Lucid Theology

Today Grace to You launched a new page on their site where they plan on providing, free of charge, an expositional study of a book of the Bible. The plan is to have a new sermon online every Friday. They launched it off with the book of Philemon. This sure looks like a great resource for anyone and everyone who seeks to know the Bible verse by verse; or as GTY says it, “Unleashing God’s Truth, One Verse at a Time.”

Here’s an easy way to start an expositional study through a book of the Bible. Each week we’ll update the website with a new message so you can work through an entire book, verse-by-verse, with pastor-teacher John MacArthur.

We’ll post the newest message on Friday (so you can have it for your Saturday morning devotions) and leave it up for the duration of that book study. You can check back each week, or you can add the “GTY Audio Study” to your RSS feeder to receive an automatic reminder (click here to learn more about GTY RSS feeds).

If you’ll set aside the time, we’ll give you the message. So grab your Bible, a notebook and pen (or open a new document!), and get ready to enjoy the profound riches of God’s Word.

Over the years I have grown fond of Casting Crowns. I recall when they came and performed in Miami—what an experience. It wasn’t like many concerts that I have been to. Overall, it felt like a worship service at a church. Along with the band playing music, there was a message by a pastor. I love this band and the rich and powerful lyrics that characterize much of their music.

After two Platinum-selling albums (Casting Crowns & Lifesong), one Platinum and one Gold live project (Live from Atlanta & Lifesong Live), numerous awards, and one of the most successful headlining tours in our industry, one might expect a different Casting Crowns. Those who meet this exceptional group, however, quickly realize they are still the same down-to-earth people with ministry at the heart of what they do both on the road, and in their local churches where each of the members serve on-staff or as laypeople, including lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall who still holds his post as youth pastor at his home church.

Casting Crowns third album, The Altar and The Door, draws on this first-hand ministry experience with real people, real life struggle and the faith that overcomes. At the altar, everything makes sense, says Hall. When we re in the church and spending time with God, we know what we’re supposed to do and how to live. Everything is black and white. But somewhere between the altar and the door, when we leave and go out into our lives, it all leaks out. Everything gets gray again. It s like we have these two lives, and the Christian life is the journey between the altar and door….trying to get the things you ve got in your head, into your hands, into your feet, and into your life. This album is all about that journey of realization, the struggles we encounter and the victory of seeing it as possible.

Tomorrow night (Friday, July 10, 2007; @ 10pm EST), ABC’s 20/20 will be airing a provocative show on the life of Billy Graham and his influence in the lives of many United States president’s. The list includes: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush.

Though over the latter years of his life, Graham’s theology has been skewed (e.g. his inclusivity of salvation by other means than Christ alone), I still greatly admire this man who has been a solid man of integrity preaching the gospel. God’s sovereign work is not limited to perfect people–He still works despite flawed men.

It’ll be an interesting show.

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TIME posted some interesting and worth reading articles on their website: Billy Graham, Pastor In Chief as well as On Life and Loss