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Having grown up in a non-Christian home, and still vividly remembering my unbelief as a young teenager, I’m convinced that Christianity’s explanation of why evil and suffering exist beats that of any other worldview.

I deeply appreciate Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., just as I did his father and mother, who I’ve mentioned before. I have really enjoyed Ray’s powerful little book, The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ, which I would highly recommend to anyone desiring to start or help refocus a church on the Gospel.

Over the last several weeks, I’ve spoken at three great conferences across the country. I thought I’d share a short report on each in today’s post, along with some pictures and videos.

What if we serve the poor and do many good deeds before we receive the gift of salvation, and then receive Christ in the hospital a day before death? Will God reward people for works done for the right reasons even though they didn’t yet know Christ?

Question from a reader: I lost a child and am seeking hope and perspective. What resources would you recommend?

Every good thing can have a bad effect. The solution isn’t to avoid sponsoring children or to never support national ministries, but to exercise great care. We know that Christ commands us to give, to help the poor and needy, and to lay up treasures in Heaven. So the solution is not to give less, but to give carefully and wisely while still giving generously.

Nanci and I are in fact leaving some money to our kids and grandkids in our will, just not the bulk of what we leave behind. That’s  not a change. That has always been our plan. We believe it’s the most loving thing we can do for them, for our Lord, and for needy people.

One of the great ironies of gambling is that the vast majority of people lose money, while the few who win discover money doesn’t make them happy—and often it actually ruins their lives! One study reported that “six months after winning the lottery, you are likely to be no happier than if you had been paralyzed in a car crash.”

The Christian life is largely won and lost on the battlefield of ideas regarding what makes us happy. If we believe the lie that saying no to sin means saying no to happiness, then no amount of self-restraint will keep us from ultimately seeking happiness in sin.

Before I started Eternal Perspective Ministries, I served as a pastor for 14 years. When I was in the ministry, I found myself spending a great deal of time ministering to dying people and comforting their families. People look to pastors for guidance, help, and perspective during difficult times of life.

"How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it; if you could really look at other men with common curiosity and pleasure."

One day, we’ll understand that not knowing the exact day sooner didn’t prevent us from focusing on God’s goodness to us in Christ on crucifixion day.

Christians throughout church history understood that happiness, gladness, feasting, and partying are God’s gifts, yet many Christians today live as if faith drains happiness.

A few months ago when we were both speaking at an apologetics conference, I had the privilege of meeting Christopher Yuan, who is an author, speaker, and instructor at Moody Bible Institute.