Advent with my buddy Isaiah

This advent we are going through selected passages in Isaiah while reading the gospel of Mark as a church. Isaiah 40:1-11 was yesterday. God is our comforter and Isaiah is told to emphatically preach God's comfort to his people and to do it tenderly. This is a struggle for younger "reformed" pastors as they love to preach about sin and repentance but they also need to preach God's comfort through the propitiation and reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. As one of those "younger reformed" pastors. I consider myself sufficiently rebuked...now I need some comforting...

Wilson vs. Hitchens

One of my "go-to" pastors, Doug Wilson, is debating Christopher Hitchens on the existence and influence of God. Their string of debates is being documented via a film called "A Collision of Lives".

Very cool trailer below. Can't wait to see the finished product...

NPR, Beer, and the glory of God

I like National Public Radio because they have interesting stories sometimes. I also like beer (could use a cold Fat Tire right now). Just listened to a story about beer on NPR where the guest interviewed was talking about lager, yeast, fermentation etc... Apparently, the guest was studying yeast's contribution to the fermentation process in beer to get a more accurate view of...evolution???

Yeast hasn't evolved anymore than beer has evolved. Yeast is programmed to adapt to its surroundings and environment but it doesn't change its basic nature to become something else over a period of time through random chance. Just like beer doesn't happen on accident. It takes a brewmaster who understands science and inserts INTELLIGENT INFORMATION into the process to create a good brew. God created yeast, hops, sugar, water, the brewmaster, and beer for the enjoyment of his people and ultimately for His glory (just ask Luther and Calvin). You shouldn't be allowed to enjoy a good beer if you can't recognize the glory of God in the process of making and enjoying it.

More to come on the theology of beer...

Psalm 131

Picked up a short booklet last night from CCEF (Christian Counseling Education Foundation) amongst a stack of these booklets our church ordered related to different counseling issues that come up in pastoral counseling situations.

This particular booklet was about stress (something pastors never deal with :)). It went through Psalm 131 as a passage that helps us quiet the inner noise that stresses us out without trying to numb the noise. Quieting vs. numbing. There is noise in life and we either avoid and/or numb (busyness, tv, addiction, drinking, etc...) or we can have a righteous peace in the midst of the noise.

As you might expect stress is a result of our prideful wills trying to control life and relationships in the direction we want them to go. When the house of cards collapses it causes stress and a renewed vigor to control it better next time. Our control is folly and trusting in Christ who rules and reigns is wisdom. It is a heart issue of who we will trust to guide us.

The Psalmist here (David) says that the way to peace in Jesus is to repent of pride, don't look down on others, and...check this out...don't go after things too great and too difficult for you and me.

This last one deserves a little bit of contemplation. What are you going after that is too great and difficult for you? What in the world does that last phrase mean? Give me your best insight...

Launched

We had our fall launch service this past Sunday, September 7 and it went very well. Thanks to all my NCM brothers and sisters for showing up and supporting our first weekly Sunday at the Regal Theater.

Our fall launch is more than just one Sunday and we will continue this fall in a teaching series about Jesus. There is a lot of misinformation and misperception about Jesus so we thought we would let him tell us who He is in His own words.

This week we will most likely address the question "Is Jesus the only God?" from a biblical point of view. Our desire is to make sure that we hold Jesus and His gospel high in the city of Denver so that people can make an informed decision about the man who most changed history.

Fall Launch...New City Church Denver

On September 7th our church will host its fall launch and we will begin meeting weekly at the Regal Continental Stadium 10 theater in the central area of metro Denver. To get ready for this event we are doing two preview services on August 3rd and August 24th to invite the community to come and see what New City Church is all about. I am still ironing out the details on what our focus will be this Sunday but one thing is for sure...I want people to know we are a fairly simple church.

By simple I mean that we believe the church was created to bring glory to God, be on mission with Jesus, and care for the needs of each other and the needs in our community.

In the meantime we are finishing up last preparations to go into this new venue and extend the gospel to our city. Come and join us and bring a friend as we seek to worship Jesus, follow Him, and serve our neighbor.

As my 8 year old would say, "Peace out!"