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Stephen Altrogge loves Jesus, the gospel, the local church, preaching, writing helpful books (actually, for the time being, book), and writing great songs that serve churches all over the place. He also has serious comedic gifting. Most of the time he’s just shooting from the hip making people laugh with his random facebook status updates.
Here Stephen imagines what it would be like to be pastored by Jack Bauer.
Yes, CJ wants the Saints to win, expressly because he loves our local church. This brings him into the happy, expansive family that many are calling The Who Dat Nation. But alas he must “belong before he can believe”, for he is a Who Dat Nation ‘member’ with ailing faith, a weaker brother. I hope he comes all the way by the close of the big game on Sunday night.
I seriously doubt he will wear a dress if he is proven wrong. But perhaps he’ll come back to preach in 2010 and receive a signed Jersey or something. Meanwhile, let us pray for our dear brother.
One of my favorite authors and Christian leaders gives a little tour of his study. Along the way you’ll discover a few interesting quirks. I expected some of them – really smart guys can be like islands of normality surrounded by oceans of idiosyncrasies. Preaching squirrels? That’s straight up strange.
Dever has a canon of theologians whose works he reads month by month, respectively, in each year. I don’t have such an organized approach, but if I did, Dever’s work (his preaching, his books, interviews, and articles) is unsurpassed in terms of what has most shaped my thinking about ministry and the gospel, especially over the past year.
A few thoughts from Noel Piper on one of the most vexing theological questions of our time: what do we do with the generous, cheery, if scarily omniscient, well-fed man in the red suit?
From an interview with Burk Parson’s (part 4):
Considering that everyone leaves a legacy. What do you hope will be your legacy among God’s people?
My children. I hope that they’re godly young men and women–that they have families that are godly, regardless of whatever vocations they go into, I hope they are involved in their churches and that they will raise godly children–that they are excited about and in constant wonder as they behold the glory and grace of God, even though they’ve grown up in the church, and that the things of God will never become old or rote to them, and that they will love and serve their neighbor in their callings.
Starting next week, I’ll be joining a team of bloggers pulled together to talk about, get prepped for and amped about the Next Conference (formerly New Attitude). Come visit the blog. Leave a comment and help us stir things up.
If you’ve been to this conference it really needs no introduction or sales pitch. It is perenially outstanding. We worship God together as we sing gospel-laden songs that help us fix our eyes on Christ. We hear excellent preaching – messages that are anchored to the text of Scripture and aimed at fueling our joy in God and strengthening our faith. We have loads of fun – lots of time to connect, deepen friendships, poke some fun, and meet new friends.
Go see the blog, bookmark it, and consider attending the conference. It’d be great to see you at the blog. But more than that, I’d love to save a seat for you in Baltimore.
Dr. Russell Moore has posted his review of the movie. The short version is – the book is good, but the movie disappointed. The longer, more interesting version is….
There are four things I know about Tim Tebow. He plays hard. He plays well. Gina Collins pulls for his team. And he is a believer in Christ.
Georgia born, Jeff Robinson, who blogs at The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, has done a write up on Tebow and biblical manhood. The post was triggered by something of a dilemma in his household.
“Recently, my oldest son asked me if it would be okay if he adopted Tim Tebow as a hero so long as he maintained his primary allegiance to a certain team from Athens, Ga. (where, incidentally, head coach Mark Richt, a vibrant follower of Christ, is also a wonderful example of biblical manhood). I didn’t have to think very long. “Absolutely…” (read on)
Pastor, author, scholar – Derek Thomas – writes at Ref21 about his love for the church, warts and all. Here’s a little taste.
Yes, there is a dark side to the church as there is to all things in this fallen world. The church is not perfect. It has her share of malcontents and killjoys, her energy-sapping attention-getters and despondent hearts. Adullam’s cave has nothing on some churches I have seen, but none of this robs me of my love for the church. Even at her most eccentric – the King James Version’s rendition of 1 Peter 2:9 as “ye are … a peculiar people” is painfully accurate, if quaint — she is still Christ’s body. “Love me, love my church” is what Jesus seems to say in the Bible. I would not have it any other way. Would you? (Read more)
Sometimes I wish rapping was a spiritual gift I could pray for and hope to receive in some measure, even if only from time to time. Until then, I’ll just enjoy stuff like this.
