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I link therefore I am (06.09.2010)

06/09/2010 // No Comments »

Loads for you today, it’s like delving into a new world full of discovery. Or an excellent excuse to postpone work for 20 minutes.
- I missed this. First time in 6 years. (video 6 mins)
- I enjoy watching films about Jesus, not because they’re always evangelistic or anything but because it says something about us and how we see him. Bollywood Jesus is going to be something else.
- Two bloggers I read took a break over the summer and made a few observations. They’re quite different from each other. Here’s Adrian Warnock’s and here’s John Ortberg’s.
- Randy Alcorn has made up a dialogue over the ethics of birth control. Just because we’ve just had child number two, don’t read anything into the posting of this link.
- This is a good example of how two newspapers can report the same story in vastly different ways. News can be biased and so can what we choose to read.
- Ray Ortlund on preaching Christ or preaching about Christ?
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (03.09.2010)

03/09/2010 // 2 Comments »
- Ever wondered about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity? This FAQ is very helpful
- I regularly argue with some of my evangelical Anglican friends about baptism, most are uncomfortable with this level of honesty that Bishop Alan Wilson has when he says the Book of Common Prayer teaches baptismal regeneration. Not sure about the implication that the alternatives are linked to heretical Pelagianism.
- If all that went over your head, how about this on helping young mums with kids bless the elderly
- Or Carl Trueman on quoting Bonhoeffer not Bono and the size of your church
- Few more bumper links from Mark Meynell (loved the one about the ant)
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (01.09.2010)

01/09/2010 // No Comments »

Got a nice collection of goodies for the first of the month
- I liked what Luke said about lots of distractions and immediately culled my blog reader
- Here’s 15 minutes of conversation between Francis Chan, Josh Harris and Mark Driscoll. I like what Chan says about giving and generosity in response to Driscoll’s final question.
- Gordon Kennedy has some good thoughts on the importance of working with children and young people
- Although this article suggests we are kids for much longer (into our 20s)
- Jeremy posts 5 critical questions for the next 20 years
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links
I link therefore I am (31.08.2010)

31/08/2010 // No Comments »
- OK this infographic is for the US but revealing nonetheless. This is the lottery economy
- Sticking with money, the IRS (the Inland Revenue in the US) has done a good job of defining a church
- Andrew Brown over at the Guardian often irritates but this is an interesting reflection sparked off by Bishop Tom Wright on the question: How do we make the new and better people to inhabit our new and better world?
- I appreciated Terry Virgo’s personal reflection on the impact of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ preaching
- Help Make Wealth History choose a new strapline for their blog
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links
I link therefore I am (27.08.2010)

27/08/2010 // 2 Comments »

A few things to do with the economy and money today
- This is fascinating on the Crises of Capitalism (animated). Takes you 11 minutes to watch but will make you wonder whether you should be an anti-capitalist! (HT: Challies)
- Follow that up with this call to the church to offer an alternative to mere consumption
- This is less serious but made me wonder about the best place to stash some cash
- Quick switch to technology but have you considered a Facebook fast? And is fasting for a day really enough?
- Lastly, Christians and science often portrayed as not mixing well, so it was nice to read this positive piece about a Christian who just so happens to be a scientist.
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (25.08.2010)

25/08/2010 // No Comments »
- My views on our coalition are changing, especially as the budget hits the poorest the hardest
- I like the idea that by doing good I can be a ‘deviant rule breaker’. Just shows you how deeply rooted sin is in the human heart when being kind or generous is deviancy
- In China, Christianity is booming. Slightly concerned by the language of the article, ‘investing’, ‘government funding’, ‘state sanctioned’ but if it means an genuine encounter with the Gospel. Bring it on.
- Transport shapes society in many ways and if carbon emissions need to come down, transport must change. This plan reckons on reducing the UK transport carbon emissions by 76%
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links
I link therefore I am (24.08.2010)

24/08/2010 // 1 Comment »
- Is this hell on earth? A nine day 60 mile traffic jam. Nine days?! (HT: Inhabitat)
- For those of you interested in economics. Are we addicted to growth? Check out Beyond Growth and if you think it’s all lefty nonsense, the chance to receive $1 million may give you some added motivation
- This is interesting. In the UK civil partnerships are virtually marriages in terms of rights if not in name. But take up is on the decline and dissolutions (divorce) are on the rise.
- Brian Croft continues to offer helpful pastoral advice. This time on who in the church could bless elderly widows?
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links
I link therefore I am (23.08.2010)

23/08/2010 // No Comments »
- Whatever you think of the state of the British economy, at least sterling still exists. Here’s a slideshow of some currencies that didn’t quite make it
- Sometimes I think church buildings should be about the function, but good architecture can be inspiring. Here’s a modern example from Finland
- Here’s an interesting piece from Nancy Pearcey on gender and marriage
- Ever been bored at church or bored with church? This is thought provoking from Skye Jethani
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (20.08.2010)

20/08/2010 // No Comments »

Starting with a few consumer related links today…
- I’m a fan of reducing stuff, but I’m not sure I’m ready to join the cult of less (here’s the blog link) and here’s the news story that my friend Tim saw and sent it on to me. Thanks Tim!
- Is stuff our monkey trap? this interesting post ponders the question
- Sticking with that theme McMurray has a good post on the inflation of greed
- 2 good posts from Jeremy to follow, this one offers a fresh take on the nations deficit while this one wonders whether the new government’s aid strategy is already off target
- Changing tack a little, the skill in this video is incredible
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links
I link therefore I am (17.08.2010)

17/08/2010 // 1 Comment »
- Europe is a pretty irreligious place, nowhere more so than the Czech Republic! See this chart for how secular the UK is.
- Phil Moore has four excellent reasons for going on a fast from his iPhone
- Talking of technology Tim Challies thinks about the risks and opportunities of technology
- This is a great visual description of global wealth distribution
- This link is for my friend Matt Hosier who has been quite into cycling on his blog
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (11.08.2010)

11/08/2010 // No Comments »
- Jeremy wonders why we still subsidise fossil fuels?
- TGC reflects on the future of the mainline congregations in the US. Same as here I guess, growing irrelevance.
- There are loads of different ways to read the Bible. This one requires 10 chapters a day!
- I’ve been wondering about this – should we totally separate the civil and the church rites when it comes to weddings?
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (10.08.2010)

10/08/2010 // No Comments »
- Howard Kellett is pondering on the difference between church and Sunday morning product
- Q has a good article by Brett McCracken (great name) on the same theme: Church: Marketing a non-commercial message?
- Which begs the question of how can the church be counter-cultural?
- And how does that play out with technology and communication. Challies reckons the latter is a modern day idol.
- On a different theme this is why praying for our children every night is important
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (09.08.2010)

09/08/2010 // No Comments »

Back with some links after a two week paternity break. Here are some things that have caught my eye in the last few days. One or two others will get their own post…
- Patheos have an interesting set of articles on the future of evangelicalism
- I’m not sure how I’d feel if instead of buying read my book was used as a brick, but who wouldn’t mind living in a house made of books!
- Mint writes about the demise of the stock broker
- While we’re on the subject of money, it is quite amazing what you can do with a dollar. The light green dots move the slideshow on.
- Trevor Saxby gives an introduction to the interesting reformer Menno Simons
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links
I link therefore I am (29.07.2010)

29/07/2010 // No Comments »
- There are good reasons for leaving a church and some not so good ones
- Churches would be better if there was more confession
- Churches become better when not everyone presumes to be a teacher
- Churches become better when the leaders have a good motto
Categories:
church, links
I link therefore I am (27.07.2010)

27/07/2010 // No Comments »

There may not be too many of these over the next couple of weeks. I’m on a couple of weeks paternity leave to begin the adjustment to having two kids, so if I blog at all I’d like it to have some content to it. But here’s a few links from the end of last week:
- Why doesn’t God always heal? A great question…
- How do you cope when God hasn’t healed?
- How do you move on when life has been incredibly hard?
- How do you pray when you love to be first?
- How should a church love one another?
- How following has changed its meaning
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (23.07.2010)

23/07/2010 // No Comments »

For those of you interested, if there’s no baby today that will make it three days late.
- Jubilee blog are having awards for ‘blogs that demonstrate the continued relevance of the Bible to the world today or otherwise give a Christian perspective on social and political concerns.’
- Some interesting graphics on social networking. Average time on Facebook in the UK 7 hours a month
- Talking of interesting graphics this one on men’s thoughts on work is fascinating (although not always in a good way)
- Another cracking post by Mark Heath this time Esther and Modesty
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (22.07.2010)

22/07/2010 // No Comments »
- Brian Croft is really helping me, (just need to apply, apply, apply) and this is a great post on individually pastoring your children
- Brett McCracken (great name) wonders if we are infotaining ourselves to death
- Mark Heath has another good post from Esther, this time on beauty
- How can someone call themselves a Christian minister and own a $45 million dollar private jet funded from ministry of the gospel? And then think this monstrosity would be a good idea. Some peddle the gospel for profit still.
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links
I link therefore I am (21.07.2010)

21/07/2010 // No Comments »
- Brian Croft has another helpful post on the most harmful consequences when a single man struggles with pornography
- Tim Chester posts another great quote from Bonhoeffer on giving and receiving a rebuke
- Mint asks what’s wrong with renewable energy?
- Kevin DeYoung completes his look at 7 passages on social justice
- How much do you depend on feedback?
- This seems to make sense on supporting people in the workplace (not just men though)
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (20.07.2010)

20/07/2010 // No Comments »
- I don’t have a SatNav but if I did, I would want one with this voice. Cracked me up.
- America may be the land of opportunity but opportunity is not equally spread as this Mint graphic shows
- Mark Heath has been looking at the book of Esther and here ponders about when do we have enough?
- It’s good for me to be reminded that being a Christian in many places carries great risk, places like Pakistan. I need to pray for courage for them and for me when I have so much safety.
- Tim Challies went off the technology grid and quite enjoyed it
Categories:
links
I link therefore I am (19.07.2010)

19/07/2010 // No Comments »
- National debt is a odd thing to get your head around, but this graphic shows you who owns US National debt while this bewildering set of counters shows you how fast it changes
- The electric motorbike is getting more affordable and practical. Like it.
- You might not think humans are to blame for climate change but June was the 304th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average according to this report
- The church in the US is in decline, so you have to ask ‘where have all the children gone?’
Categories:
links
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