A STUNTED ECCLESIOLOGY?
The Theory & Practice of Evangelical Churchliness
There is a fine article by J.I. Packer in the December issue of Touchstone Magazine. Packer defines evangelicalism and provides a bit of an insider's critique. It's not a brief USA TODAY style piece but it's worth plowing thru it -- even if you aren't a natural born theologian.
Jim Packer is a unique person -- Brit turned Canuck -- irenic but firm -- brilliant but engaged at the populist level. I remember once attending a Packer lecture at North Park Seminary and asking him what I now know was a fairly dumb question. But it didn't phase him and he graciously worked with my issue.
Tuesday, December 31
DAVEY & GOLIATH NEED CASH
The ELCA is trying to get Davey & Goliath back onto the tube and they need $5 million to do it. They've raised some of that by hocking Mountain Dew (whatever!). And they're hoping to raise a bunch more by selling D & G gear.
I loved D & G as a kid and am looking forward to having them back. However, I have this gnawing fear that they'll no longer be preaching the gospel but a bunch of pc morality tales. A press release sent out a couple of weeks ago regarding the first new episode is feeding my fear.
"'The basic story outline is about tolerance, understanding and respect. Davey learns about the religious and cultural practices of his friends Benji, who is Jewish, and Yasmeen, who is Muslim. The story takes place just before Christmas and includes material about Hanukkah and Ramadan. The story's action is centered around what happens when Davey and his friends go snow boarding and, of course, get into trouble. As always, Goliath ends up saving the day,' said Kristi S. Bangert, director for marketing and interpretation, ELCA Department for Communication."
I'm going to hold off on buying my D & G gear until I see whether I'll be embarrassed to carry my lunch in the official D & G lunch box. I don't want to get hosed.
The ELCA is trying to get Davey & Goliath back onto the tube and they need $5 million to do it. They've raised some of that by hocking Mountain Dew (whatever!). And they're hoping to raise a bunch more by selling D & G gear.
I loved D & G as a kid and am looking forward to having them back. However, I have this gnawing fear that they'll no longer be preaching the gospel but a bunch of pc morality tales. A press release sent out a couple of weeks ago regarding the first new episode is feeding my fear.
"'The basic story outline is about tolerance, understanding and respect. Davey learns about the religious and cultural practices of his friends Benji, who is Jewish, and Yasmeen, who is Muslim. The story takes place just before Christmas and includes material about Hanukkah and Ramadan. The story's action is centered around what happens when Davey and his friends go snow boarding and, of course, get into trouble. As always, Goliath ends up saving the day,' said Kristi S. Bangert, director for marketing and interpretation, ELCA Department for Communication."
I'm going to hold off on buying my D & G gear until I see whether I'll be embarrassed to carry my lunch in the official D & G lunch box. I don't want to get hosed.
TURKS WANT SANTA BACK
"The Santa Claus Foundation, based in mainly Muslim Turkey, wants Italy to return the bones of St. Nicholas - the 4th century bishop in the Greek city now called Demre on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Muammer Karabulut, the group's chairman, told The Associated Press that the remains of St. Nicholas, from whom the Santa Claus myth emerged, were stolen from what is now Turkey by pirates in the 11th century and taken to Italy."
Do they seriously think that's going to happen? I suspect that they're just looking for a little media attention. They have succeeded.
"The Santa Claus Foundation, based in mainly Muslim Turkey, wants Italy to return the bones of St. Nicholas - the 4th century bishop in the Greek city now called Demre on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Muammer Karabulut, the group's chairman, told The Associated Press that the remains of St. Nicholas, from whom the Santa Claus myth emerged, were stolen from what is now Turkey by pirates in the 11th century and taken to Italy."
Do they seriously think that's going to happen? I suspect that they're just looking for a little media attention. They have succeeded.
A MUSLIM ALTERNATIVE TO COCA-COLA...AND MORE
Tawfik Mathlouthi, the inventor of Mecca-Cola, sees it as an alternative to violence. "'Some choose violence; I am against it,' he said, adding that 'the Arabs have behaved like imbeciles...We have to bring the United States to be a partner, and not a guardian,' he said. 'America is the foster parent of the Arab world, and the Arab peoples are like minors under the guardianship of the United States.'"
Tawfik Mathlouthi, the inventor of Mecca-Cola, sees it as an alternative to violence. "'Some choose violence; I am against it,' he said, adding that 'the Arabs have behaved like imbeciles...We have to bring the United States to be a partner, and not a guardian,' he said. 'America is the foster parent of the Arab world, and the Arab peoples are like minors under the guardianship of the United States.'"
LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR SLAIN MISSIONARIES
"It's their own fault. They were trying to impose their religion and values on another culture. That inevitably leads to conflict. They should have known better." Such seems to be the underlying assumptions of an article in this morning's NY Times. Pomo strikes again!
"It's their own fault. They were trying to impose their religion and values on another culture. That inevitably leads to conflict. They should have known better." Such seems to be the underlying assumptions of an article in this morning's NY Times. Pomo strikes again!
Monday, December 30
REPUBLICANS & TORIES
Why are the Republicans cornering the political market in the US while their British counterparts are floundering like fresh fish out of water? The Economist has a theory in their expose comparing London and Colorado Springs. "Crucially, the Republican Party's base is united by culture, not class. The best predictor of Republicanism among whites is not income, but church attendance. In 2000, Mr Bush lost nearly half the votes of people who earned more than $100,000 a year. The Republican Party is also populist. The archetypal Tory activist reads the establishment Daily Telegraph; the archetypal Republican listens to Rush Limbaugh howling against Washington (and is shocked to find that conservative talk-shows do not exist in Europe)."
Why are the Republicans cornering the political market in the US while their British counterparts are floundering like fresh fish out of water? The Economist has a theory in their expose comparing London and Colorado Springs. "Crucially, the Republican Party's base is united by culture, not class. The best predictor of Republicanism among whites is not income, but church attendance. In 2000, Mr Bush lost nearly half the votes of people who earned more than $100,000 a year. The Republican Party is also populist. The archetypal Tory activist reads the establishment Daily Telegraph; the archetypal Republican listens to Rush Limbaugh howling against Washington (and is shocked to find that conservative talk-shows do not exist in Europe)."
SIMPLE PLEASURES
We opened the box of Sees that we got for Christmas tongiht. The dark chocolate scothmellow was calling to me.
We opened the box of Sees that we got for Christmas tongiht. The dark chocolate scothmellow was calling to me.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Ted Olsen, CT's main blogger and webreporter has a set of quotes today. Among them: "'Punishment from hell is vivid and clear-cut and apparently has more effect on behavior than the idea of heaven.'" -- Robert Barro, Harvard University economist, who found that countries where belief in hell is strong have a gross domestic product growth 0.5 percent higher than average."
Ted Olsen, CT's main blogger and webreporter has a set of quotes today. Among them: "'Punishment from hell is vivid and clear-cut and apparently has more effect on behavior than the idea of heaven.'" -- Robert Barro, Harvard University economist, who found that countries where belief in hell is strong have a gross domestic product growth 0.5 percent higher than average."
MISSIONARIES KILLED
Karl came into our 6 a.m. prayer group this morning and the first thing he wanted to know was whether I had seen the news about the shooting in Yemen. My first response was, I didn't know there were any missionaries in Yemen (a tight, pretty closed Muslim country). But in fact they are there. Southern Baptists -- "preaching" by actions through a hospital ministry. Even the most extreme Muslim should be able to recognize the evil inherent in returning this kind of practical love with hatred. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of faith.
Australian Rowan Forster has some good thoughts on martyrdom.
Karl came into our 6 a.m. prayer group this morning and the first thing he wanted to know was whether I had seen the news about the shooting in Yemen. My first response was, I didn't know there were any missionaries in Yemen (a tight, pretty closed Muslim country). But in fact they are there. Southern Baptists -- "preaching" by actions through a hospital ministry. Even the most extreme Muslim should be able to recognize the evil inherent in returning this kind of practical love with hatred. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of faith.
Australian Rowan Forster has some good thoughts on martyrdom.
Sunday, December 29
SAFEWAY CLOSING BANKS
It's not unusual for a grocery store to contain a bank branch these days. But it was unusual when the Safeway food chain opened their own bank. Now it appears that Safeway is retreating from the banking business. An Arizona Republic article states: "The company posted a statement on the Safeway Select Bank Web site, www.safewayselectbank.com, to assure customers their money is "'secure and remains FDIC insured up to the applicable limits.'" When I attempt to visit the website I got an error message. That's reassuring. [grin]
It's not unusual for a grocery store to contain a bank branch these days. But it was unusual when the Safeway food chain opened their own bank. Now it appears that Safeway is retreating from the banking business. An Arizona Republic article states: "The company posted a statement on the Safeway Select Bank Web site, www.safewayselectbank.com, to assure customers their money is "'secure and remains FDIC insured up to the applicable limits.'" When I attempt to visit the website I got an error message. That's reassuring. [grin]
Saturday, December 28
MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY
The Economist carries an article on the gym movement as an attempt at puritanical religious experience.
"To anthropologists of the future, however, the gym boom may look as much like a sinister cult as a commercial triumph. Gym-going, after all, has all the basic lineaments of a religion. Its adherents are motivated by feelings of guilt, and the urge to atone for fleshly sins. Many visit their places of worship with a fanatical regularity: a third of LA Fitness members, for instance, go virtually every day. Once there, believers are led by sacerdotal instructors, who either goad them into mass ecstasy during aerobics classes, or preside over the confessional tête-à-tête of personal training. Each devotee has his own rituals, though most rely on the principles of self-mortification and delayed gratification. The extremist cult of body-building, whose Mecca is Gold's Gym in Venice, California, has become a mass movement."
Speaking of religious aerobics -- I spent the morning cutting the grass around our church building. No need to visit the gym.
The Economist carries an article on the gym movement as an attempt at puritanical religious experience.
"To anthropologists of the future, however, the gym boom may look as much like a sinister cult as a commercial triumph. Gym-going, after all, has all the basic lineaments of a religion. Its adherents are motivated by feelings of guilt, and the urge to atone for fleshly sins. Many visit their places of worship with a fanatical regularity: a third of LA Fitness members, for instance, go virtually every day. Once there, believers are led by sacerdotal instructors, who either goad them into mass ecstasy during aerobics classes, or preside over the confessional tête-à-tête of personal training. Each devotee has his own rituals, though most rely on the principles of self-mortification and delayed gratification. The extremist cult of body-building, whose Mecca is Gold's Gym in Venice, California, has become a mass movement."
Speaking of religious aerobics -- I spent the morning cutting the grass around our church building. No need to visit the gym.
TESTING
The current in infatuation with standardized testing as the measure of educational success is counterproductive according to a new study from my alma mater, Arizona State University. The NY Times reports that with the institution of standardized testing comes a drop in the number of graduates and a decline in SAT and ACT scores.
The way I figure it, students and teachers have to spend so much time honing their test-taking skills that no one has time left over to learn anything. "'Teachers are focusing so intently on the high-stakes tests that they are neglecting other things that are ultimately more important,'" said Audrey Amrein, the study's lead author, who says she supported high-stakes tests before conducting her research. "'In theory, high-stakes tests should work, because they advance the notions of high standards and accountability. But students are being trained so narrowly because of it, they are having a hard time branching out and understanding general problem-solving.'"
The current in infatuation with standardized testing as the measure of educational success is counterproductive according to a new study from my alma mater, Arizona State University. The NY Times reports that with the institution of standardized testing comes a drop in the number of graduates and a decline in SAT and ACT scores.
The way I figure it, students and teachers have to spend so much time honing their test-taking skills that no one has time left over to learn anything. "'Teachers are focusing so intently on the high-stakes tests that they are neglecting other things that are ultimately more important,'" said Audrey Amrein, the study's lead author, who says she supported high-stakes tests before conducting her research. "'In theory, high-stakes tests should work, because they advance the notions of high standards and accountability. But students are being trained so narrowly because of it, they are having a hard time branching out and understanding general problem-solving.'"
Friday, December 27
BENNY HINN
I watched NBC's Dateline expose of Benny Hinn tonight. And all I can say is, tell us something we didn't already know!
I watched NBC's Dateline expose of Benny Hinn tonight. And all I can say is, tell us something we didn't already know!
PLAGIARIZING PASTORS
Christianity Today's editoral on pastoral plagiarism makes good sense. "The solution is simple. Congregations should allow, even encourage, their pastors to use the best material from books, magazines, and the Internet. Pastors who rely on these sources are not lazy, inept, or irresponsible. Pastors, for their part, should always credit their sources." Anyone who wants to plagiarize my sermons can find them archived on SermonCentral.com.
Christianity Today's editoral on pastoral plagiarism makes good sense. "The solution is simple. Congregations should allow, even encourage, their pastors to use the best material from books, magazines, and the Internet. Pastors who rely on these sources are not lazy, inept, or irresponsible. Pastors, for their part, should always credit their sources." Anyone who wants to plagiarize my sermons can find them archived on SermonCentral.com.
ANCIENT-FUTURE NEWSLETTER
Rumor has it that Robert Webber will launch a monthly newsletter off his Ancient-Future Worship website sometime in January.
Rumor has it that Robert Webber will launch a monthly newsletter off his Ancient-Future Worship website sometime in January.
GIVING DOWN
The Salvation Army reports that giving is down 40% this Christmas. This is consistent with reports earlier this month that suggest over-all giving to churches is down by 10-20% across the board.
This is a ripple effect of all the saber rattling in the Middle East as well as the down-turn in the stock market. People are feeling insecure. But they are not reluctant across the board. The carts in Costco still seem pretty full. And the sale of houses continues to be strong. These areas are seen as "essentials." But in less-than-essential areas like charitable giving people are a lot more reluctant. This is indicative of two things -- our priorities (what we see as important) and just how much of the charitable giving in our country is asset (rather than income) based. That is, people tend to give out of the dividends of their investments. If there is some left-over then we are very very generous. And we ought to be extremely generous if we have excess. But this is not the first-fruits kind of giving indicative of biblically-molded people. See for example, Leviticus 23:17, ...they will be an offering to the LORD from the first of your crops.
The Salvation Army reports that giving is down 40% this Christmas. This is consistent with reports earlier this month that suggest over-all giving to churches is down by 10-20% across the board.
This is a ripple effect of all the saber rattling in the Middle East as well as the down-turn in the stock market. People are feeling insecure. But they are not reluctant across the board. The carts in Costco still seem pretty full. And the sale of houses continues to be strong. These areas are seen as "essentials." But in less-than-essential areas like charitable giving people are a lot more reluctant. This is indicative of two things -- our priorities (what we see as important) and just how much of the charitable giving in our country is asset (rather than income) based. That is, people tend to give out of the dividends of their investments. If there is some left-over then we are very very generous. And we ought to be extremely generous if we have excess. But this is not the first-fruits kind of giving indicative of biblically-molded people. See for example, Leviticus 23:17, ...they will be an offering to the LORD from the first of your crops.
FIRST CLONED BABY (IN 25,000 YEARS)
The NY Times article on the apparent cloning of a human is particularly good. The group behind this scientific "break-thru" is called the Raëlians.
"Raëlians are followers of Raël, a French-born former race-car driver who has said he met a four-foot space alien atop a volcano in southern France in 1973 and went aboard his ship, where he was entertained by voluptuous female robots and learned that the first humans were created 25,000 years ago by space travelers called Elohim, who cloned themselves."
The NY Times article on the apparent cloning of a human is particularly good. The group behind this scientific "break-thru" is called the Raëlians.
"Raëlians are followers of Raël, a French-born former race-car driver who has said he met a four-foot space alien atop a volcano in southern France in 1973 and went aboard his ship, where he was entertained by voluptuous female robots and learned that the first humans were created 25,000 years ago by space travelers called Elohim, who cloned themselves."
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