The Christian Almanac by Grant & Wilbur

For my 2008 daily devotional reading, I'm reading through the New Kings James Version Bible, Henry & Richard Blackaby's Experiencing God Day by Day, and The Christian Almanac: A Dictionary of Days Celebrating History's Most Significant People and Events by George Grant and Gregory Wilbur.
I knew it would be interesting, most of George Grant's writings are to me, but I didn't realize how inspirational and encouraging The Christian Almanac would be. The back cover of my edition provides a great overview:

For each day of the year [it] provides a wide range of useful information:

• A time line of events that place that day
• An essay of about a person or relevant event in Christian history
• Suggested Scripture readings that allow a reader to complete the entire
  Bible in a single year.
• A memorable quote that enlightens each month's theme
• Acknowledgement of liturgical feast days and holidays where
  appropriate

The Lamb Led to the Slaughter

Greg Wilbur's blog for March 20, 2008, "Music for Good Friday," is certainly worth one's time to read as we enter what is traditionally known as Easter Weekend.

This Easter Sunday at 10:00 a.m. (CDST) at First Christian Church of Owensville (Indiana), the adult choir will be presenting The Power of the Cross by Marty Parks.

Hikin' & Bikin' Trousers

Once in a blue moon a guy receives a gift that he never would've bought for himself but is willing to in the future if he ever needs another one. Last Father's Day my adorable wife bought me a pair of pants for bicycling that I've become fond of also wearing for hiking or just taking it easy at home. They're tough as nails, lightweight, quick-drying, comfortable and, thanks to a "velcro" cuff adjuster, you can even adjust them to wear as knickers when you're riding a bike on a muggy, southwestern Indiana day in August. They're made in the USA and they come from the folks at Rivendell Bicycle Works.

2008 Presidential Campaign Religion

Marvin Olasky is one of my favorite writers. He is the editor-in-chief of World Magazine, provost of The King's College (New York City) and a professor at The University of Texas at Austin. His March 13 blog post, "Political religions", is an interesting observation of the use of religion in the 2008 Presidential Campaign and how journalists have reported this topic thus far this season.

You may view all of Olasky's World on the Web blogs at: http://www.worldontheweb.com/author/marvin-olasky/.

Timely Advice for Our Nation's Citizenry

"Let us keep before us the fact that, almost without exception, every race or nation that has ever got upon its feet has done so through struggle and trial and persecution; and that out of this very resistance to wrong, out of the struggle against odds, they have gained strength, self-confidence, and experience which they could not have gained in any other way."--Booker T. Washington

Another Encouraging National Preaching Summit

I just got back from my sixth National Preaching Summit. This year's speakers were three father and son "teams": Bob & Rusty Russell, Ken & Kyle Idleman and Jeff & Taylor Walling. It is held each March in Indianapolis and traditionally starts on a Monday at 1:00 p.m. and is over the next day around 11:30 a.m. Next year's Summit is scheduled for March 9-10. I highly encourage any preaching minister who wants to gain insight on the high calling of both preaching the Gospel and being a preacher. Here is the Summit's own description:

The National Preaching Summit is designed for those who have the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel. The Summit is not a "church growth conference," nor a "practical ministries" seminar. Our objective is to offer a first-class conference for church leaders dealing with the preaching event in a positive way, at an affordable cost. We seek to celebrate the joy of preaching, while enabling those who are called to preach to hone their skills.