Ivan Mesa

One of the best decisions I made during my PhD journey was hiring an editor to come alongside me in the writing process. It saved me dozens of hours, spared me countless headaches, helped refine my writing, and gave me the extra motivation to finish strong. But finding the right editor can feel overwhelming, and the whole process can be confusing. That’s why I started Inkling Editing. The name draws inspiration from the legendary Inklings—the group that included C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien—who gathered in an Oxford pub to critique and support one another’s work. Like them, I believe writing thrives in community—and that community should always include a good editor. If you’re a PhD or DMin student working on a dissertation or thesis (or some other related project), we’d love to come alongside you. Visit our website to learn more: inklingediting.co

Lord, have mercy! thegospelcoalition.org/article/king-j…

My spiritual life can’t be told apart from the ministry of John MacArthur (1939–2025). When I was 21, I was able to attend my first Shepherds’ Conference and thank him in person for his ministry and incalculable influence on me. I’m eternally grateful.

Out this August: “The Jews in English Baptist Eschatology.” One of the joys I’ve had in recent years has been to trace the rich and varied history of Christian philosemitism in contrast to our age of antisemitism. (All for the low price of $161!😅) amzn.to/4k1Bomp

If you’re a pastor or church leader, we’d love to invite you to a Zoom conversation next week (Tuesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. ET) as we reflect on the spiritual and ministry implications of our always-online, constantly-scrolling culture.​ Sign up: eventbrite.com/e/ministry-in-…

Neil Postman has been a conversation partner in my life for over two decades. This is our humble attempt to engage his ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ 40 years later. (They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but this one might be the exception.) amzn.to/3RgjWi0

The breadth of what we do at @TGC is breathtaking at times—like, you know, casually producing an album themed on the gospel as we get ready to celebrate our 20th anniversary. These songs will minister to your soul as they have mine. thegospelcoalition.org/article/winner…

Good day at @TGC—and an answer to much prayer! @MarkVroegop is our new president. thegospelcoalition.org/press-release/…

Here’s what I wrote to a friend re: ‘Wind and Truth’ (no spoilers). I want to give this book 5 stars, since it's still classic Sanderson, but it suffers from bloat, repetition, uneven pacing, repetition (did I say this already?). When you compare ‘Wind and Truth’ with ‘Way of Kings,’ you see that Sanderson has both improved as a writer and yet the tight narrative pacing of the first book is missing. The somber and serious tone, with an other-worldly feel is gone and replaced with a number of fourth-wall breaking moments that hinders the Cosmere. Some of this was present in ‘Rhythm of War,’ but it’s more apparent here. When you add some of the homoerotic moments, the “our world” expletives and phrasing, emphasis on mental health, characters that check off identity politics boxes, the telling rather than showing, and the humor that isn’t funny, you get a story that feels a little eclipsed. Yet, what I can say? I still love this series, and this book—the first narrative arc of five books in the projected 10-part series—is a gem of a story with memorable characters and a number of surprising twists that gave me satisfaction. So bottom line: I do think it’s worth finishing. I’m not overlooking the issues, but the payoff is worth it.

Much of my life revolves around the internet. In some ways, it’s made me a better Christian, exposing me to content, networks, people that have enriched my life. But it’s also at times presented unique challenges as I seek to live a Godward life—alive to the Lord and to the needs around me. This is why @brettmccracken and I enlisted a group of contributors to help Christians and church leaders think carefully about the spiritual hazards—and opportunities—of contemporary digital life. 📲Learn more and preorder: thegospelcoalition.org/article/scroll…

@craigexendine Great question! Editors don’t write for the client. We explicit forbid ghostwriting. Several institutions I know actually encourage students to seek editorial help for everything from simple proofreading to formatting help. (And of course publishers pay editors to edit books.)

One of the best decisions I made during my PhD journey was hiring an editor to come alongside me in the writing process. It saved me dozens of hours, spared me countless headaches, helped refine my writing, and gave me the extra motivation to finish strong. But finding the right editor can feel overwhelming, and the whole process can be confusing. That’s why I started Inkling Editing. The name draws inspiration from the legendary Inklings—the group that included C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien—who gathered in an Oxford pub to critique and support one another’s work. Like them, I believe writing thrives in community—and that community should always include a good editor. If you’re a PhD or DMin student working on a dissertation or thesis (or some other related project), we’d love to come alongside you. Visit our website to learn more: inklingediting.co

Last week was a joy-filled week as I graduated from @SBTS with a PhD in church history and theological studies. This has been an immense stewardship, one that I’ve relished from beginning to end. I’m grateful for God’s empowering grace.

Looking for an Advent devotional? Our staff at @TGC wrote a 25-day devotional using the biblical passages from Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ my all-time favorite oratorio. Link: store.thegospelcoalition.org/product/978195…

I’m grateful for the many people who have prayed for me, supported me, and encouraged me along the way, and for the triune God of grace who has enabled me to labor in this work. (I had to hold the iPad with Michael Haykin. Though absent in the body, he was present on Zoom. 😂)

I successfully defended my PhD dissertation at @SBTS. I focused on English Baptists and their views of the Jewish people (17th–19th centuries). Oddly (providentially?) enough, today marks the one-year anniversary of the massacre of innocent Jews in Israel.

Fun fact on the cover: the repeated titles and vertical text suggest endless, mindless activity. The digital/pixel texture and smudge effects reinforce repetitiveness. They used isopropyl alcohol and scanned it back into Photoshop for an effect in the design. Kudos to @crossway!

I’m thrilled to announce a new project: ‘Scrolling Ourselves to Death,’ edited by @brettmccracken and me, to mark the 40th anniversary of Neil Postman’s classic, ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ (2025). Pre-order: amzn.to/3NfdExa

Moral clarity allows for suitably one-sided prayer. It’s right to pray for the swift defeat of Hamas. The murderous operations room of Hamas will never provide good leadership for the Palestinians living in Gaza. thegospelcoalition.org/article/israel…

When it comes to Israel, we believe this is a moment when it’s not only possible but necessary to speak out with moral clarity. Christians should lead the way. 🇮🇱 thegospelcoalition.org/article/israel…

I happily break my Twitter fast to announce the winners of the 2022 @TGC Book Awards. Congratulations!