Cubs. First, the undefeated champion Woodstock Little League Cubs. (more here) Elijah (10) on the right with teammate Nate. Second, me, Danny (right) and Elijah after our championship game victory. (First two pics taken by my daughter, Sarah) Third, my two boys first trip to Wrigley for a Chicago Cubs game on June 16th. (more here)
Ray LaMontagne's excellent album, Trouble, is one of the most-played albums I own. It's also a favorite of my wife and has regularly accompanied us in long, late-night talks on the couch. Plus, it's $5 right now. Don't miss this gem.
The purpose of Sabbath is not simply to rejuvenate yourself in order to do more production, nor is it the pursuit of pleasure. The purpose of Sabbath is to enjoy your God, life in general, what you have accomplished in the world through his help, and the freedom you have in the gospel—the freedom from slavery toany material object or human expectation. The Sabbath is a sign of the hope that we have in the world to come.
Collin Hansen interviews Tim Keller and Nancy Leigh DeMoss on revival. Great conversation. So many things I could quote, but here's one of my favorite quotes by Keller (35 seconds in)...
In the last 20 or 30 years, because the society's changed and because we are finding it harder to reach people, there's been an enormous amount of intellectual and emotional energy given to: How are we reaching these people? And we've actually, I think, put all of our energy into that and it seems to have sucked a lot of the air out of the room. So people just aren't, they're more concerned with: How are we going to reach people who are so hard to reach? When I think Dr. Lloyd-Jones in his lectures on revival has actually said that you need revival more in a time like that, because what the world doesn't see is a beautiful church. A church with people filled with the Spirit, people who the Gospel's changed their lives and are loving one another. And honestly the best way to reach people is to show them something gorgeous here. And we shouldn't be too worried about all the various kinds of new strategies we're supposed use. So I actually feel like the strategies for evangelism, and, you know, I'm an evangelist, and I still feel like it's taken a lot of the emphasis away from asking God to revive our churches. (emphasis mine)
If you haven't heard, John Corapi, one of the most popular Catholic Priests out there and one of the compelling preachers influencing Catholics and Protestants, has not only been suspended as a Priest because of some accusations, but has now decided to leave the priesthood on his own. I make no judgment as to the truth of the accusations, but Protestants need to keep up with things like this as we have many Catholics around us who love Corapi.
There's lots of info out there, but in his own words it's "The Black SheepDog"...
I would argue that in a post-Christian culture, preaching will not be effective in the gathered assembly if Christians are not also highly effective in their scattered state. In our times, people will be indifferent or hostile to the idea of attending church services without positive contact with Christians living out their lives in love and service. Therefore the incarnational "dispersed" ministry of the church is extremely vital and necessary.
Chris Thile (Nickel Creek) and Michael Daves' new bluegrass album, Sleep With One Eye Open, is $3.99 today only. Sounds really great and getting good reviews. I picked it up. You should too!
Frank Turner's new album, England Keep My Bones, is getting a lot of play on my iPod. I posted his atheist hymn of sorts, "Glory Hallelujah," last week. Here's the video for "I Still Believe." Frank writes some interesting songs worth hearing. Plus, it's just great music. Check out a few snips of lyrics...
Now who'da thought / that after all / something as simple as rock'n'roll would save us all
And I still believe / in the need / for guitars and drums and desperate poetry
And I still believe / that everyone / can find a song for every time they've lost and every time they've won / So just remember folks we're not just saving lives, we're saving souls, and we're having fun
I just love the new album by Frank Turner, England Keep My Bones (I have the extended edition). It's like The Gaslight Anthem mixed with Flogging Molly mixed with David Ford. One of the songs all my Christian brothers and sisters need to hear is "Glory Hallelujah." It's an atheistic anthem (worship song) and instructive of the new atheism. Lyrics are below the video.
Brothers and sisters, have you heard the news? The storm has lifted and there's nothing to lose, So swap your confirmation for your dancing shoes, Because there never was no God. Step out of the darkness and onto the streets, Forget about the fast, let's have a carnival feast, Raise up your lowered head to hear the liberation beat, Because there never was no God.
There is no God, So clap your hands together, There is no God, No heaven and no hell. There is no God, We're all in this together, There is no God, So ring that victory bell.
No cowering in the dark before these overbearing priests, Not waiting until we die until we restitute the meek, No blaming all our failings on imaginary beasts, Because there never was no God. No fighting over land your distant fathers told you of, Not spilling blood for those who have never spread a drop of blood, No finger pointing justified by fairies up above, Because there never was no God.
There is no God, So clap your hands together, There is no God, No heaven and no hell. There is no God, We're all in this together, There is no God, So ring that victory bell.
And I know you're scared of dieing man and I am too, But just pretending it's not happening isn't gonna see us through, So just accept that there's an end game and we haven't got much time, And then in the here and now we can try and do things right. Forget about the crazy things that people have believed, And think of wondrous things that normal people have achieved, 'Cos I've known beauty in the stillness of cathedrals in the day, I sang Glory Hallelujah! Won't you wash my sins away? But now I'm singing my refrain and this is what I say, I say there never was no God.
There is no God, So clap your hands together, There is no God, No heaven and no hell. There is no God, We're all in this together, There is no God, So ring that victory bell.
There is no God, So clap your hands together, There is no God, No heaven and no hell. There is no God, We're all in this together, There is no God, So ring that victory bell.
Was pointed to a new podcast that I am thoroughly enjoying. It's called The Art You Missed. From the website...
The Art You Missed explores, freely and with an open mind, acts of creation that are in danger of being overlooked amidst the ever-widening stream of the world’s new art...
The Art You Missed embraces the artistic impulse and adds this premise: all art is forever new...
The Art You Missed is not merely an academic or historical exercise, but is rather an active meditation on the permanent revolutionary impulse at the core of art...
The hosts, Samuel Melden and Fritz Byers, talk music, poetry, and various other kinds of art.
If you like the podcast, and I think you will, check out their Kickstarter Campaign. Also follow and "like" them out on Twitter and Facebook.
There's a new band, Cults. Their self-titled debut is a wonderful summer album, full of catchy hooks. It also uses samples of cult leaders speaking to their followers. It blends together fun poppy summer sounds with real depth & content worth thinking about. Tough to accomplish, but fascinating & successful here. Pitchfork names "Best New Music" & 8.5/10 and Paste 7.9/10. Check out Cults.
The samples, of cult leaders speaking to their followers, could have been a distraction had they chosen to make a big deal out of them, but they're woven tightly into the album's sonic fabric and processed to varying degrees of decipherability, which turns them into an effective textural element. (via)
Ultimately, Cults is an album that can be enjoyed as either a summer soundtrack or as something with a darker, more concrete substance. How you choose to interpret it is your call, but the beauty of this notable debut is that either way works just as well as the other. (via)
Is this what we want to hear from the head of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Kevin Ezell? Do we really want to compete with other groups (Acts 29 specifically was mentioned)?
As a denomination we have admitted that church planting has not been a priority and we are now changing that, but that's why so many have looked for that help elsewhere.
We are in the early stages of building a network, a support group, that will be the first choice of church planters everywhere, not just Southern Baptist. We will and can compete with other groups. (via)
My take: Partnerships, not competition. Playing a role. Being a part. Locking arms. I don't like this quote. It seems to me to be the same old SBC approach where we are the one-stop shop.
Are you reading this the same way as me? Seriously, would love your thoughts.
