Podcast: The new season of Word Matters has begun, in which Brandon Smith and I discuss the meaning of challenging or controversial Bible texts. We’ve launched a new website that contains all of our previous episodes. The third season premiere deals with the question: “Why did Jesus say that those who mourn are blessed?”
Kindle Deal: The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper by Thomas Watson. $0.99.
Seven of the best articles I came across this week:
1. Rukmini Callimachi – The ISIS Files. Journalists unearthed thousands of internal documents that help explain how the Islamic State stayed in power so long.
2. Mindy Belz – Starting from Zero. Iraq’s Nineveh churches are retaking their towns from years of ISIS control, without guarantees of money, safety, or a future.
3. Ross Douthat – Among the Abortion Extremists. Not-to-be-missed article from Douthat about Kevin Williamson’s firing by The Atlantic.
4. Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra – How One Baptist Church Has 7 Times More Missionaries Than Anyone Else. Praise God for what He is doing through The Summit Church!
5. Morgan Lee – China Bans Bibles from Online Sellers Like Amazon. As atheist government pledges to promote “Chinese-style Christianity and theology,” changes at JD.com, Taobao, and Dang Dang may revive debate over Bible access.
6. Jessica Gresko – Writing, Speaking, Meatball Subs: Justice Neil Gorsuch’s First Year. See also this interesting comparison of Gorsuch’s first year to the other justices. This analysis puts him in Scalia’s place.
7. Chris Martin – Mr. Zuckerburg Goes to Washington: 7 Observations and Thoughts. Chris Martin lends his social media expertise to analysis of the Facebook controversy over privacy and data.