What is the Calvin 500 celebration without a John Calvin bobbledhead?

Gospel Centered Musings

Amazing Calvin cake!

This is real:

Weekend Walkabout, December 20, 2008

26 posts from the week that escaped mention (almost!):

“All” Always Means ALL. Right? - Phil Johnson

A Bad Sign - The Sacred Sandwich

CCM Magazine’s Top Ten Artist Blogs of 2008 (HT: Worship.com)

Don’t Waste Your Sexuality - Josh Harris

The Elvis-Beatles Relativity Fallacy - Rod Dreher

“Free” Christian music downloads from CompassionArt - Gospel Soundcheck

Glorifying God in Our Christmas Shopping - Tony Reinke

“Does my gift serve the soul of the recipient?”

How Hellish is ‘Time Out’? - Russell Moore

If Only it Were That Clear - Mark D. Roberts

Jonestown and the Reformed Movement - R. Scott Clark

“As weird and impossible as Jonestown seems today, what happened to them and what they did to themselves, is not utterly unrelated to ideas, causes, and personalities in the Reformed movement over the last three decades.”

Killing is My Business, and Business is Good - Paul Manata

Lewis’s Famous Essay on Bulverism (HT: Victor Reppert)

Martin Luther’s Christmas Book - Between Two Worlds

No Good Reason - Cerulean Sanctum

“In sorting through this clothing, the realization that I throw away just about nothing hit home.”

Online Community…Does it exist? YES! But I Think You Are Asking the Wrong Question - Rhett Smith

Phillips Daylight Window Concept Presentation - Joshua Sowin

Q+A :: How many U.S. churches exist? - Church Relevance

Reflections from a Church Pianist - Amy Scott

“When I have a brain freeze at a bad time, I’ve got a special look for the other musicians that asks, ‘What are you people thinking, man?’”

Six Christmas Poems - Marcus Goodyear

Tim Challies Day - Justin Taylor

Unpacking forgiveness in real life - Dan Phillips

Volition: A Short Film - Jonathan Ignacio

“It is a fifteen minute film focusing on three of the worst atrocities of human rights this world has faced.”

Why read through Calvin’s Institutes in 2009? - Ligon Duncan

Xmas Giveaway - Trevin Wax

“For the next ten days (Dec. 15-25), you have the opportunity to register to win all ten of my favorite books this year. Plus, an ESV Study Bible. That’s $260 worth of books!”

You Should Subscribe - Green Baggins

Zeitgeist as Agent? - Pseudo-Polymath

“Consider … for a moment the intelligent ant colony … from the ant’s perspective … here with man as ant. “

Christian Carnival 254

Get your tickets! Step right up, step right up! This week’s Christian Carnival is set up over at chasing the wind.

Posts include:

• How to Be a Sidetracked Mom
• Solomon - God’s Greatest Disappointment?
• Objections to Calvinism: Does the New Testament discuss Limited Atonement?
• Hey! You’ve got my nose!

The Calvinists are coming

See this essay by Errol Hulse, “The Calvinistic Resurgence in America“, at Banner of Truth (HT: John Samson).

And see this post by Timmy Brister: “Hyper-Calvinism, Anti-Calvinism, and Founders Ministries“:

“When Calvinism in the SBC could not be defeated by truth, by pragmatism, by heavy-handedness, or rewriting history, the alternative agenda is (5) to change terminology and pursue “hyper-Calvinists” in the SBC …”

Audio: “Balanced, Biblical Answers to the Calvinism Debate”

A discussion (mp3) recorded at Colonial Baptist Church of Virginia Beach.

(HT: Adam Blumer, SharperIron)

Desiring God interviews editor of John Calvin book

Doug Mathis posts a brief interview with Burk Parsons, editor of John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, Doxology, which features contributions from Sinclair Ferguson, John MacArthur and Jerry Bridges:

“DG: How did you put together such an outstanding team to write on Calvin?
 
I threatened each of the potential contributors with the curses of Deuteronomy 28 if they didn’t write. No, not really. Actually, I suppose that each of the contributors who wrote for the book did so on account of their desire to have a book on Calvin for laypeople …”

Thanksgiving/Weekend Walkabout, Nov. 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

26 posts from the week that escaped mention (almost!):

Advent on your iPhone - Father Z

“Those of you who have an iPhone may want to know about a fun application for Advent for $0.99.”

The Blind Spot of the Spiritual Formation Movement - Craig Brian Larson

“Read books on spiritual formation and you will be hard pressed to find anyone who lists listening to the preaching of God’s Word as a first-order spiritual discipline.”

Check out free downloads from Christian music artist Josh Garrels - Joanne Brokaw

“Like other indie acts with a blatant faith message but an unconventional delivery … Garrels doesn’t quite fit the typical Christian music mold.”

The Day I Schmoozed - Amy Scott:

“Just tell her what she wants to hear.”

Evangelicals Adopting Advent - Cathy Lynn Grossman (HT: SharperIron)

“They’re giving a new, personalized spin to the prayers, candles and calendars to track the building excitement, and set a spiritual tone day by day.”

Faith and Politics - Doug Pagitt

“I was asked by the folks at Conservative Reformed Mafia blog to discuss my thoughts on faith and politics in light of my interest in running for the Minnesota State Legislature. I responded to questions with a video …”

Gordon Brown sells the nation’s soul to Satan - Cranmer

“As Gordon Brown has already sold the nation’s soul to the EU, all further treaties with the Devil are subject to EU scrutiny.”

Helpful Books on Justification - Mark Driscoll

It’s Time to Rethink the Issue of Homosexuality - Ken Silva

“Yes, you read that right; I do believe the time has come to rethink how we’re handling the issue of homosexuality in the Body of Christ. But maybe not like you think.”

The Jelly Bellies of Christendom - Prodigal Jon

“Super Sweaty Pastor – usually wrapped in a monogrammed handkerchief, these beans are slightly salty and super sticky from perspiration, taste like licking a Thompson Chain Reference and smell like a locker room”

Kids and Philanthropy: Teaching Your Children To Be Charitable - Beth Kanter

Logos360 Announced - The Wait Begins - ChurchCrunch

“It is, without question, simply a matter of time before we see what’ll it’ll really do to the digital landscape for Church Management Software.”

Meditations on Thanks and Giving - Carolyn McCulley

“As I prepare for Thanksgiving, one image is burned into my mind …”

National Geographic on Qeiyafa - Todd Bolen

“Much of the story reports what has been covered elsewhere, but there are some problems with the article.”

Of Crusaders and the West - Joshua Claybourn

“Our understanding of society and the individual certainly has its roots in the Crusaders.”

Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day October 3, 1863 - Abe Lincoln/Worship.com

“In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict …”

Q 2009 - Greg Atkinson

“Q is a gathering where church leaders and cultural influencers from the fields of business, politics, media, education, entertainment and the arts are exposed to the future of culture and the church’s responsibility to advance the common good in society.”

Recessions Are Good? - Rob Moll

“Recessions, before the Great Depression, were often viewed as good things.”

Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints (review) - Rebecca Writes

“I’ve reached the age where I think more and more about getting old, and I’ll let you in on a secret if you promise not to tell …”

Twilight (Book Review) - Tim Challies

“Admittedly, this is my first foray into fiction written for teen girls.”

An Unwanted Detour - Suzanne Hadley:

“A week later I sat in a doctor’s office trying to hold back tears.”

Video Interviews with John Lennox - Justin Taylor

“Creator or the Multiverse?”

What is the Church Year? - Mark Daniels

“The Church Year is a human invention. Observing it won’t make us better than anybody else. Nor does keeping it ’save’ a person from sin and death. But …”

50 eXcellent Blog Footer Designs - Hongkiat.com (sorry, had to reach for this one)

“In the eye of a visitor, the footer is perhaps one of the most unnoticeable section but to a designer who knows how important user experience, navigation and designs, they are treated the same.”

You May Be a Hyper-Calvinist If … - Phil Johnson

“Within the militantly Arminian sector of the Southern Baptist Convention, it seems there are still those who insist that ‘by the definition of Phil Johnson,’ James White is a hyper-Calvinist …”

Zane Hodges (1933–2008) - Dan Wallace (I mentioned Hodges’ passing, but it means much more coming from an accomplished Greek scholar):

“Zane taught Greek and New Testament courses at Dallas Seminary from 1960 to 1987. I took him for more courses than from any other NT prof, and learned a great deal from him. His skills with the Greek text were breathtaking. I never knew a professor who could sight-read as well as Hodges (except for Johnson). And he thought through his positions well. I didn’t agree with him on everything; in fact, I would say that I disagreed with him on most of his positions. I was always a bit nervous coming into his class because I wasn’t sure what he would say that hour that might rock my world. But I enjoyed immensely how he structured the courses, how he argued his positions, and how charismatic he was in the classroom. He was a superb preacher and very persuasive. His electives always had the highest enrollment by far of any NT electives at DTS. … Zane Hodges will be dearly missed. But he now knows the joys of his Savior and is finally home.”

“SBC and Calvinism: Three events that widened the divide”

Tom Ascol posts at the Founders Ministries blog. In case you were wondering, the three events he lists are

1. Steve Lemke article
2. David Allen’s review
3. The John 3:16 Conference

Weekend Walkabout: Nov. 8, 2008

26 posts from the week that escaped mention (almost!):

• Amway Evangelism
  
• Billy Clubs, Firehoses, and Attack Dogs for the New Civil Rights Movement
• C’mon Obama Voter, You Have To Admit This is Pretty Funny
• Dominican Republic - Ordinary Superheroes
• Errr…
• Fear Not!
• “Gross Food Related Youth Group Games” (Stuff Christians Like)
• “How Not to Raise a Pagan”
• I’m Saved! But From What? - Part 3
• James White - Debates in London
• King David’s Water Tunnel in Jerusalem
• Law and Gospel: Galatians - The practice of Christian liberty
• Missing your calling
• Nate Huss recognizes National Adoption Month with new song, video
• Obama and the Bishops
• Passion For The City
• Quote of the day
• Real Life Photoshop
• Still having a dream
• Two songs
• Urban Exile: Re-discovering Justice?
• Voting for our imaginations
• What Churches Can Learn from Election Marketing
• X-ray Crab (OK, not from a Christian blog, but it does start with an ‘X’!)
• You’re a Hyper-Calvinist
• ‘Zack and Miri’ Advertising Leaves Out the P-Word

Are Arminians saved?

A Calvinist answer at Reformation Theology:

Question: ‘If we are saved by grace alone (and we are) how can anyone be saved if they believe that you can lose your salvation? If one believes they can lose their salvation does not that faith then become a work, rather than a gift of God? …’

Response: ‘We do not exactly hold the view that Arminians are lost. Much bad theology turns out merely to be inconsistent theology and it is possible to be saved in spite of bad theology, but only if you are inconsistent, and you don’t really believe what you think or say you believe. …’

Read the entire post.

Calvinus tyrannus

Steve Hays defends John Calvin, responding to a recent post at Arminian Today that portrayed Jacob Arminius and John Wesley as more peaceful figures:

“Wesley was in no position to persecute his opponents even if he wanted to. However, he was an Anglican priest. There’s a reason it’s called the Church of England. It was a state church. … Anglicans persecuted Puritans. They persecuted nonconformists generally. Wesley was a party to this system. He was a gov’t employee.”

Ordo who?

At Sharper Iron, John Davis discusses the ordo salutis, as outlined by Calvinists, Arminians, and himself.

Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism

Read an excerpt of this new work by Joel Beeke, President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Buy a copy from the Monergism bookstore.