Black Friday marks opening of new resale shop

image via the Commercial News

Black Friday marks opening of new resale shop

That's one of the headlines on today's edition of Danville's Commercial News (Newspaper).  Which resale shop is that?  Why would I be mentioning it?  Because it is talking about my wife's parents!

The Commercial News article starts like this:

COVINGTON, Ind. — Duane and Donna Lathrop have turned their hobby into a business with their new venture — Double D Resale — which opens on Black Friday.

The resale shop is outfitted with furniture, appliances, home collectibles and other “what-nots” the couple has been accumulating through shopping trips to estate sales and auctions the past few months.

“Our date night is at the auction,” Duane Lathrop said.

(Read the rest by clicking here.)

I've been on those "auction date nights" and I have to say, they can be fun.

Bright Empires Author Trailer

Sesame Street on my feet!

One of these things is not like the others, 

One of these things just doesn't belong, 

Can you tell which thing is not like the others 

By the time I finish my song? 

Did you guess which thing was not like the others? 

Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong? 

If you guessed this one is not like the others, 

Then you're absolutely...right!

The Word of Grace on their Ears

"It is sad to think how many go away from sermons with the word of grace in their ears, but not the work of grace in their hearts."

~Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary, pg. 1271

Wrestle with Doubts

Reading The Reason for God by Timothy Keller and found a good quote already.

Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts -- not only their own but their friends' and neighbors'.  It is no longer sufficient to hold beliefs just because you inherited them.  Only if you struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive.

C.S. Lewis reviewing Tolkien

Read this quote over at Tolle Lege:

“Not content to create his own story, he creates, with an almost insolent prodigality, the whole world in which it is to move, with its own theology, myths, geography, history, palaeography, languages, and orders of beings– a world full of strange creatures beyond count.

The names alone are a feast, whether redolent of quiet countryside (Michel Delving, South Farthing), tall and kingly (Boramir, Faramir, Elendil), loathsome like Smeagol, who is also Gollum, or frowning in the evil strength of Barad Dur or Gorgoroth; yet best of all (Lothlorien, Gilthoniel, Galadriel) when they embody that piercing, high elvish beauty of which no other prose writer has captured so much.

Such a book has of course its predestined readers, even now more numerous and more critical than is always realised. To them a review need say little, except that here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron; here is a book that will break your heart. They will know that this is good news, good beyond hope.”

–C.S. Lewis, “Review of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings”

What excellent words from one friend to another.  His description of the names and the aspects of the "other world" that Tolkien created are so true as well.

What is the Gospel?

I just finished listening to the Christian Audio Version of What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert.

It is an excellent little book that adequately deals with the question in the title... Which, I might add, is a question that needs to be asked. The book begins by showing the various responses that the author has encountered when asking the same question. To have clarity on this subject is essential.

After enlightening us to our need to ask the question, Greg Gilbert does a great job of laying out the basic elements of the gospel message, while helping his readers do the same thing. He answers the question by looking to the scriptures and then shows the various examples of that same gospel message. Without sounding too deeply theological, he then goes through each element of the Gospel message and brings additional clarity to the subject.

Although I had already read through this book, the audio version of this book was excellently performed bringing an even better understanding of the book and highlighting aspects that had gone unnoticed the first time.

As a Pastor I saw this book as an essential for each of the members of my church because we are to be about the Gospel! I highly recommend this book.

New Book - The Reason for God

I just got my new book, The Reason for God by Timothy Keller.  Even though I have heard lots of good things about this book and I have read several great reviews, the biggest draw to this book wasn't what I was hearing about the book from other readers.  Sure, everything that I was hearing about the book was like the icing on the cake of my desire to have the book, but it wasn't the cake itself.  The sponge of my "want" was the premise of the book, which can be found in the subtitle: Belief in an age of Skepticism.

You see, I am a Geometry teacher. I have been committed to this occupation long enough that it has finally become a part of me.  It factors into how I think and specifically, how I reason.  That is what much of Geometry is dedicated to, the study of reason.  It is taking those mathematical and algebraic principles (which should have been learned) from the first several years of schooling and putting them into practice in a three-dimensional world.

I am rabbit-trailing though...

Here is a synopsis of the book from his website:

Why does God allow suffering in the world?

How could a loving God send people to Hell?

Why isn’t Christianity more inclusive?

How can one religion be “right” and the others “wrong”?

Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God?

These are just a few of the questions and doubts even ardent believers wrestle with today. As the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Timothy Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced “doubts” skeptics bring to his church as well as the most important reasons for faith. And in the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God, he addresses each doubt and explains each reason.

Keller uses literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and reasoning to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.

When I read that, I was immediately intrigued.  I had several other books on my shelf that needed dealing with, so I waited, but I finally decided to get it.  While I was at it, I also purchased the Reason for God DVD, which contains 6 real conversations with real people and their doubts. Here are those 6 sessions on the DVD:

Session Titles and Descriptions:

1. Isn’t the Bible a Myth? 
2. How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God? 
3. What Gives You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life? 
4. Why Does God Allow Suffering? 
5. Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice? 
6. How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time?

Here is a trailer for the DVD:


The Reason for God Trailer from Redeemer City to City on Vimeo.

I also purchased the Study Guide and I am going to be showing this series at my church.  If you are a Danville reader and would be interested in joining us, I will have two different times that I will be showing this DVD.  I will start it during my Sunday School class, and then I will also pick a night during the week.  Let me know if you are interested.

Excellent Point

This reminds me that it is OK to preach on certain topics...

Osteen

John MacArthur does some decent exposure to the reality of the false teaching done by Joel Osteen.

If I ever have an office that I actually use...

I think that I will need this furniture set...

From Dedon Collections

Cool Star Wars pics...

I wish I could remember which blog had these photos, couldn't find that blog, but re-found the pictures here.  They are behind the scenes shots from the making of The Empire Strikes Back.

And my personal favorite...

Africa Comparison

I found this picture to be seriously interesting.  It increases my understanding for the great need of missionaries in Africa.

[HT: 22 words]

“The work of the Holy Spirit” by Martin Luther

The work of the Holy Spirit [from Tolle Lege]

“This is the office and work of the Holy Spirit: to reveal through the Gospel what great and glorious things God has done for us through Christ, namely, that He has redeemed us from sin, death, and the devil’s power; that He has taken us into His grace and protection; and that He has given Himself utterly and entirely for us.”

–Martin Luther

People are stupid!

[HT: Challies.com]