Wednesday, April 30, 2008

There is no certainty, only opportunity.

Apologies to the non-sports fans, but it's time for a playoffs update.

NBA ...

The Suns & Mavericks made big trades to try to give themselves a shot in the arm gearing up for the playoffs. Both were bounced last night in 5 games. Neither adding Shaq nor Jason Kidd got them over the hump.

It's easy to fall from grace. The Mavericks were up 2-0 on Miami in the NBA Finals in 2006 and had a meltdown in Game 3, which started a 3-12 run in the playoffs, even after winning a historic 67 games in 2007.

Conversely, the Mighty Lakers had Kobe and seemingly nothing else just a year ago and now the #1 seed in the greatest field the West has assembled has swept its way to the 2nd round. They handily beat the Nuggets, a team with the #3 and #4 scorers in the league.

I'm still thinking Lakers vs. Celtics in the NBA Finals, but I feel much more confident about the Lakers chances in that now. I think they can handle the winner of Houston & Utah, but will struggle mightily against the Spurs, whom I think can handle the Hornets.


NHL ...

The Stars have been underachieving in the eyes of many for quite a few years, having severe difficulty making it out of the 1st round.

They handled the defending champs (Ducks) with relative ease in the 1st round and are now up 3-0 on the Sharks, with a juicy chance to sweep at home tonight.

I'm sticking by my prediction of a Stars vs. Wings Western Conference Finals.

Detroit is also up 3-0, though Game 4 is a road game for them. I think it's less likely that Wing will beat Lanche in Colorado in Game 4. I'm thinking 4-1 Wing, which should give Dallas an extra 3 days rest, which they'll need going on the road for Game 1 at The Joe.


NFL ...

The Cowboys went 13-3 in the regular season and secured the #1 seed, which meant home field advantage throughout the playoffs and a 1st round bye. They were favorites to be in the Superbowl, but they were "one and done."


Whether it be a #1 seed like the Cowboys or the 2007 Mavericks or a blockbuster trade for Jason Kidd or Shaq, we've learned that there is no certainty, only opportunity. Sometimes lesser teams make more of their opportunities and consequently achieve more.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

It says one hundred percent guaranteed, you moron!

Some thoughts that potentially seem unrelated, but not to my small brain.

I want to talk about signs. I know ... "Signs, signs, everywhere signs, etc."

This 1st sign I saw at a local eatery, the Flying Fish. I thought it was a cute way of saying, "Control your young."

This is an example of a good sign, cute, yet effective.

This 2nd sign got my ire up. I saw the sign and thought, "Sweet, color copies. 29 cents? What a bargain. That sounds like a bargain for me."

Well, the check out gal charged me more. I was like, "Hey, do this, don't do that can't you read the sign?" She was like, "Well, that's only for 100 or more copies." I was like, "Really." She was like, "Really, go read the fine print."

I read the fine print; she was right. I was mad. She was uneasy when I took a picture of the sign.

3rd sign ... Back in the day we would frequent Blockbuster video. We were among the many duped into thinking that "NO LATE FEES" meant ... wait for it ... that there were no fees for lateness. Not so much. After a week, they charged me the price of the movie, which was refunded minus a "restocking" fee. I asked, "Isn't that a fee you charged me because the movie was late, making it a "late fee"?

The Attorney General of Texas had to intervene in their shenanigans. We do Netflix.

4th sign ... It's not the first time I've been angered by a misleading sign (my take at least). There's a pizza joint in town that violated its own sign. It said, "If we fail to open your box to show you your pizza, it's FREE." (I didn't have my camera phone back then.)

They handed me my pizza and said, "Thank you, come again." I walked through the door and then immediately walked back in. I said, "Your sign says ..." and read it to him, like he was a child. He was like, "Well, I can open it for you now if you'd like." I appreciated the thought, but would have appreciated more the free pizza. No joy. I've not been back.

Ever been tempted without knowing "the fine print" of a deal? I was watching the Little Mavericks the other night and the lady in the FORD commercial told me, "You can take home a new Ford F-150 for just $189 a month. That's right, just $189 a month." Since I'd been truck watching for about 4 years now, I thought, "Wow! That's really a great deal, assuming you're not making those payments for 30 years."

I have a big plasma TV and I was watching the game in HD, but I noticed something blurry at the bottom of the screen. I got off the couch and read the fine print: "first three payments are $189 on the truck then payments resume to normal amount based on interest rate, term, and down payment." Not cool!

I think this is unethical, but the "Seeker" movement seems to be of that same ilk. There is no "fine print" of the Bible, yet there are many facts kept from the potential "customer" in order to get him/her into the church or down an aisle, etc.

Often so-called "Gospel" presentations will promise things the Gospel does not (happiness, better marriages, obedient children, etc.). But the reality is that coming to Jesus means so much more than (hell)fire insurance.

It means being right with God and one of His children, the consequence of which is no longer being right with the world or the children of the devil. (N.B. Philippians 1:29)

I said all that to say this ... don't be afraid to share the fullness of what it means to be a Christian. We're not justified by works, but there is an expectation of God's people to serve for His honor and glory.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.

Check out this amazing play by Cardinals pitcher Joel Pineiro!

Read a local take on the "New Waco," the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado: A Mother of a Mistake. (Obviously, very little is actually known, but I loathe seeing young kids taken away from parents, especially just on suspicion.)

Check out these fast food drive thru raps. I can do the McDonald's one, but the others are new to me. I need to work on one for White Castle.

Check out the answer to this convicting question, "Exactly how much housework does a husband create?"
"Having a husband creates an extra seven hours a week of housework for women, according to a University of Michigan study of a nationally representative sample of U.S. families. ... For men, the picture is very different: A wife saves men from about an hour of housework a week."

Check out Owen Strachan's post about television viewing habits and how much TV a Christian should watch. (HT Tim Challies)

Check out the exchange(s) between Erhman and/versus Wright on the problem of suffering.

Read as Christianity Today considers what the “new masculinity” movement gets right and wrong. (HT Brent)

Read about a church member who “received a letter from her pastor stating she would lose her church membership if she did not pay her tithes within the next thirty days.” (HT Brent)

Read 20 Things That Christians Do in Church That Annoy Me.

Learn 14 Old Testament ways to get a wife. (cf. Prov 18:22; 19:14)

Read some thoughts on "interracial" marriages from Johnny Mac's church.

Check out Issue 36 of the Princeton Theological Review, all about Theology and the Arts. (HT Logan)

Read 10 ways to ruin short term mission trips.

Read Ed Stetzer's thoughts on the monumental sign of the decline of the SBC.
"For now, Southern Baptists are a denomination in decline. Some of you were born into an SBC church; others of us chose it of our own accord. Either way, it is dear to us all. Our responsibility before God is, then, to urgently consider how we should respond. Yes, most of our response should be personal and lived out in our local churches—this is a local church issue. But if we are choosing to partner in this network of churches, and the network is faltering, it will also take some joint action. As such, I offer a few suggestions."

Read Ed Stetzer's justification of how this one year's results indicates a trend, not an anomaly.

Read thoughts on the most pressing issues for Southern Baptists.

Check out Gunny's post on the WWE Royal Rumble of Words between presidential candidates Hilrod Clinton, Ba-Rock Obama, and the Mac McCain on "professional" wrestling's flagship show, RAW.

Check out (and potentially buy) the Reader's Hebrew Bible. Hebrew words used less than 100 times are footnoted, with a lexicon of those used 100+ times in the back. (HT Mark L)

Get the Readers Greek New Testament as well; I've loved mine and recommend it as a great resource for staying current with your Greek.

Read as Stephen J. Dubner asks if distinctively African-American names are a thing of the past.

Read Jesse Johnson's review of Ben Stein's movie "Expelled."

Read some thoughts on teaching as Jesus taught.

Read 10 actions to increase Sunday school attendance. With the exception of "goal setting," I appreciated these insights.

Read about how "Dallas" won the Cold War in this Washington Post piece. (Incidentally, I live less than a mile from Southfork Ranch, the former residence of the Ewings. I used to watch the show as a teenager living in England, because we only had that and the "A-Team" as our American options.)
"Dallas" wasn't simply a television show. It was an atmosphere-altering cultural force.

Read about the golfer who got back to back holes in one (Par 3s). I did this once ... at Putt-Putt.

Read Ed Stetzer's profound thoughts on evangelism to the unchurched and the Sunday morning church service.
“Unchurched adults interested in finding a congregation aren’t nearly as likely to visit one in person as a church member who is shopping for a new congregation. That means effective evangelism must begin outside the sanctuary in relationships between Christians and unbelievers.”

Read 12 tips for Christians on writing a letter to the editor from Douglas Groothuis. (HT Justin Taylor)

Read about the inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge is suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds because of the jailhouse menu.

Read about proposals to ration inmates toilet paper quantities.

Read the Trevin Wax interview with N.T. Wright regarding Wright's new book, Surprised by Hope. Topics include errors of the social gospel and critiques from Dever and Piper. (HT Justin Taylor)

Read about how Assisi, hometown of St. Francis, has banned begging.

Comment of the Week:
"The way I like to put it is that most people seek the benefits God offers (inner peace, for ex.), yet no one seeks God." (Lance)
Listen to yesterday's sermon at Providence Church on Philippians 1:18b-26, "May Our Ordered Lives Confess."
"Trouble is part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you a chance to love you enough."
- Dinah Shore

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Where hides evil in my kingdom, then? Always ... where you never expect it. Always.

I took a cold shower this morning because the pilot light had gone out on the hot water heater. I re-lit the pilot light this afternoon, but only after having my spiritual pilot light re-lit at the meeting of the Lone Star Founders Fraternal.

Dr. John D. Hannah was our guest speaker and he spoke on “Walking with God in Integrity.”

He took us back to the Scriptures and to the Puritans in general and John Owen & Jonathan Edwards in particular to help us understand how we are to deal honestly with our own depravity in our passion to glorify God in our lives and ministry.

Some quotes for your edification:

“What does it mean to glorify God? God is glorified in His creation when it reflects His character. We are to be mirrors of what God has granted to us of Himself by the Spirit.”
- Dr. Hannah

“What is the point of the Bible? The focus of the Bible is the glorification of God; the Bible begins and ends with divine and creaturely harmony. The fall brought disharmony, but God is sovereign and patiently bringing a restoration when creation will glorify Him fully once again. Christ, the anticipated lamb, came in the incarnation, and purchased a people for God by paying the debt that prevented their assimilation into God's family and God declared them righteous in Christ. God, by His Holy Spirit, is drawing the redeemed family together. When complete the 'garden' will be perfectly restored. God will be eternally glorified in His creatures.”
- Dr. Hannah

“What is the experience of redemption? The experience of redemption is an affectionate embrace of the beauty of Christ, a life of transforming delight in God as revealed in Christ.”
- Dr. Hannah

“God brings disappointments into our lives to shape us spiritually in that the design is that through them we depend on the Lord more.”
- Dr. Hannah

“God uses the evil actions of others upon our lives to shape us to reflect His glory.” (cf. Genesis 50:20)
- Dr. Hannah

“Sanctification has a double aspect. Its positive side is vivification, the growing and maturing of the new man; its negative side is mortification, the weakening and killing of the old man.”
- J.I. Packer, A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life

“The spiritual life is a mental struggle of what you occupy your mind with.”
- Dr. Hannah

“The spiritual life requires discipline; it is hard work and is a product of time and repetition.”
- Dr. Hannah

“The spiritual life is a bunch of habits, where you're replacing one set of habits for another.”
- Dr. Hannah

“Habits are routines that are not easy, but over time become a delight. What you are doing is replacing one set of routines for another.”
- Dr. Hannah

“No one has their act together; we all have areas of spiritual success, areas needing improved discipline, and areas of failure. Join the 'club' of fallen, redeemed humanity!”
- Dr. Hannah

“If you desire to think correct thoughts, you must have good ideas in your mind. You simply cannot avail yourself to what is not there.”
- Dr. Hannah (on the importance of the Bible in godliness)

“Right thoughts require the mental expression of good ideas; good ideas come from good input.”
- Dr. Hannah

“Perception of growth and growth are two different things.”
- Dr. Hannah

“If you think you're free from sin, go talk to your spouse.”
- Dr. Hannah

“The dominion of sin is present when sin exercises control over the will of a man with no opposition from another principle.”
— John Owen, Dominion of Sin

“The nature of sin does not change in regeneration or sanctification, but its status in us is radically attired.”
- Sinclair Ferguson, John Owen on the Christian Life

“None of us have our act together, but we cling to the cross.”
— Dr. Hannah

“Grace changeth the nature of man, but nothing can change the nature of sin.”
— John Owen, Indwelling Sin

“When [sin] is least felt, it is most powerful.”
— John Owen, Indwelling Sin

“If I understood the evil of my own heart, I would be less quick to tell others what they should do.”
- Dr. Hannah

“The man that understands the evil of his own heart, how vile it is, is the only useful, fruitful, and soled believing and obedient person.”
— John Owen, Indwelling Sin

“Many men harbor spirit devouring - lusts in their bosoms that lie as worms, at the root of their obedience, and corrode and waken it day by day.”
— John Owen, On Mortification

“Remind yourself that sin never pays long-term positive dividends.”
- Dr. Hannah

“Trace the particular manifestation of sin to its root. The cause of poor behavior is often hidden. Another way to say it is this: That which bothers us is often a fruit of a deeper cause. To make progress we must search out the underlying causes and deal with them.”
- Dr. Hannah

“Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it”.
– Jonathan Edwards

“I have concluded to endeavor to work myself into duties by searching and tracing back all the real reasons why I do them not, and narrowly searching out all the subtle subterfuges of my thoughts and answering them to the utmost of my power, that I may know what are the very first originals of my defect, as with respect to want of repentance, love to God, loathing of myself – to do this sometimes in sermons.”
– Jonathan Edwards

“Allow God to speak peace rather than assuming you have it. A lot of lessons are missed in hurray. Do not claim a verse and claim more than you should have.”
- Dr. Hannah (in the context of dealing with your sin in repentance)

“The Lord gave us two ends--one to sit on and the other to think with. Success depends upon which one we use the most.”
- Calvin Coolidge

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts.”
- Calvin Coolidge

“Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.”
— Jonathan Edwards

“A lot of our godliness is just protecting our image.”
- Dr. Hannah (in the context of spirituality done for the eyes of others, instead of the eyes of God)

Thursday, April 24, 2008

I wish, for just one day, Dad couldn't tell a lie.

Anyone able to verify the veracity of this? I got this via email, so I know it must be true, but was hoping for confirmation or refutation.

Are these things Barak Hussein Obama has said?

Some of these things are very specific and I would think there's some background here. Even though one should never distrust email, I would like to see some documentation substantiation before I buy into them.

Yet, if some of these are true, I'm concerned, regardless of whether or not he lied about them.

Fw: 58 lies made by Obama
  1. Selma Got Me Born - LIAR, your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965.
  2. Father Was A Goat Herder - LIAR, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.
  3. Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - LIAR, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had
  4. My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - LIAR, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya . It is the first widespread violence in decades.
  5. My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian - LIAR, she does her daily Salat prayers at 5am according to her own interviews. Not to mention, Christianity wouldn't allow her to have been one of 14 wives to one man.
  6. My Name is African Swahili - LIAR, your name is Arabic and Baraka (from which Barack came) means blessed in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.
  7. I Never Practiced Islam - LIAR, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years,until your wife made you change, so you could run for office.
  8. My School In Indonesia was Christian - LIAR, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check your own book).
  9. I Was Fluent In Indonesian - LIAR, not one teacher says you could speak the language.
  10. Because I Lived In Indonesia , I Have More Foreign Experience - LIAR, you were there from the ages of 6 to 10, and couldn't even speak the language. What you did learn, how to study the Koran and watch cartoons.
  11. I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs - LIAR, except for Africa (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies.
  12. I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion - LIAR, you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no mention of struggle to identify - your classmates said you were just fine.
  13. An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office - LIAR, Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.
  14. A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life - LIAR, Life has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.
  15. I Won't Run On A National Ticket In '08 - LIAR, here you are, despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by then, and you are all about having experience first.
  16. "Present" Votes Are Common In Illinois - LIAR, they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.
  17. Oops, I Misvoted - LIAR, only when caught by church groups and democrats, did you beg to change your misvote.
  18. I Was A Professor Of Law - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
  19. I Was A Constitutional Lawyer - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
  20. Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill - LIAR, you didn't write it,introduce it, change it, or create it.
  21. The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass - LIAR, it took just 14 days from start to finish.
  22. I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill - LIAR, your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation - mainly because of your Nuclear Donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.
  23. I Have Released My State Records - LIAR, as of March, 2008, state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the special interests pork hidden within.
  24. I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess - LIAR, you were part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens . You failed to mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.
  25. My Economics Bill Will Help America - LIAR, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill.
  26. I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - LIAR, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.
  27. I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - LIAR, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.
  28. No One Contacted Canada About NAFTA - LIAR, the Candian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them.
  29. I Am Tough On Terrorism - LIAR, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction of Israel .
  30. I Am Not Acting As President Yet - LIAR, after the NAFTA Memo, a dead terrorist in the FARC, in Colombia , was found with a letter stating how you and he were working together on getting FARC recognized officially.
  31. I Didn't Run Ads In Florida - LIAR, you allowed national ads to run 8-12 times per day for two weeks - and you still lost.
  32. I Won Michigan - LIAR, no you did not.
  33. I won Nevada - LIAR, no you did not.
  34. I Want All Votes To Count - LIAR, you said let the delegates decide.
  35. I Want Americans To Decide - LIAR, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time.
  36. I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - LIAR, you passed 26, most of which you didn't write yourself.
  37. My Campaign Was Extorted By A Friend - LIAR, that friend is threatening to sue if you do not stop saying this. Obama has stopped saying this.
  38. I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - LIAR, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you.
  39. I Don't Take PAC Money - LIAR, you take loads of it.
  40. I don't Have Lobbyists - LIAR, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting.
  41. My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - LIAR, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.
  42. My Campaign Never Took Over MySpace - LIAR, Tom, who started MySpace issued a warning about this advertising to MySpace clients.
  43. I Inspire People With My Words - LIAR, you inspire people with other people's words.
  44. I Have Passed Bills In The U.S. Senate - LIAR, you have passed A BILL in the U.S. Senate - for Africa, which shows YOUR priorities.
  45. I Have Always Been Against Iraq - LIAR, you weren't in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time, unlike Kucinich, who seems to be out gutting you Obama. You also seem to be stepping back from your departure date - AGAIN.
  46. I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - LIAR, your plan leaves us all to pay the 15,000,000 who don't have to buy it.
  47. I Only Found Out About My Investment Conflicts Via Mail - LIAR, both companies you site as having sent you letters about this conflict have no record of any such letter ever being created or sent.
  48. I Am As Patriotic As Anyone - LIAR, you won't wear a flag pin and you don't put your hand over your heart during the Anthem.
  49. My Wife Didn't Mean What She Said About Pride In Country - LIAR, your wife's words follow lock-step in the vein of Wright and Farrahkan, in relation to their contempt and hatred of America.
  50. Wal-Mart Is A Company I Wouldn't Support - LIAR, your wife has received nearly a quarter of a million dollars through Treehouse, which is connected to Wal-Mart.
  51. Treehouse Is A Small Company - LIAR, the CEO of Treehouse last year, made more than the CEO of Wal-Mart, according to public records.
  52. University Of Chicago Hospital Pay Is Fair - LIAR, your wife's pay raise was nearly 150% her already bloated rate and the hospital is a Non-Profit Hospital, which made $100,000,000 in the last 3 years. They overcharge blacks VS whites for services, and overcharge everyone in general by 538%!
  53. I Barely Know Rezko - Only 5 Billed Hours - LIAR, you have known him for 17 years, and decided to do a real estate deal with him during a time when he was proven to be under investigation. Despite this, you divided your property and had them take off $300K before the mortgage problems started. Then Rezko's wife buys the lot beside it that you can't afford, saving you $625,000.
  54. My Donations Have Been Checked Thoroughly - LIAR, you only gave back Hsu ($72K) and Rezko ($150K) of their money when publicly called on their involvement in your campaigns.
  55. My Church Is Like Any Other Christian Church - LIAR, your church is so extreme, the pastor who married you, Rev. Wright, just got done blaming the US for 9/11 and named Louis Farrahkan their person of the year.
  56. I Disagree With My Church All The Time - LIAR, you still have yet to repudiate Wright, who married you and your wife, and you still donate large sums of money to assist the church in furthering its message - hatred and revenge. You donated in 2006 alone, $22,500 to the church that you so terribly disagree with. That is nearly $500 PER WEEK - that sure is disagreement, Senator Obama.
  57. I Have Clean Connections Despite Rezko - LIAR, you are not only connected to Exelon and Rezko, you are also connected to Hillary PAC supporter Mr. Hsu, AND an Iraqi Billionaire of ill repute, Nadhmi Auchi, who ripped off people in the Food For Oil, Iraqi deal. Seems Mr. Auchi may have helped Obama buy his million dollar property long before Obama had millions of dollars. Wonder what favors Mr. Auchi expects, when Obama leaves Iraq free to be taken over by special interests such as him.
  58. I never heard sermons like Rev. Wright's, that have been in videos all day, You Tube - LIAR! 3 days later during your Mea Culpa speech you said "Did I hear controversial statements while I sat in that church? Yes I did."

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live!

Johnny Mac was in the local area Friday night. He was speaking on Luke 15, particularly the parable of the "Prodigal Son" (audio).

It was a good message and there's a quote I just have to share:
The gospel of Jesus Christ does not offer the sinner what the sinner, in his flesh, already wants. Any gospel that appeals to what an unregenerate sinner already wants is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unregenerate sinners want health, wealth, prosperity, success, happiness. That’s what sinners in their unredeemed condition want already. The gospel doesn’t come to offer the impenitent sinner what he wants in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The gospel offers the sinner what the sinner must have, which is forgiveness of sins, even if it costs him everything. (emphasis mine)
– John F. MacArthur, Jr.
The regenerate person, one born again, wants what this world cannot offer. One born again unto faith desires true life, not the counterfeit of trying to numb the pain with stuff or our best life now.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.

This will make his Monday! I'm no musician, but I think this guy is lip syncing.


Read Al Mohler's Are Children Threatening the Earth? The Great Liberal Death Wish Strikes Again.

Check out some thoughts on John McCain's curious faith.

For the J.I.C. file ... Read about papal etiquette: What to do if you meet the pope.

Read Avoid Enlisting ’Warm-Bodies’ as Sunday School Teachers!

Read that vitamins may shorten your life.

Read Evangelizing Your Children.
Part 1 - Common Pitfalls in Evangelizing Children
Part 2 - Foundational Keys to Evangelizing Children

Read about When to Baptize Your Kids.

Read about the Lost Art of Lingering, "Getting beyond superficial relationships in a fast-paced world."

Check out the discussion Jared Nelson started about lowering the drinking age in the US.

Check out Hershael York's post explaining why IMB missionaries have left the field. Contrary to what many are suggesting, it's not because they're unhappy with the organization: Exploding Myths and Accusations about IMB Missionary Attrition Rates.

Read about Rev's boy, Terrell Owens, and his potential Hall of Fame legacy: Owens' greatness always subject to debate.

Scope out a collection of thoughts on the Ben Stein "Expelled" movie.

Listen to the audio from the Together for the Gospel 2008 conference. Listen to 2006.

Read Tim Challies' summaries of the Together for the Gospel 2008 conference (Duncan, Dever, Thabiti Anyabwile, Sproul, Piper, Mohler, MacArthur, and Mahaney). Read my summary from 2006.

Watch a few video clips from the Together for the Gospel 2008 conference: Thabiti Anyabwile, Dever, and Duncan)

Check out more info about the ESV Study Bible, available October 2008.

Know the mechanics of the man hug.

Read about the Italian man convicted for staring at woman on train.

Read the latest Barna results on just how few Americans tithe.

Watch as Mitt Romney shares his top 10 reasons for leaving the presidential race.

Read about Christians and alcohol, the topic of conversation in the current Criswell College journal. (HT Justin Taylor)
Justin Taylor: As a friend wrote to me: "I think everyone would benefit from a little Latin: abusus usum non tollit ('Abuse does not take away proper use')." It's a biblical sentiment, and I would venture to say that if it's kept in mind when thinking through this issue, the basic conclusions are pretty simple and clear.
Read 25 ways to simplify life with your kids.

Read about Benjamin Franklin's pursuit of his 13 virtues.

Watch Chuck Swindoll's DTS chapel message on the discipline of self-control.

Read about how attending religious services is predictive of fidelity and how "other dimensions of religiousness such as praying and faith had no association." (cf. Heb 10:24-26)

Read about why Kobe won't [i.e., can't] win the MVP.

Check out Ken Jones' sermon on Multi-culturalism and Christ.

Check out 9 Characteristics of a Vibrant Men's Ministry.

Learn How to Disagree, a "disagreement hierarchy."

Read about Christians and Euthanasia, not to be confused with Youth in Asia.

Read Gary Brumley's How We Worship: 10 Principles Which Guide us on Sunday Morning.

Feel Logan's righteous indignation upon a conversation where a co-worker compared a woman to a car, that needed to be test-driven before owned.

It's good to be the king ... or at least the Prince. Read about Prince William landing a RAF helicopter in his girlfriend's yard.

Read about the importance of praying for those who preach, along with some practical pointers. (HT Justin Taylor)

Read about why taking notes during a message makes a difference even if you never look at them again. (HT Ray Fowler)

Comment of the Week:
9. The church is not a sub-culture to hide in for safe Christian alternatives. It's supposed to be a transformative subversive counter-culture in the midst of the mainstream. (etoc)
"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."
-Grace Murray Hopper

Listen to yesterday's sermon at Providence Church on Philippians 1:18b-26, "A Life or Death Situation."

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now.

I'm currently teaching through a Sunday school series called "Church Matters," the brain child of Lance, where we've combined the adult & youth classes at Providence Church.

The first week we looked at what the church is not, interacting with 4 articles from Mike Sviegel:

Part 1 - The Church is not a merely human organization (e.g., not political party, not a club, and not a business).

Part 2 - The church is not a supermarket of spiritual groceries (problems include church shopping, hopping, and dropping).

Part 3 - The church is not just a gathering of a few believers (especially those for whom they deem no church is worthy).

Part 4 - The church is not an option (it is a necessary component of sanctification).

I highly recommend those, and I'd like to add a few more along the lines of what the church is not ...

1. The church is not a meat market for singles to meet in order to cure them of the disease of singleness, nor should a church promote (or condone) itself as such. Certainly, Christians should marry Christians (2 Cor 6:14) and a great place to meet like-minded believers is in one's church, but the function of the church is not pairing people up.

2. The church is not a place of mere intellectual performance, a platform for people to show off their mental prowess or big words. Certainly, we are to love the Lord our God with all our minds and intellectual stimulation should occur if we are so loving God. However, church does not convene for a pastor or teacher to show off or to demean others of less intelligence/knowledge.

3. The church is not a building. Sure, the vernacular allows the building to be shorthand, just as we realize the Burger King is a entity that serves people food there. The church meets there and owns/uses that facility. However, it's far too popular to think of the building as the legacy, with people being loyal to a building and not Christ or His flock that meets there. I've even heard people personify a church building by speaking of it saving people and it making a difference in the lives of other or a community.

4. The church is not a gig. The church is not a venue for the band to entertain or try out new material. It's not a place for an audience to come to get entertained by artists. It is, however, a place for musicians to use their talents to the glory of God as worshipers are aided in exalting our Triune God together.

5. The church is not a place to network, to be seen or make business contacts. I've only experienced this secondhand, but looking for a church based on networking possibilities is particularly heinous.

6. The church is merely not a place to come and unload about your aches and pains. Sure, it's as much a hospital as much as it is an army, but Christian love dictates that we care about others, not just about getting our concerns on the magical prayer list. It's good to share your needs, but don't forget about the needs of others.

7. The church is not a group of perfect people. In fact, recognition of one's sinfulness is required for joining. We are people being perfected, but that means we're called to be patient, kind, forgiving, and loving with each other in the growing process. That means we give patience, not just expect it for us.
“For as long as Jesus insists on calling sinners and not the righteous to repentence-and there is no indication as yet that he has changed his policy in that regard-churches are going to be an embarrassment to the fastidious and and affront to the upright.”
-Peterson, Reversed Thunder, 54

Any others?
Recommended Reading: Stop Dating the Church: Fall in Love with the Family of God, by Joshua Harris.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Okay, sir. You're a Lebowski; I'm a Lebowski. That's terrific. I'm very busy, so what can I do for you?

This is interesting. My first name did not make the top 50 nationally. But 99.63% of people with my first name are male, including me.

HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere are
166
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?


Allegedly, there are 829,438 people in the U.S. with my first name (my spelling) and there are 60,765 people in the U.S. with the same last name. But not so many with all the tools put together.

How unique is your name?

Monday, April 14, 2008

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.



Read about the attempt to "jinx" the new Yankee Stadium by planting a Red Sox jersey within its structural concrete. (HT Jade)

Read about the PCUSA's multicultural conference in San Antonio.

Read as Hammer and Nail attempts to ask & answer the question, "What is a Reformed Baptist?"

Read Mark Dever on What Evangelism Is Not in Christianity Today.

Check out these Top 10 RC Sproul quotes. (HT Vitamin Z)

Read 20 potential questions for potential church members.

Read Al Mohler's thoughts on Marriage and the Glory of God.

Read as Steven Levitt wonders, "Why does the post office deliver mail that has no stamp?"

Read A Primer on the Christian Understanding of Capital Punishment, including arguments for and against it.

Read about what motivated Oprah's departure for biblical Christianity.

Read 10 Ways to Help Kids Love Missions.

Read Choosing Mult-Ethnic over Mega.
"Is having an ethnically diverse church a biblical mandate?"

Read why John Piper says it's good we're not all like Jesus.

Check out the film career of the recently departed Charleton Heston, star of 2 of my favorite Top 10 Movies, Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments.

Read the irony: Bees swarm Mexican police in reverse sting operation.

Read about Johnny Mac making a stop in the DFW metroplex on April 18th.

Read Johnny Mac's 8 ways parents provoke. (cf. Eph 6:4)

Read Reepicheep on why Party affiliation is not what it used to be.
"A candidate's party affiliation has historically been the key differentiating element between the two main candidates for president. I think the 2008 election will be different."

Read Rev's new bit, Theology on Thursday, insightful theology quotes. He's off to a good start with Clive Staples, Lewis, that is.
"Gunny makes his case on Mondays, Brent cries on Fridays, so who is covering Thursdays?"

Read as Joshua Harris shares some insight on the recent singing of Shout to the Lord on American Idol.

Check out some insightful advice for those considering a life of ministry. (HT Jared Nelson)
Part 1 - Guide for Elder Wannabes
Part 2 - Even More Radical and Controversial Advice for Elder Wannabes
"Learn everyone’s name in your congregation. If you’re in a congregation too big to do that, you’re likely in a congregation too big to really learn how to do ministry or to really interact with elders who give a flying flip about you."

Read about Venezuela determining The Simpsons inappropriate for children, replacing it with ... wait for it ... Baywatch.

Check out this Online Aid for Bible Memory.

Read about the one book J.I. Packer won't sign. (Hint)

Read as Radical Womanhood shares my ire with regard to the increasing problem of loud restaurants: No Appetite for Noise.

Read the Thirsty Theologians series: Why I'm a Calvinist.
Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Depravity
Part 3 - Election
Part 4 - The Atonement

Read the Wall Street Journal article on Sex Education by Donna Freitas, including the prominence of regret over promiscuity.

Read about the demise of "Christian" "book" stores, particularly in the comments section.

Read as Johnny Mac argues that the "Seeker-Sensitive" movement has created spectators, not servants.

Read 10 Questions Every Leaders Should Ask.
3. Does my heart break for the things that break the heart of God?

Comment of the Week:
"Sure, Yoda looked good for the first 870 years of his life, but wow did he drop off in the last 30 or so. Phantom Menace to Return of the Jedi must have been seriously stressful for our little green friend." (Reepicheep)
"We learn something every day, and lots of times it's that what we learned the day before was wrong."
-Bill Vaughan

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.

(A great video clip has caused technical difficulties which slooged the rest of this post when I tried to embed it. It's still worth a look as some folks make a great event out of a little league game. The rest of the post is having to be reconstructed and reposted. Please pray for my sanctification and for my computer to live through the rest of the morning. Truly, I have a case of the Mondays.)

Okay, I had my whole post ready to go, but the video clip I had embeded slooged my whole post, tossing its contents except the video clip. I noticed this when I clicked "View Post." After that, everything else was gone.

Of course, had Blogger not so conveniently saved automatically for me, I could have reverted back to the older version!

After I came back down from my out of body experience, I calmly told myself I would just have to go back through my history and reconstruct the post, even though I SOOO don't have time for that.

But, then even the sloogey video (which was a good one) wouldn't play, so I'm madder than a hatter and have a case of the Mondays like you've never known.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Get that lumber in his teeth. Let 'em know you're there!

Tonight the 2nd season starts for hockey, so it's time to make predictions. (Top 10 story lines to watch this postseason)

While I'm at it, I'll offer my belated baseball predictions and solicit the same from you.

Sheesh, why not NBA predictions as well.

NHL (1st Round Schedule)
Western Conference ...
1Red Wings over 8Predators
2Sharks over 7Flames
6Avalanche over 3Wild
5Stars over 4Ducks

1Red Wings over 6Avalanche
5Stars over 2Sharks

5Stars over 1Red Wings (revenge for '98)

Eastern Conference ...
1Canadians over 8Bruins
2Penguins over 7Senators
3Capitals over 6Flyers
5Rangers over 4Devils

1Canadians over 5Rangers
3Capitals over 2 Penguins

3Capitals over 1 Canadians

Stanley Cup Finals ...
Dallas Stars over Washington Capitals

Notes: I admit limited knowledge of the east, but I still feel pretty good about that first round, especially the Devils eating it for taunting the Lord like that. I'm probably naive with Dallas, but crazy things happen in the NHL playoffs.

MLB
NL East - Phillies
NL Central - Cardinals
NL West - Diamondbacks
NL Wildcard - Cubs

AL East - Red Sox
AL Central - White Sox
AL West - Athletics
AL Wildcard - Yankees

World Series - Cardinals over Red Sox (revenge for '04)

Notes: Without anticipated seeding it's hard to know, but I'd like to see Cardinals over Cubs and Red Sox over White Sox to win the NLCS and ALCS respectively.

NBA (anticipated seeding)
Western Conference ...
1Hornets over 8Nuggets
4Jazz over 5Rockets
7Mavericks over 2Spurs
3Lakers over 6Suns

4Jazz over 1Hornets
3Lakers over 7Mavericks

3Lakers over 4Jazz

Eastern Conference ...
1Celtics over 8Hawks
4Caviliers over 5Bullets
2Pistons over 7Raptors
3Magic over 676ers

1Celtics over 4Caviliers
2Pistons over 3Magic

1Celtics over 2Pistons

NBA Finals ...
Lakers over Celtics (just like old times)

Notes: Mavs over the Spurs seems unlikely, but the Dirk & Co. match up pretty well against the Champs, even in the playoffs. NBA playoffs operate under a strict bracket system, so teams are not re-seeded after the first round to give the highest seed, for example, the lowest possible remaining seed as an opponent (like the NHL).

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Good relations with the Wookies, I have.

Mark Driscoll's use of Yoda-ese (Trinity: God Is) motivated me to share with you ...

Some pearls of wisdom from Master Yoda.

When 900 years you reach, look as good, you will not.

Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.

Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you.

Already know you that which you need.

A Jedi's strength flows from the force.

Grave danger you are in. Impatient you are.

Blind we are, if creation of this clone army we could not see.

May the force be with you.

There... is... another... Sky... walker

Strong am I with the force.

Lost a planet Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing.

Agree with you the council does. Your apprentice Skywalker will be.

Around the survivors a perimeter create.

Help you I can, yes.

Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.

Always in motion is the future.

[sarcastically] Ohhh! Great warrior! Wars not make one great!

Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.

You must unlearn what you have learned.

The fear of loss is a path to the dark side.

Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.

Do not underestimate the powers of the emperor, or suffer your father's fate, you will.

You will know when you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

Soon will I rest, yes, forever sleep. Earned it I have. Twilight is upon me, soon night must fall.

Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you.

Not if anything to say about it I have.

The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.

Feel the force!

Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the force. But beware of the dark side. Anger... fear... aggression. The dark side of the force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.

Always two there are, no more, no less: a master and an apprentice.

The boy you trained, gone he is. Consumed by Darth Vader.

Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things.

Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless.

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

Not victory , Obi-Wan. The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun, this Clone War has.

Pain, suffering, death I feel. Something terrible has happened. Young Skywalker is in pain. Terrible pain.

Stopped they must be; on this all depends. Only a fully-trained Jedi Knight, with the force as his ally, will conquer Vader and his emperor.

Obi-Wan: That boy is our last hope.
Yoda: No, there is another.

Already know you that which you need.

Named must your fear be before banish it you can.

Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.

Luke: What's in there?
Yoda: Only what you take with you.

Luke: I can’t believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.

Much to learn you still have.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.

This is a neat awareness test. I got the right answer, but wonder if you can. (HT Vitamin Z)


Don't forget to vote for Tom Ascol and the Founders Blog in the SBC Blog Madness Final Four. (UPDATE: He's currently in second place, 13 votes behind, but a push before the polls close tonight could pull out a victory for the good guys.)


Read about study results showing the unchurched prefer more traditional worship environments.
"By a nearly 2-to-1 ratio over any other option, unchurched Americans prefer churches that look more like a medieval cathedral than what most think of as a more contemporary church building."

Check out Lionel Woods' How Radio Ministries are Destroying the Local Church: The Celebrated Orator Epidemic.
"Lets not compare our pastors to Piper or Sproul. That is like comparing our wives to some airbrushed supermodel who spends hours working out, have no kids to worry about, and probably eats 800 calories per day to look the way they do."

Read the article that prompted Lionel's post: When Your Preacher Is Not John Piper.
"Third, if your pastor is (honestly) dull, but he preaches the truth faithfully, a little statement I once heard might be helpful for you to remember: 'The mature worshipper is easily edified.'"

Read Tim Challies' book review of Instructing a Child's Heart, by Tedd Tripp. Read also Challies' review of Shepherding a Child's Heart, also by Tripp.


Check out a video clip on Reepicheep of John Piper describing the Problem of Evangelicalism. The essence is that they don't receive Jesus for the treasure that He truly is.


Check out Brent Thomas on Why It’s Arrogant to Say “Just Give Me the Bible and the Holy Spirit, I Don’t Need the Opinions of Men” or, Why Theology is Practical. Incidentally, I think he's being influenced by Edwards in his writing, or at least in his titling.


Read George Will's Bleeding Hearts but Tight Fists, noting that conservatives are more charitable than liberals. (HT Matthew Bradley)


Read Abraham Piper's 6 Reasons Pastors Should Blog.


Read 10 biblical guidelines on how Christians can engage in politics without “losing their souls.” (HT Justin Taylor)


Read about the difference between good debt & bad debt.


Check out the 10 Most Historically Inaccurate Movies: Films that make your high school history teacher cry.


Matt Waymeyer at Pulpit Magazine's blog continues talking about infant baptism. (* indicates those mentioned last Monday)
Read A Biblical Critique of Infant Baptism*
Read Infant Baptism and Acts 16:31-34*
Read Infant Baptism and Acts 2:39*
Read Infant Baptist and Acts 15:1-29
Read Infant Baptism and Divine Adoption


Check out the impressive acting career of Charlton Heston, recently deceased. 2 of his movies (Ben-Hur & The Ten Commandments) make my all-time top 10. Read the AP obituary and/or read the NY Times obituary. Factoid ...
"Mr. Heston was always able to channel some energies into the public arena. He was an active supporter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., calling him "a 20th-century Moses for his people," and participated in the historic march on Washington in 1963."

Read about and watch some Today show videos about a case of mistaken identity where one family thought their daughter was dead and the other thought theirs was in a coma. After 5 weeks they realized Laura was not Laura, but Whitney. That meant horrible news for one family and joyous for the other. Note the exaltation of Christ in the videos by both families. Think about holding a funeral for your daughter and then 5 weeks later hearing, "We have reason to believe that your daughter is alive." These are some pretty amazing words from the father of the girl who died:
"We believe that God is sovereign and that He takes an active part in our lives. Even in sorrow there can be joy."

Read as Darrell Bock takes A Look at the Two Christian Faiths in Our Public Square: Christianity and Jesusanity. (HT Ray Fowler)


Check out the upcoming national Founders conference in Oklahoma, near Tulsa. Anyone from the DFW area interested in carpooling?
"The 2008 National Founders Conference will explore the place, necessity, and some of the God-ordained means for church renewal and church planting under the theme, 'Lengthening the Cords and Strengthening the Stakes: Renewing and Planting Local Churches.'"

Read a powerful and sobering Touchstone article about how we now treat humans life with about the same dignity as animal life. (HT Brother Hank)
"Medical science now treats man as veterinary medicine had dealt with lower animals. Contraceptive and reproductive techniques, some of which have been around for centuries, were never applied to human beings until our own day. Camel drivers on caravans wanted to prevent the female camels from becoming pregnant during the trek across the desert. So they would simply thrust a stone up into the camel’s uterus. Centuries later in America we now thrust IUDs into women’s uteruses for the same reason.

Cats would be spayed, dogs neutered. Now we do it to human beings. Artificial insemination has long been standard in the breeding of cattle. We now do it to women. Human life in its coming into being is no longer considered human life and is subjected to experimentation and the ignominy of cryopreservation. We no longer treat human beings with the awe and reverence due to those endowed with the divine image."

Check out some thoughts from Daryl Wingerd posted by Black and Reformed Ministries dealing the question, "Is it OK for Christians to CUSS?" Being a student of language, a solid definition of "cussing" or "profanity" is often a very interesting conversation.


Check out 7 counterfeit gospels from How People Change, by Tim Lane and Paul David Tripp.
3. Mysticism. “I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.”

Check out some reflective thoughts 40 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King at Blaque Tulip: Where do we go from here--Rebuild.


Read 5 Reasons Why [Movie] Trailers Are Bad.
1. If it’s a trailer for a comedy, you have now probably seen the best jokes from the whole movie.

Find out How to Identify the Learning Styles of Your Youth.
"When trying to discover learning styles, a standardized checklist or "test" in Bible study is not going to cut it. Try assessing your teens' learning styles informally."

Read Greg Gilbert's I Move We Don't Vote So Much! He suggests limiting church voting to 5 areas.


Read this ironic story of the man who called the police to complain about the neighbor's cat, but then the police found 84 marijuana plants on his premises.


Read this ironic story about cheating and plagiarizing the honor code of another school, without attribution, of course.


Read Newsweek's The Curious Lives of Surrogates.
"But what kind of woman would carry a child to term, only to hand him over moments after birth? Surrogates challenge our most basic ideas about motherhood, and call into question what we've always thought of as an unbreakable bond between mother and child. It's no wonder many conservative Christians decry the practice as tampering with the miracle of life, while far-left feminists liken gestational carriers to prostitutes who degrade themselves by renting out their bodies."

Read also Al Mohler's thoughts on Newsweek surrogate story.


Read as Johnny Mac lovingly confronts the question, "How do we know when to confront and when to quietly forgive and forget?"


Watch a video clip where Obama labels unwanted pregnancy as being "punished with a baby." (cf. Ps 127:3)


Read as Leslie Follmar wonders about the inconsistency with regard to contentment in desiring a spouse vs. desiring children.
"Why do we pray for contentedness for people that are single, but not usually for people that want children? Why don't we just ask God to bring them a godly mate just like how we pray to bring couples a baby? I've never heard someone pray, "God, make this couple content in their barrenness," but that's basically what we pray when we ask that singles would be content."

Read as Al Mohler addresses The Divorce Industrial Complex. Think about it ... not everyone wants you to live happily ever after.
"Few Americans seem to understand that marriage is being undermined by what can be called a "Divorce Industrial Complex" that includes lawyers, counselors, court personnel, and various others."

Read Rev's conversation with Dr. Bill Wagner, candidate for SBC president who has been critical of Calvinists as being "less missional" than Arminians.
"I [Dr. Wagner] do not see my enemies as the Calvinists or any other theological position. To me we have two real enemies. One is secularism and the other is Islam. We must work together to go against these two dangers."

Check out the controversy with LeBron James on the cover of Vogue magazine.


Read about how theology impacts Protestant bank accounts. (HT Colossians 3:16)
"The one big difference is the conservative Protestants' assumption that God is the owner of money and people are managers of it," Keister said. "They are doing with their money what God wants them to do with it, so that does mean that it is not sitting in their bank accounts."

Read as RC Sproul answers the following: Did Jesus ever laugh? What do the Scriptures tell us about his character and sense of humor? (HT Joe Thorn)


Read some inexpensive ideas for showing appreciation for Sunday school teachers.


Check out the song Indescribable, by Chris Tomlin, complete with lyrics and audio/video. Musical Monday is a regular bit on Samurai's Dogo.
"Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God."

Comment of the Week:
"Gunny...this is entirely too much work. Haven't you heard of blogging for fun?" (selahV)
“Just as the physically blind cannot see the sun,
the spiritually blind cannot see the Son.”
-John F. MacArthur, Jr.