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Tuesday, November 01, 2011 

Closing & Moving

After many years of enjoying What the Thunder Said... we're closing up shop. The site will stay open, but none of the posts or links will be curated.

And also, we're moving to BrianJLund.com

See you over at the new site!

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008 

(Mostly) Ecclesial Links

Reading: Kromminga, Man Before God's Face in Calvin's Preaching
Enjoying: Cody is out visiting
Listening: Anberlin

We've got a real ticket for you tonight. A little music, a little culture, and lot o' ecclesiology: prayer, theology, church discipline, church calling, church planting... its all in the works. Enjoy!

K. Cawley's 2007 Music Round Up
This is great if you're looking for top quality un-pop music. Cawley rounds out his top 30, with a few (fair) honorable mentions. I especially agree with #1, 5, 10, 12, 13, and 24. Honestly, I'm not sure that Neon Bible is top dog, but its his list, right? My take away: get to know Aqualung.


Challies.com: Middle-Earth or Narnia?
Challies explains that the difference between Tolkien and Lewis is the difference between Second Life and an average RPG. For Lewis, the story is the universe; for Tolkien, his universe is telling a story. Agree?

How the Godfather Got His Groove Back
Apparently James B. Jordan, patriarch of the FV, has a new blog at Biblical Horizons.

Whose Kingdom? The Far Limits of Anti-Empirism

I have often linked favorably to Peter Leithart, but here's an example where I disagree. Oh its about an empire/kingdom to be sure, but I don't think Rome is anywhere in the picture here.

WSJ on Excommunication: "Help, my pastor just called the cops on me!"
Sure it seems insensitive to them, but that's because they get the whole thing wrong. Quote: "pastors in large and small churches across the country are expelling members for offenses ranging from adultery and theft to gossiping, skipping service and criticizing church leaders." Ok, lets be clear: there has always been and only can be one sin for which one can be excommunicated - being unrepentant. But aside from that, does this article catch your ear eye?

Of Prayer
Faith and Prayer
Lee Irons shows the inherent connectedness of faith and prayer.

Praying without Ceasing
John MacArthur's take.

Gospel Driven Prayer
=-==-==-=

Calvin on Imputed Righteousness

Is there a Ministerial Glut (in the PCA)?
(HT: Dr. Clark)

Is there a Ministerial Need (in the OPC)?
Perhaps there's a solution somewhere in there...


Tags
[links] | [blogging]

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Monday, January 14, 2008 

Links

Is covenant close to the center of theology for Barth? “...God's Word spoken both in the relation of the history of Israel to the history of Jesus Christ and the relation of the history of Jesus Christ to the history of Israel..."

Francis R. Beattie Gives an Exposition of the Westminster Standards: Online Edition


What is Trent's only comfort in life and death? The Heidelberg Q.1 according to Rome.

Dr. Estelle on the Exodus Motif in Isaiah. Thank you, New Horizons.

John Piper on why children should pray to their heavenly Father. Sean Michael Lewis on why this makes Piper sound covenantal.

"The Gospel for Those Broken by the Church" - mp3 of Rod Rosenbladt (White Horse Inn)

In picking up WTJ Fall 2007 to browse Tim Witmer's ("Seminary: A Place to Prepare Pastors?") and Paul Kjoss Helseth's ("Christ-Centered, Bible-Based, and Second-Rate? 'Right Reason' as the Aesthetic Foundation of Christian Education") articles on education, Dr. R. Scott Clark reminds us that Voetius is excellent in attacking middle knowledge. What else is in WTJ Fall 2007? Terrence L. Tiessen's "Why Calvinists Should Believe in Divine Middle Knowledge, Even Though They Reject Molinism." I only had a chance to thumb through the article, but Tiessen is aware of Voetius' and Richard Muller's concerns, but I think Tiessen thinks his thrust is different from what the Divines were dealing with in the 17th century and following. I'll try to report back. Anyone can feel free to chime in, by the way.

Tags
[theology] | [links]

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I AM Sardis

Reading: Waltke's new OT Theology
Enjoying: rolo's
Listening: muse

So, normally when I haven't posted for ages I go into this long apology/excuse as to why I haven't posted more, but for cryin' out loud... I'm under grace, baby. Now to pick up where I left off.








You’re St. Melito of Sardis!


You have a great love of history and liturgy. You’re attached to the traditions of the ancients, yet you recognize that the old world — great as it was — is passing away. You are loyal to the customs of your family, though you do not hesitate to call family members to account for their sins.

But for real, you basically copied and pasted the entire OT canon (minus Esther; bling!), and you may or may not be responsible for early anti-semitism. Also, you are probably amillenial.


Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!







I think this may disqualify me for my licensure...

Tags
[blogging]

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007 

Links: In Other News

In other news on culture, evangelicals, politics, theology, movies, and other news...

Slate: Not All Its Cracked Up to Be
David Sessions, a self-described politically interested evangelical from Patrick Henry College, writes on evangelical presence in politics, a united front in the primaries, and whether the evangelical impetus is waning.
(HT: Cranach)


WSJ Articles for Free Online

In other written media news, the WSJ is offering material free online. With the help of social networking client digg, formerly reserved articles are now available to the public.
(HT: Lifehacker)

Olasky Manifesto, Gay Marriage & State Sovereignty
In other Cranach news, there is a post pointing out a section of the recent Olasky manifesto, specific to same-sex unions. There is some helpful discussion (I recommend reading into the comments) regarding the roles of state and family.

Americanitis: Wilson on Hart
In other news on culture, these are some of the posts Doug Wilson has posted in reading through D.G. Hart's A Secular Faith.

Transforming Culture with a Messiah Complex
(In other theology news...) Everyone's already linked to it, but this article by Dr. Michael Horton is so helpful, I think. Not only dealing with culture and the church, but also read it for fine theology on the ascension and eschatology.

Out of Ur: Willow Creek Repents
In other church news, awhile ago Bill Hybels "repented" and "had the wake up call of his adult life." A church poll of Willow Creek reported that while the church was meeting the needs of those new to the faith ("kicking the tires of Christianity," as my pastor likes to say), older Christians were not being fed.

While I'm glad that Willow Creed is recognizing that they need a more biblical program in place, is this not the same old methodology? Willow Creek is, it seems, still being "seeker sensitive," its just that for once, the felt needs of the demographic really are the needs that need to be met. But what happens when this group tires of biblical teaching? Is it on to whatever they ask for next? My prayer is that during this season when they ratchet up their bible teaching, they'll realize whole new paradigms - biblical ones - for doing church. Perhaps something along the lines of gospel, water, bread & wine, and applying these in discipleship/discipline.

The Logical Fall Out of the 7 Deadly Sins
When theology and geometry meet, watch out. I think this just proves that total depravity extends even to the laws of mathematics.

His Dark Materials vs. Christianity

Philip Pullman's trilogy is about to gain a wider audience when the first episode, The Golden Compass, hits the silver screen this winter. An important part of Pullman's project is to undermine the Christian world-and-life-view by offering a new mythology. Hanna Rosin in the latest issue of the Atlantic:
In the books, Lyra is the new Eve, but an Eve who brings humanity to its full realization by eating the fruit. The climax of the trilogy comes when Lyra, the 12-year-old heroine, shares a red fruit with her friend Will. They kiss and Pullman draws a discrete curtain over the rest: "Around them there was nothing but silence, as if all the world were holding its breath" is as explicit as he gets.

Pullman told Rosin that this Eden-reversal scene is crucial to his effort to unravel Christian mythology: "They become aware of sexuality, of the power the body has to attract attention from someone else. This is not only natural, but a wonderful thing! To be celebrated! Why the Christian Church has spent 2,000 years condemning this glorious moment, well, that's a mystery. I want to confront that, I suppose, by telling a story that this so-called original sin is anything but. It's the thing that makes us fully human."
No doubt Dr. Peter Jones would have a field day with this, but the ironies abound. Pullman, like so much of the hedonism characterizing the current culture, is vainly struggling to realize human sexuality. In the Christian "mythos," however, Adam and Eve are created naked, are told to fruitfully procreate - i.e., they are given divine fiat to engage in sexual intercourse - and all of this nudity and sex is "very good" in the eyes of God. Contra Pullman, humanity doesn't become aware of sexuality at the Fall, rather their once beautiful nudity becomes shame to them. Where Pullman wants his prototypical Adam and Eve to attract attention with their bodies, our first parents were created to serve one another and, ultimately, their Overlord, Elohim. Pullman, like all of us sinners, would sooner get what he wanted if he would quit kicking against the goads and find his hopes already graciously promised and answered in biblical witness to Jesus Christ, who has come to restore and redeem all the problems already in this world, problems created by visions of humanity and reality like that of Pullman's.


Tags
[links] | [blogging]

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Tuesday, November 13, 2007 

WSC Resources

Reading: HALOT
Enjoying: pork chops
Listening: the reindeer section "you are my joy"

The Warfield lecture was quite interesting, and, as Ben mentioned, look for both Mr. Glomsrud and Dr. Horton in the forthcoming Engaging Barth.

Tomorrow marks Dr. Bauckham's lecture on the canonicity of the Gospels, and then several lectures at the ETS convention. I'll post some of the lectures I get to.


A few more Westminster resources:
The new audio page has podcasts, mp3's, and more to peruse and download.

Also, keep in mind the upcoming faculty conference: Missional & Reformed. Need a place ot stay? The Lund B&B is always open...

Tags
[WSC] | [resources]

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Monday, November 12, 2007 

Back to Blogging | Busy-ness | Barth

Reading: Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels
Enjoying: warm San Diego weather
Listening: Indelible Grace

I apologize for the lack of blogging here at What the Thunder Said... There has been far too little of it, a fact we hope to correct. That being said, this is the worst of weeks to renew one's commitment to blogging, for its going to be quite the hectic week.

This week features ETS and AAR/SBL conferences in San Diego later this week, and Dr. Bauckham will be taking some time out to lecture on campus. There are tests and a project due next week, as well as concerts and birthday parties.

One item on the docket is tomorrow's Warfield Lecture with WSC alum Ryan Glomsrud. He'll be lecturing from a recent project of his entitled "Barth's Reception of Calvin zwischen den Zeiten". He interacts with Barth's initial introduction to Calvin, especially as a "cultural critique" allied with the likes of Plato, Nietzche, Dostoyevsky, and Kierkegaard against the neo-Protestantism of his day. I'm especially interested in what he has to say regarding the dialectical approach of Platonic onto-theology in meta-ethics vs. Calvin's de-ontological ethics (pun intended).

Now here's where I need help. I need all you quasi- and closet Barthians to let me know some questions to ask to press Mr. Glomsrud. What concerns do you have of Barth's use of Calvin? How does Barth's attempt at meta-ethics and ontologizing history escape the problem of Schleiermacher and modernity (or fail to escape)? What kind of influence did Calvin have on Barth's Romerbrief? Broader issues in Calvin, Barth, or methodology of 1920's historical theology? All these and more I need questions for. Have any questions you would pose? Leave any suggestions in the comments.

sorry for the short notice...

Tags
[Calvin] | [Barth]

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007 

Links & Notices

Reading: Dunahoo Making Kingdom Disciples
Enjoying: York mints
Listening: Muse Black Holes and Revelations

In this edition (/pretentious):
Politics | Technology | Books | Theology | Financial | Links

Iraq and Ideology
The number one reason for the way things are going in Iraq is a difference of mettle: Islam has it, and materialistic narcissists don't. This is especially demonstrated in the united front Islam shows in its contempt for Western ideology. Cranach's Dr. Veith notes Mr. Steyn on the lack of resolve from Uncle Sam.

Financial
Two blogs I sometimes swing buy are The Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly. There is often a variety of ideas, from budget suggestions, coupons and saving ploys, and financial organization in the big picture. One tool that may help on the small scale is Xpen$er, a Web 2.0-ish app to help record every purchase. I'm going to be looking into putting this one into practice in the near future.

Links
Philosophos
For students, teachers, and lovers of philosophy.

Vicipaedia
Wikipedia for the Latin inclined.

Top 10 Needs of a Theological Institution
I think WSC is a grand slam on all of these, except with a little more clarification on how they do #2. (Hint: church planting with ordained ministers)

Books
Speaking of making purchases, a few new titles have been on my horizon. Bavinck's anticipated fourth and final installment of his Dogmatics is up for pre-order, and I've seen similar offers for the upcoming ETS & AAR/SBL catalogs. (The conferences are in San Diego this year; come hang out!) Also, John Piper's newest title on N.T. Wright and justification is available for $5. Meanwhile, WSC Bookstore recently made Vos' Grace & Glory available... and I've got gift certificates. Watch out.

I was recently opining with Ben that Carl Trueman's latest temptation John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man is exorbitantly priced. This just in - What the Thunder Said... will now be published by Paternoster, Ashgate, and Wipf & Stock. You've just been charged $9.99 for reading this. Your ISP will be billed accordingly. (Even though the Owen book figures at about $.15 a page, I'm still tempted. I need help.)

Technology
For those of you rocking the pocket pc/smarthphone devices, check Handango, which is offering a Free App every Friday. (This is especially nice if you had your wild hopes set on the HTC Kaiser being given away for free from Gear Diary. Clearly, only a hypothetical.) The Nokia 810 came out, and received a positive review from Oliver Starr.

I'm into my second month on our HP Pavilion dv9600t laptop, and overall, I'm pleased. I'm still not completely sold on Vista. The beautiful Altec Lansing speakers sit below the screen and above the keyboard, so they are muffled if you play music with the screen closed. I'm pleased with responsiveness. Its working out well.

Bucer on Marks of Unity
Those who call upon our Lord Jesus Christ in truth, whatever their outward customs and identity may be, we wish to acknowledge and love as our members in Christ the Lord. And they will also treat us in the same way, irrespective of the fact that we may not share the same ceremonies and church practices. For the fellowship of the Christian church consists not in ceremonies and outward practices, but in true faith, in obedience to the pure gospel, and in the right use of the sacraments as the Lord has ordained them. Everything else each church has to arrange as it finds best for itself. In any case this is something which the old holy fathers recognized and maintained.
Concerning the True Care of Souls and Genuine Pastoral Ministry
(HT: Jonathan)


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[links]

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Monday, October 15, 2007 

BAD-U

Bloggers Unite - Blog Action Day

snicker

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Monday, October 01, 2007 

On the Federal Vision

Best comments section. Ever. Please go read it immediately.

(HT: Green Baggins)

Tags
[federal vision] | [comments]

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Saturday, September 29, 2007 

Internet "Gospel"ing

Reading: Stewart, Melville The Trinity: East/West Dialogue
Enjoying: coffee on our unusual Autumn day
Listening: vidcasts of the DG conference

From the Cranach blog, regarding one of the regular readers:
But I appreciate SteveG, an agnostic who reads this blog, for weighing in.

SteveG, if the only Christianity I knew was mainstream liberal Protestantism, I would be like you. I'd much rather be an agnostic--or even a "bright"--than a theological liberal. Theological liberals don't believe Christianity either, gutting it of the good parts (the Incarnation, the Atonement, the Gospel) and leaving only religiosity and do-gooderism. I have no respect for that. You are better off leaving, as you did.

As a Lutheran, I confess, in the words of our catechism, that "I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him." Luther continues: "but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith." Faith is a gift. I can't help having it.

Why do I have it and you don't? I don't know. It is certainly not because I am better than you. It is probably because I am worse than you. I suspect that you consider yourself to be a good person and are fairly satisfied with your life. If so, you are right. Christianity has nothing for you.

If, however, you do not live up to your own standards, if you have known guilt and failure, if you ever feel lost in the cosmos, if you struggle with the meaning of life and death, then the message that God became a human being; that somehow He took into Himself your griefs and transgressions; that God died for you; that He rose from the dead and somehow carries you with Him. All of that can become quite compelling. Not as an intellectual theorem but as something--rather, someone--that possesses you.

I know Christ not just as some idea to be debated, nor even just as a historical fact, nor even as an imaginary friend inside my head. He is outside myself, but really present. I hear His voice everytime I open my Bible or hear good preaching. I can pray to Him and I have the sense that He is listening. I encounter Him, not abstractly, but in His body and blood when He gives Himself to me again in the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

I can't explain this, and I'm not saying it makes sense, but this is a genuine conviction, the evidence of something not seen, a kind of trust and relationship that is faith. Not faith in an emotion or a choice or an idea but faith that has the object of God enfleshed and nailed to a cross.


Tags
[Cranach] | [evangelism]

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Thursday, August 30, 2007 

Around the Blogosphere in 80 days

Reading: Witsius' Dissertations on the Apostle's Creed
Enjoying: strawberry cheesecake yogurt
Listening: Damien Rice 9

Good news, bad news, links, updates, and humor. What more could you ask for?

In God's good providence, more of the Korean hostages have been released. On July 19, 23 hostages had been kidnapped. Two have been martyred, two released. Now, the Taliban leaders are beginning to release more with plans to release the rest. Some question how this will affect relations with the Taliban in the future. We thank God for every life spared, and pray for repentance on all sides.

Adam L'Herault Stand Up Comedy

How great is this. For those of you in the Twin Cities, be sure to support Adam in round 2. Congrats, bro!

I found this discussion that included Dr. R. Scott Clark regarding righteousness and justification to be helpful. I thank God for Reformed "apologists" like the good doctor.

This cartoon was banned from several papers in several countries (click to enlarge).
GTD: Read blog posts with more discernment

The Complete Works of Rev. Robert Traill

(HT: Rev. Hyde)

The Critical Importance of Family Worship

amen

Updates
The Wilco concert that I went to on Monday rocked. Thumbs up: two encores, a beautiful evening (it was an outdoor concert), opening act Richard Swift, and Chipotle beforehand. Thumbs down: the guy who had bad weed behind us. whew... Here's a set list of the songs they played. Having already heard a number of blazing guitar solos early in the concert, I was still blown away when they played "Impossible Germany," a song I appreciate with an snazzy solo. Good job Wilco.

If you're looking for more good music ideas, check out K.C.'s music list (who just happens to be church planting in KC).

Also in updates:
Some guys have responded to the book meme. More good book suggestions.


Tags
[links]

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 

Music Meme

Having already completed a recent book meme, David (father of Solomon) Griffiths of the normal christian life has tagged us in, this time on music. Turns out, we're even less interesting on music than I you thought.

I guess Mr. Griffiths got this from WORLD.
1. You would be surprised that I listen to __________.
2. You probably have never heard of __________.
3. I hope nobody sees this amidst my collection: ___________.


1. Beyonce? "Crazy in Love" with Jay-z is "fly." Godsmack? I really loved Cake's "Fashion Nugget" (I can play the bass line to every track on that album) and Bush's sixteen stone, though that is not braggable. Really braggable. Plankeye?

2. Silversun Pickups? Fielding? Plankeye?

3. Again... Plankeye? My amazing collection of Michael W. Smith? (Although to be honest, I'm not that embarrassed.)

Okay, the real all stars are
Silversun Pickups (see above) - "Lazy Eye"
Austin Britton - "Daily Resurrection" (though everything is good)
Matt Haeck - "Liberty on Parade"
Grins Edge - "This Melon"
And yes, Plankeye really is the answer to all of the above questions...

Tags
[meme] | [music]

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Friday, August 17, 2007 

Et cetera

Korean Christian Hostages
Please continue to pray for the 23 Korean Christians who were abducted by Taliban leaders.

M. Malkin: The Martyrs No One Cares About
1 Korean Christian Executed by Taliban
2 Korean Christian Hostages Return Home

Piper: Sex, Culture, and God



More on Solzhenitsyn
Previously, we had posted on Alexander Solzhenitsyn's interview with Der Spiegel. This new title came out a little bit ago. (Ironic?) From the review:
If a single figure summarizes the meaning of the twentieth century—in its magnificent highs no less than its miserable lows—it is Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Like all masters of culture both ancient and modern, his work transcends academic categories. As the editors make clear, Solzhenitsyn embraces the empirical and the ethical, the national culture of Russia and the global condition of Western civilization. The cloth of heroism is woven in respect for everyday life. Solzhenitsyn knows this, and this fine collection is a stark testament to the precious gift of his life and the enrichment he has given to ours.
The Solzhenitsyn Reader: New and Essential Writings (Amazon)

Banality
According to Google News, the things I should be interested in right now are lil' Bush is getting married, Michael Vick kills dogs and its a federal offense (too bad he didn't kill a human; it would have been a much lighter sentence) and David Beckham is changing American soccer. Hmmm... not so much.

Tags
[news]

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Saturday, August 11, 2007 

Link Mashup

Some of my recent browsing has led me to a number of similar themes, some that I though might be helpful here. It would be fun to annotate these, but its just too nice outside. There are too many hat tips to go around; my apologies to those who were slighted. Hope you enjoy!

[Update: Oops! Forgot one in Media!]

Church Planting

Sovereign Grace Ministries Church Planting Page

Acts 29: The Church Planter Ultimatum

Old School Presbyterian Church Planting

Keep your eyes fixed to this blog.

On the Rigor of the Ministry and the Need for Pastor-Scholars

Quote from Richard Baxter

Michael Horton on the Necessity of an Educated Ministry

Dr. Peter Jones (Westminster Professor) Interviews with Local Paper on Dead Sea Scrolls

Theology: Paul, Justification, and Assurance

Simon Gathercole on Paul and New Perspective(s)

Augustus Toplady on assurance and perseverance

John Owen on final perseverance and justification

J.I. Packer on Justification and Atonement

Works of Jerome Zanchi


Media
Duncan: How to Listen to a Bad Sermon
Gospel Coalition Audio & Video

Youtube: Christian & Christ-follower (Mac vs. PC parody) (Maybe the Updated Video Roundup ought to contain some of these?)
Christian vs. Church Planter
Christian vs. Christ-follower
This is my HSHD (Holy Spirit Hard Drive)
Counseling Session

Tags
[links] | [theology]

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Transplanted from the artic blight of Minnesota to the sunny paradise of SoCal, I am attending school and learning to say "dude." I like to think of myself as equal parts surf rash, Batman, heavy metal, Levinas, poetic license, and reformational. Other than creating blund blogs, I enjoy reading, sporting, and socializing with serious and funny people.
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How does Rowling and the "Harry Potter" series stack up against Tolkien and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy?
Rowling is the new dreamweaver. She is reigniting literature and fantasy as we know it.
Tolkien is the undisputed favorite. We have not yet seen a match for his philogistic skill.
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Rowling wins, but only by one quidditch goal.
Tolkien still stands, but only barely.
  
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