5.27.2014

For the last several years my brother and I have celebrated Father’s Day with our Dad with a Peoria Charter bus trip to Wrigley Field. This year’s trip occurred on what would have been my parent’s 59^th wedding anniversary. Also, in 2014 Wrigley is celebrating its 100^th anniversary, and the game Dad chose was against the New York Yankees. In Spring Training, future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter announced that this would be his final season. This was his final game at Wrigley Field. The game would go 13 innings before the Yankees won. Jeter would bat seven times, getting one hit. Each time he came to the plate the crowd (including yours truly) would rise for a standing ovation and stay standing throughout the entire at bat. I’m glad I was able to see him before he retires.On the bus ride to the game, I was talking to my Dad about my “bucket list”. I asked him what he had on his list. He really didn’t have a lot of items, though we both have attending the Masters golf tournament on our lists. What Dad suggested instead was making a list of those things or places we’ve been that most impacted us, or we most enjoyed. I thought that was a great idea. I thought of special vacations, concerts or sporting events that made the top of my list, and those that I shared those experiences with. What would be on your list?

 

~ THIS AND THAT ~

• The St. Louis Cardinals have announced plans for “Christian Day at the Ballpark” on Saturday, August 2 at 6:15pm when the Cardinals face the Milwaukee Brewers. This year’s featured speaker is Marcus Luttrell, co-author of the book The Lone Survivor and the inspiration for the movie The Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg. Current Cardinals players will also participate in the post-game outreach event. Groups of 25 or more can call 314-345-9000.
• Here’s an interesting article on the best “walk up” songs (the music a batter has played as they are walking to the plate in baseball). http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/76318408/walk-up-music-mlb-josh-reddick-shane-victorino-careless-whisper?partnerId=ed-8220552-658620023#!PONk3. Here are the “walk-up” songs for the St. Louis Cardinals, including Matt Carpenter who walks up to “Long Hot Summer Day” by Turnpike Troubadours – http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/fan_forum/ballpark_music.jsp?c_id=stl  What song would you used for your “walk up” music?
• Christianaudio.com is offering a second free audio book this month. The Race Before Us: A Journey of Running and Faith by Bruce Matson is a memoir detailing one man’s journey from doubt to faith. To find out more and download your copy, click on this link.

ARTICLES ~

• Leadership guru John Maxwell recently shared some of his favorite quotes on learning and growth, to inspire his readers as they continue on the learning journey. Read the short article here: http://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/quotes-for-lifelong-learners?utm_source=WhatCounts+Publicaster+Edition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Quotes+for+Lifelong+Learners+%7c+By%3a+John+C.+Maxwell&utm_content=CLICK+HERE
• Here are David Murray’s top ten leadership books, only one of which I have read (Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People):http://headhearthand.org/blog/2014/05/21/top-10-leadership-books/?utm_source=HeadHeartHand+Blog&utm_campaign=87d0734ee1-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5efef10d9e-87d0734ee1-110847909

Desiring God and John Piper ~

• Here’s an interesting article from Desiring God on the subject of anger “What our Anger is Telling Us”: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/what-our-anger-is-telling-us
• In the sixth volume of The Swans Are Not Silent series, John Piper celebrates the importance of poetic effort by looking at three influential Christians whose words magnificently display a commitment to truth and a love of beauty. Examining the lives of George Herbert, George Whitefield, and C. S. Lewis, Piper helps us appreciate the importance of carefully crafted words by exploring how Christians can use them to testify to God’s glory, wonder at his grace, and rejoice in his salvation. Piper states that of all the books he has written, this one may be the one most different from all the others. It is less about the God we see and more about how to see him. Read Piper’s article about the new book here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/a-piper-book-unlike-any-other
• Do you enjoy reading? Is it deep reading or scan reading, or somewhere in between. You might be interested in this article/interview entitled “The End of Books” from Desiring God: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-end-of-books
• Here is a helpful article on selfish ambition from Desiring God, entitled “Escaping the Slavery of Selfish Ambition”. Read it here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/escaping-the-slavery-of-selfish-ambition
• John Piper writes that Romans 8:28 is your verse if you believe in the God of the Bible, and you love him, all the bounty of one of his greatest promises is yours. Read his article “Life’s Deepest Pains for Your Greatest Pleasure” and watch a three minute video with Piper talking about Romans 8:28 here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/life-s-deepest-pains-for-your-greatest-pleasures

The best of men are but men at best… ~

• Blogger Tim Challies writes that “Tullian (Tchividjian) announces that he has left the Gospel Coalition site as his blogging platform. Question for my readers: Do you understand the context behind this? Do you understand the law/grace distinction behind this battle? I’m thinking of trying to clarify it in my own mind and perhaps write about it.” Read Tullian’s article here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2014/05/20/ive-come-to-set-the-captives-free/
• Pastors C. J. Mahaney and Joshua Harris have resigned from the council of The Gospel Coalition (TGC) after a former youth leader was convicted of sexually abusing three boys at the flagship church of Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM). Read the story here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/may/c-j-mahaney-joshua-harris-resign-from-gospel-coalition-sgm.html
• CJ Mahaney spoke about the charges on May 22. Check out this article from Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/may/c-j-mahaney-breaks-silence-sovereign-grace-ministries-sgm.html?utm_source=ctdirect-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=9449742&utm_content=273035686&utm_campaign=2013
• In light of the departures of Tchividjian, Mahaney and Harris from the Gospel Coalition, founders Tim Keller and Don Carson have asked for prayer for their organization and have chosen to focus on doctrinal differences as an explanation rather than a controversy surrounding some of its council members. Read the story here: http://www.christianpost.com/news/tim-keller-don-carson-speak-out-in-wake-of-abrupt-mahaney-harris-and-tchividjian-departures-from-the-gospel-coalition-120156/
• Continuing on with this theme, Tullian Tchividjian pushes back, indicating that his reasons for leaving the Gospel Coalition have been misrepresented and are a “flat-out lie”. Read the story here: http://www.christianpost.com/news/tullian-tchividjian-calls-gospel-coalitions-claims-attributed-to-tim-keller-d-a-carson-about-his-exit-a-flat-out-lie-120272/
• Liberate, Tullian Tchividjian’s ministry has developed a list of resources that represent the theological engine that drives the ministry. He states that the list is neither exhaustive nor beyond criticism. It is simply a list of readings–from utterly foundational to just plain funny–that will allow you to explore and encounter these realities in greater depth. Check out the list here: http://liberate.org/suggested-reading/
• Conservative commentator and former Christian college president Dinesh D’Souza pleaded guilty to orchestrating illegal campaign contributions. Read the story here: http://www.worldmag.com/2014/05/d_souza_pleads_guilty_to_making_straw_donations

MUSIC ~

• Crowder’s (David Crowder) first solo album Neon Steeple, one of the year’s most anticipated albums, will be released May 27. It features the single “I Am”.
• Jimmy Needham didn’t grow up in the church, and he didn’t know anything about old hymns. He wasn’t actually introduced to them until he was in college. Watch this short video of Jimmy performing the classic “How Great Thou Art”, one of my favorite hymns.
• Bob Dylan released on his website a new recording of “Full Moon and Empty Arms”, a cover of a 1945 song Frank Sinatra made popular. The song was written by Ted Mossmann and Buddy Kaye and based around Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 1901 composition “Piano Concert No. 2 in C Minor.” The song has been covered by everyone from Robert Goulet to The Platters, but Sinatra’s rendition remains the most famous. The 72 year old Dylan’s last few albums were inspired by popular music from this era. A full album is expected later this year. You can listen to the new recording here: http://www.bobdylan.com/us/home

 

~ UPDATED PAGES ON THE BLOG ~

Book Reviews:

• Good Call: Reflections on Faith, Family and Fowl by Jase Robertson with Mark Schlabach
• The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman

 Movie and DVD Reviews:

• Million Dollar Arm
• The Railway Man
• Locke
• Grand Piano

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