Saturday, October 10, 2009

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Public apology for Progesterex

I want to publicly apologize for Progesterex--a stupid, mean, immature email forward that I wrote 10 years ago.

If you read it, I am sorry. It was very wrong of me to write it.

Again, I want to say that I'm sorry.

Josh

I can feel the beginnings of conviction

A little web surfing, a little Facebook, a little folding of the hands around the smart phone and spiritual poverty will come upon you like a robber.

http://www.joshharris.com/2009/09/selfcontrol_in_a_wired_world_1.php

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

We will take any needful baby brought to us


We want to publicly state that any women scared about having her baby or an abortion can bring the baby to us, and we will provide for the baby and give it a loving Christian home.

(We aren't searching for babies; but we feel called to joyfully receive all babies to our home and we will provide for them)

Contact:
joshandstephie@yahoo.com
615-354-4655
816 Meridian St.
Nashville, TN 37207

Coverage of the Atlanta pastor's offer that sparked this statement.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Creation Museum in NYTimes


Very excited to see the Creation Museum get covered in the NY Times*.

I haven't been to the Creation Museum yet, but its special to me because it's parent ministry, Answers in Genesis has been a very helpful resource in answering many questions about the Bible and science.

From my 5 years of following and supporting their ministry, I testify that these are solid, biblically-faithful, gospel-centered men and women that seek to serve God before man. They are playing a good part in building up the body of Christ in our day.


*The article doesn't support Answers in Genesis, but they are fair in reporting about the museum.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Eric Brown at Ugly Mugs

We saw Food, Inc. movie at Belcourt

A very solid food industry documentary/propaganda (I mean propaganda in a positive sense).

The main message: trace American food back to its roots and it's profit-driven evil at its worst. By bringing the factory model to farming and meat-production, it's making us sick.

The unexpected star of the film (for me) was Joel Salitan, a sustainable philosopher/farmer in Virginia.

John McGary sent me a link to a talk that Joel did with Michael Pollan at Berkeley in 2005. If you want know what it's about watch this talk. Joel Salitan at Berkeley.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Reformed Hip-Hop Discipleship Conference in Chicago

Stephie and I are going to Chicago at the end of July to the Legacy Conference. I'm attracted because it has
  • The best Christian song writing happening in our generation
  • By young, black rappers
  • And a preacher that has benefited me greatly, Paul Washer


Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Sign up for Puritan Picks

I just signed up and I'm so excited!

www.PuritanPicks.com
a Christ-centered DVD lending library




Netflix for Calvinists!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Outnumbered, Awkward questions about Jesus

Here's a clip from a British series I saw on YouTube. It's secular--which is to say it comes from a worldview that says what it measured is real, and the supernatural is doubtful and not worth basing your life on.

That used to be my worldview.

In the clip some funny kids ask some hard questions about Jesus.

The questions are filmed as if they don't have good answers.

They do, and I wanted to take a shot at them.



Boy: Why didn't baby Jesus zap King Herod when Herod wanted to kill him?

This question needs to be made harder: why at any point hasn't God zapped all his enemies? Why not at the rebellion of Satan? or Adam?

The answer is not fully given by God. But the primary concern of God is not to minimize all-time evil in the world, but maximize the enjoyment of his glory. And there is greater enjoyment of the character of God through redeeming the world by the death and resurrection of his son than 'zapping' people before the redemption is finished.

God will 'zap' all evil soon.

Girl: And besides Jesus knew that when King Herod died, God would roast him until his eye balls exploded.


While it's likely that Herod's eternal torment has already begun in Hell, I don't think it was a motivating factor for Jesus not to zap him as a 2-year old.

Boy: And why has God given 15 thousand billion years in which to live until the sun dies?

Good question, because the sun wasn't meant to die on us one day. It is an effect of God cursing the creation, that it now groans, waiting for God to finish the redemption of humanity AND restore creation to where it works (Romans 8).

We don't deserve the sun to not supernova on us today and destroy all life. That is the severity of our sin.

Also, the Bible seems to indicate that we have a lot less time than 15 thousand billion years before it is God brings The End.

Boy: Why didn't Jesus shape-shift into a Roman when the Romans were searching for him and then kill them in their sleep?

Before time began, God wrote people's names in the 'the book of life of the Lamb who was slain' (Revelation 13). The suffering and crucifixion of Jesus was planned by the Father and the Son from before time began.

So shape-shifting to avoid the cross was not Jesus' mission. If he had wanted the reward of the cross without the Father's plan, he simply could have agreed to Satan's proposal to bow down to Satan and receive authority over all the nations.

After Peter cutoff the ear of someone in Jesus' arresting party, Jesus said:
"Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
What would Jesus do if someone took a rocket up to Heaven and came up to him and punched him in the face? Would he forgive him or would he fight back and knock that man out of heaven?

A crazy hypothetical, but we have some hints as to the answer.

1) Satan rebelled against God, with (millions?) of angels and they got no promise of anything but hell and torment. (1 point for 'knock that man out of heaven')

2) I don't think it's a stretch to see myself as that man--give me a rocketship up to Heaven, I'd like to punch Jesus in the face.
  1. Is that not what Paul thought of himself as? "For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it."
  2. But later Pauls says of Jesus, "who loved me and gave himself for me".
  3. And "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”
(10 pts for the grace of God in Jesus Christ)

So I expect the rocketship man to receive the just punishment for his offense; but never count out the explosive grace of God, recklessly declaring sinners to be 'right' in Christ.

Girl: Couldn't he find a another way like writing to someone and telling them be a bit better or something bad is going to happen?

Amazing question! That is the answer of 80% of Christendom, or Church-ism: be better or something bad is going to happen. (or sometimes the message is just, 'be better! ok?')

If 'be better or something bad is going to happen' could work, there would be no need for a bloody cross to redeem sinners.

God would be amazingly good to just give us his law and the warnings of breaking it (be better or something bad is going to happen).

But I was dead in my sins. "Be better" just brought more death because I was powerless to obey, a slave to my passions.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved me even when I was dead in my trespasses, made me alive together with Christ—by grace I have been saved!

"Be better" was hopeless for me. I need a savior who can a) pay my sin debt and release me from it's power in my life, b) send me supernatural help to live.

Boy: While Jesus was being crucified why didn't he have God send a meteor to kill the Romans?

This has been answered. But he vicar's answer is pretty good too.

Vicar: God wanted to show us sacrifice and forgiveness by sacrificing what was precious to him, his only son, Jesus.

Girl: Then why did he kill him?

Oh, what a wondrous mystery! Why did the Father crush the Son? How is that even possible? Why am I standing here, incredible guilty but forgiven; and Jesus has holes in his hands? What wondrous love is this, oh my soul, oh my soul!

Boy: What if someone stole Jesus' mobile (cellphone), would he forgive him?

I don't know. I only know that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Boy: What if he were attacked by a polar bear?

Wouldn't Jesus just say 'still' and the polar bear would become as gentle as a puppy?

I don't know the answer. But I do know that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and you can ask him on that day.

He's alive!

Friday, May 15, 2009

What Happened to Me, 5

A series on how I've changed since my conversion to God (December 30, 2003)

Death lost it's sting


Dudes, death is coming. It waits, and then it rips apart everything human. It's like a gloating opponent who knows he has the checkmate. "I'm going to take you down."

Death also makes this boast: Can you name your great-grandparents? No? Well you too will be forgotten from the Earth within a hundred years.

Before my conversion, I didn't think much about death. But it's existence rendered my whole life meaningless. My lifeplan was 'make the most out of these 40-70 years, because it's lights out when you die'.

After my conversion, I taunt death. "Where is your sting death? Where grave your victory?"

My savior died; and my old self died with him. My savior rose from the grave, and I'll be united with him in a resurrection like his.

I may die, but God will undo my death.
I may die, but God will bring me instantly into the joy of my master.

What Adam did for me in bringing death into the world; Christ defeated for me to give me life.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

What Happened to Me, 4

A series on how I've changed since my conversion to God (December 30, 2003)

I got a wife!

God gave me a wife!

Before my conversion, I thought wives were for when you are 34 years old.

After my conversion, I had a lot of wrong thinking about women, marriage, manhood, and sexuality corrected while at the same time being in love with a Christian girl.

I believe Stephie's "yes" to marrying me is also a witness to answered prayer. She had a lot of concerns and fears about marrying me; but who can stop a God who loves to do good to his people?

A wife isn't a promise of God to new converts. But it's a great change for me since my conversion.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

What Happened to Me, 3

A series on how I've changed since my conversion to God (December 30, 2003)

The Bible went from yeah-whatever to precious

Before my conversion, it was hard to read the Bible. I didn't really get it.

After my conversion, the Bible became a source of real joy to me, because it about the real God--the same one who saved me and let me in on the great plan of all history. I liked that it was all about God--God creates, God rescues, God kills people, God gives laws, God seeks out the lowly, God makes promises, God remembers promises, God tells people "wait a minute, your army is too big, send most of them home so that I get the credit for the victory".

P.S. Bible reading still has some hard days where I don't start the day ready to dive in.