This 'n' That

Japanese Macaque

It seems I'm a bit short on wit and thoughts worth pondering for a Friday morning. I composed several of these 'monologues' in my head before sitting down to actually type it out, and for whatever reason none of them seem worthy of being elevated to This 'n' That intro status. So I'll take a cue from Proverbs and assume that to refrain from many words today may be an exercise in wisdom.

I do, however, have another lengthy list of links (how's that for alliteration?) for you today. If you live in the Midwest, there's a good chance you're home bound after yesterday's winter storm, so you have no excuse not to read every single link. And if you live in New England and are preparing for the coming onslaught of yet more snow, well, you can save this post and peruse it over the weekend. It'll help you recover from shoveling all of that snow. So, as is the custom around here, pour yourself a piping hot cup of tea or coffee, sit back and enjoy your week in review (kind of):

• No more need for wallets?

• Beginning next week, the Grace to You blog will be running a timely critique of the Roman Catholic Church.

• Sobering thoughts about the Word-less so-called 'church'.

• Tim Tebow is being vague about why he canceled an upcoming speaking engagement at the church of Robert Jeffress.

• Trueman tosses in his two-cents on Tebow.

• Answers in Genesis offers infallible proofs of the resurrection of Christ.

• I've not seen the extremely controversial and blasphemous Saturday Night Live skit that everyone has been talking about all week. I'm pretty confident that I don't want to, nor do I need to see it in order to condemn it.

• Hey, look. Wiccan inmates in California can now sue the state so that they may gain their own chaplain.

• I really hope these parents win this lawsuit. Yoga is becoming more and more prevalent in our public schools, and it is a dangerous thing!

• It is not the best of economic times. Unless you're a megachurch.

• Kevin DeYoung thinks pastors should read over their heads. I'd say that laypeople should too.

• World Magazine continues the conversation surrounding David Barton's book, The Jefferson Lies. Dr. Gregg Frazer of The Master's College weighs in with some of his thoughts.

• Massachusetts public schools must now allow so-called 'transgender' students to use whichever bathroom they would like. Oh yes, this seems like a totally fool-proof plan.

• Benny Hinn's son was detained for allegedly assaulting a man at a recent Hinn crusade in Brazil. Must be an unfortunate side-effect of this.

• This is God's handwriting!

• The Unification Church recently held its first mass wedding ceremony since the death of the cult's founder and self-proclaimed messiah.

• If you're not reading Michael J. Kruger's series on the New Testament canon, you should be.

• Here's a teaching from pastor Jon Cardwell on Romans 1:26, 27.

• A lot of people have jumped on the organic bandwagon, but does natural necessarily equal better?

• Pay attention to this German homeschool case.

• A Chinese pastor is suing police after being arrested for singing hymns and being accused of "harming the social order."

• Is Dispensationalism "goofy"? This article is a good read.

• Drum roll please...Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt have started a podcast. If you're thinking to yourself that you already listen to too many podcasts, then may I suggest that it's time to rearrange your podcast priorities? "The Mortification of Spin" is only a bi-weekly bit, so I think you can squeeze it in. 

• Here's Phil Johnson navigating the busy streets of Vietnam on a scooter.

• S. Lewis Johnson on women teaching outside of the church.

• The Cripplegate ran a fantastic 3-part series this week entitled, "Why Reformed Pastors Need Not Be Charismatic." It was a refutation to a recent talk given at the Desiring God conference by pastor Tope Koleoso. Start here at Part 1. Then go here, then here.

• Here's your weekly dose of adorable.

• That brings me to my new favorite Twitter account: Fascinating Pictures. They're responsible for the cute pic above of a Japanese macaque. If you're on Twitter, you'll love following this account.

• Paul Washer on Sunday schools that create false converts. Can anyone else totally identify with what he's saying here?

• Please be a joke. Please be a joke. Please be a joke!

• Thoughts on the insanity and absurdity of sending women into combat.

• Here's a good reason to avoid online dating sites, "Christian" or otherwise.

• B.B. Warfield on Calvinism.

• John MacArthur shares a biblical perspective on the doctrine of election.

• It was big news this week that Justin Bieber endorsed Judah Smith's new book. Just so we have this in writing, if I ever write a book (not that I plan to) and Justin Bieber endorses it, do not let me write anything else ever. Are we clear? Good.

• Dr. Steve Lawson on the Five Solas of the Reformation: