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A La Carte (1/18)
- 01/18/10
- 9
Haunted by Haiti
Mark Driscoll: “On Thursday morning James MacDonald, who leads a wonderful church and Bible-preaching ministry, called me to brainstorm some ideas he had to get involved and help direct other pastors and churches to do the same. As our conversations, texts, and emails continued, by the day’s end we had decided to take a trip together to Haiti. He had secured transportation and an initial delivery of 1,000 pounds of relief supplies. From Mars Hill we gathered a small filmmaking crew and a Pulitzer Prize finalist photographer who has covered events in Kosovo, Haiti, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Rwanda while working for Time magazine, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe, who volunteered to go with us.”
Investing in Sermon Titles
From David Murray (professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary): “The key to increasing sermon-downloads is an attractive sermon title. We may prefer people to click “download” because of the theological content in our sermons, but the reality today is that many will not listen to our wonderful theology unless we put some careful and creative thought into the title. What’s the point in spending 10 hours preparing a sermon and only 10 seconds on the title, if the title is perhaps the primary factor in attracting and engaging listeners - both in the virtual and in the real world?”
Mommy, Are You Happy?
Susanna (my little sister) writes about depression and family history. “This disease runs deep and is definitely a way in which Satan has bound many on the Challies side of the family especially. A few suicides due to severe depression, etc. I feel it is a hereditary condition which certainly passed on to me yet a sort of spiritual bondage too. As long as I can remember, I have struggled with this disease in all the different forms it takes on as one grows older, life gets more and more complex, etc.”
We’re the Problem
In this short video John Piper does what John Piper does so well.
Monergism Books Update
Monergism Books is now offering free economy shipping on orders in the US over $25.00. Just select economy mail at check out.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (9)
Less than a month ago I filled out a survey from Monergism Books, and told them I’d be more likely to spend more money there if they offered economy shipping on large orders. Now they have it. Coincidence?
Yeah, probably, but I just placed a REALLY big order!
Mark Driscoll. He is an enigma. Lord bless him.
I love Piper’s passion. He is an emotional guy, isn’t he. I met him, and spoke with him on the side, and he is quite a pleasant brother in Christ. And he is a gifted preacher.However, I have heard the Avatar isn’t boring, although it is 3 hours long. My son-in-law saw it yesterday with his son, and they both enjoyed it. I asked if it was too long, and if it kept your interest. Mike said, “I thought it was too short.”
It may be boring to others, but it has made $1,600,000,000.00 at the box office.
Compared to God’s Word, Avatar doesn’t compare really. does it. But enetertainment can be exciting and good.
Just some thoughts I had blowing around in my noggin.
I have definitely inherited some susceptibility for anxiety from my parents - probably mostly my mom. My dad and one of my sisters also has some similar experiences. I can’t blame it all on an inherited medical condition, though - I’ve come to recognize that a large part of it is my own sin, as well (that is, failure to trust in God’s providence).
“In this short video John Piper does what John Piper does so well.”
Well, THAT certainly narrows it down. ;-)
Now off to the video to see what you mean.
Tim- thank you for sharing your sister’s blog. I can relate to so much of what she says. What an encouragement.
Thank you for sharing your post about your ‘little’ sister. I left a couple of comments. I am a pastor’s wife, and God has given me such a big heart for the women of God, especially young moms. I have a 10, 18, 21, and 23 year old. Adding her to my blog roll.
Teresa and Jody, THANK YOU for the encouraging words! I was blessed by your comments!:)
Tim, I have in the past OFTEN thought of asking you questions about depression. I have even started to type emails, pondering and wondering what needs to be said or asked. I am grateful you posted Susanna’s article. I posted on her blog, but I wanted to reproduce my post here, that it might be helpful for others…
“I want to share my experience, with the expectation that it might be helpful to someone. If it helps ANYONE, I will joy, and rejoice with you.
I am a young man and I found myself a while back in a great deal of depression, even most my thoughts throughout the day were suicidal. I then found that most people reformed in theology often faced horrible depression, even as your quotes show: Spurgeon, Brainerd and others. I really did not want to live this way.
Upon meditating on God’s word he made something known to me. Paul says in Philippians “Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (1:24). God showed me this, that I was living for only Christ the head, and not the body of Christ. It was easy for me to strive and do everything I could for Christ. However, to live for his servants, was something I completely neglected. I was not able to say “it is needful for me to abide for your sake”, I was essentially useless for the brethren. Realizing I should be living for the brethren opened up my ability to love, something I have always struggled with. It was so great!When I have struggled with any depression since (it has been only a few months), I am able to think and ponder of my importance to the body of Christ. As Puritan as I am, I see my sin before Christ, and see myself useless at times and a failure, but when I look to my brethren, “to abide in the flesh is needful for you” and I am given strength to press on.”
After reading an interesting perspective on Avatar at First Things, where the author noted that perhaps people’s fascination with it is really a longing for Eden, I finally reluctantly went with my husband last week to see it.
And I get the reviewer’s perspective. And Piper’s.
As beautiful as Avatar’s world was, heaven will be more so. Because Jesus will be there.
Piper is right. Avatar is pale compared to the glorious light of God revealed in His word, and one day soon revealed in His presence. i’d love to live in the world of the Na’vi, but i can’t wait to live in Jesus’ world…