Jacob Webb

The conservative who stands under the authority of the Scripture and with the Confession of Faith must stay awake, alert, active, informed and steadfast. John E. Richards, Presbyterian Churchman United, June 1971.

What are you listening to or reading right now? I finally cracked and started a Wendell Berry book.

@BerithPress Със удоволствие, братко.

@Jacob_A_Webb Grātiās tibi agō, amīce.

When you just want to help folk learn Latin, but you remember this is Twitter

@james_d_baird Glad to see that he engaged with him here. I hope to see a similar engagement by the study committee. I wonder if they have reached out to @PerfInjust for questions or clarifications on his work?

DeYoung says in his dissertation that one of his goals is to develop Stephen Wolfe’s analysis of Witherspoon

@MeltonDuncan Our big tent already feels as if it’s ripping at the seams.

A provocative take. #PCAGA people what are your thoughts?

@ReformedTrain @Jeff1Early My family loved our time there this past Christmas season. It captured my daughter’s imaginations. They are still playing “Biltmore.”

@Jeff1Early but you should see it lit up at Christmas

Took my family to the Biltmore estate today. The house seems a little over hyped.

@james_d_baird @presbycast Reminds me of the contrast in beauty I would see daily when I lived in Bulgaria. The lifeless architecture of the communist and the beautiful structures that predate them made for quite the juxtaposition.

@presbycast looks like that was designed by atheistic government to me kinda the sorta thing you’d expect meanwhile:

"govermment must promote true construction techniques" A government committee, employee, or appointee is responsible for this, but yes, allow the government (level rarely specified) to determine the "true religion" and call theological balls and strikes.

@thisisfoster This is a great application of Newport’s work. I needed this reminder today.

In his book Deep Work, Cal Newport talks about the concept of an “any benefit” mentality. What is that? Newport explains the underlying presupposition: “You’re justified in using a network tool if you can identify any possible benefit to its use, or anything you might possibly miss out on if you don’t use it.” I see this mentality everywhere. Let me give you my favorite example: the news. I think the news is mostly a waste of time. Why? Postman captures my thinking, “[M]ost of our daily news is inert, consisting of information that gives us something to talk about but cannot lead to any meaningful action.” A news alert flashes across the screen: “Huge Earthquake in China.” So what? What does that have to do with me? I live in Ohio. I don’t have any direct connections to China. I’m not a global aid worker. This information is irrelevant to my life. Now, this is the point where a Christian will argue, “But but now you know how to pray for them.” Okay, I suppose that is a slight benefit. But let’s consider that in the light of opportunity cost. Opportunity cost is an economic principle which can be applied to any investment. It describes the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen. Here we are talking about how you spend or invest your time. You chose to spend an hour or, perhaps even, hours on news for the gain of seconds or minutes of prayer for folks in China. That’s the cited benefit. But what better opportunities did you lose out on? Where else could have you spent that time to get better benefits? The question isn’t if there is “any benefit.” You can cite a small benefit from most activities. The question is what is the good, the better, and the best use of your time. That takes discernment. Newport recommends you take what he calls the craftsman approach: “Identify the core factors that determine success and happiness in your professional and personal life. Adopt a tool only if its positive impacts on these factors substantially outweigh its negative impact.” This has become my guiding principle. I only add “faithfulness to God” ahead of success and happiness. As my responsibilities have increased, I’ve gotten brutal in my application of this principle. If the benefit from an activity/investment doesn’t offset the opportunity cost, I kill it. At least, that is what I'm pushing for. Time and attention are our most precious resources. Choosing where to invest them is the key to a productive and, often, a happy life. Commenting on Ephesians 5:16, Matthew Henry writes: "It is a great part of Christian wisdom to redeem the time. Good Christians must be good husbands of their time, and take care to improve it to the best of purposes, by watching against temptations, by doing good while it is in the power of their hands, and by filling it up with proper employment, one special preservative from sin. They should make the best use they can of the present seasons of grace. Our time is a talent given us by God for some good end, and it is misspent and lost when it is not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must endeavour to redeem it by doubling our diligence in doing our duty for the future." This is our task. Let's get to it!

@CivEcclyMinded @lucasmiles @theinstitutefc @tpusafaith @coralridgepc Why does it look like he is at an open mic night at a comedy club?

@lucasmiles bringing the 🔥 at the @theinstitutefc pastor’s round table. Thank you @tpusafaith and @coralridgepc

Looking forward to doing the reading!

Remembering the pet fish tanks with live fish in Walmart

A surprising aspect about preaching through Daniel has been the challenge it poses to my prayer life. My prayers are often too small.

@BerithPress Maybe we should all be reading more logic. x.com/Jacob_A_Webb/s…

We published our logic series because in modern theology discourse, there is often more heat than light. Many of us learned to run (read theological treatises implying the reader understood logic) before we could walk (understanding logic itself).

Thomas Witherow wrote, "The bulk of mankind are not intellectual enough to search for principles and weigh them." I wonder if it is a deficiency of intellect or if we are, by and large, unwilling to do the work? I suppose it could also be that we simply do not know how.

@Akordeonicus My church in South Carolina will be praying for y'all's continued growth. Blessings, brother.

@Jacob_A_Webb I am a member of his congregation

What a joy it has been to spend the day in worship and fellowship with my brother Saško. -The first Polish Presbytery has formed -Another church plant is on the way -Their translation and publiction ministry is thriving The Lord is at work in Poland!

@gospelinpoland It was great meeting your husband a few weeks ago at GPTS. I am very excited for your family! May the Lord bless the Labor of your hands in Poland.

@Jacob_A_Webb I’m so encouraged and excited to join that denomination soon! The Lord is doing a mighty work in Poland! 🇵🇱

@YianniVourtsis @gospelinpoland We first met a couple of years ago in Athens!

@Jacob_A_Webb Just had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife at Nate & @gospelinpoland home! Great to hear what the Lord is doing overseas.

@irishpresby What does "Revival Prayer" look like?

Lord’s Day at Westminster PCA Sunday School- Samuel Davies and the College of New Jersey; Presbyterians and the War for Independence Sermon: James 1:9-12 “Poverty and Wealth.” Sunday Evening- Revival Prayer

A congregant just called to say he was getting ready to pray for me, but felt prompted to call and pray for me over the phone. What an absolute encouragement.