NT Wright on Blogging/Social Media from Bill Kinnon on Vimeo.

I tell whoever will listen that the greatest danger facing our youth is being swept away in a sea of triviality . There are endless waves of nonsense competing for their attention, and we must teach them to know a few things so well they are gripped (or anchored) by them. By God. By the Gospel. By God-centered and others-directed love which compels us to give our lives away (2 Cor. 5:9-21).

I contend that adults are essentially junior high students, past the changing-everything-stage, and more stuck in their ways. Our passions are what drive us, and we are just as prone to be swept away in a sea of triviality. Meaningless knows no age-range.

Consider this commentary by John Dyer , coupled with this introductory comic strip for  Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death . Can’t improve on their insights. (Look at the comic strip first, then Dyer’s thoughts.) Remember Huxley and Orwell? You will.

An excerpt from Dyer:

Information Deprivation vs. Information Overload
(Orwell’s fears versus Huxley’s fears)

Postman points out two major concerns:

1. The kind of information we intake is insignificant.
2. The amount of information we intake overshadows what little significant information we do intake.

In other words, if you read a passage of Scripture in the morning, then later consume lots of TV shows, blogs, and advertisements, it doesn’t matter if the content is morally good or morally bad, the sheer volume of information will dilute anything truly great and tend you toward seeking more and more insignificant material.

I have to ask myself: am I really a more intelligent, loving, godly person because of my constant access to the never ending stream of news? I imagine Dostoevsky would have longed to have the remainder of the Old Testament – do I long to be saturated by God’s word as much as I long for new interesting tech news?

How about you, are you satured with the significant or overwhelmed by the meaningless?

A snippet:

I believe that any tool, whether we use it for good or bad, right or wrong, truthfully or untruthfully, shapes the way we look at the world. Just as a photographer sees the world in pictures and a stockbroker sees the world in business transactions, we all see the world through whatever we use most. A wise man once said, “We become what we behold.”

His conclusion:

So, come, be my friend on facebook, twitter, and the rest [links removed], but let us not behold the images we post and the words we write, but less us behold Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15 ; Heb. 1:3 ) and the very Word of God (John 1:1 ), and let us not anchor our identity in the things posted about us online, but on the fact that God has called us “friend” and “sons and daughters.”

We become what we behold. Or put another way: beholding is becoming (2 Cor. 3:18).

Along the same lines, I haven’t had much time to read in recent months. At least not at the book-a-week clip I enjoyed before. Always dabbling in a few books, and trying to keep up on a few blogs. Here’s what I’m reading right now:

BOOKS

Always

• God’s Word, the Bible (ESV + NIV + ESV Study Bible online)
• Greek New Testament (UBS 4th Rev. Ed., mostly following along while receiving the weekend sermons to not lose everything I’ve learned)
• The Best of A.W. Tozer (never tire of this saints’ insights)

Renewing minds

• Godology: because knowing God changes everything by Christian George // a short, creative and at times mind-blowing treatment of God’s Perfections (attributes), and how the Triune God intersects with daily lives. He had me on the first page when he quoted my favorite Tozer-ism: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." How true. Yesterday morning I read a chapter called "Chocolate for the Soul" (on God’s Holiness), which had an awesome sidebar quote: "Grace is the grueling work of a determined God."
• Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ by John Piper

Leadership + Pastoring

• Leading with a Limp : take full advantage of your most powerful weakness by Dan Allender (just got it back from Kari, who thoroughly enjoyed it)
• Leading from the Second Chair : serving your church, fulfilling your role and realizing your dreams by Mike Bonem & Roger Patterson
• 101 Ideas for Making Disciples in Your Youth Group by Kent Julian

Many other pastoral books are within reach here on my desk, and from which I glen often. Like A Quest for More by Paul David Tripp, Total Church by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester, Waiting on God by Andrew Murray, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp, and many Warren Wiersbe books (including On Being a Servant of God ).

I am not a fast reader, but give me a day off without any other commitments and I would happily read for 12 hours straight. (In a public place, so I can dialogue with others too.) I call this a "happy tension" because I long to read and know more. Yet the Spirit longs for reshaping us to want to know God more, obeying him from the inward person. Put another way, while we want to "get in the Word," God works for the word to get in us.

Leaders must be readers, and I’m convinced that we give far more consideration to what we put in our mouths than what we put in our minds. Renewing our minds is the daily discipline of people who love God and are growing to love Him more. Otherwise we implode on ourselves and get trapped in the tiny prisons of our own minds, and remain like kids in our thoughts, tossed to and fro by every wind of teaching (Eph. 4:14).

BLOGS

Don’t have time to read much of these anymore, but other than my wife’s daily musings, here are some of my favorite blogs (with a link to a particularly good post on each):

• Gospel-driven Church // bonus post (Jared Wilson, writer, and pastor of Element )
• Christians in Context
• Dwell Deep (Matt Chandler)
• What’s Best Next (Matt Perman)
  
• Desiring God
• subtext // the gospel in the suburban context
• Church Planting Novice & Creation Project (Jonathan Dodson, who has the same glasses as yours truly)

And others when possible.

His new book is an expansion and more detailed research project of his September 2006 article in Christianity Today magazine . During that time and afterward he traveled all around the country (for nearly two years) chronicling the diverse movement, from the Passion conferences to Southern Seminary, to Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis (home of John Piper, pastor for preaching and vision), to Sovereign Grace Churches, to visit with dozens of churches and pastors and professors across the country, to Yale and Princeton (Jonathan Edward’s roots) and all the way to Seattle (home of Mars Hill Church and Mark Driscoll, preaching pastor, and the Acts29 church planting network). It is truly amazing how much info, interviews, reflections and candor he Hansen was able to pack into 156 pages.

Having read and followed most of the "key players" among the resurgence in and towards the doctrines of grace for a few years, I was delighted to better understand their interwoven story. I recommend this quick read for those not familiar with the God-centered theology, or with an caricature/skewed view of it as it relates to biblical doctrine. Others have reviewed and responded to the book in other places (see links below).

Hansen’s book reads like a string of captivating articles, and he does more than give facts as he reflects, summarizes and connects the doctrines of grace, people of grace, the centrality of Christ and some of the various issues facing the American church with journalistic creativity. I especially appreciated the tone found throughout of an others-directed, servant-like humility and the need for evangelism, mission (and missions), and serving the local church and community. To be God-centered, Bible-saturated and Gospel-driven means to give our lives away sacrificially.

Spurgeon is quoted on page 114 noting how the doctrine of election is not aimed at dividing saints, but rather "Israel from Egypt" (as in the OT). He goes on:

“A man may be evidently of God’s chosen family, and yet though elected, may not believe in the doctrine of election. I hold there are many savingly called, who do not believe in effectual calling, and that there are a great many who persevere to the end, who do not believe in the doctrine of final perseverance. We do hope that the hearts of many are a great deal better than their heads. We do not set their fallacies down to any willful opposition to the trust as it is in Jesus, but simply to an error in their judgments, which we pray God to correct. We hope that if they think us mistaken too, they will reciprocate the same Christian courtesy; and when we meet around the cross, we hope that when we meet around the cross, we hope that we shall ever feel that we are one in Christ Jesus.”[1]

Let all remember:

“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” ( 1 Cor. 4:7 )

• Read Hansen’s original Young, Restless, Reformed article in the Sept. 2006 edition Christianity Today magazine
• Read the prologue and chapter one of the book
• Timmy Brister’s personal interview with Collin Hansen – part 1 | 2 | 3
• Audio/video of discussion with Hansen and Dr. Doug Sweeney recorded at the Henry Center at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
• Kirk Wellum’s review & response (originally on Wellum’s blog )
• Tim Challies’ book review

(Brister and Challies are both mentioned in the book.)

I agree. Furthermore, I don’t think I would be breathing right now if Christ hadn’t tasted death and risen again. And would have no hope, eternal or temporal.

God did not spare His own Son but intentionally and freely gave Him up for the salvation of His people. He bids us come and experience His love. This weekend, may more people trust in Christ and experience God as the fountain of all joy and the source of all love.

—

Here are some recommended resources on the death and resurrection of Christ.

On the death of Christ:

• The Greatest Event in History: Two Paradoxes in the Death of Christ
• The Pleasure of God in Bruising the Son
• For Whom Did Jesus Taste Death?
• He Made Purification of Sins
• God Did Not Spare His Own Son

On the resurrection of Christ:

• The Gladness of the Risen God
• But Christ Has Been Raised, You Are Not in Your Sins
• Jesus is Alive to Serve
• Eight Reasons Why I Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead
• Six Gifts of the Resurrection

On the resurrection of believers:

• Glorification: Conformed to Christ for the Supremacy of Christ
• We Shall be Like Him
• What Happens When You Die? The Dead Will be Raised Imperishable
• How God’s Word Produces Our Work: The Mighty “Therefore” of 1 Corinthians 15:58

See also the sermon occasions “Good Friday” and “Easter Sunday,” and the topics “Jesus Christ,” “the Death of Christ,” “the Resurrection of Christ,” and “Glorification.”

While Osteen’s message is far from the biblical Gospel Jesus Himself preached, people are clamoring for his self-help mantras. His message appeals to the longings of the natural mind — we want money and happiness, but we do not want God Himself. The gifts are more beautiful and compelling than the Giver. We want what God can give us but not God Himself.

Below I’ve compiled a few helpful resources in wading through the shallow waters Osteen swims in. Let me know if you find others.

Watch the video or read the transcript from the CBS 60 Minutes segment on 10/14/07.

Michael Horton of Westminster Seminary was interviewed in the Osteen segment. Read more essays by Horton about Osteen.

• Also, White Horse Inn (Horton’s radio ministry) hosts some related resources

Michael Spencer gives some comments on Osteen’s 60 Minutes piece from 10/14 on CBS

Tullian Tchividjian reminds us How to Identify a “Reliable Carrier” of God’s Truth

Tim Challies reviews Osteen’s new book, Become a Better You

Brent Thomas offers some reasons Why Joel Osteen’s Newest Book Should Not Be Sold in “Christian” Bookstores

Prosperity Gospel in Africa in Christianity Today (via Desiring God blog)

Short John Piper video excerpt on America’s Ugly Exported “Gospel”

John Piper sermon, “Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly”

The entire story is now up:
Ch. 1: The Phone Call | Ch. 2: The U-turn | Ch. 3: The Jeep | Ch. 4: The Apartment | Ch. 5: The Meeting | Ch. 6: The Rack | Ch. 7: The Barium Vials | Ch. 8: The Interview | Ch. 9: The Coffee Shop | Ch. 10: The Memorial Service | Ch. 11: The Seifers | Ch. 12: The Right Stuff | Ch. 13: The Acropolis | Ch. 14: The Home Fellowship | Ch. 15: The Settlers of Catan | Ch. 16: The Valentine Dinner | Ch. 17: The SonShiners | Ch. 18: The Road Home | The Epilogue

When our first two children were still quite young, I realized that my commute home in the evening was functioning as little more than a review of my day. As far as I was concerned, by the time I got in that car, my responsibilities were pretty much over until the next morning. I saw my home as a refuge, a place where the emphasis, for me, was on being served rather than on leading and serving with Christlike love.

In God’s mercy, he showed me the selfish motivation I was bringing home each evening. I saw that my commute could be best utilized as a time of transition, so that I might be prepared to finish the day by loving and serving my family well.

So I made a practice of pulling the car over a few blocks from home so I could take a couple of minutes to make an effective transition in my soul. There on the side of the road, I meditated on Ephesians 5 as well as on some other passages. I confessed to God my sinful tendency to be selfish and sought to prepare my heart to serve my wife and children when I arrived home. In this way I learned to see my home as the context where I have my greatest privilege and opportunity to serve. This practice had a transforming effect, allowing me to walk through the front door with the mind and heart of a loving servant-leader. By God’s grace, I found it an excellent help in building a loving marriage, enjoying my family, and minimizing regret.

Why does this matter, you ask?

Well, first of all the leading killer in the U.S. is traffic accidents. Second, we perhaps may not realize how what we see and how we see it. That is the reason why I must wear my glasses for my eye exam when I renew my driver’s license. Without being able to see adequately, I well, can’t see. And the purpose of road signs is to help you navigate efficiently, and more importantly, safely.

Another reason (although unimportant) is that I am a fontaholic. I enjoy finding and using a good font. I remember back in the late 90s I would use the font “Impact” here and there. Then all of a sudden that font hit full impact and became way overused, and is pretty much the only font used in direct mailings (read: awfully designed). In its beginning it had potential.

A third reason is that Oregon has one of the best roadway signage systems in the country. Thought it’s not a fair comparison, try driving around California, navigating your way merely by signage and you will see what I mean. Arizona and Hawaii seem to be poorly signed to me as well. Oregon is great in the signage category (and numerous others). I don’t think this new ClearviewHwy font will hit our good state too much, but you can bet I’ll be looking for it when it does.

It is time for men to endeavor to be holy. Specifically, married Christian men (okay, all others too). Only Christian men can effectively say “No” to lust, although statistics say we are not. We have the resources of God and His Spirit, but often choose to follow our own depraved corruptions. Let us rise above the cesspool of average un-holiness and be men who seek after our Maker and live lives honoring to Him, in all joy. As John Owen wrote, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” Leave no open door for sin and temptation in your life.
For internet accountability I have x3watch installed on both my home and work computers. Every two weeks Kari gets a detailed list of any site I visited that has even remotely-or-quasi-objectionable material on it. (In fact, in our case, she ends up getting a long list of ESPN.com links, go figure.) But, if on either my home or work computer I were to go to any questionable site, my wife would know. That is a good thing.

Some may tritely say, “If you need a filter to keep you accountable, then you are just not holy enough.” To that I say that out of the 168 hours in a given week I may be strong enough and walking in grace enought for 167.5 of those hours to not need anything to hold me accountable. But what about when I’m tired and weak and perhaps even am coming down from the mountaintop of some great spiritual or personal victory? “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” [1 Corinthians 10:12]. For those times of potential weakness there is the increased measure of safeguard. It’s not worth it to walk close to the edge of the cliff. And for that weak moment, how about we let a little fear keep us out of harm’s way?

The next verse reminds us that none of us is alone in experiencing temptation, and God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can say no to. With each opportunity for temptation God “will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” [10:13].

Accounability and comraderie in growing in holiness is key:

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” [2 Timothy 2:22]

Notice the two activities of fleeing and pursuing.  Saying “No” to sin and temptation and purposefully following with a devoted heart and mind the path of righteousness, faith, love and peace.  Not doing this alone, and saying “Yes” to the greater pleasures found in God.

For some help with the mindset of consistently seeking to live a whole and holy life, I encourage these resources:

• A.N.T.H.E.M. – strategies for fighting lust – an article and tract by John Piper
• Get to know John Owen and how to mortify sin
• Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen – edited by Justin Taylor and Kelly Kapic
• x3watch – accountability software
• Covenant Eyes – accountability software and/or filter
• Battling the Unbelief of Lust – a sermon by John Piper

So often we think of God as non-enthusiastic or even gloomy. The exact opposite is true: He loves to be God, He takes great pleasure in all that He does, and He is enthusiastic about serving His people and working for their welfare. For example, God says in Jeremiah 32:41: “I will rejoice in doing them good.” Jesus said in John 14:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you.” And Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:11 of “the glorious gospel of the blessed God.” Blessed means happy. So Paul is saying: “the glorious gospel of the happy God.”

God is infinitely happy because he is infinitely glorious. And, the good news is that he invites us to enter into his happiness. Here is what Piper writes in The Pleasures of God (p. 26): “It is good news that God is gloriously happy. No one would want to spend eternity with an unhappy God. If God is unhappy then the goal of the gospel is not a happy goal, and that means it would be no gospel at all. But, in fact, Jesus invites us to spend eternity with a happy God when he says, ‘Enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25:23). Jesus lived and died that his joy—God’s joy—might be in us and our joy might be full (John 15:11; 17:13). Therefore the gospel is ‘the gospel of the glory of the happy God.’”