November 03, 05 by ed
Instead of using my writing time this morning to put together a cohesive collection of thoughts, I decided to do a little bit of updating to the links on this blog. I know that I check out more blogs than are on my list and I am interested in more issues than I had up there (ie. beyond comics and theology), and I thought that it would be helpful to post some links that seem to be worth checking out. I have been particularly interested in the fight against human trafficking and the Darfur region of Sudan.
My link to todd littleton is way overdue and I recommend his blog for all interested in dicussions about theology. Todd is well-read and wonderful in coversation. In addition, I have to thank Kevin Cawley for posting a link to Google Print. I’m sorry, but the thought of Google Print is almost too much to handle!
November 02, 05 by ed
<%image(20051102-buddha.jpg|150|50|buddha)%> I was listening to a great interview on NPR by Terry Gross of a priest and former nun who were married and had a son. It’s a fascinating story that the son, Peter Manseau, tells in a memoir, Vows. His parents have a desire to reform a part of the Catholic Church that is in serious need of reevaluation: priests who are unmarried because of canon law. Peter has a fascinating web site called Killing the Buddha, and no, it’s not anti-Buddha. Check it out for yourself.
November 02, 05 by ed
<%image(20051102-Davidcrowder.jpg|99|99|crowder)%> While not quite at the level of “blind follower,” I would have to admit that I am a pretty big fan of The David Crowder Band. I was first introduced to them with the CD, Can You Hear Us?. It had a lot of joy and energy, but not the substance that I was looking for. They followed it up with Illuminate that was an incredible collection of worship songs that possessed fathom upon fathom of lyrical depth set up to some catchy tunes. Oh, but the band’s latest offering, A Collision
, has surpassed their previous works by once again possessing their best qualities, and then adding some wonderful new twists.
Through a progression of interludes, meditation, celebration, dabblings in blue grass, smatterings of numbers, weaving of images, and inclusion of a flat out hysterical phone interview, DCB takes you on a musical journey of worship and celebration.
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November 01, 05 by ed
<%image(20051101-Botany Trail 024 (reduced) (2).jpg|233|176|Moosewood Maple)%> On the Botany Trail around the Arts Center I found an honest to goodness “Moosewood Striped Maple.” It is by far one of the coolest trees that I have ever seen and the bark actually becomes greener in the summer. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, the bark itself can photosynthesize! There really is such a thing as a “Moosewood” tree.
November 01, 05 by ed
Eversince Wolfgang Simpson discourteously ruined my notions of what church should be with his book, Houses That Change the World, I have been in a seeming wilderness, wandering about and waiting for God to lead me to the promised land of Christian gathering. Our move to Vermont prompted some old yearnings, that I thought were dead, for going to an official church. I thought this was the way to meet other Christians and I would just have to bite the bullet on everything I don’t like. My seminary books were carefully tucked away upstairs just in case someone came from a local church to our home (Because once some Christians in a church find out that you went to seminary, you are no longer a normal, rank and file Christian. They expect you to lead all kinds of ministries, get involved in the church, give your views special reverence that they don’t deserve, and make awkward references to your knowledge of Greek and Hebrew during a Bible study that generally has no relevance to the topic at hand). OK, rant over.
Of course God has not brought us down the path of traditional church. That would be too predictable for the creator of the universe. No, he has brought me a bit beyond the world of “nebulous house church” that had chracterized our three years in Doylestown, PA. Now he has introduced the idea of “family church.”
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