Live-Blogging Obama's Night at the DNC

5:55 Albert Gore is speaking. Let's just say Obama's personality and presentation in speeches far exceed Vice President Gore.

Gore is big on climate crisis. I think there are some serious issues here, but I don't think it should be the number one issue on American's minds...or the number two or three issue for that matter.

I just saw Jin from Lost listening to Gore's speech. I guess the explosion on the ship where Jin apparently died was a hyper-implosion into Mile High Stadium in the future for the Obama acceptance speech.

6:00 The Democrats are clearly selling the idea that a McCain win would be Bush re-deux. Crowd signs like "McCain more of the Same" and similar lines like that dominate the speeches by Democrats at this convention.

Breaking News Joe Biden just arrived at Invesco Stadium.

Gore is done. Keith Olberman of MSNBC confirms that Gore has endorsed Obama in the speech. Chris Matthews makes a reference to his lost election and the Supreme Court decision that "decided" the presidency of George W. Bush.

6:10 The wave has been started in the Denver stadium.

Senator and Basketball star Bill Bradley and Sean Hannity are duking it out on FoxNews. Hannity says the war has been won in Iraq. The Surge has worked. I think that may have been a shot at Bradley's statements of which I did not here as I just switched from MSNBC. A white guy with white hair and a white goatee that I do not recognize is singing a bit soulish America the Beautiful on stage.

6:20 A CNN commentator just said that people have been paying a thousand dollars to try to get tickets and that usually people want to get out of political speeches and not into them. I like Wolf Blitzer: His name and face and hair work together well.

Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is on stage. I believe this is an endorsement of Senator Obama. Reference to Gettysburg here. Compared economic crisis and debt to a "moral failure not just a financial one." "Too many people in power have failed us." "Stubborness a substitute for leadership." Some pointed remarks to Mr. Bush. A back-handed slam on McCain's age. Restoring the hope and bringing the change of Lincoln will come with, apparently, the election of Mr. Obama. "Yes we can."

Another reference to the "potential catastrophe of global warming," this time by a CNN commentator. Catastrophe. Maybe I need to do some more research. Is this a potential serious problem or is it a potential catastrophe. Is terrorism more of a catastrophic possibility? The economy? Killing unborn children in the womb? War-mongering? What are the true crisises (how do you spell this plural version of crisis?) of our country? Our world? Just curious...

6:29 The speech has now been made public even though he is yet to speak for 30 minutes. There is the glory of media for you. MSNBC's Olberman is reading it now. Thank you for ruining the suspense of it for us all...j

6:31 That was cool. A break on FoxNews and John McCain comes on in commercial form congratulating Obama "on this historic day." That was refreshing.

6:41 Hannity has read the speech and is letting everyone know that there is nothing new but regular "liberal" rhetoric. Hannity wants a strong conservative not a moderate like a Lieberman. Why does this not surprise me? Hannity wants "the base" rallied.

Over 80,000 in the stadium, says Wolf of CNN. Conventions are big money for cities over $160 million dollars will be generated in Denver CNN reports.

Side-note: Benny Hinn is on TBN right now sporting his regular white outfit.

6:55 I love the distinction between MSNBC and FoxNews now. Some have said MSNBC=Liberal, FoxNews=Conservative, CNN=Non-Partisan. Slate had a funny edited piece of FoxNews and MSNBC earlier in the convention showing the distinctions.

MSNBC noted that Obama has written most of this speech complimenting both his writing ability and his inspirational oration. "Not God bless America but God damn America," echoes in my ears as FoxNews is reviewing the rise of Obama and popped in a clip of Rev. Wright--Obama's ex-pastor.

The Broncos are playing the Packers, CNN's Blitzer notes, thus this pillared stage erection must be torn down for the big game.

Secret Service must be really on their toes tonight. The security in that stadium somehow must be controlled.

Michele Obama is here: CNN shows me this.

7:00 Senator Dick Durbin is introducing Senator Obama. He did this 4 years ago at the DNC when Obama, according to him, "changed politics in America." He says Obama has spoken about the "better angels of our nature" as Americans. What does this mean?

7:02-7:12 The video tribute has begun. A baby picture. Cute. Young Obama swinging a baseball bat. He only met his father once for a month. Obama was, in his words, "..shaped more by his absence then his presence." Parents grew up in the great depression. Obama's mother saw in him "a promise" says the video commentator. Only time Obama saw his mother angry was when she saw cruelty, and was furious when Obama did this growing up. Some cute self-depreciation of his unusual name. Barack had a pile of student loans so did Michele. If they are looking to connect they have connected with me on that note. Flashes of the his family. He wants a family that "transmits" values to the next generation: kindness, faith, sense of empathy, etc. I believe the narrator is actor David Strathairn of Good Night and Good Luck.

7:12 Obama. Flashing camera's. U2's City of Blinding Lights in the background. He appears emotional.

7:14 Nomination accepted.

7:17-7:38 Thanks many including the "love of his life" and his daughters..."America we are better than these last 8 years"..."Tonight I say..to the people across this land--Enough!"..."John McCain has voted with George Bush 90% of the time"..."I'm not ready to take a 10% chance on change"...that was a clever line...

Does John McCain really think middle-class is below 5 million? Is it true that tax cuts are only for the rich?

Obama is keying in on the economy. Using normal Democrat rhetoric.

"Our government should work for us not against us." It is one of the "promises of America". Should the government do that?

Now he is spelling out "exactly" what he means by change.

Tax cuts for 95 percent of the middle class. Energy investments. He will not settle for kids without a chance for an eduction. He's going to pay teachers higher salaries. We will keep our promise to every young American we will make sure you can afford a college education. Now is the time to keep the promise of affordable healthcare for every American. Let's just say the promises are rolling more then I can type. Now is the time for change of bankruptcy laws and social security. Now is the time for equal pay for an equal days work so daughters have same opportunities as sons.

Many of these plans will cost money, but he will lay out how to pay for everything.

(I lost everything that I just typed by the failure of a laptop.)

7:54 Here is the big wammie tying in the MLK speech: "In America our destiny is inextricably linked...we cannot walk alone, the preacher cried...America we cannot turn back...at this moment we must pledge once more to march into the future..."

8:00 Here comes the commentary....MSNBC's Olberman: "Vote for him or do not. But take pride that America can produce men and speakers as that." MSNBC's Matthews: "I've been criticized for saying that he inspires me. To hell with my critics."

CNN's Anderson Cooper: "A speech of a lifetime...the most certainly dramatic speech he has ever given."

A woman has a tear-stained face.

FoxNews commentator: "It's history...the spectacle is what dominates me...emotion came from the history...i don't know that he did the closing sale tonight."

Bill Kristol FoxNews: Thinks Obama met and exceeded expectations and an "impressive" speech.

MSNBC's David Gregory: Thinks the Democrats are "motivated."

CNN's Campbell Brown: One concern, would the language be too soaring? "What you heard tonight was down there, plain spoken, no B.S."

8:17 I can't help be taken by the historical moment of the speech. No doubt it was staged brilliantly even if you think brilliant staging is sickening in politics. It is true too that it was not all soaring rhetoric, instead there was distinction on the issues from him and McCain and toughness and thoughtfulness regarding national security. Obama has a way of speaking that resonates in the hearts of people that McCain cannot compare to. But it is not oration ability that makes a president.

Amazed and Thankful

Would not Martin Luther King Jr, if he were alive today, be amazed and thankful that 45 years since his I Have a Dream speech a black president would be nominated for the President of the United States.

I am grateful for the progress in the United States of America on this particular issue.*

*This blog post is not an endorsement of Barack Obama.

Ezekiel's Refrain

A quick ESV search shows me that 22 times the book of Ezekiel says "...then they will know that I am the Lord." The other three times in the Bible it is used, is twice in Isaiah and once in Genesis. The search also shows me that 13 times in the book of Ezekiel it is put this way: "then you will know that I am the Lord." Numbers pops up as another book that mentions it once in this way. One finds a bit of overlap between the verse when searching the difference in this phrase between "you" and "they" in the Bible and in Ezekiel, but the point is clear God desires that "you" and others ("they") know Him.

God through the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel wants to be known as who He is. This refrain in Ezekiel is a key theme of the book. Often, as I mentioned yesterday, it is connected to judgment:

"And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the Lord, who strikes." Ez. 7:9

"Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have set fire to Egypt, and all her helpers are broken" Ez. 30:8

"I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord. " Ez. 35:9

But it is also connected to mercy:

"And I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the Lord." Ez. 36:11

"And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.” Ez. 37:14

God is a merciful judge. He wants to be known as the God who gives mercy and the God who will respond in judgment. But as James says in James 2:13: "Mercy triumphs over judgment." Thank God for His great mercy. Ezekiel like James shows us this wonderful gift of God. But what is often forgotten is the phrase right before that in James which is also made clear in Ezekiel: "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy." That is sobering.

May we know the Lord and seek to know Him better. He is full of mercy, and He will come again in judgment.

They Shall Know that I am the Lord

In reading Ezekiel I find everywhere that God wants to be known.

He wants to be known as the Lord--the Sovereign One. God is the possessor of all things, the ruler of all, and master of all. So when peoples and lands forget He comes in judgment to remind them.

Judgment is one of God's means of helping people to know Him. Not exactly a spiritual discipline instituted by us, but sometimes a form of discipline instituted by God to show a nation or a person that He is the Sovereign and He desires to be known as so.

"And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Ez. 30:26

I think its best to know that He is the Lord before judgment comes, and this knowledge is practical because we deny the knowledge of Him as Lord when we trust other idols or we treat the things in life as if they are our own.

It is better to figure this out before we need to be reminded.

The Danger of Dualism and the Renewal of All Things in Jesus

"A dualistic conception of regeneration was the cause of the rupture between the life of nature and the life of grace. It has, on account of its too intense contemplation of celestial things, neglected to give due attention to the world of God's creation. It has, on account of its exclusive love of things eternal, been backward in the fulfillment of its temporal duties. It has neglected the care of the body because it cared too exclusively for the soul. And this one-sided, inharmonious conception in the course of time has led more than one sect to a mystic worshipping of Christ alone, to the exclusion of God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. Christ was conceived exclusively as the Savior, and His cosmological significance was lost out of sight.

This dualism, however, is by no means countenanced by the Holy Scriptures...and further, that the object of the work of redemption is not limited to the salvation of individual sinners, but extends itself to the redemption of the world, and to the organic reunion of all things in heaven and of earth under Christ as their original head. Christ himself does not speak only of the regeneration of the earth, but also of a regeneration of the cosmos...

In keeping with this, the final outcome of the future, foreshadowed in the H. Scriptures, is not the merely spiritual existence of saved souls, but the restoration of the entire cosmos, when God will be all in all under the renewed heaven on the renewed earth.

Thereby of course Calvinism puts an end once and for all to contempt for the world, neglect of temporal and under-valuation of cosmical things. Comsical life has regained its worth not at the expense of things eternal, but by virtue of its capacity as God's handiwork and as a revelation of God's attributes."

Abraham Kuyper. Lectures on Calvinism. 118-120.

Antichrist and Beast

Eschatology (one's end times belief) gets a bit muddled when one interprets the Antichrist and the Beast solely as lone figures at the last 50 years of the world as we know it. In fact, the church in focusing solely on these infamous iconic figures and structures as a one-time reality, the church falls prey to the antichrist and beast itself. Is not several antichrists and several beasts more biblically accurate? We look for just the Antichrist rather then antichrists and the Beast rather then beasts. Pastor Douglas Wilson makes great points on this subject in a recent blog post:

"So what is the sin of being an antichrist. Through long-standing misunderstandings about eschatology, the definition of this sin has gotten almost completely distorted. A common understanding is to see The Antichrist and The Beast as the same character out of poorly written end times novels. But this is not the case at all. In Scripture, a beast is a civil ruler, persecuting the Church. An antichrist is a false teacher from within, one infected with all the latest ideational leprosy. For a beast, think Stalin, Hitler, Nero. For an antichrist, think of a mild, soften-spoken Anglican bishop -- one who denies that Jesus was God enfleshed." (HT: Douglas Wilson)

I Will Melt You

God's wrath is a frightening thing. Ezekiel is full of God's anger toward Israel for their idolatry. The wrath of God is like a furnace that melts precious metal.

"Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are dross of silver. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, to blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. 21 I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. 22 As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the Lord; I have poured out my wrath upon you.” Ezekiel 22:18-22

It is good to know that Jesus has absorbed the wrath of God for sinners. Those who trust Jesus are saved from God's wrath. Those who do not have the hot furnace of the wrath of God on their heads.

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." Jn. 3:36

"Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." Ro. 5:9

The blood of Jesus not only washes away sin, but removes the wrath of God.

Before the Face

"But it remained the special trait of Calvinism that it placed the believer before the face of God, not only in His church, but also in his personal, family, social, and political life. The majesty of God, and the authority of God press upon the Calvinist in the whole of his human existence. He is a pilgrim, not in the sense that he is marching through the world with which he has no concern, but in the sense that at every step of the long way he must remember his responsibility to that God so full of majesty, who awaits him at his journey's end..."

Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism, 69-70.

Sam Storms the Pastor

Sam Storms is back in the local church. Not that he ever left the local church, but that he is now becoming "Senior Pastor" of Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is great for two reasons:

• One, knowing there are men like Sam in local churches is very encouraging.
• Two, knowing that Bridgeway has a podcast should mean that Sam Storms sermons will be available every week.

Yes, I'm greedy for sermons and adding Sam to regular sermon listening and gym workouts is a joy to my heart.

Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, and the Example of John Piper

I think it is wonderful how John Piper has been giving young pastors the pulpit at Desiring God conferences. John has now invited Mark Driscoll to two conferences, and I have no doubt that he has received a lot of criticism for that among some of his good friends and the wider evangelical community. It is intriguing too to think that not only does John invite Driscoll, but that he has Mark speaking on the biblical use of "harsh language" at DG's latest conference, a topic of which Mark has received the most criticism for in his ministry.

Now John is inviting another gifted young pastor--Matt Chandler. Matt, a pastor of the Village Church in Texas, will be speaking at the forthcoming Bethlehem Conference for Pastors in '09 on the theme of evangelism. John has given him the task of "help[ing] us think about...saving those who think they are saved." After listening to Matt regularly I am convinced that topic is perfect for him and that he will serve the pastors well. Matt has been known to take the Bible to the backside of Bible-belt Christianity that, at times, resembles something more akin to unbelieving Pharasaism. More importantly Matt is thoroughly Gospel-centered. He consistently draws people back to the Gospel in his sermons and is a great example of saturating every sermon with Jesus.

I am thankful for older godly men like Pastor Piper who is willing to give young pastors this opportunity.

May God raise up more older pastors in local churches who are willing to cultivate the gifts of young men and be mentors of them in their community. The pattern that Paul lays out in modeling his life in relationship with Timothy is one that all pastors should be following. I do not think this is only a pastoral responsibility, but that many older Christian men in general should take upon themselves the responsiblity of training young men not necessarily to be pastors but to be godly men.

Thank you Pastor John for being an example of this to wider evangelical world.

Guardian Angels

Charles Spurgeon:

"We have each of us a guardian angel to attend us. The meaning of the passage, “In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven,” surely is that every Christian has a guardian angel, who flies about him, and holds the shield of God over his brow, keeps his foot lest he should dash it against a stone, guards him, controls him, manages him, injects thoughts into his mind, restrains his evil desire and is the minister and servant of the Holy Ghost, to keep him from sin, and lead him to righteousness. Whether I am right or wrong, I leave you to judge; but perhaps I have more angelology in me than most people have. I know my imagination has sometimes been so powerful that, when I have been alone at night, I could almost fancy that I saw an angel fly by me, when I have been out preaching the Word."

AGES Software. "God's Providence."

Olympic Reflections

I was watching badminton today. Why is it that the only time it is ever fun to watch badminton is when its the Olympics? And even that feels a little weird. Did you see the Tai-Chi master's at the opening ceremony? That was impressive. Very beautiful.

The apostle Paul said: "Run the race so as to win the prize." The Olympics are a good time to reflect on that.

Are you running your life so as to win the prize after death? Or are you running in life (running your life) so as not to face death abd what comes after--the judgment?

Are you running in such a way as to win or are you coasting?

Phelps, the swimmer, wants several medals. Are you settling for a bronze as a Christian believer? Be a bronze husband? A bronze wife. A bronze in prayer. A silver in Bible. Not quite medal in evangelism. Maybe grab a gold in church leadership. Hmmmm.....

Funny too how we exalt certain gift-ings in the church: Like swimming and Phelps is to preaching and Piper. But who cares about the Badminton players: the servers, the helpers, the intercessors. If your thing is badminton in the church--the unpopular gifting--do it well! It is amazing to watch a person play there part well no matter what it is.

Olympics: glory and sweat. I like glory but don't like sweat: the pain, the panting, the side-aches, the pulled muscles.

It is good to know that the race has been ran. Jesus won. We are called to run the same route he already did knowing that the successes along the way are because of him and failures are forgiven by Him. We are also called to run knowing that many on the sidelines are cheering: a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before.

Abraham, the man of faith is calling you faith.

Joshua, the man of courage is calling you to courage, and Deborah, the woman of courage is calling you to the same.

Samson, in many ways a failure in many areas of life is calling you to rise and finish. You can be considered faithful even after a pattern of faithlessness--Samson shows us this.

There are many more.

The Olympics should remind us that Jesus is the champion that has defeated death, sin, and Satan (See the book of Hebrews not Carman) and gone before us, and others have ran in front of us and finished well; therefore run like an Olympian not like a lazy American that only sits and watches others do the running and get the glory.

Some Thoughts, Recommendations, and Links

So glad to have my wife home...er at least back in the states. We shall return to reality in about a week.

Hit Pei Wei if you ever have a chance. Quick Chinese food that tastes good.

It was such a joy to preach at the Crossing a few times this month, and I'm thankful to Adam and Dave for sharing the pulpit.

Looking forward to fondue tonight. Something I have not yet done...

Trying to decide which book to study next. I've spent a lot of time in Hebrews and am thinking and praying about whether to go to an Old Testament prophet like taking on the Behemoth Ezekiel or going for a gospel. Speaking of biblical study tools, if you are ever in Pasadena, do not pass up the plethora of Christian books at Archives.

I highly recommend Greg Beale's sermons on Revelation, which I think I've mentioned before. I have finally listened to many of them due to the many long drives this summer. He interprets Revelation symbolically, which he believes is the literal interpretive key for the whole book. If you're ready for some light summer reading pick up his 1200 page commentary.

I thought this video was very mean and quite funny; probably not the best way to lead your wife in a joyful day or very beneficial to your relationship: