The Fatal Love Affair With Control

If you are not reading Tullian Tchvidjian's new LIBERATE blog, you should be! From a recently posted excerpt from his forthcoming book Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free:

All of our attempts (well intentioned as they may be) to minimize suffering reveal our universal, fatal love affair with control and law. If I can just recast suffering in a diminished role, then I will hurt less. Or conversely, if I just do the right thing or just obey enough, God will be pleased, and I will hurt less. Neither approach takes God into much consideration. He is a passive bystander at best in either scenario. And both approaches stand on the premise of you and me possessing power that we simply do not have. Yet the knowledge of our limitations does not stop us from exhausting ourselves—indeed, from destroying ourselves—in our tireless attempts to grab the reins. The breadth of human impasse is the opposite of minimal. Yet as Paul Zahl wrote:

An old joke is repeated year after year in the graffiti on public buildings. Someone writes for all to see, “Christ is the answer.” After it someone has added, “But what is the question?” The addition is perceptive…. Is there a real problem to which the atonement of Jesus Christ offers a solution? What is irremediable about the human condition that it should require a death for healing to occur? The extreme nature of the solution, one person’s death for the “salvation” of others, presupposes an extreme need on the part of the others.

The cross makes a mockery of our attempts to defend and deliver ourselves. God provided a shocking remedy that both reveals and addresses the depth of our illness, our “sickness unto death.” Indeed, despite our efforts to contain, move past, or silence it, that ol’ rugged cross stands tall, resolutely announcing that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” All things, Paul said, even misused Bible verses and the men and women who misuse them. Instead of diminishing our pain, then, these words proclaim the corresponding and overwhelming gratuity of our Redeemer.

I'm so looking forward to this book!

Don't Fit the Form

From The Sacred Sandwich-

Go Away, Isaac

Here's a link to my memories of Katrina, seven years ago today.

May Isaac be only a breeze in comparison. Lord, have mercy. Please pray for all of us in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Good Marriage Advice - From the Ones Who Know!

MARITAL ADVICE: Couples Video from Carl Barnhill on Vimeo.


This video was used as part of a message on marriage by Pastor Chip Henderson at Pinelake Church in Brandon, MS this past Sunday (8/26/12). It contains advice from three long-married couples about how to have a successful marriage. One of the couples is my parents, who have been married for 62 years. I think my Mom & Dad define a good marriage!

Don't let the world and the media tell you that divorce is inevitable. A life time marriage is more common than you think. It can be done!
 

Defender of the Vulnerable Ones

How would you introduce God to a friend who does not know Him?

Why should we be concerned about the vulnerable ones? It is because God is concerned about them. It is striking to see how often God is introduced as the defender of these vulnerable groups.

Don’t miss the significance of this. When people ask me, ‘How do you want to be introduced?’ I usually propose they say, ‘This is Tim Keller, minister at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.’ Of course, I am many other things, but that is the main thing I spend my time doing in public life.

Realize, then, how significant it is that the biblical writers introduce God as ‘a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows’ (Psalm 68:4-5). This is one of the main things He does in the world. He identifies with the powerless. He takes up their cause.

             - Tim Keller 

The Seal of Samson?

More archaeological evidence for a Biblical character?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Baptist Press ) -- A small stone seal unearthed in Israel is likely the first archaeological evidence of the Old Testament judge Samson, say the co-directors of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Center for Archaeological Research.

While not involved in the excavation that led to the discovery, center co-directors Daniel Warner and Dennis Cole said evidence characterizing the find makes it plausible that the seal supports a story of a young boy killing a lion with his bare hands.

About half an inch in diameter, the seal depicts a human figure -- perhaps with long hair -- fighting what appears to be a lion-like animal with a feline tail. The seal dates to the 12th century B.C. and was excavated at the Beth Shemesh site in the Judean Hills near Jerusalem. Archeologists found the seal with other items on the floor of an excavated house near the Sorek River, the ancient border between Israelite and Philistine territories. Seals were used in biblical times by those of wealth and influence as proof of authenticity. 

"My initial assessment based upon what has been published to date would be that once again we have an artifact that does not contradict the biblical text, but in fact affirms it," said Warner, New Orleans Seminar associate professor of Old Testament and archaeology. 

Excavation directors Shlomo Bunimovitz and Zvi Lederman of Tel Aviv University do not claim that the figure on the seal is of the actual biblical Samson. Rather, they believe the seal probably indicates that a story was being told in 12th century B.C. of a hero who fought a lion.

The Fulcrum of History

"The death of Jesus of Nazareth as king of the Jews, the bearer of Israel’s destiny, the fulfillment of God’s promises to his people of old, is either the most stupid, senseless waste and misunderstanding the world has ever seen, or it is the fulcrum around which world history turns."

        - NT Wright, Simply Christian

Hat Tip: Vitamin Z 
(Wright's book is a good one, BTW)

Exotic Creatures in New York City

From the New York Times, comes a fascinating anthropological study of a truly strange branch of humanity: religious people practicing sexual chastity in New York City. 

What a strange bunch! The article reads like a story on Animal Planet about exotic animals, including a unique football playing animal named Tim Tebow.

Trinity Laurel moved to Manhattan at 21 to pursue a modeling career. Raised in a Christian home, Laurel was a virgin when she reached the city, and says she has “remained pure” while living here since.

Not all of her friends can relate.

“They’re like, ‘How do you do that?’ ” Laurel, now 28, said. “People are almost fascinated.”

Welcome to New York, Tim Tebow. Now that the Jets have broken training camp and Tebow, a famous chaste Christian, becomes a full-time New Yorker, it has become a common, and mildly amusing, pastime to fret about the temptations he might face or the potential loneliness he might suffer.

Read it to see what the world thinks about you, if you are practicing Biblical morality.

Hat Tip: Get Religion

Twitter Harvests

RT @PastorMark: “A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God.” –Thomas Merton

 RT @DailyKeller The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me.

 RT @theidshift: Because of Jesus we don’t have to be afraid to die, and we don’t have to be afraid to live.

 I wrap up this work day moved to tears over Scripture. Only 1 book can hold our fascination for decades. Only 1 glorious word-breathing God. @BethMooreLPM

RT @bcloritts: Some people come in your life as blessings, others come as lessons.

Sometimes people come into your life as a blessings ... and some come into your life as lessons @Self24

 RT @PastorTullian: The very thing that makes a Christian—namely, the Gospel—is the same thing that grows a Christian. http://bit.ly/P31hip

RT @JeffersonBethke: When you realize your acceptance is because of Someone else's achievement you are free to fail.


RT @PassionNetwork: You will never forgive anyone more than God has forgiven you

Jesus doesn’t come like the false god-men of this age and say, “bow to me!” Jesus comes as the true God-Man and says, “dance with me.”  @BrianZahnd

Eight Prayers

Eight ways to pray for America during this trying time, by J. Lee Grady

I’m not giving up on this country. Here are my prayer points for a national revival.

Many Christians today are deeply discouraged about the condition of our country. I can understand the concern: We are divided politically, stagnant economically and failing morally—and weird weather patterns, gun violence and global financial fears have darkened the gloom. Some people have thrown up their hands and prayed, “Lord, rapture us out of here!”

But I’m not ready to bail out, and I don’t think God is wringing His hands over Europe’s bank crisis, Obama’s health care plan or the ongoing drought in the Midwest. I’m not ignoring the seriousness of our dilemma, but losing hope is not the solution. God’s plan under the New Covenant is redemption, not judgment. He invites us to agree with Him for that miracle—and when He answers by fire from heaven, America could be changed in a day.

So instead of fretting about the devil’s strategies, heading for the hills or condemning America to hell, I’m praying for a miracle of grace. Several big miracles, in fact. Here is my short list of prayer goals. I invite you to agree with these requests. Please add more of your own.

 Read the list at the link - and PRAY!