Concert Review ~ Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band at The Fox Theatre in St. Louis

I grew up, and remain, a huge Beatles fan. Though I never saw them perform (they stopped touring in 1966), I have seen Paul McCartney in concert eleven times, the late George Harrison on his only US tour in 1974, and unfortunately never saw John Lennon in concert; he was murdered in 1980. Seeing Ringo Starr in concert was on my “Bucket List”. He tours often with an assortment of artists known as his All-Starr Band. The current lineup has been together for three years, something that hasn’t been done since Ringo started touring with the All-Starr Band back in 1989.
Last Friday when I eventually did see Ringo in concert was one fine day. After stopping at Busch Stadium to get my NLDS t-shirt and having a great lunch at Pappy’s Smokehouse, my favorite place to eat in St. Louis, we checked into the Hotel Ignacio, a small boutique hotel within walking distance of the Fabulous Fox Theatre, where the concert was held.
The Cardinals were opening the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw. I watched the first few innings from the Triumph Restaurant next to the hotel, and Kershaw was dominating, giving the Cardinals only one hit and leading the Dodgers to a 4-1 lead. By the time I found my seat at the Fox a few minutes later, the score was 6-1. I continued to monitor the game throughout the two hour concert, and the Cardinals won in a thriller 10-9.
Ringo, who is 74 years old, was in great physical shape and strong voice on this night in front of an enthusiastic sold-out crowd at the unique Fox Theatre. He opened with “Matchbox” shortly after 8:00 pm, and the night was off and running. The background vocals of the other six members of the band also added much to Ringo’s twelve songs.
The night was equally split between Ringo and the All-Starr Band, which was comprised of Todd Rundgren, Toto’s Steve Lukather on guitar, Mr. Mister bassist Richard Page, Santana/Journey keyboardist Gregg Rolie, drummer Gregg Bisonette and percussionist/saxophonist Warren Ham. Rundgren, Lukather, Page and Rolie each did three of their songs, in addition to Ringo’s twelve songs, Beatles and solo songs.
It was obvious that Ringo and the entire band are enjoying what they are doing on this tour. Ringo would often flash the peace sign as he repeatedly said “Peace and Love”. There was a red star on his drum and stars served as the artwork on the curtain. Surprisingly, unlike most concerts these days, there was no video screen for this tour.
You can check out the entire set-list and the review of the concert from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch here: http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/reviews/ringo-starr-shines-with-his-friends/article_52cc5819-9871-5df9-a259-3c774c3752c3.html

~ UPDATED PAGES ON THE BLOG ~

Movie Review ~ The Good Lie, rated PG-13

 

~ THIS AND THAT ~

ARTICLES, VIDEOS, PODCASTS, OH MY!

• Dr. Albert Mohler writes “A church or denomination will either believe and teach that same-sex behaviors and relationships are sinful, or it will affirm them. In short order, every single congregation in America will face the same decision — do we affirm same-sex relationships or not? Those who suggest that there is some way around this “binary” choice are fooling themselves and confusing the church.” Read his article “Homosexuality as Dividing Line — The Inescapable Issue” here: http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/09/24/homosexuality-as-dividing-line-the-inescapable-issue/
• Kevin DeYoung shares five biblical reasons Christians should embrace modesty as a God-designed, God-desired good thing. Read them here: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/10/02/the-biblical-virtue-of-modesty/
• Tim Challies continues his overview of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. In chapter 5, Owens deals with misconceptions about what it means to put sin to death. Read about 5 ways Owens offers to lose the battle against sin here:  http://www.challies.com/reading-classics-together/5-ways-to-lose-the-battle-against-sin
• I’ve never taken a number of personality tests, but never the Enneagram, which is described as “…an ancient personality typology, understanding people through the lens of their passions and their temptations.” Find out about it in this article titled “What Kind of Sinful are You?” here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2014/october/what-kind-of-sinful-are-you.html?utm_source=ctdirect-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=9449742&utm_content=304998930&utm_campaign=2013
• It seems like Steven Garber, the speaker at my graduation from Covenant Seminary and author of Visions of Vocation, just keeps popping into my life. I love it when God does that! In the latest article from Charlie Peacock, Charlie writes about meeting with Garber, and as he puts it “Once Steve learned I was an Ashworth and not just a Peacock, the random pieces took order and quickly presented themselves as a seamless, integrated story.” Read the entire article “Seamless Integrated Story” here: http://godpeopleplace.com/2014/09/seamless-integrated-story/
• Have you ever heard of the missionary C.T. Studd? I recently read an article about him by Nathan Busenitz. I read that it was Studd who wrote a poem that I first read a part of in John Piper’s book Don’t Waste Your Life and now have on a t-shirt form Missional Wear – https://www.missionalwear.com/proddetail.php?prod=DWYL06-m

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last

Read Nathan’s article “Only One Life” here: http://thecripplegate.com/only-one-life/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCripplegate+%28The+Cripplegate%29

• I found this Q&A from the folks at Crucial Skills to be of interest, not only for those in the workplace, but all of us. Read “Atoning for Past Mistake”.   
• This week’s Andy Andrews’ podcast looks at what makes a successful coach, as well as Andy’s criteria for being coachable. Listen to it!
• Each day John Maxwell offers a short video on a word of the day that someone writes in about. This one is about the word “kind”. Watch it here:   http://johnmaxwellteam.com/kind/
• John Maxwell writes that “….ALL ethics boils down to one thing: ‘The Golden Rule’. Essentially, asking the question, “How would I like to be treated?” is an integrity guideline for ANY situation.” He states that we like to be treated in six different ways in the workplace. Read what they are in his article titled “The Right Thing 101” here:  http://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/the-right-thing-101
• Dr. Alan Zimmerman in this “Tuesday Tip” indicates that he learned what produces excellence, mediocrity and failure, and then began to realize the difference between winners and losers. Read more here in his article titled “The One Thing that Separates the Winners from the Losers”.
• Have you visited “Place for Truth”, the website for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals? Check it out at http://www.placefortruth.org/placefortruth
• The “casual conversations about things that count” will soon be expanding with a new website. The new site will maintain the same URL address and house the weekly Mortification of Spin podcast, but will feature articles from each of the three hosts: Carl Trueman, Todd Pruitt and Aimee Byrd. Also, listen this fall for several podcasts that will be recorded before, and even include participation from a live audience! Lots of surprises are coming; don’t miss them at http://www.mortificationofspin.org/mos/podcast/double-dipping#.VC0ju40tD3g

R.C. SPROUL – LIGONIER MINISTRIES:

• Ligonier Ministries Teaching Fellow Steven Lawson writes: “It is my great privilege to introduce to you the inaugural issue of Expositor Magazine, the print magazine of One Passion Ministries. Through the bi-monthly publication of Expositor, we desire to address the historical, biblical, and theological dynamics and practice of expository preaching. In addition, Expositor will serve pastors, preachers, students, teachers, and lay people by examining historical and current issues related to biblical exposition. Please visit ExpositorMagazine.com for more information and to subscribe.”
• Richard Phillips writes that Philippians 1:6 develops the theme of God’s preserving grace—which ensures the perseverance of His own—in three points. Read about those three points in his article “God is Faithful to Preserve His Own” here: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/god-faithful-preserve-his-own/
• Ligonier Ministries has released a new 12-part teaching series, Lessons from the Upper Room, from Sinclair Ferguson. Ferguson paints a vivid picture of the disciples’ final moments with their Savior. Carefully walking through John 13-17, Dr. Ferguson reminds us of the centrality of Christ in all of life. Click here to find out more about this new resource.
• Do you know what the Covenant of Redemption is? If not, check out this article from R.C. Sproul: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-covenant-redemption/

JOHN PIPER – DESIRING GOD MINISTRIES:

• John Piper, in writing about the aging of the Baby Boomers suggests four items be the goal of our aging. See what these four are in his article “Boomer’s Bodies – And Yours” here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-dignity-of-our-deterioration
• John Piper addresses four common causes of Bible neglect in the Christian life, like: “I don’t read my Bible because . . .
  • . . . it seems so irrelevant to my life.”
  • . . . I don’t have time.”
  • . . . I go to church every Sunday.”
  • . . . I find it confusing.”

Read this article titled “Why We Neglect Our Bibles” to see how he addresses these causes: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/why-we-neglect-our-bibles

• John Piper has released a number of Look at the Book labs on the Desiring God website. Look at the Book is a new online method of teaching the Bible. It’s an ongoing series of 8–12 minute videos in which the camera is on the text, not the teacher. You will hear John Piper’s voice and watch his pen underline, circle, make connections, and scribble notes — all to help you learn to read God’s word for yourself. His goal is to help you not only see what he sees, but where he sees it and how he found it. Check out the labs here: http://www.desiringgod.org/labs

SPORTS:

• Did you see the catch that Steven Souza Jr. of the Washington Nationals made on the final play of the game to finish off Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter against the Miami Marlins on the last day of the baseball season last week? If not, check it out. 
• My friend Jim sent me this St. Louis Cardinals corn maze from Eckert’s Fun Farm in Millstadt, Illinois. Can we send the San Francisco Giants into the maze?

BOOKS:

• The free audiobook of the month from Christianaudio is He Wins, She Wins from Willard F. Harley, who is best known for the best-selling book His Needs, Her Needs: Building An Affair-proof Marriage. He Wins, She Wins begins with one simple rule: Never do anything without an enthusiastic agreement between you and your spouse.  Click here to find out how to download your free copy.   
• George W. Bush’s book about his father is titled 41: A Portrait of My Father. It will be published November 11.
• I enjoyed this review of the new book Fallen: A Theology of Sin – Theology in Community Series, edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson, the latter of which I had for two classes at Covenant Seminary. Others from Covenant Seminary who contributed were Bryan Chapell, Robert Yarbrough and David Calhoun. You can read the review here: http://www.reformation21.org/shelf-life/fallen-a-theology-of-sin.php
• Eric Metaxas’ excellent biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer at 608 pages may have scared some readers away (though Tammy recently completed the book). Now a 256 page abridged edition has been released. Check out this excellent book and learn more about this important figure. Metaxas’ new book Miracles, will be released October 28.
• Here’s a Christianity Today review of Michael Horton’s new book Ordinary, which I plan to read when it is released this week. Check out “The Case Against ‘Radical’ Christianity”. 

TELEVISION:

• Viola Davis is one of our best actresses. We were really looking forward to the preview of her new television series How to Get Away with Murder. Unfortunately, we were shocked with the graphic sex included in the preview – on network television. We agree with Jim Denison’s article “Why How to Get Away With Murder Shocked Me”, and will not be watching the program any longer: http://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/1186-why-how-to-get-away-with-murder-shocked-me
• Did you see Jennifer Garner, Questlove, John Mulaney and Jimmy Fallon play “Catchphrase” on The Tonight Show recently? If not, check it out here: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/segments/12811
• Did you see recently New York Yankee superstar Derek Jeter on The Tonight Show last week? If not, check it out here: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/segments/12976

MOVIES:

• Justin Taylor writes that the film Hound of Heaven (Kurosawa Productions) will premiere at the 2014 Raindance Film Festival on October 4. Author N.D. Wilson adapted Francis Thompson’s spiritual poem (1893), the original of which you can read here. Propaganda provides the spoken-word narration. You can read the whole story here.
• Last weekend a new Left Behind film, based upon the popular book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins and a remake of the previous film by the same name opened. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Randall Hardman writes “…a severe misinterpretation of what the Bible actually says about the topic. To put it bluntly, and perhaps to the chagrin of some readers, the idea of a “rapture” is simply not biblically based (and that’s where I’ve lost a third of you!) It represents, instead, a theology based on escapism and in the process does damage to what the Bible really does say about “the last days.” Read his article “Why Left Behind Should be Left Behind” here: http://theaquilareport.com/why-left-behind-should-be-left-behind/

MUSIC:

• Keith and Kristyn Getty’s sold-out concert at Grace Presbyterian Church is less than two weeks away. On the verge of the concert they have released a new EP The Greengrass Sessions. This limited edition EP features:
  • My Worth Is Not in What I Own – the new hymn written by Keith and Kristyn and Graham Kendrick
  • Good Shepherd of My Soul – a warm and moving a capella rendition of one of Keith and Kristyn’s newer songs
  • Come Ye Sinners – a musical journey from Ireland to Appalachia envelops the traditional hymn
  • Plus 3 more brand new recordings!

To order, go to http://www.gettymusic.com/USA-albums.aspx?id=1162

• Here’s a few more upcoming music releases you might be interested in:
  • November 4: Eye’M All Mixed Up: Remixes – TobyMac
  • November 4: Hallelujah for the Cross – Newsboys
  • November 11: The Essential Collection – Passion (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, etc.)
  • After All These Years – Andrew Peterson
• U2’s album The Unforgettable Fire is 30 years old. Billboard magazine takes a track by track look at the classic album.
• More on the new Newsboys album…. On the heels of one of the biggest years in their legendary career, Newsboys are at it again with a brand new hymns album, Hallelujah for the Cross. It will include many traditional hymns with new arrangements like: “Jesus Paid It All,” “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” “It Is Well,” “All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name” and many more.
• One of my favorite new songs is “Liberty” from Switchfoot’s new EP The Edge of the Earth: Unleased Songs from the Film ‘Fading West’: Here are the lyrics to the song:

A feeling comes to me in waves
The darkest seas I’ve ever known
Mine is an odyssey of grace
Mine is a story headed home

I tied myself to the mast
Give up the semblance of control
The sirens sing but I let them pass
Cause only You can free my soul

Set these broken bones to cast
Stitch my wounds with holy sutures
Every saint has got a past
But every sinner’s got a future

Show me the freedom from these chains
Show me a battlefield that saves
That world is still a word away
But You are my liberty

Free my soul, free my soul
And let liberty flow
Like a flood, let it go
And I’ll let the past go
I’ve come running back home
And I’ll make it, I know
All my love, all my hope
Only You could free my soul
Come on, free my soul
Only you could free my soul

I tie myself up to the mast
I tie myself up to the mast
And let it go

Only You could free my soul

PRAYERS:

• I’ve mentioned before that Scotty Smith’s prayers often strike a little too close to home. This one is a case in point. Tammy and I were recently talking about our critical spirits and along comes Scotty’s “A Prayer for Owning and Grieving a Critical Spirit”. You can read it here: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2014/09/29/a-prayer-for-owning-and-grieving-a-critical-spirit/
• Speaking of Scotty’s prayers hitting a little too close to home, “Oops, he’s done it again”. I’m not the biggest fan of change. Read his prayer “A Prayer for Grace to Accept Change” here: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2014/09/30/a-prayer-for-grace-to-accept-change-3/

 Quotable:  Don’t go to bed tonight without preaching the gospel to your heart one more time. -Scotty Smith

 

Quotables:

• God himself will milk the cows through him whose vocation that is. He who engages in the lowliness of his work performs God’s work, be the lad or king. – Martin Luther
• A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. – John C. Maxwell

 Work and Leadership Book Review –

      Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan

 

 Integrating Faith and Work: Connecting Sunday to Monday

• Tim Challies recently began a new series on how he gets things done. He will share some of what he has learned along the way, by allowing the reader into his life and into his systems. This stuff is right up my alley. Read the first installment in the series.  
• Is it wrong for wives to work outside of the home? John MacArthur looks at what the Bible has to say about that issue. Check it out here: http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/QA188/Is-It-Wrong-for-Wives-to-Work?Term=work
• Kathy Caprino looks back at 30 years of working and shares the top 5 things you should never do at work. Read her article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140915121120-17850276-the-top-5-things-you-should-never-do-at-work
• Skye Jethani writes that after leaving the ministry for a job in the marketplace, and seeing how busy he was, he …”realized how insensitive and guilt-inducing many of my past sermons had been. In sermon after sermon I had called them to give more time, more money, more energy to the work of the church. Little did I understand or affirm their callings in the world”. He states that he had “inadvertently created a secular/sacred divide in which the “sacred” calling of the church was pitted against their “secular” callings in the world. Read about the history behind this divide in his article “Calling All Christians” here:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thehighcalling/2014/09/calling-all-christians/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=thehighcalling_100114UTC051040_daily&utm_content=&spMailingID=47098535&spUserID=MTAwNTY3MzY0NjUzS0&spJobID=540127787&spReportId=NTQwMTI3Nzg3S0
• Each morning on the way to work I pray for those that I will be meeting with and engaging with that day.  That reminded me of this Lead Like Jesus e-devotional which states: “What is on your calendar today? What deadlines are you facing? What appointments are on your calendar? What if you used your calendar as a guide for your prayer time today?” Read the entire article “God’s Calendar” here: https://otm86890.infusionsoft.com/app/hostedEmail/14452928/f62613d5a95fff6a
• This article asks “Is your daily work a high calling?” Yes, indeed, because it is one main way you respond to the calling of God. But your work is not your highest calling.” Read the article “Is My Work a Calling?” here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thehighcalling/2014/10/is-my-work-a-calling/
• Email can be a real time-waster and cut into your productivity. Matt Perman can help. Check out his article “How to Get Your Inbox to Zero Everyday” here: http://whatsbestnext.com/2008/11/how-to-get-your-mail-inbox-to-zero-every-day/
• Mark D. Roberts writes that there is a Caller for your calling.
• Read John Kyle’s article on how love has failed in the workplace in the 14^th in a series on love at work.

Faith and Work Book Clubs – Won’t you read along with us?

How then SHOULD We Work? Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine of Work Book Club – Chapter 4

This week we continue our book club on Hugh Whelchel’s book How Then Should We Work?: Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine of Work. Whelchel is the Executive Director the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics and has a passion and expertise in helping individuals integrate their faith and vocational calling. This week we cover the material in Chapter 4: Our Current Situation. 

What’s Best Next Book Club – Chapter 16

We continue with our overview of this new book on productivity from a Christian perspective. I’ve highlighted a number of passages and would like to share some of them from Chapter 16: The Problem with Full System Utilization.