Beyond color blind: Why race still matters
I’d encourage you to read anything that Trillia Newbell writes on this subject. She’s been a great help to me in sanctifying my outlook on racial issues.

How to keep ahead of your email by keeping score
I play this email game quite often and it often cuts my emailing time by about half.

Lifestyle Liberalism and its Consequences
Knowing how hard it is to keep teenagers on the moral tracks, I often wondered what hope liberals had with their own children. Now we know. They have no hope.

How to welcome a new pastor: 10 suggestions
As I’m hoping to begin co-pastoring a church in the near future…

Four Good Reasons to Read Good Books
The writer of this article is a fifth reason.

How does a pastor deal with carnal Christians in his church?
Brian Croft answers this question with five approaches.

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3 Unique Resources for Studying Kind David’s Life
The Leithart book looks especially appealing.

Drowning in Leviticus
Some encouragements for you if your annual Bible reading plan has hit the buffers in Leviticus.

25 Ways Men can be Servant Leaders
For all husbands and fathers.

20 Free Entrepreneurship Courses Online
Only after you’ve watched Economics Has Consequences (also free!).

7 Tips for Public Speaking Without All the Notes
It can be done!

Four Ways to be a Courageous Leader
Ed Stetzer: “Christian ministry often elevates people who can write and speak into positions of leadership and influence before their character is prepared to handle it. In other words, if you can write and speak, you sometimes gain influence without possessing the character to handle it.”

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Five Psychiatric Disorders Linked
Looks like science is getting us closer to understanding the genetic element in mental illness: “Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia all share several genetic risk factors, according to a major study. Versions of four genes increased the odds of all five disorders.”

Brave address to the Scottish Parliament [Video]
The Baptist pastor gave a gracious and courageous short speech to the Scottish Parliament this week. Sadly, the Scottish parliament has led the UK in advancing the homosexual agenda.

Pastor Jefress’ Response to Cultured Despisers in the Media [Video]
Another dignified and noble message from a pastor under huge pressure.

Theological Writings
Nick Batzig is compiling an index of his various articles over the years: Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, etc. Some wonderful pieces here.

An interview with Dr. John Perkins
I came across Dr Perkins when I was reading Crossing the Tracks recently. Here he talks with my friends at RAAN about growing up as a sharecropper’s son in rural Mississippi. He fled to California after his brother was killed by a White police officer. Following his radical conversion to Christianity he returned to Mississippi to share the Gospel and work for community uplift.

More Free Marginal University Courses
The one on the Economics of Media looks fascinating. However, if you want a really great deal, watch Economics Has Consequences for free during March. This is a cut down version of R.C. Sproul Jr DVD Curriculum, Economics for Everybody. I’m working through this with my family and it’s excellent.

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Communicating with those who suffer hearing loss
Compassionate and practical post.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Everything you’ve wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

Bitter or comforted?
Kara describes the varied temptations to bitterness of a special needs parent, and points us to God’s comfort.

The Beauty and Usefulness of the Old Christian
Shona summarizes a recent talk she gave to seniors.

What a garden can teach us about our hearts
You don’t need to believe in Lent to benefit from this piece. I loved the last two sentences especially: “By the power the Holy Spirit we can sculpt, we can trim, we can prune, we can make way for beautiful and worthy growth. A garden is a good teacher. If heeded, our hearts soften as our hands toughen.”

Raising kids in a pornified culture
Really appreciated Zach’s Gospel-powered practical Christianity here.

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Lessons from the life of Eric Liddell
Lesson #2: Determination is not contrary to the Gospel of Grace.

What someone needs to say
Kevin DeYoung: “The next time—and there will be a next time—some famous Christian is pilloried in the press for maybe, possibly, at some point now or in the past holding to the traditional view of marriage, I hope he (or she) will come up to the microphone and say something like this…”

The most offensive verse in the Bible
Dan Philips pulls Pyromaniacs out of their mourning the loss of Phil with a classic post.

Minding our own reproductive business
I’ve certainly been asked the “Was it a surprise?” question innumerable times in the past few months. My best answer so far? “Not to God.”

The Christian Leader in the Digital Age
Al Mohler: “Christians – and Christian leaders in particular – should be taking advantage of blogs, social media, and every available platform for communicating our message. We should be exercising stewardship in new opportunities to learn, teach, and study online, recognizing that no generation before us had such rich opportunities.”

Ligonier National Conference Audio and Video
Without doubt, the best conference I’ve ever attended.

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It takes a B.A. to find a job as a file clerk
All the more reason to start your own business.

The lesson you never got taught in school: How to learn!
Bit late for me, but hopefully might spare some of you unnecessary suffering. Of course, not everyone’s learning style is the same; I’m a highlighter and mnemonic guy.

Respect yourself and take back control of your calendar
Four ways to avoid being overbooked. And along similar lines from Harvard Business Review, Stop being a People Pleaser.

Survey: Spiritual Maturity Comes Through Intentionality
In some ways, it’s a pity we need a survey to tell us that “Christians on the path to spiritual maturity have a habit of seeking God through prayer and worship—not just in church but also as a part of their daily life as a way to please and honor God.”

A Social Media Heartcheck
“Social media gives us some very helpful opportunities and abilities, but it is also a powerful reflector of what is going on in the heart. Don’t run away from the opportunity to probe a little bit!”

Digital Stress and Your Brain [Infographic]
Another one to share with your kids.

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How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
Heart-warming video of retired pastor Derek Prime telling a congregation what God is still teaching him in his 82nd year.

My Top 5 Books on Mental Illness
Good to see Matthew Stanford’s book on this list.

5 Love Languages of Pastors
Top 5 ways to express your love for your pastor.

Why Clarence Thomas Uses Simple Words in his Opinions
Preachers take note of Thomas’ words: “The beauty, the genius is not to write a 5 cent idea in a ten dollar sentence. It’s to put a ten dollar idea in a 5 cent sentence. ”

Old School Counseling, Part I
Adam Embry extracts counseling lessons from the Puritans.

7 Things Pastors should Teach those in the Workplace
“As a pastor seeks to teach biblically about marketplace dynamics, it is helpful for him to deepen his empathy and broaden his understanding of the vocations represented in his congregation.”

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Preaching Jesus all the time

How to keep your sanity in the madness of ministry

7 Ways to do a bad word study

Do you know where your kids are…they’re probably not on Facebook

What makes a good leader?

10 Commandments for Preaching from an iPad

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10 Resources on Grief and Loss
Thanks to the Biblical Counseling Coalition for this great list.

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe
Looks like a great book for young Moms (note to wife - and not so young)

How much of our Evangelism really is
Challenging words from someone on the front line.

What you don’t need to forgive
Paul Tripp says there are three things in marriage that don’t need forgiveness.

Listen to your critics
Four reasons why it’s so hard.

Notes on pride and preachers
Some good remedies here too.

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The suicide rate has risen: What predicts suicide ideation?
Mark Regnerus looks at the data to find out why the suicide rate has risen 12% in 10 years.

If the church wants to reach young people, start by affirming their callings outside the church
So, so true. The ministry is only the highest calling…for those who are called to it. Just as home-making is the highest calling for those who are called to it.

25 Years of Evangelizing my Husband
After years of praying, “Please change him,” this wife discovered that she was the one who needed changing.

What practical tip about hospital visitation do I keep coming back to?
Brian Croft has a simple tip.

What do I do if my child is looking at pornography?
Hope I never have to use this article.

The Bible’s Christocentric structure
I’d go further that this in the Old Testament, but it’s a good starting point.

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A weak mother is a good mother
“A good mother is not one who bakes intricate treats, who schools a certain way, who manages her household within an inch of its life, or who has her children in a million wonderful activities. A good mother is one that acknowledges her need for the power of God to train and teach and change the hearts of her children.”

7 Ways to Interpret the Bible Like a Pharisee
How not to do it.

Three Applicational Emphasis in Preaching Deuteronomy
Peter Mead produces excellent short posts that provide big interpretive keys.

On Long Walks and Deep Thoughts
Brice Ashford argues for the intellectual and spiritual benefits of walking. Some of my best ever sermons came to me while walking the beaches beside my Scottish island home. I do miss that.

Does the Bible permit polygamy
Seems like a ridiculous question, but we’d better get clued up on it because that’s probably the next cultural battlefield.

You must be born again
If you’re not, this article will make you want it. If you are, it will make you value it.

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31 Days with Samuel Rutherford
If you’re going to spend a dollar today, you won’t do better than this.

Raising the Dread
R.C. Sproul Jr., sorrowful yet always rejoicing.

Delivery Dynamics: Are you you?
Peter Mead’s been running a good series on the mechanics of sermon delivery (see previous posts here, here, and here)

Who has clean hands and a pure heart?
Appetizing taster from Anthony Carter’s new book , Blood Work, published by Reformation Trust.

Michael Jordan’s Greatest Season
Seth Getz: “Sometimes we look at someone who is successful and declare that they are “a winner” but what we don’t always see is the often long string of losing in that persons background.”

Revisiting the iron cage
Barry York replies to a letter from a young man who fears he has committed the unpardonable sin.

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Matthew Parris goes to Africa, and “gets” religion (sort of)
I used to read Parris every week in the London Times and agree with Thabiti, he’s the most honest (and bravest) atheist I’ve read too.

How to have communion with the Spirit
J. D. Grear encourages us to press on to fellowship with God.

People you’ve probably never heard of but should
One of the first books I read as a young Christian was The Life and Labors of Asahel Nettleton, and it still impacts me 20+ years later.

What does cooking meals have to do with sermons
Looks like cooks and preachers have a lot to teach one another.

Hearts Atwitter
Just because your husband or wife didn’t get swept away with overpriced chocolates, teddies, and flowers yesterday, doesn’t mean he/she doesn;t love you.

The danger of do-it-yourself spirituality
Joel Miller: “A full and well-rounded spirituality cannot be a self-directed spirituality. Despite how it might look, such a pursuit will be almost definitionally narrow and fraught with delusion, not enlightenment.”

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A Prayer for Pharisees of Grace and Gospel Scribes
A brave post and a brave prayer.

5 Reasons you Should Celebrate Black History Month
Must be honest, this is the first year I have.

Why I don’t watch Downtown Abbey
Like Rebecca, I was hopeful this might be a beautiful educational series. I think I got to about 10 minutes of Season 1, Episode 1 on Amazon Prime before I turned it off.

Am I too sinful to be married?
“The truth is: I am single because God loves me, not because He is punishing me.”

Reformed Church Witness in Texas Maximum Security Prison
This is a great story of God’s grace reaching across gender, race, and social chasms.

Spurgeon and Infant Salvation
“I know that there are those who think the Bible’s teaching on infant salvation is not clear, or at least is confined to children of the covenant, whatever that means. I don’t expect that this passage in isolation will be persuasive to those people. But when added to the list of the other 26 passages, I think the case is insurmountable. Every single verse (and I list now 27 of them) in the Bible that speaks to this issue, points to the fact that those who die at a young age simply lived their lives on the short road to glory.”

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A Trip to Murrayfield and the Shiny Bubbles of Fame
Andy Murray takes his boys to their first game of international rugby, and then bumps into one of the Scotland players at church the next day.

Pastor, know thyself
John Piper describes how he attacks his besetting sins with an “anthem.”

Winston Churchill and his “Black Dog” that helped win World War II
“Only a man who knew what it was to discern a gleam of hope in a hopeless situation . . . could have given emotional reality to the words of defiance which rallied and sustained us in the menacing summer of 1940″

15 Rules for Expectant Parents
Didn’t think I’d be needing these again, but thanks to Brian Najapfour for reminding me of them. Some are a bit quaint, but there’s much wisdom too.

Eating Disorders: A Scientific and Spiritual Disorder
Great to see qualified Christians taking on the difficult task of distinguishing physical from spiritual issues in extremely complex problems.

What God’s Teaching me through Epilepsy
So thankful for honest Christians who are willing to write about how their faith helps them through great struggles.

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Your pastor isn’t a pundit
“Often we put the pastor in a position demanding that he speak as a professional expert into an issue about which the wisest thing he could probably say is, “I don’t know.” One of the wisest things a pastor can do is to admit a lack of knowledge and refer people to someone better suited to help. If only we would let them do so.”

Depression Seminar
I’ll be leading a Depression Seminar this coming Friday and Saturday in Hudsonville. You can get more details here, but if you come along you’ll get advance viewing of three episodes from HeadHeartHand Media’s forthcoming documentary/curriculum on how the church can better serve the depressed and those who care for them.

A New Image for Black Men
I wish there was more Gospel in this, but it’s still a phenomenally brave challenge both to white and black men.

Endtimes Infographic
This is very well done. Click on the graphic to enlarge.

I will not let you go
Last week Greg Lucas ended up in a violent and vicious fight with … (you’ll have to read to find out)

The Rich Tapestry of God’s Providence
This fantastic story tells two sides of how Tim Challies mother was converted. And here’s Tim’s mother’s take on it.

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25 Top Resources for Dealing with Anger
So many quality resources here.

Gospel Hatred
Why Barry York is rejoicing in some recent experiences of Gospel hatred.

Why I’m thankful for common grace
Few of us are thankful enough for this.

Let the children fail
“A recent study continues a growing body of research that shows parents who help their children too much are doing them a disservice. The study says that such actions are prompted by a parent’s “misguided attempt to improve their child’s current and future personal and academic success.” It blames the “high responsiveness and low demandingness” of parents.”

More talking about listening
Some thought-provoking quotes on listening from Adam McHugh.

Resources for Preaching
I agree with most of Mike Leake’s conclusions here.

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Aikman Opportunity Award for Young Christian Writers
Want to win $20,000 and get a book contract?

The 10 Commandments did not end at Mt. Calvary
Tom Ascol argue the case for the continued relevance of the moral law.

Culture Creep: How an Orientation is Born
You’ll need a strong stomach for this one.

Worshipping with our little children
And here’s Fred Zaspel’s enthusiastic review of Bruce Ware’s Big Truths for Young Hearts.

Three Themes to Preach from Leviticus

43 Breathtaking photos you’ll never forget

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The pastor and his reading
Reading guru Tony Reinke has a link in this article to the address he gave at the Desiring God National Conference. He lists 14 ways a pastor can build a reading church.

Simple ideas that are borderline genius
Use these photos to marvel at how much divine creativity reamins in His image-bearers.

8 ways to pray during sermon preparation
Good one to print out and tape to your screen.

20 Tips for Parenting Young Kids
Now really looking forward to Steve’s next post on parenting teens

Any place for the God of Job?
Carl covers a lot in this post but one para I especially enjoyed was this: “Christians are no more exempt from depression than they are from cancer or strokes; and the idea that these things are necessarily linked to our lack of faith, to our personal sin, to our outlook on life, or, indeed, to anything intrinsic to us, is nonsense and unbiblical.” He concludes: “One of the problems with Osteen is that his theology has no place for the God of Job. But before we go after Osteen on this score, we need to ask ourselves: Does our theology have a place for such a God?”

What you need to know for preaching through Ecclesiastes
Timothy Reymond recently concluded a 13 sermon series on Ecclesiastes - no mean feat - and passes on three reflections on the experience.

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Fifty years of failing America’s mentally ill
JFK’s dream of replacing state mental hospitals with community mental-health centers is now a hugely expensive nightmare.

How too much discipleship kills Christians
Mez McConnell thinks we are damaging new believers with too much molly-coddling.

Black History Month
Read about Lemuel Haynes, the Black Puritan, and other wonderful Christians in Bob Kellemen’s Black History series. And here’s Justin Taylorwishing Rosa Parks a Happy 100th Birthday including some video resources.

Cultivating a passion for evangelism in your church
Mike Riccardi shares a letter he wrote to a pastor asking for advice on how to see more souls saved in his church.

Interview with “Anonymous” author of “Embracing Obscurity”
Stephen Altrogge: “I recently read and reviewed the book Embracing Obscurity, which was written by an anonymous author, and encourages the reader to pursue the low, servant path of Jesus. The book really impacted me, and I wanted to interview the author. Unfortunately, I still don’t know the identity of the author. But, through his/her publisher, I was able to do an interview!”

Consider preschool before the pulpit
Aaron Armstrong thinks pastors should begin their training by teaching kids sunday school.

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