May we see this again with fresh eyes, experiencing a renewed heart of thanks, compelled to go forth and live a continually consecrated life!

It’s the least we can do!

SOLI DEO GLORIA

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

Piper asks what would be on the board if the Don’t was changed to Do… Anyone want to to go there?

If you do, you could also go and visit Abraham’s blog piece where this post was sourced, which you can find… HERE!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

look at the synthesis of science and faith on climate change [and] try to develop a joint communiqué by national church leaders

Hew, affectionately referred to as Matt (I am Joshing, this is his name… Settle), will also be providing the opening talk.

If you are interested in the subject and are able, this could be worth the hot air… Hot Air!!!  Ah, strike me down and call me a warming troposphere… That was a good one!

Anyway, you can find all the details, including the list of speakers, on the MandM site of ill-repute (still laughing people), which you can find… HERE!

To help you think through this issue some more, here is a video (I could not find 2 of 2) on the subject matter of, A Christian Perspective on the Environment.

Justin Taylor has also outlined some details in a post, where this video was source, which you can find… HERE!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

In this helpful and Gospel-centered video, John Piper speaks on a subject common to man!

Listen-to-Reflect!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

The following videos really do speak louder than any description one could offer.  Whether it be the example of the worth of all life made imago dei, the self-less and committed calling of a parent, or even as a challenge to Seize the Day, no matter what may lie ahead,the following accounts of Dick and Rick Hoyt should warm the heart, moisten the eyes, and encourage the soul.

When this account is put through the paradigm of the ultimate Father who cosmically has done this and infinitely more for His children, we are presented with an imperfect, but powerful example of the Fatherhood of the Creator [Thanks to Mr King Senior for this Vid]!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

Very recently in the Land of the Long White Cloud, Aotearoa, New Zealand, two icons in the Kiwi Christian music scene toured the country together.

As part of these festivities, they ventured forth to the Palmerston of the North, where, at the exhortation and encouragement of my fixer, iamjonnyking was able to sit down with these men, chatting about what they were doing, even expanding onto numerous subject matter relating to the musical past-time that has been the context that has defined so much of their earthly existence.

We will be releasing these videos over the coming weeks, with the following, the first two in the series.

We have decided to do little, if anything with editing these videos, thereby providing an authentic sense of how this time unfolded.

I trust you enjoy our time together over the coming weeks!

It has been quite a journey in getting these videos off the somewhat ancient handycam of  iamjonnyking.  Therefore, if these have caused any inner reverberations within any potential benefactors, a new handycam would go down like a treat, as we looking to do much more video in the foreseeable future!

Just Sayin…

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

Have a listening reflection… Also, on the videos, note the great album cover… making something beautiful out of the bomb that is our life outside and without Christ!

As can be the social networking universe, I found Gungor through curious and unbeknown means, heretofore!

Let me download this perilous path.

A tweet came onto my Twitter page {we will call it the “Hub“} from Carlos Whittaker {“loswhit“} who had re-tweeted the following from a “johnmarkmc“… John Mark McMillian {a “muso” himself}

I’m done fighting on the internet. If you have an issue give me a call: 1-800-IM2-BUSY-DOING-REAL-STUFF-TO-ARGUE-WITH-YOU

There’s a lesson to be learned social networker, when something stands to attention, stands out, we take notice, and this stood out from the “tweeting” crowd, so I followed.  This took me to the tweeting home of “johnmarkmc”, and through his bio, I found his blog, and this post was staring at me in the face… the Gungor music experience!

Was the journey worth the… Pleasure?  Well Indeed!  Can you say the same thing?

If you would like to get a little more information on Gungor, check out their website… HERE… and maybe even, break open the piggy bank!

I think so!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

It is with this perspective in mind that recent words from this individual seem to confirm whose feet are walking on more presently fertile pathways.

In the context of marriage, Gwyneth has said the following words…

The Iron Man 2 actress – who wed Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in 2003 – says they have to work at their relationship like everyone else but both respect the commitment they made to each other.

Gwyneth – who has two children, Apple, five, and four-year-old Moses, with the Fix You rocker – said: “It’s honesty and support and respect. I really have an incredible amount of respect for him as a man, as a human being and as an artist. We have our ups and downs like every couple, but I think you have to make that commitment to invest in a life together and then you don’t get that thing if you’re single and dating or whatever.” {Emphasis mine}

In a day and age where marriage, among other perspectives is a vehicle to be used until it hits its best-by-used date, where the solemn words “until-death-do-us-part,” are short-hand for a post-modern side-step, now interpreted to mean more like “until the death in the life of the marriage,” and then we go our separate ways.  God forbid that one would have to work hard at this.  I mean, name one other area in life where you have to work at things to make any mark on or make any impression in?!  Yes, my tongue has married my cheek [tongue-in-cheek]!

All such perspectives work out from a presupposition that is in contradistinction to a Christian worldview, which at its very heart is about a lost humanity whose worst “functional” enemy is the devil within, which means if we truly know our hearts, we can say, “we are the worst the sinner we know,” which not only graces us with the perspective and paradigm with which to view our spouse and marriage through, but encourages us to present this gracious reality to our failing partner, beset with similar frailties to sin as we are!  Those who truly know themselves, know why Jesus had to die, and why no relational fracture is beyond His ability!

Leading up to the time when I married my Queen, i am jonny king you will perceive, one book that I read on the subject of marriage was by Bill Hybels, and one point that I still remember today was his reflections on his own marriage, that it was not easy, which means they had to work at it!  He disarmed this possible future by affirming the plodding path was both possible and real!

Such words sound so foreign because we live in a world of the instantaneous.  Technology is helping to shape our cultural expectations in this regard, where instant gratification is viewed as an axiomatic need and right, reflective of the pursuit of human flourishing.  The human heart being what it is, is hooking into this reality as people live for the nano-second!

But is this really how it is in the actual living of our lives?

While there is much good that can be affirmed in our technological advancements, we still need to remember that good things do take time.  Marriage is a marathon of a life-time, and too many people live it, like it is a 10 second sprint, which means when it doesn’t meet their expectations, they call time-out, or quit the game all together, after all, this is not what is was meant to be.  People, the grass is never greener over the other side of the fence, it just takes time to for this to turn brown as well… Then what? Sadly, they don’t stay together to experience the changing of the seasons, which are part of the journey!

All of this to say, that I am thankful for the common grace in the Paltrow words that speak to a significant aspect of marriage, which is commitment.

Commitment is another way of saying “covenant,” and as this was God’s idea, He has the nerve to define this reality.  To define this concept, He has done so in a very personal and very real way.  Tim Keller has put it this way… when God loves, he does so covenantly… which is to say that when the God of all Creation loves out of an indefatigable commitment to those He has chosen to bestow His love on, as children, He does so with an iron-clad promise, which death cannot even kill [Rom. 8:38-39], which is made most of in our vision that is famed when we look to and through the Cross, and see the reality of covenanted love in action [John 15:12-17, esp., verse 13]!

In light of all this, the tragic betrayal of the covenant concept in modern marriage becomes all the more real, not only personally, but also because of the cosmic picture it can paint [Eph. 5:22-33]!  Not only do people circumvent the mature wine of love-interacted, between a man and a woman over time, they also

This is an area that you should never, never, ever, give up or give in!

God has and will give you the grace you need.  Seek Him today!

If you would like to read the rest of the article where this quote was sourced from… Go HERE… which, sadly, exacerbates the cultural dilemma, referring to Paltrow’s words as an admittance of marriage struggles.  Talk about missing the mark!

What say you?

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

In an example of Geeks just want to have fun, as opposed to Cyndi Lauper’s female reference, this is a pretty nice video of what you can do when money and mind mix mayhem!  Couldn’t help think of “Bones” when I watched this!

Enjoy!

To read more about what is transpiring in Google-ville, where this video was viewed, check out this post… HERE!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

This month it is Richard E. Stearns, President of World Vision, The Hole in Our Gospel.

Here is a little about the author… from HERE!

Richard E. Stearns is president of World Vision, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the United States. After a quarter-century business career, he joined World Vision in 1998, guiding the Christian relief and development organization to unprecedented growth and calling on the American Church to respond to the global AIDS pandemic.

World Vision has more than 1,300 staff in the United States and partners with U.S. corporations, government agencies, foundations, churches and more than a million individual donors to help children and their communities reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. It is the largest member of the global World Vision Partnership, which last year touched the lives of an estimated 100 million people internationally

Since joining World Vision, Stearns has built a strong leadership team focused on bringing corporate best practices to the non-profit sector and inspiring a culture of outcome-focused management at all levels of the organization. Donations have tripled from $358 million in 1998 to over $1 billion in 2008, and overhead has been reduced by almost one-third.

As one of his first initiatives as World Vision’s president, Stearns empowered World Vision’s senior leadership to increase awareness and funding for AIDS programs. This came at a time when the organization’s own research found that donors had little interest in helping to stop the spread of the disease; donors actually were less interested in helping children orphaned by AIDS than other disadvantaged children. Stearns chronicles his journey from corporate CEO to advocate for those affected by poverty and injustice in his book, “The Hole in Our Gospel,” due to be published in March 2009 by Thomas Nelson. The book challenges readers to view the gospel as more than a private transaction between God and us.

If you would like to read some endorsements, then you should head… HERE!

If you would like a FREE downloadable study guide, you should head… HERE!

However, if you would like to FREE Audiobook… you should… GO HERE!

I have not read this title, but I have heard mostly good stuff about it.  If you have read it, feel free to unload your thoughts, and fill any readers in on your illumination after the reading of this book!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

A few may be clever, some may be mildly amusing, and the rest… well!  I have posted before both on this man and from his blog, so I have been guilty as charged in taking the Michael with this guy’s surname, in the context of using it as the means for his nickname.  In fact, what has possibly transpired is exactly where I took it, wretched man that I am [that part is serious].

When I saw what you are about to see in Trevin’s comment, I couldn’t help it.  This had me, hooked-on-a-line, and I was a pegged, stuck on giggle!  I just hope someone did this on purpose, because this makes me want to indicate laugh-out-loud like some pubescent school boy who has forgotten to spell… in Angleterre, anyway!

Without further prognosticating, I would like to introduce you to Trevin Wax…

Hold the Phones, and Stop the Pressing Sinner!  ”Ahem.”  Without further a due, I would like to re-introduce you to Trevin Wax..

What the?

We might need to take the nuclear option on this one, as the demon has him bad!

I know, your eye sight might not be what it use to be, but Houston is on the phone, and they are dialing 111 {911 for all you Yanks… that goes for you as well Big Tex, the war was lost}, because we have a problem… How do you say that in Romanian-mandarin?

How did this all come about?

Well, preparing to end my Thursday, as the North Americans begin theirs, I was perusing the Twitter feed, and the following words appeared…

trevinwax RT @hershaelyork: Can someone explain the photo in the Crosswalk version of Trevin’s interview with me? http://ow.ly/1ECMF // I wonder.

The “I wonder” at the end peaked my interest, so I took the bait, like a good social network sucker, and what I was greeted with was the decidedly un-Romanian [note: he has claimed to be only "married" to a Romanian... what, so now there are 3 Trevins?] looking Trevin planted by the Crosswalk version where he would be about to… “wait for it“… Wax lyrical in an interview.

If you are not sensing murder, then I am pleased, but can you see where this is heading?

If you are still a little unaware of things, you might be too young or too… [I didn't mean that last part, really], so let me explain…

I think someone is taking the Michael Mouse with Trevin’s surname, Wax, and that infamous line by Mr Miyagi, Pat Morita in Karate Kid, “Wax on, wax off“… Daniel son!  The nationality of Mr Miyagi should be self-evident and so should the possible purpose of this photo-shopping.  While it would make it worth an extra chortle if this was planned, if this is just a slip of the photo-shop, my semper is still far enough away from my reformanda to see this and blog!

Therefore, in light of this possible connection, I thought I would do my best, after rorting myself with laughter like a Melbourne Storm executive, on more than one occasion, I would contact with Trevin… whoever he is, and see if he had any further illumination!

These are my Twitter words…

iamjonnyking @trevinwax Is ur “I wonder” indicate that u think someone is taking the Michael with a karate Kid play on your last name, “wax-on, wax-off”?

You know you can follow me on Twitter, and just look at what you could be missing out on!

I have yet to hear from Trevin Wax… that masked blogger of mystery, but let’s hope this is not another case of a “body snatcher” finding his way out of the closet.  Oh no, wait until Larry King hears about this!

Well, on that note, it is time for me to go and get my beauty sleep, and I know what you’re thinking, like he needs that… “Have you seen my photos?”  No, I don’t mean the real ones.  I am, after all, 65… and from the Congo!

Okay, dreaming awaits, and this nightmare of a post ends… I have enjoyed posting it, at least!

Now to say the most honourable words-to-date…

Always Informing, the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin… still laughing… if only I knew how to do a screen shot!

Before I conceptually die from this post… HERE is the link, and let’s hope it is not a missing one, otherwise we could also have to deal with Dawkins as well as King!

This is live-blogging at its best… and I have just checked my Twitter feed and Trevin, the Romanian looking one, has just informed me of the following…

trevinwax @iamjonnyking That’s funny, Jonny! Hadn’t considered that…

To which, I apologised in advance, and will now send him the link… stay tuned!

To help to pay for my crime, Go and check out his quality blog… and apologise on my behalf… the name… “Alfred Adonogo”… HERE!

Words – Coming to Mind

Psalm 133

When Brothers Dwell in Unity

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! [or dwell together]

2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

3 It is like the dew of Hermon,which falls on the mountains of Zion!  For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

This

is

the

Reason

For

This

Righteous

Reality

Words? – Always For the Gospel

Always…

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

H/T: Justin Taylor and T4GOnline – Twitter

I suppose this is the big question: do I really need an iPad? Generally, I’d say the answer is no. In fact, try as I might, I can’t think of too many situations in which anyone would really need one. In most cases I tend to agree with Michael Hyatt who said the iPad is a beautiful solution in search of a problem. We all want it, but few of us need it. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that most people use it far more in the first two weeks than they do in the subsequent two months. Though it has plenty of initial wow power, eventually many people will drift back to their trusty laptops or desktops to do most of what they need to do on computers–at least for now. The fact is, though the touch interface has a lot to commend it and though it may well be a big part of the future, it is still underdeveloped and unfamiliar. The iPad has many of the makings of a great solution but Apple hasn’t yet clearly identified the problem it is supposed to solve; and neither have the app developers.

Here are some cases in which it might be a good (even if not necessary) addition to your life:

In place of a netbook. I would easily buy an iPad before any of the netbooks out there.

If you have very simple requirements for your devices. If you want to do little more than basic surfing and emailing and want to be portable, the iPad is a good solution.

If you love to read and are looking for a high-quality e-book reader (that you can read indoors). I anticipate doing more reading on the iPad than on the Kindle. But if I go to the beach and want to kick back with a book, I’ll have to go with the Kindle which performs best under the brightest lights.

If you want to be mobile with basic computing requirements. That is, you want more than your iPhone but less than your laptop and want to be able to drop it into a purse or briefcase.

As a Bible and note-taking device. Though for now I am not a big fan of electronic Bibles, if you like them, you will find the iPad far more useful than your iPhone or any other device.

If you are interested in purchasing this device, I would encourage you to go and read the entire review in full, where Tim unloads his thoughts… HERE

As, in the words of Rene on Allo, Allo, I Know Nothing, as it relates to the iPad [some would say why stop there], I did find Challies review illuminating and helpful.  I do like the idea of owning an e-book reader, but like many ideas, this may stay in my dreaming, as the cost vs reward of this device, seems too high a price to pay!

However, I would be prepared to accept one as a gift!  Any takers… I Know, “it is the thought that counts!”  However, this philosophy doesn’t seem to provide the same satisfaction when you apply this “thinking” in the context of using this device!  However, these “thoughts” are free, and this reality, sounds pretty good-to-me!

If you own this device or have been caught using one, we encourage your interaction, incoherent or otherwise!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

H/T: Justin Taylor and Z Neilsen on Twitter

Speaking of getting up close and personal… Meet Jon Acuff…

Now, if you haven’t read Mr Acuff before, it probably means that you are an alien of the North American continent, as on this continent, the man has quite a blog following.  The reason why I have highlighted his “stuff“… champagne writing… is that the gracious people at ChristianAudio have made his New Title… suitably names “Stuff Christians Like“… FREE for download, for the month of April, which means you only have a handful of days left!

Before you check out that… check out this!

This is a pretty in-depth interview with the man that will help provide some context for the uninitiated and all those who believe that they are in the know.

Raquel Wroten begins this journey following…

Okay. I’ll admit it. The first time I opened Jonathan Acuff’s book, Stuff Christians Like (Zondervan), I found myself frowning at the essay titles. Once I read the them, I laughed. Out loud. It didn’t stop there. I couldn’t put the book down and read all of it in two days.

Today, I’m a “follower” of the popular blog which helped birth the book, stuffchristianslike.net. And I’m a fan on Facebook, too. No, I’m not going to buy the “I Side Hug” T-shirt, but I do want one of the “Booty God Booty” buttons Jon has mentioned on his blog. What can I say? I’m hooked.

Wondering what makes Jon’s material so enticing and funny? In his book Stuff Christians Like (which includes essays from his blog and newer essays written only for the book), he writes about his observations of how Christians worship and live out their faith at church and at home. I couldn’t help but chuckle when I read Jon’s essays. Truth permeates this book as this preacher’s-kid-turned-writer really knows what he’s talking about, yet with Jon’s humorous satire we can step back, laugh and evaluate ourselves.

One of my favorite essays, “Thinking You’re Naked,” summarizes what I believe Jon communicates throughout his book. He gives us an understanding that despite our ways, we serve a God that loves us. Underneath all the exterior clutter, the purpose of the believer is not what we do, say, or even believe about ourselves, but how we genuinely demonstrate our love for God and for each other.

Another essay, “Booty God Booty,” had me on my knees laughing. By the time I finished laughing, I experienced a moment of pure joy accompanied by peace. I understood that despite my behavior, God accepts and loves me exactly the way he created me.

What began as a blog for his family and friends has mushroomed overnight into a viral sensation and guilty pleasure amongst Christians worldwide. Jon writes what we’re probably all thinking, but no one’s saying. And now he’s the one who’s got a book deal.  Recently, Jon shared about the blog, the book and what he hopes to accomplish with Stuff Christians Like …

Now that you have been hooked, check out this following POST, where you can find the details to download this title for FREE, and while you are at that, you can journey on, and read the rest of this interview, which begins for real, if you take a right at the next intersection and follow the following link… HERE!

Don’t say I don’t care, even if I can’t be there!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

Q: How did you overcome your “painful introversion”? Are you saying, how did an introvert get to be a megachurch pastor in Manhattan? Very gradually. It is a combination: God called me to be a minister and then decided to prosper my ministry more than a lot of other people’s, which was always a surprise. I do not know why. It is not false modesty. I am still not sure why.

Q: Gift and grace? The gift side of it is that God continues to send me people who seem to be helped by the ministry. That overcomes some of your lack of confidence, but the danger of relying on your gifts, saying, “Hey, I am a pretty good preacher, people will come back to listen to me,” is that that leads to the opposite of an inferiority complex, a superiority complex, which is probably more deadly. They are both self-absorption.

Q: How do you fight that? As I moved from feeling like nobody likes me to everybody likes me—then you get really famous and nobody likes you again—I had to work on the gospel a lot in my heart. Every time I started to get too big a head, something would come along and God would bring me down. This is the way I think everybody grows. Something would bring me down and I would have to use the gospel to shore up my confidence on the basis of His grace rather than on my gifts. — [Emphasis Mine]

We will only truly find ourselves, when we completely lose ourselves in Him!

Get into the Gospel, and let the Gospel work its way Right Through You!

To read more from “the Cardiologist,” and the excerpts from an interview where this was sourced from… Go HERE!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

H/T: Steve McCoy on Twitter

And if this bloggers opinion is worth the pixels this is presented on, a great preacher, Tim Keller is!  You can and should be making the most of this means, and you can do so by heading… HERE

In an interview with Marvin Olasky in WorldMag, the Cardiologist opens the curtains to his world, the context of his vocational ministry, and his time at Redeemer!

Here is how this interview begins…

NEW YORK—Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, has done for two decades what people said could not be done: He has attracted to church, through biblically orthodox teaching, thousands of hip New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s. He is also the author of three recent, excellent books: The Prodigal God, Counterfeit Gods, and The Reason for God, which was WORLD’s Book of the Year in 2008.

Here are excerpts from an interview in which we examined his informal education during the 1970s and 1980s. We also touched on his cancer diagnosis in 2002 and his views of success and failure.

Q: We were both in college during those weird years of campus protests four decades ago. Were you ever involved in them? Had to be. After the Cambodian invasion, Bucknell was one of the many campuses at which the students went on strike. There was no school for weeks. We had huge meetings in the center of the campus with an open mic. Anybody could get up and just talk. It was really boring.

Q: You had something other than politics going on in your life. I had become a Christian earlier that year and had started going to a campus fellowship. At Christian colleges there was a revival in 1970. We put up a sign right off the quad where everybody else was milling around, saying “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is intellectually credible and existentially satisfying.” We engaged people in conversations. About 10 or 15 students came to Campus Fellowship in the spring of 1970. That fall 100 people showed up, which just shocked us, and it never went down. A lot of people had become Christians that year through all the discussions and all the angst.

Q: Did groups on other campuses have the same experience of growth in 1970? Most had 5 to 10 to 20 times more students coming. It was a time of tremendous unrest, spiritually speaking. Mitch Glazer told me that almost all of the leaders of Jews for Jesus over the next 20 years were converted in various places in 1970.

Q: How did you become a Christian? I was depressed. I went to counselors. I was unhappy: I did not know who I was. Can you believe it? A college student? It pushed me into checking out Christian resources and I became a Christian. Of course that is a very, very short version of it.

Q: Expand a little bit. You were depressed because you did not know who you were? Yeah. I had very little confidence socially with people. It really was fairly garden variety. It was not very dramatic on the outside. On the inside, it was.

Q: You were introverted? Yes, badly.

Q: Did you find Christians you admired? I saw a small group of people. They seemed thoughtful. You have to have a group of people who embody the kind of Christian you would be if you became a Christian. You say, “These are people like me, or people I would like to be like,” and, “I see how their Christianity plays a role in their life so I can start to envy that role and maybe I would like to have it too.”

Q: Did you wonder whether you could be both a Christian and an intelligent, educated person? There were the intellectual credibility issues. I read lots and lots of British evangelicals: C.S. Lewis (even though he is not exactly an evangelical), John Stott, J.I. Packer. F.F. Bruce’s The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? helped me survive religion courses. When Francis Schaeffer came along and started talking about really analyzing culture from a Christian point of view, that was an epiphany.

Q: And you had your personal concerns. The third thing you need besides a community and the intellectual resources is an existential crisis, usually, something that makes you feel the need for God. In that case, it was my painful introversion and my fear that nobody will ever accept me as I am if they ever get to know me.

To read the rest of the interview excerpts… Go HERE!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

However, this is exactly what Hebrews 13:2 affirms, and is a consistent outworking of the biblical worldview!

What is also possible, and seemingly consistent with another worldview, is the contention that it is reasonable to conceive that there are aliens out there… and No, this is not a political statement, as I am only referencing those other alien beings that suck out your brain… or… eat your cat food [District 9].  We always knew there was something up with those South Africans!

Stephen Hawking is an alien believer, and is witness to this universal context…

“To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational,” he said. “The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like.”

The answer, he suggests, is that most of it will be the equivalent of microbes or simple animals — the sort of life that has dominated Earth for most of its history.

One scene in his documentary for the Discovery Channel shows herds of two-legged herbivores browsing on an alien cliff-face where they are picked off by flying, yellow lizard-like predators. Another shows glowing fluorescent aquatic animals forming vast shoals in the oceans thought to underlie the thick ice coating Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter.

Such scenes are speculative, but Hawking uses them to lead on to a serious point: that a few life forms could be intelligent and pose a threat. Hawking believes that contact with such a species could be devastating for humanity.

He suggests that aliens might simply raid Earth for its resources and then move on: “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach.”

He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

Man of Spin has posted on an “alien” subject very recently… HERE… in the context of a debate about Aliens and the origins of life.  As the article source for this piece also points out, Hawking is not alone is this belief…

Hawking’s belief in aliens places him in good scientific company. In his recent Wonders of the Solar System BBC series, Professor Brian Cox backed the idea, too, suggesting Mars, Europa and Titan, a moon of Saturn, as likely places to look.

Similarly, Lord Rees, the astronomer royal, warned in a lecture earlier this year that aliens might prove to be beyond human understanding.

“I suspect there could be life and intelligence out there in forms we can’t conceive,” he said. “Just as a chimpanzee can’t understand quantum theory, it could be there are aspects of reality that are beyond the capacity of our brains.”

Obviously this is all speculation from the materialists, but one must admit that this speculating fits into their worldview where there is no Supreme supernatural Creator, no supernatural explanation for how we came about or a First Cause explanation for how things started, no special or divine purpose for why humans are either different, significant, and only a purely naturalistic and materialistic explanation, which, given the size, scope, and reality of our evolutionary time, they would purport that it is perfectly reasonable for this to have happened in other contexts, alien or otherwise!

Once again, what can be said without speculation is that this affirms the importance of your answer to the Beginning of the beginning!

Is it… Berehsith bara Elohim… or some other explanation?

How you answer this First Cause question will impact and contextualise all the secondary questions that follow.

The Bible claims that man is the pinnacle of Creation, and given the redemptive context for God’s unfolding drama, and the purpose of creation [Romans 1:20], the created order points to an all-consuming Creator-God, which is a self-evident reality.  Therefore, given this purpose, the wonder, scope, and extent of this created order is no surprise as its goal is to point to the One who spoke it into Reality [Psalm 19:1-4].  On the other hand, for those, like Stephen Hawking, who reject such a worldview, in reality they reject the idea of “purpose,” with this concept as alien as the worldview they can not accept, and presuppositionally so!

Do Alien life forms have a purpose in this created order?

What say you?

To read the whole article which deals with this issue in the context of Hawking, Go… HERE!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

H/T: Drudge Report

Unlike those un-named individuals from Dave Harvey’s work space [all will be read-vealed], I will generally always read the Introduction of a new title, as it is can be a portent of things to come.  An Introduction can be like the forecast of a coming day, and while it can miss the mark, it does provide you with an idea of how things will turn out on the morrow. A good Introduction is like the starter as the meal begins.  Not only does it taste and see that this is very good, but it leaves you wanting more, as your tastebuds gush for the main dish to enter the room [Keep Reading, and you will find out how and where to read this Introduction, and other bonus material].

And in Dave Harvey’s new title, Rescuing Ambition, we have, what looks like and reads like, an excellent title that will encourage transformation of the mind, as it simultaneously completes open heart surgery on the sinner-transforming-saint!

The reason why this is such an important subject is that, in the need to continue to stoke the fires of Godly ambition, we can very easily miss the mark, encouraging us to give up such an ambitious pursuits, thereby circumventing the vehicle that can fuel the engine to high speed pursuits after the glory of God in our given generation!

All of this is to say, I need to read this book, not only as someone who has been prone throughout his life to dream big, desire bigger, but also as someone who must live with present limitations that, like a weekly grocery budget, only allow for so much of your favourite treat!

Therefore, I am looking forward to reading this title in full!

To help encourage you in kind, the following details may be helpful.

Here is how this book is described on the website dedicated to this title…

What comes to mind when you think of ambition?

Many think of ambition as nothing more than the drive for personal honor or fame. As a result, ambition—the God-implanted drive to improve, produce, develop, and create—is neglected and well on its way to paralysis.

For some, dreams are numbed. For others, there are no dreams; life just happens. And for those who are dreaming, motives are often confused. One thing is certain: ambition needs help.

Dave Harvey is calling for a rescue. He wants to snatch ambition from the heap of failed motivations and put it to work for the glory of God. To understand our ambition, we must understand that we are on a quest for glory. And where we find glory determines the success of our quest.

Has your God-given ambition been starved and sedated for too long? Are you ambitious? It’s time to reach further and dream bigger for the glory of God.

To go to the source of this page, and to find more about the author… Go HERE!

Just in case you are wondering, if I am trustworthy, read what other are saying… from HERE!

“In Rescuing Ambition, Dave Harvey distinguishes ambition for the glory of God, which is good, from ambition for the glory of self, which is bad. But godly ambition doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so Harvey helps us see how it is intertwined with humility, contentment, faith, and above all, the gospel. Dave Harvey is both an experienced pastor and a gifted writer, so you will find this book not only profitable but also hard to put down.” Jerry Bridges, author, The Pursuit of Holiness

“Thomas Watson said, ‘Selfish ambition is the mother of all schisms.’ But Dave Harvey shows us a better way in Rescuing Ambition. With wit and wisdom, Dave uncovers the truth in scripture to teach how God forms a gospel-driven ambition in us for use in his mission and for his glory.  I hope every leader in the church today will read Rescuing Ambition.”  Ed Stetzer, President, LifeWay Research

Dave Harvey thinks well, writes well, tells good stories and cites people of substance and insight. I have long appreciated Dave’s integrity, wisdom and perspective. Were I not afraid of feeding his ambition for greatness, or my ambition to write a memorable endorsement, I would add that Rescuing Ambition is biblical, honest, witty and sometimes amusing. I’m happy to recommend this fine book on an important and overlooked subject.  Randy Alcorn, author of If God is Good and Heaven

“Rescuing Ambition is a book for all of us who were created by God, who strive to excel. It applies to every Christian. Dave Harvey brilliantly and accessibly answers the question, ‘Can Christians be humble and ambitious at the same time?’ He explains why and how we can, always rooting his presentation in Scripture. This is a book that has needed to be written. You will not be disappointed.”  Jim Tebbe, Vice President of Missions; Director, Urbana Missions Conference, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

“Whether you’re on Main Street or Wall Street this book has something to say to you. No author has done a better job of helping me understand my heart, my motives, and my Savior.  Harvey uses humor, Scripture, and real-life examples to help us balance our dreams and callings, while always reminding us that Jesus is the Christ.”  Josh Deckard, Former Assistant Press Secretary to President Bush

“I’ve always been a pretty ambitious person. I love thinking and dreaming about doing great things, about being a part of something great, something world-changing—and I’ve always felt guilty about this. I’ve wrestled with my motives and why I want to do great things. I suppose I’ll struggle with this tension for the rest of my fallen life, but, thanks to Dave Harvey, I now have a new tool to help me sort through these things in a gospel-drenched way.”  Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; author, Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different

“Ambition is war; a battle between the sin-driven pursuit of autonomy, self-sufficiency, and self-glory and a humble desire that everything you do would reflect the one thing that is excellent in every way, the glory of God. On every page, Harvey alerts us to this war and trains us to be good soldiers.”  Paul Tripp, President, Paul Tripp Ministries

“Dave writes to those of us who aren’t ambitious enough to read (much less comprehend) a thick theological treatise, but are interested enough to read the words of someone who understands that we are often content to watch others with ambition as they ride up mountains, compose great music, and attempt the unthinkable—like homeschool three kids. This is not a self-help book that doesn’t really help; it is a wake-up alarm to rouse the good gifts specifically placed within us by God for his own glory.”  Scott Thomas, Acts 29 Network Director

“I didn’t know that my ambition was defective and in need of rescuing until I read this book. Harvey writes with such compelling insight and clarity that you’re left thinking the lack of godly ambition ranks alongside pragmatism and theological flimsiness as ailments afflicting the church today. Yet, at root, this book isn’t about problem-hunting nearly as much as it is about the gospel, salvation, and embracing the ambitious agenda Jesus sets for our lives. Those who want to live with high and glorious purpose for the Savior must read this book. So do those who don’t, and those who never thought about what godly ambition really involves. Rescuing Ambition calls us to live large, bold lives by swiping as much glory for Jesus as possible.”  Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman; author, The Faithful Preacher

“Dave Harvey teaches us that God wants ambition back in our understanding of godliness and spiritual health. As Christians, we are to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:13)—that is, ambitious for them. We are to be people who dream and do big things for the glory of God and the good of others. This is a critical book for the church today because it helps us recover the spirit of William Carey, who ambitiously said ‘Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”  Matt Perman, Director of Strategy, Desiring God Ministries

“As the leader of an organization expressly dedicated to seeing the gospel deepen in our own lives as well as expand outward to the nations, I’m grateful for Dave Harvey’s recovery of the idea of ambition.  Dave’s book is a powerful, plainspoken, Scripture-saturated reminder that when the gospel is the center of our identity and security, we can be freed from the petty dreams and small-minded motivations that often hamstring ministry.  In the gospel, we find the freedom to be truly ambitious.”  Bob Osborne, Executive Director, World Harvest Mission

Dave Harvey has delivered a compelling case for developing Godward ambition in the lives of men and women alike. This insightful book carries a timely message in our ‘whatever’ culture: We all have ambition, but where it is aimed and how it is used is worth serious consideration. With self-effacing humor, Dave reveals how being wired for glory can either corrupt us or lead us to a divine agenda. Highly recommended!”  Carolyn McCulley, author of Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World

“Only an ambitious person would try to rescue ambition! Only an ambitious person would actually take the time to write a book on the topic. And only a humble person could accomplish the task! There is a vast difference between selfish ambition and godly ambition. If you want to know what sets them apart, read this book and discover the radical difference between self-glory and God’s glory.”  Tim Lane, Executive Director and Faculty, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation

“Proud people will benefit from reading this book and learning to bend their ambition towards God’s will. Those who are falsely humble will benefit even more by growing the godly ambition to pursue Him with their whole life.”  Mike Anderson, Director of the Resurgence

Dave Harvey isn’t satisfied to live a mediocre life and he isn’t satisfied to see the followers of Jesus live that way either. In his down-to-earth style, Dave takes the concept of ambition from the “reject” pile of Christian vocabulary and reminds us that it is desirable, no, it is a gospel imperative to be ambitious for the right reasons and the right goals. In Rescuing Ambition Dave shows us how to transform our self-centered aspirations into something for God’s glory and our good. His arguments are not psycho-babble, either, but grounded in scripture, theologically sound, and intensely practical.  Tim Witmer, Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary

You also have the opportunity to read certain book excerpts [Foreward by C. J. Mahaney, Introduction, and Chapter 8], listen to “Ambition” audio, and other audio from Dave Harvey, which you can find… HERE!

This title is not due for release until May 2010, but if you pre-order it NOW, you can be blessed with 35% off!  Instead of paying $14.99, you will ONLY pay $9.74

To make the most of this deal today, check out the following link… HERE!

If you are really interested in purchasing this title, wisdom would seem to encourage you to do it now, as over a third of the retail price is certainly reasonable!

Readeeming the Time People

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

H/T: The Gospel Coalition on Twitter

Skeptical?

Cynical?

If I said, Gullible, your sense of the concept would encourage you to recoil, so let’s call it, the desire to believe!

Take a look at this, and see what you think

This was on a “Christian” website, Relevant Magazine dot Com, with the description…

This guy copied a masterpiece painting. With a Bic pen. And the results are amazing. Check out the video (embedded below) and be amazed at what 90 hours and one ballpoint can do …

I confess, after watching this video, considering it is an advertisement for a pen, I do have some doubts… but I would also like it to be so!

In a day and age when people think if they watch it on TV, read in a magazine, and maybe the worst example… read it on-line, then such is the Truth [with a capital "T"], and reason enough to believe!

However, this introduces an interesting question, as Christians, what should be our initial response to situations that call for us to “just believe.”  Should we hold to a skeptical first disposition, withholding our commendation until such can be reliably justified… Or… should we be prepared to believe, particularly when completed by someone with declared Christian credentials, until something disproves what we are presented with?  These two categories are quite stark, and there are other factors involved, such as your relationship to the person, their track record, etc, which all make an appropriate impact when we are confronted with the “facts.”

Which one do you think is more reflective of Christians in present practice?

While this is significant, here is the money question… Which one should be?

Is it wiser to be more open-minded, closing your acceptance to belief only when the context says “close now”… or… is it wiser to be more close-minded, opening your acceptance to beliefs, only when these have been validated to an acceptable or reasonable standard?

Is this made even more conflicting by the many calls from Christians, “to just have faith,” which is fine in certain contexts, but if this held injudiciously, we swallow the kool-aid, look stupid, and even more tragically, defame the name of God!

Is there a solution?

The answer may be to marry what may seem conflicting perspectives, which makes this even harder in practice. [1] God is a miracle working… God… makes this explicit with the greatest of these, this being the resurrection of the sinner to new life.  We should desire to see this reality, and other more functional transformations [which is where the issue tends to practically reside], by God’s grace, in our day.  However, because such is our desire, and we see much of this happening in the life of Jesus, it can be very easy to allow this acceptance at the worldview level to impact our acceptance at the practical real life level, without discretion.  Therefore, [2] while we hold this worldview, we must keep our gates shut, shut, until we are sufficiently sure that it is God who has worked, and as He has opened the gate, we will follow our Master.  Sadly, a generalised Christian commentary tends to have this other way around, which allows things to get wings that belong, dead, under the ground.  We need to remember, after all, the deceptive tactics of the enemy!

Practically, this is not easy, and involves a tension, which can move more in one direction or the other, based on the examples of the miraculous that have informed our understanding, both positively and negatively.  This explains why we need wisdom to act skillfully and respond, not as fools, but as those who have had their senses trained, bodies being filled, minds being renewed, and lives being transformed.  To the extent that we fail to implement this reality, we will either be practising fools, jumping on any new bandwagon, no matter where it may lead… or… we will become functional deists, those who believe in a Creator God, but just can’t find how to see a practical use for His Being.  If the truth be known, we all stand somewhere in the cross-hairs, doing our best, by God’s grace, to be both wise of the ways of this world, all the while, welcoming the unfolding drama of God in and through the lives of His people on this planet, which is the nexus for His redemption song!

To help you think through this some more, over at the Beretta Blog, the Glenn of the Peoples, has been thinking through this context, as it relates to what may be described as the miraculous, with Miracles Happen, and subsequently, Why I’m Such a Cynic.

Have a read, and think through this subject and this context, remembering that Wisdom is something like Skillful Living, which shows itself in such contexts, where only the wise will survive!

Let us know your thoughts on this subject!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

H/T: Zoecity

Now that I have also helped to sufficiently warm the connection between your sight and your brain, let me unload a can on you… Mmmm, No, must be a bug in the evolutionary super-system… For the love of Freud! Sigmund Happens, as they say!  Not to worry, can’t blame me, anyway!

What you can be blamed for, because I have made it thus, is a failure to make the most of this resource.  Which resource?  Patience is Christ-like, and you need practice, as I am about to divulge…

Let me quote his beginning… Yes, the post I am about to reference…

MUST-HEAR: John Lennox and Paul Davies debate about aliens and the origin of life

An amazing debate about the origin of life and the cosmic fine-tuning between a Christian and a materialist agnostic. John Lennox is AWESOME in this debate, and he only talks for a tiny part of the debate. He’s very gracious, and focused the discussion on the areas that we care about. Paul Davies is an EXCELLENT scientist and well aware of what Christians believe. This is a great debate, very easy to listen to. Justin, the moderator, does a great job controlling a fantastic discussion.

Details

What does it take for life to get going in our universe? Is there intelligence in the stars or right under our nose? Renowned astrophysicist Paul Davies chats to Oxford Professor of Mathematics John Lennox.

A popular science author, Davies is also the Chair of the SETI post detection task force. His latest book “The Eerie Silence” which marks SETI’s 50th anniversary examines the likelihood of the universe producing life elsewhere.

John Lennox is a Christian Mathematician and philosopher. He is the author of “God’s Undertaker: has science buried God?” and has debated Richard Dawkins on several occasions.

Davies’ work on the fine tuning of the universe for life has been sympathetic to theism. In this programme Lennox challenges Davies to look to design not just in cosmology but in the cell. They also chat about what the discovery of ET would mean for Christian theology.

Wintery Knight, while providing us with the missing link… the audio… the made-good-man has also been busy summarising what transpires in written form, just in case your listening skills are not what they used to be, providing that bit of help for the weak of the flock!

Good Night, and he is… therefore, Go and say, Kia Ora to the man, and make the most of this resource!

That is all!

What?  Can’t you find it yourself?!  Yeah, good point, I did bring it up… therefore, you can find this resource… HERE!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

H/T: Roberto on Hotmail