Coming Attractions 11.18.10

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Coming_attractions-786898 Here are a few things in the works...

1. Ads: You can see that I'm gearing up for some advertising on the right sidebar. I've thought about it for a long time & had some advertisers express some interest. I'm going to give it a go. It would be financially helpful for my family during tight times. If you are interested, click on an "Advertise Here" link. 

2. Links: I also want to add that whenever you see a link of mine to a book or music on Amazon with the Reformissiona-20 tag on it, that means I get a small cut for recommending it. It adds nothing to your cost. It's the same as if you went straight to Amazon. Essentially by buying products with my link you get same good price and help supply my book budget. I have no other book budget than this. Thanks for supporting it. And I work very hard not to just point you to anything in the hope of making some cash. I skip over recommending many deals that I don't personally want to recommended.

3. Reviews: I have reviews coming on Tim Keller's new book, Generous Justice, and Jim Elliff's reworking of Pursuing God. Both are great. Hope to get to both very soon.

4. Writing Projects: I have several blog articles in the works that have been fermenting for a while and that I'm excited about. I want to get a regular schedule for posting articles in the next couple of weeks. Look for that. I'm saying it publicly so I feel guilty if I don't get it started. :)

5. Phriday is for Photos: I haven't been very active in photography lately, but I'm also planning on getting it kicking again. 

6. Molly: I know it doesn't seem like a very cool "coming attraction," but expect more soon about my wife's battle with Chiari I Malformation. The blog has helped her to connect and minister to many women who are suffering the same things and scared. 

7. Tim Keller Resources: It's been a while since I seriously worked on my TK Resource page. Without doing anything a few things there look broken. I hope to get it back in shape for your resourcing pleasure.

Tim Keller: Urban Plant Life PDFs

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13_logo Here are PDF's of talks Tim Keller gave at the Urban Plant Life conference in London a couple of years ago. You can also check out the audio/video or grab the podcast. But having documents you can print and search is very helpful. Thanks to @BradAndrews for the heads-up.

1. Gospel Renewal
2. Church & Culture
3. Contextual & Missional
4. Gospel Theology
5. Integrative Ministry
6. Gospel Preaching
7. Gospel Theology
8. Movement Dynamics
9. Church Planting

(original location)

Arcade Fire on SNL

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Arcade Fire played SNL again, and were great. Here's "We Used To Wait" & "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)." By the way, the worst thing about Arcade Fire, and maybe the only bad thing, is Win Butlers hair. Truth in love.

 

Ligonier Commentaries (Keith Mathison)

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Music Monday 11.15.10

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Jónsi was on Fallon playing "Sticks & Stones" from the soundtrack of How To Train Your Dragon. His album, Go, is more of the same beauty & awesomeness.  

I've thoroughly enjoyed (and reviewed!) Miranda Dodson's album, Change A Thing. New music popped up recently on YouTube from Miranda and I've been looking forward to passing it on to you. Here's "They Will Write a Book." I dig it.

Molly Update 11.9.10

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1242935299968It's been a long time since I gave an update on Molly, mostly because there has been nothing new. She has been great. That started to change a month ago. 

Over the last month Molly started to experience small, though not insignificant symptoms from Chiari. Read all the old posts on Molly & Chiari. Or check out an initial post from 2007 on what Chiari I Malmformation is.) On Friday she woke with a massive headache that caused her to vomit most of the day. Late Friday that was done, but other symptoms began and were full-on. She easily loses her balance, struggles to finish thoughts (brain fog), gets easily overwhelmed, has significant muscle weakness and some numbness in her arms and legs, and more. It's been consistently bad since Friday.

That's not a long time, and she has dealt with some symptoms from time to time and had them subside. That happened last year. But it hasn't been this bad since before her last brain surgery. We still are hoping and praying for the symptoms to go away, but they are bad enough that contacting Molly's doctor was necessary.

I emailed Molly's doctor, Dr. David Frim, at the University of Chicago Hospital. He responded today and said that it's time to initiate another evaluation. We are waiting for his assistant to respond and, we assume, make an appointment for us at U of C. We don't know anything about what tests that may require (MRI, spinal tap, etc). 

We have prayed for the symptoms/problem to go away, but were talking today about how God's power will be made perfect through her weakness (2 Cor 12). I'm assuming that's why she wanted me to use the above graphic for this post. :)

I'll post more when we have more info. If anyone can pray, please pray for God to be glorified through this, and to be merciful to Molly.

Also, if you can, pray for me as I will be spending a significant amount of time with her as she is losing ability to be out of the house for an extended period of time on her own. We ran errands on Monday and I don't think she could have done it without me there. This is on top of tough times in our church where money is tight and I'm busier than I've ever been. This is going to put significant strain on our family and we need His strength for all of it.

Thanks friends. We appreciate you.

Wholeheartedness - Antidote to Exhaustion

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“The antidote to exhaustion is not rest but wholeheartedness.” David Whyte

Read this very helpful post by Chuck DeGroat on wholeheartedness & integrity: "What's wrong with your pastor?" This post will be helpful for pastors and all Christians. Outstanding.

The quote comes from David Whyte's book, Crossing the Unknown Sea, which is now in my Amazon cart.

Music Monday 11.8.10

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Ipod guy It's a glorious Music Monday at Reformissionary. Let me throw some gems at you.

I highly recommend Derek Webb's new album, Feedback. It "an instrumental electronic album based on the Lord's Prayer." I think you'll like it. It's creative & beautiful.

A discovery from the last couple of months has been Dark Dark Dark. I first heard of them via Daytrotter's free download from last month (also grab September 2009 & March 2009 sessions). Their newest album, Wild Go, is great. I'll soon be downloading all their stuff because of songs I've found from previous albums (Bright Bright Bright | The Snow Magic) like "Wild Goose Chase." Enjoy...

Music Monday 11.1.10

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Mixtape

You can listen to the entire new album by Her Name Is Calla today: The Quiet Lamb. Check it out, buy & download it. This band and this album should be on your radar, especially if you are into post-rock. But check it out no matter what you like. So good.

Brent Thomas loves him some Drew Grow & The Pastor's Wives.

Another new discovery is Hey Marseilles. I'm loving their album, To Travels and Trunks. I think you will too. Check out their Tiny Desk Concert. 

The Tallest Man on Earth: The Wild Hunt is a great album. You should check it out. To convince you, here's "Like the Wheel"...

$5 Albums for November

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Sale tag Another month, another great list of $5 albums from Amazon. Here are certified, high-quality Reformissionary Recommendations...

**Other albums worth mentioning, though they aren't all my cup of tea...

Greatest Hits

Christmas Albums

Parenting: The Appeal

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Frustrated child pic Our kids have been taught to obey us the first time we say something, and they do pretty well. We get a lot of comments from friends and other parents about it, usually with some surprise at how obedient they are. They sometimes assume our kids just happen to have calmer personalities than theirs. That we just got lucky. Truth is, we've been blessed to be around parents who have parented well and taught us by example. You can parent better. You can and should ask your kids to obey the first time you say something.

One thing we've changed as our kids are getting a bit older is an "appeal." Now when we ask for their obedience, they are allowed to ask for an appeal, meaning they can make a request to delay obedience. It's working out really well. It keeps them from being frustrated when they have something they are trying to finish. 

The call to dinner is a perfect example. Usually when the call comes from mom they come running. It's food, after all. But occasionally a kid will yell from the basement, "Mom, can I appeal?" And then they give a reason and mom will ok or not. If you don't do this, I recommend it. It helps kids who have growing responsibilities and who are maturing in wisdom to make arguments for how they can obey without hurting something else they are working on. 

But it doesn't always work out. Last night mom called dinner and Sarah (13) said, "Mom, can I oppose?" Mom, said, "No, you may NOT oppose! But you may appeal." :) 

Do you have any parenting tips to share for kids of similar age? Comment below.

Music Monday 10.25.10

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Have you heard of Mumford & Sons? :) Certainly one of the hottest bands in the world for people who like good music Sign No More is still only $7.99. They are also known for their great live performances, and they played two songs on Jimmy Kimmel last week. Here's "Roll Away Your Stone." Also go watch "The Cave."

Facebook friend, Billy Driver, recommended Hey Marseilles music to me. I knew the name, but couldn't place the music. After watching this video I became a fan. So good. Hey Marseilles album is To Travels & Trunks. You may want to pick it up after watching this. Thanks Billy!