A Word On The Web-Site Of The Moment

I felt it would be worth having a brief word on the web-site of the moment.

A voice crying out in suburbia has the tag-line the random thoughts of one saved by the sovereign grace in God, in gratitude that He chose me when I would never have chosen Him.

I’ve probably been reading Arthur’s blog on and off for about seven months now. What I like about it is the basis he starts from as one who evidently doesn’t fit into the mainstream institutional expression of church even as part of a reformed mind-set. His commitment to living out his beliefs to the point of wanting to see church be the church rather than sustain methods and forms that stifle its identity is very appealing to me.

What I find impressive about Arthur is how this is just one a number of blogs to which he contributes and that he finds the time to put so much mind-engaging material on shows just how intelligent and gifted the man is. He certainly doesn’t use his views as a platform for a superiority complex and is at pains to portray himself as just another follower of Christ making his way through.

He also 8 children (that’s right eight as in one more than seven, as in a healthy household) and is all about the home-schooling a path I am seriously considering meself. I love reading his range of entries on the issues that spring to him mind. He endeavours to let his views be marked solely by the word rather than being a fan of a particular well known preacher or teacher.

I strongly suggest you read his stuff and see for yourself why I highly recommend him.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Where On The Web With DMCD – January 09 Edition

Every time I come to write something, there is always so much that I could write. Sometimes I feel as if there are things to update you on in various aspects of life. Sometimes there are current events that birth a stream of thought worth more than just a note. Sometimes it’s good to share a YouTube posting that really got me. Sometimes it’s just good to write.

As you must surely know by now I do more online than just blog and watch YouTube. (Indeed I’ve got a unfair rep just because I use videos as part of soundtrack at work, but that’s again about getting to the heart of things.) God has blessed us with Google Reader – I have yet to be informed of an equivalent or better form of collecting regular posts on other web-sites and blogs in one useful post office as it were. I enjoy getting to read on a variety of topics what’s going on in our wonderful world. In January I noticed that I didn’t get to share with you some of the interesting stuff I was reading and so, just for you because I love you and everything here’s some of the things I came across in January that thankfully has a long sell-by-date and is worth you checking as well.

As well as being grateful to God for Google Reader, I express huge thanks to God for having online so many great sources of interest and inspiration that points me back to Him. Special mention goes to people like Jared, Alan K, Lionel, Dan, Dave B, Marcus, Abraham, Prodigal Jon, Adrian and Tim who are particularly consistent in thought-provoking output. They say iron sharpens iron and these hombres really let me know how I have to sharpen my craft.

I do love this time of year for resolutions and the like – Timmy’s nine things are worth going through.

Prodigal Jon can be very funny and his take on putting on a Bluetooth earpiece in church. I gotta get me a Bluetooth earpiece!

Alan is great with these Scriptures As We Live It series – this one about the man at the gate Beautiful is hilarious and tragically true in so many cases.

When I note Alan’s output over 2008 it makes me sick to know the brother’s been so prolific and consistent in sharing the foundations for his ministry. Absolutely sick. May God have mercy on my soul … and his!

It’s good to contrast the personal testimony formula with the great revelation of what the gospel has done for us as expressed beautifully by Jared.

I know that the church has gone to the dogs but this is ridiculous.

Reputations now and then, eh?

Dan has some fascinating insights into what it means to be the bride of Christ and how we can exude that beauty for the church to see, be attracted to Christ.

Good – Josh shows me 16 easy tips to follow to write a book.

Knox does it again. During the service today I was caught up with the level of work it takes to maintain the building and thought to myself if that really is what Jesus calls us to. Then AK (of the Knox variety) places this scripture how we live it and it all made sense.

This is a great quote about the gospel – I hope I can remember it for the sections of teaching that will be coming up.

Just as I write this very thought I receive an email about this article about the true nature of the Biblical church and I say a hearty amen to this picture of a community of house churches coming together.

Tim Challies puts together a great summary of what the greatest hindrance is to the gospel today. Good reading.

Ahhh this is what I’m looking for – a series on the whole free will issue! Part one, part two and part three can be found at the click of the button.

Amen to this comment.

Surely money doesn’t manipulate us does it?

We are indeed climbing Jacob’s ladder, but hopefully not necessarily in the way described.

I’m wondering how to be a better manager of people and this young man may have some useful tips for me.

So with Compassion 2009 in full swing this article about the Prodigal Father is just spot on

Marcus on Digital H20 has done a four-part series on what puts people off committing to their church. It gives good insight in an issue that’s serious for our time if people realise what being a member of the Body of Christ actually means.

Part One – Do People Know God?
Part Two – Do People Grasp That The Gospel Is All Of Grace?
Part Three – Do People Know What The Church Is?
Part Four – Are People Growing As Disciples Or Have They Stalled?
Conclusion

Another great example of good writing is Jared re-adjusting our position in the David and Goliath story! Here I was thinking I was the brave one with the stones ready to knock off Goliath’s head. What a pity. Still at least I still get to play Joshua in the walls of Jericho tumbling down!

101 Ways To Have A Cheerful Happy Life – this is one of the rejected entries, which was not allowed on the grounds that it was definitely not in line with the ethos of the comment.

Marcus makes a good point about the approach to Bible study. For me it is about what is the purpose of any exploration of scripture and I get the impression it’s about finding out about who God is especially as expressed in Christ and what that then means for us.

James Grant provides this opening insight into a wonderful opening of state by another guy which has a brilliant bit featuring the insights of Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes.

Prodigal Jon eh? What a gift! Check this out about the bless her heart syndrome.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd

A New Web-site of the Moment - At Long Last

My days, you still think I’ve forgotten that Dark Knight review. You’re probably thinking is it still worth it with the movie now being a part of our yesterdays and just a couple of moments away from out DVD of tomorrow. Yet, I have given a word to do a review and copious notes have been collated to share with you my own views on the movie and I know you want to read them. Yeah, I know you do. Yeah. So you can wait just a little bit longer.

Anyway you may have noticed that for the first time in months I’ve changed the web-site of the month. Funnily enough of late I haven’t been making that many links to Randy’s blog. That is not to say he’s not good anymore, just to say that I haven’t found his articles as riveting as at other times – keep checking though!

Over the last few weeks, however, I’ve been touched, inspired and challenged by the writings of Alan Knox over at The Assembling of the Saints. For those who claim to be Bible believing churches, Alan really opens up the way to examine if our ways really match up to the Bible or whether they fall into tradition, keeping up with the modern Joneses or something even worse. What’s really good about the blog is that it’s not just theory, but it’s based on his practical experiences of putting his findings in action. What also resonates in the whole blog is this man’s passion not just for the words, but for the Heart and Spirit of Christ to be real with us today as it was real for those exciting pioneers of Christian living who formed the canvas for the New Testament writings.

There are various streams of Christianity that I’ve been exposed to over the last two years or so that have challenged some of my core beliefs and thoughts on the expression of Christian living individually and corporately. Whether it’s being missional or the good and bad of the emerging/emergent it’s all been beneficial in getting me to look at Christ in refreshing ways that reassure certain areas of faith and also shift me in certain places. Knox’s blog recently has been an even greater addition to my journey of faith and I would encourage anyone, believer or not and from whatever religious background, especially Christian, to at least check him out.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd