This guy is, but I am not so sure he gives the credit to God. Read the fascinating story and then watch the four minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOCqVm2yz2c
CURIOUS ABOUT GOD’S WORLD?
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God, What on Earth are You Doing?
FAVORITE PLACES TO READ #3
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. When we lived in the Bay Area we regularly took advantage of the seminary library. Believe it or not, this picture does not do justice to the unbelievable beauty.
As an added bonus, the best McDonalds burger we ever had was near the seminary on a rainy day.
THE READING PASTOR
Neal Plantinga teaches pastors what to read. He really does! Here is my interview with him:
PRODIGAL CHRISTIANITY
I truly wanted to like this book. And there were things that gave me hope early on that I would. The honest admission that the authors do not have everything wired was refreshing. Also, the authors desire to practice what they preach is commendable.
Unfortunately, other things continued to nag as I got further in the book: a confusing proposal, false dichotomies, and caricatures. For the latter, I am not sure many in the so-called “Reformed” camp would agree with the description given of them in this book. The impression is that these folks put doctrine in too prominent a place.
Granted, the Reformed movement, if we can call it that, is sprawling, so there are definitely folks who fit the profile these authors describe. However, I am do not think the authors give much credit to the social consciousness of many in the resurgence of Calvinism. For example, it is by design that John Piper lives in a poor neighborhood and seeks to incarnate the gospel there. Whether you agree with his theology or not, it is that theology which spurs him to do so.
USED BOOKSTORES AND THEIR TREASURES
I have found several treasures rummaging through old bookstores, but none greater than my most recent find.
I spied out an old biography on H.L. Mencken for $1.00. That alone was a find, but what was contained inside much better. As I thumbed through to make sure it was a clean copy, I found to my utter astonishment that there were two personal letters from Mencken on his personal stationary. And those two letters were just valued at $250 and $150 by a rare book dealer. You can’t have that experience at your local Barnes and Noble!
WRITING FOR POSTERITY…EVERYONE CAN SO THEY SHOULD
The image is from Grant Horner’s Bible and it leads to a pleasant challenge for all of us.
How about writing in your Bible (and other places like journals) to leave a wonderful gift to your children, their children, and who knows whoever else!
Personally, I mark up four Bibles: two in English and two in Greek. We have two sons so each will have somewhat of an idea of the things which struck me most. I try to keep my penmanship fairly neat, but even when it is unclear what better gift could you give someone from your family?
My wife, Doreen, has a heavily marked up Bible, but because of smudges from the wrong kinds of writing instruments, some of the notes will only be known in eternity!
I was glad to see this post last year:
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/dads-write-in-your-bible
GETTING PUBLISHED IS LIKE FOOTBALL
In these days with all the new media it is both easier and harder to gain a hearing. I liken it to having four wide receivers (and they get to play based just on desire, no talent is needed). Some are talented, but those lacking talent also get to play. All are on a football field trying to gain separation from fifty (!) defensive backs. Not easy even for the talented!
MANY LIBs ARE IN THE CHURCH
Rush Limbaugh likes to poke fun at people who are “low information voters.” That is certainly serious, but a far more serious issue in the church are what I call the “low information believers” or LIB for short.
And yes, there are many LIBs even in so-called “Bible-believing” churches.
DOGMATIC WOMEN
Dogmatic women.
God bless them!
Dorothy Sayers was dogmatic. See her wonderful book, Creed or Chaos?
Flannery O’Connor also loved to proclaim the glories of dogma. In fact, Ralph Wood of Baylor writes in his terrific book, “[Flannery O’Connor] boldly capitalized it, confessing in the upper case that, ‘My stories have been watered and fed by Dogma.'”
(Contending for the Faith, p. 124)
SAYING THINGS BETTER
Billy Collins was the United States poet laureate in 2001-3. He is insightful and humorous as you will clearly observe in these two clips: