For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
— Psalm 139:13-16
For those who want to get their Fireproof fix, but don’t have two hours, here is the plot of “Fireproof” in 60 seconds. I would suggest, however, that you find time to watch the whole thing, it’s worth your time.
This is what passes for editing at The Associated Press:
From Radio Free NJ, we have a modern twist on the classic game of Monopoly. The card at left is just one example of how the game might look if it were played by how our economy currently works.
From Andrew Breitbart at Big Hollywood:
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
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
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.
The book that Piper is referencing is Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ.
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.
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.
Rockstanding 
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