THURSDAY
+ Last night Cheryl and I figured out what we're doing for our anniversary next week -- Lake Tahoe. We were originally going to drive the east side of the Sierra but there is still so much snow that a lot of the roads to the places we want to go are closed. It's hard to complain, though, when Lake Tahoe is the second choice.

+ Harper's Magazine has a long, fascinating, and detailed story on Ted Haggard, New Life Church, and Colorado Springs. There is a follow-up, too. What isn't covered in detail is how Haggard is reshaping the ethos of the NAE -- and the evangelical community seems to be welcoming of the new flavoring.

I've actually read a few of Haggard's books. And I'm impressed with what he has accomplished. There is much to learn from the Ted Haggard phenomena. But I'm not sure that "free-market" religion is all that healthy or even biblical. It seems to be driven as much by the values of affluence as anything else.

+ Is Jim Wallis the new "talking head"?