Jon Foreman from switchfoot wrote a song that incorporated the Lords Prayer. I thought it was cool check it out for yourself.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
A little reading anyone?
I was just given a book called "Why we're not emergent" By Deyoung and Kluck. It seems interesting enough to devote some time to and comes highly recommended. Since we all have loads of free time I was wondering if anyone wanted to read thought it with me? I feel that if I read it solo then I'm going to end up just digesting it with out chewing on what the authors are saying? Plus I think we have a wide enough, opinionated enough crew that it would spawn some good conversation. Anyone up for it?
We can hash out the details of how it all works later.
We can hash out the details of how it all works later.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Speaking of books...
Here's some theological excersise from the youth min world. I received several pamphlets lately pushing this new book. What two things are wrong with the title?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
A great review of Rob Bell's new book
Here's a review of Bell's new book "Jesus Wants to Save Christians" (or something like that) by probably the smartest guy I've met at Westminster. The review is insightful and you'll learn a few things about theology and biblical studies just from reading the review. Check it out.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A formal request
I would officially like to petition the council to admit one Mr. Alex Baker and one Mr. Lucas Hugo Waschkowski to our most hallowed ranks.
What says ye?
What says ye?
Monday, September 22, 2008
This is a thing I heard!
I am at work, and this is not a good time for me to put my first post down on the Council. I know this. As a result, this will be pretty quick.
But anyway: I really think you should hear this. It's called 'Black and Gold', and it's by a guy named Sam Sparro.
He's 25, gay, Australian, and an MK. Discuss?
Update: To be clear, I'm not posting this because it's a new song that I like. I'm posting it because it's a piece of pop media (!!) dealing with classic questions about the intersection of meaning, value, and the existence of God. I am always amazed when I hear anyone dealing honestly with faith and what it means (or doesn't mean) to us, and even more blown away when it's someone who is coming from outside "the club", which Sam almost certainly is.
I come away wondering, why can't 'Christian' artists and writers be this honest? Why do 'God-fearing' people always feel like they (we?) have to toe a party line whenever they're out among the unwashed masses? I don't mean to imply that this song is hopeless or depressing, because its neither, it just doesn't have it's theology wrapped up neatly in a bow. Man I appreciate that, because my God doesn't come that way either.
I don't believe that God can be tied down by a 'system' anymore. If he's there, I believe that He can only be lived and lived with. Anything else is a joke, an attempt to reduce a living, perfect, infinate Person to a math equation.
Since all of us (I think that's right) are at least former youth workers, I think this especially relevant since it's theistic media that a) comes from outside the Christian music farm and b) is honest music without a mission/ulterior motive other than being a part of the discussion of experiencing God. Oh, and c) it's really catchy.
When was the last time you heard something like that? Hearing this song reminds me of what my cultural life is missing.
But anyway: I really think you should hear this. It's called 'Black and Gold', and it's by a guy named Sam Sparro.
He's 25, gay, Australian, and an MK. Discuss?
Update: To be clear, I'm not posting this because it's a new song that I like. I'm posting it because it's a piece of pop media (!!) dealing with classic questions about the intersection of meaning, value, and the existence of God. I am always amazed when I hear anyone dealing honestly with faith and what it means (or doesn't mean) to us, and even more blown away when it's someone who is coming from outside "the club", which Sam almost certainly is.
I come away wondering, why can't 'Christian' artists and writers be this honest? Why do 'God-fearing' people always feel like they (we?) have to toe a party line whenever they're out among the unwashed masses? I don't mean to imply that this song is hopeless or depressing, because its neither, it just doesn't have it's theology wrapped up neatly in a bow. Man I appreciate that, because my God doesn't come that way either.
I don't believe that God can be tied down by a 'system' anymore. If he's there, I believe that He can only be lived and lived with. Anything else is a joke, an attempt to reduce a living, perfect, infinate Person to a math equation.
Since all of us (I think that's right) are at least former youth workers, I think this especially relevant since it's theistic media that a) comes from outside the Christian music farm and b) is honest music without a mission/ulterior motive other than being a part of the discussion of experiencing God. Oh, and c) it's really catchy.
When was the last time you heard something like that? Hearing this song reminds me of what my cultural life is missing.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
My Daughter...
Introducing my daughter.... click here for pics
Dave, congratulations! My phone is being mailed to me (eventually) or you would have received a phone call way before this. This is so awesome. I love the both of you.
Dave: Thanks buddy *gives big hug.
Dave, congratulations! My phone is being mailed to me (eventually) or you would have received a phone call way before this. This is so awesome. I love the both of you.
Dave: Thanks buddy *gives big hug.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Bored
I am bored. With life. I need something to do, and I have no clue what to do. The restaurant industry is nowhere in my long-term plans, and I am ready to be done with it now. To have a primarily day-time job so I can actually see my wife during the week. Some of you guys know me really well. What should I do?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
What's up
So here I am up in Philly. Right now I'm sitting in my room in the mansion after having just been to a pretty good church. It's called City Church and it's downtown by UPenn. It's a PCA church plant (planted by a guy who used to be on staff at Redeemer in NYC) that's been around for about 3 years. What did I like about it. . . . . it had a strong liturgy which was really nice in contrast to the community church type of service I went to last week. They have a philosophy professor in the congregation who writes the liturgy each week based on what scripture they're using. It's based off of the structure that the Anglican church uses, but since they don't go by the church calendar they decided to tailor the liturgy a little more for their own congregation. Another thing I liked was the music. I know, kind of shallow, but the music was really good. They had a small jazz band (upright bass, guitar, drums) playing rearranged hymns and they just sounded good and fresh. It's nice to hear something besides Passion-style or singer-songwriter-style worship music. The church is a little far from school (about a 30 minute drive) but I was able to talk to the pastor after the service and he let me know that there's a small group that meets about 15 minutes from my place and the pastor comes out to our area about once every other week to have lunch with the people in this area of town. I'm pumped about going back next week and getting more of a feel for what the church is like from week to week.
In other news, I could really use some prayer about school. I think most of you heard me talk about the controversy with the professor that just got fired from the school a few months ago. Well, that has turned out to be a bigger deal than I even thought it was going to be. A couple of professors left after last year because they didn't like the direction the school was heading in and they've replaced them with guys who are definitely "company men". My New Testament Intro prof is one of those guys. In our first class he told us that he'd help us figure out which of the publishing houses were not worth our time and which ones had left orthodoxy (including Eerdmans, for publishing books with "Catholic sympathies"). From what I've heard around campus, a few more professors are planning on leaving in the next year or two (the professors that are leaving are the ones with PhDs from Harvard, Princeton, U of Chicago, etc and the ones that are coming in are guys who got their PhDs--if they have one--from this school mostly), and a handful of members of the board of trustees left after the prof was fired (I'm not using names or even the name of my school b/c there were a couple incidents last year where students who wrote about what was going on at the school on their blogs were called in and told to stop disrespecting the adminstration's authority or else; I don't think they would do that to me for just writing this, but the thought that someone could search the internet and find out that I was talking about the situation is a little disconcerting). The adminstration has been pretty triumphalist so far, basically saying at our convocation "People said if we got rid of that professor, even if it was to protect our standards, that our school wouldn't survive. Well, we lost a lot of money and some respect, but we're still here and we're setting a new theological direction for the school that will be nice and conservative. If anyone doesn't like it, then they can go somewhere else." After the prof was fired all but two of the PhD students at the school left to go to other schools. People who are in there last year here are saying that the school is in the process of becoming a completely different place, one that is more devoted to being conservative and Reformed than it is devoted to good and progressive scholarship for the glory of God. Long story not-so-short, I'm having a really hard time deciding whether or not to stay up here past this semester. I already know that if I knew before what I know now, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. I'm just not really sure where else I would go to get a good, rigorous education and also a place that is actively seeking to stay within a general label of orthodoxy.
Anyway, I'm having a tough time trying to figure out what to do. Stay for the whole year? Most places I would transfer would only take about one semester worth of credits from another school. What would I do if I left school at the end of this semester? I think it might be tough to transfer somewhere for next semester so I'd have to wait until next fall. I could use some prayer and/or advice if you've got any.
Despite all of that, I've met some really great people up here and it's been fun being back in classes and learning things with a group of people instead of just myself.
Jeremy, I like the new header.
Chris, any news about the job?
Lastly, here's a couple of links about the controversy at school:
--An interview with the professor who was fired (he actually agreed to cancel his tenured position and the school agreed to pay him two years' salary) on a local radio show: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=7789c5a104bea4a0d2db6fb9a8902bda
--A page with pretty much everything available on the internet about the controversy (this is one of the sites that got the author in trouble): Art's blog -- the blog itself is really good as well if you're looking for another one to get addicted to.
In other news, I could really use some prayer about school. I think most of you heard me talk about the controversy with the professor that just got fired from the school a few months ago. Well, that has turned out to be a bigger deal than I even thought it was going to be. A couple of professors left after last year because they didn't like the direction the school was heading in and they've replaced them with guys who are definitely "company men". My New Testament Intro prof is one of those guys. In our first class he told us that he'd help us figure out which of the publishing houses were not worth our time and which ones had left orthodoxy (including Eerdmans, for publishing books with "Catholic sympathies"). From what I've heard around campus, a few more professors are planning on leaving in the next year or two (the professors that are leaving are the ones with PhDs from Harvard, Princeton, U of Chicago, etc and the ones that are coming in are guys who got their PhDs--if they have one--from this school mostly), and a handful of members of the board of trustees left after the prof was fired (I'm not using names or even the name of my school b/c there were a couple incidents last year where students who wrote about what was going on at the school on their blogs were called in and told to stop disrespecting the adminstration's authority or else; I don't think they would do that to me for just writing this, but the thought that someone could search the internet and find out that I was talking about the situation is a little disconcerting). The adminstration has been pretty triumphalist so far, basically saying at our convocation "People said if we got rid of that professor, even if it was to protect our standards, that our school wouldn't survive. Well, we lost a lot of money and some respect, but we're still here and we're setting a new theological direction for the school that will be nice and conservative. If anyone doesn't like it, then they can go somewhere else." After the prof was fired all but two of the PhD students at the school left to go to other schools. People who are in there last year here are saying that the school is in the process of becoming a completely different place, one that is more devoted to being conservative and Reformed than it is devoted to good and progressive scholarship for the glory of God. Long story not-so-short, I'm having a really hard time deciding whether or not to stay up here past this semester. I already know that if I knew before what I know now, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. I'm just not really sure where else I would go to get a good, rigorous education and also a place that is actively seeking to stay within a general label of orthodoxy.
Anyway, I'm having a tough time trying to figure out what to do. Stay for the whole year? Most places I would transfer would only take about one semester worth of credits from another school. What would I do if I left school at the end of this semester? I think it might be tough to transfer somewhere for next semester so I'd have to wait until next fall. I could use some prayer and/or advice if you've got any.
Despite all of that, I've met some really great people up here and it's been fun being back in classes and learning things with a group of people instead of just myself.
Jeremy, I like the new header.
Chris, any news about the job?
Lastly, here's a couple of links about the controversy at school:
--An interview with the professor who was fired (he actually agreed to cancel his tenured position and the school agreed to pay him two years' salary) on a local radio show: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=7789c5a104bea4a0d2db6fb9a8902bda
--A page with pretty much everything available on the internet about the controversy (this is one of the sites that got the author in trouble): Art's blog -- the blog itself is really good as well if you're looking for another one to get addicted to.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Hannah Surf Cam
For anyone interested here's a surf cam from IOP. Hannah is supposed to pass 40 miles east of us today around 8pm. Right now at 8 AM there is blue sky with some clouds over North Charleston.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
New Header
Hey guys...hope all is well. Excuse my silence on the blog. I've had a few busy weeks, so I haven't been able to respond/post. I made a new header. Let me know your thoughts on the revision...
I have many thoughts on the Charismatic conversation going on, but I will add those to that posting. Hope everyone is doing well...
I have many thoughts on the Charismatic conversation going on, but I will add those to that posting. Hope everyone is doing well...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Rage Againt the Machine
So recently I heard a quote from a member of the political rock group Rage Against the Machine:
"When you live in a capitalistic society, the currency of the dissemination of information goes through capitalistic channels. Would Noam Chomsky object to his works being sold at Barnes & Noble? No, because that's where people buy their books. We're not interested in preaching to just the converted. It's great to play abandoned squats run by anarchists, but it's also great to be able to reach people with a revolutionary message, people from Granada Hills to Stuttgart.[8] "
It made me ponder what would this mean for the Gospel of Christ and the channels we use to reach culture today? Does this have bearing on the "how"? I know RAGtM and Chomsky are probaly not the best examples but the point that is made i believe is valid. How does one reach out with out selling out? Or is this quote giving the green light to selling out?
"When you live in a capitalistic society, the currency of the dissemination of information goes through capitalistic channels. Would Noam Chomsky object to his works being sold at Barnes & Noble? No, because that's where people buy their books. We're not interested in preaching to just the converted. It's great to play abandoned squats run by anarchists, but it's also great to be able to reach people with a revolutionary message, people from Granada Hills to Stuttgart.[8] "
It made me ponder what would this mean for the Gospel of Christ and the channels we use to reach culture today? Does this have bearing on the "how"? I know RAGtM and Chomsky are probaly not the best examples but the point that is made i believe is valid. How does one reach out with out selling out? Or is this quote giving the green light to selling out?
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