• Recently at the Shepherds’ Conference in Los Angeles held at Grace Church, mid sermon the power went out. The place went black with only emergency lights dimly shining in the cavernous brick auditorium.  What did John MacArthur do? He grabbed a flashlight and just kept on preaching. He didn’t flinch. He was unflappable.  He literally just kept going. His voice grew with intensity as he unpacked the covenant of redemption. Soon his voice was traveling powerfully to every corner of the room.  Dr. MacArthur just went on preaching Christ. In Spurgeon fashion he powerfully pleaded with pastors to preach Christ or stop preaching.

~ THIS AND THAT ~

• Elizabeth Elliot has written some of the most loved books of the past several years. Check out this profile of her from World Magazine as she battles dementia:  http://www.worldmag.com/2014/02/walking_through_fire
• Another large church, this one pastored by John Ortberg, leaves the PCUSA despite having to pay a fee of $8 million. Read more here: http://www.religionnews.com/2014/03/05/john-ortbergs-menlo-park-presbyterian-votes-leave-pcusa-despite-8-million-fee/
• Legendary broadcaster and former Cardinal player Tim McCarver will broadcast 30 of the team’s games this year on Fox Sports Midwest. Read more here – http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/television/dan-caesar/it-s-official-mccarver-to-do-cards-telecasts-on-fsm/article_21d53048-5c93-556f-bf85-558584fa5cc4.html
• During the month of March, Ligonier Ministries is offering Derek Thomas’ excellent book on Romans 8 How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home free in the ebook format. To find out more, go to http://www.ligonier.org/store/how-the-gospel-brings-us-all-the-way-home-ebook-download/

• What does it mean to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ? What does it mean to renounce all that we have for Christ’s sake? Check out this short article from John Piper – http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/how-to-count-it-all-as-loss
• Believe in a God bigger than your sin. Check out this five minute video clip from John Piper’s message at the 2014 Passion Conference: http://vimeo.com/88400926
• World Magazine reports some disturbing news about how Mark Driscoll’s Real Marriage book hit the best-seller’s list. Read more here: http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/unreal_sales_for_driscoll_s_real_marriage

And you can read Mars Hill Church’s response here:  http://marshill.com/2014/03/07/a-note-from-our-board- of-advisors-accountability, which includes the comments “While not uncommon or illegal, this unwise strategy is not one we had used before or since, and not one we will use again.”

• The new film Noah, to be released March 28, is getting lots of chatter. Check out this article about the film “Noah: Five Positive Facts about This Film”: http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/february/noah-five-positive-facts-about-this-film.html?utm_source=ctdirect-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=9449742&utm_content=252286118&utm_campaign=2013
• We could say that we’ve heard it before, but this story from USA Today.com reports that the long-awaited new U2 album could be out in June: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/03/04/u2-mariah-carey-coldplay-pump-up-2014-album-roster/6019495/
• Wait, this just in, the U2 album and tour has already been pushed to 2015. Bummer is right! Read more here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/03/07/no-u2-album-till-2015/6165765/

~ UPDATED PAGES ON THE BLOG ~

Tim Keller Book Reviews

• The Father and Son (The Encounters with Jesus Series-IX) by Timothy Keller
• The Mother of God (The Encounters with Jesus Series-X) by Timothy Keller

 

Music Reviews

• Inlandia: The Remix Collection – Jars of Clay
• 100 – KB (ep)