Helping without hurting?

From Justin Taylor:

I’ve linked to this before, but this is a nearly hour-long conversation between Don Carson, John Piper, and Tim Keller.

Greg Gilbert just transcribed a very helpful section where Piper and Keller answer Carson’s question:

If we should be involved in [mercy ministries], what safeguards can we introduce so that we don’t fall into the traps that have historically taken place?

Read their answers here. Or again, listen to the whole thing.

The Mission and Heartbeat of our Church

As a church we are being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, for God's glory and our joy. This is why the church exists, this is why God has placed Calvary in our community and given us the resources and gifts that we have. This is us.

Two Things.

1. This is also why God made you. The same mission of Calvary as a body is the purpose for your existence. You are being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ for God's glory and your Joy. Memorize this, let this soak into you and then live it.

2. We are in the midst of unpacking this on Sunday morning right now and and I would ask each of you to come with a heart each week that is seeking to participate in this great mission God has given us for our very existence.

ryan

Boast Only In The Cross

Here is a talk from Pastor John Piper he did ten years ago and profoundly shaped me. It is a reminder of the deep reality that only the cross do I have hope and worth. Listen to it, then let is message sink deep into your soul.

Addicted to tweets

George Packer:

Who doesn’t want to be taken out of the boredom or sameness or pain of the present at any given moment? That’s what drugs are for, and that’s why people become addicted to them. . . . Twitter is crack for media addicts. It scares me, not because I’m morally superior to it, but because I don’t think I could handle it. I’m afraid I’d end up letting my son go hungry.

More:

Just about everyone I know complains about the same thing when they’re being honest–including, maybe especially, people whose business is reading and writing. They mourn the loss of books and the loss of time for books. It’s no less true of me, which is why I’m trying to place a few limits on the flood of information that I allow into my head.

Pray For Haiti

Here is Pastor Mark Driscoll giving a presentation/sermon on his recent trip to Haiti and the devastation he saw while there.

May we not let the suffering in Haiti so casually pass from our minds but continue to pray for our brothers and sister there.

99 Balloons

From Justin Taylor

Tomorrow, as many of you know, is the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. I’ll be posting an interview about how the decision can be overturned.

But let me commend for you a video that’s not about abortion per se, but rather about the dignity and value of human life. I’ve posted it before, but I’m doing so again, as it’s one of the most life-affirming, heart-rending videos I’ve ever seen.

I thank God for these parents who valued life and loved their son, and I think God for the short life of little Eliot Mooney, whom God is using to proclaim his glory.

I encourage you to watch the video and to pass it along.

99 Balloons from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Francis Chan: What Is Your Life?

Francis Chan is a great pastor and writer who has a deep passion for living a life that is all about God. His book Crazy Love is a MUST read for all and one we have in our church book store. Here is a short clip in which he talks a bit about his book and our life on earth being just a vapor.