Ouch

This is so true:

PJ_Smyth Husbands: Be generous concerning your wife’s faults. They were probably what prevented her from getting a better husband than you.

Kellerpalooza

Tim Keller is an intriguing guy. Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC, he's pretty much nailed the "put your church in an influential place to influence influential people. . and that will go downstream into culture" philosophy.

Now, that philosophy, in the wrong hands, can go really bad. You can start to pimp out your church for various famous people, and start to mis-prioritize things to try to have vaguely defined "cultural influence". disclaimer taken to heart. . . . .

But, I don't think Tim Keller is the "wrong hands" (I'm a calvinist). He puts out great stuff (always really, deeply helpful), is a ridiculously smart, pastoral, defender of the faith, and he's pastoring some influential people as well.

Here's two interviews he did recently about his new book (which looks really great and insightful); ironically, both of the interviewers on national t.v. networks, go to his church :). He defends the faith so winsomely and wisely. What a great spokesman for our faith! Let's keep him in prayer. (notice the yoda-like way he engages the Rabbi on the MSNBC clip)

Here's a Q and A he did with Brian Chappell where he gets really detailed on how he applies the "cultural influence" stuff and shares alot of personal wisdom as well. If you want to get to know Tim Keller a bit. . these are great Q and A sessions. He also talks about how a higher-up MTV exec went to Redeemer, and how he counseled him through some tough decisions.

Also, you should check out The Reason for God and Counterfeit Gods.

Enjoy!

Mumford

So, it appears that I gave up on the Grammys a year too soon. Wow, they had awesome performances this year! I couldn't think of a real clunker from the ones that I've seen online. Everyone stepped up, sang well, didn't blame their monitors, added some flair, enjoyed the mash-ups (although sometimes forced), and rocked out.

My favorite would have to be Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan. Seriously, how much courage does Dylan have to have these days to walk out there and rasp his way through things? It's pretty compelling to watch that ending jam on "Maggie's Farm".

Yes, you should wait until you have an entire 8 minutes to watch grown men bang on their pianos, guitars, banjos, and apparently, their vocal cords. Here's one for no finesse, no control, smashing, real, authentic music. Don't skip the end!

(the eminem performance was similar. . .seems like the Grammy's grew a heart this year. . who knew? )

Happy Valentine's Day

Need some last minute gift ideas?

Redefining Death

Jesus did.

Thanks again to Tim Keller, this is such an encouraging post.

HT: JT

Who watches this stuff?

Very true, thisisindexed.com. . . very true.

Only the housebound watch Maury.

Feelin' Weak?

I highly recommend the book. . . and this quote.

The faith that changes the life and connects to God is best conveyed by the word “trust.” Imagine you are on a high cliff and you lose your footing and begin to fall. Just beside you as you fall is a branch sticking out of the very edge of the cliff. It is your only hope and it is more than strong enough to support your weight. How can it save you? If your mind is filled with intellectual certainty that the branch can support you, but you don’t actually reach out and grab it, you are lost. If your mind is instead filled with doubts and uncertainty that the branch can hold you, but you reach out and grab it anyway, you will be saved.

Why?

It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you. Strong faith in a weak branch is fatally inferior to weak faith in a strong branch.

- Tim Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

(HT: Michael Kelley)

HT: VitaminZ