Take Your Vitamin Z

November Book Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

In partnership withe Crossway Books, I'll be giving away three copies of R.C. Sproul's new commentary, Romans: The Righteous Shall Live By Faith.

If you want to be entered in the random drawing, sign up for the RSS feed (or twitter if you already have subscribed to my RSS) and email me to let me know. If you already have both (or don't use twitter) just email me anyway and let me know you want in.

Here is a description of this commentary:

Sproul's sermons at St. Andrew's Chapel are the foundation of these never-before-published expositions on Paul's epistle to the Romans.

Chrysostom had it read aloud to him once a week. Augustine, Luther, and Wesley all came to assured faith through its impact. The Reformers saw it as the God-given key to understanding the whole of Scripture.

Throughout church history the study of the book of Romans has been pivotal to understanding Christian life and doctrine. Convinced that "Paul's fullest, grandest, most comprehensive statement of the gospel" is just as vital today, R. C. Sproul delivered nearly sixty sermons on Romans from October 2005 to April 2007 at St. Andrew's Chapel, where he has pastored for more than a decade. These never-before-published expositions are now being released in a hardcover book comprising nearly 600 pages of material. Sproul's passage-by-passage expositions will not only enrich any preaching or teaching ministry but any thoughtful study of this weighty epistle.

The Greatest Story Ever Told

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Biblical Theology in four minutes. This is great.

You can buy this song here.

Some Pics From A Recent Jazz Gig

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:16:00 +0000

Jesus Said More About Hell Than Anyone Else

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:20:00 +0000

As horrific as the descriptions of hell are, the stunning truth of the matter is that most of them come from the lips of Jesus. He has far more to say about hell than anyone else in the Bible.

Surely that must give us pause. We must dare to ask ourselves if our own moral sensibilities have somehow been misdirected, misfocused. Is it possible that our severest problems about these forms of suffering owe more to the pluralism of our age than to any ostensible superiority in moral judgment on our part? Is it possible that part, at least, of our horror at hell owes something to our inability (or refusal?) to look at sin from God's perspective?

- D.A. Carson, How Long O Lord?, p. 85,86

A Post For Women on Sexuality

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Tim Challies:

For the next couple of days there will be a guest blogger on this site—none other than my wife, Aileen. She will be sharing a few articles directed specifically at women. Here is how this came about.
Two weeks ago (yes, it was really that long ago) I posted a series called Sexual Detox. One of the unexpected results of the series was a large number of emails from women who read this blog. I passed many of these emails to Aileen and she has engaged in correspondence with some of the women. This has led to some interesting conversation and, I think, an opportunity for her to both learn from and minister to some sisters in Christ.

Read the her first post. Her conclusion is as follows and I give it an "amen".

Think about what you do to show your husband you love him. Maybe you are a stay-at-home mom and you show your love by making his lunch in the morning and making sure you meet him at the door with a kiss when he comes home. Maybe he is the type who loves physical affection so you make sure to rub his shoulders or back in the evening. You know the things you do to express your love and affection.
Now understand that sex is probably the most meaningful way in which he shows you that he loves you; and it is the most powerful way in which he wants you to show how much you love him. Sex is every man’s love language! If you want to be a wife that serves and builds up your husband, regular, joyful sex will be a part of your relationship to him. So I guess we arrive at the obvious conclusion: have sex, have it often, and serve your husband freely and joyfully in this manner. You will have a stronger marriage to show for it. And, think on this: every marriage counselor is likely to agree that if the sex life is good, the marriage is good. Rarely do you see a bad marriage with a good sex life. It’s almost like sex is…superglue.

A Church Plant In Lincoln, NE

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:17:00 +0000

My buddy Todd Bumgarner is launching an Acts29 church in Lincoln, NE. He has put together a very impressive video highlighting their work there. Check it out.

2 Pillars Church Vision Video from Todd Bumgarner on Vimeo.

Review of "Beauty Will Rise"

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Scott Anderson posts a great review of Steven Curtis Chapman's new record. He writes:

I purchased Steven Curtis Chapman’s new album “Beauty Will Rise“. It is the much-anticipated first release from Chapman since the tragic death of his 5-year old daughter, Maria, just 18-months ago.

Simply put, this album is a musical masterpiece. It contains 12 beautifully-written, mostly acoustic songs with understated accompaniment that accents the intimate, personal nature of the lyrics. This album is primed to actively minister to all who listen to its melodies.

Indeed, listening to this entire album in one sitting is a moving, worshipful experience. The songs segue together to form a kind of Psalm of Lament–questions, cries, and pain are heard in every song. Yet the heartache expressed is couched within a deep faith and steady hope in the absolute, good sovereignty of God. Chapman sings through the suffering, pointing us to a God who sees and knows and controls all things; to a God who will carry us through to That Day when it all be made right (Rev. 22:3-5). Taken as a whole, this album unequivocally echoes the refrain of the prophet Isaiah: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Is. 26:4). In this respect, “Beauty Will Rise” is a tremendously God-honoring work.

Undoubtedly, this album will minister in profound ways to many who are suffering. It gives emotional expression to what it means to grieve in faith; to be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10). I recommend it highly. I already have several people in mind to whom I intend to gift the album.

You can get his new record here.

(HT: Dan Cruver)

A Sad Graphic

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Just to give you an idea of the need in Madison for a church plant, this graphic appeared on a prominent blog for all things cultural in the Madison area.

We are prayerful and sobered. This is why we are going.

Abby Johnson on Huckabee

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:26:00 +0000

Former Planned Parenthood director speaks to Huckabee. This is powerful.

Concerning A Crucial Vote

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:07:00 +0000

John Mark Reynolds:

Whatever you think of health care reform, Christians should unite on keeping federal money from paying for abortion. This is a bi-partisan effort. A Torrey Honors alum who works in Washington in an email:

Sorry to bother all of you on a crisp autumn morning and sorry for the
mass email, but I need to break into your early morning reveries with
politics: please, if you possibly can – CALL your US Representative and
ask them to support the pro-life Stupak-Pitts amendment to health care!!

After months and months of making the case that any kind of health care
reform should at the very least not increase the amount of lives hurt and
destroyed by abortion, (no matter whether apart from that you’re for or
against the current proposal) the Democrat leadership has finally been
forced to allow a vote. The numbers are exactly on the line with no one
knowing how such a vote will turn out, so every Member that even remotely might vote pro-life on something like the Hyde Amendment or overseas funding should be contacted and urged to vote the pro-life position. Right now, the vote is expected late today or tomorrow. Especially if you live in a district where the Member is not a solid pro-lifer (Souder, Boehner, Jordan and Herger for instance are all 100% pro-life), please call and ask them to vote for bi-partisan Stupak-Pitts amendment.

Even if your Representative is solid (or you don’t have one!), please
pray. This may seem like “just politics as usual”, but if a vote is
allowed today and it is defeated, it’s over. We lose our case and any
further influence in the health care debate. If health care reform then
passes, thousands more will be spent on funding abortion and thousands
more babies will die – by our hand, with our money. Please God, may it not be so.

If you don’t know your representative go [https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml ]here, and once you know their name even if you don’t know their direct number, just call (they won’t get the emails until too late) 202-224-3121 and the Congressional operator will direct you to their office.

Playing The Comparison Game

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:39:00 +0000

We are not to compare ourselves with other people; nor are we to think of ourselves as more righteous or of others as more sinful. We are to compare ourselves only with God in his absolute moral perfection, goodness, justice, mercy, and love. As we grow in the true knowledge of God, we become far more deeply aware of the gap between the Lord’s holiness and purity and our own lack of holiness and the absence of purity in our hearts and in our thoughts. If I still think of others as “the sinners” and myself as “good enough,” then it is clear I know God very poorly, if at all. But when I begin to know him and come before him with a true acknowledgement of who he is, then the moral differences between myself and other people become insignificant. Before him my own sins loom large and ugly.

- Jerram Barrs, Learning Evangelism from Jesus, p. 139

AmazonMP3 Daily Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Probably one of the best records of the last 15 years. If you don't have it, get it.

Continuum
by John Mayer

Price:

$3.99

Z Music - Beautiful Love

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:13:00 +0000

This piece is one of my favorite jazz standards: Beautiful Love.

Beautiful Love - Solo from Zach Nielsen on Vimeo.

What are people learning about the character of God from our lives?

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:14:00 +0000

Do we think of God as one who likes to “haul sinners over the coals”? Do we think of the Lord as one who likes to list our sins for us and force us to “eat humble pie”? How we see God’s character will deter- mine how we reveal God to others, so what kind of a picture of God are we communicating to people? Is “our God” always angry, never truly satisfied, constantly carping and criticizing, or is he the gracious and amazingly merciful God of these parables? To bring this ques- tion down to the daily reality of our lives: how do our children see God in us, and hear about God from us? How do unbelievers in our workplace, school, or neighborhood see and hear about God through us? In our lives, are we communicating a portrait of a truly gracious God? Or are we communicating a portrait of our heavenly Father as a slave master?

This past year one of my students shared in class a most painful story about his son putting a gun in his own mouth and threatening to blow off his head. He said with tears that he had failed as a father to communicate graciousness to his son in the demands he made and in the way he treated him. Many fathers are like this. I will never forget one of my sons saying to me, “Dad, what have you got against me?” His words shocked me deeply, and I said to him with tears, “Son, I have nothing against you. I love you!” I couldn’t believe I had made him feel that I was unhappy with him, or dissatisfied with who he was. We need to remember that no one has ever seen God; what they know of God’s love is what they see in us. So, again, what are people learning about the character of God from our lives?

- Jerram Barrs, Learning Evangelism from Jesus, p. 122, 123

9 Ways to Know the Gospel of Christ Is True

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:38:00 +0000

A very encouraging post here from John Piper: 9 Ways to Know the Gospel of Christ Is True.

Orphan Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:28:00 +0000

Many churches around the world will highlight orphan care this coming Sunday. Many churches will be showing this video as well.

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Receiving Sinners

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Luke 15:1-2 - Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

As I read these verses this morning it struck me that religious people will rarely criticize you for spending time with other Christians. Who do you spend the majority of your time with? When was the last time you had a religious person question who you hang out with?

In a sense, if some of our relationships don't seem a bit "questionable", then perhaps we should rethink our relationships.

Leadership and Listening

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:09:00 +0000

Scott Sterner reports on a recent message from George Barna at the RightNow conference going on in Dallas, Texas. I appreciated this point about leadership and listening:

3. One of the most under valued and least common skills among leaders is listening.
Ken Blanchard, “When we try to lead, we need to lead with our ears... You cannot listen effectively unless you are willing to have your mind changed.”
If you want to solve problems you’ve got to listen. Many leaders think leadership is telling other people what to do instead of gathering as much intelligence as possible for the people with whom we work. Consistently listening shows our humility and respect for others.
Lou Holtz said, “I never learned anything by talking.”
Bad listening leads to bad leadership. Not listening undermines creativity and destroys enthusiasm. We need to listen, think, and then decide.
Can you repeat back to others their message so that you can seek clarification? Do you see the value their message has for your goals? Do the people who work with you feel safe about telling you what is on your mind?

Read the rest.

AmazonMP3 Daily Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:02:00 +0000

Memory Almost Full
by Paul McCartney

Price:

$2.99

C'mon, What Could Be Better Than Weezer + Kenny G.?

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:33:00 +0000

I don't really know what to make of this, but it sure made me laugh. The dudes in Weezer are crazy and I love it.

ABQ People, Come Out This Saturday Night!

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:53:00 +0000

Zach Nielsen - Piano
Colin Deuble - Bass
Doug Cardwell - Drums

8-11pm at Scalo on Central

Speaker Pelosi’s Government-Run Health Plan Will Require a Monthly Abortion Premium

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:58:00 +0000

John Boehner:

Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life - not end it.

Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s 2,032-page government takeover of health care does just that. On line 17, p. 110, section 222 under “Abortions for which Public Funding is Allowed” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run plan. The Speaker’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions.

What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run plan. It’s right there on line 16, page 96, section 213, under “Insurance Rating Rules.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account - and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.

Section 213 describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run plan. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month.

The Power of a New Affection

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:38:00 +0000

But Jesus was a different kind of holy man and teacher. We have already seen that Jesus did not seek to keep apart from sinners. He also did not turn sinners away. Jesus did not abuse sinners, single them out for condemnation, or avoid them. Rather, he was a teacher who spoke words of comfort and grace to them, a teacher who showed them such respect, honor, and love that many of them responded by happily turning away from their sin. This, of course, was what hap- pened in the life of Zacchaeus. Grace and mercy are a far more effec- tive means of creating love and devotion than condemnation. A new affection for Christ has a much greater power to drive out sin and bring lasting repentance than any sermon on moral improvement, or any program for straightening out one’s life.

- Jerram Barrs, Learning Evangelism from Jesus, p. 102

Interview with Matt Redman

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Bob Kauflin has a good interview with Matt Redman concerning his new release. You can read it here.

Avoidance Ethic

noreply@blogger.com (Vitamin Z) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0000

One of the marks of this peacetime mind-set is what I call an avoidance ethic. In wartime we ask different questions about what to do with our lives than we do in peacetime. We ask: What can I do to advance the cause? What can I do to bring the victory? What sacrifice can I make or what risk can I take to insure the joy of triumph? In peacetime we tend to ask, What can I do to be more comfortable? To have more fun? To avoid trouble and, possibly, avoid sin?
If we are going to pay the price and take the risks it will cost to make people glad in God, we move beyond the avoidance ethic. This way of life is utterly inadequate to waken people to the beauty Christ. Avoiding fearful trouble and forbidden behaviors impresses almost no one. The avoidance ethic by itself is not Christ-commending or God-glorifying. There are many disciplined unbelievers who avoid the same behaviors Christians do. Jesus calls us to do something far more radical than that.

People who are content with the avoidance ethic generally ask the wrong question about behavior. They ask, What's wrong with it? What's wrong with this movie? Or this music? Or this game? Or these companions? Or this way of relaxing? Or this investment? Or this restaurant? Or shopping at this store? What's wrong with going to the cabin every weekend? Or having a cabin? This kind of question will rarely yield a lifestyle that commends Christ as all-satisfying and makes people glad in God. It simply results in a list of don'ts. It feeds the avoidance ethic.

The better questions to ask about possible behaviors is: How will this help me treasure Christ more? How will it help me show that I do treasure Christ? How will it help me know Christ or display Christ? The Bible says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). So the question is mainly positive, not negative. How can I portray God as glorious in this action? How can I enjoy making much of him in this behavior?

Oh, how many lives are wasted by people who believe that the Christian life means simply avoiding badness and providing for the family. So there is no adultery, no stealing, no killing, no embezzlement, no fraud--just lots of hard work during the day and lots of TV and PG-13 videos in the evening (during quality family time), and lots of fun stuff on the weekend--woven around the church (mostly). This is life for millions of people. Wasted life. We were created for more, far more.

There is an old saying: "No man ever lamented on his dying bed, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office."' The point being made is usually that when you are about to die, money suddenly looks like what it really is, useless for lasting happiness, while relationships become precious. It's true. When my mother was killed in 1974, I wrote to the chairman of my department at Bethel College, where I was teaching, and reversed my request to teach an overload the next semester to make more money. Standing beside your mother's grave with a wife and child makes things look different. Money loses its pull.

But that saying about spending less time at the office can be misleading. We need to add this: No one will ever want to say to the Lord of the universe five minutes after death, I spent every night playing games and watching TV with my family because I loved them so much. I think the Lord will say, "That did make me look like a treasure in your town. You should have done something besides provide for yourself and your family. And TV, as you should have known, was not a good way to nurture your family or your own soul."

-John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life, page 118-120

(HT: Josh Harris)