There’s a good chance that I’ll get some hate-mail for posting this on our church blog, but I can’t refuse. It’s just a perfect song and editing job of some Benny Hill — oops! I mean, Benny Hinn — healing highlights.

A qualifier: if you’re still wondering whether Benny Hinn’s ministry is legitimate — and I say this in all love — DSC may not be the church for you.

If you’re still reading, have a good laugh at this holy mockery.

And then weep that this bafoonery bears the name of our Christ. God help us!

By the way, how is it that the “catchers” never get knocked over by Benny Hinn’s magical arm waves? I’m just saying.

P.S. There’s also the swinging suit coat version here.

In an earlier post I pointed to some resources for wrestling through the issues of the gospel, conversion, and assurance with our kids. One of the best resources I’ve found is the the Family Life Today radio interviews with Jim Elliff, “How Children Come to Faith in Christ.” You can purchase the series on audio CDs here, which I already mentioned. However, in addition I discovered that six of the sessions are available online for free:

1. Genuine Salvation: More Than a Prayer

2. How Children Come to Faith in Christ

3. Taking our Children to Church: Is that Enough?

4. How to Deal With Doubt

5. Observing Salvation in Your Child: What Does it Look Like?

6. The Family: No Better Place to Come to Know Christ!

Transcripts are also available at the bottom of each of these pages’ links.

I cannot recommend these talks enough to any parent wanting to be thoughtful, careful, and prayerful in the salvation of their children. They are also helpful for thinking through the gospel, conversion, and assurance for ourselves and at any age.

My latest sermon looked at the parable of the four soils in Luke 8. In the last third of the message I sought to analyze and apply this important parable in five different ways:

1. Thinking through some of the theological issues in the parable

2. Applying the parable to our witness to and discipleship of others

3. Applying it directly and pointedly to those who may not yet have come to true faith

4. Applying it specifically to the salvation of our kids

5. Applying it to the ongoing reception of God’s Word as his disciples

On that fourth point of application — the salvation of our kids in light of the parable of the four soils — I’d like to mention some follow-up resources:

1. Dennis Gundersson, Your Child’s Profession of Faith booklet (available at the DSC Resource Center for $1).

2. DSC’s Baptism class for parents and young people. We just finished a class, but will be offering it again soon.

3. Jim Elliff, How Children Come to Faith in Christ – seven sessions from the Family Life Today radio program.

4. Some related articles from Desiring God:

• Will the Next Generation Know?

• A Note to Parents of Young Children

• Raising Children Who are Confident in God

My buddy, Justin Taylor, gives a heads-up on the latest Time magazine cover story, 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now.

Here are the top 10–but I’ll warn you in advance that you probably didn’t see #3 coming:

Jobs Are the New Assets

Recycling the Suburbs

The New Calvinism

Reinstating the Interstate

Amortality

Africa, Business Destination

The Rent-a-Country

Biobanks

Survival Stores

Ecological Intelligence

The preaching this Sunday will take us back to our study of Luke’s gospel account, as we examine 7:1-30. There we’ll see three stories of healing, faith, salvation, and mission. Like almost every story in the gospel accounts, these verses show us different angles on similar themes: who Jesus is; how he reveals himself in his public ministry; how people variously respond to the person and work of Jesus. Once again, let me encourage you to read the passage, perhaps with the family or a friend, before our time of corporate worship tomorrow morning. Come prayerfully and expectantly.

Also, remember that this Sunday at 6:30 PM we’ll be having a night of classical and jazz musical performance. We’re calling it “For the Joy of Music and the Glory of God.” I’ve been hearing some of the music practiced for weeks (even months) now since my wife, Sarah, is one of the musicians. If you’re able to come, you’re in for quite a treat…if I may say so! Remember, this is a great thing to invite a non-Christian friend to, especially with someone you think wouldn’t yet be interested in coming to an actual church service yet. It’s simply a night of great jazz and classical music. And it’s free!

By the way, if you’re wondering about the benefit of music performance in the church (ie, music-for-music’s-sake), or, more generally, in the church’s involvement in less overtly religious things like art and culture, take a look at this article by William Edgar, “Good Company, Good Art, and a Good Laugh.” Bill’s written many great articles on similar themes, but this is certainly one of my favorites.