Reading Through the Bible in a Year

As you consider ways to reading through the Bible in 2010, consider these plans. I want to encourage you to pick a specific plan to help to keep you accountable on track. Any plan will help with your goal.

I'm attaching the plan that Kristie and I did this year, and I will start again tomorrow. It's the Book at a Time. I prefer reading through one book at a time rather than reading one chapter from three different books. Kristie is reading through the NT with the 5x5x5.

Discipleship Journal by Navigators

http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138

This had both the Book at a Time and the 5x5x5 plan which reads through the NT

A blog entry with an overview of plans

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/12/30/bible-reading-plans-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

ESV Plans (including links to daily podcasts of the selections)

http://www.esv.org/biblereadingplans

Listening Through the Bible in 75 hours

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/12/30/esv-reading-plans-as-podcasts-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

I hope this helps with whichever goal you set.

Please Feed the Monks

In Luang Prabang, monks begin their day accepting alms for daily food.
This feeds the monks and helps the giver earn karma credits. While
some may see this as a touching gesture, it is a works-based salvation
(like most other religions). Christianity differs in this regard. Food
is given because there are hungry people, not for any intrinsic, other-
worldly gain.

Aside from the theological issues, this event was too touristy
with scores of Europeans shoving cameras into the faces of the monks.

Don't worry, Kristie was not one of them.

Meaning of the Cross

From The Valley of Vision (pp. 76-77),

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. . .

Jesus Wants the Rose

Here's an excerpt from Matt Chandler's excellent sermon in the last Desiring God conference. The full sermon of "A Shepherd and His Unregenerate Sheep" can be downloaded here.

Zombifying a Generation

A.W. Tozer writes in The Knowledge of the Holy:

"Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies. We cover our deep ignorance with words, but we are ashamed to wonder, we are afraid to whisper "mystery." 

South Koreans Find New Way to Evangelize

Christian activists in South Korea sent hundreds of thousands of
gospel tracts over North Korea's closed border in November using
helium-filled balloons. Equipped with a time-release mechanism, each
balloon carried 10,000 leaflets that tell the story of a 1907
Christian revival in Pyongyang, and compare Kim Jong-Il to
Nebuchadnezzar. The effort is part of a resurgence of balloon
launches, used for decades by political and religious groups to send
propaganda past the North's information blackout. Such launches
worsened relations between North and South in 2008. In response, North
Korea's government further restricted travel and communication between
the two countries.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/special/photo_balloons.html

Mars Hill and the New Calvinists

New York Times ran this piece on Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church in Seattle. It's a fair look at both him and the New Calvinists movement. (I think I just used "New York Times" and "fair" in the same sentence!).

I do not necessarily like Driscoll and his too-cool-for-school attitude, but I appreciate how his ministry shows that people will come when a church has solid, theological teaching. Someone should tell this to feel-good Joel Osteen.

One note of correction: John Calvin did not have heretics burned at the stake.

Read the article.

Anne Hathaway and Her "Courageous" Anti-Warren Stance

Anne Hathaway spoke out against Rick Warren's selection for Inauguration Day. Of course, she's not the first Hollywood Elite-type to connect Rick Warren prayers with the end of the democratic world. She is even going to wear a bracelet to protest! That's taking it to the streets, sister!

She, along with all the others who are "offended," overlook these three points:

1. It is Obama's choice for him to come. Warren did not muscle his way into the ceremony; Barack invited him. Hathaway is against his inclusion because her older brother is gay. If you think one way about homosexuality, then anyone who think another way must be banished from participation in government affairs. Is that how it goes?

2. Rick Warren did not single-handedly pass Proposition 8. Lots and lots of Californians voted to pass that measure banning same-sex marriages. California joined many other states with similar bans. Was Rick Warren to blame for ALL of the states banning same-sex marriage, or just California's ban?

3. Barack Obama himself is against same-sex marriage. As is Rick Warren. And Hillary Clinton. And John Kerry. And, evidently, most of America.

Anne, if you really want to make a statement, boycott the Inauguration ceremony. I don't know how you got an invite, but make a stand not with your bracelet, but with your absence. Show Barack that you refuse to support his decision that way. It's the president-elect that you should be mad at, not Rick Warren, the man who simply believes differently than you do. I doubt that you or your brother thought of that as a viable option, did you?

Click for article.

Reading Through the Bible in a Year

Here is a link to many plans to read through the Bible in a year. There are 10 under ESV Study Bible plans that are set up to email you the daily text.

http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/12/bible-reading-plans.html

Abortion Comments: Might makes Personhood

Few words carry more power in the world today than these: I do not want this child at this time.

Listen to John Piper address this issue:

    . . . in a world without God, the will of the strong creates (or nullifies) the personhood of the weak. . . . And the awesome thing is that we endow her will not just with sovereignty over her unborn baby, but with the authority to define it: If she wants it, it is a baby, a person. If she does not want it, it is not a baby, not a person. In other words, in our laws we have now made room for some killing to be justified not on the basis of the rights or crimes of the one killed, but decisively on the basis of the will, the desire, of a stronger person. The decisive criterion of personhood and non-personhood, what is right and wrong, what is legal and what is illegal, is the will of the strong. Might makes right. Might makes personhood. Might makes legal. This is the ultimate statement of anarchy. It is the essence of the original insurrection against God, and against objective truth and right and beauty.

    No culture can survive this kind of anarchical thinking indefinitely. Part of the remedy is to spread the truth: Might does not make right. Desire does not define duty. Wanting does not create worth. All of us know intuitively that if someone desires our destruction, that desire does not justify our murder. We know this. We should say it over and over again. 

Free Download: Praise the Living God

Grace Evangelical Free Church is offering a free download of their worship record, "Praise the Living God." Go to http://www.songsofgrace.org to enter in your email to receive a free album of worship songs.

China's Freedom of Religion

Worth reading: China confiscates Bibles from Americans at the airport. The country--and the world-- must decide whether China is an open, free country or a closed, oppressive one. Stories like this point to the latter option.

The Reason for God

I recently finished Tim Keller's The Reason for God, an excellent look on the rationality of the Christian faith. It's a perfect read for those of you who have that spark of faith somewhere deep inside, but still have questions. Give it a whirl, why don't you? After reading this, I picked up C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity to reread, as it has been awhile. Since I put all of my books in storage, I had to buy a new copy.

If you rather hear Tim Keller's sermons, go here for free downloads on the subject of "The Trouble with Christianity." I'm currently downloading a few to throw on my iPod.

Private vs Public Faith

"Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted, Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel."

 

Pope Benedict XVI, Speaking to bishops during his visit to the U.S.

 

Introduction to Calvinism

John Piper’s seminar on Calvinism is available to listen or watch on his site. It may be something to stuff into your iPod to listen on your next commute. It surely beats the latest Justin Timberlake or Gnarls Barkley.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Seminars/1727_TULIP/.

Luther Socks

I went to Luther's childhood house a few months ago, and I bought
these at the gift shop. While it seems to be outrageous selling
hosiery at the Reformer's house, I think Luther would approve of the
comedy and the exhortation to have warm feet.

What Would Lewis Have to Say about This?

I found this curious comment in the shipping section for this used
book. We can't have those prison Christians joyful, can we?

No Vatican for You!

No Vatican for You!
Originally uploaded by macron

Evidentially, amputees cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Love the Teddy, Hate the Teacher

It's a religion of peace.

Is There a Difference?

For those who think all religions are alike: Take a look at this story.

Where are those voices rising up in protest at the inhumanity? Oh wait...nobody speaks out against Islam.

Here's another to review. I'm sure we'll see the outrage in the media on par with Imus and Michael Richards. You can't just go insulting Christians publicly, can you? What would happen if this Jewish man made comments insulting Islam?

You shall know them by their fruits...