10,000 Pennies

Tim Challies recently linked to a video presented by '10,000 Pennies' on youtube (10,000 Pennies has a blog with further explanations on the figures he uses here). I think it's worth reposting at length...

Here is his first video - a look at how Obama's initial $100 million budget cuts looked in comparison to his 3.5 Trillion dollar spending...

Soon after Obama, responding to critics who said the $100 million was too small compared to the 3.5 Trillion upped the figure to $17 Billion dollars. Too many numbers to keep in your head? Don't worry, 10,000 Pennies has another video to demonstrate how much this looks like:

Here 10,000 Pennies tackles the issue of the percieved criticism leveled at former President Bush for his wild spending. In comparison to Obama, Bush's spending was a leisurely drive through the park...

Here is 10,000 Pennies take on how effective Obama's stimulus package has been. I'd love to see the figures for Australia - but as I said, I'm no economist.

There's a couple of other videos regarding US National Health care, but that's probably enough for now. So, how have people responded? Here's an interesting response from the Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele:

One person, with a creative mind, and able to communicate seems to be making a big difference. Pray that more Christians would do the same.

Specials of the Day - 9th July, 2009AD

Burglar Fail
This burglar got more than he bargained for...

Religion Thriller: Michael Jackson and Faith
The world continues to be captivated by Jackson, and it looks set to continue with various custody and legal battles looming in the shadows. This article from Boston.com collates a number of sources speaking on what faith, exactly, did Jackson have. It seems that as with Jackson's life, his beliefs were a mass of confusion. As the article's author, Michael Paulson, says, 'Make of it what you will.' Click here to also find a Christianity Today article questioning whether Jackson became a Christian.

Idolatry New and Old
Speaking of Jackson, Tim Challies offers some helpful things to think about regarding the Jackson Memorial Service. Challies is worth quoting at length:

Even those who spoke of Jesus or who prayed to Jesus did so without any clear reference to the Jesus of the Bible. They spoke of a Jesus who accepts all and even (or perhaps especially) those who had rejected him. Never did Michael Jackson give any evidence of putting his faith in Jesus Christ, yet those who watched were assured, time and again, that he was now safe in the presence of the Lord, waiting there for the rest of us to arrive. Words and phrases invoked God and used the Christian lexicon but without any reference to the gospel, the true gospel, the gospel that saves. Lost men declared to other lost men untruths about the god they wish for, not the God who is.

Why Palin Quit
Sarah Palin wasn't the brightest of running mates for the Republican party during the last U.S elections. Her recent stepping down from Governership in Alaska has sparked a frenzy of speculation that she is now being moulded to run for the next presidential elections in 2012. However, that is not the whole story...

How to over-spiritualise everything
This comic says it all :)

Debating Ideas - East and West
Andrew Hong does it again. This time with a helpful analysis of debating styles between Eastern and Western culture. If you're an ABC and have found it hard to express your ideas or critique the ideas of others (in particular elderly 'others') then this article might helpfully explain why.

Battling Self-Pity
Mark Altrogge, Pastor and a singer-songwriter for Sovereign Grace Music, has written some wonderful thoughts for battling self-pity over at his blog, 'The Blazing Centre'.

To Be Like Jesus: Kid's CD
And if you didn't know already, Sovereign Grace has released a Kid's Album. Head to their website to check it out - a great present for friends and young families.

MJ's Memorial

I didn't manage to stay up till 3am this morning to watch the live coverage of Michael Jackson's Memorial, but I did tape it and saw it this morning.

It was a lot more dignified than I imagined it would be. It lacked the eccentricities of Michael's last two decades of life and was filled, appropriately, with honours regarding his philanthropy and some rather amusing and heart-felt personal anecdotes (one which had my smiling the most was probably that of Magic Johnson's recollection of having a KFC dinner with Michael Jackson). It was touching and a trip down memory lane.

Two things stood out for me in surprising ways. The first was a speech towards the end by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas who seemed to genuinely believe (and strongly imply) that Michael knew Jesus as Lord and Saviour. I'm not certain what she understood this to mean but I pray that it is a biblically faithful assessment.

Second was the closing prayer by Rev. Lucious Smith. He prayed, '...but even the King of Pop must bow his knee to the King of Kings...' Amen to that.

Specials of the Day - 2nd July 2009AD

Richard Dawkins Jumps the Shark
Al Mohler gives a fascinating commentary on the latest phenomena sponsored by Richard Dawkins - Atheist Camps.

Swedish Parents Keep Child's Gender Secret
A true and sad story of a Swedish couple who have kept the gender identity of their child a secret. Jill Stanek's comments are worth pondering.

Re: Lit - Pastor Dad
A free eBook given away by Re:Lit written by Mark Driscoll and fatherhood.

Gideon's Fleece
Daniel I Block over at Koinonia has some interesting thoughts on Gideon's Fleece and why it was such a sinful act.

Edit:

One more special for the day.

The worst published opening page in history
A friend of mine (an ex-pat New Zealander) said to me that, 'When a New Zealander emigrates to Australia the IQ of both countries drops.' I wonder if that particular New Zealander penned the lines to this woeful opening page...

Amos - The Day of the Lion

An upcoming sermon series at 5:17church. Come check it out :)

Specials of the Day - 30th June, 2009AD

The world continues to react to MJ's death
Here are some photos from media around the world capturing the outpouring of grief at MJ's death. He certainly had an impact on many lives.

This car nearly says it all...
Typical 'Christian car', non-typical message style...and what's with the ornaments?

How Rude was Jesus?
Bill Mounce over at Koinonia takes a look at the phrase, 'τι εμοι και σοι, γυναι' from John 2:4 and discusses whether or not Jesus was being rude to his mother...

The President picks a new Pastor
President Obama has settled on Lieutenant Carey Cash, grand-nephew of Johnny Cash, as his new Pastor. Pray for Cash to faithful preach God's Word to the President.

Wal-mart rejects 'racy' Worship CD
Slightly older news, but worth reposting: The latest Vineyard Music worship CD, "Intimacy, vol. 2," has raced to the top of the Christian sales charts, but Wal-Mart is refusing to stock the album without slapping on a parental warning sticker. The ground-breaking — some say risqué — album includes edgy worship songs such as "My Lover, My God," "Touch Me All Over," "Naked Before You," "I'll Do Anything You Want," "Deeper" and "You Make Me Hot with Desire."

And finally, Ignatius, the Youth Pastor:

What are you looking for in a Youth Pastor? Perhaps this clip will give you a clue :)

Is he really 'Resting In Peace'...?

A quick look through my DVD and CD collection will quickly reveal that I'm a 'fan' of Michael Jackson's work. I personally believe that 'Dangerous' was his best album, 'Who Is It' his best single, his best unreleased single was 'Streetwalker' and his best video 'Smooth Criminal'.

He set the industry standard of entertainment and his concerts, videos and music remain etched in our memories. But the obvious and disheartening truth was that his personal life was tumultuous, to say the least.

So when his death was announced a few days ago the world was appropriately shocked. The timing and suddenness of his death took everyone by surprise. The resulting overflow of tributes has been thick and fast.

Some would say a little too thick...

I haven't been keeping much of an eye on the tributes myself, but I have been keeping an eye on facebook and the blogosphere to see what people have been thinking. Facebook has seen many people change their status to 'RIP MJ' (or the many variations of that). But the blogosphere has been set alight but commentary on, and, for the blogs I keep an eye on, theological reflection upon his life. Tim Challies has posted some helpful and insightful thoughts here, and Justin Taylor was quick to blog here and here.

What has been surprising in relation to those posts have been some of the comments condeming the posts as uncaring, inappropriate and judgemental. Whilst I agree that perhaps the blog posts came a little too soon after the death of MJ, I would like to venture one observation I've noticed as common with all the critical comments: that some Christians are beginning to fall into the trap of 'justification by death'.

Central to all Christian beliefs is 'justification by faith' - that we are declared righteous, holy, pure and blameless on the sole basis of our faith in Christ's atoning sacrfice on the cross. We are then 'justified' before God by being graciously credited with Christ's righteousness. Only on this basis are we justified.

But in recent years there has been a gradual growth, parallelled with the rise of Hollywood and pop culture, in 'justification by death' - that no matter how we lived we are declared 'good' on the sole basis of death.

Two cases in point, and both from the same source, illustrate this clearly in our Australian context. 'The Chasers War on Everything' came under fire twice for skits mocking those who had passed away and children dying of cancer. In the first skit a member of the Chasers team wrote a satirical song regarding the exaltation of many celebrities (such as Steve Irwin, Peter Brock and Princess Diana) upon their deaths - mocking how their 'sins' (for lack of a better word) have been overlooked in favour of their good works and deeds upon their death. In the second skit the Chasers team satired the 'Make a Wish Foundation' (which, admittedly, was a highly insenstive mockery of children suffering through terminal diseases and their families. The Chasers later apologised for this skit.).

In both cases the public outcry was enormous - or at least the media portrayed it that way. And what seemed to fuel the outcry? The sense that someone dared to speak about a dead persons 'ugly side', that a dead persons character would be called into question (despite plain evidence throughout the deceased's life of such character flaws). The fact that the deaceased's 'justification by death' has been called into question...

I enjoyed Michael Jackson's art. I marvelled at his tireless work for charities and his love for the Earth and desire to preserve it for future generations. And whilst I can not claim to speak authoritatively on his final days on earth, I can say that there seems to be little evidence that he had faith in the atoning and justifying work of Christ.

Michael Jackson did many good works, but good works are not what justify us before God. I am sad that he passed away, but I am more sad that his eternity is uncertain.

New to the Blogroll

I've added some blogs I've started to read and have found both edifying and profitable in my thinking as a Christian. They are:

5:17church - our new church plant has been running along smoothly, and our Pastor (Steve Nation) has been regularly updating our church blog with excellent thoughts.

Euangellion - Michael Bird, lecturer at Highland Theological College in Scotland, recently made a trip to QTC. I was quite impressed with his sermon at chapel and part of the seminar I attended on 'The Messiah in the Old Testament'. This is a blog he contributes to and I find his book reviews and thoughts very helpful.

Between Two Worlds - this blog has a number of wonderful contributors with excellent thoughts and reflections on both life, culture and theology. This blog is updated often throughout the day (since it has multiple contributors) so it's worth having on your RSS feed and keeping an eye on it.

Koinonia - deriving its name from the Greek word (κοινονια), which is often translated as 'fellowship' in our bibles, this blog includes an impressive list of contributors - including the likes of Bruce Waltke, Chris Wright, Craig Blomberg, Darrell Bock and Tremper Longman III. A great resource for bible teachers and preachers with excellent little snippets of commentary on biblical texts worth reading.

Fan Into Flame - Pete Ko, a good friend and Pastor from Sydney, has a great blog with excellent thoughts and reflections. And speaking of reflections...

Reflections - yeah...Ying Yee isn't known for coming up with catchy titles, but don't let that steer you away from this fantastic blog. Ying has had years of experience working in Chinese Churches and this blog is a welcome addition to his ministry not only to Chinese Churches in Sydney, but across the world.

Finally, Challies Dot Com, is a blog from Tim Challies in Toronto, Canada. Tim has excellent book reviews and is a well thought-out Christian blogger. His updates and reflections are insightful.

I'll be borrowing an idea from Tim Challies also - his blog contains a frequent update known as 'a-la-carte', a collection of various news clippings and blog posts of interest. So as to not a total rip-off I'm going to label mine 'Specials of the Day' which you will see in future postings.