Intrusion Ethics and Hosea

If I understand it correctly, Intrusion Ethics is the idea that God will sometimes command things that are contrary to laws previously given in order to essentially reveal the radical nature of the gospel. For instance, in the story of Hosea:

"the Lord commanded Hosea to marry the harlot, Gomer. In so doing, God was again anticipating an ethical principle entailed in his saving of the elect...If Hosea is offended by the command to take Gomer to wife now, he will be unable later to participate in the great marriage celebration of the Lamb. But blessed is Hosea if he is not offended, for then he will anticipatively exhibit in his marriage the consummation of God's grace to be realized when the holy One and undefiled receives a church-bride composed of a multitude of defiled sinners to be his own." - Meredith Kline, Structure of Biblical Authority

Is Twitter Worth the Time?

You might have seen (based on the right side bar of this blog) that I've joined Twitter. My roommate Roy was a big influence in that decision. I wrestled with doing it for a while because I already have this blog and wondered about the temptation to fuel narcissistic thought or to have one more way to be in a virtual community rather than an actual one. While I'm still trying to figure out how I want to use it, I do think I want to stick to it and use it redemptively.

I've interacted with a several people who question the benefit of Twitter and whether or not it will last. I ran across this article entitled "Twitter Quitters Just Don't Get It." Among other things, it states what Nielsen online research found that 60% of new users leave within the first month. Here's a couple paragraphs better explaining the uses of Twitter:

"In my opinion, the most commonly heard complaints about Twitter stem from a misunderstanding of it. Chief among these complaints is the utterly bunk assertion that it's just a whole bunch of people heralding the trivial events of their daily lives into the void. (i.e., "I'm going to the bathroom now!" or "Eating a yummy ham sandwich!") Frankly, if that's how you're using Twitter, you're doing it wrong, and you should stop without subjecting your friends to a full week of that rubbish, let alone a full month.

Another prevailing myth about Twitter is that it's just an expression of our collective narcissism, and that we're all just tweeting to hear ourselves tweet. In reality, though, the overwhelming majority of users follow far more people than follow them. And if you're tweeting more than you're reading, there's a good chance nobody's following you."

Escaping Anonymity

Tim Challies wrote a great article for TableTalk recently about the increased level of anonymity these days. He points to technology as playing a big role in this (centered around the Internet) and looks to the danger of life with decreasing levels of accountability. At one point in the article he says that "We are anonymous, impersonal people in a largely anonymous, impersonal world." Here's a key paragraph:

"In days past, anonymity was both rare and difficult. People tended to live in close-knit communities where every face was familiar and every action visible to the community. Travel was rare and the majority of people lived a whole lifetime in the same small geographic area. Os Guinness remarks that in the past 'those who did right and those who did not do wrong often acted as they did because they knew they were seen by others. Their morality was accountability through visibility.' While anonymity is certainly not a new phenomenon, the degree of anonymity we can and often do enjoy in our society is unparalleled in history."

Read the whole thing

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands

last paragraph from the first chapter of Instruments in the Reedemer's Hands:

“The good news of the kingdom is not freedom from hardship, suffering, and loss. It is the news of a Redeemer who has come to rescue me from myself. His rescue produces change that fundamentally alters my response to these inescapable realities. The Redeemer turns rebels into disciples, fools into humble listeners. He makes cripples walk again. In him we can face life and respond with faith, love, and hope. And as he changes us, he allows us to be part of what he is doing in the lives of others. As you respond to the Redeemer’s work in your life, you can learn to be an instrument in his hands.”

Ten Lessons From Great Christian Minds

From philosophy professor Jim Speigel:

1. Augustine: Remember that you are a citizen of another kingdom.
2. Martin Luther: Expect politicians to be corrupt.
3. Thomas Aquinas: God has made himself known in nature.
4. John Calvin: God is sovereign over all, including our suffering.
5. Jonathan Edwards: God is beautiful, and all beauty is divine.
6. Thomas a’Kempis: Practice self-denial with a passion.
7. John Wesley: Be disciplined and make the best use of your time.
8. Fyodor Dostoevsky: God’s grace can reach anyone.
9. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Beware of cheap grace.
10. Alvin Plantinga: Moral virtue is crucial for intellectual health.

Read the whole thing for an explanation of each point.

(HT:JT)

TOMS Shoes

I recently discovered TOMS shoes this past Christmas when I bought a couple pair as gifts for friends. Then I finally gave in and bought I pair myself about a month later. I love them! They're extremely comfortable and I think pretty cool looking (My fashion guru friend Lauren even recommends them). But the best part is that for every pair you buy, the company gives a pair away to a child in need.

During the Masters a couple of weeks ago, AT&T ran a commercial featuring the company and Blake MyCoskie, the company's founder and owner. You can check out that out here. Also, LA Times ran an article yesterday about TOMS that gives a little bit more detail into the history of the company as well as current happenings. You can read that here.

Lecrae: Don't Waste Your Life

Desiring God recently produced and posted this video for Lecrae's song, Don't Waste Your Life. Check it out:

Leading lives of quiet desperation

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation...and go to the grave with the song still in their heart." - Henry David Thoreau

I heard this quote again this morning. Thoreau penned this line 150 years ago at a place called Walden Pond. The picture above of Walden Pond was taken this past Wednesday as me and the guys were finishing up our New England tour. Trivia Library says that:

"Thoreau isolated himself at Walden Pond in Massachusetts from 1845 to 1847. His experiences during that time were published in Walden (1854), which Thornton Wilder called "a manual of self-reliance." In a well-known passage, Thoreau stated his purpose: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation..."

I definitely don't want this said about me. Thankfully, in Christ I know I don't have to. He once promised us: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

NYC/Boston trip

Just got back from a six day journey through New York, Boston, Cape Cod and some other parts of the New England area. I went with my roommates Roy and Scott as well as a friend named Dan. We had a blast. I thought I'd highlight some of the trip with some pictures.

I like this shot. It's the subway station right outside our hotel in Manhattan.
Going to Redeemer and seeing Tim Keller preach Easter morning was awesome.
us at Central Park
Harvard Yard during class change
enjoying the Sam Adams Brewery tour in Boston
me at Fenway Park
us at a beach in Chatham, MA (in the Cape Cod area)
grave site of David Brainerd in Northampton
church in Northampton where Jonathan Edwards preached
A nice surprise at the Atlanta airport :)

Christ suffered. We benefit.

Calvary Love, from Valley of Vision:

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,

cast off that I might be brought in,

trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,

surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best,

stripped that I might be clothed,

wounded that I might be healed,

athirst that I might drink,

tormented that I might be comforted,

made a shame that I might inherit glory,

entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,

groaned that I might have endless song,

endured all pain that I might have unfading health,

bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,

bowed his head that I might uplift mine,

experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,

closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,

expired that I might for ever live.

O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me, All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished; Help me to adore thee by lips and life. O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight. . .

(HT:Justin Taylor)

Matt Chandler - "Jesus wants the Rose!"

Matt Chandler is a guy I've been listening to recently via the Village Church podcast. He is an incredible communicator. The following video is a segment from one of his sermons that beautifully portrays the gospel.


(HT:Abraham Piper)

Visit Athens in 2009

The LA Times recently picked 29 places from all over the world to visit in 2009. Athens, GA was listed as one of them. I agree with their choice, although not for the same reasons.

(HT:Creative Loafing)

Rock4Justice recap

Rock4Justice Wednesday night was a great success. We raised over $10,000 that will go to Wellspring for Girls. And all the musicians did a great job. Here's some pics from the night:

Garrett, the emcee
Eryn McHugh

Trey Rosenkampff. This 14 year old kid was sick. Go check him out.
Evan McHugh
Aaron Shust

At the shooting range

My first time at the shooting range. Got to fire a .22 pistol, 9mm pistol, and this AK47. Thanks to Matt for allowing Roy and I to shoot.

Rapping Flight Attendant

This is funny.


(HT:Steve McCoy)