Linkathon 7/21
For everyone, but especially for PP readers: please visit TonyP’s new blog, Step Out of the Boat.
Kevin DeYoung’s suggestions on how to make a difference in one’s church, courtesy of C.J. Mahaney, (HT: James Grant).
Chris Elrod’s comments about an affair.
D.J. Chuang’s very, very helpful list of blogs by some of the top minority church leaders.
James Grant on whether (and why) Christians should imitate other Christians.
Dan Edelen on John Piper’s prophetic warning.
David Hayward’s tips on building community.
Abraham Piper: everyone – even atheists like Ricky Gervais – has a faith-story.
Mark Lamprecht on altar calls and gospel proclamation.
Jason Stellman on Reformed self-loathing (HT: Scott Clark).
Cathleen Falsani on the passing of a pet.
One megachurch pastor’s views on what to do when staff members leave, part 1 and part 2.
Jared Wilson on the blessing of persecution.
Mike DeLong continues to post solid articles on his blog, including this one about the academic pedigree of Liberty University professors in the 1980s.
Matt Edwards reviews Michael Spencer’s Mere Churchianity.
Jon Busch wonders if there can be redemption for Mel Gibson.
Scott Thomas on moralistic therapeutic deism.
Tim Chester recently taught a series of informal talks on eschatology, including this one on the kingdom of God and the atonement.
Chester also posts a few Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes on giving and receiving rebuke. Agree or disagree?
Julie Clawson on a neighborless Christianity.
The second part of Dan Edelen’s series on what being a church family means.
Esther Meek on why she goes to church.
Ed Stetzer interviews Adrian Warnock.
William Black responds to Al Mohler’s article on biblical authority and evangelical feminism.
Daniel Jepsen on ministry as viewed through the lens of the movie What About Bob?.
Ben Witherington with a post on cave churches.
Rules for interns at a certain ministry. PP newbies: you now have a week to memorize everyone’s blog name, even if that means studying the blog at night 🙂
FIRST!!!!
Thanks for the shout out, BrianD!
Love the Cave chruches! Thanks BrianD!
Gotta give Stellman points for honesty.
Another groovin’ Link a thon, BrianD. Thanks. 😎
I love Piper…and I must say, living on the edge of the neo-Calvinist movement, that what he pinpoints as a prophetic warning (paraphrased “don’t worship theology and intellectualism more than Jesus”) is right on. I couldn’t agree more as that has been my experience with many (not all) Calvinists…they look down their noses while they pontificate your lack of knowledge. It isn’t lovely and I applaud Piper for calling it out.
Linnea,
I just watched his prophetic word and I agree with him…and you.
It was a word for me.
The Bonhoeffer quotes are gold;
The basis on which Christians can speak to one another is that each knows the other as a sinner who, even given all one’s human renown, is forlorn and lost if not given hep. This does not mean that the others are being disparaged or dishonoured. Rather, we are paying them the only real honour a human being has, namely, that as sinners they share in God’s grace and glory, that they are children of God. This realization gives our mutual speech the freedom and openness it needs. We talk to one another about the help we both need. We admonish one another to go the way Christ bids us to go. We warn one another against the disobedience that is our undoing. We are gentle and we are firm with one another, for we know both God’s kindness and God’s firmness. Why should we be afraid of one another since both of us have only God to fear?’ (104/105)
‘The more we learn to allow the other to speak the Word to us, to accept humbly and gratefully even severe reproaches and admonitions, the more free and to the point we ourselves will be in speaking. One who because of sensitivity and vanity rejects the serious words of another Christian cannot speak the truth in humility to others. Such a person is afraid of being rejected and feeling hurt by another’s words. Sensitive, irritable people will always become flatterers, and very soon they will come to despise and slander other Christians in their community. But humble people will cling to both truth and love. They will stick to the Word of God and let it lead them to others in their community. They can help others through the Word because they seek nothing for themselves and have no fears for themselves.’ (105)
‘Nothing can be more cruel than that leniency which abandons other to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than that severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin.’ (105)
Linnea and Michael, me too
“A Neighborless Christianity” made me stand up and applaud.
BrianD…that made my day…thank you.
Jepson’s “What About Bob?” article raises some valid points and offers some good suggestions…Good to see Chris Elrod on the link-a-thon list, too. Clawson and Meek’s articles are both worth a read.
thanks BrianD…another great list.
Not sure if this was posted elsewhere already, but, let’s pray for Rick Warren.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/22/rick-warren-blinded-from-eye-burns-in-excruciating-pain/?icid=main|hp-desktop|dl1|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2010%2F07%2F22%2Frick-warren-blinded-from-eye-burns-in-excruciating-pain%2F