My blog has remained untouched for too long now. I hope to return to it. In the past few months, I got engaged, changed apartments, began planning a wedding, have been on several trips, and been over my head with work (good work, nonetheless). I hope to be more consistent on this site from now on. Now I’ve thrown down the gauntlet, Wordpress.

Some quick current listens: John Coltrane (Blue Train), Waterdeep (Pink and Blue), John Legend, Ryan Adams (Cardinology), Samamidon (All Is Well), David Mead (Almost and Always).

Thad Cockrell
To Be Loved EP

Caitlin Cary w/ Thad Cockrell
Begonias

Sandra McCracken
Red Balloon

Aimee Mann
I’m With Stupid

Peter Gabriel
So

Brooke Waggoner
Heal for the Honey

Kelley McRae
Highrises in Brooklyn

Somehow I’ve found myself connecting with an album by The Allens, available on NoiseTrade. Folk/gospel/rock married duo from Midland, Texas. Download it now for free by telling 5 friends, or feel free to support them by paying any price you want.

Over time, I can’t wait to see what these guys do. Even on this first release, there’s a lot of talent evident, both musically and lyrically.

The Allens on MySpace

What a great set of Flickr images!

You can stream the entire new album, Resurrection Letters Volume II., here.

Then head over to The Rabbit Room to pre-order. 2 CD’s for $15.

Releases October 21.

“The love of God and the love of the world, are two affections, not merely in a state of rivalship, but in a state of enmity – and that so irreconcilable, that they cannot dwell together in the same bosom. We have already affirmed how impossible it were for the heart, by any innate elasticity of its own, to cast the world away from it; and thus reduce itself to a wilderness. The heart is not so constituted; and the only way to dispossess it of an old affection, is by the expulsive power of a new one.”

Thomas Chalmers, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection

As much as I understand some of the nuances of why certain people may be frustrated with Don Miller praying at the DNC, at the end of the day, who cares? A man got up and asked God that things would be well in our nation–and in the name of Jesus. To hyper-analyze every line is ridiculous. If someone prayed that same prayer over a meal, at a Bible study, or in their home church, (anywhere other than the DNC) I doubt that most conservatives would flinch. It was a fine enough prayer. Let’s move on.

View on YouTube.

“On the most basic levels, I desire fullness, and fleshly lusts seduce me by attaching themselves to this basic desire. They exploit the empty spaces in me, and they promise that fulness will be mine if I give in to their demands. When my soul sits empty and is aching for something to fill it, such deceptive promises are extremely difficult to resist.

Consequently, the key to mortifying fleshly lusts is to eliminate the emptiness within me and replace it with fullness; and I accomplish this by feasting on the gospel. Indeed, it is in the gospel that I experience a God who glorifies Himself by filling me with His fullness. . . . This is the God of the gospel, a God who is satisfied with nothing less than my experience of fullness in Him! . . .

Indeed, as I perpetually feast on Christ and all His blessings found in the gospel, I find that my hunger for sin diminishes and the lies of lust simply lose their appeal. Hence, to the degree that I am full, I am free. Eyes do not rove, nor do fleshly lusts rule, when the heart is fat with the love of Jesus!”

- Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians (2008), 45-46.

HT: Of First Importance

Had a great time with Dan Cruver up in Louisville and Nashville this last weekend. Micah McCormick was kind enough to host us at the house where he lives. Great group of guys we met there—all attending Southern Seminary. Friday we toured the seminary, enjoyed a Cajun gumbo lunch, interviewed Russell Moore at his office, then headed down to Nashville. Friday night, Dan and I went over to Jackson’s on 21st Ave, where I was able to see my cousin Marilyn briefly. We then went over to Bongo Java and chilled for the evening. Saturday, I met up with Derek and Josh Oakes, a new guy who is helping us, to continue developing our ongoing website project.

After lunch we went over to the home of Kevin and Wendy Twit to interview them about the their experiences in adopting their daughter from China. It was a greatly encouraging time for me, hearing how God works uniquely in each family situation to lead them toward His will. We then joined them for an ice cream party at a park in Brentwood with other Nashville families who have Chinese children. All girls! I had no idea that almost all Chinese adoptions are little girls. Almost no boys available internationally for adoption. I think Dan said that at the orphanage he’d seen in China, there were only four boys and several hundred girls there.

From there, we headed to Grimey’s, a record store above The Basement, a well-known music venue. For dinner, we met up with Jordan Hamlin and Maggie Bolger for Mediterranean food, then went with them to Matthew Perryman Jones’ release show at Exit/In. Amazing show. I overheard a member of the band the next day say that it was probably his best ever. The highlight of the evening was hearing he and his wife cover “The Pearl” by Emmylou Harris. Meghan came up on stage a few lines into the song to support him with background vocals. Stunning.

On Sunday, we attended Midtown Fellowship, then interviewed Randall Goodgame about his upcoming Ethiopian adoption. About 2pm or so, we hit the road back to Greenville. A rewarding and enjoyable weekend of work and learning.

This afternoon I’m heading up to Louisville, KY to shoot an interview tomorrow with Russell Moore, the Dean of Southern Seminary, about adoption. Dan Cruver is organizing a conference for November 1 that will deal with theological adoption and how it relates to adopting orphans. Check out more about the conference here. This week we already had the great opportunity to interview Carl Robbins, pastor of Woodruff Road Presbyterian, as well as Rick Phillips at Second Presbyterian. Hearing their answers to Dan’s questions was a blessing to me, even though I only sat to the side manning the camera.

On Saturday afternoon, we’ll interview Kevin Twit and Matt Odmark in Nashville (both of whom have adopted transracially), then head back to Greenville on Sunday. I hope this project draws attention to the orphan crisis, especially in the Third World and will in some way encourage couples to consider adopting children themselves.