Every now and then I wander over to
Steve McCoy's photographs, and I just love this one:
Kris and I are in New Orleans at my annual academic meetings, but we found some links this week before we left ...
iMonk -- back at it, this time with someone else's words.
Michael Patton -- maybe the most substantive post in the blog world I've seen this year.
This online church stuff isn't going away: "
In doing so, รก Lava joined growing numbers of Christians worldwide who are migrating from the chapel to the computer. A map on the Church Online site showed users from 22 countries logged into a recent service."
Meanderings in the News
3.
Jars of Clay likes coffee... hey, by the way, what songs of theirs are well-known? I've heard of them but I've never listened to them. (HT: BK)
4. Will
Google be our next major phone company?
6.
This guy gets distracted by a pelican, drops his cell phone, and off the road he goes ... but his car is ... well, way too valuable.
9.
New York, the possible trials, and unease.
Thomas Sowell, never one to soften the sound of his steps, lands hard on the trial in NYC.
Sports
Who has some advice for Bears fans? We are in need of some winter wonder. We can't cheer for the Packers because ... well, they're the Packers. And we can't cheer for the Vikings because they've got a Packer QB. No one cheers for the Lions. Tough sledding. C'mon Spring Training. Hurry.
How in the world did New England lose that football game to the Colts?
The new sculpture of Mr. Rogers in Pittsburgh.
Eugene Cho's ODW is a hit. Good for Eugene, good for all of us.
Bill Donahue's excellent post on filling rows or forming circles.
John Stackhouse, an open Christian, opposes crosses in public schools -- in Italy.
iMonk opposes gospel cowardice.
Marko says he knows dancing ... I'd like to see it.
Meandering in the News
5.
Volterra -- we loved our visit to this place.
9.
My advice for the British -- don't take this stuff personally or seriously: "
I would say Britain is stumbling because they don't spend as much time polishing up their appearance and they are letting themselves down on physical fitness," Beautiful People managing director Greg Hodge said. "Next to Brazilian and Scandinavian beauties, British people just aren't as toned or glamorous. Only the male Russian and Polish applicants fared worse than British men, although Russian women had a 44 percent acceptance rate. Polish women did not appear in the table."
Meandering in Sports
Allen ... not sure what to say.
We are Bears fans, but they are not ready for prime time TV. What the Bears are doing for me is making me think about Spring Training and the start up of the PGA Tour 2010.
When this big fella came by for Trick or Treat,
we gave him our pumpkin!
It has been a grey, cloudy, cold week here at the Jesus Creed blog, the World Series plodded along with yet one more trophy for the bad guys, and here in Chicago the hopes are beginning to heat up for next summer's Cubs season, though some oddsmakers find better chances for John Kerry and Sarah Palin.
Joan Ball, capitalism and the ethics of the gospel. Very important observations.
Pete Enns on science and our view of Scripture.
4.
Bob Greene on time ...: "
One day we were walking down city streets making eye contact with each other, taking in the local scenery, and the next we were staring at the screens of our hypnotic phones, receiving real-time messages and breaking-news updates from people hundreds of miles away. It was a tradeoff we didn't exactly ask for. Yes, the concept of distance was all but erased -- but so, in a way, was the concept of place. We were sold the notion that we could be anywhere, with the tap of a key. What we only gradually began to recognize was that, by being everywhere, sometimes it felt like we were nowhere."
Sports
A good weekend for our NCAA football teams: Iowa wins, Illinois wins (beats UMich), and Northwestern wins (well, they were winning when I wrote this).
(Because he was first a Cub.)
We've had grey, rainy weather, so I thought that
maybe some sunflowers would greet us this morning
for a little lift.
Like Lake Wobegon, it's been a busy but good week in cyberspace...
Colson's piece on atheists who become believers: any comments?
Sarah Pulliam Bailey's discussion of Hillary Clinton's stance against the anti-defamation agenda and pro-freedom of speech point of view. (Congrats to Sarah for her coverage on this issue.)
A joke that appeals to more than one arena:
A minister stood in front of his congregation and announced, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is that it's still in your pockets."
I pay attention to and support organizations that track and interpret and judiciously speak against abortion, and I find
Americans United for Life, led now by Charmaine Yoest, intelligent and fair-minded.
The future of newspapers? Will we see space where various voices can interact? The priesthood of all news readers and the citizen journalist. (HT: TJ)
Stressful jobs where the salaries are not good (ministers are among them).
Collin Hansen keeps his finger on the Reformation issues at work in contemporary evangelicalism.
Did you see the Ten Most Expensive colleges? North Park, which is about half the tuition of these schools, has one of the best tuition packages in the USA for a private school.
News:
4. Instead of helping us understand the genuine plight of nuns,
Maureen Dowd turns her column into a bully pulpit about the Pope.
5.
Hispanics and the future of the American Catholic Church: "Hispanics are the present and Hispanics are the future of the Catholic Church in the United States," says Moreno Garcia. One-third of all Catholics in the United States are now Latinos thanks to immigration and higher fertility rates, according to the Pew Forum on
Religion and Public Life. While St. Cecilia's parish has relished the growth, elsewhere, the Latino population boom has rocked the pews."
Sports
Chicago's Marathon!
I'm with
Dan Reid on the multiple value of multiview books (even if I've been asked a few times to contribute to such volumes and always declined).
Cynthia Weems on how messy the Lord's supper becomes.
Hipsters and sports?
Opening from LaVonne Neff: "
For more than sixty years American presidents have tried to reform our health-care system, to no avail. In the same time period, all other developed nations have set up systems that insure all their citizens, that spend less per capita than we do, and that have better outcomes in almost all categories. Why are American still lagging behind? Ethicist Daniel Callahan diagnoses our problem in the most recent issue of Commonweal magazine and comes to this conclusion: we suffer from "the absence in this country of a solid common-good tradition." Tom Smith and the Lord's Prayer in South Africa.
If you're wondering about the whole gospel, see
this.
The power of the internet -- with
Mark Roberts.
News:
3.
Thomas Friedman on the Peace (Keepers) Prize. I do hope Obama uses the platform in Oslo to make a strong statement.
Ross Douthat: Obama missed his chance to turn it down. I disagree: Friedman's got the better angle.
6.
Five new saints: I don't find this canonization process effective or valuable, even if I often respect those who are canonized.
8. I wonder if "
digital dirt" reveals the truth about those on the web and less than the truth about the others who are not on the web?
Sports
Who will win the World Series?
(the finest basketball coach ever)
One more time: Your Favorite Album?
Navy PierChicago We need a lawyer: FTC is now suggesting (?requiring) bloggers to disclose payments for endorsements. OK, many of the books I blog about are sent to me as a "Review Copy." Is this new ruling about books or...
A baby rhino,rejected by its mom,finds zookeeper parents.Blogs... well, I'm near the end of what has been three very full weeks, and I'm hoping I can get posts up for next week -- but here goes with our weekly edition...
As Chicago's summer ends, a man plays the sax to express his thoughts. Ed Dobson blogs! (HT: TG)Stephen Holmes, a professor of theology, on Mark Driscoll.Tullian Tchividjian survives (69-31%) a vote to oust him from Coral Ridge -- a sad...
A star cluster photo released from NASA Please pray for Dianne and Bob, and pray that the God who made that vast starry sky will attend to Bob at this time.One of my favorite journalists, Christine Scheller, creates some controversy...
Pray for PeaceWork for PeaceKristie Berglund ... beginning to blog ... beginning all over again.Jordon Cooper's wise words about writing books.Dan Reid ... ever the editor.Eugene on "what is a worshipper?"LL Barkat on serendipity ripples.John Frye on expectations and Jesus:...
The Origins Project update: Festival in July 2010 and our Listening Tour.The lesson here is that you've got to make your order very clear before you get in the chair.The lesson here is don't believe in that view of the...
Steve McCoy, pastor at Doxa Fellowship, is also a great photographer -- and this one of summer lightning is amazing:This NYTimes article, which I missed when it came out, really helped me understand the pragmatics of Obamacare. (HT: K)LaVonne Neff's...
These are random notes from one student in one class of one professor (:mic) AND IT'S NOT MY CLASS OR NOTES FROM MY CLASS ... and it's hilarious.Taken from the 8:30 AM Bible and Religion 111: Biblical Literature and History...
Picking the very best of this week's stories for you!A Judge questions the no-fault divorce policy and wants to do something about it. A writer questions the sanity of her dog and has done something about it. Christine questions Andrew...
It's summer.That means sunflowers.(Wouldn't Van Gogh have loved this picture.)Interview at the Smith's home in Alexandria, and I'm with Taylor Mertins. Collin Hansen, ever the pro-Reformed journalist for CT, has a post up that reviews a volume that examines the...
We miss Just Joeys, our bed and breakfast in Stellenbosch. Our view of the small pool in the back garden at breakfast.(But two weeks away did not make it easier to get back to internet reading.) We missed reading our...
Kris and I fly to Paris and then down to South Africa today (and tomorrow!), where I will be giving some lectures in Pretoria and Stellenbosch about a variety of topics, including a conversation between professors and pastors about the...
Yo, Mayor Daley, how do you throw a slider? Moving reflections on grace by Derek Leman. Erika's post -- and JR Woodward continues his series on the meaning of gospel today -- I hope you can check it out. Jim...
Chicago is for Spring Bikers:David Opderbeck weighs in on faith and missional theology. Erika's suggestive post is worth your reading. And Jason Clark announces a new missional D.Min. effort he will direct. David Dunbar's new piece in Missional Journal is...
Chicago's own!Does NYC have this? Does LA? Chicago does! (HT: PK-C)Blog by one of our students. Worth your reading. A story about another of our students.A very good reminder: know before you tweet. Tweet humor with Tamara.On resurrection: check out...
Summer time... what are these geese fighting about? Steve Mook's update on his time in Fiji. Thanks Mooker. Dan Kimball's thoughts on the Newsweek article. On resurrection weekend, Russell Moore reflects some on resurrection from the empty grave and the...
Saskatchewan is the home of the (big) living sky, and I saw it. Here's a picture of Briercrest where I gave lectures last weekend. Briercrest is a wonderful exhibition of generous evangelicalism with wonderful students and professors (and the big...
Chicago's Spring evokes hope!A friend of mine, Dana Del George, has a new book for children whose parents are divorced. Take a good look at it: The Queen of Fire and the King of Ice .A blog worth watching: Practicing...
Chicago! Walter Brueggemann on the Bible's view of economics. (HT: JD)A must-read blog by Owen Youngman.New blogs I've recently seen worth following: PreacherMike and Wade Hodges.And Eric Bryant's blog is uber-cool.David Cramer has come out as a pacifist and has...
We may not have the same kind of Weekly Meanderings next week, unless something goofy happens and keeps me near a computer. We'll be on Spring Break in North Carolina, beginning in Asheville, and then meandering up to southwest Virginia,...
Here is Chicago's famous cauldron on a hazy sky night.There was an interesting series of responses at "On Faith" for the Washington Post about whether or not we should read the Bible, a concern of mine in The Blue Parakeet....
Here in Chicago we have had some unseasonably warm weather. Makes me think baseball is ... hey, it is. Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training today! We are saddened to hear the news that Harold Hoehner has passed away....
It's Around the Corner!(Beats hockey any day of the week!)Luke's #100 was a beer brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium. One way the internet and blogs can be redemptive. Speaking of redemptive, Habitat for Humanity's founder, Millard Fuller, has passed...
Some of you may be surprised by that opening image, but I'm following the apostle Paul today: "When in Canada, do as the Canadians." Kris and I are up in Edmonton at Break Forth, where that one famous hockey...
We've got a new President and a new first lady (and a new website). Jonathan Williams has an excellent set of suggestions on learning to turn "them" into "us." One of our students at North Park doing good. Art Boulet...
My favorite blog-photographer is Steve McCoy, a pastor in our area. I hope you visit his photography stream. Great stuff and I picked this one for a winter scene. I'm hoping the road of this winter is coming to an...
The Hockey players of this world, being huge Cubs fans, couldn't wait until April and decided to play a game ... of hockey (I forgive 'em) ... at Wrigley. I know someone from O! Canada! who came down to watch...
Skating in Millennium Park:Good reminder from CNN about the sleep needs of teenagers.Before I forget, I have to say that I'm liking that little mouse the ads have for the Tale of Despereaux ... a kind of reepicheep thing for...
Chicago! (Perhaps a little dimmer this week.)Speaking of Chicago in grief over Blagojevich, did you see the powerful plea from Chuck Colson?I go on record here to thank Beliefnet for its policy of advertising. The secret for them is to...
In Chicago, we vote early and often, and our Santas arrive early and often too!We haven't said this in a while, but if you have a post or know of a post that you would like to spread around the...
Chicago's Buckingham Fountain...
Imagine how big that New York City tree must be in Texas!...
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go......
The Obama Family ... our prayers are with them:...
I wonder if this is a Chicagoan peering into the beauties of Liechtenstein... and this Chicagoan gets a feel from a Netherlands shot why it was that Rembrandt could paint so well. Centurion ministries -- good story. Scroll down to...
It's not Chicago, but it is the Great Midwest... Skye Jethani and the folks at Out of Ur blog are making their blog one of my favorite stops. Tony's got a good post on blogging, journalism, and the ongoing evolution...
Here's what's coming ... Young evangelicals adults, nearly 60%, are supporting Obama. There is also a report on "evangelical moderates" and politics. Lord have mercy! 90% NPU's reduction in tuition fees a few years back has led to a 33%...
"What happened to the Cubs?," I ask Lou Piniella. His answer? Lots of travel of late reduced my links. Sorry. One of our highlights at the Zoe conference last weekend was seeing our friend, Bob Smietana, who now writes for...
Waking up to Chicago .... As they say, "worth the price of admission." Here is a good blog with a cool appearance. And Jeff has a good series on love you might want to read. Nancy Beach on trying not...
The City of Chicago... ... home of the Cubs! Pray for Molly, Steve and family. I laughed aloud about this BP Switch Cover. Yes, I had to buy one. And doesn't this get silly after awhile? Roland Martin thinks it's...
Chicago was inundated by rains and floods. Here's a picture of the Eden's Hwy, the main artery connecting the northern suburbs to the City of Chicago: And some of Albany Park, near North Park University: And a slide show of...
John Kennedy and Maria Shriver in Chicago, and Reagan at Wrigley: (Notice the Dems are on the left and the Repubs on the right. Nothing but fair and balanced.) Anyone who mentions that Kris and I are soon to be...
My kind of town, Chicago is... North Park's music program has developed a degree for those who seek to become ministers of worship. Speaking of NPU, we soon begin Hispanic Month. Which leads to a good story about my colleague...
Come to Chicago's friendly skies: A friend and well-known New Testament scholar, David Scholer, has passed away. Peace be to his memory, his family, his colleagues and students, and upon all those who have been touched by this wondrous man....
Here's a true Cub fan: Chicago abuzz with an idea from James Meeks. Tom Smith, in South Africa, reflecting on church transformation. LL Barkat reflects on "finding" a poem. Ed Gilbreath has a good post on race as a theological...
Are you a fan of J.K. Rowling? Here's the newest: Tales of Beedle the Bard. Barna weighs in this week on voting. A very interesting emerging event will occur this Fall in Kansas City: check Reclaiming Paul. Around the...
Last Saturday morning I opened up the Dell computer our school provides and it wouldn't turn on, and hasn't since that day. Well, that's fine -- as I'm a Mac man -- except that my daily mail and internet routines...
We walk at Independence Grove and here are some native flowers: Cardinal flower and Shooting star, and the third is Little bluestem, a wild, native prairie (ornamental) grass. We like it so much, we've got some growing from seeds (and...
Summer sports ... A post to read and ponder from iMonk, with this line: "When I look up from the road, I notice that the lights in the distance are closer and the noise behind me is not as loud."...
City lights of Chicago: New Jib-Jab: "It's time for some campaignin'!" "It seems to me that people here are free to live their lives, as long as they do no harm to anyone else," he said. Great set of pictures...
Chicago, on the 4th: We've had our share of lightning and rain of late, but someone took this picture in Libertyville the other day of a rainbow. Cool, huh? Our NPU students and their bike journey. Deaths in this war....
This is what we turn to in the heat of Chicago... Kris follows Mark's blog and glad he has a recent update. Jim Martin reflecting. Yes, I think he's right: the election will shift soon to the economic issues. John...
The Mississippi flooded its banks and broke down some levees. Took some time off and it was hard to get back into the Weekly Meanderings, but now that I look at them ... not too bad. Have fun. Is the...
Sorry to wake you up, dear, but I thought you might like to watch this tornado! (from CNN) Lots of strong storms in Chicago of late: And here. Kris and I send our greetings from Ravello. Stunning photography. You can...
Chicago as we turn from Spring toward Summer: Here's a virtual study guide and discussion notes through our Embracing Grace. Here is a very good piece by Tim Keller on the gospel. RJS sent me this during the week: let...
Chicago Spring means spotting Baltimore Orioles and the morning dance of birds: Evangelical renaissance? Only God. A lower case friend of mine points us to this: and it is cool. Angry young men. Good confession and a prayer for healing...
Chicago Spring means baby robins: It also means backyard visitors, like this glorious Rosebreasted Grosbeak: There is a very good conversation at Kent Eilers' blog on "asking Jesus into your heart." And a great missional ministry among those most affected...
We're sensing we are a long way from our home, but "TK" is there remodeling our kitchen. So, hello to TK. Speaking of far away distances ... this is some 450 light years from here... We are in Rustenburg, South...
Chicago Spring flowers: Thanks Rob. This story helps explain the previous one: Fr. Rob and Linda have always been cool, but I had no idea about this escapade with Cyranose: part one and part two. Good news: books will survive....
44 years ago in Chicago, the Beatles: Good morning Chicago! Let's all pray for June Bug -- Emily -- today. God answers prayer in a season of deep grieving. Art Boulet's exceptional reflection on fundamentalism and the temptation to become...
We, and this cardinal, are ready for Spring: Don Johnson's brief -- and to the point -- post is illuminatingly insightful; other points could be made, and I'm not thinking just about NPTS but about seminaries in general. Here's the...
Cool picture ... Vote for Steve McCoy -- he helped me learn to blog and will give his winnings to help others hear the gospel. Scroll down and click on "Reformissionary." Here come the .... Hummers! [This just in: Diane...
Too much snow this winter in the Land of Lincoln:' Chicago will miss Wally Phillips, fondly called "Wally What's His Name" by Bob Collins: Earth Hour tonight at 8pm. Really good story by Karen. Day in and day out, Eugene...
St Patrick's Day in Chicago, NCAA tournament, and pastoral ministry: Here's how they dye the Chicago River green. Grandma's marked-up Bible. Jim Martin on a pastor's seven deadly sins. Part two. Pastoral and thoughtful. Here's a story worth reading: Barack's...
Chicago runner last Friday: We've been gone for the week; we got home late last night; not as many links as I'd like. Sorry. My colleague Brad Nassif is blogging about Eastern Orthodoxy. Hope you see this stuff: Part one...
Hello from Aruba ... you can find us under a tiki hut reading. I've got a bundle of things to read for a piece on "happiness." And how appropriate; we're at a place called "The Happy Island." Our housesitters are...
Here's the big one for the week: Pew Forum's survey of religion. A good post to weigh in on ... about loneliness. What would you do if you didn't do what you are doing? I'm not sure I understood...
(Say the Jesus Creed morning and evening during Lent.) Kris and I are down in Florida, visiting with friends and speaking at 1st Presbyterian (on Saturday late afternoon) in Naples. Monday through Wednesday I'll be out in San Diego at...
(Say the Jesus Creed morning and evening during Lent.) Chicago winter means Chicago potholes: Chicago's history. Best post I've seen all year: Marko. Good reminder from Erika. T's got a good post that should provoke some discussion. Weigh in on...
(Say the Jesus Creed daily during Lent.) Yougottabekiddinme! I look like that? (So asks the little bear.) I will be at Eastern University this Wed-Fri giving lectures, and my theme will be Spirituality and Empire. I'm looking forward to this...
Danish Tigers... Chicago ice chunks... Bob's still with us ... drop in and bless him. Question on Politics: Why is no one saying anything about Barack Obama's speech after his victory in South Carolina? I was mesmerized by that speech....
MarkO pointed me to this snow sculpting in China. Cool. You know it's cold when pigeons are seeking the flame: Kris and I will be on Cape Cod this weekend, visiting with our good friends at Paraclete Press and then...
The polar bear baby video and a picture and now a name: This my occasional reminder: If you have written a good post for which you'd like to have a little more traffic, contact me, I'll check it out and...
Here's how we play golf here in the Midwest in the winter: Here's what happens when you lose your golf ball in the lake during the winter: Gospel Talk ... there is a quiet storm brewing within evangelicalism and it...
Just north of Chicago folks take the polar bear plunge on New Year's Day. These folks are hardy, I'll give 'em that: Last week I apologized for a thin set of links and only after it was posted did I...
My Weekly Meanderings will be sparse this week with so much of our time spent traveling and with family. You thinking of blogging? (HT: Henriet) Dave Dunbar posts a new missional journal on materialism. This might be the best one...
Chicago Skylilne ... can't beat it: The world's largest snow sculpture (from China): Kris and I went down to the City for the afternoon and early evening last Saturday. Here's a pic of the Daley Plaza's famous Christmas tree. Great...
Good morning to you! Kudos to Kris this week -- she suggested the posts "Jesus Creed does Politics" and the "To Scot from Scot" post. What a fun week it was! Chicago at night. An interview with Fred Peatross and...
It's that time of the year again ... and Kris and I enjoy our walks in the flurries. Maybe the best piece I've seen all year long on the internet or maybe it is this one! David Neff's response to...
Chicago's Offense is up in the air now that Hester's just too good to kick to... The Ten Plagues Bowling Game: (Available at TEN PLAGUES BOWLING SET: $20, plus shipping and handling, from Hamakor Judaica, 7777 N. Merrimac Ave., Niles,...
Birds of beauty: One of our regular commenters, Diane, has written on women priests. Read the comments, too. Food pantries are falling short this year in the Chicagoland. Post of the week -- Hamo and Jarrod conspire to provoke conversation...
Save the bonobos in the Congo: We've agreed to do some speaking in South Africa from May 4-13. Our contact person is Ds. Attie Nel in Rustenberg near Johannesburg. Needless to say, we are very excited about this. New blog...
Being green preserves nature: And we get trees like this in Chicago every Fall: Chris Tomlin's "Indescribable" set to images. I made fun of the Oregon Duck's uniforms, and this is what I feared all week: Revenge of the Ducks....
One of the sad realities of the California fires: One of the awakening realities of evangelicalism: it's changing. Chicago's Finest: Missional's finest. YouTube of the Week -- and you've got to watch it all. Unbelievable! (HT: Lukas) 1. AirBus is...
City of next year's World Series champion: Here's our champion -- he conquered a marathon. Way to go Luke! Here are two blogs worth your checking out: Peggy at the Virtual Abbess James McGrath on Ecclesiastes and the Meaning of...
If someone other than the Cubs had to win, it's nice to see it was the Rockies. Now we begin our annual reminder that baseball (as it was meant to be) officially ends when the NLCS is over; the World...
Above all, let us continue to urge our government and the world to do what it can for those in Myanmar who are being brutalized for standing up for rights and freedom of speech. And now for some good news:...
Fans everywhere are cheering for the Cubs: in Cincinnati and in Thailand! We somehow missed this fine study by Todd Hiestand and so pass it on now -- even if late. Don't miss these two by Br. Maynard: One and...
Chicago's skyline: Last week was the most demanding week I've ever had for speaking events, and so we're ready for a few weeks of down time. But, we're looking forward to the emerging event in Austin TX. This will be...
The Joy in Chicago Returns... Evening Bean: Speaking for the next 10 days or so ... very busy: September 23 Jesus Creed Crossroads Church Cottage Grove, MN Contact: James Brown September 24 Whitefield Lunch Moody Church: Contact: Mark Pirrie September...
Have you seen Chicago's bean in Millennium Park? Or Chicago's new tiger cub? Some speaking engagements and then a question: September 15-16, Calvary Baptist Church, Pekin, IL September 20, an emerging event with up/rooted north, Life on the Vine Church,...
My kind of town, Chicago is... (No idea who that man is with the Cubby Bear.) We will be in Dallas TX tonight and tomorrow morning and then next Saturday and Sunday in Pekin, IL. (Links can be found in...
We escaped any serious flooding in our area, but Chicago was drenched with rains and flooding for a week. Many in our area will spend weeks cleaning up and drying out. [For some reason, some of my Chicago Tribune links...
The Oracle (not of Delphi but) of Chicago... Is Focolare the emerging movement among Roman Catholics? "They are attractive to people who don't like church but who want to get involved with their faith." Reading habits. We're higher than the...
An officer's got to do his job, even if it means ticketing the Oscar Meier Mayer Wienermobile: The Koreans are still in our prayers, Eugene -- and thanks for keeping us up to date. Dunkin' Donuts coffee on the move....
The dog days of Santa Barbara: SBC in the news again. Understatement of the year: "We are moving against the tide." RCC in the news again. Revitalize marriage. Who is the king of jungle after all? The Cape Buffalo! When...
Greatest sports scandals -- and they didn't mention Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire or Rafael Palmeiro or Brady Anderson. Come to think of it, how did they forget Paul Hornung and Alex Karas? Our prayers are with Minneapolis: The risks,...
Chicago, it's my kind of town! I'd like to advertise two events where we (Kris and I) will be, one near Raleigh in Efland, North Carolina (Oct 11-13) with Zach Roberts and Tripp Fuller and the Southeast Emergent group. This...
We will be spending most of the week in Odder, Denmark, just south of Aarhus, but before we left I did what I could to get some links up for the week. Sometimes, to think more clearly and to gain...
Sorry for this: somehow the Weekly Meanderings were published "private" mode instead of public mode. So, here they are: Chicago's finest is caring for some new penguin chicks: The penguins. Does anyone out in Oregon know if those two climbers...
Post of the week -- no question. Maybe this is the post of the week too: Br. Maynard. Nope, this might be the post of the week: T. Freeman. Brevard Childs has died. As a young professor I reviewed a...
Blog of the week: JR Briggs' post on reading habits. And do you read Dawn? Check out this post. Dave Dunbar's Missional Journal -- worth reading. Nice missional sketches by Henriet. The business sabbatical. Gotta like that. "4Real" under discussion....
Ah, I have to give pride of place this week to Don Johnson's rumination on parenting. Pray with Trevin. While there, say a prayer for the Grahams. Tribune story of her death. Cynthia Lambert writes a nice piece on "it's...
After a week off, here's a new start to a year of Weekly Meanderings: Moses Lee, a classmate of my son in high school, is a bright young man who wants to steward his intelligence and gifts to help world...
As we meander through the air on our way back to Chicago and after meandering this week through northern Italy, I confess to having had no opportunity for doing Weekly Meanderings this week ... my first "miss" since last year...
We're over here in Italy this week -- with my mom and dad faithfully attending to our senior citizen Bichon Frise, Webster -- and when I get back a speaking event: the Spiritual Formation Forum. Brilliant piece by Will Samson...
My summer speaking schedule is intentionally light -- I need to keep the schedule free for my commentary on James and some lighter projects. I participated in a conversation on the Eric Hogue show -- it is on his Video/Books...
A must-read about Robert Webber. And Francis J. Beckwith, President this year of the Evangelical Theological Society, has converted to Roman Catholicism. He tells his story with loads and loads of comments. (I can't get a link specifically to that...
Emergent Midwest Gathering July 20-21. When others snore -- what do you do? I once reflected on roommates who snore. Fr Rob tells us that his oldest daughter, Christine, called to say she had "lost the car." This, I suggest,...
Allelon has a video up on "what is the missional church?" featuring Alan Roxburgh and Ryan Bolger. I testify to the truthfulness of Rob's "sock-y cat." (Check out the stripers he caught here.) Erika completes the story. Emerging heart of...
This has been a busy week for me: last weekend we were in DC at St. Matthew's (Sterling, VA) and Thursday evening I began teaching my first class (Galatians) at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield PA. Today we are involved with...
Do you know about the Spiritual Formation Forum in Milwaukee this summer? I will address how a "whole gospel" reshapes our understanding of spiritual formation. Love of learning ... Fr. Rob. If you've not seen this one by Michael at...
Kris and I will be at St. Matthew's Church Episcopal in Sterling, Va., next weekend. On April 19, 20, I'll begin teaching a new course (Galatians) at Biblical Theological Seminary, and then on April 21 John Franke and I are...
We'll be in Sterling Virginia at St. Matthew's Church with my former students -- Rob and Linda Merola -- April 14-15. Shaun Turner's got a piece worth reading that interacts with Peter Rollins. A pastor of people's pastoral letter. Congrats...
Please pray for these people. Announcement: Zondervan has postponed the Emerging event in Austin and Minneapolis. Stay tuned for the rescheduling, which I hear will be next Fall. Heart-felt post of the week from Karen. Who's in? Who's out? An...
We'll be in Atlanta at North Point this Saturday giving a seminar called "Engage" and next weekend we are in Seattle at an emerging event open to the public about being missional in a postmodern world. Bird spottings: this week...
New blog: Finking out Loud with David Wheatley (a feeologian). You may not laugh aloud, but he'll bring you some smiles. Another new blog: Ed Gilbreath, author of Reconciliation Blues, has a blog that will devote itself to racial reconciliation....
I speak this week at an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship event -- and of all things it is being held within a mile of my home on the same street on which we make our abode. Title: How to talk about...
On March 1st I speak at the Shift Conference at Willow, and then we fly that night to Portland for a nice event called Crossing Borders on developing missional churches. On Lent: here is one nice reflection by Trevin Wax,...
We'll be down in North Carolina speaking at an emerging event with Tony Jones late next week; the event is called Keeping Jesus Revolutionary. And, as I said last week, we are in Indianapolis Sunday at East 91st Street...
I'll be in New Orleans this week lecturing at New Orleans Baptist Seminary on conversion and giving a few other less formal talks. Then next Sunday I'll be in Indianapolis at East 91st Street for the Sunday services. Our family...
I'll be in Denver Colorado at the Adam's Mark for the Covenant Midwinter meetings Tuesday and Wednesday -- one day on atonement and another day on prayer. The next week I'll be down in New Orleans. Truth be told, we...
I'm looking forward to the re-emergence of up/rooted north, an emergent cohort group that shifted south for some time but is now starting up again. Jan 31 with Ray Aldred. 7pm. Life on the Vine church in Wheeling/Buffalo Grove area....
Stars Hamo on priorities: Bible reading. Molly's reflections on teaching a brat, and then (and I don't link too often twice to someone's blog) an honest story of wondering now that she's 31 with 5 kids (count 'em as they...
School starts up next week; I'm ready to teach a new course on Women, Mary, and Jesus. Blessings on all you teachers and students. Have the greatest term of your life. For my UK readers: I'll be on Premier Christian...
We had a great time in Mexico, and I've done my best to get some links to some blogs this week. I fly to LA Monday morning to give two lectures at Pepperdine. I have to begin by thanking the...
Farewell to President Ford. I am a big fan of Clarence Jordan -- not just for his stuff on the Sermon on the Mount, but also for his clever translations. Thanks to iMonk. Here's a blog series -- I'm linking...
No speaking events until after the New Year when I give lectures at Pepperdine University. But, I've got plenty of radio interviews coming up on Mary. Those evening ones tire me and I'm pooped -- don't folks know I have...
Tony Swift's reflection (straight from the heart) about leadership. New blog: John LaGrou at Microclesia. I'm trying to catch up to the MP3 world, and I'm not doing well. Some of you are. If you've got this stuff figured out,...
Next Sunday we'll be at Emmaus Community and then on Monday at the emerging group Up/rooted. For details, see here. I'm not a specialist in college football, but if the USC game against Notre Dame is any indication of how...
I'm not speaking this week, but I'll be at Emmaus Community on December 10th, and then at an Emergent cohort (Up/rooted) on December 11th, in Park Ridge. Details can be found here. Good site to add to your links: Joel...
No speaking events until December. I must say that Don Johnson, over at Jibstay, is becoming one of our favorite bloggers. He's creative, clever, and -- on top of that -- wise. My top three pastor sites are Jim Martin,...
This week is the academic annual meeting -- called SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) -- and Kris is going with me for the first time. It helps that we are in Washington, DC. I'm giving a paper in response to...
This week I fly to John Brown University -- and I have a full schedule Monday evening and Tuesday, but I'm looking forward to meeting these fine people. (Birdwatcher question at bottom today.) I hope I remember to look at...
Here is news that most don't want to hear: a new archaeological dig might suggest that Norman Golb is right. In brief, Golb argued that the Dead Sea Scrolls were the deposit of a diverse library from Jerusalem, placed at...
This week in travels: I will be speaking Thursday and Friday at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. My subjects are the emerging movement and atonement. A good conversation at pomusings with Adam Cleveland on what is a "call"? OK --...
We had trouble with these yesterday, so I'm posting it again today. Kris and I will be flying next weekend to Durham, New Hampshire, to visit our niece. Lovely area to visit. All I can say about this is "Good!"...
In Embracing Grace I suggested there are two ways to discuss "human nature," or what makes us Eikons -- by comparing us to other created things (like chimps) and by seeing how we are like God. Time magazine reports about...
I'll be adding to this Weekly Meanderings, at the request of others, a brief on speaking engagements for the week. This week (Oct 2 and 3) we have Phyllis Tickle at North Park giving the Zarley Lectures. The lectures are...
The best blog not enough are reading: Michael Kruse and the Kruse Kronicle. He's got good, thoughtful stuff, and he keeps blogging away. Bob Robinson on the prosperity gospel. Speaking of which... best idea for supporting ministry I've heard of...
The conservationists and farmers in Colorado are at odds again over prairie dogs. The "rodenator" is the newest device designed to exterminate prairie dogs. There's got to be a better solution than blowing up those cute little dogs, and I'm...
News that Steve Irwin, famous Croc man, has died saddens us. The story grew all week. While in Oz ... Andrew Hamilton has a 4-part series of his interaction with D.A. Carson on things emerging. Carson says what is "emerging"...
Website: C.S. Lewis Society of California. I think lots of pastors struggle with relaxing on vacation: see Fr. Rob. Pray for him. Mike Scolare, a pastor in Aruba, is doing much better. Keep praying. Good ministries with Keith in Gorom-Gorom....
Real church: check out this story from Don Johnson at Jibstay. New blog for me: Erika Haub at The Margins. Link to her and observe their ministry in LA. Another new one: CECL: Catalyst for Emerging Church Leadership. Creek bottom...
Overstatement of the week: here's what somone said when the animal activists won out and now Chicago is banning foie gras: "Given animal rights activists' success getting foie gras banned in Chicago, Didier Durand, the chef and owner of Cyrano's,...
I begin this week with the need once again to pray for Bob Robinson and his heart. See his story here. Two new blogs: Church and Postmodern Culture (Geoff Holsclaw) and MereMission by Todd Hiestand. Zany post of the week...
Barna on growing house church attendance and on the lack of relationships among pastors. New blog: Mark Galli, at Christianity Today, has a new blog. Will surely contribute to the discusison. John Frye's series on table fellowship and Jesus....
A nice interview with Anne Lamott about prayer and faith. Part one, Part two. And from someone on the opposite side of the political spectrum, here's the interview on Beliefnet.com with Ann Coulter on her faith. Peter Kreeft's essay on...
Post of the week: Dan Kimball's piece on the value of Gandalfs (the wisdom of the older generation) is worth printing out and pinning to the wall near your desk. I gave Dan Kimball top billing, but I suspect this...
Busy week, down in links for this Weekly Meanderings. Lukas and Annika were here, I was hard at work on a writing project, and we left for LA and San Diego on Wednesday. Here are some suggested readings. Bob Robinson...
John Frye is a must read. So is #2 in the series. Impossible. It got me. (HT: Hamo) Andrew Perriman has a good post on characteristics of an emerging theology. (HT: TSK) Br. Maynard reflects on his emerging understanding of...
Who will explore this incident as a parable of the Church at times? (By the way, my thinking has nothing to do with it being women.) Jim Martin hasn't had a good post this week, he's had a good week...
A young pastor's rant before another Christian is followed by an open and frank and exemplary confession: Purple Pastor, thanks. For those who use a lectionary at all, this site by Bruce Sweet is worth looking at. It provides social...
About blogging... I saw a post with TSK last week, and it worried me. It stated that too much posting is not good. Well, I'm guilty. Here's what I try to do when I can keep it up: first, I...
I've changed the name from our weekly "Blogs of the Week" to "Weekly Meanderings" because we don't restrict the post to blogs. After a week off while we were away, we start up again. Enjoy. Along with a change in...
I've raved about Jim Martin enough on this Blogs of the Week that most of you probably visit him regularly and don't need my encouragement. With a new appearance, Jim's got another great set of posts and this one on...
Here is a reality so profoundly deep to adoptive parents that we can hardly take it in. Thanks to Dawn Husnick. A time most of us simply cannot even imagine. Save fuel money; eat beans. Marko, this one's for you...
For an early preview of the cover of a book I haven't written, see Purgatorio. Thanks Marc. Church and State: Read this speech by the President at Cornell. (HT: Duane Young) Bob Robinson's got this right: our faith is in...
I have been interested in conversion for a long time, so I am thrilled that Paraclete has now come out with an updated version of one of my all-time classics, the original Christian conversion story, Augustine's Confessions. No other than...
This has been a heavy week for this blog, with more than the norm for comments, and I'm grateful to the many of you who contribute to this blog by encouraging remarks and by your comments. I'm proud of this...
The best advertisement I've seen in a long, long time is the Southwest Airlines commercial with a wife watching her husband via computer camera: he's waddling around in his boxers and big gut hanging out and drinking from a big...
Bob's back home again. I'll stop raving about Jim Martin's blog when he grows stale; no sign of that happening yet. Wise stuff, and a great post on a night he'd like to forget (except who cares about the Cowboys?)....
If you are looking for a book that explains in clear and simple prose what postmodernity is all about, and how it intersects between theology and philosophy, I've got the book for you: John Caputo's Philosophy and Theology caught me...
On the news last night I heard that VP Cheney and his wife made 8.8 million last year, and gave away to charity almost 7 million. CNN Story. Congrats to the VP! Story of a young man as told by...
Kris and I will be in the Cinque Terra (Italy) for a week at the turn of June, and wonder if any of you have been to Pisa and would recommend it as worth a day trip for us? Good...
Blog of the week: Hamo's got a great one on a problem with youth ministry -- front doors are busy but so also are the back doors! I don't know the stats, but I'd like to hear from those who...
Yesterday's post emphasized intersubjectivity as central to forgiveness. Today we want to look at Sandage and Shults' The Faces of Forgiveness and the issues of "saving face", what the faces in a "face to face" look like, at "systemic estrangement,"...
Joe Thorn gets my top billing this week: excellent post on how to talk about one another. The Ninth Commandment. (HT: Steve McCoy) But Bob should get it too. 1. An Islamic televangelist of mercy, grace and coexistence. Nice story...
I'm on Spring Break this week, so I've had more time for reading blogs. Blog post of the year for me: Dawn Husnick's story of the ER. "Me and Mike have grown a lot closer." I guess. Help for the...
Controversy of the week: a high school teacher speaks out about Bush. I believe in free speech, but I believe in intelligent conversation. And what many think is free speech is simply opinionating an ideology. What teachers like this need...
Wisdom of the week: from Hamo about personality cults. You know I'm a big fan of Pastor Jim Martin, who has the wisest blog in the world, but if you're young (married less than ten years or thinking about it...
Good story of the week: HT to Bob Smietana. New blog of the week I've found: Donn Johnson, formerly a Covenant pastor up in Minneapolis and now (feel sorry for him) in Santa Barbara, has a blog called "Jibstay." Check...
This justified rant by TSK is exactly what a rant out to be. Top of the list for me. And, finally, a missionally-shaped, emerging-focused, technologically-alert, monastically-inspired, internationally-influenced Christian who will read academically-oriented bloggers. Will there be a place for youth...
The blog of the week is the story about Bob Robinson, former student, fellow blogger, and energetic, enthusiastic emerging voice who is now ministering to college students. Bob had emergency heart surgery (see here) and we are still asking for...
1. Perhaps the "blog of the week" is the non-blogging about the Emergent-Jewish conversation. After mega-flapping about what would happen, now that it has happened, I've hardly seen a comment. Maybe I missed it -- and do point it out,...
Mark Roberts' series in response to Bart Ehrman is very good, and anticipate a series I plan to do myself. I've linked to only one post in the series. 1. I really like my son's post on Airports. I've been...
Top billing this week goes to some good blogs I found this week dealing with themes surrounding the pursuit of social justice with respect to racism. Maurice Broaddus has some ongoing reflections on ontological blackness: part 1, part 2, part...
I have lots of catching up to do, since I missed an entire week of readng other blogs while we were in Mexico (where my son learned to walk on water). But, here's some stuff I found this week that...
At the top of my list is Allan Bevere's wonderful post about Harold, who passed away recently, but who is missed. Hark the Harold! His post on the top ten stories is worth weighing in on. Next to Allan's blog...
Last April, Bob Smietana, a fine editor for Covenant Companion and someone with exceptional instincts for what is going on in the American church, and I were having coffee at Tre Kronor (a local, Swedish restaurant) when he simply suggested...
This blogs of the week has been getting some attention of late, and I can't possibly read everyone's blog every day or week, so if you find something particularly worthy of note, let me know -- and even if you...
Rusty Peterman's link to Ten Paradigm Shifts for impacting your community is my top blog discovery of the week. A .pdf link is provided. Or is it Stephen Shields' wise post about interfaith dialogue? Or is it Kerry Doyal's story...
Lots of blogs in my blogs of the week. The very top of my blog list this week is Karen Spears Zacharias' funny stories on her blog, Sit and Spit. Her experience with the friend who calls it "E-Rac" and...
1. How to be a blogger: here's a good set of rules. 2. Andrew Jones, Tall Skinny Kiwi, is back at it with a nice series about those who constructively criticizing the Emerging Movement. 3. Want to know what Advent...
Good reminder from Bob Robinson, whose site is always worth reading. The struggle in the South is far from over. 1. John Frye's series on Jesus as an Emerging Pastor. Good stuff to think about. 2. Jeff intersects theology and...
The blog of the week goes to Steve McCoy who, unknown to me, sitting in my office when Don Hagner and I were talking about divorce and remarriage, videotaped us and has now posted a video of it -- with...
Blog of the week: iMonk's confession of his spat with his wife, and how this leads to a long reflection on his loathing of his pastoral career. And Kerry Doyal's gentle reminder that it is not about us. 1. Here's...
First, and foremost, a blogger put me on to this site: Kari and Aaron are going through very difficult times. The whole story can be found here. We need to pray for them. And for Kyle Lake's family and loved...
Pride of place goes this week to Jamie Arpin-Ricci's post about the ministry they offer with YWAM to minister in an urban setting and the need for more missionally minded folks. Help him spread the word about this opportunity. 1....
Maybe one of the best weeks ever for me in reading other blogs. (It didn't hurt that I got my book on prayer done and feel less pressured to keep grinding away.) 1. I want to suggest you look at...
I didn't get to this yesterday, and Marko has already given me a heads-up on my behavior, so here it is: I got interviewed by Stephen Shields at Next Wave, and what makes me proud is that I'm standing next...
1. Dan Clendenin's weekly commentary on the Lectionary is worth reading each week, so I'll mention it here and ask you to consider linking. 2. John Frye's back from his trip to Turkey and the Holy Land, and has all...
1. Anthony Smith's essay on racism and practicing Pentecost. There is much to be said here, but Anthony has got it going. 2. Jim Smith's genuine rumination on the struggles of preaching. 3. Brad Bergfalk's suggestions on starting up a...
I'm trying to get through my entire blogroll each week, but the book on prayer has kept me so busy I've not visited them all. Kris reads perhaps even more than I do, but I've found the following blogs this...
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