Close to Home

On Thursday, July 24th, our whole area had torrential rains. In Andover, there was some serious flooding on Binney Street. Well, one of those flooded homes belonged to the Solt family who have most recently been a part of our mom's summer play group (for snapshot of the group, go here). You can read all about the flood on Binney Street here, including some of the Solt's comments on the flooding.

Flooding is tragic, but when it hits ones we know and care about, it is heartbreaking. So pray for them, first and foremost. And if you can give an hour or two to help them clean up (Jenny has already been over there helping them clean up and she's been cleaning kitchen ware that was soiled in the flood) or if you can assist them in replacing any of their possessions lost in the flood, call me at the church (978-681-6483) and I will get you in touch with them.

A Quote on Salvation

“God intentionally designed salvation so that no man can boast of it. He didn’t merely arrange it so that boasting would be discouraged, or kept to a minimum—He planned is so that boasting would be absolutely excluded! Election does precisely that.”

–Mark Webb

More Kitties

HT: Neatorama

LOLCats

Check out this very weird post from Joe Carter on something called LOLCat Comm. The picture to the right is one example.

Vacated

I am getting away for a few weeks tomorrow with my wife and daughter. I'm really looking forward to it. However, that means blogging will slow down quite a bit. I have some things scheduled to come out, but other than that, posting will be sporadic. But do not fear, I enjoy it too much to stay away for long. And especially if I come across anything bizarre, or deep, or interesting, or thought-provoking, you will surely hear about it here.

Humility

It's nearly impossible to say everything you want to say in a 35 minute sermon. And especially when it comes to this topic, I doubt a final word could ever be said about it. For that reason, here are some more thoughts and tidbits I picked up along the way while preparing:

1. Before I started writing anything, I read C.J. Mahaney's book Humility. Please read it! It is short--could be read in a few days. Though I went down a different road in my sermon than he does in this book, he is highly cross-centered and gives many helpful ways to combat pride and gain humility.

2. Speaking of C.J., here is a quote of his that mirrors the idea that the soul's desire for acceptance and love is the basis for pride (from Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry):

"...all day long, at the moment you become aware of burdensome cares, cast them upon the Lord, who cares for you. Where there is worry and anxiety; there is the pride of self-reliance. The humble man, though he may be responsible for many things, is free of care--he is care-free. His life is characterized by joy and peace, for it is impossible to be worried while trusting the Sovereign One."

3. Deepak Reju over at 9 Marks wrote a list of questions for pastors they should ask themselves to ascertain if they are really living lives of humility. I have modified them a bit for your use. I thankfully read them a few weeks ago. They helped prepare my heart:

• Where do you turn when you are carrying a heavy burden? Are there others in your life to whom you can turn and show your weakness?
• How often do you struggle with the pride of self-reliance?
• Can your life be described as joyful and peaceful?
• If I asked your spouse to describe your life, what would he/she say?
• Are you willing to ask others for forgiveness?
• Are you willing to ask your spouse and children to forgive you when you mess up?
• Do you find yourself always directing those around you, or do you take the time to really listen to what others have to say?

4. Here is a list of Manifestations of Pride by Stuart Scott. Read 'em and weep.

Distracting Ourselves to Death

Some really good "rules" here from John Mark Reynolds on how we can temper our use of those technological devices that clearly distract us and probably limit our mental capacity:

"First, no 'solitary media' on school days. If we watch a movie Monday through Friday, we are trying to make sure it is a family experience. In our family, anything we do together is active (discussion!) and not passive. At Lent the Reynolds go media free. Try it for forty days. You will hate it at first, but then (almost!) dread the end of Lent.

"Second, no earbuds with people (planes are an exception). When we are with people (especially folks we love), then we should talk with them. Life does not need a sound track and we are trying to limit our use of the Ipod to places (like the gym) where it gives us control of the music/audio we hear. The gym pumps music at us and the Ipod helps us avoid it. I must admit, however, that listening to the Brothers K in the gym and having the audio from the loudspeakers occasionally intrude leads to some fun moments.

"Imagine hearing Stacy’s Mom playing, while listening to Tolstoy’s description of Anna plunging into darkness through her misuse of passion . . . all the while running on an endless treadmill with CNN returning all the Obama fit to film. Quite educational really, an audio triptych of the new and old culture.

"Third, (and this is a hard one for me) with rare exceptions email needs to be checked twice a day and not more often. My phone should stay off or not be answered when in meetings with other people. (This seems obvious, but it is tempting to check email during meetings.)

"Fourth, my Google reader is fine for the 'news reading' time in the morning, but does not need to be checked again for the day.

"Fifth, my extended reading free time (longer articles or books) should equal my 'quick read' or video time. It does not matter, of course, whether the book is on-line (no Kindle yet for me!) or on paper, but the length and difficulty does."

See also Nicholas Carr's take on this subject, "Is Google Making us Stupid?" I think it is possible that I am getting dumber. Especially now that I use a reader, I process information so much more rapidly that I can't help but think the info gleaned is not "sinking in" like it once did. I think I will try and follow Reynolds' fourth rule.

Def: Immaculate Conception

The belief among Roman Catholics that Mary was conceived without original sin. Though not taught in the Scripture, Roman Catholics believe that this doctrine is a theological necessity in order for Christ to be born without the stain of sin. Protestants reject this doctrine citing insufficient biblical support. As well, Protestants would argue that the theological reasoning is problematic since Mary’s mother would have to be born without sin to protect Mary, and this would continue all the way back to the first woman. This doctrine was dogmatized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1854 in the Constitution Ineffabilis Deus by Pius IX.

From: Theological Word of the Day

Tuesday's Are For Music

At least this one is. I have been listening to a new "Christian" artist and commend her album to you. Brooke Fraser is a New Zealand native and her album is called Albertine. Buy it here or here. Really good stuff, almost the whole album. Watch her video below.

Homeschool Culture

Interesting thoughts here from Brian Sandifer in a blog post entitled "Homeschooling is NOT the Gospel."

Death Villages

A short, but good look into the horror that is the Sudan and Darfur. I was espcially moved by what the doctor had to say:

Woody Allen and Billy Graham

Fascinating, funny interview:



What's really interesting here is that Billy tries to make his case for belief in the biblical God on the basis of morality and Law (which was typical back then). That is, you shouldn't have premarital sex because God's law forbids it. Woody doesn't seem to get this at all. And I can understand why. Though Billy's position is hardly untrue, some people just do not respond to it. It makes little sense to them. Tim Keller has discovered this with the people of NYC. They don't respond to the typical emphasis of God's law and morality. What they do respond to is freedom. When asked the question, "Why should I refrain from pre-marital relations?" Keller would answer, "Well, if you do that, you will be beholden to it." Keller says that it is much easier to explain sin as idolatry. Why? Because they desire freedom above sinfulness. If you tell them that they are using sex in a way that imprisons them, they will stop to listen.

HT: KC

Batman Freaked Me Out

It's 2:35 AM and I am freaked out. I just got out of the film The Dark Knight about an hour ago, and now I can't sleep. This was a different kind of hero movie and a far cry from Tim Burton's original. It was really dark. Really. But, sadly, this drama is much more a reflection of what our world has become.

Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker had been so hyped up after his death that I doubted the on-screen performance could match it. It did. By far, the Joker was the scariest, best villain I have seen on screen. He was so convincingly scary that part of me hoped each scene he was in would be his last. I suspect the Joker will make an appearance in my dreams tonight.

This movie was highly complex. I need to see it about 5 more times to pick up on the narrative's nuances. It did feel a bit disjointed at times, but I can't help but think that was intentional. Evil does not come in a neatly wrapped up package. It is untamed, brash, and unscripted. That was this movie. Now if only I could get it out of my head.

This film is not for kids, and, even at PG-13, probably not for some adults.

Baby Marlee

Check out the new baby! Here is a note from the Pollock family:

"Marlee Ashlyn Pollock made her BIG debut into the world on July 9^th, weighing a generous 9lbs 11 oz and measuring 20 ½ inches long. Our precious new family member has completely captured our hearts. Her big brother Caelum is very proud of his new baby sister, and so far is taking the transition in great stride. Mommy and baby have rebounded well from Marlee’s 12 hour journey into Julie’s arms at the North Shore Birth Center. After a short stay at the Beverly Hospital to recuperate, the Pollock family is all together again, as Julie and Marlee returned home Friday. We look forward to introducing you to our sweet little girl soon."

Over-Achiever

Check out this story on my wife's sister. We're obviously very proud of her.

Get the Scoop on Movies

CT wrote up a good overview of the best sources that review/talk about movies. Here they are (I personally subscribe to EW and love it):

Entertainment Weekly
Informative, investigative, and intelligently written, EW is the standard bearer of entertainment magazines. If you want all of the inside scoop, go to Variety, but if you just want most of it, presented in a fun way without being gossipy or “fanboy,” EW has the write stuff — especially now with the sharp-witted Diablo Cody, Oscar winner for Juno’s script, as a back-page columnist.

MovieWeb, ComingSoon
Want to know what’s coming down the pike — not just in the next few months, but even a couple years from now? I rely on these two sites to keep me informed on upcoming releases — when they’re due, who’s directing, who’s starring, what’s the latest news on each, images, trailers, and so on.

IMDb
The Internet Movie Database has just about everything you could possibly want to know about any movie ever made. Want to know if 1961’s The Guns of Navarone won any Oscars? (It did: Best Special Effects.) Or who played Juror No. 11 in 1957’s 12 Angry Men? (It was George Voskovec.) It’s all here.

Looking Closer
Jeffrey Overstreet was the first critic on the CT Movies team when we launched in 2004 (he’d been writing Film Forum for CT for a while), and I’ve always appreciated his insights into the movies. I’ve learned more about how to watch a movie from Jeffrey than from anyone. His Looking Closer blog keeps me abreast of what’s happening in film, music, and more, and his thoughtful commentary goes the extra mile.

FilmChat
If I only went to one website a day to find out what I had to know that would be relevant to CT readers, Peter T. Chattaway’s FilmChat blog would be that one-stop shop. It’s comprehensive, but especially zeroes in on films, themes, and news relevant to a Christian audience. Bookmark it.

Tribal vs. Missional

Tullian Tchividjian posted on his blog an excerpt from a new book he is working on called Unfashionable. He writes:

"There’s a major difference between having a tribal mindset and a missionary mindset. The highest value of a tribally minded person is self-protection. They ask questions like: Since I feel the safest around those who are just like me, how can I protect myself from those who are different than I am? So they intentionally surround themselves with people who think the way they think, like the things they like, and despise the things they despise. As a result, they live with a sense of superiority, looking down on those who are not like them (for half my life I was convinced that surfers like me were far cooler than anyone on the face of this earth).

"In contrast to a tribal minded person, the highest value of a missionary minded person is not self-protection but self-sacrifice. A missionary minded person is a person that exists, not primarily for himself but for others. She is a person that is willing to set aside personal preferences in service to those whose preferences are different than hers. Missionaries are people who are willing to be inconvenienced, discomforted, and spent for the well-being of others. The Gospel of Jesus Christ demands that we be missionary minded, because the gospel is the story of God sacrificing himself for others."

Read the whole thing here.

HT: JT

A Quote on the Holiness of God

"We cannot grasp the true meaning of the divine holiness by thinking of someone or something very pure and then raising the concept to the highest degree we are capable of. God’s holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered. We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable. The natural man is blind to it. He may fear God’s power and admire His wisdom, but His holiness he cannot even imagine. Only the Spirit of the Holy One can impart to the human spirit the knowledge of the holy.”

A.W. Tozer, in The Knowledge of the Holy

Flying

I get on an airplane next week (I don't do it nearly as often as some in our church). All I can think about is this:

Trees

The ten most magnificent trees in the world. I dig the Circus Trees. I wonder if I could plant one in my backyard.

Let's Hope it Sticks

C.C. DeVille is a Christian. If you don't know who that is, read this. Here is a video of some pastors interviewing him:



You can read more about their experience here.

HT: Z

An Interview With "Lost" People

HT: Said at Southern

The High Calling of a Mom

Piper answers the question, "How can eternity influence a mother's daily tasks?"

Priorities

Steve McCoy gave an update on his family over at his blog, Reformissionary:

"We finally got the schedule for Elijah's all-star games, not that you care. But we were very surprised to find out the first game is this Sunday morning at 9:30am. We knew he could have a Sunday game, but we never assumed it would be in the morning. We felt compelled to have him play since they only have a 12 player roster and at try-outs they said you have to be able to play all games (that was before the schedule came out). But we also felt compelled to show our son and those on the team that we have priorities that trump baseball.

"So I pulled Elijah in to my office and showed him the schedule. He looked at me puzzled by the Sunday morning game. I asked him what he thought he should do. He said, "Go to church." No fight, no tears, no depression, no struggle, no whining. He has his priorities in order. I'm very, very proud of my little boy, and this Sunday we will be missing an all-star game in order to worship the one who made the stars. Geez, that was cheesy."

Not cheesy at all. Right on.

On Behavior, It's Complex

David Brooks (as always) has a great, insightful column today called "Luxurious Growth." Read it. In a nutshell, Brooks explains that those who study genes are far less sure that they will figure out how humans tick. He writes:

"It wasn’t long ago that headlines were blaring about the discovery of an aggression gene, a happiness gene or a depression gene. The implication was obvious: We’re beginning to understand the wellsprings of human behavior, and it won’t be long before we can begin to intervene to enhance or transform human life.

"Few talk that way now. There seems to be a general feeling, as a Hastings Center working group put it, that 'behavioral genetics will never explain as much of human behavior as was once promised.'"

He continues:

"The bottom line is this: For a time, it seemed as if we were about to use the bright beam of science to illuminate the murky world of human action. Instead, as Turkheimer writes in his chapter in the book, 'Wrestling With Behavioral Genetics,' science finds itself enmeshed with social science and the humanities in what researchers call the Gloomy Prospect, the ineffable mystery of why people do what they do.

"The prospect may be gloomy for those who seek to understand human behavior, but the flip side is the reminder that each of us is a Luxurious Growth. Our lives are not determined by uniform processes. Instead, human behavior is complex, nonlinear and unpredictable. The Brave New World is far away. Novels and history can still produce insights into human behavior that science can’t match."

This, of course, is a simple insight into the mind of God. God is God, we are not. You see, God uses everything to bring about his purposes. 'Everything' is huge; far too huge to comprehend. Every circumstance, every happening, every occurence. The movings of molecules, of cars, of words, of hurricanes, of stars, all with the intended purpose of glorifiying him. Though modern humans might find this disturbing, it is not new. God never said we wouldn't be able to peer behind the curtain. He just never said we'd ever fully understand it. And so we react the only way those who have been overfilled with majesty do. With praise.

On Pain, Why?

Read Piper on "Why God Doesn't Fully Explain Pain." He writes:

"God cannot make plain all he is doing, because there are millions and millions and millions and millions of effects of every event in your life, the good and the bad. God guides them all. They all have micro purposes and macro purposes. He cannot tell you all of them because your brain can’t hold all of them.

"Trust does not demand more than God has told us. And he has given us immeasurably precious promises that he is in control of all things and only does good to his children. And he has given us a very thick book where we can read story after story after story about how he rules for the good of his people.

"Let’s trust him and not ask for what our brains cannot contain."

It Will Blend

Tony Snow Died Today

Tony Snow worked for Bush Sr., worked at Fox News and then worked for Bush Jr. He died today after a long struggle with colon cancer. Read his obit here, or watch the video from Brit Hume below. It is odd how TV brings people you've never met into your home and, consequently, into your heart. I was a rabid Fox News junky in my early twenties and always admired Snow. I liked it that he was a hard news guy, was politically savvy, was a dedicated husband and father, and played the guitar and flute. Cool. Thankfully, he is worshiping Jesus today. He wrote a piece for Christianity Today last year entitled "Cancer's Unexpected Blessings." I hope that, while you read it, you pray for his family.

Give, But Give Well

Check out this fascinating article over at CT on Rusty Leonard, a Christian financial planner. Read it here. Though he did not originally intend it, he is single-handedly shedding light on Christian ministries that misuse their funds (but also on those that do a good job). I hope you read it. He was featured on 20/20 a while back and I use his ministry website, Ministry Watch, as a reference frequently. He has helped me personally think long and hard before I support any Christian ministry. Though we are called to give with abandaon, one can do so with a seatbelt on.

Like, Totally

Doug Groothuis writes well today on America's penchant for the word "like." Obviously, many of us do not use the word as intended (for purposes of rhetorical simile). Why? Doug hits the nail on the head (in my estimation):

"Perhaps the reason is that people hesitate to state anything unequivocally, to affirm with conviction. Therefore, nothing is what it is (the law of identity), it is only 'like' something else. Resemblance or similarity is all we can commit to. This way, one doesn't have to affirm anything concrete about objective existence."

My first preaching teacher in seminary would always, after hearing a student sermon, criticize their use of the words "like" and "kinda." "Either you mean what you're saying, or you don't," he'd say.

A Quote on Hell

"In Matthew 10:28 Jesus says that no physical destruction can be compared with the spiritual destruction of hell, of losing the presence of God. But this is exactly what happened to Jesus on the cross-he was forsaken by the Father (Matthew 27:46.) In Luke 16:24 the rich man in hell is desperately thirsty (v.24) and on the cross Jesus said "I thirst" (John 19:28.) The water of life, the presence of God, was taken from him. The point is this. Unless we come to grips with this "terrible" doctrine, we will never even begin to understand the depths of what Jesus did for us on the cross. His body was being destroyed in the worst possible way, but that was a flea bite compared to what was happening to his soul. When he cried out that his God had forsaken him he was experiencing hell itself. But consider--if our debt for sin is so great that it is never paid off there, but our hell stretches on for eternity, then what are we to conclude from the fact that Jesus said the payment was "finished" (John 19:30) after only three hours? We learn that what he felt on the cross was far worse and deeper than all of our deserved hells put together.

"And this makes emotional sense when we consider the relationship he lost. If a mild acquaintance denounces you and rejects you--that hurts. If a good friend does the same--that hurts far worse. However, if your spouse walks out on you saying, "I never want to see you again," that is far more devastating still. The longer, deeper, and more intimate the relationship, the more tortuous is any separation. But the Son's relationship with the Father was beginningless and infinitely greater than the most intimate and passionate human relationship. When Jesus was cut off from God he went into the deepest pit and most powerful furnace, beyond all imagining. He experienced the full wrath of the Father. And he did it voluntarily, for us."

-Tim Keller, in "The Importance of Hell"

Def: Innerancy

Belief among many conservative Christians that the Bible does not contain any errors, historical, scientific, or otherwise. Although the term was not employed much until the twentieth-century, upon the rise of biblical criticism, inerrantists would argue that this designation became a necessary line of demarcation between liberals and conservative Christians. Many difficulties arise when defining inerrancy as one’s hermeneutic (method of interpreting the Scripture) becomes an issue. Some would hold to a more literal hermeneutic and define inerrancy accordingly. Others would opt for a less definite hermeneutic and describe themselves as “reasoned inerrantists,” believing that the Bible is true in whatever it is attempting to communicate, but believing that what the Bible intends to communicate is often difficult to understand.

See here for articles on “reasoned inerrancy.”

From: Theological Word of the Day

Doctrine and Theology Make Life Simpler?

"Theology and doctrine make life simpler. They protect us from reading verse out of context, restricting our diet to our favorite passages, and making decisions based on impulse rather than truth. They put meat on concepts we tend to use mindlessly like, glory, gospel, salvation, and love. They help us understand what we're actually doing every Sunday. What complicates life is not doctrine but ignorance of doctrine."

-Bob Kauflin, in Worship Matters

HT: Z

Crazy Cool

Read more about this award winning movie here.

HT: Neatorama

Podcasting...Finally

For those of you who have inquired, We are finally podcasting the messages from GracePoint. You can subscribe through the iTunes store here. Here is our podcast feed if you'd like to feed it elsewhere.

Also, you might have noticed the sermon player to the right. I won't be loading individual sermons as blog posts anymore. You can listen to them there when they are available.

So, there are three ways you can get your hands on the messages from GracePoint:

1. Go to our original pages here and here.
2. Listen to them at the blog with the supplied player.
3. Get a subscription in iTunes or use our feed directly.

On Providence (Not the City)

From the Heidelberg Catechism:

What do you mean by the providence of God? (Question 27)

The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence does still uphold all things? (Question 28)

That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love; since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.

HT: Piper

Antidotes to Contemporary Stupefaction

From Doug Groothuis:

1. Read old, challenging books.
2. Talk to people in situations with no background noise.
3. Pray through the Psalms.
4. Read the Book of Ecclesiastes multiple times until it sinks in.
5. Talk to older people and really listen to them.
6. Sit in silence, doing nothing for short or long periods of time (but not in a yoga posture).
7. Thank God for what cannot be taken away.
8. Write a letter (not an email) to a friend or family member.
9. See a worthwhile film and then talk about it with a group of people. Don't use the word "awesome."
10. Drive in silence--no radio, music, cell phones, etc.
11. Listen to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" until you get it. But don't accept the theology of the liner notes.
12. Fast and pray for a few days (without telling anyone who doesn't need to know).
13. Pray written prayers from The Book of Common Prayer.
14. Read historical confessional statements such as The Thirty Nine Articles or The Westminster Confession of Faith or The Athansian Creed.
15. Do not interrupt people when you talk with them. Do not finish their sentences. Maybe they are looking for just the right word.
16. Weep with those who weep.
17. Stop watching television for one week. Note what happens to your soul.
18. Listen to a classic book on tape when you are driving.
19 Buy someone a book they wouldn't buy for themselves and ask them to read it.
20. Pray for strangers as they pass you by.
21. Take communion on a regular basis.
22. Look for opportunities to share the Gospel with strangers in creative ways. (I've done it in a public steam bath several times.)
23. Listen to Mars Hill Audio interviews.

Adoption

Many of the things I post on this blog come from another blog I read called Take Your Vitamin Z. It is the personal blog of Zach Nielsen, a worship leader in New Mexico. His first post this morning is on his family's decision to adopt a child. His only reason for not adopting, he says, is selfishness. May we all be moved to adopt quickly, saving as many kids as we can from certain despair and tragedy.

By faith and prayer our family has decided to move forward into the process of adopting a child into our family. We have four main reasons for this:

1. We want to model the gospel of Jesus as ones who have been adopted into the family of God (Eph. 1:3-10).

2. We desire to see James 1:27 lived out in our lives by caring for orphans. Why not care for one by adopting them and giving them a new life?

3. We want to see a culture of adoption raised up at the church where I work and as a full-time staff person we believe that it is very important that leaders model the values that we teach.

4. Our only real reason for not adopting is selfishness. If we can afford to support three kids I think we’ll probably be ok with four. The prospect of having an even crazier home, or getting up with another child in the middle of the night, or having enough energy to train and discipline another child pales in comparison with the overwhelming needs of an abandoned child who needs a loving Christian family. You could respond and ask, "Do you think that all those that choose not to adopt a child are selfish?" Certainly not, but it might be a good idea to ask yourself why don't you don't want to adopt? Of course there are good reasons, but if you are able and in light of the huge need in our world today, why not? I recognized the legalistic danger here. Adopting a child is not a Biblical command and we cannot place this conviction of ours on anyone else as a mark of true spirituality or something like that. But I think this danger is worth the risk in light of the need.

We are moving forward with All God's Children as our adoption agency. Would you pray with us that God would provide the means to see this desire fulfilled and that our family would be nothing but a blessing to an orphan child?

If I complain once today...

...it will be too much.



HT: Z

Def: Sola Scriptura

(Latin, “the Scripture alone”)

Belief of Protestants that Christian Scripture is the final and only infallible authority for the Christian in matters of faith and practice. Sola Scriptura was coined during the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, but according to Protestants, is found throughout Christian history. The belief in Sola Scriptura contrasts both the Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, and Eastern Orthodox belief that along with Scripture there necessarily exists an infallible authority which either interprets the Scripture with ultimate authority or adds new revelations to supplement the Scripture. Hence, in these traditions, the Scripture is not the final, ultimate, or only infallible authority as there are other authorities equal to that of Scripture. Protestants, on the other hand, while respecting the existence of other authorities (tradition, experience, reason, creation, etc.), do not believe that these are equal to that of Scripture and therefore must always be tested by, and submitted to, Scripture.

Recommended resource for understanding Sola Scriptura

From: Theological Word of the Day

Twitter Explodes

Cnet reports that Twitter has grown in popularity 500% in one year (and this despite numerous service outages). People dig community, in all forms. So do I.

Myths about Pornography

From the blog of Covenant Eyes, Breaking Free, Luke Gilkerson points out 6 "Myths About Pornography":

1. Pornography is harmless entertainment.
2. Pornography is a healthy way to stimulate ourselves sexually.
3. Pornography is not addictive.
4. Pornography is healthy for couples to watch together.
5. Pornography is a good form of sexual education for the inexperienced.
6. Pornography has been around since cavemen drew on walls, so there is no sense in turning it into a recent sexual problem.

Read the whole thing here (it explains all of these myths).

On a similar note, anyone who is even slightly tempted to view porn on the net should consider getting the Covenant Eyes software.

Awesome

Kilauea is erupting. Watch it here:

On the Proper Response to Politics

Insightful words here from Phil Johnson:

"Let me say this in closing: If you are a pastor, a church leader, or someone who disciples others and the question of who wins the American presidential election this year would alter your shepherding strategy, then you don't have a very sound game plan. Whether our next president is John McCain, Barack Obama, or Ralph Nader, or even (by some quirk of history) Hillary Clinton, it's highly unlikely that we'll find ourselves under a more hostile or more volatile political regime than Nero's Rome, which is where Paul ministered. Under those circumstances, Paul did exactly what we need to do: he preached the gospel in every possible venue. And the church flourished."

HT: Z

Paul Tripp, More on Words

Choose to Suffer

John Piper, on "Why Would a Christian Choose to Suffer?"

Everything is a Gift From God

I learned this today from my neighbor. When my wife brought our baby over to her this afternoon to see and hold, she was delighted. She smiled at her brightly and then hugged her. Pretty normal. Then she did something most people don't do. She held the baby up and kissed both of her ears. You see, our neighbor is deaf.

Def: Protestantism

A tradition in Christianity which found its self-identity as “Protestant” in the sixteenth-century Reformation. Protestantism began when the church, according to Protestants, lost the Gospel during the middle to late middle ages and reformers began to “protest” this loss. Martin Luther, often seen as the father of Protestantism, rejected the Pope’s claims to infallible authority, believed that the Gospel was being lost to a system of works-based salvation, and confessed the Bible alone was the only infallible and ultimate source of authority for the Christian. Protestantism is not a church, but a tradition which claims to have restored or reformed the Gospel, and hence, the church. Protestantism is made up of thousands of denominations (various expressions of the Protestant faith) and claims nearly four hundred million members world-wide.

From: Theological Word of the Day

5 Things Never to Say to Your Spouse

From an article at CT, here are the "5 Things Never To Say to Your Spouse":

What you say: "We can't afford it"
What your spouse hears: I don't care about the things that are important to you

What you say: "You think your day was bad …"
What your spouse hears: Enough about you, let's talk about me

What you say: "You're overreacting"
What your spouse hears: Your feelings aren't important to me

What you say: "Why can't you be more like so-and-so's spouse?"
What your spouse hears: My friend's spouse is better than you

What you say: "I'm sorry, but …"
What your spouse hears: I'm not really sorry

Agree with these? Disagree? Have others to add?

Holladay Weekend?

That's not a typo... I'm talking about Alyssa Holladay, a recent college graduate who attended GracePoint from the very beginning. Maybe you remember her with a bunch of other college students in tow, or serving in KidsTown. On her last Sunday with us, she shared how God has called her to make a difference in our world by going to Rwanda. To jog your memory, go here and listen to her (she shares her story near the end of that message, so fast forward to near the end where you can listen to her story. That is, unless you want to listen to the whole message!).

Well, recently Alyssa sent out an email where she announced that she's on her way to Rwanda where she'll be teaching kindergarten at the International School in Kigali. In her own words, "It is amazing how God has provided this opportunity that both helps with my financial needs and allows me to be more established for the year in the country."

So let's pray for her and her needs during this first year for her in Rwanda. Pray that God would raise up all she would need for her finances. Pray for God to strengthen her and empower her to do what he's called her to do there. Then continue to pray specifically for her and her needs throughout this year by staying up to date with what God is doing in and through her on blog.

Mighty Molly

My wife and I support a family who has given their life to serve Jesus through the ministry Family Life. We get occasional newsletters from them regarding their ministry, family and detailed prayer requests. But the letter we received today was different. It was devoted to the granddaughter of the director of Family Life, Dennis Rainey. Molly lived but seven days before succumbing to irreversible birth defects. Even as I type I hear my wife weeping in the background, probably realizing that little Molly could as easily have been our little Liz. I've linked below to the email correspondence from Dennis Rainey that came amidst the trial, as well a final email he sent describing the events around her death.

Original emails.
Final email.

As far removed as I am from them and their situation, I am not quite sure how one processes something like this. But I know it is a part of life. I have asked myself on several occasions, "Why did we even have a kid in the first place? Aren't we just submitting ourselves to the possibility of unbearable grief?" I have no answers. The joy and happiness I feel at the site and thought of my daughter trumps the thought of any pain I might endure in the future. That sort of joy comes only from Spirit of God, leading me and my spirit to the knowledge that He will indeed be glorified as a result of anything that ensues. Anything. Dennis concludes his email with words that he really should not have written (well, had they not come from God himself):

"Christians are the ONLY people who can laugh in the midst of such a crisis without despair-we KNOW where we are headed. Heaven is certain because of what Jesus Christ did for us through His death for our sins. Because He lives we who believe have the hope of life after death. If a person places faith in Christ for forgiveness of his sins, surrenders his life to Him, then he can be certain of heaven too. It’s the ultimate reason why death is different for a true follower of Christ. And it’s why we could laugh as our beloved Molly was about to leave us."

John Owen on Sin

“Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, might it have its own course, it would go out to the utmost sin in that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression, every thought of unbelief would be atheism, might it grow to its head” (Overcoming Sin and Temptation, 53).

HT: JH

Def: Roman Catholicism

A tradition in the Christian faith that distinguishes itself as the “one true church.” The primary distinctives of Roman Catholicism from other traditions of Christianity are 1) the bishop of Rome who claims apostolic succession, infallibility, and the authority of Peter the Apostle, 2) its claims to absolute and infallible authority in matters of faith and practice, 3) its claim to doctrinal fidelity with both the history of the church and biblical interpretation, and 4) the unity that is produced by such fidelity. Other major Christian traditions that would deny such claims are Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Roman Catholicism boasts of over one billion members.

From: Theological Word of the Day

Forgive me...

A Quote for Independence Day

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

- The Apostle Paul, Romans 8:18-21

Be Missional, Use Your Home

Doug Wolter writes well here on how to use your home to reach out to the lost:

"While churches continue to seek out the best “strategy” for reaching their communities for Christ, some have simply returned to the timeless tradition of opening their homes to others. No, it’s not flashy. And no, it’s not programmed. It’s just the most natural setting for proclaiming Christ to your friends and neighbors."

He points to some tips from Alexander Strauch:

• Set a regular time each week/month to invite people to your home
• Make a list of people who would be encouraged by your offer of hospitality
• Remember to invite people to your home during holiday seasons — especially those who rarely receive an invitation and cannot repay you (Luke 14:13)

Is God Dead?

From CT's most recent issue, William Lane Craig answers this question with the response: "God is Not Dead Yet." He begins the piece,

"You might think from the recent spate of atheist best-sellers that belief in God has become intellectually indefensible for thinking people today. But a look at these books by Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens, among others, quickly reveals that the so-called New Atheism lacks intellectual muscle. It is blissfully ignorant of the revolution that has taken place in Anglo-American philosophy. It reflects the scientism of a bygone generation rather than the contemporary intellectual scene.

"That generation's cultural high point came on April 8, 1966, when Time magazine carried a lead story for which the cover was completely black except for three words emblazoned in bright red letters: "Is God Dead?" The story described the "death of God" movement, then current in American theology.

"But to paraphrase Mark Twain, the news of God's demise was premature. For at the same time theologians were writing God's obituary, a new generation of young philosophers was rediscovering his vitality."

Ephesians 4:1-6

An interesting take on some of the words in Ephesians 4:1-6 from Tim Lane:

Humility - The habit of looking at your own sin before looking at another's

Gentleness - Having your strengths bridled by the gospel, so that you empower others rather than seek to get power. One of the greatest expressions of humilty is the liberating act of giving encouragement to others.

Patience - How we respond to sins that are committed (often against us). The practice of forgiveness is a true mark of patience.

Forbearing love - Less about overlooking sin, but more about bearing with those annoyances and personality quirks that tend to bug us -- loving those people who are different and who live differently from us.

From: Peacemaker Ministry Blog

Words: From the Heart and Nowhere Else

Watch this video from a guy named Paul Tripp. I don't know a lot about him, but I like this video:



So the implication of this is that there is nothing that comes from our mouth that is not an outpouring of our heart. There is no excuse for anything we say other than, "My heart and spirit led me to say that." That is foundational, and deeply convicting. The next time I say something stupid to my wife, I can't say, "Oh, you took it the wrong way" or, as Tripp says, "That's not what I meant." Of course it was.

(From an interview for the Desiring God Conference)

Stott on Salt

"God intends us to penetrate the world. Christian salt has no business to remain snugly in elegant little ecclesiastical salt cellars; our place is to be rubbed into the secular community, as salt is rubbed into meat, to stop it going bad. And when society does go bad, we Christian tend to throw up our hands in pious horror and reproach the non-Christian world; but should we not reproach ourselves? One can hardly blame unsalted meat from going bad. It cannot do anything else. The real question to ask is: where is the salt?"

- John Stott, The Message of the Sermon On The Mount, p.65

HT: Z

Some Music for Your Wednesday

Andy Mckee:

Immanence

Lat. immaneentia “indwelling” or “to remain within”

The theological understanding that God is close to or “within” the natural order, contributing to the world by his active presence. This activity is expressed through his providential control of the universe and through his relational involvement. The doctrine of immanence is to be contrasted but not separated from God’s transcendence (meaning God’s being is independent of the world and all things physical). Christian theism believes that God is both immanent and transcendent at the same time.

Further study: Knowing the Transcendence/Immanence of God

From: Theological Word of the Day

On Hell

I just read one of the best pieces, in my opinion, on the biblical subject of Hell. It's by Tim Keller and I hope you read it. It helps fills in some holes he left in his treatment of the subject in his book The Reason for God.


HT: Steve McCoy

A/C vs. Rolling Down Your Windows

I guess, according to Slate, this is the rule of thumb when trying to determine which uses less gas--air conditioning or rolling down your windows:

1. In the city, roll down your windows.
2. On the freeway, use the a/c.

The deal is that on the freeway, rolling down your windows creates so much drag that you use more gas than you would if you just had the a/c on and the windows up.

And don't tell me this blog isn't here to help you.

Health and Wealth

John Piper, in a powerful video on the erroneousness of the "prosperity gospel" and the trueness of the sufficiency of Christ (he pulls no punches here):



HT: Resurgence