• Congratulations to Kurt Warner. Kurt Warner, who was my favorite NFL Player, was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame on August 5. Watch highlights from his induction speech.
• Vatican Condemns U.S. Catholic Conservatives.Gene Veith writes “An official Vatican publication has condemned Catholic conservatives in America for participating with evangelicals in an “ecumenism of hate.”
• Are Evangelicals Becoming More Open to Gay Marriage?Denny Burk writes “What we are witnessing in the evangelical movement right now is a winnowing—a parting of ways. It rightly grieves us because no one relishes division or departures from God’s truth. But it is all important that we see what this means. This division is real and necessary for anyone turning away from what the scriptures teach on marriage and sexuality. And all sides would do well not to obscure just how high the stakes really are.”
• Sundar Pichai Should Resign as Google’s CEO. David Brooks writes “There are many actors in the whole Google/diversity drama, but I’d say the one who’s behaved the worst is CEO, Sundar Pichai.”

 

• How Do I Overcome My Fear of Evangelism?Watch this three-minute “Honest Answers” video from Timothy K. Beougher. He states “We have to confront that our fear of rejection is really loving the approval of men more than the approval of God.”
• I Don’t Understand Christians Watching Game of Thrones. Kevin DeYoung writes “I don’t expect those who are strangers to the light to be bothered by the darkness. But for conservative Christians who care about marriage and immorality and decency in so many other areas, it is baffling that Game of Thrones gets a free pass.”
• Managing Technology. Over half of children think that their parents check their phone too often, with a quarter of parents agreeing they want to look at their devices less. Yet it’s difficult to pry ourselves away from technology, so social media is in large part making us less social. In this eighteen-minute video, Andy Crouch reflects on these issues in his new book, and will help us think through utilizing tech in a way that contributes to relationships.
• A Generation Passionate for God’s Holiness. In this 2003 message from Passion One Day, John Piper states “Could it be that the 200,000 that I so ache for, long for, pray for, in this generation might rise up for Jesus if their hearts were impassioned by a glimpse of the holiness of God?” Watch the 32-minute message or read the transcript.
• Your Gifts Are Not for You. In eight-minute video, Trillia Newbell, Blair Linne, and Rosaria Butterfield discuss what you should do if your church doesn’t appreciate your gifts.
• Humility and Greatness are the Same Thing. Scott Sauls writes “For Henri Nouwen and for us all, greatness is not found in being well liked and respected by others, not in striving to reverse the negative verdicts, not in making a name for ourselves. Instead, greatness is found as we become more boastful about Jesus and more shy about ourselves…and in a life increasingly poured out for Jesus and others.”

• Theology Learned in the Flames of Adversity. Steven Lawson writes “Luther maintained that theology is not learned only in the safety of a lecture hall, but in the flames of adversity. in fiery trials, one is humbled and broken. It is then that a leader is made most teachable. in difficult times, the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit often shines brightest. Broken hearts make for receptive minds.”
• 4 Painful Lies Stay-at-Home Moms Tell Themselves. Jasmine Holmes writes “If we find our identity, not in staying home or in having hobbies outside the home or in our nine-to-fives, but in serving Christ wholeheartedly in whatever sphere he’s placed us, maybe we would be less insecure when we’re asked what we do all day. And maybe the voices in our heads would quiet down long enough for us to realize they don’t define us.”

• Anxious Over Stuff You Can’t Control? Scotty Smith prays “King Jesus, we so weary of the new norm of mean-spirited, anti-civility. How long before wolves, bears, and lambs; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; North Koreans, South Koreans and Americans; Calvinists, Arminians, and Pentecostals frolic kindly together in the new earth?”
• Can I Sing ‘Amazing Grace’ If I Was Saved at Six? John Piper writes “There are six reasons that Christians like me can feel the greatness of our sinfulness, and the wonder of grace, even if we have no recollection of ever being an unbeliever.”
• Do You Care About the Widows?C. Sproul writes “James elevates the activity of caring for widows and orphans as the very essence of pure and undefiled religion. That strikes me as being very significant, and it’s an idea that is neglected in the church today.”
• Are You Shaped by the World or by the Word? Nancy Guthrie writes “The world around us seeks to press us into its mold. And we can simply relent. We can be shaped by the world around us. But we don’t have to be. We can resist. We can be shaped by the Word of God. As we take it in, think it through, and live it out, it is going to change us in profound and pleasant ways. We’re going to increasingly know how to live in the world around us.”

TO MAKE YOU SMILE:

• TGC Announces New Introverts’ Conference Where Everyone Just Stays Home.The Babylon Bee reports “The Gospel Coalition has announced a new annual Bible conference specifically targeted at introverted believers, a conference which will just ask everyone to stay home instead of getting packed into a big room with a bunch of other people.”

• Man’s real trouble is that he is a rebel against God and consequently under the wrath of God. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
• This is so simple and so crucial — no phones in the bedroom, especially at night. Not for kids, not for adults. Seriously. Let’s fix this. Andy Crouch
• In Scripture, the essence of wisdom is in knowing that you are not that wise. Sinclair Ferguson
• This must be our ground and anchor-hold, that Christ is our only perfect righteousness. Martin Luther
• Religious people find God useful. Christians find God beautiful. Tim Keller
• Half our fears arise from neglect of the Bible. Charles Spurgeon
• To despise doctrine is to despise the Word of God. C. Sproul
• There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. Richard Sibbes
• There are two possible attitudes in genuine worship: delight in God or repentance for the lack of it. John Piper