Garrett show Thursday

For those of you within a 300 mile radius of Atlanta, GA Thursday night, you won't want to miss Garrett Moore performing at Eddie's Attic. The show starts at 8. Tickets are $10 now, $12 at the door. He rocks my face off and I know he will rock yours too.

Favorite Books

I was influenced by a coworker a couple of days ago to compile this list of a few of my favorite books. Just in case someone out there is looking for something good to read, here's a few of my favorites in a couple different categories.

Theology
1. Knowing God by J.I. Packer
2. Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
3. The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink

Apologetics and philosophy
1. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
2. Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey
3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Biography
1. Confessions by St. Augustine(autobiography)
2. Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot
3. Bruchko by Bruce Olson

Classic Fiction
1. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
2. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
3. Crime and Punishment by Fyoder Dostoevsky

What are your favorites?

Calvin and Hobbes

I am a pretty big fan of Calvin and Hobbes. Growing up as a kid I always identified with Calvin Hobbes individually in different ways. And getting older, I can still read it and enjoy it because of its thoughtfulness and wit.


I enjoyed this article that speaks to a lesson learned from the comic. The article comments on how this comic can teach as about the medium and the message.

The article explains how Bill Watterson, the author, never would allow merchandise to be made, even to the point of rejecting millions of dollars. He says:

Calvin and Hobbes isn’t a gag strip. It has a punchline, but the strip is about more than that. The humor is situational, and often episodic. It relies on conversation, and the development of per­sonalities and relationships. These aren’t concerns you can wrap up neatly in a clever little saying for people to send each other or to hang up on their walls. To explore character, you need lots of time and space.

and...

I have no aversion to obscene wealth, but that’s not my motivation either. I think to license Calvin and Hobbes would ruin the most precious qualities of my strip and, once that happens, you can’t buy those qualities back.

The article goes on to relate this bit of exploitative marketing to how Christianity is marketed a lot of the time with bumper stickers and t-shirts. Keith Green once said this about the issue:

It pains me to see the beautiful truths of Scripture being plastered about like beer advertisements. Many think it is wise to “get the word out” in this way but, believe that we are really just inoculating the world with bits and pieces of truth - giving them their “gospel shots.” (And we’re making it hard for them to “catch” the real thing!) People become numb to the truth when we splash our gaudy sayings in their eyes at every opportunity. Do you really think this is “opening them up to the Gospel”? Or is it really just another way for us to get smiles, waves, and approval from others in the “born-again club” out in the supermarket parking lot, who blow their horns with glee when they see your “Honk if you love Jesus!” bumper sticker?

The article continues by saying:

It’s possible that too many ineffective Jesus reminders all over the place might have a degrading effect on our ability to read Jesus where he really is. The only way to know if that’s the case is to know our message as well as Watterson knew his. Watterson could spot a deviation from the integrity and fullness of the Calvin and Hobbes mystique in an instant. Do modern Christians have senses so well trained, or a grasp of the gospel message so acute, that we can spot such deviations?

Basically the point of the article is to point out that the medium of our message as Christians should mainly be through our lives, not simply by what we preach.

(Thanks to Justin Taylor for the link)

Orthodoxy

I'm reading "Orthodoxy" right now by G.K. Chesterton with a few other guys. It's an incredible book. More on it later. I found this article online regarding the book, and I thought it was pretty cool. It's about a hollywood director that loves the book too and it has shaped the way he does everything.

(Thanks to Looking Closer for the link.)

Recent Calvinist surge

Mark Dever recently completed a series called "Where did all these Calvinists come from?". He was addressing the rise of Reformed theology among the younger generation. I thought it was interesting, especially because many of the reasons listed have been the major influences on me in my theology. Here's a quick list for those who don't want to read the articles. (I think these are addressed from oldest to youngest influence)

1. Charles Spurgeon
2. Martyn-Lloyd Jones
3. The Banner of Truth Trust
4. Evangelism Explosion
5. Inerrancy Controversy
6. Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
7. J.I. Packer
8. John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul
9. John Piper
10. The rise of secularism and the decline of Christian nominalism

Bourne Ultimatum

I don't have much to say except that this movie is exceptional. You should go see it. I like Jason Bourne's character for many reasons. He exudes confidence in humility. He shows his ability to kick serious butt, while doing it almost apologetically.

It's very redemptive throughout this trilogy as he is struggling to find out who he really is. He finds out his real name in this movie. I couldn't help but reflect on my own journey of trying to find out who I really am. How my flesh is struggling to keep me in a zombie-like state, indifference to Truth. While God is telling me that I am His.

Piper on the Bridge Collapsing

I'm sure most of you are aware of the Minneapolis Interstate bridge that collapsed late yesterday. Here's Piper with yet again great perspective.
Also, here's an article that he wrote. Here's a snippet.

The meaning of the collapse of this bridge is that John Piper is a sinner and should repent or forfeit his life forever. That means I should turn from the silly preoccupations of my life and focus my mind’s attention and my heart’s affection on God and embrace Jesus Christ as my only hope for the forgiveness of my sins and for the hope of eternal life. That is God’s message in the collapse of this bridge. That is his most merciful message: there is still time to turn from sin and unbelief and destruction for those of us who live. If we could see the eternal calamity from which he is offering escape we would hear this as the most precious message in the world.