Movies and Musics and More, Oh My!

~ UPDATED PAGES ON THE BLOG ~

Book Review:   The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams by Ben Bradlee, Jr.   Audiobook read by Dave Mallow

Movie Reviews:

• Ride Along, rated PG-13
• Last Vegas, rated PG-13
• Labor Day, rated PG-13
• Fading West, not rated

 Leadership Book Club – WEEK SIX:  

As we complete our review of John Maxwell’s classic book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership we look at The Law of Legacy: A Leader’s Lasting Value is Measured by Succession

~ THIS AND THAT ~

•        Here are the top Super Bowl ads, led by “Puppy Love” from Budweiser: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/02/ad-meter-winner-story/5087939/
•        Illinois State University Men’s Basketball Coach Dan Muller will be the featured speaker at the annual Laymen’s Lenten Breakfast to be held at Second Presbyterian Church on April 2. This is an event that my Dad, brother and I have enjoyed over the years. Read more here: http://www.ibfoundation.org/#!__mens-lenten-breakfast         
•        During February Ligonier Ministries will be giving away R.C. Sproul’s book The Prayer of the Lord. Read hear about the book and how to download it: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/prayer-lord-free-ebook/\
•       I thought this article by Peter Jones entitled “Your Grammy’s Church” was thought-provoking: http://truthxchange.com/articles/2014/01/28/your-grammys-church/
•        And speaking of the Grammy’s, check out rapper and author Trip Lee’s “5 Questions for Beyonce” here: http://builttobrag.com/5-questions-for-beyonce/  
•         The film version of the excellent book Unbroken, written by Laura Hillenbrand, will be released Christmas Day. The film will be directed by Angelina Jolie and the screenplay will be done by Ethan and Joel Coen. Unbroken tells the incredible life story of Louis Zamperini. Jack O’Connell will star as Zamperini in the film.
•         When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert is the free audiobook of the month from Christianaudio.com. The central point of the book is to provide proven strategies that challenge Christians to help the poor empower themselves. David Platt, author of Radical, states: “Simply put, I have never read a better book on practically serving the poor, and I pray that God will use this new edition to equip his people to accomplish His purposes in a world or urgent spiritual and physical need for the glory of His great name.” To download your copy of the book, go to http://christianaudio.com/free/?utm_source=HomePage&utm_medium=InternalBanner&utm_campaign=CAFreeBook
•             Congratulations to Casting Crowns, whose new album Thrive, debuted at #2 on the iTunes charts January 28. Jamie Grace’s new released Ready to Fly debuted at #14.
•             Check out this short article from Desiring God titled “Three Reasons to Get Some Sleep”: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/three-reasons-to-get-some-sleep
•            Ligonier Ministries has released a new teaching series from Derek Thomas The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Guided Tour. Here’s a description:

The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan over 300 years ago, is one of the most widely-circulated books ever to be published in the English language. In spite of its popularity in the past, many people today are not familiar with this masterpiece. Join Dr. Derek Thomas as he leads a guided tour of this allegorical work, showing that Christians have as much to gain from this book today as they did hundreds of years ago.

To order, go to http://www.ligonier.org/store/pilgrims-progress-guided-tour-dvd/

• My Dad recently forwarded me this hilarious video of Johnny Carson, the legendary comedian portraying President Regan in a take-off of the old Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First” routine. Watch it hear: http://offtheedgehumorpics.blogspot.com/2013/11/johnny-carson-as-ronald-reagan.html#.UtCottJdWZs
• Check out this new video for “Freaks” from Hawks in Paris, the side project for Jars of Clay front man Dan Haseltine:
• http://www.ryanseacrest.com/2014/01/28/the-hawk-in-paris-peeks-inside-the-mind-in-trippy-freaks-video/
• Blogger Tim Challies recently posted this creative John MacArthur: The Infographic: http://www.challies.com/resources/john-macarthur-the-infographic
• We reported recently about the surprise Oscar nomination for best song the title song for little known faith-based film “Alone Yet Not Alone”, sung by Joni Eareckson Tada. Unbelievably, the nomination has been revoked. Read more here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/la-et-mn-alone-yet-not-alone-oscar-nomination-revoked-20140129,0,1430899.story  Joni’s response was gracious. She wrote: “The decision by the academy to rescind the nomination may well bring even further attention [to the song], and I only hope it helps to further extend the message and impact of the song. Regarding the reasons for the nomination being rescinded, it is not my place to speculate as I have no insights into the workings of the entertainment industry. I was honored to be invited to sing the song and it will always be a treasured experience.”
• The 2014 Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology will have a theme of “Profaning the Sacred: The Beauty and Holiness of the Bride of Christ”. The conference speakers will be Jason Helopoulos (MI), Michael Horton (PA), Phillip Johnson, Richard Phillips and Derek Thomas (PA). The Pre-Conference theme will be “The Holiness of the Office of the Pastor”, with speakers Phillip Johnson & Richard Phillips (MI) and Derek Thomas (PA). The closest conference location will be the Bryon Center First Christian Reformed Church in Bryon Center, Michigan March 28-30. For more information, go to: http://www.alliancenet.org/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID307086_CHID568266_CIID,00.html
• Here’s the last installment of funny John Piper quotes from a blogger:  Good Piper Quotes.
• What are the most godless cities in the U.S? Check out this story to find out: http://nation.time.com/2014/01/22/godless-cities-in-america/?hpt=hp_t3
• U2’s Bono talks about the band’s long-awaited new record and his fight against poverty in this article from USAToday.com http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/01/31/a-conversation-with-bono/5036165/
• And speaking of U2, it has been announced that they will be Jimmy Fallon’s first musical guest when he takes over the Tonight Show on February 17. Here are the lyrics to their new single “Invisible”, which is free on iTunes until 11:59pm Monday, February 3:
• 

It’s like the room just cleared of smoke
I didn’t even want the heart you broke
It’s yours to keep
You just might need one

I finally found my real name
I won’t be me when you see me again
No, I won’t be my father’s son

I’m more than you know
I’m more than you see here
More than you let me be
I’m more than you know
A body in a soul
You don’t see me but you will
I am not invisible

That’s right
I’ll be in the invisible world

I don’t dream, not as such
I don’t even think about you that much
Unless I start to think at all

All those frozen days
And your frozen ways
They melt away your face like snow

I’m more than you know
I’m more than you see here
I’m more than you let me be
I’m more than you know
A body in a soul
You don’t see me but you will
I am not invisible
I am here

There is no them
There is no them
There’s only us
There’s only us
There is no them
There is no them
There’s only us
There’s only us
There is no them
There is no them
There’s only you
And there’s only me
There is no them

• Steve Camp has joined Reformation 21 as a blogger. Steve was one of my favorite Christian music artists when I was a new believer. I had the pleasure of bringing him to my home church for a concert about ten years ago. Read more here: http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2014/01/welcome-steve-camp.php

• Tim Keller’s new book on Romans is his third in the series from The Good Book Company, with Galatians and Judges preceding this volume.  The new book covers chapters 1-7 of Romans and will be released February 4.

• Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited at the Grammy Awards on McCartney’s new song “Queenie Eye”. In addition, McCartney won four Grammy Awards for:
• ‘Best Rock Song’ for ‘Cut Me Some Slack’ which he co-wrote with Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear.
• ‘Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package’ for last year’s Wings over America re-issue.
• ‘Best Surround Sound Album’ for Live Kisses.
• ‘Best Music Film’ for Live Kisses.

Paul was also honored in an award recognizing The Beatles’ contribution to popular music brings his GRAMMY tally up to five awards, his biggest win ever at the ceremony!

 Quotable:

You are always on duty in the Christian life, you can never relax. There is no such thing as a holiday in the spiritual realm.  -Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Sin is what you do when your heart is not satisfied with God.   -John Piper