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What Would Jesus Buy?
2008-06-11 08:48:00
Kirsten and I had a group of about 10 folks (including us) over last Friday to view the new Morgan Spurlock produced film What Would Jesus Buy?, which chronicles the dramatic activism of Rev. Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. I think for the most part “a good time was had by all,” though of course the purpose of our evening was to be entertained a little bit, to be sure, but mostly to be challenged and raise awareness regarding our entrenched conspicuous consumption as mostly middle class citizens of the United States. My hope is that this would prompt some discussion among us about how to begin “being the change we want to see.” It is crystal clear to me that if as a society we got into this mess “alone” (as a result of the individualism that is as much a part of our way of life as consumerism is), the only way to get out of this mess is to pursue change together, and I vow to do all that I can to create and facilitate the kind ...

Take Bart's God... Please!
2008-05-22 00:04:00
Below is an article written by one of my mentors, Bart Campolo. I reference this article often because it is very meaningful to me and really approximates many of my own thoughts. The first time I read it out loud, I cried. Much later (just the other night, in fact) I read it out loud again, and cried again. I guess that tells you something about what I care about. You’ll find the article in its entirety below, or you can read it among the other “barticles” here. take my god… please A few years ago, after being politely asked to depart early from yet another speaking engagement for giving the wrong answer to a question about the limits of God’s mercy, I decided it wasn’t fair to keep sneaking up on unsuspecting Evangelicals. Strange as it seems to me, I know all too well that to promote a God both loving enough to desire the salvation of all His children and powerful enough to accomplish it is a dangerous scandal to such folks. After all, without the fear...

The Reasons for God: Tim Keller at Google
2008-05-07 18:48:00
I am really impressed by Tim Keller ’s performance, so much so that I’m going to have to read his book. I don’t find his arguments compelling, but I do find them thought provoking. His charisma and humility are very appealing, and his literary knowledge is impressive and informative. I’d heard his name tossed around in Emergent circles, but I’d never heard nor read anything by him until today. Definitely worth watching when you can find the time! (ht: TallSkinnyKiwi)
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Stunning Image of Myanmar Before and After the Cyclone
2008-05-07 14:05:00
For the latest about the disaster, including an updated death toll and news about the likely long-term food shortage (on top of the recent devastating increase in food prices), go here.
More About: Myanmar , Stunning , Image , Cyclone

Myanmar [3]
2008-05-06 14:14:00
No doubt you’ve heard about the devastation in Myanmar left in the wake of the recent cyclone. The latest CNN report this morning estimates the death toll at more than 22,000, and there’s talk that this event could eventually be “worse” than the tsunami of 2004, in which more than 150,000 people perished. Now, I will be among the first to say that just “throwing money” at persistent problems like poverty, disease, etc. isn’t always the best method of rooting out the causes of those problems and eliminating them. In many cases, while money no doubt provides some relief, it ultimately serves to perpetuate the systems that cause such problems in the first place while relieving relatively affluent Western folks of a little guilt about their status (which, again, only reinforces the systems- like the unsustainable Western way of life- that cause such problems in the first place). However, I think this line of reasoning applies more to systemic is...

Atheism in Utopia
2008-05-06 13:32:00
Came across this passage in Thomas More’s Utopia this morning, and couldn’t help but share. :-) …only he [Utopus] made a solemn and severe law against such as should so far degenerate from the dignity of human nature, as to think that our souls died with our bodies, or that the world was governed by chance, without a wise overruling Providence: for they all formerly believed that there was a state of rewards and punishments to the good and bad after this life; and they now look on those that think otherwise as scarce fit to be counted men, since they degrade so noble a being as the soul, and reckon it no better than a beast’s: thus they are far from looking on such men as fit for human society, or to be citizens of a well-ordered commonwealth; since a man of such principles must needs, as oft as he dares do it, despise all their laws and customs: for there is no doubt to be made, that a man who is afraid of nothing but the law, and apprehends nothing a...
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Meeting Jesus at Chic-fil-A
2008-05-02 19:37:00
So I had what some Christian friends I know might call a “divine appointment” the other day. As fast-food places go, Chic-fil-A is by far one of my favorites. I like that the food somehow manages to “feel” a bit more wholesome, if not healthy. I like that they’re closed on Sundays and give their employees a break from the grind. I like too that it reminds me of home (Texas) and for many of my 15 years living elsewhere there wasn’t one around, such that when I did find one when traveling, etc. it felt like going home. Oh, and their “eat mor chikin” ad campaign with the cows has been a favorite for some time. Anyway, in keeping with their “family values,” the new Chic-fil-A near us has a “family night” every Tuesday. If an adult buys a combo, you get a kid’s combo meal for free, and they usually come around and give balloons to the kids and sometimes free ice cream. In a simple and blatantly consumeristic way, it’s kind of fun. So I went with the...
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In defense of atheistic morality [2]
2008-05-01 13:53:00
I’ve been having some fun conversing with several of my Christian friends about the basis for a godless morality. Many Christians think that there can be no such legitimate basis. They fear that the loss of an objective and absolute moral standard will result in complete moral subjectivity and relativity. I understand this fear because such a world would be a dreadful place indeed. Fortunately, this is a false dichotomy, and there is a middle way. I will back up this claim with an analogical argument from the nature of language. In a world where everyone makes up his or her own language communication would be next to impossible. You might say, “lbasdf aslgqa asrgalgj,” and I would then have no idea what you are talking about. Or, you might use “table” to designate a car and “teakettle” to refer to a cat. Again, I would have no idea what you were talking about. There would be billions of languages – as many as there are people. A worl...
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Happy Belated Earth Day!
2008-04-25 16:09:00
And in your own special way, don’t forget to celebrate: For more, go here
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Consider My Vote Cast...
2008-04-21 20:53:00
So I just, finally, finished Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw. It was an amazing, inspiring, wonderful read- and my head and heart are still spinning a bit. It’s billed as a book “to provoke the Christian political imagination,” and provoke it does. Of course, by “politics” the authors aren’t just referring to the art or science of conducting the affairs of government- or then again, maybe they are, if by “government” one is referring to that of Christ and his kingdom. In any case, these are some of the things I’ve been thinking about in response to what I read. In the book Shane and Chris echo something that actually came up at one of our recent Emergent cohort gatherings, namely that being “born again” is less about some spiritual hoop one has to jump through in order to gain access to God’s kingdom and more about taking on a new identity- a radical re-orientation of one’s self-conception in light of one...
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Russian Misogyny in Space
2008-04-21 13:48:00
I think this article, unfortunately, speaks for itself: Russian capsule off target in landing Astronauts, including American, reported OK after jarring descent By Mike Eckel Associated Press Published on Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 MOSCOW: A Russian capsule carrying South Korea’s first astronaut touched down 260 miles off target in northern Kazakhstan on Saturday after hurtling through the atmosphere in a bone-jarring descent from the international space station. It was the second time in a row — and the third since 2003 — that the Soyuz landing went awry. Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin said the condition of the crew — South Korean bioengineer Yi So-yeon, American astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko — was satisfactory, though the three had been subjected to severe gravitational forces during the re-entry. The Russian TMA-11 craft touched down at 4:51 a.m. EDT about 260 miles off its mark, Lyndin said, a highly...
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"God of the gaps" did my faith in [8]
2008-04-11 00:56:00
In one of The Four Horsemen videos linked to below (I think it’s hour 1) Christopher Hitchens makes an observation about religious people that I think is quite true, at least I know it was of me. He says that most people keep two sets of books, meaning that there is one set of beliefs which they use to order their everyday lives and another set which they get from religion and use only occasionally. The first set we use when we eat breakfast, brush our teeth, commute to work (or stay home with the kids!), pick up the dry cleaning, etc. The second we use during holy times or when life starts to suck. I would add that religious people who do not do this, but rather keep only one set of books, we often label fanatical or radical – and most of us don’t like fanatics. I have a friend, someone I love dearly, whom I have attempted to avoid religious discussion with for a long time. She tends to keep just one set of books. I used to listen to her talk about praying that ...
More About: Faith

Keeping- and being kept by- the faith... [1]
2008-04-09 18:05:00
For those of you who know me personally or who have read my posts on this blog or my previous/other ones, you may grow tired of me returning again and again to some of my favorite muses- some that I’ve never met but would love to, like Frederick Buechner, and others that I have had the privilege of knowing- like Bart Campolo. Still, when inspiration strikes- even if it’s from a reliable, trusted source- sometimes I feel compelled to share, as I am doing now. The following is from Bart’s latest newsletter, which you can get straight from the horse’s mouth here. This is what he had to say: Dear Friends, For as long as I can remember, I’ve ended my letters and emails with the encouragement ‘Keep the faith’. I must have picked that up from my father, since he’s the only person I know who signs off the same way. It might have been more lucrative for me to have picked up ‘It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!” instead, but I’ve always prefe...
More About: Faith , The Faith

Perspective is Everything.
2008-04-09 03:10:00
I’m loaded. It’s official. I’m the 324,540,230 richest person on earth! How rich are you? >> …which, by the way, puts me in the top 5.4% of people in the world.
More About: Perspective

I've moved my blog again.
2007-08-26 19:31:00
I'm now blogging at Canon Fodder, with my good friend Robert Buck. He and I think a lot alike so if you've enjoyed reading delectatio Dei I think you'll enjoy Canon Fodder too. Also, I think Robert's presence will help me to get back to blogging more.
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Akron/Canton Emergent Cohort meeting - July '07
2007-07-09 21:56:00
This Friday (7/13) at 8:00 p.m. the Akron/Cant on Emergent Cohort will be meeting. Things are going to be a little different this month; here are the details…Topic: There will be no specific topic this month, so be prepared to discuss anything that you want to! I will have a list of things for us to talk about in case no one else has anything, so don’t worry if you have nothing currently on your mind. :-) There will be a few procedural decisions/announcements to make as well.Location: We will meet at a new location this month… the Arabica Coffee House near Belden Village (4339 Dressler Rd NW Canton, OH 44718 - see map). There should be live music, which could make the experience more enjoyable or hinder conversation (I’m not sure which, so we’ll just try it once and see.) There is an outdoor patio so we can always meet out there if we want/need to, assuming there is room. Future meeting location suggestions are always welcome.
More About: July , Merge , Meeting

In defence of Michael Griffin
2007-06-01 14:36:00
NASA administrator Michael Griffin is getting raked over the coals for statements he made yesterday regarding global climate change in an interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep. Here is some of what Griffin said (but I still recommend that you follow the link and read or listen to the whole interview for yourself):"I have no doubt that … a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change. First of all, I don't think it's within the power of human beings to assure that the climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown. And second of all, I guess I would ask which human beings — where and when — are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate t...
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A big enough gospel
2007-05-31 23:45:00
You have to love someone this bold:"I will be bold, very bold indeed, and say that if this doctrine of Christ Descent into Hades is not known, then the most essential doctrines of our salvation are misunderstood and incorrectly taught." - Father Stephen of Glory to God for All ThingsClick the link above and read the whole post about Christ's descent into Hades; it's really good.I remember hearing 1 Peter 3:18-20 (Jesus preaches to the spirits in prison who had been disobedient in the days of Noah) and Eph. 4:7-10 (Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth) read in church or Sunday school as a child and teenager. These were never read with the intention of focusing on the doctrine of Christ's descent into Hades, but only because the passages are in contexts where baptism and church structure are mentioned. Maybe it was just my imagination, or a projection of my own embarrassment that scripture contains such things, but I remember the reader's pace quickening in hopes of...
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Emergence
2007-05-18 21:58:00
Come! Burn away my cold dark puddles.Excite my air and make it run - make it gallop.Bend my trees; make my birds sing.My grass stretches on its tippy-toes.It's green and lush and I will let it grow.Ball of fire? No.Orb of truth, globe of goodness, body of beauty!
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Emergent Cohort meeting - May '07
2007-05-08 03:24:00
From the Akron/Canton Emerge nt Cohort blog:Well, it’s that time again. This Friday evening (5/11) the cohort will be meeting at 8:00 at Rico Latte in Stow (yes, Tim, I’ve reserved the room already :-). We’ll begin the discussion by asking the questions: to what extent is “Christianity” a metanarrative, and as such how does it (or doesn’t it) succumb to postmodern incredulity? I’ll also be happy to give a recap of the recent Theological Philosophical Conversation for anyone who’s interested. Then we’ll just see where the discussion goes! Hope to see you there!
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On truth (after the recent Emergent Conversation)
2007-05-01 00:47:00
Scott Berkhimer has posted part one of his reflections from the Emergent Theological Philosophical Conversation , and it's well worth a read. I've finally recovered from my week of conferencing as well and I was about to write a similar post when I saw this one in my newsreader, so now I don't have to. Ah, the wonders of hyperlinking! So rather than giving a play-by-play of the event, which Scott has begun to do quite nicely, I'll simply talk about how I was most impacted by the conversations.One of the most memorable parts of the conversation was a question asked by Richard Kearney, which I'll paraphrase here. He asked, if God said to you that in his left hand he held The Truth , and in his right hand he held the search for truth, and he let you choose one or the other, which would you choose? Richard then said that it is the search for truth that is fitting for us because, as the famous line goes, we can't handle The Truth. This really resonated with me since I've been r...
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If you like net radio
2007-04-24 14:45:00
I just wrote my congressmen and asked them not to let the RIAA (via the CRB) kill net radio. If you are a net radio fan, you might want to do the same. Just click on the banner and savenetradio.org can help you do it in seconds. (ht: Justin)
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Ten anecdotes from Philly
2007-04-21 08:52:00
I think downtown Philly is gorgeous, even the parts that others may not find attractive.Christ Church, in the historic district, is a fascinating place to tour.Scott Berkhimer is very hospitable and a fantastic cook, and after taking advantage of this I soundly beat him at Settlers of Catan. :-)I predict that Scott's pal from Biblical Seminary, Kevin (who I now consider a friend as well), is going to be a Bishop someday.Jack Caputo and Richard Kearney, two of the top philosophers in the world, both watch 24.I don't watch 24.I'm trying not to draw any conclusions from #5 and #6.If Luther were protesting today, rather than nailing 95 theses to the door he would throw a bag of flaming poo full of 95 feces at the door. (This has nothing to do with Philly, but it's late and I thought it was funny.)Mark Scandrette is the most inspiring person that I know. I'll be buying a copy of his new book.Don't let him fool you, Doug Pagitt is a hard dualist. If you don't believe me, ask him ab...
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Back from Philly
2007-04-20 21:04:00
I'm back from the Emergent Theological Philosophical Conversation in Philadelphia, hosted by Eastern University and Central Baptist Church. It was a fantastic time! I got to spend time with friends that I hadn't seen in about a year, meet face-to-face with friends whom I've only interacted with online, and I even made some completely new friends. The conversation with Jack Caputo and Richard Kearney was excellent, and the conversations that it spawned with others were just as good. So, I have a lot to blog about, once I rest and recover.Stay tuned.
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Knowing like the sun
2007-04-02 19:11:00
Nietzsche on knowledge (from Thus Spake Zarathustra):This parable speak I unto you sentimental dissemblers, unto you, the "pure discerners!" You do I call--covetous ones!Also ye love the earth, and the earthly: I have divined you well!--but shame is in your love, and a bad conscience--ye are like the moon!To despise the earthly hath your spirit been persuaded, but not your bowels: these, however, are the strongest in you!And now is your spirit ashamed to be at the service of your bowels, and goeth by-ways and lying ways to escape its own shame."That would be the highest thing for me"--so saith your lying spirit unto itself--"to gaze upon life without desire, and not like the dog, with hanging-out tongue:To be happy in gazing: with dead will, free from the grip and greed of selfishness--cold and ashy-grey all over, but with intoxicated moon-eyes!That would be the dearest thing to me"--thus doth the seduced one seduce himself,--"to love the earth as the moon loveth it, and with th...
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Best internet radio ever...
2007-03-21 16:33:00
Create your own radio station by seeding it with your favorite artists and/or songs and then listen as your music is served up in high quality. Give a song the thumbs-down to skip it and refine your preferences for that station (or thumbs-up to keep more of the same coming). Create as many stations as you want, or just listen to stations that other users have generated. Oh, and did I mention that there are no commercial interruptions?
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hold the ketchup, please
2007-03-16 13:34:00
The following paragraph made me smile wide this morning. It was written by Dr. Carl Raschke and posted on the church and postmodern culture: conversation.“Deconstructive” theology, on the other hand, has a divergent “genealogy” (as Nietzsche would say), pursuing an alternative “rhizomatic” trajectory (as Deleuze would say). As is well-known, Derrida coined the word “deconstruction” early in his career, then eventually stopped using it entirely. He employed it to make a subtle point about how texts are intended to be read. We need to read them as complex and to a certain extent “chaotic” events of flickering meaning, not as monolithic architectures of clarified Cartesian certainty. Derrida’s notoriously difficult style of writing exemplifies his own intention. You’re not supposed instantly to “understand it” or “even get it.” Just like you don’t wolf down a fine filet, you don’t swallow in one gulp a great piece of literature or philosophy....
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Voldemort's power, Dumbledore's power
2007-03-13 18:33:00
The day that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released Tina and I bought a copy and began reading it together, as we have done with previous books in the series. Now we are anxiously anticipating Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and to prepare ourselves (as we have done before previous releases) we are rereading The Half-Blood Prince so that the story will be fresh in our minds and we will be ready to pick it up where it left off. This time around the book makes a lot more sense to me than it did the first time, and I think this is because in the meantime I've been reading Jean-François Lyotard and listening to Stanley Hauerwas! (If that doesn't pique your interest, then one of us is a really boring person.)At the beginning of the book Professor/Headmaster Dumb ledore tells Harry that he will be taking private lessons with him, the implicit purpose of which is to prepare Harry for the showdown between he and Voldemort which, according to the prophecy that we lear...
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(Some of) The Fathers on the Eucharist
2007-03-06 02:25:00
They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father , of His goodness, raised up again. - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, Ch. 8.For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said,"This do in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks,...
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New Counterpoints book on baptism
2007-03-05 23:17:00
Some of my old Church of Christ friends who check up on me here from time to time might be interested to know that Zondervan has just published another book in its Count erpoints series. This one is Understanding 4 Views on Baptism, and one of the views is supposed to represent a Christian Church/Church of Christ perspective. I've found this series by Zondervan to be quite helpful in the past, if for no other reason than we so rarely get to see multiple views clash directly in a respectful and academic way. If you're interested in this topic, check it out.
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