To Snark Or Not To Snark II
A couple of weeks ago I asked if snark had any place in the Christian faith. Since then one of my favorite bloggers Matthew Paul Turner has stirred up quite a bit of controversy with his brand of humor. Last week Turner wrote a hilarious parody of Joel Osteen’s latest book It’s Your Time. While most of the comments agreed that Osteen was full of baloney, some wondered if Turner was being judgmental. I personally saw nothing wrong with the post, but then again I have a pretty cynical sense of humor. However, Turner might have gone a little too far this past Sunday when he mocked John Piper. It all started Saturday when Piper wrote on his Twitter, “Is anyone really addicted to porn? Put a blow torch in their face; they will turn off the...
The Pain of Being Right
So for most of my life, I haven’t been the smartest person in the room nor was I the star athlete. I think that this is a dynamic that most people experience to some degree. The troubling thing for my personal walk with Christ is that my response is largely sinful. Over the years, God has been gracious to allow me to move past certain sin areas in my life. While that has been a huge blessing for me, it left me wondering what God wanted to work on next. Through accountability and sharing life with fellow Christians especially recently, God has really put a bullseye on the next area of my life to work on. As friends and family have helped me see, this trait has played a huge role in my life. You see I like to be right. That is an understatement. ...
The Real Prayer of Jabez
Any one who knows me knows that I have a huge beef with the Prosperity Gospel. It sickens me to see the Word of God reduced to just another snake-oil self-help scam where you can get anything you want if you just “think positively.” One of the most popular examples of this is The Prayer of Jabez, which misuses a small anecdote found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-11: Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. Many people interpret this as, “If you ask God to...
Derek Webb – Intro to "Nobody Loves Me"
Yes, yes, I am infatuated with Derek Webb it seems. But when I get convicted every time I listen to something, I feel compelled to share it. This is from The House Show and it’s him explaining the basis behind the song Nobody Loves Me. And I am amazed every time I hear it how right he is and how I still refuse to apply it in my own life. “Flattery at its very best will encourage really nothing more in you and your community, then behavior modification. Modifying your behavior to act the way you should, to hide the things you do that are wrong, and to try to amplify the things that you do that are right. But see here is the truth, all the behavior modification in the world will never change your heart and it can never change our communities. Jesus...