I want to encourage you to get your questions in now for next Wednesday's thread with missiologist Ed Stetzer and pastor and church planter Philip Nation. Both will stop by to discuss and answer questions relating to their new book Compelled by Love, and Stetzer will also answer a few questions relating to his work and ministry as a missiologist.
Post your questions at this link, and do so by 3 p.m. Eastern/noon Pacific tomorrow.
Now on to the glorious linkathon….
You decide: are Tim Keller and David Powlison right, or wrong, or a little of both? Frank Turk weighs in.
D.J. Chuang: God seems to use flawed people.
An update on Tom Ascol.
A list of Bible verses on total depravity (HT: Erik Raymond)
From FTA: Barton on a break in the action. Buster on the fringe of disaster and the hem of theology. And me on grace and holiness.
Tom Schreiner is interviewed regarding New Testament theology.
David Foster proclaims the death of the Christian market.
From Leadership Network: An internet campus starter kit.
Bob Hyatt meets William Paul Young, the author of The Shack. And reviews The Shack.
Jared Wilson on the weird modern desire for legalism.
IX Marks watches TBN so you don't have to.
Mike Macon on junior high.
Tally Wilgis on repentance.
Perry Noble on weight issues - and he makes some good points.
The Resurgence is giving away the DVD video curriculum for Mark Driscoll's Vintage Jesus (intended for small group use).
Ed Stetzer discusses contemporary apostles. And tells us who's who in the SBC blogosphere. And shows his Lutheran friends some love.
What if Perry Noble were the devil? What would he do?
Dave Ramsey talked with Mike Foster about his Junky Car Club.
ERunner talks about panic disorder.
Dan Edelen asks who's to blame for the prosperity gospel. Edelen on spiritual lust.
What J.I. Packer shared with Mark Driscoll.
Ligonier's top five commentaries on Acts.
TSK asks if offending blog articles should stay or go.
Columns online from Ligonier's August 2008 edition of Tabletalk Magazine.
Free Money Finance on tithing on tough economic times.
Steve Camp: The American Revolution was biblical.
“Receiving a bad report” This has often been seen, or at least one of the major issues pointed out to me. I always try to look at the good in people, though, to my shame, I have gossiped about people in my heart and even held anger in my heart towards people. This type of sin makes me physically ill. It was often pointed out to me that I lack spiritual maturity, conviction, love for God because I dont want to immediately trash someone in disfavor. I mean I sort of look at it this way, Im pond scum, I know that, so it always bothered me to call other folks such things knowing the slime I live in, I am often convicted of this when I have an “adult temper tantrum” (I liked that one) then it all works out and my self righteousness just melts away and I look in the mirror and see, yuck.
I dont know we want our heroes but we go out of our way to tear them down.
Sorry to post twice the panic disorder article reminded me of two things that truly give me panic disorder. Disorientation, shortness of breath, a deep desire to disappear, feeling like a trapped rat, etc. The first one literally terrifies me, that I may become sick or disabled and be a burden on others, it is not the disabilities or the illness that truly terrifies me it is the fact that I may be a burden in some way for even a single minute on another human being, that is horrid. I can accept doing that for others, it literally horrifies me that I may sin and lean on others where I actually cause some type of inconvenience. The other panic situation is that I may show public grief or cry, show weakness, ask for help etc. Both of these situations literally scare the hell out of me.
The more I read and know about that J.I. Packer, the more I want to know what he says. What a man of God!
Another great man of the Anglican Faith, who Bob Brown brought to Desert Springs…
Right Reverend Terrence Kelshaw (former Anglican Bishop of the Rio Grande)
It was at this his Service of Light that my then 10 year old began crying and was unconsolable. He didn’t know why he was crying, but he knew he needed to talk with Bishop Kelshaw after the service, who then laid hands on him and prayed for him.
I used to be in the same precept women’s bible study class with Bishop Kelshaw’s wife when we studied Romans. She had great insights and made wonderful pound cake
Our family is indebted to then Bishop Kelshaw. He is now affiliated with this organization, I believe:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Uganda
Michael,
Thank you for the links to my posts at Cerulean Sanctum. I pray your readers are blessed by them.
Comments on the Keller/Powlison piece: I thought it was brilliant and necessary.
The Church needs its hotheads. They often see the cracks that other people ignore. That can be a worthy calling.
But there’s something sad about the angry young man who turns into the angry old man, and I think Keller and Powlison get to the core of that issue.
I am fully convinced that anyone who truly understands grace will temper everything they say because they understand that their own sins and foibles are as bad as any of their opponents’. (I noted this in the prosperity gospel piece. Too many of us Protestants resort to Catholic theology by making our own sins venial, while our opponent’s are mortal.)
It’s hard to get riled up after we understand that the sinning brother is still a brother, and I am just as much a sinning brother as the next guy.
I enjoyed Steve Camp’s piece on how the American Revolution was biblical.
The slogan of the American Revolution was “We have no King but King Jesus!”
I would add these links:
Will the real emergers please stand up? - C. Michael Patton: http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/08/will-the-real-emerger-please-stand-up/
Listen to Paul Young (author of the Shack) speak at Bill Richies church:
http://www.crossroadschurch.net/audvid/archive/sun.htm
(he spoke sunday August 3, 2008).
brian,***the panic disorder article reminded me of two things that truly give me panic disorder.*** there isn’t a healthy male out there that isn’t panicked by those two things if they stop to think about them - so they don’t do so
Most of us practice a whole lot more denial than we realize. IMO
As a pastor who bears the challenge of building a church in a me centered society and the responsibility of being a good steward of the mysteries of God, I appreciate immensely what J.I Packer (another “gray haired dude”–Paris Hilton) said to Mark Driscoll.
He is right on! Old guys rule!
I am also glad to hear that the Christian subculture seen most in the marketing of the church is beginning to break down. Thank you Jesus!
Thanks for stopping by, Dan!
My concern with the Keller/Powlison piece is that it misses a very sad fact in the church world: sometimes, church leaders hurt people and, knowing that if the word got out their careers would be over, they use Scripture to silence those who would expose them.
If Pastor Danny is arguing with his wife, and I go around telling everyone about it, yeah, that’s gossip and someone needs to get in my face and tell me to knock it off.
If Pastor Danny is neglecting his wife, and sleeping around with the hot intern from Ohio, and mocking his secretary behind her back, and threatening to cut the youth pastor’s monthly pay for some stupid reason, no, it’s not gossip to tell people what the guy is doing. It’s vital.
Steve, I’ll miss the charts you’d see in the Christian bookstores listing the most popular rock/pop/metal acts and the CCM act that most sounded like them.
The question, Dan, would be to define ‘bad report’.
from Driscoll’s list (looks like he had the old guy corned)
“4. Trinity — Packer stated that the fullness of the doctrine of the Trinity is not completely appreciated as it should be. The result, he said, is that some Christians have only a deep understanding of Jesus or the Holy Spirit so that they are guilty of what he called “Jesus-olatry” or “Holy Spirit-olatry” rather than a full love and worshipful appreciation of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.”
I’ve just recently been convicted of not knowing every single thing that God, the Great Three in One, has revealed of Himself to us. What a presumptive insult on my part. God forgive.
“I’ll miss the charts you’d see in the Christian bookstores listing the most popular rock/pop/metal acts and the CCM act that most sounded like them.”
LOL!!!!
From a marketing standpoint though, there is validity to that. The secular industry dores the same type of marketing itself. Usually with a sticker half the size of the CD case that’ll say something like: “The most brutal slab of modern U.S. Metal for 2008. For fans of Shadows Fall, Unearth, Lamb of God and Trivium.”
The CCM industry did that stuff first, so it looks like they ripped the CCM industry off.
“from Driscoll’s list (looks like he had the old guy corned)”
I’ll assume you meant “cornered”, otherwise… ewwwww.
This just in - Police raid the homes of Pastor Phil Aguilar’s Set Free Christian Fellowship - using 150 armed Swat Team member and make off with the motorcycle gang’s little doggie:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/warrants-street-schmidt-2115884-four-anaheim
[cut & paste if link is too long - look at 15-photos w/article to see sad little puppy they confiscate]
BrianD,
Love the assumption made by Free Money Finance.
Where and when did God tell us to tithe?
JimP, depends on who you ask
“If you love the Mighty Might Bosstones, you’ll love Five Iron Frenzy.”
“If you love SlipKnot…”
…You needs demons cast out of you.
That 2nd part would be MY Christian marketing chart!
-Captain Kirk
“If you love SlipKnot…”
…You needs demons cast out of you.
That 2nd part would be MY Christian marketing chart!
——————————————————————-
LOL
Great drummer though.
Enjoy Phoenix, Eric. It’s going to be far cooler than usual when you’re there.
JTK:
Thanks, sure I will.
Blessings
Eric H. thank you - cornered cornered cornered - I will write it 100 times - not here, tho
ps to above…**corned** means soaked in brine Oh my! ! ! That might describe me, but not Rev. Dr. Packer
Sometimes Dr. White truly hits a nerve with me, usually because he is correct, and articulate in a matter. People really misunderstand this man most likely because he is very logical and does not play to the crowd I respect that. I wished I emulated that more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkTyMo07Dyw
I love these link athons I read almost every post and appreciate the hard work that goes into it. Ok true confession time. I love RFD network (do you know what rfd stands for). I was so totally tired of the regular twaddle on the direct so I was scrolling through the religious stations, so here click preacher screaming, click, person with tall blue hair, click. Catholic mass watch for a while, click, no offense with the clicks, another preacher screaming, real fast click, Ravi, watch the entire show. Then I click and here is the agra news and I start watching. Then the train show and I am hooked. I love RFD network even the big Joe’s polka show.
Then one of my favorite shows. Dutch Oven & Camp Cooking show. This network is such a literally refreshing view of America and the heart and soul so to speak.
http://www.rfdtv.com/
You know there really are alot of good folks in this country, yes all other countries as well, but here in the USA. Dont be fooled, under all the noise and network bla bla, there is the heart and soul, its a rock and it is not going anywhere.
Rural Free Delivery
Very good observation Brian - I’ve seen the channel at my Aunt and
Uncles, but it’s not in my tv package - but I have Blue Highways TV
and that is somewhat similar. I will have to lobby to get it added
to my tv package.
From the guy who watched a bunch of religious shows……
This old nun is just saying “Hail Mary” after “Hail Mary”. Seriously, for like 10 minutes. I have to admit, after Rod Parsley, this is kind of refreshing.
I needed a laugh. It’s good medicine!