The importance of families for both Church & State

We must have a special eye upon families, to see that they are well ordered, and the duties of each relation performed. The life of religion, and the welfare and glory of both the Church and the State, depend much on family government and duty. If we suffer the neglect of this, we shall undo all... If any good be begun by the ministry in any soul, a careless, prayerless, worldly family is like to stifle it, or very much hinder it; whereas if you could get but the rulers of families to do their duty, to take upon the work where you left it, and help it on, what abundance of good might be done!

– Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor, (Banner of Truth, 2005) p.100

Surprisingly, this is not something that I heard much of while at seminary but reflecting on some of the situations I've seen in the parish, I see much wisdom and truth in what Baxter says here.

How Christianity overcomes terrorism

Only a joyous people can sustain pointless activity, festivity, and rest. Only a people who can sustain pointless activity, festivity, and rest can be joyous. And only a joyous people can finally resist the culture of death, because only through the embrace of pointless activity and the repose in finite forms can we resist this culture’s evacuation of substance.

In simple words, without Christ, we are without God and without hope in this world. One vivid illustration and outworking of this, is the grotesque Islamic terrorism we are currently witnessing in the Middle East. Now, because I know that's not entirely convincing on it's own, here is a very well-read & extremely clever chap saying the same things. Read him here

8 tips for talking about sex with your kids

Super fantastic article here. And yes those superlatives are justified. Here are the 8 points in brief:

1) Don't have "the talk"

2) Partly be proactive, partly be responsive

3) Sometimes it's good to ask them why the want to know something

4) Mechanics aren't the hard part. Neither is the emotional part. Transmitting your morals is.

5) Love your spouse. View sex as a blessing.

6) Note how you talk about babies. NOT LIKE OBAMA

7) Be positive about sex

8) Consider whether your own confusion is the cause of your own troubles

Can't tell you how many aha moments I had reading the full article - check it out here. As for dealing with kiplings, me thinks I'm ready J

Overcoming boredom in young boys

Next time a lad you know complains of boredom with their school-work (or some such) remember this anecdote from a former American president John Adam, and then seek to apply it (appropriately) to their situation. 

As a boy, John Adams found the study of Latin to be boring and grew to hate it. He went to his father to see if there was not something else he could do instead. Deacon John, who had been a labourer, told his son, ‘You might try ditching; my meadow yonder needs a ditch.’ So young John went about the task of digging the ditch and soon found it to be arduous work. By the end of the day, he was ready to return to the study of Latin; but being too proud to admit it, he spent one more day in digging the ditch before admitting he preferred the study of Latin. Adams said ‘toil conquered my pride’ and ever after claimed ‘ditching’ had played an important part in building his character.” 

– Paul Boller, Presidential Anecdotes.

Why pastors should have a library

Because...  “A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

- Cicero (106-43 BC)

Abortion breast cancer link

This from Dr Joel Brind, a research biochemist and biology professor in the US:

To those of us who have been studying the Abortion Breast Cancer (ABC) link for years, the growing breast cancer epidemic in communist China was an entirely predictable result of the "one-child policy". But the aggressive promotion of abortion has hardly been limited to China, and a veritable tsunami of peer-reviewed, published reports of the predictable epidemic elsewhere is starting to surface from all over Asia. In South Asia alone, at least a dozen studies have appeared (that I know about) just since 2008: nine in India and one each in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Read the full thing here

Next time you're stressed on London transport!

Remember the joys of travel that exist elsewhere such as these pics showing the all new/happening form of public transport in Kenya! Helmet + full body kevlar armour optional!