February 2007 Archive
MP3 Downloads and Copies (02/28/07 - 55 Comments)
Yesterday Bob Kauflin posted some random thoughts on MP3 downloads and copies (link). I assume my readers are familiar with Bob who serves as director of worship development for Sovereign Grace Ministries, and as a pastor and worship leader at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Having just finished reading The Future of Music by David Kusek and Gerd Leonhard, Bob decided to reflect a bit on the book. The authors "think that increased access...
C'est La Meme Chose (02/27/07 - 24 Comments)
I typically only tune in to Larry King when Al Mohler or John MacArthur are featured guests. Since Mohler was a guest yesterday (transcript here) I thought I would watch and was glad that I did. He always does a great job of representing Christians before the show's audience. He does so far better than the vast majority of Christians (and "so-called Christians") that appear. Last night's topic of discussion was, of course, "The Lost...
Dr. Mohler on Larry King Tonight (02/26/07 - 10 Comments)
From the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: LOUISVILLE, Ky. - R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is scheduled to appear tonight on CNN's Larry King Live. Mohler will discuss the alleged discovery of the "tomb" of Jesus and his family by archaeologists and genetic scientists. A documentary "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," which is said to present the evidence, is scheduled to air next week on the Discovery Channel. Scheduled to...
The New Monergism (02/26/07 - 17 Comments)
It is not often that I draw attention to work I've done, but I am going to make an exception today. Several months ago (more months ago than I care to remember, actually), John Hendryx, the gentleman who runs the site Monergism.com, approached me about helping him upgrade his site. At that time Monergism was a huge site and a hugely popular site. The site is a labor of love that, to that point,...
P.I.G. to Global Warming (02/26/07 - 63 Comments)
"There are ominous signs that the Earth's weather patterns have begun to change dramatically and that these changes may portend a drastic decline in food production--with serious political implications for just about every nation on earth. The drop in food production could begin quite soon. ... The evidence in support of these predictions has now begun to accumulate so massively that meteorologists are hard-pressed to keep up with it." The story is from Newsweek. The...
King for a Week - The Purple Cellar (02/25/07 - 6 Comments)
King for a Week is an honor I bestow on blogs that I feel are making a valuable contribution to my faith and the faith of other believers. Every two weeks (or so) I select a blog, link to it from my site, and add that site's most recent headlines to my right sidebar. While this is really not much, I do feel that it allows me to encourage and support other bloggers while making...
Reaching Out (02/24/07 - 42 Comments)
As I reach the end of the assigned writing period for my book (my official deadline is April 1) I am increasingly aware that writing a book, though in many ways a private pursuit, is also a pursuit that depends on an increasingly wide group of others. I have had to open the book to more and more people, seeking feedback, suggestions and so on. I've even turned to the readers of this site a...
A Pornified Culture (02/23/07 - 34 Comments)
Two related new stories caught my eye yesterday. This first came courtesy of The Independent and was titled "Our sexual obsession damages boys as well as girls." It spoke of the results of a study completed by The American Psychological Association which found "that the portrayal of girls and young women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health." In his brief commentary at the Reformation21 blog, Carl Trueman sarcastically called this a "stunning...
Book Review - Final Exam (02/22/07 - 9 Comments)
I assume that Pauline Chen's experience is quite typical of doctors. She began medical school dreaming of being a hero and of saving lives but had little idea of just how big a role death would play in her chosen profession. It did not take long for her to learn that death would be a regular occurrence and one for which she was largely unprepared. She found that her vocation, which is premised on caring...
Tax Time Theology (02/21/07 - 9 Comments)
I am quite a fan of sports, or certain sports at any rate. One thing that has always attracted me to sports, and baseball in particular, is the numbers. I can take a brief look at a list of players and immediately have a sense as to how they are doing. The sports pages always have these great lists of statistics, showing batting averages, on base percentages, numbers of hits, home runs, singles, doubles and...
Resolved Conference (Reflections) (02/20/07 - 35 Comments)
Well, I made it home. Our flight was delayed for a few hours while the ground crew changed one of the plane's tires but we eventually climbed aboard and made our way home. In retrospect, taking the red-eye home was probably a bad idea. But at least I got home and am back with my family, even if I am dog tired! I really enjoyed the Resolved Conference. It was far different from the other...
Resolved Conference (IX) (02/19/07 - 10 Comments)
Rick Holland kicked off the final session by introducing John Piper as a man who has emphasized church history and a teacher who stands between two worlds, the historical world and our contemporary world. The Resolved organizers asked him to provide a historical address based on a figure from church history. And, of course, Jonathan Edwards was the obvious choice. Piper began by completing his address from the night before since he had forgotten the...
Resolved Conference (VII) (02/19/07 - 1 Comments)
And this brings us to the final day of the Resolved Conference. For his text he took 1 Corinthians 4:6-13 with the title "Deflating the Puffed Up Church." After reading the text he said that it is possible that the Corinthians did not understand Paul's intent in these verses. This was a proud church and their pride was pronounced and not at all subtle. They were proud of their spirituality and their gifting but they...
Resolved Conference (VII) (02/19/07 - 13 Comments)
Yesterday, after preaching twice at his church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Piper caught a flight down to Los Angeles and preached a different sermon for us. That is dedication. He spoke one what is one of his favorite recent topics: God is the Gospel. I have heard him speak on this a few times now and have also read his book by the same title. And yet, strangely, I still have trouble digesting it all....
Resolved Conference (VI) (02/18/07 - 4 Comments)
It struck me today just how amazing it is that 3,000 young people would gather here over a holiday weekend. They have come not just to hear speakers or preachers, but to hear expositors. These people have gathered to hear nine expository sermons and to listen to a panel discussion featuring a bunch of old(er) guys. And what's most amazing is that these young people seem to be relishing every moment. It's amazing to me....
Resolved Conference (V) (02/18/07 - 2 Comments)
Day three of the Resolved Conference began much the same as the first two days. We sang some songs and got right to the sessions. The first session featured C.J. Mahaney speaking on Isaiah 53 and The Suffering Servant. He began by recounting the plot of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and ended the brief summary with a question Susan asked after encountering the resurrected Aslan: "What does it all mean?" A more...
Resolved Conference (IV) (02/17/07 - 1 Comments)
This evening's session began with Rick Holland reminding the audience of a young man named Ryan Gay. Ryan had wanted to attend Resolved last year but was unable to as he was diagnosed with leukemia just a day or two before the conference began. Last year Holland called him from the stage during the conference and it was, by all accounts, an emotional and spiritual time. Tonight, a year later, Holland invited Ryan to the...
Resolved Conference (III) (02/17/07 - 8 Comments)
John MacArthur spoke at the second session of the day. He began by commenting on the exuberant nature of the worship at this conference. He seemed glad that people are worshiping in a way that is heartfelt even if many are singing so loud that they have long since abandoned tone and pitch. But then he asked a sobering question: why is it that this exuberance does not also accompany our efforts at evangelism? We...
Resolved Conference (II) (02/17/07 - 5 Comments)
Day two of the Resolved Conference was prefaced by a very good sleep. I feel much more alive today, for which I'm very grateful. The conference began a little bit late as filling the auditorium seems to be taking quite a long time. Because the conference is at capacity, the organizers have to be certain that every seat has been filled. So they fill the place very deliberately and this translates, at least so far,...
Resolved Conference (02/16/07 - 16 Comments)
I began my day in the subzero temperatures of a frozen Canadian winter and ended it in balmy, eighty degree California. It has been almost twenty four hours since I woke up and my eyes are starting to do some weird twitchy thing that happens when I get over tired. I need to get to bed. But first a few reflections on the opening session of the Resolved Conference. First off, I am sitting at...
Friday Ramblings (02/16/07 - 3 Comments)
My day began at 5 A.M. today. I have an early morning flight to Los Angeles that should get me to the smoggy city just in time for lunch at the In and Out burger closest to L.A.X.. I'm already looking forward to it. I'll be in L.A. until Monday evening so I can bring blog coverage of the Resolved Conference. Some 3,000 college students (and one thirty year old guy) will be gathering to...
Book Review - Unprotected (02/15/07 - 5 Comments)
I have a particular interest in books, written from a secular perspective, that say the same things Christians have been saying for years. I enjoy finding these little pears of wisdom, these little bits of common grace, that I can only hope will lead people to see and understand the the Bible truly does present the way humans can live best. One of these books is Unprotected, a book dealing with the problems inherent in...
American Idol (02/14/07 - 51 Comments)
American Idol is, once again, a smash hit. Despite being in its sixth season and presenting roughly the same package as the previous five seasons, the show continues to draw viewers. The new season's premier drew over 41 million viewers. More than that may take in the grand finale, due to hit the screen sometime in May. Where the Grammy Awards were once the annual pinnacle of the music industry, it now seems that American...
A Question for the Single Folk (02/13/07 - 43 Comments)
It is the evening before Valentine's Day. Tomorrow will be marked by billions of pounds of chocolate being exchanged, countless millions of flowers (bought at marked-up prices) being passed between lovers, special deliveries of gifts of all shapes and sizes being received at offices and places of work, and endless amounts of cooing, cuddling and kissing. It is a day to celebrate love and romance. It is a good day. And yet for some people...
Answered Prayer and Prayerlessness (02/13/07 - 14 Comments)
Thank you. Just over a week ago I asked that you would pray for me. I asked that God would allow me opportunity both to work (and thus make money to support my family) and to find time to finish up my book in what is going to be a very busy six to eight weeks. Someone must have taken the time to pray for me because God answered in an amazing way. Late last...
Evangelical Feminism (02/12/07 - 45 Comments)
Wayne Grudem has written a great deal about biblical manhood and womanhood. Besides articles in periodicals, he has written Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism which he co-authored with John Piper. He has written Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth: An Analysis of More Than 100 Disputed Questions and then two collections of essays he edited, Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood and Pastoral Leadership for Manhood and Womanhood. The latest addition...
Sunday Ramblings (02/11/07 - 1 Comments)
I had a very long and busy day of work yesterday, so found myself fighting to form coherent thoughts today. So rather than attempt to write something riveting, I thought I'd share a few quotes I've pulled from books I've read lately. While reading Chris Anderson's The Long Tail I found a quote by Christopher Hitchens that tickled my funny bone. In Letters to a Young Contrarion, Christopher Hitchens writes that he wakes up every...
Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God (02/10/07 - 11 Comments)
My mother is one of several people I know who eschews all of the Christian Living type of books that dominate the Christian publishing industry. Apart from her Bible (the most beat-up, ink-covered, personalized Bible you'll ever see) and a few commentaries, she reads only biographies. She feels that by reading about the lives of great Christians of the past, she will learn far more than what most of the Christian Living books can teach...
Conference Season Begins (02/09/07 - 31 Comments)
This time next week, if all goes well, I will be sitting on a plane, on my way to Los Angeles. I will be heading to the Terrace Theatre: Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center (that's a mouth full!) to bring liveblogging of the Resolved Conference. This kicks off my 2007 liveblogging schedule--a schedule that is ridiculously full. I never anticipated that I'd be traveling across the United States blogging conferences. It is really something...
Defining Discernment (02/08/07 - 36 Comments)
Through the months I've spent writing my book on spiritual discernment, I have wrestled with various definitions of the word. While several definitions have been offered by other authors, none struck me as being quite right or quite complete. I have offered a definition on this site and was glad to receive some good feedback on its shortcomings. I went back to the drawing board and eventually arrived at a definition that really seems to...
Book Review - Born on a Blue Day (02/07/07 - 9 Comments)
Born on a Blue Day is the memoir of Daniel Tammet, a British autistic savant. The subject of a documentary entitled The Boy With The Incredible Brain (also broadcast under the title Brainman) Tammet has gained some notoriety and worldwide attention for his incredible feats of memory and mathematics. Tammet has a form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome, a condition that effects social and communication skills. It is characterized by narrow interests and unconventional...
There's Treasure Everywhere (02/06/07 - 18 Comments)
I've always loved Calvin & Hobbes. My friend Brian first introduced me to the comic strip back when I was a young teen and I immediately fell in love with it. (Here is a must-have for any true fan: The Complete Calvin & Hobbes). The strip works on at least two levels. There is the philosophical level where Calvin and his tiger discuss topics of science, philosophy and religion that are clearly far beyond...
The Christian and Birth Control (Part 2) (02/05/07 - 96 Comments)
Last week I wrote an article about the Christian and birth control. Before I continue this short series, I feel it is important to point out that I do not approach the topic from the viewpoint of a professional doctor or a professional theologian. Rather, I merely offer my reflections based on reading books, discussions with other believers, and study of the Bible. My purpose is primarily to stimulate thought and discussion. Because of this...
King for a Week - Irish Calvinist (02/04/07 - 4 Comments)
King for a Week is an honor I bestow on blogs that I feel are making a valuable contribution to my faith and the faith of other believers. Every week (or two) I select a blog, link to it from my site, and add that site's most recent headlines to my right sidebar. While this is really not much, I do feel that it allows me to encourage and support other bloggers while making my...
Selfish Requests (02/03/07 - 5 Comments)
I am drawing ever-closer to the deadline to hand my book to the publisher. The current word count is somewhere around 43,000 and the page count around 140 (though obviously the page count can change a whole lot based on the spacing, font selection and so on). As work continues and as the book draws closer to completion, I am becoming increasingly excited and, even better, increasingly convinced that this book may actually have something...
For The Little Guy (02/02/07 - 20 Comments)
Yesterday afternoon a reader of this site sent me a link to a recent article from WorldNetDaily. According to their "About Us" page, WorldNetDaily is "an independent news company dedicated to uncompromising journalism, seeking truth and justice and revitalizing the role of the free press as a guardian of liberty. We remain faithful to the traditional and central role of a free press in a free society - as a light exposing wrongdoing, corruption and...
The Christian and Birth Control (02/01/07 - 62 Comments)
Last week I posted a couple of articles dealing with auto-eroticism. I believe there was some useful discussion following those and was glad to hear from people who felt that they benefited from them. Since then I have received a couple of questions regarding my views on birth control (from people who, I suppose, feel that I'm sufficiently brave and/or foolhardy to tackle the tough subjects). I thought it might be interesting to discuss that...
