Love Nashville

Today, my church began a new campaign called "Love Nashville." It comes out of a belief that Jesus loves us, Jesus loves the world, and Jesus calls us to love the world in his Name.

The first part of the campaign is prayer. I'm calling our church to a four week season of prayer. We are asking the Lord two questions: How are you calling me to love my neighbors in the Name of Jesus? How are you calling Redeemer to love Nashville in the Name of Jesus in 2011?

If you want to learn more, or if you would like to join us, go to our new website: www.LoveNashville.net


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Anglican Way: Part Two

Last night I taught: "Anglicans are evangelical" Hear it here: http://tinyurl.com/4of3q9v or watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/4w5ydaf



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Anglican Way: Part One

Last night, I taught the first in a multi-part series on "The Anglican Way of Being Christian."  You can get the audio podcast of that teaching here: http://redeemernashville.libsyn.com/anglican-way-one-2011

You can also watch it below.  Enjoy.




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One Minute Review: The Green Hornet

The One Minute Review has heroically seen the Green Hornet for you. Whatever your expectations are, lower them. And watch the review before watching this movie.



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Ten Books Worth Studying

Today I preached about Romans 12:2a: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Once I get the sermon on-line, I will post a link here.

In that sermon, I talked about the spiritual discipline of study.  While I believe that Christians should first and foremost study the Bible, I also think that there are biblically based books that are also deserving of study. Here is a list of ten of those books.  None of these are particularly difficult to read, and there is something somewhat basic about each of them.  But I have found each of them to be helpful for me, and for other Christians.

Ten Books Worth Studying (alphabetical by author)

assembled by Fr. Thomas McKenzie

The Cost of Dicipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Devotional Classics, edited by Richard Foster
Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning
Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
The Cross of Christ, John Stott
Ancient-Future Faith, Robert Webber
Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright


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Top Ten Films of 2010

Here they are, my favorite 10 films of 2010, listed in order from best to least best.  I put this list together by going back through my One Minute Reviews and listening to how I responded at the time.  So, yes I saw Winter's Bone and Black Swan.  But, no I didn't see Waiting for Superman.  

I liked each of these films very much.  It was not hard to come up with my top ten, but it was very difficult to put them in order.  There wasn't an "eleventh" film that I wished I could have included.  At the same time, there wasn't one of these films that I totally fell in love with (as there was back in both 2009 and 2008). 

Frankly, I'm just excited that I liked ten of the movies I saw this year enough to put them on this list.  Not so long ago (October), I was afraid I wouldn't even have a top five.  But thank God and Hollywood for Oscar season!

Once the Oscar nominees come out, I'll give you my Oscar picks and misses, but for now...

Top Ten Films of 2010

1. True Grit
2. Toy Story 3
3. The Fighter
4. Inception
5. 127 Hours
6. Let Me In
7. The King's Speech
8. The Social Network
9. Never Let Me Go
10. Shutter Island

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One Minute Review: Country Strong

How could I not love a Nashville movie? And how could I not love Gwyneth Paltrow after her awesome turn on Glee? But did that translate into loving this film? 

 

One Minute Review: Country Strong from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: The King's Speech

An Oscar darling is born out of this story of honor, duty, and redemption. But is it any fun to watch? The One Minute Review has seen the King and lived to tell the tale.


One Minute Review: The King's Speech from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.


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Epiphany

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany.  This is the day that commemorates the revelation of the Messiah of Israel to the Gentiles.  Isaiah prophesied "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Is. 60:3)  Abraham was told that "all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you" (Gen. 12:3b).  

These promises, and many others like them, began to be fulfilled when the magi found the Child Christ, gave him gifts, and worshiped him (Matthew 2:11).  From that moment on, the light of Christ has been made manifest to all people.  We are the inheritors of that light, and so we set aside a day (January 6th) and an entire season of the Church year (Epiphany) in order to celebrate God's grace in revealing himself to all of us.

At Church of the Redeemer, we celebrate the Epiphany by burning our natural Christmas trees on the church property.  We do this for two reasons.  First, Christmas trees used in our homes are liturgical items.  Like all items used in worship (robes, candles, Bibles), when they are not longer needed they should be burned rather than discarded.  Second, Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Light into the world (John 1:1-14), and this light begins with the Nativity.  So the light of the fire in the cold darkness reminds us of the coming of the Son of God into the world. 

All people are invited to join us.  It lasts less than an hour, and is worth coming for the spectacle alone.  We start at 6 p.m., 920 Caldwell Lane, 37204.  

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