Reformissionary

The Legend of the Tootsie Pop Indian

I got a Tootsie Pop tonight from Halloween candy and the wrapper had the Indian shooting an arrow at a star on it. Most of you probably remember something about that as a kid. I looked it up and the history is interesting (via)...

Claim: A Tootsie Pop wrapper with a picture of an Indian shooting an arrow at a star on it can be redeemed with Tootsie Roll Industries for a free bag of candy.

FALSE
Origins: The rumor that Tootsie Pop wrappers featuring an Indian can be redeemed for free candy has dogged the Tootsie Roll company since shortly after the introduction of the chewy-centered lollipops in 1931. Although Tootsie Pops has never held any kind of promotion involving the collection or redemption of their wrappers, the "Indian wrapper" rumor has persisted for over sixty years. The story probably got its start because of the prevalence of contests and prizes connected with the packaging of children's products in the era when Tootsie Pops were first marketed. The slightly different packaging of each Tootsie Pop (about 30% of the wrappers include the Indian figure) could easily lead to tales about certain wrappers being "special." (Similar rumors about various brands of candy bars have circulated for decades as well.)

Tootsie Roll Industries has received a steady stream of letters from consumers attempting to redeem their
Indian wrappers since the 1930s (nearly all of the letter writers expect free Tootsie Pops in return), and they now process about 150 letters per week. The company originally sent special letters expressing their regret to prize-seekers, then in 1982 they created their "Legend of the Indian Wrapper" to accompany those letters "with the hope that children's liking for a good story would help to assuage their disappointment." (Some individual store managers took it upon themselves to redeem Indian-bearing wrappers for free Tootsie Pops, but the exchange was not sanctioned by the Tootsie Roll company itself.)

Andrew Bird | New Album & Letterman

Andrew Bird's new album is out, Hands of Glory. It's only $5.99. He appeared on Letterman last night (sans audience) to play "If I Needed You"...

Trusting God in Natural Disasters

God Himself accepts the responsibility, so to speak, of disasters. He actually does more than accept the responsibility; He actually claims it. In effect, God says, "I, and I alone, have the power and authority to bring about both prosperity and disaster, both weal and woe, both good and bad."

This is a difficult truth to accept as you watch people sift through the rubble of their homes or more to the point if you are the one sifting through the rubble of your home. But as the late Dr. Edward J. Young commented on Isaiah 45:7, "We gain nothing by seeking to minimize the force of the present verse." We must allow the Bible to say what it says, not what we think it ought to say.

We obviously do not understand why God creates disaster, or why He brings it to one town and not to another. We recognize, too, that just as God sends His sun and rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous, so He also sends the tornado, or the hurricane, or the earthquake on both. I have friends, fellow staff members of The Navigators, who were in the middle of the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. God's sovereignty over nature does not mean that Christians never encounter the tragedies of natural disasters. Experience and observation clearly teach otherwise.

God's sovereignty over nature does mean that, whatever we experience at the hand of the weather or other forces of nature (such as plant diseases or insect infestation of our crops), all circumstances are under the watchful eye and sovereign control of our God.

Jerry Bridges in Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts

Tim Keller: Center Church | $8.99 on Kindle

Wow! Center Church is $8.99 on Kindle. No idea how long. So hurry up and get it! I have a physical copy and I'm buying the Kindle version too.

Music Monday 10.29.12

• Andrew Combs: Worried Man | listening now & enjoying it thoroughly
• Andrew Bird: Hands of Glory

• Propaganda: Excellent | Seriously, my boys walk around the house saying "white men with epic beards" over and over. They can't stop listening. Neither can I.
• Mumford & Sons: Babel | Album of choice in our living room right now.
• Daphni: Jiaolong | Probably the album I've listened to the most lately.

Art & The "Precious Puritans" Discussion

Now Dr. Joel Beeke has weighed in on the discussion on Propaganda's "Precious Puritans." It's a more critical take. And I LOVE Dr. Beeke and own several of his books on the Puritans, including his new, massive work A Puritan Theology. So while I want to respond here to his post, I want my readers to know I highly recommend his books and benefited greatly from hearing him at Desiring God Pastor's Conference on prayer.

Here's my response to critics who are receiving "Precious Puritans" as Dr. Beeke has: Critics are not hearing the song as art, and not discussing art and how it should be critiqued.

Critics are doing exposition of it as if it's a sermon or merely a message, but it's far more creative than that. Critics are discussing the emotional response to the beginning of the song, but not the all-important end! The beginning is designed creatively to get you to feel emotions about the Puritans as a judge and then to smack you down for being a hypocrite! It's a trick, and if you won't view it as art and allow yourself to be tricked, you miss the whole of it and you write blog posts to defend what you find precious, as if the first part of the song is merely propositional. 

Francis Schaeffer writes that one bad way to view art is to see art as "a vehicle for the propagation of a particular message." That view "reduces art to an intellectual statement and the work of art as a work of art disappears." I think critics of "Precious Puritans" are receiving it through that lens, and therefore aren't receiving it well. It isn't seen as art (even when the critics think they are seeing it that way!), and therefore the artist isn't given ground to point to truth creatively.

What I think is great is that so many have heard the song and just loved it, even when it has unsettled them. Art spoke to truth and it was well received. But when someone criticizes the song and misses the truth because they've missed the art as art, I think that says we need more discussion on how to view art.

Preachers and Frustration

Anyone who works with people will face frustration. How much of this Jesus faced with his disciples! We preachers should not try to avoid frustration by handing over unpleasant things to others so that we can concentrate on our preaching ministry. Facing frustration is part of our preparation for penetrative preaching.

Ajith Fernando, Jesus Driven Ministry, p26.

Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp

UPDATE 10.30.12: Use coupon code PASTORS and get the hardback book for $4.60 (80% off!).

I watched this video today (below) for Paul David Tripp's new book, Dangerous Calling. I immediately went searching for my wife so she could watch it with me. By the end she was tearing up a bit and then we had a 30 minute conversation about the last 8 1/2 years of pastoral ministry and the struggles and pain we've experienced in our family & relationships. It was very difficult to be this honest, but it was very fruitful.

I'm buying Dangerous Calling right now, as well as the conference DVD's (10 - 25 minutes sessions | grab the free leader's guide and discussion guide). WTS bookstore has great deals for the next 6 days: hardcover $12 (48% off, or 5 for $10 a piece) and conference DVD's $15 (62% off). Kindle is out on October 31st. 

Dangerous Calling from Crossway on Vimeo.

5 Characteristics of Gospel Renewal Preaching

I listed the three basic traits of frontline prayer yesterday from chapter 6 of Tim Keller's Center Church. Chapter 6 is "The Work of Gospel Renewal." Today, from the same chaper, Keller's five characteristics that define preaching for gospel renewal. He explains all five in some detail, so pick up the book. 

1. Preach to distinguish between religion and the gospel
2. Preach both the holiness and the love of God to convey the richness of grace
3. Preach not only to make the truth clear but also to make it real
4. Preach Christ from every text
5. Preach to both Christians and non-Christians at once

(Center Church, pages 77-79)

Lots-o-Links 10.23.12

The 4 G's: Four Videos for the 4 G's | "In Tim Chester's book You Can Change he identified four liberating truths about God. He suggested that underlying all our sinful behavior and negative emotions is a failure to believe one of these truths at a functional level. Embracing, believing, trusting, delighting in the appropriate liberating truth therefore has the power to set us free from sin – though we need to recognize that this typically involves a daily struggle – the fight of faith. These four liberating truths offer a great diagnostic tool for addressing sin in our lives and in the lives of others."

Dutton Books: How to Open a New Book | make sure you limber up that binding!

Josh Reich at Resurgence: A Simple Time-Management Principle | "You need to know the implications. When you say yes to something, you say no to something else, maybe multiple things, but it happens every time."

Why Mako Fujimura left NYC for the Country | "Makoto Fujimura, after many years of working in and for New York City as an artist and creative catalyst, has moved his home and studio to an old farmhouse outside of Princeton, New Jersey, which he has come to call Fuji farm."

Three Basic Traits of Frontline Prayer

In chapter 6 of Center Church, Tim Keller discusses "The Work of Gospel Renewal." The first means of Gospel renewal Keller mentions is Extraordinary Prayer. There he lists the three basic traits of frontline prayer (as contrasted with "maintenance prayer")...

1. A request for grace to confess sins and to humble ourselves
2. A compassion and zeal for the flourishing of the church and the reaching of the lost
3. A yearning to know God, to see his face, to glimpse his glory

Keller then states, "If you pay attention at a prayer meeting, you can tell quite clearly whether these traits are present."

Use these 3 traits as a guide when you lead times of focused prayer in your church, small group, and prayer meetings. As Keller writes, "To kindle every revival, the Holy Spirit initially uses what Jonathan Edwards called 'extraordinary prayer' -- united, persistent, and kingdom centered."

(Center Church, page 73)

"Satan In The Suburbs" by Seth McBee

Seth McBee has written a helpful article called "Satan in the Suburbs." You'll have to read it to figure out why the photo fits. Here's how he opens the article... 

Satan. Lucifer. Beelzebub. The devil. Whatever you want to call him, most of us treat the adversary as though he is a biblical fairy tale. Historically, it seems as though Satan gets too much play or none at all. We either blame everything (including burnt toast) on him, or nothing. Rarely have we dealt with him in the middle, knowing he’s against us, but understanding our Father is greater.

For my life, I’ve mainly dealt with the devil as an afterthought. I have believed in Satan because as the song goes … the Bible tells me so, but I have never believed that he influences my everyday life.  He’s there, but don’t mention him.

Here is what I have found out, practically, about the devil as I have tried to live out the mission of making disciples in my suburban neighborhood:

1. Satan attacks disciple making.
2. Don’t be surprised when he attacks.
3. God is glorious, so we don’t have to fear others, including the devil.

Go read "Satan in the Suburbs" as Seth fleshes out those three points with specifics of how Satan has been at work in his family and neighborhood.

Music Monday 10.22.12

• Titus Andronicus: Local Business
• Charles Mingus: The Jazz Workshop Concerts, 1964-1965
• Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man | Pitchfork 8.4/10 

• Daphni: Jiaolong | from the dude who does Caribou, worth cranking up
• Benjamin Gibbard: Former Lives | $5
• Stephen Miller: Hymns

Interstates: 3=4 Live

I got a couple of tweets at me this week from folks trying to push Interstates. I knew nothing about them. I should say that I've probably been told about them, but ignored them anyway. And I'm more likely to ignore the tweets of people I don't know. But just for fun I checked them out and like it a lot. Watch this live video of Interstates playing their new album, 3=4. Leave it on in the background while you work. Let me know what you think, and check out all of Interstates' music.

Orionid Meteor Shower LiveStream

Yep, seriously. NASA has a live UStream video of the meteor shower. I'm not sure how many people would sit and look at this, but it's pretty cool they are doing it. (origin)

Free live streaming by Ustream

Tim Keller Speaking LIVE on Center Church

Livestreaming now! 2pm on Friday, October 19th...

Watch live streaming video from zondervan at livestream.com

Tullian Tchividjian on Glorious Ruin

I've enjoyed getting to know Tullian a bit over the last couple of years, and I'm looking forward to reading his new book, Glorious Ruin. He was on Fox & Friends talking about it...

Tim Keller | New City Catechism

Tim Keller posted on his blog today about New City Catechism...

One of the reasons to develop intermediate catechisms like New City Catechism is to fill a gap between children’s catechisms and the longer and more extensive older ones. New City Catechism is short—52 questions and answers, one for every week of the year. It is based on Calvin’s Geneva, and the Westminster Catechisms, and perhaps most of all on the Heidelberg. As such it gives people a strong dose of each, introducing them to the practice of catechesis, and developing in them an appetite and capacity for going deeper. It can therefore be used by church leaders as a bridge toward teaching members the older and more extensive catechisms of their respective denominations.

Read Dr. Keller's post "Why Write New Catechisms" as well as his previous post "Why Catechesis Now?" I'd also love to hear from those who have started using New City Catechism. What do you think about it?

Benjamin Gibbard: Former Lives is $5

Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie has a new solo album out: Former Lives. It's $5 right now. I wasn't sure I would buy it. I'm not a huge Death Cab fan, though I've enjoyed some of their stuff. But I've listened to this and so far really like it. It reminds me of the sort of Death Cab songs I like the most. For $5, you should check it out for sure.

Joe Thorn: 25 Marks of a Backslidden Christian

Joe Thorn has a good post up today about backsliding, how it's not something we talk about much nowadays, and what are the marks of it. Here are some of the marks (from Richard Owen Roberts) that Joe lists. Read the whole post.

3. When the biblical knowledge possessed or acquired is treated as external fact and not applied inwardly, backsliding is present.

9. When aspirations for Christlike holiness cease to be dominant in your life and thinking, backsliding is there.

15. When the slightest excuse seems sufficient to keep you from spiritual duty and opportunity, you are backslidden.

18. When there is no music in your soul and no song in your heart, the silence testifies to your backsliding.

25. When your tears are dried up and the hard, cold spiritual facts of your existence cannot unleash them, see this as an awful testimony both of the hardness of your heart and the depth of your backsliding.

Go read 25 Marks of a Backslidden Christian

Tim Keller: The Meaning of Marriage | $2.99 on Kindle

The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller is $2.99 on Kindle. (It's now $12.99...hope you didn't miss the deal! But still, a good price for a great book.)

No idea how long this will last. But I own the physical copy & multiple other copies to give away (and use for marriage counseling). And I still bought this for Kindle. You should too. This may be the most important book written on marriage (or that will be written on marriage) for years to come.

Grab it, and tell others!  

PLNTD Conference | Gospel Leadership (25% off)

I've got a deal for my blog readers.

In three weeks, the PLNTD Network is hosting a conference in Nashville focusing on cultivating gospel-driven leadership. November 2-3, Ed Stetzer and Trevin Wax will address this important topic, namely how the gospel shapes church leaders as well as how to forge a distinctly gospel-driven philosophy of leadership. Whether you are a seminary or college student, pastor, church planter, or small group leader, this focused time of training will provide instruction and encouragement for anyone wanting to train, equip, and send out gospel-driven leaders to reach our communities for Christ. Alongside the main sessions, there will be breakout sessions, Q&A discussions, and several free resources given to everyone who attends. 

For the next two weeks, you can register for this event with a special promotional code and receive 25% off registration (normally $49). Get the details on the conference and register with the special code "stevemccoy" to take advantage of the special discount!

The World's Greatest Explorer

Dude. This. Is. Awesome!

Keller's Five Questions

I'm not sure I've posted this before, but even if I did it's worth putting up again. David Cooke has posted Keller's Five Questions over at Cookies Days (a blog you should check out). He first posted it in 2009, I believe.

Keller said these are five questions he asks of a biblical text as he reads it for himself. Helpful.

1. How can I praise him?
2. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
3. If this is really true, what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions or false attitudes result in me when I forget this? Every problem is because you have forgotten something. What problems are you facing?
4. What should I be aspiring to do on the basis of this text?
5. Why are you telling me this today.

Music Monday 10.15.12

• Titus Andronicus: Local Business
• Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man
• Civil Twilight: Holy Weather Remix EP
• Patrick Wolf: Sunlight & Riverdark

WORTH CHECKING OUT - FREE

• Redeemer Kansas City: Spirit of the Psalms

• Tame Impala: Lonerism
• Stephen Miller: Hymns
• Dum Dum Girls: End of Daze
• Gungor: A Creation Liturgy Life

SOMETHING NEW

"Baby It's Cold Outside" by Sharon Van Etten & Rufus Wainwright - Like this a lot. Though listening to Chrismas music in October is crazy, it's worth checking out. Sounds like the whole album is worth checking out, Holidays Rule, which is due out at the end of October. Artists on the album include The Civil Wars, Andrew Bird, Punch Brothers and more. Listen...

Giveaway | Stephen Miller: Hymns

WINNERS! We have our five winners.

Jacob Young
Danny Poyner
Matthew Robbins
Joshua Crabb
Richard Campeau

Congrats guys! Email coming soon.

By the way, the total number of songs on my iTunes is 14,045. Closest, I believe, was WhyArtwork.com with 13,856. How's that for a free plug for your website! :)

----------

One of the great joys I get as an audiophile with a blog is the opportunity to get some great albums before they release. Since it's better to give than receive, I especially LOVE the opportunity some artists give me to give away their albums.

Stephen Miller, worship leader at The Journey church in St. Louis, releases his new album, Hymns, Tuesday. But I'm giving away 5 digital downloads today! Yeah, five.

It's already getting regular play in my house. Miller gives accessible music updates to several beloved hymns like "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," "I Surrender All," "How Deep the Father's Love For Us," and "Be Thou My Vision." He also offers his versions of "Behold the Throne of God Above" and "In Christ Alone." For good measure he adds "Kyrie, Eleison." There are a total of eleven songs. It's a solid offering to the growing list of young artists making good worship music. It's good for my soul and will be a blessing for my church.

Here's how you enter to win a FREE download...

1. Tweet (or post to Facebook if you aren't on Twitter, or do both!) without the quote marks: " Want to download Stephen Miller's album, Hymns, free? RT & comment at Reformissionary to enter: http://bit.ly/T3FNbJ "

2. Comment below (so I can confirm you did step 1) with your real name and real email (kept private) and For Fun guess the exactly number of songs iTunes says I have. It's more than 1 and less than 20,000. 

*I'll use random.org to pick the 3 winners sometime after 5pm, and I'll announce the winners on the blog & send out emails. May the odds be ever in your favor!

I Am Aware of Breast Cancer

Mom died in 2007 of breast cancer, so it's impossible for me not to be "aware." But just to be sure I didn't forget, my daughter made me wear this for a few minutes today (outside), and my wife is begging me to wear it to the "Pink Out" high school football game tonight. I'm sorry for whatever trauma this may cause.

Miss my Mom!

Tim Keller | Center Church Livestream

This should be good. Two hour livestream with Tim Keller focusing on Center Church during a @TGC regional event. A week from today. Mark your calendar. Here's the schedule...

3:00-3:15 p.m.
Introduction to Tim Keller and The Gospel Coalition New England Regional Conference
Stephen Um

3:15-4:00 p.m.
Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City
Tim Keller

4:00-4:45 p.m.
Contextualization and Theological Vision
Tim Keller, Richard Lints, David Wells, and Stephen Um

4:45-5:00 p.m.
Live Q&A from Boston audience and from online
Use #TGCNE12 and #CenterChurch

Story of God Training

Here are two video's to help you teach the Storyformed Way at your church and train your small group leaders. I'm teaching this at Doxa right now. Thankful for Caesar Kalinowski (and Abe Meysenburg) and Soma School for introducing this great teaching to me. Over at GCM...

The Story-formed Way was designed to both lead people through the basics of the Gospel and provide a foundational structure for the key doctrines of Christianity. If you are taking a mixed group of believers and unbelievers through it you will better establish the believers in the foundations and show them how to have Gospel conversations with Unbelievers. At the same time, the unbelievers are exposed to the Gospel and will learn how to share it themselves once they come to faith.

Story Training Part 1 from Caesar Kalinowski on Vimeo.

Story Training - Part 2 from Caesar Kalinowski on Vimeo.

50% OFF | A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life

I'm picking up A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life right now. A massive (1,200 pages) work, just released, and 1/2 off the price of Amazon. More...

A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life offers a groundbreaking treatment of the Puritans teaching on most major Reformed doctrines, particularly those doctrines in which the Puritans made significant contributions. Since the late 1950s, nearly 150 Puritan authors and 700 Puritan titles have been reprinted and catalogued by Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson in their 2006 collection of mini-biographies and book reviews, titled, Meet the Puritans. However, no work until now has gathered together the threads of their teaching into a unified tapestry of systematic theology.

A Puritan Theology, by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones, attempts to do that. The book addresses Puritan teachings on all six loci of theology, covering fifty areas of doctrine. The book explores Puritan teachings on biblical interpretation, God, predestination, providence, angels, sin, the covenants, the gospel, Christ, preparation for conversion, regeneration, coming to Christ, justification, adoption, church government, the Sabbath, preaching, baptism, heaven, hell, and many other topics. It ends with eight chapters that explore Puritan theology in practice. Some chapters highlight the work of a specific theologian such as William Perkins, William Ames, John Owen, Stephen Charnock, or Thomas Goodwin on a specific topic. Other chapters survey various authors on a particular subject.

 

Big Bird Political Ad - Are You Kidding Me?

I'm still hoping someone will tell me this isn't a legit ad by the Obama Campaign. But it is. I get that it's supposed to be funny-ish, but...well, but nothing. It's bizarre someone created it as an official message of the Campaign, and that President Obama approved it.

What Shapes Your Ministry, Pastor?

Paul Tripp writes on the 29 things that shape a pastor's ministry. Here are a few that hit me, in the form of questions...

1. What does he really love?
2. What does he despise?
3. What are his hopes, dreams, and fears?
4. Is he committed to his own sanctification?
5. What are the anxieties that have the potential to derail or paralyze him?
11. Does he see pastoral ministry as a community project?
14. What character qualities would his wife and children use to describe him?
17. How robust, consistent, joyful, and vibrant is his devotional life?
19. Does he hold himself to high standards, or is he willing to give way to mediocrity?
25. Is the public pastor a different person from the private husband and dad?
29. How successful has he been in pastoring the congregation that is his family?

You see, it is absolutely vital to remember this: A pastor’s ministry is never just shaped by his knowledge, experience, and skill. It is always also shaped by the true condition of his heart. In fact, if his heart is not in the right place, all of the knowledge and skill can actually function to make him dangerous.

Go read all of Paul Tripp's 29 excellent questions. Be challenged by them, and changed by them.

Cheap Kindle Books 10.9.12

• Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree ($3.03)
• The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard ($2.99)
• Politics According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture by Wayne Grudem ($4.99)
• When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Fikkert and Corbett (forward by David Platt) ($2.99)
• The Doctrines of Grace by Boyce & Ryken ($4.99)
• With: A Practical Guide to Informal Mentoring by Alvin Reid ($3.99)
• Create: Stop Making Excuses & Start Making Stuff ($2.99)
• Amazing Grace: God's Pursuit, Our Response by Timothy George ($3.03)

Discouraged Leaders vs Dreaming Leaders

Dave Kraft, author of Leaders Who Last and Mistakes Leaders Make writes this at The Resurgence...

We make a mistake when we allow discouragement to replace dreaming.

It is noteworthy that in the middle of a chapter on shepherding and leadership in 1 Peter 5, we find this: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (v. 8).

Satan is after leaders first and foremost. Leaders are his prime targets.

The devil has many tools in his bag of tricks: sexual temptation, financial greed, pride, for starters. When he can’t trip us up with obvious and blatant temptations, he will throw something more subtle our way, like discouragement.

[...]

Here are some of the things that can still open the door for discouragement in my life:

• When I am criticized
• When I am tired and on the edge of exhaustion
• When I am misunderstood
• When my expectations are dashed and not realized...according to my time-table

As a leader who often struggles with discouragement and is regularly reminded by the Holy Spirit of the importance of dreaming in ministry, Kraft is helpful for me. Read the whole piece, including some remedies: "When We Allow Discouragement to Replace Dreaming." Also check out his new book, Mistakes Leaders Make. I'm grabbing a copy.

Mumford & Sons on Jools

Mumford & Sons have made the kind of record they are supposed to make...emotive, heart-on-sleeve, compelling, rollicking, and just plain fun. I've been considering writing a post about why you shouldn't feel guilty for listening to Mumford & Sons (Some indie sites are ripping them, and acting like you are an idiot if you like them). I say you should pick up Babel (or deluxe edition) and tap your feet and clap your hands, or as Jon McIntosh put it in a recent tweet...

I just know that no other music makes me want to tear off my shirt and run down the street with my hands lifted to the sky. #Mumford #Babel

— Jonathan McIntosh (@JonMcIntosh) October 7, 2012

Leave your shirt on Jon, but I hear you! :) Below are three live performances on Jools: "I Will Wait" | "Whispers In The Dark" | "Below My Feet."

Music Monday 10.8.12

• Freelance Whales: Diluvia
• Bad Books: II 
• REWORK_Philip Glass Remixed (Interesting)
• Tame Impala: Lonerism (dude...trippy)

CHEAP ($2.99 - $5)

• $5 October Albums
• Radiohead: Kid A
• Ryan Adams: Gold
• The 99 Darkest Pieces of Classical Music
• M83: Saturdays = Youth
• Jay-Z: American Gangster
• Steve Earle: Copperhead Road
• Dum Dum Girls: End of Dayz 
• John Coltrane: A Love Supreme
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• The Beastie Boys: Licensed To Ill
• Guns 'N Roses: Use Your Illusion I
• Neko Case: Blacklisted
• The Roots: Illadelph Halflife
• Luciano Pavarotti: 75th Anniversary

• Propaganda: Excellent (or donation/free)
• Stephen Miller: Hymns
• Woods: Bend Beyond

TGC Podcast: "Precious Puritans" & Much More

The Gospel Coalition has a new podcast, "Going Deeper with TGC." Collin Hansen writes...

The Gospel Coalition's new podcast, "Going Deeper with TGC," has two goals:

1. We want to follow up on the most widely read, controversial, helpful, insightful resources produced by our council members, writers, editors, and bloggers.
2. We want to serve you by using a different medium, audio, to provide the same quality of gospel-centered content we publish in blogs, essays, and reviews.

We've assembled an experienced team to produce this podcast, which we aim to record at least every two weeks. I'm joined each time by my co-host, Mark Mellinger, the gifted news anchor of WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

An excellent idea for a podcast, and I'm thankful for this new resource. I've subscribed. In this inaugural podcast there are discussions with Thabiti Anyabwile on same-sex marriage & the Puritans, among other things. We also hear from Jared Wilson & Trevin Wax on The Gospel Project. Listen here.

Music Deals 10.5.12

Derek Webb albums are $5: Ctrl | Feedback | The Ringing Bell | Stockholm Syndrome | Mockingbird | I See Things Upside Down | The House Show | She Must & Shall Go Free

Amazon has 50 classical albums for $1.99 each. 

Google Play is trying to get your attention with 48 albums for $2.99 each. Some goodies like Radiohead & U2. Also, various genres represented. 

Phriday is for Photos 10.5.12

My daughter Sarah (15) makes some wicked-cool art. This is in process.

Southern Baptists & "Precious Puritans"

Dear white, Puritan-loving Southern Baptist leaders, 

Important voices are chiming in on Propaganda's "Precious Puritans" -- from Thabiti Anyabwile's post on The Gospel Coalition to David Murray's comment (prof at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary!) to Anthony Bradley's post as well as several comments and tweets, and more. They realize this is a big issue. Where are the voices of our white, Puritan-loving Southern Baptist leaders, and seminary presidents, and deans, and entity leaders, and prominent pastors? 

We need your voices on this.

Steve

Propaganda | My Next Record

First time I've seen this, but here's Propaganda talking about his next record, which is, well, the current record. It's the one we've been talking about: Excellent (or free). Gives you some perspective.

I Love Music Because...

Jake Armerding at The Curator lists some "I love music because..." statements. Here's a sample...

I love music because it can’t be conquered.  No one will ever get to the end of music, solve it or master it, although it can be dumbed down.

I love music because no one should make it because they feel required to.  I don’t mean musicians don’t have a responsibility to make it; rather, I mean anyone who isn’t making it because they love to, probably shouldn’t be.  Music is there to be made, or not, just as you please.  It is the opposite of bills, jogging, taxes, health insurance and laundry.

I love music because it’s such an easy way to get happy.

Music is good for you.  What some people do to music can be bad for you, but music itself is good and does not require moderation.  It is good for weekdays, the weekend, holidays, Sundays, cloudy days, sunny days, fast days, slow days, work or play, alone or with friends, home or traveling, relaxed or serious, weddings and funerals and Tuesdays, year-round.  And it is especially good for boredom.

I love music because it is free and unregulated, and anyone can make it.

Go read the whole thing and check out Jake Armerding and his music.

$5 Albums | October 2012

Nice list of $5 albums for October. My recommended albums are below. Check out the list of all 100.

• Derek Webb: Ctrl
• Lost in the Trees: A Church That Fits Our Needs
• Lower Dens: Nootropics
• Other Lives: Tamer Animals
• Andrew Bird: Break It Yourself
• Elliott Smith: Either/Or
• My Morning Jacket: Circuital 
• Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
• The Head & The Heart: The Head & The Heart
• Destroyer: Kaputt
• Yeasayer: Fragrant World
• Band of Skulls: Sweet Sour
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz!
• Sarah Jaffe: The Body Wins
• Old Crow Medicine Show: Carry Me Back
• Dirty Projectors: Swing Lo Magellan
• First Aid Kit: The Lion's Roar
• Fitz & The Tantrums: Pickin' Up The Pieces
• Bruce Springsteen: Born In The U.S.A.
• Paper Route: The Place of Wild Things
• Audioslave: Audioslave
• Fiona Apple: Tidal
• Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga 
• Kenny Rogers: Number Ones | don't be the coward of the county

Glorious Ruin by Tullian Tchividjian

I'm very excited to read the new book from Tullian Tchividjian, Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free. Check it out...

In this world, one thing is certain: Everybody hurts. Suffering may take the form of tragedy, heartbreak, or addiction. Or it could be something more mundane (but no less real) like resentment, loneliness, or disappointment. But there’s unfortunately no such thing as a painless life. In Glorious Ruin, Tullian Tchividjian takes an honest and refreshing look at the reality of suffering, the ways we tie ourselves in knots trying to deal with it, and the comfort that the gospel brings for those who can’t seem to fix themselves—or others. 

This is not so much a book about Why God allows suffering or even How we should approach suffering—it is a book about the tremendously liberating and gloriously counterintuitive truth of a God who suffers with you and for you. It is a book, in other words, about the kind of hope that takes the shape of a cross.

This looks great. Go grab it!