Keller on Isaiah 6.

Check this out.

The first 45 seconds contain the most moving reading of scripture I think I've ever heard.

Carry on.

Quote of the Christmas Season

If God had perceived that our greatest need was economic, he would've sent an economist. If he had perceived that our greatest need was entertainment, he would've sent us a comedian or an artist. If God had perceived that our greatest need was political stability, he would've sent us a politician. If he had perceived that our greatest need was health, he would've sent us a doctor. But he perceived that our greatest need involved our sin, our alienation from him, our profound rebellion, our death; and he sent us a Savior.

- D.A. Carson, A Call To Spiritual Reformation, 109.

Happy Advent.

What Then Shall We Say?

Welp...

So, I came across this video last week, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I've wanted to have a response, even if it was simply my own private debate in the shower. Yet, I decided to write it out. Let it be the occasion for me to blog seriously on something after more than a year of silence and small, officious gestures of wit.

Here were my initial thoughts:

I always want to see what I can learn when I come across something like this. I'm a sucker for reason, so I would be amiss to not appreciate strengths and well-played points when I see them. I like this video, and Zach Wahls is clearly very gifted, educated, articulate, and someone I'd love to have a beer with (root beer, of course). He's no doubt very successful, and I'd hire him to do some engineering any day of the week. His Iowan drawl also makes him a captivating speaker.

He makes a great and compelling point: A lesbian couple can indeed raise a child just as competently as a heterosexual couple, and in some cases, probably better. No debate. Furthermore, it seems as though he has more of a promising future than most, period. He's definitely smarter than me--my ACT scores were, well, not in the 99th percentile. I will be the first to say that I agree with him that if I were to raise a son with similar accomplishments, I would indeed be very proud. As he mentions, I personally would never "independently" come to the conclusion that he was raised by a gay couple. So, does he have a point?

Yes, and no.

Yes, because he's right. Gays can raise competent, successful children. Successful in terms of becoming educated, morally upright (generally defined), influential, and outstanding citizens. And gays, no doubt, can have functioning relationships that are complete with affection and sacrifice and commitment. I would go a step further and say that those who hold a traditional view of marriage should not use poor examples of homosexual relationships as reasons against gay marriage, unless of course, we are free from hypocrisy.

Yet...

No, because successfully raising children in the context of a loving relationship is no more a compelling argument for the legalization of gay marriage than to argue for the legalization--or mere commendation--of any other relationship (polygamy, incest, co-habitation, extra-marital affairs, etc.). This is a classic example of a red-herring fallacy--an argument that makes irrelevant and rhetorical points that distract from the essential issue. Basically, when I first watched this video, I was intimidated. As I've thought through it, I think I see why Mr. Wahls' argument doesn't fly for me. I'm ultimately unpersuaded by this well-articulated presentation because I don't think it really gets to the heart of why gay marriage should remain illegal. I have different notions of love, success, marriage, and overall relationships that are rooted in a worldview that Mr. Wahls and I do not share. Fair to him, I think we'd get along, but I have to part ways with his reasoning on this issue.

Now, I don't want to get in over my head. There are a number of issues here that deserve mentioning that I simply don't have the time or expertise to flesh out. I've left a few important things unaddressed, namely his huge statements regarding the law how family derives its definition and sense of worth from commitment and "the love that binds us." Frankly, that logic opens the door for all kinds of immorality--things Mr. Wahls would fire his employees over. If there were anything worth taking the time to address, it would certainly be that! I still may, depending on how the shower debates go.

For now, Keller is always helpful. Have fun thinking.

Family.

Christian hope turns the church into something far more profound than a club or interest organization. Gospel beliefs and experience create a bond between Christians that is stronger than any other connection, whether it be blood relationship or racial and national identity. The experience of deep repentance and salvation by grace through the cross of Christ means that my most foundational beliefs about the world and myself now align with those of other Christians. I love my biological siblings, my neighbors, and the other members of my ethnic or racial group, yet we no longer share in common our deepest instincts and beliefs about reality.

- Tim Keller, The Meaning of Marriage, 199.

Pretty sure that's cash.
E

Well Played.

Stay Thirsty, My Friends.

Thanksgiving 2011.

This is so happening.
Luke 14:12-14.

Superstars.

"There was somebody sleeping in that car." But, who is Eron "Plevana."

Fame.
Ep

Why Can't I Think of These Things?!?!

Happy Halloween.

Ep.

30 is the New 20!

The dirty thirty.

What to think? What to think? What to think?

So, folks today I've officially been breathing oxygen for 30 straight years.

Thirty. Oxygen.

Man, I'm no longer in my twenties. What do I make of this? I've been bracing myself for this day now for a while. About 2 years ago, I reluctantly started disclosing my age only to people I like. The less fortunate received a, "Well, how old do you think I am?" which I never confirmed but left to mystery. It's my way of manipulating people's interest in me. Still, I often reply with a foggy, "Hm. Interesting. Yeah, I'm in my twenties. Good guess." I leave the rest to rumor and judgmentalism. To this day, most people guess early twenties by physical profile alone, and I have to admit, I'm usually flattered. In all honesty, I think I've aged well in comparison to most of my peers, and even some younger. I still have a full head of hair. I'm not graying. My metabolism hasn't shown signs of disinterest. I still work out and have some definition. And no signs of wrinkles just yet. I honestly look and feel younger than my birth certificate would accuse. Usually when I tell people my true age, they are like, "No way! I totally would've guessed..." blah, blah, blah. However, those comment doesn't always encourage. It leads to a lot of introspection for me to hear that I look (and sometimes act) like a 24-year old.

But, 'tis true. I've been around the sun 30 times. It's still hot.

Now, what most people wrestle with (including myself) around this time are age-appropriate roles and expectations. I'm 30, so there are those out there who would expect that I should be well into marriage, well into children, and well into an established full-time job--doing the things "adults" do while suggesting those who do otherwise are immature, selfish, and flighty. Others would suggest that I'm just getting started--that 30 is the new 20. I should be traveling. I should be single and unhindered from doing exactly what I want to do. Full-time jobs? Own a home? Marriage? That's so yester-generation. The former describe the latter as "kidults" or "adultlescants," who are unwilling to grow up and take on true responsibility; to which the latter respond by employing terms like "traditional" and "old-fashioned" to describe folks who appear to still be trapped in the 50s. We live in a different era with different age, gender, and overall life expectations, they say. Get over it.

Suits and ties and houses and families vs. cardigans and Toms and apartments and roomies.

In reality it's both. We do live in different times, and just because someone in their late 20s/early 30s doesn't own a home or isn't married with kids doesn't necessarily mean they are being irresponsible or childish--but it might. These factors don't always indicate someone's competency or desire to take on responsibility as a mature adult--but sometimes they do. Sure, we live in a culture that prolongs adolescence. Sure, more times than not there are ideological and moral pitfalls that are clearly associated with this "new adulthood." And the same is true for the "old adulthood." At the end of the day, it's really case-by-case. Some people need to seriously grow up, get married, buy a house, and have kids--if they can. Other people need to seriously grow up and buy a hookah and some flannel. At 30, my heart is certainly ready to start living out some of those traditional expectations, yet there's no way I'm trading my Toms for dress shoes.

All that to say, these are but one of the things I think about on my 10,950th day alive. In a lot of ways, I do feel like I'm just getting started. It does seem, at least for me, that in my 30s I'll learn a lot of things I should've learned in my 20s. The bottom line is that I can't wait for this new decade known as the "dirty thirties." Wish me luck. If as much happens in my 30s as did in my 20s, I'm pretty confident that I'll look back in gratitude for the way the Lord has ordained my steps (Prov. 20:24). Amidst all the messiness of my life as of late, the one thing is certain: whether you're in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or 50s, there's no such thing as plan B with God.

Deep breath. Time to go get a job.

Dirty.
Ep

Dr. Moore on CNN on Pat Robertson on Alzheimer's and Divorce

See Pat Robertson's comments on how Alzheimer's can justify divorce--here.

Now see Dr. Russell Moore's response: