Mumford and Sons

In my last post I referenced a band called Mumford and Sons.  This band is relatively young, having been formed in December 2007 and with only one album out at the moment, Sigh No More.  Their website says this about the band:  "the members of Mumford & Sons have shared a common purpose: to make music that matters, without taking themselves too seriously."  I think we could all learn to take ourselves less seriously--so listen to Mumford and Sons.
Between the gritty honesty of "Little Lion Man" to the truth found in the album's name sake "Sigh No More," this first album is one that will have a place in history.  I encourage all of you to buy and listen this album.  It is only $6 on Amazon's mp3 store right now.  Follow the link below to purchase it.


"Love that will not betray you, dismay or enslave you, it will set you free. Be more like the man you were made to be."  --from "Sigh No More"

Sigh No More

Two nights ago a dear brother went home to be with his Heavenly Father.  Michael Barranco was in a car accident alone on Tuesday evening.  It is a great loss, felt by many in the church and the community.  We have hope though, knowing that Christ died for the ungodly and took away the sting of death.  Michael is now before the face of God.  In the words of Mumford and Sons, he will "sigh no more."  His faith has turned to sight.
I was amazed yesterday at the rallying of the body of Christ in reaction to Michael's homecoming.  I would not expect Facebook to be such a blessing to me, but all day yesterday I continued to be encouraged by my fellow bothers and sisters at Redeemer.  I suppose this goes to show that God can glorify himself even through Facebook.  Praise the Lord!
I would like to share some of the posts and comments from yesterday, that they might encourage us all as we remember Michael.


"‎'I will follow you through green pastures, and sing hallelujah to your name.  I will follow you through dark disaster, and sing hallelujah through the pain.  Even in the shadow of death I will praise You. Even in the valley I will say:  Holy, my God You are worthy of all my praise'  Thank you Michael for reminding us!!"
--Bryant Taylor

"So brokenhearted for the Barrancos. What a comfort to know that the voice that blessed me here on earth is joining my parents, Joan Berry, Joyce Horton, Rebekah Abraham, and so many others who influenced my life in singing praises to our God at this very moment, seeing our Savior face to face! Praying His greatest comfort for their family."
--Christina Dent

"Jackson, MS lost a great man last night, and a dear friend to many. I've known few men who've influenced as many lives as Michael Barranco, and I'm blessed to have called him a friend."
--Jim Skipper

"Very saddened to hear about the loss of Michael Barranco. He left behind reflections of the beauty of Christ in so many places--his architecture, his beautiful voice and his amazing family. I'm glad to have known him, to have experienced his kindness and I look forward to seeing him again one day...sing on, Michael."
--Tim Udouj

"Grieving with the body of Christ at Redeemer Church | Jackson today. Michael Barranco was greatly loved and is greatly missed...."
--Merianne Dietrich

"A dear brother, servant, and friend is using his beautiful voice in heaven now. Thank you Jesus that you are the resurrection and the life. Death has no victory over CHRISTIANS. Praying for the Burranco family...mourning the loss of the man who used his voice for Jesus. It's humbling to me (and providential) that my office and the place where I preach weekly, is in the very building on JSU's campus that he designed."
--Elbert McGowan

"I am remembering my dear brother, Michael Barranco, an amazing man because of his faith in an amazing God. We grieve his loss but not as those without hope. Our grief will put on joy just as his faith has now put on sight. We know that God came on a rescue mission in the flesh of man, in the person of Jesus Christ to rescue all who would trust Him. Jesus has been faithful to Michael. Amen!"
--Steve Lanier

This video was posted by many yesterday in remembering Michael.  I echo Phillip Holmes in saying, "This brother is in heaven praising Jesus! I look forward to joining him again one day. Until then I'll scream 'Maranatha!'"

Wait. Tim Keller Is Coming To Jackson?

Since beginning to write on here mere days ago, I have been wondering where I will find topics after I run out of books quotes and restaurants to rant on about.  Well, today that wonder was dissolved!
Tim Keller is coming to Jackson on Thursday evening to speak about his new book, King's Cross. (Info regarding the event and book are at the bottom of this post.)  Needless to say, we here in Jackson are honored to be the objects of such a rare privilege.  The timing has worked out perfectly, given that the book was released just today, and Dr. Keller will be here Thursday.  The RTS library had a great price on the book today, so I grabbed my copy on the way to my afternoon Johaninne Literature class with Dr. Waters.  I arrived to class about 30 minutes early so that I could at least get through Keller's intro and maybe first chapter.
As I sat there reading, my fellow students began to trickle in, taking their seats in each of their usual places.  A few of them noticed my book and inquired about it.  I responded by showing it to them and telling them about the Thursday evening lecture and book signing.  One particular student, who shall remain nameless, had quite an interesting response to my plug.  I mentioned Thursday's events and suggested if he was coming he ought to get there a bit early to get in line.  He responded, "Yeah... not worth it."
Let me first say, I am not entirely sure what was meant by his retort.  Perhaps we miscommunicated, or perhaps he is opposed to Keller enough to make that comment.  Regardless, my point here is not to critique his statement, but to use it as a jumping off point:
Tim Keller is speaking this Thursday evening at Belhaven University.  If you live in the Jackson area, you should seriously consider coming.  It will be completely worth it.  Regardless of any of Keller's particular practices at his church, regardless of his personal views on polity, hell, regardless of his perspective on what color tie you should wear this Sunday morning (if at all), Tim Keller understands the Gospel and has a such gift in articulating it that even The New York Times has good things to say about him (buy his new book, you'll see)!
To finish my rant, I would like to quote King's Cross:
"I trust that you will find the figure of Jesus worthy of your attention:  unpredictable yet reliable, gentle yet powerful, authoritative yet humble, human yet divine.  I urge you to seriously consider the significance of his life in your own."  (Keller, xv)

Check out these links for more info on the event and King's Cross:


Keller Event                                  

Babalu and Seagram's

I came home tonight to discover that we were going out to dinner with Caitlin's sister's family.  It was a wonderful surprise after a busy afternoon of car repair and RUF related meetings.  Honestly, I was so happy to go out instead of cooking that I did not even think about where we were going until we were halfway there.
I've not been to Babalu until tonight, but we have been meaning to go for a long time.  We were seated at a comfortable booth with cushy seats, much like the booths at Jerusalem Cafe.  And, much to our surprise, Daniel Howell, our friend from Redeemer was our waiter.  Not considering food, our experience was absolutely amazing--all thanks to Daniel!  The food, however, certainly helped the over all climate.  Caitlin and I had guac, tacos (chicken for her and pork belly for me) and shared a plate of tamales.  That guacamole was the best I have ever had, and the tacos and tamales were equally as delectable.  Accompanying it all was a nice smooth Lazy Mag Indian Summer.  Thank you, Babalu!
Now I am home--computer in one hand, Seagram's (with ginger ale and lime) in the other, and probably about to watch a much needed episode of 30 Rock.
A wonderful end to a busy, but refreshing day.

The End...

   "He gently clothed them and then he sent them away on a long, long journey--out of the garden, our of their home.  Well, in another story, it would all be over and that would have been... The End.

   "But not in this story.

   "You see, no matter what, in spite of everything, God would love his children--with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love."

   Those lines are excerpts from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones, one of my favorite books of all time.  The words ring with a truth that is beautiful in and of itself:  The Gospel.  God has not left us.  He has not abandoned us.  In fact, he has done exactly the opposite.  When we ran from him in rebellion and sin, he stooped down to us and brought us into his family.

   You see, friends, if we were the authors of the story, we would wander in the wilderness of this world without hope.  But it is not that way in God's Story.  

   "And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…

   "But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!– and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:1-7, NET)