This 'n' That

Well, it has been a most interesting week. It seems from every angle, things have been rather busy over the past few days! Of course, few things have been as prominent in the blogging world as the now infamous Code Orange Revival. Tonight T.D. Jakes will take the stage. Word is that people actually camped out overnight at Elevation Church to ensure that they could get a seat for this monumental event. Really? I guess I didn't realize that seeing a heretic live and in person was such a great occasion.

As I pondered the ramifications of Code Orange Revival (and there are and will continue to be many!), I did arrive at one conclusion. There will be some good come from this event. In the case of the missing Matt Chandler sermon, how ironic it is that the one good, Gospel-centered sermon, the one that Elevation Church attempted to censor, is actually the one sermon that people are searching for and waiting to hear? (It can be viewed here). I love that. In other cases, I cannot help but think that Code Orange might actually send some people further into God's Word. Hear me out. For those who are watching and whom God has drawn or is drawing to Himself, it is impossible to listen to these speakers and not seethe with frustration and anger over the twisting of the Biblical text. Yet, what does this overload of narcigesis result in? I pray that it is resulting in many opening their Bibles for themselves and delving into the whole context of these passages, in an attempt to discern what God is truly saying in His Word. Those who are enjoying having their ears tickled will walk away from this event content that they are more spiritual simply for having attended and/or watched. Those whose ears were not itching for such teaching in the first place will be driven back to God's Word in search of the Truth. And might I remind you, dear reader, that the Bible is where we ought to turn in our search for the truth. Scripture: always true, always relevant, and always, always, pointing us back to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

With that, here's your week in review (kind of):

• Here is a helpful reference list of 100 Top Contemplative Proponents Evangelicals Turn To Today.

• Monergism has links to 10 downloadable sermons by Steve Lawson on Radical Depravity and Election! 

• Reformation 21 has a good review of Tullian Tchividjian's book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything.

• Not entirely sure I agree with Voddie Baucham on this one.

• Beth Moore has tips on how to know you're hearing from God. Um, okay. I think I'll just open my Bible.

• In 2009, Perry Noble mocked the idea of planning a revival. Hm, he must have forgotten he said this.

• Speaking of Perry Noble and planned revivals, he spent his sermon time at the Code Orange Revival praising (and practically worshiping) Elevation Church and Steven Furtick.

• Speaking of the Code Orange Revival, Chris Rosebrough has been biblically evaluating each message of the revival. Go here to hear these episodes of Fighting for the Faith.

• John Piper says Allah can be known through Jesus?

• A government survey has decided discovered that 5% of Americans suffer from a serious mental illness. Wonderful. Like we really needed an excuse to keep manufacturing new medications and to keep people drugged up. Seems to me this is simply evidence that Americans need the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• I've heard Phil Johnson tell this story in the past. It's worth reading again and pondering his thoughts at the end.

• Of Straw Men and Shameful Speech.

• Hey Haters! (Max Holiday Birdcage Theater Edition). Just watch it. It's worth it: