“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian–from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God’s revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning–a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned.” – Rev. Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York

“Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Redeemer [PCA, New York] member for many years, has done a wondrous thing. She has captured the plot line of redemption in a children’s story Bible that sings the praise of Jesus and his saving grace on every page, in every story.” – Kathy Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York

If you are interested in a blog that blends biblical theology and worship, check out Eucatastrophe.  Josh Otte offers some great resource links on his blog.

I don’t write or reflect enough on women’s issues, but Brit K.T. Tunstall has lyrically provoked my thinking on the feminine appeal and beauty. In “Suddenly I See” (a great song), Tunstall sings:

And she’s taller than most
And she’s looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

These lyrics are, I take it, are satirical. They construct feminine identity upon airbrushed beauty and success of a magazine model, who promises the self-esteem power of self-reliant significance, sufficiency, and benevolence (to be, to give, and to see). Living with a very fine yet fallen woman for almost seven years, I would conclude that Tunstall has seen what many women want to be, a strong tower–beautiful, successful, benevolent.

Do such images possess such power? A penetrating gaze, that defines what feminity should be? Is there a modicum of truth and virture in these things or are they all cosmetic and of no substance? What might a woman with Christ as her strong tower look like compared to Tunstall’s satirical diva?

Friday at The Parish, Austin Texas