July 25, 2009

Antipsalm 23

Over on the Boundless blog, David Powlison has posted an article entitled Sane Faith, Part 1. In it he writes the Antipsalm 23, or what Psalm 23 would look like if God were not in our lives. He writes:

I'm on my own.
No one looks out for me or protects me.
I experience a continual sense of need. Nothing's quite right.
I'm always restless. I'm easily frustrated and often disappointed.
It's a jungle — I feel overwhelmed. It's a desert — I'm thirsty.
My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can't fix myself.
I stumble down some dark paths.
Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want.
But life's confusing. Why don't things ever really work out?
I'm haunted by emptiness and futility — shadows of death.
I fear the big hurt and final loss.
Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,
but I'd rather not think about that.
I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.
I find no lasting comfort.xI'm alone ... facing everything that could hurt me.
Are my friends really friends?
Other people use me for their own ends.
I can't really trust anyone. No one has my back.
No one is really for me — except me.
And I'm so much all about ME, sometimes it's sickening.
I belong to no one except myself.
My cup is never quite full enough. I'm left empty.
Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.
Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?
Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?
Sartre said, "Hell is other people."
I have to add, "Hell is also myself."
It's a living death,
and then I die.

Also, here's the real Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

July 19, 2009

Quote of the Week

This week's quote comes from the great hymnwriter John Newton, most famous for his hymn "Amazing Grace". However, he wrote many other hymns, stood against slavery in his day (having been a slavetrader himself) and preached. He wrote:
Everything is necessary that he sends. Nothing can be necessary that he withholds.”
- John Newton

July 17, 2009

Happy Birthday Isaac Watts

On this day, in 1674, famed hymn writer Isaac Watts was born. His most famous hymns are probably "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and "Joy to the World".

He was also a theologian and logician. Mars Hills talks more about his life:

July 16, 2009

Together for the Gospel 2010


I am absolutely ecstatic about T4G 2010. Registration has been open for a while already, but everything else seems to be in full swing as well now.

The unifying theme of the conference is: "The (Unadjusted) Gospel". The speakers will be the same as 2008: Albert Mohler, CJ Mahaney, Ligon Duncan, Mark Dever, John MacArthur, Thabiti Anyabwile, and John Piper.

But new to this coming year is the choice of one "break out" sessions that will be made available to each participant. The speakers for these break out sessions include authors that I've read such as Kevin Deyoung (Why We're Not Emergent) and Josh Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye) and many others who I've truthfully never heard of, but every session sounds great. The only downside is that I can only choose one.

Oh, I can barely wait until 2010- all the good teaching, the great preachers, the fellowship with the men in my church and men and women in the Church worldwide, singing with over 5,000 men, spending time in downtown Louisville (where some of my family lives) and, of course, all the free books!

July 15, 2009

Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl

N.D. Wilson has released his new book, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl. If it sounds interestin, watch the trailer below or read about the new book on Justin Taylor's blog. All I can say is that I can't wait to get my hands on this book.


Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl trailer from Gorilla Poet Productions on Vimeo.

July 14, 2009

Quote of the Week

This week's quote come from the last words of Jaroslav Pelikan:
If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen— nothing else matters.”

July 12, 2009

Disappointment with Philip Yancey

Following my summer reading list, I recently finished the book Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey. While I was encouraged by much of what Yancey had to say, I felt that some of the material he dealt with has been dealt with in better ways by other writers. Ultimately, I found the book itself a little disappointing.

In the book, Yancey deals with three questions: 1) Is God unfair?, 2) Is He silent?, and 3) Is He hidden? Of course, Yancey answers each of these questions with a resounding "no!", but he explores why even strong Christians must, at some point, deal with these questions. His main answer is that God requires faith and that He wants to see that grow in us.

My main problem with this book is that Yancey (in my opinion) takes anthropomorphism (or giving God human attributes to communicate truth) too far. He speaks of God taking risks (Chapter 6 is entitled "Risky Business" and of God having an "inner conflict"(pg. 141). I believe that Yancey is not being unorthodox, I only wish he would have been more careful in his wording and theologizing. In addition, as I said before, I simply think that there have been others (such as John Piper) who have done a better job in dealing with these questions that Yancey proposes. I do not mean to beat up Philip Yancey or his writing (other books of his are wonderful reads, such as In His Image, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, and What's So Amazing About Grace?), I simply would not recommend this particular book.

July 11, 2009

Happy Birthday, John Calvin


Yesterday, renowned theologian John Calvin (were he still alive) would have turned 500. The importance of this day has been covered by nearly every reformed person I know on the blogosphere, but a particularly helpful post can be found at Kevin Deyoung's blog here. For my part, instead of answering why Calvin is still relevant in today's world (that's been answered well in many other places), I will just affirm that, yes, he is and insist that whether or not you are reformed, you should read some of his work. I hope that we, the whole Church, can regain the sense of awe and reverence for God that John Calvin clearly had and rejoin with him in living our lives Soli Deo Gloria; To God's glory alone!

July 5, 2009

Quote of the Week

I know I haven't done this in a while, but here's the quote for this week. It's from Augustine of Hippo (who the Catholic church canonized soon after his death), an early church father who stood firmly for the Christian faith against the heresy of Pelagianism. His most famous works were his City of God and his Confessions. Recognizing the tendency that we as human beings have to ignore what is spoken by those we disagree with, Augustine simply said:

All truth is God's truth.


(John Piper discusses the abuses of this quote here)

ShareThis

 

© 2009Mind in Renewal | by TNB