Book Review – The Jesus Storybook Bible
December 7, 2010It used to be that finding the best children’s Bible was hard, because there are so many wonderful and good ones on the market. But that’s no longer the case, since Sally Lloyd Jones released, The Jesus Storybook Bible. This book has been highly recommended. I first heard of it on Josh Harris’ blog. So a few months ago, my wife and I bought a copy for our children. Immediately I realized why many pastors and theologians recommended it. It’s simply brilliant. What I love about The Jesus Storybook Bible is how Sally Lloyd Jones weaves the message of Jesus…
Continue ReadingConnecting to God – in the 21st Century
December 6, 2010Starting today, every Monday, I plan on posting a key quote from my upcoming book, iFaith. Today, I’m posting a quote from the intro, where I talk about the premise for the book, which is to examine how my generation, who has always experienced life at warped speed, can relate to God: We’re members of the always-connected generation, weaned on warped speed, raised on instant: Instant formula. Disposable diapers. Satellite TV. GPS navigation. Online check-in. In my three decades or so on this earth, life has moved from high-speed to warp speed. We email, IM, Facebook and Twitter. We text,…
Continue ReadingFriday Five – Tim Challies
December 3, 2010Today, I’m honored to chat with Tim Challies, who really needs no introduction. Tim maintains the blog, challies.com, one of the most widely read evangelical blogs. Tim is a voracious reader, whose book reviews have helped shape evangelical thought. He’s the author of The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment and Sexual Detox along with the forthcoming The Next Story (April 2011). He blogs every day at www.challies.com. Tim also worships and serve at Grace Fellowship Church and edit Discerning Reader. He is also the cofounder of a new publishing venture, Cruciform Press. Tim is also a web designer and conference speaker.
Continue ReadingChristians and the War on Christmas
December 1, 2010Thanksgiving was last week, which means we’re two weeks into the Christmas season. Feels like we’re starting Christmas sooner and sooner aren’t we? I think next year everyone will just dress up like Santa at Halloween and start in October. Count me as someone who loves the Christmas season. I just love that in 2010, in a world messed up by evil, sin, and violence, we still stop to mark a holiday that celebrates the incarnation of Jesus Christ into the world. There are certain things we can expect during the Christmas season. Every other neighbor having better decorations. Tins…
Continue ReadingFriday Five – Jackie Kendall
November 26, 2010Today, my good friend, Jackie Kendall stops by to chat. Here is the reason I like Jackie: My wife, Angela, read Jackie’s best-selling book Lady in Waiting, while she was a single girl in Bible college. Angela says that this really prepared her for life. Angela is a super mom and wife, so I have to credit Jackie for some of that! Since then, I’ve become friends with Jackie. We happen to share the same publishing house, New Hope Publishers. She also endorsed my first book, Teen People of the Bible. Her endorsement helped put my proposal over the top.…
Continue ReadingResetting our Gratitude Meter
November 21, 2010Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 What are you thankful for? We gather, every year at this time, to reflect on the blessings of God over the past year. But in most families, Thanksgiving is less about real gratitude and me about stuffing your face, watching football,…
Continue ReadingFriday Five Interview – Dannah Gresh
November 19, 2010Today, it’s a great privilege to interview my good friend, Dannah Gresh. I’ve long admired Dannah’s life-changing ministry, Pure Freedom, to young girls both inside and outside the church. Dannah Gresh is known for the bestselling And the Bride Wore White and the Secret Keeper series. She is the founder of Pure Freedom ministries. Dannah is a frequent guest on national radio and television programs such as Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and Canada’s Huntley Street. She has also been a featured contributor to magazines including Today’s Christian Woman and Brio.
Continue ReadingOn Criticism
November 17, 2010One of the hardest things for a Christian to do is accept criticism. I should know, because I typically flinch at criticism. Immediately my defenses go up and I’m ready to lash out at the critics. But this is always the wrong approach. After all, we’re Christians and we should be, as James 1:19 instructs, swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Even the most biting criticism has an element of truth that can help. I think this is especially true for those in levels of leadership. I wanted to share a few points about criticism and leadership…
Continue ReadingYoung and Young Earth
November 16, 2010If you’re a thinking, young evangelical, it is just assumed that you’re not a young-earth creationist. Young earthers believe that the account in Genesis is not allegory, nor do they believe that each day represents a time period. They believe six days mean six days. But, I’m thirty-two, grew up in the church, and guess what? I’m still a young-earth creationist. And I felt compelled to write this post, because young-earthers are getting beat up and bloodied in the evangelical world. So I thought I’d clear up a few myths that more progressive evangelicals have of young earth creationists.
Continue ReadingThe I’m Okay Syndrome
November 15, 2010I wanted to post my Crosswalk.com article here. It reflects some of the material that I’m working on for a future book on 2nd Generation Christians: Growing up in a Christian school, I loved having a few bad kids around. Not because I hung out with them or did what they did. I was too spiritual for that. I loved the bad kids, because they made me look good by comparison. When someone get’s caught smoking, watching a forbidden movie, or getting too close to his girlfriend, it was a great opportunity for me to stick out my chest a…
Continue ReadingFriday Five Interview – Pete Wilson
November 12, 2010Today on the blog I have the privilege to interview popular pastor and author, Pete Wilson. Pete Wilson is the founding and senior pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. This is the second church he has planted in the last seven years. His first church, Morgantown Community Church, was planted just weeks after graduating from college. Pete graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in communications and then attended seminary at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Pete’s desire is to see churches become radically devoted to Christ, irrevocably committed to one another, and relentlessly dedicated to reaching…
Continue ReadingEndorsements for iFaith
November 8, 2010Endorsements for iFaith, Connecting to God in the 21st Century I’m humbled that these great men and women of God have lent their endorsement to my forthcoming book, iFaith: “Daniel Darling is a serious young man of faith, worthy of a careful reading.” Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author of 175 books, including the 700,000,000 selling Left Behind series. “If you’ve ever wondered where prayer fits in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing digital world, iFaith has the answer. Using phrases common to Facebook, iPhone and instant messaging, Daniel Darling shows us how practical prayer can be in the 21st-century. Reading this book can reboot…
Continue ReadingUnsolicited Advice for the New House Majority
November 4, 2010photo © 2009 republicanconference | more info(via: Wylio) So, another election and this time, the Republicans are the victors. And many evangelicals are doing happy dances all across the country, mainly because this was more of a conservative victory than a Republican one. The question now becomes, what do we do now? Campaigning is more fun and much easier than governing. Now the hard part, the real work begins. Nobody in new speaker, John Boehner’s office is soliciting my advice, nor should they. But, if they were, this is what I would tell the new Republican leadership: 1) Lead firmly,…
Continue ReadingHalloween
October 30, 2010Growing up in Christianity, we’ve always had an uneasy relationship with Halloween. Our family never took the extreme position of declaring it totally off limits and “the devil’s holiday.” We typically handed out tracts and candy to kids who came by. On the other hand, my parents felt that “trick-or-treating” was something they’d rather not have us do. I think we did it a few years and then we stopped. Some of our friends did it and we didn’t consider them carnal, Jesus-indifferent heathens. We just didn’t do it and honestly I don’t sit here wishing I had the chance…
Continue ReadingFriday Five Interview – Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner
October 29, 2010Today I’m highly honored to have two distinguished men stop by the blog for this very special Friday Five interview. We’re less than two weeks before the midterm elections and so thoughtful people of faith on both sides of the political divide will go to the polls and help shape their government. So I thought I’d bring a little perspective to bear from two men who have been in the arena. Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner are both veterans of Washington, D.C. and most recently the Bush White House. They recently released a fantastic new book, City of Man, published…
Continue ReadingEveryone Should Podcast
October 29, 2010If you’re living in the 21st century, and you’re not constantly learning, its not because you can’t afford it, it’s because you’re choosing not too. Here is a big reason why: Podcasting. Everyone should podcast. What I mean is that everyone should redeem their iPhones and iPods and iPads for the Kingdom by utilizing one of the great untold gems of this age. What is a podcast? It’s simply audio that broadcasters post in iTunes and other networks that allows others to download it for free when it is available. Most people use iTunes. So what you do is you…
Continue ReadingRod Mattoon on the Sovereignty of God in Salvation
October 22, 2010One of my favorite contemporary commentators is Pastor Rod Mattoon. His works are featured in Wordsearch Bible Software. Also on his website: Treasures from the Word. He’s a Baptist preacher in Springfield, IL and his commentaries are among the most well-researched, thorough and organized. He’s also a fabulous writer. Here is a gem from his commentary on John 17. I’m quoting it on Sunday in my message: Long before the first Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, the second Adam, Jesus, was preparing for the cross of Calvary. Before the stars sparkled like white diamonds against the black velvet…
Continue ReadingFriday Five Interview: Dallas Jenkins
October 22, 2010I’m delighted to invite Dallas Jenkins to the blog today for The Friday Five. Dallas is a producer and director with Jenkins Entertainment. He is the son of bestselling author, Jerry Jenkins. Dallas Jenkins produced the $2 million independent “Hometown Legend” at the age of 25, ultimately guiding it to Warner Brothers for distribution. Dallas made his directing debut with the short film “Cliché,” which “FilmThreat.com” called “Fast and funny…ingenious,” and his next short film, “Midnight Clear“, starring Stephen Baldwin, won a Crystal Heart Award from the Heartland Film Festival and was the opening night selection of the San Diego…
Continue ReadingA Christian’s Engagement with Politics
October 19, 2010Collin Hansen of the Gospel Coalition interviews Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner about their new book, City of Man, published by Moody Publishers. I reviewed that book here. This is a rich conversation about the intersection of Christianity and politics: City of Man: A Conversation with Michael Gerson and Pete Wehner from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.
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