Clowney and Keller on Preaching in Postmodern World

35 sessions in which Keller and Clowney team-teach through RTS.  Find it here.  All lectures are free!!!

HT: JT

God of This City

Katie and I just recently bought Chris Tomlin's newest cd, "Hello Love."  His fourth track is called "God of This City" and as I listened to the lyrics for the first time, the Lord instantly turned my mind to the people of Vancouver.  God is God, and we are not.  He is in control, and His will is sovereign.  He choose to use us as broken, dirty, and useless vessels to carry out His cause and His kingdom!  What an incredible and humbling privilege and calling!  As I listened to this song the Spirit of God just burned in my heart, and I became so excited for the future ministry and the people of Vancouver, BC which God has divinely given us a burden to reach with the Gospel!  Ironically, the week in which we bought the cd was so hectic that Katie and I didn't see each other until several days later, and when we finally had some down time we immediately asked each other about this song, and we both felt the Spirit of God moving our minds and thoughts to the ministry and people of Vancouver!  

"Lord use us as you want whatever the cost.  By faith we'll preach your Gospel till our dying breath!  Let your kingdom come.  Let your will be done, so that everyone might know your name!  Let your song be heard everywhere on earth.  Until your sovereign work on earth is done!  Let your kingdom come!"

Driscoll lays down the hammer in Sydney

Mark Driscoll spoke to the Anglican clergy concerning what was hindering evangelistic ministry in Sydney.  Some hard-lined statements were laid down in his 18 point critique!

MP3 is also available!

HT: MB

Ray Boltz announces that he's gay.

The well known Christian musician in the 90's announced that he is gay.  He is best known for his GMA song of the year in 1990, Thank You.  I grew up listening to this guy.  His song, I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb was one of my favorites growing up.  I listened to it all the time.  Crazy.  You can read about it here.  

"In my flesh dwells no good thing."

Palin vs Obama

This post by Jeff Emanuel is pretty hilarious.  Check it out here.

HT: AN

Driscoll interviews Piper

Mark Driscoll sits down with Dr. John Piper.  Check it out here.

Best Commentaries

Over at JT's blog, Naselli has posted a really sweet commentary site!  Check it out here.  It's got forthcoming commentaries as well as divisions between testaments, authors, sets, and best 2 of each Biblical book!  Sweet stuff...check it out.

HT: JT (Naselli)

I Can't Say I Had the Same Reaction

Ray Ortlund just posted a powerful personal post about concerning today's entertainment.  Michael Spencer's response to Ortlund was quite powerful too.  This is all continues to speak to me as I work through what it means to live a "cross-centered," gospel-saturated life.  I can talk and talk about it all day long, but at the end of the day does my life betray my speech?

HT: JT

Guns and Martyrdom

John Piper posted an article today on Desiring God's web blog entitled Guns and Martyrdom, and this piece spoke volumes to me in light of some recent events.  Last weekend I completed my concealed handgun training course, and Monday I turned in my application and course completion certificate to the VA Beach City Police Precinct.  I am now registered and licensed to carry a concealed handgun in the state of VA.  I know scary, huh?  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  (I can hear the onslaught of heckles coming now.)  Needless to say, I was quite thrilled and excited to complete this course seeing that I have been looking forward to it for quite some time.  However, I must confess, I have not given the entire situation much thought.  

What am I going to do if I'm in a situation where I might "have" (for a lack of a better term) to take someone's life?  Sure, I can sit back and smugly remark now that, "Pffhh, I'll just blow his freakin' head off!"  But what will I really do if it's my life or his?  As Piper noted (my paraphrase), "I'm ready for heaven, he's not."  I am now sitting back thinking about the Gospel.  Is this the Gospel?  Is my life so dear to me that I can't afford to lose it?  I mean, my initial reaction was, "Wait a second, that's extreme stuff Piper!  I mean we're talking about my second amendment rights here!"   But in reality, do I really have any rights?  

As Americans, "rights" seem to be prevalent in our society.  No where in the current known world or in the history of the world has an individual's "rights" been so prominent as in the United States of America.  

Let's set aside rights, martyrdom, and a man's initial reaction to protect what's "his" (i.e. his life, family, possessions, etc) for a moment.  What about the Gospel?  What about taking someone's life so that they will never have the opportunity to hear/receive the Gospel again?  Is my life really more valuable than theirs?  Is that really my call to make?  I think not.  But is this whole thing Biblical?  Is it Gospel-centered?  I mean, the only reason that I took this course and obtained this permit was so that I could protect those that I love most: myself and my wife.  To be honest with you, I'm not sure if I'm ready to die.  Honestly, I think I still love myself way too much.  But then again is the end of my life for me to decide?  

I must admit that I am struggling with this present issue even as I sit here and type.  For those that know me, I'm pretty sure that you would all agree that I am fairly strong sovereign-tist.  So how does my theology (i.e sovereignty/providence of God) control they way that I live?  In the larger scheme of the eschaton is it wise, biblical, or Gospel-centered that a Christian take another's life to save his?  And I'm not talking about martyrdom here...(i.e. my life is not being threatened b/c of what I believe.) 

Any thoughts?  Insights?

EXPELLED!

Theology hits the theater in Ben Stein's documentary: Expelled! In theaters April 18th. Check it out!