Thursday Thinking - Dr. Daniel B. Wallace

Daniel B. Wallace is the founder and the executive director of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts. This past September he gave a couple of short lectures at Biola University's undergraduate chapel sessions entitled, "Is What We Have Now What They Wrote Then?" This lecture (part 1 and part 2) is a very accessible introduction to how we got the Bible and how we should think about it. The website for the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts is worth a visit to explore their mission, news updates, and resources they offer.

Wednesday Words - Making Room

Advent begins on November 27. The theme of my advent teaching series at Valley is Making Room: The Christmas Call to Open Our Lives.

Thanks to Jason Daum for the wonderful artwork. Thanks in advance to Jonathan Miller for the theme chorus we'll be singing at worship times. Here are the lyrics I sent him yesterday morning.

Making Room
There is a knocking on the door.
It is the coming of the Lord.
The Light of Truth, the Living Word.
I'm making room, making room.

In this dark night I hear a plea.
A voice that calls with urgency,
And asks, "Do you have room for me?"
I'm making room, making room.

There is a promise to believe.
There is a Savior to receive.
Lord, you are welcome; do not leave.
I'm making room, making room.

My life is open, come inside.
Lord, be my vision, be my guide.
Be born in me; be glorified.
I’m making room, making room.

Tuesday Tome - All That Jesus Asks

I recently completed a teaching series at Valley called All Jesus Asks. Each week's sermon was based on a specific question posed by Jesus somewhere in the pages of the gospels. I got the idea for the series from a book by Stan Guthrie called, All that Jesus Asks. I first heard about the book through the Books and Culture Podcast.

Over the last several months as I've been preaching this series, I've also been encouraging people to read Stan Guthrie's book as a companion to my teaching series. On November 22, 7:00pm, I'll be leading a book club discussion at Valley Christian Church (more info). If you've read the book or are interested in reading it in the future, please consider joining us.

Several copies of the book are still available at the Valley Resource Center or church office. It's also available at Amazon right now for a very low price.

Monday Music - Tedeschi Trucks Band

Here's a rockin' way to get your week started. Susan Tedeschi and her husband, Derek Trucks, blow me away with this one. Soul baby!

Sunday Supplication

Dear Lord, we thank you for the Scriptures you have inspired and provided. Make us quick to hear them, read, mark, learn, and apply them. Help us hold fast to the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ.

You know our weaknesses and you understand our limitations. Our sins and failures are no secret or surprise to you. And yet, Dear Father, you are faithful to forgive, you are ready to renew, you are able to lift us up, and you call us to press forward in Christ.

Thank you for the forgiveness, hope, and redemption you give. In the same way, help us to forgive, to encourage, and to bless others. You are gracious and merciful to us, and we ask you to make us gracious and merciful to others.

O God, thank you for providing for our needs. Give us hearts that are generous toward others in need. Make us ready and willing to help those who are less fortunate. May your grace and provision for us always result in grace and provision for those around us.

Through Christ, we pray. Amen

Two Upcoming Concerts

Ben Rosenbush and Jake Armerding
Valley Christian Church
Lakeville, 7:30pm, $5 adv. $7 door
Special duo concert w/ Jake Armerding
http://www.valleycc.org/concert-info.html


The Cactus Blossoms CD Release Show
Friday, October 7, 2011, Music at 8 PM, doors at 7pm
Ritz Theater (345 13th Ave NE Minneapolis).
$8 advance/$10 door.
All Ages
Click Here for Concert Info

Local Music: The Brighton

One of my favorite local singer/songwriters is Ben Rosenbush (The Brighton). His music, lyrics, vocals, and arrangements are really as good as it gets. I've enjoyed several of Ben's live performances and been glad to see he's just as good in person as he is on the recordings.

Visit his facebook page.

I'm looking forward to getting together with Ben in the next week or two to talk about the possibilities of a concert at Valley sometime this autumn. Here is a beautiful song and video I just stumbled across yesterday. Hope you enjoy it and much as I do.

CONCERT: Tomorrow Night (Aug. 23) at the Ritz

Don't miss a great concert tomorrow night at the RITZ in NE Minneapolis (Tuesday, August 23). My son Tyler's new band, LEAGUES, will be making their Minneapolis debut as part of a short tour. My sons Page and Jack, THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS, will also be performing.

You'll want to bring a few extra bucks to the show to buy a copy of The Cactus Blossom's new CD and the LEAGUES' new three-song EP.

Get a sample of Leagues by clicking here.
Get a sample of The Cactus Blossoms by clicking here.

I'm not sure how many tickets are left, but you should go online to buy your tickets now. Only 250 seats at the RITZ, so don't delay. Hope you can make it.

Cactus Blossoms on Tuesday, 8:00pm

Don't miss your chance to see The Cactus Blossoms next Tuesday, August 23, 8:00pm at the Ritz Theatre in NE Minneapolis. Enjoy the live performance and pick up a copy of their new CD.
Get your tickets now!

Also on the same show bill: LEAGUES (featuring Tyler Burkum); and ZOO ANIMAL.

Leagues & Blossoms - August 24

Click Here to Buy Tickets

Burkum Boys in Concert - Aug. 23 - $8.00

I'm looking forward to hearing my boys play at the RITZ in NE Minneapolis on Tuesday, August 23. Tyler's new band, LEAGUES, will be making their Minneapolis debut as part of a short tour. Incidentally, LEAGUES will be opening for Mat Kearney on his upcoming fall tour.

Page and Jack, THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS, will also be performing at the RITZ on Tuesday, August 23. They'll be performing a batch of new songs from their brand new CD. You'll want to bring a few extra bucks to the show to buy a copy for yourself.

Mark it on your calendar and buy your tickets now. Only 250 seats at the RITZ, so don't delay.

John Stott: A Life Well-Lived

John Stott died this week at age 90. For over half a century, his life and ministry have brought incalculable blessing to both individual Christians and the greater Church. Click here to read a tribute published by Christianity Today (see excerpt below).

Stott passed away peacefully at a retirement home for former Anglican clergy at St Barnabas College, just outside London.

He was a classical evangelical throughout his life, never compromising on the need for personal conversion, the authority of Scripture and the centrality of Jesus’ death for sinners.

Yet he also believed that Christian engagement with the world should not be limited to evangelism and was passionate about the moral and social dimensions of the Gospel, including justice for the poor and the care of creation.

Books by Stott that have been a help and inspiration for me include:

Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today

The Cross of Christ

Basic Leadership

The Living Church

The Message of the Sermon on the Mount

New EP from LEAGUES

Download music free from my son, Tyler's, new band.
Click picture to open link.

Dear Emily

Richard Beck posted some wonderful Emily Dickenson quotes on his Experimental Theology blog today. Each of them is a gem, and each reminded me of how much I enjoy the Belle of Amherst.

"'We thank thee Oh Father,' for these strange Minds, that enamor us against thee."

"On subjects of which we know nothing, we both believe and disbelieve a hundred times an Hour, which keeps Believing nimble."

"When Jesus tells us about his Father, we distrust him. When he shows us his House, we turn away, but when he confides to us that he is 'acquainted with Grief,' we listen, for that also is an Acquaintance of our own."

Years ago I wrote a song to Miss Dickenson that has quite a number of quotes from her poems. It's on my Breathe a Little Deeper CD.