ask them if they think God loved that child when he or she was in your wife’s womb. They will instinctively know He did! If you want to add more information, you can have slightly different conversations with each of them, since the eight year old can understand much more than the littler ones.

I think you would want to stick to very general terms. They are too young to understand the videos, and might find them quite upsetting. There are many adults who are traumatized by seeing these videos, and you certainly don’t want to go there with your precious children. At their ages, I think they might even be upset by the concept of abortion as you would try to explain it. Many children would not be ready to comprehend more of the details of this issue until they hit junior high.

You and your wife know your children best—how sensitive they are, and how mature they are. You are the best judges of what they can handle, and what they would naturally find disturbing. Ask God for wisdom, and go slowly, speaking in generalities at first. You can always add more detail when you think they are ready, or when they show that by asking more questions.

Another powerful tool to teach children about the value of the unborn is intrauterine pictures (such as these) and ultrasound photographs. In years past, the biggest disadvantage to the preborn child has always been that there’s no window to the womb. But in recent years this has radically changed.

Expecting parents often share ultrasound pictures and video on social media. As you view these with your children, you can talk about how precious and fully human the babies are, and what a miracle that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

If you know your teenager and their level of sensitivity, they may be able to handle actually seeing a picture or video of an aborted baby, warning them it’s difficult to see, but knowing there’s validity in seeing with their own eyes what an abortion does. It’s similar to responses to the Holocaust: it was just something that happened until people saw actual pictures and realized the atrocities that were committed.

Teach older children and teens to say no to premarital sex. Teenage sexual abstinence is not only psychologically healthy, it’s the only sure way to prevent teen pregnancies. (Josh McDowell’s Why True Love Waits and How to Teach Your Child to Say No to Sexual Pressures, and James Dobson’s Preparing for Adolescence are helpful resources.) We can’t overemphasize the importance and the rewards of sexual purity!

But we should also tell them that regardless of anyone’s opinion about sex outside of marriage, pregnancy is not wrong, even if the act that resulted in pregnancy was. We should never try to cover one sin by committing a greater sin—abortion. Explain to your children that we should love and support women facing unplanned pregnancies, showing them the grace and truth of Jesus.

By teaching and modeling a love for people and children of all ages (see this article for ideas for making a prolife difference), we can pass on a prolife worldview to our children and generations to come.

Your hands shaped me and made me. …you molded me like clay. …You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. (Job 10:8, 9, 12)

The Biggest Story, a great new book from Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung has written a delightful new book that both young and old will enjoy. The Biggest Story is a small treatment of a huge theme—God’s drama of redemption, centered on Jesus Christ. Kevin’s words are fresh, engaging, playful, and biblical. Many Bible storybooks offer pearls without a string. This one puts the pearls on a string—the right one. The result is magnificent and memorable.

Here’s more about the book:

Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman. They were the happiest people on the planet. True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were still terrifically happy.

Unfortunately, things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long . . .

The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem his rebellious people.

In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of six—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.

With powerful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark, this imaginative retelling of the Bible’s core message—how the Snake Crusher brings us back to the garden—will draw children into the biblical story, teaching them that God's promises are even bigger and better than we think.

Ages 5-8 (read to me)

Ages 8-12 (read to myself)

Check out this excerpt from the book.

Why Are Anti-Judgmental People So Judgmental?

In our postmodern culture, the most quoted and widely recognized verse is not “For God so loved the world,” but “Judge not.” Being judgmental is seen by the world as the cardinal sin, the epitome of hypocrisy that Christians have a corner on.

But it’s not just the world that’s quick to label Christians as “judgmental.” Some Christians are often all too ready to call other believers judgmental.

There’s a growing trend I’ve noticed and have become concerned about: namely, that people who are anti-judgmental are SO judgmental of anyone else they perceive to be passing judgment. One, they’re often wrong; two, they’re just as harsh as those they condemn and continuously assume the worst.

It’s interesting when these attitudes come from people who pride themselves on their tolerance and constantly condemn others for being judgmental. Isn’t calling people hypocrites, when you don’t know them, their heart or their motives, somewhat judgmental?

This subject came to my attention several months back when I shared this on my Facebook page:

We are losing a sense of unique reverence for God. Terms such as “awesome” were once reserved for God, but now describe a good catch, new music download or a tasty corn dog.

Several commenters were quick to assume that I was judging those who used the word “awesome” and trying to make people feel guilty from speaking from their hearts, or they indicated that I was promoting legalism. An EPM staff member and I made clarifying statements in reply to some early comments, but other critical comments came in from those still assuming the post was “judgmental.” (By the way, I welcome comments on my Facebook page from those who disagree with me, as long as they’re respectful of others.)

But unfortunately, this “judgmental about those who are deemed as judgmental” attitude isn’t limited to social media. It transcends to doctrinal beliefs such as hell, in which those who believe what Jesus said in Scripture are accused of not being like Jesus. Meanwhile, those who don’t take Christ’s words about hell seriously commend themselves as being like Jesus. (Since Jesus taught the reality of eternal hell, who are we to think we’re too loving to believe there is such a place? Do we think we’re more loving than Jesus?)

I would encourage everyone to do this: don’t believe the worst, and be slow to label others as “judgmental.” Show respect and treat others with dignity. Above all, please don’t condemn people by presuming you know their motives. James 1:19 puts it this way: “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

 

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Prolifers Gather to Protest Planned Parenthood

Last Saturday, thousands of prolifers across the nation gathered at rallies in front of Planned Parenthood clinics. I’m grateful for everyone speaking up for the unborn, including John Piper, who shared these reflections from the protest in St. Paul. What he wrote so expresses my heart.

Someone recently asked me, “How does this current wave feel to you compared to what you experienced in the late 1980s?” When I and others, including John, spoke against Planned Parenthood 25 years ago, few listened. I'm grateful the truth is coming out.

Speak out for those who cannot speak,
    for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out, judge righteously,
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Eternal Perspective Ministries staff members Kathy Norquist and Stephanie Anderson, along with Kathy’s husband and two granddaughters, joined the rally in Portland, Oregon. Stephanie shared these thoughts:

I was privileged to be one of 300 plus people who joined a rally in front of the Portland, Oregon Planned Parenthood to protest their harvesting and selling of aborted baby parts. I’d never done anything like this before, but a friend’s invitation and John Piper’s words compelled me to take part. I knew attending a rally isn’t the most I can do to take a prolife stand, but it’s a start.

It was an eye-opening experience. At one point, a middle-aged woman jogged by, cutting a path through the people gathered. She didn’t stop to talk with anyone, but with every step, she rhythmically breathed out, “Choice. Choice.  Choice.” 

The general response from those driving by on the busy downtown street was half positive, half negative. There were a lot of obscene gestures and comments from drivers young and old. But there were also numerous supportive people waving, smiling, and honking their horns.

I was most struck by the contrast between the quiet, prayerful attitude of those at the rally and the demeanor of those mocking us. Watching their faces go by, they appeared angry, offended, sarcastic. I had to remind myself that they’re sinners just like me, and all of us are in desperate need of God’s grace and forgiveness. At least we could pray for them, knowing that it’s always possible for the Lord to touch and change hearts.

Most encouraging was seeing the variety of ages present, including lots of young adults. A friend and I appreciated a shirt that a young man wore. The front said, “Remember Dred,” and, “Am I not a man and a brother?” The back said, “Abolish Roe.” This was especially sobering remembering the horrific Dred Scott decision in 1857 which said that a black individual was not considered a person under the U.S. Constitution.

One young woman at the rally held a hand-drawn sign: “Black Lives Matter—Especially Young Ones.” Numerous African American drivers positively connected with her message, waving and giving her thumbs-up. I watched as a young black man drove by and yelled, “You’re all beautiful! Especially…”—and he pointed specifically to the girl and her sign—“YOU!” I thought her words and their responses were compelling, considering the high percentage of black babies aborted at this clinic, ironically located on a street named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Another protester held a sign marked with the words, “Let Justice Roll Down.” A friend remarked that it made him think of MLK, who used the phrase “Let justice roll down like water”, a reference to Amos 5:24, in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

Yes, Lord, may it be so.

Heaven’s Thrilling, All-Encompassing Worship

Most people know that we’ll worship God in Heaven. But they don’t grasp how thrilling that will be. Multitudes of God’s people—of every nation, tribe, people, and language—will gather to sing praise to God for his greatness, wisdom, power, grace, and mighty work of redemption (Revelation 5:13-14). Overwhelmed by his magnificence, we will fall on our faces in unrestrained happiness and say, “Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:9-12).

People of the world are always striving to celebrate—they just lack ultimate reasons to celebrate (and therefore find lesser reasons). As Christians, we have those reasons—our relationship with Jesus and the promise of Heaven. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3). Does this excite you? If it doesn’t, you’re not thinking correctly.

As I share in my book Heaven, I find it ironic that many people stereotype life in Heaven as an interminable church service. Apparently, church attendance has become synonymous with boredom. Yet meeting God—when it truly happens—will be far more exhilarating than a great meal, a poker game, hunting, gardening, mountain climbing, or watching the Super Bowl. Even if it were true (it isn’t) that church services must be dull, there will be no church services in Heaven. The church (Christ’s people) will be there. But there will be no temple, and as far as we know, no services (Revelation21:22).

Will we always be engaged in worship? Yes and no. If we have a narrow view of worship, the answer is no. But if we have a broad view of worship, the answer is yes. As Cornelius Venema explains, worship in Heaven will be all-encompassing: “No legitimate activity of life—whether in marriage, family, business, play, friendship, education, politics, etc.—escapes the claims of Christ’s kingship. . . . Certainly those who live and reign with Christ forever will find the diversity and complexity of their worship of God not less, but richer, in the life to come. Every legitimate activity of new creaturely life will be included within the life of worship of God’s people." [1]

Will we always be on our faces at Christ’s feet, worshiping Him? No, because Scripture says we’ll be doing many other things—living in dwelling places, eating and drinking, reigning with Christ, and working for Him. Scripture depicts people standing, walking, traveling in and out of the city, and gathering at feasts. When doing these things, we won’t be on our faces before Christ. Nevertheless, all that we do will be an act of worship. We’ll enjoy full and unbroken fellowship with Christ. At times this will crescendo into greater heights of praise as we assemble with the multitudes who are also worshiping Him.

Worship involves more than singing and prayer. I often worship God while reading a book, riding a bike, or taking a walk. I’m worshiping him now as I write. Yet too often I’m distracted and fail to acknowledge God along the way. In Heaven, God will always be first in my thinking.

Even now, we’re told, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). That God expects us to do many other things, such as work, rest, and be with our families, shows that we must be able to be joyful, pray, and give thanks while doing other things.

Have you ever spent a day or several hours when you sensed the presence of God as you hiked, worked, gardened, drove, read, or did the dishes? Those are foretastes of Heaven—not because we are doing nothing but worshiping, but because we are worshiping God as we do everything else.

In Heaven, where everyone worships Jesus, no one says, “Now we’re going to sing two hymns, followed by announcements and prayer.” The singing isn’t ritual but spontaneous praise (Revelation 5:11-14). If someone rescued you and your family from terrible harm, especially at great cost to himself, no one would need to tell you, “Better say thank you.” On your own, you would shower Him with praise. Even more will you sing your Savior’s praises and tell of His life-saving deeds!

 

[1] Cornelius P. Venema, The Promise of the Future (Trowbridge, UK: Banner of Truth, 2000), 478.

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Experiencing Joy in Times of Discouragement

Like many of you, I periodically experience times of discouragement. During these times, I fight it by engaging in self-talk similar to Psalm 116:7—“Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.”

These words from Titus 3 have encouraged and renewed me. Each word is reason for praise:

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7)

These thoughts are based on the passage:

This is the redemptive power of God’s good news. When we receive good news it should make us happy. If the Gospel doesn’t make us happy, perhaps what we’ve accepted isn’t good news (and is therefore not the Gospel), but a burdensome bad-news religion. Or maybe we haven’t truly embraced it and experienced its implications in our hearts. We need to daily remind ourselves of what the gospel means, and cheer ourselves daily with God’s good news that should never get old for us.

Few of us will experience in our lifetimes as much utter desolation as Jeremiah faced. In a book written at a time in Israel’s history so sad that it is called Lamentations, there is still a transcendent happiness:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

This defies explanation. It is a joy that flows from being immersed in who God is and what He has done for us. It’s the new, fresh, daily experience and contemplation of the unceasing steadfast love of God, and His great faithfulness to us. What else can this do but make us happy and give us strength for the day ahead?

 

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Ed Welch Tells a Man’s Story of Asking Forgiveness from a Prostitute

Edward Welch is a counselor and faculty member at CCEF, the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. He’s also an excellent author. I used his book Addictions - A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel in a seminary class I taught years ago called Theology of Desire, and also highly recommend his wonderful book When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man.

CCEF frequently shares great material on their site, including this story from Ed about a man asking forgiveness from a prostitute. I especially appreciate that it shows the woman’s humanity.

Asking Forgiveness from a Prostitute

It seems obvious, but I have never suggested it: if a man has been with a prostitute, it is right for him to ask her forgiveness. Consider this story. 

Sex dominated this man’s life. He paid to get into nightclubs where he could meet women, and he paid to be with prostitutes. When he wasn’t strategizing how to have sex, he paid for pornography. 

How God gets our attention is a mystery, but he got this man’s attention. A relationship with a gentle, local pastor was one of the means. 

Read the rest on the CCEF blog.

photo credit: The mysterious girl via photopin (license)

Christ-honoring graphic novels, such as Eternity and The Apostle, can positively impact children and teenagers… and older people too!

Librarians and teachers know how important graphic novels can be in engaging young readers and even getting reluctant readers interested in books. —Graphic Novels for Young Readers

I’ve found that graphic novels are the easiest books on the planet to give away to young people. I’ve given away a lot of books and never have I seen eyes light up this way whether I’m handing them to a stranger at the gas pump or a kid in the neighborhood. When they have a gospel-centered message, they become a nonthreatening and easy means to share the gospel and/or reinforce biblical truth with young and old alike.

When I received the first copies of my new graphic novel The Apostle, I gave them to my excited grandsons (one of whom finished it in a day). Then I gave them to two teenage boys I didn’t know at a gas station, and their response was “Wow, this looks great” and “Cool, thanks, man.” As I drove away, they were turning the pages!

A couple of friends on Twitter recently wrote to let me know they were enjoying The Apostle:

Fantastic new graphic novel on the life of the Apostle Paul by @randyalcorn !! pic.twitter.com/cpaJbqrhtQ

— SheilaWalsh (@SheilaWalsh) August 5, 2015

I love this picture of Trillia Newbell’s son reading the book:

Thanks @randyalcorn for a copy of your graphic novel. My boy loves it! A great and creative way to teach the Bible. pic.twitter.com/RqD7tTq8vZ

— Trillia Newbell (@trillianewbell) August 6, 2015

Our ministry is also donating The Apostle to prisoners and groups that work with young people and those who speak English as a second language. (If you’re aware of a youth group or ministry in the U.S. that could use some complimentary copies for outreach, please send your request to info@epm.org.) The small number of words and all the pictures make it extremely readable and engaging. It’s like a movie in the form of a book. The graphic novel form is the “heart language” of many young people, but it’s also enjoyed by countless older folks.

I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of Eternity or The Apostle, or one of Kingstone’s other graphic novels, and read it yourself. If you’ve never read a comic or graphic novel, I predict you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you like it—and find it Christ-honoring. And I hope it will give you a vision for all the young people in your life you want to reach with the gospel.

Christ-honoring graphic novels, such as Eternity and The Apostle, can positively impact children and teenagers��� and older people too!

Librarians and teachers know how important graphic novels can be in engaging young readers and even getting reluctant readers interested in books. —Graphic Novels for Young Readers

I’ve found that graphic novels are the easiest books on the planet to give away to young people. I’ve given away a lot of books and never have I seen eyes light up this way whether I’m handing them to a stranger at the gas pump or a kid in the neighborhood. When they have a gospel-centered message, they become a nonthreatening and easy means to share the gospel and/or reinforce biblical truth with young and old alike.

When I received the first copies of my new graphic novel The Apostle, I gave them to my excited grandsons (one of whom finished it in a day). Then I gave them to two teenage boys I didn’t know at a gas station, and their response was “Wow, this looks great” and “Cool, thanks, man.” As I drove away, they were turning the pages!

A couple of friends on Twitter recently wrote to let me know they were enjoying The Apostle:

Fantastic new graphic novel on the life of the Apostle Paul by @randyalcorn !! pic.twitter.com/cpaJbqrhtQ

— SheilaWalsh (@SheilaWalsh) August 5, 2015

I love this picture of Trillia Newbell’s son reading the book:

Thanks @randyalcorn for a copy of your graphic novel. My boy loves it! A great and creative way to teach the Bible. pic.twitter.com/RqD7tTq8vZ

— Trillia Newbell (@trillianewbell) August 6, 2015

Our ministry is also donating The Apostle to prisoners and groups that work with young people and those who speak English as a second language. (If you’re aware of a youth group or ministry in the U.S. that could use some complimentary copies for outreach, please send your request to info@epm.org.) The small number of words and all the pictures make it extremely readable and engaging. It’s like a movie in the form of a book. The graphic novel form is the “heart language” of many young people, but it’s also enjoyed by countless older folks.

I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of Eternity or The Apostle, or one of Kingstone’s other graphic novels, and read it yourself. If you’ve never read a comic or graphic novel, I predict you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you like it—and find it Christ-honoring. And I hope it will give you a vision for all the young people in your life you want to reach with the gospel.