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

Happy New Year - Paul Tripp offers a lot of wisdom when it comes to resolutions. “Few smokers actually quit because of a single moment of resolve, few obese people have become slim and healthy because of one dramatic moment of commitment, few people who were deeply in debt have changed their financial lifestyle because they resolved to do so as the old year gave way to the new, and few marriages have been changed by the means of one dramatic resolution.”

How Not to Read Your Bible - “When it comes to daily (or not-so-daily) Bible reading, January 1 can be a welcome arrival. A new year signals a new start. You’re motivated to freshly commit to what you know is of indispensable importance: the Word of God.” Well and good. But here is some counsel on how not to read your Bible in 2013. Meanwhile, once you’ve decided how to read the Bible well, here are some Bible-reading plans that may help.

Holland vs The Netherlands - Here’s a funny and fascinating video explaining why you should stop referring to The Netherlands as Holland. Good luck following it all the way to the end.

True Religion - “It is popular today to decry the word ‘religion.’ And I suppose the goal here is a good one: to show the futility and falseness of a ritualistic, cold, unlively, practices of religious stuff. At the same time the word religion is a biblical word, used in James 1:27. It describes the practice of godliness.”

The Danger of Theological Novelty - C. Michael Patton nails it in this article about theological novelty. “You see, in theology, for many people ‘in the know,’ once something becomes mainstream, it becomes disqualified. Once it becomes too popular or normal, it becomes naive. Once everyone thinks it is correct, it is no longer qualified to be  anything but a foil for the correct. We become theological swingers whose end is not to find the truth, but simply to swing to the next partner.”

23 Reasons to Be Joyful - Here, from the book of Philippians, are 23 reasons to be joyful.

God often comforts us, not by changing the circumstances of our lives, but by changing our attitude toward them. —S.H.B. Masterman

When the Perfect Comes - “Another year is passing away. Thank God. Not only for the massive amounts of unquantifiable grace we have received from him, but also because we are one year closer to the passing away of this partial age and all of its incumbent sorrow and weariness.”

2013 Book Awards - Christianity Today has announced the winners of their 2013 Book Awards.

10-Point Inventory - “The following 10 point inventory is meant for personal use not for judging others. It could be used to help others examine their own hearts but I offer this word of caution because lists and tests are too often used legalistically in ways that promote sinful pride.” Cautions aside, it’s a helpful list.

Notable Anniversaries in 2013 - Here are some encouragements and challenges from the past—anniversaries we will mark this year.

Does Anyone Care About Hobby Lobby? - Denny Burk is “astonished that more Americans aren't in an uproar about what is happening to Hobby Lobby right now.” 

The Magnificent Tyranny of the Gospel - David Murray is sharing a series of videos based on his book How Sermons Work.

Popularity has slain more prophets of God than persecution ever did. —Vance Havner

Where Was God’s Goodness in 2012? - Articles like this remind me why I have such respect for John Piper. “As this year ends, the question I am asking is: Where was God when so many good things happened this past year? … How can God be righteous and do so much good to us who are so unrighteous?”

From This Life to the Next - Steve Kryger has a fantastic article on New Year’s resolutions in this mainstream publication. He introduces Jonathan Edwards subtley and then full force. Well done!

Invisible Animals - “Whether they are hunters or the hunted, these cunning animals are all masters of disguise who can fool even the most beady-eyed passer by into believing they are not there.” There are some amazing pictures here.

The Hypostatic Union - Shai Linne shares a new track from a forthcoming album titled, appropriately, “Lyrical Theology.” You can listen to it for free.

The Quiet Place - Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ new daily devotional for women, The Quiet Place, is down to $5.99 on the Kindle. Also, a new ebook from Desiring God titled Still Not Professionals is available to download for free at Desiring God’s site.

2012 in Numbers - Joe Carter compiles a long list of numbers related to the year that was.

The more light that is given, the harder the human heart must become to reject it. —Erwin Lutzer

There are a few Kindle deals from Christian Focus that may interest you: Pastoring the Pastor by Tim Cooper and Kelvin Gardiner is at $2.99, while Planting for the Gospel by Graham Beynon is $0.99. William Still’s The Work of the Pastor is supposed to drop today as well (to $2.99), though I don’t see the change yet.

Top Theology Stories of 2012 - Collin Hansen looks back at the year that was and digs up what he considers the top theology stories of 2012. I tend to agree with most of his picks. Meanwhile, you can visit Gene Veith’s blog to see the top news stories as chosen by Associated Press. 

The Offended Brother - Dave Kraft: “Good leadership is about maintaining healthy relationships in all directions. Here are a few examples of my own experience with people who have been offended.”

Sworn Virgins of Albania - I had never heard of this odd cultural tradition: “For her project Sworn Virgins of Albania, photographer Jill Peters visited to the mountain villages of northern Albania to capture portraits of ‘burneshas,’ or females who have lived their lives as men for reasons related to their culture and society.”

The Largest Mass Execution - “It was the day after Christmas, 1862, in the town square of Mankato, Minnesota, that 38 Dakota warriors were hanged at the order of president Abraham Lincoln. After 150 years, it is still the largest mass execution in American history.”

Evil and the Purposes of God - Joey Newton takes a look at evil and the purposes of God, a much-discussed and always-relevant topic.

The best use of one's life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. —Oswald Sanders

The Lightkeepers is Irene Howat’s excellent series of short biographies for kids. The whole series is down to $2.99 on Kindle: Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In; Ten Girls Who Used Their Talents; Ten Girls Who Made a Difference; Ten Girls Who Changed the World; Ten Girls Who Didn’t Give In; Ten Girls Who Made History; Ten Boys Who Made History; Ten Boys Who Changed the World; Ten Boys Who Made a Difference; Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents.

The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast - The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast, which she writes herself, is often profoundly biblical, and this year is no exception. You can click the link to watch the video, or click here to read the transcript.

My Daughter’s Beauty - “How do I raise my daughter to know the true definition of beauty in a culture such as ours? How do I cultivate an image in her that is rooted in the beauty of Jesus and not the allure of a distorted sexuality?” Brandon Barker of The Village Church offers three helps.

The Pastor’s Wife - This is a dilemma every pastor faces: How much information does he share with his wife? Brian Croft takes a stab at an answer.

Good News/Bad News - Gene Veith: “An appeals courts has given a victory to Christian colleges suing over Obamacare's requirement that they provide free contraceptives and morning-after pills.  But another appeals court has upheld the requirement for Christian-owned businesses.”

Monergism Books Sale - Monergism Books is having a post-Christmas inventory reduction sale, which means there are lots of great books heavily discounted.

Amazon’s Disruption - An article at Forbes suggests that Amazon’s book dominance is ripe for a big disruption. 

Revival only come when He sends it.  He only sends it when His people need it.  Surely we His people need it now. —Richard Owen Roberts

Amazon has 20 albums on sale at $1.99 each today. A few appear to be wildly inappropriate while a few others look great. If you need to catch up on your Johnny Cash collection, here’s your chance. Also from Amazon, you can get Cereal Tycoon, the biography of Harry Parsons Crowell, founder of the Quaker Oats, for just $0.99.

Christianity Is Close to Extinction - According to this report, Christianity is nearing extinction in the Middle East. “The most common threat to Christians abroad is militant Islam, it says, claiming that oppression in Muslim countries is often ignored because of a fear that criticism will be seen as ‘racism’.”

Touch Not the Lord’s Annointed - Conrad Mbewe writes about the phrase “touch not the Lord’s annointed,” saying that “if there has been a phrase in the Bible that has been recently tortured until it confesses a lie,” it is this one.

A Letter from R.A. Dickey - You’ll have to allow me a baseball moment here. R.A. Dickey was recently traded to the Toronto Blue Jays and after that happened he wrote this letter to his fans in New York City. I’m looking forward to having him here in Toronto!

The Best History Books of 2012 - Here’s one list of the best history books of 2012. The Passage of Power seems to be atop every list I’ve seen; I may need to get it, but would first want to read the three volumes that precede it. And that seems like rather a tall order…

Sentimentalize, Sanitize, Spiritualize - Bob Kauflin: “The miracle and meaning of the Incarnation can be so difficult to grasp that we can settle for substitutes that leave us impoverished and unimpressed with the real story of Christmas. Even as we lead the church in song, we can present Christmas in a way that fails to leave people gasping in amazement or humbled in awe.”

Gabriel’s Message - I’ve enjoyed Deni Gauthier’s rendition of “Gabriel’s Message.”

The mightiest prayers are often those drenched with the Word of God. —Herbert Lockyer

Here are a few Kindle deals to start: Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal by Michael Kelly is great value at $2.99; John Piper’s What Jesus Demands from the World is down to $3.99; Matt Chandler’s Creature of the Word (a good book I’ll be reviewing soon) is on sale at $5.99; Mary Kassian’s Conversation Peace is at $2.99.

Does God Hate Westboro Baptist? - Josh Buice makes the case that God hates Westboro Baptist Church, the group that pickets funerals and other events with signs saying “God Hates Fags” and so on.

A Veteran at 13 - Smithsonian has the fascinating tale of Calvin Graham who enlisted during World War 2 at the age of 12. 

Facebook’s New Privacy Settings - Gizmodo tells you what you need to know about Facebook’s new privacy settings. “There are two big changes you should care about right now: shortcuts and a beefed up activity feed that’ll let you scrub your past free of embarrassment. Online, at least.”

Romans with Moo - BiblicalTraining.org is offering you a free course. You can watch more than 40 lectures on Romans by Douglas Moo. (HT:JT)

American Christian Imprisoned in Iran - “Rev. Saeed Abedini, a 32-year-old U.S. citizen and a Christian convert of Iranian origin has been imprisoned without charges in one of Iran’s notorious prisons due to his work in Iran’s underground Christian community.”

(Another link related to gun violence was removed when it stopped working)

Most assuredly God will require an account of the children from the parents' hands, for they are His, and only lent to their care and keeping. —A.W. Pink