Barnabas Piper's Blog, page 66

What I know About the Gun Issue in America

I know that calling it a “gun issue” will already have triggered responses from many thinking “guns are not the issue” for one reason or another. And they are right, in part.

I know that most arguments for gun control or for the right own guns are simplistic, paint with a broad brush, and attach immorality or injustice to the opposing side.

I know that one side claims what amounts to a divine right to bear arms and the other side sees them as enablers of mass violence. I believe both sides are misguided as a whole.

I know that guns are not a human right and we’ve attached far too much significance to them in America. These deadly instruments, useful in very particular contexts, have become almost hallowed grounds.

I know that the vast majority of gun owners are not pro violence against their fellow humans and abhor such actions. Nor are they, as a whole, “gun nuts” or even “gun enthusiasts.”

I know that a massive chasm exists between those who by culture, context, or choice, have never and will never own a gun and those who grew up with and around guns as a way of life. Both sides see the other as, at best, blind but likely a little deranged.

I know that guns do not kill people, people kill people . . . with guns. Because people are the ones who bear evil in their souls and minds.

I know that a person’s choice to commit violence is a matter of personal responsibility, but each of those choices unravels the seams of society and we are all members of and responsible for society.

I know the government cannot legislate morality, but it is tasked with limiting danger to its citizens.

I know that the government cannot pre-determine those citizens who will callously gun down their fellow men, women, and children which makes the job of protection one not of evil-elimination but of risk-reduction.

I know that without guns people cannot shoot each other either by accident, as when children play with guns, or on purpose in a high school or a drive-by. (And yes, I know that people always will and always have found ways to kill one another.)

I know THAT something must change in how our government protects us even though I do not know HOW it must change.

I know that that a good citizen’s “right to bear arms” should not enable a bad citizen to gun down children.

I know that the laws and structures currently in place are not working to protect citizens from one another.

I know that citizens are not successfully protecting one another or themselves either.

I know that to rein in gun access and institute more stringent laws will require the sacrifice of freedoms by law abiding citizens.

I know that the sacrifice feels massive to many because of the perceived invasion by a governing body into their personal rights.

I know the sacrifice feels like nothing all to those who have never claimed their right to bear arms – for them it is no sacrifice at all.

I know that all of this is complex and complicated – especially because there are hundreds of millions of dollars involved and the highest levels of government. And everything involving economic power and seats of government is complicated.

I know the no matter the complexity, complication, or net worth of these issues they must not be shrugged off or ignored in the lulls between school shootings (or military base shootings or workplace shootings or shootings on Chicago’s South Side).

I know that no person’s right to bear arms supersedes any person’s right to live, even if the one bearing arms would never shoot another human.

I know that thinking of this simply as “as a sin issue” or “a gospel issue” and allowing that to give us permission not to speak, act, and vote for the good our fellow people is unproductive, unhelpful, and unloving.

I know that those of us who are pro-life should be pro-life in the face of any evil that threatens innocents be it a government, a scalpel or an AR-15.

I know that I have barely scratched the surface of this issue, that I have offended some, and that I have frustrated others with a lack of resolution.

I know that I felt compelled to say or write something in the hopes it might move the needle of thought, conviction, or perspective.

I know that my words are not definitive or a deciding factor, but they are what I have and here they are.

3 Things I Like this Week – February 15

Each week I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.

1. As You Wish audiobook – by Cary Elwes

[image error]The Princess Bride is iconic among movies. Rarely is a movie beloved across generations and genders like it. I grew up on it and my daughters are now doing the same. Almost anyone who reads this will be able to quote at least a line (or the whole movie, if you’re like me). And that blanket belovedness is what makes As You Wish such a wonderful audiobook. It is written and read by Cary Elwes, or Westley if you prefer. To hear that voice read these tales of how the movie was made is darn near perfect. And to top it off there are segments interspersed with Robin Wright, Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal, Wallace Sean and others from the cast as well. If you aren’t sold now, the stories of Andre the Giant are the icing on this cake – simply amazing.

2. Bodyguardz iPhone Cases

[image error]Murphy’s law of iPhones says that you will drop your phone within 30 minutes of taking the case off, even sooner if you trick yourself into thinking you don’t need one. These are the best cases I have found. They are flexible enough to take on and off if you need to (but remember, 30 minutes), have cushioning enough to protect against falls (I’ve tested by accident enough times to be a legitimate sample size), and are slim enough to fit in a pocket (unlike Otterbox, which is like carrying a transistor radio). And they are moderately priced too.

3. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

[image error]One of the best things about Jazz, unlike most other genres of music, is the sheer amount of amazing collaboration that happens between artists. This particular album is one of my favorites – two legends being legendary. Both of them subdue their signature styles to play with and around each other but neither fades into the background. It’s a magnificent example of the fluidity and flexibility of jazz played by two of the all-time best.

 

 

He Reads Truth: I Have Sinned Against the Lord

I have the privilege of contributing to He Reads Truth, a website of whose purpose is “To help men become who we were made to be, by doing what we were made to do, by the power and provision that God has given us to do it, for the glory of Jesus Christ.” They do this by providing scripture reading plans accompanied by reflections that can be accessed for free online or purchased as print books. For those of you looking to engage scripture in a fresh way – either because you are dried up or have been away from it, these studies/plans will refresh your soul and engage your mind.

What follows is one of the pieces I wrote for the 1&2 Samuel plan. You can find the full plan HERE.

2 Samuel 11:1-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-25, Psalm 51:1-19, Isaiah 42:1-4

Everyone makes terrible decisions. We sin. We put ourselves in positions of temptation— temptation toward sexual sin, dishonesty, abuse of power or position, hypocrisy. And then we’re tempted to cover it all up. We do exactly what we know we ought not to do, just like David did. We’re no better or worse because of our different sins, anymore than one mud puddle is cleaner than another.

With that said, we must look at what happens after sin. We have two paths available, two choices: ruin or restoration. David chose ruin. He chose to hide and deny his sin, and then to pompously judge the unjust man from Nathan’s parable. It was a profound display of God’s mercy when Nathan declared, “You are that man!” It was the slap across the face David needed to snap him from his sin-induced stupor. It turned him from ruin to restoration.

In that moment, David saw that he had sinned against the Lord. Yes, he had sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against Israel, against his family. But he stood guilty before God. If he’d take an entire lifetime to try to make things right—to pay penance, to work at being a better man—but had never fallen on his knees before God, crying out for mercy, David never would’ve been made right. He would have rotted from the inside out.

That was his turn from ruin to restoration, but restoration did not mean hugs and affirmation. It meant facing the dire consequences of his actions, without indignation or grumbling. David pleaded with God to save his child, but it was not a plea for an easier punishment or a lack of consequences. It was a plea for life, a plea on behalf of someone else.

When his prayers were not granted, we see David’s true heart; he got up, cleaned up, and moved forward. He poured out his soul before God, saying, “Against you alone have I sinned,” and “Create a clean heart in me” (Psalm 51). These are the groanings of a broken man—a man who knows God’s mercy and knows God will not “extinguish the smoldering wick,” but instead will breathe that flame back into life again (Isaiah 42:3).

Ruin or restoration: those are the options after sin. The only way to find restoration is to recognize against Whom we’ve sinned and cast ourselves on His mercy. When we do, we are purged, purified, and, by Christ’s blood, made whiter than snow. Here we rediscover the joy of salvation from which sin blinded us.

New Happy Rant: Enneagram Fights, Crashing Women’s Bible Study, and More

In this episode of The Happy Rant Ted, Ronnie, and Barnabas hash out the following as they do:

Kevin DeYoung’s VERY TGC article about the Enneagram
How people weaponize the Enneagram
When a woman brings a man to women’s Bible Study as a “hot date”
Super Bowl spectacle and half time show

Be sure to visit our website to get fresh roasted coffee from Lagares Roasters, order your Happy Rant swag from Missional Wear, and order your tickets for our next LIVE event – Together for the Rant – to be held in April.

Please consider supporting the podcast financially as well. We have set up a Patreon page, and your donations help us cover production costs, do live events, and grow the podcast by trying some new things. Oh, and of course there are perks for those who commit to helps us such as free books and coffee!

To listen you can:

Subscribe in iTunes.
Listen on Google Play
Listen on Stitcher.
Leave us a rating in iTunes (it only takes 1 click and it really helps us).
Listen using the player below.

Episode #182

3 Things I Like This Week – February 8

Each week I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.

1. The Captain Class by Sam Miller

[image error]A sports book that doubles as a leadership book – not a bad combo. What I appreciated is that it was more narrative driven and diagnostic than prescriptive and motivational. Miller’s research is extensive, his method interesting (if debatable), and his conclusions are fascinating. For a sports wonk and someone who works in management on a team this book was a delightful blend and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

2. Nature is Metal (Instagram Account)

[image error]I love nature shows, and for some reason I am drawn to anything about predators and hunting. Maybe it’s perverse. Whatever. Predators are awesome and magnificent. For that reason I love this instagram account. In the midst of all the feet-at-the-beach pics, MLM pitches, and pictures of people’s kids I get pics and videos of vicious animals doing vicious animal things. The photos are astounding. The videos are often jaw dropping. It’s just amazing.

3. Skateboard Accident Meet Bike Accident

Some days just feel like this, don’t they?

this art piece of a video pic.twitter.com/lCM7gbYSo7

— eniko (@krulens) February 2, 2018

Happy Rant Sports Episode 3: Churches and the Super Bowl, Favorite Super Bowls, and More

In this episode of Happy Rant Sports Ted and Barnabas hone in on the Super Bowl, but not the game itself (since this was recorded before) but on the trappings and history of the game. And they get into other sporty stuff too.

Why are conservative churches so weird about the Super Bowl?
What are our favorite Super Bowl Moments?
How miserable must Blake Griffin be after that trade?
A book recommendation

Be sure to visit our website to get fresh roasted coffee from Lagares Roasters, order your Happy Rant swag from Missional Wear, and order your tickets for our next LIVE event – Together for the Rant – to be held in April.

Please consider supporting the podcast financially as well. We have set up a Patreon page, and your donations help us cover production costs, do live events, and grow the podcast by trying some new things. Oh, and of course there are perks for those who commit to helps us such as free books and coffee!

To listen you can:

Subscribe in iTunes.
Listen on Google Play
Listen on Stitcher.
Leave us a rating in iTunes (it only takes 1 click and it really helps us).
Listen using the player below.

Happy Rant Sports Episode #3

New Happy Rant: Furtick’s Futon, Female Seminary Profs, and Pet Peeves

In this episode of The Happy Rant Ted, Ronnie, and Barnabas take on some recent hot and pressing topics.

Steven Furtick preaches about claiming and naming gates while ling on a futon.
John Piper makes the evangelical social media explode with an article about female Seminary professors
Various and important pet peeves – including being called “bro” and people using personalized hashtags

Be sure to visit our website to get fresh roasted coffee from Lagares Roasters, order your Happy Rant swag from Missional Wear, and order your tickets for our next LIVE event – Together for the Rant – to be held in April.

Please consider supporting the podcast financially as well. We have set up a Patreon page, and your donations help us cover production costs, do live events, and grow the podcast by trying some new things. Oh, and of course there are perks for those who commit to helps us such as free books and coffee!

To listen you can:

Subscribe in iTunes.
Listen on Google Play
Listen on Stitcher.
Leave us a rating in iTunes (it only takes 1 click and it really helps us).
Listen using the player below.

Episode #181

3 Things I Like – February 1

Each week I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.

1. Ceramic Knife Sharpener

[image error]As previously noted in this space, I am knife junky of the non-crazy, non-violent variety. Because of that a dull knife is of particular frustration to me. Enter ceramic knife sharpener. The one shown is an inexpensive, easy to use model and they go upward in price and precision from there. Regardless, they are remarkably effective and giving your knives an edge back in a matter of a few minutes. Mostly people use these on kitchen knives since most normal people only use kitchen knives, and that’s cool too if you;re into that sort of thing.

2. Portillo’s

[image error]I lived in the Chicago area for 12 years before moving to Nashville. I miss almost nothing about living there, but on the short list (just below friends and well above moderately effective public transit) is Portillo’s. Hot dogs, Italian beef, burgers, crinkle fries, chocolate shakes, chocolate cake, chocolate cake in a shake – all of it is amazing. There simply isn’t another fast food/fast casual place that matches Portillo’s. It is deadly good and worth every lost day of life sacrificed on the altar of processed meat and trans fat.

3. Barry Sanders Highlights

I remember exactly where I was when my friend Tim told me that the great Barry Sanders had retired (cutting down a tree behind a small church in McGee Mississippi on a youth group mission trip). Barry was in his prime and had made a career of destroying my favorite team, the Vikings. But he was sublime, and one of the only football players for whom that descriptor fits. Without further ado I present you these videos. Let your collective jaw drop.

 

He Reads Truth: God Has Not Changed

I have the privilege of contributing to He Reads Truth, a website of whose purpose is “To help men become who we were made to be, by doing what we were made to do, by the power and provision that God has given us to do it, for the glory of Jesus Christ.” They do this by providing scripture reading plans accompanied by reflections that can be accessed for free online or purchased as print books. For those of you looking to engage scripture in a fresh way – either because you are dried up or have been away from it, these studies/plans will refresh your soul and engage your mind.

What follows is one of the pieces I wrote for the Hosea plan. You can find the full plan HERE.

Hosea 7:3-16, Galatians 6:6-10, Romans 9:22-24

Kids can be brilliant, clever, and hilarious. But they can be equally dumb and thick-headed. It seems they have two primary ways of exhibiting these latter qualities: 1. disobeying in the same ways repeatedly, no matter what parents say, or 2. thinking they can find a new way to get around rules. And, of course, both lead to the same results each time without fail. Parents’ rules don’t change, don’t bend, and don’t have loopholes. So each exhibition of thick-headedness is met with consequences. The only way this changes is if the kids begin to learn to obey and submit to their parents’ wishes.

In Hosea 7, Israel is the thick-headed child. Verse after verse regales the reader with the rebellion of one tribe or another. They are stubborn; they think they are clever. They are trying to put one past God or overrun His authority with sheer will – like that ever works. It’s what got them into trouble in the first place.

Even more remarkable is that this comes on the heels of redemption upon redemption. Throughout the first part of the book of Hosea, we saw God go to great lengths to show His people how He would rescue them from themselves and their unfaithfulness. And yet, here we are. You and I should resonate with this. We should recognize our own proclivity to rebel, to ignore, to think too highly of our cleverness. We are like Israel in a million ways.

But Israel’s, and our, fickleness and foolishness does not change God. He shows Himself to be a Redeemer still. He says, “I want to redeem them.” Despite rebellion upon disrespect upon idolatry, God wants to redeem His people—even though they do not call on Him. They grasp at any other false hope they can find. They use the gifts and abilities God gave them for their own ends instead of for His honor. They reject God completely. Yet still He wants to redeem.

God does not change. He does not waffle when we waffle. God does not become distant and unavailable when we distance ourselves. He is steady though we are not. He is faithful though we are not. Though we push God away, He does not push us away.

God stands ready to redeem, and make whole, and restore. Always. Even when we behave like stubborn children.

New Happy Rant: Ronnie at Leisure, Motivational Motivation, and Morgan Freeman Protests

In this episode of The Happy Rant Ted, Ronnie, and Barnabas hash out the following.

Ronnie at Leisure including dinner, watching football, rollerblading, watching ballet, and talking about his feelings
Their failings about all things “motivational”
Morgan Freeman’s protests of an anatomically correct SAG award

Be sure to visit our website to get fresh roasted coffee from Lagares Roasters, order your Happy Rant swag from Missional Wear, and order your tickets for our next LIVE event – Together for the Rant – to be held in April. TICKETS ARE $10 THROUGH 1/31 THEN THE PRICE GOES UP TO $15. So get yours now.

Please consider supporting the podcast financially as well. We have set up a Patreon page, and your donations help us cover production costs, do live events, and grow the podcast by trying some new things. Oh, and of course there are perks for those who commit to helps us such as free books and coffee!

To listen you can:

Subscribe in iTunes.
Listen on Google Play
Listen on Stitcher.
Leave us a rating in iTunes (it only takes 1 click and it really helps us).
Listen using the player below.

Episode #180