The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great by Benjamin Merkle

I recently finished The White Horse King by Benjamin Merkle. The book is a brief but fairly comprehensive account of the achievements of Alfred the Great. The two main themes that Merkle focuses on are the faith of Alfred and the military conquests and defeats of Alfred. The faith element is central, because as Merkle recounts the life of Alfred the Great it was his deep faith that he learned initially as a boy that shaped how he led in battle, how he governed, how he dealt with the Vikings who he fought against in battle, and how he sought to live out his own life.

The book was not very engaging to me. In fact it took me nearly 3 months to finish it! Now I will admit the my reading is cluttered, usually 3 books at a time so if a book doesn't grab me it takes me a while to work through it. I should learn to just put it down but I rarely do. The history and research seem to be impeccable, so I applaud Merkle for his diligence there, however his ability to really make me as interested as he is in Alfred was severely lacking. I love history but I just didn't connect with the book. Perhaps if one has a particular strong interest in early British history or in Norse history they might find this book enjoyable.

Wrightians and the Neo-Reformed: 'All One in Christ Jesus' | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

This was an article that I read after a recent post, http://tonypags.blogspot.com/2010/04/theological-happenings.html about the theological rumblings within conservative, evangelical groups. I thought it made some interesting points. Let me reiterate to anyone who questions my own theology, I have a great appreciation for both John Piper and N. T. Wright, as well as R. C. Sproul and others for all of them have been influential in helping to shape my own understanding of scripture, God, and my wicked heart. However, I am increasingly burdened that the prayer of Jesus in John 17 for all his disciples to be one, seems to be moving backwards rather than forward in realizing that goal.

Wrightians and the Neo-Reformed: 'All One in Christ Jesus' | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Church These Days

So I got a pre-release copy of David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, book that is to set to release in a week or so and I have been challenged and convicted of how and why we in the west, particularly America "DO" church. The title of the book is Radical. Platt believes that we have bought into the "American Dream" mindset even with our faith and our churches and that we have lost sight of the true gospel...very challenging to someone who is in ministry full-time!

Then this morning after I got to the office I was looking through some mail that came on Friday and saw this quote from Stanley Hauerwas, a renowned theologian who I believe currently teaches at Duke University's Divinity School.
The church has lost its ability to be a disciplined community because we're now, religiously, in a buyer's market. Christianity has to bill itself as very good for your self-realization, and that's killing us because we're not very good for our self-realization. We're good for your salvation, which is not the same thing.
Quoted in Christian Ethics Today (Vol. 16, Num 2)

Sometimes we in the church have to pull back from what we immerse ourselves with, or sprinkle ourselves for any non-Baptists and ask the tough questions? Is what we are doing really making an impact for the Kingdom of God? Are we following God's desires or our desires? Are we seeking to make disciples or to make people feel good about themselves? Are we just a club that has a cross or a fish plastered somewhere or are we completely sold out to the gospel of Jesus Christ?

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Garden

We made a quick trip to check on the garden today so that Claire could go with Mimi to a wedding. So in between the rain and thunder Charlotte and I tried to do some weeding in the garden. We got just a little bit done before we had to call it quits...have I mentioned before how much she loves to play in the dirt as long as her feet don't get dirty? We are there with our hoes trying to weed around the plants and all of a sudden I look and see that she has her croc of and is trying to brush off her foot, but she can't balance and then puts her foot right in the middle of a big pile of wet Georgia dirt! Her facial expression was hilarious!

The evening was topped off with spending time with Grandmother and Mimi before heading home! Those girls love their grandparents.

Being out in nature always reminds me of God's creation and his recreation. Jesus is the one through whom the creator made all things, and he is now the one through whom the same God has reconciled all things to himself. N. T. Wright

A Little Bit of Gray, A Little Bit of Wisdom

I am finally in my 30s which for some people means they start getting gray hair. Of course one's opinion on gray hair varies like the actually color itself donned by so many people. For me of course, gray hair on my head really isn't an issue since I don't really have much hair left, especially since I cut it once a week to keep it short. However, my beard is another story altogether. It has always had different hues (black, brown, red) but now I have this one little patch on my chin that is turning gray of course it is more noticeable when my beard is longer (yet another reason for the weekly haircut). I noticed it earlier this week and the old Grateful Dead song, Touch of Grey, popped into my mind.

There probably aren't many ministers who will admit to listening to the Dead, but I am certainly one of them. I have a strong affinity to jam bands perhaps because many of them are so influenced by blues and jazz, two genres of music that I relish in. My first taste came from some friends in high school through the Allman Brothers Band, and then branched out there. I still love the music of those legendary bands and some of the newer ones as well.

As a Youth Minister, I especially find myself connected to some of these song lyrics because it is the world in which I am immersed, walking with students through their triumphs and tragedies. I find myself often repeating, "man, teenagers are different these days!" That's not all bad, though. I do see a renewed passion for God and for people in many teenagers!

Ultimately chorus, reminds us that we will get by, we will survive! As believers we hold fast to this promise in the darkest night and the brightest day, trusting that God will never leave us nor forsake us!

"Touch of Grey"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; used by permission

Must be getting early
Clocks are running late
Paint by number morning sky
Looks so phony

Dawn is breaking everywhere
Light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains
I don't care 'cause
It's all right

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

I see you've got your list out
Say your piece and get out
Yes I get the gist of it
but it's all right

Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of grey

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The ABC's we all must face
And try to keep a little grace

It's a lesson to me
The deltas and the east and the freeze
The ABC's we all think of
Try to give a little love.

I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
but it's all right.

Cows giving kerosene
Kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
but it's all right

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

The shoe is on the hand it fits
There's really nothing much to it
Whistle through your teeth and spit
cause it's all right.

Oh well a Touch Of Grey
Kind of suits you anyway.
That was all I had to say
It's all right.

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive
We will get by / We will get by
We will get by / We will survive

An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.
By David Dodd

Theological Happenings

Interesting news and debate among folks of the Reformed theological persuasion yesterday at http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/04/the-end-of-reformed-old-testam.html. I am not endorsing either side of the debate, but I will say that both of these men are well-respected scholars and men of faith. Not sure I totally agree with McKnight's closing remarks...partly because it seems that everyone you ask has a different definition of what it means to be an "evangelical" a la Rob Bell's recent definition of the topic.

The more intriguing thing to me is the swelling tide of what I consider Neo-Reformed people who I believe will eventually draw the circle so small that there may not be any hope for even the elect:)

Jennifer Knapp Comes Out | Music | Christianity Today

Jennifer Knapp Comes Out | Music | Christianity Today

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