When Religion Insults Humanity
So, it seems that the innocent act of naming a teddy bear has resulted in a strange legal charge called “insulting religion” and blood-drunk cries to execute a teacher by an angry mob brandishing swords and sticks. I wonder if religion can ever be charged with insulting humanity? If so, this would be a good case study.
Thanksgiving in Jersey
We are back from a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with family in New Jersey. Good food, good drink, and good times. We are almost into December already; I can’t believe it! Where in the world did the year 2007 go? At any rate, time to get back to work. It’s going to be a late night.
Google Page Rank Update and Text Link Ads
It seems that this blog has survived the recent Google page rank update. Many, many sites have experienced a drop in page rank, most likely do to the fact that they are selling text-link ads. I was tempted to sell a few of those things, but never did because I suspected Google would someday penalize the sites that do. I think I made the wise choice, given what has happened to many sites over the past week. My site catalog scores after the latest update: Tribe: PR5; Scribe: PR4; IMG: PR4. Not too bad!
Redemption is a Relational Agreement
Re-creation involves covenant. Redemption involves agreement between God and humanity. When we, as individuals, hear God’s irresistible and relational love song, we are made immediately aware of those things in our lives that pull us away from God and God’s best for our lives. Deep repentance follows. A throwing off all of those things that the Spirit reveals to be detrimental to the new relationship happens, voluntarily. God’s love does not force this, but it opens the way for each of us to walk through.
Reflections of a Peacemaker by Mattie J.T. Stepanek
I highly recommend that everyone pick up Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait through Heartsongs by Mattie J.T. Stepanek. Mattie died at age thirteen from dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a neuromuscular disease. Mattie spent most of his time writing his Heartsongs, which are collected in Reflections of a Peacemaker. I have yet to find anything as inspirational as Mattie’s Heartsongs. Thank you, Mattie.
A Deep Thank You to the IMG Team
I am, as a pastor/church planter, so proud of the men and women involved with and leading our church plant in Lancaster City. We are forming a healthy, open, and dialog centered culture from which all of us are striving towards an authentic expression of kingdom values and living. Our team is wrestling with a very serious topic and they have proven themselves to be people dedicated first and foremost to the values of Jesus’ kingdom. You all are tops in my book. Tops! Thank you!
Everything Must Change by McLaren
I finally managed to find a copy of Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren at my local Barnes and Noble hang out. I’ll have much more to say once I’m finished with the whole thing. So far, so good. Well, that didn’t last long. It seems that chapters 1-5 are hung around a pretty serious looking strawman. I was honestly hoping for the best with this offering. More to come …
9rules’ Mass Exodus of 2007
The mass Exodus of 2007 continues over at 9rules. Chris J. Davis is the most recent member to take leave. Wow. As a former member of 9rules (Round #3 alum), I can’t help but to feel bad for the state of things over there currently. Once upon a time, not so long ago, 9rules was the place to be. Now, it’s not so clear. The new design (Ali2) is awesome, but I guess we will have to wait and see if it is enough to carry them through this current state of affairs. I want to say it can, I think it might, but the future is a bit murky.
Liberal Religious Ad in Time Magazine
Given the overall message of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (a nominally religious, North American, liberal association) new Time Magazine advertisement, and it’s clear expression of the expendable essence of God (and Jesus), I can’t help but wonder why they still use words like “church” and “minister.” Seriously, if you are going to position yourself as an authentic alternative at least be original. A lack of creative integrity emphasized by blatant organizational appropriation is not an alternative; it’s falsehood draped in thin disguise. I’m not surprised. I once was told by two UUA ministers to “pretend” I was a Christian so I could successfully serve patients in a CPE setting. So, why not?
A Slow Blog Rising
Blogging is slow. We’ve been very, very busy completing the shared remodeling project for Inner Metro Green and The Infantree. Our gathering place is looking great! It’s a lot of work, but we are almost finished! Pictures of our space will follow soon! You can see it live for yourself this Sunday morn at 10:30 AM!