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

Here is another whole batch of Kindle deals: The Next Story by Tim Challies ($3.99); Worship by the Book by D.A. Carson ($3.99); For Calvinism by Michael Horton ($3.99); Pilgrim Theology by Michael Horton ($7.99); A Place for Weakness by Michael Horton ($3.99); Preaching & Preachers by Martyn Lloyd-Jones ($3.99); Christian Beliefs by Wayne Grudem ($3.99); Politics - According to the Bible by Wayne Grudem ($4.99); Historical Theology by Gregg Allison ($5.99); Deuteronomy by Daniel Block ($5.99); A God-Sized Vision by Collin Hansen & John Woodbridge.

What We Can Learn from African Christians - I had intended to link to this article yesterday but the link somehow got messed up. So here it is again: an article on what we can learn from Christians in Africa.

Suicide and Christians - Responding to the news of Rick Warren’s son’s suicide, David Murray writes, “As well-publicized suicides tend to increase the suicide rate quite dramatically, I thought it would be good to address seven of the questions that arise in our minds at times like this.” (You may also want to check out his round-up of excellent articles on the subject).

Where Are Rob Bell’s Glasses? - John Dyer writes a little bit about Rob Bell’s new book, then says the “book hasn't generated quite the firestorm his last book did, and while I think that and the content of Bell's message are interesting, I'm even more fascinated by Bell's uncanny ability to use various media to his advantage.”

Being Gay at Jerry Falwell's University - Denny Burk: “I just finished reading what has to be one of the most riveting articles I've ever seen. The author is Brandon Ambrosino, and the title is ‘Being Gay at Jerry Falwell's University.’ Writing for The Atlantic, Ambrosino tells his story of coming out as a homosexual while he was a student at Liberty.”

It is evident that our conversion is sound when we loathe and hate sin from the heart. --Richard Sibbes

Here’s a long list of current Kindle deals: Rid of My Disgrace by Justin & Lindsey Holcomb ($0.99); Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart by J.D. Greear ($4.99); Risk Is Right by John Piper ($1.99); What Is the Mission of the Church? by Greg Gilbert and Kevin DeYoung ($5.99); The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever ($3.99); Finish the Mission by John Piper & David Mathis (editors) ($5.99); Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper ($4.99); Modest by Tim Challies & R.W. Glenn ($2.99); The Gospel-Centered Woman by Wendy Alsup ($4.99); Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung ($4.99); Words From the Fire by Al Mohler ($4.99); The Quiet Place by Nancy Leigh DeMoss ($1.99); Girls Gone Wise by Mary Kassian ($1.99); The Good Life by Trip Lee ($3.99); The Essential Edwards Collection, 5 Volumes ($9.99); Why We’re Not Emergent by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck ($4.99); The Church Planting Wife by Christine Hoover ($4.99); When Helping Hurts by Corbett and Fikkert ($4.99); On Being a Pastor by Alistair Begg and Derek Prime ($4.99); Made For His Pleasure by Alistair Begg ($4.99); He Is Not Silent by Al Mohler ($4.99); Reverberation by Jonathan Leeman ($4.99).

Who Works - Here’s an interesting chart showing who is in the workforce and who is not.

Gospel Coalition Livestream - The Gospel Coalition conference begins today. You can follow it live online. I’m down here in Orlando for the next few days taking it all in.

Rick Warren - You may have heard the sad news that Rick Warren’s son took his own life a few days ago. USA Today covers the story and says that “thousands are responding to Pastor Rick Warren’s grief with compassion but others use the moment to attack him and his Christian message.” 

Learning from Africa’s Christians - Articles like this can sometimes be a little bit condescending. But not this one. Stephen Liggins suggests ways that Christians around the world can learn from their brothers and sisters in Africa.

Edith Schaeffer - The New York Times has a lengthy obituary for Edith Schaeffer.

Fal$e Teacher$ - Shai Linne risks alienating some of his audience by rapping about some of the prosperity teachers.

No man who is full of himself can ever truly preach the Christ who emptied himself. --J. Sidlow Baxter

4 Truths About Hell - Tom Ascol: “So, what should we think of hell? Is the idea of it really responsible for all the cruelty and torture in the world? Is the doctrine of hell incompatible with the way of Jesus Christ? Hardly. In fact, the most prolific teacher of hell in the Bible is Jesus, and He spoke more about it than He did about heaven.”

Rick Phillips Follows-Up - Yesterday I linked to an article by Rick Phillips. Today he follows up on some objections. “One of his commenters brought up an objection that I thought I might respond to here.  I had written that without the Bible, the only moral consensus open to man is a wicked pagan idolatry.  The objection offered was that many people who do not accept the Bible nonetheless lead loving and moral lives.  We therefore can have morality without the Bible.”

7 Deadly Myths About Editing - “There's a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about editors and what they do. Here are seven of those myths that I'd like to clean up…”

7 Directives for Meditating on Scripture - Paul Tautges looks to the Puritans to find 7 directives for meditating on Scripture.

The Darkness Shall Not Overcome It - John Knight looks to current news stories and says that at times the darkness can seem overwhelming. And in the middle of all that darkness, he offers hope.

The Highlights Are Not Enough - “I have become very thankful for sports highlights shows.  In just a few minutes, I can watch all the best parts of the game and see who or which team has won in the end.  A three hour baseball game can be consumed in just two minutes.” But what happens when we use this “highlights” approach for teaching our children?

It is only our bad temper that we put down to being tired or worried or hungry; we put our good temper down to ourselves. --C.S. Lewis