I think my wife's a Calvinist

Thanks to Faith and Theology for the original post. Please check them out for 2 more theologico-musicals, and much more.

A History of Christianity

The BBC are currently broadcasting a new series presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch on the History of Christianity. It is a 6 episode series of which the first episode has been aired already and can be found here on iplayer. I only caught glimpses of the episode (of which I plan to watch in full asap) but it looks rather promising. It is aired at 2100, Thursday on BBC4.

His book, 'A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years' has had raved reviews from people, including Rowan Williams, so I hope that this series will follow suit.

Till Next Time!

The Ehud and Eglon Song

If you've not read it go do so now. Judges 3!
Then listen to a rather graphic Sunday school song.
Thanks to Beatthedrum for the link.

You can find the song HERE

UPDATE:
Also please see below as the author, Matt Blick, has posted where you can get the song chords as well as download some of his other work!

A modern lament

I forgot about this song that a Christian band called Skillet did. Ok, so it's nowhere as near as dark as the Psalmists but it's one of the few modern examples I know of. Enjoy!

Where are the hymns of lament?

I've noticed of late that there are no real hymns of lament!
'Abide with me' comes to mind then I get a stretched.
Anyone know any? Please post below if you do.

It seems like a rather big gap in our worship. Of course there are loads of Psalms of lament yet we seem to have ignored the genre today. If we are to worship at all times, and come as we are, do we not need, as the Psalmists at least seemed to, need to come and lament as to rejoice?

Even Jesus lamented, although in this case in words;

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
(Matt 26:36-46)

It seems to be looked down on in church now. You are expected to be happy and joyous all the time and if you're not then it is seems as you lacking something in Christ.
I think it's time that we re-established this genre in our worship and learn to mourn with those who mourn, as well as rejoice with those who rejoice.

Till next time.

I want this T-shirt

From Inhabitatio Dei, via Sub Ratione Dei, from source Letters From Kamp Krusty. Obviously not just me that likes it then!

Till Next Time!

At last!

So, I've finally got around to finishing Sanders tome, 'Paul and Palestinian Judaism'. I'm glad to have read it but I must be honest and say I don't think I know any more then I did already, which I suppose is more a celebration of the great lecturers I had at Cardiff Uni (of particular note in this case, Simon Woodman). The reason it has taken me so long to finish it is that I had to keep stopping and read other books so my brain didn't melt. It's not the most riveting of reads and at (regular) times feel very much like you're trying to cut through stone with a wooden toothpick however I feel that a book of such grandeur deserves the effort. Anyway, on to the next book selection:

The Voice of Matthew; Lauren Winner
&
The man Gospels of Jesus; P. Comfort and J. Driesbach

Till next time!