Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Your Digital Smorgasbord
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Your Digital Smorgasbord
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Your Digital Smorgasbord
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Bible Study Ideas
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Recommended Reading for the Times
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Some Links for the Times
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Links - Bible Study
This week I offer you a collection of articles on reading or studying the Bible well. I hope you find them useful.
♦ Why I Stopped Calling Parts of the Bible ‘Boring’
♦ Why I Stopped Calling Parts of the Bible ‘Boring’
When I announced that we were spending the next six months in Jeremiah, I said something I’d heard many Bible teachers say before me: “I know this book is boring. But we’re going to learn something.” I think I was trying to lower the stakes for them—or maybe for me. I was setting the bar low so that if Jeremiah held their interest even a little, that was a success.
But looking back, I regret saying it. It’s not true. Jeremiah isn’t boring. The Bible isn’t boring. Even the parts that people always say are boring are weird, gripping, and awe-inspiring. If we let them, they will absolutely command our attention.
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
12 from '20
'Tis the season for "Best of" articles, and since I don't do links very often, I wanted to share some of my favorite posts from other sites. In approximately chronological order:
♞5 Ways to Love God with All Your Mind
"As our minds master truth – and are in turn mastered by it – the rest of our being inevitably follows. Hence we find ourselves experiencing greater love for God as we hear, sing and speak of the truths we know. Truths grasped in your mind can be tasted and savoured."
♞Seven Apologetics Books Every Teen Should Read
These books offer a good starting place for anyone of any age, but these would be a great foundation for someone who will be heading off to college.
♞It’s Time for a New Culture War Strategy
"[W]e must recommit ourselves to strengthening alternative institutions, investing in counter-cultural church communities, and catechizing our own children. Let me underscore the last item. ...
Here’s a culture war strategy conservative Christians should get behind: have more children and disciple them like crazy."
♞Why Read Early Christian Authors?
"The truth of the matter is that far too many modern-day Evangelicals are either ignorant of or quite uncomfortable with the Church Fathers. ... Well did Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–92)—a man who certainly could not be accused of elevating tradition to the level of, let alone over, Scripture—once note: 'It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.'"
♞The Fear of the Lord ... for today?
"[T]he fear of the Lord remains unclear for most of us, and it is critical to embrace it if we are to grow in wisdom (Pro 1:7). Let’s assume that we benefit from understanding it, and we could use more of it."
♞Not White Fragility, Mutual Responsibility
"Watching a country tear itself apart is quite a spectacle. This is the cycle I have come to expect when we have a national racial incident. We have the racial incident, the protest and the backlash. Is it a cycle that we can break? Not if we keep doing what we have done before. So here is my attempt to move away from that cycle and to encourage us to think about a mutual accountability approach."
♞Let's Think About This For a Moment
"If you read every day about every bad and evil thing that has happened over the last 24 hours in every part of the world, you shouldn't be surprised if you are constantly dwelling on those things and struggling with depression and anxiety. If you listen to songs with sexually explicit lyrics and watch movies, television shows, and videos with sexually explicit images, you shouldn't be surprised if you are constantly dwelling on those things and struggling with lust. ... If you choose to drink from a sewer rather than from a clear spring, don't be surprised if you get sick. "
♞How to Prepare for the Next Cultural Revolution
"[W]e need to be ready for the next false philosophy—in a year, in five years, or in a decade—that will spawn the next cultural revolution. I can’t predict what it will be, but I know it will happen. I also know what we can do to be ready, prevent Christian defectors, and answer the challenge when it arrives. Here are two ways to prepare for the next revolution..."
♞We disagree over how to help people, not whether to help them
"[Pro-lifers] do want to care for people, including after they are born, and many of us are actively involved in doing so. We just don’t think it should necessarily be done by big government programs. ... Today, I want to relate a bit of my experience through my church in Louisiana to illustrate this point."
♞Teaching Politics at Belmont Has Me Worried About the State of Debate
"[O]ur classrooms have not escaped the tribal nature of our politics. Conversations are often strident, and it is a challenge to rein in disputes before they turn into full-fledged shouting matches. Students find it harder to come to grips with what Jonathan Haidt labels the “moral matrices” that underpin our political commitments and are hesitant to recognize the sacred values that “bind and blind” political choices, both ours and those of our opponents. The same sources that spur these novel conversations can create inflexible ideological camps."
♞A Biblical Critique of Secular Justice and Critical Theory
This is part of a series of long-form articles by Tim Keller. They'll take a while to read, but they're worth the time investment.
"Which justice? There have never been stronger calls for justice than those we are hearing today. But seldom do those issuing the calls acknowledge that currently there are competing visions of justice, often at sharp variance, and that none of them have achieved anything like a cultural consensus, not even in a single country like the US."
♞Refugee? Mixed-Race? Please stop co-opting Christ
"Any time we make Jesus’s ministry about anything other than fulfilling His mission of being the perfect lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) we are in danger of at least distorting the Gospel if not even teaching a false one (Gal. 1:8-9)."
♞5 Ways to Love God with All Your Mind
"As our minds master truth – and are in turn mastered by it – the rest of our being inevitably follows. Hence we find ourselves experiencing greater love for God as we hear, sing and speak of the truths we know. Truths grasped in your mind can be tasted and savoured."
♞Seven Apologetics Books Every Teen Should Read
These books offer a good starting place for anyone of any age, but these would be a great foundation for someone who will be heading off to college.
♞It’s Time for a New Culture War Strategy
"[W]e must recommit ourselves to strengthening alternative institutions, investing in counter-cultural church communities, and catechizing our own children. Let me underscore the last item. ...
Here’s a culture war strategy conservative Christians should get behind: have more children and disciple them like crazy."
♞Why Read Early Christian Authors?
"The truth of the matter is that far too many modern-day Evangelicals are either ignorant of or quite uncomfortable with the Church Fathers. ... Well did Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–92)—a man who certainly could not be accused of elevating tradition to the level of, let alone over, Scripture—once note: 'It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.'"
♞The Fear of the Lord ... for today?
"[T]he fear of the Lord remains unclear for most of us, and it is critical to embrace it if we are to grow in wisdom (Pro 1:7). Let’s assume that we benefit from understanding it, and we could use more of it."
♞Not White Fragility, Mutual Responsibility
"Watching a country tear itself apart is quite a spectacle. This is the cycle I have come to expect when we have a national racial incident. We have the racial incident, the protest and the backlash. Is it a cycle that we can break? Not if we keep doing what we have done before. So here is my attempt to move away from that cycle and to encourage us to think about a mutual accountability approach."
♞Let's Think About This For a Moment
"If you read every day about every bad and evil thing that has happened over the last 24 hours in every part of the world, you shouldn't be surprised if you are constantly dwelling on those things and struggling with depression and anxiety. If you listen to songs with sexually explicit lyrics and watch movies, television shows, and videos with sexually explicit images, you shouldn't be surprised if you are constantly dwelling on those things and struggling with lust. ... If you choose to drink from a sewer rather than from a clear spring, don't be surprised if you get sick. "
♞How to Prepare for the Next Cultural Revolution
"[W]e need to be ready for the next false philosophy—in a year, in five years, or in a decade—that will spawn the next cultural revolution. I can’t predict what it will be, but I know it will happen. I also know what we can do to be ready, prevent Christian defectors, and answer the challenge when it arrives. Here are two ways to prepare for the next revolution..."
♞We disagree over how to help people, not whether to help them
"[Pro-lifers] do want to care for people, including after they are born, and many of us are actively involved in doing so. We just don’t think it should necessarily be done by big government programs. ... Today, I want to relate a bit of my experience through my church in Louisiana to illustrate this point."
♞Teaching Politics at Belmont Has Me Worried About the State of Debate
"[O]ur classrooms have not escaped the tribal nature of our politics. Conversations are often strident, and it is a challenge to rein in disputes before they turn into full-fledged shouting matches. Students find it harder to come to grips with what Jonathan Haidt labels the “moral matrices” that underpin our political commitments and are hesitant to recognize the sacred values that “bind and blind” political choices, both ours and those of our opponents. The same sources that spur these novel conversations can create inflexible ideological camps."
♞A Biblical Critique of Secular Justice and Critical Theory
This is part of a series of long-form articles by Tim Keller. They'll take a while to read, but they're worth the time investment.
"Which justice? There have never been stronger calls for justice than those we are hearing today. But seldom do those issuing the calls acknowledge that currently there are competing visions of justice, often at sharp variance, and that none of them have achieved anything like a cultural consensus, not even in a single country like the US."
♞Refugee? Mixed-Race? Please stop co-opting Christ
"Any time we make Jesus’s ministry about anything other than fulfilling His mission of being the perfect lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) we are in danger of at least distorting the Gospel if not even teaching a false one (Gal. 1:8-9)."
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Links: Arming for Battle
"We are at war.It’s not a war of bombs and bayonets. It’s not a war against flesh and blood. In fact, it’s not a physical war at all. It’s a spiritual war."
That's from Tim Barnett, one of the speakers at Stand to Reason. He reminds us that we are in a spiritual war, and that it is a battle against ideas. More importantly, our kids are going out into the battlefield. Are we arming them and training them for the battles ahead?
I encourage you to read the whole piece, Training Students for War. He talks more about this conflict and our need to prepare, and he links to some of STR's resources that can help us do the work.
♞ One of their new resources that isn't in that piece is Tim's new YouTube channel Red Pen Logic with Mr. B. In these short videos, he combines humor and clear thinking to demonstrate how to approach the memes and catchphrases the culture throws at us. I highly recommend it.
♞ Another new site to help us prepare our kids for the real world is Mama Bear Apologetics. Even though it's geared towards moms, plenty of dads listen to their podcasts and read their blogs and book. Check out their recent post, Teaching Our Kids to Spot Empty Statements. If you like what you see, check out their other resources. I really like these ladies; they're nowhere near as stuffy as some of the apologetics podcasts out there, but they produce very serious content.
♞ Finally, I encourage you to check out Alisa Childers' work. Her blog and podcast focus on teaching people how to detect and defend against what she calls "progressive Christianity" — namely, the use of Christian language to teach very un-Christian ideas. You might start here where she explains what the "historic Christianity" is that the progressives are deviating from.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Links
I think these will be helpful sites for you to visit:
Do "contradictions" discredit the Gospels?
(This is part of a series of videos that, frankly, try to sell a DVD set, but the short video is still a useful piece.)
Forget About Evolution and Inerrancy (for a Minute)
Like this author, I have two little girls, and I'm appalled at what our culture wants to teach them about themselves, men, God, and life in general. There are a lot of good thoughts here.
Do "contradictions" discredit the Gospels?
(This is part of a series of videos that, frankly, try to sell a DVD set, but the short video is still a useful piece.)
Forget About Evolution and Inerrancy (for a Minute)
"The issue of origins and inspiration and inerrancy are very important. We eventually need to discuss them. But they arenot 'make or break issues.' And they can be used to sidetrack the Gospel into endless and fruitless debate."Raising Daughters in a World That Devalues Them: 7 Things We Must Tell Them
Like this author, I have two little girls, and I'm appalled at what our culture wants to teach them about themselves, men, God, and life in general. There are a lot of good thoughts here.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Life Links
Sadly, it doesn't look like we're going to be able to spend time considering and discussing the arguments made in favor of the pro-choice position. If anyone ever makes one, I'll let you know.
Instead, here are a few pieces of pro-life goodness.
* Pro-choicers often say you shouldn't ask a woman not to kill her child unless you are willing to take responsibility for it for the rest of your life. Scott Klusendorf wrote a short piece highlighting the insanity of that complaint.
* Trevin Wax lists 10 questions the media (and we) should ask the pro-choice — questions far more meaningful than the inane ones they pose us.
* Finally, Amy Hall of Stand to Reason and Keith Mathison of Ligonier Ministries explain their pro-life reasoning for anyone who is actually willing to listen.
Instead, here are a few pieces of pro-life goodness.
* Pro-choicers often say you shouldn't ask a woman not to kill her child unless you are willing to take responsibility for it for the rest of your life. Scott Klusendorf wrote a short piece highlighting the insanity of that complaint.
* Trevin Wax lists 10 questions the media (and we) should ask the pro-choice — questions far more meaningful than the inane ones they pose us.
* Finally, Amy Hall of Stand to Reason and Keith Mathison of Ligonier Ministries explain their pro-life reasoning for anyone who is actually willing to listen.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Perspective links
* A different perspective on the culture war:
* A different perspective on the poor:
* A different perspective on assisted suicide. A very different perspective:
"I want to suggest that hospitality is a radical alternative to both the language and practice of culture wars."Read why and how it would work in The Culture of Hospitality.
* A different perspective on the poor:
"[T]he historical evidence is in, and it is quite clear: over the last 200 years, free markets, not government programs, have created wealth that has brought general worldwide benefit to the poor, lifting multitudes out of grinding poverty."Paul Copan explains in The Poor and Free Markets.
* A different perspective on assisted suicide. A very different perspective:
"As a good pro-choice liberal, I ought to support [assisted suicide]. But as a lifelong disabled person, I cannot."Read his story and concerns in Suicide by Choice? Not So Fast.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Bible Links
420 Tips on How to Use Bible Commentaries
"It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others. ... A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might have saved many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences" (CH Spurgeon).
4The Sweep of the Bible in Two Weeks
"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."
4Seven Common Fallacies of Biblical Interpretation
Seven ways we all too easily go astray.
"It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others. ... A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might have saved many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences" (CH Spurgeon).
4The Sweep of the Bible in Two Weeks
"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."
4Seven Common Fallacies of Biblical Interpretation
Seven ways we all too easily go astray.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Links: Apologetics
Interesting news from Dan Wallace:
First-Century Fragment of Mark’s Gospel Found!?
Is God a Moral Monster?
Looking at the issue in historical, textual, and biblical contexts.
Undesigned Scriptural Coincidences: The Ring Of Truth
The little things give credibility to the big things.
Were Ancient People Gullible Enough To Sustain Modern Skeptical Theories?
"... there is mounting evidence that this alleged dichotomy between the worldview of ancient people and the worldview of modern Western people is itself a piece of modern mythology."
First-Century Fragment of Mark’s Gospel Found!?
Is God a Moral Monster?
Looking at the issue in historical, textual, and biblical contexts.
Undesigned Scriptural Coincidences: The Ring Of Truth
The little things give credibility to the big things.
Were Ancient People Gullible Enough To Sustain Modern Skeptical Theories?
"... there is mounting evidence that this alleged dichotomy between the worldview of ancient people and the worldview of modern Western people is itself a piece of modern mythology."
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Links on Doubt
Many — maybe most — Christians go through periods of doubting the faith. Whether they're wondering about the historical facts of the resurrection, the existence or goodness of God, or something else, people go through times of being unsure. Often this is a lonely time when they're afraid to say anything to anyone, and it can be a scary time when they don't know how to deal with the situation.
Here are three links I think will help anyone in that situation:
= Eight Points of Encouragement for Those Who Are Doubting Their Faith
= Saved by an Atheist
A story of God using a most unlikely source to bring a wandering child home.
= Dealing With Doubt
The complete text of Gary Habermas' book online and free.
Here are three links I think will help anyone in that situation:
= Eight Points of Encouragement for Those Who Are Doubting Their Faith
"8. Realize that doubt is not a bad thing.Click through for seven more important thoughts.
Often, doubt is the first sign of true or deep faith. It is only through doubt and an acknowledgement that we could be wrong that we come to true convictions about what we believe. God is not scared or angry about people’s doubts when they are truly searching for the truth. He challenges us over and over again in the Scriptures to be wise and stop being naive. If our faith is true, it can handle doubts and skepticism. I have been through many periods of doubt and every time my belief came out stronger. I believe that yours can to."
= Saved by an Atheist
A story of God using a most unlikely source to bring a wandering child home.
= Dealing With Doubt
The complete text of Gary Habermas' book online and free.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Reading Links
The entire text of Dealing With Doubt by Gary R. Habermas is available online.
But that's nothing. Lots to read at the ...
Karl Barth Reading Room
C.S. Lewis Reading Room
The Harvard Classics Digital Collection
Enjoy!
But that's nothing. Lots to read at the ...
Karl Barth Reading Room
C.S. Lewis Reading Room
The Harvard Classics Digital Collection
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Lighter Links
How about an assortment of light and entertaining links?
Pictures taken from the space station.
Ten Books that Influenced C.S. Lewis
"Reading everything C. S. Lewis tells you to read is not a bad stimulus for a continuing education project."
How to save water-damaged books and photos
I hope you never need this. My parents did.
When a child puts something up his nose
For the book lover's book lover: Pictures of the world's most beautiful libraries
(HT: Tony Reinke)
Pictures taken from the space station.
Ten Books that Influenced C.S. Lewis
"Reading everything C. S. Lewis tells you to read is not a bad stimulus for a continuing education project."
How to save water-damaged books and photos
I hope you never need this. My parents did.
When a child puts something up his nose
For the book lover's book lover: Pictures of the world's most beautiful libraries
(HT: Tony Reinke)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Some Recommended Reading
Essentials and Non-Essentials: How to Choose Your Battles Carefully
Related: A Practical 9-Step Guide to Studying any Theological Issue
It's Not the Church's Job
"The church cannot ensure that all goes well with you. Most of life is your responsibility."
Look Who's Talking Now, or Thoughts on Leviticus
"Is Leviticus dry? Unless you enjoy reading blueprints and law textbooks, yes. Is it boring? When you remember that God is doing most of the speaking, it becomes much less boring."
"I often tell people that there are some things that I believe that I would die for; there are some things that I believe that I would lose an arm for; there are some things that I believe that I would lose a finger for; and then there are some things that I believe that I would not even get a manicure for."Includes a handy chart.
Related: A Practical 9-Step Guide to Studying any Theological Issue
It's Not the Church's Job
"The church cannot ensure that all goes well with you. Most of life is your responsibility."
Look Who's Talking Now, or Thoughts on Leviticus
"Is Leviticus dry? Unless you enjoy reading blueprints and law textbooks, yes. Is it boring? When you remember that God is doing most of the speaking, it becomes much less boring."
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Slavery Links
Last year I made it my goal to learn about modern slavery. This year I'm going to encourage you to do the same.
Organizations:
Not for Sale — the group, not the book
International Justice Mission
Articles:
If This Isn’t Slavery, What Is? — NY Times
be very angry about slavery — Eugene Cho
Slave Labor & Bible Covers — Skyebox
Iowa Man Convicted of Human Trafficking, Sold Teens In Prostitution — Fox News
Organizations:
Not for Sale — the group, not the book
International Justice Mission
Articles:
If This Isn’t Slavery, What Is? — NY Times
be very angry about slavery — Eugene Cho
Slave Labor & Bible Covers — Skyebox
Iowa Man Convicted of Human Trafficking, Sold Teens In Prostitution — Fox News
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Links Again
I'd hoped to post something a little more meaty, but the wind got taken out of that by the emergency death-bed visit we're having to make to my wife's grandmother. Please pray for their family and for us as we drive through the snow.
Now for something lighter...
Do you know beans? Theologian Ben Witherington on ... coffee.
Newseum — the world's front pages
The Virtual Piano — play the piano online. Who needs a reason for these things?
Surviving Disaster — videos from Spike TV. Hopefully I won't need these this weekend.
Wish us luck. Texans don't know how to drive on snow.
Now for something lighter...
Do you know beans? Theologian Ben Witherington on ... coffee.
Newseum — the world's front pages
The Virtual Piano — play the piano online. Who needs a reason for these things?
Surviving Disaster — videos from Spike TV. Hopefully I won't need these this weekend.
Wish us luck. Texans don't know how to drive on snow.
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