Tricia and I had our third ultrasound today, and Ethan is doing great! The doctor was able to see all four chambers of his heart this time, and everything is developing on schedule! He weighs 1 pound, 5 ounces right now and is still on track for a May 16 due date!

It was really amazing to see him on the monitor, and to see how much he has grown since the first ultrasound back in November! I can't wait for him to be born! (I get excited just thinking about it!!)

Here's the latest pictures:

For Us and For Our Salvation
Stephen J. Nichols
BOOK
Release date: 08.09.07
172 pages

Who is Jesus? Has he always been God, or did he just inherit the power of God for a time? Did he really become a man, or did he just appear to be a man? These questions were at the forefront of the infant church during its first centuries and remain poignant questions today.

Scripture is full of references to Jesus as God, and Jesus himself states that he "and the Father are one" [John 10:30] and refers to himself as "I am" in numerous places, a clear reference to God's self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 3. And yet the Bible tells us that Jesus wept as the loss of his friend, ate when he was hungry, slept when he was tired, and experience everything (except sin) that a human does.

As Nichols explains, the result is that God's Word reveals Jesus Christ is "two natures in one person." He spends most of this short book detailing how this Scriptural truth was defended against false teachings. The primary issue being that if we are wrong in our understanding of the person of Christ, then we will be wrong in our understand of the work of Christ, especially his atoning death on the cross.

After each odd-numbered chapter, Nichols includes a chapter with excerpts from the documents and creeds he has just discussed. This is a very helpful inclusion, allowing the reader to see exactly how critical these doctrines were and how firmly they were defended.

The book is a bit too short, especially when half of its content is from ancient documents, but it does provide a good introduction to the world of Christology. Written in a more conversational tone than a textbook, this brief primer can help the uninitiated learn about the development of the doctrine of Christ through the first several hundred years of the Church and its continued importance today. C+

(Warning: Mild spoilers are included.) Will Smith stars as Robert Neville in this adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel that sees a world-wide plague with a near global fatality rate. The crux of the story hinges on Neville's ability (or lack thereof) to cope with the frustration and isolation of being the only uninfected human in New York City.

The computer-generated effects are spectacular when it comes to the devastated New York. In fact, the buildings and bridges are so life-like that I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they used models or sets. The failure of the CGI comes with the attempts to render the flesh and expressions of the infected humans that hunt Neville. It's so unreal that it literally took me out of the movie when I saw it.

(Honestly, with every other film advancement in this digital age, why does it seem like skin-based CGI hasn't improved any since the atrocious Scorpion King at the end of The Mummy Returns?)

There's a heart-wrenching moment about halfway through the film that demonstrates its superb ability to provoke an emotional response. Which makes the last half all the more unexcusable for its failure to do so. After such a powerful set-up, the conclusion is a bit unsatisfying in its predictability and suddenness.

While the ending leaves a bit to be desired, the first half is so good that it remains worth seeing. When all is said and done, it won't be my favorite movie of 2007, but it will make the list. B+

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Rock Theater: Shakin the World
Bloodgood
MUSIC
Release date: 08.14.07
50 mins. / 12 tracks

The days of arena rock and heavy metal are about 20 years old. One of the bands that enjoyed its heyday was Bloodgood (the last name of the band's bass player).

Recorded in September 2006 in Seattle, this disc sounds right out of the 1980s. One major complaint: this CD has a feature that automatically puts a gap in front of each song. Lots of CDs have this, but it's a really bad (and annoying) idea for a live CD to have this, as it inserts two seconds of silence each time the track changes.

Bottom line: if you long for the days of arena rock and wailing guitars, this will be right up your alley. If you don't, then not so much.  C

My desire to read more in 2008 has taken a hit due to a lovely sinus infection over the last week, but I was still able to finish a book I've been working on for a while...

Chosen for Life • Sam Storms
BOOK
Release date: 06.25.07
240 pages

The word "election" usually conjures up images of politics, campaigns, and voting booths. But taken from the Bible, the word "election" refers to God's choosing of individuals to be saved. The issues of election and free will are dealt with in a comprehensive -- if not exhaustive -- manner and this book serves as a solid examination of God's election.

This is an updated version of Storms' original book published in 1987. I have not read that version, so I can't comment on what has changed or been added to this edition. What I can say, however, is that Storms does a remarkable job of examining the difficult doctrines of election and predestination from a thoroughly Biblical point of view.

In a relatively short 240 pages, Storms is able to address a great deal of the questions and confusions that surround the teaching of election. He makes good use of Scripture, and doesn't shy away from passages that (on the surface) seem to cause problems. He asks some pointed questions that, for me at least, often caused me to stop reading and think of their implications.

The only complaint I have (if you would even call it that) is his over-quotation of Jonathan Edwards' various works and John Piper's The Justification of God (another book on my to-read-list). To be fair, it's debatable whether or not anyone has examined these issues to the degree Edwards did, and if someone else has said it better -- why reinvent the wheel? The flow, however, became a bit jarring with the  interjection of so many block quotes.

Simply put, this is easily one of the best books I have read on this issue, and I found it to be rich enough that I will undoubtedly read and reference it many times over in the years to come. A

Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman carry most of the load in this film, based on true events, that details America's covert actions in Afghanistan during the 1980s. The Soviet Union, a Communist power at that time, had invaded Afghanistan and was threatening to overtake the country, giving Communism a foothold in the region.

Hanks plays the role of Charlie Wilson, a Congressman from Texas who becomes aware of the situation and takes action. He teams up with Hoffman's Gust Avrakotos, a CIA operative who also recognizes the need for American assistance in Afghanistan. The movie enjoys some witty dialogue, quick pacing, and entertaining moments -- but it also clearly earns its R rating with glimpses of nudity, excessive alcohol use, and constant cursing.

Also (perhaps due to the 97-minute run time) the ending felt rushed. After an entire movie detailing how great Wilson was at working the system to get the funding and/or votes he needed, his choices near the end seemed odd. Although some of the story was undoubtedly "hollywood-ized", one has to question the tenacity with which Wilson approached those meetings.

The plot of this movie is engaging, and it sheds light on a crucial time in the history of the Cold War with communism. However, a wealth of foul language, coupled with the overt sexuality on display throughout the film, makes it very hard to recommend.  C-

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Five Dilemmas of Calvinism • Craig R. Brown
BOOK
Release date: 08.07.07
127 pages

One of the most debatable points in all of Christian teaching is the issue of Calvinism vs. Arminianism. In effect, Calvinism states that God alone determines who will be saved, and that his choice (or election) of individuals is based solely on his purpose and pleasure, having nothing to do with any inherent good or potential within us. An Arminian, on the other hand, would say that God saves people on the basis of their belief in him. In other words, if God saw that I would one day put my faith in Christ, he would then allow me to be saved.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I am a Calvinist (inasmuch as the Bible teaches Calvinism). That isn't to say that I don't understand the issues my Arminian brothers and sisters have with the doctrines, simply that I have found Scripture to affirm more of what Calvin taught than what Arminius did.

In Brown's small book, he takes a Calvinistic approach to issues that often come up in the course of these conversations. He details the differences between the two viewpoints, and then addresses five dilemmas -- Responsibility (if God has complete control, how can man be accountable for his choices?), Motivation (what purpose do good works serve?), Obedience (why pray or share the faith?), Evil (how did evil come into being?), and Babies (if we have original sin from birth, where do babies go when they die?).

For the most part, Brown deals with these issues in a satisfactory manner. The smallness of the book limits his responses, so they don't give much more than a surface-level answer, but he does include key Scripture passages to back up his statements. However, the final chapter, which deals with the fate of babies who die in infancy, seemed unconvincing. I agree with his assertion that they go to heaven, but if I hadn't before I read this book, it's highly unlikely he would have changed my mind. C-

The Blood • Kevin Max
MUSIC
Release date: 12.26.07
35 mins. / 10 tracks

There might not be a more recognizable voice in music than that of Kevin Max. This disc marks his fourth solo effort (counting the EP) since the break-up of dcTalk. While bandmates tobymac and Tait have had a bit of commercial success, Max's eclectic style has provided him with a more difficult inroad to radio play. That might just change now.

The diverse nature of Max's music (which seems to be an extension of his persona) is still very present. What is different is the accessibility. After Stereotype B, which undoubtedly left many people scratching their collective heads, Max has progressed with each record, and this one is the culmination of his growth.

Guest stars abound on this record, but with such a unique voice, Max remains the headliner. From the infectiousness of Run On for a Long Time to the bold declaration of The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, this is an album worthy of both deep thinking and toe tapping. B

Happy New Year! We'll start off 2008 with a double review!!

Family Worship • Don Whitney
BOOK
Release date: 2006
32 pages

As a man -- more importantly as a husband and father -- it's hard to come away from this book without a deep conviction concerning the importance of leading family worship.

This book is very small, which has the advantage of being a quick read, but the disadvantage of not covering the topics exhaustively. The Scriptural and historical evidence is clear, but while there are some practical elements discussed here I would have preferred a bit more in terms of implementation (putting the principles into practice) and evaluation (how to measure its health along the way).

Even with those shortcomings, it remains a strong introduction to the concept of family worship, as well as the potential benefits. For that alone, it's easy to recommend. B-

1776: Illustrated Edition • David McCullough
BOOK
Release date: 10.02.07
256 pages

Although the book first came out two years ago, I finally got around to reading McCullough's 1776 last year. I enjoyed it greatly, so imagine my happy surprise when I saw an Illustrated Edition on the way.

The text of the book is contained here, albeit in slightly abridged form, but the additions of reproductions of key letters, maps, and documents cited in the book serve to enhance the overall experience. It's doubtful that there has ever been a collection assembled quite like this.

Of particular interest to me were architectural sketches from King George III (quite skillful), an ambrotype of one of the last Revolutionary War soldiers at age 102, and the front page of a Philadelphia newspaper that ran the entire text of the Declaration of Independence.

Throw in all of the letters (with transcriptions in the back of the book), maps, and images from the ear, and you have a tremendous resource of one of the most important periods in American history. A-