Eddie Long is The a Kking!

The Stranger alt-weekly in Seattle published a story about Mars Hill Church, focusing on another former member and his experience with church discipline (HT).

Wartburg Watch posted on how to leave a “Mark Driscoll-like church”.

Skye Jethani: “Books and blogs are filled with recommendations about how to reverse the exodus of young adults, and I have no silver bullet solution to offer here. But I do want to explore one area I believe many churches have overlooked- vocation.“

Ben Irwin’s open letter to friends in the pro-life movement.

Bobby Gilles asks if the contemporary worship music industry can be trusted.

Rachel Held Evans reviews Peter Enns’ book The Evolution of Adam.

More fun from the Elephant Room: James MacDonald defends, Phil Johnson responds, and Kevin DeYoung and Justin Taylor comment.

Thabiti Anyabwile: “if you’re from outside the African-American community, think very long, hard, and carefully about ever calling some African Americans to take your position in defense against other African Americans.  It’s disastrous for everyone, and, frankly, you won’t begin to pay the deeper costs over the longer period that your African American friend will.” (HT to Frank Turk at the Phil Johnson Pyromaniacs link posted above).

An older post from Alan Knox’s blog: an anonymous woman comments on how the church can respond to those, like her, living in poverty (HT: Randall Slack).

D.A. Carson responds to Mark Driscoll’s views on the church in Britain.

Bent Meyer – one of the elders fired from Mars Hill Church in 2007 – speaks publicly for the first time about it.

Wenatchee the Hatchet riffs off a certain podcast, commenting on the Mars Hill/church discipline situation.

Mark Roberts on why we confess.

Driscoll reflects on the Elephant Room.

Andrew Jones with 15 ways pastors get rich.

Bryon Mondok reviews Paul Meier and David Henderson’s book Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain.

A good summary by The Courier-Journal writer Peter Smith on the “new Calvinism” within the Southern Baptist Convention, focusing on an Owensboro, Kentucky church.

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.

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

Faith Village

Puritan Board

Dianna Anderson

Dianna Anderson

Mark Lamprecht

Credo Magazine (HT: Denny Burk)

Phil Johnson

The Life Oxford

Word Vixen

Practice of Piety

Christian Manifesto

Relevant Magazine

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?????

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.

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.”

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

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

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.

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)