“Sin ceases only to reign; it does not also cease to dwell in them.”
–John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.3.11
Christians are people in whom sin dwells but no longer reigns. This is no small distinction.
“The Word Became Flesh” CD, Narrated by R. C. Sproul
Jenni and I recently enjoyed listening several times to a new CD by Ligonier Ministries: “The Word Became Flesh,” created by Dan and Heidi Goeller and narrated by the familiar voice of pastor-theologian R. C. Sproul.
This new album is a musical interpretation and celebration of the incarnation of the Son of God. The biblical narrative from creation through the fall to redemption is retold as familiar hymns, Christmas carols, and new choral pieces are performed, resulting in an epic presentation of salvation that resonates in mind and heart.
Available November 28, 2008
The traditional music is beautiful, and Sproul’s Scripture readings seamlessly weave throughout the moving 46-minute story. (It’s available for pre-order now for $12.)
An Interview with John Piper on His Parents, Wife, and Children
Jenni and I finally got around to watching Mark Driscoll interview John Piper on his parents, wife, and children. This 50-minute interview is unusually personal and transparent. Piper displays humility and wisdom, and we found it convicting and edifying.
Bullmore on Confidence in Human Government
Yesterday morning, Mike Bullmore prefaced his sermon with an outstanding 135-second pastoral exhortation in light of the upcoming election on November 4.
An excerpt:
Let there be no loss of security, whoever is in office. . . . There’s no cause no matter what happens—ever—for those who belong to God to worry or complain or whine.
John vs. Matthew and Acts Films on DVD
This weekend my wife and I watched parts of DVDs dramatizing the Gospel According to Matthew and Acts word-for-word from the NIV. Our hopes were high because we enjoy “The Gospel of John” film so much. If on a scale of 1 to 10 the “The Gospel of John” film is an 8 or 9, then the Matthew and Acts films are a 1 or 2—and that’s being generous. (That’s why we “watched parts” of them!)
Related: See this previous post on “The Gospel of John” film for an overview, evaluation, and links to other reviews.
4 Reflections on Suetonius’s “The Twelve Caesars”
Over the last couple of days, I read The Twelve Caeasars (cf. Wikipedia) by Suetonius. I marked up my print copy while listening to a 13-hour audio book. It is a gossipy chronicle with a fascinating perspective on the lives of the first twelve Roman Caesars that significantly intersects with Second Temple Judaism and the birth and spread of Christianity: [Read more…] about 4 Reflections on Suetonius’s “The Twelve Caesars”
The Altar Call
An altar call is an “invitation” to “come forward” after a sermon to make a spiritual decision or commitment. I’ve endured hundreds of emotionally charged invitations characterized by man-centered manipulation. Unfortunately, my experience is not unusual.
Christian History just published a brief, impartial history of the altar call by Doug Sweeney and Mark Rogers: “Walk the Aisle” (HT: Mark Rogers).
The most thorough treatment I’ve read on the altar call is this: [Read more…] about The Altar Call
Kevin Bauder on the Dissolution of Pillsbury
Earlier this week Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, a fundamentalist college in Owatonna, Minnesota, published this announcement:
The Pillsbury Baptist Bible College Board of Trustees has announced that the college will cease academic activities on December 31, 2008. National economic conditions combined with deficits caused by declining enrollment have exhausted Pillsbury’s financial reserves, leaving the college without funds to complete the school year.
[Read more…] about Kevin Bauder on the Dissolution of Pillsbury