I have no idea where I got this. All I know is that it is from D.A. Carson. If someone knows where it is from please leave it in the comments. This really puts contextualization into perspective:

Paul refuses to circumcise Titus, even when it was demanded by many in the Jerusalem crowd, not because it didn't matter to them, but because it mattered so much that if he acquiesced, he would have been giving the impression that faith in Jesus is not enough for salvation: one has to become a Jew first, before one can become a Christian. That would jeopardize the exclusive sufficiency of Jesus.

To create a contemporary analogy: If I'm called to preach the gospel among a lot of people who are cultural teetotalers, I'll give up alcohol for the sake of the gospel. But if they start saying, "You cannot be a Christian and drink alcohol," I'll reply, "Pass the port" or "I'll think I'll have a glass of Beaujolais with my meal." Paul is flexible and therefore prepared to circumcise Timothy when the exclusive sufficiency of Christ is not at stake and when a little cultural accommodation will advance the gospel; he is rigidly inflexible and therefore refuses to circumcise Titus when people are saying that Gentiles must be circumcised and become Jews to accept the Jewish Messiah.

In case you missed it David has faithfully put Wednesday's sermon online. It's out to the right. This sermon is on Ephesians 3:1-13. I had preached on this text awhile back and took it in a little different direction this time.

Again the sound is a little rough (no fault of David's). We are hoping to get a lapel mic or something pretty soon and then the sound will be better.

Please tell me this is not serious, look at what Greg Gilbert has posted, without comment. UPDATE: For some reason they took down the link at 9Marks. Here is what he had linked to.

Abraham Piper points us to the Tim Keller Wiki page.

So, maybe it's a good thing that I haven't gotten into Facebook. According to this guy, Facebook makes people dumber. (HT: Richard)

I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Tom Schreiner this week. I was overjoyed to come back and find that his sermons are available online. (HT: JT)

Jonathan Leeman offers two tips for promoting kingdom mindedness when preaching.

Part 4 of CJ's interview with Powlison.

Can ei me mean but in John 3:13. See Mounce's answer.

Phil Johnson continues his discussion on "The Pornification of the Pulpit"

R. Scott Clark has some advice for young preachers. (HT: Milton)

See Driscoll on Nightline debating the existence of Satan.

Here is a very faithful witness to the redeeming power of Jesus:
(HT: Denny)

....The God I Don't Understand by Christopher Wright?

I am currently reading this book and it is really stretching me. If you are reading it too and you happen to visit this blog let me know what you think. Even if you are not reading that book I want to encourage you to check out these links and consider buying the book:

http://www.koinoniablog.net/the-god-i-dont-understand/

Here is a sample:

"To me it is a profoundly moving thought that the word that introduces our most tormenting questions--"Why...?"--was uttered by Jesus on the very cross that was God's answer to the question that the whole creation poses." (Wright, 21)

This could get ugly: Mark Dever makes comments about infant baptism....Michael Bird responds, calling his statements out of line. R. Scott Clark returns the favor; although saying not offended he says NOT practicing infant baptism is a sin. This has the potential to get really ugly because it calls into question the sincerity of Together for the Gospel. There are others that have responded as well. One of those responding is Rick Phillips. I think he helps us to see with clarity the real issue. Stay tuned. I also must mention that Dever has responded with a clarification.

There are more blog posts from Stetzer interviewing Andy Stanley on Communication. I will only link to part 5 you can do the rest of the work.

Another solid article from Finn and Reid on Calvinism and the SBC.

James McDonald writes a letter to a dying church.

Part 2 and Part 3 of CJ's interivew with David Powlison.

Timmy Brister offers 20 books that promote life-change. Can't believe he left off How People Change.

Last week I linked to the Time magazine article on The New Calvinism being #3 in new ideas changing the world. Thabiti is not nearly as optimistic as some. I should also mention that in a few places Driscoll got drilled for his take on the movement. But what else is new.

Trevin Wax offers advice on reading when you're broke.

John Piper tells us to Never Let the Gospel Get Smaller.

The new 9marks E-Journal is now online. JT summarizes it.

Dan Wallace corrects a common misunderstanding on textual variants. Pastors and those often involved with apologetics read this.

That will do for now....have to watch some March Madness.

A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day.
The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room. He decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, he sent the email.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband’s funeral. He was a minister who was called home to glory following a heart attack. The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from family and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow’s son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor passed out. He looked at the computer which read:

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I’ve Arrived
Date: March 2, 2009

I know you’re surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I’ve just arrived and have been checked in. I’ve seen that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then!!!! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

P.S. Sure is freaking hot down here!!!!

(HT: Guy Muse via. Frank Viola)