tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73785212011-04-21T15:45:01.965-05:00Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.comBlogger4041100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1155131489359702152006-08-09T08:51:00.000-05:002006-08-27T16:16:44.856-05:00

My blog has moved.The new blog address is http://mattritchie.wordpress.com. Update your bookmarks, newsfeeds, bloglines subscriptions, etc., etc.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1154836875038270612006-08-05T22:29:00.000-05:002006-08-05T23:01:16.053-05:00

A couple of posts back, I said that - if we are being honest about scripture - we will see it reflecting God's concern over creation: where it is and where it is going. His promise is not to abandon the earth, snatching a select few into a ghostly/angelic netherworld where they will live in eternal bliss, but to set right all of the things that are wrong with our world.Indeed, I do not think that

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1154561297505327652006-08-02T18:14:00.000-05:002006-08-02T18:28:17.570-05:00

Mel Gibson became an evangelical icon when he released The Passion of the Christ several years ago. Gibson maintained that (a) he was not an antisemite, and (b) that the depiction of various Jewish characters in the film was not intended to be antisemetic. Many well-known conservative Christians were quick to endorse that viewpoint.Separating the art from the artist is never an easy thing. And

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1154398524277197862006-07-31T20:53:00.000-05:002006-07-31T21:15:29.213-05:00

Tonight, I'm wondering whether, like it or not, aware of it or not, America will make a very simple choice during the next decade or two:Save the culture or save the planet.Its not complicated, unless you want to make it that way.We can fight tooth and nail to keep our way of life intact - in terms of energy consumption, in terms of theology, in terms of politics, in terms of what we do with our

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1154188466393545942006-07-29T10:08:00.000-05:002006-07-29T10:54:26.470-05:00

If we're ever going to make sense of what scripture has to say about what happens "next," the first thing we need to do is come to grips with the fact that the primary thrust of scripture has nothing to do with how you can go to Heaven after you die. When I spent my time trying to force the Bible to speak to those expectations, I was inevitably frustrated, because that is simply not what it is

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1153877586231152972006-07-26T20:28:00.000-05:002006-07-27T11:16:33.796-05:00

Does scripture talk about how we go to heaven after we die? Here's what I discovered (and didn't discover) when I started reading larger chunks of scripture:Historical Old Testament - a story about how Israel was saved from bondage; and how they messed things up again once they were set free. No mention of life after death in any form. You'd think that, if God's ultimate goal was to get these

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1153847641085844782006-07-25T11:39:00.000-05:002006-07-25T12:14:08.840-05:00

By the time I was a 7-8 year-old boy, I understood four things about Heaven: (1) everyone who was ever saved will be there, including lost friends and relatives, (2) there will be lots of singing, (3) we will have rest from our toils and troubles, and (4) nobody will be bad.This sounded much better than the alternative. It even sounded really fun for, oh, maybe even the first two or three years.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1153685147139158652006-07-23T14:51:00.000-05:002006-07-23T15:18:21.386-05:00

I'm going to be posting on and off on this subject for the next few days/weeks - and I want to make it as interactive an experience as possible.I want you to feel like you can interact because this is a hard subject to address, and conversation is almost always better than lecturing when it comes to hard subjects. We invest a lot in what we think happens to people after they pass on - its only

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1153317587203510112006-07-19T08:34:00.000-05:002006-07-19T08:59:47.256-05:00

"Do you want to make Jesus the personal Lord of your life?"I've heard this question - or variations on it - asked numerous times; usually right before someone is baptized. It reflects an appropriate sentiment - it seeks to make sure that people are really serious about Jesus before they are baptized. But two things about this formulation trouble me:1. Do we make Jesus Lord? I don't think so. I

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1153190521083267932006-07-18T09:13:00.000-05:002006-07-18T08:00:04.963-05:00

During the last month, World of Warcraft has grown from a passing interest for me into an activity that dominates much of the conversation in our house. To that end, in the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy, I present "...you might be a Warcraft nerd."If your dad walks into the house, and you immediately brag that you "leveled up your Night Elf" today......you might be a Warcraft nerd.If you offer to pay

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1153154342829473242006-07-17T11:31:00.000-05:002006-07-17T21:44:06.143-05:00

If you are the parent of an elementary or middle-school aged kid, and if you live anywhere other than a cave in Afghanistan, you have doubtless heard about High School Musical, a Disney Channel movie with a $5 million budget which is now generating $100s of millions in revenue. The plot of the movie, such as it is, involves kids from different "groups" coming together, breaking free from

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1153066215114291332006-07-16T10:37:00.000-05:002006-07-16T11:10:15.143-05:00

A couple of posts back, I said that emergent is a conversation between members of different faith traditions about how Christians should go about engaging postmodern culture. And emergent is very much about culture. It recognizes that there is an "old" culture - usually called "modern" culture - which relied on knowledge and analysis as tools to find truth. That culture is vanishing."

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1152931978202173222006-07-14T21:35:00.000-05:002006-07-16T11:11:43.763-05:00

What if, instead of allowing the business book gurus to define effectiveness, we looked to the life of Jesus? What if effectivness were measured by the extent to which our life began to resemble that of Christ himself? What if we could learn to be "effective" on a completely different plane - a plane where "effective" people are those rare persons that seem to bring peace and wholeness to

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1152805770208048152006-07-13T08:57:00.000-05:002006-07-13T10:49:30.266-05:00

I've added a "Friend of Emergent" button to the bottom of my sidebar. Its been a long time coming - I suppose I've had an unofficial affiliation with emergent for some time. But I guess this makes it about as "official" as it gets for a blog.I get a lot of questions about the emergent movement - what it is, what it stands for, why I talk about it so much, etc. Different people will give different

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1152744866372625882006-07-12T17:45:00.000-05:002006-07-12T17:54:26.413-05:00

The next few days are going to be very strange around our house. Levi is gone to Kadesh at ACU. And this morning, Sheila and Rachel left for a four-day mission trip at the Fortress Church of Christ in Fort Worth. That leaves me at home with: (1) a big stack of work that needs to get done and (2) my two younger girls: Lexi and Becca.Today went pretty well. I set up a work station in the bedroom

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1152489637215718752006-07-09T17:59:00.000-05:002006-07-09T19:00:37.246-05:00

What is it that is so wrong about the cult of success? At its heart, the problem is that God doesn't ask us to try and be "effective" people, as the success gurus teach. Instead, he asks us to trust him and, therefore, to follow him. The distinctions are dramatic.Effective people need to see everything on charts, laid out neatly and clearly. They are ultimately proactive - they grab initiative,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1152407186927115992006-07-08T19:25:00.000-05:002006-07-08T20:06:26.956-05:00

In this series, I've tried to show that success is not something to be celebrated, sought after, and worshipped. Rather, when taken in the wrong doses, it becomes spiritual poison, placing us at the mercy of all seven of the deadly sins.I cannot overemphasize this: scripture's view of "success" is profoundly counter-cultural. Yet I see little indication that American Christians recognize this.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1152282509471381452006-07-07T09:21:00.000-05:002006-07-07T09:28:29.623-05:00

If you don't read anything else today, check out Scot McKnight's post on Zealotry. Scot has hit on, in a profound way, a problem that I have encountered and experienced again and again. He hits - I think exactly - on (1) why extra-biblical rule-making and judgmentalism go hand in hand, (2) the true motivations that underlie judgmentalism, and (3) why judgmentalism is ultimately a lack of trust in

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1152034565703613072006-07-04T11:53:00.000-05:002006-07-04T12:38:28.550-05:00

I just finished N.T. Wright's Paul: In Fresh Perspective. One of Wright's points in this book was that Paul was always a very nuanced writer. He maintained respect for the Jewish community, even as he grieved over its failure to embrace Jesus as the Christ. He recognized the brutality of Rome, but did not support insurrection. He encouraged the churches to be accepting of moral weakness and

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1151767957236596422006-07-01T09:58:00.000-05:002006-07-01T10:50:21.826-05:00

Its the time of year again where Suburbans across Abilene are decked out to the max with shoe polish and streamers, celebrating one of the most holy of all athletic events - Little League All Stars. Talk, everywhere I turn, seems to be focused on who made the team, whose coaching the teams, and who played who last night. The community-wide enthusiasm will only be exceeded thsi Fall, when High

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1151626287644859322006-06-29T18:49:00.000-05:002006-06-29T19:26:05.546-05:00

The seventh deadly sin, sometimes referred to as the "father of all sins," is pride. It is here, within this sin, that the highly effective person is most vulnerable at all.Why? Because they are effective.And we're not just talking about commercial success here. If you're good at anything that people respect and/or admire, you are a prime target for this one: making money, managing people,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1151551279089846852006-06-28T22:15:00.000-05:002006-06-28T22:21:19.113-05:00

And when the one who was now in heaven finally appeared, revealing his royal presence, this was not to be thought of in terms of his making a long journey from a far country. It would be more like drawing back a previously unnoticed curtain to reveal what had been there all along....Our citizenship, Paul says, is in heaven, and from there we await the Saviour, the Lord, Jesus the King - which

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1151451343069781652006-06-27T18:12:00.000-05:002006-06-27T18:35:43.103-05:00

The next stop on our quick tour of the seven deadly sins of highly effective people is envy.In the second post on this topic, I wrote about how the religion of success has infiltrated the fabric of our society, to the point where entreprenureal wonderboys are practically worshpped gods in themselves - idolized, scrutinized, and celebritized in local, national, and even international circles. I

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1151333197756437962006-06-26T08:26:00.000-05:002006-06-26T18:31:25.343-05:00

A few weeks ago, I listened an interview of an author, who was talking about the way labor is being stripped of meaningfulness in industrial/corporate society. It was fascinating and disturbing all at the same time. His primary concern was that most processes for the delivery of goods and services are efficiency-sensitive instead of quality-sensitive. In other words, a product or service can be (

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1151031822161974062006-06-22T21:40:00.000-05:002006-06-22T22:03:42.233-05:00

A funny thing happened on the way to watching us get our butts kicked in the World Cup: I re-discovered how much I love the richness and diversity of the world.It was no fun watching Carlos Reyna and teammates get pushed around, scored on, red-carded for minor infractions, etc., etc. for three straight games. Thats for sure. But, no matter how bad things got, I never got to a point where I hated

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1150906552322642742006-06-21T10:55:00.000-05:002006-06-21T11:15:52.996-05:00

After witnessing the humiliating collapse of the Mavericks in games 3-6 of the NBA Finals, I am (a) frustrated with the Mavs for losing and (b) angry at myself for wasting valuable time and TiVo space on 24 interminable quarters of NBA basketball.The NBA is booooor-ing. Here's why:1. Nonsensical color commentary. Most of the problems that teams face in the NBA are obvious and equally unfixable.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1150558492767784652006-06-17T10:31:00.000-05:002006-06-17T10:42:08.220-05:00

Our three girls just finished a musical theater day camp during which they performed in a production that depicted the story of Noah's Ark. The musical features a group of people who mock Noah and family mercilessly until the flood waters come, at which point their deaths are depicted in a rather light-hearted, benign fashion, suitable for a young cast and audience.At dinner after the second

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1150306306535384452006-06-15T00:29:00.000-05:002006-06-14T23:30:07.336-05:00

Never even heard of this guy. But, sounds like the quiz pretty well nailed down my primary convictions...You scored as J?Moltmann. The problem of evil is central to your thought, and only a crucified God can show that God is not indifferent to human suffering. Christian discipleship means identifying with suffering but also anticipating the new creation of all things that God will bring

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1150302240118460222006-06-14T11:13:00.000-05:002006-06-14T11:28:48.456-05:00

Incredible post from Jason Clark today on our culture's obsession with the "now," and the reasons why we seem largely unconcerned with the history of the past or the possiblities of the future. This disconnectedness leaves us with nothing but a desire to find instant gratification of whatever we happen to want at the moment. It explains so much: consumer debt, obesity, addiction, obsession with

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149293488900847732006-06-13T00:01:00.000-05:002006-06-12T23:55:03.046-05:00

Welcome to those who are stopping by today on the blog tour for Scot McKnight's Praying With the Church.Praying With the Church is about the value of the spiritual discipline of speaking the prayers of the church. Beginning with Jesus, and continuing through the traditions of the present day, McKnight describes the tradition of fixed, hourly prayer within the Christian community, commenting on

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1150131621857609072006-06-12T11:43:00.000-05:002006-06-12T12:00:21.973-05:00

Reports continue to pour in about the oppressive treatment of Eastern European women, who are lured from their homes with a promise of a better life, only to be forced to participate in sex trade in a foreign country. Apparently, this "industry" of forced prostitution is only growing as a result of the presence of the World Cup in Germany.These are some of the saddest stories I have ever heard.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149965136448736142006-06-10T13:30:00.000-05:002006-06-10T13:45:36.486-05:00

One of the songs that accompanied the dances that were performed by Rachel's ballet company this summer was the old spiritual: Wade in the Water. I got to see/hear it one last time when they performed last Thursday night at Wylie Baptist.What a powerful song. There are several versions floating around. In fact, at one point, one of its purposes was to make veiled references to the freedom that

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149867782745720832006-06-09T10:39:00.000-05:002006-06-09T10:43:02.823-05:00

Thanks to Chris Gonzalez and Adam Ellis for the link to this disturbingly prophetic video from Derek Webb.Related Tags: Derek Webb, A New Law, Republichristians, Demochristians

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149642341748813932006-06-06T19:52:00.000-05:002006-06-06T20:05:43.536-05:00

In honor of the Mavericks' pending appearance in the NBA Finals, I picked up a copy of NBA Live 06 (PC) this weekend, hoping to enjoy a little virtual hoops action over the next few weeks.Thus far, the experience of playing this title has been thorougly humiliating, even at the easiest level. I can score a few points on offense, but...I got no defense. Natta. Nil. Zilch.The worst teams in the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149356255270942512006-06-03T11:52:00.000-05:002006-06-03T12:37:36.113-05:00

Don't get me wrong. Lots of good things came out of the reformation, the enlightenment, and the American restoration movement. The people that are/were a part of those things did their best to understand scripture and follow God using the resources that were available to them during their time and day. Still, as I pointed out yesterday, something went wrong. Discovering universal truth by

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149288815002738882006-06-02T17:46:00.000-05:002006-06-02T18:44:57.146-05:00

On Sunday morning, I've volunteered for the task of building a bridge between a study on the history of the American restoration movement and a series of guest speakers, all from different faith traditions, that our class will entertain for the next three weeks.Its been a frustrating process putting this one together. The temptation has been to throw in a bunch of questions about the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149169729363777182006-06-01T08:39:00.000-05:002006-06-01T08:48:49.386-05:00

Jason Morant's new project Open is now in stores and on several major music services. Morant, a native of New Orleans, is an incredibly creative worship artist. His music is rich with beautiful harmonic blends and diverse instrumentation. He doesn't have the notoriety of a Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, or MercyMe, but his work is every bit as moving, both lyrically and musically, as anyone else who is

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1149041402385969702006-05-30T20:47:00.000-05:002006-05-30T21:10:02.743-05:00

I get a chance about 3-4 times a day to listen to a podcast for a major news service. Virtually the only thing I ever hear about what is going on in Iraq is a daily body count: how many people were injured, how many died, how many Americans have died since the invasion, etc. One of these days, I'm expecting to log onto CNN or MSNBC and see something that looks like a hit counter for a web site,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148915132036966612006-05-29T09:21:00.000-05:002006-05-29T10:05:32.826-05:00

Nothing screams "I'm important!" like a man screaming "I'm important!" into his cell phone.This line comes from a Bud Light Real Men of Genius radio commercial. It is my favorite in the current Rangers radio rotation because its rings true. Almost every time I enter a large venue filled with business people, usually an airport, I hear almost exactly that - angry folks shouting in their cell phone

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148762045329547782006-05-27T15:20:00.000-05:002006-05-27T15:40:43.300-05:00

NT Wright is rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. Having only limited training in New Testament studies and theology, I struggle to keep up with him, but the hard work that is involved in reading and re-reading his books, page by page, pays off in huge dividends. In fact, in my book, he may soon assume Jedi Master status, alongside Dallas Willard.I just picked up Wright's book Paul: In

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148567676347773862006-05-25T09:22:00.000-05:002006-05-25T09:34:36.406-05:00

On my own mental calendar, the last day of school and the Memorial Day Weekend mark the beginning of the most glorious time of year: Summer.Yeah, I realize that things get really hot here in Texas during the summer, and that tends to make some people a little annoyed. But, by contrast, Summer nights in West Texas are absolutely glorious.Snow cones. Swimming. Daylight until 9 at night. Late night

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148440833427105612006-05-23T22:03:00.000-05:002006-05-23T22:20:33.453-05:00

Church Sanctuary the Size of a Sports Colliseum? $250 million plus.Home in Exclusive Tampa Neighborhood? $2.7 million.A Mercedes for You and a Bentley for the Wife? $150,000 plus.Per-bottle profit from sale of Omega Fatty Acid pills? $5.00.Cost to produce infomercial in which you "guarantee... emphatically and unequivocally" that Omega Fatty Acid pills "are going to change your life"? $7,000

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148388857297434012006-05-23T07:52:00.000-05:002006-05-23T07:54:17.320-05:00

If you haven't seen it already, head over to Addison road and read Chad's post on The DaVinci Code. Its hilarious.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148348091996423112006-05-22T19:50:00.000-05:002006-05-22T20:34:52.036-05:00

This summer, I'm looking forward to Superman Returns more than any other film. This iteration of the Superman legend will purportedly be a continuation of the Richard Donner/Christopher Reeve films of the late 70s and early 80s. I really loved those films - and still do to this day.As was the case with Star Wars, a part of the defining experience of the first Superman film was the music of John

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148175802866955712006-05-20T20:16:00.000-05:002006-05-20T20:49:31.986-05:00

I had a great time tonight watching some of my family members, as well as others, dance in the annual recital for Turning Pointe, the performing arts studio where they have been taking dancing lessons all year.First, the obligatory parental bragging. My eight year-old girl, Lexi, was just brilliant on stage. She was the youngest in her lyrical class, and I was told that she struggled to keep up

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1148005415524921012006-05-19T21:19:00.000-05:002006-05-19T18:23:08.436-05:00

Folks, I am just about DaVincied out. And you're probably tired of reading this stuff, too - but there is one more point that I think needs to be made, and that point has to do with what Dan Brown refers to as the "divine feminine."Undergirding most of The DaVinci Code is the pre-supposition that, during Constantine's reign, Christianity was somehow transformed into a religion that worships a "

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147963115074638412006-05-18T08:24:00.000-05:002006-05-19T18:23:48.466-05:00

In my previous posts this week (including yesterday's), I have argued that The DaVinci Code's success can be attributed to an (often) inadequate depiction of Jesus in post-Christian culture. I think that people believe there is "more" to Jesus than they are being told, and The DaVinci Code plays off of that suspicion, attempting to fill in that void with quasi-credible explanations about how the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147872451003958822006-05-17T08:14:00.000-05:002006-05-19T18:24:27.260-05:00

In my last two posts, I've suggested that:1. I think that people are fascinated by The DaVinci Code because it confirms an innate suspicion that there is "more" to Jesus than popularized Christian leaders are telling them.2. In some cases, they are right. BUT3. The DaVinci Code doesn't tell us much about the real Jesus, either.The Jesus that is often portrayed - particularly by evangelicals - is

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147559097095822762006-05-16T08:16:00.000-05:002006-05-19T18:25:06.340-05:00

Yesterday, I suggested that The DaVinci Code has been successful, in part, because it affirms people's distrust in mainstream Christian leaders to tell the truth about Jesus. There is a sense that the "real" Jesus was much different from the Jesus that is depicted by TV preachers, quasi-political organizations, and door-knocking evangelicals. My question was - is there reason to believe that the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147622427688579552006-05-15T10:56:00.000-05:002006-05-19T18:25:44.710-05:00

Well, boys and girls, the time has come. The film based on Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code hits theaters later this week, and with it comes a raging controversy over the book's (and, presumably, the film's) depiction of Jesus, early Christians, the modern church, and Mary Magdaline.Institutional distrust isn't new. In fact, its practically the dominant theme of our day. But an open expression of

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147540349398254172006-05-13T11:41:00.001-05:002006-05-13T17:28:23.210-05:00

Stunned, I gazed at my friend as blood began to drip down his forehead. In my hand was a rock about the size of my fist - the weapon that had dealt the blow, and I began to wonder if maybe I had missed the point.I hope you won't think too harshly of me. I was only in second grade.A few days earlier, my friends had started playing a game called "pile on." The game - which was truly mean spirited-

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147377265239463832006-05-11T14:36:00.000-05:002006-05-11T14:54:25.276-05:00

I hope you'll excuse me. I'm a little upset right now. You see, I went into a grocery store during my lunch break and got worked up when I started reading the magazine covers at the checkout line.That DENISE RICHARDS. Ooooooh! She makes me SO angry!! How DARE she steal Heather Locklear's love interest!? Completely shameless. How can she live with herself?I can only hope that Heather is getting

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147233039939001732006-05-09T22:24:00.000-05:002006-05-09T22:50:39.973-05:00

I have tremendous respect for school teachers, particularly those who treat their vocation as a ministry. I also have great respect for parents who excel at raising children who attend the public schools (and there are many, many of you out there). There are also moments, however, where I'm glad that our family is privileged to do home education.Today, by chance, I overheard my wife talking to

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147138483770588512006-05-08T20:25:00.000-05:002006-05-08T20:34:43.793-05:00

Take a couple of minutes to soak in this statement from Henri Nouwen:No two friends are the same. Each has his or her own gift for us. When we expect one friend to have all we need, we will always be hypercritical, never completely happy with what he or she does have.One friend may offer us affection, another may stimulate our minds, another may strengthen our souls. The more able we are to

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1147049167685745512006-05-07T18:50:00.000-05:002006-05-07T19:46:07.710-05:00

[Previous Posts - Part 1, Part 2, Lust, Gluttony/Avarice]Next up in our tour of the seven deadly sins of highly effective people: sloth."Sloth?" you say, "Aren't successful business folks known for being hard workers? Isn't that how they got to where they are? "Well, yes - succesful people do tend to be very hard workers. But the fact that they tend to put in long hours and are more productive

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146932685577575002006-05-06T11:10:00.000-05:002006-05-06T11:24:45.600-05:00

I've added Sacred Space, a web site run by the Irish Jesuits, to the Formation category in the sidebar. Its a great way to spend ten minutes a day in meditation and prayer - very thoughtfully done.Its very easy to get out of the habit of prayer, but when I find ways to pray and meditate in a regular, disicplined way, I wonder how I ever managed without it. Prayer, meditation, and other practices

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146842894995662682006-05-05T10:14:00.000-05:002006-05-05T15:40:38.173-05:00

These days, it seems like virtually every classic TV show is being made into a feature film. And it is only a matter of time until someone does this with the MASH. (Update: Thanks to Val for reminding us that MASH was a feature film, before it turned a TV show.)Our TGIF question of the day is this - if you could cast any actor/actress you wanted in a 2006 feature film based on the 70s TV program,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146757916251940142006-05-04T10:36:00.000-05:002006-05-04T10:51:56.276-05:00

A few random thoughts as we enter the second month of the 2006 season:1. You don't lose much when you listen to baseball on the radio (as opposed to TV). We don't have extended cable in our house, so I don't get to WATCH the Rangers, but I listen to them almost every night. Still a very enjoyable experience, especially when I can simultaneously monitor the game using the MLB Gamecast flash window

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146628130476171362006-05-02T22:12:00.000-05:002006-05-03T08:18:09.056-05:00

When I originally put this post up last night, it was extremely sarcastic. I kind-of liked it, but then I decided it wasn't charitable enough toward those who disagree with me - so I pulled it. Here, now, is the kinder, gentler, blander version. (Some will note a previous comment that was made to the original post...)Three observations about the interaction between Christian spirituality and the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146537030341173292006-05-01T20:26:00.000-05:002006-05-02T12:21:22.556-05:00

[Ed note - Long, rambling post alert! Stop reading now if you don't have the patience for that sort-of thing.]I'm fascinated with the way people use language - or, at least, accuse other people of using language - as a way of unifying people around certain ideas.I guess this technique has been around for quite a while - all of my life at least. Anyone who is even vaguely aware of the American

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146184374524053812006-04-30T19:22:00.000-05:002006-04-30T16:39:29.543-05:00

[Previous Posts - Part 1, Part 2, Lust]The next stop on our tour of the seven deadly sins and their impact on "highly effective people" (a phrase which I am using in the popular sense - that is, "effective" at commercial success) involves the twin evils of avarice and gluttony.For those who haven't brushed up on their deadly sins in a while, "avarice" is the strong desire to gain, especially in

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146278178778331662006-04-28T21:32:00.000-05:002006-04-28T21:36:18.800-05:00

Any Wordpress bloggers out there this weekend? How do you like it? How does it compare to Blogger?I tried setting up a test blog on Wordpress tonight. It seems to be a little faster and a little more tightly integrated (I especially like the ability to tag my posts without having to generate my own HTML), but I could NOT figure out how to edit templates. I don't know - maybe the ability to edit a

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146269454150893572006-04-28T19:06:00.000-05:002006-04-28T19:10:54.173-05:00

Aly Hawkins from Addison Road gets the credit for spotting this very, um, helpful article on learning the language of postmodernity. Enjoy.Related Tags: postmodernism, humor

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1146155539874549442006-04-27T11:14:00.000-05:002006-04-27T11:32:20.120-05:00

Greg Kendall-Ball asked an intriguing question about the future of churches of Christ on his blog yesterday, and it has generated a terrific conversation. You can check it out here.My 13 year-old daughter has her first real-world dancing gig! She is part of the cast in Die Fledermaus, an Abilene Collegiate Opera production. Some of the dancers in her studio were asked to perform in a small scene

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145584887251831962006-04-25T12:44:00.000-05:002006-04-25T12:34:58.996-05:00

In the traditional formulation of the seven deadly sins, lust is at the top of the list. It is, according to tradition, the least severe of all of the deadly sins. However, it is also a great place to start if you want to talk about the temptations that are faced by highly effective people.In the traditional sense, lust is not solely about sex, though sex is certainly part of the picture. Instead

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145911622081900722006-04-24T15:23:00.000-05:002006-04-24T20:48:20.376-05:00

I have been (violently) ill today with a stomach bug. Among other things, this means that I won't be attending the Casting Crowns concert tonight at Moody. Thats okay. I like Casting Crowns, but last time I went to one of their performances, Deyo opened for them, so it was going to be hard to beat that experience anyway. (My favorite moment from the evening, by the way, was right after Deyo's set

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145756895264378522006-04-22T20:44:00.000-05:002006-04-22T20:48:15.276-05:00

From Erwin McManus, a minister at Mosaic:God's desire is not to corral you, but to set you free. God's compass for life is not information, but truth. The key is not the ability to read God's mind, but to know His heart. It is critical to grow in the wisdom of God, and this journey must be fueled with the passion of God. All blessings of God without urgency to live for His purpose become a

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145627942530454002006-04-21T08:01:00.000-05:002006-04-21T08:59:02.670-05:00

Dear John-I have been reading your gospel lately. It has always been one of my favorites. It paints a very beautiful picture of who Jesus is. I like it when you talk about him using imagery such as light, resurrection, the true shepherd, etc. I am also moved by the way Jesus "sees" the blind man and the way he then "sees" Jesus in Chapter 9, while the arrogant leaders can see nothing.I've read

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145387938873130222006-04-20T14:04:00.000-05:002006-04-20T08:32:26.713-05:00

[Previous Post: Part 1- An Introduction]Today - Part 2: Another American IdolThere was a time when I could hardly watch late night TV without seeing an ad for a "no money down" get-rich-now real estate investment course. Most of the time, the commercial featured a fairly nerd-ly looking guy driving expensive cars and relaxing in expensive homes, all the while surrounded by thin young women in

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145481482547433742006-04-19T16:07:00.000-05:002006-04-19T16:26:40.486-05:00

First there was Dance, Dance Revolution!Then, there was Karaoke Revolution! Now comes the game that will forever change the way you think about acapella church music: Song Leader Revolution!I haven't bought an XBox 360 yet because I've been waiting for the killer title to come out. It looks like this is the one!(While you're there, don't forget to watch the commercial. And thanks, dad, for the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145324835087515032006-04-18T20:28:00.000-05:002006-04-18T11:17:57.386-05:00

Fact: I am a sucker for Hillsong United albums.Reviewers are being somewhat critical of the group's latest effort - United We Stand - because it follows the same old, tired worship formula. But I happen to like that formula.Here's the formula: Start with a couple of high energy rock songs followed by 30 minutes of worshipful ballads. Fill the "slow" part of the album with long instrumental solos

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145328534162724232006-04-17T21:31:00.000-05:002006-04-19T08:04:44.333-05:00

About sixteen years ago, Stephen Covey wrote a book called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I'm not sure that Covey had financial success in mind when he wrote this book. In fact, I'm pretty sure that he believed the "seven habits" could apply to lots of things: parenting, marriage, sports, stamp collecting, etc. But a lot of people who read the book tried to apply it to money-making

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145326283181762772006-04-17T20:55:00.000-05:002006-04-17T21:11:23.250-05:00

Here are the two most common comments I get about this blog:1. "I don't understand everything you say - I think its over my head."2. "Honey, your posts are waaaaay too long."Comment #2 comes exclusively from my wife (who only checks in on rare occasion) - but she tends to say it a lot - so I feel like it deserves some consideration.As far as comment #1 goes, I appreciate the kind way all of you

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145293870882102562006-04-17T12:03:00.000-05:002006-04-17T12:11:10.896-05:00

My lenten fast from blog commenting (except for responding to people who comment on my own blog) is over. In honor of this event, I've added my co-comments feed in the sidebar, so that the vast wisdom that I am sharing on other blogs [insert sarcastic eyeroll here] can be readily accessed from my own blog as well.Sheila gave up chocolate. I gave up the attention-grabbing practice of commenting on

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145125066756652192006-04-16T00:01:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:49:37.983-05:00

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1145148648214353562006-04-15T19:46:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:57:44.820-05:00

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144867600945616412006-04-14T00:01:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:53:56.523-05:00

Why did Jesus die?There are two ways to approach this question. One approach is to be reductionistic about it - to say that Jesus died because for one particular reason or purpose, and none other. A better approach is to acknowledge that Jesus' death can have multiple, rich, nuanced meanings - to always be on a quest that seeks to explore the depths of the mystery of the cross.I'm convinced that

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144807475083352002006-04-13T00:01:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:53:23.910-05:00

"ego eimi"In Mark's gospel, this was Jesus' response to the high priest's question "Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?" It was spoken on Thursday of the passion week, just before Friday's dawn. From a legal standpoint, his words at that moment were absolutely critical. Jesus had been arrested in the middle of the night, while no crowds were present. Doubtless, the plan was to hand him over to

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144859084147227862006-04-12T10:58:00.000-05:002006-04-28T22:56:18.173-05:00

Did anyone else catch King of the Hill last Sunday? I watched it last night on TiVo, and it was - to say the least hilarious.The episode for this week was called "Church Hopping" (summary and review here), and - as they have done in a few other episodes - Mike Judge and company did an incredible job of capturing the insanity of much of the modern practice of Christianity, particularly as it

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144728156650317312006-04-12T00:01:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:52:56.650-05:00

In Mark, the road to Jerusalem has been littered with failure. Beginning with Peter, and continuing throughout the book, no one seems to understand that the way of Jesus means a way of death, rather than a way of power and authority, like the "gentiles."One might think that Jesus was getting ready to toss all of those teachings aside. After all, he just spent the last two days tearing into the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144638556218083822006-04-11T00:01:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:52:31.636-05:00

Mark's account of the Tuesday of passion week spans 3 chapters. I don't want to stretch this post too thin, though. So I will call your attention to three particular events that occur during these chapters:FIRST - In keeping with his action of "destroying" the temple on Monday, the day begins with the disciples' amazement at the withering of a fig tree that Jesus had cursed on the previous day.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144721985056474692006-04-10T20:54:00.000-05:002006-04-10T21:19:45.110-05:00

An open message to the coward who was leaving this card on car windows in a grocery store parking lot tonight:Here is my advice to you: keep reading, pal.You don't even need to turn the page in your bible. Look at Chapter 2 and verse 1, where Paul tells you that, if you're passing judgment on those exact people that you describe in your haughty little yellow card, you have no excuse yourself -

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144550475481955822006-04-10T00:01:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:52:01.870-05:00

In Mark's account of the passion week, Monday is the day on which Jesus cleansed the temple. "Cleansed," however, might not be the best description for what he did. Here's why:Jesus makes two references to the prophets as he disrupts economic activity in the temple. First, he recalls Isaiah 56, in which God states that he intends to make himself accessible to all nations. Second, he recalls

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144439749501742252006-04-09T00:01:00.000-05:002006-04-16T19:51:22.296-05:00

Last week, I watched a news story about a priest who was involved in the immigration demonstrations a few days ago. A reporter asked him if he was involved in the process for political reasons, and he said "no." Instead, he said, it was a moral issue.Underlying the interview was an assumption that the "moral" and "political" realms are distinct, and that it would be improper for a Christian

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144438775208063542006-04-07T14:16:00.000-05:002006-04-07T14:39:35.306-05:00

Its been a crazy week. I've been out of town for the most part, but I've been inundated with hits off of google and technorati showing interest in the churches of Christ and in the Mary Winkler/Matthew Winkler/Nancy Grace story. (Well, "inundated" is a relative word - its been a lot of hits for this site, but probably not a whole lot for some blogs with larger audiences...)At any rate, if you are

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144338331214601292006-04-06T10:11:00.000-05:002006-04-06T10:45:31.430-05:00

Mommy guilt.As far as I'm concerned, it is the most emotionally powerful weapon in the arsenal of modern marketing. It may not sell as much as sex does (to men) or vanity does (to women) because there will never be as many mothers in a particular demographic as there are - well - men and women seeking sex and/or acceptance. However, it strikes at an emotion that runs deeper than either sex or

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1144118502660179192006-04-03T21:29:00.000-05:002006-04-03T23:55:42.400-05:00

Mike was blogging today about how those of us from churches of Christ struggle to find a way to love our heritage. He says we shouldn't love it like a three year-old who thinks mom and dad are perfect, but we also shouldn't love it like a teenager who thinks mom and dad are aliens.As for myself - I feel like an adult child trying to care for a dying parent who will soon be on life support, and

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143990320884901022006-04-02T09:54:00.000-05:002006-04-02T10:05:20.966-05:00

Only a moment to post today. I've been reading The Last Week : A Day-by-Day Account of Jesus's Final Week in Jerusalem, and all I can say is "wow!" A fascinating, informative exposition of the last few chapters of Mark, focusing on the historical/political circumstances that led to the death of Jesus and Mark's call to discipleship.[An alert to potential readers: the authors of the book are true

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143762076596570082006-03-31T10:32:00.000-06:002006-03-31T09:41:27.403-06:00

Yesterday: a message for those who aren't members of churches of Christ. Today: a reality check for the rest of us.A message to my friends in the churches of Christ:Nancy Grace is not our problem. She is a symptom of a much bigger problem. Our uncomfortable experience in the national spotlight earlier this week was not an isolated incident that will eventually fade away, allowing things to return

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143695699289579922006-03-30T08:45:00.000-06:002006-04-03T23:57:56.963-05:00

I know that some of you are not members of churches of Christ. And I'm guessing that, in light of the recent events surrounding the murder of Matthew Winkler and his wife's apparent confession to the killing, you are probably a little curious about what we are all about.I haven't had a chance to watch any of the Nancy Grace shows involving the churches of Christ, but there have apparently been

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143576283579499122006-03-29T13:56:00.000-06:002006-03-29T14:22:38.420-06:00

I continue to be amazed by the thoughtful writing that can be found on the Relevant Magazine site. This week, Relevant is running a piece by Brett Potter on the way the cross deconstructs glamour. Its a very thought-provoking reflection on vanity, the pursuit of beauty, and the way Jesus ought to change the way we think about celebrity culture.Here's a sample:The cross itself is the ultimate

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143564846716382362006-03-28T10:34:00.000-06:002006-03-28T10:54:06.733-06:00

Will Wright, creator of The Sims and the Sim City series, has just written an incredible essay on gaming, creativity, and play. Here is an excerpt:Society, however, notices only the negative. Most people on the far side of the generational divide - elders - look at games and see a list of ills (they're violent, addictive, childish, worthless). Some of these labels may be deserved. But the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143514156626464552006-03-27T20:41:00.000-06:002006-03-27T20:49:16.646-06:00

I haven't been on campus today, but I've been following, with great interest, the spirited discussions about the Soulforce arrival at ACU on Mike's and Greg's blogs.I am continually puzzled by the way many of us (yes, sometimes including myself) react differently to homosexuality than to other activities that we consider to be sinful.Why is that reaction so strong?I'm not asking about whether it

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143399890048217402006-03-26T12:25:00.000-06:002006-03-26T13:04:50.103-06:00

As I have made my way through N.T. Wright's The Last Word and Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, I have become keenly aware that I used to be fooling myself about scripture.I used to think this: Well, other people say this and that about God, but I don't listen to what other people say about scripture, I just read the Bible.How naive. Nobody just reads the Bible. We all come into it with all sorts of

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143334414898911882006-03-25T18:34:00.000-06:002006-03-25T18:53:34.933-06:00

Here's another one of my favorites: "You deserve this."This one is particularly popular on the cable shopping channels. Translated, it really means: "Its okay to be greedy this one time."Can't afford it? Already in too much debt? Wife/husband going to jump all over you for the money you spend on it?Blow 'em off! Get in their face! You work hard, too. You put up with a lot of crud. They have nice

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143246302061843412006-03-24T17:54:00.000-06:002006-03-24T18:25:02.156-06:00

As concerned citizens, I'm sure all of you will be glad to know that presidential wannabe Hillary Clinton and ex-ran-for-something-one-time Joe Lieberman are hard at work making sure that your tax dollars are being put to good use.Specifically, said Senators have now proposed the CAMRA Act, which is wonkish shorthand for "The Children and Media Research Advancement Act." CAMRA proposes to give

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1143081534270507132006-03-23T20:33:00.000-06:002006-03-23T16:42:52.890-06:00

Has anyone else read The DaVinci Code? What did you make of it?I just finished reading it myself. I plan on saying a lot more about the whole DaVinci phenomenon as the publicity avalanche for the movie - both pro and con - begins to build momentum in a month or so. In the meantime, here are a few assorted observations:- For a guy like me, who is generally not into fiction, it was genuinely

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1142911286335610232006-03-21T12:07:00.000-06:002006-03-21T12:44:57.460-06:00

What if we got it all wrong? What if the Christian journey isn't supposed to be experienced as a sensible thing, like an accounting transaction? What if, instead, it is supposed to be embraced as something beautiful, like a dance?What if the very nature of God is a dance unto itself?When we talk about God, we don't bundle the whole idea of who God is into a description of one person. Instead, we

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1142735290903429182006-03-20T12:10:00.000-06:002006-03-20T11:46:00.940-06:00

I've added Dwight Schrute's blog to my Bloglines roll. I've also published it on my sidebar. Dwight hasn't posted in about a month now, but I sure hope he gets back to it soon. If you have ever heard his "We are Warriors!" speech, you know that he is clearly - like - the greatest salesman ever!Also, a few days ago, someone emailed me about whether I had a playlist set up on Yahoo! Music Engine,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378521.post-1142733495488354892006-03-18T19:42:00.000-06:002006-03-18T19:58:15.503-06:00

A few of my (least) favorite marketing tricks:1. Hidden Fees and Charges. Your carrier will sell you the latest, greatest cell phone plan for only $29.99 per month. But when you get the bill, you'll soon discover that all sorts of fees, connection charges, usage charges, surcharges, upcharges, downcharges, and charges-for-the-heckuvit also apply. Didn't you read the fine print in your contract?

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846573838270770592noreply@blogger.com2