#commentary

Weekend A La Carte (5/11)

W.W. Jay-Z? – Writing for Christianity Today, Russell Moore suggests “how Christian hip-hop could call the American church back to the gospel–and hip-hop back to its roots.” A Week of Groceries – I always enjoy photo collections like this one. Here is a week of groceries from different families around the world. How Introverted Pastors Love – John Piper has some helpful thoughts on the introverted pastors. He makes many other observations on 33 years of pastoral ministry. National Geographic …

The Good Life: An Interview with Trip Lee

I’ve made it no secret that I enjoy Christian rap music (and I’m not above poking fun at myself, as I did with The Middle-Aged White Guy’s Guide to Christian Rap). Near the forefront of the Christian rap or holy hip-hop movement is Trip Lee. His new album, The Good Life, releases today and last week I was able to catch up with Trip to ask him about life, ministry, and this new album. You have a new album releasing …

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A La Carte (11/8)

Unemployment – The Guardian has an interesting (and revealing) article about the true picture of U.S. unemployment. “US unemployment data is set to show the jobless rate steady at 9.1% – but a broader analysis puts the true rate at 16.5%.” The Passion of Gaga – “Lady Gaga is not just a stage name; it’s an alter ego, a tool the 25-year-old uses as she masters the art of fame. While she claims music is her first passion and eccentric …

Trials and Temptations

Here is something worth meditating on for those who are in pastoral ministry. In his contribution to the book Reforming Pastoral Ministry, Art Azurdia shares some of the temptations that are particularly strong in the ministry of the gospel. To be sure, the minister of the Gospel is vulnerable to trials and temptations distinct to his calling: jealousy (“Why are his gifts more esteemed than mine?”) bitterness (“Why does the congregation criticize everything I do?”) fear (“Will they leave the church …

Resisting Consumeristic Temptations

Resisting Consumeristic Temptations: How’s that for a snooty title for an article? But the article itself is not so snooty. I’ve been reading John Temple’s little book Family Money Matters and found a handy list of ways to resist the temptations of living in our high-pressure world of advertising and consumerism. It seemed worth sharing. Here is what he suggests. Do not read the glossy “good-life” magazines. These are filled with temptations to buy or consume what may not be …

To Know and To Be Known

I pay little attention to the statistics software that runs in the background on this site. Every time someone visits, every time someone looks at a page, that software makes a little notation and at the end of the day I can look and see how many people browsed the blog. I don’t look all that often because, frankly, I’m just not all that interested. I guess if I was a better blogger I’d be monitoring it closely, looking for …

I Glory in Christ

Here is a new/old hymn that you may not be familiar with. It was recently introduced at church and has quickly become one of my favorites. Written by Horatius Bonar, it was recorded last year by Sandra McCracken on her album In Feast or Fallow. God forbid that I should glory, Save in the Redeemer’s cross. Counting shame for Him but honor, Counting earthly gain but loss. All the love of God is here, A love that casteth out all …

How Was Your Messiah?

Back in November I encouraged you to Enjoy Messiah This Christmas and I know that quite a lot of you did–you took in a performance of Handel’s Messiah. I’d love to hear about your experience. Where did you go and what was it like? Give me a brief report! Let me tell you about the performance I saw last night with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. First off, it was great to bump into several friends …

My Mother’s Testimony

A few weeks ago I blogged a short series that told of how I came to know the Lord and, from there, how I became Reformed. Part of my background is being raised by Christian parents. A little while ago my mother wrote out her testimony and shared it with the family and it struck me that her testimony is an important part of my own. Just a few days ago my sister posted it to her blog and, well, …

Enjoy Messiah this Christmas

This morning I let you know about a new book that provides background and commentary for Handel’s Messiah. And now I want to encourage you to take in a performance of Messiah this Christmas season. And just to get you started, I’ve done some of the work, at least for those of you who live in a few major cities. Messiah is one of the last distinctly Christian cultural events. Think about it: every year thousands and thousands of people …