Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog whose church kicked the guitarist off the worship team last week. The guitarist can’t come back until he finds Gsus.
Greetings Insurgents, and Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who live in the USA.
Four important updates. Read each carefully. (I’ll explain the title of this article in one of them.)
1) Last week, I wrote about Christmas being a time when many Christians suffer. The article featured Tyndale’s 65% discount on my “lifeline survival” book Hang On, Let Go: What to Do When Your Dreams Are Shattered and Life Is Falling Apart. But alas, during that same day, the entire site crashed.
Apparently I have a superpower I didn’t know about. Turns out all I need to take down a website is an email list and a great discount. Good news: The Tyndale site discount page is back up, so you can go there now. Just refer to last week’s article (check all your folders if you don’t see it in your inbox). If you’re new to the email list, check my blog. The article is on the front page: frankviola.org.
2) Some of you have asked if we still have the bulk discounts going for my new book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded. The answer is yes. Even the signed copy option is available still. I’m so glad that most of you have a copy, but with the holidays around the corner, it’s a great time to get extra copies for friends and family who are Jesus-followers. Go here for the bulk discount options. That page is new.
3) Because of the upcoming holidays, we will be putting the Thursday UNFILTERED articles on pause until January 8th. At that time – 1/8/26 – we’ll be releasing the promised online seminar (which is asynchronous, meaning, you take it at your own pace and have it for life).
The seminar will contain many unreleased conference messages and in-depth conversations on the topic, “Reimagining Scripture, Prayer, and Discipleship.” The seminar will also include two new eBooks.
Details will be given to you by email on January 8th. Oh, the seminar will be asynchronous, which means you have it for life and take it at your own pace any time you want.
4. In the meantime, the CHRIST IS ALL podcast and THE INSURGENCE PODCAST will resume without pause. If you’re not already subscribed, they are available on all podcast platforms.
Finally, the line “The Lamb is ready to appear now” comes from this sublime creation on the Eternal Purpose of God. All who were involved on the project had their foot planted on the accelerator until the magnum opus finish. (Also, the track contains no backward masking!)
Check it out here: frankviola.me/sacredromance
The comments at the bottom reveal how it impacted those who first heard it.
I’ll see you on the podcasts soon and back in your inbox on 1/8/2026.
Your brother in the Insurgence,
fv
Psalm 115:1
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Frank delivers a fresh article to your inbox every week at no cost. No paywall, no paid subscription. Some of you kindly asked how you can donate to express appreciation for his ministry. If you find value in his writing and podcasts, you may send a donation HERE. The archives of all 1,000+ articles appear on the same website in the menu along with the podcasts and book catalog.
When Christmas Hurts: A Lifeline for Those in Crisis