Friday, October 31, 2008 at 9:56

Okay, I like comics (or graphic novels, if you will) as much as the next guy, but this is ridiculous.

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Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 15:03

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Monday, October 6, 2008 at 23:26

Spiritual suffocation in the form of undisciplined Bible reading. I had gone a week without memorizing Ephesians, following my Bible plan, and going through days without praying and asking God for His strength through the day.

By His Spirit, He humbled me and brought me back to desire His presence and His truth. I want more.

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I find, in this recent experience, that legalism is crouching at the door. On more than one occassion today I caught myself thinking because I had completed today’s reading of the Word, I had no more need of reading the Word at all. God desires a broken and contrite heart above sacrifices; God desires a broken and contrite heart above legalistic Bible reading.

May I pant after God, daily recognizing my need for Him in all things and realizing my brokenness in all aspects of my life.

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Monday, October 6, 2008 at 10:04

I haven’t been having much of them.

Still working out some kinks in this theme I found on the internet. I think it’s pretty.

Has anyone noticed the Indigo downtown is closed “indefinitely”?

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To think of all of my ministry, outreach, priorities, and relationships out of the centrality of the Gospel as found in the Bible.

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Does mockery and sarcasm have a place in criticism? Motive and tone seem to be factors here. If you don’t sound as if your words are for building up, then perhaps it’s better not to say it at all. However, I don’t think the adage “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.” is applicable for every situation.

An example: is it right (at times) to make mockery of prosperity gospel preachers with their theatric movements and heretic talk? Is it right to make a video that parodies¹ Rob Bell’s ambiguous Nooma series?

I believe it might be.

A scriptural example is found in 1 Corinthians 4:8-13. Paul mocks the Corinthians for their pride in their unusually gifted community.

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Discernment and self-control is needed here. Paul clearly has the good of the Corinthians in mind when he employs this technique.

I, however, do not have that discernment or that self-control. Even if guys like Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, or Brian Houston preach a false, prosperity gospel, I do need to exercise self-control over my tongue, weighing when is the right time and place for criticizing their theology.

Wolves need to be torn down. Jesus Himself had the worst of insults for the Pharisees (”brood of vipers”). But He reserved them for the Pharisees. May I know when and how to do the same.

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List of topics for the future:

• Holy Hip-Hop
• Organic church movement
• The failure of sociology
• Sleeping in the dark
• The freedom of being single
• The tongue
• Notebooks
• Work ethic
• Music review
• Proverbs

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