Soma

Lara and I have gotten into a bit of a habit.  Every night as we brush our teeth we check out the blog Stuff Christians Like for a little “before bed humor.”  The author, Jon Acuff, is really funny, a pretty decent writer, and often times really insightful.  Last night I read a post he wrote about critiquing sermons that I think ought to be read by all of us.  The best part is that it’s written in the form of an interview between Jon and James Lipton from Inside the Actor’s Studio…brilliant!  Here’s an excerpt

Me:
You’re too kind James. Thank you for that, but to be honest, that introduction was a little long. Lots of words. Lost me there in the middle.

James Lipton:
Oh my, you’re doing it right now, aren’t you? You’re deconstructing my sentences as if they were a sermon. How delightful. Tell me, and the students gathered here today, when did you start critiquing sermons?

Me:
Well James, I realized very early on that the best way to avoid being impacted by a sermon is to analyze it. I knew that if I could pretend I was there to study it and dissect it from the outside, I could save myself all the hassle of actually learning and applying the message to my life.

James Lipton:
So instead of being a participant in the worship experience, you’re an observer?

Me:
Yes, exactly, although in that last sentence I would have worked a little harder to achieve alliteration. You could have easily said, “So instead of being a participant, you can be a pretender?”

Just in case you weren’t convinced after yesterday’s sermon that our culture is increasingly viewing children not as the blessings from God they are but as economic liabilities, this was the leading headline on the Drudge Report this morning:

Pelosi Says Birth Control Will Help the Economy

That’s our senator!

Since I tore apart our “Facebook Culture” a couple of months ago, I thought it would be helpful to tell you about a blog series I found about using Facebook to glorify God.  It’s a definite must read for all of you Facebook addicts out there (read: if you check facebook more than 3 times a day.  Here’s an excerpt:

Communication, in and of itself, is intended to be a good thing. But as James says, the issue for Christians is the content of the communication. With Facebook, fingers are doing the work of the tongue. Instead of words flowing from your mouth they are sent from your keyboard. The important thing is that communication is taking place. And for people who have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ and given a new life with a spectacular inheritance, even casual communication is a big deal. Why? Because your communication either enhances the reputation of God or it seeks to enhance your own. As the apostle Paul says, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

You can read the whole thing here.

HT: Justin Taylor

Now I know that Brian singlehandedly dismantled New Years Eve and New Years Resolutions yesterday, but I also know that some of you may still feel the urge to make some sort of resolution (and you’ll need to change your resolution if you go to Brian’s gym).  So here are a few suggestions.  They are the first three resolutions that Jonathan Edwards made.  In all he made 70, but I’m a little afraid that if I listed them all your head would explode.  Start with these (or at least compare them to the kind of resolutions you make)…I trust it will be chalenging.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’ s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.