tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93130092012-01-28T15:16:23.543-08:00The real, living, Triune God of Scripture does not confine Himself to a ghetto. He created everything, He owns everything, He is Lord over everything. That means, necessarily, that His Word cannot be segregated. Being a student of Christ means learning what impact God's Word has on every area of life. That imperfect, ongoing process is what this blog is about. Fair warning: it's nothing if not eclectic!DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comBlogger17561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-35604951826415100742012-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-27T10:40:18.957-08:00

Another very busy week, and still struggling with sleep loss and cough. (Wahh, I know.) So what do you get? A lot of food stuff! But not only.Tailgating? Problem solved! Cassandra was the mythical prophetess who was cursed with the ability to see the future. "Cursed?" you say. Yes: the ability to see the future, and no one would listen to her. That's the curse part. That's how I feel in the

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-23036522141312762372012-01-25T10:05:00.000-08:002012-01-25T10:05:35.155-08:00

Probably every nonfiction author has been bitten this way: you work hard to consult the best and most current works you can get your hands on, you try to send off your manuscript as up-to-date as you can... and immediately afterwards, some pertinent book is either published or discovered. That's the case with me and Andrew E. Steinmann's Concordia Commentary entry on the book of Proverbs.  The

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-9007291360243309832012-01-24T10:20:00.000-08:002012-01-25T08:02:27.345-08:00

If you follow the news, you have seen it happen: whenever anyone of the wrong pigmentation disagrees with our president's policies, or those of certain of his associates, he finds himself accused of racism. Just when you think this may be dead or at least exaggerated, it pops up yet again. The hope is to sideline the logic and force of the criticism and put the critic (A) on the defensive and (B)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com76tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-11947446115684051392012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-23T08:26:49.066-08:00

Kids, that's entertainment! (Thanks for the suggestion, Mizz Harpy.)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-2267701911745074752012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-20T09:45:23.354-08:00

Howdy-hi there, friends and neighbors. Back late Sunday from our wonderful week in Copperfield, near Houston, TX. Then a busy week here in the Big Tomato involving... getting sick! Not too bad, just barely enough for whining rights. So I've been through what I could of tips and suggestions, and have a little crop. If yours wasn't used, please never take it personally. Grateful to all who think

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-28666852235846136862012-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:002012-01-19T10:26:35.907-08:00

One of the interesting framing-thoughts that the late David Morsey, who gave me my first pastoral training, imparted was this: look to the NT epistles to see what was essential to the apostles. That is, imagine you're about to give something to a church at a distant, something to aim and help and stabilize and focus them. What would it be? What would you choose? The epistles gives us a glimpse

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-44346844360219403532012-01-18T09:33:00.000-08:002012-01-18T09:33:44.528-08:00

This adorable tiny little girl in TX gave me a less adorable and even tinier bug. That may be part of why I continue to have all these half-finished posts, and half-decent ideas, and not a lot else right now. Also short on sleep, and all sorts of other excuses. Very sad! Sorry about that. So, I'll just free-associate a little, as a placeholder. Absolutely loved Texas, all of us did. I'll tell

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-53661731949168668272012-01-16T06:03:00.000-08:002012-01-16T06:03:34.325-08:00

Fred Butler found us this: The vid features: Dan Neafsey: Mandolin Billy Perlman: Ukulele Gerard Huerta: 6 String HP Newquist: Fretless Bass Connor Levinson: Bass Dave Hill: 12 String Glenn Levinson: Baritone Guitar Kent Haehl: 7 String Shouldn't it be called a "Mandoukubasstar"?

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-40166703423410651832012-01-13T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-18T15:38:01.093-08:00

PREFACE: because, as The Maths would show you, this is still ongoing, I haven't the time to produce a fresh H&T. So here's a slightly-edited repost from 4/17/09, picked virtually at random. Enjoy. And know that our house is being assiduously guarded: And now once again, the single most eclectic feature on a very eclectic blog, this week's Hither and Thither. And my, is it bursting! (There may

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-91115127565321196912012-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-10T00:01:03.116-08:00

Repost from 4/23/2007, slightly edited PREMISE: What follows all depends on whether you can imagine that I'm a half-decent guy. If you can't... well... maybe I'll post something of value to you later on. I move from there; whether you move with me is your call. NOTE: this was written ten days ago. BACKGROUND: It's been another brain-frazzling week. I think I've managed a couple of posts at

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-88986359307468702532012-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-09T00:01:00.366-08:00

Joel Griffith clued me on to this first piece. All of the drummers I've featured use only two limbs. Here, legendary tap-dancer Fred Astaire goes them two better. And notice this, kids: how many takes? For a double header, add arguably one of the very best drummers ever (Buddy Rich) and one of the best dancers ever (Eleanor Powell), and again note how few cuts there are.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-2434254957692855282012-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-06T07:18:20.844-08:00

As you know from this post, I'm pretty busy today. Here's what I've got - may or may not be time for updates. Hope you enjoy, though! A bit a lot of bloggers will think this should be some commenters' avatar! (Not you folks, of course.) Talk show host Janet Mefferd, in a column over at Townhall, named The World-Tilting Gospel as one of her favorite books of 2011. Absolutely loved being on her

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-63672537853582454992012-01-04T13:20:00.000-08:002012-01-04T13:39:12.398-08:00

So, I just self-censored my third post for this-here blog. Just wanted you to know I still love you, still appreciate you, still plan to blog. But what I'm thinking these days is not making it through the grid of my internal censor. Lots of Tweets, but no publishable post at the moment. So, in the meanwhile, you just think about Mark Driscoll's latest sex-soaked expression (which, just roll

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-37486428079516158162012-01-02T00:01:00.001-08:002012-01-02T06:10:58.060-08:00

Well folks, let's get the new year off to a toe-tappin' start. Even though it's not the best quality, it's a classic and not to be missed: If possible, even more fun in this meetup of Louie Bellson, Lionel Hampton and Don Lamond:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-21862489246543886942012-01-01T15:50:00.000-08:002012-01-01T16:45:09.478-08:00

You will not want to miss this. If you have never read it — and even if you have — hie thee over to Christian Audio to download J. I. Packer's Knowing God. It is their free audiobook of the month. I was saved in 1973, the year this book came out. A friend gave it to me in 1975, and I read it right away. It was very helpful and encouraging. Packer wrote of some of the deeper truths of theology —

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-55602713658789181282011-12-30T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-30T05:58:37.349-08:00

I wish I had a rafter of deep thoughts for this year-end edition of Hither and Thither, but I don't. Okay, I do have a few, but they're self-censored. Dang that trying-to-be-mature thingie. But I will say: I so appreciate all of you reading, commenting, loaning your time and attention. And your tips! I don't take a bit of it for granted. Thanks! And now, enjoy. Giving new meaning to "Here,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-68202471145646396342011-12-28T05:06:00.000-08:002011-12-28T05:56:33.499-08:00

I write about the important subject of respect. It is something that God says should matter to every child who has a parent, to every wife who has a husband, to every man who has a superior. It turns up in the Bible all over the place. Every one of us is supposed to learn it from Mom's breast and onward (Exod. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3; etc. ad inf.). Yet I observe that few of us do understand it, and

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-52476552149472913242011-12-27T08:54:00.000-08:002011-12-27T08:59:59.332-08:00

(And this, Virginia, is how rumors are started) (c;

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-43936138851091700682011-12-27T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-27T00:01:01.952-08:00

(Thanks to a tip from Mizz Harpy)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-76598496305017949462011-12-26T06:00:00.000-08:002011-12-26T06:00:46.520-08:00

No, not back together, unfortunately for both and for fans. But two distinct approaches, each respectful in tone. Chicago's is more upbeat: Peter Cetera's is particularly thoughtful, reflective. Sorry about the Santa-image.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-61001231129145293972011-12-25T00:01:00.001-08:002011-12-25T06:33:15.197-08:00

(Thanks to Tom Westervelt)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-29287062612020944272011-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-24T00:01:02.520-08:00

Pretty clever; thanks to Pastor McMasters.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-45008800120269965932011-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-23T18:37:34.626-08:00

Well, friends — if anyone shows up this Friday before Christmas! — I do have a tidy little package for you. There are also posts planned for Saturday and Sunday. I wish you all a merry, joyous, Christ-centered Christmas! This blog isn't one of the Big Boys. And maybe yours is even smaller. But don't forget: it isn't the size, it's the 'tude. Right at the top: DO NOT MISS Frank Turk's absolutely

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-87719898654813353762011-12-22T07:54:00.000-08:002011-12-22T07:54:10.254-08:00

Thanks to m'man Chris Brauns for that. The sound quality isn't the best, but actually it adds to the experience, I think. But I did have a rueful chuckle at how, after this glorious and un-erasably Christ-exalting marvel of a song, they conclude with a gutless "Happy Holidays"! Still, my favorite "flash mob" version stands as this one from last year. Terrific concept, glad it's still being

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-2143509225985860872011-12-21T05:03:00.000-08:002011-12-21T05:58:09.529-08:00

Word. Glenn Reynolds, 12/20/11.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-6526137349406496102011-12-20T04:58:00.000-08:002011-12-20T04:58:29.749-08:00

I'm kind of funny, in that I don't tend to categorize "Christmas" music as Christmas music unless it has something to do with, you know, Christ. So I've never perfectly understood what "The Nutcracker" has to do with Christmas. But my family likes it, it's Christmas-season music, and this is pretty terrific. (Thanks to reader Philip Priddy for the tip; others followed)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-53254783898512573982011-12-19T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-19T08:42:21.940-08:00

(h-t Bayly Bros, whom also see for backstory)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-38932453809917669472011-12-16T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-16T16:55:37.603-08:00

How was your week? Mine started off nasty. I'd had Friday off, and returned to work only to find out that the manager who hired me some 7+ years ago had been abruptly and unceremoniously laid off, no chance to say "thanks" or "goodbye." (Thankfully, I had an external email address, and wrote him.) Then the next day, BANG! a very competent contractor I'd trained was let go. What is up with doing

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-6211125595236471582011-12-15T04:48:00.000-08:002011-12-15T04:48:08.281-08:00

This is about the only way "Santa" appears on this blog; one PG word. Uneven quality, but chuckalicious; and I like the unusual assortment. (h-t a tweet from Lee Strobel)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-71794053654094942682011-12-14T06:04:00.000-08:002011-12-14T06:10:28.803-08:00

Among the frustrating aspects of the Mohler/Wallis debate, as I noted, was the unexamined (and thus unrefuted) premise that Biblical "justice" means greater government confiscation and redistribution of the goods of the productive. Now comes Bill Flax with a word of clarity on the subject, titled Don't Like Handouts? Neither Does the Bible. Everything Flax says is true, and it's a needed

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-41362038993016353852011-12-13T05:04:00.000-08:002011-12-13T05:06:37.000-08:00

First, thanks to reader Missy Reed ("PG"-rated naughtyish word or two): ...and, if anything could make Ron Paul sound crazier... I post 'em because they're funny, though it doesn't hurt that I (to say the least) don't prefer either candidate. If you have winners for the other candidates, email me, and I'll consider sharing them as well.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-55339320029060353102011-12-12T00:01:00.001-08:002011-12-12T00:01:01.671-08:00

Some more Christmas music, in a lighter (and Celticker) tone.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-12269252641525534502011-12-09T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-09T10:08:58.881-08:00

Fun week, but busy! Look for lots of updates through the day, once again. We'll begin with some motion that just might have my dear wife re-thinking that whole no-dogs thing. Plus, cats are a lot of trouble... like around Christmas. Then comes Matt Kleinhans with this story of a Labrador who saved the lives of a couple of kittens. (Warning: a bit of verbal gruesomeness, thanks to the criminal

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-75175305707111922652011-12-08T08:14:00.000-08:002011-12-08T09:05:17.422-08:00

I know William Lane Craig is supposed to be a wonder and a marvel of an apologist, and Richard Dawkins runs from him like a frightened little girl. But I'm wondering how he retains such respect, while making statements like this about God: "The counterfactuals of creaturely freedom which confront Him are outside His control. He has to play with the hand He has been dealt."Um... I have preached,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-53634143920425649892011-12-07T13:29:00.000-08:002011-12-07T13:32:03.131-08:00

Hola, amigos. Kress Biblical Resources is offering four books at a staggering 75% discount for the Christmas month of December for American buyers. I am only personally familiar with one of the books: John Kitchen's The Pastoral Epistle for Pastors. John is pastor of a CMA church in Ohio. My first contact with him came when I reviewed his commentary on Proverbs. That began a bit of a

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-51080131425669962532011-12-05T00:01:00.001-08:002011-12-05T00:01:00.879-08:00

Some Facebook friends reminded me of this post 2009 courtesy of DAOD. We've gained a lot of readers since then who may not have had the pleasure, and I enjoyed the reminder so: though I have more good Christmas music on-tap than we have Mondays, we open Christmas season with this repost. We are all familiar (I trust) with the English-language version of "O Holy Night." Maybe you, like me, have

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-61839850799949434482011-12-02T00:01:00.000-08:002011-12-02T14:40:04.945-08:00

Such a busy week that I haven't even finished going through all my HT tips! So do keep checking for updates up until noon, amigos. My opening Deep Thought is: I hope not to fall down... but if I do, I hope I'm dressed like this: Wellnow, this is fun. Here is a little test to discern which kind of American accent you have (assuming you're an American). My wife and I like to say that we're

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-33536804685587549532011-11-30T07:23:00.000-08:002011-12-03T16:20:33.333-08:00

Mark Lamprecht poses a question, framed as coming from a faithful good-guy associate pastor: As you all know I’ve served as a pastor here for several years. You also know that I have remained single the whole time. What I am about to tell you is not easy to openly admit. The fact is that my sexual orientation…is…homosexual. But please hear me out. I am fully convinced, and professes to you now,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-16515904777027418132011-11-30T05:54:00.000-08:002011-11-30T05:54:45.357-08:00

Discovered by BSIL — who must now live as a marked man:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-18952363468319030782011-11-28T00:01:00.000-08:002011-11-28T00:01:06.145-08:00

On a TV tribute to Duke Ellington in the 70s (the clothes would have dated it for you if I hadn't), Chicago put their own distinctive touch on Ellington's "Jump for Joy." For reference, here's the version by the Duke Ellington Orchestra:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-10875002531357127162011-11-25T05:58:00.000-08:002011-11-25T08:02:34.580-08:00

Historically, Thanksgiving Day and the next are relatively low-traffic days. Y'all are doing things like, I don't know, having a life-off-the-Intrawebs, or something. So I'm putting out a pretty small HT for starters, for the twelve hardcores who are looking for it. Do check back up until noon, however. I do plan to be adding. [Update: already did, before you even woke up!] I trust all your

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-65599371776852735552011-11-22T06:47:00.000-08:002011-11-23T07:11:27.113-08:00

As I've said before, if Fred Butler isn't a daily stop for you, he should be. His posts are substantive, varied, muscular, and he's a good guy. Today he once again engages Jamin Hubner, whose unhinged rants — lamentably given prominence by his association with a deservedly famous apologist — make him a sort of "Reformed" book-end to Ergun Caner Dave Hunt. In the course of so doing, Fred links

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-27220492407725496322011-11-21T00:01:00.000-08:002011-11-21T00:01:00.377-08:00

From a suggestion by Pastor Michael:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-46465996090533778062011-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:002011-11-18T10:37:51.234-08:00

This week, we open with this karate thought: if do right, no can defense: From cats to dogs. Here's how you make a baby stop crying: first, take one Siberian husky... Goodness. We Phillipses love our cats, but there is such a thing as Going Too Far. Reader MizzHarpy may have found it: the Cat Galaxy web site has radio programming just for cats. She heard soft music and, well, purring; I heard

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-46463271413720718752011-11-17T08:19:00.000-08:002011-11-17T08:49:28.902-08:00

Please make sure you read both of the next two paragraphs, before reading the rest. For years and years I have heard what a brilliant guy Al Mohler is. He's a genius, he only sleeps fourteen minutes a night, he reads fifteen books every day before breakfast and commits them all to memory, he's "world-class," and all that. My respect for him grew as I heard him tell the tale of reforming his

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-17735090840711668192011-11-16T05:11:00.000-08:002011-11-16T08:43:29.130-08:00

American English features many verbal ironies and oxymorons. I've often thought that "adult themes" and "adult movies" feature high on that list. Adult themes should start with being right with God judicially, then walking with God practically: dealing with sin, learning a skill and getting and keeping a job, doing good work, being truthful with no lying, keeping commitments, getting and staying

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-32365630578670924042011-11-14T00:01:00.000-08:002011-11-14T00:01:02.244-08:00

Brittni Paiva And, in case you're not familiar with the original:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-2929997678755214332011-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:002011-11-11T09:08:51.717-08:00

Quiet week on The Intrawebs. Well, unless you're Herman Cain, or poor Rick Perry. Being neither, I come bearing all this: First, the serious note: today is Veteran's Day in the US. Sincere and hearty THANK YOU to all who have served or are serving in the military. My family and I appreciate you. Now to the usual mix of seriousness and frivolity and whimsy. You know, I can sympathize with this

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-22779913842332353072011-11-08T08:01:00.000-08:002011-11-08T12:02:14.586-08:00

I am seldom if ever "coy" with you. Hence, I've been open about the fact that I'd like to favor Herman Cain above the rest, but he just hasn't "made the sale." Again and again Cain has struck me as being seriously not ready for prime-time. It isn't that Cain is not a policy-wonk who goes bowling with the prime minister of Beki-beki-bekistan. It is that he doesn't seem to have thought through even

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-68636351861303517562011-11-08T05:08:00.000-08:002011-11-08T06:59:31.337-08:00

Waking Hours, by Lis Wiehl (with Pete Nelson)Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011 Genre. Waking Hours is a murder mystery with overtones of supernatural horror. The supernatural elements are distinct yet understated, so do not think Ted Dekker or Frank Peretti. However the murder aspects are fairly explicit, making this not family or youth reading. If that genre offends or doesn't interest you, this

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-82217728580508190782011-11-07T00:01:00.000-08:002011-11-07T04:49:36.631-08:00

This video features 288K jelly beans and one Kina Grannis. (Thanks to Magister Stevenson for the tip)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-37538441803933884152011-11-05T16:41:00.000-07:002011-11-05T16:41:37.986-07:00

Yay! Another hour to... to do whatever! Like maybe finish reading TWTG or the Proverbs book and get your review up? Me, I think we should do this every month. Sure, eventually we'll be working in pitch-darkness and sleeping in the daylight... but what of it? More sleep on the weekend! Win!

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-6835259008926129522011-11-04T00:01:00.000-07:002011-11-04T13:21:18.296-07:00

It's been another interesting week. Let's dive in to our weekly hodge-podge. Expect updates until noon! First: you know, we loved Scotland. There is no "but." Even with the crazy roads and traffic signs, we loved it, period. We'd probably move there in a heartbeat if there were a way. Yet, I have to say, for much of it, this entrepreneur could have made a real financial killing. Seriously. I mean

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-13325775463197669552011-11-03T00:01:00.000-07:002011-11-03T00:01:02.230-07:00

At least one part of humor per million:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-75313663895569228872011-11-02T10:19:00.000-07:002011-11-02T10:29:44.072-07:00

Every time I see this picture — and it is often — I think, "That poor woman." Think of it. She's probably a nice lady, pleasant-looking, lovely singing voice. Her friends said, "You're so lovely — you know, you really should go into modeling or something." "Really? Do you think so?" "Sure! What could go wrong?" And here's her face, like that, for God and everyone to see... forever. I mean,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-47298793139681333202011-11-01T06:17:00.000-07:002011-11-01T06:58:49.227-07:00

As I wrote over at Pyro today, hope is as necessary to the human being as food and drink. You can't really live without it. I started to write "to the Christian," but that isn't true. Everyone needs hope, and everyone has it. The unredeemed man has his own hope, but it is a doomed illusion. Eve and Adam hoped to have God-like knowledge and freedom and autonomy. They acted in hope. But because

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-85258436954139310062011-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-31T00:01:00.950-07:00

Happy Reformation Day! (Thanks to Paula for the tip)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-41925957050616879262011-10-30T08:32:00.000-07:002011-10-30T08:32:09.754-07:00

Actually, I think the facts pile on Romney. Goodness, hope we can manage a better alternative. Just don't ask me who. Romney, I say again, is my dead-last electable choice, besides Obama.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-21387990992526296752011-10-29T08:24:00.000-07:002011-10-29T08:36:34.257-07:00

Two of my dead-last-choice candidates. Mormon-on-Mormon verbal violence. UPDATE: another flip? This time on global warming. As I've said, Romney is my last choice among electable candidates. Except Obama.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-25600471805208382082011-10-28T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-28T08:43:34.290-07:00

Busy, full week. A lot of traffic with the high-visibility posts here at BibChr! I'm ready for the weekend; howbowchoo? There were some very cool World-Tilting Gospel developments this past week. Last Friday, Kim Shay put up a delightful (to me!) review of the book, saying she "would recommend this book for anyone, new or old Christian alike." The presence of appropriate Princess Bride 

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-69340226714934114842011-10-27T08:15:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:40:25.159-07:00

M'man Professor Jim Hamilton has a terrific post on the decision by the NIV 2011 translators to take Selah from the printed text, and move it to footnotes. Jim makes a characteristically thorough and solid case that this is a bad and insupportable decision, and should be reversed. Well, good luck with that. The entire NIV "family" of versions have made a number of bad and insupportable decisions

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-81510735932668929082011-10-26T06:21:00.000-07:002011-10-26T10:41:17.428-07:00

As a reading experience, The World-Tilting Gospel and God's Wisdom in Proverbs are (and should be) a bit different.  The way I would describe it is by using a car metaphor, and a math metaphor. Respectively: in TWTG, a lot of the power is "under the hood." In GWP, I "show my work." So you might sit down and read through TWTG pretty easily, then come back and study all the verses. But GWP reads

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-72350616288654453722011-10-25T04:24:00.000-07:002011-10-25T04:25:22.222-07:00

Seen on my lunchtime walk yesterday (click to enlarge):

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-74740973870987729352011-10-24T06:20:00.000-07:002011-10-24T19:08:58.018-07:00

Seeing the terrible dither and fog Herman Cain cast up when asked about abortion, I felt impelled to borrow a page from Trevin Wax and give my dream-version of such an interchange. We'll start where Morgan and Cain started, substitute fantasy-me, and make the rest up: MORGAN: Abortion. What’s your view of abortion? PHILLIPS: I believe that life begins at conception. And elective abortion under

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com149tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-7163382405709965572011-10-24T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-24T05:01:26.353-07:00

You read it right. I loved the musicianship of The Sweet Comfort Band, and everybody loves Phil Keaggy. Never knew they played together, yet — lookie here: Keaggy's guitar skills are legendary, but Sweet Comfort's guitarist Randy Thomas is obviously no slouch. Standing on a stage with Keaggy and dropping some jaws of your own with some dandy licks is pretty eloquent.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-38381179747129959142011-10-23T09:19:00.000-07:002011-10-23T17:28:40.251-07:00

Harold Camping — who is not a false prophet — was wrong (again) about the date of Christ's return. More fundamentally, Camping was wrong to set a date for Christ's return. Still more fundamentally, Camping was wrong to pose, in any way, as a Bible teacher. (Read an account of his sad and shameful story, starting here.) Harold Camping has been wrong about very much for very many years, as others

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-31140801875415468582011-10-21T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-22T11:33:21.330-07:00

First, I must remind you: Today is The End. Or, if there were any sanity in the world, it would be. (Of Harold Camping's reign of error, I mean. Link thx to Chris Carney) With that out of the way... and assuming we're all still here: We open with a deep question: how do cats always know when it's feeding time? Ours do. You almost literally could set your watch by them. This week has seen some

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-77319883641442434272011-10-20T04:50:00.000-07:002011-10-20T04:50:16.266-07:00

So President Bush did a great and good thing for Iraq and the world, in ridding them of the bloody, terrorist-sponsoring Saddam Hussein. America liberated Iraq, they held votes, they had the reins of freedom dropped in their hands thanks to foreign liberators. America poured billions of dollars and gallons of blood and thousands of lives into this process. Do you remember I voiced one warning,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-37456651657885517282011-10-19T08:20:00.000-07:002011-10-19T08:22:04.029-07:00

The day started rough. I usually wake up before my alarm, but today it dragged me to consciousness. I was clumsy and off-game, and a bunch of little dumb things went wrong. Shirt-buttoning, no remote to listen to news as I shod myself, knocked box of Atkins bars onto floor (upside-down, duh), and so forth. But one happy thing was that I knew I had this to share with you: Last night Pastor Andy

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-52250149549136780402011-10-19T06:50:00.000-07:002011-10-19T06:55:39.519-07:00

In yesterday's lively meta the subject of "Jeffing" came up. The word is derived thus: "Just Friends" => JF => "Jeff"We heard comments both from Jeffers and the Jeffed. I'd like to add a couple of my own. Were being Jeffed  an Olympic event, I would have taken a gold medal. I am deeply experienced. If experience qualifies one to comment, I am highly qualified. And so I speak: To the JeffedBe

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-89018706515129323102011-10-18T04:51:00.000-07:002011-10-18T05:04:33.047-07:00

This is a companion-post to the piece over at Pyro today. There I discuss the difficult time singles can sometimes have in local church fellowships. One need is that it can be difficult for Christian singles to meet other Christian singles. Church should be the best place to meet one's future mate, but some churches are small, or in isolated areas, and the opportunities are nil. So Christians

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-54377961317932840492011-10-17T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-17T00:01:00.343-07:00

Don't say I never shared a rap, er, song. (thx to reader CR)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-85469898307619694652011-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-14T10:01:50.941-07:00

My, the week's gone? It was interesting... but I forget why. One of the biggest things for me personally this week was of course the highest-traffic blog review of my first book thus far. Meanwhile, I know a lot of people are making their way through the Proverbs book, but it's definitely a slower read. So I'm waiting to see more full reviews in addition to Freddie's. Oh, on that topic: I just

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-37735091747415535192011-10-13T12:01:00.000-07:002011-10-13T16:04:47.957-07:00

I have a couple of items on Mormonism slated for tomorrow's HT. But this item's a bit time-sensitive, so it goes up today. You recall our guest-poster Aaron Shofovaloff? He's doing a conference in Salt Lake City, Utah tomorrow in a conference called Compassionate Boldness. Aaron will speak on the Mormon notion that God the Father sinned (see his page on the subject). Please add to your family's

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-24954968658038371042011-10-12T08:11:00.000-07:002011-10-12T08:11:31.945-07:00

I'm musing several ideas for posts, and (A) haven't had time to write them out, plus (B) am unsure at which blog to plant 'em. In the meanwhile... Bernard "Pretty" Purdie's explanation and demonstration is fun and painful for any drummer to watch. If it were a Tweet, the hash-tag would be #YouWillNeverDoThis.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-47268244648295321072011-10-11T05:17:00.000-07:002011-10-11T05:17:56.723-07:00

Last June, I told you here and there and the other place about my Valerie and her cancer surgery. Since that time, we saw an oncologist, whose assessment was encouraging. We previously had the impression that it was a Stage 2 cancer; Doc Onc said it was Stage 1, which is better. (You will understand that "better," in any sentence with the word "cancer," unless attached to "than not having," is a

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-86556550244160152902011-10-10T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-10T00:01:01.248-07:00

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-57449612011405005242011-10-07T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-07T07:16:51.522-07:00

Rather than the customary introductory remarks, let's just transform into the week's goodies. The World-Tilting Gospel news. This week has seen a rafter of new reviews and posts about the book. You can trace them out on Twitter under the hash-tag #TWTG. Also, Kregel is maintaining a Blog Tour page. Also, as you may have noted, Kregel has allowed Amazon to offer the Kindle edition for free this

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-67360415914307297762011-10-06T05:07:00.000-07:002011-10-06T05:07:48.445-07:00

Sticky Feet - From Cambridge Ideas from Cambridge University on Vimeo. Money-line: "Clever cockroaches!"

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-7919734778740909542011-10-04T07:46:00.000-07:002011-10-04T07:46:53.771-07:00

My dearly-loved Josiah turns sixteen today. Scary, except he's a good guy and I love him dearly. Plus, we study Proverbs together every Saturday morning. So I asked myself what post would be special to him on this, his day? And I came with a couple of answers. First, new to us here: Then, a classic: Then, the original: Finally, a surprise: Happy birthday, Josiah!

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-1213146140276684252011-10-03T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-03T00:01:01.617-07:00

Dear wife and I had the pleasure of seeing Chicago and EWF in concert in Lake Tahoe for an anniversary celebration in recent years. Not great seats, but it was a great concert. It was also one of their last performance (if not the last) with the great Bill Champlin. Since his departure, and after what I read in Danny Seraphine's autobiography, I'm less interested in the group's present formation.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-61206988536639820712011-10-01T17:02:00.000-07:002011-10-01T17:02:18.251-07:00

In case you (A) want to and (B) haven't yet ordered your copy or copies: This is the last day you can expect to see this when you order God's Wisdom in Proverbs directly from Kress.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-9244497818429229562011-09-30T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-06T17:23:03.304-07:00

Been a rough week. First, I thought I had Monday off. I really was counting on that time to readjust, wrap my head around getting back into the grind... but nooooo. Then, I haven't gotten back to sleeping in PT after getting 8 hours back last week. I know: "Boo hoo." Nonetheless, this is what I've been able to cobble together. It's smallish perhaps [not anymore], but I hope to expand up to noon.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-26630507358563860082011-09-29T04:55:00.000-07:002011-09-29T04:55:49.011-07:00

This is reproduced in many places, but I think this is the original source. I found it, then a number of readers kindly pointed it out as well. Seeing the title, I expected to think it was simplistic, stupid and sneery. But actually, it's pretty funny.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-53007429042380853512011-09-28T06:01:00.000-07:002011-09-28T06:01:46.738-07:00

First, endure this from pastor Perry Noble (ht Joe Fleener): Then, read this essay on caring for the sick and dying, by pastor Kevin DeYoung. Then remind yourself of what "pastor" means (shepherd), what that person is called to do, and tell me: Which of them sounds more like the "shepherd" of Ezekiel 34:2-10? Which of them sounds more like the "shepherd" of John 10:11-15? Two objections, and

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-31652842486102652872011-09-27T07:08:00.000-07:002011-09-27T07:08:18.159-07:00

When I was a kid, I loved Jonny Quest. The opening sequence caught the feel of the cartoon show pretty well. Here's a reminder: Now Roger D. Evans recreated it using action figures, and it's pretty slick: Jonny Quest Opening Titles from Roger D. Evans on Vimeo.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-29437837462039428392011-09-26T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-26T04:40:23.897-07:00

On a guitar apparently of Medley's own creation: (Thanks to a tip from David Miller) PS - just so's you know: evidently Pat Metheny has a 42-string guitar... but all the solos I checked bored me from the start, never caught my real interest, and since the very definition of "blog" involves "what interests me" — doesn't make the cut.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-87256690591671459682011-09-23T00:13:00.000-07:002011-09-23T00:14:40.248-07:00

As I explained last week, I'm not really able to take the time to put together a standard HT; probably next week, DV. Plus, I'm much older today. But I'll pluck out just a few gems from our terrific time in the beautiful UK, almost at random, as a taste of things to come. On the trip over, specifically on the Newark to Edinburgh flight, we had the most amazing stewardess in the world. Her name

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-47995349935582359892011-09-21T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-21T00:01:02.754-07:00

Watch the full episode. See more NOVA scienceNOW.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-81376886157375991702011-09-20T00:01:00.001-07:002011-09-20T00:01:18.888-07:00

At least it is in this vid:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-47084706813592661362011-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-19T00:01:00.548-07:00

We enjoyed their take on "Beat It" and "Favorite Things." Here they are with a smooth, fun "Mr. Sandman." Now, the song actually ends at about 2:10, the rest is the usual random stuff. It's actually kind of cute... but don't feel obliged. That material will not be on the test.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-26535592427622075292011-09-16T00:02:00.000-07:002011-09-16T00:02:00.995-07:00

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-45010232067192371742011-09-16T00:01:00.001-07:002011-09-16T00:13:50.081-07:00

As you know, I am to have the great joy of participating in a Bible Conference in England tomorrow, as a speaker. So I've been travelling, with limited internet connectivity. I set up some auto-posts, and asked Phil and Frank to moderate the Pyro posts. Hither and Thither takes a lot of time, which means it's just not a possibility today. Should be back in one, maybe two weeks. Of course, I

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-89042678247089470642011-09-12T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-12T00:01:01.048-07:00

You loved them before; here they are again! (Thanks Mesa Mike)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-41584951226814373882011-09-09T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-11T00:14:37.666-07:00

We have a what baseball pros might call a "change-up pitch" this week: an All-Admiral-Ackbar Hither and Thither. Relax and enjoy the shifting gears -- and my thanks to Rick Beckman for these, to Brad Sharp for this, and to Julie, Pooka and Trogdor. THE USUALS WILL BE OBSERVED

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-36289914808852737602011-09-08T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-08T00:01:00.647-07:00

(Al Stout)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-24416316331150755562011-09-05T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-05T00:01:02.158-07:00

Thanks to a recommendation from Dawn Lewis:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-78648744991117694142011-09-02T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-02T00:01:01.968-07:00

Happy birthday to my dear Jonathan, twelve years old today. As my wife is fond of observing, in all my childhood tales everything seems to have happened to me when I was twelve... so this could be quite a year for my "li'l J." Now to it. But first: who says cats can't do tricks? Sorta? I don't know whether this is the worst, tackiest, and most in-bad-taste bit of jewelry I've ever seen... but

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-9119674982942287642011-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-01T00:01:00.258-07:00

I know nothing about the blog from which I get this (other than that the host is a Hebrew prof who doesn't love Proverbs) (!!), but this is a great chart to help "getting" the Hebrew prepositions: Hey! I know! Not everything's for everyone, okay? Move along!

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-83349444143702562102011-08-31T09:24:00.000-07:002011-08-31T09:24:15.634-07:00

Most of these signs have three things in common: They're clever They're at least mildly humorous They represent appalling doctrine Have you seen any really good church signs? It wasn't deep, but I liked one I saw during a summer: "Cool sanctuary, warm fellowship."

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com37