Tuesday August 29, 2006

Blogging: Randy writes about the Christian Law Association and their proposed rules for student websites. “Any student who decides to operate a personal online website or contributes to a blog must register the website/blog with the pastoral staff.”

Technology: Jon the Baptist links to an article showing that “TiVo is spreading the word to religious leaders about its parental controls.” Is this TiVo seeking to help pastors and parents? Or is this using the church for marketing purposes?

Race: “This Lamp” shares a shocking story. “The ironically named Fellowship Baptist Church in Saltillo, Mississippi, held revival services. During those revival services, 12-year-old Joe, a boy of biracial descent ‘accepted Jesus into his heart.’ On August 6, at the church’s business meeting, the all-white congregation voted to exclude blacks from its services, including Joe because they did not want him to bring his family members to worship services.

Audio: Capitol Hill Baptist Church (home of Mark Dever) has begun a new podcast. If this is successful, they will also do a IX Marks podcast.

Monday August 28, 2006

Theology: Tom Ascol of the Founders organization is one of many bloggers to comment on the recent issue of Christianity Today which featured an article on Calvinism. I really ought to try to find a copy of that one…

Abortion: A woman in China has caused a ruckus by having her baby aborted at six months because of a cleft palate. It seems to me that a day is coming when only Christians will continue to give birth to “flawed” babies.

Emergent: Justin Taylor has a roundup of articles from the latest issue of the IX Marks newsletter which deals with the emerging church.

Weird: Mark has dug up information about a new cowboy church in North Carolina. “Instead of suits, ties and wing tipped shoes, they will be wearing blue jeans, big belt buckles and cowboy boots and instead of a fancy baptism pool, the Cowboy Church will baptize their converts in a horse trough!”

Saturday August 26, 2006

This is a special weekend edition of A La Carte to announce the birth of my nephew, Micah Nathaniel Rose. He was born in Atlanta yesterday morning. Congratulations to Susanna and Rick! I now have two nephews and a niece (with another niece due around Christmas).

These are the first photos of him (courtesy of Pat, my other brother-in-law).

Friday August 25, 2006

Interview: On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina Cindy Swanson has an interview with Don Elbourne, pastor of Lakewood Baptist Church in Lakeshore, Mississippi. He speaks about God’s grace in what has been an incredible year of ministry.

Humor: Mr. Dawn Treader has an funny series of posts about “Rule Changes That Would Improve Sports.”

Sports: On the subject of sports, have you ever wondered just how long the ball is actually in play in a game of baseball? Ask Yahoo tracks down an answer.

Weird: An Austrian girl who was abducted eight years ago, has been found alive. “In the quiet, small-town street where a kidnapped Austrian girl is believed to have been held for more than eight years, police searched on Thursday for clues about her captivity, her dramatic escape and the man who allegedly imprisoned her and has now killed himself.”

Thursday August 24, 2006

Theology: Nathan Busenitz quotes John MacArthur who says that everyone is a dispensationalist. “Everybody is a dispensationalist, everybody. I dont care who they are in theology, theyre dispensational. It’s only a question of how many you have. Let me show you why.”

Feminism: I remember wannabe feminists in my high school trumpeting the annual “Take Back The Night” marches. Well, now apparently these marches are being geared for men as well since men are even more likely to be victimes of nighttime violence. Fox reports.

Children: “Christianity Today” has a list of suggestions for helping children sit through a church service. Some of them are quite good and are surely better than the oft-used tactic of brute force.

Church: And speaking of CT, it has an article about America’s youngest megachurch pastor. “With a Matt Damon smile, short-sleeve button-up shirts — no tie — and an aw-shucks demeanor, Platt seems to put an audience at ease, then stuns them with his apparent near-memorization of the New Testament.”

Tuesday August 23, 2006

Literature: Dr. Mohler discusses “The Tragic End of Children’s Literature” and the “Norton Anthology of Children’s Literature.” “The anthology reflects the new postmodern ethos in which ‘the distinction between heroes and villains is often blurred.’ No kidding. As a matter of fact, there are very few heroic figures left.”

Music: Alex Chediak has an article on the moral neutrality of musical genres. “God or the devil can be glorified by classical music, depending on whether it is produced and enjoyed by hearts that prize God or hearts that prize human achievement or self-reliance.”

Canadiana: “The Calgary Sun” has a spooky article about a Christian who was arrested for praying in public. “Maybe if Artur Pawlowski had been holding a flag of the outlawed terrorist organization Hezbollah, Calgary Police would have left him alone.”

Culture: Joe Carter has an interesting article entitled “Pop Semiotics:Whore and Pimp Chic.”

Tuesday August 22, 2006

Culture: Here is one from the “of course” file: Sexy Music Lyrics Prompt Teens to Have Sex. “The more teens listened to degrading sexual music content, the more likely they were to subsequently initiate intercourse and progress in [other], noncoital activity,” Martino and colleagues report. “These music effects held, even though 18 other predictors of sexual behavior were taken into account.”

Humor: Phillip Bethancourt linked to a humorous chart created by Randy Stinson, dean of the Leadership School at Southern Seminary.

Web: “Light Along The Journey” has a glowing and encouraging review of Discerning Reader. “Hundreds of reviews, well-designed site, why go anywhere else?”

Monday August 21, 2006

Bible: ESV blog has a roundup of Tony Reinke’s successful attempt to build his own blank Bible patterned after Jonathan Edwards’ similar Bible.

Humor: Nathan Busenitz shows once again the danger inherent in allowing just anyone to own a copy of Photoshop. This time, he has created a list of his favorite slightly revised book covers.

Du Jour This was posted last week by Phil Johnson. It is an excellent, must-read article entitled “Regarding Guilt by Association.” Great stuff.

Humor Bonus: The Riddleblog has a funny list of “You know you’re not Reformed if…”

Wednesday August 16, 2006

I am on vacation this week. A La Carte will return when I return on the 21st of August.

Wednesday August 9, 2006

Theology: JD Wetterling has a good article introducing his forthcoming book “No One…” which has just been released by Christian Focus Publications. “I pray that our merciful God will speak to you in the pages of this book. If you or someone you love cannot see the kingdom of God, I pray that Christ’s crystal clear “No one…” declarations will, through the power of the Holy Spirit, do a miraculous work, and grace will give you or your loved one a joy that No one can take away (John 16:22b).” The book even has an endorsement by yours truly!

Anniversary: My wife and I celebrated our eighth anniversary yesterday. A hopeless romantic, I bought her something she declared the best anniversary gift I’ve ever gotten her: The first season DVD of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” I got her some chocolate too, which I hope redeems me.

Du Jour: Carolyn McCulley tenderly answers a letter from a single woman who feels she just cannot go on without a relationship.

Video: This is an exceptionally entertaining video. I have no idea what they’re singing about because I was too busy watching them. This is great entertainment!