The Edmund Fitzgerald

Yes, it's the Chick-fil-a guy. But, this clip is really funny, especially because I (and my GHS homies) sang "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" in high school. Enjoy. . .

Oldest man on earth

I found a pretty amazing story about the world's oldest man, 113 years old, passing away this last week.

He was the last British veteran of WWI. The dude was born in 1896!

But, I had two thoughts as I read this:

1) what an amazing guy, and still full of strength a year ago at a British war memorial service.

2) His life still "was a vapor" even though most of us can't get our heads around 1896.

Good read.

Elijah was just a man. . . . . . . and so was John Calvin

I really appreciated this post from the folks at Desiring God. They have a conference coming up to celebrate the 500th birthday of John Calvin. Sometimes conferences like these can turn into a chest bumping, self congratulatory affair that lift too high the principal topic or person that is being discussed.

Obviously John Piper and the folks at DG are trying really hard to fight against that. I think this is an important lesson. . . to hold your convictions with humility. After all, John Calvin was only a man who had flaws, sins, and historical slip-ups. Does this make him less of a theologian and not worthy of our attention? Not at all. But, it's good to be nuanced, honest, and humble about our theological camps/teachers/fathers. . . . After Jesus, they were all just men. And, after the biblical writers were done, there were no more inspired texts. It's helpful to remember that.

I still remember doing a paper on John Calvin for my American History class in college (it was on the Puritans). I went to the Library at UNO (go mavs) and read some exerpts of his work for research purposes. I still vividly remember walking back down the main concourse at UNO, outside, in the summer (this music major was a big fan of summer classes) walking about 2 feet off the ground as I felt I had just discovered a whole new zip code of theology, heaven, and God-saturated thinking. That was a big day for the Holy Spirit's work in my life. I'm grateful for John Calvin. . . .the man.

Aaron

ps. these videos are mostly done by baptists. . . so don't take offense at their baptist slant on some of Calvin's traditional reformed views. I'm most concerned with the overall tone of humility.

Hello! LOL

A modern day parable (unfortunately it's 100% true) that speaks to our cultural disease of not being fully present where we are. . . . and some pretty funny blame-shifting.

Wow

HT: Drudge

Happy Birthday John Calvin!

Today is John Calvin's 500th birthday. Here's a great article from Kevin DeYoung on being relevant in 500 years, (as Calvin most certainly is)


In Calvin's honor,. . . spend some time inspecting a worm today. It'll be fun with the kids, and you'll get some humility out of it!

Paris Jackson

I feel a little funny suggesting that you check out some music. . . . from a funeral. But, suffice it to say, that was a masterpiece today during Michael Jackson's funeral. My Favorites: Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey/Trey Lorenz. . . .and John Mayer, oh my goodness. That's the coolest version of Human Nature I've ever heard. That dude could play the 1812 overture on guitar and it would be cool. But, it was very haunting, him playing that song solo. . . .and way, way cool.

But, then something happened. . . sad, terrifying, and heart wrenching all at the same time.

Michael's daughter, Paris got up to speak. And, then I saw it. That classic face, the face the whole world knew, the face he tried so hard to destroy (and succeeded), the face that shone forth innocence, love, the human spirit, the face we hadn't seen for 25 years or so, hidden behind his "masks". . . was all right there in his daughter.

She said, while crying, "He was the greatest daddy, I love him so much". And, then I lost it, as Aunt Janet held her, weeping.

Why did that affect me? I feel so sad for her and her brothers. Their dad was a tragic figure, but the face he tried to destroy lives on in them. I also felt her pure emotion in that moment. I hope that my daughters say the same thing of me one day. She was able to find the emotion for her father that he could never find from anyone else or from himself, or from God.

There was much to mourn at this funeral. . the humanism, the tragic figure, the lack of a Gospel rescue in his life.

There was music to celebrate. And, in the face of a beautiful, little girl there was hope, hope that she finds her Father, hope that she can learn to love the face He, and he gave her, and hope for healing for her pain.

Seriously, check out Fox News or CNN where you can see clips from the funeral. Amazing music, amazing daughter. Sad. . . hopeful.

From the mouth of Babes...

We've been praying for the unreached people groups of the world by these flash cards that the kids got in Sunday School. It's very cool, "The Joshua Project" is the organization that blows the trumpet for unreached peoples. Many of them are tribal people, and all are 3rd world. The flash cards have cool pictures for the kids and some interesting facts about their culture.

So, tonight, Eden says: (go ahead, do your best whiny voice. . . )

"Dad, do we have to pray for the naked people again?"


Ha!

yes, Eden, naked people need Jesus too. . . and besides "naked you came from your mother's womb and naked you shall return".