5 Benefits Drawn Out from Sorrow: Zach Eswine draws out some sweet comforts from the sympathy of our Lord Jesus.

iPhones are pro-life: Gene Veith notes a curious feature on the new iPhone operating system.

The Elf who stole Christmas: Gene Veith slaps around the increasingly popular Elf on the Shelf…and it’s high time someone did!

We want what God’s people have always wanted:
•    We want God to bless us that we might be a blessing.
•    We long to see sinners saved by God’s free grace.
•    We aim to raise up pastors and missionaries to serve near and far.
•    We want to see neighborhoods and apartments converted.
•    We want the stony hears of teenagers and children, and of colleagues and neighbors, to be turned to flesh.
•    We want a church where the good news of justification by faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone to the glory of God alone is preached boldly and gladly to as many as the Lord brings.
•    We want children nurtured in the word of God.
•    We want to make disciples and teach them to obey all that Christ has commanded.
•    We want to shepherd wisely and faithfully the flock that God has entrusted to us.
•    We want to cultivate a caring, loving communion of saints that use their gifts to build up the body and fan out into our community to promote Christ in word and deed.
•    We want to keep doing the things we do well, and grow in the things we can do better, all to the glory of God, by the power of the Spirit, for the joy of all peoples.
•    We want to help one another know Christ, serve Christ, tell of Christ, and live for Christ.

Recently a firefighter in our church was told by one of his colleagues that belief in Jesus was for weak people. I found that ironic coming from a firefighter.

I have a fire hydrant in our side yard. I have never looked at the fire hydrant and felt any shame. I drive by a firehouse every day. I never think, “If this community didn’t have weak people than we would never need firehouses.” Every month when I pay my property taxes, which go towards financing fire departments, I never get angry at myself, thinking, “if I could just handle fire myself I wouldn’t have to write this check.”

Imagine a person whose house is on fire. The fire is raging out of control and the fire truck pulls up, sirens blaring. The person runs out of his house in a rage and says, “How dare you come to my house and think that I can’t handle this fire myself! Firefighters are for weak people, not for me.”

What would you think of someone like that? Insane.

We know that fire departments are for “weak” people because a power exists that we simply can’t deal with on our own: fire. Actually, we admire firefighters because they are people who have committed themselves to take on the power of fire at personal expense.

Christians are weak in the same sense that a community is “weak” for having fire departments. They are people who acknowledge that a power exists that they can’t confront and live — the holiness of God. This, however, is not cause for shame, because there was one man who dealt with that power at personal expense, on a cross. And, as every firefighter can admit, when someone is rescued from the flames, they’re not thinking about their weakness; they’re overjoyed that someone would risk it all to save them.

Original post here.

Below is a good ten-minute overview of his life and ministry:

For biographies, see the following from Iain Murray, his official biographer and former assistant:

• D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The First Forty Years 1899-1939
• D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Fight of Faith 1939-1981
• Lloyd-Jones: Messenger of Grace

You can hear The Doctor preach online for free at Martyn Lloyd-Jones Recording Trust.

See their Easter videos here.

I am thankful for First Presbyterian Church–a congregation…

• which loves the Word of God and values sound doctrine and expository preaching,
• which has such a keen interest in blessing the whole world with the good news of Jesus Christ,
• which is willing to let its leaders lead,
• which is willing to let its leaders alter vehicles of ministry without too much fuss,
• which has so many people who regularly remind me that they are praying for me,
• which weeps with those who weep and rejoices with those who rejoice,
• which expresses its love for little ones and our community through its children’s ministry, Preschool, and Presbyterian Day School,
• whose deacons work really hard,
• whose elders genuinely want to see people converted and nurtured in the Christian faith,
• which pays me generously so that I can preach, lead and serve without worrying about how to make ends meet, and
• which doesn’t mind having fun along the way.

I am thankful to God that you let me be your pastor.

1. How do we know God exists?
2. How can God allow suffering and evil in the world?
3. How can God be loving and still send people to hell?

These videos are part of an excellent series called A Passion for Life.

HT: Justin Taylor’s blog at The Gospel Coalition

The origin of this international prayer network came about as a group of Christian leaders were praying during a meeting in the Middle East in April 1992. God put a burden on the hearts of these men and women to call as many Christians as possible to pray for the Muslim world. The annual, worldwide, 30-Days Muslim prayer focus gives Christians the opportunity to learn about Islam and pray for Muslims during Ramadan (Islam’s important annual month of fasting and religious observance).

Each year a new prayer guide booklet is published in a number of languages and locations around the world. The booklet is illustrated and contains daily readings with prayer points and informative background articles focusing on the Muslim world. Check out the site’s resources and join in praying for light of Christ to shine into darkness of Islam.

After hosting more than 17,000 volunteers since hurricane Katrina, Lagniappe Church has moved from relief to development. According to Pastor Jean Larroux, “Lagniappe embarks on exciting transition….Over 20 new homes….over 400 rebuilds/rehabs….more sheds than we could count….and nearly 17,000 volunteers- God has done wonderful things in Bay St. Louis. God is doing something else wonderful now! I As I have told hundreds of volunteer teams, ‘Lagniappe is NOT a construction company, we ARE a church.’ That truth has never been more evident.” You would think that after participating in relief work for almost four years Curt would be ready to move on like an evacuee away from the path of an approaching storm, however that’s not the case. These years of service have provided Curt with a renewed desire to move toward the brokenness and need of individuals with the love of Christ. “The Church has become relevant for many non-believers,” says Curt. “When the declaration of the love of God is wed with the demonstration of that same love it is a powerful apologetic. Many people have come to know Christ as a result of their experience with suffering and loss. It provides an incredible bridge for the Gospel. I look forward to serving in a region with such profound need and opportunity.”

On a related note, MNA Disaster Relief offers summer internships on the Gulf Coast. You college students out there, think about this.