“While it is fitting and good God grants believers the privilege of prayer, we must continually evaluate what we desire of Jesus at the core level. When I look back over the bulk of my prayers in previous years, frequently I omitted eternal elements and desires. It was not what I prayed for was wrong; it was merely superficial, especially while simultaneously giving lip service to wanting a deeper walk with Jesus. Suffering was one means God used to bring me to examine the sum and substance of what I asked. What transpired was not so much that I purposely changed my prayers as much as the severity of the circumstances changed them for me.” (Greg Harris, The Cup and the Glory, pp. 21-22)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Here are this week’s links! Enjoy!

• As advocates of biblical counseling (which you can tell from the CCEF booklets LBC sell in the foyer), we recognize there has been limited interaction between those who would advocate Christian psychology as biblical and those who advocate biblical counseling. Recently, criticism came from a journalist concerning biblical counseling, which led Christian psychologist Philip Monroe to provide some helpful questions and preliminary analysis for both sides to consider when interacting with this article and discussing biblical counseling. In anticipation of the upcoming ACBC Conference on Mental Illness, Grace to You has begun a series of blog articles on the insufficiency of psychology and the sufficiency of Scripture to care for the soul.  Here’s the first part. As believers in Christ, who is the truth, we must be eager to pursue truth in the oft overlooked step in understanding the opposing side, especially when the other side are believers as well. I hope and pray that the grace of God and the growth of the Word in our hearts will develop within us the maturity to listen to the other side and give a measured, not reactionary, response.
• What does Christlike leadership look like practically for the husband? Owen Strachan provides 10 ways for men to emulate godly character in their marriages. There is much I need to learn.
• Recently, schools in the CSU system have decided to oust InterVarsity from their campuses, due to the 2012 school policy of calling all campus organizations to allow any student to serve as leader, regardless of beliefs. Ironic that discrimination is being enforced to remove a campus org on the basis of discrimination to allow for non-discrimination orgs to flourish. Al Mohler has some wise analysis on the matter.
• Clint Archer gives some wise (and humorous) advice to single guys who wonder if they should marry gals because of their looks.
• John Piper has 12 questions to ask regarding how to decide your next job.
• Stephen Altrogge has written a thoughtful post on what he plans on telling his daughters about modesty that addresses more than the issue of dress. May our church exemplify this kind of thoughtfulness.
• Young ladies, how can you find an older godly woman to mentor you? Look no further. If you doubt you are in need of a mentor (and this includes guys), look no further.
• Jesse Johnson over at The Cripplegate has written an accessible and clear post providing a case against same-sex marriage. Not sure I’ve seen a post as concise and yet thorough like this before.

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to celebrating the resurrection of Christ and the glory of God together this weekend! If any of you are looking for a church to attend this weekend in San Diego, I would highly encourage you to visit Lighthouse! We hope to see you there!

Soli Deo Gloria