I listened to Regina Spektor's haunting song "Laughing With" several times today. I don't know Regina's personal religious beliefs, but I think she's written a powerful song. To me the song speaks of the fact that suffering strips away our flippant attitude towards God. We can laugh at God when all is well or when we encounter a caricature of him, but when tragedy strikes we're confronted with the reality that we're helpless. "No one laughs at God in a hospital."

The video and song lyrics follow. Let me know what you think.

"Laughing With" Lyrics:

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say "We've got some bad new, sir,"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

Laughing With by Regina Spektor from the album Far

I came across a letter that the late Ray Ortlund wrote for his family before he went to be with the Lord. His son, Ray Ortlund, Jr., found it in his father's desk and I'm grateful that he and his mother chose to share it with others. I know very little about this man, but I'd like to end my life like him, trusting God and encouraging my family to love and serve Jesus Christ. Read the letter.

Tomorrow I'm going on vacation with my family. Very kind friends let us use their place down in Florida. My little girl keeps asking when we're going on "cation." She asks if we'll see whales and sharks. Somehow someone made her aware of sharks. She says she wants to stay in the pool.

Last year I sat on the beach on the brink of starting work on a new book. I told God I didn't see how it could possibly happen, how I could possibly write it. But he enabled me day by day. I'm going to sit on that beach this year and just take time to thank him and remember and marvel at answered prayer. Milestones like that mean a lot to me.

The laptop is staying at home. It doesn't get to go on vacation. I'm going to turn off the email on my phone. No Twitter. No internet. I might go without electricity and indoor plumbing just for the heck of it. (Okay, maybe not.)

Small thing for people who have read this blog for awhile: we're going to rent a car this year. Our friends Wayne and Connie offered to let us borrow theirs again, but I just couldn't.

We aren't too intense when it comes to vacation. We like simple. Pool. Beach. Food. Pool. Beach. Joshua Quinn and I are excited to watch the French Open and root on Roger Federer. The girls like to watch cooking shows on the Food Network. I've got two books on Lincoln I'm going to read. I really enjoy history. I like reading about other people's problems. Makes mine seem smaller.

I'm going to wake up every morning and go read my Bible on the beach. It's kind of God to give me this time of rest with the four people I love the most in this world.

Check out this convicting and insightful article by Kevin DeYoung entitled Defining Discourse Down. Here are two excerpts from it...

Because I'm proud I get hurt when people disagree with me strongly. Because I'm proud I feel the need to give thirteen qualifications before I make an argument, not usually because I'm a swell guy but because I love for people to love me and loathe for them to dislike or misunderstand me. Because I'm proud I hedge my criticisms so that I won't have to publicly repent and recant when I go too far and get something wrong. Because we're proud, protectors of self more than lovers of truth, we often don't discuss things with candor or with verve....

Here's hoping against hope that thinking adults, Christians especially, can sustain meaningful discourse without resorting to name-calling or cowardly equivocation. Christ calls us to love, which is something entirely different than being a jerk or playing it safe. A.W. Tozer got it right: "The kingdom of God, has suffered a great deal of harm from fighters--men who would rather fight than pray; but the kingdom of God has also been done great harm by men who would rather be nice than right."

In the past year Twitter has exploded in popularity. A USA Today article I read this week said its membership increased 3,000% in the last year. This year at Next 2009 a number of attendees (along with the team at Next) used Twitter to share ongoing reports about the conference (you can read these posts by doing a search for #thisisnext.) Last year people blogged about the conference, this year there was hardly any blog activity--Twitter's micro-blogging had essentially wiped out "traditional" blogging.

Lately I've been hearing the question of whether Twitter has a place during a church's worship services. If people use Twitter to comment on every aspect of their life during the week, should they continue the practice while their pastor is preaching? TIME magazine did an article entitled "Twittering in Church, with the Pastor's O.K." that described several congregations that are actively encouraging their congregation Twitter during church. One church had training sessions and even has a feed of Twitter comments projected on the screen.

While I personally enjoy Twitter and find it to be a useful tool for sharing and receiving information, I'm not excited about encouraging people to use Twitter during the Sunday meeting. This isn't to pass judgment on pastors who do encourage its use and I'm happy to hear evidence that it adds spiritual benefit, but here are a few reasons why I won't be encouraging the members of Covenant Life Church to Twitter during the meetings. I'll apply this to myself:

1. Playing with my iPhone (or cell phone or Blackberry) during the sermon will likely distract me. I'll be tempted to check my email or read my Twitter feed that has nothing to do with the sermon.

2. Even if I didn't look at anything else, the mere act of "tweeting" some quote or question or thought from the sermon would be several minutes in which I wasn't actively listening to the sermon. Brain space would be taken up with typing and getting my word count under 140. God's word preached is so important, so precious, I don't want anything to distract me from hearing it. What if those two minutes in which I'm distracted are the two minutes my soul needs the most?

3. The most important thing I can do while I'm sitting under the preaching of God's word is to listen to what God is saying to me. I need to actively engage my heart and mind to receive (Isaiah 66:2). Twitter, can take the focus off of hearing and receiving and and makes it broadcasting and sharing. So instead of my mind being engaged with thoughts of "What is the Word of God saying to me?" when I start "tweeting" my focus becomes, "What do I want to say? What do I want to express? What am I thinking?"

4. I think we all need to ask what our example says to other people we're worshiping alongside. Can a person look at me during the worship and see from the way I sit, listen and engage that the Bible is "breathed out by God" (2 Tim. 3:16), and worthy of honor, that preaching is valuable? Of course this applies to a lot more than the issue of Twitter. If I'm nodding off to sleep, reading the bulletin, staring off into space or filing my finger nails it can send the wrong message, too. So what does someone think if they see me playing with my cell-phone during the sermon? "Oh, he must be so enamored with the truth of God's word that he's using Twitter to share the truth he's just heard with the world! God, your word is glorious!" Uh, I really don't think so. They'll probably think, "I should pull out my phone...wonder if I've gotten any email."

5. Just because something is incredibly popular in culture doesn't mean we have to accommodate it in our worship. Who cares if the whole world is talking about Twitter? Lost people in this world don't need to see that we're current with the latest trend, they need to hear God's unchanging truth (see 1 Peter 1:24-25). They need to understand that God's word makes a demand on their life. And they should see from us a reverence and holy awe in the presence of God and his word that points them to the fact that what happens in a Christian church is completely different than anything happening in the world.

6. My final reason for why Twitter should be left at the door when we come to church is very simple: you can tweet about the Sunday service after church. I'm not a Twitter hater. In fact I love the idea of members of my church reviewing their notes and tweeting about what God spoke to them during the message. But they can do that later on Sunday afternoon and nothing will be lost.

One way to do that is to use Twitter (after the Sunday service) to share what you learned from the Sunday sermon. I think it's a great witness to unbelieving friends and an encouragement to fellow-Christians who follow you on Twitter to see that you're hearing and seeking to apply the sermon you heard Sunday.

But it's also a good witness for them to see that something so important, so essential, so holy happens on Sunday morning when God's church gathers that Twitter takes a back seat. When God is speaking again through his word, we should all be silent--and so should our Twitter feeds.

Update: I've enjoyed reading all the feedback. John Piper even joined the conversation with this insightful post.

I wanted to add a few points of clarification to my original thoughts. First, I wouldn't encourage anyone to make "no tweeting in church" some sort of law or to judge people or churches that have a different practice than you. I appreciate the comments pointing out the fact that God is concerned with our hearts. We can be distracted and cold-hearted with a pen and paper in our hands just as easily. I'm simply sharing here why I don't plan to actively encourage my congregation to use twitter during worship.

Second, a number of people have commented on note taking as being the same as using Twitter. I do think it's possible to be so consumed with perfect notes that you miss some of the sermon. It's worth thinking about. But obviously each person is different. That's why we should be careful in saying there's only one way to do things. For me personally, the issue of medium (note pad or computer or iPhone) is less an important than the issue of recording something in order to instantly share it with others.

The obvious difference between taking notes on a pad and tweeting is that when I tweet I'm concerned with writing it for others. I'm focused on delivering instead of receiving. Plus my note pad doesn't do email.

I hope you've found this discussion useful. Where we disagree, let's do so charitably.

Your feedback--encouragement or disagreement--on this post is welcomed. You can follow me on Twitter at @HarrisJosh.

And now the audio of the main sessions is available for free download.

Bob Kauflin has also shared the song list from the conference.

A live recording of the worship will be sold online only in about three weeks.

To everyone who came, thank you for helping us rent the convention center so we could worship Jesus in downtown Baltimore. Thanks to all the pastors and leaders who brought people. Thanks to the young married couples and people my age who came and instead of "feeling old" rejoiced to see so many students living for Jesus. Thanks to all the Community Group leaders, volunteers and servants who made it all possible. Thanks to the team of people who came and prayed during every main session. Thanks to all the attendees who invested time caring for and reaching out to unsaved friends they'd brought. And thanks to all the people who couldn't come but who prayed for us. We hope you can join us next year.

Most of all thank you, Jesus, for helping us to see you more clearly. We are more amazed. You're bigger in our eyes.

www.thisisnext.org

This weekend I'm in Baltimore with 2,500 worshipers of Jesus Christ to spend four days considering who Jesus is and what he's done for us.

If you're a friend of Next but can't make it this year, make sure to follow the action at the Next blog. We'll be live-blogging and posting pictures.

You can also follow the action on Twitter. Just search for #thisisnext and you'll see the Tweets of attendees (if you plan to Twitter at Next please include the #thisisnext tag in your tweets so that they show up on the search). I'll be tweeting from @HarrisJosh.

If you're going to be at Next, please come say hello. I'll be down front after each session and I love to meet people. Kevin DeYoung will be hanging out the whole conference. So will Justin Taylor. And though he couldn't come speak this year, Mark Dever will be joining us Monday night for an onstage post-message conversation with me, Sinclair Ferguson, CJ, Kevin and Justin.

And if you're anywhere near Baltimore, don't forget you can show up for any of the sessions and buy a session pass at the door. (Here's the schedule). We'd love to have you join us.

Today I gave my brothers Alex and Brett a ride to the airport. They just finished their first year of college and were headed home (via a trip to Ohio for our cousin's wedding). Anyway, on the way back I listened to an interview that Mark Dever did with Os Guinness. I really enjoy the interview series that 9 Marks produces. It's a great way to get to know different writers, pastors and theologians. Mark does a great job asking them about their lives, their books and their thoughts on various subjects.

The interview with Os Guinness is particularly good. Learning about his rich spiritual heritage, his time learning from Francis Schaeffer and hearing him talk about Christians and culture was fascinating. I've enjoyed Mr. Guinness' writing and found him just as compelling and articulate in the interview. The man doesn't waste a single word.

A few favorite parts: learning that he's a descendent of the famous Dublin brewer and that they were strong Christians, hearing him talk about the wild days in the sixties at L'Abri with the Schaeffers, and hearing his description of Franky Schaeffer when asked about the dishonorable book Franky wrote about his parents. His comments about pluralism and pluralization were also enlightening.

You can listen to the interview here.

And here's a list of his books.

After four and a half years of vigilantly fighting breast cancer, Rachel Barkey, a 37-year-old wife and mother of two was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Rachel's story is not unlike what thousands of women around the world have experienced. A diagnosis that changes a woman's life and inevitably takes from her what we consider to be most precious.

But for Rachel the essence of life is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that's why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying.

Watch Rachel share her story of trusting God in the face of death. "Cancer does not define me," she says. "Neither does being a wife or a mother. All these things are part of who I am but they do not define me. What defines me is my relationship with Jesus." (Hat Tip: Girl Talk)

Visit Rachel's Website

Here's a short video of Sinclair Ferguson reflecting on the imputed righteousness of Christ, that is, "the simple glory of the Gospel that God counts to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ...not only are our sins forgiven, but the holiness of Jesus Christ is counted to us." You can come hear Sinclair preach on the resurrection and return of Jesus at Next 2009 later this month.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

The man who helped edit my first book once told me that writing a book is the closest a man comes to giving birth. I try not to share this with women because I've found that it really annoys them. So let me hasten to say that I'm sure nothing I've ever done comes anywhere close to what you ladies have to face in childbirth. But book writing is a long, totally consuming and at times painful process. And there ain't no epidural for writers.

Right now I'm in the final stages of the revision process. What this means is that after having written rough drafts of each chapter, I'm processing the feedback of my editor and several trusted readers. This is the polishing, refining stage. My editor and another buddy have left their comments in Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature so that I see all the suggested cuts and suggestions they make and can accept or reject them. I'm by myself all day, but I oddly feel like I've been chatting with my two friends the whole time (and at times arguing with them.)

On some chapters this revision process is easier than others. But then, on days like today there are chapters where the editorial advice is to "state the purpose of the chapter sooner and make a stronger case for it" which requires me to rework an intro and rewrite several sections.

Last night I couldn't sleep and wound up revising till 3AM. I haven't been pulling late nights with this book so that's unusual, but it's the last week so hopefully I'll survive. Today by God's grace as I was able to finish two chapters. So all in all it was a strong writing day.

Tomorrow I get the feedback of one more trusted friend who read the book with an eye to theological accuracy and then I need to revise the final two chapters. My editor feels that the last chapter needs a more stronger ending. Hmmm...I'll have to give that more thought and prayer.

Because of a missed deadline on my part, the book will be released later than originally planned. Right now the plan is for February 16, 2010. So though I'll "finish" it at the end of this week I won't hold the final product till next year. That's tough. Moms, can you imagine giving birth to a child and then having the nurses wait nine months to bring the baby to you? Agonizing. But it can't be helped. I missed the deadline.

Later this year I'll share more about the book--title, content and vision. Suffice it to say that it's not about dating or lust or courtship! It's very different than anything I've written before. And I'm looking forward to sharing it with whoever wants to read it.

Thanks for your prayers and interest. Or, if you're not praying or interested, thanks for taking the time to read this post anyway.

You're all invited to the baby shower next February.

The team over at 9Marks invite you to succinctly communicate the Gospel in Twitter's 140 character limit. They're even offering free books to those who do it most effectively. Is this a worthy exercise? Greg Gilbert writes, "we ought to be able to express [the gospel] accurately, readily, and concisely. Indeed, forcing ourselves to sit down and think about how to do that could go a long way toward helping us nail down those core truths in our own minds." A few samples from the comments on the 9Marks blog:

All are sinners. Christ died to satisfy God's judgment and was raised on the third day. By this grace you are saved. Repent and believe.- Chris Hemmelman

Because you have violated God's law(Rom3:23)you must repent of your sin(Luke13:5)and believe and trust in Jesus Christ alone(Rom10:9). - Jerry

By the substitutionary, atoning death of Jesus, God has begun the new creation by forgiving and regenerating all those who through faith repent and submit to Jesus. -Scott Newman

Holy God in love became
Perfect man to bear my blame
On the cross he took my sin
By his death (and resurrection) I live again.
- Adapted lyrics of a song by Drew Jones

Read more about the contest and how to participate here.

The May 2009 issue of the Next Webzine is now live. Here's what you'll find inside:

Author Spotlight

D.A. Carson is one of the foremost biblical scholars of our day and has written or edited more books than you’ve probably read, yet at the center of his ministry is the truth of God’s Word. We love that Carson-our spotlighted author this month-is a learned scholar with the heart of a pastor.

Whether you're new to Carson or an old fan you'll find some interesting facts about in Justin Taylor's introduction to the author Who Is D.A. Carson? (For example: He reads about 500 books a year, travels 100,000 miles a year, and no one ever calls him "D.A.") Justin has also put together a beautiful list of Carson resources grouped helpfully around statements like: "I want to learn how Christ and culture relate," or "I want to work through the entire Bible in a year."

You'll also be able to get a taste for Carson's writing in two excerpts from his work. First, in two excerpts from For the Love of God Carson comments on two incidents in the life of Christ. Then in The Supremacy of Jesus Christ in the Mediation of God's Love Carson walks through John 17 and explains how the glory of Christ is most clearly seen in the cross of Christ.

A number of people have asked if they can attend individual sessions of Next. What if you want to hear Carson or Ferguson but can't get the whole weekend off work or can't afford staying at a hotel?

Well I'm happy to announce that Next session passes and day passes are now available for purchase! If you live near Baltimore but you can't join us for the entire conference, you can buy a pass to attend any one of the six general sessions. You can also buy a day pass for Sunday or Monday, which will get you into both general sessions as well as the afternoon breakout session.

Individual session passes are $35 and day passes are $65. To buy a pass, simply visit the Registration page, fill out the online order form, and bring a print-out of your confirmation email as your ticket to enter the session hall.

Here's a schedule of the sessions along with topics.

Don't wait too long. Passes are available only as long as capacity allows.

A Baptism Testimony: Kristin Hoover (April 30, 2009) - This is the testimony of Kristin Hoover, one of the seven young adults who were baptized last Sunday at our church. I'm so grateful to God for these students and the grace of God in their lives. All of them... ( Keep Reading » )

Twitter Flu: Are You Infected? (April 29, 2009) - Everyone is talking about Twitter and Swine Flu these days. And both seem to be spreading. Two days ago my good friend and fellow pastor Kenneth Maresco caught the Twitter Flu. For me that's the sign of saturation. Whenever Kenneth... ( Keep Reading » )

Come See Pilgrim! (April 29, 2009) - If you're anywhere near Gaithersburg, Maryland, you should come see our church's youth drama, "Pilgrim: A Work in Progress," based on John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." It is outstanding. Below are some shots from the last performance. Get info on the... ( Keep Reading » )

Final Stretch of Book Writing (April 28, 2009) - For the past two years I've been working on a new book. I'm not at liberty to share details about its title or content right now, but that will be coming later in the year. It's very different than anything... ( Keep Reading » )

Job by John Piper-Illustrated Edition (April 22, 2009) - Watched this video for John Piper's book of poetry based on the Old Testament book of Job and my thoughts went to a number of dear saints I know who are grieving and suffering today. My prayers are with you.... ( Keep Reading » )