Weekly Recap

I didn't post one of these last week, so my "top three" is actually a top five this week...

1. In a world filled with tragedy and suffering, humanity is often left wondering, "Where were you, God?" This song addresses that in a powerful way!

 
2. "Jesus said 'not to judge'" seems to be the only scripture some people know. Trip Lee does a good job of addressing the misconception that "only God can judge me."

3. Is God a pacifist? Should Christians practice self-defense or serve in the military? Mark Driscoll gives some food for thought.

4. Check out this comic (and the article that inspired it). Has anything done more damage to the modern church than the heresy of "easy-believism"?

(Click the picture to go to the full comic)

5. Finally, this article kind of puts things in perspective for pastors and others in ministry by asking, "Is It Actually Hard to Be a Pastor?"

Weekly Recap

"The form of rap is no less godly than the form in most of our hymns." Check out this great post about music by Ed Stetzer:

7 Biblical Tests for Christians and Music


Community groups, bible studies, and small groups do not necessarily equal missional communities. Todd Engstrom explains the differences in this article that will challenge your perspective on small groups:

What Makes a Missional Community Different?

People get caught up by theological labels, but I wonder how much they actually think about those labels?

Debatable: Why Are There Calvinist Baptists but No Lutheran Baptists?

Weekly Recap

Opponents of biblical marriage often accuse Christians of inconsistent interpretation/application of scripture. Tim Keller addresses that in a clear and concise way:

"Why Same-Sex Acts Got the Death Penalty in OT, but Not Today"

Change. That can be a scary word. And when you are in ministry, how you handle change can make or break you. Shauna Niequist shares a brief but memorable illustration about change:

"Making Big Changes Is a Great Way to Sink a Ship"

Are you a coffee-lover like me? As I slowly begin to shed my Starbucks training wheels, I realize just how much there is to learn about this wonderful beverage. Here's a post that might help with your initial ventures into the local coffee shop:

"How to Drink Espresso"

Weekly Recap

Are you like me, and looking for ways to grow as the pastor of your home? Mark Driscoll gets "practical":

11 Practical Ways for Men to Lead a Family

Some people have been reacting to the recent movement of "radical," "missional" Christianity with accusations of legalism. Ed Stetzer has a great response:

Radical Christianity: A Call to Legalism or a Cause to Live?

My fellow WOLBI alumni Stuart Young just released a new video. It's a powerful song about suffering and beauty:

"Beauty in the Broken Heart"

As a bonus (this is actually from last week), I have to share this article from Gavin Ortlund. He offers an interesting take on pre-Reformation Christianity:

Searching for Gospel-Centered Theology before the Reformation