Friday, May 31, 2013
Otis Spann - Party Blues
From The Blues Is Where It's At Album. Recorded Aug. 30, 1966 in New York with a studio full of friends. The band included Otis on piano and vocals, Muddy on guitar, Sam Langhorn and Luther Jonson guitars, George Harmonica Smith, Mac Arnold bass, Little Willie Smith drums. Otis Spann was perhaps the greatest post war blues pianist on the scene in the 50's and 60's. Sadly he died at just 40 years old.
Everything Happened By Accident? Really?
“Questioner: Materialists and some astronomers suggest that the
solar planetary system and life as we know it was brought about by an
accidental stellar collision. What is the Christian view of this
theory?
Lewis: If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents — the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else’s. But if their thoughts — i.e., of Materialism and Astronomy — are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It’s like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset.”
C. S. Lewis, “Answers to Questions on Christianity,” in God in the Dock (Grand Rapids, 1970), pages 52-53.
Lewis: If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents — the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else’s. But if their thoughts — i.e., of Materialism and Astronomy — are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It’s like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset.”
C. S. Lewis, “Answers to Questions on Christianity,” in God in the Dock (Grand Rapids, 1970), pages 52-53.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Justified Freely
“We
are justified freely, for Christ’s sake, by faith, without the exertion
of our own strength, gaining of merit, or doing of works. To the
age-old question, ‘What shall I do to be saved?’ the confessional answer
is shocking: ‘Nothing! Just be still; shut up and listen for once in
your life to what God the Almighty, creator and redeemer, is saying to
his world and to you in the death and resurrection of his Son! Listen and believe!’” Gerhard O. Forde, Justification by Faith (Philadelphia, 1983), page 22.
This is hard for Christians today to accept and believe because they trust in themselves and are sure what they add to their salvation will put them over the top and make them acceptable to God. What Forde is saying has been falsely proclaimed as easy believe-ism but what he is saying is that salvation is justification by faith alone through Christ alone.
This is hard for Christians today to accept and believe because they trust in themselves and are sure what they add to their salvation will put them over the top and make them acceptable to God. What Forde is saying has been falsely proclaimed as easy believe-ism but what he is saying is that salvation is justification by faith alone through Christ alone.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Five Ways Peace with God Changes Our Lives
Adapted from Andy Farmer’s Real Peace: What We Long for and Where to Find It.
That peace is hard to find shouldn’t be a surprise. Peace is the elusive human goal. We want peace. Really, we need peace, because we’re alienated from the one source of true peace in the cosmos—our creator God. And peace has come through the intervention of God in his own self-sacrifice—a divine atonement—that resolves the enmity between us and God. What does it mean for me, and for you?
We all have a story. What I hope you see is that all of our stories ultimately lead to the question of whether we know the Prince of Peace. That is the key to every human story. Religious people, irreligious people, spiritual or secular, we all need peace with God. When we have peace with God, it changes our lives. Here are five ways how:
That peace is hard to find shouldn’t be a surprise. Peace is the elusive human goal. We want peace. Really, we need peace, because we’re alienated from the one source of true peace in the cosmos—our creator God. And peace has come through the intervention of God in his own self-sacrifice—a divine atonement—that resolves the enmity between us and God. What does it mean for me, and for you?
We all have a story. What I hope you see is that all of our stories ultimately lead to the question of whether we know the Prince of Peace. That is the key to every human story. Religious people, irreligious people, spiritual or secular, we all need peace with God. When we have peace with God, it changes our lives. Here are five ways how:
Peace with God . . .
- . . . gives us ENDURING CONFIDENCE that things are the way they are meant to be between us and God.
- . . . gives us an ACCESS TO GOD by the Spirit that enables us to experience true peace in every trial of life.
- . . . has given us a PERMANENT PLACE in his community of peace that will shape the way we do life in a strife-filled world.
- . . . CREATES A PASSION in our hearts for his mission of peace among people who are still at war with him.
- . . . provides ENDURING HOPE that the peace we experience in part now will be all we know in eternity.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
More Parenting insights from Jim Gaffigan's new book Dad Is Fat
I guess the reasons against having more children always seem uninspiring
and superficial. What exactly am I missing out on? Money? A few more
hours of sleep? A more peaceful meal? More hair? These are nothing
compared to what I get from these five monsters who rule my life. I
believe each of my five children has made me a better man. So I figure I
only need another thirty-four kids to be a pretty decent guy. Each one
of them has been a pump of light into my shriveled black heart.
I would trade money, sleep, or hair for a smile from one of my children
in a heartbeat. Well, it depends on how much hair. (p. 240)
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Dad Is Fat: Jim Gaffigan’s Refreshingly Honest New Book on Parenting
So now that I’ve admitted that I’m a narcissist, I’d also like to admit
that I’m probably not the greatest parent. The last thing I want is one
of my kids reading this book in ten years and thinking, ‘That guy
thought he was a good parent?’ I don’t know why my children would refer
to me as ‘that guy,’ but I’m keeping expectations low. I’m
probably not the best parent, but I’m trying. I’ll complain and joke
about parenting and kids, but every parent knows it’s a heroic endeavor,
and we participants need to laugh at it. After all, suicide is off the table now. (p. 47)
Even as your children get older, the parent-teacher conference is always a strange experience. The conference is supposed to be all about the child, but somehow it ends up with you feeling like you are getting a report card on your parenting. You still want to know your child is doing well and you still want to see their work, but because I am an actor and comedian, it seems that these conferences always lead back to my occupation. ‘Well your daughter/son is very dramatic and loves to talk, which I guess is no surprise, given your occupation.’ I’m not offended, but the implication that all improper behavior is the result of what I do for a living is rather absurd. As if a chatty five-year-old with a librarian mom would be a red flag. ‘We expected our child to just sit behind her desk and sush people. Maybe she needs Ritalin.’ (pp. 156-157)
Even as your children get older, the parent-teacher conference is always a strange experience. The conference is supposed to be all about the child, but somehow it ends up with you feeling like you are getting a report card on your parenting. You still want to know your child is doing well and you still want to see their work, but because I am an actor and comedian, it seems that these conferences always lead back to my occupation. ‘Well your daughter/son is very dramatic and loves to talk, which I guess is no surprise, given your occupation.’ I’m not offended, but the implication that all improper behavior is the result of what I do for a living is rather absurd. As if a chatty five-year-old with a librarian mom would be a red flag. ‘We expected our child to just sit behind her desk and sush people. Maybe she needs Ritalin.’ (pp. 156-157)
Friday, May 17, 2013
Most of the Time - Bob Dylan
I love this song, I just drift along with it, a smile on my face, I think the music is fantastic, well produced, most of the time
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Bob Dylan - From A Buick 6 (Alternate) [vinyl]
The very first stereo copies of Highway 61 Revisited were mistakenly pressed with an alternate version of From A Buick 6.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Is This Heaven? No, It’s Hobbiton
Take an exclusive journey through Middle-earth with the cast of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Madeleine Peyroux - Smile (A Nat King Cole Cover) 2006
"Smile" is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, while John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954. In the lyrics, the singer is telling the listener to cheer up and that there is always a bright tomorrow, just as long as they smile. "Smile" has become a popular standard since its original use in Chaplin's film. The song, originally sung by Nat King Cole, charted in 1954.
Pinetop Perkins & Madeleine Peyroux - He's Got Me Goin'
Pinetop Perkins (piano), Madeleine Peyroux (guitar, vocals), Jimmy Vivino (guitar), Brad Vickers (bass), Mark Carpentieri (drums) I love this song.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Music To My Ears
If for insignificant, guilty, and impure persons there is to be a possibility of true religion, that is, of genuine fellowship with God, of salvation and eternal life, then God on his part must reestablish the broken bond, again take them into fellowship with him and share his grace with them, regardless of their guilt and corruption.
He, then, must descend from the height of his majesty, seek us out and come to us, take away our guilt and again open the way to his fatherly heart. If God were to wait until we . . . had made ourselves worthy, in part or in whole, to receive his favor, the restoration of communion between him and ourselves would never happen, and salvation would forever be out of reach for us. --Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, 4:204-5
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Paul Butterfield - New Walkin' Blues
Paul Butterfield (17 December 1942 -- 4 May 1987) was an American blues vocalist and harmonica player, who founded the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the early 1960s and performed at the original Woodstock Festival. He died of drug-related heart failure at 45.
Monday, May 6, 2013
He Never Did Deny Himself Yet
If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13
“I tell you, if he were to shut you out, dear soul, whoever you may be, if you go to him, he would deny himself. He never did deny himself yet. Whenever a sinner comes to him, he becomes his Savior. Whenever he meets a sick soul, he acts as his Physician. . . . If you go to him, you will find him at home and on the look-out for you. He will be more glad to receive you than you will be to be received. . . . I tell you again that he cannot reject you. That would be to alter his whole character and un-Christ himself. To spurn a coming sinner would un-Jesus him and make him to be somebody else and not himself any longer. ‘He cannot deny himself.’ Go and try him; go and try him.”
C. H. Spurgeon, Treasury of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, 1950), III:862.
“I tell you, if he were to shut you out, dear soul, whoever you may be, if you go to him, he would deny himself. He never did deny himself yet. Whenever a sinner comes to him, he becomes his Savior. Whenever he meets a sick soul, he acts as his Physician. . . . If you go to him, you will find him at home and on the look-out for you. He will be more glad to receive you than you will be to be received. . . . I tell you again that he cannot reject you. That would be to alter his whole character and un-Christ himself. To spurn a coming sinner would un-Jesus him and make him to be somebody else and not himself any longer. ‘He cannot deny himself.’ Go and try him; go and try him.”
C. H. Spurgeon, Treasury of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, 1950), III:862.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Born In Chicago Documentary Movie - Trailer
I was part of a second wave of white kids who came to Chicago in the late 60's, my friend Dan Fraley and I joined the Sam Lay blues band my friends Garfield Angove and Bob Babitch were already members, our lead singer Lucille Spann was the widow of Otis Spann, Muddy Waters piano player.
What Is the Difference between Affections and Emotions?
As Gerald McDermott explains, Jonathan Edwards saw affections as
“strong inclinations of the soul that are manifested in thinking,
feeling and acting” (Seeing God: Jonathan Edwards and Spiritual Discernment, p. 31).
A common confusion is to equate “affections” with “emotions.” But there are several differences, as summarized in this chart from McDermott (p. 40):
He explains why affections are different than emotions:
A common confusion is to equate “affections” with “emotions.” But there are several differences, as summarized in this chart from McDermott (p. 40):
| Affections | Emotions |
| Long-lasting | Fleeting |
| Deep | Superficial |
| Consistent with beliefs | Sometimes overpowering |
| Always result in action | Often fail to produce action |
| Involve mind, will, feelings | Feelings (often) disconnected from the mind and will |
Emotions (feelings) are often involved in affections, but the affections are not defined by emotional feeling. Some emotions are disconnected from our strongest inclinations.Justin Taylor
For instance, a student who goes off to college for the first time may feel doubtful and fearful. She will probably miss her friends and family at home. A part of her may even try to convince her to go back home. But she will discount these fleeting emotions as simply that—feelings that are not produced by her basic conviction that now it is time to start a new chapter in life.
The affections are something like that girl’s basic conviction that she should go to college, despite fleeting emotions that would keep her at home. They are strong inclination that may at times conflict with more fleeting and superficial emotions. (pp. 32-33)
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Are You Living By The Gospel?
Everything
that isn't gospel is law. Every way we try to make ourselves good that
isn't rooted in the good news of the life, death, resurrection and
ascension of Jesus Christ is damnable, crushing, despair-breading,
Pharisee producing law. Martin Luther said, "To those who believe in
Christ there are no works so bad as to accuse and condemn us, but again,
there are no works so good that they could save and defend us." Are you
living by the gospel? Has grace penetrated your brain and changed you?
Are you clinging to anything else but the saving grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ?
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Luther's God
The final words of Roland Bainton's celebrated biography of Luther--
Dane Ortlund
In his religion he was a Hebrew, not a Greek fancying gods and goddesses disporting themselves about some limpid pool or banqueting upon Olympus. The God of Luther, as of Moses, was the God who inhabits the storm clouds and rides on the wings of the wind. At his nod the earth trembles, and the people before him are as a drop in the bucket. He is a God of majesty and power, inscrutable, terrifying, devastating, and consuming in his anger.
Yet the All Terrible is the All Merciful too. 'Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord . . .' But how shall we know this? In Christ, only in Christ. In the Lord of life, born in the squalor of a cow stall and dying as a malefactor under the desertion and the derision of men, crying unto God and receiving for answer only the trembling of the earth and the blinding of the sun, even by God forsaken, and in that hour taking to himself and annihilating our iniquity, trampling down the hosts of hell and disclosing within the wrath of the All Terrible the love that will not let us go. No longer did Luther tremble at the rustling of a wind-blown leaf, and instead of calling upon St. Anne he declared himself able to laugh at thunder and jagged bolts from out of the storm.
This was what enabled him to utter such words as these: 'Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.'--Roland Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Hendrickson, 1977), 401
Dane Ortlund
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