Seeing the Glory of God in Normal Things

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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Stem Cell Happenings

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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Challies Dot Com: Radical Reformission (Part 2)

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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Pornified America--The Culture of Pornography

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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Marriage is cool

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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Radical Reformission...

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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Quote of the Day

"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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Willie Wonka

 

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.

What I like 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 a fun motif. Though I think it resonates too much 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 sweet 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…but Burton’s film is pretty cool as well. I think you can see the shifting in cultural ideas over time in watching these two movies and the moral clarity in the first.  Finally, for one who liked Wilder as Wonka, even Johnny Depp’s performance is pretty good.

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Truth - A Prayer

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.

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This prayer reflects the essence of a great definition of worship given by William Temple Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. Quickening of conscience by his holiness, nourishment of mind by his truth, the purifying of imagination by his beauty, the opening of our hearts to his love, the surrender of will to his purpose…William Temple 1939, readings in St. John’s Gospels

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Scripturizer for JavaScript

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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Beautiful Truth - A Poem

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

True grace come and conquer our sin

- Reid S. Monaghan - July 2005

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Shall we sell our birthright for a mess of faddage?

Phil Johnson has a pretty interesting blog on the current evangelical infatuation with "faddom" - you may not agree with all he is saying...but he has a point that Evangelicals are big with the following sort of thinking:

• This is the next big thing
• This book will change your life! (Usually it is not book whose author is God being referenced)
• This is the "nth" wave of the Spirit - if we don't get on and ride it we will be Left Behind (sorry for the pun, it actually wasn't intended)
• If we don't do x, y, z, or a, b, c - the Gates of Hell will prevail over the church
• I just want to be cool like the world (I mean "we are becoming irrelevant" or which means "we are lost and damned, we are loosers)

Johnson's post is a bit lengthy, but an interesting take on things... .

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Not a Good School to Attend - University of Yourself

University of Yourself

Maybe it is just me, but I find myself to be a pitiful substitution for deity...and "my truth" is small and ignorant compared to the infinite mind of the God who created all things for his good pleasure. I will continue to attempt to follow someone other than myself - I have let myself down plenty of times to know that I am not the best thing going. I certainly do not desire to go the University of Myself and certainly not "The University of Yourself" I like GK Chesterton's take on things:

That Jones shall worship the "god within him" turns out ultimately to mean that Jones shall worship Jones. Let Jones worship the sun or moon -- anything rather than the Inner Light; let Jones worship cats or crocodiles, if he can find any in his street, but not the god within. Christianity came into the world firstly in order to assert with violence [passion] that a man had not only to look inwards, but to look outwards, to behold with astonishment and enthusiasm a divine company and a divine captain. The only fun of being a Christian was that a man was not left alone with the Inner Light, but definitely recognized an outer light, fair as the sun, clear as the moon, terrible as an army with banners. GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy (New York: NY, Image books, 1959) 19. Originally published: New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1908.

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Pat Robertson's Age-Defying Shake

Uh, what? Pat Robertson's Age-Defying Shake

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Reformation 21 � Home

New Ezine from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals...lots of meaty reading therein... Reformation 21 � Home

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Men Standing for The Black Family

A coalition of ministers, sponsored by the Seymour Institute (a Black Christian think tank and a project of the Azusa Christian Community in Boston, Massachusetts) has just published a new book entitled God's Gift: A Christian Vision of Marriage and the Black Family. Looking at the table of contents and chapter headings in this work is very encouraging. The following is the opening paragraph from the official press release:

(Washington, DC) Not since 1965 when the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan authored an historic and controversial study entitled The Negro Family: The Case for National Action, has there been an analysis of the Black Family that transcends partisan politics – so thorough, insightful, penetrating, and so complete that it resonates with every faction of the Black community. God’s Gift: A Christian Vision of Marriage and the Black Family, prepared by the Seymour Institute for Advanced Christian Studies is that critical report. “This crisis has been long in the making, as was memorably noted by [Moynihan]. The failure of the family bodes ill for the future of the Black community given the family’s critical role in preparing the next generation for a fulfilling and productive life and for transmitting values to children that will sustain the welfare of the community.”

Read the full press release here:Black Think Tank Releases God’s Gift: A Christian Vision for Marriage and the Black Family You may order a copy of the book from the Seymour Institute web site. .

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Is it Hot Outside?

Graphic from usatoday.com Accessed July 25, 2005.

There are some days I thank God for nature in all its beauty and severity, other times I thank him for the insight and wisdom of human innovation and technology...today, I thank God for air conditioning! .

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The Blind Sheep and the Voiceless Shepherd

Once upon a time there lived a little flock of sheep on the side of a green mountain. The sheep did well in life on the mountain – moving towards green pasture, following their shepherd, through dangers, toils, and snares. One strange thing about these particular sheep is that they were blind – they were all blinded by a great and cosmic event some years ago (but that is quite another story to tell). This flock’s shepherd loved them deeply and told them to the truth about all things pertaining to living as sheep in sheepdom. The Shepherd would speak to the sheep and they, knowing his voice, would follow him to the lush grass on the mountains, and the hungry sheep, knowing grass when they smelled it, gradually made their way to dine on the feast. However, after some time, wolves crept in to hide among the sheep and they also began to speak to the sheep. “Your shepherd cannot talk” one wolf said “He has no voice” said another, and “You are imagining things when you say you hear him speak”. “You say you hear, but you cannot see what is across from this mountain – so how do you know these “shepherd words” will lead you to a good and safe place – you better listen to us, for we truly can see.” Over many days the sheep began to doubt that their shepherd could speak, and the true treasure of the shepherds voice faded from their ears…They began to listen to the voices of the wolves and the wolves lead them Round and Round in circles of uncertainty and endless conversation and the sheep began to be confused. Finally, when they were weary of the incessant voices of the wolves, they weakened and began to leave one another alone–the flock was spread thin and one by one the sheep were led to the edge of a cliff where they were pushed off to a waiting pack of hungry predators below … Yet the shepherd’s voice yet called out a name with a thundering whisper “Mary” he said…and the sheep heard the voice of her shepherd and began to plod back up the mountain to the Good Shepherd…and not a few other sheep heard his voice and as many who did, followed.

-- Reid Monaghan - July 2005

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A Place Called Vertigo :: A Generous Orthodoxy?

A long, long review of Brian McLaren's Generous Orthodoxy. Did I mention this was long? A Place Called Vertigo :: A Generous Orthodoxy? One last quote:

Oh, yeah, this review is long!

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The City of God and the City of Man: Recommended Reading on Christian Engagement in Culture

A valuable book listing by Justin Taylor from Desiring God Ministries - very, very beautiful article :) The City of God and the City of Man: Recommended Reading on Christian Engagement in Culture

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