Grab bag

Recently seen around the Internet that I found interesting:

• I might tweak some of his counsel at the end to be a little more Biblical, but I agree with his observation that “Busyness is the new spirituality.”
• Nine Marks produces an e-Journal every two months that is always helpful and thought-provoking.  This month the theme is “Hell:  Remembering the Awful Reality.”
• Many years ago I read about a pastor who made a commitment to never pastor a church larger than 300 people because that was about as many names and lives he could know.  Carl Trueman offers a blog post, “Life Together — or Maybe Not” that echoes the same theme.
• There are many good (and very similar) answers to the question, “What’s the Key to Healthy Christian Growth in Godliness?”
• Tim Challies offered some insightful Labor Day thoughts on our calling to “Protect the Dignity of Work.”
• Carl Trueman, echoing the above thoughts on busyness, suggests there is a “virtue of wasting time.” I think he’s on  to something.
• There are many idols that compete for the attention of our souls.  Tim Challies suggests that communication can be an idol.
• A couple helpful posts from Justin Taylor:  “To Serve is to Suffer,” and “Is You Church a Safe Place for Sad People?” His post on suffering echoes a sermon I listened to this morning by Mark Talbot — “Redemptive Curveballs” (or try this link). It’s an excellent sermon that I keep in my “favorite sermons” file so I can listen to it periodically.