“Grace is that aspect of divine action by which God blesses his rebellious creatures, whether through preservation (common grace) or salvation (special grace). It characterizes the manner in which he deals with those who through their rejection of him as their Creator and sovereign deserve nothing from him and yet whom he still chooses to bless.” (Carl R. Trueman, Grace Alone–Salvation as a Gift of God: What the Reformers Taughts…and Why It Still Matters [The Five Solas Series])

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I hope this week gave you time to spend with the Lord in prayer and reading His Word. There are, of course, many links to help drive you back to both, so here they are!

• Last week I posted an article responding to a hypothetical scenario involving a five-year-old girl, and 1,000 embryos. Timothy Brahm at Equal Life Institute, gives four practical tips to remember when dialoguing with people who disagree with you on the issue of abortion. ()
• Joe Carter over at the TGC blog writes on the current STD crisis, and how it has become a pro-life issue for those in the womb.
• David Powlison, executive director at CCEF, was interviewed about the doctrine of sanctification and how it works, stemming from his new book on the topic. Very insightful.
• Desiring God is finishing up their series on the many heroes of the Reformation. This week they highlight John Calvin, Robert Estienne, Pierre Viret, Lady Jane Grey, and Theodore Beza. With these many heroes, you may think the Reformation was filled with awesome men who didn’t have many flaws. Well, you’d be sorely mistaken, and that actually gives us a lot of hope, as Scott Hubbard writes about pursuing the full context of each Reformer and not whitewashing our heroes.
• Is there anything to learn in your season of depression, should you ever encounter it? Shona Murray, wife of pastor and professor David Murray, writes of some unchanging truths and practical needs that she learned in that time, and hopes it will be of benefit to others.

That’s all for this week! Please pray for flocks tonight and tomorrow, as most of our church will be in homes reviewing the previous Sunday’s sermon, as well as getting to know one another from different affinity groups. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria