Yes, it’s hard to believe, yes it’s difficult to swallow, but the parade of time just keeps marching along, leaving some of us behind in the horse droppings of life, leaving others humming the tuba parts of the songs of life and leaving still others to wade through the litter left on the side of the road. Welcome to my journey through the litter. Here are some of the scraps that caught my attention this week:

Read as Mark Dever answers the ever-popular and increasingly difficult question “Why am I a Southern Baptist?”

The story’s about Bush in Missouri, but the picture’s about Piper in the hands of the president (ht: JT). Note the caption under this photo that proves Bush owns at least one book by John Piper.

Read Darrell Bock’s introduction to Progressive Dispensationalism.

Also from JT, read about a church that recently opened their worship service with “Stairway to Heaven” and is currently preaching (can it really be called preaching?) a series based on pirates.

Read about the Canadian study suggesting that homosexuality is a “congenital abnormality” (ht: Pearcey Report).

Become a drug dealer and help distribute AIDS medicines to Africa.

Look into my ears and see what I’ve been listening to at the Last.fm site which uses a plugin called “Audio Scrobbler” to track the music you listen to and then make recommendations on your established listening patterns.

Send a Bible to China through VoM’s “Bibles Unbound” program.

Sign up for eMusic, expose yourself to a world of new music and help me get free downloads in the process!

Read Boston.com’s piece lamenting the inferior sound quality of the iPod when compared to the original Sony Walkman (ht: lhb).

Buy the new Red Mountain Church/RUF CD “Help My Unbelief,” another project of Gadsby’s hymns. Info here. Audio clips here. Buy here.

Watch Stevie Wonder play “Superstition” on Sesame Street.

Read Peggy Noona’s article considering Hillary Clinton’s possible bid for the presidency. Noonan argues: “Hillary doesn’t have to prove her guy chops. She doesn’t have to prove she’s a man, she has to prove a she’s a woman. No one in America thinks she’s a woman. They think she’s a tough little teragant in a pantsuit.”

Read James White’s apology and clarification regarding recent comments about Ergun Caner in which White remarks: “Dr. Caner may well be a fine scholar in other areas, but he has not shown any interest in applying his intelligence and scholarship to this particular subject.”

Read Russell Moore’s piece “Willie Nelson and the Divorce Culture.”

In light of my recent thoughts regarding the emergents, read this thoughtful piece trying to establish some borders.

Read Justin Taylor’s profile of the “Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers” books. The books, geared for childred aged four to eight include discussions of The Trinity, The Gospel, The Mission and The Scripture.

Watch the video for the song “Everytime” from one of my favorite albums “The Last Drag” by the Sample (oh Jeep, Oh Andys, how you’re missed…).

Browse the Onion A.V. Club’s “Inventory of 12 Delightfully Odd Concept Albums.”

Read as NPR’s Robin Hilton (Producer of All Songs Considered) lists her choices for “Best Living Songwriters.” Read as she also links to Paste magazine’s list of the “100 Best Living Songwriters.” Bob Dylan tops both lists and Tom Waits is in the top 5 of both lists (my #1 and #2 choices respectively). Curiously missing from the top 5 (or top 10 for that matter) of each list is Van Morrison.

Read Justin Taylor’s interview with Curtis Allen (a.k.a “Voice”).

Read articles by one of my new favorite writers, Andrée Seu of World magazine.

Don’t forget to browse my newly-christened “music” page here at the blog.

Read “CortaSlim Religion: The Dan Brown Scam” by John Mark Reynolds.

Read World magazine’s coverage of Ken Lay’s (founder of Enron) death.

Visit the VoLsounds.com store where you can buy and download recordings from Bill Mallonee.

Read about Rhett’s continued and increasing role in the upcoming Godblogcon.

Read Medeski Martin and Wood’s announcement that they have recorded another album (see 1998’s A Go Go) with guitarist John Scofield and that it will be the first release on their own independent record label Indirecto Records.

Read about Willie Nelson buying the church that he grew up in to save it from destruction.