The Kindle edition of one of my favorite books on prayer is on sale for just $1.99: Praying Backwards by Bryan Chapell. Christian Focus has several of their Trailblazers series on sale for just $2.99 each. These are biographies targeted at young teens. Helen Roseveare: On His Majesty’s Service, George Whitefield: The Voice that Woke the World, David Brainerd: A Love for the Lost, John Newton: A Slave Set Free, and Joni Eareckson Tada: Swimming Against The Tide. Remember as well that Bruce Shelley’s Church History in Plain Language is $4.99.

Explore the World - Here’s a fascinating way to pass a few minutes. Using Google Map’s street view, you get dropped somewhere in the world and have to try to guess where you are.

Embarrassing Moments in Ministry - I haven’t been in ministry long enough to have a collection of embarrassing moments like these. Here’s hoping I avoid the worst of them!

Too Important to Outsource - There are many things in life we can outsource, but some are just too important and we have to do them ourselves. This article talks about the importance of parents discipling their own children.

Prepare Children for Times of Doubt - In a similar vein, C Michael Patton writes about how to prepare your children for times of doubt.

The Course of Christian History - Gospel Coalition asked four church historians this question: “After AD 70, what day most changed the course of Christian history?”

Working on a Sermon Saturday Night - There is some wise counsel for pastors in this article. “Many of the pastors that I interact with are frustrated that they are working on their sermons well into the weekend. If this is you consider applying the following principles to help you recapture your Saturdays.” Now, to go work on my sermon a bit…

The custom of sinning takes away the sense of it, the course of the world takes away the shame of it. —John Owen

There are a few new Kindle deals for you: Which Bible Translation Should I Use? by Andreas Kostenberger ($4.74); How We Got the Bible ($3.47); Luke - Acts in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary set ($7.59); John - Acts in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary ($7.59). The Art of Neighboring, a book I really enjoyed, is $4.99.

Daily Slogging - Ray Ortlund with a great blog post: “I am not impressed by young pastors who seem too eager to publish books and speak at big events and get noticed.  They are doing the work of the Lord, and that's good.  But what impresses me is my dad's daily slogging, year after year, in the power of the Spirit, with no big-deal-ness as the payoff.”

What’s In a Name? - I wrote a couple of days ago about hearing God speak through his Word. Here’s another article on that very thing.

Legalize Polygamy - It’s just a matter of time. Society’s got no foundation left to battle this: “The definition of marriage is plastic. Just like heterosexual marriage is no better or worse than homosexual marriage, marriage between two consenting adults is not inherently more or less ‘correct’ than marriage among three (or four, or six) consenting adults.”

One Ministry, Two Kingdoms - Here’s a helpful one from Paul Tripp: “It took God employing hardship for me to embrace the inescapable reality that everything I did in ministry was done in allegiance to, and in pursuit of, either the kingdom of self or the kingdom of God.”

$5 Friday - Ligonier’s $5 Friday has a few good items including electronic editions of Anthony Carter’s Blood Work and the print edition of R.C. Sproul’s Abortion.

The Psalms - I grew up singing a lot of the Psalms, often unaccompanied by instruments. So I feel right at home with these recordings (HT Carl Trueman). Also be sure to check out this fascinating video of Gaelic psalms.

Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins. —Thomas Brooks

Every morning I sort through mounds of recently discounted Kindle books to find the few that are of interest. Today’s list includes two: The Holman Bible Atlas and The Holman Illustrated Guide to Biblical History, both of which are down to $4.99.

How Do Fortune Cookies Get Written? - You’ve probably wondered at one time or another how fortune cookies get written. Now you know. (I have previously suggested some possible connection to Joel Osteen sermons.)

Religious Liberty in America - Denny Burk commends this article on the changing face of religious liberty in America. 

Idle of the Heart - “I continually run into young men who are frustrated at their stage in life in part because of a lack of clarity about their calling, or a lack of opportunity to do what they really want to do.  This frustration leads many to become idle. Inactive if not aimless.”

Apps to Help Share the Gospel - Apps are the new tracts. Here are 5 smartphone or tablet apps that can help you share the gospel.

Original Autographs and Original Texts - Michael Kruger addresses a contemporary challenge to the Bible: “At the core of this challenge is the fact that we only have handwritten copies of these books we treasure. And, in reality, we only have copies of copies of copies. And given that scribes made mistakes, and that the transmission process was imperfect, how can we be sure that these texts have been preserved? How can we be sure we actually have the words of Scripture?”

He who is a stranger to wonder is a stranger to God, for God is wonderful everyway, and everywhere, and everyhow. —C.H. Spurgeon

There are lots of new Kindle deals today. Here are four books by J.I. Packer: Taking God Seriously ($5.99); A Passion for Faithfulness ($4.99); Growing in Christ ($3.99); Affirming the Apostle’s Creed ($2.99). You may also be interested in: James, a 12-week study by Greg Gilbert and part of Crossway’s new “Knowing the Bible” series ($2.99) or Signature in the Cell by Stephen Meyer ($2.99).

Kermit Gosnell's America - Dr. Mohler writes about what Kermit Gosnell’s trial really reveals about America. “While the trial was not an open debate about the morality of abortion, that issue is what every thoughtful person recognizes is at stake -- which is precisely why the pro-abortion movement had to insist, over and over again, that the morality of abortion is not the issue. Here is a clue: When you have to argue at every turn that the issue is not abortion, the issue is abortion.”

Arrows Out - “The mark of a true Christian is someone who has embraced, by faith, love's ultimate expression in Christ's death for us. By God's design, this love in us becomes God's love through us. That's just the way he's made it. Is it so hard to believe God would engineer it that way? The God who made water turn into ice and larvae turn into butterflies and winter turn into spring, can't he engineer his love to turn haters into lovers? Turn takers into givers?”

The Legacy of Keith Green - I really enjoyed this conversation between Trevin Wax and Matt Papa on the life and legacy of Keith Green.

Tragic Worship - Here is a thought-provoking article from Carl Trueman: “The problem with much Christian worship in the contemporary world, Catholic and Protestant alike, is not that it is too entertaining but that it is not entertaining enough.”

Online Safety - We are probably all getting a little weary of reading articles like this one, but the takeaway remains important and too-often overlooked: Little kids are going online and behaving like adults.

The fruit of the Spirit is not excitement or orthodoxy; it is character. —G.B. Duncan

The Bible Miniseries - Andy Naselli offers “3 Reasons I Don't Enthusiastically Recommend the History Channel's ‘The Bible: The Epic Miniseries’.” He brings some good reflections on both the strengths and weaknesses of the series.

Americans and Germans Fought Together - “Days after Hitler's suicide a group of American soldiers, French prisoners, and, yes, German soldiers defended an Austrian castle against an SS division--the only time Germans and Allies fought together in World War II. Andrew Roberts on a story so wild that it has to be made into a movie.”

Long-Lost Sisters - Here’s the feel-good story du jour. You can click through to the USA Today video if you prefer.

The (Im)perfect Marriage - “Depending on how well we do in our own eyes, perfectionism can play out in a variety of negative responses: feelings of worthlessness, inordinate preoccupation with the opinions of other people, paralyzing fear, impatience with others, and a sense of superiority. While I've recognized my perfectionist tendencies for some time now and while I am confident that God is changing me, the reality is that I tend to carry that disposition into my relationships, not least of which is my marriage.”

The Plastic Fruit of Online Living - Lindsey Carlson writes about online living and some of the temptation it brings.

Heaven Is Hot, Hell Is Cold - Macleans magazine, Canada’s answer to Time, had a recent cover story about the phenomenon of all the “I went to heaven” books. The author ends up sharing some interesting reflections.

I believe every Christian man has a choice between being humble and being humbled. —C.H. Spurgeon

There are a bunch of new Kindle deals worth considering: The MacArthur Bible Commentary is a good choice for a single-volume commentary ($5.99); Church History in Plain Language is an excellent one-volume church history ($4.99); Where to Find It in the Bible helps you track down biblical references for contemporary issues ($1.99); One Perfect Life by John MacArthur ($3.99); The Kingdom of the Occult by Walter Martin ($3.99); Peace Child by Don Richardson is a missionary classic ($3.99); The White Umbrella by Mary Frances Bowley ($2.99).

Time for a Tat? - While this (long) article begins with tattoos, it quickly moves to the nature of midlife crises. It’s quite an interesting read.

When Harsh Words Are Kind - “Missionary to India, William Carey, once exhorted a Baptist gathering in England by saying, ‘Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.’ I love that quote. But we must heed the Bible's warning through Simon the Magician: if we attempt great things so that others will see us as great, we are in grave spiritual peril.”

Mom, I Love You But… - Here is some rather humorous evidence that “even after you are all grown up and become the President or whatever, your mom will always be your mom.”

The Heresy of Perfectionism - R.C. Sproul: “The peril of perfectionism is that it seriously distorts the human mind. Imagine the contortions through which we must put ourselves to delude us into thinking that we have in fact achieved a state of sinlessness.” The irony of perfectionism is that it must be a sin to say, “I don’t sin.”

Fight Like a Christian - Here is J.D. Greear on ten ways to fight like a Christian.

Teach us, O Lord, the discipline of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work. —Peter Marshall

W.W. Jay-Z? - Writing for Christianity Today, Russell Moore suggests “how Christian hip-hop could call the American church back to the gospel—and hip-hop back to its roots.”

A Week of Groceries - I always enjoy photo collections like this one. Here is a week of groceries from different families around the world.

How Introverted Pastors Love - John Piper has some helpful thoughts on the introverted pastors. He makes many other observations on 33 years of pastoral ministry.

National Geographic Photo Contest - Here are some of the best photos from this year’s National Geographic Traveler Magazine photo contest. Some of them are nothing short of spectacular.

Porn and the Brain - One fascinating area of research today is the effect of pornography on the brain. The connection does not absolve addicts of blame, but it does warn us of one more negative effect of pornography and explain why the addiction is so difficult to destroy.

Every Generation Is the Me Generation - There have been many interesting reactions to Time Magazine’s cover story on the “Me Me Me Generation.” But as this article explains and displays, every generation is considered the “me generation” at one time or another.

There is no better test of growth than that a man desires God because he is God. —Martyn Lloyd-Jones

What Separates Us From the Bible? - Tony Payne follows up a previous article: “I was suggesting last week that the Bible is not written from an alien, different world, but addresses the world we live in. But there is something that stands as a divide between us and the Bible; something that prevents us from grasping hold of the Scriptures and applying them rightly to our lives.”

World’s Worst Violaters - “The worst countries for religious freedom are either Muslim or atheist.  (Burma is Buddhist.) We understand about Islam, but atheists like to present themselves as tolerant.  What does it tell us that no countries of Christian heritage are on the list?”

Hymnals Have a Future - I suspect the better headline here is “Why I Really Hope Hymnals Have a Future.” But I could be wrong and maybe hymnals really do have a future.

Shaping a Child’s Soul - Timothy Paul Jones strikes a good balance in this article. “If your goal is organizational efficiency, equipping parents to disciple their children may be an inefficient use of your time, and turning over children's spiritual lives to professionals at church might make perfect sense.”

Refusing the Search - I had wondered this in the aftermath of the Boston Marathan bombing: During the lockdown, what would have happened if someone had refused to allow his house to be searched by police? I didn’t hear of anyone claiming that right when the SWAT team banged on the door.

Texting and Driving - Be sure to talk to your teens about this! Texting and driving now kills more teens every year than drinking and driving. After all, kids don’t drink 24 x 7, but they do check their text messages all day every day.

A Jesus who never wept could never wipe away my tears. —C.H. Spurgeon

There are several books on sale for Mother’s Day: Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick ($5.99); Five Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter ($4.99) and Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Son ($4.74) by Vicki Courtney; Beyond Bath Time by Erin Davis ($1.99); Comforts From Romans by Elyse Fitzpatrick ($3.99); Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney ($3.99); Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes ($4.99); Through HIs Eyes by Jerram Barrs ($5.99). (More Kindle deals at the bottom of this post)

The Struggle To Trust - Every parent can identify with the struggle to trust the Lord with your childrens’ salvation. “The way I hope my kids will come to salvation is quite narrow. I want them to soak in God's word and truth by osmosis until one pretty spring day while we're sitting under a big oak tree and enjoying a picnic, their little eyes open to the truths of God.”

Crossway Flood - In the aftermath of a devastating flood, Crossway is looking for your assistance. “Your willingness to stand with us today will help Crossway recover and carry forward our not-for-profit ministry and our strategic efforts to reach the world with the gospel and the truth of God's word.”

Top Preaching Mistakes - Julian lists the top mistakes he makes in preaching, both in preparation and delivery.

A Close Encounter With Abortion - Marlin Stutzman: “Recently, after speaking on the House floor about the horrors of Dr. Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic in Philadelphia, I began wondering if my mother had ever thought about ending her unplanned pregnancy. My parents never gave any indication that it was ever a consideration, but was it?”

License Plate Readers - The sheer volume of information being collected and archived these days is amazing. License plate readers are just one of the most recent and most troubling.

What! Get to heaven on your own strength? Why, you might as well try to climb to the moon on a rope of sand! —George Whitefield

Remember that the Kindle editions of the NIV Application Commentary set are on sale for just $4.99 each. This is considered a very good popular-level series. I've asterisked volumes especially recommended by the various experts I rely on to help me sort through commentaries: Genesis*; Leviticus, Numbers; Deuteronomy*; Joshua; Judges and Ruth*; 1 & 2 Kings; 1 & 2 Chronicles*; Esther*; Job; Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs*; Isaiah; Jeremiah, Lamentations; Ezekiel*; Daniel*; Joel, Obadiah, Malachi; Hosea, Amos, Micah; Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah; Haggai, Zechariah; Matthew; Mark*; Luke*; John; Acts*; Romans*; 1Corinthians*; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians*; Colossians & Philemon*; 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus*; Hebrews*; James; 1 Peter*; 2 Peter & Jude*; 1, 2, & 3 John*; Revelation*.

There are a couple of new Kindle deals that may interest you. A couple of weeks ago I reviewed Joni & Ken; it has now been marked down to $3.79. Couples of the Bible by Robert & Bobbie Wolgemuth was in my recent list of New & Notable books and is now just $3.99.

More Than Half of Humanity - This map shows something incredible: that more than half of the people on earth live in a very, very small area.

Do We Have to Mention Jesus? - I like John Koessler’s answer to the question, Do we have to mention Jesus in every sermon?

You Won’t Remember This Article - “Do you understand and remember more after reading from a page than reading from a screen? As Ferris Jabr reports for Scientific American, the book itself binds your understanding.”

Plosky Tolbachik Volcano - “Plosky Tolbachik is a massive basaltic volcano. On November 27, 2012, the remote Russian volcano Plosky Tolbachik erupted and as of today (February 6, 2012) fluid lava continues to erupt from the volcano.” This is an amazing 360 degree aerial panorama of it all.

Ian and Larissa - DG: “It's been one year since we released this video, very simply titled: "The Story of Ian and Larissa." The response was (and continues to be) stunning -- over 1.5 million plays online from viewers around the world. But such impressive numbers only faintly echo the measure of grace in the lives of Ian and Larissa Murphy. And to mark the one-year anniversary of the video release, we wanted to reconnect with them for a quick update through this written interview.”

We must not conceive of prayer as overcoming God's reluctance but as laying hold of his highest willingness. —Richard Trench