T4G Kindle deals
With T4G starting up on Tuesday and Christian Focus has put 10 books on sale:
- A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Papacy by Leonardo De Chirico—99¢
- Rebels Rescued by Brian Cosby—$1.99
- Mary of Orange: At the Mercy of Kings by Linda Finlayson—$1.99
- John Knox: The Sharpened Sword and John Calvin: After Lightness Dark by Catherine MacKenzie—$1.99 each
- Five Points by John Piper—$1.99
- John Knox by Steven Lawson—$1.99
- John Calvin by William Walker—$3.99
- Theodore Beza by Shawn D Wright—$3.99
- Presbytopia by Ken Golden—$3.99
Why International Adoptions by Americans Have Hit a 35-Year Low
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra:
While reasons for the steady decline are multiple and complex, 80 percent of the drop in American adoptions can be traced back to three countries: China, Russia, and Guatemala, according to the State Department.
3 Reasons Why Religious Liberty Laws Don’t Discriminate
Andrew Walker:
No small amount of baseless hype and hysteria has been promulgated by activist groups like the Human Rights Campaign and the ACLU as they’ve attempted to intimidate and shame their opponents into submission by appealing to such accusations.
One of the most ubiquitous phrases is that such bills are a “license to discriminate.” According to this line of thinking, it is invidiously discriminatory if a baker, florist, or photographer declines to use his or her creative talents in service of a same-sex wedding ceremony.
Safe Schools, Gender Non-Conformity, and Common Sense
Kevin DeYoung shares the letter he wrote to the Michigan State Board of Education about its Statement and Guidance on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Students.
Social Media, Reality TV, and Our Selective Sharing Problem
Chris Martin:
Reality TV is made not real because of the selectivity the producers have in its creation. It can still be fun—I was an American Idol and Survivor fan for years, but when you realize that the drama and the conflict and all of that is set up and not real, the genre loses a bit of its luster.
Are You a Self-Starter, But Not a Self-Finisher?
Eric McKiddie:
“Self-starter” is an identity that up-and-coming leaders seek. It means that you take initiative and responsibility without being asked or coerced. You see a problem and you jump on it. No one ever has to tell you what to do. You put on your Nikes and just do it.
But there can be a dark side to self-starters, which is when their interest in beginning new projects and their disinterest in finishing projects are equal.
Chili’s, Guacamole, and @JohnPiper
Tim Challies:
A few years ago I was at a conference to lead a breakout session and perhaps to do some writing about the event. There were a couple of keynote speakers there, John Piper among them, and they were carrying a much heavier load. If I remember correctly, the first day ended with an informal Q&A session held in the lobby rather than the main auditorium. Hundreds of us crowded into that lobby to eat dessert and to hear answers to interesting questions.
As the evening was coasting toward its conclusion, someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Would you like to get some guacamole with John Piper after we’re done here?” Now, if there is any rule governing this Reformed resurgence, it’s that when John Piper asks you out for guacamole, you cannot refuse. Sure enough, a few minutes later I found myself at a nearby Chili’s with Piper and a plate of guac.
