Month: January 2009

Obama’s first crisis: Militant gooslam

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From Andrew Breitbart at Big Hollywood:

Goosama
Goosama

In the wake of the events of 1-15, in which a wedge of Geese brought down a US Airways aircraft, here’s what you won’t be hearing about from the so-called “Mainstream Media”: We brought this on ourselves.

After an event such as this one, it’s important to look at the root causes: Why did the Geese attack us? Well, the truth is, for years we have been oppressing the Geese, using them for the fuel they provide for our bodies.
Boneless Goose Breast, Brandied Roast Goose, Roast Goose with Cumberland Sauce and Apricot Stuffing. And of course, the Christmas Goose. In the name of religion, we have been engaged in what can only be called a Crusade against the Geese. Is it any wonder that a few brave suicide Geese would seek revenge?

Under the neocon/neofascist Cheney-Bush administration, Goose consumption is up 1541%. Geese have been systematically deprived of their rights at a level never seen before. (Look around your workplace: do you see any Geese? Wouldn’t you be nervous if you did?) Reports of shameful anti-Goose activity are at an all-time high, mainly in the South and Midwest, of course.

The fact is, WE (and, of course, Israel) are responsible for the rise of militant Gooslam.  Given our actions, is it any wonder that gaggles of Goslings would reject the teachings of moderate Goose leaders, when those leaders are perceived as being in the pocket of the West? Given our actions, is it any wonder that these young Gooslamists would flock to more assertive leaders, leaders whose commitment to their cause cannot be questioned? Given our actions, the rise of a “Goosama” was inevitable. We have only ourselves to blame. (Does anyone doubt that somewhere there’s a photo of Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with a Goose?)

Read the rest here.

HT: Media Blog

Free resources online from D.A. Carson

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D.A. Carson
D.A. Carson

A tremendous resource is now available online and free. The Gospel Coalition recently  has made available messages from D.A. Carson. You can listen to many of his sermons there in MP3 form for free. The messages are categorized by date or topic to help locate them.

Thanks to Andy Naselli, Ben Peays and Ryan James for gathering all these into one place and for making them available for free!

HT: Justin Taylor

Where ‘Do Hard Things’ came from

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Alex and Brett Harris, teen authors of Do Hard Things and the The Rebelution blog,  explain how a message at the New Attitude conference in 2004 changed their lives:

Growing up, going to New Attitude was always the highlight of the year. Not because it was our big brother’s conference, but because of the worship, teaching, and discussion that took place. The sessions by men like CJ Mahaney, Al Mohler, Mark Dever, and John Piper were the catalysts for major steps of growth in our walk with God.

In 2004, Dr. Mohler delivered a message on the modern crisis of young people delaying adulthood—particularly in the area of marriage. His challenge to embrace responsibility resonated with us. It served as the seed for an idea that grew and matured over the next two years — the Myth of Adolescence, and a challenge for young adults to rebel against the low expectations and “do hard things” for the glory of God.

In 2004, that idea became a ten-minute speech for competition in the NCFCA (National Christian Forensics and Communication Association), placing first in the nation. In 2005, that speech became the first series on our new blog, The Rebelution. In 2007, that series turned into the opening session of our first conference tour. In 2008, that session developed into one of the first chapters in our book, Do Hard Things.

Can a conference change the whole course of your life? For us, the answer is yes.

Why does God allow Satan to live?

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The book that Piper is referencing is Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ.

Battling discouragement: We’ve only just begun

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And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. — Philippians 1:6

As a followup on the post on comparing, we also need to know that we kind find hope in not looking around, but looking to Christ. Discouragement is always waiting to devour us if we continually look at others or ourselves and see where we always fall short. But in looking at Christ and what he has done and is doing for us daily before God, we have hope and a way to battle discouragement.

God’s grace is there daily for us to see, even in small measure. If we truly believe that “all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose,” then we can have a strong hope to withstand the attacks of discouragement.

We are not perfect. There are flaws in our lives and the believers we see each day and week. But while we are justified, we are also not what we will be. Know that one day Christ will return and complete that good work he has started. And rest in that hope and press on.

Fear God and Love God: The God Who Smokes

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Scandalous Meditations on Faith
The God Who Smokes: Scandalous Meditations on Faith

I am continually grateful for  The Discerning Reader, which “is a site dedicated to promoting good books — books that bring honor to God” and “to help Christians avoid being unduly influenced by books and teachers that are not honoring to God.” Thanks to Tim Challies for the site and all who review books there.

A book that I have been interested in since I first heard the title was Timothy Stoner’s “The God Who Smokes: Scandalous Meditations on Faith.” Reviewed recently by Trevin Wax, who blogs at Kingdom People, Discerning Reader gives “The God Who Smokes” its recommendation. From the review:

Timothy J. Stoner acknowledges the validity of many of the concerns raised by those in the Emerging Church. But unlike some in the Emerging movement, Stoner is able to address these concerns without abandoning historic Christian convictions.

His book, The God Who Smokes: Scandalous Meditations on Faith, is thoroughly enjoyable on a number of levels. First, it is very well-written. Secondly, it uses humor as a way to communicate serious truths. And best of all, Stoner uses personal stories to help him make his case.

Wax continues in his review, stressing that it is not an attack on the emerging movement but rather a clarification:

Stoner’s negative view of Emergent does not lead him to bash those who advocate Emerging theology. In fact, he appreciates many aspects of the Emerging conversation.

But Stoner believes the Emerging movement ultimately delivers reductionistic picture of God. He worries that the Emerging Church downplays the wrath of God and leads to a lopsided vision of God that ignores essential aspects of his character.

“We are not only invited guests but the blushing Bride. And our Groom is a heroic King, a mighty warrior who is good and just and stunning in his beauty. He is so full of passion and blazing emotion that he burns – and yes, smokes in the ferocity of his infinite, holy love that compelled him to give it all away for his Bride. And he who gave it all for us is worth giving ourselves completely to.”

So we worship a God who smokes – a God whose passionate jealousy for the glory of his own name is an integral aspect of his glorious love for creation.

This sounds like it will be a good book perhaps more along the lines of Mark Driscoll than, say, Donald Miller or Rob Bell.

The standard of measuring up

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It’s easy to look around and feel discouraged — or proud — when you compare your life to others. We all do it. Even if you say you’re not discouraged or proud, maybe instead it’s a feeling of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous.

While it’s one thing to have spiritual heroes (see Hebrews 11), it is also good to remember that we ultimately have one standard. As we enter a new year, many of us have set goals based on how we see our lives as falling short in the past. Some of those may have to do with being more healthy, being better stewards of our finances or times, or living a certain way. Regardless, we have to remind ourselves that there is only one life worth imitating, that of Jesus Christ.

One of my heroes in the faith is John Piper. In this post, he talks about the struggles with trying to measure up to others. In it, he talks about Jesus’ blunt words to Peter from John 21:18-22:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Piper calls those harsh words sweet words for him and for all of us:

…I was refreshed by Jesus’ blunt word to me (and you): “What is that to you? You follow me!” Peter had just heard a very hard word. You will die—painfully. His first thought was comparison. What about John? If I have to suffer, will he have to suffer? If my ministry ends like that, will his end like that? If I don’t get to live a long life of fruitful ministry, will he get to?

That’s the way we sinners are wired. Compare. Compare. Compare. We crave to know how we stack up in comparison to others. There is some kind of high if we can just find someone less effective than we are. Ouch. To this day, I recall the little note posted by my Resident Assistant in Elliot Hall my senior year at Wheaton: “To love is to stop comparing.” What is that to you, Piper? Follow me.

So, let’s all stop comparing and do the work that God has called us to do. Love God. Trust God. Follow God.

Tips on filmmaking

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Isaac Harris, younger brother of Do Hard Things authors Alex and Brett Harris, is liveblogging at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival over at The Rebulation. As Isaac is posting through the sessions he is reporting on the great tips being given by speakers such as “Fireproof” and “Facing The Giants” producer Stephen Kendrick. Be sure to check it out.

Pray for your pastor this year

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Colin Adams, at Unashamed Workman, gives a great list of things you can pray for your pastor’s preaching this year:

  1. For _________ to love God’s Word and have a desire to meditate on it continually (Psalm 119: 97)
  2. For _________ to preach nothing but Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2)
  3. For _________to proclaim God’s Word with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (1 Cor 2:4-5)
  4. For _________ to comprehend the realities of God’s presence; the appearing and judgement of Christ Jesus, and in that light ‘preach the Word.’ (2 Tim 4:1-1)
  5. For _________ to patiently and carefully correct, rebuke and encourage via the instrument of the Word of God, whatever the hostile climate to sound doctrine (2 Tim 4:2-3)
  6. For _________ to boldly proclaim the gospel (Eph 6:19-20)
  7. For _________ to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18)
  8. For _________ to be clear in his proclamation (Col. 4:3-4).
  9. For _________ to prepare God’s people for works of service through the teaching of the Scriptures (Eph 4:11ff)
  10. For_________ to see some fruit for their preaching and teaching: some becoming wise unto salvation by the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:15), others being sanctified by the truth (John 17:17)