Alex Forrest's Blog

A few more photos

2008-07-14T21:34:00.004-05:00

There are, of course, many more photos. I hope to find time to put a bunch of them on the photoblog over the next week or so, but these will suffice for now.

Baptism & Testimonies

2008-07-13T21:53:00.001-05:00

Imagine that you're staying at the Marriott for the weekend, and on Sunday morning you decide to head down to the pool. Then imagine that a couple hundred people gather around the pool and 18 of them are baptized in the shallow end. That was the scene Sunday morning as our weekly meeting included a fun time at the pool witnessing so many baptisms. I enjoyed seeing fathers baptize their teenage kids and couldn't help but think about the day when I hope to do the same.

It was also nice to hear the testimonies of a few of the people participating - there was unfortunately not time to hear all of them. I just read a rather remarkable story that we were not able to hear. It's worth the read.

A few vacation photos

2008-07-13T16:06:00.001-05:00

Calvin on Knowledge of God

2008-07-11T15:09:00.000-05:00

A thought for the day:

Like Augustine before him, John Calvin talked about the pursuit of happiness as the beginning point for the knowledge of God. Calvin, however, kind of went through the back door in saying we need to first come to grips with our deep unhappiness, with the ruin wrought by sin in our lives and in the world. Calvin:

Each of us must, then, be so stung by the consciousness of his own
unhappiness as to attain at least some knowledge of God. Thus, from the feeling
of our own ignorance, vanity, poverty, infirmity, and - what is more - depravity
and corruption, we recognize that the true light of wisdom, sound virtue, full
abundance of every good, and purity of righteousness rest in the Lord alone. To
this extent we are prompted by our own ills to contemplate the good things of
God; and we cannot seriously aspire to him before we begin to become
displeased with ourselves.

In other words, we must first deal with the reality that things are not the way they are supposed to be; that something deep and fundamental is wrong about ourselves. We must be honest with ourselves. In so doing, we can begin to find God as He redeems and makes whole what is broken.

Quoted in David Clyde Jones: Biblical Christian Ethics.

Happy Anniversary

2008-07-10T10:13:00.000-05:00

Happy anniversary, Keri!

Kierkegaard's Wound

2008-07-08T14:44:00.000-05:00

One of the interesting paradoxes about pursuing holiness is that the more one advances in holiness, the more one feels the weight of sin and dependence upon God. People who are not serious about moral and righteous living often have a high esteem of themselves and of their virtue, while often those who really are more virtuous feel less so, because they are more aware of and more sensitive to the depths of sin in the heart of every person.

Kierkegaard scholar C. Stephen Evans writes: "Kierkegaard speaks of this split between what one is and what one knows one should be as a wound, and says that it is the mark of the truly moral or ethical person to 'keep the wound open.' and not bandage it with superficial palliatives."

In other words, it is painful to recognize sin within us - it hurts. And we live in a culture that wants to psychologize and medicate any kind of pain (even good pain) and convince us that we are really OK and good - it wants to kill the vestiges of sin by telling us there is no such thing. So we are taught to put band-aids on this wound, and to kill the pain through endless rounds of business and distractions that never give us time to rest and feel the pain of our sinfulness.

So Kierkegaard (who primarily wrote against the shallow superficiality of cultural Christianity in his day) is wise to warn us to "keep the wound open." That way we are wary of pride and constantly reminded of our dependence upon God's grace.

True Beauty

2008-07-06T19:54:00.001-05:00

In a 2004 cover story in Spin Magazine, U2 frontman Bono (note: if you're new to the blog, you'll know that U2 holds a unique position in my personal music pantheon) says, "The job of art is to chase away ugliness." (By the way, you can read the full article here). It seems to me that such a view certainly comports with Scripture. God is a creative God and one who loves beauty - He didn't have to make the sky turn glorious hues of orange and purple when the sun sets, for example. His creation was good. By contrast, sin brings ugliness - none worse than the ugliness inside the human heart. The goal of good art should be, as Bono says, to chase away ugliness, to remind show us beauty. There is a transcendent quality to art that does this, something that ought to remind us that True Beauty exists, and that ugliness will ultimately vanish in Christ's kingdom.

Of course, many in the arts celebrate ugliness. Think of the compositions of John Cage, think of infamous art exhibits that draw publicity by shocking ugliness. A poll of 500 influential arts figures, released in 2004, declared that the most influential work of modern art is Marchel Duchamp's "Urinal." And yes, it is basically a white porcelain urinal like you would find at your favorite rest stop. Don't believe it - look at it here. This is what the cultural elites of our day think is good art. I guess we might agree that it is influential, and certainly says something about the culture that produced and celebrates it. "Ugly" art attempts to subvert (or "deconstruct") the norm, what most of us would consider beauty. The purported aim is usually to "push the envelope," which they would have us believe is a high calling of art. Yet these things are subversive and destructive.

True Beauty exists, and it ought to be the goal of art to celebrate it and draw us to it, to remind us of the beauty of our Creator. The Church should celebrate such art and this high calling.

At the Beach

2008-07-05T13:14:00.000-05:00

By the time this is actually posted, I trust we will be well on our way to a much-anticipated (and much needed!) vacation at the beach. We sure love the beach (Keri and I often think we are misplaced beach bums)! To prevent any cobwebs or rust from developing on my recently resuscitated blog I've pre-set a few posts from a few years ago to reappear over the next week.

Have a great week. Cheers!

Eli's First Haircut

2008-07-04T15:39:00.003-05:00

After some debate, we determined it was time for Eli to lose the Austrian-punk-rocker do and get his first haircut. That way, or so the logic went, he won't be bothered by having hair in his eyes on the beach next week. So, though I felt like a dork, I took the camera in and got some photos of the event while simultaneously trying to entertain Asa.

Quotable

2008-07-02T22:32:00.003-05:00

Yesterday Asa was speculating as to whether or not someone would be coming over after his afternoon nap. He said, "Who's coming over when I get up? Nobody or yesbody, which one?"

It reminded me of when he says, "That's mines" (not yours). It all actually makes a little bit of sense.

Great Offer on ESV Study Bible

2008-07-01T18:06:00.000-05:00

The long-awaited ESV Study Bible is slated to be released in October. Crossway is making a very kind and generous offer: If you pre-order before July 31st you will get 35% off. Additionally, if you use this link to order, 5% of your purchase will be donated to Sovereign Grace Ministries.

The ESV is my favorite translation of the Bible, and I've read and heard that this study bible will be bar none the best one on the market.

What Happened to their Baby?

2008-06-30T16:17:00.007-05:00

It was probably one of the more difficult sermons Jim, our senior pastor, has had to prepare and preach. Last week brought tragedy to a couple in our church as, at 6 months, an infection sent the wife into early delivery that resulted in their second baby and first son being stillborn. When Jim's teenage son asked where baby Jonas was, it occurred to Jim that such a question would be on the minds of many others in the church, and so he deviated from our study of 1 Peter to wade through these very deep waters. The sermon is online as are Jim's sermon notes. (Or just search here.)

The result is a helpful look at a subject that we wish never came up, but occasionally does as babies are miscarried, stillborn, aborted, etc. Jim's treatment is thorough, well-researched, and biblically grounded. But, above all, it was very pastoral, a moment for a pastor to shepherd his flock through deep and troubling waters with great care and skill.

The conclusion is that baby Jonas is with Jesus, but not because he was innocent (he was not - the stain of sin was on him) and not because he deserved it (no one does), but because of God's sovereign grace. This is not mere sentimentality, it is good biblical theology that brings great comfort in times like this. I commend it to you. Also, here's a helpful article by Al Mohler and Danny Akin that reaches the same conclusion.

And pray for the Coopers - tomorrow they will bury Jonas. They are full of faith and grief.

Sprinklers at the Park

2008-06-29T14:59:00.004-05:00

Yesterday we decided to check out the new Hollingsworth Park. It's a nice park with a lot of open space and a decent playground area. Best of all, because it's new and not on a major road, it seems that very few people know it's there, so we nearly had the run of the place. One other thing we learned is that the sprinklers come on around 8 pm - but as you can see, Asa didn't seem to mind a bit. Eli was content to swing and hang out, but Asa preferred the sprinklers.

Stuff I Like: Bolthouse Farms

2008-06-27T21:39:00.002-05:00

If you're like me, you know you don't eat enough fruits and certainly don't get enough veggies, but are not sure what to do about it. A while back we visited Costco for the first time and, among the seemingly endless array of items to be sampled was a nasty, funktified looking concoction called "Green Goodness." I'm honestly surprised, looking back, that I dared take a sip. It just looks gross. To be honest, while it's not as bad as it looks, it's not that great either.

Listen to what's in it, though. Among other things you'll get wheat grass, spirulina, spinach, blue-green algae, kiwi juice. All told there are 14 all-natural, healthy ingredients that make up this nasty looking concoction. Basically, it's super-healthy, and it is not terrible. Do not be misled, I doubt you'll love it, but neither do I think you'll hate it, and it is really really good for you. So I'm all in.

Green Goodness is made by Bolthouse Farms, a family-run farm in California. I was pleased to learn they have a whole array of similarly natural, healthy products. I've been drinking a small cup of "Berry Boost" (which does taste very good) most afternoons for a pick-me-up, and am eager to try other products. I was also very pleased to learn that many of these products are available at our local Publix (among other places).

As if refreshing, all-natural, healthy products aren't enough reason to like Bolthouse Farms, check out their corporate mission statement: "The purpose of this Company is to glorify God through our business transactions, our work, and our relationships. It is further our desire to bring honor and glory to the Name of Jesus Christ by following God's Word in all of our dealings with employees, suppliers, and customers. God's Work as contained in His Inspired Scriptures will be the final authority in all Corporate matters concerning direction, decisions, and disputes."

Stuff I Like: JuJu's Mediterranean Bistro

2008-06-26T20:38:00.004-05:00

I envision a series of posts entitled "Stuff I Like" that includes random glimpses into fairly mundane things that I happen to like and enjoy. After all, a blog is in some ways a diary - a catalog of events one can look back on, a glimpse inside my life and, scarier still, my brain.

One thing I like is an easy-to-miss little joint called JuJu's Mediterranean Bistro. One day while Keri and the boys were meeting her mom for lunch, I was driving by and spontaneously decided to give it a shot. I wasn't sure it was even open. I walked in and heard the Middle Eastern pop music and knew I'd like the place. Turns out it was just me and JuJu herself, a Lebanese lady in her 50s (?) who does the cooking. She was really friendly and showed me great hospitality - she was really working hard to sell me on the place, and she was successful.

Yes, JuJu's is great. So far I haven't made it past stuffed grape leaves (there's a fancier name I can't pronounce and wouldn't dream of spelling), a chicken shawarma sandwich, and fatoush. There's much more I'd like to try. My greatest concern was whether or not the place could survive. Last week I returned for lunch with my friend Paul and was happy to see other customers.

I'm not a food critic, so here's a review from someone who apparently is. But I encourage you to give it a shot.

Asa's Wordle

2008-06-20T14:07:00.003-05:00

Click to see it larger.

Stuff I Like: Pandora

2008-06-18T16:10:00.003-05:00

Briefly, I may be the last one to the party here, but if you haven't heard of it you need to check out Pandora. I use it everyday while I work from home to provide some background music, which helps keeps me moving through the day. With Pandora, you can create up to 100 personalized radio stations (they also have some nice pre-set genre stations available - we like the New Orleans jazz station while entertaining friends in our home). You begin by entering a song or artist, and Pandora creates a station based on that preference, using music that is similar in style and whatnot. You can give a thumbs up or down to a particular song, and each time you do you're refining the station's content.

It's radio in that you can't just pick a song on-demand, and can't rewind or repeat a song (though you can skip one), and they pay royalties for each song they play. Pandora is free, relying on advertising and donations to keep going. It really is a great way to get music for any mood or whim, and I strongly recommend it.

2-Year-Old Theology

2008-06-13T17:20:00.001-05:00

"Does God have a beard?" An interesting question, though I changed the syntax. I believe it was actually, "he have a beard?" When Asa learned that God does not have a beard, he was noticeably pleased because, for whatever reason, Asa tends to be afraid of beards. (That's another post for another time).

I think that teaching my sons theology will be one of the greatest responsibilities, privileges, and joys of fatherhood. Of course we're teaching them theology everyday in the way we speak to each other, pray, discipline, repent. We're teaching them theology when we worship with and invest ourselves in the life of our local church. We're teaching theology a hundred different ways whether we realize it or not.

But I'm thinking of what the theologians call theology proper. For now there are a few questions about God, such as "Where is he?" In some ways we've already started drawing lines, such as this one that would make some mainline and liberal Protestants mad: "Is God a lady?" "No."
(Also last night.)

One day we'll get into the Trinity and all of that. It will be interesting, I'm sure. But for now Asa just seems content to know that God doesn't have a beard.

Bonhoeffer on Fellowship

2008-06-08T17:58:00.000-05:00

Another quote from my sermon notes from 1 Peter that didn't make it into the sermon, but which is nevertheless helpful and worth considering:

"So between the death of Christ and the Last Day it is only by a gracious anticipation of the last things that Christians are privileged to live in visible fellowship with other Christians."
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 18

One of the main points in the message is that believers are able, in this life, to experience a foretaste of the eternal blessing that will be our inheritance in Christ, and that, apart from personal fellowship with Him, the primary means of experiencing that blessing is through giving ourselves to participation in our local church. I think Bonhoeffer understood that well.

Peter on the Believer's Perspective

2008-06-07T20:53:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to preach on 1 Peter 3:8-12. Though I didn't use this quote in my message, I found it to be a helpful in understanding the message of this text, especially given that these verses are a summary the previous chapter or so.

"[Believers] are encouraged to persevere, knowing that a great reward will be theirs on the day of salvation. Such perseverance is exhibited by living a godly life, living as good citizens, model slaves, gentle wives, and understanding husbands. When believers live in such a way, they indicate that they are placing their hope in God rather than in the joys and comforts of this world… those who hope and trust in God and in his future reward will have the strength to endure whatever comes their way in the present. When believers set their hope on the future, they reveal that their salvation comes from the cross of Christ."

-- Thomas Schreiner's commentary on 1 Peter, p 45

Mother's Day Photos

2008-06-06T08:53:00.004-05:00

We took the boys in the backyard the week of Mother's Day to try to get some nice photos for their grandmothers. I wound up taking a hundred or more pictures. This is the showcase shot -- the one that went in the frames. But there were more that were good and funny and all that, so I'll try to put more over on the photoblog this weekend.

Is This The End?

2008-06-04T18:11:00.001-05:00

I've been a Braves fan my whole life, so it's probably no surprise to know that my favorite player has long been John Smoltz. His fiery competitiveness is legendary, and his integrity and the respect he garners on and off the field is equally well known. He's a big-game pitcher par excellence, the winningest postseason pitcher of all time. He's the only pitcher to ever record 200 victories and 150 saves, and is in the very elite 3,000 strikeout club. For years he's pitched through pain, willing himself to continue, and has remained among the game's elite.

Today brings news that his shoulder can't go on, so he's having season-ending surgery that could well be career-ending surgery. I'm so glad he was able to pitch long enough this season to get that 3,000th strikeout at Turner Field. I sure hope he can come back, but if he can't, there is a real possibility that Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux, should the other two opt to retire after this year, will go into the Hall of Fame together on what will be Braves Day at Cooperstown in a few years. That'll be cool.

Gospel Translations

2008-06-01T13:49:00.001-05:00

Gospel Translations is a new venture whose aim is to get gospel-centered resources into as many hands as possible, especially in parts of the world where such resources just aren't available. You'll find a video here explaining what they do. A number of organizations have joined forces in this worthwhile effort, and they are on the lookout for volunteers who can help with translation work. If you have the ability to help them, it would be a wonderful way to serve.

Bush at Furman

2008-05-31T08:55:00.006-05:00

Almost exactly ten years ago I graduated from Furman University, a smallish liberal arts school here in Greenville. Our commencement speaker was the President... of the school. Today, Furman's 2008 graduates will hear a commencement speech from the President... of the United States. A bit of an upgrade I'd say.

Now, I'm not being partisan at all about this. If you can get the sitting President of the United States to your campus for commencement, you just do it. The exposure and publicity it brings are priceless, and it lends a certain level of credibility or seriousness to your school. So, in 1998, if we could have had Bill Clinton, that would have been great. Heck, there were rumors that we had a shot at getting Jimmy Carter that year, and that would have been good too. These are just things you do if you can, and the speeches are certainly more interesting and memorable. (I mean, nobody really wants to listen to a speech at any graduation.... so it's good if it has a little pizazz to it.)

Naturally, the school has been awash in controversy over the visit. Much of the faculty is in a general foment, they have censured the school president for not checking with them, and many have now been excused from the ceremony as conscientious objectors. All of this, of course, only adds to the story and the potential publicity, which is a good thing. And it also makes it all a bit more interesting and memorable for those graduates.

Update: Here's the story of Bush's visit.

Come Weary Saints

2008-05-30T13:55:00.001-05:00

For some time now I've been meaning to post a review of the latest project from Sovereign Grace Music, entitled Come Weary Saints.

The focus of the songs on this CD is on turning our hearts to worship and setting our hope in the gospel in times of suffering, trial, and weariness. That theme is laced throughout each track. The lyrics are wonderfully rich and soul-stirring, and musically, in my opinion, this is the best CD from SG to date. While I genuinely like the entire CD, I'm particularly impressed with the fifth track, "Every Day."

There's more that could be said, but the long and the short of it is that you will, I think, both benefit from and enjoy this CD. I heartily commend it to you.