The Brutal Side of Papal Politics - This article looks at the brutal politics involved in choosing a new pope. “From champion of married priests to disgraced churchman within 72 hours, O'Brien's trajectory is stunning but also emblematic of the frenetic and fever-pitched campaigning that occurs during the tiny window between a pope's death or resignation and the election of his successor.”

Culture Creep - Andree Seu Peterson goes to the news to show us how an orientation is born, showing how pedophilia is being redefined in that way. She points to “a case study in journalistic slouching toward Gomorrah.”

Six Types of Selfishness - R.W. Glenn highlights six types of selfishness that Jesus died to kill.

No Compromise - You can now listen to or watch all of the sessions from last week’s Ligonier Ministries National Conference. Speakers include R.C. Sproul, Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, and Steven Lawson.

Christians in North Korea - “The fanatical regime, which rules the destitute country of 24 million people with a proverbial iron fist, has a special hatred for Christians,” Jerry Dykstra of the California-based Open Doors USA noted. “North Korea is in a league of its own when it comes to persecution of Christians.”

Pastors, Christians and Louis C.K. - This is an interesting little article. One obvious takeaway is that pastors need to be more careful with videos they show before their services! But there are other applications as well.

Book of Judges Infographic - Here is an infographic for the book of Judges.

What Exploded Over Russia? - This is fascinating.

Sin has the devil for its father, shame for its companion and death for its wages. —Thomas Watson

The Place for Biblical Counseling - David Powlison: “Can local churches become a natural home for counseling ministry? Often the limitations or failures of the church get cited first, making it seem that church is at best an adjunct to ‘the real work of counseling.’ But, in principle, the local church is the natural home for face-to-face ministry. Counseling can and should thrive in local churches.”

Easter Reading - Westminster Books has lots of Easter-related books for sale.  The Cross He Bore is one of my all-time favorites and is down to just $3.50. Stott’s The Cross of Christ is a great deal as well.

Eerdmans Sale - Meanwhile Monergism Books has all their books from Eerdmans marked down by 45%. That includes titles from great commentary series like NICOT, NICNT, NIGTC and Pillar.

The Most Offensive Verse - Dan Phillips tells how he would response if he got ambushed by one of those antagonistic talk show hosts: “When Piers or Larry or Tavis or Rosie or Ellen or The View or whoever tried probing me about homosexuality, or wifely submission, or any other area where God has spoken (to the world’s consternation), I think I’d decline the worm altogether. I think instead, I’d say something like…”

Pilgrim Theology - Here is a new infographic that displays “some groundbreaking work from Michael Horton’s new theology book, Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian Disciples.”

5 Myths About Picking a Pope - This article comes from a distinctly pro-Catholic position, but it’s still an interesting take on a few myths about picking a new pope.

How I Become a Prolific Writer - There is hope here for the wannabe writer.

God soon turns from his wrath, but he never turns from his love. —C.H. Spurgeon

Lit! - Tony Reinke’s excellent book Lit! has been marked down to $0.99 in the Kindle edition. This is a one-day deal, so don’t dawdle. “Learn how to better read, what to read, when to read, and why you should read with this helpful guide from accomplished reader Tony Reinke. Offered here is a theology for reading and practical suggestions for reading widely, reading well, and for making it all worthwhile.”

C. Everett Koop - Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop went to be with the Lord yesterday. Justin Taylor has a short account of his life.

You’ll Cry - Just go ahead and try not to cry when you watch this video.

Manufactured Crisis - “Even during this desultory economic recovery, one industry thrives -- the manufacture of synthetic hysteria. It is, however, inaccurate to accuse the Hysteric in Chief of crying ‘Wolf!’ about spending cuts under the sequester. He is actually crying ‘Hamster!’”

How Sweet the Name - “Derek Prime, a now retired pastor, testifies in this powerful short video of the things God is still teaching him at 82 years of age.”

Fiery Looping Rain - This is an amazing video from the sun.

Unholiness in a preacher's life will either stop his mouth from reproving, or the people's ears from receiving. —William Gurnall

In case you missed it on Saturday, Amazon has put a long list of Kindle books on sale, including: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis ($1.99); Creature of the Word by Matt Chandler ($3.99); Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal by Michael Kelly ($2.99); Handel's Messiah by Calvin Stapert ($3.99). Outside the Christian market, consider Abigail and John by Edith Gelles ($1.99); The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan ($1.99); The Life of Andrew Jackson by Robert Remini

Legalized Prostitution - “The Netherlands, that once-Calvinist land, has gone farther than just about any other country in legalizing ‘victimless crimes,’ such as prostitution, drug use, and euthanasia. Now that country is facing the unintended consequences…”

Reaching Catholics - Chris Costaldo has an article about reaching Roman Catholics with the gospel. On a similar note, John MacArthur has begun a series on exposing the heresies of Roman Catholicism.

Simple Words - Clarence Thomas uses simple words in his opinions. “What I tell my law clerks is that we write these so that they are accessible to regular people. That doesn’t mean that there’s no law in it. But there are simple ways to put important things in language that’s accessible. As I say to them, 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.”

Lost Tribes of the Amazon - If you’re in the mood for a longer read, this article from Smithsonian is quite interesting.

We may easily be too big for God to use, but never too small. —D.L. Moody

The big news today is that Amazon is having a massive sale on Kindle books. I’ll share Christian highlights here; scroll down to find some general market highlights. Creature of the Word by Matt Chandler ($3.99); Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal by Michael Kelly ($2.99); Handel’s Messiah by Calvin Stapert ($3.99). (Complete list)

A Letter from Prison - Saeed’s Abedini is a pastor who has been imprisoned within Iran. Here is a letter he recently wrote to his wife from behind prison bars.

Tebow’s Big Fumble - Dr. Mohler: “For Tim Tebow, speaking at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, had to look like a great opportunity. He grew up attending a large Southern Baptist church, and an invitation to speak at one of the most venerable and historic Baptist churches in the world had to look like an easy call. He was going.”

The Word-less “Church” - Robert Godfrey writes about churches that have become (or are becoming) Word-less and warns “Churches that depart from the Word will soon find that God has departed from them.”

Why the Afterlife Bores Us - Russell Moore is on to something here. “Imagine a couple referring to their marriage as their ‘after-love.’ They explain to you that years ago they met, fell in love, and married. The years since are their ‘after-love’ years, since they follow their falling in love with each other.”

An Amish Trade Show - This is fascinating and lends itself so easily to personal application. “The Amish have chosen to forgo many of the delights of the modern world, but they still need to drill, sand and cut wood. This trade expo shows off all the loopholes that let the Amish get their hands on power tools.”

Here are some of the most noteworthy general market Kindle books (click here for the complete list):

• Abigail and John by Edith Gelles ($1.99)
• The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan ($1.99)
• The Life of Andrew Jackson by Robert Remini ($1.99)
• The Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley ($1.99)
• The Victors by Stephen Ambrose ($2.99)
• Shakespeare: A Life by Park Honan ($2.99)

Beware that you are not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge. —John Wesley

Earth As Art - “This set of images is all about showing off the ‘beauty of the Earth,’ says Lawrence Friedl, the director of NASA’s Applied Sciences Program and the editor of a project called Earth as Art. “We want people to look at these images and say, ‘How did nature do that?’” It’s great art, even if they’re asking the wrong question.

The God of Open Options - “The false god of limitless choices, like those at a coffeehouse, is enslaving modern Americans.” This article from Christianity Today speaks of how to resist him.

Time Machine - This is a neat story of an elderly man who received quite a surprise when he restored an old car.

Keep Calm and Carry On - Carl Trueman offers some help in thinking through the latest news surrounding Tim Tebow. I believe his second point is particularly important.

The Day that Changed History - The Atlantic asks historians this question: “What day most changed the course of history?” Not surprisingly, they receive a wide array of answers. I would probably pick a different day than each of them. 

The Science of Porn Addiction - “It’s the number one topic for internet searches, but do we ever consider how pornography can have lasting neuroplastic effects? Discover the hard science behind the ‘porn epidemic’ - the internet’s drug of choice.” I’m glad to see this topic covered outside the Christian world!

When Satan tells me I am a sinner he comforts me immeasurably, since Christ died for sinners. —Martin Luther

Be Like Mike - Matt Smethurst writes about a recent article on Michael Jordan. “Thompson’s piece pulsates with the sense that Jordan isn’t happy. ‘I would give up everything now to go back and play the game of basketball,’ the Hall of Famer confesses. When asked how he replaces it, Jordan simply states, ‘You don’t. You learn to live with it’.”

Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart - This book—a really good one—has been marked down to just $4.99 at Amazon.

When Sparrows Fall - Scroll down a little ways and read a mother’s grief. “My final request to all who read this blog: love. Love your babies, your husbands, mothers, sisters. Love each day like it's your last. All you mamas out there, you have been entrusted with the precious gift of a human life who depends on you. Enjoy your gift. Breathe in the scent of your child's hair, breath. Let them cook with you and make a mess of the kitchen…”

Don’t Waste Your Wedding - With prime wedding season fast approaching, this blog may prove a helpful resource to the prospective bride or groom. There is lots of wisdom to be found on organizing a wedding that is distinctly Christian.

25 Years of Evangelizing My Husband - There is encouragement here! “My husband is not a believer … a fact I routinely brought before the Lord and prayer partners. During our twenty-five years of marriage, I had purchased countless books and CDs with titles such as Beloved Unbeliever. Yet, my daily prayer, Please change his heart, had gone unanswered.”

Hard, But Worth It - “There is so much in this life that is hard. … it is somehow wonderfully heartening to remember that there aren’t too many things in life that are worth a whole lot that aren’t, at times, really hard. Maybe most of all, it really is worth it to follow Christ and live the way God has prescribed through His word, even when it’s incredibly hard.”

The Zombie Invasion - I guess it was a slow day on the floor of Canada’s House of Commons. 

It is as impossible to understand the Scriptures without the Spirit's help as it is to read a sundial without the sun. —Derek Prime & Alistair Begg

Jesus + rien - My French friends may want to pick up Tullian’s Jesus + rien = tout; it is free on Kindle for a short time. And in case you missed it yesterday (it was a late addition), be sure to get Eric Metaxas’ Amazing Grace, the biography of William Wilberforce. It is just $2.99.

7 Ways to Do a Bad Word Study - “How can a lay person (or pastor) know whether a word study is legitimate? Here are some bad ways to do a word study, courtesy of Dr. Jennings of Gordon Conwell and Dr. Grant Osborne of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School…”

God’s Everywhere Grace - David proposes that we rename “common grace.” “To help us prise open our eyes and hearts to God's common grace, let's start by renaming it. ‘Common’ sounds so, well, common. It could be read and heard in a demeaning way, as if it's grace that's not worth much, cheap grace as it were. So let's call it ‘everywhere grace’.”

How To Become Pope - In case you’ve ever wanted to be pope, this video will tell you what steps you’ll need to take. Of course I don’t recommend you take any of them!

The Introverted Evangelist - I’m still working through the introvert / extrovert distinction, but appreciated this article. “We train folks to fit into a specific personality type and call it evangelism training. We are training people to be extrovert evangelists.”

CCEF Resources - Westminster Books has some great CCEF-related resources on sale. When People Are Big and God Is Small and Instruments In the Redeemer’s Hands are paradigm-shifting books.

What Is Love? - Whenever I do pre-marriage counseling I tell the groom-to-be, “I know you’d die for her, but are you willing to live for her?” This is what it looks like to live for her.

The Spirit's work is to drive home to the heart and conscience what the mind understands. —Alwyn York

Amazon has a few Kindle deals you may want to jump on: Fear Not! by Ligon Duncan ($2.99); The Wages of Spin by Carl Trueman ($2.99); Dealing with Depression by Jayne Haynes and Sarah Collins ($2.99); Mark by Warren Wiersbe is free. Eric Metaxas’ life of William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace, is a no-brainer at $2.99.

Uncoolness, Tolerance, and Christ's Bride the Church - I really enjoyed Randy Alcorn’s reflection on the uncoolness of the church. “A church is a gathering of people diverse in race, occupation, age and gender. When those who are already the same in these areas are united, it is not as great a testimony to Christ's grace as when those who are very different are united in the same Lord.”

Piper GIFs - This is good, clean family fun.

Sail Away with Me - One of my favorite bloggers recently made an appearance on 60 Minutes. “The world’s largest civilian hospital ship travels the west African coast, restoring sight to thousands and bringing smiles to faces once disfigured by tumors. Scot Pelley reports.”

China’s House Churches - Christianity Today has an article describing how China plans to wipe out its growing number of house churches.

Rick Warren’s New Show - “Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., announced Tuesday that he will begin a radio show the first week of April.”

Like Elephants - The search engines are like elephants in that they never forget. (Note: There’s a rough word or two in the article.)

For God to explain a trial would be to destroy its purpose, calling forth simple faith and implicit obedience. —Alfred Edersheim

What’s the Point of Marriage? - “There's nothing like a bunch of marriage books to make your head spin. Mostly I avoid them--too many guilt-producing suggestions about the 'must-dos' of a relationship--but I've been writing a seminar on the topic, so it was time to hit the books.” This article is good both for its reflections and its mini reviews.

The Church Planting Wife - The Church Planting Wife by Christine Hoover is a brand-new book that has been marked down to $3.99. 

Bridges & Begg - Take a short, powerful book by Jerry Bridges, have Alistair Begg narrate it, and offer the resulting 2-CD audiobook set for a bargain price. That's a good plan. Who Am I? - Identity in Christ unpacks Scripture to bring believers eight clear, simple answers to perhaps the most important question anyone can ask. (This is a book published by Cruciform Press of which I am a co-founder.)

Praying in a Second Language - “To speak and pray in a ‘second’ language, you don’t need Rosetta Stone. Everyone has an opportunity to think, speak and pray in God’s language — Scripture, the foundational language of the universe.”

The Best Books for Preachers - Al Mohler has put together his annual “Preaching Survey of the Year's Best Books for Preachers.”

A Fractured Vatican - Washington Post: “[The] Pope's leaked papers show a fractured Vatican:Pope Benedict XVI's correspondence shows tales of betrayal and rivalries, allegations of corruption and systemic dysfunction.”

Preaching that Cuts to the Heart - Tim Keller responds to one of the compliments people pay him about his sermons. He’s got some good quotes in there, like this one: “Remember that according to the Bible, the heart is not primarily the emotions but rather the seat of our fundamental commitments and trusts, and therefore it is the control center of the whole life. So to preach to the heart means to go right for the commanding commitments of people’s lives that drive their desires, thinking, feeling, and action.”

The strength of all sin, whether simple or scandalous, is the lie that God can't do what it can. —Sam Storms (reference)