January 2008
75 posts
Happy New Year →
Happy New Year everyone!
It’s already New Year’s Day in England so that counts as far as I’m concerned :).
December 2007
72 posts
Best of 2007: The American Christian Prosperity... →
I loved this piece by satirist Tim Nyberg and I was very grateful that he allowed us to reproduce it here. With the growing popularity of “health and wealth” preachers, this critique seems especially relevant.
I discovered this “advertisement” on the Wittenburg Door site and the artist Tim Nyberg of Octane Creative has graciously given his permission for us to post it here.
What is your...
Friday Video: backwards song →
Keep watching to find out what song this is when sung forwards.
The Taking Back of “Eretz” →
We met Brazilian rabbinical pastor, writer, and unschooled practical thinker Claudio Oliver earlier this year at Off the Map live. Claudio has kindly granted permission for us to republish this article, which was originally published in “Del Camino”, the quarterly e-zine by “Del Camino Network - La Red del camino”. www.lareddelcamino.net.
The Taking Back of “Eretz”
As with all subversive...
Accepted →
We watched this movie on Christmas Day (it was someone’s Christmas present).
This movie (in my opinion) more successfully conveys some concepts that are claimed to be core conservative Christian values than conservative Christianity does.
The movie is about a fake college set up by high school graduates who were rejected from all the real colleges they applied to. They create fake acceptance...
Joe’s “Things I learned this advent” →
So yesterday I read and found all 9 postings in Joe’s recent “Things I learned this advent” series. I found it … connective. In the first post of the series, Joe writes:
Things I relearnt this advent 1: pulling down the mighty
Everyone who knows me can speak of my Christmas-hatred. So it is surprising that I’m learning and relearning things this advent. Well it is to me anyway.
Last weekend...
The Queen’s Christmas Message →
My lovely wife Megan, like her mum, wept upon watching this.
Christmas and Justice →
I went to a Christmas eve service tonight at an Evangelical Protestant church which shall remain unnamed (because I *really* like lots of people in this church, and I don’t want them to feel bad, and my comments are more about Christianity in general).
They sang lots of traditional Christmas songs, had a traditional Christmas play in which they read from the accounts in Luke and Matthew, and...
Merry Christmas! →
“Because of God’s tender mercy,
the light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
- Luke 1:78-79
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays →
I don’t mind what you call tomorrow…I just hope you enjoy it.
For me, this is a family time I appreciate. My Mom arrived last night to spend the week with us.
I’m happy that after a rough few days early last week (Chron’s disease related) I’m feeling better again. This is likely to be my healthiest Christmas ever :) (because of avoiding various foods) I’m feeling quite proud of myself that I...
A prayer for 2008 →
I do hope I won’t offend any of our atheist or agnostic readers. But I found Jim Wallis’ Prayer for 2008 which got sent out today to be profoundly hopeful. It touches on some of my own hopes–but where I tend to be a tiny bit cynical, Jim manages to remain steadfastly hopeful. Good on him. Here’s the opening paragraphs.
The year of 1968 was very significant in my life, and a decisive one for the...
Parable of the Talents Practicum →
I read this article in the local paper this morning. A pastor taught the parable of the talents in a pretty “hands on” way. I’m sure this wasn’t the first church to do this, but it’s the first article I’ve seen about it. I thought it was a warm-fuzzy story (on a morning when I woke up to 12 degrees F), but also an idea that might catch on if enough people in churches see it. I love it when people...
Mistaken Identity OA →
We manage a few properties and we were going to collect the rent from one of them. The rental house is near a church that apparently was doing some neighborhood volunteer service recently.
One of the families near our rental property saw our tool trailer in tow and assumed we were from the nearby church. They asked if we would help pick up the branches and yard debris they had gathered from their...
Friday Video: What I want for Christmas →
I thought this was cute. If you like it the sequel is here.
Merry Kitz-mas →
By Siamang
Two years ago today, December 20, 2005, Judge John E. Jones III issued his ruling in the Intelligent Design trial Kitzmiller v. Dover School Board. Karl Mogel reminds us that in honor of the day, Science Bloggers annually post about the effects the trial has had on the Intelligent Design movement.
I want to talk about a small thing that has not changed. More on that in a bit. First I...
Holiday plans →
We’re here for Christmas. My Mom arrives Sunday to spend the week with us.
What are your plans?
Wherever you’ll be I hope you have a wonderful Christmas/day off.
Off-Road OA →
We had just gotten through an ice storm and the side roads were still quite slick in places. I was in a pack of seven or eight cars slowly traveling down one such road when I saw the lead vehicle spin out and go down the embankment along side of the road. The rest of the cars just kept going – including me!
“What am I doing?” I thought to myself. I turned around and went back. I stopped and went...
Diet restriction update →
Earlier this month I wrote about food allergies and sensitivity. I said that I was trying a wheat (actually gluten) free, yeast free, dairy free, caffeine free and low sugar diet to see if it helps with my Crohn’s disease symptoms. I said it was helping a lot.
Since then I tried going off my medication, because I didn’t know if that made any difference. That didn’t work, so I’m back on it.
On...
cluster bombs →
I don’t know if any of you follow the recent deaths roundup over at Iraq body count, but I noticed that this last Saturday two children were killed in Iraq, in Karbala, by an unexploded cluster bomblet left over from the illegal 2003 invasion.
It didn’t, of course, make any ripple at all in any U.S. news sources. Here’s the story from Voices in Iraq
So for the uninformed, cluster weapons are...
12/17/07 Up/rooted city meeting →
The Up/rooted city group held its third meeting last night.
In the first two meetings, as best I know (I was only at the second) people shared their stories for the whole time. At this meeting people shared briefly about themselves and then we discussed the issue “Should meetings end with the Lord’s Prayer?” I liked that format, because I like to hear peoples’ stories but I also like...
Catholic Coloring Book Warns Children →
This is a page from a new coloring book released by the New York Archdiocese. According to Newsweek, the comic book, “Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic” is mostly pretty innocuous, with pages of general safety, piety and charity. But then there’s the page included above. A smiling angel warns of the dangers of being alone in some very Christian room while the altar boy reaches into some...
An Idea from the DE Website →
I saw a story on the DE site that gave me an idea (this was from a story by Pam Hogeweide). This older woman was calling people and leaving a loving message with scripture on their message machine. So I thought I would use the idea with some old Christmas cards and extra stamps I had laying around.
I first prayed for names and scripture and then I looked up different ones in the phone book. Each...
Fear →
Fear helps keep us out of danger. On the other hand it can get in our way, in the form of anxiety or worry.
Often when we’re angry, fear lies underneath the anger. Expressing anger feels better than admitting we’re afraid.
How do you keep fear in balance so it’s helpful rather than a hindrance? Especially during ‘the holiday season’ when the preparations, the people and the memories can give us...
Spare Change Big Rewards →
I love giving change to the Salvation Army people who stand outside various stores during the holiday season. The other day, I rifled through my purse, looking for the spare change that falls in the bottom of it. My cart caused a bit of backup in the area, but I did it anyway. When I was done, I put my change in the bucket and noticed that the lady sitting there was in a wheelchair. She...
New Jersey to Abolish Death Penalty →
The state of New Jersey is poised to repeal the death penalty and replace it with a sentence of life in prison without parole. Read the New York Times article and CBS News report for more information.
Do you agree with New Jersey’s decision to abolish capital punishment? Why or why not?
Do you think other states should follow suit? Do you think they are likely to do so?
DE Mainlined →
by Ken Sweers
Ken Sweers is one of my partners in crime, the pastor of outreach at Immanuel Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His church hosted a Doable Evangelism Seminar last summer, and Ken was willing to beta test our new DE Course with his senior Sunday School class. He even got two other RCA churches who had attended the DE Seminar to run the course at their churches at the same...
Failed OA? →
This was sent to me from a church doing a Doable Evangelism Course at Immanuel Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI (with Ken Sweers). He originally titled it, “Failed OA”, but after reading it I thought he may have been too hard on himself. What do you think?
While driving home one evening I noticed a young couple alongside the road. I guessed them to be hikers or something as they were wearing...
Unauthorized Prayer →
This is from Amanda, who recently shared with us what it was like to visit church for the first time. She’s new at following Jesus, but seems to be getting this ordinary attempt practice down pretty well!
At work there is a lady who I supervise that doesn’t know Jesus. I talked to her about my family’s struggles and she is well aware that I believe in God just from casual conversation. I prayed...
Friday Video: 12 days of Christmas →
Straight No Chaser’s version of The 12 Days of Christmas.
Friday Video. →
H/T Claudio.
Waddya think? Sure got me!
Here’s another question. Why does the death of just a few people by violent means make the *very* top of the headlines all week long when it happens in the U.S., but the death of *lots* of people by violent means in a U.S. militarily occupied nation all week long does *not* even make the 2nd or 3rd page of headlines? Does your answer to this question...
Blow Up Santa on Harley →
Ok, I admit it. I just couldn’t resist. I spent money on a lawn decoration for Christmas. It isn’t Jesus, and it doesn’t really honor Him on His birthday much. I just thought it was kind of funny and cool (that’s the OCC logo on the tank, by the way). So here it is. Merry Christmas.
Secret Lawn Care →
It was the first Saturday in December and there was a winter storm warning for our area on the TV. I had noticed that the 60-something woman whose back yard joins ours had not done any raking yet. Once it snows here, it probably will never get done until the spring thaw – by then the leaves are all moldy and matted and can even damage the lawn. I thought it would be a great OA opportunity for my...
Students Practicing Ordinary Attempts →
This is a growing phenomenon occurring in various places around the United States (it may be happening elsewhere as well). Students are being taught by their youth pastors, their leaders and in some cases by each other to practice ordinary attempts…and they are actually having fun doing them. One group even has their own blogsite where they post their stories. Here’s the link:...
The year of living Biblically →
I’ve seen a few blog entries about AJ Jacobs and his project in which he spent a year following every rule in the Bible.
Yesterday I listened to the Nick and Josh podcast with AJ. I enjoyed it. He’s very personable and it was interesting to hear what he learned from his year. It changed his life: he still does some of the things he started doing in his year of living Biblically.
Guest Column: The Unintended Consequences of... →
Guest columnist David H. has been a newspaper editor and reporter for more than 20 years and now works for a large daily in the New York/New Jersey metro area. He also regularly attends a small Mennonite church, where there is frequently a focus on social needs and Christian-service responses.
During a Sunday School presentation I was made aware of another unintended consequence of the...
Campaign Getting Ugly…. →
By Siamang.
Republican Candidate and Iowa front-runner Mike Huckabee levels an attack on rival Mitt Romney with a (not so) innocent question:
“Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?”
And we’re off to the races.
Liberal blogger Atrios brings up a good point:
I don’t really think that a political campaign should involve a debate over whether Mormons believe that Satan was...
Near Miss OA →
I went to the grocery store to buy a couple of things for dinner. The gal working the register sort of snipped at the customer in front of me after her supervisor said something to her she (apparently) didn’t like. As she stepped away from the register to go get a pack of cigarettes for the customer in front of me, the customer remarked, “She doesn’t seem to like being here, does she?” I wasn’t...
Colorado shootings →
Richard Wade has posted a wonderful atheist response to the tragic shootings at a Christian ministry and church on Hemant’s blog.
I’m sorry to hear about all the victims of the shootings. I’m sorry some of this took place at New Life Church, so recently shaken by Ted Haggard’s resignation.
I do wonder about how this happened. Clearly Michael Murray (the perpetrator) did not respond to life in...
Should a soldier be court-martialed for attempting... →
The Washington Post news report A Soldiers’ Officer tells the story of 1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside, who is currently facing the threat of a court-martial. Ms. Whiteside is accused of attempting suicide and endangering the life of another soldier while serving in Iraq and could receive a sentence of life in prison if she is tried and convicted.
Read the news account and judge for yourself. Do you...
Letting children lead →
Laura M posted this comment last week about how she coached her son’s soccer team. Even though Laura knew nothing about soccer, her team did much better this year than previously.
I’ve been busier than usual lately because I’ve been ‘coaching’ my son’s 6th grade soccer team. I didn’t want to coach the team, but so many guys signed up this season they had to split the team in half, and there was...
Building the Outposts of Empire →
As University of Oregon professor Mark Gillem’s newly released first book, America Town: Building the Outposts of Empire and his upcoming address at a NATO conference suggests, the use of space/land is very different in the US than in most other nations. It seems these cultural norms are not really considered when the US establishes a base in another country.
Two interesting facts: 1) the units...
Solo On Hawthorne Blvd., by Pam Hogeweide →
“Hey, can you spare some change?” asked a scruffy looking white guy sitting on the sidewalk amidst hip boutiques and contemporary eateries on Portland’s busy Hawthorne Boulevard. “To be honest, I just want to get another beer,” he confessed.
I squatted down on the sidewalk to get eye level with the spanger (someone who asks passerbys for spare change). Sitting next to him was his traveling buddy...
Upgrading Our Faith →
As I was upgrading my iPod this morning, I started thinking about how our faith is a little bit like upgrading software packages. For instance, I grew up in a very conservative society and it stands to reason that I had some pretty conservative ideas that went along with my upbringing, but as I grew, I learned a little bit more and my personal experiences became my first upgrade of sorts.
We all...
The Golden Compass →
I’m also posting this on Friendly Christian today
I went to see the movie The Golden Compass yesterday. The movie version doesn’t incorporate all the plot complexity and subtlety of the book but I enjoyed it nevertheless. The effects were well done and Lyra was perfect – smart, brave, loyal, kind and feisty!
The rest of my comments are about the trilogy His Dark Materials which begins with The...
Poverty and Prosperity →
On Benjamin’s The Dark Side of Christmas thread, Helen posted this comment:
I’ve read two books lately (The Real Mary by Scot McKnight and Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren) in which the authors point out what a strong justice theme is in ‘the Magnificat’ i.e. Mary’s song of rejoicing she sang about being the mother of Jesus…I love that right in the middle of the Christmas passages there’s...
Asbury Update →
Our new friends from Brazil who are presently in Asbury, UK have sent us a short video update that gives us a look at their growing community. For the whole story, click here.
Fifty Cent OA →
I travel a lot for work. Recently my wife and three kids decided to travel with me to Wichita, KS so they could visit some of her cousins. We stayed in a hotel with a large center room with putt-putt, arcade games, etc.. While I was out working they had gone down to play.
A young boy, maybe 12 or so, saw my five-year old playing with one of the racing car video games (just sitting on it a...
Romney’s America: No Place for Atheists? →
From TPM
A spokesman for the Mitt Romney campaign is thus far refusing to say whether Romney sees any positive role in America for atheists and other non-believers, after Election Central inquired about the topic yesterday
It’s a sign that Romney may be seeking to submerge evangelical distaste for Mormonism by uniting the two groups together in a wider culture war. Romney’s speech has come...
Friday Video: Huckabee attributes poll results to... →
Justice and Compassion Organizations and Cool... →
In case you hadn’t seen it previously, there’s a button under the image of the earth above labeled “Organizations” which links to the page where we are ongoingly compiling a list of justice-and-compassion-ish organizations which have caught our eye. Feel free to check it out, and to let us know about any other organizations you think should be added to the list.
The latest addition to the list...