Vintage Jesus

I have been out of town and just not wanting to blog lately but hopefully the 3 of you who read this blog have also been busy and have not noticed.

Anyway I have been reading Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll for over a week now and I am loving it. Even though it has not been released yet, the PDF is available to those who have preordered through the link above. Actually, I am planning on using this book for a before-school-leadership-group I am starting next week.

One of the strengths of the book is the fresh perspective on Jesus that Driscoll brings. What may be considered fundamental, he has made very interesting with his usual wit and unique cultural perspective.

The following is a sampling along with chapter titles...

Roughly two thousand years ago, Jesus was born in a dumpy, rural, hick town, not unlike those today where guys change their own oil, think pro wrestling is real, find women who chew tobacco sexy, and eat a lot of Hot Pockets with their uncle-daddy. Jesus' mom was a poor, unwed teenage girl who was often mocked for claiming she conceived via the Holy Spirit. Most people thought she concocted the crazy story to cover the fact she was knocking boots with some guy in the backseat of a car at the prom. Jesus was adopted by a simple carpenter named Joseph and spent the first thirty years of his life in obscurity, swinging a hammer with his dad.

In Vintage Jesus, one of America's most influential young pastors teams up with a seasoned theologian to lead you on a hilarious theological journey chasing Jesus through Scripture and pop culture. The authors provide timeless answers to twelve timely questions about the most important man who has ever lived. Each chapter concludes with answers to common questions about each subject.
Contents
Chapter 1 Is Jesus the Only God?
Chapter 2 How Human Was Jesus?
Chapter 3 How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
Chapter 4 Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
Chapter 5 Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
Chapter 6 What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
Chapter 7 Did Jesus Rise from Death?
Chapter 8 Where Is Jesus Today?
Chapter 9 Why Should We Worship Jesus?
Chapter 10 What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
Chapter 11 What Difference Has Jesus Made in History?
Chapter 12 What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?

These questions are answered with insights from people such as Jesus himself, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Luther King Jr., Hugh Hefner, Jack Bauer, Fidel Castro, Oprah, Kanye West, Gandhi, Homer Simpson, Mike Tyson, Gil Grissom, and Madonna, along with some demons and a porn star. There have been seventeen thousand books written about Jesus, but none is like Vintage Jesus.

Do Hard Things

Alex and Brett Harris are the twin brothers of Josh Harris. They run a website/ministry called rebelution and have new interesting book coming out, Do Hard Things.

"The Baby in Her Womb was the Maker of the Moon"

If You Need a Good Cry...

Click here.

I cried like a schoolgirl...

Missouri Southern Baptist Convention v. Acts 29

The Acts 29 Church Planting Network is now totally at odds with the MSBC. I have been reading about this story for a couple of days now. Alcohol seems to be part of the discussion even if not the whole story. Hysterically, how some of these guys dress seems to be part of the discussion in some circles. My guess is the real issue is the vision and methodology. The Acts 29 guys are wanting to men and women saved and culture engaged. The SBC seems to want the Power Team and are just fine with the "40 Days of Purpose." None of this really surprises me at all as I continue to have a "love/hate" relationship with the SBC.

The SBC has more than a few things going for it, such as Southern, Ed Stetzer and 9Marks. But I fear these will further the breach between those who care enough to think biblically and missionally so as to "save some." And those who will not.

The following are more links to the discussion:

Acts 29 is Kicked out of Missouri - Show Me the Love!

If You Don’t Know You Better Axe Somebody

Acts 29 De-funded by Missouri Baptist Convention

When I Am Ashamed to be a Southern Baptist

Acts 29 is Banned

Mo. Baptist leaders restrict funding for church starts, angering some

No Funding for SBC/Acts 29 Church Plants in Missouri

Only a Bama Fan Would Not be Moved

Prodigal Sons Trailer

Justin Taylor posts the trailer for the short film, Prodigal Sons from Modern Parables.

Huckabee?

This is one of the few reasons I have not yet come out in support of Huckabee. I know National Review is wanting America'a Mayor to be the next Republican Candidate (which to me veers far from the original convictions of a Buckley-run NR) but I do think Jonah Goldberg has a more sophisticated understanding of foreign policy than Huckabee does.

Update: This makes more sense.

Tebow is the First Sophmore to Win the Heisman

How Can Christians Explain the Truth to All People?

Video of John Piper promoting the Resurgence Conference

Calvin Quote on Worship

But as in external discipline and ceremonies, he has not been pleased to prescribe every particular that we ought to observe (he foresaw that this depended on the nature of the times, and that one form would not suit all ages), in them we must have recourse to the general rules which he has given, employing them to test whatever the necessity of the Church may require to be enjoined for order and decency. Lastly, as he has not delivered any express command, because things of this nature are not necessary to salvation, and, for the edification of the Church, should be accommodated to the varying circumstances of each age and nation, it will be proper, as the interest of the Church may require, to change and abrogate the old, as well as to introduce new forms. I confess, indeed, that we are not to innovate rashly or incessantly, or for trivial causes. Charity is the best judge of what tends to hurt or to edify: if we allow her to be guide, all things will be safe.

From: Calvin, J., & Beveridge, H. (1997). Institutes of the Christian religion. Translation of: Institutio Christianae religionis.; Reprint, with new introd. Originally published: Edinburgh : Calvin Translation Society, 1845-1846. (IV, x, 30). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.