I’ve been so excited to get this book, and so far it’s been pretty rewarding. I’m actually not a huge David Byrne fan, but I just love people who pursue—and think and write about—creativity with few borders and labels. Byrne’s career has been awesome to watch, while he veered from New Wave and Alternative with … Continue reading
The issue of prayer is not prayer. The issue of prayer is God. (Rabbi Abraham J. Heschel) I read that this morning… That’s a heavy way to start the day. How much do the words we speak (or sing, for that matter) reveal our true beliefs about God? I think more than we realize. Or how about … Continue reading
After God leads Israel to freedom and gives them an identity and a foundational constitution, they spend a long time in the wilderness, wandering around and preparing to enter the land of Canaan, God’s promise to them. I resonate pretty deeply with this story, at least in part because I feel like it has represented my own journey … Continue reading
I recently purchased and downloaded Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Wow. Considered to be one of the most amazing works of Western music, its power and beauty can be breathtaking. But, as I listened, something struck me about the piece. In case you didn’t know, the 9th is long. Over an hour (that’s pretty rare in our modern world, … Continue reading
I don’t type up sermon notes. In fact, I don’t type up anything—research, quotes, examples, etc. I handwrite it all, often with diagrams and visuals. After the teaching is done, it all goes away (well, most of it, occasionally I’ll retain the research somewhere). While I have a couple different reasons for hand-writing things (I … Continue reading
Our Father, who lives in the heavens, May Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come, May Your will be done, On earth just like it’s done in Your presence. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive our sins As we forgive those who sin against us. Don’t bring us to the … Continue reading
Stephen King has written 49 novels. Forty-nine. Since 2000, Ryan Adams has released 13 records. He released five records—Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Lights, and 29—in 2005 alone. King and Adams have a mutual admiration society. King has included excerpts of Adam’s lyrics in his books, and has said, “I won’t say that Adams is the best … Continue reading
Once, for a class in college, I had to look up my family tree. It wasn’t that easy, because (a) though actually in existence (surprise!), the internet was largely unavailable to a “mere” undergraduate student like me and (b) there are some decided gaps in my ancestry. For one thing, many of my ancestors came … Continue reading
I’m highly suspicious of movements to “recover biblical manhood”, mostly because they seem like excuses for grown men (especially pastors) to: act like jerks cuss on stage wear distressed, overly ornamented $150 jeans wear shirts that resemble Chad Kroeger’s stage wear wear way too much hair product grow a goatee In fact, I think it’s … Continue reading
So my bible study/growth group is going through the book of Exodus for the next… who knows? As long as it takes, I guess. It occurred to me that maybe I could post some thoughts here that I/we pull out of the text for any who miss the group meetings or for any who might … Continue reading
