Photo Credit: Chris Dlugosz

Here are a few articles some of you may be interested in:

Gloria Furman wrote a sweet and encouraging post for moms in Soldier, Athlete, Farmer… Mom

Jen Wilkin in, New Year, New Self–Control, wrote a much needed and much appreciated correction to the way Christian women in particular need to respond to the culture’s pull on how we should look and what we should weigh. Men and women alike should read this!

Tim Challies wrote an insightful article about being an introvert in The Christian Introvert

I have been slowly working my way through the messages of The Gospel Coalition New England Conference from when they met a couple of months ago. They broadcast live the pre-conference session Tim Keller did on Center Church, which was just excellent. You’ll be able to get to it from the same link. Be on the look–out for a post from me on some insights I gained from it.

A beautiful article by Jon Bloom over at Desiring God, When the Perfect Comes…

I really appreciated this article from Jonathan Parnell, said things that really need to be said, From Closet to Coastlands: Bible Reading and Prayer in 2013

An interview with D.A. Carson from Tabletalk which I’m printing out and saving—through the influence of this man’s work I am slowly learning not to pendulum swing (have a post on that coming soon): Christ and the Academy: An Interview with D.A. Carson

Peggy Noonan on Obama: There’s no ‘I’ in ‘Kumbaya’

There are some great discussions going on over at The Gospel Coalition as you’ll see from the first four links below:

Fantastic article by John Starke, Surprising Benefits of Theological Vision for Ministry

Kevin DeYoung hits the nail on the head with Seven Cautions for Eager Polemicists

Kathleen Nielson writes about the importance of the Word of God in a woman’s life

Kathy Keller writes on using the catechism to train our children

Wendy Alsup touches on Rachel Held Evans’ book A Year of Biblical Womanhood and how we are to read the Scriptures over at her blog Practical Theology for Women

If you love hymns and biographies of older saints then you will appreciate this post by Rebecca Stark at Out of the Ordinary

Kristie Anyabwile wife of Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile wrote a wonderful article on friendship Friends. How Many of Us Have Them? for Women of God Magazine

There’s been a lot of good stuff lately, this is only a small portion:

Glimpses of Grace in Homemaking, by Gloria Furman. Ladies, if you haven’t read it, please do.

For those who are homeschooling, Kendra Fletcher has written on What Can a Two Year Old Do While We’re Homeschooling.

A beautiful interview with Joni Eareckson Tada which will surely build up your faith.

Trillia Newbell reviews Rachel Held Evans’ book A Year of Biblical Womanhood over at Desiring God. Trillia does a good job drawing out that one of the issues with Evans is whether she believes Scripture to be inerrant.

Our Criminal Evangelical Silence by Conrad Mbwebe about “evangelicalism” in Zambia. [HT: Tim Challies]

This was encouraging to me: Tim Keller writes on why catechism is important. He and The Gospel Coalition are partnering to create New City Catechism. We’ve already downloaded the app, you can find it here.

An interview with Tim Keller on his new book, Center Church.

For anyone writing online please read The Bible for Bloggers by Bryan Chapell

I understand Paul Tripp’s struggle with anger, that was my stronghold sin. I have watched him and read him more closely over the last two years and I always walk away with a better understanding of God and a better understanding of myself as a saved sinner. Please consider his new book Dangerous Calling. It is written for pastors but anyone can benefit from Paul Tripp. He is a gift to the Church. You can view the book trailer and reviews here at Justin Taylor’s blog.

Here’s a good six minute video on promoting modesty for teenage daughters with Mary Mohler, Mindy Belz and Kathy Chapell

A wonderful little post by Staci Eastin, When a Mother Sins

A great new website for women, especially for those of us in the “afternoon” of life, 40 and older: Out of the Ordinary

A fourteen minute video on suffering with David Platt and David Matthis

The new Credo Magazine is on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Francis Schaeffer

An excellent post by Tim Challies, The Days I Need The Gospel Least

Intense and highly convicting, Dane Ortlund writes about resentment and bitterness The Psychology of Resentment

A short and realistic piece on how we moms need grace over at Domestic Kingdom, How to Load a Dishwasher by Faith

Tony Reinke did an interview with Kevin DeYoung about his new book, The Hole In Our Holiness: Filling the Gap Between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness I believe the entire interview has seven parts. They were all very good but I thought this one titled The Most Neglected Theme in Sanctification was the high point of the interview. In it DeYoung discusses the topic of our union in Christ which is something very dear to my heart. Please do your soul a favor and watch it and think about what he is saying, it’s only a little over five minutes. You can find the rest of the series at the bottom of the page.

Here is an older interview between David Matthis and Ray Ortlund also on Desiring God on The Doctrine of Union With Christ it’s a little over fourteen minutes. I highly recommend it.

Justin Taylor gives us a gold mine in this post Giving Historical Biographies to the Church where he has cataloged links to sermons and talks on just about everyone from Augustine and Athanasius to C.S. Lewis and just about everyone in between. A great tool, even for mature high school kids, on studying a figure from church history.

David Murray from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary has some courageous things to say about raising children in the faith at his blog Head Heart Hand, Presumptuous Or Optimistic Parenting?

I noticed that I haven’t done a Links and Thinks post for a while. So here goes:

An excellent article by Tim Keller and the connection between doctrine and ministry: Ministry in the Middle Space

A great article by Ben Roberts from Gospel Centered Discipleship on the impact of modern technology in our Christian life: Paul’s Email to Ephesus

Collin Hansen wrote this fantastic piece on moral authority: Authority in Weakness

Tim Challies has written an insightful, Biblical take on hospitality and inviting yourself over: Inconvenienced by Inconvenience

I really appreciate what Justin Taylor does in this post highlighting Carson, Gilbert and DeYoung in The Relationship Between “The Gospel of the Kingdom” and “The Gospel of the Cross” I think this is an important and worthwhile discussion to be having because I have seen a lot of people within the two emphases that tend to exalt their view and disparage the other. This can have a real effect on how the sheep view the gospel.

My husband and I watched and really appreciated Russell Moore on marriage. [HT: Justin Taylor]

I accidentally hit the “publish” button on Links and Thinks before linking to a great article Gloria Furman wrote for Desiring God, but I’m happy to give it a post all its own: What Every Husband Should Know About Stay-at-Home Moms

The Offense of Selfless Love

I’ve heard about the DVD series Dispatches from the Front for a while now but was holding off buying them. Here are a few posts concerning these videos: A Dangerous Set of DVD’s by Justin Taylor and See the Faces of Gospel Transformation Around the World. Westminster Books has them for an amazing price right now.

Here’s what two pastors/scholars that I respect have to say about Dispatches from the Front:

“Dispatches from the Front is a thoughtful, moving, understated, and ultimately convicting series of videos depicting the work of the gospel in some of the most challenging corners of the world. Far from glorying in celebrity missions, the stories in these videos depict the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, sometimes in the teeth of virulent opposition. Here are brothers and sisters in Christ who in God’s grace display faithfulness and transcendent joy, unflagging zeal to share the gospel, and an unfettered allegiance to King Jesus. To watch the kingdom advance in the teeth of these challenges is to learn humility and rekindle contrition, faith, and intercessory prayer.”
—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; President and Co-founder, The Gospel Coalition
“Beware of watching these Dispatches if you don’t like being moved and inspired and shaken out of the ruts of your life. My wife and I were riveted in watching the frontline reports of God’s work recorded in the Dispatches from the Front. This is the sort of information that builds faith in the present providence of God over his mission, and stirs up action for the sake of lost and hurting people near and far. I would love to see thousands of people mobilized as senders and goers for the sake of the glory of Christ and the relief of suffering on the frontiers, especially eternal suffering.”
—John Piper, author of Desiring God; Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

Good News vs. Good Advice, Tim Keller
Reason for Hope, Tim Keller

I love the book of Isaiah, and so I was very encouraged to read this interview Collin Hansen had with Alec Motyer concerning his new book Isaiah by the Day

I was encouraged by these from The Gospel Coalition:
The Page that Changed My Life: Burk Parson
The Page that Changed My Life: Collin Hansen

Al Barth at Redeemer City to City blog writes about the dangers of celebrity pastors, and  the good benefits to a congregation from raising many abled expository preachers versus having only one pastor.

The 9 Seasons Of A Church’s Life, by Mark Driscoll

Carl Trueman on how ecclesiology can eclipse and even replace the gospel, Thoughts On And Impending Conversion

Carl Trueman interviews J.I. Packer, what a blessing to watch that.

A good article over at GCD by Jonathan Dodson: What to Do With Prayerlessness

For those who are pregnant right now, here is A Pregnant Woman’s Defense Against the Schemes of the Devil by Gloria Furman. You can access the rest of the Mommy Wars series at the bottom of that page.

An older article by Tim Keller that has been published in different venues such as Campus Crusade for Christ, Christianity Today and Acts 29, The Gospel in All Its Forms.

I have two little boys and so I try to read as much as I can about boys and men to gain wisdom in parenting these little men that God gave me: Fake Love, Fake War: Why So Many Men Are Addicted to Internet Porn and Video Games by Russell Moore.

This was one of my favorite articles from last week: Jesus Also Had Unbelieving Family Members

Parental Discipline Without Provocation by Kevin DeYoung

Wendy Alsup has an encouraging post with a look at the long-view of parenting, Jesus’ Example for Parents

Domestic Kingdom is running a wonderful series on discipleship and young moms. The first two parts are here and here.

I highly recommend Competitive Mothering by Tim Challies.

On the more scholarly side: Seven Brief Thoughts on the Doctrine of Scripture

When I was in law school I was also heavily involved in conservative politics. After leaving to become a stay-at-home-mom, I did something which at the time I thought was good for my physical and mental health, I withdrew completely. I’ve come to see lately that this was probably not the best course of action, nor was it a good example to my children. So with that background I recommend this interview that Collin Hansen had with New York Times columnist Ross Douthat on how committed conscientious Christians can care about real issues (e.g. abortion, sex trafficking, environment) without falling prey to partisan politics, How to Be Political But Not Partisan

An excellent article, Far Too Easily Pleased, from Ken Meyers, here’s a taste:

‘Our culture stresses doing more than being, and the church follows its lead. Sermons typically stress what God can do for us, instead of preaching about who God is. This is often done with the good intention of making preaching “practical.” Of course, we need to put the Word into practice. But surely we need practice in being still and knowing that God is God. Without this discipline, we will almost certainly be tempted to use God.”