Porn Again Christian By Mark Driscoll

Mark Driscoll has written an e-book on pornography and masturbation for all men. The book will be released in the coming months, but is available free online.

HT: Resurgence

Twelve Sins We Typically Blame on Others

By Ben Reaoch, pastor of Three Rivers Grace Church in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.

It started in the Garden. Adam said to God, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate" (Genesis 3:12).

The first man, caught in the first sin, turns to blame his wife. And he extends the blame to God as well! He implies that he would have remained innocent if God hadn’t put Eve in the garden with him.

The blame-shifting in the Garden continues today. Our proud hearts send us desperately looking for someone else to point to every time we’re confronted with our own sin. There must be someone else—our spouse, sibling, parent, boss, co-worker, pastor, friend, or God, himself.

We are so desperate to justify ourselves that we become irrational. Here are 12 examples.

1) Anger

I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate.

2) Impatience

I would be a very patient person if it weren’t for traffic jams and long lines in the grocery store. If I didn’t have so many things to do, and if the people around me weren’t so slow, I would never become impatient!

3) Lust

I would have a pure mind if there weren’t so many sensual images in our culture.

4) Anxiety

I wouldn’t worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems.

5) Spiritual Apathy

My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were more lively, or if the sermons were better.

6) Insubordination

If my parents/bosses/elders were godly leaders, then I would joyfully follow them.

Read the other six here.

HT: Desiring God

Atheist Advertising: There's Probably No God

These posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins. Here is what Dawkins had to say about the campaign. “This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion.”

How do you quantify a “probably”? 50% chance there’s no God? 70% chance? I say there is a God. If I’m wrong, then I’ll never know. They say there probably isn’t a God. If they’re wrong, they’ll definitely know it.

HT: Church Marketing Sucks

ESV for Your iPod

It could be that I’m way late to the game on this, but an iPod edition of the ESV Bible is available for free at: http://www.podbible.org. If you're anything like me, there's probably not any room on your iPod for this and even if there was you'd rather read your actual Bible, but I can see how this could be useful if you're traveling or backpacking or doing something during which you'd rather not risk losing or damaging your Bible.

This works for Nano, Classic and Video iPods thru the Notes application. How cool is that?

The Gospel Coalition | Mark Dever

HT: The Gospel Coalition

What Robs You of Your Affection for Christ?

Matt Chandler wrote something that was really convicting for me, listing what inspires him toward, and what robs of, his affection for Christ. I can relate with every single item that Matt mentioned as a robber of his affection for our Savior. Most of us spend the majority of time completing meaningless tasks and pursuing activities that add very little, if any, value to our lives or to the lives of those God has placed around us. Matt’s list looked something like this:

1. Watching too much TV and spending too much time online
2. Staying up late for no reason
3. Following sports too closely
4. Being physically lazy
5. Empty conversations (talking for hours about nothing)
6. Idleness

What robs you of your affection for Christ?

HT: Matt Chandler

Dr. Harold Best on Art for the Church

Dr. Best discusses challenges of art, music and worship in the contemporary church including the following ideas:

• The engagement of the Church in the arts should be the norm, not the exception.

• We’ve exhausted our superlatives. Everything is “awesome” now. We’ve reserved no words for God.

• If you’re asked to serve the liturgy in corporate worship: the Word is pre-eminent. Art must serve the liturgy by humbling itself to wash the feet of the Savior and the congregants.

• Art for the Church must be simple, accessible, authentic.

• Don’t use “canned music” to make yourself “sound great”. Strive to be authentic.

• Art from the Church should be a rampant, outspoken, prophetic invader. For instance, write simple tunes on Sunday morning to serve the liturgy, then go “out there” in culture as prophet, going to the edge of who you are, creatively.

• The blood of Jesus is needed by Christians as much as by sinners.

• The intent of the worlds’ art is idolatry, but the content is neutral. Don’t try to out-art them. Debate the intent while celebrating the content.

Listen to Dr. Best’s presentation here.

HT: The Bored-Again Christian

Words Matter

I wish I could have attended this conference in person, but I’ve been enjoying watching the online videos of the National Desiring God Conference from last week. John Piper argued that the way we talk can undercut the cross. This much is clear in 1 Corinthians (1:17; 2:1). Here Paul makes clear that there is a way of talking that exalts self and therefore cripples the cross. But this isn’t the only way of speaking. There’s another kind, a distinctly Christian eloquence, that humbles self and exalts Christ.

Here are links to videos of each talk:

Sinclair Ferguson - “The Tongue, the Bridle, and the Blessing”

Driscoll, Ferguson, Piper - Friday Panel Discussion

Bob Kauflin - “Words of Wonder: What Happens When We Sing?”

Mark Driscoll - “How Sharp the Edge: Christ, Controversy, and Cutting Words”

Daniel Taylor - “The Life-Shaping Power of Story: God’s and Ours”

Kauflin, Piper, Taylor, Tripp - Saturday Panel Discussion

Paul Tripp - “War of Words: Getting to the Heart for God’s Sake”

John Piper - “Is There Christian Eloquence? Clear Words and the Wonder of the Cross”

HT: Desiring God