I really appreciate Tim Challies’ review of Wesley Hill’s book Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality (Zondervan, 2010). Wesley Hill is a Christian who has a homosexual orientation, and he has been that way for as long as he can remember. Here’s a snippet from Challies’ review: ‘Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality is his attempt to answer some of the most difficult questions, and to answer them not in an abstract sense, but from the perspective of someone who has labored over them and shed many tears along the way. What does it mean for gay Christians to be faithful to God while…
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The Implosion of First Baptist Dallas
The video above shows the implosion earlier today of four downtown buildings that belong to the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. The buildings were demolished to make way for its new worship center, education facilities, parking garage, glass concourse, and sky bridge. The three men who detonated the explosives are Pastor Robert Jeffress, Mayor Tom Leppert, and Planning & Development Committee Chairman Mark Lovvorn. [Historical note: The high-rise in the background of the church’s steeple in the final scene is Lincoln Plaza, where Dick Cheney worked for Haliburton before becoming vice-president of the United States.] What came down this morning was massive. What will go up in its place…
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Moore on Music
As I was driving in to work this morning, I was listening to Miranda Lambert’s song “The House that Built Me.” I’d heard the song before, but today I actually paid attention to the words for the first time. It wasn’t long before I felt like someone would need to pass me a hanky. I experienced then what many of you have experienced before too. Music has the ability to reach inside your guts and communicate like no other medium can.
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Owl City does “In Christ Alone”
I just saw that Owl City has recorded a new version of “In Christ Alone.” You can download it here or listen below. (HT: Brad Jones) [audio:http://owlcityblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/In-Christ-Alone.mp3] UPDATE: Tim Challies pointed out something in the comments below that I didn’t notice when I posted this earlier today. This version leaves out the verse that talks about the cross. I have no idea why the second verse is omitted. Perhaps he left it out because all four verses push the song past the three and half minute time limit for pop songs. Whatever the reason, it’s too bad he omitted it. Nevertheless, I’m grateful that he recorded the song. I think…
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Open Minds?
Princeton University recently hosted a conference on abortion titled “Open Hearts, Open Minds and Fair Minded Words.” The conference title was inspired by President Obama’s 2009 Notre Dame address in which he called on different sides of the abortion debate not only to work together where we agree, but also to engage in “vigorous debate” with “open hearts, open minds, and fair minded words.” Peter Singer was one of the organizers of the event, and David Gushee was invited to represent the pro-life view. A full list of speakers and sponsors are available here.
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Buddha and Biblical Womanhood
Last week I wrote briefly about Rachel Held Evans’ year of living biblically. Her stated aim is to live out what the Bible teaches about womanhood. Today she writes about her difficulty in adopting the “gentle and quiet spirit” commanded in 1 Peter 3:4. To help develop such a spirit, she has incorporated contemplative prayer into her morning routine, “particularly breathing exercises, lectio divina, and centered prayer.” She appeals to the teaching of contemplative masters—both Buddha and the Proverbs—as sources for learning how to master “the volatile human spirit.” Just a reminder, Thomas Nelson has agreed to publish her book in 2012.
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Mark Dever at Boyce College
It was our great pleasure to welcome Mark Dever to the campus of Boyce College this week to preach at our weekly Dorm Meeting. He addressed the topics of conversion and evangelism, and it was a great message. You can download the audio here or listen below. [audio:http://www.sbts.edu/media/audio/BoycePodcast/20101018-boyce-podcast-dever.mp3] One particular point of Dever’s message has been on my mind all week. Dever challenged us to consider the role that our local church plays in our evangelism. He urged us to ponder the fact that the New Testament intends our local church to be a central piece of evidence to unbelievers of the veracity of our message. Could it be that…
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Trevin Wax on Inerrancy Baggage
Trevin Wax has an insightful post on those who avoid the term “inerrancy” because of its “baggage.” He writes: “No label comes without baggage. The question is not whether we will claim labels for ourselves, but whether we will be courageous enough to stake out our positions clearly. “If I uphold the idea of inerrancy but want nothing to do with the term, I’m unintentionally loading myself up with a different kind of baggage. Sure, people may equate an affirmation of inerrancy with a literalist interpretation of Scripture. But disavowing the term inerrancy also has baggage. I group myself with people who may not believe in the historicity of miracles,…
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Matthews Brings “Hardball” to Louisville
Chris Matthews brought his cable news show “Hardball” to Louisville yesterday. In advance of the mid-term elections next month, Matthews focused on Kentucky politics with students and faculty from the University of Louisville.
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W Conference for Women
Mary Kassian is coming to Southern Seminary for a Women’s Conference on November 19-20. Kassian is an award winning author and internationally renowned speaker. Her latest book, Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild, was just released this past spring. Grammy nominated artist Heather Payne will be doing music. This looks to be a fantastic conference. Find out more about the conference and register here.