“It is one of the defining marks of Our Time that God is now weightless. I do not mean by this that he is ethereal but rather that he has become unimportant. He rests upon the world so inconsequentially as not to be noticeable. He has lost his saliency for human life. Those who assure the pollsters of their belief in God’s existence may nonetheless consider him less interesting than television, his commands less authoritative than their appetites for affluence and influence, his judgment no more awe-inspiring than the evening news, and his truth less compelling than the advertisers’ sweet fog of flattery and lies. That is weightlessness. It is a condition we have assigned him after having nudged him out to the periphery of our secularized life….Weightlessness tells us nothing about God but everything about ourselves, about our condition, about our psychological disposition to exclude God from our reality.” (David Wells, God In The Wasteland)

By Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I pray this week has been one filled with love, meditation and prayer for those in our communities who have been affected by the fires. Let us keep them in mind as we get through this weekend. Here are this week’s links:

• Joe Carter is back with another article in his apologetics and worldview analysis series called, “What Does 1+1=2 Mean? – Why Christianity Matters for Math (and Everything Else).” If you want to delve deeper into this subject, Vern Poythress, who has a Ph.D in Mathematics and teaches New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, has a very thorough article that argues for a distinctly Christian view of mathematics. This will change the way you do math. Not sure about those AP tests, though…
• How are you doing… sleep-wise? We know we have that notion in the back of our minds that we should be sleeping more, but in this fast-paced, on-the-go world, who really has the time? Pastor David Murray has written about the deleterious effects of sleeping less than 6-7 hours of sleep, along with ten excuses (he said “reasons”, but I think we all know he was being nice about it) for why we don’t sleep longer. As a late-night owl, I heartily amen the advice given by Pastor Murray and hope to begin this tonight.
• Speaking of advice, we tend to give it out a lot (I do it all the time on these posts!). However, is every bit of advice we give helpful? How can we discern when we are giving good or bad advice? Ed Welch has a gem of a post worth reading regarding giving advices.
• Yesterday was the 30 year anniversary of the death of Francis Schaeffer. He was a model for someone consistently spoke truth and acted with grace. An unconventional evangelist, he opened his home for anyone to come and ask him whatever questions they had, and he would even let them spend the night when the conversation carried into the night. I first heard about him from a book called Truth with Love: The Apologetics of Francis Schaeffer and have enjoyed learning from him ever since. In commemorating this, Ray Ortlund gives three reasons he’s grateful for the life of Schaeffer. I echo those reasons and hope to grow in my love towards others as well as be unwavering in speaking the truth as an expression of love.
• This week, Apologetics 101 brought us a new release of lectures by Westminster Theological Seminary professor K. Scott Oliphint. He is considered to be one of the foremost proponents of presuppositional apologetics, and this is a great resource to benefit from. Also, keep in mind that it’s FREE. Don’t pass on this one!
• Ben Edwards of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary has written a review/critique of a book that chronicles a Word of Faith church. The author provides an insider’s perspective, as he provides sociological data that will give you some background of the inner workings of the mindset of those who accept this kind of teaching. Very informative.
• For those interested in the Calvinist-Arminian debate, Mark Jones was interviewed concerning the relationship between definite (limited) atonement and penal substitution, and how those who refer to themselves as Reformed or Calvinists differ in their views from Arminians, both in the past and today. It may seem heady at first, but there is some solid insight in this interview. Check it out.
• Andy Davis is a pastor at First Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina. He is known for his discipline of memorizing large portions (even books) of the Bible. He has just published a small booklet called An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture and was interviewed on how every believer can develop the discipline of Scripture memorization and why this isn’t done more often. An earlier draft has been made available. I’m not sure if it’s been updated, but I hope this will be a reminder of our need for God’s Word to be embedded into our hearts more so than our own words. Jon Bloom from Desiring God follows up with ten reasons to memorize large portions of Scripture. Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7)!
• What does Jesus say about homosexuality? I think you’ll be surprised at the answer.
• As promised, Michael Kruger’s full review of Bart Ehrman’s book How Jesus Became God has been posted. Don’t be caught off guard with these kinds of objections.
• How often should we talk about ourselves in counseling others? Bob Kellemen has some thoughtful words related to this question that we would be wise to consider.

That’s all the links for this week! We can praise God even during this difficult time while our neighbors are evacuating from their homes because God is still good. Let us that this time will bring many to recognize their need for a Savior, and to hold our own possessions loosely for the sake of the Gospel. See you all Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

Atheism assumes all truth is relative. But that statement itself must either include itself or exclude itself. If it includes itself (which it must), then it means the statement itself is not always true.

Atheism is self-destructive. (Sam Crabtree, “Atheism Saws Off the Branch on Which It Perches”)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Lots to look at, so let’s get to it!

• Every woman is a mother already. There, I said it. Good thing is, I’m not the only one who thinks so.
• With Mother’s Day coming up, hearing about Emily Letts and her viral video showing her abortion is very disheartening, to say the least. Albert Mohler weighs in with his insightful commentary. Though not mentioned in his post, this goes to show that not all viral videos are fun and exciting to watch. Let us pray that abortion ends and motherhood is highly valued, primarily in the church, and that the grace of God extends to those who have partaken in that act. If you are looking for resources that help you better understand the issues involved, Scott Klusendorf has written a series of articles called, “The 5-Minute Pro-Lifer” that would be an immensely helpful start.
• Along with Mother’s Day, graduation day is coming up for students. What books would you give as gifts to those who are entering college, or just going on summer break? David Murray has some great books.
• What are some lessons we can teach our kids about money? David Murray (again) has ten of them to pass on.
• Tim Challies had written in his false teachers series one on Pope Francis, and got some pushback. He then followed up with a post citing Rome’s response to the Protestant Reformation, and examining if Rome is within the Christian fold or not. This will bring clarity to any discussion you may have with Catholics. Prayerfully read through this and ask God to open up opportunities to share the Gospel with those embrace a false gospel. (Editor’s Note: It looks like Sound Ministry needs to fix a few things, but Roman Catholicism was covered in my Cults & World Religions class).
• Speaking of the false teachers’ series, Tim Challies continues it with a post on prosperity preacher T.D. Jakes. If you are unfamiliar with Oneness Pentecostalism, Fred Sanders has a phenomenal overview and critique of this movement. If you have ever seen people wear the ‘Ask Me about Jesus’ shirts, and wouldn’t mind wearing that, how ready would you be to wear a shirt that had ‘Ask Me about the Trinity’ printed on it?
• Did you hear that a company was sued over their ‘homophobic’ catalog? No? Well, it sounds like it could happen. Here’s Christian philosopher James Anderson’s story of the absurdity of the current cultural mindset.
• The Singles Ministry has been going over 1 Peter to finish the year prepared for suffering, whenever God wills to bring that about in our lives. In line with that theme, Ed Welch has written 10 things to do during suffering. I pray our church is filled with believers in Christ ready to endure what awaits us this side of heaven.
• Of course, I have no experience being a mother, but Nikki Daniel does, and she encourages the moms in church to battle loneliness in pursuing friendships with other ladies (though I’m sure this is being done already; excel still more!). I pray that the ladies of LBC become shining lights of true, biblical womanhood to their non-Christian friends, where opportunities abound to display the life-changing power of knowing Christ and demonstrating that in your love and involvement in each other’s lives as believers in Christ.
• Stand to Reason puts out an issue every other month covering some current apologetic challenge, providing concise and thoughtful answers related to common topics Christians hear raised against their faith. This time around, Greg Koukl addresses the question, “Can evolution explain ethics?” and gives clear answers that will help guide your next discussion with a skeptic.
• What priority do you place sound doctrine in your life? Is it top priority, because you need it to correct a member of a cult, or that you don’t look bad in front of others when trying to explain something? Is it low on your priority list, because you don’t see any relevance to your Christian walk? Bobby Jamieson has written a short post that explains how sound doctrine is more vital to your life than you may realize.
• Fred Butler has begun a series of posts evaluating the many different responses of Old Earth Creationists to Young Earth Creationist arguments. Thus far, he has two posts, which I highly encourage both sides to take a look at.
• Which worldview provides the proper soil for science to grow? If you think it’s atheism, think again.
• In understanding local church life, sometimes people have seen member involvement in the lives of others as controlling, or intrusive. Eric Davis at the Cripplegate argues that eight of these ‘boogeymen’ are not as scary as people think. In fact, they may be more misunderstood than scary. Check it out.
• Michael Kruger has begun reviewing Bart Ehrman’s latest attack on the deity of Christ in How Jesus Became God—The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee. If you haven’t been able to purchase the book-length response, make sure you get a chance to read through these posts, as they will be helpful in providing a reasoned defense of what we believe. Kruger examines Ehrman’s worldview problem, and his claim that early Christians viewed Jesus as an angel before they considered Him to be God. Are you ready to answer these challenges?

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to worshipping our God together this coming Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

Tolerance has become such a god in our culture that not to have it is heresy. The effect is that tolerance swallows up truth, negating any need to search for things that might offend or challenge our preferences. (Andreas Köstenberger, Darrell Bock, and Josh Chatraw from Truth Matters)

By Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! The week is nearly over, but not without your links! Here they are!

• Have you ever wondered what questions need to be asked in order to make an informed decision about joining a local church? Sure, seeking a fellowship of believers to entrust your life can be daunting, but have you been asking the right questions? Here are some wise questions that I think all of us should adopt when in this stage of life. These questions would also be helpful to ask yourself even if you are already committed to a church.
• As the culture is continuing to decline in moral ambiguity, some in the church are beginning to follow the drumbeat of compromise along with it. Case in point: Dan Haseltine, lead singer of Jars of Clay, recently came out in support of same-sex marriage. I’m sure many responses have already been written, but one I have found to get at the heart of the matter is an open letter written to Dan by Christian philosopher C.L. Bolt. It is a little lengthy, but definitely worth a read.
• In a recent debate, Intelligent Design advocate Stephen Meyer went up against theistic evolutionist Karl Giberson to argue their case for the following: “Should Christians Embrace Evolution?” If you are scientifically inclined, you might find this to be very stimulating. If you are looking for a primer on Intelligent Design (especially for parents), look no further.
• What is the future of the church? Biblical scholar Peter Williams (a Christian, no doubt) gives his two cents in answering this question, and others related to it. Food for thought.
• This week brought the publication of a long-awaited book written by a professing believer arguing the case for same-sex relationships. Matthew Vines gave a lecture a couple years ago at a church concerning the same issue, leading to a detailed response from apologist and pastor James White. With the publication of Vines’ book, responses have already been forthcoming. James White did a radio interview, and then followed up with comments on his own show. Al Mohler and faculty at Boyce College and SBTS have collaborated on a book that is available to download online concerning specific areas that Vines addressed in his book. We live in a time when this issue is causing much heat with little light. May we be grateful to God that He has raised up leaders who are shining the light of God’s Word on this divisive issue. May the church proclaim with one voice the glory of God in marriage that reflects the mystery of Christ and His bride, and the salvation of sinners, both heterosexual and homosexual.
• Pastor David Murray has been posting a series of his top 10 books on certain areas. This time around, he wrote his top 10 biographies of Christian women. If you’re looking for some good reads about godly women in church history, this is the place to look!
• News has come that the first married throuple (three women, not two) in Massachusetts are expecting their first child. Although predicted by writers defending the traditional (and biblical) view, advocates for same-sex marriage didn’t think their logic would lead our culture down this road. Robert George gives some commentary that reveals the consequences of thinking unbiblically in this area.

That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoy the rest of this week at flocks, and meet with us for corporate worship and fellowship this Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

Let us embrace this truth reverently, and cling to it firmly. Christ is He who has the keys of death and hell. Christ is the anointed Priest, who alone can absolve sinners. Christ is the fountain of living waters, in whom alone we can be cleansed. Christ is the Prince and Savior, who alone can give repentance and remission of sins. In Him all fullness dwells. He is the way, the door, the light, the life, the Shepherd, the altar of refuge. He that has the Son has life—and he that has not the Son has not life. May we all strive to understand this. No doubt men may easily think too little of God the Father, and God the Spirit, but no man ever thought too much of Christ. (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels)

By Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Monday!

• Crossway posted every day last week in anticipation of Easter Sunday. Each post has a video clip describing the events that took place leading up to the resurrection, with valuable information that should guide you through meditation and worship of our Risen Lord. Make sure to check them out: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• As is a custom around Easter, the mass media has something to say about the ‘false beliefs’ of Christianity by injecting a different narrative into the culture. This time around, it’s a papyrus fragment some scholars have called, ‘The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife.’ Ever the valiant soldier in defense of truth, Al Mohler gives his comments on the fragment and the controversy surrounding it. Don’t be surprised if this comes up among non-Christian family, coworkers and friends, and don’t be tongue-tied when asked for your thoughts. Be informed.
• How do you deal with discontentment in your life? This is a theme that has been addressed at our church in the past, and will probably continue to be in the future. And yet, are we aware of the rich resources we have at our disposal to deal with discontentment? Recently, Thabiti Anyabwile and Richard Phillips spoke at a conference in New Mexico addressing this very theme. You would be wise to listen to some of the messages that were preached there.
• CBMW has begun a new series addressing the marring of manhood. The organization plans on writing about the passive/aggressive tendencies found in men today and how Scripture holds up an ideal far surpassing the natural inclinations of our hearts. The first post lays out the goals, and the second post gets into overcoming passivity. Men, let us grow to become loving and humble leaders for the sake of Christ. Let us learn to lead the sisters He has placed in our lives.
• What does the death of Christ mean? Paul Tautges explains five truths from 1 Peter 3:18 that answer this vital question.
• To cover all bases, Stand to Reason has provided a helpful guide in understanding what happened during the final week leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection, why they happened, and why we can trust they actually took place. Easter has come and gone, but don’t let this opportunity to worship Christ go by without proper reflection and response as His followers.

That’s all for today! I hope you all continue to reflect on the cross and resurrection of our Lord, drawing you to worship Him throughout the week, and also the rest of your life!

Soli Deo Gloria

“If you are a Christian, by definition you ought to believe what Jesus teaches. He is the Son of God. He is our Savior and Lord. We must follow his example, obey his commands, and embrace whatever understanding of Scripture he taught and assumed. Surely this means we are wise to believe about the Scriptures whatever Jesus believed about the Scriptures.” (Kevin DeYoung)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s been awhile, but it’s good to be back with this week’s links. Enjoy!

• Al Mohler wrote a very clear essay delineating moralism from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no mistaking that many people in today’s society, as well as in the church, believe that improving your life through your behavior will earn you God’s favor and salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Mohler makes it clear. Our salvation is not based on our righteousness, but solely the righteousness of Christ and Christ alone. Read and share!
• Ryan T. Anderson has come out with a new essay explaining the inconsistencies in the belief that opposing same-sex marriage and opposing interracial marriage are similar. This article includes some very helpful information that is worth your time. Don’t miss this one.
• Tim Challies has been doing a series on false teachers that is very timely and wise for us to ponder as we grow in our discernment. It started 2 months ago when he wrote about Arius, and continued with Pelagius, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Ellen G. White, Charles Taze Russell, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Norman Vincent Peale, and most recently, Marcus Borg. If you don’t know any of these people or their disciples, it’s likely that you may have heard many of their ideas. Learn and discern.
• A new website dedicated to the upcoming Shepherds’ Conference came out within the past week or so, and the website already looks to be something to bookmark and check back (or add to your RSS feed). Titled Inerrant Word, the conference will focus on teaching inerrancy and defending it against those from outside the church, as well as those from within. There are media, articles, book recommendations, and even the “Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy” posted there. Do not miss this one.
• A lot of buzz has been coming from the evangelical blogs concerning Kevin DeYoung’s new book, Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What that Means for You and Me. I have only heard good things about it, and invite you to read at least one review: Challies’ review,  or even read the first chapter.
• This may be the philosopher in me coming out, but I was very thankful to read this post about the church’s need for philosophers and vice versa. When both sides seem to distrust each other, something is off. I would love to see more interaction between both sides, engaging in the debate of today’s ideas with intellectual rigor, but I would also like to see Christian philosophers as a whole be committed men/women of the church. May that tribe increase!
• If you haven’t heard by now, the newest CEO for Mozilla resigned after pressure to be removed due to his past support of Prop 8 in the state of CA. I believe Robert George’s commentary reveals that the lines have been drawn, and we may be looking at a new litmus test for job qualifications. Don’t miss Al Mohler’s The Briefing on this either.
• Joe Carter continues his series on apologetics and worldview analysis with the topic, “What is a Religious Belief?” Food for thought.

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to worshiping the Lord together this coming Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

All that can properly be called truth, not just “religious truth,” resides first in God and men know truly only as they come to God’s revelation of Himself as the source of truth… ( Psalm 94: 10)… This dependence on God in the area of knowledge does not mean that men are without the true ability to think and reason… Men do actually think, yet true knowledge is dependent on and derived from God’s knowledge as it has been revealed to man. (Richard Pratt)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Another week of God’s blessings and sovereign power over all things has come and gone. Here are this week’s links!

• The audio from this year’s Shepherds’ Conference has now been uploaded! Make sure you take advantage of the wisdom from many of the pastors that spoke at this great conference!
• Speaking of conferences, one that has sprung up recently has to do with how to be a faithful Christian in the workplace, in relation to the book The Gospel at Work by Greg Gilbert and Sebastian Traeger. Called by the same name, it has many resources (audio and video of past events, particularly) that give a deeper look into the doctrine of vocation. This is a post specifically for the singles, but it can be helpful for anyone who is either entering the workforce or has been in it, and wants to grow in greater faithfulness to their service to God in this area.
• If you haven’t heard already, news broke out concerning World Vision’s policy change to now allow professing Christians in a legal same-sex marriage to work in their organization. Some of the responses are: Denny Burk (here and here), Al Mohler (essay and radio), Matthew Anderson (specifically, wise considerations for those who currently sponsor a child through World Vision), and Kevin DeYoung (here and here). World Vision did, however, remove that new policy a couple days later after supporters expressed disagreement. Additional responses came from Timothy Dalrymple, Todd Pruitt, Peter Jones, and many more.
• Bart Ehrman, an apostate from the Christian faith and professor/author of a number of books attacking Christianity, has come out with a new book called How Jesus Became God promoting the idea of Jesus’ divinity as a human concept that developed within the church, and was even contested early on at the start of Christianities (plural, not singular, according to Ehrman). Coming right on the heels of Easter, this book has already generated a book-length response from some evangelical scholars titled How God Became Jesus. An interesting take comes from the Answering Muslims blog, along with a long review by Christian scholar Rob Bowman and some comments from James White. Who knows? This may come up in conversation this Easter. Be prepared.
• If you have a Kindle, or use the Kindle App on your phone or computer, you may have been aware of R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series of booklets that are free. Now Logos has followed suit. Go get ’em!
• Lyndon Unger has continued his series of practically living out the doctrine of biblical sufficiency. This time around, it’s not as weird as the last post, but the process is what is most beneficial. Read on!
• Steve Lawson was recently interviewed concerning his new book The Evangelistic Zeal of George Whitefield. This one is worth watching.
• If you had any plans on watching the movie Noah, I’d invite you to read this early analysis and critique from Christian screenwriter Brian Godawa. It was of the screenplay, but he later confirmed after watching the movie that it did not stray too far from the script. He wrote a number of posts leading up to the release of the film, if you’re so inclined.

That’ll do it for this week! Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

The Bible was written with the assumption that we are the rational and spiritual beings God made us to be, giving us the created dignity of marrying our belief with reason. Christian faith is true not only because we really want to believe it but also because the truth it believes is the most plausible of all explanations. (Andreas Köstenberger, Darrell Bock, and Josh Chatraw)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Another week of fellowshiping with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His bride, the church, has come and gone. It’s always a joy to bring you this week’s links, and I hope and pray that it brings you closer to the One who is the Truth!

• Which is the preferred type of pastor you would want to serve under: a single or married one? Steve DeWitt was a single pastor for 19 years before entering marriage, and has now been ministering as a married pastor for 3 years. Check out his article on this very issue, and let’s celebrate God’s wisdom in using both to bring about His kingdom purposes!
• Here are some words of wisdom on learning evangelism if you think of yourself as a beginner in this area. There’s some good reminders for us all here.
• What do women wish men knew about beauty? Nicole Whitaker (co-author of the new book True Beauty with her mom, Carolyn Mahaney) has written a beautiful post that us guys need to read. If we’re going to live in the family of God, we need to grow in our love for our sisters in Christ. This would be a good start, men. Whitaker follows up with a post about the crisis of beauty in our culture and church, followed by the solution. Read up!
• Are you known for being a gossip or a brash person with your words? Do you have a filter for the things that you say? Sometimes I hear others speak their mind and immediately justify/excuse it with, “That’s just my personality.” As Christians, are we allowed to throw out the ‘personality’ card when it comes to speech? I believe the suggested three questions from the True Woman blog is a good place to start if you want to be have ‘seasoned’ speech (Colossians 4:6).
• Last week, I mentioned the Theological Primer for Counselors series that Paul Tautges began for us all to benefit, and up until that time, he had seven out of ten posts done. Here’s the rest: the doctrine of progressive sanctification, the local church, and the return of Christ. Don’t miss out on reading this! It is succinct, full of content and easy to absorb. This will definitely be a resource I return to again and again.
• Here’s another post that I think is worth ready simply because of the title of the post: Pre-Marital Counseling Asian-American Stlyle (Part 1). Written by Ben Shin (who has spoken at LBC in the past), he gives a dose of what issues come up that are unique to Asian-Americans in their pursuit of marriage. Notice this is part 1, so be sure to check for the part 2!
• Recently, I was able to attend the IBCD Spring Conference in Escondido, IBCD being a biblical counseling organization that offers further training for people wanting to grow in giving biblical counsel in the church. This most recent conference dealt with practicing affirmation from Pastor Sam Crabtree from Bethlehem Baptist Church (where John Piper ministered up until recently). I’d encourage everyone to give it a listen; there’s much wisdom to learn about this subject.
• Lyndon Unger continues his series on practically applying the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture, this time using a strange example to bring up a simple but well-rounded method at getting a deeper understanding of a topic that Scripture surprisingly addresses.
• Coming at it from a counseling angle, what do you do when Scripture seems to fall silent in a counseling issue? Ed Welch has some hope-filled words that can be a lead-in to you growing to be a more biblical counselor.

That’ll do it for this week! Please continue to pray for some of our collegians, as they wrap up their finals and rest up for the final quarter of the year! Way to go, guys!

Soli Deo Gloria

Youth is the seed-time of full age, the molding season in the little space of human life, the turning-point in the history of man’s mind.

By the shoot we judge of the tree, by the blossoms we judge of the fruit, by the spring we judge of the harvest, by the morning we judge of the day, and by the character of the young man, we may generally judge what he will be when he grows up. (J.C. Ryle)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Time has flown since we last had this. Well, before we get another week to fly by, here’s this weeks’ links!

• James Anderson gives some short and sweet responses to four common objections people have against Christianity. You would be wise to read and be prepared the next time you’re faced with these challenges to the faith. Michael Kruger has additional commentary on the fourth objection, FYI.
• Ever read books by Jerry Bridges and wanted to pick his brain about some spiritual topic he’s written about? Well, in this post, some have done so. As he’s about to publish a memoir of his life, it’s good to get in on some of the discussions he’s had in the past. This is a short sampling, but learning how to preach the Gospel to yourself from someone who does it regularly would be worth your time.
• Andy Snider (this year’s Single Life retreat speaker) invited a ministry friend to post on his blog about reevaluating what we find most precious and valuable to us. This is always on my heart and mind, and I hope it is for you, too.
• Sometimes, getting reports from a certain ministry you are personally involved in can be a welcome source of encouragement. Especially if you see them on the frontlines of getting the Gospel to penetrate not in areas where there is no Gospel witness, but also in areas where the Gospel is not dominant in people’s lives. Peacemaker Ministries is one ministry I am continually thankful for, mainly because they are living examples of workers who truly believe and see the fruit of biblical peacemaking take root in the lives of believers. Especially when they themselves didn’t think it was possible that certain conflicts could be resolved in the light of Scripture. Here’s their quarterly monthly report. Be encouraged.
• How do you comfort a brother or sister in Christ? What immediately comes to mind? Can I suggest that giving words of truth about God in Scripture would be good for the body of Christ to hear? Corresponding to our series of the attributes of God, here’s some good counsel given by God Himself concerning Himself, relayed to us by an ordinary pastor.
• Though written for the church leader, I think anyone can benefit from learning some biblical reasons why we all should learn to memorize Scripture, and to do it together. Anyone up for it?
• Piggybacking off Pastor Patrick’s message this past Sunday, here’s more thoughts on fellowship that may be just what we need to stay on the path in our Christian walks. May you take advantage of the means of grace that God has given every believer in His family.
• What do we really need in marriage? Mark Altrogge gives some great thoughts on some real expectations marrieds should have of their spouse.
• Paul Tautges has begun a 10-part series, giving a theological primer for counselors. So far, he’s covered theology proper, bibliology, the lordship of Christ, the Holy Spirit, Satan and his demons, the doctrine of man, and the doctrine of sin. Check next week for the completion of the series!
• Here’s a practical outworking of the sufficiency of Scripture that I think will be immensely useful. And it’s the beginning of a series! Bonus points!

That’ll do it for this week! Please pray for the Singles, who will be away for their retreat this upcoming weekend! See you back here in a week!

Soli Deo Gloria

As Christians, we are here to serve (Matt. 20:25-28). When we are being productive, we are actually doing good works, which is part of the purpose for which God created us (Eph. 2:10). A good approach to getting things done reduces the friction in doing good and also amplifies our ability to do good. The result is that we can be of more benefit to others with less snags, stress, and confusing systems. (Matt Perman)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s flocks week, which means most of you will be spending time with people from other affinity groups. Praise God for His powerful grace to save many unlike ourselves! Before you go (unless you already went), here are this week’s links. Enjoy!

• Desiring God had a post earlier this week focusing on short-term missions, using Epaphroditus as an example of how missions was done biblically. If you have ever gone on short-term missions, have supported short-term missions, or perhaps even desire to go on one (pretty much… every Christian), this is for you.
• Since the culture has sought to redefine marriage, and many are happy to live together without pursuing marriage, how would you answer the question, “Why get married at all?” Here’s seven reasons to get you started. Ryan T. Anderson addresses the prior question, “What is Marriage?“, and CBMW addresses cohabitation (“why get married when you can live together?”) and its sinful effects.
• Do you ever wonder what to say to someone when you’re told, “You’re only a Christian because you grew up in the US; you wouldn’t be one if you grew up in the Middle East”? Here’s a short response that is actually very uplifting when you think about it.
• Meditating on the Word of God can be hard to carve time out for, but Scripture calls for us to think deeply and regularly on God’s Word. Yet, how often do we see mention of meditation on blogs or in the books that we read? Tim Kerr has some helpful meditations on meditation, which is the first in a series of posts he plans on writing concerning this vital area of the Christian life.
• Staying on the theme of meditation, Joel Beeke gives some thoughts on how the Puritans meditated. It does sound foreign to meditate, but this makes me want to grow further in my love for Christ and His Word. I hope it’s the same for you.
• If you were given the opportunity to give a presentation of the Christian faith to a non-Christian, how would you go about doing that? As you ponder that (I’d challenge you to come up with a strategy before reading the link), Tim Keller expounds Blaise Pascal’s method for commending the Christian worldview. You may way to adopt his approach as a result.
• A couple weeks back I had linked to articles from the series, “Manhood and Technology.” Well, the series is complete and have a lot to offer us men. I’d highly recommend this series to you in order to become more discerning in our use of digital resources in a distinctly Christian manner.
• Justin Taylor recently interviewed David Wells concerning his new book, God in the Whirlwind, which would be well worth your time to watch. The video series on Crossway has just finished, where you can watch the previous clips, along with the written interview. Again, this comes at a good time while Singles and Grace Life are going over the attributes of God. Don’t miss out!
• How prepared would you say you are in sending off your kids to college, or adulthood, for that matter? What hurdles have to be overcome in order for your kids to be witnesses of Christ in the universities? Alex Chediak (whose earlier work Thriving at College is a very balanced book written for the collegian), in anticipation of his new book Preparing Your Teens for College, has identified some potential threats that are posed to our teens and some reminders of what parents can do to foster a healthy Christian home. The links at the end are helpful articles as well.
• As the culture and media continue to push back on religious liberty, we need to be informed and ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ. The most recent news item is the Arizona Religious Liberty Bill, which was vetoed on Wednesday, along with a federal judge’s striking down Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage. To get caught up, here’s a post from CBMW that gives the background information on what has happened, along with Christian responses. Don’t forget Denny Burke’s insightful analysis (all separate links), as well as Al Mohler’s The Briefing from yesterday.

That will do it for this week! Hope your weekend is filled with words that build up one another’s faith, and that Sunday is bursting with praise to our God. See you there!

Soli Deo Gloria

Repentance and faith are the gifts of God, and gifts that He often withholds, when they have been long offered in vain. I grant you true repentance is never too late, but I warn you at the same time, late repentance is seldom true. (J.C. Ryle)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Another week of blessing, another week of growing in Christ. I pray this has been true of you all, and I hope these links will further those two elements in our walks with the Lord. Here we go!

• Andy Snider has some thoughts regarding the doctrine of creation that is a balance of sorts with the Ham-Nye debate in mind. Creation is discussed throughout Scripture, not just in Genesis. I think if believers disagree about something like young-earth and old-earth creationism, we can do it in a way where the world can see and know that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:34-35).
• How do you discuss the issue of science vs. religion with secularists, evolutionists, and others who deny a biblical account of creation or of science? Do we need to be on the defensive every time this issue comes up? John Woodbridge, author of a new church history book, gives some perspective and insight in this interview as to where we’ve come from, and where we are now as believers in an age of technological advancement and scientific discovery, even when Christianity is declining in the West.
• Doug Groothuis has a delightful post concerning jazz and apologetics that is sure to get you thinking about how you engage others, and if you do so in a systematic fashion, or if there can be fluidity in your approach. We all speak to people with very different backgrounds who may have different objections to Christian belief. But if the truth has many applications to daily life, the way in which we engage others is surely included. This is coming from someone who affirms pressupositionalism, and actually likes smooth jazz (unlike Groothuis). You may also start listening to jazz as a result of this post.
• There seems to be an idea floating around amongst believers that Christians are not able to become depressed. Is this true? Have you been depressed? Is there someone in your life who is experiencing depression? Justin Taylor has listed a number of resources that helps us gain a better understanding of the issue, and how we can minister to others regarding this dark period in a person’s life. You would be better prepared to face the battle by spending time there.
• CBMW is still going strong with their series on Manhood and Technology, this time with their fourth post, “Brothers, Do Not Be Overcome.” Men, let’s be examples of how we are to engage technology to glorify God and not ourselves. Take up and read.
• Sticking with CBMW, a journal article was recently highlighted that I think will be enough to get you to read because of its title: “Why Homeschooled Girls are Feminism’s Worst Nightmare.” Intrigued?
• Christian philosopher Paul Copan had some research notes that he prepared to use for a radio program concerning theism, atheism and rationality. He decided to make them available for us to see some of his points that he would have brought up.
• Just so no one thinks I’m abandoning presuppositionalism, here’s an audio debate of sorts with Greg Bahnsen (presuppositionalist) and R.C. Sproul (classical evidentialist). I think Bahnsen won, hands down.
• Ever felt like you were the worst example of productivity? I know I’ve been there before. Enter Matt Perman, who has written a new book on productivity that is motivated by the Gospel. This post has the lowdown on how this book is structured, with some other additional notes of interest.
• This may be my personal attempt to start one of these, but there have been groups within the church that have begun theology reading groups, one of which is chronicled in this post. May their tribe increase (hopefully at our church, too).
• How would you rate yourself when it comes to being encouraging (that ever frequent word we use)? How can we cultivate encouragement in the church? Sam Crabtree, author of Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God, gives some encouraging words to move us there.

That will do it for this week! See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria