Review: ‘Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink,’ Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello has always been one of my very favorite songwriters, mostly for his eclecticism (new wave, pop, country, classical, jazz) and lavish melodic inventiveness, but also because of his unusually clever lyrical wordplay, which is evident in almost all of his music. Allmusic.com says Elvis “emerged as one of the most innovative, influential and best songwriters since Bob Dylan.” So I guess it comes as no surprise that he’s actually a very good storyteller too.
Does the Bible Say the Earth Will Be Burned Up?
This past Sunday I delivered a sermon on Rom. 8:18-25 titled “Heaven is a Place on Earth” in which we learned that the effects of the fall have extended further than just the souls and hearts of men and women, but even to the physical creation. As Gen. 3:17 and Is. 24:5-6 both declare, the earth has been cursed because of our sin.
Recommended Books About the Church in China
This weekend is New Life’s annual missions conference. You might be aware that while the church seems to be on the decline in the United States, and certainly in Europe, it is actually growing rapidly in East Asia, particularly in China, which has been the scene of relentless persecution of the church in the past, particularly during the “Cultural Revolution” from 1966-1976.
Is David Bowie in Heaven?
If you pay attention to pop culture, there is no way you could have missed the fact that David Bowie passed away on Jan. 10. What made Bowie’s death so noteworthy is the fact that the man had been battling cancer for about 18 months, and somehow managed to keep the news quiet. In those last months of his life, he reportedly kept working at his art, finishing his last album, Blackstar, which was officially released just two days before his death, and to considerable acclaim.
Favorite Music of 2015
A few weeks ago I shared my 10 favorite books of 2015, and this week I share with you my 10 favorite albums of last year. Music has been a passion of mine since I was a pre-teen, and the drive to explore new music has never waned over the years. The gift of music is yet another display of God’s unending generosity and kindness to his creatures, and a demonstration of the truthfulness of Eccles. 3:11, that God has “set eternity in the human heart.”
Tips for Reading Through the Bible in a Year: Part 2
Last year at this time I wrote a blog sharing some “tips for reading through the Bible in a year.” You can click here to read that blog as you get ready to launch your own campaign for 2016. This year I offer some further practical ideas that should supplement last year’s blog.
3 Reasons God Had to Become Man
The essence of Christmas is the mysterious, glorious and profound claim that God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. To this astounding truth one might be compelled to ask: did it have to be this way? Was there any other way for God to redeem us? The second chapter of Hebrews gives us three reasons why God had to become a man:
Top 10 Books from 2015
This is an exciting time of year. I love reading all of the “best of the year” lists that come out at this time (even the ones that come out way too early, like in November), particularly for music and books. Click here to find Christianity Today’s list of best books of the year, and click here to find a similar list from Gospel Coalition.
Update from Pastor Bob and Mary
Right now I’m looking out the window of a ninth-floor apartment where Mary and I are staying in East Asia. On the horizon I see mountains, and filling the space between our apartment and the mountains, as far as I can see to my left and to my right, are towering buildings. Some are grey and some are brown, but they are everywhere. Car horns are blaring almost constantly. On the streets are buses, cars, bicyclists, rickshas and taxis. It’s a bustling urban environment that makes a city like Indianapolis look like a mere village, and yet this particular city is one of the smaller ones in this part of the world.
Thanksgiving as Evidence that God Exists
It is a common expectation in our culture, and probably all cultures, that people should be thankful. Parents teach their children to say “thank you” when someone is kind to them. Hallmark has made a lot of money selling cards specifically designed to articulate gratitude to people. And we set aside an annual holiday called Thanksgiving, which we will celebrate this Thursday.
Answering Questions About Homosexuality #12
Below is the twelfth post from Pastor Bob in an ongoing blog series designed to help Christians think through the issue of homosexuality in a careful and Biblical way. For more on the reason for this series, click here.
Question 12: Won’t the church lose its appeal to the broader culture if it expends too much energy fighting against gay marriage?
Answering Questions About Homosexuality #11
Below is the eleventh post from Pastor Bob in an ongoing blog series designed to help Christians think through the issue of homosexuality in a careful and Biblical way. For more on the reason for this series, click here.
Question 11: If Christians are against gay marriage, does that mean they are filled with hate?
Answering Questions About Homosexuality #10
Below is the tenth post from Pastor Bob in an ongoing blog series designed to help Christians think through the issue of homosexuality in a careful and Biblical way. For more on the reason for this series, click here.
Question 10: What’s wrong with homosexual relationships so long as no one is harmed?
Answering Questions About Homosexuality #9
Below is the ninth post from Pastor Bob in an ongoing blog series designed to help Christians think through the issue of homosexuality in a careful and Biblical way. For more on the reason for this series, click here.
Question 9: Are all homosexuals going to hell?
Answering Questions About Homosexuality #8
Below is the eighth post from Pastor Bob in an ongoing blog series designed to help Christians think through the issue of homosexuality in a careful and Biblical way. For more on the reason for this series, click here.
Question 8: Since all sins are basically the same, why do Christians get so bothered about homosexuality?