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Death By Love - Pastoral Application of the Atonement by Driscoll and Breshears

2008-10-11T07:00:00.000+01:00

I want to introduce you to a very unusual book by Mark Driscoll and his writing buddy and professor, Gerry Breshears. I would go so far to say that this is a unique book in that I have never seen anything quite like it.

If their first book together, Vintage Jesus, was a light cheerful book that offended some by its use of humor and at times edgy topics for illustrations, this new book by these two men is more of a grungy, almost dark book. The video over at the ReLit site leaves you in no doubt that this is a book that will wrestle with darkness, pain, and even demonization.

Certainly this book represents just a tiny sample of the ocean of pain that a pastor of a large church has to handle over the years. Some neoliberals argue that people who believe in penal substitutionary atonement do not engage with the real suffering found in the world. This book demonstrates emphatically that this is simply not true in Driscoll's case. Such critics also argue that the evangelical's gospel can become overly narrow, eventually focusing solely on the "felt need" of the feelings of guilt many still feel. Guilt, however, is far from the only reason people come to Christ. The New Testament is full of helpful ways we can understand what Jesus did on the cross.

Without in any way softening his commitment to the centrality of Jesus taking the punishment of sin in our understanding of the cross, Driscoll is far broader in his understanding of and application of the cross to hurting people's lives today. From convicted child molesters, to cheating husbands and raped women, Driscoll shares pen outlines of the destruction manifest in the lives of specific people to whom he has ministered. He then shows in a letter written to each individual how a specific aspect of what Jesus has done on the cross can bring wholeness and salvation to them.

This is a vital book that should be read by every Christian who is serious about reaching out with the gospel into this dark and damaged world. I will share a video of Mark speaking about the book, followed by an excerpt from one of those letters that particularly struck me. You will have to buy the book to see exactly how Driscoll and Breshears apply the gospel to Bill and his violent, abusive father.

"As a little boy you rightly felt angry at your dad, and that anger rightly compelled you to confront his injustice and protect the rest of the family. Therefore, anger can be a righteous virtue, which explains why God gets angry at sin too. The Bible is full of examples of God getting angry at sinners. A few examples will illustrate my point clearly, but a reading of Leviticus 26:27-30, Numbers 11:1, and Deuteronomy 29:24 for starters, speak of God's anger as being hostile, burning, and furious.

Flaccid church guys will often accept that in the Old Testament God did get angry, but they will say that Jesus was a nice, emotionless, flaccid church guy, just like them, who chose a hollow, fake smile over anger every day. But even Jesus got angry, furious, and enraged . . . [Here Driscoll cites Mark 3:5 and Revelation 19, but one could also add Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-46, and John 2:13-17.]

In speaking of God's anger, I want to be careful not to give permission for us to lose our temper and rage, because that is a sin—the very sin your father committed repeatedly. However, because God is perfect, his anger is perfect and, as such, is aroused slowly (Exodus 34:6-8), sometimes turned away (Deuteronomy 13:17), often delayed (Isaiah 48:9), and frequently held back (Psalm 78:38).

Furthermore, God feels angry because God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19, Zechariah 8:17). Sadly, it is commonly said among Christians that "God hates the sin but loves the sinner." This is as stupid as saying that God loves rapists and hates rape, as if rape and rapists were two entirely different entities that could be separated from one another. Furthermore, it was not a divinely inspired author of Scripture but the Hindu, Gandhi, who coined the phrase, "Love the sinner but hate the sin" . . .

Regarding God's anger and hatred, it is commonly protested that God cannot hate anyone because he is love. But the Bible speaks of God's anger, wrath, and fury more than of his love, grace, and mercy. Furthermore, it is precisely because God is love that he must hate evil and all who do evil—evil is an assault on whom and what he loves.

Therefore, Bill, your anger toward and hatred of your father are justifiable and are the healthy response to seeing your dad beat the mother and siblings you love. However, in a mysterious conflict of deep emotions, you continued to love your father just as God continues to love unrepentant sinners whom he simultaneously hates . . .

I know this will be difficult for you to comprehend, Bill, but Jesus has fully experienced what you have, and much more. Jesus was mocked and beaten, though he was without sin. He willingly substituted himself for those he loved and wanted to save . . . "

From Death By Love by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, copyright 2008, pages 127-129. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

A Reformed Charismatic Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland - the 11th Largest City in the UK

2008-10-11T02:00:00.001+01:00

In 2009 Newfrontiers is starting a Belfast Church — the eleventh largest city in the UK. The church plant website went live recently, and they have already opened a Belfast Church plant Facebook group.

The emerging vision for the church plant is:

To see a Christ-centered church planted in Belfast city, on a mission seeking a transformed city.
To be a church that reflects the growing diversity of Belfast.
To see multiple thriving congregations established across Belfast.
To plant churches in all five cities in Northern Ireland.
To plant churches in every major town in Northern Ireland.
To raise up indigenous leaders and church planters.

David Capener would love to hear from you if you are interested in being part of the Belfast plant or know of anyone who might be. The growing team would also really value your prayers.

Please pray for . . .

More to gather with a heart for Belfast.
House sales!
For our meetings with local church leaders from across the community.
Worship leaders.
The favor of the city especially among the business community.
Musicians with a heart for church planting.
Those with a heart for church planting to gather with a vision to plant out across NI.
A student worker.
Those moving to Belfast who are looking for work.

John Piper's Biblical Antidote to Lust

2008-10-10T03:00:00.005+01:00

John Piper rarely gets starker than he does in the following quote. His biblical remedy for lust? Well, it's simple really. Understand that unless you are one of those who fights lust with all your heart, you were never truly saved. The quote begins with a question from someone who heard one of his sermons:

“Are you saying then that a person can lose his salvation?” In other words, if Jesus used the threat of hell to warn about the seriousness of lust, does that mean that a Christian can perish?

This is exactly the same response I got a few years ago when I confronted a man about the adultery he was living in. I tried to understand his situation and I pled with him to return to his wife. Then I said, “You know, Jesus says that if you don’t fight this sin with the kind of seriousness that is willing to gouge out your own eye, you will go to hell and suffer there forever.” As a professing Christian he looked at me in utter disbelief, as though he had never heard anything like this in his life, and said, “You mean you think a person can lose his salvation?”

So I have learned again and again from firsthand experience that there are many professing Christians who have a view of salvation that disconnects it from real life, and that nullifies the threats of the Bible, and puts the sinning person who claims to be a Christian beyond the reach of biblical warnings. I believe this view of the Christian life is comforting thousands who are on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Jesus said, if you don’t fight lust, you won’t go to heaven. Not that saints always succeed. The issue is that we resolve to fight, not that we succeed flawlessly . . . if we don’t fight lust we lose our soul. The apostle Peter said, “Abstain from fleshly lusts that wage war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11).” The stakes in this war are infinitely higher than in any threat of World War III. The apostle Paul listed “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed,” then said, “it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come” (Colossians 3:6). And the wrath of God is immeasurably more fearful than the wrath of all the nations put together. In Galatians 5:19 Paul mentions immorality, impurity and sensuality and says, “Those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).

John Piper, Future Grace (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1995), 331. Available electronically from Logos Bible Software.

DO NOT Buy a Macbook or a Macbook Pro

2008-10-09T18:34:00.006+01:00

I never thought I would say this, but hold on to your plastic. You really DON'T want to be buying a Mac laptop right now. Have I gone insane? Am I converting back to PC? No, don't worry, this Mac evangelist is not about to backslide into the world of WINDOZE. It's just that all the rumors about Apple soon to significantly update its range of laptops is getting closer to being true by the day.

The following MacRumors article certainly would be enough on its own for me to just wait a few days more if I was about to buy a Mac. You don't want to buy old spec, especially not if something really dramatic is about to be launched!

HT - Ian Jukes (via iChat)

Spurgeon - Conviction of Sin Essential for Salvation

2008-10-09T03:00:00.002+01:00

I wonder—when was the last time you heard another Christian preach or speak about conviction of sin? When was the last time you saw someone on the brink of salvation in tears of anxiety and burden because of a distinct awareness of their sinfulness? It seems to me that true conviction is not present as much as it should be today. If Spurgeon is right, if anyone has not experienced it, we should be very concerned about the validity of their salvation.

"First, regeneration will be shown in conviction of sin. This we believe to be an indispensable mark of the Spirit's work; the new life as it enters the heart causes intense inward pain as one of its first effects. Though nowadays we hear of persons being healed before they have been wounded, and brought into a certainty of justification without ever having lamented their condemnation, we are very dubious as to the value of such healings and justifyings. This style of things is not according to the truth. God never clothes men until He has first stripped them, nor does He quicken them by the gospel till first they are slain by the law.

When you meet with persons in whom there is no trace of conviction of sin, you may be quite sure that they have not been wrought upon by the Holy Spirit; for "when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." When the Spirit of the Lord breathes on us, He withers all the glory of man, which is but as the flower of grass, and then He reveals a higher and abiding glory. Do not be astonished if you find this conviction of sin to be very acute and alarming; but, on the other hand, do not condemn those in whom it is less intense, for so long as sin is mourned over, confessed, forsaken, and abhorred, you have an evident fruit of the Spirit. Much of the horror and unbelief which goes with conviction is not of the Spirit of God, but comes of Satan or corrupt nature; yet there must be true and deep conviction of sin, and this the preacher must labour to produce, for where this is not felt the new birth has not taken place."

— C. H. Spurgeon

Now They Are Selling Bankruptcy

2008-10-08T02:50:00.001+01:00

I'm a member of the UK's telephone preference service, which means I very rarely get cold sales calls over the phone. However, I've noticed a concerning tendency recently. A company phoned me, saying my number had been "specially selected for a new government sponsored program of IVAs." In fact, they weren't the first company to ring me and try and get me to take out what is essentially a last step before bankruptcy. Unless these companies know something about the state of my finances that I don't know, then I'm sure I have not been specially selected at all. It is, of course, the classic tactic of the salesman. Somehow, though, it seems to me to be somewhat sickening that the consumer boom is now leading finally in its dying breaths to companies breathlessly trying to persuade people of the benefits of seeking a legal remedy for their mushrooming debts.

Don't get me wrong—I'm far from being against IVAs and bankruptcy where it is needed. In fact, the concept of being forgiven debts that you simply cannot pay is a very biblical one. In today's climate we could do well to preach about how we are all spiritually in debt to God, and yet in a glorious echo of the Old Testament Jubilee, God has wiped our debts away, thanks to the payment of his son, Jesus. Some Christians feel, wrongly, that financial bankruptcy is not appropriate for them as children of the King. I agree that all possible attempts at a responsible approach to repaying debts should be tried first. But there are undoubtedly times when a bankruptcy is inevitable. Indeed, it is very possible for you to be declared bankrupt without your consent, and to initiate such proceedings in those circumstances is nothing less than being honest. To continue to effectively lie to creditors by pretending you can pay them when you blatantly cannot is not a Christian virtue. Certainly many banks have played a significant role in enticing unwary people into debt they should never have taken on in the first place. The wickedness of the banks in these situations, with their dodgy credit card deals and mortgages, which in the UK used to stretch to 125 per cent of the value of a home, is surely causing all of us a headache at the moment.

As such, when a bank is clearly preying on a customer and is charging them extortionate rates of interest, which then causes them to slip further and further behind, it is a godly thing to initiate proceedings to break such financial slavery.

But no one in their right minds takes such a step without considering every other possibility first. So to sell such arrangements over the phone in a hard-sell call that speaks of a "government sponsored program" is just wicked, and I hate to think of the effect such a call has on someone who is struggling with their finances.

VIDEO - Billy Graham Preaching in 1958

2008-10-07T02:30:00.002+01:00

I only just recently discovered that videos from Billy Graham are available free online. I had a look at the following sermon from 1958 and it was really heartwarming. O may God raise up preachers like Billy again! Billy will soon be 90 years old and some people have set up a site for people to send their stories of how Billy's preaching touched them.

Lloyd-Jones on Anger and Self Control

2008-10-06T03:00:00.006+01:00

The Doctor was given his nickname, I believe, not so much because of his medical degree, but rather because of the way in which he used his diagnostic skill to get to the root of the human predicament. This quote is a good example of that:

To fail to control ourselves means a loss of energy. These things can actually be measured. When I say ‘self-control’ I include controlling one’s temper, controlling one’s spirit. Have you ever seen a man trembling in a rage? What energy that man is wasting! He is emitting energy at a tremendous rate because he cannot control his temper, and his own spirit. And, of course, he is but as putty in the hands of the devil. When a man cannot control himself how can he possibly deal with the enemy? Discipline is an absolute essential in an army; it is one of the most important things of all. If an army is not disciplined it is already defeated, it becomes a rabble.

The Bible has much of this kind of teaching. It is a major theme in the Book of Proverbs. The wise man in dealing with this matter says: ‘He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty’ (Proverbs 16:32). What he is saying is that a man who is slow to anger, a man who can control his temper, is a much stronger man in the end than a mighty man who loses his temper. The second man is much mightier by nature, but if he dissipates and wastes his energy by failing to control his own temper he will lose the battle. This first man has nothing like the vital force and capacity, nor the strength of the second, but he controls himself; and a man who can control himself will often beat a man who is very much better at the task, and who has much greater strength, simply because he is reliable and steady.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Christian Soldier: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10 to 20 (Edinburgh; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1977), 101. Also available electronically from Logos Bible Software.

NOTE
This photo of "the Doctor" is quite rare, according to Philip Eveson, principal of the London Theological Seminary, where this portrait hangs inside the Lloyd-Jones library. Although pastor of the Westminster Chapel in London for many years, the Doctor was originally born and raised in Wales, and he also pastored his first church in South Wales.

For more information on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, see this summary post or the MLJ Recording Trust.

US City No. 24 - Seattle - A Church in Tacoma, Washington

2008-10-05T03:00:00.007+01:00

Today I want to highlight another of the Newfrontiers USA churches that are being planted in the top 100 cities in the United States.

From a geographical perspective, the cities of Seattle and Tacoma almost look as if they make up one city. As a result, Tacoma is located in the metropolitan area where Mark Driscoll is working so vigorously. A very prophetic guy named Sam Poe is one of the leaders there, and the church is known as New Community Church, Tacoma.

Spurgeon - Conversions are God's Stamp of Approval on Preaching

2008-10-04T04:09:00.006+01:00

I've been sharing a number of quotes from Spurgeon's The Soul Winner. Today I thought I'd share one which is quite striking. It argues that since conversion is a miracle, it is by a trail of such miracles we can know if someone is called to preach.

"A new and heavenly mind must be created by omnipotence, or the man must abide in death. You see, then, that we have before us a mighty work, for which we are of ourselves totally incapable. No minister living can save a soul; nor can all of us together, nor all the saints on earth or in heaven, work regeneration in a single person. The whole business on our part is the height of absurdity unless we regard ourselves as used by the Holy Ghost, and filled with His power. On the other hand, the marvels of regeneration which attend our ministry are the best seals and witnesses of our commission. Whereas the apostles could appeal to the miracles of Christ, and to those which they wrought in His name, we appeal to the miracles of the Holy Ghost, which are as divine and as real as those of our Lord Himself. These miracles are the creation of a new life in the human bosom, and the total change of the whole being of those upon whom the Spirit descends."

— C.H. Spurgeon

John Piper's Biblical Antidote to Anger

2008-10-03T03:50:00.002+01:00

Anger is very much associated with our sense of rights. We feel that we have been violated and "deserve" better treatment. The truth is, none of us deserve anything but hell. We build up for ourselves a mental picture of our ideal life, of what we want, so that it becomes an idol. When we don't get our own way, we start to throw our toys out of the pram and feel justified to be angry.

James challenges these thoughts in 4:1-2: "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel." John Piper explains this further as follows:

Humility does not feel a right to better treatment than Jesus got . . . Humility does not build a life based on its perceived rights . . . Much of our anger and resentment in relationships comes from the expectation that we have a right to be treated well. But, as George Otis once said to a gathering in Manila, “Jesus never promised His disciples a fair fight.” We must assume mistreatment, and not be indignant when we get it. This is what humility would look like. Peter (1 Peter 2:21–23) and Paul (Romans 12:19) give us great moral assistance in this difficult task by reminding us that God will settle all accounts justly and that temporary injustice will not be swept under the rug of the universe. It will be dealt with—on the cross or in hell. We need not avenge ourselves. We can leave it to God.

John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals : A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 163. Also available electronically from Logos Bible Software.

Is Man Bipartate or Tripartate?

2008-10-02T04:02:00.004+01:00

One of the interesting controversies of theology is the nature of man. Many assume we are tripartate — body, soul, and spirit. Others argue strongly that Scripture suggests we only have two parts — body and soul/spirit. In today's quote from Spurgeon, he seems to suggest we have two parts before salvation and three parts after. I would be interested in your thoughts on this. Do you think he was right? Have you heard anyone else teach this? You can discuss this over at this blog's Facebook group.

"Regeneration, or the new birth, works a change in the whole nature of man, and, so far as we can judge, its essence lies in the implantation and creation of a new principle within the man. The Holy Ghost creates in us a new, heavenly, and immortal nature, which is known in Scripture as "the spirit," by way of distinction from the soul. Our theory of regeneration is that man in his fallen nature consists only of body and soul, and that when he is regenerated there is created in him a new and higher nature—"the spirit"—which is a spark from the everlasting fire of God's life and love; this falls into the heart, and abides there, and makes its receiver a partaker of the divine nature." Thenceforward, the man consists of three parts, body, soul, and spirit, and the spirit is the reigning power of the three."

C. H. Spurgeon

Spurgeon on Preaching to Stir Emotions

2008-10-01T03:00:00.012+01:00

I have been quoting from Spurgeon's The Soul Winner a fair bit lately. He is like a breath of fresh air. O for God to raise an army of preachers who truly understand the point he makes in the following quote:

"... to win a soul, it is necessary, not only to instruct our hearer, and make him know the truth, but to impress him so that he may feel it. A purely didactic ministry, which should always appeal to the understanding, and should leave the emotions untouched, would certainly be a limping ministry. "The legs of the lame are not equal," says Solomon; and the unequal legs of some ministries cripple them. We have seen such an one limping about with a long doctrinal leg, but a very short emotional leg. It is a horrible thing for a man to be so doctrinal that he can speak coolly of the doom of the wicked, so that, if he does not actually praise God for it, it costs him no anguish of heart to think of the ruin of millions of our race. This is horrible!

I hate to hear the terrors of the Lord proclaimed by men whose hard visages, harsh tones, and unfeeling spirit betray a sort of doctrinal desiccation: all the milk of human kindness is dried out of them. Having no feeling himself, such a preacher creates none, and the people sit and listen while he keeps to dry, lifeless statements, until they come to value him for being "sound", and they themselves come to be sound, too; and I need not add, sound asleep also, or what life they have is spent in sniffing out heresy, and making earnest men offenders for a word. Into this spirit may we never be baptized!

Whatever I believe, or do not believe, the command to love my neighbour as myself still retains its claim upon me, and God forbid that any views or opinions should so contract my soul, and harden my heart as to make me forget this law of love! The love of God is first, but this by no means lessens the obligation of love to man; in fact, the first command includes the second.

We are to seek our neighbour's conversion because we love him, and we are to speak to him in loving terms God's loving gospel, because our heart desires his eternal good.

A sinner has a heart as well as a head; a sinner has emotions as well as thoughts; and we must appeal to both. A sinner will never be converted until his emotions are stirred. Unless he feels sorrow for sin, and unless he has some measure of joy in the reception of the Word, you cannot have much hope of him. The Truth must soak into the soul, and dye it with its own colour. The Word must be like a strong wind sweeping through the whole heart, and swaying the whole man, even as a field of ripening corn waves in the summer breeze. Religion without emotion is religion without life."

— C. H. Spurgeon

What Is The Purpose of This Mysterious Gauge On The Underground?

2008-09-30T10:59:00.007+01:00

I wrote this post today on my way to the hospital with my son, Henry. I've taken the day off to be with him while he undergoes major dental surgery.

Henry is a very observant boy and noticed the gauge that's pictured here under one of the seats on the train. We watched it and it fluctuated randomly, but seemed to go up when the train was stationary and down when it was moving.

The Internet is a great way to tap into the pooled intelligence of its readers. So help me answer my son's question—what is this mysterious gauge for? I wonder if it's some kind of current measure or something?

UPDATE
I have had three replies with some overlap:

I believe the gauge measures the air pressure to the brakes; hence, when stationary, high pressure to keep the brakes on and low pressure to keep the brakes off, although this doesn't make sense because, if you have pressure failure, you can't stop the train!! But it is a pressure gauge.
I think it is the brake pressure gauge.
I don’t know whether a professional out there can help you, or if you’re getting loads of opinions right now, but my theory has always been that it measures the pressure (were there any units mentioned on it?) on the coupling between the adjacent carriage; therefore, it fluctuates one way when braking hard and the other way when accelerating. It should be at a value in the middle when stopped, and moves about when traveling because of the unevenness of the ride. Just a guess from my time growing up in London and wondering the same thing a few times.

Feed the Sheep, Rebuke the Swine, Shoot the Wolves

2008-09-30T03:00:00.006+01:00

Mark Driscoll was in fighting form at DGM. You can download the mp3 or watch the video over at the DGM site.

He argues passionately for the vital place of clear language that doesn't pull any punches. Anyone who thought that Driscoll's choices about how to speak were just laziness on his part ought to listen to, or preferably watch, this talk. You will find that he has a very clear, reasoned argument from Scripture for the need to be salty in our communication. My two favorite lines were:

"Feed the sheep, rebuke the swine, shoot the wolves," and

"Don't judge the God of the Bible by Victorian nicety or political correctness."

For more information about Mark Driscoll, see my interview with him, or his blog.

How Do You Define a Friend?

2008-09-29T07:07:00.006+01:00

In an incredibly helpful discussion, chaired by Justin Taylor at the recent DGM conference, Driscoll defined friends as follows:

"They love you, have hope for you, and have time for you."
I can't think of a much better definition than that.

Historical Evidence That The Gifts Didn't Cease When The Apostles Died

2008-09-29T03:00:00.006+01:00

This astonishing description by Iraneus of normal church life in the early centuries was cited on Lex Loizides' blog.

‘So it is that in His name those who truly are His disciples, having received grace from Him, put it to effectual use for the benefit of their fellow-men, in proportion to the gift each one has received from Him.

Some drive out demons really and truly, so that often those cleansed from evil spirits believe and become members of the church; some have foreknowledge of the future, visions, and prophetic utterances;

others, by the laying on of hands, heal the sick and restore them to health; and before now, as I said, dead men have actually been raised and have remained with us for many years.

In fact, it is impossible to enumerate the gifts which throughout the world the church has received from God and in the name of Jesus Christ crucified under Pontius Pilate, and every day puts to effectual use for the benefit of the heathen, deceiving no one and making profit out of no-one: freely she received from God, and freely she ministers…

Similarly, we hear of many members of the church who have prophetic gifts and by the Spirit speak with all kinds of tongues, and bring men’s secret thoughts to light for their own good, and expound the mysteries of God,’ (Quoted in Eusebius, History of the Church, Penguin Classics [UK Edition], pp. 209-210).

UPDATE
Frank Turk has posted on this, claiming that this quote is not originally in Iraneus. However, one of his commenters says she has checked on it and said that it is, indeed, there in Iraneus, although another commentator has disputed the context these quotes were found in Iraneus by Eusebius.

Fishtank Creatives - A Great New Venture By Phatfish and Lou Fellingham

2008-09-28T04:38:00.007+01:00

Regular long-time readers of my blog will be no stranger to the Fellinghams and Phatfish, and I have previously interviewed Nathan Fellingham.

I cannot commend them highly enough as possibly the premier examples of godly, humble, reformed, and charismatic musicians who for years have been in the business of helping the Church worship in a contemporary and yet biblical way. I can't think of anyone else who has been around as long as they have who I would commend as highly. The following clip of a song showcases their songwriting and musical ability and quirky artistic style:

The good news is that you can now watch the entire video of "There is a Day That All Creation's Waiting For" free online on a new website just launched.

The new site, Fishtankcreatives.com has a lot of other video and audio resources, as well as an online store which sells downloads and physical CDs. It's the best way to purchase if you want to make sure as much of your hard-earned cash makes its way to the artist rather than a middle-man! You can, however, also purchase their music via these iTunes links for Phatfish and Lou Fellingham.

Here is a recent press release that identifies other aspects of what these guys are up to better than I can.

FishtankCreatives.com Launched – Win An iPod

Fishtank Creatives is a new initiative with a mission to encourage and facilitate Christian Music Ministry. We currently outwork this by looking after the management of Phatfish and Lou Fellingham.

Fishtankcreatives.com showcases all of the music, video and lyrics that have come from these artists over the years, and also includes training material for others involved in music and worship ministry. It is also the main source of information for new products and live events that Phatfish and Lou Fellingham are involved with, as well as handling all booking enquiries.

To celebrate the launch of the new website, Fishtank Creatives is giving away an iPod Touch loaded with the entire Phatfish and Lou Fellingham music catalogue. All you have to do to enter the draw is to sign up to the Fishtank Creatives e-mailing list and the winner will be drawn on October 17th.

www.fishtankcreatives.com

info@fishtankcreatives.com

Desiring God National Conference Audio Online

2008-09-27T19:28:00.001+01:00

The mp3s from the DGM National Conference are being put on line very quickly. You can download them from their website.

Adding Bible Content Automatically

2008-09-27T03:45:00.000+01:00

Most Christian websites and blogs will have biblical references scattered throughout their text. But how much better would it be if that content could be automatically linked to one of the Bible websites that are out there? Well, I suspect it could be even better if, instead of merely inserting a link, you could automatically insert a little pop-up window that revealed the text without even leaving the website. That's exactly what I can now do here on the blog.

That's just what those wonderful people at Logos Bible Software have done. For example, if I was to write John 3:16 or 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, a script now creates those neat pop-up windows. There is nothing to install as such, just a few lines of code to add to your template, or if you are using Wordpress, as I think I would like to do soon, then you can install a plug-in and customize it. Apparently you can even change the look to match your site. I'm told that so far 2,000 sites have installed it, and 10 MILLION pages are calling the script.

Pop over to Reftagger and you can get the whole thing set up in about five minutes or so.

Mark Driscoll on Christ and the Media at Northwestern College

2008-09-26T17:00:00.002+01:00

The mp3 of Driscoll's first talk from his weekend in Minneapolis is already online. He took a pre-conference session at Northwestern College on "Christ and the Media." You can download the mp3 or listen right here. (HT Kim Ketola.) He laid out a challenge to bring the gospel into the media outlets of our current day.

Hear Tope Koleoso in Chicago

2008-09-26T04:18:00.007+01:00

This Sunday, my friend and the main leader of Jubilee Church, London, Tope Koleoso, will be preaching at the Chicago Newfrontiers church plant. Jubilee is a rapidly growing multi-racial church which meets in a cinema.

If you are in the Chicago area, this will be a unique opportunity to hear this dynamic preacher in a more intimate environment.

The evening begins with a dinner at 5.30 p.m. at 5959 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660

For more information, contact info@realfusion.org for more details or call FUSION at (847) 547 2698.

PIPER FRIDAY - John Piper's Biblical Antidote to Fear

2008-09-26T03:00:00.004+01:00

This Piper Friday I would like to share some reasons Piper gives us why we need not be afraid. The original article has biblical verses to support each of these glorious truths from God's Word. Here are his statements:

We will not die apart from God's gracious decree for his children.

Curses and divination do not hold sway against God's people.

The plans of terrorists and hostile nations do not succeed apart from our gracious God.

Man cannot harm us beyond God's gracious will for us.

God promises to protect his own from all that is not finally good for them.

God promises to give us all we need to obey, enjoy, and honor him forever.

God is never taken off guard.

God will be with us, help us, and uphold us in trouble.

Terrors will come, some of us will die, but not a hair of our heads will perish.

Nothing befalls God's own but in its appointed hour.

When God Almighty is your helper, none can harm you beyond what he decrees.

God's faithfulness is based on the firm value of his name, not the fickle measure of our obedience.

The Lord, our protector, is great and awesome.
By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

US City No. 23 - Churches in Boston

2008-09-25T18:00:00.001+01:00

Today I want to highlight two churches in Boston—the 23rd largest city in the USA.

The first of these is Abundant Grace Church, Boston. The second is Fenway Church, Boston, which is a new church plant that is due to have its first service on October 5th in Kilmarnock Street.

From time to time I plan on highlighting other Newfrontiers churches or plants that are based in the top 100 cities in the USA.

UPDATE The Fenway Church plant has issued the following press release.

New Church Opens at Nightclub

Forget the organs; forget the pews; forget everything you have ever thought about church and come check out a new take on the Christian Church… at a club.

Fenway Church is a community of believers in Jesus who are working together to form a dynamic, relevant church in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston. Unlike most Christian churches, Fenway Church has decided to meet in a club rather than a traditional church building to demonstrate the life of Jesus in action. Contrary to popular belief, Jesus spent his life on earth not establishing a closed church community, but rather he went from place to place meeting and serving people in their own environments. The first Sunday service of Fenway Church will be on October 5^th at 1:00 pm at 69 Kilmarnock Street, a new restaurant/bar/club ironically named "Church."

There is free parking in the back of the building. Check out www.fenwaychurch.org for more information.

Theology Is For Women Too

2008-09-25T03:30:00.003+01:00

Wendy Alsup is a woman who should be greatly honored. She lives in Seattle with her husband Andy and has trained many women in theology over the years.

I have interviewed her previously. More recently, she has published a book, Practical Theology For Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in Our Daily Lives, in which she talks about how theology really is relevant for women. My wife has been enjoying the book.

I just recently discovered Wendy Alsup's blog. I was so impressed with the blog, I decided to issue her an instant Warnie award, the second so far this week. I must be feeling generous as I haven't issued many Warnie's lately! From now on her headlines can be found in my sidebar, along with many other top Christian blogs.