18.8.05
This explains why my ordination exams were so difficult!
Shout out to my homeboy C-Mac who emailed me this today. Apparantly it's a screen still from a Chinese bootleg of Star Wars Ep3. As it turns out, when "Jedi Counsel" was translated by the Chinese they went with "church of the elders" which, when translated back into English for the subtitles was translated "Presbyterian Church". Presbyterian comes from presbuteros, the greek word for elder, so actually it's quite acurate!
Thanks SCM, for the hilarious email It made my day.
Thanks SCM, for the hilarious email It made my day.
Pain & Grace in the Life of Johnny Cash
My denomination is mostly southern, mostly conservative, and often out of touch with the general culture of my generation. Most of the time I feel like I don't belong. But then from time to time (and more frequently now I've noticed) they throw me a bone like this little gem from the PCA's official webzine. Reminds me that I'm in the right place and that God is a Johnny Cash fan, too.
17.8.05
Back from Vacation.
Island Reading: A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving), 2 Corinthians (Saint Paul)
Island Listening: Baja Sessions (Chris Isaak), The World of Nat King Cole (Nat King Cole), Wildflowers (Tom Petty), In the Wee Hours (Frank Sinatra), At Last (Etta James), In Case We Die (Architecture in Helsinki)
Island Drinking: Corona
Island Activities: laying by pool, laying on beach, laying in bed, reading afore mentioned books, sleeping, drinking corona, various combinations of the above simultaneously
Island Films Viewed: Born Identity, Born Supremacy, The Notebook
Island Suprise: scores of lizards, thirteen blue and green parrots, two Germans in speedos, (sorry ladies, no photos)
Island Listening: Baja Sessions (Chris Isaak), The World of Nat King Cole (Nat King Cole), Wildflowers (Tom Petty), In the Wee Hours (Frank Sinatra), At Last (Etta James), In Case We Die (Architecture in Helsinki)
Island Drinking: Corona
Island Activities: laying by pool, laying on beach, laying in bed, reading afore mentioned books, sleeping, drinking corona, various combinations of the above simultaneously
Island Films Viewed: Born Identity, Born Supremacy, The Notebook
Island Suprise: scores of lizards, thirteen blue and green parrots, two Germans in speedos, (sorry ladies, no photos)
7.8.05
5.8.05
Get Free Stuff From Me! It's a contest.
Alrighty peepholes. Here's the deal: I'm am going to be away from my email account for 10 days. Whoever can guess the amount of spam I recieve in my hotmail account during those ten days wins. Just to make it exciting, whoever comes closest to guessing the number of pieces of junk mail I get will win something cool. If you guess exactly you will win something VERY cool. If two contestants guess the same we will go by whoever guessed first. Only one entry per reader. I'll make sure my junk mail filters are turned off!
And as always, no wagering please.
And as always, no wagering please.
3.8.05
Bono & the Gospel.
Salty dogma
Bono gives an explicit confession of being saved by Grace, not Karma | by Gene Edward Veith
Is Bono, the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group U2, a Christian? He says he is and writes about Christianity in his lyrics. Yet many people question whether Bono is "really" a Christian, due to his notoriously bad language, liberal politics, and rock star antics (though he has been faithfully married for 23 years). But in a new book of interviews, Bono in Conversation by Michka Assayas, Bono, though using some salty language, makes an explicit confession of faith.
The interviewer, Mr. Assayas, begins by asking Bono, Doesn't he think "appalling things" happen when people become religious? Bono counters, "It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma."
The interviewer asks, What's that? "At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one," explains Bono. "And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that. . . . Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff."
The interviewer asks, Like what? "That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge," says Bono. "It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity."
Then the interviewer marvels, "The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that."
"The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death," replies Bono. "It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven."
The interviewer marvels some more: "That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has His rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?"
Bono comes back, "Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: 'I'm the Messiah.' I'm saying: 'I am God incarnate.' . . . So what you're left with is either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. . . . The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that's farfetched."
What is most interesting in this exchange is the reaction of the interviewer, to whom Bono is, in effect, witnessing. This hip rock journalist starts by scorning what he thinks is Christianity. But it is as if he had never heard of grace, the atonement, the deity of Christ, the gospel. And he probably hadn't. But when he hears what Christianity is actually all about, he is amazed.
Bono gives an explicit confession of being saved by Grace, not Karma | by Gene Edward Veith
Is Bono, the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group U2, a Christian? He says he is and writes about Christianity in his lyrics. Yet many people question whether Bono is "really" a Christian, due to his notoriously bad language, liberal politics, and rock star antics (though he has been faithfully married for 23 years). But in a new book of interviews, Bono in Conversation by Michka Assayas, Bono, though using some salty language, makes an explicit confession of faith.
The interviewer, Mr. Assayas, begins by asking Bono, Doesn't he think "appalling things" happen when people become religious? Bono counters, "It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma."
The interviewer asks, What's that? "At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one," explains Bono. "And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that. . . . Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff."
The interviewer asks, Like what? "That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge," says Bono. "It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity."
Then the interviewer marvels, "The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that."
"The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death," replies Bono. "It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven."
The interviewer marvels some more: "That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has His rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?"
Bono comes back, "Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: 'I'm the Messiah.' I'm saying: 'I am God incarnate.' . . . So what you're left with is either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. . . . The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that's farfetched."
What is most interesting in this exchange is the reaction of the interviewer, to whom Bono is, in effect, witnessing. This hip rock journalist starts by scorning what he thinks is Christianity. But it is as if he had never heard of grace, the atonement, the deity of Christ, the gospel. And he probably hadn't. But when he hears what Christianity is actually all about, he is amazed.
Technology at work!
Did you hear about this?
SPACE CENTER, Houston - A spacewalking astronaut gently pulled two potentially dangerous strips of protruding filler from Discovery’s tile belly with his gloved hand Wednesday, successfully completing an unprecedented emergency repair.
Apparantly something was sticking out of the bottom of the space shuttle that shouldn't have been there, so they send a guy out to "repair" it. Of course by "repair" they mean he grabbed the little pieces and yanked on them until they came off. It is comforting to know that NASA repairs the multi-billion dollar space shuttle with the same highly specialized techniques I use to repair my 2000 ford focus.
After the repair was made, I wonder if the astronaut threw the removed obstructions into the back seat of the space shuttle with all the empty starbucks cups and taco bell wrappers.
SPACE CENTER, Houston - A spacewalking astronaut gently pulled two potentially dangerous strips of protruding filler from Discovery’s tile belly with his gloved hand Wednesday, successfully completing an unprecedented emergency repair.
Apparantly something was sticking out of the bottom of the space shuttle that shouldn't have been there, so they send a guy out to "repair" it. Of course by "repair" they mean he grabbed the little pieces and yanked on them until they came off. It is comforting to know that NASA repairs the multi-billion dollar space shuttle with the same highly specialized techniques I use to repair my 2000 ford focus.
After the repair was made, I wonder if the astronaut threw the removed obstructions into the back seat of the space shuttle with all the empty starbucks cups and taco bell wrappers.
2.8.05
Three things that disturb me:
3. When you're talking to someone and they proceed through the conversation by asking themselves a series of qestions and supplying their own answers. For instance: "Does it annoy me when people ask themselves questions? Yes. Do I think it makes them bad people? No. Do I wish they wouldn't do it? Yes. After reading this post will you now have a heightened sensitivity to this phenomena? Probably."
2. When you're listening to NPR or some expert of something or other on tv and they keep using synonyms and saying "if you will" at the end. For instance, "When people speak that way I find it disturbing... or annoying, if you will". See what I mean?
1. Gilmore Girls. The dialogue on this show makes me want to puke. I literally cannot watch it. I actually have to leave the room. I'm not even sure what it is. I will give you no examples.
2. When you're listening to NPR or some expert of something or other on tv and they keep using synonyms and saying "if you will" at the end. For instance, "When people speak that way I find it disturbing... or annoying, if you will". See what I mean?
1. Gilmore Girls. The dialogue on this show makes me want to puke. I literally cannot watch it. I actually have to leave the room. I'm not even sure what it is. I will give you no examples.
29.7.05
27.7.05
Ryan Adams Concert
I started this post months ago and never finished it. Better late than never, I suppose.
It seems like some people are never satisfied. No matter what level of achievement a person attains in his chosen field of operation, he is always setting the stage for a transition into some other field, to try his hand there as well. To see if the fates will bring success in some new arena. Professional atheletes perpetually turn their focus to new mountains. As if winning championships and setting records at the highest levels of competetive sports were not enough, now each Shaq must also rap. Each player, longs to announce. Even the great MJ could not resist stepping into the batter's box for a stint with the White Sox. Of course atheletes are not the only ones. Everyone knows every good waitress in LA longs to act. And every good actor longs to direct. And every good director will eventually produce. Then there's the whole cross over from acting to music, from music to acting, from television to film, to radio. And in each case, all of these people aspire to the highest peak of celebrity our culture affords: public office.
Ryan Adams is no exception. Last evening the North Carolinian rock and roll twangster first took the stage as the drumer for his opening act Rachael Yamagata. With in seconds it was clear that Adams is positioning himself for his next big career move. But unlike the MJ's and the Don Johnson's (remember "Heartbeat"?) Ryan Adams is poised to pull off the transition from Rock Star to his new career: unemployed homeless muppet.
I think he's got a pretty good chance of achieving his dream. The show was great, by the way. And John Stewart of Comedy Central was in the house.
It seems like some people are never satisfied. No matter what level of achievement a person attains in his chosen field of operation, he is always setting the stage for a transition into some other field, to try his hand there as well. To see if the fates will bring success in some new arena. Professional atheletes perpetually turn their focus to new mountains. As if winning championships and setting records at the highest levels of competetive sports were not enough, now each Shaq must also rap. Each player, longs to announce. Even the great MJ could not resist stepping into the batter's box for a stint with the White Sox. Of course atheletes are not the only ones. Everyone knows every good waitress in LA longs to act. And every good actor longs to direct. And every good director will eventually produce. Then there's the whole cross over from acting to music, from music to acting, from television to film, to radio. And in each case, all of these people aspire to the highest peak of celebrity our culture affords: public office.
Ryan Adams is no exception. Last evening the North Carolinian rock and roll twangster first took the stage as the drumer for his opening act Rachael Yamagata. With in seconds it was clear that Adams is positioning himself for his next big career move. But unlike the MJ's and the Don Johnson's (remember "Heartbeat"?) Ryan Adams is poised to pull off the transition from Rock Star to his new career: unemployed homeless muppet.
I think he's got a pretty good chance of achieving his dream. The show was great, by the way. And John Stewart of Comedy Central was in the house.
25.7.05
Church Survey
| You scored as Sacrament model. Your model of the church is Sacrament. The church is the effective sign of the revelation that is the person of Jesus Christ. Christians are transformed by Christ and then become a beacon of Christ wherever they go. This model has a remarkable capacity for integrating other models of the church.
What is your model of the church? [Dulles] created with QuizFarm.com |
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