Category: interesting stuff

Some of you with a bit of age under your belt, (like me) may remember the comic strip Pogo from a few years back. The picture is from that strip.

This week seems to have gone by a bit slowly. I guess that’s what happens when you spend two days sick and just laying around the house. It’s getting colder here in the sunny South, and the trees are changing color and littering the yards with bright red, yellow, and orange leaves. Unfortunately, we can’t just leave them there, so tomorrow I start chopping them into mulch.

Pray for the folks at Fort Hood, those that are injured, and the families of those killed in this tragedy. In that light, if you haven’t read anything from iMonk yet, you need to read this.

Seeing the spiritual.
Splintered Kingdom.
This is a new church growth strategy.
Must have gifts for Christmas. (HT: Kansas Bob)
What if…

A quick way to find a church.
Being careful with technology.
A sweet gig. But is it right?
A good reminder not to live in the past.
What love means.

I know things are supposedly bigger in Texas, but this seems like a bit of overkill.
Handling money in the church.
Joining the Apaches.
Are you a Bible snob?
Sad but true. (HT: Scot McKnight)

A good post from John Frye.
It seems there’s something wrong about this.
Deconstructed spirituality.
Trouble with the law.
Scot McKnight has a good series titled, “Religion or Revolution.” Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Not only is it Friday, but it this weekend is the time when we get to turn our clocks back an hour. You can get an extra hour of sleep, or you can stay up an hour longer.

Last night, we went into Charlotte to see a work of performance art. The artist is a professor at the University of Chicago who does some pottery and travels around doing performances and teaching at various schools. One of Josh’s classes has been working with him on an architectural piece of art. Tonight is the opening of the exhibit.

Faceless International is an organization doing good work to help lift women and girls out of the circumstances that put them into the hands of human traffickers. Check out their website and go here for information on how to win some prizes.

Sad but true. (HT: Tony Jones)
Bob Hyatt finishes his series on submission.
One of the more unique marriage proposals I’ve ever seen.
Anyone looking for a spiritual father?
If you’re famous, you can write a book. Or get someone else to write it and put your name on it.
What if we met to edify one another?

Just in case you were wondering how to worship.
Josh wrote a moving tribute to his grandmother.
Three ways to push iMonk’s buttons.
Labels.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

The past few days it’s been cold and rainy in the sunny South. Now, I know that “cold” is a relative term and what we think of as cold is a far cry from what other parts of the country have experienced this fall. But hey, it’s cold to us.

Here’s the good stuff:

Life as a prayer.
Speechless prayer.
Unfortunately, they are serious.
Part 3 and part 4 of Bob Hyatt’s series on wives and husbands.
Our daily bread.
Jonathan Brink understands the critics.

Good thoughts on education.
What are you doing for Halloween?
A brief question from Brant Hansen.
The top 100 live albums of all time (HT: Scot McKnight).

Enjoy.

President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Those of you who know me know that I am no Obama basher. I have some disagreements with his policies, but I have disagreed with every president that has held the office during my adult life. Having said that, I really don’t understand the decision of the Nobel committee. They awarded a major prize to an individual who really hasn’t done anything. He’s only been in office seven months, and most of his energy has been expended on domestic issues. Is this a case of giving someone a prize to motivate them to carry out the actions which the prize honors?

Anyway, here’s the important stuff:

When the poor die.
Bob Hyatt is doing a series on wives submitting to their husbands. Part 1. Part 2.
Love is patient.
Alan Knox asks, “what if they thought of the church?”
The bank account of the living dead.
Pam reviews Donald Miller’s new book.
iMonk writes a story.
Scot McKnight has a good series titled, “God Hides in Plain Sight.” Part 1 is here.
Good challenging story (HT: Scot McKnight).
fr’nklin reviews the Mosaic Bible.
Who would Jesus heal?
Buying or renting?

I have a three day weekend coming up, and I am definitely looking forward to it. I hope your weekend is restful.

The weather has been beautiful this past week. The lows have been in the 40s and 50s with highs in the 70s. Soon the leaves will be changing color, and things will look nice for a while. We bought a new computer this week. Our dog got tangled up in the power cord and pulled our old Dell laptop off the chair, and it died. We replaced it with an Acer netbook. It takes a little getting used to the smaller size, but it’s nice.

Evidently, Starbucks’ new instant coffee isn’t going over very well.
Experts. Well, maybe.
Jake Belder on Christian fellowship.
iMonk riffs.
Jeff McQ on shedding weight.
Strong words, but needed.
This sounds like a good idea.
This is wild.
Turns out Dan Brown isn’t that good of a writer after all (HT: Brother Maynard).
Invite or invade?
Can the Church offer real alternatives?
Morality and narrative law.

Enjoy your weekend.

Jesse Medina asks, “So you want to change the world?” A story. Travis Monroe tackles the health care question. John Cleese explains genes. Church or Kingdom? Stephen Holmes on Mark Driscoll (HT: Scot McKnight). They will know we are Christians by our what? This story in the Sun-Sentinel newspaper is sad. Jeff McQ wants to know where you are. Some folks need to think about the names they give to their business.

Another work week is coming to a close. It has gone by quickly, as most weeks seem to. I guess that’s one of those things that happens when you’re not so young anymore.

There’s a lot of good stuff floating out on the internets. Here’s the sampling for this week:

Barb is pursuing the sinless life (or not). Interesting thoughts from Frank Schaeffer. I think he maybe overstates the problem (HT: Molly). How to evangelize a bear. Good post from Tim Hill. A good reason to get your kid a personal computer? Three good ones (among many) from iMonk, here, here, and here. Good thoughts from Alan Knox. Three dying myths (HT: Brother Maynard). Scot McKnight has a good series on Deep Church as Third Way. Part 4 is here. You can also read Parts 1, 2, and 3. John Frye writes about Jesus and expectations. Part 1 is here, part 2 is here, and part 3 is here.

I hope you have a great weekend. Tomorrow is Talk Like a Pirate Day so, Aaaaaaaargh, matey!

What a week! This has been a very busy one. I have a couple of things rattling around in my head, but they’ll have to wait for another day.

Here’s the stuff for this week:

This is very, very funny. I think so, at least. A humble prayer from Megan Twietmeyer. Todd Hiestand coins a new word. Alan Knox has a three part series on the unhypocritical church. He’s posted all three parts here. Barb is responding, not initiating. The smell of (d)emocracy. Francis Schaeffer, Toby Keith, and the Watchman. You get one life. A new kind of fundamentalist (HT: Jonathan Brink).

Dan Edelen has a very good post in his equipping the saints series. Find it here. Read the other posts too. What would you say? Scot Mcknight has some fun. This is funny (HT: Scot Mcknight). John Armstron asks what the church will do.

If you have Monday off, enjoy your long weekend. If not, enjoy the weekend you have.

History broke into life again this week with the passing of Edward Kennedy. Whether you agree with his politics or not, he had a huge effect on this country during his time as senator.

Other stuff happened this week, some of it in the blogosphere. Here are the links for this week:

Stop taking the Bible so seriously! Amy writes about waiting. Jared Wilson has 5 ways to feel Scripture. Sometimes things happen that change all your plans. Kids these days. Jonathan Brink on questioning authority. Jeff McQ interviews himself on his 500th post. Do you think he needs help? I’m just sayin‘. God the cosmic janitor. Dan Edelen on simple genius.

McKnight on Bonhoeffer. The Beloit College mindset list for the class of 2013 (HT: Scot Mcknight). A little while ago, some imonk readers received free copies of Andrew Marin’s book, Love Is An Orientation. Here are some of their reviews. Unbelievable. A great explanation of simple church. Lessons from the bush.

Have a great weekend.