Read Recently
From Together for Adoption:
- Adoption IS the gospel
“Many people are afraid of emphasizing [adoption] because we might forget evangelism and the Cross. They speak of a slippery slope.
We can’t do that, and we won’t do that if we understand the grand storyline of the Bible.
All through the Old Testament it is God making a B-line to the cross. “This is what my love for you looks like.”
Christians who are afraid that talking about adoption misses the gospel have missed the gospel already. For this is essential to the gospel: that God in His mercy took His enemies and made them sons, adopting them into His family.
- A loving father or a deadbeat dad?
“What do we mean when we say ‘I can’t afford to adopt?’ What we are saying is that God is a deadbeat Dad. We can trust that God will take care of his children. He is a really good Daddy.”
About What’s Wrong with the Church:
- Covetousness
It’s a sin we’ve come to see as acceptable–but that doesn’t make it any less of a sin in God’s eyes. I became convicted of this a couple of years back and began my “Thankful Thursday” series to combat my tendency towards covetousness. Nevertheless, it’s a difficult sin to overcome in this culture that pretty much runs on covetousness. - Not being cranky and judgmental…towards statistics
When was the last time you heard the statistics about how awful the church is, how stupid we are, how ineffective we are, etc. etc.? The author of Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites encourages Christians to view statistics a bit more skeptically.“Christians are called to accept and love people unconditionally. That doesn’t apply to statistics. We should be cranky and judgmental.”
- Bad Preaching
“Contrary to popular opinion, bad preaching isn’t when the preacher reads his sermon, mumbles or bores his audience. That is merely bad delivery. No, bad preaching is preaching that does not rightly proclaim God’s Word of Law and God’s Word of Gospel to sinners.”
Unfortunately, way too many of today’s sermons fall into these categories–and way too many Christians think in these categories. It’s time we all started preaching the GOSPEL to ourselves (and those around us) regularly.
News to take note of:
- Primary Care Saves Lives
“Primary care increases life span and decreases disease burden in part because it helps to prevent small problems, such as strep throat, from becoming big ones, such as a life-threatening infection of the heart. Having a regular clinician of that kind makes you a better patient because you trust the advice you receive and so are more likely to follow it; it also gives you access to someone who attends to the whole person, not just one body part. In addition, having someone to coordinate your care can be critical if you have multiple providers—as, for example, when you leave the hospital. “
The problem? We don’t have enough health care providers in family medicine. So, please, please, please–when choosing your “specialty” as a doctor, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner, think seriously about choosing family medicine.
- Home birth=Dangerous, Right?
Not necessarily. A critical analysis of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s position statement on home births reveals much that they aren’t telling.
Laugh out loud funnies:
- John Piper, off the cuff
Quotes pulled (out of context) from John Piper’s sermons. Most never find there way into the edited sermon manuscripts–but all are hilarious (and I remember thinking they were hilarious when I listened to the on my MP3 player.) A quick sample:“One of the reasons that God made bread – really good bread, not bread that’s ninety percent air – German bread – is to give you a faint taste of heaven.”
“If you’re listening to ideas that aren’t this book you’re hearing the wrong stuff. Sects happen that way . . . That’s S. E. C. T. S.”
To Read, to See, to Do
Books for the TBR list:
- Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison
What looks to be a fascinating memoir of growing up with undiagnosed Asperger’s syndrome. - Redeeming Singleness by Barry Danylak
Touted as a Biblical theology of singleness, this book addresses a critical issue in today’s world and church–and an issue I am quite interested in. - Sin: A History by Gary A. Anderson
I almost always find the (non-fiction) books Seth reviews intriguing. Sin: A History is no exception.
And just one, two…three more things
- Is it unbiblical for a husband and wife to have separate beds?
Mark Driscoll answered a question from a man whose wife hadn’t slept with him (literally or figuratively) for over a year–and part of his answer included this comment in reference to a husband and wife not sharing a bed:“Leave it to Beaver was unbiblical and godless.”
I’m not sure I agree. I mean, I certainly agree that sharing a bed with a spouse can be an important part of marital oneness–but is it necessary for marital oneness, such that those who do not share a bed are acting in a godless manner? (Please recognize that I am not talking about a husband and wife not having sex. It is clearly unbiblical for a husband and wife to not have sex for any extended length of time–see I Cor 7:4-5.) I am thinking particularly of certain sleep quality issues that may adversely impact health as being reasons for a couple not sleeping in the same bed–snoring, use of a CPAP or other medical devices overnight, severe back problems, etc. Anyway…just musing here.
- Michael W. Smith deserves the hype
Shaun Groves rightfully praises Smith’s music-writing talent–and gets excited over a new release that promises a return to the musical and lyrical innovation of my youth. My only complaint with Smith? His over-zealous middle-aged admirers. I went to one of his concerts–and yuck! Like, seriously, women. He’s married. And you probably are too. Go crazy over your OWN husband. - On Cycling and Life
A fantastic bit of encouragement for the taker-uppers of new pursuits. Favorite parts:“… not every pursuit must be professionalized.”
She’s absolutely right. You don’t need padded bicycle shorts, a jersey, or a cyclocomputer to take up cycling. As for myself, I proudly cycle in my skirts with leggings undeneath, or my slacks pegged to keep them from getting caught in the chain.
“… others will look better doing this….We need to remember that, even on the trail. Swank bikes, swanker outfits, and some hopelessly tight asses fly past me on the bike path, but I can’t — I won’t! — let the achievements and hard work of other cyclists dictate how I feel about my achievements and my hard work.”
A little note to my friend Joanna–it’s okay that we’re not flying down the road like that guy in his racing gear. The point is not what everyone else is doing on their bikes, but what we are doing on ours–particularly enjoying ourselves, getting good exercise, and glorifying God in conversation.
Sooo many things to hit on here.
1. Haven’t heard of that book about adoption. Very curious.
2. Liked the What’s Wrong with the Church “Bad Preaching” point!
3. Redeeming Singleness! I just saw that title and toyed with reading it but figured I’d rather wait to see what a single lady had to say. I’m not sure I’m going to agree with all it’s finer points and I’m VERY curious for your opinion. Hope you nab a copy soon!
4. Sleeping in separate beds. We know several people who do that and it always has struck me as odd. We take separate rooms when we’re sick and are trying desperately to keep the germs contained. And we always FEEL separated then too. So it’s hard for me to comprehend. But those who sleep in separate beds and even have separate rooms do argue their points strongly as to why it’s more beneficial for them. So…dunno.
5. Michael W. Smith admirers. HAHA! YES! Drives me NUTS!
Actually, “Together for Adoption” isn’t a book. I made that confusing by italicizing the title. Instead, it’s a conference that was attended by Zach Nielsen of Take Your Vitamin Z. He live-blogged the conference and I was taking excerpts of his notes. I’d love to attend the conference at some point.
Mike, you are in good company. “They’ve had a lot of sex… that is, SUCcess with…” Only, I assume John Piper’s didn’t make it into the sermon and Mike’s was in front of 25 quick mid-20s. :)
No, John Piper’s was in the sermon–I heard it myself. It’s just that his editors didn’t include it in their edited manuscript for the sermon :-)