Circumvent Relational Morph into Cheap Syncretism
When do honest attempts at incarnational relationships morph into cheap religious pluralism and/or spiritual syncretism (both are very different from deep inter-faith conversation, which is something I support with all of my being)? Read More »
Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto
My wife and I just watched Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto. Gibson is a master storyteller and director. Astounding! Read More »
A Newsflash Sort of Review of Static by Ron Martoia
I used to challenge the thinking of nominal believers during my undergraduate studies in theology by asking them a few pretty serious questions about the Jesus they so easily called lord and savior. One of the most challenging questions I asked a choice few of these individuals had to do with surnames and identification by family. Specifically, I’d ask them if they were aware of Jesus’ surname, and if so, what is it? They normally responded with “Christ,” which of course led to a sketchy discussion about the differences between a Jewish concept/title and a family name. Obviously, Christ is not Jesus’ last name. I thought individuals who actually called Jesus “lord and savior” should at least know that his last name was not “Christ.” I still do think believers should be more than nominal and very literate of that in which they are actually investing belief. Authentic discipleship demands as much. Read More »
Emergent’s Spirit Depot: Full of Crazy White People?
The Holy Observer publishes a piece of classic satirical genius re: the Emerging Church: Frightened Black Family Flees Emergent Church. So, I must ask, is the Emerging Church mostly full of crazy white people?
Shane Claiborne on Super-sized & Mega-everything
Shane Claiborne on the importance of community, consumerism and authentic relationships: “That’s the exciting thing - there’s a whole generation of people that are really longing for community and are actually pretty suspicious of mega-anything. Read More »
Our Christian Discipleship as Political Responsibility
I’m fascinated and thrilled by John Howard Yoder’s position re: the relationship between Christian discipleship and the state as articulated in Discipleship as Political Responsibility. Discipleship is, of course, a major conviction - if not [T]he distinguishing characteristic - of the Anabaptist expression of faith.
Christianity (and Anabaptism) is an invitation to authentic personal liberation and spiritual discipline. In other words, we are simultaneously transformed by Christ’s work (Atonement) and we are called and equipped to follow him daily. The historic influence upon this discipleship wielded by Emperor Constantine and Augustine of Hippo is contemporarily obvious, but many are beginning to question (once again) the historicity of these influences and pre-Constantinian and Augustinian connections - if any - to the New Testament and/or early expressions of followership by the Christian Church. It is good to question these things. The Constantinian shift did not occur without great affect. It changed much. It’s also good to hold up the New Testament as the authority (especially if one is Christian!). Christians should be asking, “What does the Bible teach?” But we should not stop there! We should go one important step further and ask, “How do we apply the teachings of Scripture in our day?” Read More »
A Woman’s Guide: Yup. Nope. Maybe.
I finished the Christian Life & Relationship paperbacks authored by the therapist duo aka Stephen James and David Thomas. The companion works are titled “Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat? A Man’s Guide to the Loaded Questions Women Ask” and “Yup.” “Nope.” “Maybe.” A Woman’s Guide to Getting More Out of the Language of Men.
I already offered my thoughts and questions re: “Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat? A Man’s Guide to the Loaded Questions Women Ask.” I appreciated the book, and found it to be both enlightening and entertaining. I would say the same re: “Yup. Nope. Maybe. A Woman’s Guide to Getting More Out of the Language of Men.” It too was an enlightening and entertaining read. The pair are good books, all around. Read More »
The Infantree: Lancaster City’s Young Creatives
I recently met a bunch of dreamers, artists, and writers in Lancaster City. Collectively, this group of young creatives is called The Infantree. Read More »
A Man’s Guide: Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat?
I recently read through a pair of enlightening and entertaining Christian Life/Relationship paperbacks collaboratively authored by Stephen James and David Thomas. The works are titled “Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat?” and “Yup.” “Nope.” “Maybe.” The former is “A Man’s Guide to the Loaded Questions Women Ask,” the later is “A Woman’s Guide to Getting More Out of the Language of Men.” Fun, educational reads, both of them.
I’ll start with a quick review of “Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat?” A review of “Yup.” “Nope.” “Maybe.” will follow shortly. Read More »
A Request in the Form of a Note to Friends
If I am ever somehow seduced by what I will gently call “a thin, plastic, flashy, over-produced, over-marketed, theology lite, sales-pitchy form of Christianity,” someone please hit me straight upside my head with a righteous spade shovel. I’m serious. I thank God for serious Anabaptism and the Emerging/Missional Church. The combination of the two results in a Christian expression far removed from the aforementioned characterizations, but deeply planted in cultural relevancy. Amen. \0/
