I cannot say enough about Marcus “Flame” Gray’s new album, “Captured.” Once again, he has put together an album that combines musical and creative excellence with profound theological depth. As far as I’m concerned, Flame is a genius, and this album is a must-buy both for hip-hop fans and for all those others who might need to broaden their horizons. My favorite tracks on here are “Nonsense,” “Alive,” “All I Need,” and “Move.” The cameo by MC Ryan Fullerton is also at the top of my list, so be sure to listen to “Daniel 10.”
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The Gospel and Sexual Assault
Crossway has a new book out titled Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault (Crossway, 2011). The video above has Justin Taylor interviewing the authors. This looks like an important book, and I am looking forward to reading it. Here’s Justin Taylor’s description: “This husband-and-wife team has spent countless hours in counseling victims and poring over God’s work, applying the gospel into the lives of people by sexual sin against them. If you’ve ever wondered what the gospel has to say to the victims of sexual assault, you’ll see it in this book. They labor to show that ‘the gospel applies grace to disgrace and…
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Don’t Call It a Comeback
We live in a day in which many people have written off evangelical faith. The notion that Christian truth might still be relevant or viable in 2011 seems a far-fetched idea to many in our culture. Nevertheless, God raises up in every generation a people who live and preach otherwise. Civilizations come and go, but the truth of the gospel remains. That is why I am grateful to have contributed to a recent book that reaffirms the essentials of the evangelical faith, Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day (edited by Kevin DeYoung). The title of the book is a riff on the lyrics of…
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John Piper and Jesse Jackson
John Piper preaches a message on racial reconciliation every year on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Day. One of my favorites is his sermon from 2000 on Ephesians 2:11-22 titled “Race and Cross.” Piper begins the message with his own testimony of growing up in segregated Greenville, South Carolina. Across town another boy was growing up at the same time—Jesse Jackson. Piper’s testimony is below, but it will be worth your time to read or listen to the entire message. You can listen to the message below, or read the entire manuscript here. “Race and Cross” [audio:http://cdn.desiringgod.org/audio/2000/20000116.mp3]
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A Pro-life Conversion
Abby Johnson was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, Texas in 2009 when she received the unusual request to assist one of the doctors with an abortion. Willing to fill-in for medical staff in a pinch, she agreed. Here’s how she describes what happened next:
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Major Dick Winters (1918-2011)
Major Dick Winters, whose WWII heroism was made famous in the book Band of Brothers, died last week at the age of 92. Winters was a true American hero. He was a part of the 101st airborne division that was dropped behind enemy lines just before the D-Day invasion. He and the men he commanded from Easy Company fought all the way from Normandy to Hitler’s Alpine retreat at Berchtesgaden, Germany. His bravery and leadership is the stuff of legend, and that is why there is a book and a movie telling the tale. If you have never read Band of Brothers, read it. And take moment to give thanks…
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Can you say “evil”?
I don’t know about you, but I have been appalled by the punditry since Saturday’s shooting. The rush to judgment. The crass attempts at political one-upmanship. The non-sequiturs like, “Perhaps this young man wasn’t motivated by political ideology, but we all need to tone down the rhetoric a bit. Because look what it leads to.” These people get paid a lot of money, but the analysis in this case has not been worth two bits. One of the most frustrating features of this commentary is the inability to speak in moral terms of what this young killer has done. That is why Kevin DeYoung’s remarks this morning are a must-read.…
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Weep with Those Who Weep
The horror of Saturday’s shooting has only increased with the release of the names and faces of the victims. Every person who lost their life that day leaves behind family and friends who are facing a dark season of grief and loss. Since this all began, I have been particularly cut by the report of the 9-year old girl who was shot in the back and killed. Her father appeared on “The Today Show” this morning (see above), and it was gut-wrenching. I can only imagine the feelings of bottomless grief and anger that he must be experiencing. We need to pray for this man and the family he represents.…
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Homeless Man with a Golden Voice
This homeless guy has a voice like butter, and he’s getting a second chance because of this viral YouTube video (see above). He has already received offers from the NFL and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Just today he appeared on “The Today Show” (see below), and it’s a fascinating interview. I share the concerns of Meredith and Matt, but I wish him all the best.
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Dempster Reviews Hamilton
Stephen Dempster has a favorable review of Jim Hamilton’s new book in the latest issue of the 9Marks eJournal. The book is titled God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology, and Demptser says, “in stressing the glory of God in salvation through judgment [Hamilton] has certainly pointed us all in the right direction.” I could not agree more with Dempster’s appraisal. Hamilton’s book is really good, and you should buy it. Read the rest of the review here.