Proof that the Apocalypse is upon us

Wow.



And, yes I will admit to having used a few songs from said band in church gatherings in the late 90's. I humbly ask your forgiveness.

Kathy Ireland Brings It

Continuing the theme of "bringing it", . . Supermodel, Kathy Ireland "brings it" on the abortion issue.

As a side note. . I find it very sad that more pastors and church leaders cannot frame the debate in such an eloquent way. I mean, no offense, but she's a super-model, and she basically disarms every pro-choice position in the last 35 years.

I know the reason for the hesitancy in the church is because this has become such a political issue. We have, and should stay away from that. . . but as Ireland says, this is a Human Rights issue, not a Women's issue. Amen, and what took so long for someone to intelligently speak about it in this way?

Aaron

ps. ignore all the other celebrity trash on this page. . . sorry for that. . . .

Two NBA posts

Two NBA posts for the few fans still left:

1) The Nuggets are looking very, very good. And, there is no doubt that we're better than we were last year. But, I would submit this. The Hornets are a mess, and last years' Nuggets team would have beaten them as well. That's right, we would've won this series last year. Allen Iverson is getting a bad rap in the press. We had a pretty good team for two years, and we won 50 games last year (only 4 less than this year). Last year, we faced the Lakers in the 1st round. . . we of course, got killed in that series. I would submit, that we would get beat by the Lakers this year in the 1st round as well. (we may still see them in the conference finals, and will probably get beat.)

That's right, I said we'd lose this year in the first round if we faced the Lakers, . . and last years' team would have made it out of the first round, had we played the Hornets. Don't believe everything you read.

2) Game 2's. . . . so important. The Bulls, Mavs, and Rockets made a huge mistake this weekend. If you win game 1 (especially on the road), you need to win game 2 as well, or else your "huge upset" doesn't even matter. What's worse is when you don't even show up for game 2 (see: Mavericks, Dallas). You have to put the team totally against the wall (like the nuggets did). All 3 of these teams may now lose the series, when they were in control just a few days ago, I've seen it happen too often.

Sin and The Suburbs

Sin and The Suburbs

I heard a message by Matt Chandler on Monday that completely floored me. He's talking about the Problem of Sin, which unfortunately, doesn't get talked about alot at churches anymore. So, that was refreshing. Mostly, though, it was his prophetic word about the suburbs that affected me. I've tried for a long time to come up with the words for how I feel about Idolizing our children/life stage/schedule. . .and he nails it here. I'm posting the last 9 or 1o minutes of his sermon here. . . .it's very good if you have time to go to thevillagechurch.net and listen to it (45 min.). This is a great word for all parents, and for all those who are trying to balance local church service/bible study/etc. . .with a busy family schedule. It's a hard word for us, but sometimes that's the best medicine.

Psalm 49

As a songwriter, it's crazy to think that the Psalms are actually songs and folks actually sang them in their entirety. (although, I have to think that some of the Psalms were, for lack of a better term, "special music" in the Jewish gatherings, and not all congregational anthems that we or they should prescriptively sing in our corporate gatherings. . . . but I digress. . . )

They're just so thick, wordy, and brutal, at times. The bible remains way, way too cool for us, we're not yet "edgy" enough for It. Again, I digress. . . . . .

The point: Here's a really encouraging Psalm that I ran across tonight, especially if you've ever been fired wrongly, or swindled financially. . . in these economic times, it's good to have the fresh wind of scripture to blow through our big mess. (emphasis and parentheses, mine)

Psalm 49:5-9

Why should I fear in times of trouble
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly no man can ransom another (you're worth more than your job, or the way someone mistreated you)
or give to God the price of his life
for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice
That he should live on forever
and never see the pit. . .(vengence is mine says the Lord)


Aaron

John Piper brings it.

If you don't know what the prosperity gospel is. . . . .Its not really the gospel. But, its very prevalent in our day, especially on the various religious television channels. Basically, the prosperity thinking (not gospel) is that God will make us comfortable/rich/happy/no problems. . . if we just have enough faith in him and put aside negative feelings, etc. . . . The bible gives a much different take on what God would have us do with our lives. Thanks to John Piper for continuing to blow the trumpet on "Christian Living" as it should be. Here's a picture of First Century Christians being fed to the lions for their faith:

Corrective Tract for the Propserity Gospel

Mark 8:34-36:
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

This is how politics makes me feel, and blog quarrels for that matter. . . . .

HT: JT