Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away (Matthew 19:13-15 ESV). Many of us are still recovering from the Sandy Hook shooting this past Friday. We’re still in shock; we’re still in mourning. It is... Read more
This is a sobering day by any stretch. If you are like me processing the horror in Newtown, CT, the fruit of freshly stunning evil–the same evil that lurks in all of us–here are two resources from Al Mohler that may be of help: blog and podcast. In an unusual circumstance, friends have just let me know that you can get four books from the Essential Edwards Collection that I cowrote with Douglas Sweeney for a grand total of $4. With thanks... Read more
So here we are: The Hobbit is officially out. I haven’t seen it yet, but the hour draws nigh. I can’t wait. I recently saw a few films that reminded me of the power of Tolkien’s tale, which traffics in good and evil and other such outmoded concepts. It’s nuanced, but it’s stubbornly traditional in that it features heroes and villains. It’s very common nowadays to “complexify” leading characters such that they are, like a child’s first stab at a... Read more
This is a question asked and answered by a very helpful ministry called 9Marks. It’s based out of Washington, D. C., and it’s associated with a strong gospel-preaching church called Capitol Hill Baptist Church. Mark Dever is the senior pastor of CHBC and the leader of 9Marks. If you’re thinking of a way to strengthen the work of the gospel around the world through financial giving, this is a good one. Here’s a word from Dever on how Christians can... Read more
I just read a poleaxing story from the Tampa Bay Times that sheds light on what can happen when the state usurps the role of parents. According to the Times, a severely disabled girl, Marie Freyre, was taken from her mother, Doris Freyre, at the wish of Florida medical professionals. The story is harrowing and shows that the Freyres were in a tough position prior to the state’s intervention. Doris could not care for her daughter herself and so requested... Read more
From the National Journal comes a moving story about a father named Ron Fournier who learned to engage and truly love his son. Tyler Fournier has Asperger Syndrome, and it took some time for his parents to figure this out. Once they did, it explained many things about their son that had baffled them. Their discoveries are elaborated in a piece, “How Two Presidents Helped Me Deal With Love, Guilt, and Fatherhood,” that is easily one of the best-written essays I have... Read more
It’s called “Noel,” and if you hear it done well, it will inspire you. The joy and power of African spirituals can be hard to beat. There is something profoundly heavenlike in this kind of music. It reminds me of the impassable delight we have in Christ, the child whose birth is the foundation of our joy, now and forever. Read more
I’m making my way through an exciting new leadership book by my school’s president, R. Albert Mohler, Jr., The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters (Bethany House, 2012). It is a terrific read, full of deep thinking on leadership driven by biblical wisdom and corroborated through historical examples, with a nice sprinkling of personal anecdotes. The Conviction to Lead is a unique book. Composed of 25 short and readable chapters, it is about leadership, which can sometimes be a... Read more
This from World magazine, which has provided intrepid reporting on the alarming situation at Tufts University: Student religious groups should not have to appoint leaders who do not share their beliefs, a student judiciary at Tufts University announced on Wednesday. Like several other private colleges, Tufts has an “all comers” policy that requires official student organizations to be open to all students for both membership and leadership, regardless of beliefs. But in reviewing a discrimination complaint filed against Tufts Christian Fellowship... Read more
The new issue of Themelios, the academic theological journal of the Gospel Coalition, is just out. It looks terrific. Here’s an essay by D. A. Carson that should be typically helpful. I did a largely appreciative review of David Platt’s Radical Together that might stir some pots on the issue of wealth and stewardship. There’s much more. Here’s a swatch from a compelling essay by Pete Schemm on the writing pastor. In his book The Intellectual Life, A. G. Sertillanges, a French theologian... Read more
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