January 2008
75 posts
Is torture inherent? →
So here’s my question: Is torturing people inherently necessary in order to maintain the enormous gap between our relative wealth and the relative poverty of the poorest one billion people? Yesterday U.S. attorney general Michael Mukasey made it pretty much official U.S. policy (as if it weren’t already).
From the New York Times:
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey said Wednesday...
Deep Shift →
I’m wondering who else is going to Deep Shift (Brian McLaren’s event to further explore/apply ideas in his latest book Everything Must Change).
The Deep Shift tour begins tomorrow in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here’s a detailed interview with Brian from The Charlotte Observer. The tour won’t be in my area until early April.
I found out late last year, to my surprise, that the “Chicago” event...
Freedom and Relief in DE →
I guess what really blesses me most as we go through this (DE) material is to discover that I am able to participate with God in His work. I never thought I was able to get involved in evangelism because I didn’t have the confidence or boldness it took. Now I am discovering that OAs do count in God’s processes and I am finding deep enjoyment in learning to be myself in God’s service.
- Pat
1/28/08 city up/rooted meeting →
The January meeting of city up/rooted was on Monday. About 10 people were there including 3 who hadn’t been before. It’s neat to have new people show up. Some of them said they had wanted to come before but this was the first meeting they could attend.
Nick, an atheist, and Anachim, an Emergent Jewish Rabbi, were back. I was glad I wasn’t the only not-Christian in the group. Not because the...
The Davos Question →
I learned today about the Davos Question:
“What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?”.
Apparently the world’s top leaders meet every year at World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss how to make the world a better place. This year’s meeting took place Jan 24-27 (Just last week). You tube users were invited to upload...
Friendly not-Christian conversation partners... →
I met Josh and Karlene Clark at Off The Map Live last year. They’re good friends of Rachel, who co-hosts our Justice and Compassion blog.
Josh and Karlene asked if I’d post this request for them:
We are seminary students who have been given an assignment in one of our classes to have a series of conversations with others who do not share our Christian faith. The purpose of these conversations...
Quote for the Day →
“As I look for candidates, I’m looking for someone who doesn’t have a wallet or a gun where his heart should be.”
- Pastor Joel Hunter in the panel discussion Choosing a President: What do evangelicals really want?
An Unforgivable Sin? →
By Siamang
A discussion topic for today. Often I think about the communication between atheists and believers, specifically Christians. Here’s a phrase that I think might help in the discussion…
Christ promises to forgive all sins, except the sin of nonbelief.
True? Not true? Why or why not? To atheists, does this phrase describe how you feel when spoken to by evangelical Christians?
Tagged:
A Cup Of Cold Water →
In reading the Doable Evangelism assignment for this week, I was reminded of an incident that took place here a few years ago. My wife and I were organizers for a community flea market our church sponsored on our parking lot for several seasons. On our debut experience one of the vendors was a rather surly older woman who seemed to complain about the smallest details.
It was a very unseasonably...
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly →
I was watching a show on television last night about a man with arms and legs that had roots growing out of them that looked like tree roots. His hands and legs were virtually unusable and the only way that he could make a living way to be a sideshow act. You see, in this group with the sideshow was about half a dozen people who were disfigured in one way or another and they had become very good...
Movie stereotypes →
Amy sent me this the other day:
I want to suggest a topic for discussion: the way atheists are portrayed in the media. After seeing “The Bucket List” (which I really did like) I’m getting tired of movies portraying atheists as rude, callous people. The same thing happened in “This Christmas”. The only non-Christian in the family was the drug dealing, distant son. “Dogma” treats unbelievers like...
City Gates Ministries Update →
In May 2007, Off the Map interviewer extraordinaire Pam Hogeweide introduced us to 74 year old great-grandmother and street pastor Gail Wells. Gail is the Executive Director of City Gates Ministries in Olympia, Washington, a faith-based organization that helps people on the street with practical needs. You can read the full interview here: How do you strike up a conversation with someone wearing a...
Distracted →
It’s been hard to miss the news about the death of 28-year-old actor Heath Ledger, whose body was discovered in his New York apartment on Tuesday. His death (probably an accidental overdose) was a shock to many. He lived outside of Hollywood, avoided media attention and wasn’t known for partying or fast living—definitely not the kind of life that leads to an early death.
For some reason, Ledger’s...
Friday Video: the piano player →
How does God speak through the Bible (and other... →
Claudia asked the following questions in a comment on the Church Rater blog post Beth and Traci and the looks on their faces .
Beth suggested we bring Claudia’s questions over here. I thought that was a great idea. I think it’s neat when people who aren’t Christians ask friendly curious questions of Christians in order to understand Christians better.
I would love to hear more about your...
Gaza jailbreak →
Gazan Palestinians took actions into their own hands yesterday as militants blew 17 holes in the fence between Gaza and Egypt, perhaps the only useful thing that has ever been done with their explosives. Tens of thousands swarmed into Egypt to purchase essentials, visit relatives and experience freedom.
The day before, attempts to force entry via the official Rafah crossing were rebuffed by...
Two Dollar Dilemma →
While doing some Christmas shopping I overheard a discussion between a mom and her son. Apparently the boy has $5 to spend on a gift for a friend. The item he had in hand was just the perfect gift, but it cost $7. Mom said she was sorry, but she didn’t have any extra money with her. Then she came to me, asking if I could spare two dollars. She asked for my name and address and promised to mail it...
What your U.S.$4 Billion/week is buying, part 252;... →
This past week in Iraq: Third week of January ‘08. Week 252 of the US$1 Trillion (that’s $1,000,000,000,000) illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq–Civilian deaths (an abridged selection):
Monday, January 21–39 dead, including:
-Baghdad: man killed by US forces in the course of a raid.
-Mosul: US air strike kills 2 policemen; 2 bodies.
-Kalar: gunmen attack house, kill mother and 13-year-old...
Why it’s hard for women to talk about their... →
Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. NPR’s Talk of the Nation was about this question: “Abortion has been legal for 35 years, yet it still seems hard for women to talk about their abortions. Why?”
From NPR’s site you can listen to the recorded program or read comments posted by women who have had abortions.
Yesterday on the program they were taking calls and had two guests with...
Online interview with Amy →
Amy Black sent me an online interview recently. (You can read all our online interviews here).
The purpose of this interview is to give you the opportunity to listen to Amy as she shares her thoughts and opinions with you. We don’t require Amy to defend what she says or prove she’s correct. We don’t consider doing so ‘part of the interview’.
I’d like to post more online interviews. If you’d...
Dark days in Gaza →
John Dugard UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories is quoted as saying
“Recent action violates the strict prohibition on collective punishment contained in the Fourth Geneva Convention. It also violates one of the basic principles of international humanitarian law that military action must distinguish between military targets and civilian targets.”
...
Belonging Before Believing →
This year I had family at my house for Christmas. We exchange names for gifting. I have a nephew who doesn’t believe in Christ, so he refuses to ‘do Christmas’ and excludes himself from the gifting. This year was no different. As family members expressed surprise and joy in opening gifts, I wanted my nephew to at least be included. I quickly put a $20 bill into an envelope, wrapped it, and...
Silent Identification →
I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. I know in a very personal way about the struggle of mobility through what is often extreme pain. Whenever I see someone limping or struggling in their walk, I offer up a silent prayer for them.
- Russ
A Resolution To Observe →
by Judi Tabler
Judi is my wife’s aunt, a business woman with her husband Buddy, a new supporter of OTM, and a really fun person who lives in Larned, Kansas. She had written this piece for a local women’s publication and thought it connected with what we’re doing here with Doable Evangelism.
“Twas the month after Christmas and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The...
I have a dream →
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state...
Quote for the Day →
“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you may murder the liar,
but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth.
Through violence you may murder the hater,
but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes....
An Ethical Epiphany →
I was wrong.
There, that wasn’t so difficult.
At university a lecturer told me that it was common for environmentalists to hold equal and opposite beliefs at the same time. Maybe I should have listened a little more carefully.
For most of my adult life, I’ve believed in the myth of fairtrade - which is the concept that poor farmers get a better price for their crops by encouraging thoughtful...
Friday Funny Post: I Drink Your Milkshake! →
Alltooflat.com has a funny post today. All about the candidates’ take on milkshakes!
I drink your milkshake, but only if the Bible says it’s allowed. -Mike Huckabee
I may drink your milkshake for another 100 years, if that’s what it takes. -John McCain
I drank a milkshake on 9/11. -Rudy Giuliani
I’ll drink your milkshake a few months after everyone else does. -Fred Thompson
I drink your...
Liveblogging TLBoAS - Part Two Pages 16-44 →
By Siamang.
I’ve been quite impressed with Andr?? Comte-Sponville’s “The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality”. So this is the second in a series of follow along blogging as I read this (short, 200 pages, 3 chapters!) book. I encourage others, atheists and Christians alike, to pick up this simple, engaging and positive book. I’m especially interested in what Christians think about...
Seeing By Listening →
I was in the waiting room of my eye doctor trying to read a magazine as the woman next to me kept talking and talking. Normally I would politely ignore such a person until they get the hint. But this week I had read our Doable Evangelism assignment about ‘free attention give-aways’. I put the magazine down and turned to her – and paid attention.
I soon discovered that her husband had passed away...
Friday Video: How to act →
Elias Chacour and Henry Kissinger →
There’s an odd couple =).
A couple stories that caught my eye this week which were kind of hopeful.
Jessica Wilbanks of Faithful Security wrote this week about the hope of a world free of nuclear weapons, including a plan put forward by a group which includes, of all people, Henry Kissinger.
And Rose Marie Berger writes about George W. Bush undergoing the tutelage of the brilliant peacemaker...
Confirmation Bias →
Zack (my son) came home from college for Christmas break, and we were talking about this blog - as we often do - and he mentioned something he heard of in a psych class called “Confirmation bias”
According to Wikipedia, Confirmation bias is:
a tendency to search for or interpret new information in a way that confirms one’s preconceptions and avoids information and interpretations which...
Tom Cruise on Scientology →
Two days ago Gawker.com posted an interesting video of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology. Apparently this was on youtube for a little while but it was removed, probably because the Church of Scientology objected.
Gawker has said they will keep the video up no matter what the Church of Scientology says because it’s newsworthy. As they predicted, they did receive a notice of copyright...
Birthday Surprise →
From another DE Course participant in Grand Rapids, Michigan:
I stopped off at the local Hallmark store to pick up some birthday cards. Standing out front there was a woman having a cigarette. Having just read our Doable Evangelism assignment, I realized that I ‘noticed’ her. Being an unusually warm day for January in Michigan I greeted her and commented on the pleasant weather.
“Tomorrow’s my...
Oswald Chambers on Conversion/Salvation →
My main man, Oswald Chambers, offers a few really interesting comments on salvation, conversion, sanctification and forgiveness. The bolded lines were done by me, just because I thought these were of particular interest to the conversation.
January 10, “The Opened Sight”
“I now send you, to open their eyes…that they may receive forgiveness of sins…” –Acts 26:17-18
This verse is the...
Update on my newspaper dialog with Dean →
In his most recent response to me in our local newspaper dialog, Rev Dean Lueking asked:
What reaches your soul that we ought to know more about? What steadies your steps as you experience The Way, not as an armchair exercise but as a one-foot-down-after-the-other daily walking the talk?
I liked that question because it gave me an opportunity to mention Off The Map in my response - which the...
American Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Part 1 →
Now when he saw the crowds, he went into a megachurch. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
Cursed are the extremely poor,
for one billion of them will have no clean drinking water and live on less than a dollar a day.
Cursed are those who mourn,
or they will continue to be bombed by the most militarily powerful nation on earth.
Cursed are the meek,
for they will be...
What Motivates Non-Believers? →
by Karen
Oftentimes, those of us who have left religion behind are asked to define what keeps us going, what motivates us, what rescues us from the pit of existentialist despair now that we no longer believe in god. Some of us don’t seem to have much of a positive belief system, others have adopted skepticism or humanism, others excavate their own philosophies of life.
A new member of an...
Liveblogging TLBoAS - Part One Pages 1-15 →
By Siamang.
I’ve been quite impressed with André Comte-Sponville’s “The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality”. So this is the first in a series of follow along blogging as I read this (short, 200 pages, 3 chapters!) book. I encourage others, atheists and Christians alike, to pick up this simple, engaging and positive book. I’m especially interested in what Christians think about...
No Man is an Island →
Rachel Naomi Remen, author of “Kitchen Table Wisdom,” told a great story in her book. Dr. Remen is a clinical professor of Family and Community Medicine and according to the “Speaking of Faith” podcast www.speakingoffaith.org on Public radio where I was introduced to her, she is nationally known as a medical reformer and educator, seeing the practice of medicine as a spiritual path.
During one of...
Will You Visit My Friend? →
Last week I was in a coffee shop parking lot walking toward my car when I heard my name called. It was a person in my small community that I’ve been developing a friendship with over the past couple of years. He seemed eager to tell me something.
This guy isn’t much of a talker, really. In the beginning of our relationship, I could scarcely get a grunt out of him. I suspect it was partly because...
Surrogate mothers →
I heard Chuck Colson’s daily commentary on the radio this morning as I was driving home after taking one of my children to school.
In today’s commentary, Wombs for Rent, he objects to women paying other women to have babies for them. He quotes a columnist who also objects to it, but his reasons for objecting are different from hers:
I would submit that the reason for the revulsion [we feel about...
Angels and Devils →
By Siamang,
After my last post about “Broken America” I wanted to provide a tonic. Here’s a warning about seeing others as “the other”, and the danger we face by giving in to easy labeling and grouping.
“The real test is this. Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad...
Leave No Child Indoors →
In the Fall 2007 issue of Creation Care magazine, Larry Schweiger of the National Wildlife Federation writes about the importance of outdoor play time for children. The article was entitled “Leave No Child Indoors: Time Spent Outdoors Shapes Character, Health and Environmental Attitudes.”
My mother would often say that I lived outdoors and I suspect that many of you spent a great deal of your...
Conversion And My Timescale →
by Paul Benthin
This story was sent to me by a young friend who is leading the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship ministry at UC Santa Barbara (California). We’ve had some great conversations this past year regarding what it means to participate with what God is doing in someone else’s life (as opposed to directing or controlling it).
Conversion is an important subject in the arena of Doable...
I’ve Been Praying For The UPS Store →
This little story was posted in the comments to the Lunch Lady story, but I thought it should stand on it’s own.
I have been praying for a UPS store in my neighborhood. I asked the manager If I could pray for them and how. I know everyone who works in the store and they know me. The other day I went in and was being helped by one of the ladies when Phil, another employee who was helping another...
Friday Video: Bill Gates’ last day →
Quote for the Day →
“A church that does not unite with the poor is not the true church of Jesus Christ.”
- Archbishop Oscar Romero
The value of many voices →
A few weeks ago Charlie Wear asked me to write something retrospective or forward-looking for the January 2008 issue of Next Wave as it begins its tenth year.
I wasn’t aware of Next Wave for most of its history and I don’t feel very qualified to talk about the future of the emerging church since I’m not really part of it. I thought for a while and decided to write about why I like Next Wave now...