Bits & Pieces (3/27/13)

Stealing All the Good Promises – “…when life stinks, there are really only two options: faith or fear. You can curl up in the fetal position and let your circumstances pummel you, or you can stand strong in faith. Faith is the God-honoring, biblical response, and through his promises God has given us every reason to have extreme, uplifting faith.”

What the Starbucks CEO Really Said – You’ve undoubtedly seen a Facebook post regarding what the CEO of Starbucks allegedly said regarding customers who support traditional marriage. It’s worth reading what he really stated. Accuracy matters, regardless of whether we agree or disagree with the person.

Why Christians Should Read Fiction – “I’ve found that most people who tell me that fiction is a waste of time are folks who seem to hold to a kind of sola cerebravision of the Christian life that just doesn’t square with the Bible. The Bible doesn’t simply address man as a cognitive process but as a complex image-bearer who recognizes truth not only through categorizing syllogisms but through imagination, beauty, wonder, awe. Fiction helps to shape and hone what Russell Kirk called the moral imagination.”

Marriage in the Dock – “The U.S. Supreme Court may well decide the future of marriage as a legal institution, but the church must hold to marriage as far more, but not less than, a legal reality. Marriage is one of God’s most gracious gifts to humanity. It will be the Church’s responsibility to honor marriage, no matter what the Court may decide.”

The Dropbox – This is powerful trailer for what looks to be a powerful movie. Having the tissues handy.

Free eBook: The Truth of the Cross – Ligonier Ministries has made “The Truth of the Cross” by R.C Sproul available for free in a variety of formats.

Free Book from Logos: Life of a Risen Savior – If you haven’t yet downloaded your free book from Logos for the month of March you should do so now, before the month comes to an end.

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Bits & Pieces (3/26/13)

My Spouse Doesn’t Meet My Needs – “When we have an expectation that a husband or wife fulfill us, we set ourselves up for disappointment, because no human being can satisfy another human being.  To hope that another human can meet our needs is asking too much of anyone.  For only Jesus can meet our needs.  Only Jesus can satisfy us.  Only Jesus can fulfill all our desires.”

The Sentence Against God -“Some people can’t believe God would create a world in which people would suffer so much. Isn’t it more remarkable that God would create a world in which no one would suffer more than he?”

Dead Is Dead – “Without death Easter celebrates a comeback, not a miracle. Without a realization of Jesus’ death Easter celebrates the unexpected rather than the impossible. Without a real death there isn’t a real resurrection. Without a real resurrection there isn’t a real point in being a Christian—no hope, no future, no perfect new creation. So Jesus’ death matters. It cannot be underplayed and can scarcely be overplayed. He spend three days breathless, brain-dead, heart-beatless, and decaying. Then He was alive. And, yes, He died for our sins, to give us life. To give us life after death—like Him.”

The Case for Getting Married Young – I thought this piece was especially interesting because it comes from a nonreligious publication (The Atlantic). One thing of particular note that the author wrote was “Marriage actually works best as a formative institution, not an institution you enter once you think you’re fully formed. We learn marriage, just as we learn language, and to the teachable, some lessons just come easier earlier in life.” (H/T)

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross: Story & Download – “Watts’ giftedness for writing hymns, combined with his courage in publishing them, would eventually turn the tide against singing only psalms and set a new standard for Christian worship in the English language. Today Watts is widely recognized as the “Father of English Hymnody.” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” is his greatest hymn.”

Free eBook: Fox’s Book of Martyrs – Get a free Kindle version of the classic book.

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