Calling All Men

Recently Rick Phillips came out with a book on biblical masculinity, titled The Masculine Mandate. That seems to be a popular topic, though sometimes what is put forward is more testoneronal than biblical. That said, I haven't yet read it--but I have read this summary, and it has convinced me that I need to read the book. Hope you will find the same thing.

PCRT 2010

Over the past week or so I have been listening to the audio CD's of this year's Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology. The theme is "These Last Days: A Christian View of History." It is, not surprisingly, excellent (though I've only listened to the first two sessions so far). What is the history and future of the world God made? How is Christ the key player in that history and future? What is the role of human culture in that history? How does human culture interact with God's redemptive work in Christ, and his church? Where do we find ourselves in the grand purposes of God for the world he made? It is excellent stuff. I'll be glad to lend it to you--it will give you good stuff to listen to on your commute (that's where I mostly listen to it, if not in the office). If you can afford it, order your own from www.alliancenet.org. Unfortunately, it is not (yet?) available for download (someone ought to put a bug in their ear about that, really!).

I've been reading a good book the last week or so--am almost done with it. One of the many, many trends in our day among evangelicals is to leave the "institutional" church, and to get together with a few friends for fellowship instead. While that is an extreme response to the challenges of the church (and one which, incidentally, Christ the Head of the Church does NOT commend in the Bible), we all know that being a member of Christ's church--particularly a local church--has its moments.
This is a book that, while it adresses the extreme of leaving the organized church altogether, also positively gives a wonderful vision for not only tolerating, but loving Christ's Church--and our local church. If you'd like to borrow if, please do (I should be done reading it by next week).
By the way, this book is not scholarly--you won't get bogged down by it.

A Gift for Father's Day

This Sunday, I am told, if Father's Day. As a father, I'm not sure I'm crazy about Father's Day. I could easily do without it, honestly. But here is an article that we may take to heart--think of something more useful for Father's Day than the usual Father's Day gift. Better yet, take Father's Day to meditate on the ultimate Father, who gave his own Son so that men and women could be his children, instead of remaining rebels and prodigals. Every Lord's Day is, in one sense, Father's Day for him. Except that everything we give to him is in the final analysis a gift from him to us, and places us even further--delightfully so--in his debt. How strange the gospel works, that even when we do good it is because God has granted us the wherewithal both to desire and to do what glorifies him (see Philippians 2:13).
But I digress. Read the article anyway. And think about what you ahve been given, and be generous, not out of guilt, but out of grace.

MTW Video

Here is an excellent video, including Jon Eide and Garret and Kristen Clemmer, about the mission of MTW in the Ukraine. Don't miss it!

How Mormonism Fails

The June New Horizons has another excellent article--this one from my fellow-pastor Jody Morris. Jody grew up Mormon, and he gives an excellent testimony of his coming to Christ, and the liberation that it was for him not to have to earn God's favor through his own good works. If you have a copy, it will reward the time to read it. I'll put a link to it as soon as it is up on the web.

Grace and Money

We're kicking off a fund-raising drive for a new facility at Covenant. How do you do fund-raising out of grace, and not out of guilt? How do we give out of grace? Tim Keller has an excellent sermon that you can download here titled "Grace and Money." See how money is redefined as the "bottom line" for a disciple of Christ.
Tip: Download it, then burn it on to a CD, and listen to it in the car on your way to or from work. What else are you going to listen to?

A Moment of Cynicism

Indulge me for a moment--the cynical side of me--and take a look at this video, a satire of what happens in some churches on Sunday morning. What do you think?