Here's a great article about same-sex attraction and the love of God.  https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/i-left-same-sex-romance-for-love

Here's a great article by Vaneetha Risner about John the Baptist and how one measures success in life.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/do-you-wish-you-had-accomplished-more

From Andrew Brunson -
“Let it be clear, I am in prison, not for anything I have done wrong, but because of who I am—a Christian pastor. I desperately miss my wife and children. Yet, I believe this to be true—it is an honor to suffer for Jesus Christ, as many have before me.”

“I know that God’s grace is sustaining me, even when I do not feel that grace, and I know that the prayers of God’s people are surrounding me and giving strength. One of my big fears has been that I will be forgotten in prison. Thank you for not forgetting! …It reminds me that I am not alone, and that I need to stand firm, with my face pointed in God’s direction always.”

Jesus is alive!

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-single-most-important-day-in-history

Great article!

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/did-god-write-the-story-you-didnt-want

Joy Villa is now glad she chose life!  Great op-ed about the value of human life:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/31/joy-villa-why-choose-life-over-abortion-incredible-journey-that-began-for-me-at-20.html

The Gospel ("Good News") - a life-and-death matter...
Great article from Greg Morse...

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/over-our-dead-bodies

Also, here is a great brief explanation of Christianity and the gospel of Jesus, from NFL player Benjamin Watson at the 2018 Superbowl breakfast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkfQuA0Y7II

Here are two great articles about waiting on God and finding our identity in Him.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/weakness-and-failure-will-build-your-faith

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/most-of-life-is-waiting

"I pray you experience the soul-crushing weight of guilt so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me—though I extend that to you as well..."
--- Rachael Denhollander, at Larry Nassar's trial this week

"If you have read the Bible you carry, you know the definition of sacrificial love portrayed is of God himself loving so sacrificially that he gave up everything to pay a penalty for the sin he did not commit. By his grace, I, too, choose to love this way."

Here are some more book reviews.  For earlier book reviews, see here.

Messy Journey, by Lori Wildenberg

This book is a collection of thoughts by a Christian mother, about parenting children who "go astray" from the way they were raised. Her daughter, who currently identifies as lesbian, currently has a good relationship with her mother and also contributed some parts of the book. The book shares anecdotes and discusses the importance of trying to keep the relationship going even when disagreements exist.  It talks about letting go of the urge to 'fix' one's child and surrendering the child to God.  It also has several other stories contributed by parents whose children are going through (or have gone through) various types of rebellion. This was an excellent book overall. I know many Christian parents whose children have wandered away from God, and I wish that all of them could read this book. The book does not provide "solutions" or "answers" per se, but encouragement for parents to know that they are not alone, and encouragement to keep trying, and true stories of parent-child relationships that have been restored. Recommended book.

Creation & Evolution: Compatible or in Conflict? by Jay Seegert

This is an excellent overview of the origins controversies, covering almost all of the related topics in a layman-focused, readable, general-audience fashion, with pictures and analogies. It covers both the scientific and Biblical arguments. It generally uses a presuppositional approach. For its audience, it explains things well (it does not go into deep depth in any area). This would be a great overview book to give someone.

Sing, by Keith and Kristyn Getty

This book is a discussion of congregational singing - its importance, the fact that God commands it, its benefits, how to do it, etc. It has some good points.

From Creation to Salvation: What Jesus and the New Testament authors believed about Genesis, by Lita Cosner

This book is basically a summary of the whole Bible, but with special emphasis on following the teaching about God's creation of the world, Adam/Eve, the Fall, Noah/Flood, etc (from Genesis 1-11) as it is developed and alluded to throughout the rest of the Bible. It has some good insights, but I was hoping for a more direct and powerful argument against the modern disdain for viewing Genesis historically that is often expressed in educated Christian circles. This book is almost closer to the "Stranger on the road to Emmaus" type of book or "One God One Message" type of book, rather than what its subtitle suggests. It is written in commentary style (semi-academic), with occasional sidebars of points about creation. I agree with all of the key doctrinal points it teaches, and most of the subpoints. It was not what I was expecting, but it still might be helpful for some people.

The Great Good Thing, by Andrew Klavan

He tells the story of his life, how he grew up in a Jewish family in New York City, became a writer, dealt with insanity and depression, then gradually over several decades (and therapy) came to a place of more happiness. Then, in the last 10 years, he came to believe in God, and then more specifically in Jesus the Christ. Beautiful book.

Zombie Science, by Jonathan Wells

This is a great book! He follows up on his 2000 book "Icons of Evolution", which pointed out supposed evidences for evolution used in biology textbooks which had already been discredited by scientists. In "Zombie Science", he shows that these are STILL being used 16 years later, and adds several more items. He discusses "vestigial" organs, whale evolution, Darwin's "Tree of Life", antibiotic resistance and cancer, and many other items. I was impressed with this book's balance and even-keeled tone. He never got 'preachy', just kept a smooth narrative running throughout the whole book. He believes in "Intelligent Design", (and an old earth), not creationism. But this book shows the extreme weakness of the evolutionary book. Well recommended!