I love my Mac OSX Dashboard on the Powerbook, and just discovered today that Konfabulator, the Windows version of the same widget program, is now available for free. 600+ Widgets. Not all the Mac widgets are available, but its the way coolest thing for a very busy and interactive desktop. (Wish they had a wiki program, but I’m running wikipad instead, and its good.)

I was about as good today as I can be in teaching, preaching. Sleep, reading, rest and relief from constant pressure is so helpful to me. Preaching 3-5 times a week doesn’t bode well for the quality of my messages. Plus, I’ve just been listening to my favorite preachers all week. Greg Nichols. Al Martin. John Sartelle. Mark Dever. Piper. Ravi. That’s helpful, too. I think a lot about moving to another pulpit when I get excited about preaching, but I know I need to stay in place, where my mature gifts can make the biggest difference. Nothing is on my heart more than for my little church in town to live, and not die….but it’s hard to see any hope. The church situation here is the choice between wild Pentecostalism and the shallowest of amusement parks. It is all mountain women and children. I’d wager Clay Co has few men in church, per thousand, than any place in the America. And here I am, with a pretty decent little reformed thing going on….in the last place that anyone cares. Keep on keeping on. That’s what’s in front of me.

BHT Lurker Mike Rose writes with a question about Bill Gothard:

Michael—Do you or any of the BHT fellows have any opinions/experience with Bill Gothard and/or the IBLP seminars. My tiny little church seems to be being taken over by true believers in Gothard. I have read online info from various sources that make me more than leary of the hyper-legalism that some claim Gothard represents. Any input would be appreciated.
Any help?

Seeing Josh’s shirt reminds me of this story: I was wearing this causal shirt one day in chapel, and it has a nautical design all over it. Not Hawaiian, but close. Some guy walks up to me and says, “Well, you’re looking pastoral today.”

long pause He meant that I look like Rick Warren. Warren’s shirts are now official pastoral attire for America.

Speaking of Warren, he’s written Tim Challies, and the letter is up.

Everytime I pass Thinklings these days- which is now one guy posting one post a day- I am envious of what a great group blog really is. sigh It must be so cool. (jn)