Ehrman was a "born again believer" and is now an agnostic. It's an interview worth hearing as we consider how to respond to those around us who suffer and find no satisfactory answers.
This is simply a wonderful book, a useful tool for God's work--but it
will only make a true impact for the Kingdom if it is used, given away,
and shared with others.
Thanks to Ben Arment I've been watching a lot of TED videos lately. This one with atheist Richard Dawkins isn't new, but it's important...
Joe Garner contacted me a few weeks back, having a common friend, and asked if I would like to check out his new EP, Mourning Birds. A few minutes on Joe's MySpace page and I knew it was worth hearing. While I won't go into much detail about Joe, Brent gives plenty of info that you should check out. His music is folksy americana, maybe. It's measured, thoughtful, gentle even. It reminds me a lot of Denison Witmer, who I like quite a bit. I encourage you to check out Joe's music. It's good.
Here's Joe singing "Bury the Hatchet," which is a delicate dance of a story (a pretty good explanation of most of his music). Beautiful (especially when the coffeehouse baristas are steaming the milk)...
I've been looking for some Justice, with no success. Here's a taste...
Great new video from the New Pornographers, on what may be the best song on their Challengers CD...
Only if you [believers] struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive....But even as believers should learn to look for reasons behind their faith, skeptics must learn to look for a type of faith hidden within their reasoning. All doubts, however skeptical and cynical they may seem, are really a set of alternate beliefs....Every doubt...is based on a leap of faith. - p. xvii
The only way to doubt Christianity rightly and fairly is to discern the alternate belief under each of your doubts and then to ask yourself what reasons you have for believing it. How do you know your belief is true? It would be inconsistent to require more justification for Christian belief than you do for your own, but that is frequently what happens. In fairness you must doubt your doubts. My thesis is that if you come to recognize the beliefs on which your doubts about Christianity are based, and if you seek as much proof for those beliefs as you seek from Christians for theirs--you will discover that your doubts are not as solid as they first appeared. - p. xviii
I was just in our little hometown, independent bookstore and they not only have Keller's The Reason for God, but they've sold copies and already ordered more at my request. When I mentioned the title they knew it immediately and were a buzz with interest. I know the local outspoken Unitarian guy picked up a copy today. Great to see local interest.
2. Pray for Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL (where I considered planting a church at one time) that is suffering because of a campus shooting. Joe Thorn lives almost in Dekalb.
I have two orders pending (Amazon and Westminster) for Tim Keller's The Reason for God. I have a book and audio copy coming for me, and several copies to give away. Amazon's is on the way!
The WGA writer's strike is over. I've been following the strike online and through some podcasts, and was hoping the writer's would get a fair shake. It appears they are content, and now we can get back to watching some well-written new TV and movies.
I recently rented The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, a documentary of one man's effort to beat the high score of Donkey Kong from a guy who you want to see lose it. It's a very entertaining movie that I highly recommend. Rent it and then tell me what you think. Here's the trailer...
Pitchers and catchers reporting today for the Cubs. Very good news. I've briefly visited HoHoKam Stadium, where the Cubs have spring training, in Phoenix a few winters ago when on a golf trip with my dad and uncles. My rabid-sports-nut-7-year-old, Elijah, reported as a pitcher last Sunday here in Woodstock. They have a handful of pitcher's and catcher's training sessions at our local rec center. He's shorter than most kids his age, but has an arm on him. AND he is accurate. I often have to encourage him to throw harder because he's afraid the kid across from him will not catch it and get hurt, or something. And since I'm helping to coach his team this year, I'm considering trading him to another team for a case of Schlitz!
Some of you know I have an autistic son. My wife enjoyed this video recently, so I thought it was worth sharing...
A great darkness descended on me, because I knew I had no good reason not to [plant in NYC], but I felt totally inadequate for the job. I know that everyone feels inadequate for any ministry, but this was different. I knew that I was as humanly well-equipped as anyone to try this ministry, but I also knew this was well beyond the human abilities of anyone at all. That meant only one thing: it would not be my talent, but my love for, and dependence on, God that would be the critical factor in the project. I felt that my spirituality would be laid bare for all (worst of all, for me) to see. But the opportunity was too ripe and I also knew it was a door that might not be open for even a few more weeks...
I prayed and was reading Gurnall's A Christian in Complete Armour one day and came upon a passage: "It requires more prowess and greatness of spirit to obey God faithfully than to command an army of men; more greatness to be a Christian than a captain." I realized that if was an illusion to imagine that I would have to start being brave if I took this job; I should have been living bravely all along. Even if I turned the NYC church down, I could not go back to being a coward. So I might as well go to New York! On July 1, [1988], I gave Westminster Seminary a year's notice. Immediately, my prayer life broke open like never before. I did not wonder why.
I haven't posted much on evangelism lately, but that should change soon. The main reason is that I'm doing a ton of work on some strategic planning for the next two years (and beyond) at our church. I've had some extra meetings and lots of sketchy ideas and plans that are starting to gel. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll have some things nailed down and can share more about my evangelism plans for the rest of 2008. Some of them are directly tied to our church's plans.
Here are a few books I'm currently reading, rereading, perusing, etc
Promoting the Gospel by John Dickson (info here): To be fair, I haven't gotten past the table of contents. But that's because I just got it in the mail today from Lisa at Narwee Baptist Church in Australia. Thanks Lisa!
unChristian by Kinnaman and Lyons: Used some stats in last Sunday's sermon. Good resource.
Redeemer Church Planting Manual by The Godfather (Tim Keller): How can you NOT own this? It's simply outstanding. Been using it a lot for church strategy and planning, but also pulling much on evangelism, ethnographic interviews, etc. I'll be blogging on a few things from the book soon.
I'm curious about the Mulit-Site Exposed Conferences. I'm not a video venue kind of guy, but I'm very open to thinking multi-site if we are growing and it makes sense for our area. Keller's approach is my favorite, with live preaching at all locations.
I've been having a hard time locating some good CD's at my local stores. But last week I was able to pick up a few new ones and I'm enjoying all of them so far. Let me point to two of them that have gotten the most play.
Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark (MySpace, Metacritic). Had to pick this up after liking their previous album, A Blessing and a Curse, and seeing such a great buzz about this album. This is provocative southern rock for folks who can appreciate the drawl and the open discussion of sin. Eye-opening explanations of the problems (and pleasures) of sin.
What at first blush might sound like unhealthy entrenchment turns out
to be a brilliant study in duality, as Cooley and Hood-- seemingly in
conversation with one another-- weigh the respective pulls of decadence
and dependability.
The band expands its familiar rock sound with forays into soul..., Southern boogie, and
AM-gold country—all in service to tales of hard-drinking fathers,
vengeful ghosts, weird Harolds and director John Ford.
(...)
Brighter Than Creation’s Dark belongs to Mike Cooley, who
contributes seven of his best, most rousing songs about hard-luck
characters—the kind you know and probably avoid—proving the Truckers
are at their best singing about people at their worst.
Bring any baggage you want to this record, and it still returns nothing
but warm, airy, low-gimmick pop, peppy, clever, and yes,
unpretentious-- four guys who listened to some Afro-pop records, picked
up a few nice ideas, and then set about making one of the most
refreshing and
replayable indie records in recent years.
There will always be a new band that just comes in and knocks your
socks off with a great album. Usually it takes a while before you find
it but it almost always happens once a year. I just didn’t think it
would be here so soon in 2008 with Vampire Weekend. This is a
magnificent debut, filled with endless melodies, memorable hooks and
plenty of toe-tapping moments.
I'm not a big fan of Animal Collective. But I'm always eager to hear them out and give them a chance. Their Take Away Shows are quite interesting, so I offer them here for you.
Great opportunity guys! Especially if you are in seminary or need some supplemental income. If you...
-love Jesus
-know your Bible
-consider yourself "missional"
-are Baptist & reformed in theology
-love the lost & enjoy thinking how culture intersects with Scripture
...then please email me and I'll pass on to you some info on a very cool opportunity.
UPDATE...Lots of folks expressing interest. Thanks so much. But the folks involved need to narrow down the field. Here's extra criteria...
- excellent academic ability and transcript + professor references to prove it
- seminary education a must, first year must be already completed
- swims in popular culture, loves it, knows it, yet resists and critiques aspects of it
