My Favorite Picture - I really enjoyed this article: “Last week I was overwhelmed - again. It was deja vu from two years ago. All those hallways and galleries and glass cases and tiny spotlights. It doesn't take long for me to get lost in the varied and sometimes loose interpretations of art at The Art Institute of Chicago.”

Why Trust the Bible? - This book, by Dr. Timothy Paul Jones, has been marked down to $3.99 for the Kindle edition. Also, several of Ken Burns’ documentaries, including his newest ones, are on sale today only.

Infanticide: The Coming Battle - “First, they won't call it ‘infanticide’ (killing infants) but ‘post-birth abortion’. The reasons are obvious. The word ‘infanticide’ strikes horror into our hearts. But ‘post-birth abortion’ makes it sound like the termination is simply an extension of abortion, which we are culturally adjusted to. Yet the terminology is grossly inaccurate.”

Mental Illness and the Church - The death of Matthew Warren has ignited some powerful and long-overdue conversations in the church about the nature of mental illness and the church’s response to it. This article is very helpful.

What Ted Kremer Wants - This is a neat story: “Serving as the Reds batboy on Thursday, Kremer asked for three things -- 11 runs, 11 strikeouts for free pizza and a Todd Frazier home run. He got all three..”

Do Not Love the World - J.D. Greear: “If you read through 1 John, you’ll come across a short statement that might seem a little confusing: ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world’. This is the same guy who wrote that ‘God so loved the world that he sent his only son’. Is John schizophrenic? Did he forget that he had written John 3:16? And what does it mean to ‘not love the world’?”

3 Lies Porn Tells You - “For the amount of people who struggle with this, we don't talk about it near enough. We don't talk about it in our families. We don't talk about it in our churches. We think avoiding it will make it go away. Statistically speaking, over 50 percent of the men reading this post have had exposure to pornography recently.”

There is a history full of grace behind us, and a prophecy full of glory before us. --C.H. Spurgeon

Here are a few new Kindle deals that may interest you: Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow’s memoir (is he old enough to write a memoir?), is just $1.99. If you’re looking for something a little bit more serious, James Bannerman’s Church of Christ: Outlined and Abridged with Study Questions is free for Kindle and carries some impressive endorsements. Finally, Ten Who Changed the World by Danny Akin looks like a good read on missions and missionaries ($2.99).

Dispatches from the Front - Dispatches from the Front is a series of DVDs that I absolutely love. They have just shared the trailer for the newest episode which will be out next week. They sent me a preview DVD and I’ve already watched it twice!

Luther’s Desperation - Steve Fuller finds a lesson in Luther’s life: “God's Word promises that your own prayers will powerfully bring God's help. But since God's Word encourages us to ask others to pray, that must mean their prayers will bring even more of God's help.”

Christian Art - Over at Scribblepreach you’ll find some interesting reflections on Christians and art. “Rather than heaping more negativity onto the canvass of Christian criticism, I'd like to offer some positive tutorials the Bible offers on ‘art’. The Bible is an art masterpiece, created by a Master Artist. Here some of its pearls…”

The Kingdom of God - Jim Hamilton has a short primer on the kingdom of God. “Any kingdom will consist of a king, his realm, its citizens, and the law that regulates their lives. This is true of God's kingdom as well. What follows is a short overview of the Bible's presentation of God's rule over God's people in God's place according to God's law.”

Fragile Glory - David Niblack ran the Boston Marathon and, upon completing it and hearing of all the devastation, reflects on the marathoner’s fragile glory.

The devil will let a man prepare a sermon if that will keep him from preparing himself. —Vance Havner

Screen Preaching - Christopher Ash writes about why he objects to preachers who speak to their congregations by way of a screen. “There are bad reasons for not liking video preaching, and thus it cannot be absolutely wrong. … But I think there are two kinds of reasons why remoteness ought to be regarded as the exception rather than the norm.”

Heroic Boldness - Today marks the day when Martin Luther made said “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. So help me God. Amen.” In his honor, Ligonier Ministries is giving away the ebook editions of Steve Lawson’s book The Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther. While we’re talking ebooks, the Kindle edition of How Then Should We Work? is down to $3.03.

Shai Linne and Paula White - In his new song “Fal$e Teacher$” Shai Linne calls out Paula White. White’s son subsequently responded with an open letter. Shai Linne has now done the same in an interesting back-and-forth.

George Beverly Shea - “George Beverly Shea, whose voice played as a praiseful soundtrack as thousands professed their faith in Christ, died Tuesday at the age of 104 after a brief illness,” reports WORLD magazine.

Should We Boycott Starbucks? - Nathen Busenitz writes about Starbucks’ moral stance and then looks at a similar situation in the New Testament to ask if we should boycott the chain.

Cheating Their Way to Fame - If you’re in the mood for a little bit of history, you may enjoy Smithsonian’s round-up of adventure travel hoaxes. It seems that a lot of people are looking for fame and willing to fabricate great deeds in order to have it.

Loud Music - How loud should music be in church? There’s no harm in seeing how Disney does it and following suit.

God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved. —J.C. Ryle

Clues Explosions Leave Behind - “In the aftermath of yesterday's bombing at the Boston Marathon, investigators are working a 12-block crime scene to determine what kind of bomb was used and what kind of bomber--domestic or international--planned the attack. What sort of forensic evidence do explosions leave behind?” This article at Slate answers the question.

Don’t Be Late - I appreciate Joe’s take on why you should do your utmost to be at church on time. What many people don’t consider is that worship services are carefully constructed (at least at a good church!) and that there aren’t throwaway components. “The beginning of our corporate worship is thoughtfully put together with the aim of directing our thoughts toward God. From the opening Scripture to the closing benediction every piece of the liturgy is a piece to a puzzle that, when assembled, gives us all a fuller picture of the gospel.”

The Holocaust in Our Midst - Randy Alcorn shares “Why the Revelations of Dr. Gosnell's Trial Don't Shock Me, and the Holocaust in Our Midst.” Also on the subject of abortion, be sure to read A Thermonuclear Trumpet, an article by Rolley Haggard.

Adoption: A Real Question - “Though they are Christian, love children, and see the great need for adoption, the nagging hesitation that may hold some couples back is a concern I wrestled with before adopting. It wasn't so much the money, or the time, or even the emotional ups and downs of the adoption process. It was something much deeper. A question that I often felt guilty for even considering. I asked myself on more than one occasion, ‘Will I love these children as my own?'”

R.A. Dickey on Rock Bottom - R.A. Dickey has a powerful testimony of God’s saving grace in his life and marriage. I wonder what was left on the cutting room floor of this interview with 60 Minutes. Still, it’s a good, short feature. (The full feature is here).

Sleep-Deprived Parents - Here’s a song for sleep-deprived parents.

We know how God would act if he were in our place — he has been in our place. —A.W. Tozer

Bound Together - I recently reviewed Chris Brauns’ book Bound Together (see my review here). For a short time the price of the Kindle edition has dropped to $3.79. You may also want to take a look at For the City by Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter.

The Problem With “Mental Illness” - David identifies a concern with the term “mental illness.” “I wish there was a word or phrase to cover the mental and emotional disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety, schizophrenia) that result from both personal sin (for which we are responsible), and personal suffering (for which we are not - or not wholly -  responsible).”

An Untranslatable Word - I always look forward to Mounce’s blog posts. “Every once in a while we find a Greek word or expression that simply cannot come into English. We want to translate every word, but in some cases, no matter what you choose, you create the wrong impression of what was being said. ‘Woman’ is one of those words.”

The Gospel Changes Marriage - Erik Raymond on the gospel and marriage: “When a new leader is appointed in an organization change is inevitable. The incoming boss will set policy, establish tone, and reflect an attitude in their organization. The same is true for our marriages. The new leader I am referring to here is not a new husband but rather the true husband, The Lord Jesus Christ.”

What Can We Preach? - Colin Adams wonders what pastors can preach in the wake of the Boston bombings. “No words can describe such an act of barbarous cruelty. No language can express the sympathy we feel for those suffering its consequences. … Yet pastors need to find words. Sunday is coming and the pastor will need to have something to say. Some will choose to address the Boston bombings directly.  Others will simply mention the disaster in passing. Whatever path is chosen, pastors will wrestle with the question: what can I preach?”

The Reading Brain - “E-readers and tablets are becoming more popular as such technologies improve, but research suggests that reading on paper still boasts unique advantages.”

God’s sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible for us to pray with confidence. —Jerry Bridges

Byron Yawn’s excellent book What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him is just $2.51 on Kindle. (You can see my review of it here.) There are lots of other deals on the Really Big List of Kindle Deals that I shared last week, but quite a few of them will be expiring soon.

Myths & Misperceptions About Suicide - Paul Tautges shares a guest blog post, saying “There are many myths and misperceptions about suicide that hinder us from dealing effectively with suicidal persons. Here are some of them, with brief comments…”

Kim Jong Un - We’re all trying to figure out Kim Jong Un. This profile from The Washington Post is quite an interesting one.

To the Innocent Victims - I appreciated this post, written in memory of the victims of Dr. Kermit Gosnell. Lest we forget the victims amidst all the horror. “We do not know how many thousands of you there are; nor do we know the names God has now given you. But what we do know is that your lives on this earth were far too short, that you deserved better than you got - and today, we want you to know this: we remember you.”

She Gets It - An interesting take on the news from Ryan Gold: “What if I told you a former professional beach volleyball player/fitness model and her world-class surfer dude husband resemble more of a biblical marriage than many evangelical Christians.”

Piper on Regrets and Retirement - Collin Hansen sat down with John Piper to ask about his retirement and ministry regrets.

A 100-Year-Old Man of God - Randy Alcorn wants you to introduce you to 100-Year-Old Walter Jespersen. Alcorn says he wants to be Walter when he grows up.

I believe Satan to exist for two reasons: first, the Bible says so; and second, I’ve done business with him. —D.L. Moody

7 Billion People - The earth recently reached a population of 7 billion and on this page you can see every one of us. Be sure to see the explanation page as well. Consider that each one of those 7 billion people is a person created in God’s image. And consider how many have not yet believed the gospel.

Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead - Phillip Jensen, reflecting on the death of Margaret Thatcher, asks, “Should we rejoice in another's death? It certainly is understandable in the extreme cases of evil or when we have been personally abused by somebody's sinfulness. Yet it ill behooves sinners, such as ourselves, to clamour too loudly for justice.” While on the subject of Thatcher, here is an interesting article on her Christian grandchildren.

Come Thou Fount - This is a great rendition of “Come Thou Fount.”

Prayer Meetings - I love prayer meetings but, like anything else, a very consistent format can at times grow stale. I appreciate Eric’s practical pointers for leading a prayer meeting.

Does Jesus Really Love Me? - The New York Times has a very angry review of a book that seems to be gaining a little bit of traction. I link to it because it represents an angry but all-too-typical take on how Christians regard homosexuality. The reviewer’s characterization of Christianity leaves no real room for loving disagreement or a true definition of tolerance (which presupposes relationship despite differing viewpoints).

Life Lessons From a Calloused Christian - William Boekestein’s short book on Jonah is free on Kindle.

Speaking Hope to the World - This is a powerful video.

The greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It needs no furlough and is never considered a foreigner. —William Cameron Townsend

Repentance vs Defensiveness - “Our default mode - in and out of the church - seems to be defensiveness. I know mine is. Nothing is more natural when we feel threatened by a criticism than to divert, distract, and downplay. Its as instinctive as flinching when a punch is coming. In my experience, a heart of repentance is something I have to work at.”

Gosnell Murder and Infanticide Trial - Here are Joe Carter’s “9 Things You Should Know About the Gosnell Infanticide and Murder Trial.” This article from USA Today is also one to read.

The Justice of Hell - I appreciate R.C. Sproul Jr.’s answer to this always-difficult question: How can an infinite hell be just when our sins are finite?

God Created Me to Worship Him - Be sure to watch this video, Roger Flournoy Jr.’s powerful testimony to the Lord’s grace in his life. (HT)

Vatican City Explained - This short video explains how Vatican City works. It’s a remarkable complex little place.

Fast Track to Marriage - I was recently a guest on an episode of The Boundless Show to talk about modesty and other issues. You can listen in at the link.

The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory. --Richard Sibbes

There have been a lot of Kindle deals lately, so let me share a few of my top recommendations (because they are either favorites or exceptional value): A Meal With Jesus by Tim Chester; Worship By the Book by D.A. Carson; Historical Theology by Gregg Allison (huge, important book for a low price); Deuteronomy by Daniel Block (if you’re into Kindle commentaries); The Quiet Place by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Snap Judgments - There is some real wisdom in this article: “The danger of using photos as markers is that images appeal to our vanity. We become quickly obsessed with accumulating experiences, capturing them in photos, and publicly displaying our photos as trophies. If we aren’t careful, our Facebook pages and blogs can become trophy cases of our own accomplishments…”

Study Tips for Acts - “Have you ever felt like having a little guidance in your Bible reading would help you learn and understand more than you currently do? Learning and observing themes in certain books of the Bible can have a tremendous effect on your understanding of the book and whole Bible story.” Here are some user-friendly tips on reading and studying the book of Acts. (The article says it is from D.A. Carson but he says that isn’t the case.)

Friendships Cut Short - Don’t let this be you! “Rudeness and throwing insults are cutting online friendships short with a survey on Wednesday showing people are getting ruder on social media and two in five users have ended contact after a virtual altercation.”

Shai Linne - WORLD has a short story on Shai Linne and his song on prosperity theology. As I mentioned before, I admire Shai for doing this because by doing it he is not only challenging his audience, but also taking a risk by potentially alienating a part of his audience.

The “Right Time” God - “God operates on a different time table than we do as humans.” We all know this, but sometimes we need to be reminded.

God’s Love Compels Us - Aaron Armstrong blogged his way through The Gospel Coalition pre-conference on missions and wrapped it all in a little ebook. It’s a free download if you’re interested.

True faith is man’s weakness leaning on God’s strength. --D.L. Moody

The Kindle deals just keep coming. Here are a batch from Crossway: Scandalous by D.A. Carson ($4.99); Jesus the Son of God by D.A. Carson ($3.99); Entrusted with the Gospel by D.A. Carson, editor ($4.99); Don’t Call It a Comeback by Kevin DeYoung, editor ($4.99); Loving the Way Jesus Loves by Philip Ryken ($4.99); Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp ($5.99); The Lamb of God by Nancy Guthrie ($5.99); A Meal With Jesus by Tim Chester ($3.99).

Undermining Marriage - “Just because you are hetero-sexual does not mean that you are reflecting God's plan for marriage. You don't get a pass just on marriage because you are not Gay. The basis of a marriage reflecting God's plan is how it reflects the gospel. In other words a marriage is reflective of God's plan in so far as it reflects the marriage between Jesus the husband and the church the bride.”

Is Our Helping Really Hurting? - I appreciate Mez McConnell’s review of When Helping Hurts since he is exactly the kind of person who would see the utility or futility of short-term missions trips. He considers it a must-read book.

It’s Easier to Criticize - It’s so obvious, but still bears mention: it is so much easier to criticize than to encourage. So we ought to be put extra effort into building up one another.

A Dead Baby - Here is the brutal reality: “Planned Parenthood, which receives more than $500 million in government subsidies, is branching out, expanding its mission beyond the provision of abortions to the defense of consumers' rights: If you pay for an abortion, you are owed a dead baby.”

Churches and Mental Illness - Ed Stetzer: “Matthew’s life was not a waste and, yes, every day had a purpose. His pain is over now, but perhaps his life and death will remind us all of the reality of mental illness and inspire people of faith to greater awareness and action.”

There is no joy in the world like the joy of bringing one soul to Christ. --William Barclay