Your Best Links Now – 1/30/14

Beware the New Affluenza by Ed Welch

“Absent from [lists] of harmful influences [have] been wealth and privilege. Then along comes affluenza and we wonder if the apocalypse is right around the corner. Each alleged cause of bad behavior seems to subtract another piece of personal responsibility, and without moral culpability, we become an infantile people.”

Ask Pastor John: Why is Jesus My Advocate if I’m Already Justified?

If our sins are already atoned for by Christ, why does the Bible say he is still interceding and advocating for us in heaven?

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is Playing for Nick Magnotti

Nick’s testimony has officially gone viral. Some backstory here. Our church has been paying for Nick and his family for the last year or so as Nick’s cousin Kathryn is one of our members.



New Zealand School Ditched Its Playground Rules and Kids Got Safer and Bullying Disappeared

“Chaos may reign at Swanson Primary School with children climbing trees, riding skateboards and playing bullrush during playtime, but surprisingly the students don’t cause bedlam, the principal says. The school is actually seeing a drop in bullying, serious injuries and vandalism, while concentration levels in class are increasing.”

This is Not a Success Story by Shaun Groves

“Compassion International successfully releases children from poverty in twenty-six countries around the world. But it’s not working all that well for this family. Theirs is not a success story . . .”

First Lines from Bestselling Christian Books

Karen Ball has a quiz for you over at Steve Laube’s blog.

Shoot Christians Say

Already a classic.