Do yourselves a favor....

Exams + holidays cramp a blogger's style NASTY. So this is a lazy post with no original thought at all, however, if you take my advice and actually listen to these, this will end up being a favorite post. Most of you won't, because you "don't have time," but I really wish you would. As my immediate family knows, I will not rest until I've tried to make everyone hear these.

These are my top Tim Keller sermons. Tim Keller has been my pastor crush through all of law school. I go through pastor phases, and he's stuck around for nearly three years. I tell people it's like he crawled into the modern, success/image-obsessed brain, took a look around, and then came out and analyzed it along with a pretty masterful grasp of scripture. He's an avid reader, and that really comes through. He doesn't waste time or words and he logically builds to conclusions that have knocked me on my tail.

All of these are available on his podcast on iTunes, or you can just google his name and the name of the sermons and it will take you to his site, where these sermons are there for free. I like to put them on my iPod and listen to them on drives. But beware: the tollbooth workers will think you are crazypants if you pull up bawling to give them your dollar.

In order of awesomeness....

The Man the King Delights to Honor- The best thing I've ever heard on pride. It borrows heavily from C.S. Lewis, but only takes Lewis' best lines. Then Keller wraps it all together with how the gospel comes into play in this subject. I used to be really hard on myself all the time, and it would get me pretty depressed. This sermon killed that tendency immediately. If you like this one, supplement it with "The Sickness Unto Death" or by reading "Counterfeit Gods." http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/man-king-delights-honor

The Struggle for Love- I never knew there was so much to the story of Jacob in the Old Testament. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/struggle-love

The Lord of the Wine- Ever wonder why Jesus' "water into wine" miracle was the first and why it was so important? http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/lord-wine

Sexuality and Christian Hope- Throw away all your purity talks. This is the only one you need, and it's not just for single people either. It just shows sexuality and love and puts it in perspective of overall life. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/sexuality-and-christian-hope

Marriage as Commitment and Priority- For married people who are sick of gushy cliches and simple advice that just doesn't cut it in the day-by-day. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/marriage-commitment-priority

The Two Great Tests- In life, there are two things that will let you know what you are made of. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/two-great-tests

Suffering: If Got is good, why is there so much evil in the world?- Self-explanatory. I've heard a lot on this topic, but the second half of this sermon knocks it out of the ballpark. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/suffering-if-god-good-why-there-so-much-evil-world

The Healing of Anger- Got anger? Got no anger? This is a good one about how anger is a good thing, unless it goes sour. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/healing-anger

Sin as Slavery- Also self-explanatory http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/sin-slavery

The Longing for Home- Everybody's got it. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/longing-home

Made for Stewardship- This one is about work. It helps me to not procrastinate.http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/made-stewardship

Real Friendship and the Pleading Priest- Never saw things this way before. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/real-friendship-and-pleading-priest

The Prodigal Sons
http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/prodigal-sons

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If you are hankering for something light to read on scripture, this list is hilarious. Beware of some language concerns (a few F-bombs in humor), but I've read this twice. It's so funny.

http://www.cracked.com/article_15699_the-9-most-badass-bible-verses.html

Happy holidays!