I'm 99.9 percent sure Noah's ark has not been found. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go here.)

For one, the "ark" was found by evangelicals. I'm an evangelical. I can tell you with certainty we don't have the experience or archaeological expertise to find the ark. No way. Potlucks? Yes, we can do that with precision. Indiana Jones-esque exploratory discovery? Forget about it.

For two, the carbon dating of the "ark" supposedly dates it at like 4,800 years old. Puh-lease! Like a real ark discovery would really buttress the whole Young Earth theory.

For three, Jack T. Chick would never allow it. The Pope and the Church of Satan are in cahoots to hide the whereabouts of Noah's wessel (pardon my Chekov accent), and if you don't believe it, just buy one of his tracts at your local Christian megastore.

For four, the "discoverers" claim they found a perfectly preserved 1611 King James Bible resting comfortably in Noah's sleeping quarters, thus proving that Jimmy's translation is God's perfect Word.

Ok, just kidding about that last one.

Whatever you’re feeling about your local or national government, Jesus has something to say to you.

Jesus was approached by both Pharisees and Herodians for the purpose of trapping him. Herodians (of the party of Herod) were the party of the establishment and therefore encouraged paying taxes. The Pharisees did not like taxes but begrudgingly went along. The Zealots openly opposed paying taxes to Rome and called on people not to. (Jesus clearly distances himself from the Zealots in his answer.)

“’Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not’ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’” (Matthew 22:18-20).

He calls them hypocrites and they demonstrate this when they show him a coin with Caesar’s picture on it. The coin itself was considered sinful by the Jews. It bore a “graven image” of Tiberius Caesar. The inscription read in Latin, “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus” and on the other side, “High Priest.” This coin proclaimed blasphemy, that Caesar was divine and that he was the High Priest. Though it broke the first two commandments according to their own interpretation, they were perfectly willing to use Caesar’s money. They hated the taxes but enjoyed the benefits Caesar provided. (Note: Jesus is the one who actually deserves those titles - "Son of God" and "High Priest".)

Tiberius was an evil man and paying taxes was not merely unpopular but opposed by many as immoral. Yet Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Jesus was teaching that the earthly government has areas that they are responsible for and so we submit, even to a government we don’t like.

Tiberius was really evil by the way. (Read that link at your own risk.) With the exception of certain South American and Middle Eastern countries, your head of state has nothing on Tiberius. Here's more info on the man that Jesus said people should pay taxes to.

In Jesus’ day the only way the people could change a government was through revolt or revolution. We should thank God for the founding fathers. Because of their brilliance and foresight, in America we can make changes without bloodshed. We can vote rulers out. We can speak freely.

Paul took advantage of the legal rights granted him as a Roman citizen. But he still gave honor and respect to those in authority, even when they were immoral. We also should take advantage of all the legal rights we have as American citizens, but do so with respect and civility.

Rulers have authority delegated to them by God. Remember, this is just your temporary country. If you are a Christian, then your permanent citizenship is in heaven.

Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. This statement is so profound. Being a citizen of the kingdom, means being a good citizen of earthly governments. But don't for a minute forget that God's rule is more important. And when we pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, that should mean far more than what laws are being passed in the legislature.

So in summary, be a good citizen and obey the law. Fight for what is right using all the legal means accessible to you. But remember that victories in the political and earthly sphere are merely temporary. We have been called to build the Kingdom of God, which is far better than any earthly state. Above all remember that God is in charge and it is from him that ultimate authority flows and to him that ultimate allegiance is owed. God “changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them” (Daniel 2:21).

My timing on this post was impeccable . . .

I realize that vague prayer requests make it hard to know what to pray for, but if you have the time and inclination, please say a prayer one very dear to me who is hurting, and for the healing of those hurts and for hope. Your prayers are much appreciated!

If that headline isn't enough to get you to read with curiousity (and possibly some incredulity) I don't know what is!

My favorite part is at the bottom in bold.

Miley Cyrus Says The Internet 'Wastes Your Life'

When Miley Cyrus left Twitter last fall — possibly at her beau and "The Last Song" co-star Liam Hemsworth's request — fans were upset at not being able to keep track of the pop star's every thought. And while they still may be mourning the loss of Cyrus' tweets nearly six months after she said goodbye, she doesn't regret the decision to leave one bit.

"I was kind of tired of telling everyone what I'm doing," Cyrus said in an interview with Movieline. "I hate when I read things and celebrities are complaining like, 'I have no personal life.' I'm like, well, that's because you write everything that you're doing."

Cyrus said that she realized the only person she was hurting by tweeting every moment of her life was herself. "So I was that person who was like, 'I'm so sad. I have no real, normal life. Everyone knows what I'm doing.' And I'm like, well that's my own fault because I'm telling everyone," the singer explained. "And then I'd tweet, 'I'm here,' and I'd wonder why a thousand fans are outside the restaurant. Well, hello, I just told them. So I'm just, like, kind of thinking it doesn't really make a lot of sense. Everything I'm saying is not really going with what I'm putting on the Internet."

Cyrus explained the benefits of not constantly being on the Internet: "I'm a lot less on my phone, I'm a little bit more social. I have a lot more real friends as opposed to friends who are on the Internet who I'm talking to — which is like not cool, not safe, not fun and most likely not real. I think everything is just better when you're not so wrapped up in [the Internet].

"I just think it's kind of lame," Cyrus added. "I feel like I hang out with my friends and they're so busy taking pictures of what they're doing and putting them on Facebook that they're not really enjoying what they're doing. You're going to look back and have a million pictures, but you're not going to be in any of them. Because you're not having fun, you're too busy clicking away. So I think, just enjoy the moment you're in, and stop telling people about it. Just enjoy it."

And what advice does she have for other teens wrapped up in their online life? Well, simply to get offline and get outside. "I'm telling kids, don't go on the Internet, it's dangerous, it's not fun, it wastes your life," she said. "And you should be outside playing sports or something."

"You're going to look back and have a million pictures, but you're not going to be in any of them...and you should be outside playing sports or something." Preach it, Miley.

We are not victims of God's will, we are willing participants and grateful recipients.

- Neal McHenry

The words of a young man who just lost his wife, the mother of four young children, to brain cancer.

That's reality, and wisdom born of suffering.

Speechless . . .

God through Malachi comes to the end of a series of rebukes of the priests of Israel (for offering polluted and blemished sacrifices) and says this:

Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.
-- Malachi 1:14

This is a curse you and I bear. We are -- every one of us -- cheats. Hucksters. Phonies. Charlatans. Hypocrites. We go through the religious motions, we muddle through. We soak in lukewarmness. We vow our best to God and then give him half our heart (or less). And truth be told, there is not a single one of us whose best would not be blemished anyhow, total depravity being what it is.

So there we have it. We sinful, scheming cheats are under a curse. And God, as R.C. Sproul says, "will not negotiate his holiness."

But he will have his glory one way or another. That is not up for debate. His name "will be feared among the nations." He has predetermined this, and our sin, though great and total, is not some kind of kryptonite for God's plans for his own fame. His glory will cover the earth like the waters cover the seas. That's a promise.

So what to do? Nothing we can do. Just be cursed cheats, I s'pose. Something must give, though. God won't negotiate the price but he will have his own glory. Could it be -- oh my goodness, dare we think it? -- that he'd paid the price himself?

And here we see in the harsh tones of Malachi the whispers of the Messiah. Between the lines of the heavy words of rebuke ride the heavy beams of the cross. These old covenant shadows are cast by the emergence of the new.

God vows a male from his own flock, but an unblemished one. The spotless lamb of God bears the curse for us. (As the Scriptures say, cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree. And while he hangs there, cheaters play beneath his feet.)

Because he is a great King. And his name will be feared among the nations.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Justin Taylor turned off comments at his blog. Then he turned them back on again. The first post after return is a fairly unassuming one, highlighting an interview with a member of the group Owl City, who is a believer. What ensued in the comments and at least one trackbacked post is a good example of the tyranny of hyper-spirituality in action.

For the record, I don't care for Owl City. I think I once made fun of their song on Twitter. I had no idea the guy was a Christian, and even knowing that doesn't make me want to revisit their music. It's a little, um, frou-frou for my taste, I think. In any event, I have no idea how Adam Young lives out his profession of faith in his life, but I certainly can't judge that based on what he does for a living, even if that living is "art." What's strange about evangelicals is how free they feel to tell others how to make "Christian art" while producing heaps and heaps of artistic garbage themselves every year. (In fact, many of those upset with Young for not singing about Jesus probably criticize the current quality of CCM, as well.)

I am a huge fan of Jesus-fixation, but if this guy wants to make his living singing about fireflies . . . well, okay. If I were to approach my need for him to need to always sing explicitly about Jesus, I should also say things like the following:

I demand Christian plumbers also make their, um, plumbing more explicitly Christian. Also Christian hairstylists, carpenters, loggers, software designers, helpline operators, and crossing guards. Why aren't you exhibiting the gospel, slackers?

I think this is what happens when the tyranny of hyper-spirituality kicks in.

What's worse is not the sentiment that Adam Young can't sing about stuff that doesn't mention Jesus, but that Justin Taylor can't even link to it. It's apparently not edifying to talk about a song about fireflies. Even in the context of an interview with the guy explicitly professing Christ!

Straining out gnats to swallow camels?

No live-blog tonight, but feel free to comment on the show in the comments.

Things are progressing quickly to the end . . .

I know I was supposed to liveblog LOST tonight. Forgot about deacons' meeting.

My bad.

For those of you who were wondering, or just flat out love the song, or maybe you just love Charlie, and so by extension you like anything associated with him...

Here's the story behind the song:

Bryan Burk: We knew that we were going to have to have that song that Charlie's character would sing 'that Driveshaft song'. And we had no idea what it was, and it was something that we thought we would write. We were talking to Dom about possibly coming up with a song.

Dominic Monaghan: J.J. and Damon actually said to me that if I wanted to write a song, they would consider it. So, myself and my friend Shocks in LA actually wrote a song which was called "Photos and Plans", which we played for them, and they liked. Didn't actually make it into the show.

Bryan Burk: Years ago, Matt Reeves, as one of our oldest friends, um had been watching an episode, which I believe was Phil Donahue, just so you understand how many years ago...

Damon Lindelof: ...Where this woman basically stood up in the audience and I can't remember exactly what she said, but she said, it was like, "You all everybody, is acting like the stupid people wearing expensive clothes."

Bryan Burk: We'd be sitting in what they'd call 'video village', where all the monitors are, and where we spend a good portion of our day, where we hang out in between everything being set up. Non-stop, we'd be saying "You all everybody, acting like it's the stupid people wearing the expensive clothes."

Damon Lindelof: ...And everybody would crack up. It's like, "What does that even mean? What is it?" Y'know, so it's like "You all everybody!" Like it just became sort of an inside joke, so one of the things we kept saying, like J.J., we've got to write, y'know, what Driveshaft's song is.

Bryan Burk: At one point in a delirious stupor, we realized that we had said it so many times, that that had to be the song. And on the spot, with Don, our script supervisor, we wrote down all the lyrics of "You All Everybody".

Damon Lindelof: Then on the day that we were shooting, we were shooting Charlie, Kate and Jack walking up, and Charlie first starts humming it to himself, and Kate's like, "Where do I know that song from?" Y'know, that was the day that the sort of melody was generated. J.J. like kind of hummed a tune to it. J.J. was just sort of sitting, goes [pitched singing], "You All Everybody. You All Everybody." He's like, "Just do that." Y'know. And that was it.

Dominic Monaghan: I based the voice in the Pilot on when Prince puts on his female voice, for when he sings like, "If I Was Your Girlfriend" on "Sign 'O' the Times". He kind of affects this female voice, and Beck does it as well. [Scene of Charlie singing to Kate in Pilot in high-pitched voice] So, I just thought, well, I have'a laugh, because I don't know what this song is going to be, so I might as well do the harmonies, which is why it became this, [Sings high-pitched] "You All Everybody", which actually isn't what it actually became in Episode 5 The Moth. [Scene from The Moth of on-stage singing] But we just took the exact lyrics from that talk show and turned it into a song. We gave it over to this songwriter called Jude[1].

[Jude's picture shown]

Bryan Burk: Jude is this amazing local LA singer-songwriter. Um, who I'd first heard of him because he had a song on the City of Angels soundtrack.

Dominic Monaghan: Him and his band just y'know, brought together this kind of, 'Oasis-esque', 'Ocean-Colour-Scene-y'[2], y'know, not great, but kind of not bad tune.

Bryan Burk: We needed a song, and we needed a specific kind of tone and rhythm, and [Snaps fingers] the next day, he came in with it, and it was great. It was like this perfect prop song. So, we knew if we wanted a catchy song, Jude was the guy to go to.

You All Everybody Lyrics

Rock and roll, man

I walk around my town
Watch the people come and go
I watch them up and down
And i see what they don't know
They have given up on me
I can see it in their eyes
Well, i have given up on you
And i think you should realise

You all, everybody
You all, everybody
I don't like you stupid people
Wearing expensive clothes
You all everybody
You all, everybody

You all everybody

I know you see what i have been
And compare with what i am
But i don't care now what you've seen
I'm just doing what i can
You say you've given up on me
And you say it like i should care
Well i have given up on you
And no, i don't want to “share”

Chorus
You all everybody

And will you get the message now?
When i cross my heart and shout it out damn loud?

Chorus
You all everybody
Yeah, you all everybody

And of course there was the "You All Every Butties" commercial that Driveshaft recorded... "Official Website"

I'm sure others have noticed this, but it clicked for me tonight.

I know which Kwon is the "candidate".

***** SPOILER OF DUBIOUS VALUE BELOW THE FOLD *****
Read the rest of this entry . . .

Go check this out! What's In The Bible

Do watch his video where Phil explains that what he really wants to do is combat Biblical illiteracy in the church. And so, he is seeking to give kids an A-to-Z instruction. It's not just stories, it's the story. He is trying to give kids the content of the Bible in context and in order, so that they know what's where and why. It looks pretty good.

Here's a review from Dallas Theological Seminary:

I’ve just spent four hours with what I think will be two of the most life-changing titles of the year. Hang onto your seats. They’re children’s DVD’s called What’s In The Bible? They were so good that I watched each one twice.

Phil Vischer (creator of VeggieTales) has just released the first two of what will ultimately be a 13-DVD series covering the whole Bible. With puppets, animation and live-action craziness, you get the silly songs, clever jokes and what you might not expect–some great Bible teaching. Along with a good overview of Genesis and Exodus, the first two DVD’s hit some meaty issues as well. Canon, redemption, inspiration and salvation are simply explained by a Sunday School lady with a magic flannelgraph, a piano-playing pastor, a church-history-loving pirate and a lovable cast of characters. How many adults can answer the question of why Catholic and Orthodox Bibles have more books than the Protestant version? My favorite was the Popsicle-stick theater debate on how to depict God (I cheered with the conclusion). Now, I’m trying to figure out how I can get my adult class to watch these.

These DVD’s fill a huge void in presenting an entire overview of the Bible for children. With Biblical literacy at a low, these DVD’s need to be in the hands of every kid in the church. My real hope is that with repeated viewings, their parents will watch them and learn the Bible also.

They talk about canonization and theology? For the pre-school set? Wow!

So what do you think? Has anyone seen these yet? I'm thinking about getting them.

A couple of weeks ago my brother and I were cruising through the streets of west Houston, headed toward a James Coney Island in order to procure a few hot dogs. While on the road we listened to some bootlegged U2 tunes from a concert that took place during the recent first leg of the U2 360 Tour. I can't remember the venue, but the recording was of a very high quality.

As I thought about that quick excursion a few days later, I thought about the songs we listed to (we skipped around): "Breathe," "Unknown Caller," "Moment of Surrender," and "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)." To me, that was a telling track list. Three of the four songs are off of U2's new album, No Line On The Horizon, and the last one mentioned, "Ultraviolet," is from 1991's masterpiece, Achtung Baby.

How amazing this band is. They formed in 1976 (the year I was born) and year after year, decade after decade, they still produce relevant, poetic, groundbreaking music. And, of course, the new music serves as the centerpiece of their tours -- they don't do greatest hits tours, at least not yet. (Heck, I think they've even won over our own Billboy. :-)

One of these days I'll write about my experience at the 360 Houston show. It only took me four years to finally get around to writing a memoir of my experience at the 2005 Vertigo Houston show. So the way I see it I have another 3.5 years to write something about the 360 concert. Maybe U2 will have another album out by then, and another tour to look forward to ...

"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree" - (Revelations 9:4) - As seen by me on an Earth Day T-Shirt.

"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." (Ecclesiastes 10:2) - Seen on a Tshirt at a website selling politically conservative stuff.

May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. The text of Psalm 109:8 which appears on "Pray for Obama" Tshirts. That one was deliberate.

Then of course there is all those youth group shirts that use a Bible verse to parody some popular cultural trend...

And the over-used "Do not judge" that is quoted on on blogs on message boards anytime people start arguing about homosexuality.

I keep waiting to see an atheist Tshirt that says "There is no God" and cites: Deuteronomy 32:39, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:23, 2 Kings 1:3, 2 Kings 1:6, 2 Kings 1:16, 2 Kings 5:15, 1 Chronicles 17:20, 2 Chronicles 6:14, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1, Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 45:5, Isaiah 45:21, 1 Corinthians 8:4! (And yes, all those verses do say "there is no God". I dare you to go check.

What are your favorite examples of out of context or otherwise misused Bible verses?

Specifically, North Boston. A friend of ours who was very active in our homegroup has moved back home to Boston. She's looking for a church that is Biblically sound and that does small groups.

If you know of any, please leave a comment. Thanks!

A nifty U2/John Mayer mashup.

This week's Lost live-blog will commence shortly, albeit a little delayed, as I am waiting for my better half to arrive home.

This appears to be a Hurley episode and, as such, it will no doubt be awesome (the episode, not my blogging).

***** Major Spoilers Below The Fold *****
Read the rest of this entry . . .

I was just about to put a picture of a monkey up when I saw Phil's timely post. Well done, Phil - thanks for breaking the silence.

To the one or two of you who still watch 24 (which is the only show I watch other than Lost) - I gave up on it earlier in the season but was pulled back in.

Last night's show was . . . AWESOME. Chloe running CTU, Bauer locked and loaded for vengence. 24 is back for its swan-song last few episodes.

Preparing to Live-blog Lost now, unless I keel over first (I'm tired).

Oh, and . . . what the hey.