I’ve been dead tired after work from the long, traffic-congested commute home from Brampton, so I haven’t been able to make time to say some things that have been on my heart.  (And my comments on John 17 will have to wait.)

If you’re not one of the millions who watch Grey’s Anatomy, I should say that it’s not too late.  There’s only a few episodes left in the season (?), so you just might wanna jump on the bandwagon while the season is still in high gear.

I’ll try not to spoil it for you, but the last 3 episodes have been stellar.  Amazing, shocking, scary, tear-flowingly powerful.  To see the heart-wrentching pain in Derek’s face, Addison’s worry, and even McSteamy Mark Sloan’s brotherly squeeze of Derek’s arm while he was falling to pieces of Mer… all so powerful.

Anyways, what got me thinking was the 2nd last episode (”Drowning on Dry Land) where the whole “disappearing” thing was talked about.  Notably, in the conversation between Addison and Alex… Karev’s response was very caring, and I humbly applaud him for that.  It was something… that shook me.  Here’s why:

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Every now and then, we find a special friend
Who never lets us down.
Who understands it all,
Reaches out each time you fall;
You’re the best friend that I’ve found.
I know you can’t stay,
A part of you will never ever go away,
Your heart will stay.

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Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Thrust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, doe the nexte thynge

Looking for Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge.

-Anonymous (found in Elisabeth Elliot’s The Shaping of a Christian Family (pg.178-179).

(HT: Justin Taylor)

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is scheduled to appear tonight (Feb.26) on CNN’s Larry King Live.  Mohler will discuss the alleged discovery of the “tomb” of Jesus and his family by archaeologists and genetic scientists. A documentary “The Lost Tomb of Jesus,” which is said to present the evidence, is scheduled to air next week on the Discovery Channel. Scheduled to appear with Mohler are James Cameron, executive producer of the documentary; Simcha Jacobovici, the director; and James Tabor, chair of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Larry King Live airs at 9:00 Eastern Time on CNN. The segment on the “Lost Tomb of Jesus” is scheduled to air tonight following an interview with First Lady Laura Bush.

R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as the ninth president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship seminary of the 16-million member Southern Baptist Convention. He hosts a daily national radio program, writes a regular commentary and daily blog.

(HT: SBTS News Release)

This week’s Music Monday’s features a Hillsong–gasp–song that has become very popular in churches over the past year or so.  Lately, 722 and even Chris Tomlin has lead the song at the Passion07 conference.  It significantly more God-centered than many Hillsong songs that have been written in the past.  And this past Friday, the TC Jr. Worship Team lead it at my church’s English Ministry Vision night too.  Check it out

From The Inside Out, written by Joel Houston.

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I don’t know if there’s been any other book I am so excited about the release, other than this one. IVP is set to release in March,”Pierced For Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the glory of penal substition“ which is seen to be a landmark book about penal substitutionary atonement.  Authored by Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey, & Andrew Sach (relatively unknown, at least to me), the release of this book is a very timely one, as this core doctrine of atonement through Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice has been under severe attack by some within evangelicalism.

If you have kept up with any of the emerging versus Reformed discussions, you know that many Reformed conferences have featured messages fighting for and defending what most Protestants consider historic Christian orthodoxy (ie. DG’s 2006 National Conference). It is an issue that say, 20-30 years ago, was never even considered to be an issue, but in light of the things being written, taught and preached about how penal substitution shouldn’t be the core of atonement… we are now at a dangerous time in Christianity where we must contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. The powers and principalities of the evil realms are at work in our churches, tearing us apart, and dividing us from our faith in what Christ has done for us.

The doctrine of penal substitution states that God gave himself in the person of his Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin. Although this is the historic Christian view, it has recently come under attack. Controversy has raged since 2003 when Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis Trust, likened the doctrine to ‘a form of cosmic child abuse’.

Pierced for our Transgressions offers a fresh affirmation of penal substitution, engaging with exegetical, theological, pastoral and historical perspectives. It is designed to be useful for pastors, theological students, and all thinking Christians.

http://www.piercedforourtransgressions.com/

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I was going through Hebrews this week, and came across this very powerful chapter: Ch.9. The verse that stook out to me this time around was verse 22: “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins“. That’s just plain… and simple.

I posted this video from the WorshipGod06 Conference a while ago, which featured Ryan Ferguson giving a memorized dramatic recitation of Hebrews 9 and 10 … all from the ESV Bible. When I heard this the other day via Max MacLean’s reading of the ESV, it just wasn’t the same as this–not even close!

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