The Lowdown

November 2, 2007 | 1 Comment

Here we go again, another issue of the Lowdown. If you cut through all of the hoopla, you’ll see this is just a lazy-bloggers way of getting a post up. This time around we feature a mixed bag of all kinds of goodies.

Here’s my vote for the best costume at our town’s annual Halloween parade.

Read about the most recent attempt (and apparent success) at breaking the coast to coast speed record, otherwise known as the Cannonball Run. New York to LA, Time - 31 hours, 4 minutes.

View my own brother’s attempt at the Cannonball Run at his blog. San Diego, CA to Columbus, OH, Time - 144 hours roughly.

Read about both Christians and atheists who are upset that the upcoming film, “The Golden Compass,” has had the novel’s anti-Christian basis watered down. The film is based on a children’s series by the atheist Philip Pullman.

Watch a sneak peek for the upcoming “Prince Caspian” movie at Justin Taylor’s blog, “Between Two Worlds.” This film is based on the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis - pretty much the exact opposite of Pullman’s writings.

Read Michael Horton asking the question, “How Pro-Life Are You?” There’s a lot in this short article for Christians to think about.

Read blog posts in celebration of Reformation Day at the “Reformation Day Symposium” hosted by blogger, Tim Challies.

Read Rick Phillips brief post on “All Saints Day.”

Read a blog post about how to respond when someone like the late Jerry Falwell calls Calvinist’s heretics. The blog post covers the origins of Calvinism and the need for gracious dialog among Christians with differing views at one of my favorite blogs, Colossians Three Sixteen.

Living vicariously through the internet? Remove yourself even further from reality by creating a virtual “second life” at secondlife.com.

Watch Jerry Seinfeld’s reaction when Larry King suggests that his #1 television show was possibly canceled.

Read a brief overview of “postmodernism,” the predominant worldview that Seinfeld portrayed, and the predominant mindset of our culture today.

Read an LA times Op-Ed piece by Mary Lefkowitz showing the postmodern worldview in action. She argues for a return to polytheism as opposed to monotheism.

Register for our church’s second annual Christianity and Culture Conference, Pagan America, in January, with featured speaker, Dr. Peter Jones - where we’ll be dealing with the very issues that Mary Lefkowitz brings up.

Embed your favorite television show onto your own blog/website through hulu.com, like “The Office” below. (Hulu is currently in it’s beta testing form.)

Watch Darth Vader show his “good” side.

Posted by Aaron | Filed Under Blog, Lowdown 

The Lowdown

October 3, 2007 | 1 Comment

Here it is once again - another installment of The Lowdown, your periodic update on pretty much everything the evening news didn’t give you. This time around we’re featuring music and videos, among other things. Kick off your shoes, grab a cold one, and enjoy!

Watch the trailer to the Bibleman video game and see for yourself why it’s almost always a bad idea to “Christianize” popular culture.

Read the Bibleman video game review from “Christ Centered Game Review” ccgr.org - 4 out of 5 stars.

From the BBC, read about the big business of idol worship in Thailand - and then consider the biblical story of Demetrius, the idol maker in Ephesus who lost business as the gospel advanced (Acts 19) - and then read the Henry’s blog and pray for these missionaries to Thailand.

Consider the words of “outlaw” country musician Billy Joe Shaver, “Where do you want it?” just before he shot a man in the face outside a bar in Texas - and then listen to him sing “Get Thee Behind Me Satan” or “If You Don’t Love Jesus (go to hell)” on his latest gospel based album, “Everybody’s Brother.”

Watch the Tom Waits music video, “God’s Away on Business.” Disturbing, unsettling, and a pretty good picture of life devoid of God.

Read the lyrics to Over the Rhine’s song, “The Trumpet Child.” The first stanza reads, ” The trumpet child will blow his horn,Will blast the sky till it’s reborn, With Gabriel’s power and Satchmo’s grace, He will surprise the human race.” While you’re at it, listen to a little Over the Rhine at ilike.com (ilike.com/artist/Over+The+Rhine/most_played_songs) and ask yourself why more Christians aren’t trying to produce good art/music like OTR.

Visit the websites of other Christians making excellent music - not Christian music - Pierce Pettis; The Innocence Mission; Jason Harrod; Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love; Christopher Williams; Claire Holley; Bach.

If you know him, ask Satch why the sky is falling.

Posted by Aaron | Filed Under Blog, Lowdown 

The Lowdown

September 3, 2007 | 4 Comments

Welcome to the “Lowdown,” your periodic report on all that’s interesting on the internet (at least interesting to me). Here you’ll find a little something for just about everyone. Enjoy.

Listen to an absolutely fascinating NPR “Fresh Air” interview with Alice Cooper. His father was a pastor and he’s returned to the Christian faith he knew growing up.

Agree or disagree with Paste Magazine’s list of the 100 best living songwriters.

Read about the kind of baseball game that hasn’t happened for 110 years - a 30 run route by Texas over Baltimore.

Watch Marc Driscol, pastor Mars Hill Church, Seattle, speak about The Supremacy of Christ and the Church - a passionate plea for Biblical orthodoxy, doctrinal truth, and the exaltation of Jesus Christ - essential aspects of church growth.

Read about the gaping hole in the universe that scientists have recently found.

Search for the hole yourself with Google Earth’s new feature - Google Sky, which allows you to zoom in and explore the sky.

Better yet, book a flight to space with Virgin Galactic and search from there. Only $200,000. Don’t think space-flight is for you? Watch the promotional video which just may change your mind.

Read a pastor’s thoughts on politics, poverty and Christianity. A refreshing perspective that acknowledges that the issues aren’t always as simple as many Christians think.

Read about Maxim magazine’s article on how to pick up women in church.

Posted by Aaron | Filed Under Blog, Lowdown 

The Lowdown

August 14, 2007 | 1 Comment

Well, it’s time once again for the semi-regular update on everything that’s worth reading, thinking about, or doing on the world-wide web - and other things that are a complete waste of time. Sit back, relax, and allow me to be your guide…

Visit Round Hill Farm in Elizabeth, PA. No website, but here’s a picture.

Read about the ministerial qualifications of Ted Haggard’s replacement at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Compare with the biblical qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9.

Read about the relationship between a church’s elders and it’s women’s ministries.

Generate your own church sign at churchsigngenerator.com.

Read from a huge selection of cheesy church signs.

Listen to a free seminary course from Covenant Theological Seminary.

Listen to interesting discussions on morality from Radio Lab, a radio show from New York Public Radio.

Create your own book at Blurb.com.

Read one sentence stories from onesentence.org - some funny, some tragic, some whimsical, some offensive.

View one of the many interesting maps at strangemaps.wordpress.com - such as this one, a hotly debated 1418 Chinese map of the world, showing surprising acurracy, and suggesting Columbus wasn’t the first.

Watch Filipino prisoners dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller on youtube.

Read about injustices in the Filipino justice system, as reported by Amnesty International.

Read about the college student who caught Barry Bonds record breaking* home run ball - and may have to pay a big chunk in taxes.

Watch a fascinating documentary video on life in North Korea at joox.net.

Listen to a sermon jam of John Piper talking about following Christ.
Download Link

Read about how Reformed Theology/Calvinism is making a comeback among young Christians - from September 2006 Christianity Today.

Listen to this song and decipher it’s poetry. I’ve never been able to figure it out myself. Find the lyrics here.
Download Link

Posted by Aaron | Filed Under Blog, Lowdown 

The Lowdown

August 3, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Here it is - the new feature you’ve been waiting for. A periodic update on everything that’s worth reading, thinking about, or doing on the web.

Read an insightful blog post about where the Church and Starbucks cross paths.

View the trailer to The Golden Compass. The first movie based on Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Material’s trilogy. The best children’s books I’ve read… and the most anti-Christian.

Read Rick Phillips writing about why he decided to send his kids to a fundamentalist Christian school.

Create a personalized radio station at pandora or last.fm.

Read about how you can best care for your pastor’s wife.

Read what Martin Luther has to say about fathers changing diapers.

Read what John Piper, a pastor in Minneapolis, has to say about the bridge collapse.

Listen to Piper talk about why there is suffering in the world.

Read about Bob Hope at the Clearfield County Fair.

Play golf at the Madison Club. I’ve finally found a decent public course near home.

Subscribe to Mars Hill Audio. An audio journal for thinking Christians.

Listen to a “sermon jam” of S.M. Lockridge’s famous sermon on the titles of Christ.
Download Link

Simpsonize yourself. That’s me.

Posted by Aaron | Filed Under Blog, Church and Culture, Lowdown