Bourne Again

My kind of Ultimatum - check this one out too (click on the movie trailer under the first hit).

Books I'd Like to Read...Someday

While some may happen sooner than others, and some aren't in print yet, these are some titles I've come across recently that I'd really like to read sooner rather than later. Since the pictures are kinda blurry, they are The New Perspective on Paul by James D.G. Dunn (forthcoming this fall), A Better Hope by Stanley Hauerwas and Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer. No agenda here or anything, I've just been thinking about these titles a bit lately and thought this might help get them off my mind.

More on the Drama: Triangulating my Position

I mentioned previously that I'd try to post some things that I enjoyed/benefited most from Drama of Doctrine; here's my first shot:

Vanhoozer makes the observation on p. 301 regarding Knowledge in the Theodramatic Perspective "Getting knowledge is more like plotting one's position with a set of maps, than it is building a house on a foundation or catching a fish in a net." This metaphor was groundbreaking fore me in the sense of it's contribution to my own self-awareness. I feel like over the last 5-7 years, my theology is constantly being revised, reinvented and/or jettisoned. About the only thing that has held is a reformed understanding of God, the Bible and the Gospel. I've been thinking more in terms of the foundation metaphor and thus felt like I was constantly tearing down and rebuilding the foundation. Or perhaps, more accurately, the foundation is a reformed understanding of these things but I keep having to clear out the first floor and never think I'll get to setting the trusses, let alone sheeting the roof. It felt like there was little continuity.

Enter Vanhoozer's helpful metaphor; now I can see continuity. I've been thinking in terms of constructing and deconstructing the house often leading to a hermeneutic of suspicion (i.e., I assume what I've been taught is wrong). Instead, I have been constantly trying to find my location using a series of maps. Each lesson learned helps to more precisely triangulate my position. Not only was this breakthrough incredibly encouraging, such a perspective gives more hope and less pessimism about the future.

Back in VA Beach

We're home now and back in the daily grind of the routines of life. Nevertheless I thought I'd post some final images about our NH trip. The first two are from our flight up. Though I thought I was taking a break from work, I was reminded, you can't escape the World's Local Bank. HSBC stuff was plastered everywhere at La Guardia - our first layover (that's Noah and me in the silouette).

Not to fear however, La Guardia also provided an in house means of grace for fleeing the corporate ominpresence:

Just Kidding - it was only 8 am after all :-)

Finally, something to make a few conoseurs drool, on the flight back I snapped this shot right down the way from our boarding gate:

Church Planters Needed

My week in NH has confirmed the fact that some good church planters are needed in the good ole Granite State and surrounding regions. My wife and I visited an "emerging church" Sunday morning and I put the term in quotes because I felt like I was grossly underdressed in jeans and a button down with flip flops and badly in need of a shave when I walked thru the door. Seriously, the first few families we saw would have passed dress code at NBBC. Perhaps they engage the culture, but nobody engaged us, despite the fact we were desperately in need of determining if there was a nursery for the little one. I say all this not to bash them, but out of curiosity if the average visitor would stick around, let alone an unbeliever. Not your typical ec type of atmosphere. Futhermore, the dearth of reformed theology in my home state is staggering. Though the church we visited was connected to a reformed network, the speaker dropped the ball on both election and foreknowledge - two terms that appeared explicitly in the text. I felt like crying--or cussing since it was supposedly an emerging church :-)

Bottom line: Reformed guys willing to engage the culture are needed in the Northeast--badly from what I can see. However, the culture issue may be harder than you might expect. I think with the advent of technology particularly as it lends itself to globalization, the modern culture has made it's inroads into NH. Strange, because it wasn't so back when I was a teen, growing up here. A fundy church whose culture mirrored the 50's could survive and even thrive here. Yet, the young people I've seen cruising around Concord bear great resemblence to those of VA Beach. Likewise, the stores in the Mall have caught up with the rest of the world--heck, we even have a Starbucks! Nevertheless, the older generation is still stuck in it's modern (think worldview category here) ways. New Englanders hate change. AC is still not common in the houses (New Englanders don't need it--much to my chagrin :-). Likewise, though there may be a Starbucks (notice the singular), Dunkin Donuts still controls the masses. Everybody at church was sippin a D and D coffee - no iced grande quadshot etc. to be found. The cultural divide between the older and younger generations seems more exacerbated here in Concord than most places I've seen. Nevertheless, my global exposure is limited and my time here has been short. However, I'm convinced the region needs good reformed missional church planters.

Another One Bites the Dust

Last Friday night, prior to leaving for NH, I finished Vanhoozer's Drama of Doctrine. Yes, I have silenced the mouths of all ye who slander me...at least until you hit the comments section. Nevertheless, its' been quite a journey. I started back in March and I can honestly say it's been the weightiest book I've read in a loooong time. Forget the prospect of a book review from me; I'm not even going to try. Read it for yourself - it's worth it. I may post some of the most significant lessons learned in coming weeks, but that remains to be seen.

One more thought: I'd like to conduct an informal pole in the comment section. Thought it's presumptious to think there are very many people reading this still, as my blogging has been sporadic at best, google reader gives me hope. Were you more suprised that 1) I got a tattoo or 2) I finished a 400 plus page book by Vanhoozer? I figured I'd post these two dramatic (yes the pun is intended) posts back to back.

Post Tenebras Lux

Well, it's done. I figured I'd post the evidence on this blog since the readership of our family blog is decidedly more conservative. Noah wanted to be just like his Daddy...How could I say no? Incidently the artwork is courtesy of my talented cousin Gina from Mom's Tattoo Studio.

Broadcasting Live From NH

Dawn, Noah and I are in New Hampshire all week visiting family and enjoying a much needed vacation. Since I already took a "vacation" from the blogosphere last week, I thought I'd try and get a few posts up this week. We'll see how successful I am, but I definately have some crazy things to communicate.

More Driscoll Audio

I found these six lectures posted various places on the web, but first on Kevin Cawley's blog (who's background pic alone might make you want to move to Vancouver). I believe they're from the Acts 29 Bootcamp for church planters and Driscoll is addressing the Church, Gospel and Culture. I found them fascinating and insightful for a perspective on a culturally engaging approach to pastoral ministry (happy Baylor? I got around the HT :-)

Interview with Driscoll

Mike Corley interviews Driscoll regarding the contours of his life and ministry. Though the interviewer sounds like and employs some fundie ideology (listen for the catch phrases) overall Driscoll's responses are gracious and interesting.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

More on Bad Words and Foul Language

This time it is what you think. Much conversation has taken place in the last few years about cussing Christians, particularly in relation to the emerging church conversation. I've neglected posting links in the past, primarily because I was too lazy. However, this time I decided not to pass up the opportunity. Here's a link to some thoughts by Tall Skinny Kiwi (an EC guy himself) on Offensive Language: I Think my Mother Taught Me.

(HT: Jesus Creed)

Barth Blog Conference

Kind of a pre-conference conference (prepping the blogosphere for the upcoming conference at Princeton) you can enjoy what may very well be the first conference hosted in the blogosphere. All that and Karl Barth - interesting stuff! Read it here and add it to your google reader list.

(HT: Faith and Theology)

The Serenity Prayer

Now that's a blog post I thought I'd never pen. I came across the full serenity prayer tonight on someone elses blog and I thought I'd post it here for several reasons: 1) I really needed it (albeit for different reasons than it's original context) 2) I never knew who wrote it 3) I never heard more than the first paragraph. I always thought the first paragraph was a bit stoic and fatalistic (not to mention cheesy). Though I've been accused of being both (or all three technically) it was still too much for me, but set in it's full (dare I say canonical) context, it definately takes on new significance (meaning?). Here it is:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

–Reinhold Niebuhr

Almost sounds a bit Christian Hedonistic...

(HT: iMonk)

Beale on Romans 9

If you didn't see this last week on Justin Taylor's blog, you may want to see this article on Romans 9 -- it may very well be one of the best things to come out of the '80s. Now I know after the Kostenberger debacle, I said I'd never post a link again until I'd read it; however, I think I can get away with this exception for 2 reasons: 1) Beale's a great exegete and I know his general disposition towards things reformed 2) Towards the end of the essay I read this sentence: "The results of this study lend support to the idea that there is an equal ultimacy or parallel between election and reprobation in terms of unconditionality." If that's the conclusion, the exegesis MUST be great :-)

Just What I Need

Want to read Freakonomics or The World is Flat or any other well know bestsellers, but don't have the time? See if there's a summary on Wikisummaries, free online book summaries in the Spirit of Wikipedia. Perfect for readers like me :-)

Bad Words and Foul Language

A comment Pitchford made on one of my posts a little while back got me thinking about a number of legitimately good, in some cases, biblical words that were ruined for me during my college years, thanks in large part to chapel "speakers". As I pondered some of them, I realized I wasn't the only one out there, so I offer a few samples below and would be interested to hear if there are any others floating out there that some of my peers choke on as well. Here's my offering:

Balance - of course, this was one of the ones that sparked my thinking. Since the vast majority of the folks encouraging me to seek such a position, had little concept of what true balance was, for YEARS, I thought this was a cuss word and still struggle in my conscience with using it. It was frequently employed in the context of free will (not to be confused with responsibility) vs. sovereignty, the balanced position of course being the one that trumped free will and squelched sovereignty.

Deference - While I completely reconize the fact that I am at times to restrain my blood bought liberty for the sake of others, I used to equate this term with not having the balls to confront pharisees masquerading as "weaker brothers" and "educate their consciences."

Brokeness - This was another one I had trouble coming to terms with because I equated it with going forward, crying at "revival" services (don't worry, that's next on the list) and burning or smashing my ccm (for those unaccquainted with the terms, think of it as standing for Christ honoring Christian music). Since then, I've come to grips with the fact that it's actually a biblical term employed by the psalmist.

Revival - It's NOT actually something you schedule once a semster/quarter, and if it occurs contiguous with the preaching of an "evangelist" or "revivalist" then the circumstances are pure coincidence (and that's coming from a Calvinist - the use of coincidence that is). Again, it's not necessarily equated with smashing cd's, tossing sticks in the fire or filling out decision cards. No, it's actually a biblical term and best summarized as learning to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever.

I could probably go on, but I'll stop there for now, but by all means, if there are any other suggestions out there, put them in the comments section...

The Gospel Coalition

Personally I think the name leaves something to be desired, but I like the idea. I'd post a hat tip or hyperlink but it's easier to just say that if you haven't heard about it check out Justin Taylor's blog-it's all over the place. Fankly I'm surprised I haven't seen any other posts about it, particularly from my reformed brethren in the tidewater area (though to be fair Thomas' computer did crash). Anybody know how exactly it differs from T4G? It seems to be a lot of the same guys.

Pastoring vs. Professoring

I know this is a"dilema" I've wrestled with and continued to wrestle with and one that I think is not all that uncommon for seminarians. Of course, the ideal is the both/and, but McKnight has given some helpful thoughts on the topic here.

Ode to Google Reader: A Psalm of Repentence

Okay, so maybe this reads more like prose than poetry, but if you're reading more than three blogs even semi-regularly and you're not using Google Reader....you're in sin. And I'm just barely joking - probably about 99% serious (it violates Paul's command regarding redeeming the time :-) Now I admit I have been the chief of sinners in this field, having ignored and put off the admonitions and confrontations of many a blogging friend whether the rebuke came in the form of personal testimony (on their blog) or private conversation. Nevertheless I publically repent in sackcloth and ashes and hereby testify urging anyone out there to flee the wrath to come and get thee hence to Google Reader (that is if I'm not the last blogger to make the switch).

My Apologies

I really need to start reading things in their entirety before posting links to them. If you haven't read Kostenberger's review of Drama, which I linked to a week or two ago, don't bother. I just printed and read it and Barker, I'm sorry...I SHOULD have linked to yours instead. If you do feel lead or already did yourself the disservice of reading it, either disregard it and read the book anyway or at LEAST read Vanhoozer's response here (which Kostenberger had the decency to post).

It's not surprising that the review appeared on a blog and not in SBL since Vanhoozer is regularly misread, misrepresented and/or misunderstood. In fact, the tone is very fundamentalist-ish and belongs more to the fbf's Frontline, Sharper Iron, or Sword of the Lord genre (a tone and spirit I'm fighting to hold back here...and probably failing) than an academic review. [Ironically enough, my computer just shut down while I was typing this due to the battery dying. I told my wife if the stuff I just typed was lost, then I'd take it as the Lord indicating it was inappropriate--it's still here...phew :-)]. It's surprising that he declares himself a Vanhoozer fan at the end because nothing in the review suggests it. All told I was VERY dissapointed and my lesson was learned.