Blogs & Sites

The Da Vinci Challenge

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Sony isn't stupid.  As the worldwide bestseller and much discussed, debated and disliked (among Christians especially) The Da Vinci Code heads to theaters on May 19th, Sony has put together a truly brilliant marketing scheme.  They have started a website called The Da Vinci Challenge for Christians.  On the site Christian experts will deal with issues raised by The Da Vinci Code between now and the release date.  Currently there are articles by Darrell Bock, George Barna and Richard Mouw, and links for discussion take you to the Hollywood Jesus website.

From The Da Vinci Challenge...

The primary focus of The Da Vinci Challenge is to help Christians prepare for the inevitable question that will arise with the release of the film, “What do you think of The Da Vinci Code?”

These are the facts - currently, there over 40 million hardback copies of The Da Vinci Code in print. There have been thousands of column inches already written about The Da Vinci Code, and there will surely be more. It is now possible to take tours across Europe to visit historic sites referenced in the novel. On May 19, 2006, the highly-anticipated film version of the book, starring Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks, will open in theaters. There are literally millions and millions of devoted fans of The Da Vinci Code spanning the globe.

But there are also numerous people worldwide who question the theories espoused in The Da Vinci Code. Books refuting the claims of the best-selling novel have collectively sold millions of copies. Churches have held sermons and seminars to address the controversy and dispute assertions that many believe run counter to the foundations of their faith. These, too, are the facts.

The Da Vinci Challenge offers a thoughtful and faithful response to the questions raised by The Da Vinci Code. In the weeks leading up to the release of the film, prominent scholars and experts from across the spectrum of Christianity have volunteered to tackle specific issues raised by The Da Vinci Code – cultural, historical, theological and practical. By tapping into the collective wisdom of these respected Christian men and women, The Da Vinci Challenge hopes to present a forum where people can wrestle with the complex topics raised by the book and the film.

While Sony Pictures Entertainment has provided the means for this discussion to take place, neither the studio, the filmmakers nor Dan Brown have any editorial control over the content of this site. None of the Christian experts have been paid for their commentary or insights. This is an open forum where discussion, debate and disagreement are welcome. The Da Vinci Challenge wholeheartedly invites you to join the conversation.

Together for the Blog

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Can anyone deny that the Together for the Gospel blog has been a great addition to the blogosphere?  Well okay, I know some will try to deny it, but you are wrong.  I have been enjoying it and marveling at the fact that people I thought would never be blogging are putting up some swell offerings for us all to enjoy.  Take, this post by Al Mohler, or this one by Mark Dever, or this one by C.J. Mahaney, or this one by Lig Duncan as good examples.

Russ Moore, Blogging, and Revolution

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Today Russ Moore has written a short article/blog post called "The Spiritual Danger of Blogging" (also posted at Mere Comments).  He has some important things to say, things that we as bloggers need to hear.  To be honest, I think he aims this post at me (though I drink mochas). 

I've encountered many blogs run by the sort of "self-righteous" and "cynical" people that he mentions.  Strangely, most that I have encountered have been run by Calvinistic inerrantist reformed-types (who I doctrinally side with) who think a doctrinal statement is the bottom line of righteousness.  They typically spend a lot of time finding errors in the doctrines of others, defending anyone who holds the same doctrines they hold no matter what they say, finding people with any connection to something bad and broad-brushing them into the heresy camp, and looking for sins in the culture to preach against.  It's a deadly lot and I have run among the "angry Calvinist" number before.

Though Russ seems to emphasize the bad bloggers (he may be a bit cynical about bloggers, I think), he also points to a good group of bloggers out there.  My fear is that his group would be the kind who always tow the party line, and link to the "right" places, and vote straight party ticket.

I've found many good bloggers too, but I would think they would be a different sort than Russ'.  I like the bloggers who don't draw extra-biblical lines of fellowship.  They are willing to speak truth even when it costs them connections they may need in ministry.  They point out the dangers Jesus points to (like legalism) and not the ones that legalists point to (like alcohol).  The bloggers I like are the ones who like Jesus so much that they realize how messed up they are and how great grace is.  I like bloggers who are interested in a Kingdom that God builds, and who would have no problem watching our institutions and kingdoms die when they cease serving God's desires.  Sounds delicious, doesn't it?

Ultimately Moore seems to miss something.  He writes, "But, let's be honest, blogs also tend to give a microphone to a kind of deadening cynicism and blind self-righteousness in the guise of taking on self-righteousness, legalism, and what-have-you."  Sure, we all would agree.  That happens too much.  All of us who blog have certainly from time to time held on to our "rightness" too tightly because being wrong isn't fun.  But this sort of self-righteous blogging that Moore speaks of rarely makes a ripple in the blogosphere, let alone beyond it. 

And Moore's quote can just be as easily be turned around.  The guise could be on the other side, just as it was with Jesus who seemed to criticize the religious power brokers the loudest and sharpest, not the little guy who was "self-righteously" attacking legalism.

In other words, I seriously doubt the big problem with blogging is that some of the "self-righteous" ones are getting a hearing and hurting the big boys.  I think it is much more likely that if any bloggers are getting loud enough to actually create a stir among the power brokers, those power brokers would try to find a way to combat the bloggers.  The odds are stacked against the bloggers and for those with power, position and notoriety.

And isn't this what we see with Luther and the 95 Theses?  He was an annoying gnat to the institution for questioning what they were doing.  Then some started to agree with him which created fear among the powerful, and an attempt was made to silence him (something that can't be done in the same way to bloggers, which elevates fears among the powerful today).  But Luther continued on as a flawed man who didn't do it all right, but who in the end was faithful and led a revolution of biblical proportions.

While I'm not able to remove the lint from Luther's belly button (and I'm more likely to lead a revolution for P.F. Chang's), I'm more hopeful about real change happening in the SBC after reading Russ' post.  It's a sign that the message of 'necessary change' is getting out.  God help us.

Vote for #11

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C'mon guys I need some help.  My Brokeback Pastors picture, which I still laugh out-loud about on a regular basis, has been entered in a theology photoshop contest.  I'm not winning. 

I need some votes pretty bad and I have a lot of readers on this site.  So please go to the Theology Photoshop Contest page and vote your conscience (Brokeback Pastors).  Whoever wins (Brokeback Pastors) will get some iron-ons of their entry.  Could you imagine me wearing that to the SBC annual meeting?  C'mon.  Help me out here guys and gals.  I need your vote!  My entry is the last one, #11.

Justin Taylor Moving to Wheaton

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A guy I would consider a friend who I have never met in person, Justin Taylor, is moving to Wheaton to work for Crossway.  Very cool.  He REALLY has chosen to come to Wheaton in order to be closer to me, Joe Thorn, and Scot McKnight.  We are going to form a Barbership Quartet in which JT will be the barber.  But here's what he is saying publicly so far...

We are in the process of a move to Wheaton, IL for my new job. The pastseven years in Minneapolis, at Desiring God and Bethlehem, has been a wonderful season for us. But we’re also excited about this new chapter of our lives. After years of uncertainty of what I would like to do when I grew up, I now feel fairly confident that I would like to stay in the publishing industry long term.

I’m not really sure what the future plans for my blog will be. (Perhaps someday I’ll get around to moving to a different location than Blogger.com.) I enjoy blogging, and I enjoy the interaction that goes on because of it. But it’s not my primary calling, and I have to be careful that I don’t let the tail wag the dog.

As for new books: I’m currently under contract with Crossway to edit a new edition of John Owen’s three main writings on sin: Mortification of Sin, Temptation of Sin, and Indwelling Sin. Kelly Kapic of Covenant College—who will be publishing an academic book on Owen’s Communion with God—will be my co-editor. We will be providing introductions, adding headings, footnotes, a glossary, etc.

I’ll also be editing Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, the follow-up book to Desiring God’s conference in 2005, with speakers like John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Mark Talbot, David Powlison, Carl Ellis, and Steve Saint.

Technorati Mini

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Do you obsess over who is linking to you and wish you could know as soon as possible?  Well someone is always willing to do the work to feed your obsession.  Enjoy Technorati Mini which updates every 60 seconds automatically.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Technorati Mini may be habit-forming. Do not operatea motorized vehicle while using Technorati Mini. May cause excitement and/or nostalgia for Web 1.0. Minors should discuss using Technorati Mini with their parents. Technorati Mini may annoy popup-blockers. Do not taunt Technorati Mini.

Piper Resources

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Piper_handsMonergism is doing some great new stuff, including adding a page of John Piper resources that gives easy access to tons of stuff: books, mp3's, sermons, essays, stuff by topic, etc.  Bookmark it and use it often.

By the way, we need to name this Piper picture.  My best three: "The Piper Moose," "Piper plays paper football," or "Piper asking God for a 'high ten'" 

NetVibes

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I've been using NetVibes for a while now and I like it.  It's a homepage that has modules for gmail, flicker, and any site with a feed (like a blog, CNN, or whatever).  Give it a look.

Where's Joe Thorn?

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Joe_cartoon_w_head_blank_words_1Yes, the rumor is true.  Okay, there's no rumor, but there should be one now that Joe Thorn has "unintentionally" deleted folders containing his blog posts. 

Since he was doing a series on the seven deadly sins, and his most recent one was "envy," it's clear that God deleted his blog because Joe envied my blog.  Shame on you Joe. 

In partial seriousness, Joe should have his blog up and running again in the next five to forty-five days, or something like that.

Christ Plays: Part 2

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We continue reading and discussing Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places over at Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog.   We are on pages 49-84.

Some good quotes from Peterson...

Wonder is the only adequate launching pad for exploring a spirituality of creation, keeping us open-eyed, expectant, alive to life that is always more than we can account for, that always exceeds our calculations, that is always beyond anything we can make. (52)

If you want to look at creation full, creation at its highest, you look at a person - a man, a woman, a child. (53)

Artists, poets, musicians, and architects are our primary witnesses to the significance of the meaning of "virgin" in the virgin birth as "a summons to reverence and worship."  Over and over again they rescue us from a life in which the wonder has leaded out.  While theologians and biblical scholars have argued, sometimes most contentiously, over texts and sexual facts and mythological parallels, our artists have painted Madonnas, our poets have provided our imaginations with rhythms and metaphors, our musicians have filled the air with carols and anthems that bring us to our knees in adoration, and our architects have designed and built chapels and cathedrals in which we can worship God. (57)

Monergism: Tim Keller Resources

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Justin Taylor has just informed me that Monergism has built a Tim Keller resource page.  It looks like they haven't located any articles other than the ones I've listed in my Tim Keller Articles post (maybe they used my links to build their page?), but they have added some audio resources which is helpful.  Always glad to see Keller's ideas getting out there. 

So I've added a link on my Keller post to Monergism, which is a tremendous resource for all thing reformed.  Oh, and I've finally added D.J. Chuang's Keller resource page, which I keep forgetting to add.  Chuang's site was one of the first places I learned about Keller.

Desiring God Conference Bloggers

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Challies and CoffeeSwirls are live-blogging the Desiring God Conference on Suffering and the Sovereignty of God in Minneapolis.  I attended last year's conference which was excellent, and was offered the chance to blog the conference this year but had conflicting plans.  Very cool to be able to keep up with the conference through these blogs. 

I won't update links to all their posts, but here are the ones online so far.

Challies: Session 1, Session 2
CoffeeSwirls: Day 1 Thoughts; Piper/Taylor Showdown