Blog Madness Final Four: Full Court Press

I'm a good sport and all. I don't trash talk. I play by the rules and I always hope the best man (or woman) wins. I also believe that it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.

I also greatly enjoy baskeball. So when I discovered that my blog had made it to the Big Dance (aka Tony Kummer's Blog Madness) I decided to take notice and see how the votes were going. It was interesting to see how the competition unfolded. I noticed that guys like Steve McCoy in the East Division and Timmy Brister in the Midwest made dramatic comebacks to get into the 2nd round. Then it dawned on me--they were begging for votes on their blogs! Very effectively, too, I might add. Shucks, after reading all of Steve's promises I almost voted for him myself.

Now we are in the Final Four and only Ascol, McCoy, Lumpkins and Stetzer are left. Currently, I am not quite winning. It is what it is. But as every sports fan knows, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

It looks like it is shaping up to be a show down between McCoy and me. Now it's show time, baby! Though some people think I should be happy just to be here, I am in it to win it and so I am going to a full court press. From scouting his moves in the previous rounds I discovered that McCoy likes to throw it down from downtown. He's a trifecta addict. I got one thing to say to that.
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Not in my house!

If you live by the 3, you die by the 3. If they can't score, they can't win. Offense may win games, but defense wins championships. Here's the instant replay, with a closer look (that's right, Joe, it ain't happening, and, uh...when we said "b-ball" I guess we shoulda been more specific, huh?).
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OK. All of this to say, go vote for the Founders Blog and let's put this championship to bed. Game on.

Every interpreter's nightmare

Editora Fiel is one of the finest missions works I have ever been associated with (click here for a "translated" version of their website). Rich and Pearl Denham have given their lives to making Christ known in Brazil (and other Portuguese speaking countries) for more than 50 years. It has been my privilege to speak 3 times at the annual Brazilian Fiel conference for church leaders. The last time I was there was 2006. This clip is from the last day of that meeting. Eros Pasquini is the main interpreter for the conference. In addition to being a faithful pastor, he is the best interpreter I have ever worked with. At about 1:45 into the clip I begin to express my appreciation to him for his excellent work during the conference, and have a little fun in the process. If you have ever been an interpreter or worked with one, you will probably appreciate the humor.

Attorney General Mukasey exonerates Calvinists

Tim Ellsworth calls attention to an important statement by Attorney General Michael Mukasey. When asked about profiling Muslims, Mukasey said,

"So far as focusing investigations, we investigate where the threat is coming from. The threat is coming from Islamist extremism. It's not coming from Calvinism." (emphasis added)

It is obvious from this statement that Mukasey has no aspirations to serve in the Southern Baptist Convention (or in a certain Fundamentalist Seminary) after his retirement from government service. Founders Ministries might, however, be interested in talking to him about becoming legal counsel for the ministry.
HT: Tim

Building Bridges Conference #3-Music

Mike Harland of LifeWay is leading our singing for the conference and is doing an outstanding job in guiding us in worship. Theology sings and those who recognize the importance of theology tend to love to sing. That is as it should be since all theology should lead to doxology.

Here is one song that we haven't sung, though I understand that someone emailed it to Ed Stetzer suggesting that he ask Mike sing it as a special today. ;-)

Debt Counseling for Holiday Shopping

In honor of Black Friday and the kickoff of that season when retailers work doubly hard to separate you from your money, I offer this video instruction on how to avoid debt. It is painfully accurate.



HT: Andrew Nicewander