Weekend Reading

Weekend Reading: July 18, 2014

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It’s been almost perfect weather here in Columbus, so the amount of reading I did this week was minimal compared to what I normally find myself doing (I think that’s probably a good thing!). However, there are still a few good articles/videos/blogs you should check out…

Put down your phone! – In the spirit stepping away from technology a bit, here’s a music video set to poetry from a man who is pleading for us to live “real life” instead of being glued to our phones continually…he might have a point! (NOTE: I believe he has one or two swear words here in case you’re watching with kiddos)

LeBron is Back! – an interesting article from Tullian who resides in Florida and says LeBron is showing a perfect example of what grace is all about.

Your Husband Doesn’t Have to Earn Your Respect – Great blog post by Matt Walsh! (h/t Katie)

The Perfect Hamburger – The New York Times has a great article on how to make the perfect burger – thanks to Tim Challies for posting this!

Those Pesky Door to Door Mormons and JW’s – Helpful little 6min video about how to have a productive conversation with those who come-a-knockin.

I am Ryland – a very helpful blog post on the transgender issue and dealing with kids who seem middle of the road at a young age. (h/t Challies)

Confessing Adultery – a tough, but good little post by Russell Moore.  Appreciate Dr. Moore’s blog so much – he’s a great one to read on parenting and adoption, especially.

The President is Stressing the Secret Service Out – I always find these kinds of stories so interesting!

Christian Joy – R.C. Sproul has a nice article this week on the source of Christian joy. And I haven’t read this yet, but Ligonier also have what looks to be an interesting article on vocation/jobs. 

Should We Use Our Personal Testimony in Evangelism? – By way of follow up to several recent article on personal evangelism…Richard Phillips has a few things to say about this on Ligonier’s blog.

What is New Covenant Theology? – I stumbled on this old video from one of my favorite young theologians, Blake White.  It’s a short video on the distinctives of ‘New Covenant Theology.’  NCT might be called the “middle ground” that many Baptists (including myself) have taken between the ‘Dispensational’ hermeneutic and the traditional ‘Covenant Theology’ perspective.  This may seem a little deep, but the video is easy to understand…so dip your toe in the waters of theology this weekend!

That’s it!  Have a great weekend!

PJW

 

 

Weekend Reading: July 11, 2014

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Welcome to a new edition of ‘Weekend Reading’ where I catch you up on all the stories you might have missed this week, and provide you with everything from blog posts to youtube videos for your amusement and information.  All with the goal to keep you informed and keep you focused on the Jesus no matter what’s going on in the news this week.  Here’s what I read, watched, heard and found worth sharing this week:

Climate Change “outrageous” says top meteorologist in Alabama.  This blog is really interesting. If you’re from Alabama and want to keep in touch with all the latest in politics and policy this is the place for you.

Binding Satan?  Humorous, yet helpful insight on whether or not Christians should pray to “bind Satan.”

When we learn the best – Just a phenomenal article on the progressive nature of our Biblical learning. I have a bunch of DG articles below, but this one is a little older and stood out to me as really terrific. (h/t Lisa Wenzel)

Life, Liberty and all that – Christian Historian Robert Godfrey has a good (but perhaps a bit wordy) article on the Christian perspective of liberty and society – scroll to the end to get the gist if you don’t want to read the whole thing (he sums it up nicely at the end).

6 Reflections on Sleepovers – Tim Challies follows up on his hugely popular article on why he doesn’t allow his kids to do sleepovers. I have to say that this have given me a lot of cause for reflection.

A Christian Husband’s Marriage Catechism – Thanks to Parris P. for sending this cool piece along.

Kids and Old Technology – this hilarious little video takes a look at how today’s children react to old technology – namely, the Game Boy.

Desiring God’s blog was on fire this week!  So many great articles.  Great one on Evangelism (h/t Parris), helpful post on self-pity aimed at women but applicable to all, and a terrific follow up piece on the Christian budget that aims at thwarting prideful penny pinchers (my vernacular, not theirs!)! Lastly they have a neat little post on how dad’s should interact with their daughter’s boyfriends. 

Flexing for the Cameras – what do Christians have in common with NFL wide receivers? Find out…

The Perfect Family – I think it was Tim Challies who shot this link out earlier this week from Greg Lucas.  This is a really neat little post about his special needs family and the perspective it takes to raise “non-perfect” kids…

America’s Greatest Sermon – the guys at CrippleGate look at an important sermon that fits today’s times perfectly.  The author?  Jonathan Edwards. (h/t Parris Payden)

IRS Scandal – several little pieces of info out this week revealing more intel on this evolving scandal – here’s one from the conservative blog Red State.

Profile of David Cochran Heath – ever listened to the ESV Bible on audio?  Well that voice is that of David Cochran Heath, and a few years back he had a profile story done for a local San Diego paper.  I really enjoyed the read and appreciated his heart.

Why Decision Making is So Hard! – I loved this post by Tim Challies a few weeks back and kept meaning to send it around.  Great perspective here.

Only one way to God – David Platt has an excellent video on this topic (h/t Parris Payden)

A Christian Convert on the Run – Amazing story of a convert in Afghanistan whose family is trying to kill him for converting to Christianity.  (h/t Clif Gates)

Rockets, Rockets, and MORE Rockets – Israel is under siege again this week, this time by rockets coming from Gaza and the terror organization Hamas.  Since I’m traveling to Israel in the near future, I’ve been paying more attention to issues over there.  Here is one story relating to the military situation, and here’s a video on Israel’s IRON DOME missile defense system that intercepts these rockets. If you want to see how many rockets are launched real time, then download this app and just watch your phone explode for a day or so (no pun intended)!

Cincinnati Congressman Steve Chabot looks at the suggested reading material for incoming college freshman around the country. He doesn’t show or link to the list, but the statistics are enough to get the point.

Sharing Your Testimony Wisely – A very thoughtful article by Trevin Wax on sharing our Christian testimony.

Putin’s Secret Weapon – check this out if you want to know how Russia is strategically working in its neighborhood (and beyond) to get what they want…ALSO – from FP is a column on the safety (or lack) of deadly diseases kept in “secure” labs.

That’s it!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

 

Weekend Reading: July 3, 2014

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Happy 4th of July Weekend!  This edition of Weekend Reading is coming to you one day early due to the holiday weekend.  You’ll probably note some lighter reading below, and I hope you enjoy all the articles, videos, and blog posts!

50 years ago today Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Bill.  Here’s the NYTimes front page and story.

Why Hobby Lobby Matters – Russell Moore on the importance of the Hobby Lobby decision.

Christie on Hobby Lobby – I like to document moments like this because later down the line when we weigh who should be our next President, its good to remember where they stood on important issues. I’ll let you read and judge for yourself if Gov. Christie’s reaction to the Hobby Lobby ruling is satisfactory…

43 Inconceivable Facts About the Princess Bride – if you’re a fan of these Buzzfeed lists and love the movie, then you’ll read this to the end and chuckle all the way! h/t Katie Wenzel

May You Live in Interesting Times – RC Sproul, Jr. has a terrific article that I hope you find encouraging.

Charles Krauthammer on the immigration issue – hard to argue with his point.  About a 7 min. video. Best quote, “If fences don’t work, why is there one around the White House?”

If you enjoyed the World Cup (I didn’t watch a single second of it) then likely you’ll enjoy this compilation of GIFs from Tim Howard’s 16 saves in the final (losing) effort.

What is Your Mud Pie?  – Just a fantastic article from Tim Challies who examines how C.S. Lewis’ famous quote still rings true today.

That doggon Russia! – They just vetoed the idea of filming Netflix political hit ‘House of Cards’ in the UN chamber.  Personally I’ve watched several episodes of this show and the best adjective I can think of to sum it up is “raunchy.”

Patriotic Musicals and the Church – a very thoughtful article from Trevin Wax on why younger evangelicals are uncomfortable with the church being so patriotic on the 4th. h/t Parris Payden

Why College Now? – Stephen Nichols writes a piece about taking up the torch of higher education for the next generation. What makes this blog post interesting is that he writes it from the perspective of Jonathan Edwards, and how Edwards’ father (a Harvard Alum) ended up sending his son to a brand new college (Yale) because Harvard had swerved from their original commitment to Biblical standards.

Minute Physics examines whether Legolas could really see 5 leagues away – if you’re not familiar with these videos, check them out, lots of fun!

A Story of Faithfulness – Here is a 25 minute video about how the flagship seminary in the Southern Baptist Convention was rescued from the darkness of liberalism and biblical error.

Reformation Montana – Thanks to Parris Payden who snagged links to Voddie Baucham’s 4 part series on the Christian Family.  Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4

Pressing on Toward Maturity – are you stuck in the same routine in your Christian walk.  Check out this sermon I preached this past week.

Four Questions to Keep Close to Your Wallet – the DG blog has a quick and helpful post that should cause us to be introspective about the way we spend our money. h/t Parris Payden

Weekend Reading: June 27, 2014

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I hope everyone had a great week!  Below are a few links to interesting news articles, blog posts, and a few videos for your weekend.  Enjoy!

Same Sex Marriage Debate – Last night I (and several of our DBC friends) attended (and participated in) a debate on so-called “gay marriage” in Dayton.  The debate featured my good friend Ken Klukowski who did an excellent job.  You can watch the debate here. 

Speaking of legal debates…This week the Supreme Court handed down a lot of victories for conservatives. Here are Ken Klukowski’s columns on 1. The President getting smacked down on abuse of power re: recess appointments, 2. So-called buffer zone around abortion, and 3. a big victory for those in favor of same sex marriage in the 10th district court this week.

Who is God? – that’s the question Pastor Steve Lawson discusses with Nathan Bingham from Ligonier Ministries this week in a Google Hangout.  Check it out!

Frozen Frenzy – If you’ve seen the movie or heard the soundtrack, you might be interested in this (lengthy) piece by the New Yorker that details how people are trying to figure out why the flick is such a big hit.

Mariam Ibrahim – Free Again…for now at least!

Jesus Calling? – So many people love this devotional…if you’re one of them, then maybe you ought to read this blog by Pastor Tim Challies.  I’ve personally never understood how this author could get away with be so secretive and secluded.  The take away is that anyone who is claiming to receive new revelation from God is dead wrong and ought to raise red flags for discerning Christians.

No Book Like the Bible – A new video describing John Piper’s new ministry focus. Sounds exciting! ALSO – loved this link on why we memorize scripture. 

Iowa Unsure on HRC – Hillary Clinton isn’t leading hew GOP opponents by much in the key early state of Iowa right now…she’s also seeing her book sales plummet just a few weeks into launch.

Stop Wriggling in Worship! – Ligonier has an interesting and funny little post about how John Calvin said we should stop wriggling in worship!

Weekend Reading: June 20, 2014

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Summer is finally here (officially)!  So grab a towel and the kids and head to the pool – and keep your ipad or smartphone with you for some weekend reading.  Here are my top stories, videos, and things to check out as you kick back, or gear up for a busy weekend:

Amazon Fulfillment Center Insider’s Look – this was just a fascinating look inside Amazon’s gigantic warehouses – highly recommend you skim through this one.

HGTV cancels show due to Christian overtones – this is pretty much standard fair these days, but in case you missed it, two brothers who were stars in a brand new HGTV show titled ‘Flip it Forward’ have had their show canceled because **shockingly** they oppose muslim terrorists, abortion, and gay rights.

Disease is on the Border – if you’ve been watching the news at all lately, you’ve noticed that a flood of illegal immigrants has been amassing in Texas and Arizona. Many have come from South America via Mexico and are bringing contagious diseases with them.

Is Success Dangerous? – Jared Wilson says so, and has some good things for Christians to keep in mind.

America in a Spiritual Crisis – potential Presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul said Friday that America needs revival more than it needs political leadership…I agree with him there!

Great Music from Keith and Kristyn Getty – If you attend our Thursday Lifegroup here in Dublin Ohio you’ll know we sang a new song last night from this more recent release of the Getty’s.  Check it out!

Travel by Drone! – This is a neat website where you can check out videos from cameras strapped to drones in top cities all over the world. A fun little diversion if you’re curious what Berlin or Kiev looks like from a few thousand feet above the ground.

Seeking the Face of God – this 2009 article by John Piper was helpful to me this week as I did a personal study on what it means to “seek the face” of the Lord.  One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Chron. 16:11 because it was Katie’s signature verse used to sign her love letters to me in college and reflected her desire for me to put God first – even before her.  Preview: “This setting of the mind is the opposite of mental coasting. It is a conscious choice to direct the heart toward God.”  Along similar lines, check out David Mathis’ article on ‘Bringing the Bible Home to Your Heart’ – h/t Parris Payden

My dog ate my emails – Former IRS Chief Lois Lerner’s emails seem to have disappeared, yet White House officials are unapologetic.  Go figure.

What do you do when you’re stuck in the Vegas Airport overnight? Why, shoot a music video using your iphone of course! – pretty funny stuff here! h/t Parris Payden

Pornolescence – Timely article by Tim Challies this week on the nature of Porn and its affect on Christian homes across America. – h/t Parris Payden

Hollywood Hearts Abortion and PCUSA Gay Marriage Update – Al Mohler gives a rundown on the vote of the Presbyterian Church USA (the more liberal of the two mainline Presbyterian denominations) to allow their ministers to marry same-sex couples.  He also discusses a new movie out of Hollywood’s sewers which seeks to make an abortion plot-line into a romantic comedy. Discretion advised if you’re listening with kids around.

How Suffering Leads to Joy and Hope – Two weeks ago I preached a message from Romans 5:1-5 on how suffering brings endurance, character and hope which ultimately yields joy.  The audio from that sermon is now posted if you have a desire to check it out.

In the Aftermath of Disappointing Elections – Tim Challies writes about his disappointment in the aftermath of the Ontario Elections the other day and how his faith, like Abraham’s, must be grounded in God’s character.  I wrote a similar piece just after the 2012 elections – find that little piece of archive goodness HERE. 

Resources, Resources!

Pray like a Puritan! – Looking for help in your prayer life? Check out the Valley of Vision.  These puritan prayers will inspire, deepen, and lift your heart as you prepare to spend time with the Lord.  Really enjoy this book!

Spurgeon at 180 – This week would have been C.H. Spurgeon’s 180th Birthday, and to celebrate the Confessing Baptists are giving away a complete sermon series – enter to win at the link above! h/t Parris Payden

Weekend Reading: June 13, 2014

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Lot’s of variety out there in terms of interesting stories and news articles this week.  Lot’s going on in the political and religious world, and in foreign affairs as well.  It was a busy week!  So here are the articles I found interesting that you might want to check out as you sip coffee or hangout between US Open or World Cup matches:

Requiring Obedience of Your Kids – John Piper addresses the need to require obedience.  Sounds basic, right? Well, maybe another perspective here helps drive home the importance of this “basic” need.

U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor gets trounced by unknown Tea Party candidate – there are probably a gazillion stories out there on this, and the political aftershock, blame game, power shift, and other repercussions.  Needless to say, its a big deal.

How should we pronounce Augustine’s name?  A short little article to check out if you’ve ever wondered about this.

Where does your food come from??? – I found this series of maps absolutely fascinating (even though I couldn’t make it to the end of the article!).

What Russell Moore learned – Great (short) blog on what Moore has learned from 20 years of marriage.

Beowulf for a new generation – In case you didn’t hear this, JRR Tolkein’s translation of Beowulf has been released….my copy arrived this week!

The War on Boys – I posted this on Facebook a while back, but its worth a look. Good perspective on why boys are being punished in schools for…well…being boys.

What every dude needs to know about buying suits – This is a follow up to a conversation we had casually last Sunday!  Enjoy!

How memorizing Scripture helps in a Chinese prison…and elsewhere – my good friend Matt Parker sent me this one, and its short but sweet.

The Southern Baptist Convention – the SBC met this week for their annual meeting.  Here’s 9 things to know about the SBC.

It wasn’t but a few days ago (so it seems) that the Memorial Tournament was in Columbus.  If you enjoyed the tournament, check this article out to learn how Jack built Muirfield and started the whole thing (begins on page 28).

The Clinton’s were broke? – Hillary Clinton is out with a new book and as part of the media circus she’s mentioned that she and former President William J., were both broke after leaving the White House.  It take a lot of dough to maintain all those multi-million dollar homes and expensive cars…

Weekend Reading: June 6, 2014

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To readers and interested parties, we are beginning a new effort today called ‘Weekend Reading’ here at the DFL blog. The idea is to provide you with a few interesting articles from around the web/news world so that whether you’re at an all day swim meat, sipping on Saturday morning coffee, or can’t sleep Friday night, you’ll have a few articles of interest to fill you in on what’s new.

Because of the nature of my own interests and background, the articles will be mostly a mix of political, theological, christian, with a mix of fun or off the wall items from time to time.  This isn’t a comprehensive list, but rather a few interesting items to check out or bookmark for later reading as you skim the headlines Saturday morning.  I expect to get help from multiple sources and friends, and want to say “thanks” in advance for those who will help keep this effort going.  Now, without further ado, here are your weekend links:

Gay Marriage and Civil Disobedience: Pastor Peter Jones has an insightful post about how Christians should be thinking and responding to the quickly evolving issue of Gay marriage and Gay rights.

 Bob Dole is WWI Vets ‘Man in DC’ – a short video about how former US Senator and GOP Presidential Nominee Bob Dole has been spending his time at the WWII memorial with vets.

The Bible Meets the Modern Age – Al Mohler has a conversation with former President Jimmy Carter about his faith, his sunday school teaching, and a few other things. This is a long read, but the audio is also available.

Fox News has some disturbing information about Bowe Bergdahl, and the Wall Street Journal has a terrifying story about the 5 Taliban captives the US set free in the Bergdahl exchange.

ChristianAudio.com is having their twice yearly sale on audiobooks – great sale to check out, many books are only $7.49. If you travel a lot or love audiobooks then this is something you won’t want to miss.

What is a Photocopier? – Hilarious new video project by the New York Times that employs actors to reenact real life depositions.  If you’re at all familiar with what deposition are normally like, then this will make you laugh out loud.

National Senate/Political Landscape – Last Sunday I gave a rundown of the national political landscape on a Cincinnati Radio program.