At the beginning of this film directed by Patricia Riggen and based on the book Deep Down Dark by journalist Héctor Tobar, we are told the amazing fact that 12,000 miners die in accidents worldwide each year. The 33 is the incredible true story of 33 miners trapped after the San José mine in Chile’s barren Atacama Desert, shifts and collapses in August 2010.
The scene of the collapse is terrifying, and it is unbelievable that none of the miners died during the collapse. Instead, all 33 make it to the “Refuge”, a supposed safe area, with food, communications and first aid supplies 2,300 feet below the surface where the temperature is 94 degrees. However, what they find in the Refuge is that there is only three days’ worth of food and water rations. They find that the emergency ladder to the surface was never completed by the owners of the mine. In addition, the intercom that the miners hope to use to communicate with is found to be unusable. The mining company is portrayed as uncaring and negligent in this film. They have no plans to try to rescue the miners and aren’t sharing any information with the families.
Laurence Golborne (Rodrigo Santoro) is Chili’s likable Minister of Mining. He singled-handedly convinces President Sebastián Piñera (Bob Gunton) that there is a moral obligation to try to rescue the minors. We see Golborne confronted outside the mine by María Segovia (Juliette Binoche), one of the trapped miner’s sisters, who has a large role in the film.
Lou Diamond Phillips stars as the miner’s foreman Don Lucho. However, after the collapse, Mario Sepúlveda, played by Antonio Banderas, steps up as the group’s true leader. He rations the small food and water supplies available and tries to encourage the hope and faith of the men as best he can under the circumstances. Hope and faith are recurring themes in this film, both of the miners trapped below, and of the fearful family members that hold vigil outside. But as each day goes by, we see that hope diminishing.
Gabriel Byrne portrays drilling expert Andre Sougarret, called in to help rescue the miners. James Brolin appears in a small role as drilling engineer Jeff Hart. James Horner handles the soundtrack, mixing Chilean instruments with more typical soundtrack orchestral sounds. This would be his final film, as he died in a plane crash June 22, 2015.
The film is rated PG-13 for the mine collapse and some adult language, including the misuse of God’s name.
Growing up I loved Peanuts – the cartoon strip, television specials, books, etc., created by Charles Schulz, who died in 2000. When I saw that they were making a new film version of our beloved characters (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, etc.), my feelings were much like my wife Tammy when she first heard that they were making a film version of the first Harry Potter book. They better not screw it up! Well fortunately, as with the Harry Potter films, they do a great job in this film directed by Steve Martino (Ice Age: Continental Drift, Horton Hears a Who!) in a script created in 2006 by Charles M. Schulz’s son and grandson Craig Schulz and Bryan Schulz respectively, and Cornelius Uliano.
This film, with a budget of approximately $100 million, is being released 50 years after A Charlie Brown Christmas, the first Peanuts television special, as well as being released 65 years after the first Peanuts comic strip. It is the fifth Peanuts movie in theatres in 35 years since 1980’s Bon Voyage, Charlies Brown (and Don’t Come Back!!)
The makers of the film, playing to nostalgia, have chosen to give us all of the things we loved about the Peanuts characters, as if time hasn’t changed at all. There are no cell phones or computers. Lucy is giving advice for a nickel at her psychiatrist’s booth and pulling the football out from under Charlie Brown, who can’t fly a kite, or throw a baseball past a batter; the lovable loser who can never catch a break. There is Pig Pen with a cloud of dust all around him and Peppermint Patty falling asleep in class, always accompanied by her assistant Marcie. Snoopy is typing on his manual typewriter on top of his doghouse, accompanied by Woodstock, fighting the Red Baron or showing up as his alter ego Joe Cool. Don’t forget Linus with his blanket and Sally with her crush on “my sweet babboo” (Linus); Schroeder’s love of Beethoven and Lucy’s love of Schroeder and skating on the pond. Even the voices of the characters match perfectly those that you would hear on the classic 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas television special that we watch every year.
The one thing that is new is using computer-generated animation for the first time and 3D. We didn’t see the film in 3D, but it was obvious that there were some scenes created to show off the technology.
There are two storylines that run through the film. The first is when a cute Little Red-Haired Girl moves in across the street from Charlie Brown. He’s immediately captivated by her, but also so nervous that he’s terrified to be in her presence. Second is Snoopy’s battle (his doghouse doubles for his fighter plane) with his arch-nemesis the Red Baron. Growing up, yes, I’ll admit to it, I had all of the Snoopy and the Red Baron singles by the Royal Guardsmen (now that’s not a band you hear of these days). Just as Charlie Brown is smitten by the Little Red-Haired Girl, Snoopy is taken by attractive British fighter pilot Fifi.
I just loved this film, and recommend it for the entire family.
Note: Meghan Trainor recorded the catchy new song Better When I’m Dancing for the film. Watch her perform the song recently on The Tonight Show (and just try to keep your toes from tapping).
Concert Review: Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life Performance Tour – Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis November 7
Stevie Wonder, who rarely tours, appeared last Saturday at the Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on his Songs in the Key of Life Performance Tour. This was the second time I had seen him in concert, the first being way back in high school, when Rufus featuring Chaka Kahn opened for him.
I remember the anticipation around the long-delayed Songs in the Key of Life album that was finally released in 1976. It is one of the greatest albums of all time, truly a masterpiece. The 21 song (originally a double album and four-song EP) included radio hits “Sir Duke”, “I Wish” and “Isn’t She Lovely”, and is #57 on Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list.
The 65 year-old Wonder began the marathon concert – beginning at about 8:10pm and ending at 11:55pm, including a 15-minute intermission – by addressing the nearly full Banker’s Life Fieldhouse crowd, equally consisting of black and white (Ebony and Ivory!) fans, some of whom were really decked out for the show, accompanied by vocalist Latrelle Simmons. He said he was dedicating the performance to Amos Brown, a local radio personality and journalist who died two days earlier of a suspected heart attack.
Wonder was backed by a large and talented ensemble as he performed his classic album in its entirety. By my count this included:
10-piece string ensemble, plus the animated conductor
5 background singers, including Simmons
Four drummers/percussionists
6-piece horn section
2 keyboardists
Three guitarists, including musical director Nathan Watts
Gospel choir that joined in a few songs
As Wonder played the album pretty much, but not entirely, in order, beginning with “Love’s in Need of Love Today” and finishing with “Another Star”, he showcased his own and his band’s extensive talents, playing extended versions of some songs and giving each of the backing vocalists the opportunity to show off their skills. Highlights included “Sir Duke”, “I Wish”, “Isn’t She Lovely”, and the closing “As” and “Another Star”. He led a great sing-along on “Knocks Me Off My Feet”, having the women in the crowd singing “I don’t want to bore you with it” and the men following with “But I love you, I love you, I love you”.
While playing the harpejji, an electric stringed instrument that aims to bridge the gap in sound and technique between the guitar and the piano, Wonder played his classic “My Cherie Amour” and the Impressions’ 1965 song “People Get Ready”.
During the instrumental “Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call)”, Wonder displayed his harmonica skills, leading into “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, often referred to as the African-American national anthem, and finishing with a moving version “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
After Wonder completed “Another Star”, he exclaimed “We did it!” Playing the entire 21 song album in its entirety was quite an accomplishment. He then did another set in which he insisted he be known as DJ Tick Tick Boom, ending the evening with high energy versions of “Do I Do”, Ribbon in the Sky”, “Signed Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours)” and “Superstition”.
Wonder ends this tour with a November 24 show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, and has said he will only perform it again for President Obama (should he ask). We thoroughly enjoyed this unique performance.
Music Review: Joy: An Irish Christmas LIVE – Keith and Kristyn Getty
****
I’ve always heard great things about the Getty’s Christmas concerts, but as of yet we haven’t gotten to one. We’ve seen them twice in concert, and at an October, 2014 fall date of their “Hymns for the Christian Life” tour we did get to hear them perform “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” giving us a small taste of what their Christmas concerts are like.
If you are not familiar with the Getty’s, they are writers of modern hymns for the church. Kristyn handles lead vocals, Keith plays piano and acoustic guitar, and they have a very talented band made up of musicians from America and Ireland.
The Getty’s released their first Christmas album Joy – An Irish Christmas in 2011. I have a concern that this new live recording may get lost as it has an almost identical title and even some similar artwork as the 2011 release.
Keith has reflected on why Christmas carols are more than just sentimental songs at the end of the year: “We would do well as worship leaders to remember that non-churchgoers are far more inclined to attend a church service during the Christmas season where songs are easy and enjoyable to sing rather than a church trying to put on the slickest possible show. The music of carols, written by some of the finest hymn writers of all time (such as Wesley, Watts and Rossetti) and arranged by equally outstanding composers (Handel, Holst and Mendelssohn) speaks for itself. We have wonderful songs to use! And Christmas gives us a wide open door to use those songs to impact culture like no other time of the year.”
For this concert, performed in front of an enthusiastic audience, and featured on Public Television, they are joined by Irish dancers and a multi-generational choir. In a live setting, they bring some fresh and extended arrangements to the songs on the studio album, add some additional Christmas songs as well as some other songs such as “A Mother’s Prayer”, “Come Ye Sinners” and one of our best modern hymns that we sing often in our church “In Christ Alone”.
Despite the similar album name, this is not just a live version of the 2011 studio album. In addition to the three songs listed above, the below are songs not included on the studio album:
O Come Redeemer of the Earth
Here We Come A-Wassailing
Sleigh Ride (with Christmas Eve Reel)
Deck the Halls
Wonder
O Children Come
Irish Christmas Blessing
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Also available on DVD, this live concert recording is aptly named. I felt joy listening to it and worshiping our Savior and his birth. As with all of the Getty’s recordings, these songs feature theologically rich lyrics and top-notch musicianship. Along with Chris Tomlin’s new Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship, this is an excellent new Christmas album to help us worship our Savior this season.
Snowtime. James Taylor discusses his new single “Snowtime” from his chart-topping album Before This World.
Restored Penny Lane Video. The Beatles are set to release 1+, which features 200 minutes of their film footage – you can watch the restored video for “Penny Lane” here. Along with the film for the A-side of the single “Strawberry Fields Forever”, this would become one of the first of what we now know as “music videos”. As a 10-year old Beatles fan, I remember watching the videos for both songs in their American television debut on the program The Hollywood Palace, and being stunned over their new appearance (mustaches and beards).
“A Day in the Life” Video. Speaking of the Beatles new 1+ compilation album – a deluxe reissue of their 2000 No. 1 hits collection 1, that’s set to include some 50 restored and never-commercially-released films and videos – check out this new video of their song “A Day in the Life”.
Songs of Experience. Good news for U2 fans – Bono states that U2’s fourteenth album Songs of Experience, will be released in 2016.
People will hurt you. But don’t use that as an excuse for poor choices, use it as motivation to make the right ones. Lecrae
He Shall Reign Forevermore by Chris Tomlin
This week’s song of the week is Chris Tomlin’s “He Shall Reign Forevermore” from his new live Christmas album Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship. Watch Chris Tomlin and Matt Maher, the songs co-writers discuss, perform and teach you the song.
Listen to the album version and watch the lyric video here. Watch the song being performed here.
In the bleak mid-winter, all creation groans For a world in darkness, frozen like a stone Light is breaking, in a stable For a throne
And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore Unto us a child is born The King of kings and Lord of lords And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
If I were a wise man, I would travel far And if I were a shepherd, I would do my part But poor as I am I will give to Him my heart
And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore Unto us a child is born The King of kings and Lord of lords And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
Here within a manger lies The One who made the starry skies This baby born for sacrifice Christ, the Messiah Into our hopes, into our fears The Savior of the world appears The promise of eternal years Christ, the Messiah
He shall reign forevermore, forevermore He shall reign forevermore, forevermore He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore Unto us a child is born The King of kings and Lord of lords And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
BOOK REVIEW ~ Prayer: A Biblical Perspective by Eric J. Alexander
Prayer: A Biblical Perspective by Eric J. Alexander. Banner of Truth. 106 pages. 2012. ****
Eric Alexander is a wonderful preacher who I was blessed to hear at a few theology conferences in the past. His chief concern in this short book is to remind Christians that prayer is fundamental, and not supplemental, both in the individual and in the corporate lives of God’s people. This book has the feel of individual sermons that were delivered on prayer put into book form.
Alexander writes that because prayer defies definition, the Bible doesn’t give us a comprehensive definition of prayer. Because the reader would like a definition however, he uses the words of John Calvin, who in his commentary on Isaiah says, ‘Prayer is nothing else than the opening up of our heart before God’.
Alexander shares the following elements of true prayer from the scriptures:
Entering into God’s presence through the access obtained for us in Christ’s sacrificial death.
Worshiping and adoring God for all that he is.
Praising and thanking God for all that he does.
Humbling ourselves before God because of what we are, and confessing our sin and failure.
Supplicating at God’s throne and petitioning him for the good things for which we are totally dependent on him.
Intercession for others.
In this book, Alexander looks at a number of examples of prayer in scripture, such as:
Jesus teaching the disciples about prayer. (Matthew 6). Alexander writes that despite us calling this the “Lord’s Prayer”, this is not a prayer that Jesus ever prayed, or indeed could pray. The prayer is not intended to be repeated verbatim by us. It is rather a pattern for prayer, to teach us to pray ourselves.
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:7-12). Alexander writes “Many students of the Sermon on the Mount have wondered whether we are intended to see a distinction between these three precepts—ask, seek, knock—or whether we should think of them as just a repetition of the same idea. Personally, I do not think they are a mere repetition. More likely they seem to be an intensification with a different focus”.
The priority of the Apostles (Acts 6:3-4). Alexander writes that if we are going to be apostolic in the pattern of our church life, we need to adopt the same priorities they had, devoting themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Alexander writes that “It is my deepest conviction that God is calling his church in the twenty-first century to re-echo this holy determination of the first century apostles.”
The prayer life of Paul. Alexander states that the two dominant features of Paul’s ministry were prayer and preaching. He would put them in that order because of the apostolic priorities in Acts 6:4.
The prayer of a penitent Sinner (Psalm 51). This psalm touches upon mercy, cleansing, sin, forgiveness and restoration.
Thirsting for God (Psalm 63). There are several psalms which express in similar terms the psalmist’s thirst for God. Alexander writes that the ultimate reason for prayerlessness is a lack of desire for God.
The Intercessory Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Alexander writes that perhaps the most convincing evidence of how deeply God desires that we should learn to pray, is that all three persons of the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—combine together to persuade us to take up the ministry of prayer.
Corporate Prayer. Prayer is the duty of the church corporately, not just of Christians individually. Alexander sees it highly significant that today one of the chief marks of the church’s malaise is the poverty of prayer meetings in the evangelical churches of the western world.
Alexander then looks at difficulties related to prayer, breaking them down into the categories of common, spiritual and practical difficulties.
He ends the book with an epilogue on prayer and preaching. He writes that prayer and preaching belong together in the mind and wisdom and purpose of God. The prayerless preacher is a contradiction in terms, as is the prayerless church.
Although short, this is an excellent book on prayer and highly recommended.
Book News:
Family Traditions. Andy Andrews released a new and free e-book called Family Traditions: Christmas Edition). He wrote it to help us get more out of the holiday season this year.
Book Briefs. Kevin DeYoung looks at a few new book releases.
Book Review: Transforming Homosexuality. Eric Davis reviews Transforming Homosexuality: What the Bible Says about Sexual Orientation and Change by Denny Burk and Heath Lambert. He writes that the book “is a needed work in this hour of history. Counselors will find it helpful for counselees, pastors and teachers will benefit from the clarity and insight given for preaching and teaching, Christians will be better equipped to interact intelligently, biblically, and lovingly with the world around us, and those of differing spiritual persuasions will be lovingly and truthfully guided to the true hope of Christ.”
5 Best Books on Stewardship and Generosity. The Church Leaders “Best Books” series is their way of helping leaders find, read, and recommend books on a variety of important topics related to ministry and the Christian life. Chris Brown recommends his 5 favorite books on stewardship and generosity, three of which I’ve read (those by Dave Ramsey and Randy Alcorn).
Parables. Tim Challies reviews John MacArthur’s new book Parables, calling it “a helpful, enjoyable, powerful book.”
Top Ten God Exalting Books. Jordan Standridge writes “Here are some books to help usfight against our tendency to exalt ourselves and minimize God’s glory. These books have a Theocentric view of the Bible. Some of these I’ve read, others were suggestions from other pastors.”
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
This book made a significant impact on my wife Tammy when she read and discussed it with friends thirty years ago. When I picked up my diploma the day after graduation ceremonies from Covenant Seminary last year I was given a copy of this book. After enjoying Lloyd-Jones book Spiritual Depression (and the sermons the book was taken from), I couldn’t wait to read this book, which is the printed form of sermons preached for the most part on successive Sunday mornings at Westminster Chapel in London. This week we look at
Chapter 12: The Christian and Persecution
The best way of putting it, therefore, would be to say that, whereas all the others have been a direct description, this (Beatitude) is indirect. ‘This is what is going to happen to you because you are a Christian’, says Christ.
I do not think you will ever find the biblical doctrines of sin and the world put more perfectly or precisely anywhere in Scripture than in just these two Beatitudes-‘Blessed are the peacemakers’, and `Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake’. If a Christian man is a peacemaker this is what happens to him.
There is certainly no Beatitude that has been so frequently misunderstood and misapplied. Therefore we must approach it with great circumspection and care.
There are Christian people who are being actively and bitterly persecuted in many countries at this very moment, and there may well be a strong case for saying that this may be the most important verse in your life and mine.
What, then, does this Beatitude mean? Let me put it like this. Being righteous, practicing righteousness, really means being like the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore they are blessed who are persecuted for being like Him. What is more, those who are like Him always will be persecuted.
By whom are the righteous persecuted? You will find as you go through the Scriptures, and as you study the history of the Church, that the persecution is not confined to the world. Some of the most grievous persecution has been suffered by the righteous at the hands of the Church herself, and at the hands of religious people. It has often come from nominal Christians.
Obviously, then, we can draw certain conclusions from all this. For one thing, it tells us a great deal about our ideas concerning the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. If our conception of Him is such that He can be admired and applauded by the non-Christian, we have a wrong view of Him.
That leads to the second conclusion. This Beatitude tests our ideas as to what the Christian is.
And yet is not our idea of what we call the perfect Christian nearly always that he is a nice, popular man who never offends anybody, and is so easy to get on with? But if this Beatitude is true, that is not the real Christian, because the real Christian is a man who is not praised by everybody. They did not praise our Lord, and they will never praise the man who is like Him.
So I draw my next deduction. It concerns the natural, unregenerate man, and it is this. The natural mind, as Paul says, `is enmity against God’. Though he talks about God, he really hates God. And when the Son of God came on earth he hated and crucified Him. And that is the attitude of the world towards Him now.
This leads to the last deduction, which is that the new birth is an absolute necessity before anybody can become a Christian.
Finally, let us ask ourselves this question: Do we know what it is to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake?
If ever you find yourself persecuted for Christ and for righteousness’ sake, you have in a sense got the final proof of the fact that you are a Christian, that you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.
Is the Digital Tide Turning? David Murray looks at a few trends and asks “Is the digital deluge beginning to abate? After years of digital tsunamis sweeping everything (including ourselves) before them, are we seeing the tide turning? Is some sanity returning to our use of digital technology?”
Have Americans Really Changed Their Minds on Same-Sex Marriage? Albert Mohler writes “I do not doubt that a vast moral revolution is reshaping America, but it is doubtful that most Americans are ready to say that a boy doesn’t need a dad. And, unless they are willing to go that far, they really do not support same-sex marriage as is claimed — or even, as they claim.”
We’re Burning Babies. See the latest leaked heartbreaking Planned Parenthood videos.
Starbucks’ Plain Red Holiday Cups Stir Up Controversy. Starbucks said it removed “symbols of the season” used in the past, which have included reindeer and ornaments, in favor of a simple, two-toned red cup. Personal Note: No Christians I know are troubled by the red cup or even care about it. Could this whole ‘tempest in a teapot’ be a marketing ploy?
Daredevil Stunt. See this video showing “Jetmen” Yves Rossy and Vince Reffet flying 4,000 feet above Dubai alongside an Emirates A380 airliner.
THEOLOGY = “The Knowledge of God”:
The Believer and Sanctification. John MacArthur writes “So who is responsible for your growth as a Christian? God is responsible for supplying everything you need for life and godliness, and you are responsible for actively using that power to grow in sanctification for His glory. The paradox is found in the believer being both fully responsible, and yet fully dependent on God’s supply.”
The Article on Which the Church Stands or Falls. I’ve been listening to the messages from the 2013 Ligonier National Conference that had a theme of No Compromise. Watch this video of a wonderful defense of the doctrine of justification by faith alone by R.C. Sproul.
A Quiz on the Doctrine of Scripture. Tim Challies writes “How well do you know the doctrine of the Scripture? How well do you know what the Bible tells us about the Bible? This short thirty-three question quiz is designed to help you find out.”
The Love You Don’t Need. John MacArthur writes “any so-called “love” that ignores God’s holiness or denies biblical truth is a deadly counterfeit that threatens to enslave and to deceive. It is the love you don’t need, because it is not really love at all.”
Your Bible is a Gold Mine. Jon Bloom writes “The Bible contains over 31,000 verses — so much gold and so little time. We’ll never exhaust the gold it contains during our brief lives, but we must discover all we can.”
5 Reasons Preachers Avoid Sermons on Hell. Kevin Halloran writes “Cultural pressures and itching ears can make us forget the great privilege of preaching all the gospel—not only the hell we deserve but the beauty of him who took hell on himself, securing endless life for us. Let us faithfully proclaim this glad news in all its parts so our hearers might repent, believe, and escape the wrath to come.”
Historical is Not Enough. Carl Trueman, who I enjoyed his wonderful course on B.B. Warfield a few years back at Covenant Seminary, writes “I worry that the return to the old paths in much of the Christian world is simply a return to what is considered safe and convenient.”
5 Leadership Questions Podcast with Darrin Patrick. On this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and Barnabas Piper talk with Darrin Patrick who is the lead and founding pastor of The Journey in Saint Louis. He has authored several books, including the brand new The Dude’s Guide to Marriage Darrin is also the chaplain for the Saint Louis Cardinals. They talk entrepreneurial leadership, church planting, and about soul care for pastors.
Reformation Website. Gene Veith writes “The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has put together a web site in conjunction with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which will take place in 2017. The site includes lots of resources, including videos. It also announces a hymn writing competition!”
CHRISTIAN LIVING:
A Prayer for Owning and Dealing with our Critical Spirit. Here’s our prayer of the week from our friend Scotty Smith, who I enjoyed two wonderful courses with at Covenant Seminary. I encourage you to sign up to receive these prayers from Scotty daily.
We Disagree, Therefore I Need You. Scott Sauls shares a few thoughts about how he believes Jesus wants his people to relate to one another on matters that are important, but that are also non-essential.
Satan Hunts Among the Hurting. Marshall Segal shares five truths to believe in the valley against all of the lies Satan hides in the shadows.
The Fruit of Patience. R.C. Sproul writes “Waiting for God is at the heart of living by faith.”
Thank God for Your Normal, Boring Life. Kevin DeYoung writes “If your life feels ho-hum and humdrum, if you struggle to find contentment in the ordinary and mundane, if you are tempted to break free from the predictable routine of life with stupidity or sinfulness, consider for a moment that your boring life is the envy of almost every person sitting right now in a hospital bed or a refugee camp. Consider how many friends and family members would gladly trade in all their frenzied commotion and uncertain schedules for a single day of your plain-jane normalcy. The only people bored with boring are those who have never had to live without it.”
Pray For Your Children’s Salvation. Joel Beeke writes “The salvation of our children is priceless; their spiritual needs far outweigh their physical needs. They need our prayers—our earnest prayers with hearts aflame, both for their initial repentance and coming to Christ by faith, and for their life of ongoing growth in faith.”
The Loneliness of Suffering. Vaneetha Rendall writes “This path of suffering, of heartache, of loneliness takes me directly to my Savior. Which is the lone path worth taking. For only Jesus can heal me.”
Doug Michael’s Cartoon of the Week
One of the saddest things about this fallen world is that an adoption can cost $40,000 and an abortion $400.David Sitton
God gets glory when his strength shines in our weakness. Kevin DeYoung
Father, we long for the clarity of Your truth to dawn upon our minds and for the immensity of Your love to grip our hearts. Alistair Begg
Suffering dispels the illusion that we have the strength and competence to rule our own lives. Tim Keller
Is there a record for number of naps in one day? Jim Gaffigan
Just ended a conversation with one of America’s most famous atheists with “God bless you.” Couldn’t help it. And I meant it. And he knew it. Albert Mohler
Life may not be pain free for us, but it’ll never be Christ absent. Scotty Smith
Unbelievers can tolerate Christ only as long as he is stripped of his real identity. R.C. Sproul
Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what we worship. Tim Keller
If you reject the Bible as your final authority, what is your final authority? Get that clear. For God will ask you in the end. John Piper
Prosperity and poverty are not signs of God’s favor or disfavor; God’s promised mercy in the gospel is the only anchor in the storm. Michael Horton
Christianity is the only religion whose God bears the scars of evil. Os Guinness
Jesus’ example teaches us that prayer is about relationship. When he prays, he is not performing a duty; he is getting close to his Father. Paul Miller
Save 3-6 months of expenses in a Rainy Day fund. Know why? Cause it is going to rain, and you aren’t the exception. Dave Ramsey
The voice of Christ is so powerful that it awakens the spiritually dead in the grave of sin to hear it and live. Steven Lawson
Holy Spirit, grant us long fuses and short accounts today, along with copious amounts of mercy and grace to share. Scotty Smith
The world says love yourself, grab all you can, follow your heart. Jesus says deny yourself, grab your cross and follow me. Francis Chan
Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. Soren Kierkegaard
If we really believe that God is actively present in our lives, we need to set aside a time and space to give God our undivided attention. Henri Nouwen
When you think of what you are, and despair; think also of what He is, and take heart. Charles Spurgeon
To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust him in the dark—that is faith. Charles Spurgeon
When Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom so that big sinners like me might fit through. Charles Spurgeon
Whenever the true message of the cross is abolished, the anger of hypocrites and heretics eases and all things seem to be at peace. Martin Luther
I recently read Brad Lomenick’s book The Catalyst Leader: 8 Essential for Becoming a Change Maker. He included a number of excellent leadership quotes. Below are 25 of them:
We must never compare our beginning to someone else’s ending. Instead, we need to seek God’s plan for us as He reveals our callings to us. It’s important we focus on what God has called each of us to do, and not compare our callings to others.
Ambition must be grounded in wisdom. Inspiration must be pursued with integrity. Dreams must be built with boundaries. And passions need the steady hand of principles to guide them.
Every Christian has two callings in life: a spiritual one to salvation and also a vocational calling. The first informs the way you’ll live out your second calling.
When you are living out your calling, your work will be better, and you will naturally want to work harder.
Leaders who make the biggest impact also have the strongest sense of calling.
Calling is not necessarily about a title, position, or even a certain career, but more about a vision and purpose for your life that spans all the seasons of your vocation.
If we don’t learn to be content with who God has made us and called us to be, then we will never reach our potential as influencers.
Leaders who are willing to share honestly about their own struggles immediately gain influence.
No matter where you work, your job can be an act of worship and service to God.
Those who desire to influence and impact others will never reach their full potential unless they develop a contagious love for the One who has called them.
If we believe we are called by God to the work we do, then we bear the responsibility of doing this work with an unrivaled standard of excellence.
Set standards that scare you, and work to achieve them.
Once we discover our calling, we have a responsibility to pursue that calling with authenticity, passion, vigor, and distinction.
Without courage, your calling is crippled.
What would you pursue today if you weren’t afraid to fail? If you knew for certain that you were the one to make it happen? Go do that.
The road to success is many times put together through multiple failures. Allow for and even encourage your team to fail as they attempt to succeed.
Leading with character is the standard for every decision we make and the foundation for how we interact with one another and with our community of leaders.
Your character will determine your level of leadership and even your legacy.
Remember that your character and integrity is built over time in the insignificant moments when you think no one is watching.
Humble leaders are willing to pass on the credit but absorb the criticism, push others higher while making themselves lower, and put the desires of the team ahead of their own.
Being a steadfast leader means doing what you say you are going to do.
When people see you living a life of integrity and accountability, they’ll trust you.
Leaders who others want to follow have a vision that is inspiring and powerful.
A catalyst leader wants to work together with all kinds of leaders and organizations, without worrying who gets the credit.
Every leader—regardless of age—should have at least one mentor and should be mentoring at least one other person.
Brad Lomenick led and directed a movement of young leaders called Catalyst for 12 years. He is now in a strategic advisor role with Catalyst, along with several other organizations. In this book he gives us a road map, filled with stories from his experience of leading Catalyst, offering practical advice the readers can incorporate into their lives and work.
Lomenick partnered with the Barna Research Group on this project. Through a series of questions, Barna was able to probe the thoughts, opinions, and passions of 1,116 self-identified Christians ages eighteen and older. The survey data is included in the appendix to the book.
Lomenick writes that becoming a catalyst leader means becoming a change maker—someone who leverages his or her influence for the betterment of the world, the collective good of others, and the greater glory of God. He states that this is possible by developing the eight essentials for becoming a change maker.
He begins by discussing the first essential – Called. He writes that only about one-third of Christians feel called to the work they currently do. The definition of calling that Catalyst used was: God’s personal invitation for me to work on His agenda, using the talents I’ve been given in ways that are eternally significant.
He recommends that leaders develop “Calling Statements”. Lomenick’s calling statement is: To influence influencers through gathering, inspiring, connecting, and equipping them to become change makers.
Lomenick discusses the eight essentials for becoming a change maker. You might be a good leader with only a few, but in order to be a true catalyst leader you need all eight. They are:
Called
Authentic
Passionate
Capable
Courageous
Principled
Hopeful
Collaborative
Lomenick includes many helpful resources throughout the book, including “8 Questions on Calling for a Year-End Review”. He ends each section with a pertinent list of “Five Leaders You Should Know”. He includes several profiles of leaders, and fifty change makers on the rise. I found this to be a very helpful book.
Faith and Work News ~ Links to Interesting Articles
On Leaving Things Better Than We Found Them. Scott Sauls, author of Jesus Outside the Lines, the next book my wife and I will read together after completing Tim Keller’s Prayer, writes “Our work doesn’t feel meaningful but because our perspective about work lacks a biblical imagination. Dorothy Sayers says that the church is largely at fault for this crisis.”
Why I Wrote My New Book. Stephen R. Graves writes about his new book The Gospel Goes to Work. It looks interesting and I plan to read it soon. Look for a review in the coming weeks.
What’s Next on Your Leadership Journey? Mark Miller writes “I believe there are four primary domains in which leaders must ultimately demonstrate competence if they want to maximize their influence and their impact. Although circumstances beyond our control often mess with the natural order of things, I do believe there is a logical sequence of steps or stations in a leader’s development.”
What is the Most Meaningful Job in America? Would you believe that there was a three-way tie in PayScale’s list of the most meaningful jobs that also pay well? Top 30 Must Read Leadership Articles from October. I always look forward to Paul Sohn’s compilation of the best leadership articles each month.
The Road to Humility: An Interview with John Hawkins. Bill Peel interviews John Hawkins, who states “I’m called to serve Christ—and, by the way, we build homes.” Hawkins is president of Hawkins-Welwood Homes and 30-year veteran of the real estate/homebuilding industry.
12 Ways to Rise After Being Thrown Under the Bus. Dan Rockwell discusses how leaders might deal with being thrown under the bus, which he defines as someone elevating their status and lowering yours in front of others.
A Prayer for a God Honoring Work Life. I first read this wonderful prayer in Kevin Halloran’s new book Word + Life: 20 Reflections on Prayer, the Christian Life, and the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, which I highly recommend.
Put Fear In Its Place – Lessons From a Former Airline Executive. Scott Dickson is the former CEO and president of Vanguard airlines, a position he took in early 2001 with full understanding that it was a turnaround situation. The airline was in trouble, and it was his job to reverse a bad situation. Then 9/11 changed everything. In his book, Never Give Up: 7 Principles for Leading in Tough Times, Scott shares lessons he learned and biblical principles he implemented at Vanguard and other airlines where he served. Here’s an excerpt from the book.
Collaboration. In this “Minute with Maxwell”, John Maxwell talks about the value of collaboration.
Ten Differences Between a Boss and a Leader. Eric Geiger writes “Some bosses are leaders, but not all of them. It is possible to be a boss and not be a leader, or be a leader without being a boss.”
Cultivating Gospel Readiness at Work. Tom Nelson, author of the excellent book Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work, writes “I believe Jesus’s parable of the talents encourages us not only to gospel readiness but also to more seamlessly connect our Sunday faith with our Monday work.”
3 Ways to Eliminate Your Stress. Dr. Alan Zimmerman writes “Are you feeling too much stress on the job? Are you feeling pressured to do more and more? You may even be wondering whether it’s worth it.”
Five Ways to Stop Spending Time Managing Time. Rick Segal shares five applications Christians might employ for buying back time for the purposes for which they were given it by God.
Life Always Triumphs in the Garden. Carey Bustard interviews Louise Brewer, who lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she is part of a flower team, a women’s bible study, and an ESL program at her church.
Art for Whose Sake? Art can broadly be defined as human skill applied to give shape or “form” to “something.” With that in mind, is it possible to avoid art in the church? In this video message entitled “Art for Whose Sake,” Dr. R.C. Sproul teaches us the proper place art has in the church and our lives.
Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it. Lou Holtz
Your career is never going to die for you. If you don’t fulfill its dictates, it will punish you all your life. Tim Keller
One often sees a call only in retrospect. This too is God’s design. God often reinforces our faith after we trust Him, not before. Ravi Zacharias
Over and over we’ve seen that people cannot achieve beyond what they really believe. Andy Andrews
All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. Coach K
We are most likely to succeed when ambition is focused on noble and worthy purposes and outcomes rather than on goals set out of selfishness. John Wooden
Take time for silence. By beginning and ending each day peacefully, you’ll help everything in between remain under control. Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. Saint Augustine
People want leaders to model the values of the organization daily, not occasionally. Mark Miller
Faith and Work Book Clubs – Won’t you read along with us?
I first read this book in a “Calling, Vocation and Work” class with Dr. Michael Williams and Dr. Bradley Matthews at Covenant Seminary two summers ago. King Jesus is on a mission to bring restoration in every sphere of society and has invited His followers to join Him in this Kingdom-advancing work. Learn to deeply, creatively and intentionally steward your vocational power in ways that advance foretastes of the coming Kingdom of shalom for our neighbors near and far.
It’s an excellent book, so let’s read it together. This week we’ll look at Chapter 13 – Pathway 4: Participate in Your Church’s Targeted Initiative:
Can you image a congregation that targets a particular community for long-term, deep investment and then “plugs in” marketplace professionals for meaningful and strategic service? Or envision a slightly different story, one of a church that doesn’t pick a particular place for radical, long-term engagement, but rather, a specific issue. Are any churches actually doing these sorts of things? An honest answer is, well, not many. But there are some.
In this chapter, we’ll look in detail at two congregations-Southwood Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Huntsville, Alabama, and Crossroads in Cincinnati, Ohio-that are testing out, in the real world, kingdom-oriented transformational initiatives that involve vocational stewardship. One has targeted a specific neighborhood in its city; the other, a specific issue. Both have been at their labors for several years; neither is anywhere near finished. Their stories offer us much by way of inspiration and instruction.
The two have some things in common when it comes to mission. Both are externally focused. Both believe that a narrow and deep outreach ministry focus is far more effective than the mile-wide, inch-deep approach that characterizes many congregations. Each has committed to long-term investment. Additionally, at both Southwood and Crossroads, church leaders had to be captured by the missional call of the gospel of the kingdom before they could launch into their impressive initiatives. And leaders and congregants at both congregations had to experience punched-in-the-guts compassion. At both churches, attention to mobilizing congregants for service according to their specific skill sets and passions has evolved over time.
Southwood’s journey into robust, holistic community development ministry in its city began with painful repentance. Roughly three years into his pastorate, Mike Honeycutt became convicted that Southwood had “become a church very much inward-focused … and not really reaching our community very well.”
At Crossroads in Cincinnati, the central focus of the church’s inch-wide, mile-deep outreach is not on a particular neighborhood, but on a pressing cause: promoting justice in the face of the evil of international sex trafficking.
Let’s look at several lessons they’ve learned. First, leaders at both churches recognize the importance of preaching and leading with an emphasis on the kingdom-on the church’s external focus for mission in the community and the world.
A second lesson from these churches is that a narrow and deep strategy makes sense not only because it is more effective in terms of tangible results for the people or communities served; it also makes progress more visible. And that contributes to the ongoing motivation of the congregation.
Third, the stories of these churches reveal that success requires significant financial commitment. To mobilize such commitment, intentional leadership and directed preaching were required.
A fourth lesson learned is that, while both churches strongly affirm the value of mobilizing congregants by their skill sets, they do not see vocational stewardship as their exclusive method of lay mobilization. There is a call for everyone to serve, for all to take responsibility. And there are many opportunities for service that require no particular professional training or experience. In short, there’s a place for everyone, not just white-collar professionals.
Finally, this pathway, particularly as expressed in neighborhood-targeted ministry, requires a mindset of mutuality. When a church of largely middle- or upper-middle-class congregants, many of them white-collar professionals, gets engaged in a low-income neighborhood, the risk of paternalism is high. Church leaders must work hard to help their highly talented laity to see their own poverty and need. A great way of doing so is to teach the biblical definition of poverty, namely, “the absence of shalom in all its meanings.” Poverty is not only material; it is relational and spiritual as well. Given the universal implications of the Fall, all humans-including those materially non-poor-are poor in one way or another. This understanding can help congregants who are not economically poor to avoid considering themselves as superior. It also can help congregants find places of commonality with the members of the target community.
Next week we’ll conclude our look at this outstanding book.
Are you a self-serving leader, or a servant leader? Ken Blanchard has written that effective leaders should serve their people, not be served by them, which is different than the norm. Similarly, John Maxwell states that the leader should be there for their people, not the people there for the leader. This is what is referred to as servant leadership.
I speak about servant leadership in the expectations/philosophies document that I provide to all of my new team members:
I believe in the concept of servant leadership, which encourages leaders to serve others while staying focused on achieving results in line with the organization’s values. An excellent book that explains this leadership philosophy is The Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy.
There are many reasons why this form of leadership resonates with me. Here are just three of them:
It aligns well with my faith ~ Jesus is my model here. The first section of Mark 10:45 states, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”. It is my aim to serve my team members well. Now some will say that the terms “servant” and “leader” conflict with each other, and cannot be used together. But I have found them to be perfectly in alignment, and I find joy in leading this way. Does the concept of a servant leader make sense to you? Can you get your ego out of the way and instead build up others?
It is a successful leadership model. Blanchard states that the servant leader provides the vision and values for their team. Once the direction is clear, the servant leader’s role is to help their team members to achieve their goals. They teach and coach their team members so that they can do their best, achieve their goals and reach their highest potential. Servant leaders listen to their team members, praise them, support them and redirect them when they deviate from the path. That is a model that I can support and get behind and it’s how I try to lead. Do you see how this can be a successful model?
It helps team members be successful. Blanchard states that the servant leader is constantly trying to find out what their people need to be successful. They are interested in making a difference in their people’s lives, and in the process, positively impacting their organization by delivering good results. The role of the servant leader is to help their people win and accomplish their goals. If you are a leader, what are you doing to help your team members win and accomplish their goals?
It’s the way I would like to be led. Think of the “Golden Rule”. The first section of Matthew 7:12 states “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them”. If I apply that to how I would like to be led, it would be to be led by a servant leader. That type of leader that is always there to help you win and accomplish your goals. You can relax, do your best and know that you have a leader who has your best interests in mind. Have you worked with any servant leaders in the past? How did that make a difference for you?
These are just a few of the reasons that I aspire to be a servant leader. There are many more. Can you think of more to add to this list? Have I made the case that this is the best way to lead? Why or why not?
This is Daniel Craig’s fourth film in which he plays 007 James Bond. This is also his first film role since 2012’s Skyfall. He’s my favorite Bond, behind Sir Sean Connery of course. This was the movie I was most looking forward to this year, and despite being overly long at 148 minutes, it did not disappoint.
The twenty-fourth Bond film is full of all that we love in a Bond film – a great opening scene, cars (Bond’s new car is an Aston Martin DB10), scenery (shot in five countries – England, Austria, Mexico, Morocco and Italy), “Bond girls”, incredible stunts, good use of special effects and that distinctive Bond music by 6-time Grammy winner Thomas Newman. Sam Smith sings the movie’s theme song “The Writing’s On The Wall”.
The film is directed by Sam Mendes (Oscar winner for American Beauty), and who also directed the previous Bond film, Skyfall. The screenplay is not from a novel written by Bond creator Ian Fleming. The film was rumored to be well over-budget, costing approximately $350 million to make, and is projected to make $80 million in the U.S. its opening weekend.
The film opens with Bond on a rogue mission in Mexico City during a Day of the Dead parade, leading to an incredible opening scene in typical Bond fashion. He will then head to Rome, where he meets Lucia (Monica Bellucci), newly a widow of an infamous criminal. At fifty years of age, Italian actress Bellucci is the oldest actress to play a leading Bond Girl role. Bellucci had screen-tested for one of the two leading Bond Girl roles, as Paris Carver, in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies.
We then see Bond infiltrate a secret meeting and uncover the existence of the criminal organization known as SPECTRE, led by Franz Oberhauser (also known as Ernst Stavro Blofeld from You Only Live Twice). Oberhauser is played by two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (for Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained).
The first James Bond film to feature the SPECTRE criminal organization was 1962’s Dr. No.
Back in London, Max Denbigh or C, the new head of the Centre of National Security, questions Bond’s actions and challenges the value of MI-6 led by M (Ralph Fiennes). He has his own secret motivations for doing so. Andrew Scott portrays C/Max Denbigh (James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis in the PBS series Sherlock).
Bond works with Moneypenny (Naomie Harris, who portrayed Nelson Mandela’s wife Winnie in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) and Q (Ben Whishaw), to help him seek out Madelein Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr. White (Jesper Christensen, who also appeared as the character in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace), who may be able to help him with SPECTRE. As Bond ventures toward the heart of SPECTRE, he discovers a chilling connection between himself and the enemy (Christoph Waltz) he seeks.
Dave Bautista (Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy) and the fourth actor with a professional wrestling background to play a Bond villain, portrays the imposing Mr. Hinx, who pursues Bond in an exciting Rome chase scene between Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 and Mr. Hinx’s Jaguar C-X75, and in a fight scene on a passenger train.
The film allegedly pays homage to all of the previous films. While I can’t confirm that, I know that the ski resort setting in Solden, Austria reminded me a lot of the Piz Gloria mountain peak hideout of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas) in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, which we visited earlier this year on a trip to Switzerland.
The film is rated PG-13 for a relatively small amount of adult language (based on current PG-13 standards), including some abuses of God’s and Jesus’s names, typical Bond-style violence (gun fights, explosions, car chases) and some sexuality.
We felt that the film was about 30 minutes too long. Despite that, Spectre is my favorite film of the year thus far.
Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship by Chris Tomlin ****
This new live Christmas album was recorded at Ocean Way studios, a former church building, in Nashville, the same location that Tomlin recorded his first Christmas album Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs Of Worship six years ago. Tomlin is one of my favorite artists, and consistently delivers quality worship songs. In fact, as this album releases he currently has the number Christian song in the country with “Good, Good Father”.
The album features several special guests, including Laura Daigle (who recently won the Dove Award for “New Artist of the Year”), Kristyn Getty, All Sons and Daughters and more. There are eleven songs included, a mixture of new, and traditional Christmas songs with Tomlin’s interpretation.
Below are a few brief thoughts about each song:
He Shall Reign Forevermore – This song was co-written with Matt Maher, who was unfortunately too ill to record it live with Tomlin, which is a shame. The song is still excellent and is the first single from the album. It has the sound and feeling of a traditional Tomlin worship song.
Adore – this worshipful song written by Graham Kendrick and Martin Chalk begins with a piano intro and builds into the chorus:
Adore, come let us adore Adore, come let us adore Him! The Lord, worship Christ the Lord Let all that is within us Adore
This would be a wonderful song for congregations to sing.
Midnight Clear (Love Song) – Tomlin takes the classic “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and makes it a song of love to Jesus. He sings that Jesus is the love song of God.
Noel – This song features Laura Daigle on lead vocals and is written by Tomlin, Ed Cash and Matt Redman. Tomlin is known for sharing the spotlight with others, such as including Audrey Assad’s “Winter Snow” on his first Christmas album. This time he give Daigle the lead vocal opportunity.
Hymn of Joy – With Ed Cash, Tomlin adapts “”Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” and “O Come O Come Emmanuel” into this acoustic Christmas hymn of joy.
Silent Night – This song features more of the congregation’s vocals than Tomlin’s. Kristyn Getty reads the famous Christmas passage from Isaiah 9 in the middle of the song.
What Child is This? This song features All Sons & Daughters on lead vocals and is primarily driven by acoustic guitar. I liked when they sang acapella toward the end.
It’s Christmas – This is probably my favorite song on the album. Written by Tomlin and Ed Cash, it’s a fun, jazzy medley with finger snaps that brings in “Away in a Manager” and “Go Tell It on The Mountain”. I loved the horns toward the end of the song.
It’s Christmas! The angels are singing And I know the reason, The Savior is born It’s Christmas! The bells are ringing And I feel like shouting Joy to the world!
A King Like This – Written by Tomlin, Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman, this is an intimate ballad of worship that builds to include congregational singing.
He is Christ the Lord He is Christ My Savior I bow my heart before No other name I bow my heart before No other king
Bethlehem – Written with Ed Cash, this ballad builds into the chorus:
Bethlehem Bethlehem Behold Your beautiful Savior! Fall down, worship Him The King born in Bethlehem
A Christmas Alleluia – This song features Laura Daigle and Leslie Jordan and is a fitting closer. Written with Jonas Myrin, the song builds powerfully into a worshipful song about the coming of our Savior, who has the highest name of all.
This album, like Tomlin, is a wonderful gift to the church. Highly recommended.
Winter Jam 2016. Watch the promo video and see the artists included. I’m most excited about Crowder, Trip Lee, KB and Tedashi. I may try to catch the March 20 date in Peoria. Check out all of the dates to see if there is one near you.
The Top 5 Lost Jon Foreman Songs. With the release of the final The Wonderlands EP, Mary Nikkel of New Release Today lists the top 5 Jon Foreman songs yet to be recorded.
Andy Mineo on The Eric Metaxas Show. Andy Mineo appeared on The Eric Metaxas Show on October 28. You can listen to that episode on the show’s podcast.
Praying for Rain. Don Henley recently filmed an episode of Austin City Limits in support of his chart-topping album Cass County. He was joined by guests Ashley Monroe, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood and Jamey Johnson among others. Here he sings “Praying for Rain”.
Watch U2 and Patti Smith Perform ‘People Have The Power’ Together in London. U2 and Patti Smith performed U2’s 1981 single “Gloria,” and Smith’s “People Have The Power,” off her 1988 album Dream Of Life. The band has been using the latter song as their walk-on music throughout the Innocence + Experience Tour.
Before Our Time by Jon Foreman
Our song of the week this week is Before Our Time by Jon Foreman from his excellent The Wonderlands: Dawn EP. Watch this live solo acoustic performance of the song.
January, February, March The days are marching forward April, May, June and July They fly like a hummingbird
August, September, October The year is almost over November, December arrive Now the year is gone
Time is illusion Time is a curse Time is all these things and worse But our time is now Our time is now
Oh Oh Oh Oh Our time is now Oh Oh Oh Oh Let us sing before our time runs out
Time is illusion Time is a curse Time is all these things and worse But our time is now
Oh Oh Oh Oh Our time is now Oh Oh Oh Oh Let us sing before our time runs out
The 33, rated PG-13
The Peanuts Movie, rated G 
Concert Review: Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life Performance Tour – Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis November 7
Music Review: Joy: An Irish Christmas LIVE – Keith and Kristyn Getty
People will hurt you. But don’t use that as an excuse for poor choices, use it as motivation to make the right ones. Lecrae
Prayer: A Biblical Perspective by Eric J. Alexander. Banner of Truth. 106 pages. 2012. 
Family Traditions
10 Things to Know about The Valley of Vision Prayer Book
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones 
CURRENT TOPICS:
Is the Digital Tide Turning?
Starbucks’ Plain Red Holiday Cups Stir Up Controversy
Your Bible is a Gold Mine
10 Skills Every Husband Needs.
BOOK REVIEW: 
Why I Wrote My New Book
compilation of the best leadership articles each month.
Cultivating Gospel Readiness at Work.
Faith and Work Quotes 
Kingdom Calling: Vocational Calling for the Common Good by Amy L. Sherman
Are you a self-serving leader, or a servant leader? Ken Blanchard has written that effective leaders should serve their people, not be served by them, which is different than the norm. Similarly, John Maxwell states that the leader should be there for their people, not the people there for the leader. This is what is referred to as servant leadership.
Spectre, rated PG-13
