February is very nearly upon us, and to get the month started right, here are some wallpapers calendars to dress up your computer, tablet or cell phone. This month’s designs come courtesy of Jeff Nine, of Global Missions Media. Global Missions Media is a team of communicators, designers, and strategists on mission that exists to…
It is the theme of so many movies, so many novels, so many classroom presentations and political discourses: Freedom comes in pursuing your deepest desires, whatever those desires may be. Be true to yourself, be unashamed in who you are, and you will find joy and fulfillment. Not too long ago I read the bestselling…
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.”…
On one of those evenings when I was too tired to read but not tired enough to sleep, I began to browse the documentary section on Netflix. I came across Monica & David, a documentary about, well, Monica and David. The film traces their relationship from dating, to their wedding, to the early days of…
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…
The best life is a risky life. Really, I am convinced there is not much worth doing that doesn’t involve at least some measure of risk. A lifetime of always making the safest choice is an unrealistically boring and plodding life. We risk when we love, we risk when we live. To love any person…
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…
It may be the most common feature of the bestselling Christian books. “We all want to be great for God and do things that would be impossible without his presence and help. So live a life that’s Greater.” “You are living a life of comfort, ease and complacency, so step out and do something Radical.”…
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…
This is the 21st installment in a series on theological terms. See previous posts on the terms theology, Trinity, creation, man, Fall, common grace, sin, righteousness, faith, pride, election, revelation, atonement, adoption, sanctification, incarnation, idolatry, the church, holiness, and salvation. Meditate much upon the day of judgment. Feathers swim upon the water, but gold sinks…
The Real Cessationist – C. Michael Patton’s articles are always a little bit on the long side, but they’re also quite helpful. In this one he looks at the difference between charismatics and cessationists. Without Adam the Good News Turns Bad – This is what Michael Reeves argues over at the Desiring God blog, that…
This week’s edition of Free Stuff Fridays is brought to you by Banner of Truth. They have 5 prize packages to give away this week. Each one of them will win a prize package that includes: The idea with these pocket sized confessions is that you can take them with you wherever you go. They…
It was a week or two ago that I came across a band called The Gray Havens. I listened to a few clips and decided to pre-order their first album, an EP that releases today. It turns out that they are readers of this site. I thought it would be fun to do an interview…
Jesus, the Propitiation of God’s Wrath – “God propitiates his own wrath. Know anybody else like that? Will China pay off the US debt? Will any of the victims of Bernie Madoff personally pay his financial debts? When does the offended personally provide the means to take away his own offense? Only God. This is…
It is a question every pastor faces on a regular basis. It is a question every conference speaker faces in panel discussions or Q&A sessions: How much of my money do I give to the church? How much should I give to the church? My answer is short: Enough that it matters. Let me explain…
Stand for Life – This interview is well worth watching. John Ensor and Scott Klusendorf interview John Piper and discuss the still and always-urgent topic of abortion. Triumphs of Grace on the Mission Field – Conrad Mbewe shares some encouragement from some of the pastors he meets with. “Today, eight of the men shared how…
What Is Family Integrated Church? At the most basic level, the family integrated church is one intentionally designed to eliminate unnecessary age-segregated structures from the church’s ministry. Children typically attend all of the corporate worship gatherings with their parents rather than attending a separate children’s ministry or, in some cases, even a nursery. Intergenerational discipleship…
This review of Kyle Idleman’s Not a Fan comes a little bit late. The book released almost two years ago and has sold over a half million copies. I have been meaning to read it for some time, but something else always seemed more urgent. However, with Idleman’s follow-up releasing in the next month–a book…
Pastoral Confidentiality – There have been various articles about pastoral confidentiality. I really appreciate what Tom Ascol says; he seems to strike a healthy balance between the extremes. Boycotting Companies – R.C. Sproul Jr. answers this question: “Do Christians have a moral obligation to boycott companies that support unbiblical causes?” D.A. Carson on Complementarianism –…
Pornography has traditionally been an industry that caters almost entirely to men. There have always been exceptions, of course, but it was predominantly men who bought the magazines and videos in a pre-digital age and it has been men who have made pornography a multi-billion dollar industry in the Internet age. If the industry has…