A leading man in the Confessing Church recently said to me: ‘We have no time for meditation now, the ordinands should learn how to preach and to catechize.’ That seems to me either a complete misunderstanding of what young theologians are like today or a culpable ignorance of how preaching and catechism come to life.
Dieterich Bonhoeffer

Quite a remarkable Christmas video! Enjoy!

Book Review: The King Jesus Gospel

One of the things I love about the holidays is a little extra time to read. I’ve been really enjoying that this season, as I’m now posting my second review in three days, this time moving from the world of fiction to Christian Ministry/Theology with Scot McKnight’s The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited.

I’ll cut right to the chase: Over on GoodReads, I gave this 5 out of 5 stars without thinking twice. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. I absolutely loved it. 

McKnight explores the reality that we live in a soterian culture, where the word “gospel” has simply come to mean “the plan of salvation.” McKnight eloquently and convincingly tells why the gospel is so much more than this, especially focusing on the story of Israel and how Jesus is the culmination (or, perhaps better said, the fulfillment) of that story. It is an essential reminder for every American Christian, in my opinion. 

One final note: On pages 148-153, in a section called “The Gospel Sketched,” McKnight beautifully summarizes the story of Israel (which, in case you missed the point, is our story as Christ-followers). If you don’t do anything else with this book, at least go to the bookstore and read this section.

But I really, really strongly recommend you just buy it and read the whole thing.

Book Review: The Litigators

I just finished John Grisham’s latest offering, The Litigators. I’ve read every book Grisham has written, and I am a big fan of his. While I have generally felt that his writing has been tailing off a bit in quality, I still love most everything he’s written. And I loved this book. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Grisham is masterful at developing characters the reader grows to care about, and this book is no different. Following every detail of young David Zinc’s legal career kept me at rapt attention, often reading much longer than I intended to in a single sitting. I finished the book in four days. 

I only gave 3.5 stars because, unlike in Grisham’s earliest work, there were at times dry spells, sections it felt like I could have skipped entirely (and sometimes wanted to). The Firm and The Pelican Brief, for example, had exactly ZERO (0) sections of this ilk. But these were rare, and as I noted earlier, it certainly didn’t keep me from pressing on. 

If you’re a fan of Grisham’s previous work, I’d imagine you’ll enjoy this. Even if you’ve never sampled his work, give this a shot. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

When we can hardly find any instances of our favorite theological category in the whole of the four Gospels, we need to be wary of how important our own interpretations and theological favorites are.
@scotmcknight, “The King Jesus Gospel”
A rather hilarious look at what MLB Gameday would be like if it were really accurate (via @robneyer)
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A rather hilarious look at what MLB Gameday would be like if it were really accurate (via @robneyer)

“I Smell Cookies”

Occasionally, after Kari and I put the boys to bed and all is quiet in our home, we’ll preheat the oven to 375 degrees and enjoy one of our favorite treats, chocolate chip cookies. In fact, we like chocolate chip cookies so much that we had those for dessert at our wedding instead of wedding cake.

A couple weeks ago, having just removed our cookies from the oven in all their piping hot yumminess, Keaton called to us from the boys’ room. “Mommy!” Kari went in to see what was up, and Keaton quietly said, “I smell cookies.” (He actually said “I fmell cookies,” because he has a little trouble with S’s at the beginning of words, but I digress.)

We laughed and gave him a kiss and got him back to bed, but it made me reflect for a moment: When all is dark and quiet, and one’s sense of smell is heightened, what is the fragrance in our home? Of course Braden and Keaton can smell the delicious aroma of chocolate chip cookies, but what aroma does my attitude bring? Can they “smell” when I’m angry or impatient with them? Do they notice a stench when I’m short with Kari, frustrated with myself, or grouchy in general? Is the general fragrance around our house one that would please Christ, or one that would make him pinch his nose?

What does your house smell like?

What the gospel does is show us that Jesus’ life from a purely earthly point of view ended in failure—and yet, because he committed himself in total obedience and love to his father, he was raised by the father to glory as the first fruits of a new creation.
Lesslie Newbigin

NYC 2011: Ways I Know I’m the Old Guy

So, during my recent trip to NYC2011 as a sponsor with the North Central Ohio District NYI, I began a list of ways I knew I was the old guy. This list was apparently met with delight by many, especially those who work or have worked in youth ministry. So, back by popular demand, here’s the complete list of Ways I Know I’m the Old Guy!

  1. I’m way more excited about Francis Chan than TobyMac.
  2. I’m reading the newspaper on the bus ride to #nyc2011. And I’m not ashamed of it.
  3. Monday at 1:15, #nyc2011 hasn’t officially started yet, and I’m ready for a nap!
  4. I freakishly enjoyed the Louisville Slugger Museum, and I’m quite excited about the baseball game.
  5. The caffeine I’m drinking at the All-You-Can-Eat Porch will certainly keep me awake later tonight.
  6. Of the six of us around the Starbucks table, I’m the only one who brought napkins.
  7. I never heard of half the card games being played on the riverboat lunch cruise. #WhatTheHeckIsKemps
  8. Who the heck is Starfield?
  9. I just ran into my friend @jameswsmith, who I’ve known for nearly 30 years!
  10. In my spare time, I’m reading a 550-page book on the life of Dieterich Bonhoeffer.
  11. I sat down for lunch during Ministry to Others Day, and had trouble standing back up. #decrepit
  12. I think the bass beat may be altering my pulse. But it’s rockin’! #tobymac
  13. I just sang “In the Light” with #tobymac. It’s the only song I’ve known all night!
  14. I observed how tonight’s speaker, Francis Chan, looks like Montel Williams. “Who?” asked the teens.
  15. I haven’t ordered a single pizza after midnight this week (though I may have eaten some).
  16. I’m reading Lesslie Newbigin in the hour leading up to Session 5.
  17. I am not interested—in the slightest—in riding an elevator already holding 71 people.
  18. I would certainly have been trampled by the crowd attacking the David Crowder stage.
  19. When @starfieldtim makes us get down and dance, I can feel the BURN in the thighs.
  20. I had a great week but can’t wait to get home…to my beautiful wife and sweet boys!!
margauxg1: whoever said money can’t buy happiness never shopped at the container store.
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margauxg1:

whoever said money can’t buy happiness never shopped at the container store.