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Barnabas Piper has a new book called Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life's Most Elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality. Several months ago he asked me to read it and consider writing the foreword, since happiness in Christ is a topic close to my heart. This foreword I wrote is not only an invitation to read that book but also an invitation to pursue a life of happiness in Jesus.

God does not permit evils arbitrarily, but with purpose. Everything he permits matches up with his wisdom and ultimately serves his holiness, justice, love and grace. As Joni Eareckson Tada puts it, “God permits what he hates to achieve what he loves.”

We have to look at our lives as a window of opportunity, because none of us has unlimited time. Everyone, no matter who they are, has 168 hours a week, and we’re supposed to spend about a third of it sleeping, and then another large amount of that likely goes to work. But in terms of what we call discretionary time, how much do we actually have? And how are we spending it?

When I was emailing with a friend recently about the issues surrounding the election, she shared the encouragement she has found in Hebrews 12:25-29, which talks about God's unshakeable kingdom.

To rule on the New Earth will be to enable, equip, and guide, offering wisdom and encouragement to those under our authority. 

"Much of the history of Christianity has been devoted to domesticating Jesus—to reducing that elusive, enigmatic, paradoxical person to dimensions we can comprehend, understand, and convert to our own purposes. So far it hasn’t worked." —Andrew Greeley

I highly recommend It’s All About Jesus to anyone who already trusts and follows Him. This book will help increase your desire to know Him more intimately. I would also certainly recommend it to those who may only know OF Jesus. This book could be a significant help to you in your search for the truth about Him, and it should also reveal that life, like this book, is all about Jesus! —J.

Question from a Reader: Do you believe that Jesus taught immortal earthly life for the saved, universal salvation, or something else? What passages can you cite as proof of Heaven as the eternal destination for the saved, and Hell as an eternal existence for the ungodly?

Question from a Reader: I’m a deep thinker, and like to research and understand things. My friend tells me I shouldn’t rely on only my intellect as my ultimate authority, but if not, then what should I rely on? At the end of the day aren’t we all kind of stuck in terms of relying on whatever intellect is available to us? 

Many Christian fiction readers are familiar with Francine Rivers, an author whose books are exceptionally powerful, well-written, and always Christ-honoring. With her permission, I’m sharing this encouraging and beautiful story related to her book Redeeming Love.

In this excerpt from my novel Dominion, the main character Clarence Abernathy, a black journalist, shares about his experiences as a black man with his friend and coworker. What Clarence shares echoes what every black man, from poor guys to rich ones, told me when I interviewed many black Americans while researching Dominion.

I believe God has raised Ben Watson up to be a spokesman for two causes very close to the heart of God that are also two of the most controversial and important issues in American life: pro-life justice and racial justice. His strong and heartfelt pro-life commitment has driven him and his wife Kirsten to make a powerful new film called “Divided Hearts of America.”

"We write Jesus’ name upon our banner, for it is hell’s terror, heaven’s delight and earth’s hope." —Charles Spurgeon

As to whether God can resurrect a body, whether human or animal, that’s been cremated, that’s no problem whatsoever! As far as pets, that’s a personal decision. We did choose to cremate our pets who have died.