:: in.a.mirror.dimly :: A theology and culture blog with the Bible in one tab and a news feed in the other.

• Reclaiming the Mission :: The Weblog of David Fitch
  Is there a work of “ideological cynicism” at work in Christians supporting Obama? Is the Obama bandwagon a positive or a negative (or neutral) for the church’s role in bringing justice to the nations? Is energy by Christians spent on Obama politics misgui
  (tags: politics mission theology)
• Why Liberals Are Weak When Faced with Fundamentalism
  The problem with Biblical literalism: “Put two readers of any complex text together and you’ve got two differing interpretations. If those two readers can appeal only to the literal sense, then those two divergent evangelical interpretations inevitably
  (tags: theology)

• Weblog » Emergent Village » Scot McKnight on “Rethinking How You Read the Bible”
  McKnight advocates reading with tradition, not necessarily through tradition. It’s a helpful way to balance the primacy of scripture with tradition.
  (tags: theology)
• My Travels with George W. Bush - TIME
  The success of George W. in Africa.
  (tags: politics poverty)

• The Complex Christ | Signs of Emergence: What Are The ‘Grand Challenges’ for Theology for the 21st Century?
  This is well worth thinking about.
  (tags: theology emergent emerging christian)

• What to do when compact fluorescents crack - The Boston Globe
  We have these bulbs all over the house and I had no idea a break was so serious. Sheesh! If you have kids, don’t have these bulbs too.
  (tags: energy environment)
• America’s Unfaithful Faithful - TIME
  “The single biggest “winner,” in terms of number gained versus number lost, was not a religious group at all, but the “unaffiliated” category. About 16% of those polled defined their religious affiliation that way.”
  (tags: religion church)
• Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
  The full report on the religious life of America, February 2008.
  (tags: religion church)
• Obama’s Ohio Grassroots Advantage - TIME
  The bottom-up is trumping the top-down approach.
  (tags: politics)
• UCLA Study: Students Become More Spiritual in College
  (tags: religion)
• The Audacity of Hopelessness - New York Times
  A very clever article that picks apart some of Hillary Clinton’s talking points with comparisons to the Bush administration. Very clever indeed.
  (tags: politics)

• Daily Kos: I Refuse to Buy into the Obama Hype (now a supporter)
  A great comparison of Obama and Clinton’s records in the Senate with analysis.
  (tags: politics)
• Obama’s Senate Record - Daily Kos: State of the Nation
  Obama’s record is looking pretty good for a Junior Senator.
  (tags: politics)

• Clinton Aides Split on How to Take On Obama
  Hillary’s own politics of hope… “She is pressing challenges to Mr. Obama’s qualifications as a candidate and as a president, and to a certain extent playing for time, hoping that some unexpected event will alter the dynamics of the race in her favor.”

• Midland Daily News - Newly ordained priest to minister to area’s young people
  Sarah, the newly ordained priest, is a relatively new blogger I linked to a few months back. She is ministering through an Episcopal emerging church. See leapingschnauzer.blogspot.com.
  (tags: emerging)

• Christians Wrong About Heaven, Says Bishop - TIME
  Wright shares, “What the New Testament really says is God wants you to be a renewed human being helping him to renew his creation, and his resurrection was the opening bell. And when he returns to fulfil the plan, you won’t be going up there to him, he’ll
  (tags: christianity theology)
• The Real Worship War | LeadershipJournal.net
  “Our worship should lead us to greater mercy, to costly acts of justice, for those who are the least seen, the least remembered, the least desired.”
  (tags: christianity church)
• Inspiration vs. Substance - TIME
  Perhaps the distinction is a bit overstated, but it is worth considering what exactly is behind Obama’s calls for change. should we also give Hillary another look even with Bill lingering in the shadows?
  (tags: Politics)

• huckabee.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)
  I love the Capitol Steps. It feels like I spend my life doing my own private parodies of songs. Only my wife suffers quietly through this. So I really appreciate their humor and this song about Huckabee.
  (tags: politics)

• Reformation21 » Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith
  A review of Velvet Elvis.
  (tags: emerging christian Books)
• Christians need clear definition of God in dialogue with Muslims, Mohler says
  (tags: christianity)
• newsobserver.com | Leader urges evangelicals to heal the world
  Interview with Brian McLaren about his Everything Must Change book.
  (tags: emerging christianity)
• The unexpected monks - The Boston Globe
  Great article about the new monasticism.
  (tags: monasticism christianity)
• One Small Barking Dog | The Next Enlightenment
  Barry Taylor on culture.
  (tags: culture)

• Charlotte Observer | 01/25/2008 | A battle cry for Christian reform
  Brian McLaren provides some analysis on contemporary issues from a Christian perspective.
  (tags: christianity emergent)

• Businesses Try to Make Money and Save the World - New York Times
  This is absolutely fascinating. Apparently entrepreneurs are shedding the old “for-profit” and “nonprofit” categories to forge new ways of making the world a better place.
  (tags: non-profit culture)

Jamie Arpin-Ricci and his wife are opening a little used bookstore and coffee shop called The Dusty Cover. It’s in Winnipeg, so I don’t imagine I’ll be dropping by any time soon, especially since he told me they’re hovering in the -40 degree zone of late.

However, I’m really interested in seeing what develops out of this. He’s partnering with community groups and working on making it more than just a book store. He just sent a message on Facebook with the following info:

The bookstore will be open Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am to 5:30pm. On Friday we are open until 6pm. We hope to expand hour once summer hits.

Also, we will be doing a Grand Opening week later in the Spring, once we’ve worked out the kinks and the weather improves. Thanks all!
Peace,
Jamie

Be sure to drop by his web site or if you’re an intrepid soul, drop in this Tuesday for the grand opening.

• NPR: Church Meets State in the Oval Office
  Interesting interview on fresh air about Evangelical history: “In his new book, God in the White House, Randall Balmer explores the interplay between religion and politics in America, tracking the “religionization” of the Oval Office across the last half
  (tags: politics religion history)

• Couple protest jet noise with obscene rooftop sign - CNN.com
  “The skies won’t seem especially friendly to anyone taking off from Philadelphia International Airport if they notice what a suburban couple wrote on the roof of their home.” Good old Philadelphia. Never a problem finding people who are outspoken.
  (tags: culture)