Challies is running an interesting series on sex and Autoeroticism (yes, you can figure that one out for yourself). He begins with a disclaimer:

I am not aware of a large number of children that read this site, but despite that I'd like to begin this article with a quick warning. What I am writing about in this short series deals with a subject that is best-suited for adults. So if you are still young, I'd prefer you had your mom or dad read it first and decide if this is something they would like you to read. Fair enough?

Fair enough...He then continues with an overview of some material from Sex and the Supremacy of Christ - a new book edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor...he goes on to the "auto" stuff in part II - just so you know...but don't read Part II first...smile.

Biblical Perspectives on Sex and Autoeroticism

1. Part I is Here
2. Part II Here

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Justin Taylor has an entry about a new version of Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. First there was "big Grudem" then there was "little Grudem" now there is a "tiny little Grudem"

Taylor has a breakout of the chapters of this book at the link below:
Between Two Worlds: Christian Beliefs: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know

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Interesting article on the New York Times on the use of Podcasting in pushing teaching out to people -

We will be podcasting our Inversion messages this fall as well :)

ht - Theologica.blogspot.com

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I recently taught a short two part series on Truth on Sunday mornings here at Fellowship Nashville. In two short Sunday morning messages, you cannot possibly touch such a topic this complex with any rigor, but it was a great challenge which was a lot of fun. Below are my notes from the two messages, links to audio and video, as well as a reading list for further study.

Series Title: What is Truth?

• Message 1 - Truth - A Treasure Which Must Not Be Lost
• Audio (mp3)
  
• Video (wmv)
  
• Message Notes (pdf)
  
• Message 2 - The Inescapable Beauty of Truth
  
• Audio (mp3)
  
• Video (wmv)
  
• Message Notes (pdf)


• Resources for further Study (pdf)

We pray these are an encouragement to love the one who is the Truth, who reveals Truth, calls us to live the Truth...

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This semester, at Inversion Fellowship - the young adult ministry of Fellowship Bible Church, Nashville, I will be teaching a series entitled Elements The messages series will consider how the beauty and glory of God is seen in the "created stuff" of this world. Far too often modern people, somewhat separated from our environment, seem to miss the magic and beauty infused in the world around us. Indeed, there are glorious finger prints everywhere around us, if we only learn how to see, how to consider, how to reflect on the majesty of God which is reflected in this world. Now, the Scripture will be our guide as we look, for we do not want to look without God as our tour guide. Two really new books I have found come across which I am using to aid my observations that I thought I would make note of: Alister McGrath, Creation - Truth and the Christian Imagination (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005)

Employing seven classic paintings, Creation invites readers to envision the origin, dependence, and larger purpose of the universe and their own lives. McGrath explores seven traditional aspects of the doctrine of creation: encountering creation, tending creation, the spirituality of creation, the parables of creation, the Lord of creation, the place of humanity in creation, and the ruin and restoration of humanity. The first of six volumes in the Truth and the Christian Imagination series, this book will help students and lay people understand the relevance of traditional theological terminology, the continued viability of a broadly Christian approach, and the pertinence of doctrine to their daily lives. (Source - Amazon)

T. M. Moore, Consider The Lilies: A Plea For Creational Theology (Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2005)

How can we perceive and experience God's grandeur in creation? What does creation tell us about his plans, purposes, truth, or ways? T. M. Moore answers these and other questions in this artful introduction to creational theology, the discovery and celebration of God's glory through what he has made. The task of theology involves much more than simply studying Scripture or reading academic tomes. It involves doing theology-not just reading it. In Consider the Lilies, readers will develop the skills and disciplines for doing theology as they look upon and interact with the world around them. (Source - Amazon)

Can I just say that I am super stoked about these books. Moore's book is endorsed by several people I respect from a wide swath of the body of Christ - I am just giddy to read this one and launch into the Bible and the Universe - to see the grandeur and glory of God in the midst of so called normal things -- even dirt, air, water, fire, space, and light.

May the LORD of heaven and earth dance before you and captivate you in the fullness of his beauty.

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A couple of summary articles on interesting looking stem cell research. This process takes adult cells (skin in this case) and coax them into hybrid cells which behave the pluripotent capability of embryonic stem cells. This is better path than the murky moral bog of using embryos as harvest farms for therapeutic materials.

• Washington Post Article - Skin Cells Converted to Stem Cells
• Top right of Science Now Home (8/23/2005) Short summary

Some basic 411 on stem cells for those who are interested.

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Part two of Challies' review of Mark Driscoll's Radical Reformission - very good review so far. It seems it will roll out over time.

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Great article on Al Mohler's blog Pornified America--The Culture of Pornography

After reading this - grab this book for a different vision of sexuality - God help us in these days. Pray for your brothers, open up to your friends, walk in the light together, savor God's vision for sex...we risk too much to do otherwise.

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I know that in our society marriage is broken. But I dream for the next generation in this place. That we would grab the mantle of marriage as designed by the creator. The we would mirror his image - male and female (Genesis 1:27), that we would mutually complete one another (Genesis 2:18), that we raise up godly legacy in this world (Psalm 127) as a sweet smelling aroma of Jesus Christ.

This weekend we had the chance to marry some dear friends. It is a humbling honor to be involved in helping couples vow together before God to love and marry in his ways (Ephesians 5:18-33). What God has joined, let no man separate. Lord, renew your people in our resolve to be kind, compassionate, forgiving one another in love - as you have forgiven us.

Let marriage and family and joy and children and the reflection of his grace rise in these days - to the glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Tim Challies is putting up a review of Mark Driscoll's Radical Reformission. Driscoll's book is in my own current stack - it seems Driscoll and the Acts29 network are a group of reformed, missional, radical dudes who are going for it in biblical churches. Elder led, reformed theology, missional church identity, Bible focused, lost people loving, compassion extending, justice loving churches...seems cool. I look forward to the book.

Is Driscoll emergent? I'm not so sure he should be camped there...at least he does not seem to hold similar doctrinal positions...Also, this is an interesting exhortation sent by Driscoll to the Acts 29 network Pastors. I can say I really resonate with what he writes here:

Justin Taylor has a profile on Driscoll on Theologica

off to read some very thick seminary books - because it matters...

1 Tim 4:16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

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"I grew up thinking that we've figured out the Bible, that we knew what it means. Now I have no idea what most of it means. And yet I feel like life is big again-like life used to be black and white, and now it's in color."

Kristin Bell - Mars Hill Bible Church

What does that mean? I'm not sure...

Source- http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/011/12.36.html

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As a little kid I loved the 1971 musical "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" - Even after a short bout of nightmares brought on by the Oompa Loompas I remained a huge fan. I know all the songs and quite frankly loved Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. So...when I first heard that a new film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was coming out, I must admit that I was a bit skeptical. I just knew it would ruin it for me if I saw the movie, but I decided to venture out for the 21st century version of chocolate factory fun. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The following are my quick list of what I liked with the new film and what I enjoyed more in the 1971 version. Now, I am no purest and have not read the book, so my opinions are just on the movies, not on their fidelity (or lack thereof) to the author's original work.

plus in Tim Burton's Film

• This movie did quite a bit more historical development of the characters than did the 1971 version...so I really enjoyed the discovery of the Oompa Loompas and Loompaland. Also, Willy Wonka's dad being a dentist and the "anti-Candyman" was very fun motif - I also thinks it resonates well with our "my parents made me this way" culture.
  
• Family is valued highly - Charlie holds his family above fame, money, comfort - this is a good message in a materialistic way. Even Willy's reconciliation with his Father is a refreshing tale of healed relationships rather than persisting animosity. Taking care of one's family - a good idea (1 Timothy 5:8)
• The sets and effects are marvelous - great art design in this film
• The Oompa Loompas - well done, more human looking, and very well produced musical numbers after the children fall away (this is also a negative for me)

What was better in the first movie

• The song "I got a golden ticket" - sung by Charlie and Grampa Joe after Charlie found his ticket was just fun in the first movie - the jubilance was contagious - I still find myself singing that song from time to time. For those who would like to sing, the lyrics are available online
  
• Oompa Loompas songs. While the songs were well choreographed and very fun, they did not have the moral strength that the first film had. The Oompa Loompas were much more morally certain of these children's actual vices - Gluttony, Pride, TV/Distraction, Spoiled Brat...they called the sins out very clear in the first film - this movie did a bit, but is much more light hearted about it. You can read the songs and see what I mean... And who could forget the cheesy text overlays during the songs :) Thank God for the evolution of the computer so we can do cool text effects...
  
• Charlie's virtue - In the second film his virtue is honesty, generosity, humility, and love for his family - which is very good. In the first film, he is presented very much the same. However, in the first film, Charlie has a moral dilemma - should he give in to give away Wonka's secrets to Slugworth. Especially after Wonka treats him and Grandpa Joe very poorly (remember, he reneges on the contract because they stole fizzy lifting drinks - man those were cool drinks). Instead of reacting back in spite, as Grandpa Joe suggests (Sluggworth wants a gobstopper he shall get a gobstopper), Charlie comes and returns the gobstopper in act of humble submission to a harsh Wonka. Doing the right thing, at the right time, when it would have been easy to do otherwise, is Charlies victory in the first film - a triumph even in the midst of a difficult dilemma - I found this a strength in the first script.

If you have not seen the first film, it is a fun movie told in a moral universe...and Burton's film is pretty darn cool as well. Thanks for not ruining it for me! And for one who liked Wilder as Wonka, even Johnny Depp's performance is pretty good.

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O Great and Holy God, who created a thousand billion stars, who set your people upon the earth, who you created in your image for worship – for our souls to be grasped by your holiness, for our minds to be enlightened by your Truth, for our imaginations to be purified by your beauty, for our hearts to be opened by your grace, so that we may take flight in a relationship with you – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. With joy, we surrender our wills to your great purposes, to love and serve and proclaim and mirror your Excellencies to a hurting people in a wandering world. Use us to glorify yourself and help us to enjoy you by seeing your Truth and your inescapable beauty, as you reveal yourself to us in your Word. --------

There is a cool free JavaScript out there that links automatically to Scripture references in any web page. POC Blog is getting Scripturized - directly linking to the ESV

You can get Scripturizer from Scott Yang's Blog.

Many thanks to Scott for this awesome tool!

See this sample - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

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Oh Beauty pursuing hearts of the earth Quite un-mastered by minds of men

A mirror, a treasure, words pure and clear
Who ever is guiding through hazes within

Fogs become scattered, lives yet restored
Paths which are lighted again---and again

Unspeakable joy fly free in our souls
As Truth rushers over our sin

Yes, true grace come and conquer our sin

- Reid Monaghan - July 2005

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