Chad Selph's Blog

Must We Believe in the Virgin Birth?

2011-12-15T12:11:00.000-06:00

Dr. Al Mohler responds here to liberal challenges to the biblical teachings on the Virgin Birth of Christ?

Spoiler Alert: It matters.

What Did Santa Claus Look Like?

2011-12-07T07:58:00.001-06:00

Jim Denison's article provides interesting information and insights on the historic "Santa Claus". It also explains how some smart folks figured out what old Saint Nicholas looked like.

Special Christmas Giving Options

2011-12-05T17:11:00.000-06:00

Microfinance - For the person who would rather give than get, you might consider a microfinancing gift certificate—a way that your loved one can help sponsor a business in a developing country. Kiva and Razoo both offer you this ability. “Make this a Merry Christmas for your loved ones with a gift that lets them change the world. A Micro Loan Gift Card lets your family and friends choose a hard-working entrepreneur to help by funding their small business loan-to buy a sewing machine, a bicycle, training, or whatever will put their families on the pathway to success.”

How long should you attend a church before pursuing membership?

2011-11-30T09:34:00.000-06:00

In a world of church hoppers and church shoppers, this article might be helpful for many. "How long should you attend a church before pursuing membership?" The author of the article provides four things to consider in looking for a church home and some dangers to avoid.

Four Words That Change Everything

2011-11-30T09:24:00.000-06:00

4 words that change everything. Wherever you are right now, in any situation, these words really do change everything.

Free Advent Devotional Guide

2011-11-30T09:14:00.000-06:00

The fourth Sunday before Christmas, signaling the beginning of the Advent season. "Advent" is from the Latin word for "coming" — translated from the Greek word parousia. It's a stretch of four weeks where we reenact and remember how the Old Testament saints longed for Messiah to come.

On this side of the nativity and the cross, knowing about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Advent shows us that we're still waiting. The redemption that Jesus accomplished for us is not yet consummated (Romans 8:19–25). Noel Piper writes,

So here we stand in the middle. Advent is the season of looking back, thinking how it must have been, waiting for the promised salvation of God, not knowing what to expect. And at the same time, Advent is a season of looking ahead, preparing ourselves to meet Jesus at his Second Coming. (Treasuring God in Our Traditions, 77).

Get This Free Download

One free resource to recommend is the new Advent Guide (PDF) from the Village Church, Texas. This is an excellent guide made up of two sections each week: one for personal reflection and one for family devotionals. It includes three appendices with helpful practicals and is put together in a nice design. Check out the contents:

Week 1: Promises and Patience
Theme: Our God makes and keeps promises, and his people are called to wait with patient longing.
Week 2: Awaiting and Advent
Theme: God made a particular promise of a Messiah, and Israel longed for his coming.
Week 3: Incarnation and Implications
Theme: God fulfilled the promise of a Messiah in the first advent of Jesus Christ.
Week 4: Resurrection and Return
Theme: After dying to redeem his people from slavery, Christ rose from the dead and promised to come again to redeem us fully.
Week 5: Watching and Waiting
Theme: As we await the second advent of Christ, we are called to a life of prayerful and prepared patience.
Appendices
A: Passages for Contemplating and Considering Christ
B: Recommended Resources for the Season
C: Recommended Activities for Family Devotion

Far From God

2011-11-30T08:53:00.000-06:00

This site shows a map of every McDonald’s restaurant in the USA. It also has a video showing a person trying to find the spot (the exact spot!) that is farthest from any McDonald’s in the whole country. The most Ronald-forsaken,McDonald-less place in America.

As we move into the Christmas season, I am reminded of all the people in our nation and in our world who live far from God. Let's focus our efforts toward reaching those who are unreached with the message of God's great love in Christ this Christmas - through our giving, our praying, and our going.

Is This the Third or Fourth Horse of the Apocalypse?

2011-11-30T08:41:00.000-06:00

Joel Osteen and Reality TV - Oh boy. “More than 10 million people watch Joel Osteen’s television broadcast each week, and soon viewers will be able to see how the pastor of America’s largest church lives outside of Lakewood. A new reality show will follow the Osteens’ ministry as they serve and inspire people across the U.S., Lakewood confirmed.”

A Year End Challenge

2011-11-30T08:32:00.000-06:00

The author Stephen Levine once asked this question, "If you had an hour to live and could make only one phone call-who would you call,what would you say, and why are you waiting?" See the rest of the article.

The Most Dangerous Belief in America Today

2011-11-03T08:49:00.000-05:00

This is an excellent article from Jim Denison: On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted on a resolution "reaffirming 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States." Yesterday, President Obama responded, "I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work." White House Press Secretary Jay Carney amplified the president's remarks later in the day: "I believe that phrase in the Bible is 'the Lord helps those who help themselves.'" (See Denison's response to this unbiblical quote).

There Is No Sin That I Have Done

2011-10-31T07:57:00.000-05:00

There Is No Sin That I Have Done - Here’s a new hymn that speaks of some great truths.

A Prayer About God's Most Repeated Command

2011-10-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

Scotty Smith's prayer about God's command "do not be afraid" will encourage you on a Monday and beyond....

Leadership Lessons from Superman's Underpants

2011-09-20T14:25:00.000-05:00

Heard about the new Superman movie? After 73 years of wearing his underwear outside his tights, why has the caped crusader decided to abandon his briefs? Skye Jethani draws some great Leadership Lessons from Superman's Underpants.

50 Rules for Dads of Daughters

2011-09-15T13:18:00.000-05:00

50 Rules for Dads of Daughters - Here is lots of great advice for fathers of daughters.

Adam and Eve

2011-08-31T09:23:00.000-05:00

Adam and Eve - Dr. Mohler clarifies what is at stake in the ongoing discussion about the historic Adam and Eve. “The denial of a historical Adam means not only the rejection of a clear biblical teaching, but the denial of the biblical doctrine of the Fall as well, leading to a very different way of telling the story of the Bible and the meaning of the Gospel.”

How to Get Involved in Disaster Relief: Helping Before and After a Disaster

2011-08-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

As details and needs continue to come available in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Ed Stetzer shares six good things to remember when thinking about disaster relief. See his comments...

The Sweep of the Bible in Two Weeks

2011-08-30T13:58:00.000-05:00

Dane Ortlund: “If a freshman in college or stay-at-home mom or aspiring deacon or friend from work or anyone else asked me how they might get a rough grasp of the macro-storyline of the Bible in a few weeks, I’d send them not to any secondary resource but to the Bible itself for a reading plan that might look something like this.” See the plan here...

Is This Really Christianity?

2011-08-27T17:40:00.000-05:00

As the BBC reports, some church leaders in the Netherlands want to transform their small nation into a laboratory for rethinking Christianity — “experimenting with radical new ways of understanding the faith.”

Religious Affairs Correspondent Robert Pigott tells of Rev. Klaas Hendrikse, a minister of the PKN, the mainstream Protestant denomination in the Netherlands. Pastor Hendrikse doesn’t believe in life after death, nor even in God as a supernatural being. He told the BBC that he has “no talent” for believing historic and orthodox doctrines. “God is not a being at all,” he says, but just an experience. Keep Reading

Who's Your Daddy? - Maybe Ferris Bueller

2011-08-25T16:32:00.000-05:00

I am old. this article and commentary on the annual Beloit College Mindset List begins: “The freshmen class entering college this Fall has no remembrance of what life was like before the Internet, what this whole Communist Party fuss was about in Russia, and that Amazon was once just known as a river in South America. Ferris Bueller is old enough to be their dad, and they probably don’t know the name of the bar where everybody knows your name.”

Praying for Pastor Caleb

2011-08-15T10:34:00.000-05:00

Sunday I mentioned my ongoing correspondence with Pastor Caleb in Myanmar and our need to remember him in prayer - in ministry, in family, and in his care for orphans. These two pictures will help put faces with needs. Pastor Caleb is the man in the striped shirt and jeans. The other picture is a recent one of orphans under his care.

Thank you for praying for them.

Ways to Engage Global Poverty Right Now

2011-08-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

A week ago I was in the impoverished nation of Malawi with a mission team from our church. I saw again the "Five Giants" that dominate, especially in third world cultures: extreme poverty, pandemic disease, lack of education for the next generation, poor and/or ungodly leadership at all levels, and spiritual darkness. I saw orphans and AIDS widows by the hundreds in the villages where we served. I saw unclean drinking water and a lack of leaders in the villages and at the national levels. When the needs are so great, where can we begin? Overwhelmed by it all, we often just turn the other way.

This article by Ed Stetzer provides a good starting place to make a difference. Today I sit in my air conditioned office in the Dallas suburbs. There are things we can do from HERE- to tackle the problems THERE- and we can do it today. Making a difference begins with a step.

Does Rick Warren Endorse "Chrislam"?

2011-08-02T07:58:00.000-05:00

If you tend to believe everything you read on the internet, often forward "shocking" emails or take anything you "see for yourself on YouTube" as truth, then this post will do nothing to dissuade you from believing that Pastor Rick Warren espouses "chrislam". On the other hand, if you tend to research rumors before you pass them on or try to find the truth about people before attacking them on the internet this post might help.

Who God Is and What He Will Do in the Day of Trouble

2011-07-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

Justin Taylor pulled together a great set of Bibl verses on "the day of trouble".

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!” (Ps. 20:1)
“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” (Ps. 27:5)
“In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him. . .” (Ps. 41:1)
“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Ps. 50:15)
“O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble . . .” (Jer. 16:19)
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” (Nah. 1:7)

A Prayer When Uncertain about God’s Leading

2011-07-05T09:53:00.000-05:00

Scotty Smith expresses himself in powerful ways through prayer. This prayer is crafted for those times when we need God's direction but are having trouble discerning His will.

Comparing Going to Church to Going to the Dentist

2011-06-17T10:23:00.000-05:00

This fun article by Sammy Adebiyi.

I had to go to the dentist recently. And being in that office made me wonder about the similarities between going to the dentist and going to church. Specifically, I thought:

If I were a pastor and my dentist ever came to my church, I would…

Make the church secretary stop him in the lobby and ask him how long it’s been since he’s been at a church. If it’s been a while, I’d make him fill out a really, really long detailed form about all his family’s history of sins, struggles, shame and addictions. I’d let him know this was standard procedure, and we might need to even do some X-rays to complete our soul records unless another church could send them to us. (See the full article).

Seven Thoughts on Time Management

2011-06-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

We all have the amount of time at our disposal. It seems that our time is being stolen away bit by bit in every circle of our lives. I'm always looking for ways to maximize my time. Here's a helpful little article. The outline is below:

The point is fruitfulness, not efficiency.
Build a fence around your life, and keep that fence tended.
Perfectionism paralyzes.
Fill in the corners.
Plod. Keep at it. Slow and steady wins the race.
Take in more than you give out.
Use and reuse. State and restate. Learn and relearn. Develop what you know. Cultivate what you have.

Read the whole thing to see each point expanded and explained.

Are You Smarter Than Anthony Weiner?

2011-06-07T16:19:00.000-05:00

Russell Moore asks the question in light of Anthony Weiner's recent downfall - "Are you smarter than Anthony Weiner?" We've seen a series of famous people recently who believed they would never get caught in their wrongs. Moore gives a good word on the topic.

Agreeing to Disagree

2011-05-10T09:02:00.000-05:00

Jon Acuff lists a fun series of churchy things we can agree to disagree about.

Mothers Day Trivia

2011-05-08T17:45:00.000-05:00

Mother’s Day is a great day to celebrate the woman who brought us into this world and show her how much we care. After reading these stats you may want to praise her a little more than just one day a year.

Mother’s Day Facts:

1st Mother’s Day: May 10, 1908; Founded by Anna Jarvis; made a national holiday in 1914 by President Wilson

Busiest Phone Day: 68% of people plan to call Mom on Mother’s Day, totaling 122.5 million phone calls

Card Giving: 50% of households give Mother’s Day cards, totaling some 152 million cards

First-time Moms: Average age of new moms is 25, vs. 21 in 1970

Kids: Modern moms average 2 kids (1950s: 3.5 kids; 1700s: 7-10 kids)

Diaper Changes: 7,300 by baby’s 2nd birthday

Diaper Changing Speed: Moms take 2 minutes, 5 seconds (adds up to 3 40-hour work weeks each year!) , vs. 1 minute, 36 seconds for dads

Giving Attention: Preschooler requires mom’s attention once every 4 minutes or 210 times / day

Record for Most Kids: Mrs. Vassilyev of Russia gave birth to 69 children between 1725 and 1765

Record for Oldest Mom: Rosanna Dalla Corte gave birth to a baby boy when she was 63 years old in Italy in 1994

Record for Heaviest Newborn: Signora Carmelina Fedele gave birth to a 22 lb 8 oz boy in Italy in 1955

First Year Baby Costs: $7,000 of baby items before 1st birthday

Cost of Raising a Child: Middle-income families spend $242,070 to raise a kid to 18 (not incl. college!)

If There Is A God, Why Doe He Allow Suffering?

2011-05-03T14:24:00.000-05:00

It’s a huge question, isn’t it? Hardly a day goes by when we don’t come across suffering. Devastation caused by earthquakes and tsunamis…millions living in poverty…children being abused…family breakdowns… bullying…people suffer. We suffer. So it’s right to say to God: “God, if you’re there, why don’t you do something." (See a simple respons here)

This site call "Tough Questions" addresses a several questions we ask of God. The answers don't cover every detail of every issue but they give thoughtful responses in two to three minutes videos and also in print. It's a nice resource to have available.

Tornadoes and the Trustworthiness of God

2011-05-03T14:14:00.000-05:00

This sermon by David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, is a good model of how basic biblical doctrine can and should inform our response to tragedy and equip us to trust in God’s good purposes.

Specifically, he explains how the tornadoes that recently ravaged their area can remind us of biblical truth.
Here is an outline provided by Justin Taylor on his blog:

These tornadoes remind us that this world is unpredictable.

Suffering is usually surprising.
Life is never safe.
Death is unavoidably sure.

These tornadoes remind us of the penalty of sin which plagues all of us.

Our sin is universal.
Our suffering is inevitable.

These tornadoes remind us to repent and be reconciled to God.

Turn from sin.
Trust in Him.

These tornadoes remind us of the sovereignty of our God.
The sovereignty of God is the only foundation for worship in the midst of tragedy.

God’s sovereignty assures us that He is in control.

God is with us.
God is for us.

God’s sovereignty reminds us that Satan has been conquered.
God’s sovereignty guarantees us that one day suffering will conclude.

Ultimately, tragedy on earth can only be understood rightly from the perspective of heaven.
These tornadoes remind us of the urgency of our mission.

Life is fleeting.
People are perishing.
Eternity is coming.

Is God Glad Osama Bin Laden's Dead?

2011-05-03T14:08:00.000-05:00

As the discussion of Osama Bin Laden's death continues to swirl, this word from pastor/author John Piper is a helpful word of wisdom and grace.

Customizing the Bible Like the Pandora Radio Program

2011-05-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

This brief illustration makes a great application regarding how we edit the Bible to fit our preferences.

One of the marvels of the Internet age is a thing called Pandora radio. When you listen to a radio station on terrestrial or satellite radio, you have to listen to every song played. You can change the channel, but you can't change the song. You're stuck with whatever you're given. But that's not so on Pandora. On Pandora, you put in different singers, bands, or songs that you like; and they use an algorithm to parse the music that you list. The algorithm asks...(see article)

Sunday's Comin'

2011-04-19T09:17:00.000-05:00

This is still one of my favorite renderings of the Easter story. I got to hear S.M. Lockridge share this live when I was in college. We'll use this video in the pre-service time of each of our three Easter services. His core message here is that Good Friday wasn't so good it appeared...but Sunday was coming.

G.O.S.P.E.L.

2011-04-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

On this Easter week - What is the Gospel? What is the good news of Jesus Christ? This presentation tells the story well.

The Wondrous Cross

2011-04-16T16:37:00.000-05:00

I was in our local Walgreen's store this week getting a new passport photo done. They told me it would be ready in fifteen minutes so I walked the store until it was ready. I went at lunch time so my walk through carried me down the Easter candy aisle of the story. The usual things were there and plenty of chocolate bunnies. I've always felt a little weird about biting the head off of a chocolate bunny. It hasn't stopped me but I still felt weirded out by it.

As I walked down the Easter candy aisle something new caught my eye. I've shared the picture with you here...A chocolate cross. I've got to think there's something wrong with that. I'm sitting in my office with Sunday's worship order in front of me. We're going to sing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross". As we approach Easter Sunday, surely the cross of Christ should mean more. Take time this week to survey the wondrous cross. Here are the words to this great hymn:

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

"If...Then" Statements from 1 John

2011-03-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

Justin Taylor shares a list of verses from 1 John that are "if/then" statements. It's interesting to see them all together. Example from 1 John 1:9:

IF...we confess our sins THEN...he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(See Full List)

How To Make Your Kids Hate Church

2011-03-26T17:13:00.000-05:00

This simple five-point article summarizes well what I have observed myself over 25 years of church ministry.

A Nice Update on an Old Discussion

2011-02-18T22:00:00.000-06:00

What Is Love?

2011-02-14T11:25:00.000-06:00

Here is Paul Tripp’s definition of love: “Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving” (What Did You Expect? p. 188).

In the following he unpacks the definition (pp. 188-189) one phrase at a time.

Jonah and Jesus

2011-02-09T12:12:00.000-06:00

This is an encouraging word from Tim Keller. He compares Jesus and Jonah when each was caught in a storm at sea. His conclusion will bless:

Both Jesus and Jonah were in a boat, and both boats were overtaken by a storm—the descriptions of the storm are almost identical.

Both Jesus and Jonah were asleep.
In both stories the sailors woke up the sleeper and said, “We’re going to die.” (see the entire article here)

A Great Description of the Christian LIfe

2011-02-09T12:05:00.002-06:00

I am not what I ought to be.
Ah! how imperfect and deficient.
Not what I might be,
considering my privileges and opportunities.
Not what I wish to be.
God, who knows my heart, knows I wish to be like him.
I am not what I hope to be;
ere long to drop this clay tabernacle, to be like him and see him as He is.
Not what I once was,
a child of sin, and slave of the devil.
Thought not all these,

not what I ought to be,
not what I might be,
not what I wish or hope to be, and
not what once was,

I think I can truly say with the apostle,

“By the grace of God I am what I am.”

—Cited in Letters of John Newton, p. 400.

The Love Chapter

2011-02-09T11:46:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day is getting closer. This is a nice graphic of the content of 1 Corinthians 13 - the Love Chapter of the Bible.

The Anti-Psalm

2011-02-09T11:41:00.000-06:00

These are David Powlison’s reflections on Psalm 131. And as he teaches the Psalm, he re-writes it as the exact opposite—rather an interesting teaching technique. It speaks well to our spiritual condition.

So here are the familiar words of Psalm 131

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.

And here is Powlison’s anti-psalm:

Self,
My heart is proud
and my eyes are haughty
and I chase after things too great and too difficult for me.
So of course I’m noisy and restless inside; it comes naturally,
like a hungry infant fussing on his mother’s lap,
like a hungry infant, I’m restless with my demands and worries.
I scatter my hopes onto anything and everybody all the time.

What the Bible Really Says About Sex . . . Really?

2011-02-09T11:26:00.000-06:00

Several people have commented to me about Newsweek magazine's article "What the Bible Really Says About Sex?" In this response, Al Mohler addresses the issues well.

Has the church misunderstood the Bible’s teachings on sexuality for over two thousand years? The current issue of Newsweek magazine reports on “new scholarship on the Good Book’s naughty bits” that is supposed to turn our understanding of the Bible’s teachings on sex upside down.

Lisa Miller, Newsweek’s religion editor, wrote the article entitled “What the Bible Really Says About Sex.” Well, the one thing you need to know up front is that the article falls far short of its title. Keep Reading

A Theology of Snow

2011-02-05T17:24:00.000-06:00

After a long week of ice and snow, it might be good to consider what the Bible says about snow. Mel Lawrenz wrote an essay on "The Theology of Snow".

Fifty Fruits of Pride

2011-02-01T19:08:00.002-06:00

Here is a self-diagnostic that ought to warn you of the seriousness of pride.

The Ehrman Project

2011-01-25T11:16:00.000-06:00

The Ehrman Project looks like a great new website, equipping pastors and students and other readers with helpful responses to the provocative arguments and conclusions set forth by Professor Bart Ehrman—from canon to inerrancy to textual criticism to the problem of evil, and more.

Here are a couple of videos from the site, with Dan Wallace answering general questions about the reliability of the NT manuscripts:

Jesus' Least Popular Promise?

2011-01-25T11:08:00.000-06:00

We are blessed by the many promises in the Bible. However, of all the promises, this promise of Jesus may be one of the least popular and easiest to overlook. Justin Taylore shares about it in this brief article.

The Message of the Bible in One Sentence

2011-01-13T10:30:00.000-06:00

The Message of the Bible - Dane Ortlund asked a long list of people to summarize the Bible in one sentence. The results are quite interesting.

What Is A Biblical Worldview?

2011-01-08T17:16:00.000-06:00

This brief article summarizes well what it means to have a biblical worldview. It begins by explaining a "worldview":

Everybody has a worldview! From the pigmy tribes in the Congo to the cufflink staffer in the White House, everybody has a philosophy of how they view the world...(see the full article).

7 Billion People

2011-01-05T10:37:00.000-06:00

7 Billion - National Geographic offers up lots of interesting facts in this short video about the world’s population which is projected to soon hit 7 billion.

Iranian Christians

2011-01-05T10:27:00.000-06:00

Josh Harris writes about more than 70 Iranian Christians who were arrested over Christmas.

Martyrs in a Modern World

2011-01-05T10:22:00.000-06:00

This article by Al Mohler draws attention to a fact most western Christians may be unaware of.

Christians — especially those enjoying the safety of the West — often think of martyrdom as a part of the distant Christian past. But a recent barrage of headlines dispels that notion in a hurry. Over the past several weeks, Christians in Iraq suffered a series of church bombings, and experts in the region predicted a virtual evacuation of that nation’s Christian population. Approximately half of all Iraqi Christians have already fled the country. That represents a failure of the American ambition to leave Iraq with a government that would protect basic human rights and liberties. The murderous terrorism against Christians in Iraq amounts to a form of religious cleansing. Keep Reading

New Year's Resolutions Survey

2011-01-03T07:55:00.000-06:00

George Barna has completed a national survey on Americans and their New Year's Resolutions. Here's a couple of paragraphs. (Click here for the complete article).

"When it comes to the types of resolutions people make, Americans not surprisingly focus on self-oriented changes. Among those planning to make resolutions, the top pledges for 2011 relate to weight, diet and health (30%); money, debt and finances (15%); personal improvement (13%); addiction (12%); job and career (5%); spiritual or church-related (5%); and educational (4%). Personal improvement responses included being a better person; giving more; having more personal or leisure time; organizing their life or home; and having a better life in general.

While people concentrate on themselves when making priorities for the New Year, it is telling that so few Americans say they want to improve relationships with others. There were virtually no mentions of volunteering or serving others; only a handful of comments about marriage or parenting; almost no responses focusing on being a better friend; and only a small fraction of people mentioned improving their connection with God"....

Must We Believe the Virgin Birth?

2010-12-22T16:55:00.000-06:00

This time of year various news outlets like to talk about Christianity and mostly from attack mode. This article by Al Mohler speaks well in response to an attack on the biblical doctrine of the Virgin Birth.

Ten Questions to Ask at a Christmas Gathering

2010-12-16T10:10:00.000-06:00

Don Whitney:

Many of us struggle to make conversation at Christmas gatherings, whether church events, work-related parties, neighborhood drop-ins, or annual family occasions. Sometimes our difficulty lies in having to chat with people we rarely see or have never met. At other times we simply don’t know what to say to those with whom we feel little in common. Moreover, as Christians we want to take advantage of the special opportunities provided by the Christmas season to share our faith, but are often unsure how to begin. Here’s a list of questions designed not only to kindle a conversation in almost any Christmas situation, but also to take the dialogue gradually to a deeper level. Use them in a private conversation or as a group exercise, with believers or unbelievers, with strangers or with family.

Read the questions here.

The Story Behind "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

2010-12-14T10:10:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday I shared a portion of this story behind the hymn. I think it enriches the meaning to hear the context and the story of the writer, Phillips Brooks. The Civil War and Lincoln's assasination weighed heavily on his heart...

Another Idea for the Christmas Giver

2010-12-13T16:23:00.000-06:00

Microfinance - For the person who would rather give than get, you might consider a microfinancing gift certificate—a way that your loved one can help sponsor a business in a developing country. Kiva and World Vision both offer you this ability. “Make this a Merry Christmas for your loved ones with a gift that lets them change the world. A Micro Loan Gift Card lets your family and friends choose a hard-working entrepreneur to help by funding their small business loan-to buy a sewing machine, a bicycle, training, or whatever will put their families on the pathway to success. ”

10 Things We Often Miss in the Christmas Story

2010-12-11T18:34:00.000-06:00

Joe McKeever: 10 Things We Often Miss in the Christmas Story
In this blog, Joe McKeever shares some important but often

missed lessons of the Nativity story.

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children (and others on your prayer list...)

2010-12-07T17:22:00.000-06:00

A short article with suggestions for daily prayer for your children through the course of a month. Most of these prayers would be appropriate for anyone on your prayer list.

One Day - Philippians 2:10-11

2010-11-30T08:08:00.000-06:00

What Is God Up To When Life Is Hard?

2010-11-15T09:45:00.000-06:00

Justin Taylor writes a short commentary on J.I. Packer's comments on what God may be seeking to accomplish in us when life is hard. We often ask the questions in such times. Packer provides some good biblical answers.

What the Bible Got Wrong

2010-11-15T09:34:00.000-06:00

What the Bible Got Wrong - Matt Perman has some good thoughts on Fast Company’s recent article “What the Bible Got Wrong.” The article grabs an old, tired list of what they consider Bible contradictions and presents it as if Christians have never thought about this stuff before. The article also links to other resources.

Got the Morning Blues?

2010-11-13T17:24:00.000-06:00

We are moving into a busy time of year. Most days the demands life, work, and family can overwhelm. This Justin Taylor article can be a good starting place when you wake up overwhelmed with what a day holds.

A Post Halloween Post for Parents

2010-11-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

From the Book of Davidicus - This is a fun blog post in which a father writes to his kids about how they must divide the spoils on Halloween. It is written in Old Testament-type language. Speaking as a father, I consider it sound teaching. It shares things like - “Of the spoils of your wandering, you shall devote a tenth of the firstfruits to your father. But take heed that you devote what has chocolate, so that he shall be pleased with what he receives.”

Share the Good News of Christmas

2010-10-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

I've been preparing Christmas sermons over the last week. One of our greatest opportunites to reach out with the story of Jesus and God's great love for us comes at Christmastime. Is there someone you could invite to Christmas worship at your church?

I love this video. There is power in a personal invitation.

Share the Good News of Christmas from Crossway on Vimeo.

Easy Bible Verses for Kids (and the rest of us)

2010-10-29T10:18:00.000-05:00

Easy Bible Verses for Kids - Here are a few simple Bible verses ideal for memorizing with your children.

The Story of the T-Shirts

2010-10-16T08:35:00.000-05:00

The Story of the T-Shirts - Here’s an interesting story from CNN. It tells why the Chilean miners were all rescued wearing t-shirts saying ‘Gracias Senor’ - ‘Thank you Lord.’

Jesus Isn't Your Homeboy

2010-10-12T09:10:00.000-05:00

Mark Batterson posted a simple devotional thought challenging readers to respect the holiness of God. It's worth two minutes of reading time.

Weird Vending Machines from Around the World

2010-10-07T17:28:00.000-05:00

There is no real value in reading this article from Yahoo travel. It’s just kind of interesting...in a weird way.

The Prayer Circle

2010-10-03T17:38:00.000-05:00

When a group of people get together to pray there are certain dynamics you can count on in the prayer circle. Jon Acuff's article describes the variety of people you may find. My favorite is the "shot blocker" but the whole list is good.

7. The Shot BlockerThis one is rare. Hearing this one in a group prayer is like seeing a unicorn. On the highway. With Gary Coleman riding it’s back in the breakdown lane. In basketball, when someone on the opposing team swats your shot with their hand, preventing you from scoring, this is called “shot blocking.” The same thing can happen in a prayer circle. It usually looks like this:

Person 1: “Lord, thank you for affirming my decision to take a new job.”
Shot blocker: “Lord please give Danielle more patience and discernment as she looks for a new job. Help her not rush into anything.”
This is the basketball equivalent of someone blocking your shot into another state. Just as you try to send up a prayer to God, they swoop in and contradict you. (Thanks LunarWorld for the idea.)

Even So, Come Lord Jesus...

2010-10-03T17:22:00.000-05:00

I ran across this nice quote from Scotty Smith, "Life between the first and second comings of Jesus will be filled with rapture and rupture—encouragement and discouragement… gains and losses… beauty and brokenness. Though your kingdom has already arrived in Jesus, it has yet to fully come. And, by the way, that Day is looking better and better!"

Desiring Chick-fil-A More on Sunday Than Any Other Day of the Week

2010-09-30T18:36:00.000-05:00

Another fun article from "Stuff Christians Like". The following point in his outline was my favorite:

Step 5: The Idea

Could you buy some Chick-fil-A on a Saturday and then eat it on a Sunday? Would that work or would that be like when the Israelites tried to gather up double portions of manna? Didn’t that work for them on Sunday? Are you really comparing Chick-fil-A to manna? Yes, yes you are and that feels about right.

Worth Remembering

2010-09-30T18:27:00.000-05:00

This is a helpful line from Matt Chandler, which they use at the Village Church:

“It’s okay not to be okay—
but it’s not okay to stay there.”

He explains:

“If you create an environment where it’s okay not to be okay, you create an environment where the gospel is breathed in and out constantly. . . We want to constantly drive people back to the cross.

You come in feeling ashamed, you’re feeling dirty, you’re feeling overwhelmed? [God] knows! The whole point of the cross is you being where you are right now—so that you wouldn’t have to be there tomorrow if you submit your heart and life to the sovereign God. So it creates an environment where it’s okay to struggle.”

The Truth About Wikipedia

2010-09-30T18:22:00.000-05:00

Tim Challies wrote a nice article connecting Wikipedia to how we see God and what we believe as truth.

A Prayer About Being Anxious and Trusting in Jesus

2010-09-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

There is more to this written prayer on Scotty Smith's blog, but this part of the prayer really spoke to me:

...For the things that deeply grieve me, bring your tear-wiping hand. For the things that greatly offend me, keep me from a critical and selfish spirit. For the things that profoundly confuse me, grant me the perspective of heaven and gospel sanity. For the things over which I have no control, give me a fresh vision of the occupied throne of heaven. For the things I do have control over, grant me wisdom and strength to act accordingly. Please help me steward my anger, my sadness, and my weariness to your glory. I don’t want to waste this moment or these feelings.

Prayer Insults

2010-09-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

This is an interesting article I picked up on mandolins and prayer insults. In prayer times with others, we've probably both been there AND done that...the prayer insult, not the mandolins....

Prayer for Days Filled with Blahs and Blues

2010-09-21T11:10:00.000-05:00

Scotty Smith's blog is a series of daily prayers for a variety of experiences. If you're in a season of the "blahs" or the "blues" this prayer may help you express your heart to the Lord.

The Holy Spirit's Hidden Floodlight Ministry

2010-09-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

This is a simple article credited to J.I. Packer on the role of the Holy Spirit. I begins this way:

The Holy Spirit’s distinctive new covenant role, then, is to fulfill what we may call a floodlight ministry in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ....

Prayer for Godly Vision

2010-09-18T10:04:00.000-05:00

Sir Frances Drake is credited with this prayer of vision. May we as believers in Jesus Christ be bold enough to declare it, “Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.”

Mr Bean - Asleep in Church

2010-09-15T08:11:00.000-05:00

It had been a while since I'd seen this one. Mr. Bean at church is worth the five minutes to watch.

Five Tips For Raising Godly Children

2010-09-13T10:02:00.000-05:00

Five Tips for Raising Godly Children is an interesting series and worth the read. “Many folks who have read J.C. Ryle over the years have thoroughly enjoyed his writings, especially his well known works like Holiness, Knots Untied and his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels commentary set. However, many folks may forget that John Charles Ryle was not only a prolific writer and vigorous preacher in England during the 1800s, he was also a parent…to five children. [and widowed three times!]”

On Burning Religious Books

2010-09-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

Justin Taylor pointed out a thoughtful post here from Tony Reinke on the religious book burning of Acts 19:11-12 in light of the unwise and unhelpful plan of a local church to use 9/11 as a “Burn a Qur’an Day.”

Tony concludes his analysis in this way:

These six points should make us very hesitant about burning other people’s religious books.

May God give the Church open doors to preach the gospel, and may he bless his Word with self-authenticating gospel fruit. If we take our eyes off the priority of the gospel, we will be tempted to settle for the sparks of a small bonfire in a church parking lot, a miniature replica of what happened in Ephesus. The true gospel spreads like a wildfire, if we are faithful to lovingly and boldly proclaim it.

UnCool (Just Like You)

2010-09-09T09:01:00.000-05:00

Here's a fun music video produced by Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. It was part of a sermon series on being authentic in our Christian walk.

No Need for God? Stephen Hawking Defies Divine Creation

2010-09-08T09:17:00.000-05:00

With Stephen Hawking's new book, The Grand Design, being released amid much publicity, Al Mohler provides a helpful response in his blog and simple analysis.

Love Is...

2010-09-07T17:51:00.000-05:00

We hear a great deal about what love is and what love is not. The word has lost its focus for us. Certainly, love finds a signficant number of inferior definitions. Justin Taylor, in his blog, broke things out this way (drawing mostly from 1 Corinthians 13):

What Is Love?

God and Love
God is love.
Love is a gift of God.

What Love Is

Love is patient.
Love is kind.

What Love Is Not

Love is not arrogant.
Love is not rude.
Love is not irritable.
Love is not resentful.

What Love Does Not Do

Love does not envy.
Love does not boast.
Love does not insist on its own way.
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.

What Loves Does

Love rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things.
Love believes all things.
Love hopes all things.
Love endures all things.
Love lasts forever.
Love fulfills the law.

{1 John 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 13:4-8; Rom. 13:10}

Bob Newhart-Stop It!!

2010-08-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

The video is Bob Newhart’s spoof of a counseling moment. The comments below are from David Powlison (guest writing for Justin Taylor) as he comments on counseling from a biblical perspective and how it differs from this comedy piece. Here are a half dozen contrasts:

1. The Bible gives a vision for lifelong transformation and mutual aid—as well as for the 5-minute moment of insight, or the 5-week and 5-month seasons of change, or the 5-year unfolding movement of progressive transformation and deepening. “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” The encouragements of the gospel of grace meet us again and again. They are always new-to-you in some way. Yet they always embrace the Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2. Our Father never simply says “Stop it!” to the Katherine Bigmans or anyone else. He knows we can’t change on our own. We have... (for the rest of the article...)

Mindset List for the Class of 2014

2010-08-18T14:02:00.000-05:00

Each August since 1998, Beloit College has released the Beloit College Mindset List. It provides a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall. The creation of Beloit’s Keefer Professor of the Humanities Tom McBride and former Public Affairs Director Ron Nief, it was originally created as a reminder to faculty to be aware of dated references, and quickly became a catalog of the rapidly changing worldview of each new generation. The Mindset List website at www.beloit.edu/mindset, the Mediasite webcast and its Facebook page receive more than 400,000 hits annually.

The class of 2014 has never found Korean-made cars unusual on the Interstate and five hundred cable channels, of which they will watch a handful, have always been the norm. See the full list of 75....

Is Chivalry Dead?

2010-08-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

Chivalry Is Dead - This is not this young guy’s finest moment. “A young female Astros fan got a painful lesson in chivalry Monday night at Minute Maid Park. The woman, identified only as Sarah, was struck on the right arm by a foul ball off the bat of Chris Johnson in the fourth inning while sitting down the left-field line — a ball that she didn’t see coming because her boyfriend ducked out of the way at the last second.”

A Word for Workaholics

2010-08-11T10:06:00.000-05:00

An Admonition to Workaholics - Here’s a good word from for those of us who are prone to work too hard and too long.

A History of Phone Etiquette

2010-08-11T10:03:00.000-05:00

A History of Phone Etiquette - It is interesting to peer back into history a little bit to see how telephone etiquette took time to develop. That’s something to think about next time you’re on a bus and someone is yacking (very loudly) into his cell phone.

Overcoming Conspicuous Consumption

2010-08-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

The article, originating from the New York Times reads: "Conspicuous consumption has been an object of fascination going back at least as far as 1899, when the economist Thorstein Veblen published "The Theory of the Leisure Class," a book that analyzed, in part, how people spent their money in order to demonstrate their social status." Are we slaves to our love of stuff?

The author explores the question, "Do you have to be overwhelmed by debt and have all that stuff to be happy?" It has interesting ideas and examples. Jesus said it best, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15, NIV).

A Prayer About Enjoyment and Generosity

2010-08-08T16:33:00.000-05:00

Scotty Smith writes out prayers he prays on a variety of subjects. This one was timely in uncertain economic times.

How Much Land Does a Man Need

2010-08-03T08:14:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday I shortened the sermon (always something that endears me to the congregation) by leavning out the following story. It's a good one though, so I share it hear.

Leo Tolstoy, the Russian novelist, wrote a short story entitled “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” It tells of a man who was never satisfied with what he had. He decided that owning land would be the only way he would be really happy…yet he was not satisfied as he acquired more and more. One day he heard about an opportunity which would give him the opportunity to obtain as much land as he can encircle by walking during the course of one day for only 1000 rubles. The only condition is that he had to return to where he started by sundown.

The man starts out early in the morning, and as he gets further and further out, his eyes catch more and more good land. So he keeps on going. It is only when the day is more than half over, that he realizes he'd better make a turn and head back to the beginning - because if he doesn't fully encircle the land, then he gets nothing.

The afternoon wears on and by the end the man is running. Fear gripped him. In his greed, he feared he might lose it all. The finish line is in sight, and the sun is setting. He tries to run faster, but his body is exhausted. Finally, with his last ounce of strength, one moment before sunset, he lunges to the finish line. At which point he collapses and dies.

The story ends with the question of the title, “How much land does a man need?” In this case, only a plot six feet long and three feet wide and four feet deep…just enough to bury him.

Where Your Treasure Is

2010-08-03T08:07:00.001-05:00

A story about a 104 year old heiress began to make headlines this week. She has been recluse for decades and has multiple multi-million dollar properties, some of which she has never even visited. She inherited her fortune from her father, a former senator from Montana. The story goes that when her mother died, she withdrew and it seems she lost her will to enjoy life. One of her statements is particularly interesting. She reportedly told friends that wealth was a "menace to happiness".

According to the Bible, there is nothing wrong with having wealth and great possessions. Some of the most prominent people in the Bible were quite weathly by ancient as well as modern standards. The Bible does warn that there are dangers to be found in possessing wealth and it gives a great deal of advice on how to keep our wealth and possessions from possessing us. Here are just a few verses:

Revelation 3:17 “You say, ‘I am rich, with everything I want; I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that spiritually you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

Mark 8:36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Luke 12:15 (Jesus said) “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Ecclesiastes 5:11 The more you have, the more you spend, right up to the limits of your income. So what is the advantage of wealth-- except perhaps to watch it as it runs through your fingers!

1 Timothy 6:10 The love of money is the first step toward all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Galatians 6:7 If (a person) sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death.

Matthew 6::19-20: Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

Holy Complications

2010-08-02T10:16:00.000-05:00

This was a good word from pastor Mark Batterson. It's a short article but this will give you a taste:

Sin will complicate your life in unholy ways. The blessings of God will complicate your life in holy ways. But it's still a complication. When I got married it complicated my life. Praise God for complications!

A Prayer About An Anxious Heart

2010-08-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

I have enjoyed these prayers from the blog of Scotty Smith. This one is a prayer offered from "an anxious heart." If you have a worries, fears, concerns about the future today...this might be a good prayer for you to consider.

Don't Waste Your LIfe

2010-08-02T10:02:00.000-05:00

I ran across this quote from John Piper. It's good word worth sharing.

"It is possible to waste your life. Few things make me tremble more than the possibility of taking this onetime gift of life and wasting it. Every morning when I walked into the kitchen as a boy I saw hanging on the wall the plaque that now hangs in my living room: "Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." And now I am almost 58, and the river of life is spilling over the falls of my days with tremendous speed. More and more I smell eternity. And oh, how I want to use my life well. It is so short and so fragile and so final. You get one chance to live your life. And then the judgment. I speak as a father who has children your age, and I am jealous with Jesus that they and you not waste your life". (from December 29, 2003)

Scraps of Thoughts on Daily Prayer

2010-08-02T09:56:00.000-05:00

I have found Tim Keller to be a good source of spiritual encouragement and challenge for my spiritual growth and development. He is the Senior Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. In this article he shares some very valuable “scraps of thoughts” on daily prayer . He simply describes how he prays over the course of the day. Keller book, The Reason for God, is an excellent resource in apologetics.