Archive for October, 2008
Friday, October 31st, 2008
Spirituality for humans, not angels…
What does our bodies have to do with being spiritual? If “being saved” (as it is traditionally talked about) is supposedly all about “snatching souls from the flames of hell” then why did God give us our bodies? Did He give them to torture us with non-spiritual, fleshly desires? Is being a Christian all about [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Blog by josh
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Evangelical Leftists left behind?
Recently, David R. Swartz reviewed a book for Christianity Today by Amy Sullivan entitled, The Party Faithful: How and Why the Democrats are Closing the God Gap. After reading the review, I am interested to read this book because it appears that it is another contribution to give the much needed texture to the [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Blog by josh
Sunday, October 26th, 2008
Hail Mary
I came real close to praying for the first time in my life to Mary this week. Not because I’m becoming Catholic, but it’s just been one of those weeks.
A recent blog exchange about The Virgin Mary at SQJTaipei, caused me to recommend a book to him that upon later reflection I felt several others [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Blog by josh
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008
One Issue Voting…
I haven’t used this blog as a ‘Dear Abbey’ column before, but I recently received an email that sought out my take on something that is highly charged politically. In posting this, I am confident that there will be flack that I receive for this. I post this, not to be provocative, but [...]
3 Comments » - Posted in Blog by josh
Monday, October 20th, 2008
church franchising
It’s easy to take pot shots at mega-churches, especially if you’re not being paid by one. But I recently came across several things in the blogosphere that made me stop and think. And I share them with you, to make you do the same.
Ernest, at Missions Misunderstood, has been working through a comparison between [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Blog by josh
Saturday, October 18th, 2008
whet your appetite
In a recent interview about the current economic ‘crisis’, Scott Bader-Saye comments on his recent book entitled Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear. I found his comments pretty helpful for approaching life in general:
“I have argued that part of how we can maintain hope and courage in the
midst of fear is to trust [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Blog by josh
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
learning to live well…
Tonight over dinner, I was reminded of a video I used to watch all the time as a kid which, I believe retrospectively, set me on the straight and narrow path of living well. It’s only 8 minutes, that could change your life:
the other thing that was brought to my attention this evening for living [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Blog by josh
Monday, October 13th, 2008
brand new colony
Today, I’ve been listening to NPR’s concert with Ben Gibbard, who is the frontman/mastermind behind The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie. In this great acoustic concert, there was a song that really struck me, which I’d heard many, many times before, but today was when I actually heard it.
I’ll be the grapes fermented, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Blog by josh
Saturday, October 11th, 2008
ocean breathes salty
One song that I keep listening to over and over these days is Sun Kil Moon’s cover of Modest Mouse’s Ocean Breathes Salty. It ‘breathes’ contemplation…
Here’s the goods:
Your body may be gone, I’m gonna carry you in.
In my head, in my heart, in my soul.
And maybe we’ll get lucky and we’ll both live again.
Well I [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Blog by josh
Thursday, October 9th, 2008
The Waiting Room
Yesterday, I went into the church in my piazza to pray silently. Upon entering the church, to my right, there was one candle lit. I came there to pray, so I reached in my pocket for a euro, blew off the pocket lint, and dropped it in the coin box. I grabbed two waxy [...]