February 2012
1 post
From the Seedbed: How Artists Do Theology →
This is an absolutely wonderful article by Phillip Talon on art, creation, and the incredible goodness and graciousness of God. Check it out.
January 2012
22 posts
Good Grief: Ben Witherington on Death and Grieving →
Dr. W lost his 32-year-old daughter last month. His response and reflection on this tragic event has be nothing short of inspiring. To this point, he has posted four posts on Christian faith in the midst of suffering, especially unexpected tragedy. They are all worth reading. The link above is the first post. Click here for post two, post three, and post four.
“My hope is in nothing less than a dramatic reversal of death in the flesh. My...”
– Dr. Ben Witherington on grief and the loss of his daughter Christy last month.
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The Trojan-Horse Seed of Obedience
I just finished an email to a professor that I’m hoping to potentially study with in the future. I’m writing a number of these emailed these days as I prayerfully consider further study in theology and biblical studies. There are tons of question marks on the horizon for us these days, and that’s not a bad thing. Catherine and I are trying to make wise decisions, keeping our ear...
Old Testament Family Tree - from Adam to Jaddua →
kinda cool, eh?
“Praise is more than our duty; it is our humanity! Men have climbed Everest, they...”
– Edmund P. Clowney, Preaching Christ in All of Scripture
Lent Resources for Worship Leaders || Cardiphonia →
A great list of resources for litany, songs, and other perspectives on Lent. Thanks for the link, Bruce!
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Question for Worship Leaders: Lent Song Selection
I’m slowly piecing together liturgy and songs for our Lent season, and I am wondering what songs you might be singing during this season. Let me know what you have in mind; I’ll post some of my ideas next week.
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Thirty Days of Prayer :: One Church's Method of... →
Covenant renewal in the church is something that greatly intrigues me. I have a growing obsession with using baptism well in the church (especially with the idea of baptismal renewal), and I also love when churches who have a covenant structure as part of their membership (like my church does) take that covenant agreement seriously, and call their members to renew their commitment to both Christ...
From the Seedbed: A Review of Crowder Band's... →
My friend Trevor gives his take on Crowder and Co.’s latest musical/liturgical adventure. I’m downloading this album this morning, and hope to get to really take it in today. for those who have heard it, what did you think?
I'm on a Boat! (seriously, though)
I’m on vacation until next week. Talk to you when I get back.
dc
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Are You Living A Blessed Life?
Blessing. This term has huge currency in our world, in the church, in Scripture, even in my own vocabulary. In a generic sense, someone who is blessed is usually seen as someone who has (as opposed to someone who doesn’t have). I saw an interview yesterday with Jamie Foxx where he talks about how blessed he is to work with Quentin Tarrantino and Leo DaCaprio.
Blessed=to have, in his case,...
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“Worship should evoke memory, our common memory especially. And here we have a...”
– Scot McKnight, found here.
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The Wesley's 52 Project →
After I mentioned this project yesterday, my friend Chad started a group tumblr for the reading and discussion of these sermons. You’ll find these sermons for online here. Join us if you have some time. Enjoy!
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Blogging Through the 52
Last semester, I had a class on the theology of John Wesley as part of my studies at Asbury. Some friends of mine from there have tossed around the idea of reading and blogging though the 52 Standard sermons of Wesley this year, and I’m going to attempt to join in. Each week, we’ll read through one and reflect on them. I’ll probably post a weekly link to the sermon and some...
December 2011
8 posts
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Three Great Things about "Shouting At God"
In an earlier post, I mentioned that my friend and former-local-partner in ministry Steve Rose has just released his first book, Shouting At God, which follows Steve’s journey and reflections upon his father’s diagnosis and battle with cancer. I just finished reading the book today, and wanted to highlight three great things that Shouting At God offers its readers:
1. Shouting At God...
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“For His it was once more both to bring the corruptible to incorruption, and to...”
– Athanasius - On The Incarnation
Review Coming: Shouting At God
My friend and former-partner-in-ministry-now-church-planter-in-Surprise-Arizona Steve Rose has just released his first book, Shouting At God. The book reflects on the journey Steve and his family took as his father, Bob, was diagnosed with cancer. I’ve read through some of the initial chapters, but finals have come with a vengeance, so I won’t finish the book until next week. But so...
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“But in your resurrection you persuade men concerning your birth. You were pure...”
– Ephraim Syrus, from the readings for Holy Saturday in The Treasury of Daily Prayer.
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Overshadowing Joy
I’m slowly prepping for my sermon this Sunday, where we’ll be lighting the third candle of Advent and talking about joy. There is a lot of joy in and around the birth narratives. It breaks in through strange avenues- the announcements of angels, the kick-drum beat of unborn John the Baptist kicking in Elizabeth’s womb, the prophetic praise of a virgin mother and a de-muted...
WatchAdvent || God With Us
Made by Folk Angel and Isaac Wimberly, with help from Village Church. If you are interested in using if for services during Advent, chase the above link and email them. they’ll send you a license and an HD zip of the video.
November 2011
10 posts
1 tag
Advent: Psalm 80 is not my favorite psalm.
(This year, our church is reading Scripture together throughout the season of Advent. I am going to blog thoughts on the text of the day here. If you’d like to read along, click here and download our reader.)
Psalm 80:3-7
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
How long, LORD God Almighty,
will your anger smolder against the prayers of your...
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3 Great Advent Music Resources
Advent begins this coming Sunday, November 27th. It has quickly become one of my favorite seasons of the Christian calendar, and each year, I come across different music resources for those designing worship for the practice of Advent in their communities. Here are three Advent albums I hope to make use of this year:
1. A Child is Born - Sojourn Music: This is the second Advent album released by...
Try Some Amazing Optical Illusions
fakescience:
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View and Re/View: Self-Sabotage →
Hey- for those who have been interested in seeing the film Self-Sabotage (directed by Scott Brignac and based on Derek Webb’s Feedback album), it is streaming for free at the above link. I’m not sure how long this will be available for streaming, so I’d advise checking it out soon.
I wrote a review for it that is featured on the site; check it out here or click the...
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“The cruciform victory of the Lamb, the messiah, not only tells us how we are...”
– J.R. Daniel Kirk || In Hope || Storied Theology
“The process of spiritual formation in Christ is one of progressively replacing...”
– Dallas Willard
“For all our arguments over the bodily resurrection of Jesus, if we do not offer...”
– Tom Fuerst, here, in part of his extensive review of David Platt’s Radical. Tom offers insights on the book, ranging from what Platt does really well to, well, what he doesn’t. I’m going to post links to the whole review once it is finally up. A great and thought-provoking review...
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Praying to Zombie Jesus →
An insightful article on AMC’s The Walking Dead, Zombies, faith, and how they all intersect. I think zombies are a fascinating and relevant cultural metaphor for the church to understand; this article may give you a window as to why.
October 2011
13 posts
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Worship Design, Pudding, and Pragmatism
In the comments section of my last post on Worship Leaders and Theologians, Chad noted that many times one of the most pressing needs we have in worship design is people, and that sometimes the best we can do is find someone who can make X happen. We need someone who can sing, or doesn’t mind praying aloud, or someone who brought their Bible and so can read Scripture. Chad called this...
“When Jesus describes God as his Father, we have to let him define what...”
– James Bryan Smith- The Good and Beautiful God.
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Worship Leaders and Theologians.
(for @howertonjosh)
Yesterday, my friend Josh posted this:
Historically, musicians and theologians have had a contentious relationship. Biblically, we need them to have a symbiotic relationship.
To which I asked:
Is that because musicians often don’t see themselves as theological? Or because they aren’t often considered so by theologians?
Josh thought that both were...
“Historically, musicians and theologians have had a contentious relationship....”
– @howertonjosh on twitter. What do you think causes such a tension (outside of the assumption that musicians aren’t theologians?) My thoughts coming tomorrow…
WatchThis guy preaches the entire book of Hebrews. By memory. Impressive, and amazingly not the focus- Jesus becomes front and center through this. This is the way to best understand this amazing book: by hearing it in its entirety. Well worth your time.
dc
Phatmass: Catholic Hip-Hop →
The integration of hip-hop and faith has come a long way from when I was young. Last month I played a worship set with Brent Foley in Louisville; we opened for Flame, a hip-hop artist whose songs function like club anthems and a strange form of urban catechesis at the same time. The majority of faith-based hip-hopsters that are making waves in christendom are highly reformed, and are using their...
