Category: interesting stuff

To quote the philosopher Alice Cooper, “School’s out for the summer.” Tomorrow Jan and I fly out to California to visit Jennie, who lives in Santa Monica, and Josh who is out there visiting. We’re looking forward to the trip. My internet access will be a bit spotty, so there may not be much activity here for a while. I leave you with the links for this week:

Shawna has an adventure in India. Harold Vance has a conversation with a beast. Molly has some good thoughts on the way of love. Never, ever, ever do this. A short introduction to NASCAR fashion. Now, this is just wrong. Alan Knox writes about grace. iMonk studies grace and discipleship. This artist is good! (HT: Brother Maynard)

An answer to the Patriot’s Bible? Jeff McQ on last things. Are we teaching people not to think? I don’t know quite what to think about this (HT: Jonathan Brink).

Enjoy reading. Have a good week.

I have a few posts rolling around in my head. If I can ever capture them, I’ll be able to have something on here between TGIF posts. I know, some of you are thinking, “Just give us the links. We don’t care about the rest.” 🙂 Anyway, here’s this week’s links:

A poem and dedication. Here is a contest for writers. Paul Luikart has some words of warning. A good question from Amy. Dan Kimball writes about what is important. All the answers aren’t in the lecture. Can we be too God-centered? Here’s a post about the TNLLB. Here’s a new term: Christianism.

These are some interesting album covers (HT: Brother Maynard). Greg Boyd reviews the Patriot’s Bible. The truth about the swine flu. Tim Hill on restoration.

Enjoy your weekend.

Summer is getting closer. There are only eight days left in the school year, and I think all the students (and teachers) are ready for a break. We planted a garden this week. We’re trying to grow tomatoes, beans, and pomegranates. We’ll see how that goes. In a couple of weeks, we’re flying out to California to see Jennie.

Here’s the interesting stuff:

Amy thinks you should be you. Molly is looking forward to summer (a big Amen to that). Are American Christians selfish? Good question. This is good. Funny video, especially at the 1:39 mark. iMonk is mulling over some book ideas. Do you trust the abbreviated Jesus?

Next Reformation discusses evangelism methods. Scot McNight has a good series on Justification and New Perspective. Part 1 is here. Good thoughts from John Frye. Jonathan Brink on dealing with evil. Do you know the answer to this question? Hurricanes and change. More disturbing news from the franchise church front. What if the church was invisible?

That’s it for this week. Have a great weekend!

Friday, Saturday, who’s counting? This was a crazy week. We did the annual testing this week and the schedule was nuts. But we survived.

There’s a lot of interesting things going on out there in Blogdom. Here is this week’s sampling:

Good thoughts about celebrating holidays in church. Called by God? Does Jesus need a new PR campaign? No risk = crap (HT: Brother Maynard). A couple of good posts by Bob Hyatt, here and here. Have you ever thought about what it might look like if Starbucks marketed like a church? (HT: Jake Belder) Dan Edelen gives out a rare More Cowbell Award. Open mic at the IM Cafe.

iMonk on Jesus’ version of community. Scot McKnight is doing a series on the Kingdom Gospel. Part 1 is here. John Frye on the Dali-ization of the Gospel and Bible. The fine print. Are you awake? If you’re keeping up with Rabbi Encounters (and you should be) Rob Woodrum has another page up.

I hope you have a good weekend.

This week has gone by slowly. All week I’ve been thinking it’s a day ahead of what it really is. So, I hope this is Friday. 🙂 Our middle school track team competed in the conference meet this week. I drove the bus so I was able to watch the meet for free. I love the atmosphere of a big meet, and watching all the events brought back some good memories of my track doings back in the day.

Enjoy these links:

Good post over on Scot McKnight’s blog. This is excellent, as is this story about one of the greatest coaches ever (HT: Scot Mcknight). A Former Leader writes about New York and discipleship. The point is Jesus. Jonathan Brink on the missional/attractional debate. John Fonville’s quote of the week.

If you’re out in the Los Angeles area, you may be able to hook up with Josh. He’s good people. iMonk reviews Andrew Marin’s new book. You may identify with this. I did. Messy Bibles. Here is a good question. Grace reviews The Furious Longing of God.

May your weekend be filled with grace and blessing.

This has been an interesting week. I spent each day at another middle school hanging out with a student who was transferring from the school I work at. The administration at the new school wanted someone to shadow him so the transition would be smooth, and I was sent over to do that until they could hire someone else. It was a nice change of pace, but I’ll be glad to be back at my regular work on Monday.

Here’s what everyone is waiting for:

Krochet Kids (no that’s not a spelling error). Servolution. Bob Hyatt thinks we should slow down. Is there a legalistic spirit within you? iMonk is doing some spring cleaning, and is trying to become a complementarian. Brian McLaren on America as a Christian nation. (HT: Scot McKnight). Evangelicals on torture. John Armstrong on other victims of Columbine.

Jeff McQ writes on God and secrets, and his brain is aching. You know you want one of these. The most interesting bookstores in the world (HT: Brother Maynard).

Hope you enjoy these links. Have a great weekend!

TGIF is back. I had a good time at the beach last weekend. I was at Myrtle Beach and left about three days before the wildfire hit. If you think of it, pray for the people in that area. There are a lot of folks who have lost homes, and some have lost loved ones.

There was a lot of good stuff out there to read. Here’s a sampling:

Dan Edelen writes another good post. Rich Wagner on God in school. Good poem from Josh. Is this funny or just wrong? iMonk meditates on morality. It’s amazing what you can do with peeps (HT: Scot McKnight). There’s some interesting discussions about women and the church here and here.

The Emmaus Road story retold. What does a post-Christian culture reject? Judgement begins with the house of God. Beautiful, and heartbreaking (HT: Bill at The Thinklings). Todd Hiestand on spiritual formation. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus? Amy writes about quarrelsome Christians.

It’s finally warming up here in the sunny South. In fact, it’s a bit hot. 🙂 Enjoy your weekend.

This edition of TGIF is renamed TGIGF for Thank God It’s Good Friday. Let’s get right to the good stuff:

A Former Leader writes about discipline. Dr. Lewis discusses gardening. Church on Mission. Good thoughts from Dan Edelen. iMonk on embracing our brokenness. More proof that coffee is good stuff (HT: Scot McKnight). If you don’t already check out Scot McKnight on a regular basis, you’re missing some good, interesting writing. Brian McLaren on the six stages of the emerging church conversation (HT: Brother Maynard). A centurion’s-eye view. Why did Jesus die?

Provocative thoughts from Jeff McQ. The patron saint of bloggers. Death on a Friday afternoon.

May the grace of the Father overwhelm you as you contemplate Jesus’ death and then celebrate the Resurrection.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day marking Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is also the beginning of Holy Week, leading up to Easter. For some, it’s the last week of Lent, for others it’s simply another week. Some go on vacation, while others make plans for their only appearance at a church gathering this year.

Now, for your reading pleasure, the links of the week:

Dan Kimball is a blender. Jared Wilson is on vacation, but he left some good thoughts on the Kingdom. How scholarship shields us from the Bible (HT: Brother Maynard). Speaking of Brother Maynard, he had a lot of us fooled with this post. Sometimes silence is the answer. Making judgments vs. being judgmental. Jonathan Brink is learning to love his neighbor.

JeffMcQ on using the Bible. Ritalin for the soul. The necessary ingredient for a genuine church. Unbind my feet. Round one of the Televangelist Knockout!

Enjoy your weekend.

This week has gone by very quickly. As Kermit said, “Time’s sure fun when you’re having flies.”

As usual, here’s the good stuff:

Wal-Church and the farmers’ market. Jesse Medina on community. Be careful not to ride the social justice bandwagon. Who are you dressed like?

I think Bill may have a point here. Here’s a good question for the church. Jake Belder on N.T. Wright on heaven. The Bible and alcohol. I’m not so sure about this (HT: Scot McKnight). Josh is scared. Rob Woodrum has a new page of Rabbi Encounters up. This is funny. Missional vs. institutional (HT: Brother Maynard). ‘Nuff said (HT: Jonathan Brink). Jeff McQ is remembering. Brant Hansen answers a question. Grace looks at the future. Amy writes about sacred spaces. Theology of bread.

May the Father bless you this weekend.