You may have heard that Louie Giglio was invited to pray at the presidential inauguration but then had that invitation retracted when it was discovered that he holds a biblical view of homosexuality. This caused many reactions in the blogosphere. Among the best are Al Mohler’s and Russell Moore’s.

Kindle users may be interested in two books that look at spiritual leadership: D.L. Moody on Spiritual Leadership and C.H. Spurgeon on Spiritual Leadership.

Why I Changed My Mind About the Millennium - Sam Storms explains how he came to change his view on the end times. “My departure from premillennialism and embrace of amillennialism was gradual and came as a result of two discoveries as I studied Scripture.”

Planting in a Deprived Area - Mez McConnell answers this question: “Can I Plant A Church In A Deprived Area Even If I Don't Come From That Background?” He answers with a resounded “yes.”

Psalm-Sung Galaxy - Iain Campbell writes about one way that technology may be infringing upon the pulpit.

National Debt - Randy Alcorn writes about the national debt, beginning this way: “I have pointed out before that one thing Republican and Democratic administrations have in common is their apparent unwillingness to do what it takes to balance our budget.” Ain’t that the truth!

Credo Magazine - There is a new (free) issue of Credo Magazine available for your reading pleasure.

Bible Reading Plan for Kids - David Murray has packaged up his excellent Bible reading plans for kids so it’s easy to download, print, and use for your children. I want to see a publisher pick this up.

The measure of our love for others can largely be determined by the frequency and earnestness of our prayers for them. —A.W. Pink

333,964 - I felt sick to my stomach when I read that number. “That's the figure proudly released by Planned Parenthood Federation of America in their report delineating how many abortions they performed in fiscal 2011. Doing some simple math reveals that the number of abortions performed equates to one abortion every 94 seconds.” Meanwhile, TIME writes “Growing evidence suggests that in countries like India and China, where the ratio of men to women is unnaturally high due to the selective abortion of female fetuses and neglect of girl children, the rates of violence towards women increase.”

Husbands: Get a Part-Time Job - “There. That's it. Husbands, if you want to save or strengthen your marriage, get a part-time job. I should say right off the bat that I am not talking about a literal job that will pull you away from the home for more hours.” It’s worth reading the article to see what he is referring to.

Dirty-Minded Men - The title of this post just about says it all: “Men Like to Look At Naked Girls On The Internet. Here's Why They Should Stop That.”

Ashamed of the Gospel - Cornell writes about a situation in his life that every Christian can (unfortunately) identify with—being ashamed of the gospel. The article made me reflect on the Savior who loves and forgives us even when we are ashamed of him.

Meditations on Friendship - I really enjoyed this meditation on C.S. Lewis and friendship. “The walks and the ongoing discussions by C.S. Lewis and his friends were instrumental in making him the man that he was and that we honor today.  His thinking and his conversion were not developed in isolation but were cultivated in the warmness of lively conversation. Part of the greatness of C.S. Lewis is found in the fact that he had friends to walk with.”

Why Are Weather Forecasts Wrong So Often? - You know you’ve wondered why weather forecasts are so often so wrong. This article explains why it is so difficult to get it right.

Pride wants to earn divine acceptance; humility simply believes it. —Bob LaForge

There are lots of book and ebook deals to tell you about. The Kindle version of Michael Horton’s book Christless Christianity is down to $2.99 for a limited time. Meanwhile, Crossway has all of their ebooks on sale for $5.99 or less. Also, Westminster Books has discounted their 2012 bestsellers by 50%. Finally, Granted Ministries is selling 10-packs of Paul Washer’s new book The Gospel’s Power and Message for just $80, which is 60% off retail pricing.

A Hundredfold - This is a powerful article on the struggle with homosexuality. “Homosexuality is an issue I have battled with my entire Christian life. It took a long time to admit to myself, longer to admit to others, and even longer to see something of God's good purposes through it all.” (HT)

What Is Heaven Like? - I appreciated reading Ed Welch’s thoughts on what heaven is like, and his growing understanding and appreciation of what awaits him there.

The Wimpy Kid - Parents of pre-teens may be interested in reading Redeemed Reader’s take on Diary of a Wimpy Kid and its growing number of imitators.

The Key to a Strong Marriage - Owen Strachan: “Every marriage is under attack. Marriage is given to humanity by God as, ultimately, an expression and picture of his love for his people. Satan, the anti-aesthete and anti-tutor, wants to tear this living image down. There is much to work on in marriage, but it strikes me that there is a single key that unlocks the door to health: humble repentance.”

What Thieves Cannot Break Through and Steal - “Last Wednesday, the third day of this year, I was working at my desk at school when Christie called me on my cell. She said a jumble of things [in my mind] but also something close to, ‘some men just came into our house...they put a gun to Karsten's head....and put him in the closet.’”

Landscapes - This is just phenomenal timelapse photography. Treat yourself to this four-minute film (full-screen and HD if you can!).

It is difficult to see how Christianity can have a positive effect on society if it cannot transform its own homes. —John MacArthur

Feminism Gone Wrong - Denny Burk shares a sad tale of feminism gone wrong and applies some of the lessons learned. “There is a price to pay when one trades her birthright for a mess of pottage. The trap of feminism is that so few modern people can see it for the mess of pottage that it is. Even Wurtzel misses it, though she feels deeply the pain of it.”

Preaching the Gospel from Every Part of the Bible - This is an excellent article on how every part of the Bible can be used to preach the gospel.

Women of Grace - If you are within striking distance of Toronto, you may be interested in knowing about the Women of Grace conference my church is hosting this April. We’ll feature Mary Kassian and Linda Baartse as keynote speakers. Earlybird registration lasts until the end of January.

Famine in the Land is Steve Lawson’s passionate call for expository preaching. The Kindle edition has been marked down to $1.99.

Genocide in Shades of Pink - “What if every female in America suddenly disappeared? It would feel a lot like Asia, where sex-selective abortion has taken 163 million girls. How the gospel is slowly turning the tide on the quiet holocaust.”

Grudem on Bourne - Andy Naselli shares Wayne Grudem’s take on the Jason Bourne series of movies.

CBMW Announces New Executive Director - This is great news for the Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood. “The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood is delighted to announce today that Professor Owen Strachan (pronounced: "Stran") has accepted the position of the Executive Director of CBMW. Strachan, 31, succeeds Dr. Randy Stinson in this important role.”

Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave it with regret?  There are better things ahead than any we leave behind. —C.S. Lewis

The Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer - Baker Books has put the Kindle version of The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer on sale at just $2.99. That includes eight volumes exploring prayer from different angles. Other current Kindle deals: Abortion by R.C. Sproul (free); The Law of Perfect Freedom by Michael Horton ($0.99); Pastoring the Pastor by Cooper and Gardiner ($2.99); Ten Boys Who Didn't Give In, Ten Girls Who Used Their Talents, Ten Girls Who Made a Difference and the other books in the series ($2.99); Wednesdays were Pretty Normal by Michael Kelley ($2.99).

Life’s Interruptions - Trevin Wax says that life’s interruptions are divine opportunities. “If you like to be in control of your circumstances, then you know what interruptions are like. They're frustrating. They get in the way of your plan. They need to be avoided or discarded or dealt with as soon as possible so you can get back to being in control, right? Wrong.”

The Art of Pickpocketing - This is an amazing video as a master of pickpocketing shows just how easy it is. Front pocket, back pocket, it doesn’t matter. And, while we’re on a devious subject matter, here’s another video to watch: How to cheat so it looks like you’re solving a Rubic’s Cube. This is the kind of help I need.

Finding the Middle Ground - “In the world of media, two things sell well: good stories and extreme viewpoints. It makes sense that good stories sell, but why are extreme and polarizing stances so popular? Why do the most divisive voices garner the most attention? There is something about bombast and bluster that draw people like moths to a flame--and often with the same results.”

Why Are Things Cute? - Not surprisingly, science has an answer as to why we find things cute, and it’s actually rather interesting.

The Redemptive Power of the Gospel - Randy Alcorn gives an update on Steve Saint who, last year, was badly injured in an accident. (Note, I think he meant to link to this video).

Do not have your concert first and tune your instruments afterward.  Begin the day with God. —Hudson Taylor

Rape, Sexual Assault, and Consent - In light of recent headlines, The Resurgence blog asks this question: What is sexual assault? Justin Holcomb gives a practical and pastoral answer based on a book he wrote on that very topic.

UPS Worldport - This article (and video) may appeal to your inner geek (or engineer, for that). It shows how UPS manages to move 2,000 packages every 17 seconds.

The Pill - Gospel Coalition has a helpful little article on what’s at stake in the discussion of the birth control pill. “It’s time to distinguish clearly—in terminology, thinking, and public policy—between contraception and abortion.”

Why Keep Praying Even When You Feel Dull? - This blogger answers the question by going all the way back to David Brainerd.

The Sufficiency of Christ Alone - Monergism is giving away an ebook titled “The Sufficiency of Jesus Christ Alone: Classic Essays on the Doctrine of Justification.”

Be Strong and Courageous - Owen Strachan: “I want to suggest that wherever you can as a young man or one involved in any way in training young men, you point them toward manhood, maturity, adulthood, responsibility, ambition, strategy, vision, focus. Yes, it can be fun to be boyish. But you know what's far more satisfying? Becoming something. Becoming something greater than you are. Becoming a man. Building stuff.”

Three Is the Loveliest Number - Michael Reeves explains why ‘that Trinity stuff’ is not a philosophical headache but a captivating picture of the Good and Beautiful.

To demand from others what the Spirit Himself patiently endures is to exalt ourselves above God. —R.C. Sproul

Is the Pro-Life Cause Winning? - Russell Moore: “This week's TIME magazine cover story announces that, forty years after Roe, the pro-life side is winning the abortion debate. I say, ‘Not so fast’.”

Starting a Pastoral Training Program - “Over the past couple years I’ve regularly received inquiries from pastors interested in starting a pastoral training program of their own. These conversations always encourage me. But they also remind me that getting started can be tough. Here’s some practical help for those interested in beginning an internship or training program at their church.”

The Calorie Content of Food - Have you ever wondered how they figure out how many calories are in your food? This article explains.

Advice to Young Converts - Steve McCoy begins his year with some Jonathan Edwards. “Most of us think of Resolutions this time of year, but his Advice to Young Converts is a nice, quick read and reminder toward what the aim of our lives as disciples of Jesus should be. Here are a few of my favorite points.”

How to Mortify Sin - Here is Sinclair Ferguson on how to mortify sin.

Saving His Own Soul First - I enjoyed this long article by Justice Hill who tells the life story of Ernest Wagner Jr.

God examineth with trials, the devil examineth with temptations, the world examineth with persecutions. —Henry Smith

Christian Parenting 101 - Jason Helopoulos: “Some of my greatest joys in life stem from being a parent to two delightful children. However, some of my greatest struggles in life also stem from being a parent to these same two children. There are days that I cannot imagine anything more rewarding and other days that I want to get into the fetal position and remain there for a week. Here are a few reminders for me and all the other Christian parents out there.”

The Law of Perfect Freedom - Michael Horton’s The Law of Perfect Freedom is down to $0.99 (Kindle edition).

Adding Color to Historic Photos - “Artist Mads Madsen has an amazing skill for colorizing old black and white photographs. Even beside their original counterpart the results are impressive, bringing a new dimension of realism to historic images.”

Works Worth Declaring - This article was my first exposure to a new blog. It is a powerful testimony to the Lord’s grace through suffering.

Hidden Spitfires - This is an amazing story: “Burma's first large-scale export since the suspension of sanctions may well be 36 World War II Spitfire fighter planes buried at Rangoon's Mingaladon Airport in 1945, according to the man who found them, David Cundall.”

Our Happiness Is a Warm Gun Celebrities - Douglas Wilson shares some insightful thoughts on the president, on celebrities, and a lot of other things. “In a constitutional republic, the normal ways for an arrogant politician to come a cropper would be through personal scandal and resignation, and/or repudiation at the polls. That’s the way we do. Very few pols, however much they may deserve it, are struck by lightning bolts or small meteorites.”

The church is not nearly so careful not to gossip about someone's sinning as it is not to confront it and call for it to stop. —John MacArthur

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, R.C. Sproul’s book Abortion is free on Kindle. It’s definitely worth reading. While on the subject of Amazon, I noticed that they’ve got a collection of HD movies on sale today. You can get some truly awful ones (not recommended!) but some classics as well: Singing in the Rain, Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, etc.

No Change at All - Joe Thorn takes a slightly different position at the beginning of a new year. “But for all of the change I do desire, my greatest hope for 2013 is actually no change at all.”

10,000 Things - John Piper: “‘God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.’ That was one of our most widely spread tweets in 2012. So we want to say it again for 2013 and make this promise even more solid.”

Praying for Evangelists (And Being a Better One) - Thabiti Anyabwile on evangelism: “I suspect we all perform better when we have people spurring us on and when we have some definite sense of what we're trying to achieve. An evangelist without a plan is not an evangelist at all, to modify Nietzsche.”

Why Lewis Didn’t Write for CT - “I wish your project heartily well,” wrote C.S. Lewis to Christianity Today, “but can’t write you articles.” Carl F.H. Henry, founding editor of the magazine, had invited Lewis in 1955 to contribute to the magazine’s first issue. Lewis declined.

It is a sad thing to be Christians at a supper, heathens in our shops, and devils in our closets. —Stephen Charnock

Happy New Year! I’ll start the new year with some Kindle deals for you. John MacArthur’s Found: God’s Will is free today. Start Your Family by Steve & Candice Watters is down to $1.99; Through the Eyes of C.H. Spurgeon remains at $2.99; Douglas Groothuis’ Christian Apologetics is still at $4.08.

Greco-Roman Slavery - “Many modern readers assume that slavery in the New Testament is equivalent to the race-based slavery of the African slave trade. While not defending the Greco-Roman institution of slavery, Tim Keller and Don Carson explain why it's important not to equate it with the race-based slavery that we may be more familiar with.”

Interview with D.A. Carson - Speaking of D.A. Carson, the current issue of Tabletalk has an interview with him. Of particular interest is his account of how he was called into ministry.

Compelling Interest - This month’s free audiobook from ChristianAudio is titled Compelling Interest. “Roger Resler draws on original sources, including the actual transcripts for oral arguments, the majority and minority opinions, and comments by the lawyers and others involved to take a careful look at the real story behind the historic Roe v. Wade decision.”

Why Some Books Made It - As so many of us begin new Bible reading plans, Timothy Paul Jones wants to plant some questions in our minds: “Why these books? Why spend the year reading through these ancient texts and not some other documents? What's so important about these books that owe their human origins to a tribe of middle-eastern sheep herders and to a movement of martyrs who looked to a crucified Messiah for their inspiration?”

RGIII - You may have been hearing a lot about Robert Griffin III, quarterback for the Washington Redskins. The Washington Post has a really good article/interview with him.

God increases our yield so that by giving we can prove our yield is not our god. —John Piper