High Water Bill?

"Jennifer and Jim kept getting huge water bills. They knew beyond a doubt that the bills weren't representative of their actual usage, and no matter how they tried to conserve, the high bills continued.

Although they could see nothing wrong, they had everything checked for leaks or problems: first the water meter, then outdoor pipes, indoor pipes, underground pipes, faucets, toilets, washer, ice maker, etc. -- all to no avail.

One day Jim was sick and stayed home in bed, but kept hearing water running downstairs. He finally tore himself from his sick bed to investigate, and stumbled onto the cause of such high water bills.

Apparently this was happening all day long when they were not at home. Knowing that few would believe him, he taped a segment of the 'problem' for posterity -- see attached video."

Time Magazine: The New Calvinism Is Changing the World

Time Magazine's cover story for next week is on 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now. Here are the top 10--but I'll warn you in advance that you probably didn't see #3 coming:

1. Jobs Are the New Assets
2. Recycling the Suburbs
3. The New Calvinism
4. Reinstating the Interstate
   
5. Amortality
6. Africa, Business Destination
7. The Rent-a-Country
   
8. Biobanks
9. Survival Stores
10. Ecological Intelligence

Non-evangelical journalists often produce cringe-inducing attempts to restate and understand, but I thought David Van Biema did a very nice job at seeking to find out what's really happening and to identify some of the key beliefs and voices.

I think it's good to pause to reflect on the blurb that Carson wrote for Hansen's Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists:

While other movements have been making a bigger splash in the headlines, a number of strategic ministries have been quietly (and sometimes not so quietly!) upholding the doctrines of grace, planting churches, seeing people converted, teaching the whole counsel of God. These are now beginning to coalesce in a variety of mutually encouraging ways. It is a pleasure to recommend Collin Hansen's survey of some of these movements. This is not the time for Reformed triumphalism. It is the time for quiet gratitude to God and earnest intercessory prayer, with tears, that what has begun well will flourish beyond all human expectation.

Amen and amen.