My Year in Pictures - 2007

Snow in ABQ is rare, thus was much fun for the kids in January.

We bought a house in April and really dig it.

There was a sense of great expectation on the part of my kids to meet the new baby.


May 17th, Emery Lewis Nielsen was born!!!


I installed a basketball hoop in the backyard. After Emery being born, this would be the 2nd greatest moment of 2007.

Got to play in a high mountain stream with the kids and friends.

Autumn pooped in her bed. Not sure why my wife needed to take a picture of this. Probably because she knew I would want to show all of you how my daughter is not very well hydrated here in the desert.

I got lucky and took this million dollar shot of Autumn with a $200 camera.

Lots of hot weather in ABQ means lots of popsicles in the backyard.

Emery did a lot of chilling in 2007.

Lots of games were played, Jenga being a fun one.

Lots of baths were taken.


Taylor turned 5 on September 22nd.

Taylor started pre-school.

We got to go to our first balloon fiesta in ABQ. It's a really cool experience.

I got to go to the best Monday Football game of the year in Denver.

Had friends over for a Halloween party that I blogged about here.

Went back to Iowa to see family.

Autumn turned 3 on December 30th.

It was a great year and we are all thankful to God for his continued faithfulness in our lives!

(Brad, thanks for the idea)

Kilby's Resolutions For Mental Health

John Piper cites 10 resolutions toward mental health from a former seminary professor. Piper writes:

That night Dr. Kilby had a pastoral heart and a poet’s eye. He pled with us to stop seeking mental health in the mirror of self-analysis, but instead to drink in the remedies of God in nature. He was not naïve. He knew of sin. He knew of the necessity of redemption in Christ. But he would have said that Christ purchased new eyes for us as well as new hearts. His plea was that we stop being unamazed by the strange glory of ordinary things. He ended that lecture in 1976 with a list of resolutions. As a tribute to my teacher and a blessing to your soul, I offer them for your joy.

Check out the list of 10 resolutions here.

Q and A with Mike

Time.com has run an interesting Q and A with Mike Huckabee.

This is Genius

Christmas is gone, but you have to see this if you are a child of the 80's like me.


(HT: Brant Hansen)

Year in Photos - 2007

Here is an amazing recap of 2007 in photos from the International Herald Tribune.

Art of the Day

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

Simeon's Prophecy to Mary

oil on panel (55 × 44 cm) — 1628
Kunsthalle, Hamburg

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn biography

This work is linked to Luke 2:34

(Click on image to see larger)

Mary and Joseph seem surprised when Simeon tells them that their son's actions will lead to the fall and rise of many in Israel. The prophet Anna raises her hands to indicate that she also considers the boy the Messias.

This is one of Rembrandt's earliest known works.

Thinking Though How We Do Church

There is an interesting conversation going on over at Letters From Kamp Krusty about ecclesiology. Brant's post is called "We Quit Going To Church A Year Ago". It's a provocative title, but not really accurate. They left their more traditional picture of what we all think of as church and starting a new church that is very different than what most of us think of when it comes to church.

These are important matters to think through. Check it out.

What We Can Learn From Tom - 3 Super Bowls Ain't Enough for the Soul

Founders Blog reports:

Tom Brady, the 3-time Super Bowl champion quarterback of the New England Patriots was featured the week in a 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft on CBS. Brady is already a sports legend in one of the citadels of professional sports in America, Boston. His current team is 15-0 and is poised to finish the season undefeated, something that hasn't been done in the NFL in 35 years. He has won the Super Bowl MVP twice and been named to the Pro Bowl 4 times. He also was recently named the Associated Press' "Male Athlete of the Year."

He has dated actresses and supermodels and makes millions of dollars a year. He has been called America's most eligible bachelor. By most popular standards, he has it all. That is why I was struck by hearing him make the following statement during the interview:

"Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, 'Hey man, this is what is.' I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, 'God, it's got to be more than this.' I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be."

When Kroft asked him, "What's the answer?" Brady responded, "I wish I knew. I wish I knew. I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I'm trying to find."

The Founders Blog has a response for him. You can read it here.

(HT: Shannon Jordan)

Teen died saving friend from tiger

Read about this here.

(HT: AB)

How Does Sunday Preaching Affect Your Sanctification?

I was recently asked this question from a friend and would love you hear your response:

What role would you say that listening to sermons has played in your sanctification and growth in godliness? Particularly, the sermons you listen to each Sunday at your local church.

My response:

To answer your question - I would say that the preached word on Sunday morning has had comparatively little significant impact that I can recall. "That I can recall" I think is an important qualifier. Has it had an impact? Sure it has, but I can only specifically remember a few sermons that I can say, "wow, that impacted me".

I think perhaps a lot of the positive effect is through a kind of constant "soaking" of the word through good Bible teachers (much like we do in our own Bible study). One is not really cognizant of it having an impact, but it does for sure. To what degree? I'm not really sure.

But the overwhelming thing I think about in terms of my own personal spiritual growth is my time in the word and prayer, my own personal teaching of the word, serving, and relationships where older believers have invested in me.

Jesus did a lot of sermon like teaching, but it seems like it was always in the context of relationships, life on life. This is partly why I am leaning towards smaller church ecclesiology. I have only worked in big churches and have grow to see the draw back of how impersonal it can be.

My executive pastor tells me about how he has asked this same question to many many people over the course of his years and he has told me that he has never once has someone say that the preached word on Sunday was the #1 thing that contributed to their sanctification. Should we throw out the preached word on Sunday? Never, the Biblical emphasis on preaching is too strong, but I think it is good to challenge and question our current modes of ecclesiology since the NT gives very few rules for how our worship service is to be conducted.

It's easy to see how we got here...

(years are rough)
500-1500 - Catholic church dominates and there is a thousand year void (for the most part) of any solid, accessible, gospel preaching for the lay person

1500 - Reformation takes place - Luther and Calvin and others push back really hard on this and greatly emphasize the preached word for the lay person.

We still are reaping the benefits of this today, but I would say that I think it has, in our current culture, created churches full of spectators that I don't see in the NT for the church. We have so many different structured contexts for listening, but we have very few structured contexts
for serving and doing. This is a problem. Both should be mandatory. But in our culture, the listening is mandatory and the doing is not. Big problem in my view.

This is really hard stuff. There are no hard preaching rules in the Bible for the amount or the form. I would personally like to see structured elevation of the preached word in the context of home groups by qualified teachers.

To sum up, I think the preached word on Sunday mornings as most people experience it is a good thing and has had a significant impact on my life and sanctification. I just don't think we can make many ecclesiological laws about it's form for Christians. If think we are in grave danger if we begin to idolize forms that God has not given us.

Just my first reaction, knee-jerk response... Take it for what it's worth.

**Update** - ThinkChristian.net asks a similar question in this post. Might want to check it out.

Do You Understand Those You Disagree With?

C. Michael Patton with another good one here entitled, “In Defense of Arminianism” or “A Watchdog Polemic”. He writes:

My conviction is that you cannot truly oppose something you don’t understand and you cannot understand something until you have defended it. In other words, until you understand why others are convicted of something different than you, it is very difficult to have true convictions that can be taken seriously. Christianity should never be defined by fear. Our doctrinal convictions should be strengthened or weakened according to the clarity of God’s witness concerning the issue. But we can only assess this clarity through true and personal engagement with positions with which we disagree. Public floggings may make us feel better, but they often do little to advance the cause of Christ or the truth they desire to represent.

Read the whole thing.

Simmons on The Karate Kid

Any child of the 80's such as myself is well versed in one of the greatest trilogies of our time... no not the Lord of the Rings... no, not Star Wars.... no, not Indiana Jones, but rather the epic (you know you were thinking of it) Karate Kid trilogy.

Bill Simmons (from ESPN) has a very funny round up of all three movies making some great points about things that you probably did not consider when you were watching them in the 3rd grade. Things such as:

And you forget this now, but Mr. Miyagi's character was a stroke of genius at the time, a cross between Mickey from "Rocky," Pop from "The Longest Yard" and Confucious. Who didn't love Mr. Miyagi? That character was so well-written, it actually won Pat Morita (best-known as Arnold from "Happy Days") a "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar nomination, which was the 1984 equivalent of Mr. Belding from "Saved By The Bell" being nominated for an Oscar in 2005.

Read the whole thing here.



Check out this great musical spoof from No More Kings:

What is Real Faith?

C. Michael Patton, writing for Parchment and Pen, has a great essay on the nature of real faith.

He writes:

Bill O’Reilly, in an interview with Richard Dawkins this year, illustrated what our current conception of faith is today. As his belief in God was being challenged by Dawkins’ intellectual attacks, O’Reilly did not have much of an answer. After being questioned by Dawkins as to whether he believed in other gods such as Zeus, Apollo, or Thor, O’Reilly responds by saying that he is “throwing in with Jesus.” He goes on to say that he cannot prove that Christ is God, but that Christ is God to him because it helps him. His faith was relegated to the realm of societal and personal pragmatism. While Dawkins did not do too good considering the burden that he had, O’Reilly should not have been in this discussion representing the Christian worldview. In the end his faith rested on “throwing in.” In other words, his defense was not unlike Pascals’ wager where the defense becomes “While my faith may be a blind faith, as it stands right now your faith (atheism) is more blind. I will just choose the lesser of two evils.”

What gets me is this. How is it that Bill O’Reilly thought it sufficient enough to blindly “throw in” on a subject that is so important. O’Reilly never just “thows in.” O’Reilly is never unprepared. He is never uninformed on a subject with which he speaks upon. Whether you agree with him or not, his passions are not blindly held in politics or social issues; in these areas that are based upon his studies and critical analysis of the issues involved. Yet when it comes to the question of God (something He holds very dear), he simply resorts to a uninformed blind faith.

In fairness to O’Reilly, this is not uncommon within the culture or in the church. Faith has become redefined to “that which you ‘throw in’ with.” The answer to the question, How do we know Christianity is true? is illustrated best in this beloved hymn: “You ask me how I know He lives? . . . He lives within my heart.” This subjective answer is simply not good enough. It is insufficient and irresponsible. If our faith is relegated to a blind leap into the dark and our answer to the hope that lies within us is limited to the typical “Because I know that I know that I know it is true,” then we don’t really have a message that shines any brighter or truer than all the religions of the world.

Read the whole thing.

All Truth is God's Truth

All truth is from God; and consequently, if wicked men have said anything that is true and just, we ought not to reject it; for it has come from God. Whenever we come upon these matter in secular writers, let that admirable light of truth shining in them teach us that the mind of man, though fallen and perverted from its wholeness, is nevertheless clothed and ornamented with God's excellent gifts. If we regard the Spirit of God as the sole fountain of truth, we shall neither reject the truth itself, nor despise it wherever it shall appear, unless we wish to dishonor the Spirit of God. For by holding the gifts of the Spirit in slight esteem, we condemn and reproach the Spirit himself.

-John Calvin, The Institutes, II, 2, 15


Anthony Hoekema comments:

The tension between the already and the not yet, therefore, implies that we must not despise what God's Spirit has enabled unregenerate men to produce, but must evaluate all such cultural products in the light of the teachings of God's Word. We may gratefully use whatever is of value in the culture of this world, as long as we use it with discrimination.

From this book:

Rawking with Huck

I wonder what Huck would say about Tony's quote below? Either way, with a picture like this, how could you not vote for this guy? Looks like a sweet Les Paul.

(HT: Already and Not Yet)

Interesting Quote

Tony Jones:

A couple of years ago, The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart went on to CNN’s vitriolic Crossfire program, looked hosts Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala in the eye, and said, ‘‘You’re hurting America…. Stop, stop, stop, stop hurting America.’’ Stewart was tired of the sophomoric shouting matches that epitomized ‘‘debate’’ on Crossfire, and his plea became an overnight sensation. CNN canceled Crossfire just a couple of months later, the president of the network explaining, ‘‘I agree wholeheartedly with Jon Stewart’s overall premise.’’

Stewart’s appearance on Crossfire was a sensation on You Tube, as was Stephen Colbert’s bitingly sarcastic routine at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2006. Both of these Gen X heroes walked into the palace and said, ‘‘The emperor has no clothes,’’ and a generation of young, thoughtful, disillusioned, cynical Americans cheered. Much of ‘‘left versus right’’ confrontation is a farce to prop up television ratings, keep radio talk show hosts employed, and fill the treasuries of the two political parties. And the church has not been immune to this financially lucrative fear-mongering.

But more and more people are checking out, becoming savvy to the moral bankruptcy on both sides of the ‘‘debate.’’ They’re looking for a new, third way, both in the church and in society at large.

Pre-order The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier today.

Maggie Taylor

Speaking of art...

You might want to check out the art of Maggie Taylor. If you are familiar with Christian music you will know her art from the cover of Fernando Ortega's release, Storm. (Storm is a great record by the way, featuring one of my favorite worship songs of all time, Our Great God).













Check out her website to see more of her art, books, and other things.

Art of the Day

Van Limburg brothers 1375 – 1416

Announcement to the Shepherds

illuminated manuscript — 1408-09
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Van Limburg brothers biography

This work is linked to Luke 2:10

(click on image to see larger)

The Necessity of Reading

What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear, to this day, is want of reading. I scarce ever knew a preacher who read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety; there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian. Oh begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises. You may acquire the taste which you have not; what is tedious at first will afterwards be pleasant. Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty, superficial preacher. Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer. Take up your cross and be a Christian altogether. Then will all the children of God rejoice (not grieve) over you; and in particular yours.

- Quoted in D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, Letters Along The Way, page 169.

(HT: Ray Ortlund)

Mayer on ASL

Click here to see John Mayer's most recent performance on Austin City Limits. He sounds better than ever. Great video quality as well. He also has some really cool things to say about music and songwriting in the interview.

Another Reason I Love My Mac

The Top 10 Heartbreaking Gadgets of 2007

6. Computers Running Vista

Maybe someday Microsoft will perfect mind-control technology. But until then, we're free to have our own opinions, like: "Keep that new Microsoft OS the hell away from me!" Hordes of PC shoppers have echoed the same sentiment as news of application incompatibility, resource-hogging performance and bloated junkware all but obliterated the enthusiasm for Windows Vista. Dell and other computer makers were actually forced to re-offer XP as an option for the foreseeable future, while self-help guides on how to "upgrade" from Vista to XP have flourished.

Presence of The Kingdom Today?

As a seminary student one is often assigned to read a whole book or two for a class. I regret that most of us don't actually finish reading the whole book, but rather skim or just read a few chapters. Who has the time? I think one of the main things that seminary has done for me is shown me all the great books that I need to actually read when I get done and have time.

This is the exception: I might actually finish Anthony Hoekema's, The Bible and the Future (I am going to be tested over the whole thing, so I better!) It's great. Dr. Hoekema gives a noteworthy quote from Hendrikus Berkhof, from his book, Christ the Meaning of History. I thought it was telling:

The average Christian does not expect to see an positive signs of Christ's reign in the world. He believes that the world only becomes worse and races in the direction of the anti-Christ... The average Christian is not aware of the presence of the Kingdom in the world today... Prevalent in our churches is a bad kind of pietism...which limits the power of Christ to his personal relationship to the individual believer, and which sees no connection between Christ and world-events, or between Christ and daily work. This lead to an ungrateful blindness for the signs of Christ's reign in the present. Expression such as "we live on the edge of a volcano," "it can't last this way much longer," "humanity is steadily becoming worse, " "the end of time is near" are very popular in Christian circles. And they believe that this pessimism of culture... is completely in agreement with Christian faith (p.174).

WorshipGod 08

Bob Kauflin reports that the website for the next Sovereign Grace conference for pastors and music leaders is up and running now.

Bad Events of 2007

The always polemical Dr. Doug Groothuis, reports on his bad events of 2007. My favorites are #5 and #10:

5. Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron's home run record. I don't like tatoos, but an asterisk on Barry's head would be just fine.

10. Of lesser consequence: I was given a free Kenny G CD when I ordered a Jack Bruce recording on line. It remains unopened in my office--an object suitable for hurling across the room during a lecture on aesthetics.

The Great Debaters

John Armstrong reports and reviews on the new movie starring Denzel Washingtion, The Great Debaters. He writes:

Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune calls the new film, The Great Debaters, a "Good story, well told." So it is. Featuring great stars like Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker, this movie also introduces the audience to some new stars who should get recognition for playing great supporting roles as college students and debaters. Critic Michael Phillips also wonders, in his review in the Tribune, "if people will go for it." I did. I loved it. It works and it inspires. I think most of you will go for it too. Let me try to tell you why.

What I Got For Christmas

I was long overdue for some new ones.


Here is what I bought for my wife:

Year in Images

Time Magazine's, Year in Images. Click here to view.

Pagan Christianity

Brant Hansen points to a new resource coming out soon from Tyndale, called Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna. .

He writes:

This book is going to honk people off. Already is, even though it's not officially "out" yet (but you can get one now at their site.) They sent me an advance copy to review on Kamp Krusty, because of the enormous influence I exert in the lives of both of my readers.

Here's what's a-ranklin' church folk: They authors are basically saying -- get this, from a major Christian publisher --that the church, in its contemporary, institutional form, has neither a biblical nor a historical right to exist.

I'm pretty sure I'm aptly summarizing, because it says -- quote -- "the church, in its contemporary, institutional form, has neither a biblical nor a historical right to exist" in the preface.

Spurgeon on Immanuel

"God with us." It is hell's terror. Satan trembles at the sound of it; the black-winged dragon of the pit quails before it. Let him come to you suddenly, and do you but whisper that word, "God with us," back he falls, confounded and confused. "God with us" is the laborer's strength; how could he preach the gospel, how could he bend his knees in prayer, how could the missionary go into foreign lands, how could the martyr stand at the stake, how could the confessor own his Master, how could men labor, if that one word were taken away? "God with us" is the sufferer's comfort, the balm of his woe, the alleviation of his misery, the sleep which God gives to his beloved, their rest after exertion and toil. "God with us" is eternity's sonnet, heaven's hallelujah, the shout of the glorified, the song of the redeemed, the chorus of angels, the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky.

- Charles Spurgeon

(HT: Ray Ortlund)

CompassionArt

Compassionart is hosting internationally recognized songwriters Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Darlene Zschech, Matt and Beth Redman, Tim Hughes, Paul Baloche, Israel Houghton, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Martin Smith and Stu Garrard (Delirious?), at a gathering in Perthshire, Scotland Jan. 7 – 11. 2008. The songwriters’ unprecedented goal is to collectively write 10-12 songs that will be given to the world not just to sing but to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. Together these songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, nine GRAMMY Awards, 110 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world. Now, for the first time ever, the songwriters offer their time and talents with one voice to make a stand.

…Remarkably, the songwriters, publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England and dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor. And this is not a one-time offering or marketing ploy, but an ongoing effort for charity derived over the songs’ lifetimes.

Read More.

(HT: Brody)

Favorite "The Far Side" Cartoon

For Christmas, from this guy, I got this Far Side book. It reminded me of my favorite all time Far Side cartoon.

Matthew West Video Diary of his Surgery - Part 1

When I was on the road with Matthew West he was always quite the talker and there was rarely a dull moment. This past summer he had some serious vocal problems and had to have surgery on his vocal chords. As a result he couldn't talk or do anything with his voice for a couple months. Quite the change for him! I think God really etched some powerful things on his heart through this trial. He has chronicled the first part of his journey below. It's a powerful video.

Keith Jarrett Christmas Special!

If you are a fan of jazz and have heard of the jazz piano freak of nature, Keith Jarrett, you will find this VERY funny. If you don't know anything about these matters, just pass on by... It won't be funny.

Thorn on Evangelism

Pastor Joe Thorn writes about his observations concerning evangelism. He contents that...

1. Door to door evangelism is seen as an unwanted invasion.

2. Initiating conversation at Starbucks is welcome.

3. The evangescript is perceived as invasive and fake.

4. Showing how real-life concerns connect to the gospel is well-received.

5. The churched are often as clueless about the gospel as the unchurched.

He fleshes out these points in the whole article.

He closes by saying:

No, this isn’t technical research pulled together by Ed Stetzer and the people at Lifeway. These are conclusions I have come to after living in this community for 31 years, sharing the gospel here for 14 years, and serving as pastor here for seven years. While I believe God can use all kinds of approaches to evangelism, I am convinced that in my suburbia unscripted, conversational evangelism is generally a better way to share Christ with strangers than reading from a tract, or reciting a script. My culture requires more natural conversation skills that are developed through practice. It demands a strong theological framework from which we can make connections between real-life concerns of the people we meet to the gospel they need.

The Tough Sayings of Jesus

My friend Michael Kelley just released his first book for Lifeway Church Resources. It's called The Tough Sayings of Jesus.

Here is the description:
This is a four-session study examining a few of Jesus more puzzling conversations and confidently questions things Jesus said that are, in most cases, difficult to swallow. In The Tough Sayings of Jesus participants will thoroughly study the meaning of each of these sayings and delve into the historical and cultural context of Scripture. The study offers no pat answers, but instead focuses on sparking discussion and providing fresh insight.

Michael is also a very gifted communicator and has a passion to teach the truth of God's word. You can find him here at his website.

Art of the Day

Filippino Lippi ca. 1457 – 1504

The Adoration of the Magi

oil on panel (258 × 243 cm) — 1496
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Filippino Lippi biography

This work is linked to Matthew 2:11

(click on image to see larger)

My Favorite Quote of 2007

"I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps and I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and Iraq and everywhere like such as and I believe that they should our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for us."

-Miss South Carolina

Read some others here.

Piper on Money for Christians

Recently on this blog there has been some good discussion on the issue of money and how it should be dealt with as Christians. On my ride into church today I listen to John Piper talk about this issue on his Ask Pastor John podcast. I found his short take on money for Christians to be especially enlightening. I would encourage you to download it and listen to it. It's only 8 min. or so. You can download it here (iTunes).

Finding Joy At Christmas

I have three small kids. Needless to say they are very excited about Christmas coming around the corner in a few short (or long to them) days. Every wonder why small children get so excited and are filled with such joy from receiving presents at Christmas time? On the flip side, do you ever wonder why as adults, we usually don't get all that excited about receiving presents?

I think it might come down to resources. My oldest child is five and he knows that any presents that he might receive this year are completely due to the beneficence of his parents. He knows that he can't go out and get a job to be able to buy the things that he wants. His joy is found in that all the presents that he receives are completely beyond his personal resources.

As adults we know that we probably won't get anything this year that we most likely couldn't already go out and buy on our own. Most gifts that we will receive this year are well within our resources. This might point to a reason why most adults don't get quite as excited about gift giving and receiving as our children do.

So what can we learn from our kids in all this about Christmas joy?

There is a gift for adults that is completely beyond our resources. It's the gift of salvation. The challenge this year for us as adults may be to ponder deeply the gift of God that is completely beyond our resources. Let's take a cue from our kids this year and become childlike, giving exuberant thanks for this gift and rejoice in what we have been given!

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(HT: Analogy taken from John from this sermon)

Ponder the Incarnation

Infinite and yet an infant. Eternal and yet unborn, almighty yet dependent upon his mother for food. Supporting and upholding the universe and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms. King of the ages and yet Son of a mere carpenter. Heir of all things and yet a poor Galilean.
-Charles Spurgeon

That man should be made in God's image is a wonder, but that God should be made in man's image is a greater wonder. That the Ancient of Days would be born. That He who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle?
-Thomas Watson

Indelible Grace V - Wake Thy Slumbering Children

Recently I acquired the new Indelible Grace V CD, entitled, Wake Thy Slumbering Children. I like it a lot.

The first thing that I like is that it has a honest and raw vibe to it that is sadly very hard to find in most Christian music. It doesn’t sound slick, and that is a good thing. I also think that on the whole the new melodies on this recording are better. It also has a very consistent tone and feel to it throughout which is hard to come by when you are using so many different artists. There are 14 songs on this new CD and I’ll highlight my favorites.

By far my favorite song on this recording is Matthew Perryman Jones’, Abide With Me. Check out this text. I can’t wait to sing it in church:

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

The arrangement is very sparse and simple, yet achingly beautiful. I can’t get enough of this song right now. The melody is simple and easy to follow, but again, perfectly crafted to fit this text. If anything, get this song and let it minister to your soul.

I also greatly enjoy Emily DeLoach’s rendition of, In The Hours. It’s a bluesy, rock number with a gospel flair. It has a deep groove and Emily’s voice really fits it well. It’s really a fun tune with a great arrangement and a good musical jam at the end.

The opening cut, Cling to the Crucified, has really grown on me. It’s also very sparse and a bit brooding, but very interesting. Jeremy Casella’s vocal is smooth and soothing, yet very interesting. I like his voice a lot. It’s a melancholy arrangement, but I really like it for that reason.

Matthew Smith’s, All Must Be Well, is also a highlight for me on this record. It has a hopeful tone that is appropriate as good melodies usually reflect the text of the song. This melody seems easy to sing and could be used well in corporate singing for the church. Full of slide guitars, yet doesn’t have a cheesy country feel. Matthew’s, Arise, O God and Shine, is also a great track.

I would recommend this CD. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed and we should do our part to support good art that is being made by Christians. As far as I know most of these artists on this record are independent and are not limited by the tiny box of creativity that is the majority of music produced by big Christian labels.

You can find it exclusively at this site.

2007 Family Photo

Lost - Season 4 Trailer

Schooling for our Kids - Public or Not?

Tim Callies with a helpful article for those of us thinking through what is best for the education of our kids. He discusses Al Mohler's new book coming out where one chapter calls for a mass retreat from public schooling. Tim writes:

If all of the Christians withdraw from the public schooling system, it seems to me that we lose our ability and even our right to speak to that system and to influence it. Though the political system is terribly corrupt, Christians continue to be involved and continue to vote, knowing that only in this way will we have any influence. Yet in the schooling system many wish to withdraw. But when we do so, I fear, we lose any right we might have to correct or influence. As Christians we look to better not only our own lives, but the lives of those around us. We look to be a transformative influence. If schools truly are “prime battlegrounds for cultural conflicts,” as Dr. Mohler states, why would we purposely remove ourselves from them? Why would we give up and retreat from this battleground? If this is where the hearts and minds of generations of citizens will be formed, why would we take no interest in it? If we retreat, we lose our voice.

Kevin Larson on MBC

Founders blog has a good interview with an Acts 29 church planter, Kevin Larson, whose church was recently axed by the Missouri Baptist Convention. The controversy is over the use of alcohol. Highlights from the interview include:

“While at Southern, I honestly hadn’t heard anything about Acts 29, but, in my view, an abstinence only view would be unthinkable by virtue of students having sola scriptura beaten in their heads everyday.”

“We are so grateful for the support the MBC has provided. But, I do think the executive board’s decision is wrong and discouraging. Although they do have the right to make that decision, I say that the further narrowing of parameters of cooperation does not bode well for the MBC’s future.”

“In Missouri, I think this is about alcohol, yes, but it’s ultimately about power. Who will control Missouri Baptists? By the way, I have even heard rumblings that the group’s next target in Missouri will be Calvinism.”

“The average Southern student thinks Driscoll is fine, Tim Keller is amazing, and can’t understand what all the fighting is about. Why? Because Dr. Mohler and his faculty teach sola scriptura and the other four solas of the Reformation. And that makes this whole issue pretty simple.”

“Well, those mainline denominations are graying due to liberalism. Young people want something true and something worth believing and dying for. But the SBC, I’m afraid, could gray and ultimately die because of legalism. If this is allowed to persist and grow, it will push young Reformed, expositional preaching, church disciplining, and gospel cherishing guys like me out to the curb. I am convinced this is the case.”

(HT: Timmy Brister)

Art of the Day

Alexander Ivanov 1806 – 1858

The Angel Appears to the Prophet

Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

This work is linked to Zechariah 1:13

(click on image to see larger)

1615.org

If you attend a church that is passionate about missions you need to check out 1615.org. Here is their mission statement:

We exist to help local churches discover and use their unique gifts in partnership with others to make Christ known among all nations. Through personal hands-on coaching, we help churches take on a more active role in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Watch this video and take some time to look through the website. This truly is an amazing gospel mobilizing ministry.