It's a Beemer!

The latest addition to the Parker family arrived June 28, 2008, weighing 517 lbs. and 87 ins. long. Beemer is in perfect health, for its age, having a former life that began in 1984... its a classic, folks!

Being the Church in the Postmodern World

"In the hand of God, the biblical Word is a fearsome weapon, "sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." And thus it is, Hebrews says, as we stand in the presence of God by its work, that everything is "laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:12-13). Is it too much to hope that the evangelical Church can yet again recover its moral seriousness, that it can recover its vision of the holiness of God, its trust in the greatness of his power? This is the key, strange as it may seem, to Christian effectiveness in the postmodern world. It is the reform of the Church of which we stand in need, not the reform of the Gospel. We need the faith of the ages, not the reconstructions of a therapeutically driven or commercially inspired faith. And we need it, not least, because without it our postmodern world will become starved for the Word of God." (David F. Wells, "Losing Our Virtue", pg. 209)

Godly Ambition

Ambition is sometimes viewed negatively. Godly ambition, on the other hand, is something every Christian should cultivate. John R. W. Stott has hit the nail on the head in his book, "The Message of the Sermon on the Mount":

"Everybody is ambitious to be or to do something, often from early years. Childhood ambitions tend to follow certain stereotypes - e.g. to be a cowboy, astronaut or ballerina. Adults have their own narrow sterotypes too - e.g. to be wealthy, famous or powerful. But ultimately there are only two possible ambitions for human beings... just as there are only two kinds of piety, the self-centered and the God-centered, so there are only two kinds of ambition: one can be ambitious either for oneself or for God. There is no third alternative.

"Ambitions for self may be quite modest (enough to eat, to drink and to wear, as in the Sermon) or they may be grandiose (a bigger house, a faster car, a higher salary, a wider reputation, more power). But whether modest of immodest, these are ambitions for myself - my comfort, my wealth, my status, my power.

"Ambitions for God, however, if they are to be worthy, can never be modest. There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God. How can we ever be content that he should acquire just a little more honour in the world? No. Once we are clear that God is King, then we long to see him crowned with glory and honour, and accorded his true place, which is the supreme place. We become ambitious for the spread of his kingdom and righteousness everywhere."

The Blasphemy Challenge

I stumbled upon the following 'challenge' the other day:



A great first response from former atheist Doug Powell:



A followup response:



Doug is a talented musician whose website can be accessed here.