Friday, November 30, 2007

Karl Barth Said That


Who said...?

"Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life."
It was Reformed, Neo-Orthodox theologian (Click here) Karl Barth.
Barth was one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the 20th century. Beginning with his experience as a pastor, he became one of the founding fathers of the Neo-Orthodox movement, which assumed prominence in Christian thought between the two World Wars. (from Wikipedia)

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Ron Paul-Something Big



Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'. --Bob Dylan

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

NT Wright -Rocky Raccoon


NT Wright with a new perspective on Paul (McCartney).

"Now Rocky Raccoon, he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out, and he left it, no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival,
yeah, yeah
Da-n-da-n-da..."

Wright's gonna' have to do his homework to interpret Rocky Raccoon.
Questions:
1. Is Rocky really a raccoon, or is that just a nickname?

2. Was the Gideon's Bible a KJV?

3. What if any, is the significance of Rocky reading from the textus receptus?

4. Why did Rocky fall back in his room? (see rest of song to get full context).

5. Was Rocky really "good?"

6. What kind of a revival did Rocky have?
7. Checked out, is that as in "you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave?

30 Percent of SBC Pastors are Calvinists


There is a Reformation afoot.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Understatement


Mark Dever


“The Gospel is the center of the sermon, and the sermon is the center of the church.” --Mark Dever
Dr. Dever's book The Gospel and Personal Evangelism is available at Westminster Bookstore.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

I Say a Little Prayer For You- Aretha Franklin



Aretha Franklin is a great musical interpreter and an American treasure.

Red Mask in the Mailbox

Red Mask in the Mailbox
by Chris Griffith

Chapter 7: The Color Red

Mary was behind Thomas when he reached the top of the hill. She heard the dull thump as the car slammed into the iron pole planted in the ground. A second or two later she heard a window crash, but saw nothing. She did not see it hit him, but she heard it bang and clang as it bounced off his head.

When the silver mailbox with the red handle slammed into the skull of eight year old Thomas Trimpton, he was knocked unconscious.

He dropped the Cracker Jack lunch box onto the concrete sidewalk where it made a dull thump. Thomas had finished his lunch late and did not have time to empty his trash. So he stuffed an apple core, some napkins, and a empty zip lock bag into the box beside the Cracker Jack thermos. When he dropped his lunch box, the books from under his right arm slid out and slapped onto the concrete. First a social studies book and then a math book. Pencils, a few crayons, and a pink eraser spilled out of a little plastic bag. The eraser bounced a few times before it came to a rest.

Thomas’s eyes rolled back inside their sockets. He fell backwards, and his head landed in a row of bushes along the sidewalk.

She jogged over the hill and found Thomas flat on his back. A trickle of blood ran down his forehead.

She looked up and saw Joe Trimpton’s car in the middle of the street.

“Mr. Trimpton, come quick,” she said. “I think Thomas is hurt!”
He saw a body on the ground. He recognized the blue and white tennis shoes and the brown corduroys and broke into a sprint. Thomas was sprawled on the ground, his lunch box beside him, with books and pencils scattered about. The mailbox was in the bushes beside Thomas’s head, with one side caved in. The red flag stood straight in the air.

He awoke a few minutes later. The first thing he saw was the dazzling brilliance of the blue sky above. His eyes were filled with tears. His view was blocked by the silhouette of a man, and Thomas noticed it was his father. He stretched his hand towards him and tried to speak, but the words were lost in babble.

“Tommy, can you hear me?” his dad asked. The voice came from far away. His rough hand touched the side of Thomas’ face and caressed his cheek.

“It’s my birthday Mama, can I please stay home?” he asked, half awake, half asleep.

As Thomas lay there, another figure entered his vision and brought him back to full conciseness although he thought he was still dreaming. He saw the outline of a body, with the sun behind it. His eyes cleared and he saw her new and afresh, like a newborn baby. “Mama,” he cried.

Mary stood over him, Charlie’s Angels lunch box in one hand and Holly Hobby purse in the other.

Thomas sat up, his mouth gaped open, eyes wide as windows shot out in a ghetto. He gazed at Mary Snodgrass. A goose egg grew above his right eye and began to turn a light shade of purple.
“Wake up, boy,” Joe said.

Thomas stared at the red sweater Mary wore. It was a red cardigan with white buttons; her favorite. She loved the smell of the sweater and the softness of it. People took notice of her when she wore it, as if her mouth alone did not bring her enough attention. She wore the red cardigan with her blue jeans and a white pair of Keds running shoes. The outfit looked patriotic and on the days she wore her sweater, she spoke up a little louder when pledging allegiance to the flag.

“Tommy...?” He asked.

The sun sparkled down from above and shadowed the face of Thomas.

“Can you hear me son?” Joe said, and shook him on the shoulder.

“Do you think he’s dead?” Mary asked.

“No Mary, he’s not dead. I think he’s been knocked silly,” Joe said.

“Tommy, can you hear me?” Joe asked again.

“Dad…?”

“Tommy, what’s wrong?” his dad asked. “Are you okay?”

Thomas stared at Mary’s sweater, not because it was beautiful, (although to him, at that moment, it was), not because he liked the pretty white buttons on it, and certainly not because it was Mary “Snotnose” Snodgrass who wore it, but because for the first time in his life, he saw the color red.

Nature Boy by Nat King Cole



"The greatest thing, you'll ever learn, is to love, and be loved in return."

Thursday, November 22, 2007

A Merry Christmas Season to You

"A merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit."--Scrooge (from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

New Look for the Prancing Pony


The architects of Bree are developing a new look for the Prancing Pony. Although aesthetically sophisticated, the new inn will be technologically advanced as well. The revamped facility will have a state of the art gravity driven plumbing system to supply water to the kitchen and the W.C. (This is only a model.)

Who Said That?


Who said...

"Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life."

I'll post the answer next week. No cheating, (googling, etc.)


Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The Supremacy of Christ-John Piper



Strap your seatbelts on for this one! If this doesn't charge your battery, you must be dead.

Ron Paul- America's Hero



I know he's controversial, but I will vote for Ron Paul. Go Dr. Paul!

Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson


In the book Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson we learn husbandry is much like gardening. The Bible makes indicative statements like this, "the head of a wife is her husband." This statement does not tell a man what he ought to do, but it tells us what he is. He is the head. Now regardless if he acts like one or not, he is by way of a God-established covenant, the head.

The Bible also make imperative statements like this, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her," This statement does not so much tell a man what he is as it tells a man how he is to act.

Wilson believes a lot of confusion could be cleared concerning how people interpret the Bible if they can begin to distinguish between imperatives and indicatives.

So in essence, if a man is married to a woman, he is to care for her, much like a gardener would care for a garden. He should make every effort to "weed" his garden. If he does not, the fruit will be choked. He is the husband of the garden and he cannot just be a nice guy and stand by idly while the weeds grow and say things like, "you're the garden, you know what is best." If he does make a statement like that, he is being dishonest. He is responsible for that garden because she has been entrusted into his care. He will give account for his tending of her.

He also should use caution and not trample rip-shod through his garden and damage the blossoming fruit. Only a careless gardener would act in such a way.

This a a great little book and I highly recommend it.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Girls in Their Summer Clothes



Instant classic! Bruce is making music again like he did 25-30 years ago! And he's not afraid to sing either.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

DJ Spock


"We simply must accept the fact that Captain Kirk is no longer alive...let's get ready to party." -Spock

Friday, November 16, 2007

Weltanschauung Rap



Dr. Orrick, Boyce College, Louisville, KY

What's a Weltanschauung? It's a worldview.

Your Own Worst Enemy



Sometimes innovative music is a little hard to listen to the first time 'round, but I've always found the best music is the kind that grows on ya'. Commercial music is very easy on the ears upon first listen, but that's the point: No one can sell Juicy Fruit with really creative music. A stick of Juicy Fruit, although succulent, will lose it's flavor in no time...just like the music they make to sell it.

Nashville Skyline

My favorite Bob Dylan album cover art, Nashville Skyline. I imagine he might say something like this, in his very recognizable voice, "er.., top of the mornin' to ya'."


Thursday, November 15, 2007

The Intimate Marriage

I was almost dreading to read The Intimate Marriage by R.C. Sproul. I thought to myself "oh no, not another pop-psychology book." But I am glad I read it. Although it was not a self-help book, I still found it to be quite beneficial. After all- this is Dr. Sproul, not Dr. Phil.
Sproul in his familiar style of humour and thoughtfulness addresses such issues as communication between couples, roles of husbands and wives, divorce, sex, etc. Did I mention sex? Sproul on sex...? Yeppie. Of course, in typical fashion, it is God-centered.
I found the book to be a little different from some of his others in that he uses a bit more of a personal touch than usual. He talks very lovingly of his wife Vesta and we get a little glimpse into their marriage. Over all, I gave it 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Tom Waits-Cold,Cold, Ground



Put that in your American Idol hat and smoke it!

I've been listening to Mr. Waits' music since I was 14 years old. I never grow tired of it. (And in the back of your mind, you always knew there was something a little weird about me...didn't you?)

Mere Christianity, First Edition



Here you go! You can buy the first edition of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis over on Ebay. You may Buy it Now for only $1,695.00. Just think of the value of this little fellow in the far future. I just bet he'll be the star of Antiques Roadshow in about 100 years from now. We, on the other hand, will be long gone!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Baby Got Book



A satirical spoof of Christianese. What is Christianese?

"Christianese (or Bible-speak) refers to the contained terms and jargon used within many of the branches and denominations of Christianity as a functional system of religious terminology. It is characterized by the use in everyday conversation of certain words, theological terms, and catchphrases, in ways that may be only comprehensible within the context of Christian belief." (from Wikipedia)

John "the Anti-Christ" Hagee?



"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son." 1st John 2:22

"For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." 2nd John 1:7

Who's (been) the Boss in the Mid-East?



This handy,dandy little map will show you who has had control over the Middle East throughout the course of history.

"Here's to You Mrs. Robinson"



Hey! It made me giggle!

Red Mask in the Mailbox


Red Mask in the Mailbox
by Chris Griffith

Chapter 6, Exclamation Point

Joe and Margie Trimpton lived in a duplex in Vinton, Virginia the year Thomas was born. Joe had been working for Norfolk and Western Railway. They had moved into the small yellow apartment with brown trim two years before Thomas was born.

Thomas was born on a cold night in November. There was an early snow, about a half inch deep, enough to stick to the roads and make them slick.

After dinner, Margie drifted off to sleep with Walter Kronkite on the tube. She thought of the baby she carried and prayed the war would end.

Joe stood on the back porch and watched snowflakes. A few flurries sputtered but accumulation was minimal.

He heard his wife call for help. He pulled the sliding glass door, but it was stuck. “Good gravy…” Joe peered in through the foggy glass and saw the green vinyl couch. On television, Archie Bunker sat in his favorite chair and clicked his remote control.

“Joe…Help!” She yelled. “I think it’s time for the baby!”

He ran around the house, slipped and fell on the ice. His teeth connected with the frozen front porch steps and pain shot through his mouth. Fresh blood spilled on the snow.

He tried the front door. It was locked.

“Joe…what in the world are you doing?” She cried from inside the house.

“I’m coming Honey,” he said. “Just hold on!”

He jumped through the holly bush, placed both hands flat onto the window, and pushed up.

The window slipped open and he slid inside. He glided across the television set and heard Archie yell at “Meathead.”

Margie looked at the blood on Joe’s faced and screamed. “It’s all right Honey,” he said, as blood sprayed between his teeth.

He ran over to the front door, flung it open, and cool air rushed inside.

He slipped Margie’s shoes on, lifted her off the couch, grabbed her robe, and put it around her.

He led her out to the car and almost fell again. He helped her into the car, shut the door, skidded to the other side, and got in.

The front door stood wide open. Inside he heard Archie and Edith on television yelling at one another. “Boy…I hope I don’t turn out like that when I get old,” he muttered to himself, as he skidded up the slick sidewalk.

He grabbed Margie’s suitcase and a small teddy bear that sat on the mantle. A few weeks before, Joe had been at Kmart and saw the teddy-bear. He bought it and planned to give it to the baby on the night of its birth. He had almost forgotten it. He stuffed the bear into his back pocket and locked the door.

The baby was born at 11:47PM on November 8, 1970.

“I want to see him,” Joe said, unable to contain a grin.

“Joe the first thing that I want to tell you is that the baby is healthy,” the doctor said.

“Well you’ve already told me that, Doc,” Joe said. “Now can I go see him?”

“Joe, listen,” the doctor said. He put a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “I told you the baby was healthy, but there’s something else...”

“What is it?” Joe asked, as he looked the doctor.

“Joe…the baby has a…well…he has a birthmark.”

“Where?”

“Let’s just go see him, okay?” The doctor asked.

Joe looked into a window and saw twenty little beds, all full of babies. A name tag with blue writing hung on each one. He scanned each bed until he found the name Trimpton. He stared at the baby for a long time and tears welled in his eyes. “I don’t care,” he said. “I love him, and he’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

At first glance, the baby looked normal to Joe, but as he looked closer, he saw the child’s face. It was a scarlet birthmark; a port wine stain, some folks called it. It stretched diagonally from above his left eyebrow to the bottom right of his mouth. Below his bottom right lip there was a single red blot. It looked like an exclamation point.

Joe reached into his back pocket and pulled out the Teddy Bear. He placed it against the cold glass and wiggled it back and forth.

“He’s looking at me Doc, do you see that? He’s looking at me! Oh man, ain’t life great?”
The doctor saw tears run down Joe Trimpton’s face. The tears had been no different than other fathers’ when they looked into the eyes of their own flesh and blood for the first time.

Jesus Storybook Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible is a great little Bible book for children. It has a wonderful message from a Reformed/Covenant theological perspective. Therefore it is Biblically sound! Sally Lloyd-Jones is a sensitive/thoughtful writer with a good balance of passion and creativity. The artwork by Jago is incredible!

Remember all the Old Testament Bible stories you heard as a child? They were great, but maybe you never made the connection of how they fit together with the coming of Jesus in the New Testament. This book does a tremendous job of showing how all those stories point to the incarnation of Christ as the Redeemer of His people. You can buy it over at Westminster Bookstore for $11.89. This is my favorite children's Bible storybook and I recommend it wholeheartedly!

Happy Veteran's Day


Human Statue of Liberty
July, 1918 Camp Dodge, Iowa with 18,000 soldiers from the Iowa National Guard.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Sun City



Artists United Against Apartheid from 1985.

This is an example when artists can come together to make good music and have a good message ta boot! "Freedom is a privilege, nobody rides for free..."

Ken by Request Only


Did you hear Ken has a new record out? Anyone know where I can find it?

(Ken, we really only have just one request...)

Harvey Pekar


"Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff."--Harvey Pekar

Friday, November 9, 2007

Voices That Care



These are the Voices That Care. The question is, do you? Well...do ya'?

Thanks Kevin. I can always count on you to be a fellow connoisseur of fine cheese.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

And the Lifetime Loser Award Goes to...


Pat Robertson on his endorsement of Rudy Giuliani for President. Way to go Mr. Robertson!
Mr. Roberston says concerning Giuliani, "To me, the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists."
I am curious, if we took the amount of murders done by radical Muslims and put those numbers alongside abortions done here in America, I wonder who would come out the winner? Hmmm...

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Future of Justification


The brand new book by John Piper called The Future of Justification, is now being offered at Westminster Bookstore for 33% off of retail. In this book John Piper defends the great doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone. He engages with N.T. Wright and the controversy surrounding what is know as the New Perspective on Paul. This is an excellent deal for an excellent book! (My copy is already on order !)

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Wild Urp


Here is a picture of Wild Urp. He is the paper toy of the month for November over at the Custom Paper Toy blog. You can make him in just a few minutes and it is fun as all get-out! All you need is a printer, card stock, scissors, glue. (Guess where most of my Christmas presents are coming from this year? ...Uh huh!)

Jesus, the Evangelist


Reformation Trust, the new book publishing house of Ligonier Ministries, has printed this wonderfully titled book, Jesus the Evangelist by Richard Phillips. The book is an exposition of the evangelistic ministry of Jesus in the Gospel of John.
If you're like me and you have a desire to share the gospel with others, but sometimes are not sure just what to say, I think this book could be helpful. I look forward to reading it soon!

Ron Paul


Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul (born August 20, 1935) is a Republican United States Congressman from Lake Jackson, Texas, a physician, and a 2008 U.S. presidential candidate. He has represented Texas's 14th congressional district (1997–present) and its 22nd district (1976–1977 and 1979–1985) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Paul placed a distant third in the 1988 presidential election, running as the Libertarian Party nominee while remaining a registered Republican. After his 1961 graduation from Duke University School of Medicine and a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, he became an U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, serving outside the Vietnam War zone.
Paul has been called conservative, Constitutionalist, and libertarian. He advocates non-interventionist foreign policy, having voted against the Iraq War Resolution, but in favor of force against terrorists in Afghanistan. He favors withdrawal from NATO and the United Nations; supports free trade, rejecting NAFTA as "managed trade"; and opposes amnesty and birthright citizenship for illegal aliens. Having pledged never to raise taxes, he has long advocated ending the federal income tax and reducing government spending by abolishing most federal agencies; he favors hard money and opposes the Federal Reserve. He also opposes the Patriot Act, the federal War on Drugs, and gun control. Paul is "strongly pro-life,"[2][3] advocates the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and affirms states' rights to determine the legality of abortion.[4]
During his 2008 presidential campaign, Paul places in the top tier in Republican straw polls and fundraising, but commands significantly lower support in phone polls of Republican voters. He has generated strong Internet support and is the top presidential candidate Internet search term as measured by Hitwise, Alexa Internet, and Technorati; he has several times more YouTube subscribers than any other presidential candidate. (from Wikipedia)

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Raspberries



I know it is cheesy, but at least this cheese is Raspberry flavored! (A nostalgic, guilty, pleasure). Turn it up!

Andy Kaufman



Here is an example of the comic genius of Andy Kaufman!

Friday, November 2, 2007



The Business of Death by Alejandro Cardenas commissioned by Good magazine.

The Hobbit Sung by Spock



Succeeds at being one of the worse things I've ever seen in my life! The interesting thing would be to know if J.R.R. would like it...

C.S. Lewis

"Pure, spiritual, intellectual love shot form their faces like barbed lightning. It was so unlike the love we experience that its expression could easily be mistaken for ferocity."--C.S. Lewis (Perelanda)

Thursday, November 1, 2007

ESV Literary Study


I am very excited the ESV Literary Study Bible is now available! Click here.

I have this on my Christmas wish list, (hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge!).
Actually, I am experimenting with a new link from Westminster Bookstore. Try to click on the above hyper-link and see if it takes you there.

Foo Fighters-Big Me



You CANNOT fake the Foo!

Crowded House-Don't Dream It's Over



Okay, I can listen to this song, and I'm right back there in 1987. Where did 20 years go?

Red Mask in the Mailbox

Red Mask in the Mailbox
by Chris Griffith


Chapter 5-Dinner at the Shack
Joe, Margie, and Thomas had hopped into the Bobcat for dinner at the “Waffle Shack” the night before the red mask was found in the mailbox. Thomas had sat in the back. He loved to ride with the hatch open as the wind tunneled around him.

"Can we ride with the hatch open?" he had asked

“Not this time Tom,” his father said. “The plastic might blow out, and we need it there to keep the carpet clean.”

Saturday morning car-washings and waxings were weekend rituals around the Trimpton home. “Scrub the tar till it all comes off,” Joe told Thomas. “Rub in a circular motion boy.”

“What’s slerpicur mean Daddy?” Thomas grinned, and tilted his head.

“Round and round young man,” his father would say, “round and round.”

Thomas, reminded of the Saturday morning ritual, thought the less time spent cleaning the car, the better. He decided not to press the issue.

They walked into the restaurant and a pretty girl by the name of Wanda led them over to a seat in the corner by the window. They ordered drinks and watched cars pass by.

She brought their drinks in big red plastic cups, and took their order.

Thomas put a finger over his straw and dipped it into his soft drink. He pulled out a specimen of cola, hovered straw over mouth, lifted finger, and cold drink fell into his dry mouth. “Aahhh!” he said.

“Why don’t you show some manners?” His mother asked. She looked at Joe and saw him doing the same trick. “What am I gonna’ do with you two?” she asked, and they all laughed.


“I wonder where the waitress is?” asked Joe.

“Why don’t you go check honey,?” his wife asked.

Joe stood up from the table, walked over to the cash register, looked towards the kitchen and saw Dominic Perdue and Wanda. They were emptying grease from the vats into five gallon pickle buckets.

“Hey,” Joe yelled. “Hey buddy, can you come here a minute?” he asked Dominic.

Joe’s colleague at work, Irving Daniels, told him how to remove tar from a car’s rocker panel. “What you do,” Irving said, “you get some grease from a restaurant and you smear it right on the paint. Now you have to use a lot and let it sit on there for a good little while, but after a while, it’ll take that ol’ tar right off.”

Joe asked the cook if he could have the grease. Dominic said yes, but thought it was like someone had just asked to borrow used toilet paper. “What you be needin’ that nasty stuff for?” he asked.

He told Joe the grease was really hot and it could melt through the buckets. Joe said that was all right. He would come and pick it up later that night when it cooled.

Joe strolled back to his family, slid in the booth, and Wanda took their order.

Later that night, Joe came back to the Shack, and put the chicken grease in the hatch of the Bobcat. A hole the size of a dime had melted through the bucket, but Joe never saw it. He wrapped plastic around it to keep the carpet from getting dirty. He drove home and placed the bucket at the top of the driveway.

During the night and all the next day, grease seeped out of the green bucket. It saturated the black asphalt driveway the way cholesterol seeps into your veins after eating fried chicken.