Category: Links

Links for the Weekend (2025-08-22)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

Don’t Misread Proverbs

Jen Wilkin offers us some helpful tips on reading the book of Proverbs.

In our therapeutic, self-help age, we may be tempted to reduce it to a reference book for successful living. But by correcting a few simple misconceptions, we can access the poetry and richness (and yes, usefulness!) the book has to offer. Here are three guidelines to shift our perspective for a better reading.

Inner Experience as the Ultimate Sexual Authority

So many in our age use their inner experience to dictate their sexual ethics. Alan Noble offers a corrective.

What I was taught by the world was that my feelings were supreme. That love is over all. That love is an internal emotional that no one can challenge and is defined by the individual. That who you were attracted to and what you desired and who you loved were intimately tied to your identity which was and is profoundly sacred. I was taught all this by a thousand songs, a million movies, and a billion TV shows. Whatever my heart desired, my heart desired. End of story.

The Gamblers

Our poem of the week: The Gamblers, by Zina Gomez-Liss. This poem is about aging, family, and pastimes.

On the WPCA Blog This Week

This week on the blog we published an article I wrote called Training That Only Grace Provides. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out!

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-08-15)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

6 Implications of Being Made in the Image of God

Here’s a short article at Crossway on some brief but profound implications of being made in the image of God.

The image of God means that all human beings have inherent worth and dignity. This is one reason abortion is wrong. A person is a person no matter how small, no matter her development, no matter his environment, and no matter her degree of dependence on another human being. Innocent human life must be protected, even when that life is old or sick, even when the person wants to end his own life. Because every human being is made in God’s image, descended from the same human pair, there is no place for racism, partiality, or feelings of ethnic superiority.

A Biblical Message for Aging Parents

This topic is necessary, though it may not be pleasant. Christians should think of (and plan for) the ways they will care for their parents as they age. (Aging parents should think about the ways they will be cared for, too.) This article offers some practical advice.

Aging parents must speak with their children about their expectations and plans for their sunset years. This includes discussing living arrangements, medical care, financial matters, and emotional needs. These conversations are not just practical—they are deeply spiritual and relational. Scripture calls us to live wisely and lovingly, and that includes preparing for the inevitable transitions of aging.

It is Finished

Our poem of the week: It is Finished, by Tania Runyon. This poem, written from the perspective of Jesus, urges readers to remember that his sacrifice is enough.

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-08-08)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

How Can We Help Our Kids Grow in Grace?

Andrea Hoglund emphasizes God’s role in our children’s growth in grace, and she advises parents to “bring them near” and “give them support.”

As parents, we raise little apple trees, souls that bear fruit only with time and patience. Yet how often do we, unlike the farmer, expect to find mature fruit too early as we scrutinize our children for signs of spiritual growth? For all our efforts to train our children well — opening God’s word, bowing in prayer, and worshiping with God’s people — we often find something is missing in the middle of it all: peace of mind.

Want to Grow in Wisdom? You Need Gospel Friends.

Courtney Doctor describes what she means by “gospel friends” and encourages us to seek out friends like this.

Think about whom you most often ask for advice. Do you have a group of friends you go to? Do you scroll social media to see what the “experts” say on any given topic? Do you ask your neighbor, mom, or aunt? What voices have the greatest influence in your life? To faithfully navigate the Christian life, we need more than good advice. We need gospel friends who help us walk in wisdom.

When God’s Promises Feel Untrue

Esther Liu offers some advice for when we read God’s promises in Scripture and they don’t feel true.

How many times have we read a passage of Scripture and had no idea how to make sense of it—not because it was hard to understand theologically or the language was confusing—but because it seemed to directly contradict our life circumstances? It left us wondering, “Does God keep his promises?”

On the WPCA Blog This Week

This week on the blog we published an article I wrote called Contentment Doesn’t Come Through Comparison. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out!

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-08-01)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

A Christian Vision for Exercise

David Mathis has recently published a book on a theology of exercise, so this article represents some of the fruit from that project. I found all of these helpful and thought-provoking.

God made us remarkably flexible as humans. We are the kind of creatures who think and feel, and also move and act. Unlike other creatures, God made us for contemplation and for exertion, for pausing to ponder and for then acting in the world to accomplish tasks.

God designed us for rhythms of life: not always being on the go, not always being on the stay. We glorify God by reflecting on him and rejoicing in him and representing him in the world. We meditate and move. Typical human life includes both. God made us to be thoughtful and fruitful, to experience emotions and take up agency in the world.

That Bible Verse Is Not About Immigration

A few politicians have used Bible verses in recent public comments, but (surprise!) they have not always used these verses well! Here’s an article explaining why we need to read the Bible in context.

Christian publishing, much of Christian music, and maybe the majority of Bible studies are afflicted with this same bad habit. Christian bookstores are full of “Bible promise” titles filled with de-contextualized verses meant to directly apply to the reader. But how many books of Bible curses are there, though the Bible includes those, too? How many Americans, in the habit of “verse plucking,” gladly claim Deuteronomy 28’s national blessings, but don’t read on about the national curses for disobedience that directly follow? How many Bible studies ask the question, “What does this verse mean to you” before truly wrestling with, “What does this verse mean?” 

Expecting Peace When There is No Peace

Alan Noble has written a thoughtful article about the teaching that we need to feel a sense of peace in order to be right with God.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times in my life I have gone astray by listening to my feelings of anxiety and distress and assuming that they were signs from God that I was not at peace with God. It’s taken me many years to begin to internalize the reality that I am always already at peace with God, because he has made peace with me when his Son died on the cross for my sins. Yes, there are daily opportunities for repentance, but I remain justified, redeemed, and loved even in my sin.

Thanks to Cliff L for his help this week in assembling the links!

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-07-25)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

You Don’t Need Another Prayer Technique

Cassie Watson writes about her use of techniques in an effort to grow in prayer. And she explains why “humble dependence” was much more helpful than techniques.

Jesus also encourages us to imitate the persistent widow (Luke 18:1–8). What kept her coming repeatedly to the judge for help was that she was desperate. She knew she was powerless to resolve the situation on her own, and she knew who did have the power. Jesus wants us to come to our Father with this kind of desperate dependence because we know his character. We can humble ourselves under God’s hand and bring our anxieties to him who cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).

How can I care for my elderly parents without burning out?

Here’s an answer to this question in video form (a transcript is also available). This should be helpful for all caregivers, regardless of the age of those being cared for.

First and foremost, remember that you are a finite human being. You may be exercising sacrificial love, but you do it as a person with limitations of your own. Sometimes caregiver burnout—that is, running low on the spiritual, relational, and physical resources that fuel daily life—sometimes that happens because we somehow think we can and must transcend our finiteness. But God calls you to serve others in deep dependence on him with an awareness of your finiteness. You are not the Messiah, nor am I. But we do draw our strength from the One who is the risen Lord and Savior.

Our First Sandcastle

Our poem of the week: Our First Sandcastle, by Tom Busillo. This sonnet is about an encounter on a beach, with a heartbreaking final line.

On the WPCA Blog This Week

This week on the blog we published an article I wrote called How to Abound in Hope. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out!

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-07-18)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

‘Oh How I Love Your Law’ My Tribute to John MacArthur (1939–2025)

Long-time Bible teacher John MacArthur died earlier this week. I suspect many in our church have been influenced by his teaching. This article is John Piper’s tribute to MacArthur.

The Bible was not just interesting. It was better than the best. It was immeasurably precious. There is a kind of affection that happens when you feel — not just know — that the person you are talking to really means it when he says God’s words are “more to be desired . . . than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10).

Tim Keller on the Struggle with Prayer and the Pathway to Enjoying God

Matt Smethurst writes about how Tim Keller learned to pray and how important that became to him as he aged. This article also offers some guidance from Keller about prayer.

It is therefore impossible to have a rich prayer life apart from careful attention and glad submission to God’s word. Otherwise, we will end up talking to a figment of our imagination—in essence, praying to an idol. But if we hope to anchor our life in “the real God,” we must pray in accordance with who he’s revealed himself to be. Keller puts it frankly: “Without prayer that answers the God of the Bible, we will only be talking to ourselves.”

Psalm of the Flood

Our poem of the week: Psalm of the Flood, by Bethel McGrew. This sonnet comes from being overwhelmed and not knowing where to turn but to God.

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-07-11)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

Bible Reading Blues? Study Your Stop

Katie Laitkep has written a wise article about Bible reading. She thinks we can get closer to fixing the problem of not reading our Bibles when we confront why we’re not reading.

Most of us are great at getting started. The particular hobby or habit doesn’t matter much. We buy the outfit, order the supplies, and set off with all the enthusiasm in the world. Sound familiar? A few months ago, you started the year strong. You began reading the Bible, but then you lost momentum. You lost focus. And somewhere along the way, you literally lost the printed copy of your reading plan. Who wants to dig through the trash for a piece of paper buried under raw meat scraps and a banana peel?

Teach Your Teen About Christian Freedom

This article draws from Martin Luther’s writing on Christian freedom and applies it to teenagers. (This is relevant for non-teens as well!)

But while Luther did write about matters of conscience in On Christian Liberty, his treatise accomplished much more. Luther wrote to help believers find wisdom and true freedom by living in accordance with their Christian identity. The twofold path to freedom he described is biblical, and it’s worth teaching to Christian youth today.

Still Seventeen

Our poem of the week: Still Seventeen, by Claudia Gary. This is a stunning sonnet that offers a warning to those who long for eternal youth.

On the WPCA Blog This Week

This week on the blog we published an article I wrote called The Lord’s Prayer Is Changing Me. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out!

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-07-04)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

Where to Find Your Happy Place

How do we explain joys that serve no specific function? Andrew Wilson offers an explanation centered in the presence of God.

In the same way, joy in this world is located wherever God is present, in Christ by his Spirit, rather than wherever painful things are absent. It could be in a Galilean boat battered by the waves; it could be in the sorrow and confusion of an upper-room farewell, in the injustice of a Jerusalem kangaroo court, in the stocks of a Philippian jail; it could be in the isolation of exile on the island of Patmos. As sad as the circumstances may be, if God is present then delight is available. Joy is found through presence, not just absence. Happiness is more about the presence of Christ than the absence of crisis.

Did God Forgive Me If I Don’t Feel Forgiven?

John Piper tackles two related questions in this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast (the transcript is available). Can someone who turns away from Christ return and be forgiven? Also, what should we do if we struggle to feel forgiven?

Dear friend, rehearse the mercies of God over and over. Never take your eyes off of Christ crucified, because Romans 5:8 tells us that’s where God spoke most loudly about his love: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s where he puts it on display. So, don’t take your eyes off the love of God in Christ crucified.

En Pointe

Our poem of the week: En Pointe, by Lesley Clinton. This poem celebrates dance and the transcendence of art.

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-06-27)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

Honoring God With Your Body: More Than a Health Goal

Staci Eastin helps us think about caring for our bodies in a way that glorifies God.

Our bodies are not projects to perfect, but gifts to steward. The way we eat, rest, and move isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual. As Paul reminds is in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we should honor God with them. Our bodies are the means by which we carry out the acts of service he has called us to. Our bodies allow us to enjoy the good gifts he gives us.

The Freedom of Being Seen by Christ

Alan Noble takes us to the Samaritan woman in John 4 to discuss the freedom that is found in being known completely by Jesus.

But like the Samaritan woman, we are free to be seen by Christ and unburden ourselves before him because he has already seen all that we have ever done and all that has ever been done to us and he loves us. He desires us to repent and mature in holiness. We never have to be ashamed or afraid of bringing our problems before him. We stand revealed before an all-knowing God who has also died for us because he first loved us. Perfect love and perfect knowing meet in Christ. And so the desire to be known and the fear of being known no longer need to be held in tension for the Christian. It’s resolved in the deity of Christ.

Sunburn

Our poem of the week: Sunburn, by Ange Mlinko. This is a short poem about sunburn and the longing for snow.

On the WPCA Blog This Week

This week on the blog we published an article I wrote called A Guaranteed Way to Grow in Biblical Hope. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out!

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here. 

Links for the Weekend (2025-06-20)

Posted onAuthorRyan Higginbottom

Each Friday, I’ll post links to 3–5 resources from around the web you may want to check out.

Know Your (Teenage) Child’s Frame

Cara Ray wrote a helpful article about loving the teenagers in our families (and our churches!).

The changing teenage frame can be as mysterious as it is wonderful. As parents, we sometimes have mixed feelings about entering this season, which can be marked by tension and the tendency to pull away from one another. Knowing our teenagers’ frame and how God kindly remembers ours helps us move toward them as fellow strugglers and sufferers with compassion and grace. We don’t always know how to respond to our teens, but with God as our perfect Father and model, we can rest confident that everything will ultimately be “just fine.”

You Need Context When Reading the Bible

Here is an article explaining the different contexts that matter when reading the Bible. All are important!

Unfortunately, when we come to the Bible, we all too often do something very similar to what your friend did with your words: we take verses and passages from Scripture and rip them out of their proper context. Sadly, I believe that people tend to do this with the Bible even more than with other books that they read. Many times, people do this with good intentions. They are seeking to find a word of encouragement for their day, an inspiring quote for a friend, or a devotional thought to share with a small group, sports team, or business gathering. They read quickly, find a verse or verses that seem to work, and grab them and go, only to discover later that they wrongly interpreted verses by missing their broader context. Despite their good intentions, such disregard for context can often result in the abuse—and misuse—of the word of God.

Merry Mind

Our poem of the week: Merry Mind, by Sherry Poff. This poem, part of The Clayjar Review’s issue on mirth, asks the reader to think about what the mind of God must be like to have made some of the wonderful (and absurd) things on earth.

Note: Washington Presbyterian Church and the editors of this blog do not necessarily endorse all content produced by the individuals or groups referenced here.