Upcoming Releases

The fall always features the release of several new books and albums. Below are a few upcoming releases that you may have an interest in:

Books

• You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis Chan and Lisa Chan – August 26
• The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper – August 31
• Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good: The New Mitford Novel by Jan Karon – September 2
• Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II’s Most Audacious General by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard – September 23
• The Upper Room: Jesus’ Parting Promises for Troubled Hearts by John MacArthur – October 1
• Untitled book on John Owen by Sinclair Ferguson – October
• Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World by Michael Horton – October 7
• Gray Mountain: A Novel by John Grisham – October 21
• Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Tim Keller – November 4
• Untitled biography of George H. W. Bush by George W. Bush – November 11.
• Updated edition of The Reformation Study Bible in the English Standard Version (ESV) – Early Winter

And here is a book scheduled for release in early 2015:

• It Is Finished: 365 Days of Good News by Tullian Tchividjian – January 1

Albums

• Anchor by Colton Dixon – August 19
• In Motion: The Remixes by Amy Grant – August 19
• 20 by Jars of Clay – August 19
• Anomaly by Lecrae – September 9
• Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong by King & Country – September 16
• Christmas album (title to be determined) by Michael W. Smith – September 30
• Love Ran Red by Chris Tomlin – October 28

Movies (films that I want to see)

• Boyhood
• A Most Wanted Man
• The Hundred-Foot Journey
• The Good Lie
• Interstellar
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
• Exodus: Gods and Kings
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
• Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

~ UPDATED PAGES ON THE BLOG ~

I’m Currently Reading

Movie Reviews:

• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, rated PG-13
• Get on Up, rated PG-13
• America: Imagine the World Without Her, rated PG-13

Music Review:   Sovereign – Michael W. Smith

 Book Reviews:  

• Michael Jordan: The Life by Roland Lazenby
• The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy by Timothy Keller

Integrating Faith and Work

• Here’s a helpful article which is a part of a larger series on idols at work. Read it here.
• Have you checked out Matt Perman’s blog? He is the author of What Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done. Check out the blog here: http://whatsbestnext.com/
• Here are recommended books on faith and work from the Gospel Coalition, as well as some comments on what still needs to be written about the subject: http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/faith-and-work-what-needs-to-be-read-and-what-needs-to-be-written
• Nobody wants to work with teammates who are arrogant. Christian workers should especially be aware of not being arrogant. Read this article on arrogance at work.
• Check out this article from the Leadership Journal on seeing your job as a GIFT: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2014/july-online-only/gift-of-work.html
• Here are three related articles on the importance of rest:
  • Sabbath is Not a Means to More Productive Work
  • Feeling Exhausted All the Time? Here’s How the Sabbath Can Rejuvenate You
  • Why vacation isn’t just a means to make you work better when you get back

~ THIS AND THAT ~

BOOKS ~

• John Piper has authored a new e-book titled The Marks of a Spiritual Leader. You can download it FREE here: http://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-marks-of-a-spiritual-leader You can read the related article from Desiring God “Own Your Own Desperation” here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/own-your-desperation
• Each month Christianaudio offers a FREE audio book, announced on the first day of the month. Anna and the King written by Margaret Landon is the free audiobook of the month for August. From their website: “This poignant story of Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam has captured the fancy of millions worldwide through not only the book, but the play The King and I. Wonderfully narrated by Anne Flosnik and nominated for a prestigious Audie Award in 2013, it is certainly one of the most entertaining audiobooks we have given away”. To download your copy, go to: http://christianaudio.com/free/
• Speaking of FREE e-books, Ligonier Ministries continues to add books to their Crucial Questions series, which are free in e-book format. There are now 20 books in the series. Check out all of them here, including three new ones: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/rc-sprouls-crucial-questions-ebooks-now-free/
• George W. Bush has written a biography of his father, George H.W. Bush. It will be published November 11. According to the publisher, the book will cover the elder Bush’s whole life and his influence on his son, from George W.’s “childhood in West Texas to his early campaign trips with his father, and from his decision to go into politics to his own two-term presidency.” Read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/07/30/george-w-bush-wrote-a-biography-of-his-father/

PROBING QUESTIONS ~

• What does it mean to fear God? Here’s a helpful article from R.C. Sproul that addresses that question: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-does-it-mean-fear-god/
• Do our works play a part in our salvation? John Piper invites us to ponder three ways to speak of our works in relationship to our salvation in this article. http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/three-ways-our-deeds-relate-to-our-salvation
• Do you wrestle with the sovereignty of God? I love receiving Scotty Smith’s daily prayer. I can resonate with most of them, including this one – especially this section – “Indeed, I don’t have any problem with you setting up and sitting down presidents, premiers and potentates. But when it comes to things that are limiting, inconvenient or a contradiction of my sensibilities, I am quite capable of questioning your goodness or faithfulness”. Read the entire prayer here, and better yet, sign up to receive Scotty’s daily prayers: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2014/07/29/a-prayer-for-wrestling-with-the-sovereignty-of-god/
• Who would win the Oscars if they were awarded today? USA Today takes a look at that question. We’ve seen some of the films they mention here – Locke, Snowpiercer and The Grand Budapest Hotel. See if you agree with them here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/07/30/mid-year-oscars/13337139/
• Do you enjoy A&E’s program Storage Wars? We used to watch it but stopped when Dave Hester left the show. Well, Dave returns on August 12. Read more here: http://www.ibtimes.com/dave-hester-returns-aes-storage-wars-after-lawsuit-drama-1631766

INTERESTING PROGRAMS, VIDEOS AND ARTICLES ~

• Last Sunday we visited Hanna City Presbyterian Church to see Pastor David Keithley preach on Luke 17. Pastor Dave was our long-time Youth and Family Pastor and rarely got the opportunity to preach, but it’s obvious he was born to preach. Sunday was the one year anniversary of his last Sunday at our church. It was great seeing wife Jen and daughter Katie as well. It’s clear that the Keithleys are well loved in Hanna City. http://www.hannacitypres.com/
• The 2014-2015 season of Dr. Albert Mohler’s excellent daily news program The Briefing begins August 4. Check it out here: http://www.albertmohler.com/category/the-briefing/
• Paul Miller and his wife, Jill, have put together a study on the person of Christ for those with intellectual disabilities. Westminister Theological Seminary Books is offering a $5 coupon off anything in their store if you simply take the time to watch the video introducing it.
• Check out this Breakpoint commentary from Eric Metaxas “Mums the Word on Divorce: The Church’s Scandalous Silence”, on divorce in the church: http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/25780
• Tim Challies recently started a new series of articles titled The Defenders. Through brief sketches of Christian leaders, Tim plans to draw attention to believers known for defending the church against specific theological challenges or false teachings. He will be focusing on modern times and began with James Montgomery Boice, a long-time defender of the doctrine of inerrancy. Read Tim’s article here: http://www.challies.com/articles/the-defenders-james-montgomery-boice
• Tim Challies also posted this article on myths about lust. Read the article here: http://cbmw.org/men/manhood/10-myths-about-lust/
• 4,000 women from 38 countries around the globe gathered in Orlando, June 27 to 29 for The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference. Now you can enjoy the audio and video from the dozens of workshops, plenary addresses from Nehemiah, and other resources captured at this event here: http://thegospelcoalition.org//article/tgcw14-media-now-available
• Tim Keller’s next book will be on prayer. Read his article on four principles of prayer from Saint Augustine here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/saint-augustine-on-prayer
• USA Today ran a column on “rock star” pastors such as Mark Driscoll losing their luster. You can read the column here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/07/31/rock-star-pastors-church-celebrity-internet-column/13422869/
• John Piper in writing about the Sermon on the Mount, states that the teacher of the Sermon on the Mount is the Judge of the universe. Read his article “The Majesty of the Teacher in the Sermon on the Mount” here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-majesty-of-the-teacher-in-the-sermon-on-the-mount
• My good friend Greston Miller sent me “God’s Hall of Fame”, which is from John Wooden’s book Wooden — A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court:

God’s Hall of Fame

This crowd on earth
They soon forget
The heroes of the past.
They cheer like mad
Until you fall
And that’s how long you last.

But God does not forget
And in his Hall of Fame
By just believing in his Son
Inscribed you’ll find your name.

I tell you, friends,
I would not trade
My name however small
Inscribed up there
Beyond the stars
In that celestial hall.

For any famous name on earth
Or glory that they share
I’d rather be an unknown here
And have my name up there.

— Unknown

TO MAKE YOU SMILE ~

• When Jimmy Fallon filmed the Tonight Show in Orlando recently, the Tonight Show mascot, Hashtag the Panda, had a dance-off with the Orlando Magic mascot, Stuff the Magic Dragon. Check it out here: http://www.wthr.com/story/25826153/2014/06/20/tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon-mascot-dance-off-with-hashtag-the-panda
• Registration is now open for Liberate 2015: It is Finished. Held at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale Florida February 19-22, the conference features some of my favorite speakers including Tullian Tchividjian, Scotty Smith, Steve Brown, Eric Metaxas and many more Check out the conference site at http://liberate.org/2015conference/

TV AND MOVIES ~

• CBS announced last week that it has ordered 10 episodes of The Gaffigan Show, starring Jim Gaffigan. The single-camera sitcom, which was a pilot at CBS, is inspired by the comedian’s real life and will chronicle “one man’s struggle in New York City to find a balance between fatherhood, stand-up comedy, and an insatiable appetite.” Read more here: http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/29/tv-land-jim-gaffigan-sitcom-michael-ian-black/?hpt=hp_t4
• Alex and Stephen Kendrick—creators of hit faith films Fireproof (which I enjoyed), and Courageous (which I did not), have just wrapped principal photography on their anticipated fifth movie—a family drama with humor and heart focused on the power of prayer and its primary role in the Christian life. You can read more here: http://www.ccmmagazine.com/article/courageous-and-fireproof-creators-wrap-fifth-film/

MUSIC ~

• Just a reminder that tickets to TobyMac and Matt Maher’s Worship, Stories and Songs” December 11 concert at ISU’s Braden Auditorium went on sale August 4. http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/07004CFFAF81156A
• Sadly, Dove Award winning artist Gungor, known for “Beautiful Things” has drifted from biblical orthodoxy, and working with Rob Bell on their music. Read this article from World Magazine: http://www.worldmag.com/2014/08/gungor_drifts_from_biblical_orthodoxy
• The multi-talented (singer, songwriter, author, producer) Charlie Peacock has started a new blog. Check it out at http://godpeopleplace.wordpress.com/
• This is an older article, but a good one. It is an interview with Paul Simon about his latest album So Beautiful or So What, which features a number of references to faith. I was surprised to see that Simon once spent hours talking to theologian John Stott. You can read the interview here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2012/06/01/january-6-2012-paul-simon/10056/
• Paul McCartney announced the upcoming re-issue of two Wings albums from the 1970’s – Venus and Mars and At the Speed of Sound. The re-issues will be available on September 23 in both standard and deluxe editions. Read more here: http://www.paulmccartney.com/#news-blogs/wings-reissue-venus-and-mars-and-at-the-speed-of-sound
• A song that I’ve been listening to recently is “Mercy” by Matt Redman. Check out the lyrics:

I will kneel in the dust
at the foot of the cross,
where mercy paid for me.
Where the wrath I deserve,
it is gone, it has passed.
Your blood has hidden me.

Mercy, mercy,
as endless as the sea.
I’ll sing Your hallelujah
for all eternity.

We will lift up the cup
and the bread we will break,
remembering Your love.
We were fallen from grace,
but You took on our shame
and nailed it to a cross.

Mercy, mercy,
as endless as the sea.
I’ll sing Your hallelujah
for all eternity.
[repeat]

May I never lose the wonder,
oh, the wonder of Your mercy.
May I sing Your hallelujah?
Hallelujah, Amen.
[repeat 3x]

May I never lose the wonder,
oh, the wonder of Your mercy.
May I sing Your hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Amen.
[repeat]

I will kneel in the dust
at the foot of the cross,
where mercy paid for me.

 The 5 Love Languages Book Club Week Six  

Tammy and I completed week six of our summer book club reading Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to a Love that Lasts last week. We covered the final love language, physical touch. Here are a few passages we discussed:

• Physical touch can make or break a relationship. It can communicate hate or love.
• To the person whose primary love language is physical touch, the message will be far louder than the words “I hate you” or “I love you.”
• That does not mean that all touches are created equal. Some will bring more pleasure to your spouse than others. Your best instructor is your spouse, of course. After all, she is the one you are seeking to love. She knows best what she perceives as a loving touch. Don’t insist on touching her in your way and in your time. Learn to speak her love dialect. Don’t make the mistake of believing that the touch that brings pleasure to you will also bring pleasure to her.
• Love touches may be explicit and demand your full attention such as in a back rub or sexual foreplay, culminating in intercourse. On the other hand, love touches may be implicit and require only a moment, such as putting your hand on his shoulder as you pour a cup of coffee or rubbing your body against him as you pass in the kitchen.
• Once you discover that physical touch is the primary love language of your spouse, you are limited only by your imagination on ways to express love. Coming up with new ways and places to touch can be an exciting challenge.
• Try new touches in new places and let your spouse give you feedback on whether he finds it pleasurable or not. Remember, he has the final word. You are learning to speak his language.
• All societies have some form of physical touching as a means of social greeting.
• There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to touch members of the opposite sex in every society.
• Within marriage, however, what is appropriate and inappropriate touching is determined by the couple themselves.
• Counselors’ files are filled with records of husbands and wives who are trying to grapple with the emotional trauma of an unfaithful spouse. That trauma, however, is compounded for the individual whose primary love language is physical touch. That for which he longs so deeply—love expressed by physical touch—is now being given to another. His emotional love tank is not only empty; it has been riddled by an explosion. It will take massive repairs for those emotional needs to be met.
• If your spouse’s primary love language is physical touch, nothing is more important than holding her as she cries. Your words may mean little, but your physical touch will communicate that you care.
• Crises provide a unique opportunity for expressing love. Your tender touches will be remembered long after the crisis has passed.
• Pete is only one of many individuals for whom physical touch is the primary love language. Emotionally, they yearn for their spouse to reach out and touch them physically. Running the hand through the hair, giving a back rub, holding hands, embracing, sexual intercourse—all of those and other “love touches” are the emotional lifeline of the person for whom physical touch is the primary love language.
• The chapter ends with a “Your Turn” section, where the author asks that you “Recall some nonsexual “touching times” that enhanced intimacy between the two of you. What made these times special?”

Next week we will cover chapter nine – Discussing Your Primary Love Language. Won’t you join us?

 

I appreciated this cartoon from World Magazine: