CURRENT EVENTS

• A Giant Has Fallen: The Death of Justice Antonin Scalia and the Future of Constitutional Government. Albert Mohler reflects on the death last Saturday of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
• What the Church Can Learn from Justice Scalia’s Life. Russell Moore writes “Most of us will not serve as justices or judges or attorneys, but we can still glean some lessons from this life. Here are a few of them.”
• 9 Things You Should Know About Justice Antonin Scalia. Joe Carter shares nine things you should know about one of the leading conservative voices on the nation’s highest court, who died on February 13 at the age of 79.
• Happy 77^th Birthday to R.C. Sproul. Dr. Sproul’s ministry has, and continues to have, a profound impact on my life. He turned 77 on February 13. Look at this overview of his ministry.
• Seven Questions to Ask Before You Watch Deadpool. Phillip Holmes writes “Deadpool is produced by 20th Century Fox, based on the Marvel comic, part of the X-Men film series. Unfortunately, unlike others in the series, Deadpool is rated R due to “strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity. On social media, Christians are debating whether or not it’s appropriate to see the film. Is it permissible? Is it wise? Is it legalistic to say no?”
• Wheaton College, Larycia Hawkins to ‘Part Ways’. Jeremy Weber and Ted Olsen write “Wheaton College and Larycia Hawkins jointly announced “a confidential agreement under which [we] will part ways.”
• Hall of Famer Tony Dungy. Congratulations to Tony Dungy on his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. I’ve read several of his books. You can read my reviews of two of them here.
• Super Bowl ad slammed by NARAL for ‘humanizing fetuses’. David Roach writes “An abortion-rights group’s protest that a Super Bowl ad wrongly engaged in “humanizing fetuses” has drawn protest from several Southern Baptist leaders.”
• Egg Russian Roulette with Peyton Manning and Magic Johnson. Did you see Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning and former NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson play Egg Russian Roulette with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show?

GREAT RESOURCES

• Michael Card’s Biblical Imagination Conference on Hesed. I’m looking forward to attending one of Michael Card’s Biblical Imagination Conference weekends this year. After having conferences on each of the Gospels over the past few years, his new conference is on Hesed (think of God’s lovingkindness). You can go to Michael’s website to see where conferences are scheduled to see if there is one in your area. We were able to catch three of the Gospel Biblical Imagination conferences, including having the joy of hosting two at our church. Here again are my reflections from the conference weekend on Matthew. To give you some idea of what to expect at these wonderful conferences, check out these two short promo videos which were filmed at our church during the conference on Mark – video 1 and video 2 (you may see some familiar faces here).

POLITICS

• My Choice for President/Vice President. After watching nine GOP debates, and realizing that Ben Carson is not going to get the nomination, I’m ready to put my support behind the below ticket:
• Ted Cruz: Evangelical Darling or Pagan Brutalist? Why He Exposes a Christian Divide. Thomas S. Kidd writes “New York Times columnist David Brooks (author of The Road to Character), penned a blistering attack on Cruz as a hypocritical Christian who really preaches “pagan brutalism.” To Brooks, Cruz is a harsh, Pharisaical opportunist – Donald Trump with a more pious veneer.”
• Trump Meets the Honeymooners. I love the old Honeymooners shows with Jackie Gleason playing bus driver Ralph Kramden. Here’s Ralph having just about enough of presidential candidate Donald Trump.
• 12 Voting Options in a Trump Election. Tony Reinke writes that’s not too early to start thinking about what an Evangelical Christian would do when faced with an unfortunate Trump v. Sanders or a Trump v. Clinton vote for president.

• Life is to be lived Coram Deo, before the face of God, under the authority of God, and unto the glory of God alone. R.C. Sproul
• Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones. Phillips Brooks
• When a man goes up into the pulpit, it is in order that God may speak to us through the mouth of a human being. John Calvin
• I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands that I still possess. Martin Luther
• Don’t waste your disgust. Anybody can be cynical and withdrawn. Try redemptive anger and working for justice instead. Scotty Smith
• The blood of the Lamb silences the Accuser. D.A. Carson  
• The shortest route is not always the best route, because it can bypass some of the greatest lessons in life. Ravi Zacharias
• Dads, our kids don’t belong to us, they belong to God. We are just their stewards for a short time to point them to their ultimate father. Burk Parsons
• My life has been a series of wonders, mercies, supports, and deliverances. John Newton