If you missed it, you should check out this interesting discussion for the New Canaan Society between Eric Metaxas (twitter) and Tim Keller. The discussion is in large part about science, creation, evolution, hell, and Rob Bell.
Eric Metaxas and Tim Keller "Fireside Chat" from Brian McGee on Vimeo.
Adam McHugh, author of Introverts in the Church (my review), says this over at his Introverted Church blog...
I leave this blog today, not because my convictions have faded, but because I know that the message is out there now. Believe it or not, last month tallied the highest number of visitors in Introverted Church history, coming in at almost 25,000 people. Some people will think I am crazy to step off this platform now, but in my mind, last month gave me the permission that I needed to stop. People are talking about introverts and church, and I have accomplished what I set out to do. It was never my intention to become The Voice for introverts. It was always my intention to help my fellow introverts find their voices.
Read the entire post "A Moment of Silence". I'm thankful for Adam's book, blog, and ministry. Looking forward to his new book, The Listening Life, coming out next year.
Mark Dever shares some helpful insights on creating a reading culture in your church.
Most of my readers would know my love for the band Beirut. It's current, yet aged. It's creative, yet often stunningly simple. It's beautiful, often powerful, and always wonderful. One of the best bands working, in my opinion. Match that with what is probably their most stunning video to date for "The Rip Tide." The simplicity of the first 2 1/2 minutes turns into a rush of colors. Love the concept. Very impressed with this video. I hope you will enjoy it and pick up their great albums: The Rip Tide | Gulag Orkestar ($5.49 right now) | Lon Gisland EP | The Flying Club Cup | March of the Zapotec.
The salternlite blog transcribes 10 "evangelism tips" from Tim Keller. I believe these come from this talk. By the way, for some reason blog trolls love commenting on how "preach the gospel" isn't on the list. If you assume Tim Keller isn't talking about preaching the gospel in and through these things, you are dense and your comments will not be appreciated. For those of us who are thinking about how we can bring the gospel to our neighbors, these suggestions should be simple and helpful. A bit more context is given at the end.
- Let people around you know you are a Christian (in a natural, unforced way)
- Ask friends about their faith – and just listen!
- Listen to your friends problems – maybe offer to pray for them
- Share your problems with others – testify to how your faith helps you
- Give them a book to read
- Share your story
- Answer objections and questions
- Invite them to a church event
- Offer to read the Bible with them
- Take them to an explore course
Keller suggests, according to salternlite, to start with 1-4, move to 5-7, and then 8-10. Too often we start at the bottom.
STREAMING FREE
CHEAP
BURNING UP MY iPOD
The new album from The Welcome Wagon is out today, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. LOVE their previous album, Welcome To The Welcome Wagon. You should check both out.
STREAMING FREE
CHEAP
BURNING UP MY iPOD
Stream the new album from Page CXVI, Re-Hymns (reimagined by Derek Webb), today only for free.
Once you grant the main premise of the Bible—about the surpassing significance of Christ and his salvation—then all the various parts of the Bible make sense. Because of Christ, the ceremonial law is repealed. Because of Christ the church is no longer a nation-state imposing civil penalties. It all falls into place. However, if you reject the idea of Christ as Son of God and Savior, then, of course, the Bible is at best a mish-mash containing some inspiration and wisdom, but most of it would have to be rejected as foolish or erroneous.
Tim Keller - "Old Testament Law & the Charge of Inconsistency"
Pick up Brandi Carlile's EP, Live At Bear Creek, for free below. Her album, Bear Creek, is out now and I'm loving it. Strongly encourage you to pick up her new stuff, as well as her previous albums which are some of our very favorites to play in our house: Brandi Carlile | The Story | Give Up The Ghost | Live At Benaroya Hall.
A bunch of cheap and amazing albums out there right now. Don't miss these! Some deals will end at any time.
$5 albums this June are solid. Several are new, a couple are gems from the last couple years. Enjoy!
The wonderful album by M83, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, is only $3.99 as of today (22 tracks!). The first two videos from the album are intense visions about children with powers in dystopian society. Watch the first two videos in order: "Midnight City" and "Reunion." Pretty cool.
Anne Hathaway singing "I Dreamed A Dream" in the Les Miserables trailer. Awesome...
Well, I ignored my Music Monday post in order to be with family and friends yesterday. Here's some stuff you need to know about music this week.
STREAMING FREE
CHEAP - tons right now, so go get 'em!
NEW - some great albums out this week!
BURNING UP MY iPOD
I got an email from my friends at Crossway on a great opportunity to get a massive grant. Please help, give, spread the word! From the email..
As you may know, Crossway is a not-for-profit ministry that relies in part on gifts from people like you to accomplish major ministry projects worldwide.
We’ve recently been presented with an extraordinary opportunity. Generous donors have offered an all-or-nothing matching grant if we are able to raise $270,000 by May 31st—just days from now.
This grant could not have come at a better time. In God’s kindness, we currently have unprecedented opportunities for creating, translating, and delivering ESV Bible resources for Christians in great need—especially in China, India, and multiple countries in Africa.
Will you help us toward meeting this matching grant before the end of May? ...a gift of any amount will help Crossway provide significantly more Bibles and Bible study resources to the church worldwide.
We would be grateful for your generous response to this urgent opportunity.Give here or view the progress toward our goal.
Please support Crossway. Their books have been such a blessing to many and the ESV is my favorite translation.
Some great albums are $2.99 right now. Go get'em!
UPDATE, MORE ADDED! (5/23)
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Over the last couple of weeks I've been enjoying working out with Jerram Barrs audio from his two classes on Francis Schaeffer (Early Years & Later Years) at Covenant Seminary. Specifically, I've been listening by streaming through the Covenant Seminary Worldwide Classroom app on my Android phone.
I've thought for several years that one of the best things that could happen in American churches is that we would take a more L'Abri-like approach to our mission. You can read the Schaeffer's ministry at L'Abri in The Tapestry (out of print, but I just picked one up used but in perfect condition for $25) and L'Abri. I think churches like Soma Communities are doing this kind of thing better than most.
Whether or not you pick up the books, please go pick up these very helpful, free audio classes from Jerram Barrs are hard to beat as resources in thinking about mission, apologetics, living missionally, hospitality, etc. Download Francis Schaeffer: The Early Years and Francis Schaeffer: The Later Years now. You can get them through iTunes, or stream them over the Worldwide Classroom. While you are at it, find more great stuff from Jerram Barrs including his books The Heart of Evangelism and Learning Evangelism From Jesus.
STREAMING FREE
CHEAP
BURNING UP MY iPOD
Robin Gibb dies at 62...
