How’s Your Bible Reading Going? - Just over a month into the new year it’s probably a good time to ask how your Bible reading is going.

Parenting Young Children - Steve McCoy has some helpful counsel for parenting young children. (Note: Some of it reflects a particular cultural context. If you have your kids call people “Miss Gail” or “Mr. Ryan” up here in Canada you’ll be met with blank stares.)

On Sermon Illustrations - H.B. Charles Jr.: “There are three basic elements to a sermon: explanation, application, and illustration. At any given point of the sermon, you are doing one of these three things.” He focuses is on illustration giving tips on doing it well and wisely.

Biblical Personal Finance - This article provides a broad overview of biblical personal finance. “It never ceases to amaze me that algebra is required in school but personal finance is not. We desperately need to hear what the Bible says about personal finance.”

Should I Get Re-Baptized? - Writing at Gospel Coalition, Bobby Jamieson answers this question (which is very, very common): Should I get re-baptized? I also really appreciate the answer J.D. Greear provides in Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart.

We may force our Lord to punish us, but we will never have to force Him to love us. That's His nature. —Thomas Watson

Watch Out or the Devil's Gonna Get You - “In rural America, off a country road, on the soft soil of a weathered field, stands a sobering message for every passer-by: Go to church or the devil will get you!”

Will You Be My Facebook Friend? - Tim Chester has a small ebook titled Will You Be My Facebook Friend? You can get it for free for the next 24 hours if you use voucher code 10ofthosefb. “Image, identity, idolatry and self-promotion are just some of the challenges that social networking can present. Dr Tim Chester looks at these issues pastorally and biblically, in his usual clear and candid manner. He asks pertinent questions to help us tackle them head on.” (Make sure you are buying the ebook, not printed book)

Crazy Love - Francis Chan’s Crazy Love is on sale for $4.99 (Kindle edition). It’s worth reading, even if just to understand what all the hype is about. Remember as well that the Kindle Fire is on sale for another couple of days. Use coupon code FIRELOVE.

What Happens at an Atheist Church? - “An “atheist church” in North London is proving a big hit with non-believers. Does it feel a bit like a new religion?” Whatever it is, you can be confident that it won’t last for long.

Seven Deadly Thoughts of Leaders - I don’t usually go for this kind of article, but this one stood out to me, probably because I know just how prone leaders are to exactly these kinds of thoughts.

This Digital Life - I think it is worth just looking at these images and pondering them for a couple of minutes!

A good teacher like John the Baptist, clears the way, declares the way, and then gets out of the way. —Derek Prime & Alistair Begg

We Already Have a Messiah - What is the role of celebrity in spreading the gospel? “In our human hearts, for some reason we are constantly seeking some legitimacy to the faith we proclaim to have. We perhaps think that if only there were enough famous people to endorse our religion then there might be revival that would break out. It even often times appears that if we can't find good enough celebrities, then we will just exalt some of our pastors to celebrity status.”

Kindle Fire - The Kindle Fire (8.9” version) is on sale for another couple of days. Use code FIRELOVE and you can get up to $50 off. Also, while we’re on the subject of Kindles, Chesterton’s Orthodoxy is free right now.

Losing Adam - What happens if we lose the historicity of Adam? “Losing Adam means losing so much more besides. That is because losing Adam is likely to prove the beginning of losing our Bibles. Like the gardener who decides to trim his hedge, he finds that an aggressive cut at one point leaves a lopsided creation which requires further cuts here and there in order to restore a sense of balance and proportion to his judging eye.”

Desiring God Conference for Pastors - The 2013 Conference for Pastors is underway and you can catch the sessions via livestream. Today you can hear Jason Meyer, Tope Koleoso, John Piper and Darrin Patrick.

Should We Cheer for God? - “When you're watching a football game and your team scores, what do you do? You Cheer! You burst out of your seat and pump your fist and yell and clap and slap five with those around you!. So why aren't you like that toward God? You should express that same kind of excitement and joy toward Him!” Barnabas Piper pokes a hole in this line of reasoning.

Goodbye to the Penny - “Today marks the last day of Canada's one-cent coin, as the Royal Canadian Mint starts to phase it out of circulation.” Finally!

America’s Baby Bust - This is a very interesting article that shows how America’s falling birth rate may well be her biggest problem right now. “The nation’s falling fertility rate is the root cause of many of our problems. And it’s only getting worse.” (Here is a dissenting take, if you like to read both sides of an issue.)

It is easier to cry against one-thousand sins of others than to kill one of your own. —John Flavel

There are a few new Kindle deals you may want to look at: What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp ($4.99); Loving the Way Jesus Loves by Philip Ryken; Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick ($4.99); Think by John Piper ($4.61); The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love by Jonathan Leeman ($5.99); The Joy of Calvinism by Greg Forster ($5.99); This Momentary Marriage by John Piper ($5.99).

Downton Abbey’s Anti-Snobbery - Downton Abbey is obviously something of a cultural phenomenon. WSJ interviews the mind behind it and looks at it as a kind of anti-snobbery.

A Bitter, Salvaged Life - From True Woman: “Jennifer cussed the chaplain out when she arrived at prison to serve her sixteen-year sentence. But in the privacy of her cell, she repeatedly beat her head against the concrete wall until it bleed. Without drugs, she knew no other way to mask the anger and bitterness she had known from childhood.”

Let the Republican Party Split - This is sure to get people talking. Denny Burk says you’ve got to write Peter Leithart’s article about the Republican Party. “ If the price of regaining power is to abandon any semblance of Christian sexual morality, the price is too high. If the Republican party can't bring itself to endorse a traditional understanding of marriage, let it split.”

Founders Week - It is Founders Week at Moody Bible Institute. Many of the sessions will be streamed online. Speakers include John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Tony Evans, David Platt, Janet Parshall, and others. You can find a schedule at the link.

Dealing with Lust - Joseph Pipa goes all the way back to John Flavel in an article teaching how to deal with lust.

Take away the cross of Christ, and the Bible is a dark book. —J.C. Ryle

The Superbowl and Women - This is a brilliant and very important article. Give it some time and attention! “I contend that the way we consume iconic national events like the Super Bowl better depicts what we really believe about women and their so-called roles than do our formal theological statements, denominational position papers, teachings about the spiritual disciplines, and admonitions toward modesty and fidelity. For in the invisibility of normality, there we find our idolatry.”

Going Outside the Camp - James Coffield challenges us: “We have all ‘sinned against sinners.’ The church is often quick to reach out and serve those suffering from physical sickness, as it should.” But we do not do so well when it comes to mental illness. “As believers, we are often curious about the factors that may have contributed to the illness, but we are called to be humble and kind. We need humble curiosity when dealing with those afflicted with mental illness.”

Secrets of Grand Central Terminal - This is fun. It’s an interactive map displaying some of the secrets of New York’s Grand Central Terminal.

The Rented Crowd - I always enjoy Conrad Mbewe’s descriptions of the cultural nuances of his context. Here he writes about the African phenomenon of the “rented” crowd and warns you to be careful when counting attendance during your missions trips.

8 Notes on Counseling Abused Children - I’m not sure how helpful it is to distill so serious a charge (the charge to counsel an abused child) down to 8 short points, but I did appreciate Victor Vieth’s attempt to set helpful directions. The final point gives us all a challenge: “Preaching the gospel to abused children involves more than waiting for one to appear in our office or even our churches--it means an active search for the lost.”

100 Kindle Books - Amazon has 100 Kindle books on sale at $3.99 or less. There are a few worth looking at, including biographies of Lincoln, Jefferson and Churchill.

Superhero Dad - If you happened to catch the viral photo of a superhero dad and his superhero son out shopping, this article gives context. It never ceases to surprise me how 15 minutes of fame can come about in a digital world!

Sex is from God. He gave it to us as a gift. It's a wedding gift. —Bill Shannon

God’s Smuggler - This month’s free audiobook from ChristianAudio is God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew. It’s a classic and definitely worth what you’ll pay for it! I can’t remember if we read it or listened to it as a family, but either way, we all enjoyed it.

To My Pro-Choice Neighbor - Keith Mathison gets right to the heart of the debate in this open letter to his pro-choice neighbor.

Welcoming Visitors - There are lots of good tips here about making visitors feel welcome at your church.

Wallpapers - In case you missed them yesterday afternoon, be sure to check out the February desktop wallpapers I posted. There are copies for your computer, phone, tablet or even Facebook.

The First Christian Service in Australia - “This Sunday is the 225th anniversary of the first Christian service in Australian, led by the Reverend Richard Johnson. A lot of churches will probably be talking about this on Sunday, so I thought I would put up the facts to facilitate the discussion.”

The Mormonizing of America - This is quite a good, readable and relatively new book that looks at the history of Mormonism, its contemporary impact, and the way it may play out in the future. It’s on sale for Kindle.

Care for Your Congregation - Here is a good little article for pastors on ways to care for your congregation. It’s very practical counsel!

A man's treatment of money is the most decisive test of his character - how he makes it and how he spends it. —James Moffat

Is Anybody Out There? - You may remember Mez McConnell as one of the men who opened the last Together for the Gospel conference with the story of his conversion. His biography is on sale at just $2.99 in the Kindle edition. Also, since it is the anniversary of Charles Spurgeon’s death, this book, a collection of quotes, has again been reduced to $2.99.

Say No to Ministry Porn - Darryl shares a definition of “porn” that applies equally to ministry as to sexuality. This kind of “ministry porn” draws in a lot of dissatisfied pastors and church planters: “an unrealistic depiction of something that doesn’t exist that robs you of what you already have that’s good and beautiful.” 

Bad Charity - This article from TIME shows once again that not all aid sent to Africa is at all helpful. If that’s news to you, you need to read When Helping Hurts.

A Pocket Watch - There is some useful counsel in this article: Don’t treat your phone like a pocket watch. “According to a recent study published in the journal Personal and Ubiquitous Computing (pdf), humans look at their phones 34 times a day. That's pulling a device out of a pocket or purse or off a conference table more than twice an hour.”

Women of Grace - I’ve mentioned our church’s “Women of Grace” conference a couple of times. If you’re planning to come, you should probably register today as the earlybird rate ends at midnight. There’s lots of detail at the link.

The Transformation of the Boy Scouts - Dr. Mohler writes about a sudden change of direction for the Boy Scouts. “The new policy to be adopted by the Boy Scouts of America represents a revolution in what that esteemed organization understands ‘morally straight’ to mean. We should not let that pass without taking notice of what that revolution will eventually bring about -- nothing less than a reversal of what morality is understood to demand.”

Paperman - This is a great little animated film that was, not surprisingly, nominated for an Oscar. It uses “a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques.”

There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below. —C.H. Spurgeon

Here are a few Kindle deals likely to end by tomorrow: Gospel by J.D. Greear ($2.99); Fierce Women by Kimberly Wagner ($1.99); What Is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert ($3.99); Word vs Deed by Duane Liftin ($3.99); Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church by Michael Lawrence ($3.99); Bryan Liftin's trilogy of novels: The Sword, The Gift and The Kingdom ($3.99 each); Sex, Dating and Relationships by Hiestand and Thomas ($3.99); Work Matters by Tom Nelson ($3.99); The Liberal Arts by Gene Fant ($2.99); Community by Brad House ($3.99). Finally, remember that RC Sproul's Abortion is still free.

32 Things About Spurgeon - “January 31, 2013 it will have been 121 years since the great preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon passed away. In memory of him I bring to you 32 things you might not know about Charles Spurgeon.” I love articles like these.

How Much Do I Need to Know? - Michael Horton looks at the question of “How much do I need to know in order to be saved?” and says it’s kind of like a dating couple asking “How far can we go?” It’s the wrong question.

Only Once in 30 Days -  Thabiti Anyabwile resolved that he would be a more faithful evangelist, yet he has found that far more difficult than he had thought. This article is very honest, sharing both success and failure.

Dan and Me - Denny Burk dug up an article about a stereotype-wrecking friendship between Chick-Fil-A’s Dan Cathy and LGBT activist Shane Windmeyer.

Cut Off for 40 Years - In 1978, Soviet geologists prospecting in the wilds of Siberia discovered a family of six, lost in the taiga. Smithsonian has a long article about a fascinating little snippet of history.

Children and Porn Culture - This is a disheartening and difficult read, but parents would do well to arm themselves with an idea of just how pornified kids are today. This article focuses primarily on the pressures on young girls.

Compare Scripture with Scripture. False doctrines, like false witnesses, agree not among themselves. —William Gurnall

The Kings of Israel - This infographic “illustrates the rulers of Israel, the years of their reign, how well they reigned and the passages in the Bible where their stories are told. The graphic also forms a subtle cross which is a picture of the earthy kingdom foreshadowing the coming King.” Here is another infographic that displays America’s most and least churched cities. And while we’re displaying information, here’s a handy chart on how to avoid being “that guy” in class.

Hang in There, Mom and Dad - This blogger crunches the numbers and finds an interesting correlation—parents who remain together have children whose first sexual experiences are later.

The Greatest Dance Number Ever - I’d put this up against the best modern-day stunt for its sheer skill and athleticism. Fred Astaire said it was the greatest dance number ever filmed. No doubt.

When the Elders Say No - “In Persistently Preaching Christ: Fifty Years of Bible Ministry in a Cambridge Church, there is an exceptional instance of Minister and elders (in this case Church Wardens) working together.” It’s a great example of love and humility in action.

Four Types of Faith - From C. Michael Patton: “There are four different ways to define faith. It is incredibly important that we, as Christains, don't go wrong here.” Indeed. It’s a helpful article.

Iran Sentences Pastor to 8 Years - “An Iranian judge has sentenced an American Christian pastor to eight years in prison after he was tried for his religious beliefs, a U.S.-based religious group said Sunday.”

You are to follow no man further than he follows Christ. —John Collins

Faith in Crisis - You’ll have to be sure to read all the way to the end of this article from Iain Campbell. He begins by reflecting on how depressing the news has been lately, and then searches for hope. It will start your week in just the right way.

No Better Critics - “I'm a female veteran. I deployed to Anbar Province, Iraq. When I was active duty, I was 5'6, 130 pounds, and scored nearly perfect on my PFTs. I naturally have a lot more upper body strength than the average woman: not only can I do pull-ups, I can meet the male standard. I would love to have been in the infantry. And I still think it will be an unmitigated disaster to incorporate women into combat roles. I am not interested in risking men's lives so I can live my selfish dream.” (Meanwhile, Joe Carter has an excellent FAQ on the issue.)

Better than Gun Control - Clint Archer writes about some of the realities of life in South Africa. “South Africa is the violent crime capital of the world. It's nice to be known for something other than Apartheid. Indiscriminate rape, murder, and armed robbery may actually be a step in a better direction.”

13 Reasons - “Fear is like the monster under my kids' beds -- its power is fueled not by what's really there, but by what might be, what we imagine could be. Fear is a hollow darkness in the future that reaches back through time to rob our joy now by belittling the sovereign goodness of God.” In a letter to his church, John Piper gives 13 reasons Christians do not need to be afraid.

Galaxy M74 - When you see art like this, you are a fool to fail to acknowledge the artist.

Eternity will be too short fully to recount His praise. Let us not shorten our joy by neglecting to begin on earth. —Henry Law