Book Review: When the Darkness Will Not Lift

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PiperI just finished John Piper's new book, When the Darkness Will Not Lift (audiobook).  It's about 70 pages long, helpfully short for someone who is weighed down with darkness.  You can pick it up for $8, or find it online for free thanks to Desiring God.

This is a very encouraging little book.  Piper deals with the issues of melancholy, assurance/doubts, unconfessed sins, Satan, self-absorption, remedies, and dealing with other people who are in darkness (among other things).  Oh, and Piper all talks a little about joy. :)

This book helped me realize where I'm struggling through a bit of darkness right now  It's remedies are not simplistic and trite but rather practical and Gospel-centered.  I will try to keep a few copies of this around to give away, and I think it will become one of the most recommended books for those I pastor.  I highly recommend it whether you love Piper's writing (like me) or not.

A few encouraging quotes...

Despair of finding any answer in yourself.  I pray that you will cease from all efforts to look inside yourself for the rescue you need.  I pray that you will do what only desperate people can do, namely, cast yourself on Christ. (p 21)

If we pour ourselves out for others, God promises to make us like "a watered garden"--that is, we will receive the water we need for refreshment and joy.  But even more, we will thus be "a spring of water" that does not fail--for others, for the demanding, exhausting draining ministry of urban self-giving. (p 63)

Thirteen on Thursday

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I dunno, I thought it would be fun to put up 13 things worth looking into on this cold and rainy Thursday in Chicagoland.  This is going to be pretty random, but I expect most of you will find a gem in there somewhere.  In no particular order but numbered for your counting pleasure...

1. Dwight Schrute Video (via Marko): "selling paper, fighting evil."  A hilarious, Schrutastic 2 minutes of pure Office-alicious enjoyment.  Please use this opportunity to stay in touch with your inner Schrute, who "has the strength of a grown man AND a little baby."

2. Tim Keller Quotes: thanks to Charlie.  Here's one...

If you speak and discourse as if your whole neighborhood is present eventually more and more of your neighborhood will find their way in or be invited. Why? Most Christians, even when they are very edified in church, know intuitively that their non-Christian friends would not appreciate the service. What you want is for a Christian to come to your church and say, "Oh! I wish my non-Christian friend could see (or hear) this!" If this is forgotten, soon even a growing church will be filled with Christians who commute in from various towns and communities far and wide rather than filling up with Christians and seekers from your church's immediate neighborhood.

3. Gary Rohrmayer says to look for a "Man of Peace."

Here are a few things to look for: 1)  They are not just open to the gospel but they receive the gospel freely.  2) They are in a position of great influence over their family, friends and within the community.  3) They have the ability to introduce church planters into their sphere of influence effectively.  4) They are also great "bringers and includers" of others into the life of the church.

4. Dictionary Tooltip for Firefox.  Love this extension.

5. Joe Thorn shamed me to switch my feed reading to Google Reader.  Great recommendation.  I've added a daily updated list on my left sidebar that shows what I liked from my feeds.

6. Convert your docs to PDF documents.  "Very nice!  How much?"  Free.

7. After hearing Shane Claiborne on the Catalyst podcast, I was intrigued.  Get it.  Check out The Simple Way.

8. Ed Stetzer has some stats on the survivability of church plants.

9. Check out John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life video podcast.  (via KC)

10. Have you seen the new Challies-ified Monergism site?  Looks great, and of course it contains great content.

11. You may want to check out the Internet Monk's conversations with another blogger about Southern Baptist identity (you will need to scroll to find all of them).  Some helpful stuff by iMonk.  The other guy?  Not so much.

12. We are just starting to use Fighter Verses for family Scripture memorization.  You can subscribe to the podcast which also contains audio of the verses. 

13. Saving the best for last, this is without question the greatest photo in Joe Thorn's portfolio...

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Music Monday 2.26.07

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I've been listening to a lot of great new music lately.  You can see some of those CD's on my left sidebar and I will probably blog on a few of those soon.  But I thought it might be fun this Music Monday to list a few "guilty pleasures" on my iPod/iTunes. 

This sounded like a cool idea to me since a few of my friends think I like weird indie music.  I figured those who like the weird indie music should be equally offended.  Trust me, this isn't easy for me.  But I hope to set the music-humility bar high. :) 

So, here are a few CD's you may not expect me to own and like.  I'll also add a nice list of singles you may not believe I purposefully downloaded and still like.

CD's...

> Garth Brooks (his first five CD's)

At 18 years old I left home and went to Southern IL University, which I believe was the #4 party school in the nation my freshman year according to Playboy.  At SIU I learned to tolerate and even like things I never thought I could like.  One of those things was country music. 

It really started by foolishly (for many reasons) attending keggers with my golf team teammates and enduring Garth's "I've God Friends in Low Places" over and over and over again.  I still can't hear that song without smelling a mixture of spilled Coors Light (ick) and, well, stuff spilled Coors Light soaks into when not sopped. 

My next real connection to Garth was dancing with Molly to "Shameless" at Fred's Dance Barn (which I just learned is now closed).  Yep, put me with the Queen of Hotness and a sappy country remake and I'm hooked.  I really AM shameless!  Go Garth!

MP3's: "The Dance," "Rodeo," "Victim of the Game," "Unanswered Prayers," "Cold Shoulder,"

> Kelly Clarkson: Breakaway

It's not much of a secret to say I have watched and still watch some American Idol.  My wife and kids love it.  But once someone "wins" it's hard for me to keep liking them.  It's very hard for them to break out of the AI stigma, at least for me.

But Clarkson did with Breakaway.  This album is really well done.  It's my wife's soundtrack while working out, and therefore my soundtrack for watching my wife workout.

MP3's: "Walk Away," "Behind These Hazel Eyes"

> James Blunt: Back to Bedlam

This dude has a weird voice, but fantastic pop melodies.  This is the second most played CD in our house.  I don't know what else to say.  I like it!

MP3's: "So Long Jimmy," "High," "No Bravery"

> Gavin Degraw: Chariot

A certain best friend of mine introduced me to Gavin's music and I thought it was great.  It's the most played CD in my house by a mile.  This upbeat pop-rock album by a young NYC artist is really, really good and hasn't grown old on me after a couple of years.

MP3's: "Follow Through," "Belief," "I Don't Want To Be"

Singles...

"What's Left of Me" by Nick Lachey

Man, I'm sorry.  But it's better to admit my problem than get caught in the act of listening!  On top of that, it's redemptive-ish.

"Pieces of Me" By Ashley Simpson

I dunno, it's just catchy.  Sue me.

"Seasons of Love" from the movie Rent

C'mon, sing along with us!  The movie sucked cheese, but me likey the song.

"Cowboy Take Me Away" by The Dixie Chicks

I wanna touch the earth/I wanna break it in my hands/I wanna grow something wild and unruly/I wanna sleep on the hard ground/in the comfort of your arms/on a pillow of bluebonnets/in a blanket made of stars/oh it sounds good to me

Yeah, it sounds good to me too. *single tear*

"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

Ugh, I'm cheesy.  Yeah, just another stupid yet catchy song.  I keep listening, though.

Ok, I'm sick of being humble.  Back to real music next week.

Notes on a Busy Day

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A couple of important things in my life at the moment...

Jack_hospital_1 - My 8 year old, Jack, had surgery today.  He had tubes put in his ears and his adenoids removed.  It has been a long day for us and longer for my son.  He's resting now, my wife is off helping our local school find a new principal, and I'm preparing for a funeral tomorrow morning. 

- Ed Stetzer, Darrin Patrick, and (by default) many younger leaders in the SBC are under attack from a Missouri guy named Roger Moran.  Marty Duren has the details and Joe Thorn adds some helpful thoughts.  Joe writes...

This appears to be a case of guilt by association. The gist of this man’s argument is that when we work with other evangelical bodies outside of the SBC we are endorsing everything anyone does or thinks who is also a part of that organization. Were this true it would create serious problems for many of our best leaders and professors who work with other groups who differ from the SBC but remain evangelical. The whole thing would be funny if this guy wasn’t serious, and wasting everyone else’s time.

Geez it's easy to hate us.  Stetzer just nailed it at the Baptist Identity Conference and then we have to get this kind of crap.  No wonder I get emails weekly from disgrunted young guys who either want to leave the convention because of stupid stuff like this or who thought about joining up with the SBC but have decided they aren't wanted for various silly reasons.  I will post an email soon from one of those guys.

By the way, Union U has modeled something that much of the rest of the SBC doesn't get.  Instead of screaming at and snubbing bloggers they embraced us, gave opportunities for their students to meet us, and made us feel welcome and appreciated.  Maybe Union should secede from the Convention? ;)

- I just received three different packages in the mail today.  One dude bought me a book from Amazon, Crossway sent me a book to review, and a well-known emerging church guy just sent me a pile of books (from commentaries to the very practical).  I got 14 books in all today, all for free from generous friends.  Thanks much guys!

Is Winter Over Yet?

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The temps are finally headed above freezing here in Northern IL.  And since the kids had a day off of school we thought we could go play on the big pile of snow that was plowed off our church parking lot.  Here's a video I took of a fun family day.

Baptist ID Conference Audio

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I made it home safely.  One quick word to end the evening (as I get ready for tomorrow).  All of the audio for the Baptist Identity Conference is up, including Ed Stetzer's talk which is probably the most important thing a Baptist has said about the Convention in some time.  If you listen to one thing, listen to Ed.  If you listen to a handful, please hear Mike Day, Greg Thornbury, and David Dockery.  I haven't heard Timothy George since we had to leave early in order to get home in time to be ready for tomorrow. 

Baptist ID Conference: Day 3

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Geez, Ed Stetzer delivered a powerful, biblical, and thoughtful paper this morning.  Joe Thorn and I are getting ready to leave town and I don't have time to comment much, but this was fantastic.  Honestly, there is probably no way to do this justice in a post.  Maybe his paper will be made public at some point?  Dunno.  Grab the audio when it comes out at least.  Man, this was great.

Baptist ID Conference: Day 2

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Dang, I'm tired.  A long but good day.

Breakfast with Van Sanders (IHOP baby) and Joe this morning.  Good to think about mission work in the U.S. before the day really begins. 

The first speaker was Paige Patterson.  Paige was glued to the page, reading a paper on what Baptists can learn from the Anabaptists.  There were plenty of interesting points along the way, but nothing mind-blowing. 

The second speaker was Russ Moore, who was speaking at Union's chapel service.  He spoke on T.T. Eaton, an important figure in the history of Union University.  Russ tipped his hat to country music and slapped the bloggers, as expected.  As a whole it was a pretty insightful talk and some interesting history.  Russ didn't hold back on Eaton's problems either. 

The third speaker was David Dockery, the President of Union.  Dockery offered up a helpful summary of of Baptist history emphasizing recent history (since 1979, the conservative resurgence).  Really good stuff.  He offered some great insights on what our current problems are and why different types of Baptists that were necessary for the resurgence don't fit well into our controversy-less era.  He didn't offer much of a path foward, but I greatly appreciated Dockery's perspective and insights otherwise.

The fourth speaker was Greg Thornbury.  This was a great talk on the "angry young men" of the SBC, namely the bloggers.  He was rightly generous and understood the situation of blogs and Baptist life very well.  It was obvious he did his research and didn't just paint with a broad brush.  Greg explained the difference between anger and frustration among the bloggers and pointed out why focusing on Baptist Basics (instead of programs or battles) was the key to the future.

Greg gave a quote from UU prof Hal Poe that I felt was worth repeating.  He said, "Every culture has a question that only the Gospel can answer. Listen for the question." 

Greg is a friend (we met in seminary) and I'm glad he is in the SBC.  If it weren't for guys like him, bloggers like me would be much more frustrated.  I hope his voice grows and his wisdom is heard for the sake of our mission.

Joe and I skipped the last session today by Jim Shaddix on the future of the traditional church.  We both needed some time to finish our sermon work for Sunday and we really weren't interested in the topic.

We then grabbed some hot wings with Timmy Brister and Mark and Jacob (Union students).  Great conversation on seminary, church planting, and culture.

Now, me needy some sleepy.  Gnite.  Oh, and here are a few fun pictures I stole and added rainbows to.  Why?  I dunno.  It just seemed funny to add rainbows to people.  That's Frank Page, our buddies Mark and Jacob, Tom Ascol, and Thom Rainer.  Geez I'm random.  Enjoy!Mark_jacob_rainbows

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The Magical Thornbury

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This is Joe Thorn's photo of Mark, Greg Thornbury, and Jacob.  That rainbow is my creation. 

Only the man with amazing magical powers to spread cheer rather than anger and judgment can be accepting to bloggers and bushy haired students alike.  Bravo Greg, bravo.

Baptist ID Conference: Day 1

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To start, if you want some detailed work from speaker to speaker, you need to go to Timmy Brister's blog.  My ears are still ringing from him tapping his keys as a mind-blowing pace.  Should be more than enough to read there, and some good photos.  Hit Joe Thorn's blog for his as-always-excellent thoughts.

We got into town today and grabbed lunch with Tim Ellsworth at Rafferty's.

Three speakers today to kick off the Baptist Identity Conference.

First was SBC President Frank Page.  Fortunately he didn't drive up in a painted bus.  His topic was the future of the Cooperative Program and he talked on Philippians 2:12-20.  Come to find out this is a sermon he already preached at Southern Seminary (as Brister already posted on in detail).  It was fine as a devotional message, but didn't meet my expectations. 

I really expected Page to develop some important thoughts and possibilities with the Cooperative Program.  It wasn't that so much.  It was an encouragement to be on mission through the CP, but had little to do with the future of the CP.  He did bring up some good questions on the future of the CP, but no ideas or solution.

Second was Thom Rainer.  Thom is the President of Lifeway Christian Resources and the author of a zillion books or so.  His recent book Simple Church is good. 

Thom gave a message I feel like I've heard before.  It was a straightforward on the need for Christians to be evangelistic.  There was nothing earth shattering here, but it's always important to be reminded that we all need to be active in sharing the Gospel with others.  I really came away thinking about how to be a more passionately evangelistic pastor.  God help all of us.

The third speaker was Mike Day speaking about the future of baptist associations and state conventions.  It was fantastic.  He started with a history of associations and how they have functioned, our current problems with associations, and a paradigm for the future.  He talked about a lot of the stuff I have discussed on this blog and Missional Baptist Blog (which is now dead and gone). 

Mike gave a lot of concrete thoughts and ideas about the future.  His seven point paradigm for the future was that associations must be church-driven (it's been backwards for too long), priority-based (three ways: church planting, mobilization, leadership development), resource-focused (no programs, just resources), institution-free (own as little as possible/necessary), strategically-managed (leader a catalyst, not director), regionally-located (stop operating in outdated boundaries), and denominationally-connected (merged state and local association in larger regions).  Great stuff.

The only thing missing, in my opinion, were thoughts on networking beyond the denomination.  I think post-denominational networks are crucial, not just for the sake of the mission, but also for the sake of the denomination.  We will be healthier, stronger, more missional when we stop thinking we are the self-sustained force of the Great Commission.  I think that's right where Day was heading, but I wish he would have said more.  Still, great stuff.

The last event of the night was a bloggers coffeehouse.  Saw a lot of other bloggers there and talked to a number of Union U students.  Very cool.  Talked a lot during the day with Mark and Jacob, a couple of students that we met early on via Greg Thornbury.  Good guys we plan to hang with again tomorrow.

It was a good first day.  Someone asked us (me and Joe) to a breakfast meeting at 7am so it's off to bed and early to rise.  More tomorrow. 

Baptist ID Conference

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The Baptist Identity Conference is underway and I'm online blogging live.  There are many bloggers here, a few at my table.  To my left is Timmy Brister and Tom Ascol.  To my right is Joe Thorn.  Should be a good three days here.  I believe you can follow some of the conference live at www.eplustv6.com.  "The live broadcasts will be from 6:30-9 p.m. on Feb. 15 and threedifferent times on Feb. 16 — 8:30-9:30 a.m., noon-1:30 p.m. and 3-4 p.m."

If you want every detail and lots of quotes, this isn't the right place.  I'll be doing more response than repeating what I hear.  Feel free to interact with my responses.

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The Baptist Identity

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Tomorrow I leave with Joe Thorn for the Baptist Identity Conference at Union University in Jackson, TN.  I have just come out of a deep trance and learned what will happen over the next few days of my life.  Many of the things I learned are understandable only to SBC'rs, and I apologize for that.  Here are the top 10 most noteworthy things I learned during my trance (or at least the top 10 that I am willing to talk about publicly).

10. While dining with Tim Ellsworth this week (a rabid St. Louis Cardinals' fan) I will reveal to Tim that Albert Pujols will be banned from baseball for gambling and never make it into the Hall of Fame.

9. Paige Patterson will finally clear his throat and we will learn he sounds like Pavarotti.  Or is it Barry Gibb?

8. On Friday I will develop a mean case of the runs which will lead to no less than 12 bathroom trips.  I will develop this problem at 10:27am precisely. 

7. I will get to see Joe Thorn change into and out of his thong...again...and repeatedly.  Trust me, this is not good news.

6. George Bush will deliver a videotaped address to the conference, to everyone's surprise but me and my readers.  His topic?  "Barak Obama, the Antichrist."

5. Ed Stetzer will reveal that Joe Thorn is the greatest blogger since Al Gore invented the Internet.

4. My kids will obey my wife.

3. I will finally allow Joe Thorn to see me in my thong.  This will draw us even closer as friends, so close that for the rest of our lives we will always be mistaken for each other despite the fact that he looks like Sloth on The Goonies.

2. Tom Ascol will reveal, in private conversations only, that he never has been a Calvinist.  He only said so because he thought that meant someone who loved Calvin & Hobbes.

1. As is already revealed, my friend Greg Thornbury will speak on "The 'Angry Young Men' of the SBC."  But instead of pointing out angry bloggers and young pastors as everyone expects, he will point the finger directly at himself and reveal that he has been secretly angry for years at the SBC and is leaving the ministry to spend more time with his family.  Soon after resigning from Union University he will become an Associate Pastor of Brian McLaren's church and finally publish his life's work, "One More Word Following the Word That Was Last Written and/or Spoken Previously."

Music Monday (on Tuesday)

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Sorry or no Music Monday post yesterday.  Here's a peace offering.

My wife and I watched The Last Kiss a few days back, starring Zach Braff.  I thought Garden State was brilliant and he was involved at all levels on that film.  Braff's only role in TLK, as far as I can tell, is his acting role.  He was good, but the story wasn't appealing to me.  Even though, Braff in more serious roles is a million times better than Braff in Scrubs.  That show just isn't funny to me. 

When Braff is in a movie you can usually find good music therein.  Who can argue with the amazing Garden State Soundtrack?  It appears The Last Kiss Soundtrack (Amos Lee, Ray LaMontagne, Athlete, Snow Patrol, etc) is also very good, though the music didn't seem as forward as it was in Garden State.

One song has haunted me.  It's Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek."  I'm not much of a Heap fan, but this song may convert me.

Here's the video and lyrics (via) of the song.  Enjoy.  (Also see Live at Indie 103.1)

Where are we? What the hell is going on?
The dust has only just begun to form,
Crop circles in the carpet, sinking, feeling.
Spin me round again and rub my eyes.
This can't be happening.
When busy streets a mess with people
would stop to hold their heads heavy.

Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines.
All those years they were here first.

Oily marks appear on walls
Where pleasure moments hung before.
The takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this
still life.

Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines. (Oh, you won't catch me around here)
Blood and tears,
They were here first.

Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that you only meant well? Well, of course you did.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's all for the best? Ah of course it is.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's just what we need? And you decided this.
Mmm what you say?
What did she say?

Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Speak no feeling, no I dont believe you.
You don't care a bit. You don't care a bit.

Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Speak no feeling, no I don't believe you.
You don't care a bit. You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.