This is a list of recent blog posts which I found interesting. That I found them interesting doesn’t mean I necessarily agree with or endorse all of the ideas presented in the posts, but that I found them to be intriguing and thought-provoking. They may benefit you as you prayerfully consider your area of shepherding and stewardship, which has been given to you in trust by the Lord. (They are listed in no particular order of interest.) Please post your comments to discuss  any article that strikes your interest. If you have recent blog posts to nominate, please send the link and your reasons for nominating that post to

No Better Critics:

One of the biggest discussions of our culture is the roles of men and women, specifically the concept of egalitarianism versus complimentarianism. Sure, women possess the intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual wherewithal to match men step for step, stride for stride. Sure, women can do everything men can do. But are they supposed to? Or did God have something else in mind?

“I’m a female veteran. I deployed to Anbar Province, Iraq. When I was active duty, I was 5’6, 130 pounds, and scored nearly perfect on my PFTs. I naturally have a lot more upper body strength than the average woman: not only can I do pull-ups, I can meet the male standard. I would love to have been in the infantry. And I still think it will be an unmitigated disaster to incorporate women into combat roles. I am not interested in risking men’s lives so I can live my selfish dream.”

(Meanwhile, Joe Carter has an excellent FAQ on the issue.)

Iran Sentences Pastor to 8 Years

Let us pray for him, and let us honor him with courage, faith, and conviction to match his own.

“An Iranian judge has sentenced an American Christian pastor to eight years in prison after he was tried for his religious beliefs, a U.S.-based religious group said Sunday.”

The Kings of Israel

Hey, I understand, believe me. It can be hard to keep the Kings all figured out in your mind. Print this out and pop it somewhere between Chronicles and Kings to have handy the next time Pastor Josh preaches on the divided monarchy! This infographic “illustrates the rulers of Israel, the years of their reign, how well they reigned and the passages in the Bible where their stories are told. The graphic also forms a subtle cross which is a picture of the earthy kingdom foreshadowing the coming King.”

Cut Off for 40 Years

Are they survivors? Yes. Could they have prepared for this better? Absolutely! Here's to the prepper movement! In 1978, Soviet geologists prospecting in the wilds of Siberia discovered a family of six, lost in the taiga for forty years. Smithsonian has a long article about a fascinating little snippet of history that illustrates the truth that we should plan for the future and be prepared for any and all contingencies!

Care for Your Congregation

Here is a good little article for pastors on ways to care for their congregation. But it might be a good read for you as you care for people in your church or Life Group. You could adapt this advice very easily in order to shepherd your close friends and family a bit better. It’s very practical counsel!

When Freedom Is Captivity

It is the theme of so many movies, so many novels, so many classroom presentations and political discourses: Freedom comes in pursuing your deepest desires, whatever those desires may be. Be true to yourself, be unashamed in who you are, and you will find joy and fulfillment. However, what looks like captivity is freedom, and what looks like freedom is captivity. We are terrible assessors of what brings the truest joy. It is a daily battle to take God at his word.

Everything is Moving Toward One Thing:

I think the same statistical principle applies in other areas of life that applies in the stock market. The question, then, isn’t so much about the individual data point. It’s more about the trend line. And the Bible has something to say about that.