BrianD blog

Linkathon 1/25, part 2

BrianD — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:29:16 +0000

Some follow-ups on the articles linked to on the Matthew Paul Turner threads on Andrew (part one and part two), a former member of Mars Hill Church in Seattle who was placed under church discipline:

Chaplain Mike Mercer offers a ‘better way’ of church discipline (the comments are well worth your while).

The brother of Andrew – the subject of the two posts – talks about his brother’s story at Matthew Paul Turner’s blog.

The Mars Hill Refuge blog has made its debut.

Fred Clark: “Any approach to “church discipline” that doesn’t allow for grace is bound to be as gracelessly cruel as that obscene “Mars Hill Church Church Discipline Contract.”… But then part of the response to Driscoll also needs to be to remind him that the invitation to grace stands waiting for him as well — that forgiveness, even for him, is necessary and available and possible and within reach.”

Wenatchee the Hatchet has a long, and solid, reflection on the matter (and his time at Mars Hill Church).

A former member of Mars Hill reflects on his experience (and it isn’t positive, FYI).

On to other subjects:

Professor Ben Witherington – who tragically lost his daughter to a pulmonary embolism – reflects on the goodness of God and what not to say to those who grieve the loss of a loved one.

Terry Enns discusses what makes a heart hard.

R.W. Schambach: 1926-2012.

Aaron Armstrong on what kills a ministry faster than anything else.

Jim Elliff on when pastors aren’t able to pastor.

Jonathan Fitzgerald: “In 2012, there is no explicitly evangelical candidate where, just four short years ago, Republicans chose John McCain, whose evangelical street-cred was bolstered by his choice of Sarah Palin as running mate, and gave second billing to Mike Huckabee, an evangelical pastor.“

Joe Carter, Ted Kluck and Matt Morin debate whether “cage fighting” – known generally as mixed martial arts – is ethical for Christians.

Michael Clawson’s paper on neo-fundamentalism within American evangelicalism was posted on Roger Olson’s blog.

David Fitch asks if the “neo-Reformed” are Reformed or Puritan and if that even matters.

David Sessions riffs on Doug Wilson’s review of Mark and Grace Driscoll’s book Real Marriage (caution: mild language, and discussion of a specific sexual practice as addressed in the book and by Wilson).

Rachel Held Evans on why she’s not discouraged by Mark Driscoll’s popularity.

Crazy religions.

A quite different (and very satirical) church discipline contract.

Wade Burleson: Authoritarianism is the problem.

Tony McCollum on the slow fade.

Michelle DeRusha on a hard heart.

Dan Edelen’s dream. He also asks if the organic house church is a myth.

Sale cereal.

Ryan Couch on qualifications for elders.

Matt Redmond: House of truth, heart of kindness.

Terry Enns on Jesus and nowhere to lay His head.

Al Mohler on why the abortion issue won’t go away.

Justin Taylor links to a short video by David Powlison on healing after an abortion.

Wartburg Watch on Acts29 and a Haiti-based missionary organization.

Christianity Today interviews with Michael W. Smith and Bruce Cockburn.

Fred Clark on creationism.

Jamie Wright says every woman is called to minister.

Russell Moore: “(Carl) Henry, then a young rising star in the Christian firmament, issued a jarring manifesto calling for a theologically-informed and socially-engaged evangelicalism. Henry warned that American Christianity, on the Right and on the Left, was headed for irrelevance, toward being the equivalent of a wilderness cult. His agenda wasn’t simply an updating of style and presentation (although he had written a book on church publicity). The issues at root were about misguided views on the kingdom of God. He was right. And he still is.“

More from Scot McKnight on the Hebrews warning passages.

Michael Patton on when God does not show up.

A series by Jeremy Myers on the tithe.

Book reviews: Thabiti Anyabwile’s Keep Your Head Up and Ed and Lisa Young’s Sexperiment.

Phil Naessens interviews a Christian hip-hop artist about the Christian hip-hop scene.

Aaron Armstrong: Your work is your calling.

Stephen Altrogge on the battle you will fight every day.

Matt Dabbs on growing old and bearing fruit.

Bob Kellemen’s series on the pastoral care ministry of Martin Luther.

Adrian Warnock on church as refuge.

Carlos Whitaker on how to use social media for effective and authentic conversation.

Christian Piatt says he continues to fail the poor.

Russell Moore responds to a woman who questions whether she should marry a guy who struggles with p0rn.

A Covenant Eyes interview about what parents should do when they catch their kids looking at p0rn.

Randy Rudder on the future of faith-based films.

Why Jo Hilder doesn’t mind a little bit of religion.

Part two of Matt Johnston’s interview with Tullian Tchividjian.

Father Ernesto Obregon’s story illustrating why it’s not a good idea to lock a cat inside your suitcase

Tony Campolo’s reflections on the Arab Spring and the persecution of Christians.

Bobby Gilles interviews Austin Stone worship leader Aaron Ivey.

Tim Challies on mutual submission in marriage.

A brand-new Presbyterian denomination (HT). (John Ortberg is associated with this denom)

Don Miller on embracing the sweet, brutal reality of life.

Linkathon 1/25, part 1

BrianD — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:01:58 +0000

In which I catch up here after not posting a thread in several weeks…

This week, we’re starting off with the Mother of All Links – part one and part two of the story of Andrew, a former member of Mars Hill Church in Seattle who was placed under church discipline, as posted on Matthew Paul Turner’s blog. Andrew does not paint a positive picture of his experience nor of the church’s response; you be the judge.

Now, onto a certain book that’s gotten a lot of attention lately….

Mark and Grace Driscoll wrote a book on marriage, which hit store shelves earlier this month. Now why would they write such a thing?

And which Reformed Blogger would critique it? Twice? Along with a seminary professor, an itinerate preacher – twice – a former Mars Hill member and an egalitarian blogger/writer?

A Q&A Christianity Today did with the authors.

And, a CNN article on the book and surrounding controversy.

More reviews and commentaries:

Books & Culture

Chaplain Mike

Fuller Seminary’s The Burner Blog

Credo Magazine (HT: Denny Burk)

Emerging Mummy (HT: Bill Kinnon)

Eugene Cho (you’ll definitely want to read the comments)

Ed Stetzer

Doug Wilson

Warning – the book apparently discusses certain topics in an manner that readers may not be comfortable with or feel is appropriate for public discussion. The reviews address (and critique) those discussions, so keep that in mind as you read the reviews.

More commentary on Driscoll, mainly on his book Real Marriage: Ben Irwin (HT), David Fitch, Jonathan Martin, Dave Faulkner, Dianna Anderson, Darryl Dash, Matthew Lee Anderson, Matt Redmond, Joy, Wenatchee the Hatchet and Driscoll himself.

A partial transcript of the interview Premier Radio’s Justin Brierley did with Driscoll (HT), and the link to the full audio interview.

Bill Kinnon comments on the Driscoll/Brierley interview, as does Jason Stellman.

Back to non-Driscoll links:

One great article by Bill Kinnon, and another, and another, and yet another. And a fifth – add this guy to your RSS feed.

Frank Viola interviews N.T. Wright.

An excerpt from J.I. Packer’s recently re-released book with Carolyn Nystrom on God’s will is posted on Christianity Today.

Matt Papa – worship leader at an Acts29 church in North Carolina – pushes back at Christian radio and its “golden calf“. (HT)

A solid introduction to Eugene Peterson (at a non-Christian website).

One woman’s experience with church discipline.

Wade Burleson on the “fatal flaw within” the “Together for the Gospel men”.

Lauren Winner was interviewed by Christianity Today about her upcoming book.

C.J. Mahaney is “fit to return”.

Todd Bentley banned from going Down Under.

Books Christine Sine recommends.

Owen Strachan riffing on Mark Steyn: “Travel, good food and drink, and entertainment are in; children, sacrifice, and building something lasting are out. This is true of the West writ large, it’s true of many young Americans, and it’s influencing the church. We’re reminded that we are called to something greater by God, to build grand and exciting and world-defying institutions like the Christ-driven family and the local church.”

Rachel Held Evans on evangelical celebrity.

How do you not notice a three-inch nail shot into your brain?????

Linkathon 11/23

BrianD — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:53:44 +0000

So, here’s who’s talking to who about what in the Elephant Room.

The best and worst Thanksgiving foods.

Scott Thomas on what pastors can learn from the Penn State scandal.

David Fitch on why missional leaders need to get over “white man’s angst”.

A whole lot of Beatles songs, all played at the same time.

Two different views on mixed martial arts, from Mark Driscoll and Brad Williams.

Jeremy Myers is doing a series on prayer on his blog. Here’s an interesting post on how we talk to God.

Wait a sec: Japan’s stock market is down because its emperor has sex with the sun goddess….wait, what?!?!?!? (HT)

Misconceptions about evolution, part 1 and part 2.

Why Paul McCain recommends the Kindle.

Roger Olson on who is a Christian.

David Sessions on why evangelicals forgive Republican sex scandals.

A Jack Chick tract translator.

The team manager of Samoa’s Rugby World Cup squad was fined 100 pigs.

Open blogging

BrianD — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:30:49 +0000

Image taken from this post at David Hayward’s website. David’s commentary is short and to the point and, as the Truly Reformed might say (but not agree with), helpful.

The money quote: “There is a place where you can receive love, comfort and affirmation.”

Updating the blogroll

BrianD — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:26:29 +0000

If this blog is going to be more active in the near future, then I need to do some housecleaning.

I started by updating the blogroll, accessible by visiting the blog (feed readers will need to click through).

Goodbye to a Sovereign Grace Guy and a Reformed Guy who is friends with the Head Sovereign Grace Guy. They’re not what I need speaking into my life and not what I want to endorse.

Hello to Scot McKnight, Rachel Evans and Jamie the Very Worst Missionary.

Also: Michael Newnham has posted a farewell article at Phoenix Preacher. I expect him to be back, some day, by the way

For Phoenix Preacher readers

BrianD — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:56:01 +0000

Michael is taking a break, and when and if he decides to return we’ll announce it here.

I plan to continue to post Linkathons on Wednesdays, here. As topics come to mind, I may write on those as well.

Linkathon 11/16

BrianD — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:20:16 +0000

Chaplain Mike on how Lutheranism has helped him with his concerns over evangelicalism, part 1, part 2 and part 3.

Chaplain Mike also looks at N.T. Wright’s new Bible translation.

One man’s opinion on why Christian books are boring.

A very telling comment on how church discipline, church membership and pastoral counseling could “blow up in the land of the young, restless and Reformed”

11 sounds kids probably have not heard.

Why one guy doesn’t heed “The Call”

One man’s top 25 books for a “young theologian” to read.

Rick McKinley is interviewed.

So is Tony Campolo.

Rick Warren has advice for Pentecostal churches.

Tony Jones and Albert Mohler on Penn State.

Linkathon 11/2, part 1

BrianD — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:12:09 +0000

Carolyn McCulley on ministry to singles.

A woman talks about how p0rn nearly destroyed her marriage.

A seminarian discusses church discipline. (HT)

A Christian is interviewed about his work in south Sudan.

Matt Dabbs says being like the early church means we’ll have problems, too.

Richard Beck interviews blogger Rachel Held Evans.

The top 200 church blogs for 2011. (HT)

Linkathon 10/19-26

BrianD — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:54 +0000

Thabiti Anyabwile critiques multi-site churches.

Frank Turk responds, sort of, in an open letter to Chris Rosebrough.

Kurt Willems puts Mark Driscoll and Greg Boyd’s comments on losing one’s salvation up against the other’s.

Willems says the world is cracked and, maybe, that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Scott McClellan critiques a recent YouTube video put up by Mars Hill (Seattle) in which Driscoll tells his audience God hates some of them.

Tim Challies on how to know the will of God.

Michael Horton reviews Scot McKnight’s new book.

McKnight comments on a point he raises in his book about the so-called soterian gospel.

Carole Turner asks why no girls in the Elephant Room?

Karen Spears Zacharias on Brennan Manning’s autobiography.

Kevin DeYoung says blame it on Babylon.

Richard Beck contrasts the Churches of Christ and evangelicalism.

Thabiti interviews Christian counselor Bob Kellemen.

Why Kellemen prefers local ministry over the speaking circuit.

Dan Phillips on singles, churches and Scripture.

Dave Miller’s observations and questions for old-earthers and theistic evolutionists.

How Trevin Wax wishes the homosexuality debate would go.

Chuck Warnock looks at the myths surrounding the growth of conservative churches.

James White critiques Roger Olson.

Olson on the best Arminian commentaries on Romans 9. Olson asks what makes someone evangelical.

Speaker highlights from Catalyst 2011.

Tullian Tchividjian is interviewed by Christianity Today about his new book. (HT: Steve McCoy)

NPR’s Neal Cowan talks with Karl Giberson about evangelicals’ “parallel culture”, science and anti-intellectualism.

Jeff Dunn on the naked emperor.

John Piper on Steve Jobs.

Adam McHugh says it’s a confusing time to be a man.

Justin Taylor’s resources for Reformation Day (October 31).

Jared Moore says yes to Halloween.

Ed Stetzer has no problem helping “issue Christians” to “move on”.

Steve McCoy links to all of the blog posts about last week’s Together for Adoption conference.

The next step in Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusades.

Karl Giberson and Randall Stephens co-wrote an article for The New York Times which has been much debated on the internet. Its title is The Evangelical Rejection of Reason.

…it is easy to see why someone like Giberson or Stephens might presume the distinction between faith (religious) and science (secular): because that is what their audience generally assumes.

But this is exactly the division that we as Christians need to reject as we talk about the relationship between science and faith, and especially when it comes to providing a critique of Christian fundamentalism. Science belongs, I wish to argue, just as much to the church of Christ as it does to some so-called secular realm of knowledge. To treat the conversation otherwise is to give in to both the secular fundamentalists, who wish to see Christians surrender their faith in God for faith in science as the fount of all truth, and the Christian fundamentalists, who fear that any compromise with the secular ultimately amounts to selling out their fidelity to God.

A far more appropriate way to criticize the anti-intellectual and anti-scientific positions of Christian fundamentalists is to demonstrate how deeply anti-Christian and anti-biblical these positions truly are…

Three perspectives on Tim Tebow: Brian Phillips at Grantland; Nick Lannon at Mockingbird; and Scott Williams.

Mark Roberts asks if distrust of the government will hurt the church.

Carl Trueman asks what the subjects are that the superstar pastors (my term) never talk about at these conferences.

Michael Patton asks if sola fide means you and I can do whatever we please.

Dave Miller sees some problems with Gospel-centered terminology.

Denny Burk links to a discussion of Bible translations among Wayne Grudem, Douglas Moo and Ray Clendenen.

M. Scott Foster sees a connection between homosexuality and some home-schooled boys.