Reformissionary

Lots-o-Links 4.23.08

Check out Ed Stetzer's post about the current decline of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Joe Thorn and I have been blogging on these issues for years, and Ed offers some very good commentary and critique.  I'm very thankful for guys like Stet who are speaking to the convention honestly and directly.  Here's a snippet...

Baptisms are at their lowest levels since 1970 with seven of the last eight years showing annual declines. Even though some might hope the decline in membership numbers is due to lack of reporting, the inescapable conclusion is that baptisms by individual churches is falling off. (LifeWay Research will provide more analysis in the next month.)

For now, Southern Baptists are a denomination in decline. Some of you were born into an SBC church; others of us chose it of our own accord. Either way, it is dear to us all. Our responsibility before God is, then, to urgently consider how we should respond.

Also worth checking out is the New Evangelism Research.

Bob Hyatt shares a great photo of what a church that packs out a coffee shop looks like.  Love it.

Tony Morgan says that changed lives is what creates buzz about a church (more here).

A Cubs hater (meaning, someone who likes another team) sent me a video filmed from the bleachers of Wrigley Field.  In it two fans, who probably had too much to drink (it's a Cubs game, duh), decided to have a hot dog eating context.  The result is worth watching.  There is at least one word that is not for kids, so please heed the WARNING: Not for kids or judgmental Christians...

Almost

My 9 year old, Jack, had a writing project for his 3rd grade class.  The project was to write a short essay about someone he knows who helps people.  Jack, fresh off an evening watching American Idol's Idol Gives Back, decided he would write about the great philanthropist he knows, Carrie Underwood.  The teacher explained to Jack that he doesn't know Carrie Underwood.  He was heartbroken and didn't know what to write.  The teacher asked Jack if he might know someone, you know, who helps people.  Jack decided to write about his Dad, me, a pastor.  Here's the essay.  I left his spelling and punctuation in tact.

My dad helps people by preaching, yes he's a paster.  He goes to church on Sundays the first and last out of church to awnser questions from the church.  And sometimes people from the church come to our house for prayer meetings while kids come in the basement to play (if there are any).  I think if I had to chose a dad I would chose this one.  Our family sometimes we go to different churches but the church I like most is our church.  And I know my Dad is teaching lots of things to the church, such as My Mom and children in church in sunday school, so I know my Dad is the paster in church and he's helping people learn about God.  But he is also a good photographer, he also puts his pictures on the wall by the ordering area at StarBucks at the square, you should see them there...So that's my Dad almost my favorite parent.

Lots-o-Links 4.9.08

I have now won the second blog voting contest!  That has picked me up, between the two contests, $175 in online bookstore gift certificates: $50 for Westminster Seminary bookstore, $50 for Amazon, and $75 for Eisenbrauns.  Woohoo!  I will order The Reason for God copies from Westminster and Amazon.  Eisenbrauns was a late addition to the first place prize and doesn't carry Keller's book, so I will be picking up some books for my personal library.   Thanks for all your effort!  And thanks to Scot McKnight for his effort to find some votes for me.

On a side note, the total official vote count for all blogs was "666" as you can see by the screen capture.  While some might find that a bit off-puttin', I think it's awesomely hilarious.

O Lord, let there be a blog contest for the cost of hotel, airfare and conference fee for the Total Church North America Conference.  I WANT TO GO!!!

Carolyn Mahaney: How to Help Your Husband When He is Criticized

John Piper on C.S. Lewis on writing.

Al Hsu on "The New Suburbanists."

Scott Hodge has some advice for those who are thinking about change.

Makoto Fujimura: A Wedding and the City.

10 Questions Every Leader Should Ask

Growing Sustainable Suburbs

Top 10 Myths About Networking

Joe Thorn is now making my voicemails on his cell a matter of public consumption.  I want to be upset, but it represents such a positive side of me that I can't help but propagate it...

Jesus Has Been Kidnapped!

And you won't believe the ransom...

Why Hillary MUST Lose!

This is a must see.  Remember the 1991 song by Sophie B. Hawkins, "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover?"  Go refresh yourself if you need to.  I remember the cool beat, and I remember thinking "Are you allowed to say 'damn' on the radio?"  I guess so. 

Do you ever wish people could just leave those memories alone?  Well, Sophie B. Hawkins had to go and jack it all up by putting together this tragic remake for Hillary's campaign, "Damn, I Wish You Were President."  True story.  Honestly, if I were Hillary and this is the kind of things people did to support me, I would cry after every primary too.  Don't miss the chance to buy your "Damn, I Wish You Were President" T-shirt.  Ugh.

The Good Wishes of Others

Colin Stephen is attempting to lift my spirits.  It worked...

"I'm Not Going to Pee Sitting Down"

Man, this is funny. I need to go KJV because it's way funnier than all the Bibles translated by dudes who sit and pee. (via Trevin)

We Are Gonna Be So Famous

Joe Thorn and I are gonna be so famous.  I've received two emails (since midnight!).  The first said they found this on digg.com, the second on del.icio.us.  Scroll until you find us.

Steve & Joe's Snowball Fight

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

CHuckabee

Funny...

A Few Things

CT talks Glocal with Bob Roberts

J. Gresham Machen site

Tentmaker Group looks promising

I heard an interview with Eric Maisel on the Writers on Writing podcast (see Pen on Fire).  A couple of interesting thoughts on creativity.  Here's Maisel's site.

Simpsonize yourself.  Here's what Jonathan Edwards would look like on the Simpsons.

Two new fantastic movies: The Bourne Ultimatum & Sunshine

The Clintanos

This is a funny spoof on The Sopranos ending by Hillary and Bill Clinton for Hillary's campaign.  It's a set up to announce her campaign song. I wouldn't vote for Hillary if she were a close relative or the only candidate, but I still like the idea for this video.  Oh, and don't miss the "Johnny Sack" cameo.

Smatterday

A smattering of shtuff...

Update on sabbatical last week.  I was greatly encouraged by Jonathan Edwards' Personal Narrative.  I also listened (again) Tim Keller's "Being the Church in Our Culture" and "Doing Justice" from the Reform & Resurge conference last year.  Every time I hear Keller I stop at some point and freak out by how good it is.

Melinda Penner on Luther's A Simple Way to Pray
Email yourself in the future
GOOD Magazine (Bright Orange, video)
Spider-Man 3 is coming
Comic Relief 2007
A great way to keep me from eating your egg salad

Thirteen on Thursday

I dunno, I thought it would be fun to put up 13 things worth looking into on this cold and rainy Thursday in Chicagoland.  This is going to be pretty random, but I expect most of you will find a gem in there somewhere.  In no particular order but numbered for your counting pleasure...

1. Dwight Schrute Video (via Marko): "selling paper, fighting evil."  A hilarious, Schrutastic 2 minutes of pure Office-alicious enjoyment.  Please use this opportunity to stay in touch with your inner Schrute, who "has the strength of a grown man AND a little baby."

2. Tim Keller Quotes: thanks to Charlie.  Here's one...

If you speak and discourse as if your whole neighborhood is present eventually more and more of your neighborhood will find their way in or be invited. Why? Most Christians, even when they are very edified in church, know intuitively that their non-Christian friends would not appreciate the service. What you want is for a Christian to come to your church and say, "Oh! I wish my non-Christian friend could see (or hear) this!" If this is forgotten, soon even a growing church will be filled with Christians who commute in from various towns and communities far and wide rather than filling up with Christians and seekers from your church's immediate neighborhood.

3. Gary Rohrmayer says to look for a "Man of Peace."

Here are a few things to look for: 1)  They are not just open to the gospel but they receive the gospel freely.  2) They are in a position of great influence over their family, friends and within the community.  3) They have the ability to introduce church planters into their sphere of influence effectively.  4) They are also great "bringers and includers" of others into the life of the church.

4. Dictionary Tooltip for Firefox.  Love this extension.

5. Joe Thorn shamed me to switch my feed reading to Google Reader.  Great recommendation.  I've added a daily updated list on my left sidebar that shows what I liked from my feeds.

6. Convert your docs to PDF documents.  "Very nice!  How much?"  Free.

7. After hearing Shane Claiborne on the Catalyst podcast, I was intrigued.  Get it.  Check out The Simple Way.

8. Ed Stetzer has some stats on the survivability of church plants.

9. Check out John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life video podcast.  (via KC)

10. Have you seen the new Challies-ified Monergism site?  Looks great, and of course it contains great content.

11. You may want to check out the Internet Monk's conversations with another blogger about Southern Baptist identity (you will need to scroll to find all of them).  Some helpful stuff by iMonk.  The other guy?  Not so much.

12. We are just starting to use Fighter Verses for family Scripture memorization.  You can subscribe to the podcast which also contains audio of the verses. 

13. Saving the best for last, this is without question the greatest photo in Joe Thorn's portfolio...

The Magical Thornbury

This is Joe Thorn's photo of Mark, Greg Thornbury, and Jacob.  That rainbow is my creation. 

Only the man with amazing magical powers to spread cheer rather than anger and judgment can be accepting to bloggers and bushy haired students alike.  Bravo Greg, bravo.

Pro Bowl & Talking With Your Kids

I was watching some of the Pro Bowl with my sports fanatic 6 year old son, Elijah.  He asks so many questions during sporting events that I often miss the on-air discussions with the "experts."  Yeah, I know talking with my kid is way better than listening to Greg Gumbel, but sometimes I really want to hear what they are saying.

After tonight, I will never question the priority of listening to my son.  Somewhere around question/comment #1,724 he noticed that a guy on the Redskins was playing where Brian Urlacher would play.  I missed the first half of his comment as I was coming out of my game-mode zombie state and switching to loving-dad-mode, but he said something like, "Dad, did you notice that a guy from the Rednecks is playing where Urlacher plays?"

Where in the heck has he heard of rednecks?  I think he has listened to too many Mark Driscoll sermons.

Man, I love my kids.

Christ of Scientology

Really important breaking news.  Tom Cruise is Christ of Scientology. 

The Office

I'm through season one of The Office and a few episodes into season two.  Man, this show is funny. 

I know there are a bunch of Office lovers out there.  Anyone have a favorite episode or moment?  So far my favorites are Diversity Day and any time Dwight says or does something.

Lutheran Advent Calendar

Oh geez, this is funny (via: Riddleblog).  This is a Lutheran Advent Calendar. Merry Christmas!

Riddlebarger comments, "Sorry, but you Southern Baptists are out of luck . . ." 

Not all of us, bro. :)

Emergent Hair: Scot McKnight

Scot McKnight put up a picture of himself with hair.  I couldn't resist putting a few words over it.  I sent it to him and let him post it first, but here it is for you...

Bears & Obama

Love this Monday Night Football video.

Merry Christmas Joe Thorn

A Christmas present to Joe Thorn.

Black Boots on YouTube

I'm happy to say that I've added my take on murder and mayhem to YouTube.  If you haven't seen it or just feel compelled to revisit this dark film portraying the tragic mix of the wild west and suburbia, go watch the classic McCoy family favorite: Black Boots.

Mark Driscoll as Big Boy

It was suggested to me a few days ago that Mark Driscoll looked like Big Boy at the Desiring God Conference.  Now it's confirmed.

Driscoll Updates Ministry in Seattle

Mark Driscoll has a nice, long post on what's happening in his life & at Mars Hill.  It's an interesting post with a look at a few people who are throwing stones at him, the growth issues they face at Mars Hill as well as the number of people they have in various recovery groups, and stuff he is writing. 

Whatever you think of Driscoll, it's good to keep up.

D-CAF!

Man, I love this commerical.

Wild Wednesday

I found (via Fast Company) a video on Web 2.0 that is super-helpful.  It's a 24 minute video from TechCrunch. I love the end where all these guys are asked what browser they use.  Care to guess?

In the video Arrington conducts conversations with 13 Web 2.0 CEOs about what Web 2.0 is, whether we're in a bubble, what business models work, what is the role of publishers, and how important and how large is the early adopter crowd, along with other issues related to user adoption trends and technology. For certain, Web 2.0 is about technologies such as Ajax, Mash-Ups, Flash, Tagging, and open source applications. But mostly Web 2.0's central focus is user participation.

Participants included Joe Kraus (Jotspot), Scott Milener (Browster), David Sifry (Technorati), Auren Hoffman (Rapleaf), Chris Alden (Rojo), Jonathan Abrams (Socializr), Aaron Cohen (Bolt), Jeremy Verba (Piczo), Steven Marder (Eurekster), Matt Sanchez (Video Egg), Godhwani (Simply Hired), Keith Teare (edgeio), and Michael Tanne (Wink).

Speaking of Web 2.0, last week Joe Carter (Evangelical Outpost) and I met with Justin Taylor (I hear J.I. Packer calls him Justin the Squire!) and a couple of other Crossway Publisher folks about blogging & reviewing books.  Very good conversation, and some great people.

I am trying out Browster because of the 2.0 video.  Wow, it's very interesting.  Anyone else trying it?  You need to check it out.

I'm pumped about GTDGmail.  If you haven't read Getting Things Done by David Allen, and/or if you aren't implimenting GTD in your life, please give it a look.  And then you can get GTDGmail and really geek out.

Watch the "Lecture Musical" from Prangstgrup.  Hilarious.

Michael Foster leads us to David Slagle's 100 Things I've Learned the Hard Way as a Senior Pastor.

Some Music You Should Check Out:

Husky Rescue (myspace)
Serena- Maneesh (myspace)
Black Angels (myspace)
TV on the Radio (myspace)

**If you are a Southern Baptist, please skip this next part.**  Imbibe?  Review and share your thoughts on your latest bottle of vino at Cork'd.  Gotta light?  CigarCyclopedia.

Speaking of "the good life," if you are a Southern Baptist you need to read this critical article from former SBC President Bobby Welch.  We need more wisdom like this!

I understand one pastor's blog site indicates he believes his drinking assists him in soul-winning!...

We have many outstanding young pastors and others on their way to leading this Convention to...do it as "sipping saints,"...as...soul winners! God help us to...elect a user or promoter of the use of alcoholic beverages to...leadership...!

Please don't sent hate mail.  It's a joke.  ;)  Bobbay is SOOOO funny.

What's Changing Steve's Life?

Things that are changing my life right now...

1. Rereading (I think for the 3rd or 4th time) Jerry Bridges The Pursuit of Holiness.  It's such a simple/profound book.  I just need it.

2. Shearwater's Palo Santo.  Honkin' geez.  Wonderful.

3. I just finished and will soon blog on the new Ed Stetzer/David Putman book Breaking the Missional Code.  I read the last 6 or 7 chapters yesterday and they were really good.  The book wasn't quite what I expected it to be, but there were some very important things for me and my ministry inside.  And God put me in the right place at the right time to read the right chapters of that book. 

4. This video.  It cheers me up daily.

5. David Allen's Getting Things Done is going to get a HUGE thumbs up review from me soon.  Revolutionary and simple.  It's a very important book on practical productivity and organization issues.  Props to Kevin Cawley for preaching Allen's message to me before I read the book.

6. The Fisher Space Pen (Bullet).

Black Boots

Some of you have seen this, but I would guess most of you have not.  I watched it again today and it still rocks.  A short film starring my children: "Black Boots."

Preachers as Rock Stars

Someone who added a recent comment had me thinking about how we view preachers as "rock stars."  Is that a healthy thing?  You be the judge.

SNL: The Chronic of Narnia

Joe Thorn informed me of this dope SNL music video on The Chronic of Narnia.  It's hysterical.  If you get queasy when someone drops the f-bomb (bleeped out), don't watch it.  For the rest of us, it's *bleeping* hilarious.  "It's all about the Hamilton's, baby."

UPDATE: You can download it free from iTunes.

Brokeback Pastors

Two circuit riding preachers in the Midwest met years before in seminary.  One tall, dark, and rugged, the other stocky and gruff.  Both passionate about the same theology and ecclesiology, which drew them closer to one another. 

But when they decided to "team up" to take on fundamentalism in the SBC, they found that mountain hard to climb.  Together, they tried the impossible.  Will their relationship last?  Will the SBC change?

Coming to theaters in 2006.  You've seen Brokeback Mountain (or you are too grossed out to see it), now see Brokeback Pastors. 

Her Best Life Now

It appears the whole Osteen airline incident has sparked a feeding frenzy for the movie rights on the story. 

Fortunately for all of us, I have prevailed.

For people like Joe Thorn who haven't even heard of this incident, you can read about it here, or here, or maybe here, or here.

My Real Wife

Someone emailed me a few minutes ago accusing me of something terrible.  At first I was defensive, but now I'm a bit broken.  I feel compelled to make a public confession.  I superimposed the head of a supermodel on the family picture in the previous post.  Please forgive my lack of courage to show you my real "partner."

World Religions

We homeschool.  Friday my wife taught our children about world religions.  I came home after work, sat down for dinner and my 5 year old told me that he learned about Hinduism, Judaism, and Bootyism. 

Uh, I think he might need to relearn that last one.

Hershael York is My Homey

With all apologies to all my SBTS professors that are dear to my heart, I may have decided on a favorite.  Hershael York has, in great detail, just posted on his experience at the Blackalicious and G Love and Special Sauce concert he and his wife attended with their son in Nashville. 

Hershael is fun and insightful in the classroom, and this post is right in that vein.  He leaves some reflections on the evening as well, and I'm thankful for them.

Memorable quotes...

I think it is safe to say that I am probably the only professor at Southern Seminary who has ever been to a G Love and Blackalicious concert.

I am not a hip hop fan, though I confess that I have a certain admiration when they 'freestyle.'

"She's got sauce--your baby's not sweet like mine" was a crowd favorite, as was "Booty Call," which was about precisely what you think it was about. "Two Birds" flew through the set and "Don't Drop It" didn't get dropped, but I kept hoping for him to do "Cold Beverages," a favorite of mine, though he never did.

Tanya and I...inadvertently found ourselves standing in the middle of the drinkers, smokers, and tokers. We could hear dying brain cells gasping their last shallow breaths.

I felt neither uncomfortable nor offended. I had seen all this before. I used to have my own band years ago, after all, and things haven't changed that much.

You want to know something strange? Do you know what I did during the concert? I prayed. My heart was breaking for many of the kids around me. In the middle of the music and surrounded by the revelry, mostly I felt sad. I knew that most of these kids did not understand that they are playing with fire. They didn't seem to consider the consequences that their actions lead to. But I did. I have counseled husbands whose wives were sexually promiscuous and it haunted them. I have had to sit with patients dying of aids that they contracted sexually. I have listened to men who have no attention span and cannot hold a job lament that they burned out their brains with drugs. I've counseled girls who had abortions, girls who had babies out of wedlock, young adults who have become addicted to alcohol and drugs. I am the guy who helps people put the shattered pieces of their lives back together after they realize that much of their fun is really bondage.

I was...reflecting on Richard Blackaby's poignant message on grace and entering the world of those who need it rather than just scolding them You can hear it here). Still, I thought, I just don't know what to do now that I am in their world.

When Sin Doesn't Make the Papers

Every week I deliver a biblical and counter-cultural message to our congregation, often challenging the ways of our world, the problem of insurmountable sinfulness in humanity and in each of our hearts, and pointing to God who became flesh as the answer and end of all our searches for meaning and escape from the consequences of our sin.

But I only make it into the local paper when a 1 inch hole pops through a water main on our street causing nearly no real problems or issues.

Paybacks Are Hell

I know what "paybacks are hell" means when someone has done something to you and you are going to "pay them back" for it.  I don't quite get it in the context of a local church sign, as seen in my hometown of Pontiac, IL.

Could it mean that God is like that kid in high school who took something we did very personally, so they give us a beat down later?  Hmmm...

Operation Heart Attack

Pat Robertson has apparently taken my advice and the payload has been dropped.  Operation Heart Attack is underway and the world will be free from one tyrant in just a few weeks.  Which world leaders are next?

Stay posted for breaking news and updates. 

Super Size Me - Assassination Style

(This is the fruit of a conversation with a friend.)

Pat Robertson recently called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez.  He's trying to play around it now, but whatever.  He said it.  And a lot of people silently agree while publicly speaking out against what he said.  But I think there is a biblical way for Pat to save face, for Christians to get behind him (since we are all at our deepest core fascist Republicans anyway), and to get the job done without feeling guilty.

I just watched Super Size Me last night, and nearly vomited by the end of the DVD.  Seriously, ask my wife.  Thirty days of McDonald's nearly killed Morgan Spurlock who started the documentary in great shape.  So Chavez, who is a little more pudgy, should drop after about three weeks of Quarter Pounders with cheese.

And the great thing is, Chavez can be assassinated without guilt.  Romans 12:20-21 says, "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty give him a drink."  There you go, biblical justification for assassination by McDonald's.

So Pat, send Hugo a month's worth of Extra Value Meals and your desires will be fulfilled, your biblical foundations will remain strong, and your detractors will be silenced.  I rest my case.

Two Short Preaching Videos

Check out these two very short preaching videos.  They are both very encouraging to me, and it will only take a minute to watch these clips.  Very well done.

Video 1
Video 2

Baby Got Book

Check it out, yo: Baby Got Book (Quicktime version).  I can't stop laughing.

(HT: I got an email from Richard)

Ratzinger vs. Ratzinberger

How do Cliff Clavin and the new Pope size up?  End your confusion here.