THIS & THAT and Favorite Quotes of the Week

CURRENT TOPICS:

• Wheaton College Suspends Hijab-Wearing Professor After ‘Same God’ Comment. Bob Smietana writes “A tenured Wheaton College political science professor who pledged to wear a hijab during Advent in support of her Muslim neighbors has been placed on administrative leave. Not for donning the Islamic head covering, but over “significant questions regarding the theological implications” of her explanation of why she was doing so.”  This is a developing story. Pray that Wheaton College does not give in to political correctness.
• Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God? Albert Mohler writes “Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God. Christians worship the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and no other god.”
• Muslims and Christians Do Not Worship the Same God. Thabiti Anyabwile writes “Arguing that Christians and Muslims worship the same God is often well-intended. But in a world increasingly filled with clashes between adherents of Islam and the west, this confusion is dangerous. Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God and that matters immensely.”
• Thinking Theologically about Islam. Kevin DeYoung writes about Islam, by looking at a pair of truths—one positive and one negative—under three different headings.
• The Death of God Is Greatly Exaggerated. Kate Bachelder Kate Bachelderof The Wall Street Journal interviews Eric Metaxas. She writes “If religion in America is dying, then someone will have to explain Eric Metaxas. The happy warrior for a muscular Christianity displays nothing but confidence about the durability of belief in modern America. In fact, he seems to hope more Christians will ignore the pressure—from the media, the courts and other liberal bastions—to keep clear of the public sphere. The message has made him especially popular with evangelical Christians.” Note: Google the article title to read it.
• Should Evangelicals Evolve on Homosexuality? Phillip Holmes continues an important discussion with Rosaria Butterfield.
• Report Details Why Gospel for Asia Lost ECFA Membership. Bob Smietana writes about documents released by a longtime board member on the missions agency’s troubled management.
• Star Wars Medley. Did you see the stars of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, sing the film’s theme song acapella with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots recently on The Tonight Show?

CHRISTIAN LIVING:

• Born Again. When you were born again, what happened? How do you know you’ve been born again? In this twelve minute video, John Piper explains how God brings about the miracle of the new birth, including one powerful story from pastoral ministry. Only God can do it, but we invite him to work by giving ourselves to his word.
• Seeking the Lost. R.C. Sproul writes “But Jesus didn’t have a building; He didn’t wait behind closed doors for people to come and see Him. His was a ministry of “walking around.” He went out to where the people were. That’s what missions is all about. The ministry of Christ was a ministry of searching for pain and for those who are lost.”
• Teach Us to Pray. In this new video, John Piper rehearses some of the most profound and familiar words ever spoken. We hope these four minutes, with stunning aerial footage, will help inspire you to new heights in the life of prayer.
• Lay Aside the Weight of Slander. Jon Bloom writes “In an age of social media, that lacks the functional information-spreading restraints of past eras, let us be all the more slow to post (“slow to speak” — James 1:19) analysis, speculation, and commentary on information about another person or group, even if it has become public in our slander-saturated culture, that might eventually prove slanderous.”
• How to Love God by Getting More Sleep. Joe Carter writes “Like most spiritual disciplines, to be most effective sleep requires both a change in attitude and a change in habits. Here are a few things I learned and practical steps I’ve taken to better develop the spiritual activity of rest.”
• Obey the Government for God’s Sake. Watch this less than twelve-minute video, which is part four of a six-part series through John Piper’s What Jesus Demands from the World. In the book, Piper looks at the demands of Jesus as found in the four Gospels. It’s an accessible introduction for thoughtful inquirers and new believers, as well as a refreshing reminder for more mature believers of God’s plan for his Son’s glory and our good.

GREAT RESOURCES:

• Sermon on the Mount. I’m excited about this new teaching series (available on audio and video) from one of the most respected Reformed theologians Sinclair Ferguson.
• 10 LifeHacks to Save You Money on Christian Books. Our friend Kevin Halloran offers some helpful tips on how to obtain quality Christian books inexpensively. Kevin is a very impressive young man – he’s a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, blogger, author and through Leadership Resources International trains pastors worldwide. Kevin and I disagree on only one thing. He’s a Cubs fan and I’m a Cards fan. There is no middle ground here, especially with the Cubs knocking off my Cards in the NLDS and signing two of the Cards best players this off-season. Despite this major flaw of Kevin’s, please check out his Word + Life blog, and sign up to receive updates. A good way to get to know Kevin is to check out his first book Word + Life: 20 Reflections on Prayer, the Christian Life, and the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Top 10 Blog Posts of 2015. Colby Adams shares the top 10 blog posts of 2015 from the Southern Seminary Blog.
• Bob Beckel: Around for a Reason. Marvin Olasky of World Magazine interviews the political operative who should be dead, but instead found new life in Christ.
• Metaxas and McLean on C.S. Lewis. Eric Metaxas interviews Max McLean about C.S. Lewis on The Eric Metaxas Show.

     

• If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. Bob Smart
• There is nothing in the law of God that will rob you of happiness; it only denies you that which would cost you sorrow. Charles Spurgeon
• We don’t see the end from the beginning. But we can trust the One who does. Kevin DeYoung
• No matter how big our hurt, how raw our grief, how deep our pain, or how many our disappointments, God promises grace for all of it. Scotty Smith
• The Holy Spirit is a missionary Spirit. So the Spirit-filled church is a missionary church. John Stott
• To be a Christian is not a religious experience…it is being radically transformed by God. Alistair Begg
• We never move on from the Gospel to something more. We never can and we never need to. Tim Keller
• My caution to you is this: Do not assume you are good soil. Francis Chan
• Jesus does not call for a mere makeover of our lives, but a takeover. Steven Lawson
• Pride is self contending with God for supremacy. William Gurnall