Did you ever wonder why time in prayer and Bible reading is called Quiet Time? As a former investigative journalist, Elizabeth Prata did significant research into this matter (where does that lady find the time?), and unearthed an answer to a far greater question. The History of “Quiet Time” appears in The End Time, and sheds light on how Christians began thinking that prayer is a two-way conversation. See also her companion essay When scripture becomes insufficient for an even more in-depth history of the idea that God speaks to us personally.

Continuing his series on dealing with false teachers, Clint Archer writes Silver bullets Pt 2: Stay in love with Jesus for The Cripplegate. Most discernment bloggers neglect these two final silver bullets, but Clint makes some interesting observations in his post.

At the beginning of this week I started writing a blog post about controversy. The next day, I deleted it because I had adopted the very contentious attitude that I was supposedly writing against. Nick Batzig, however, makes the same points I’d wanted to make, but in a much more charismatic presentation. Please visit Feeding on Christ to read Conscience Binding, Media Ecology, and Theological Controversy. Nick gives wonderful reflections on our online behavior.

Turning again to Elizabeth Prata, I must recommend Defenders of false teachers lay guilt trips and accusations as an important essay. As someone where has spoken out about a few false teachers, I find myself nodding in agreement with every point she raises.

Showing Mercy in A Feeding Frenzy by Tim Challies complements Nick Batzig’s article, but expands the application to various circumstances where Christians can emulate the mercy God shows us. Our culture encourages hardness of hearts, but Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a model of Christian compassion.

It’s kinda refreshing that Peter Krol of Knowable Word would admit that Bible study is hard. Continuing his series on on when and when not to use commentaries, he explains why Commentaries are Not for When Bible Study is Hard. He gives some great tips on working through difficult passages without consulting a commentary.

Is Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus a useful evangelism passage? Tedd Mathis, who blogs at teddmathisdotcom, begins Regeneration: A glorious rear-view-mirror doctrine with that question. He then proceeds to show us how the Bible typically talks about the new birth. I’d never caught these points before, but Pastor Tedd really makes sense with this teaching.