Pulpit & Politics

There's at least a million conversations going on right now about this very thing. Here's one more, but it's a good one. Check it out.

How The Art of Manliness Got Started

Brett McKay, the creator of The Art of Manliness, shares why and how he got this fabulous website started. This is perfect for those of you who've heard me talk about this website and want to know more about it.

Go. Eat. Drink. Do.: Slater's 50/50

Me and my sister Monica like to throw down (eat) at unusually good and local restaurants every month. The last place we went to easily made my favorites list, Slater's 50/50. If you're in Orange County and haven't been here yet, shame on you! This place will change your life.

You can also find it on Yelp.

5 Perspectives on the New Calvinism for New Calvinists

I'll never forget the first time I read Collin Hansen's book Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists. I enjoyed it so much. It was a breath of fresh air for me at the time because I had finally understood and embraced Reformed Theology and I discovered that I wasn't alone in my experience but had apparently been a part of a bigger phenomenon that has been happening in Evangelicalism for some time. A movement most of us know as the Young, Restless, Reformed (YRR) or the New Calvinism movement.
This has been a wonderful thing (and a horrible thing to some of you), and it's not without it's own issues. Issues I've seen firsthand, and some of them have already been brought up and stirred up a good deal of controversy with people getting bent out of shape over some of it. To be fair, some of the criticism seemed negative and cynical but some of it was valid and should be seriously considered. And the last time I checked, the Bible has much to commend to hearing and heeding from those who've gone ahead of us and have a lot of wisdom to offer. So I've collected 5 videos here that have been out for a while but are pure gold in what they're worth for what some of these men have to say. So take up and watch, and take notes.









While most of you probably recognize the other big names and might put more stock in what they have to say, I personally find Brian Dempsey's thoughts on this movement especially important and worth taking seriously.

Don't Waste Your... Chicken Wings.

Brian Dempsey over at Grace Online Library knows his stuff and not only gives good book reviews and recommendations, but even shows us how to not waste our chicken wings!


So whether you're grubbin' on some wings while watching football at your buddy's house or watching a UFC fight at Buffalo Wild Wings you don't have to pull a party foul in this area.

Beer Love

Here's something to get you thinking about the weekend. Doug Wilson talks about his favorite beer and his beer bottle collection and also discourages a kind of "beer snobbery" many beer aficionados have (something I've been guilty of as well!) And if you're really hardcore check out BeerAdvocate, a fantastic website/magazine/social network. Salud!

Eschatology for Everyone

I just finished listening to Kim Riddlebarger's Amillennialism 101 lecture series (which I thoroughly enjoyed!) and came away with more steel in my conviction that Eschatology is too important for us to leave on the back burner (as most of us do!) I'm not gonna talk about Amillennialism right now but I am gonna put the cookie jar on the bottom shelf for the rest of the other kids. Ideas have consequences. And what we believe always affects our convictions, values and ethics in the day to day. So for anyone who feels lost in all of this I highly recommend watching this roundtable discussion between a few pastor/theologians (who are also friends, which makes it interesting too because there's much to learn from the way these men interact with each other, respect each other and even have a little fun at the same time - something we don't do very well most of the time!) as they discuss these things. It's 2 hours long so if you can't sit for that long you can download or listen to it here.


If you're hungry for more check out Jesus is Coming Back When? and the Eschatology section over at Monergism.com

Do It Now!

Here's a good kick in the pants for some of us from The Art of Manliness.



If this is the kick in the pants you needed today and you know you could use a little help in this area check out the excellent series they just finished, Heading Out on Your Own: 31 Life Skills in 31 Days

So... Are You a Jig-A-Boo?

Listen carefully. Listen well.



Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NIV)

A Song to Learn: Beautiful Things

We started singing this at my church at the beginning of the year. It has become a favorite of ours. When you can barely get out of bed, read anything out of the Bible or utter a word of prayer, this is another song to learn. Don't underestimate the power of singing to yourself.

My Favorite Timelapse Piece

I couldn't resist posting this again (though it's the first time on this blog). Sheer city love here, and for me it doesn't hurt that Time by Hans Zimmer is the music in it. Beautiful.

Timelapse - The City Limits from Dominic on Vimeo.

City Love

Why Cities? Let John Piper break it down for you in a nutshell here.



For a little more on cities in general, be sure to check out these articles as well:

A Biblical Theology of the City (Tim Keller)

4 Ways to Know Your City (Jonathan Dodson)

And you can check out more at Verge Network.

Art and Good News

I was thinking about this a few weeks ago. It was originally posted at David Murray's blog sometime last year but I think we can always benefit from it down the road as we go. Take up and watch, and take notes.

The "Gospel" of Art from HeadHeartHand Media on Vimeo.

A Song to Learn: Your Love is Strong

I'm learning to breathe. I'm learning to crawl... And learning how to sing when it hurts to do both.

And there are enough moments when you feel like you can't breathe or crawl. Life can sweep us away and do wonders to our souls with beauty and truth; but also take our breath away and leave us starving, hurt and confused. A little song like this one is worth learning to sing while getting through those moments.

Christianity & Islam: The Issues and Where We Go from Here (Part 1)

I'm well aware of the fact that there's already a plethora of stuff out there on the issues and differences between Christianity and Islam. Some of it is resourceful and helpful and some of it is just plain awful. But if the core issues could be addressed fairly well this isn't a bad place to start, in my opinion.

Take up and watch, and take notes.

The Elephant Room & T.D. Jakes Thing Revisited, and Why It Still Matters

"Indifferentism to doctrine makes no heroes of the faith." - J. Gresham Machen

A few days ago I watched this from No Compromise: Ever. It's almost an hour long but it's pure gold and it's the first in a series well worth following.

No Co Ever: Episode 1 from No Compromise Radio on Vimeo.

Need a Creativity Boost?

This might help. Or at least dazzle you a little because it's just cool.

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.