New Sponsor

Just wanted to give some blog love here to my newest sponsor: Compassion Canada.

If you are not familiar with this organization I would strongly encourage you to click over and take a look. I love their slogan, "Christ Centered, Child Focused, Church Based".

We have sponsored a child for many years now and it has proved to be a blessing in our lives and I hope in the life of our child.



If you would be interested in being a sponsor for Take Your Vitamin Z, just send me an email and let me know. My rates are not very high and all the money will go to support our new church plant in Madison, WI.

Adoption Culture at Church?

Dan Cruver:

The issue is not creating an adoption culture at your church. It’s already every church’s culture. We have all been adopted by God. The issue for every church, then, is living in the reality of our adoption by God.

Oh. My.

Here is the original version. But sure to watch the video.

But not to be outdone, yes, you HAVE to have the dog version, right?

Unfortunately, this is for real. SNL needs to get ahold of this and mock it mercilessly.

Book Winners Announced!

Here are the book winners of Mark Driscoll's, "Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions"

1. Bob Nera

2. Shelby Vafinis

3. Daniel Saglietto

Thanks to all who participated!

AmazonMP3 Daily Deal

The 99 Most Essential Bach Masterpieces
by Various Artists

Price:

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What Is The Difference Between The Two Pictures Below?

"When posed with a picture of the Twin Towers under attack on 9/11 and a depiction of Jesus on the cross and asked the question, “What is the same and what is different about each of these pictures?” a young man replies, 'One is about people dying to kill their enemies; the other is about God dying to save His enemies.' The teacher is humbled before the student."

(HT: Boars Head Tavern)

Is Online Community Real Community? Questions about the Virtual Church

Drew Goodmanson has a great post concerning the above question. He writes:

Our question is not just one of whether ‘community’ is happening but of definitions of what life/community looks like for the people of God. One place to examine is the ‘one-anothering’ passages:

John 15:12 - Love one another
Romans 5:13 - Don’t pass judgment on one another
Romans 12:5 - Be members of one another
Romans 12:10 - Honor one another
Romans 12:16 - Live in harmony with one another
Romans 14:19 - Build up one another
Romans 15:5 - Be like-minded toward one another
Romans 15:7 - Accept one another
1 Corinthians 12:25 - Care for one another
Galatians 5:13 - Serve one another in love
Galatians 5:26 - Don’t provoke or envy one another
Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another’s burdens
Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another
Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive one another
1 Thessalonians 3:12 - Abound in love toward one another
1 Thessalonians 4:18 - Comfort one another
Titus 3:3 - Don’t hate one another
Hebrews 3:13 - Encourage one another
Hebrews 10:24 - Stir up one another to love and good deeds
James 4:11 - Don’t slander one another
James 5:9 - Don’t bear grudges against one another
James 5:16 - Confess your sins to one another
1 Peter 4:9 - Offer hospitality to one another
1 Peter 5:14 - Greet one another
1 John 1:7 - Fellowship with one another
1 John 3:11 - Love one another
Ephesians 5:21- submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Now maybe you think you can add ‘online’ to each of these so that “Love one another online” seems to fulfill these. But since we are the only community not formed for ourselves but we are gathered as a people for God and others there is no way with the current state of technology that we can go to the depths of this type of one-anothering community. Quite frankly most of churches that do meet throughout the week will struggle with this type of intense call of communal life.

Instead of asking, “Is virtual community real community?” Let’s spend more time considering “What is Biblical community?” Which leads us to consider “How can technology assist the life of a Biblical community?”

Read the whole thing.

U2's Stage For The Upcoming Tour

Sadly True, But Changing I Think

Matt Chandler:

"I'm unapologetically Reformed, but nine times out of ten I cannot stand the Reformed community. I don't want to be around them. I don't want to read their blogs. They can be cannibalistic, self-indulgent, non-missional, and angry. It's silly and sad at the same time. Reformed doctrine should lead to a deep sense of humility and patience with others. How it produces such arrogance baffles me."

Speaking of Being Missional...

Steve McCoy has a great post on other ideas (some really creative ones by the way) for how to engage with your neighbors. Check it out.

How to be missionally minded

Ed Stetzer:

1. Look at people with eternity in mind. We need to see them as God does and care for them like it counts.


2. Show some hospitality. Believers should be the people that everyone else wants to be around. Remember, you're the ambassador for Christ so get into the lives of people living outside the kingdom.


3. Watch for a chance to serve. People give away all of their energy on family, work, and menial chores. Look for ways that you can care for your neighbors--even if it is just cooking a simple dinner for them.


4. Visit someone new. Look around and find someone who needs a friend. Maybe it's visiting in a nursing home or rocking babies in the NICU. Make your days count with people who feel they don't.


5. Whatever you do, don't do it alone! Take your family, your small group, or the whole church. And be sure to take the kids. They're ready to change the world, so let them.


6. Love like Jesus. He lived a robust life of caring for the lost. He did it by meeting their needs and telling them the truth.

A Communion Hymn

A shocking thing, this, that we should forget
The Savior who gave up his life –
To turn from the cross, indifferent, and let
Our minds veer toward self-love and strife.
The table, this rite, is habit – and yet
Christ’s words pierce our shame like a knife:

While breaking the bread, the Lord Jesus said,
“Do this in remembrance of me.”

Enamored with power, surrounded with praise,
We set out our ecclesial plans.
Efficiency hums, and we spend our days
Defending, promoting our stands.
Techniques multiply, our structures amaze –
The gospel slips out of our hands.

While breaking the bread, the Lord Jesus said,
“Do this in remembrance of me.
O remember, remember the cross.
From my side issued water and blood,
This was no accident,
I bore the wrath of my God.”

“Remember my bed, the dank cattle shed,
Though glory was all my domain.
Remember the years of service and tears
That climaxed in lashings of pain.
By God’s own decree, your guilt fell on me,
And all of my loss is your gain.”

While breaking the bread, the Lord Jesus said,
“Do this in remembrance of me.”

“Remember my tears, Gethsemene’s fears;
Recall that my followers fled,
That I was betrayed, disowned and arraigned –
The Prince of Life crucified, dead.
Remember your shame, your sin and your blame;
Remember the blood that I shed.”

While lifting the cup, the Savior spoke up,
“Do this in remembrance of me.”

So now when we eat this feast simply spread
I blush I forget to recall.
For this quiet rite means once more I have fed
On bread that gave life once for all;
Memorial feast—just wine, broken bread—
And time to reflect on Christ’s call:

While breaking the bread, the Lord Jesus said,
“Do this in remembrance of me.”

- D.A. Carson

(HT: Ryan Kelly)

Thank You Detroit Zoo

Even the Detroit Zoo is taking their daily dose. I knew it was only a matter of time. Thanks to all the little people of course.

An Unusual Church With An Unusual Idea

This may or may not be a good idea. I'm sure many of you could argue that it's NOT a good idea, but I think it is at least worth thinking through. It makes a pretty loud statement. If you wouldn't be in favor of it, how would you communicate something similar to your on-looking unbelieving community?

Church's radical act: Sell building, use money for outreach


(HT: ThinkChristian.net)

This Is Pretty Funny

(HT: Michael Kelley)

Another Child Rescued

Huge congrats to my friends, Jason and Shawnda Kovacs on the adoption of their new baby boy from Uganda. Jason writes on his blog:

My wife and son are on their way home! This morning he left his home in Uganda for his new home. Tommorrow he will sleep in his new bed. He’s going from 9 roomates to 2. Many momma’s to mommy and daddy (and two sisters who like to act like mommy’s). Not owning a single toy to more than he’ll know what to do with. We can’t wait to wrap our arms around him. We can’t wait to see him grow and get healthy. We can’t wait to see all that God has for him in this life! Lord, thank you for this incredible gift!

Take a moment and meditate on Isaiah 58.

Isaiah 58:6-12

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Francis Chan's New Book, "Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit"

Francis Chan talks about his forthcoming book, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit.



Here is a description:

A follow up to the profound message of Crazy Love, Pastor Francis Chan offers a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and … the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of all three, but how often do we live with an awareness of only the first two? As Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Helper—so that we could be true and living witnesses for Christ. Unfortunately, today’s church has admired the gift but neglected to open it.

Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of the church’s power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and we are reaping the disastrous results. Thorough ural support and compelling narrative form Chan’s invitation to stop and remember the One we’ve forgotten, the Spirit of the living God.

The Gospel is Not Just a Message for Individuals

John Frame:

The gospel, you see, is not just a message for individuals, telling them how to avoid God’s wrath. It is also a message about a kingdom, a society, a new community, a new covenant, a new family, a new nation, a new way of life, and therefore, a new culture. God calls us to build a city of God, a New Jerusalem.

Remember the cultural mandate. Sin does not abrogate it..

The gospel creates new people, who are committed to Christ in every area of their lives. People like these will change the world. They will fill and rule the earth for the glory of Jesus. They will plant churches and establish godly families and they will also establish hospitals, schools, arts, and sciences. That is what has happened, by God’s grace. And that is what will continue to happen until Jesus comes. (The Doctrine of the Christian Life, pp.861-862)

(HT: Dashhouse)

The Gospel

An Open Letter To ESPN The Magazine

Ted Kluck responds to the news that ESPN will run a "no-clothes" issue of the magazine. He writes in CT:

Not to sound overly biblical, but I think you've lost your first love, ESPN (assuming, of course, that your first love was ever sports to begin with). There's real beauty in one of Kobe Bryant's playoff performances, or Marc-Andre Fleury's game seven. It's the kind of beauty that, regardless of your rooting interests, makes you feel sort of proud to be a human being, and proud to be a sports fan. It transcends, for a moment, the overriding need to move product that is the backbone of our economy and has become the glaringly obvious point of all sports media.

So before you throw your hat into the nudity-saturated, lad-mag ring (or, ironically, remove your hat, as it were), consider the ramifications of your decision, particularly for the young male readers who idolize the Adrian Petersons and Lebrons on your pages. Ask yourself if what they need is more nudity and sexuality at increasingly younger ages, or perhaps more greatness—in the form of great performances and, more important to me, truly great writing.

Read the whole thing.

Cartoon of the Day

(HT: Christians in Context)

Witherington's Best 5 Jazz Records of the Last Five Years

Ben Witherington cites his 5 favorite jazz recordings of the last 5 years. He writes:

1) The Pat Metheny Group--- The Way Up. This is a jazz symphony, and probably the best work of fusion jazz ever wrought. It's a masterpiece.

2) Marc Johnson - Shades of Jade. This one came out of nowhere, and is one of the best 'sets a mood' pieces produced in a long time. In this regard it is very much like the ultimate jazz classic and number one jazz seller of all time Kind of Blue.

3) Brian Bromberg - Downright Upright. This involves Brian, a fabulous bass player, choosing some of his favorite jazz tunes and giving them a fresh spin. Its pure fun from start to finish.

4) Christian Scott- Anthem and Terrence Blanchard - A Tale of God's Will (tie). Both of these remarkable works come as a musical response to the disaster that was Katrina and both are by musicians deeply rooted in New Orleans and both are ultra fine trumpet players, with Scott being a wunderkind, and Blanchard being a long time producer of movie scores.

5) Roy Hargrove--Ear Food. Maybe the best CD of any kind that appeared in 2008. Hargrove is yet another remarkable trumpet player and this CD is full of verve and juice and joy.

Shaq Gets Humbled

I guess he is not THAT famous.

Newsweek's Holly Bailey writes:

For days, Shaq has been talking up a personal experiment: Is he so famous that he can just walk up without an appointment and get into the White House? He took an impromptu survey Friday on a DC sports radio show. "Check this out, I got on a nice suit, I'm in D.C. paying a visit, I jump out of a cab in front of the White House, I don't use none of my political/law enforcement connections. If I go to the gate and say, 'Hey, I'm in town, I would like to see the President,' do I get in, or do I not get in?" Shaq asked. Well, he tried. On Sunday afternoon, Shaq arrived in D.C. and promptly Twittered that he was headed over to the White House. Would the Secret Service bend the rules? Don't think so. A few hours later, Shaq updated again: "The white house wouldn't let me in, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?" he wrote.

The Latest Gadget From Apple

Read about it here.

Lincoln and Obama, Slavery and Abortion

JT:

Jeffrey Anderson and Darren Guerra recently argued that President Obama is more in step with Stephen Douglas and John C. Calhoun than with Abraham Lincoln. An excerpt:

There are significant parallels between these two issues. Each is likely the political or moral issue about which Americans of their era have, or had, the most passionate feelings and the strongest opinions. Each was ultimately decided, at least for a while, by the Supreme Court — in favor of legalized slavery and legalized abortion. And each involves conflicting interpretations of fundamental natural rights — of liberty versus property in the case of slavery, of life versus liberty in the case of abortion. . . .

Both slavery and abortion ultimately reduce to competing claims over unalienable rights. No one can justly take the liberty or life of another if that other qualifies for the rights with which all of humanity is endowed. Thus, debates over slavery eventually became — as debates over abortion eventually become — debates over the humanity of the slave or the fetus. If the slave or the fetus are among those beings who, in the words of the Declaration of Independence, “are created equal” and “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” then their unalienable rights to life (in the case of abortion) and liberty (in the case of slavery) must be secured. If they are not, then a slave-master may be said to have a right to property in a slave, and a pregnant woman may be said to have a right to liberty in the form of abortion.

Read the whole thing (but note that it's two pages, not one--it's hard to tell from the design on their page).

HT: Gene Veith

The Law/Gospel Rant

iMonk has a good post on law/gospel. Yes, he overstates things as times, but we need to listen to the drum he is banging today. Here is a portion, but read the whole thing:

Law preaching is powerful. It feels powerful. Even when it’s done poorly and just amounts to nagging, it makes the preacher feel like he/she is doing something. That’s one reason it’s so popular- you’re telling them what to do. You’re like Moses hitting the rock. Look what I did, you bunch of stubborn yokels. And joined with invitationalism and revivalism, it works. It fills the altar with crying students. I brings people down to get baptized for the 5th time and really mean it this time.

The Gospel, on the other hand, takes the power out of your hands. It’s the announcement of what God has done. You aren’t powerful at all. You’re one loser telling a bunch of other losers that they are going to be treated like winners. Bread for the thieves. Pardon for the unquestionably guilty. Love for rebels. You’re announcing that everyone gets paid the same. You’re issuing banquet seats to people who have no right to a ticket because they are dirty and sinful. You’re telling sinners that the lamb of God has paid the bill and it’s not going to appear on their charge anywhere.

You are telling people it is too good to be true, but it is too good and completely true, and it changes everything.

Ten Reasons To NOT Ask Jesus Into Your Heart

Todd Friel gives ten reasons why the phrase, "Just ask Jesus into your heart" is probably not a wise one for evangelism. I would encourage you to go over and read his reasons.

True For You But Not For Me

Christians in Context:

Ten years ago Paul Copan addressed and challenged the relativism and pluralism of our culture in his book True For You but Not For Me. Somehow that book had slipped under my radar and it was only upon the release of the new revised and expanded edition that I discovered it.

Thank goodness for revised and expanded editions.

This short and smart book reads like a practical field-guide for dealing with the challenges of moral relativism and religious pluralism that face Christianity today. While each chapter builds on the foundation laid by previous chapters, each is easily referenced by type and specific challege for a brush-up if one is in need of a quick response. As a philosopher, Copan is well equipped to both understand and deconstruct the false assumptions and faulty logic of some of the more extreme forms of postmodernism. At the end of every chapter is a summary in a few bullet points for easy review and a list of recommended books for further study.

This is, in short, the most concise handbook for addressing our culture's postmodern-fueled relativism that I have read. The information contained in this book should not just be read. It should be memorized if we are to present Christianity in a way that is clear, rational, reasonable, and winsome.

Making the Case for Life to 2nd Graders

Scott Klusendorf discusses how he helped a class of 2nd graders understand the value of life for those who are yet to be born. He also adds this a a good point of reflection:

Admittedly, I was having a blast with these kids. At the same time, they were teaching me an important lesson. The pro-life movement must find ways to reach kids earlier, before the surrounding culture talks them out of what they already know to be true. In many ways, these youngsters had better moral reasoning skills than many college students I meet!

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Good Quote From The Tim Tebow Article in S.I.

“Watching Tebow zip passes into the seams of opposing defenses, lower his shoulder in short yardage and exhort his teammates like King Henry V on St. Crispin’s Day, one might think that he was put on this earth just to run coach Urban Meyer’s spread offense. Watching him pace the floor of a gymnasium packed with 660 wayward men hanging on his every syllable is to realize that regardless of what position Tebow eventually plays in the NFL, and for how long, the football phase of his life is merely a means to a greater end.”

Link.

(HT: Denny Burk)

Because One Man Prayed

DG Blog:

Here's another classic message to add to "Boasting Only in the Cross."

John Piper delivered "Winning Battles Through Prayer" on July 19, 1990, at Wheaton College to ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment). Here's how John remembers it:

I recall that this message came together in a dorm room at Wheaton College quite late the night before I was to speak.... What had gripped me and demanded fresh attention was the fact that one single prayer from one man for the glory of God and the protection of his people resulted in 185,000 dead Assyrian soldiers. This is the [portion of the message] that captures my stunned heart that night:

Now the tremendously important point of this story is seen in the words of Isaiah in Isaiah 37:21-22: "Because you have prayed to Me concerning Sennacharib, King of Assyria, this is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him."

Because you have prayed! Because you have prayed, 185,000 enemy soldiers lie dead on the plans of Judah.

Think of it! Just think of it. Does prayer win battles?

Hezekiah, because you have prayed, the strongest king in the known world is gone—off the scene of history. Hezekiah, because you have prayed, the witness of my covenant love for David and my zeal for my name has spread throughout the nations.

Because one man prayed.

Obama, Adoption, and Planned Parenthood

Russell Moore on Twitter:

You cannot encourage adoption by giving tax money to Planned Parenthood.

My comment:

Obama says he wants to increase support for adoption in unwanted pregnancies. He also says he wants to increase support for Planned Parenthood through your tax dollars.

These two options are mutually exclusive. If Planned Parenthood would encourage adoption to their clients they would lose millions of dollars a year that they make through taking the lives of children.

Obama's stance is like saying, "I want to make sure that every child in America is protected from abusive parents" while at the same time giving every parent in America $50 for every bruise they inflict on their child with their fists.

If you really wanted to encourage adoption you wouldn't pay big money to a business that makes even bigger money off kids being disposed of by their parents.

I Will Be Watching This Movie

Persecution In North Korea

Pray for Christians in North Korea.

More here.

This book is a horribly painful read, but will open your eyes to the depravity of the North Korean government.

The Gospel and The Poor

Tim Keller has an updated paper on The Gospel And The Poor. You can download it here.

(HT: Jason Kovacs)

A Connection Between Foster Care and Abortion?

Michael New discusses a connection between foster care and abortion:

At any rate, the fact that children in foster care have high teen-pregnancy rates is unsurprising. A number of studies have shown that children from broken homes are more likely to engage in sexual activity at an earlier age. As such, it should not come as a shock that foster children engage in sexual activity more often and have higher pregnancy rates than their peers. Finding ways to reform the foster-care system so that children are placed in stable homes is a potential solution the author does not mention.

Furthermore, the fact that Planned Parenthood is gearing up to provide more sex education for foster children should concern the pro-life movement. The sex education provided by Planned Parenthood will doubtless be heavy on contraception and light on abstinence. Indeed, Planned Parenthood will doubtless have little interest encouraging reductions in the sexual activity which is causing the teen-pregnancy problem in the first place.

As such, this might be good opportunity for the pro-life movement, particularly crisis pregnancy centers, to specifically reach out to children in foster care. The pro-life movement receives a considerable amount of unjust criticism for failing to care about children after they are born. Reaching out to foster children would help to deflect this criticism. More importantly, greater involvement with foster children would have the short-term benefit of providing a valuable service to a vulnerable segment of the population. Furthermore, it would have the long-term benefit of instilling in foster children values that will allow them to someday form stable families on their own.

Of course, promoting abstinence without the Gospel can easily become empty moralism, so let's talk about the Gospel first and then talk about abstinence.

(HT: STR.org)

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I used to play in this guy's band. It was a great time. Learned a ton and played with some amazing musicians. Matthew West is a great songwriter and performer. If you ever get the chance to catch him live, do it. This is his latest record and it's his best to date. You can get it today for very cheap ($2.99).

Click here.

Quotes for Leaders From Vintage Church

A couple good quotes from Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll:

The problem with some churches and their leaders is that they won't fight, and the problem with others is that they won't stop fighting. The key is to fight for what pertains most essentially to the person and work of Jesus with the humbly loving courage that the gospel requires. (p. 142)

Good leaders do not pursue every opportunity, but only those few that are most strategic for the forward progress of Jesus' mission for their church. Bluntly stated, most churches are doing too much and doing it all poorly. To get and stay unified, church leaders must focus their resources (e.g., people, dollars, facilities, emotion, technology) on accomplishing a few things if they hope to accomplish anything. if not, there will be division as people jockey for resources for their various missions. (p. 146, 147)

New Piper Book For Free Download

DG Blog:

John Piper's new book Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ is now available for download. Get it for free.

Read an interview by JT with John Piper concerning this book.

ABQ People, Come Out This Saturday Night!

Profile of Tim Tebow

Sports Illustrated has an interesting profile of Tim Tebow.

Divine Sovereignty And Human Responsibility

We Should Have Done This At Our Wedding

(HT: Emily)

Together For Adoption Is Asking For Your Help

T4A:

If you are interested in helping us equip Christians theologically about orphan care and adoption, we are looking for volunteers who would help us produce a free e-book resource that will be released prior to our October 2-3 conference.

Please contact dan.cruver@togetherforadoption.org or jason@abbafund.org for information about volunteer opportunities in this important project. It may provide you with an opportunity to help mobilize Christians for orphan care.

Yeah, That's Right, I Got To Climb Up A Huge Grain Bid

When we were in Sioux Falls for part of our family vacation, we took the kids to see a farm. Myself and my two brother-in-laws got to climb up the grain bin. It was kind of nerve wracking, but quite cool once we got to the top. Beautiful views of some Sioux Falls farmland.

Thinking Theologically About Yesterday's Very Scary Incident

Yesterday, the two year old son of our dear friends here in Albuquerque was hit by a truck in the cul-de-sac of their neighborhood. We know that he is going to be ok and his injuries are not life-threatening (concussion, slight tear in the liver, two small fractures in the pelvis, and banged up pretty good) but when I got the call as they were headed to the hospital in the ambulance we didn’t know the status. I was bracing for the worst. I would take a bullet for this little boy, just like I would for any of my own kids so it shook me up pretty good. Thankfully we know that he is doing relatively well and will most likely go home from the hospital in a couple days.

But what if things didn’t turn out quite so well? I can still feel those emotions as I was driving to the hospital not knowing if he was going to make it: praying for God to spare him, praying for God to heal him, praying for his Mom and Dad, feeling the weight of the potential death of a precious two year old boy, what would I say?, there is nothing to say, just cry and be quiet, pleading with God to spare this little boy.

How in the world do we manage without the hope of a resurrection? Without the hope that Jesus will one day make all things right? Is life really just random matter in motion? Sometimes you get screwed over by life and that’s it? Really?

No way.

The older I get, the more suffering I observe and endure myself. Without the hope of real life future restoration I don’t know how any of us can cope. No wonder we medicate ourselves with sex, work, medication, and anything else that can anesthetize the angst.

Is Christianity just another means to pacify the pain? As Karl Marx said, "an opiate of the masses?" It would be if it wasn’t true, but Jesus’ real-life, in space and time, resurrection from the dead, 2000 year ago tells me otherwise. I’m betting the farm on that one and it will serve as my hope in the present for the restoration of all things in the future.

Romans 8:18 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Revelation 21:1-5 - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Having Right Answers Implies Asking The Right Questions

"The problem is not merely that we lack the right answers, but that we don't even have the right questions until God introduces us to His interpretation of reality."

- Michael Horton, The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World

(HT: STR.org)

N.T. Wright on Blogging/Kevin Spacey on Twitter

(HT: Carlos)

And a comedic take on Twitter with Kevin Spacey and Letterman:



(HT: Skye)

The Ultimate Push-up Guide: 35+ Push-up Exercises

Awhile back I drew your attention to the hundred push-up challenge. It's a great program that will give you a good goal to shoot for over a long period of time. I wasn't sure if I could do it, but I did. My wife got to 75! I was very impressed since her initial test was a grand total of 7.

The Art of Manliness blog has a challenging post guiding you through various forms of push-ups to keep you strong and fit. Why pay hundreds of dollars a year for the health club membership when you could do all these from home for free and probably get just as good a workout?

Here is a sample of one of the ones I like:

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AmazonMP3: Today's special: Angus and Julia Stone's A Book Like This, suggested if you like Lisa Hannigan or the Once soundtrack.

A Book Like This
by Angus & Julia Stone

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I Couldn't Agree More - The Danger of Watching Dumb Summer Movies

Doug Wolter links to a good article:

Dumb movies are made either by dumb people or (more likely) people who stifle their artistic potential for the sake of appealing to the lowest common denominator. Rather than making an effort to appeal to our virtues (I would argue this is one mark of true art), they tend to appeal to our vices. Their movies thrive off of simple formulas that are known to cause audiences to flock to the theaters: existing franchises, large explosions, crude and gross humor, slapstick comedy, sexual exploitation, sentimental manipulation of emotions, and simplified plot-lines …

The greatest danger of these movies is not what they are but what they do to us. They give us permission and at worst train us not to think about what we’re watching. As Christians, we don’t have this option. We are charged to remain sober and vigilant and to judge all things by scripture and the gospel. Does this mean we must concoct touching spiritual metaphors based on everything we see? No. But it does mean that if we ever find ourselves being taken on a ride by a movie about giant fighting robots [i.e. Tranformers 2], it’s best to either take control or jump off.

(Read the whole thing here …)

The Pastor & Musical Worship

Ray Van Neste:

Here is a great quote from Louis F. Benson, The Hymnody of the Christian Church (1927), preface, vi-vii:

“A good Providence has committed to the hands of every pastor, for such use as he can make of them, the three arts that lie nearest the human heart, - speech, poetry and music. The mission of poetry and music no doubt transcends the limits of congregational singing, but nevertheless it proves most spiritually effective in a self-expression by the people themselves in common song. . . .
Hymnody, then, is a spiritual function, and its welfare proceeds from the heart. Nevertheless its congregational expression needs guidance and a thoughtful ordering as much now as at Corinth in the days of St. Paul. Most of all it needs the inspiration which can only be imparted to preoccupied hearts by a pastor who cherishes it as among the best of God’s gifts, and understands it because he has learned the lessons of its chequered history, has measured its resources and traced the different lines of its ministry; and who is resolute to cultivate the spirit of song among his people.”

Note these points:
1) The pastoral value of poetry and music
2) The importance, value and power of congregational singing
3) The need for leadership in guiding the people to properly understand and appreciate the songs so that they might arise freely from the heart. It is true that authentic worship must arise from the heart, but it will not properly flow from “preoccupied hearts” without teaching and nurturing. And that, pastors, is our job.

May we too be “resolute to cultivate the spirit of song” among our people. Appreciation of congregational singing is no mere personal ‘taste.’ It is a spiritual issue, a deep need of our people; and we must lead, teach, and nurture so as to inculcate this value for the good of the souls of our people.

Oh. My. This is So Cool

It's been awhile since we heard from Imogen Heap, but if this new song is any indication, then I am beyond excited for her new record that will be released on Aug. 25 in the US. Her voice is so smooth and the melodies are melodies that I would want to write if I was as talented as her. The production is flawless and you can tell she spent painstaking hours crafting every beat of it. If you don't like this, you need to repent.

Diagnosing Bitterness

"I began to understand bitterness when I read something that a pastor I knew had written on the subject. He included a number of questions that helped me to reflect on whether I was suffering from bitterness, and I have listed some of them here for you in hopes that they help you see your bitterness, since you, like us all, are blind to your blind spots.

1) Do you continually replay in your mind with great detail a negative past
event and dislike for the person(s) involved?

2) Do you find yourself continually referring to someone in a pejorative
fashion because of some past hurt?

3) Do you intentionally avoid certain person(s) because you find yourself
becoming continually annoyed and angry in their presence?

4) Do you find that your dislike of someone is growing over time?

Eventually, our bitterness seeps out of us through our mouths, because it is through our words that our hearts are revealed. When we are bitter, we speak pejoratively about people to demean, disrespect, and disregard them. It is our verbal way of fighting back and making them pay.

Bitterness is often unrelated to the magnitude of a sin but is instead correlated to the emotional proximity of the offender. It is also often tied to betrayal. What I mean is this: if a stranger sins against you in a big way, you are unlikely to get bitter. But if a beloved family member or friend sins against you in a little way, you are likely to get bitter because you have opened your heart to that person and have high expectations for the relationship."

- Mark Driscoll, Death By Love, p. 221

Video: Freed to Visit Orphans

Great Parenting Resources From Covenant Life

Parenting Ages Infant to 5
By Brian Chesemore | Nov. 15, 2008
Training, Discipline, and the Rod | Audio | Outline (PDF, 136kb)
Biblical Principles of Parenting | Audio | Outline (PDF, 104kb)

Parenting Ages 6 to 10
By Kenneth Maresco | Jan. 17, 2009
Biblical Principles of Parenting | Audio
Shepherding Toward Conversion | Audio
Shepherding Your Child’s Heart | Audio
Overall Outline (PDF, 168kb)
Additional Resources: “Sowing Plan” (PDF, 56kb) | Plan to Overcome Complaining (PDF, 54kb)

**Check out the rest of The Parenting Years (ages 11-14, 15-18, 19-22) here.

(HT: Doug Wolter)

Children Gone Wild

I am sitting in the Omaha airport right now and currently witnessing one of the most horrendous episodes of unchecked child outrage that I have ever seen. The little girl is about 6 years old and is hitting, kicking, screaming (my ears are ringing right now), and running away from her Mom. Her Mom is sort of trying to do something about it, but simply will not discipline her child.

Thoughts:

1. I don't have all the information. This seems rather extreme, but perhaps there is information that I am not privy too that would help explain this situation. I should not be too quick to judge until I have listened to understand. Self-righteousness is right around the corner in my heart. I should easily remember the times (just about 10 min ago when we were passing through the security check!) when my children were hard to manage.

2. Kids are crying out for discipline. It's almost as though this little girl loves the give and take dance of her lashing out and her mother quietly trying to tell her to sit down. I believe that kids instinctively know that they need to be lovingly disciplined. It shows attentive care for them. You can see it in this little girl's eyes when she freaks out at her Mom that she is just waiting for her Mom to do something and continues to push it until she get some sort of reaction.

3. Kids will take as far as you give them. Sin runs deep in all of us and if we don't model God's disapproval for sin we do them a grave disservice. "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." Prov. 22:15.

4. The way to keep your child in check has to start at the home. If you want to manage your children well in public you had better be sure to manage them consistently at home, especially since you might get slapped with a lawsuit if you attempt to spank your child in public. I am not comfortable with spanking my kids in public, but my children know for sure that Dad will follow through when we are in the appropriate context. Your kids have to know that your words mean something. If you never follow through with what you say you are going to do then you simply become a liar in their eyes.

Should You Attend "Together For Adoption"?

Dan Cruver writes about who should attend the Together For Adoption conference, Oct 2-3 in Nashville, TN. I'll be (dv) live-blogging this event and can't wait to be there!

Information Overload Syndrome

Discovering God’s Deep, Dark, Mysterious Will

Mark Altrogge has another good post on finding God's will. He describes how I used to approach finding God's will:

Like the young engaged man who asked me:

“What if I marry the wrong person?”

“Are you attracted to her?” I asked.

“Yeah!”

“Did you pray about the relationship?”

“For weeks.”

“Did you get counsel?”

“From my pastors, parents, and D.A. Carson.”

“Does she have godly character?”

“If she were any more godly she’d be raptured.”

“Then she’s the one for you.”

“But what if we get married and someone else comes along who’s more attractive?”

“It will probably happen. But the one you marry is the one God has for you.”

God’s will isn’t a deep, dark mystery we have to solve.

Read the rest.

Nature-Deficit Disorder

Al Mohler:

Author Richard Louv believes that America's children are now suffering from a syndrome he identifies as "nature-deficit disorder." In his new book, Last Child in the Woods, Louv suggests that the current generation of American children knows the Discovery Channel better than their own backyards--and that this loss of contact with nature leads to impoverished lives and stunted imagination.

Read the rest.

I wonder if this is truth for adults as well? If we fail to make our kids go outside we rob them of the opportunity to hear God speak (Psalm 19). We need to help them contemplate all the wonders of God's glorious creation. Help them think theologically about all of life.

The Latest Family Pic

A Gospel Reminder

“Be sure you see this most wonderful and astonishing of all truths: God took the record of all your sins that made you a debtor to wrath . . ., and instead of holding them up in front of your face and using them as the warrant to send you to hell, God put them in the palm of his Son’s hand and drove a spike through them into the cross. It is a bold and graphic statement: He canceled the record of our debt . . . nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:14).”

- John Piper, This Momentary Marriage

(HT: OFI)

AmazonMP3 Daily Deal

AmazonMP3: Today's special: Stile Antico's Song of Songs, our editors' pick for the best Classical album of the year, so far.

$3.99

Life Light Up
by Christy Nockels

Price:

$2.99

AmazonMP3 Daily Deal

AmazonMP3: Today's special: the Bird and the Bee's Please Clap Your Hands EP, featuring a great cover of the Bee Gees' "How Deep is Your Love."

Me: I like this band. Very creative pop with very cool gal vocals with smatterings of jazz and electronica.

›Today's price: $.99

Good Question

iMonk: “If we believe the Gospel, doesn’t it seem a bit contradictory to….”

8. Not really care what’s in the song lyrics you use in worship? Doesn’t it seem odd to sing man-centered songs with almost no mention of the Gospel and not even notice that our affections aren’t being directed toward Christ at all? I like a tune and a fun chorus. I like to see people involved emotionally, but the New Testament has entire hymns explaining the incarnation and none about “the secret place.” I’m just sayin…

Read the other points here.

A Reflection on Chick Flicks

If you are prone to watch chick flicks you might want to consider reading this.

"If you want to dig a big hole, you need to stay in one place"

Seth Godin with a commentary for business and marketing professionals (and yes, the analogy completely breaks down when you start talking about selling something and the gospel) that may be helpful for thinking about kingdom impact as well.

If you want to dig a big hole, you need to stay in one place.

If you walk around town with a little shovel, you'll just end up digging thousands
of little holes, not one big one.

Call on one person ten times and you might make the sale. Call on ten people once each and you will likely get ten rejections.

The important thing to remember is that separate events are often separate. If you use the same ineffective approach on one thousand people, it's not going to start working better just because you use it more often.

Connected events, on the other hand, often benefit from frequency and trust.

Which leads to two viable strategies:
1. If you can stay still, stay still. Earn the trust, earn the sale by repeatedly demonstrating value and authority.

2. If you can't stay still, get a bigger shovel. Your marketing and your sales pitch has to be so refined and focused that it works the first time, because you don't get a second time.

Social Justice and Evangelism

Biola Magazine: “I think [a] criticism that has been raised [about the missional movement] is just this balance that missional tries to strike between social justice and “living out” the gospel on one hand and the proclaiming or preaching of the gospel on the other . . . How do we balance these things?

Ed Stetzer: I think, ultimately, if I push on two fronts — A and B — and I only get resistance on B, then I’ve got to push harder on B. Now, from my perspective I might think they are equally important, but we have to remember this: When you speak of justice, people will praise you, but when you speak of Jesus, they’ll condemn you. But we can’t speak of Jesus without speaking of justice and we can’t biblically speak of justice without understanding Jesus [emphasis mine], so ultimately we will have to overcompensate in the area of evangelism because that’s where there is resistance.

(HT: T4A)