Reformissionary

Will Ferrell Introduces Bulls & Hornets Lineups

Derrick Rose's favorite movie is The Notebook...

Jesus Visits the Broncos Locker Room

Jesus: "Read the playbook, alright? Do you read that?"
Tebow: "The Holy Bible is my playbook."
Jesus: "Oh. Ok. Great. That's great. That's great. But, uh, you need to read the regular playbook, ok? Seriously, I'm doin' all the work here."

Go watch the video.

This Is Why Auto-Tune Was Invented

Most of the time Auto-Tune is used to make bad things sound better. Fail. Every so often, it makes awesome things sound even better. Tim Tebow. All he does is win. Featuring Skip Bayless, John Elway, and others. (via)

Stupid Tom Brady

He never gives up and you know he's going to get a touchdown...

Don Draper Presents Facebook Timeline

Ok, I'm sold on it now.

UPDATE: Embedding video has been disabled, so go watch it at YouTube.

Self-Assured Agreement as Denial

Found this wonderful illustration of dialogue & disagreement by the Neo-Futurists as heard on This American Life last week. Transcript is here.

A Very Trinkety Christmas

Christmas was more trinkety this year than normal. The "Happy Birthday Jesus" coin was a gift to our kids during the United Methodist Christmas Eve service. The "Sacred Heart" purple glitter Jesus bank was a gift from my daughter because, you know, she thought it would be awesome for me to have. It is. Now, if only we had kept a coin to put in my Jesus bank.

That's As Clear As I Can Make It

Flopvangelism - Beachelism - Thongelism

"Perhaps an impression YOU leave behind...
...will lead another to Jesus."

(via @SBCmessenger, oh dear)

Mascot Beatdown

This is why you never mess with a mascot.

Phriday is for Photos 3.26.10

It's Friday, this is a photo, but I didn't take it. At Catalyst One Day they asked "What is the one way the church should innovate to be more effective?" This was the answer of Joe Thorn and me.

My Verge Conference Press Pass

(via Joe Thorn)

Sister Christmas

My sister was haunted by this doll from my grandma's apartment when we were kids. Rediscovered a couple of years ago...we are now continuing to haunt her with it. She got this in the mail just before Christmas. Love you Julie!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

>

Murder, Not Muckduck

Parenting is Scary

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Two Thingsism

My boys love this commercial...

Lots-o-Links 3.17.09

Molly Update: Mol has been tired lately. Meds help her sleep, but she has just been dragging. We'll see what the neurologist says next appointment. No results on her neuro-psych test...other than Molly doesn't know jack about Madame Curie and can't do mental math as good as our 6 year old. Fortunately for her I married her for her body and not her mind. :) And yes, I had her permission to say that.

Jonathan Dodson: The Missiology of St. Patrick
Resurgence: Vintage Saints - St. Patrick

Devotional Christian has potential.

On March 26th Mark Driscoll will be on Nightline with Deepak Chopra and others discussing whether or not the Devil exists. That should be fun.

DA Carson: Portraits of Jesus in John's Gospel

Stephen Nichols: Jonathan Edwards' Apologetic In Theory and Practice

Tim Chester: Mission Planning in Acts

Resurgence: Interview with Matt Chandler (3.9.09)

Found at Culture Making: "Given what we have since learned about life in the concentration camps, why would anyone in his right mind waste time and energy writing or playing music? There was barely enough energy on a good day to find food and water, to avoid a beating, to stay warm, to escape torture—why would anyone bother with music? And yet—from the camps, we have poetry, we have music, we have visual art; it wasn’t just this one fanatic Messiaen; many, many people created art. Why? Well, in a place where people are only focused on survival, on the bare necessities, the obvious conclusion is that art must be, somehow, essential for life. The camps were without money, without hope, without commerce, without recreation, without basic respect, but they were not without art. Art is part of survival; art is part of the human spirit, an unquenchable expression of who we are. Art is one of the ways in which we say, “I am alive, and my life has meaning.” "

Finally Tonight, Jesus...

Lots-o-Links 12.16.08

Brief Molly Update: We are going to Molly's neurologist today. He will hear that the medications are not working so far.  Then we will hear whether Molly's EEG shows us anything worth knowing.  And all of this is contingent upon the weather not being so bad that we can't go since it's in Crystal Lake and a snow storm is coming.

Jonathan Dodson: Four Church Planting Manuals Reviewed

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary now offers a PhD in having a quiet time

David Allen has a new book, Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life

This 9Marks video is kinda funny.  "It's calligraphy. I can't even read it."

Stephen King lists his 10 best movies of the year

Keller and Powlison: Pastor's Self-Evaluation Questionnaire

John Frame: Christ and Culture audio

Trevin Wax wants you to have some good books...for free

Very excited about Jerram Barrs' newest book coming in May of '09: Learning Evangelism from Jesus

Music Monday 11.17.08

RUN to Amazon and download Justice: Cross for $5. Just do it. Awesome.  Ends Thursday, I think.

Some good news for people with ears: A new Bon Iver EP comes out in January. By the way, I have a bunch of readers in Louisville, KY and Bon Iver is playing there in December at Headliners. Well worth the effort.

Here's and interview of Okkervil River in which the questions and answers take place in song.  Weird, a bit annoying, but also sorta funny and creative.

I've heard from several Reformissionary readers who have discovered Fleet Foxes here and just love 'em.  Here's a new Pitchfork interview of the Fleet Foxes, and an amazing Take Away Show...

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Here's a great video and a kickin' song from the Raconteurs, "Old Enough." Crank it up!

The Raconteurs "Old Enough"

I have to admit that the literal music videos are kinda funny. My whole family enjoyed the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge"...

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Music Monday 10.13.08

Need some fall tunes? I put up an iTunes iMix: Reformissionary's Autumn.

Check out The Pitchfork 500, coming soon.

Want to pay what you want for the new The Mountain Goats EP, including the option of free? I thought so. One catch. It's called Satanic Messiah and the recommended price is $6.66. They are also limiting the vinal copy releases to 666. For some Christians that's a deal breaker. But you will be missing four very lovely tracks.

The Avett Brothers with their official vid for "Murder in the City."  Love this song...

I'll be honest with you. As Molly continues to not get better after brain surgery, we have been struggling with emotion and motivation. So, I offer you the best thing I can think of to get motivated. Awesome...

And if you can't get enough of Marky Mark, I offer you this video which had me in stitches this week and I'm still not sure why...

Phriday is for Photos 9.19.08

Just one this week, and one some of you have already seen. It's Lou Piniella and his self-induced wedgie. Um...yuck, but funny. See all my photography.

Lance is Bored

News today that Lance Armstrong is riding in next year's Tour de France...

The 36-year-old seven-time Tour de France champion will compete in five road races with the Astana team in 2009, the cycling journal VeloNews reported on its website Monday, citing anonymous sources.

[...]

The move would reunite Armstrong with Johan Bruyneel, now the team director for Astana.

VeloNews reported Armstrong also will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia and the Dauphine-Libere.

I hope the rumors are true because the Tour needs some excitement, it needs a hero, WE need a hero...

Ascol vs. Stetzer

Timmy Brister put up a normal photo of Tom Ascol (Founders Ministries fame) talking with Ed Stetzer (so famous I don't need to explain why) and asked readers to put up a caption.  I think this will suffice via a little "photoshopping"...

The Big 5: Books that Made You Laugh Out Loud

What are your Big 5 books that made you laugh out loud?

We've all read them, right?  You are working through a book and you just can't contain a chuckle at a story or the way the author put something.  Any book that made you laugh is eligible, but I want to encourage you to not list too many books that are in the "humor" or "comedy" section of the bookstore.  One or two of those at most.  I'm hoping to find books/authors with a more natural humor, not just books by comedians.  BONUS: If you want to offer a short (!) quote or funny part, feel free.  But it must be funny.  If it's not funny, I will sound the gong.  Also, please don't list things like Far Side books.  These need to be reading books.  If you don't know 5, list what you have. 

Bishop Takes Pawn

HT to Goodyear

Lots-o-Links 6.11.08

Resurgence has an interview with Bob Kauflin.

My brother captured two tornados on video last week.  Neither were doing anything amazing, but it's still pretty cool to a storm buff like me.

I love coaching Little League, and would love to coach this kid. Awesome...

Jeremy Pryor continues explaining his Story-Formed Life discipleship class/strategy...

The Office originated in Japan. Did you know that? Here you go...

Tim and Kathy Keller: The Role of Women in Ministry.

The Last Men's Book You'll Ever Need?

The New York Times on theology pubs and such.

Tim Chester: How I teach the Bible in a household church.

Tony Morgan: 7 reasons why the church needs artists.

Jonathan Dodson on building missional cores.

Thanks for the many comments on my Big 5 books series.  If you have missed any of the lists, please go and comment.  Great resource posts.

Lots-o-Links 5.6.08

I'm really sick at the moment (102 temp) and I thought a lots-o-links post would be therapeutic.  And away we go.

A Cubs website: Just One Bad Century.

Really appreciate Jeremy Pryor making some videos about a discipleship strategy called The Story-Formed Life.  First video.  Second video.  More to come.

JD Greear: Multi-Site = Multi-Opportunity.

From The Economist: Nomads at Last: Wireless communication is changing the way people work, live, love and relate to places—and each other.

Multi-site Exposed Media.

Top 10 Memory Hacks.

The Empire Strikes Barack...

Lots-o-Links 4.23.08

Check out Ed Stetzer's post about the current decline of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Joe Thorn and I have been blogging on these issues for years, and Ed offers some very good commentary and critique.  I'm very thankful for guys like Stet who are speaking to the convention honestly and directly.  Here's a snippet...

Baptisms are at their lowest levels since 1970 with seven of the last eight years showing annual declines. Even though some might hope the decline in membership numbers is due to lack of reporting, the inescapable conclusion is that baptisms by individual churches is falling off. (LifeWay Research will provide more analysis in the next month.)

For now, Southern Baptists are a denomination in decline. Some of you were born into an SBC church; others of us chose it of our own accord. Either way, it is dear to us all. Our responsibility before God is, then, to urgently consider how we should respond.

Also worth checking out is the New Evangelism Research.

Bob Hyatt shares a great photo of what a church that packs out a coffee shop looks like.  Love it.

Tony Morgan says that changed lives is what creates buzz about a church (more here).

A Cubs hater (meaning, someone who likes another team) sent me a video filmed from the bleachers of Wrigley Field.  In it two fans, who probably had too much to drink (it's a Cubs game, duh), decided to have a hot dog eating context.  The result is worth watching.  There is at least one word that is not for kids, so please heed the WARNING: Not for kids or judgmental Christians...

Almost

My 9 year old, Jack, had a writing project for his 3rd grade class.  The project was to write a short essay about someone he knows who helps people.  Jack, fresh off an evening watching American Idol's Idol Gives Back, decided he would write about the great philanthropist he knows, Carrie Underwood.  The teacher explained to Jack that he doesn't know Carrie Underwood.  He was heartbroken and didn't know what to write.  The teacher asked Jack if he might know someone, you know, who helps people.  Jack decided to write about his Dad, me, a pastor.  Here's the essay.  I left his spelling and punctuation in tact.

My dad helps people by preaching, yes he's a paster.  He goes to church on Sundays the first and last out of church to awnser questions from the church.  And sometimes people from the church come to our house for prayer meetings while kids come in the basement to play (if there are any).  I think if I had to chose a dad I would chose this one.  Our family sometimes we go to different churches but the church I like most is our church.  And I know my Dad is teaching lots of things to the church, such as My Mom and children in church in sunday school, so I know my Dad is the paster in church and he's helping people learn about God.  But he is also a good photographer, he also puts his pictures on the wall by the ordering area at StarBucks at the square, you should see them there...So that's my Dad almost my favorite parent.

Lots-o-Links 4.9.08

I have now won the second blog voting contest!  That has picked me up, between the two contests, $175 in online bookstore gift certificates: $50 for Westminster Seminary bookstore, $50 for Amazon, and $75 for Eisenbrauns.  Woohoo!  I will order The Reason for God copies from Westminster and Amazon.  Eisenbrauns was a late addition to the first place prize and doesn't carry Keller's book, so I will be picking up some books for my personal library.   Thanks for all your effort!  And thanks to Scot McKnight for his effort to find some votes for me.

On a side note, the total official vote count for all blogs was "666" as you can see by the screen capture.  While some might find that a bit off-puttin', I think it's awesomely hilarious.

O Lord, let there be a blog contest for the cost of hotel, airfare and conference fee for the Total Church North America Conference.  I WANT TO GO!!!

Carolyn Mahaney: How to Help Your Husband When He is Criticized

John Piper on C.S. Lewis on writing.

Al Hsu on "The New Suburbanists."

Scott Hodge has some advice for those who are thinking about change.

Makoto Fujimura: A Wedding and the City.

10 Questions Every Leader Should Ask

Growing Sustainable Suburbs

Top 10 Myths About Networking

Joe Thorn is now making my voicemails on his cell a matter of public consumption.  I want to be upset, but it represents such a positive side of me that I can't help but propagate it...

Jesus Has Been Kidnapped!

And you won't believe the ransom...

Why Hillary MUST Lose!

This is a must see.  Remember the 1991 song by Sophie B. Hawkins, "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover?"  Go refresh yourself if you need to.  I remember the cool beat, and I remember thinking "Are you allowed to say 'damn' on the radio?"  I guess so. 

Do you ever wish people could just leave those memories alone?  Well, Sophie B. Hawkins had to go and jack it all up by putting together this tragic remake for Hillary's campaign, "Damn, I Wish You Were President."  True story.  Honestly, if I were Hillary and this is the kind of things people did to support me, I would cry after every primary too.  Don't miss the chance to buy your "Damn, I Wish You Were President" T-shirt.  Ugh.

The Good Wishes of Others

Colin Stephen is attempting to lift my spirits.  It worked...

"I'm Not Going to Pee Sitting Down"

Man, this is funny. I need to go KJV because it's way funnier than all the Bibles translated by dudes who sit and pee. (via Trevin)

We Are Gonna Be So Famous

Joe Thorn and I are gonna be so famous.  I've received two emails (since midnight!).  The first said they found this on digg.com, the second on del.icio.us.  Scroll until you find us.

Steve & Joe's Snowball Fight

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

CHuckabee

Funny...

A Few Things

CT talks Glocal with Bob Roberts

J. Gresham Machen site

Tentmaker Group looks promising

I heard an interview with Eric Maisel on the Writers on Writing podcast (see Pen on Fire).  A couple of interesting thoughts on creativity.  Here's Maisel's site.

Simpsonize yourself.  Here's what Jonathan Edwards would look like on the Simpsons.

Two new fantastic movies: The Bourne Ultimatum & Sunshine

The Clintanos

This is a funny spoof on The Sopranos ending by Hillary and Bill Clinton for Hillary's campaign.  It's a set up to announce her campaign song. I wouldn't vote for Hillary if she were a close relative or the only candidate, but I still like the idea for this video.  Oh, and don't miss the "Johnny Sack" cameo.

Smatterday

A smattering of shtuff...

Update on sabbatical last week.  I was greatly encouraged by Jonathan Edwards' Personal Narrative.  I also listened (again) Tim Keller's "Being the Church in Our Culture" and "Doing Justice" from the Reform & Resurge conference last year.  Every time I hear Keller I stop at some point and freak out by how good it is.

Melinda Penner on Luther's A Simple Way to Pray
Email yourself in the future
GOOD Magazine (Bright Orange, video)
Spider-Man 3 is coming
Comic Relief 2007
A great way to keep me from eating your egg salad

Thirteen on Thursday

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...

The Magical Thornbury

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.

Pro Bowl & Talking With Your Kids

I was watching some of the Pro Bowl with my sports fanatic 6 year old son, Elijah.  He asks so many questions during sporting events that I often miss the on-air discussions with the "experts."  Yeah, I know talking with my kid is way better than listening to Greg Gumbel, but sometimes I really want to hear what they are saying.

After tonight, I will never question the priority of listening to my son.  Somewhere around question/comment #1,724 he noticed that a guy on the Redskins was playing where Brian Urlacher would play.  I missed the first half of his comment as I was coming out of my game-mode zombie state and switching to loving-dad-mode, but he said something like, "Dad, did you notice that a guy from the Rednecks is playing where Urlacher plays?"

Where in the heck has he heard of rednecks?  I think he has listened to too many Mark Driscoll sermons.

Man, I love my kids.

Christ of Scientology

Really important breaking news.  Tom Cruise is Christ of Scientology. 

The Office

I'm through season one of The Office and a few episodes into season two.  Man, this show is funny. 

I know there are a bunch of Office lovers out there.  Anyone have a favorite episode or moment?  So far my favorites are Diversity Day and any time Dwight says or does something.

Lutheran Advent Calendar

Oh geez, this is funny (via: Riddleblog).  This is a Lutheran Advent Calendar. Merry Christmas!

Riddlebarger comments, "Sorry, but you Southern Baptists are out of luck . . ." 

Not all of us, bro. :)

Emergent Hair: Scot McKnight

Scot McKnight put up a picture of himself with hair.  I couldn't resist putting a few words over it.  I sent it to him and let him post it first, but here it is for you...

Bears & Obama

Love this Monday Night Football video.

Merry Christmas Joe Thorn

A Christmas present to Joe Thorn.