Here you’ll find some links. And then you’ll find some other links. Actually, you’ll find a lot of links (well, the term “a lot” is relative to what type of week I’ve been having). This is where I gather a lot of the things that for one reason or another caught my eye this past week. Just because I link something here doesn’t necessarily mean I endorse it, it just means that it interested me enough to pass along. Enjoy.

See what I hear at Last.fm.

Sign up for eMusic, find lots of DRM-free downloads and help me earn free downloads in the process. Everyone wins!

Read about the Tamil-language daily newspaper in Malaysia that was ordered to immediately halt publication for a month Friday as punishment for printing an image of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette.

Download the new Robbie Seay Band album for free.

Browse and download free messages from Sovereign Grace Ministries.

Browse and download free videos from Desiring God Ministries.

Read about Mother Teresa’s “crisis of faith.”

Read Al Mohler’s thoughts on Mother Teresa’s “crisis.”

Read about the Ugandan government being accused of “state homophobia.”

Read about the N.J. teen who has unlocked his iPhone from the AT&T network.

Browse as Paste Magazine writers list their “Top 7 of 2007″ so far, what they consider to be the best music of the year so far.

Read this piece which examines the practice of bands “updating” iconic album covers.

Browse Wikipedia’s collection of online music databases.

Read as the Fort Worth Star Telegram interviews Neil Finn about the decision to reuinite his band Crowded House.

Read as Justin Taylor reports on the retirement of D. James Kennedy.

Read about the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Read about Paul Clement, Solicitor General who will serve as interim attorney general.

Read about PA honoring jazz drummer Art Blakey with a historical marker.

Browse the week in photos from Yahoo.

Read about the recent study which claims that “Civil unions between male couples existed around 600 years ago in medieval Europe.”

Read another take on Wal-Mart taking on iTunes with DRM-free music downloads.

Read about Bill Clinton appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Read about David Letterman appearing on Oprah as well.

Read about the increased attention being given to Southern Baptists starting many private schools in lieu of sending their children to public school.

Read as Alan Jacobs reviews the last Harry Potter installment Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for Books & Culture.

Read as the Los Angeles Times profiles the KCRW morning radio show Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Watch Miss Teen South Carolina attempt answering a question about why 1/5th of American’s can’t identity the US on a map (Thanks Ephraim).

Read about Miss Teen South Carolina’s second chance.

Read as John Piper asks whether or not “Moses Married a Black Woman” and explores why it matters.

Read as D.A. Carson suggests “Five Steps Toward Racial Reconciliation on Sunday Morning at 11am,” which is an excerpt from his book Love in Hard Places which I have been immensely challenged by reading.

Read about the controversial U.S. debut of the “Lucy” fossil.

Read about Bo Diddley being in stable condition after suffering a heart attack.

Read about the U.S. being the “most armed” country in the world with “90 guns for every 100 citizens.” Read the First Amendment.

Twiddle the nobs as 43 Folders shares the “perfect” iTunes equalizer setting.

Consider as Pitchfork recommends dumping all the music you own and starting completely over.

Praise God that the Taliban has released 12 South Korean hostages.

Browse several record reviews from Christianity Today Music:

• Read their review of the new Caedmon’s Call album Overdressed
• Read their review of the new Shane & Shane album Pages
• Read their review of the new Robbie Seay Band album Give Yourself Away

Browse Gunny’s list of Latin you should know.

Read about the “Arabic-themed” school opening in NY amidst protest.

Read about the growing struggle in China over the “forced abortion’ policy as a couple sues the government.

Read this piece in which China defends its policy of forced abortions by claiming that it has helped combat global warming.

Read about the fossilized orchid that has become part of the debate over evolution.

Read about the collection of dog-chewed Michael Vick trading cards that recently sold for $7,400.

Read as Doug points out an article in which Vick claims to have “found Jesus” through this experience.

Read as Timmy wonders just what Vick means by his statement.

Read about artist Damien Hirst’s diamond-encrusted skull selling for $100 million.

Read about the growing demand for Senator Larry Craig’s resignation after he pleaded guilty to “lewd conduct” after reportedly soliciting homosexual activity in a public restroom.

Read/Listen as NPR profiles jazz legend Charlie Parker.

Read about Ted Haggard’s plans to move to the Phoenix Dream Center.

Read the CCM Patrol’s review of the new Caedmon’s Call album Overdressed.

Read about iVocab, Greek and Hebrew flashcards for the iPod (ht: Ched).

Read as Richard Mouw meditates on “False Teachers and False Teachings.”

Read as Matthew Hall wonders about “Evangelicals, Romance and Jesus.”

Read as Russell Moore wonders: “What if you know the writer of the book you’re reading, and he’s a jerk?”

Visit Abort73.com for a great pro-life resource.

Watch a guy beatbox with a harmonica.

Read about a giant spider web spanning over 200 yards.

Read this piece which claims that: “More than four in 10 French and Germans would like to see Democratic candidate and former first lady Hillary Clinton elected US president in 2008.”

Read about Billy Graham being released from the hospital, nearly two weeks after being admitted for intestinal bleeding.

Read about a county judge who struck down “Iowa’s decade-old gay marriage ban as unconstitutional Thursday and ordered local officials to process marriage licenses for six gay couples.”

Read about why China’s Shaolin Monks are furious about ninjas.

Read about why John Feinberg thinks some prayers are contradictory to the idea of libertarian free will.

Read this piece which tries to reconcile “Art, Beauty and Judgment.”

One of the aims of this blog is to explore the Gospel’s implications for and impact on all of life. Redemption is not just for the soul but the mind and the creative aspects of life. I regularly try to set aside some time and space each Friday to encourage the exploration of creativity. I try to do this by linking to the photography of Joe Kennedy, Will Turner, Timmy Brister, Steve McCoy, Joe Thorn, along with the Friday Flickr Group in which they participate. In addition to that I have a regular rotation of poetry, visual art and music. The poets, artists and musicians in question may or may not be Christian. The main criteria is that they pursue their craft with excellence and in some way have encouraged me to think biblically about creativity. You may or may not initially see the connection. If not, please ask. Otherwise, enjoy.

Today’s featured visual art comes from Makoto Fujimura (b.1960). Fujimura is a contemporary fusing abstract art with traditional Japanese techniques, often to startling effect (and affect). Unlike many of the visual artists I’ve featured here, Fujimura is open about his Christian faith and often incorporates its imagery into his work. In a recent Forbes interview (which no longer seems to be online, sorry), Fujimura said:

I am a Christian. I am also an artist and creative, and what I do is driven by my faith experience. But I am also a human being living in the 21st century, struggling with a lot of brokenness - my own, as well as the world’s. I don’t want to use the term ‘Christian’ to shield me away from the suffering or evil that I see, or to escape in some nice ghetto where everyone thinks the same.

Working from NYC, Fujimura’s work has been deeply affected by the 09/11 attacks and has since taken on the drama, not only of life and death but more openly incorporated themes of redemption and hope, even in abstract ways. Today’s selected painting is called “Stillpoint” and is from 2004.

• Visit Makato Fujimura’s official website
• Visit Makato Fujimura’s blog
• Visit Wikipedia’s page dedicated to Fujimura

Today’s musical artist is actually a repeat, sorry. I related this earlier, but I have long been a fan of the now defunt Athens, GA band the Vigilantes of Love. It was no secret that Bill Mallonee was the core of the band and after many label and contract struggles, etc., he set out solo. My wife and I, along with two great friends had the chance to see him at a very intimate venue. As great as he was, we were thoroughly blown away by the opener, Dallas/Denton singer-songwriter Doug Burr. Burr’s set was impassioned and moving and the songs were top-notch. We quickly ordered his first CD The Sickle and the Sheaves and pre-ordered his new CD On Promenade which should arrive at our house today.

Burr’s is a mix of many of my favorite artists’ sound: Emmylou Harris, Townes Van Zandt, Bill Mallonee, Damien Jurado and many more, but the music is disntinctly Burr’s voice while drawing from many great sources. The music is what most would consider “Americana” or “Alt-country” but with indie influences and the thread of the Gospel running through it all. The other day I came across several live mp3s from Uncommon Ground coffee house in Chicago. They’re not the best quality, but that’s where these downloads come from (you will most likely have to adjust the amplification, but with a little work they’re not that bad):

• Download “Ain’t Got No Chains”
• Download “Jubilee”
• Download “Meet You in the Sunrise”
• Visit Doug Burr’s official website
• Listen to The Sickle and the Sheaves for yourself
• Pre-Order On Promenade now from Velvet Blue Music.

Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision
Bill Hybels
Zondervan
Hardcover, 149 pages
Suggested retail price: $14.99/Available for $10.19 at Amazon

Though I don’t agree with much of his approach, there is no denying that Bill Hybels is (or was?) one of the most influential figures in modern American “Christian” circles. As the founding pastor of Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, IL Hybels is credited with being at the forefront of what has come to be known as the “seeker sensitive” church movement. With an attendance of somewhere around 15,000, Hybels had the pragmatic ammunition to back up his philosophy.

And that’s just it for me. Much of what Hybels promotes boils down to pure pragmatism. In his latest book Holy Discontent: Feuling the Fire that Ignites Personal Vision, Hybels sets out to answer the question:

What is it that motivates people to work where they work, volunteer their time to the groups they serve, and donate money to the causes they support?

To put it even more simply, Hybels wants to know “Why do people do what they do?” Hybels argues that it is because God has placed a “holy discontent” inside each one of us. Everyone has a sense that the world is not quite right and that there are things to be fixed. In short, this is the point of Hybels’ book that God has given us the desire to fix things that are broken. The book jacket says it this way:

What is the one aspect of this broken world that, when you see it, touch it, or get near it, you just can’t stand? What reality is so troubling that it thrusts you off the couch and into action?

In striving to understand which aspect of the world God has given us a “discontent” about, Hybels encourages us each to find our own “Popeye Moment.” You know, in the Popeye cartoons after Brutus has just made off with Olive Oyle for the last time and Popeye gurlges out “Thats all I can stands and I can’t stands no more!” Then, just as Popeye opens that can of spinach, we know that that’s not the only can he’s opening! We must each examine our own lives and surroundings for that which we can’t take any more of and GO FIX IT! Hybels mixes several historical and biblical narratives of people who “made a difference” until you’re left feeling guilty for sitting long enough to even read the book.

If all of this sounds vaguely like a motivational speech, that’s because it is. Hybels is a great public speaker and a great motivator. Yet that doesn’t mean Hybels is a great theologian. It’s not that there’s necessarily anything theologically incorrect in the book, it’s just that for all the talk of God giving us the “holy discontent,” it’s a book that at the core, is just reminding us that we need to be active in “doing good.” There is no theological framework of sin explaining why things are the way they are and there is conversely no theological framework of redemption demonstrating how they ought to be made. It is simply a motivational book. Though he does deal with Ephesians 2:10, and 2 Corinthians 3:18, the bulk of the book merely uses Scripture as part of the motivational pep talk rather than as a foundation. Scripture almost feels like an afterthought rather than a motivation itself.

The book’s approach almost leaves one with the impression that the battle against sin and it’s stains on the world can be won with just a big community clean up campaign. If we all got together and “did more,” the world would be a better place. While it’s true that we need to be encouraged to be more active, this undermines the seriousness of sin, salvation and our reliance on God in the fight against sin.

Another word of caution: some readers with less discernment may feel that any burden they have been given is automatically God’s burden. Though Hybels does try to strike this balance, his overall approach might lead many to assume that everything we are discontent about is everything God is discontent about and that’s not necessarily the case, especially without establishing the proper theological framework with sin as the primary battle. Again, even a brief discussion about the impact and continuing stain of sin would have been quite helpful and set many of these issues in their proper context. Though sin is alluded to, it is never directly addressed in depth.

At the end of the day, it is a good motivational book that dances around rather than with many important theological issues. If you’re looking for a pep rally, this might be a good book for you. If you’re looking for some meat, perhaps you shouldn’t be shopping in the dairy aisle.

• Read the book for yourself
• Watch Popeye cartoons

NOTE: I was given a copy of this book by Zondervan for review but the views expressed here are entirely my own.

As someone who holds to the Reformed Tradition, one of the criticisms that I often hear is that I don’t believe in “free will.” The heart of the argument centers around the notion that Calvinists (to use what many consider to be the “dirty word” to describe those who hold to Reformed Doctrines) teach that the stain of sin is so deep that men and women cannot, of their own initiative “accept Jesus as their personal savior.” This is true. I believe that Scripture portrays the affects of sin as being so severe that Paul means it when he describes unregenerate sinners as being spiritually “dead” (Ephesians 2:1, etc.). The physically dead cannot “choose” to bring themselves to life and neither can the spiritually dead.

But this is not to say that I don’t believe in “free will.” I simply don’t believe in what many understand as an “autonomous free will.” Quite bluntly put, this is the idea that I can do whatever I want whenever I want however I want with no limitations. This is simply unrealisitc. I cannot “will” to jump to the moon because I live within the confines of gravity. Likewise, unregenerate people live in the confines of sin.

Yet the problem of “freedom” relates to more than just the salvation experience (regeneration) itself, it also extends to the way in which many people understand salvation itself. Rightly understanding the Exodus event as a picture (a type) of salvation, many understand the Bible’s descriptions of unsaved men and women being in slavery to sin (John 8:34, Romans 6:15-23, Galatians 4, etc.). The problem, however, is that many people picture salvation as simply being redeemed from slavery into autonomous freedom.

It is true that the Bible describes salvation as a sort of freedom (Galatians 5, etc.) with Galatians 5:1 stating quite clearly that “For freedom Christ has set us free.” But salvation is not the process of enslaved sinners being set into an autonomous freedom so that now they can do whatever they want whenever they want however they want. As D.A. Carson points out in his book Love in Hard Places,

The heart of the Christian message is not that human beings are made in the image of God and therefore must be set free to be autonomous. The heart of the Christian message is that although human beings, made in the image of God, created by him and for him, have catapulted themselves into a squalid revolution with disastrous consequences. God himself has taken action to reconcile them to himself. When they become reconciled to God, they are set free in principle from sin - not in order to become completely autonomous, but to return to the God who made them and who owns them.

The Bible not only says that we are freed from slavery to sin, it says that we are saved into the freedom of slavery to God, to Christ (Romans 6:15-23, etc.). Believers do not belong to themselves; we have been purchased (1 Corinthians 6:20). Yet in this slavery there is glorious freedom. What an amazing paradox!

Redemption is not becoming autonomous, it is being restored to the first slavery, the slavery we were created for. We are Christ’s. Colossians 1:15-20 says that we were made by and for Him. Believers are not only His by creation but by redemption. The freedom of slavery to Christ is freedom from the bonds of sin, freedom from the chains of legalism, fear, racism, sexism, and just about any “ism” you can name. We must not think more of ourselves than does God. We are His, for we have been bought with a price. Oh, but what glorious freedom there is in slavery to Christ!

• Read Love in Hard Places by D.A. Carson

Some time ago I read Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher. Then, more recently, I read God’s Politics by Jim Wallis. I initially expected the books to say similar things, but they certainly did not. Dreher argues that the modern take on “Conservativism” as envisioned by the current incarnation of the Republican Party is actually quite removed from many values traditional “Conservatives” might hold and that faith is a key element in moving again to towards true “Conservatism.” Wallis on the other hand, argues that “Liberals” need to learn to talk about faith so that they can win elections and still support abortion and homosexual unions. He of course doesn’t word it this bluntly, but this seems to me to be the core of his book. These messages are quite different, yet they cross many of the same lines and they’ve had me thinking about politics and faith for some time now.

Some of these thoughts were sparked again the other day as I was listening to NPR’s coverage of Congress’ flurry of activity just prior to the August recess. One of the issues they covered was the extension of state-level health care for children, known as the “S-Chip” program. The issue was fairly evenly split along “party lines” with the Democrats supporting extending the coverage, with several soundbites from Republicans opposing the extension, particularly New York’s petition to extend the coverage up to families making approximately $82,000/year.

At first glance, one might understand the Republican opposition to extending state-sponsored health care for children of families making almost $100,000 a year, but the issue is not as clear as one might initially expect (as it rarely is). It was pointed out, for example that the same health-care package that might cost a family of four approximately $20,000/year in one state might cost a family in another state $55,000/year. $55,000 out of $82,000 is quite a different story than just saying people making $82,000 want health care assistance. States have always had the option of filing for waivers based on their own economic issues and this was no exception other than that Republicans were using the bare numbers as political ammunition with no context

As I listened to the sound bites going back and forth, I really found myself disliking the Republican position and understanding the arguments of the people who so often say that the Republicans look out first (and possibly only) for the wealthy. I know, I know, I was drawn into the slant that NPR wanted to put on the story, but that slant didn’t seem as far-fetched to me as it once did. I really found myself wondering whether helping families care for their children was in fact a “liberal” issue after all. But on the other side of the issue, I’ve seen many welfare dependent families that have actually been disenchanted by the very programs that were supposed to help them. More welfare creates not only more government but more dependence upon government.

As a Christian, I believe in smaller government, but does that also mean I should not believe in welfare? I do believe that we have sometimes gone overboard, creating welfare-dependent families, who, for all of our good intentions, find themselves trapped in cycles of poverty. I do believe that much of the welfare system exists because many local churches (and Christians at the more basic level) have neglected their duty to care for the poor, orphans and widows (Matthew 25:40, James 1:27, etc.) and at first glance it seems extreme to offer assistance to families making $82,000/year while expanding government and taxes to do so. Truth be told, I appreciated points from both sides but was torn because I could not accept either argument as a whole.

What’s clear is that we as Christians must be willing to tackle difficult issues and pursue mercy alongside justice. As D.A. Carson says in Love in Hard Places: “we had better be more interested in effective results than in the slogans of the party faithful.” What’s clear is that there are very few very vocal people urging local churches to take action against poverty and even then the topic is brought up in politics, it is brought up as a political issue rather than one of compassion and duty. The result is that we have been left to wade through the political mire choosing the “lesser of two” evils while the spectre of “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27) shadows our every move.

It’s interesting that for all of the talk of faith and politics in books and even from 2008 Presidential candidates, on Capitol Hill, at least in the soundbites, it’s business as usual and even on such an issue as poverty reduction there was talk of the implications of faith on public policy. This pushes the issue further and points out that we as individual believers and communites of believers probably don’t live our faith out at the forefront of life as well.

• Read Love in Hard Places by D.A. Carson
• Read God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It by Jim Wallis
• Read Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher

The term “Christian” music is indeed a broad one. It can encompass people who are Christians but do not make “explicitly Christian” music, it can incorporate those who make their beliefs known with a megaphone and it can also cover many artists who more quietly weave the strand of faith through their music. For example, Karen Peris, the singer, chief lyricist and along with husband Don Peris, the core of the band The Innocence Mission has written songs for Amy Grant, who is widely accepted in “Christian Music” circles (divorce excluded for the present conversation) and yet her own band, The Innocence Mission, rarely makes explicit statements about their faith; and yet it is always present.

The latest outing from ther Perises, weaves together a tapestry as multicolored as life itself. The album’s lyrics focus on the unity of mankind, the death of and life with loved ones. Though elements of faith are certainly present, this is not an overtly “Christian” album. Faith is there with eyes to see, but it certainly won’t hit you like a neon sign.

The band has been together for nearly 20 years and have tourned with, among others, Natalie Merchant, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris and 16 Horsepower. For all their individuality, The Innocence Mission also fits very comfortably alongside all of these acts. The band has gained an intense following playing sparse melodies centered around Don Peris’ gentle pluckings and Karen’s vocals and this ablum is no different.

The band centers itself squarely in the contemporary folk movement, drawing heavily from elements including Appalachian folk and gospel hymns and even hints of bossa nova. Yet everything remains sparse, centered around the vocals. In fact, we don’t even hear any drums until the end of the fourth track. The lilting electric guitar lines of “Lake Shore Drive” perfectly compliment Karen’s soaring vocals. The band has perfected this sparse beauty and created a space in which every sound is necessary and effective.

The album’s opening track “The Brotherhood of Man” focuses on the connectedness of all people, including strangers, and this sense of familial bond continues throughout the entire album. Karen sings of her sister’s return from Ireland, her love for her husband and the loss of her father. There is a sense of joyful melancholy thorughout, upheld by the bonds of love.

Those who believe Christians can only listen to “explicitly Christian” music will not find much to hang on to here. The band’s Christ is My Hope album would be a much better place to start. However, those who desire artists pursuing the everyday exploration of Truth and Beauty will find much beautiful music.

• Read Pitchfork’s review of the album
• Visit the band’s official website
• Listen to the band for yourself
• Download the song “Lakes of Canada”
• Download the song “Happy Birthday”
• Download the band’s music from eMusic

This year’s Fellowship of Reformed Churches annual conference is fast approaching and I’d apprecate any help I could get. I’d appreciate any help you could offer in helping to promote the event. I’ve created two different graphics. Please download (or even hotlink them if you want!) for use on your site and please link to the the Fellowship of Reformed Churches website.

This year’s theme is “The Character of God in Everyday Life” and I’m very excited about our time of worship together this year. We will be exploring how the character (or attributes) of God are applicable to a variety of “real life” situations. Theology, as we hope to show, is not just for the ivory tower, but immensely practical. This year we will be hearing from Eric, “Gunny” Hartman, Pastor of Providence Church of Garland, TX, Bill Lovell, Pastor of Trinity Hillcrest Church of Dallas, Doug Helms, Pastor of Rock Creek Baptist Church, and Craig Cabaniss, Pastor of Grace Church of Frisco.

Here are the graphics. Please use them or feel free to request different sizes or configurations and I’ll see what I can do. Thanks for your help.